Pulsed Information Display for High Contrast in Bright Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices struggle with reduced contrast and high energy consumption in bright environments, particularly outdoors, where ambient light overwhelms screen brightness, and solar panels are insufficient to power devices due to size and efficiency limitations.

Innovation Solution

A system using pulsed light sources synchronized with selective viewing devices, such as shutter glasses, to reduce energy consumption and enhance contrast by emitting light at high intensity for short periods, combined with a photoelectric conversion means to power the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the brightness of the screen is increased to improve visibility in bright environments, then the contrast is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen brightnessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The emission device emits light in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The controller synchronizes the pulsed light emission with the selective viewing device's transparent state, creating periodic on-off cycles that reduce average power consumption while maintaining peak brightness for visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing and duration of light pulses to match the transient response characteristics of the selective viewing device. The emission duration is optimized to coincide with the device's transparent state, maximizing light transmission efficiency while minimizing energy waste during non-transparent periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If a solar panel is added to power the device in bright environments, then the energy availability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy availabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solar panel serves multiple functions: it powers the emission device during operation and charges the energy storage device for extended usage. The integrated design combines power generation, storage, and consumption management into a unified system that reduces overall device complexity despite adding functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If the light emission duration is extended to improve visibility, then the contrast is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission durationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic pulsed emission with synchronized on-off timing. The light is emitted only during brief intervals when the selective viewing device is transparent, creating effective visibility during these windows while keeping average power consumption low through the periodic nature of the emission cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller pre-synchronizes the light emission timing with the anticipated transparent state of the selective viewing device. By predicting and preparing the emission timing in advance, the system ensures light is emitted at the optimal moment for maximum visibility without extending emission duration unnecessarily

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Achieves high contrast and reduced energy consumption, allowing devices to operate efficiently in bright environments with smaller solar panels, extending battery life and enabling energy production from ambient light.

Implementation Method 1

an emission device which is arranged to emit light so as to display information to a user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a photoelectric conversion means arranged to convert ambient light to electric energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photovoltaic Effect

Implementation Method 3

The panel has a variable transparency which can be varied between a state of high transparency and a state of low transparency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and transmission: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4026114B1System for displaying information to a user
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MAX PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV
  • EP4026114B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4026114B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4
  • EP4026114B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for displaying information, comprising: an emission device arranged to emit light so as to display information to a user, the emission device being adapted to emit the light in a pulsed manner so that the intensity of the light varies between a high value and a low value, a selective viewing device comprising a panel, the panel being adapted so that the user can view the light which is emitted by the emission device through that panel so as to visually perceive the information being displayed, the panel having a variable transparency which can be varied between a state of high transparency and a state of low transparency, the system being adapted to synchronize the emission device and the selective viewing device so that the states of the emission device emitting light at a high-intensity value and the states of the panel of the selective viewing device of high transparency overlap in time, the system further comprising a photoelectric conversion means arranged to convert ambient light into electric energy so as to feed the electric energy into the system.