Folded Display Panel for Simultaneous Multi-Viewer Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contemporary displays cannot simultaneously project different images to multiple viewers in different directions, requiring separate displays for each viewer when different content is desired.

Innovation Solution

A display system with a folded display panel that creates angled surfaces oriented in different directions to project separate images to different viewers, utilizing actuators to adjust the angles and a display controller to direct images to detected users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single display projects one image at a time, then the display structure remains simple and space-efficient, but multiple viewers cannot simultaneously view different content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to display multiple images to different viewersVSAvoiddisplay structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is divided into multiple independent display regions separated by folds, with each region capable of displaying different images. This segmentation allows the single display to simultaneously present multiple images to different viewers without requiring multiple separate displays, thus improving adaptability while maintaining space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display utilizes the third dimension (folding depth) to create multiple viewing surfaces that face different directions. By bending the display panel into folds, the system projects images in different spatial directions, enabling multiple viewers at different locations to see different content from a single display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If folds are added to create multiple viewing directions, then multiple images can be projected to different viewers, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-directional image projection capabilityVSAvoiddisplay panel fabrication difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel employs flexible thin-film structures that can be bent into folds during manufacturing. This flexibility allows the creation of multi-directional viewing surfaces using standard flexible display manufacturing techniques, reducing the complexity compared to creating rigid multi-faceted structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12451035B2Display system for directing different images to different viewers

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Display systems for simultaneously directing different images to different viewers. A display system is constructed with a display panel with multiple folds that create a number of angled display surfaces. These angled surfaces are oriented so that some surfaces are angled in one direction to project one image to viewers at one location, and the remaining surfaces are angled in a different direction to project a different image to viewers at another location. The folded display panel may be actuated, to change the angles at which display surfaces are oriented, and thus adjust the directions in which images are displayed. In this manner, the display may project images to differing users as they change their locations. Multiple users may thus enjoy differing content at the same time, from the same display device.