Display Viewing Angle Control With Oblique Liquid Crystal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display apparatuses can cause accidents due to gaze dispersion, as images are visible to people around the user, such as a driver, leading to distractions and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with a viewing angle control unit that includes a first lower electrode, a control liquid crystal layer with liquid crystal particles, and a first upper electrode, allowing switching between wide and narrow viewing angles based on applied voltage, obliquely arranging liquid crystal particles to limit the viewing angle in narrow mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a display apparatus is used in a vehicle with wide viewing angle, then passengers can view the image, but the driver may also view the image causing gaze dispersion and accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic viewing angle control mechanism that can switch between wide and narrow viewing angles based on operational conditions. The viewing angle control unit includes liquid crystal elements that can change their optical properties dynamically, allowing the display to adapt between providing wide viewing angles for passengers and limiting viewing angles to prevent driver distraction, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the display system by introducing a viewing angle control unit that modifies the light transmission characteristics. By controlling the orientation and optical state of liquid crystal particles in the viewing angle control unit, the system can dynamically adjust the viewing angle parameter to either allow wide viewing for passengers or restrict viewing to prevent driver distraction, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a viewing angle control unit is added to limit viewing angle, then driver distraction is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the viewing angle control functionality with the existing display structure by integrating the viewing angle control unit between the back-light unit and the liquid crystal panel. This combination approach allows the system to achieve viewing angle control without adding completely separate components, thereby reducing the overall device complexity while still preventing driver distraction effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a viewing angle control unit as an intermediary layer between the back-light unit and the liquid crystal panel. This intermediary component selectively controls light transmission based on viewing angle without requiring complex additional systems, thereby achieving driver distraction prevention with minimal increase in overall device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid crystal particles are obliquely arranged to limit viewing angle, then light path is controlled effectively, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different liquid crystal particle arrangements in different regions of the viewing angle control unit. The oblique arrangement is specifically applied where needed to control light paths for driver viewing angles, while other regions may have different arrangements optimized for passenger viewing, thereby achieving effective light path control without requiring uniform high precision across the entire display surface.
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
Prevents accidents by ensuring that images are not visible to people around the user in narrow viewing angle mode, particularly reducing distractions for drivers, while allowing passengers to view the image in wide viewing angle mode.
Implementation Method 1
a first control liquid crystal layer on the first lower electrode that includes a plurality of first liquid crystal particles... each of the plurality of first liquid crystal particles of the first control liquid crystal layer is obliquely arranged with respect to the first lower electrode and the first upper electrode
Implementation Method 2
the viewing angle control unit is configured to switch between a wide viewing angle mode corresponding to a first viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle mode corresponding to a second viewing angle that is less than the first viewing angle according to a voltage applied to the first lower electrode and the first upper electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus having a viewing angle control unit is provided. The viewing angle control unit may be disposed between a back-light unit and a liquid crystal panel. The viewing angle control unit may include a control liquid crystal layer disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. The viewing angle control unit may be switched to a wide viewing angle mode or a narrow viewing angle mode according to voltage applied to the lower electrode and the upper electrode. In the narrow viewing angle mode, each liquid crystal particle of the control liquid crystal layer may be obliquely arranged with respect to the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Thus, an image provided by the display apparatus may be not recognized to peoples around a user, selectively.