Semi-Transparent Mirror Layering for Hidden Media Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mirror and media display devices, such as those with a television behind a mirror, suffer from visibility issues when the media display device is off due to the inverse relationship between transmissivity and reflectivity, causing the device to not 'vanish' into the mirror, especially with high transmissivity glass, leading to a distracting appearance.
Innovation Solution
A semi-transparent mirror system is implemented with a layer of substantially transparent material on the backside, where a dark layer forms an aperture for the media display device, allowing it to 'vanish' when off by matching the reflectivity and color of the mirror, using techniques like ink jet printing for accurate placement and color matching, and potentially using the frame or bezel as the dark layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a mirror with high transmissivity is used to allow more light from the media display device to pass through, then the image brightness is improved, but the reflectivity decreases causing the media display device to be visible when off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dark layer selectively at the location where the media display device is mounted on the backside of the mirror. This local modification allows the dark layer to absorb stray light from the display device when off, making it invisible through the mirror, while the rest of the mirror maintains its high transmissivity for viewing reflection and allowing light transmission when the device is on.
Solution Approach 2:
The dark layer acts as an intermediary element between the media display device and the mirror. It selectively absorbs stray light emitted or reflected by the display device when it is in the off state, preventing this light from passing through the high-transmissivity mirror and becoming visible to observers.
2Reliability
If black paint or black material is applied to the backside of the mirror to make the media display device vanish, then the visibility of the device when off is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying black material to the entire backside of the mirror as in previous techniques, the patent applies the dark layer only in the specific region where the media display device is mounted. This localized approach achieves the vanishing effect where needed while minimizing the amount of material and manufacturing steps required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the dark layer application to only the necessary area (where the display device is located) rather than applying it to the entire mirror surface. This reduces material usage and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to cover large areas with black material.
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
The media display device effectively 'vanishes' into the mirror when off, maintaining a seamless appearance and functionality, even with high transmissivity glass, by controlling stray light and matching reflectivity, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
A dark layer is formed on the substantially transparent layer... The dark layer absorbs stray light from the media display device
Implementation Method 2
The transmissivity and reflectivity of a mirror are roughly inversely related... a mirror with a high reflectivity generally has a low transmissivity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a mirror. The mirror has a transmissivity, a reflectivity, a front side, and a back side. The apparatus further includes a substantially transparent layer, the substantially transparent layer is located on the back side; and a dark layer, the dark layer contains an aperture and is applied to the substantially transparent layer wherein a combination of the mirror, the substantially transparent layer, and the dark layer have a combined reflectivity and a combined color when viewed from the front side which causes a media display device to vanish when the media display device is off and is mounted over the aperture on the back side of the mirror.