Faceted Screen Seam Reduction via Angled Light Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Curved display screens, while providing an immersive viewing experience, are costly and challenging to manufacture, especially when scaling up for multiple users. Additionally, faceted screens that approximate a curve face issues with visible seams between flat surfaces, affecting image quality and contrast.

Innovation Solution

A faceted screen system comprising a curved backing surface, two planar panels angled towards a common point, and light sources oriented at different angles to emit light towards this common point. This system includes a control mechanism with actuators and a controller to adjust the orientation of light sources, ensuring maximum brightness at a focal point and minimizing the visual impact of seams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a curved display screen is used to provide an immersive viewing experience, then the viewing experience is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing experienceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The curved display is segmented into multiple planar panels arranged in a faceted configuration. Each panel is a separate, manufacturable unit that can be produced using standard flat panel manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for expensive curved glass manufacturing while collectively forming a curved visual display structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of manufacturing a true curved display, the invention uses multiple flat panels to create a faceted approximation of a curved surface. This copying approach replicates the visual benefits of a curved display (immersive viewing, surrounding the viewer) while using simpler, flat panel technology that is easier and less expensive to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If planar panels are used to approximate a curved screen, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but visible seams appear between panels affecting image quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light sources at different locations on the faceted display are oriented at different angles relative to their respective panels. This local variation in light source orientation ensures that each panel's light emission is optimized for its specific position in the faceted structure, directing light toward a common focal point and thereby reducing the visibility of seams between panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of light sources based on their position on different panels. By adjusting the angle of each light source relative to its panel, the system optimizes light distribution across the faceted surface, minimizing seam visibility and improving overall image quality without requiring true curved manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If light sources are oriented at different angles on different panels, then seam visibility is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseam visibilityVSAvoidlight source orientation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light sources are pre-oriented at specific angles during manufacturing based on their position on each panel. This preliminary configuration of light source angles eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, as the optimal orientation for minimizing seam visibility is built into the physical structure of each panel assembly before installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4128202B1Smoothed faceted screen systems and method
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4128202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4128202B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4128202B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A faceted screen system (120) includes a curved backing surface (132), a first planar panel (122a) coupled to the curved backing surface (132), and a second planar panel (122b) coupled to the curved backing surface (132). The first planar panel (122a) and the second planar panel (122b) are angled towards a hypothetical focal point (130) of the curved backing surface (132). The faceted screen system (120) also includes a first plurality of light sources (126) disposed on the first planar panel (122a) and a second plurality of light sources (126) disposed on the second planar panel (122b). Individual light sources (126a, 126b) of the first plurality of light sources (126) are oriented at respective different angles relative to the first planar panel (122a) to emit light towards the hypothetical focal point (130). Individual light sources of the second plurality of light sources (126) are oriented at respective different angles relative to the second planar panel (122b) to emit light towards the hypothetical focal point (130).