Rotatable LED Pixels for Dynamic Display Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current displays with privacy screens limit viewing angles but increase power consumption and require users to reposition themselves to maintain privacy, making it burdensome to view sensitive information from authorized angles.

Innovation Solution

Integration of LED pixels rotatably coupled with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) controlled by a controller to dynamically adjust viewing angles, allowing private viewing while minimizing power consumption and user effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a privacy screen is placed over the display to limit viewing angles, then privacy is improved, but power consumption increases and the display darkens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the LED pixels rotatable to dynamically adjust their orientation. Each LED pixel can rotate independently to point toward authorized viewing positions, creating dynamic privacy control that adapts to different viewing scenarios without requiring increased power consumption or darkening the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the Local quality principle by enabling individual LED pixels to rotate independently rather than using a uniform privacy screen across the entire display. This allows each pixel to direct light selectively toward authorized viewers, providing localized privacy control that maintains overall display brightness and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a privacy screen is placed over the display to limit viewing angles, then privacy is improved, but the display darkens requiring increased brightness

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoiddisplay brightness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable LED pixel structure allows dynamic adjustment of light direction without compromising brightness. By orienting pixels toward authorized viewers, the system maintains full display brightness for legitimate users while naturally restricting light distribution to unauthorized areas, eliminating the need for compensatory brightness increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Individual LED pixels direct light locally toward authorized viewing positions, ensuring that brightness is optimized for each viewing angle. This localized light direction maintains illumination intensity for authorized users without the need for a uniform privacy screen that would darken the overall display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If users must reposition themselves to maintain privacy viewing, then privacy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies the Self-service principle by automatically adjusting LED pixel orientations based on detected user positions. The controller receives input about user location and autonomously rotates the appropriate pixels to face the authorized viewer, eliminating the need for users to manually reposition themselves while maintaining privacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user position and using this information to adjust LED pixel orientations in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that privacy is maintained automatically by directing light toward authorized viewers without requiring user intervention or repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If LED pixels are made rotatable with MEMS to dynamically adjust viewing angles, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddisplay structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical privacy screens with a more sophisticated system using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) to rotate individual LED pixels. This substitution eliminates the need for physical privacy screens and their associated mechanical structures, reducing overall system complexity while enabling dynamic viewing angle adjustment through electronically controlled pixel rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Maintains privacy by adjusting LED pixel angles to restrict viewing to authorized positions without overheating or increasing power consumption, enhancing user convenience and display functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a LED pixel rotatably coupled to a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and a controller to control the MEMS, the MEMS to rotate the LED pixel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicroelectromechanical Systems (MEMS): Microelectromechanical Systems

Data Source

PatentEP3602537B1Controlling privacy on displays
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP
  • EP3602537B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3602537B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3602537B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Controlling privacy on a display includes a light-emitting diode (LED) pixel rotatably coupled to a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and a controller to control the MEMS, the MEMS to rotate the LED pixel in response to a command issued by the controller to modify a viewing angle of the LED pixel such that the privacy on the display for that LED pixel is maintained.