Switchable Diffuser Display Case for Bright Opaque Digital Overlays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transparent digital content display systems are limited in producing digital content overlays, particularly unable to display bright opaque overlays due to light filtering and emission limitations, and often restrict digital content to specific regions of the screen, preventing immersive interactions with real-world objects.
Innovation Solution
The use of a switchable diffuser with a display screen that rapidly alternates between an emitted light image and a transparency mask image, allowing for the combination of light waves and attenuated background views to create digital overlays that can be displayed anywhere on the screen, regardless of object color, shape, or location, by controlling opacity and color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transmissive display screen is used to present digital content, then the display can reveal real-world objects through transparency, but the system cannot provide bright opaque overlays because the screen filters light waves
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen rapidly alternates between two states: a first state that transmits light to create transparent overlays revealing real-world objects, and a second state that blocks light to create opaque bright overlays. This periodic switching at high frequency allows the display to present both transparent and opaque content seamlessly, resolving the contradiction between brightness and transparency capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically changes its light transmission properties in real-time based on the content being displayed. The display screen can transition between transparent and opaque states on demand, enabling flexible adaptation to different overlay requirements (transparent for product visibility, opaque for bright digital content) without physical reconfiguration
2Illumination intensity
If light emitting diodes are used to generate digital content overlays, then the system can emit light waves, but the system cannot control opacity of digital content overlays and cannot provide black overlays on bright backgrounds
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen acts as an intermediary element between the light source and the viewer. By controlling the light transmission properties of the display screen rather than relying solely on light emission, the system achieves precise control over overlay opacity and contrast, enabling black overlays on bright backgrounds and fine-grained transparency adjustment
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate regions are provided for displaying tangible objects and digital overlays, then the display can show both types of content, but the system fails to utilize the entire display screen and prevents immersive digital content
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen serves multiple functions through rapid state switching: it can function as a transparent window to view real-world objects, as an opaque display for bright digital overlays, and as a modulated surface for immersive content. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate display regions, utilizing the entire screen area for both object viewing and digital content presentation
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
This solution enables the generation of various digital overlays, including opaque and transparent images, text, and video, that can accurately interact with real-world objects over bright or dark backgrounds, expanding creative possibilities and utilizing the entire display screen without regional restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
the switchable diffuser can transition between a scatter state (e.g., a state that spreads light passing through over a wide angle thus looking like frosted glass) and a transparent state
Implementation Method 2
some transparent digital content display systems utilize transmissive display screens that filter light waves
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate and present a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within a display case. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can synchronize a switchable diffuser element with a display screen and one or more light sources to alternate between a scatter state and a transparent state based on a display rate. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods can alternate the display screen between an emissive state (for displaying an emitted digital image) and an attenuating state (for displaying a transparency mask image). By synchronously toggling the display screen and the diffuser element between states, the disclosed systems can present a digital overlay superimposed over a view the inside of the display case.