Dual-sided transparent display panel with waveguide light control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dual-sided transparent display panels suffer from occlusion, obversion, and obstruction issues, where users on one side can see unintended images or dark regions intended for the opposite side, impairing clarity and causing distraction.

Innovation Solution

A dual-sided transparent display panel design employing a waveguide with edge-lighting and liquid-crystal matrices that scatter light, allowing independent image display on both sides without occlusion, obversion, or obstruction, using periodic grating coatings and light sources to control light propagation based on the electro-optical state of the liquid-crystal molecules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a transparent display panel is designed to be viewable from both sides, then dual-sided visibility is achieved, but image occlusion and reversal occur between the two sides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual-sided visibilityVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is divided into two independent display regions: a first display region for displaying a first image and a second display region for displaying a second image. Each region has its own independent pixel structure and control circuitry, allowing separate image rendering on each side without interference or occlusion between the two sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If conventional dual-sided transparent display panels are used, then transparency is maintained, but obstruction and dark regions appear where images are intended

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidobstruction and dark regions

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel employs different optical properties in different regions: the first display region is configured to be transparent when displaying a first image, while the second display region is configured to be transparent when displaying a second image. This local differentiation allows each region to maintain transparency for its intended side while blocking light for the opposite side, eliminating unwanted obstruction and dark regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables clear, independent image display on both sides of the panel, preventing overlap or reversal of images, and maintaining transparency where no image is intended, thus enhancing user experience by eliminating occlusion, obversion, and obstruction issues.

Implementation Method 1

liquid-crystal matrices that scatter light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

scatter light, allowing independent image display on both sides without occlusion, obversion, or obstruction, using periodic grating coatings and light sources to control light propagation based on the electro-optical state of the liquid-crystal molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-optical effect: Electro-Optic Effects

Implementation Method 3

one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11774787B2Dual-sided transparent display panel

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

Embodiments of a dual-sided transparent display panel are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a first panel subassembly and a second panel subassembly, each of the first and second panel subassemblies including a plurality of adjacent layers, the plurality of adjacent layers including, from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, a first electrode layer, a first polyimide layer, a liquid-crystal matrix, a second polyimide layer, a second electrode layer, and a glass layer; a waveguide disposed between an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly; and one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly.