Switchable Privacy Film for Adjustable Viewing Angle and Moiré Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing privacy films for displays have fixed and unadjustable privacy angles, leading to reduced use convenience and potential interference with display pixels causing moiré effects, and are not adaptable to displays of different specifications.
Innovation Solution
A privacy apparatus with electrically switchable optical structures that can be adjusted by applying a driving electric field to render some structures light-transmissive and others opaque, allowing adjustable privacy angles and pitches without replacement, and incorporating stacked optical layers for further adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a privacy film with fixed microstructure period is used, then the privacy function is achieved at normal viewing angles, but moiré effects occur when the microstructure period interferes with display pixel period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic approach by making the microstructure period adjustable through voltage control. The liquid crystal layer's orientation can be changed by applying different voltages, which dynamically adjusts the microstructure period to match different display pixel periods, thereby preventing moiré effects while maintaining privacy function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the microstructure period by utilizing the voltage-dependent orientation of liquid crystal molecules. By adjusting the applied voltage, the microstructure period can be tuned to different values, allowing adaptation to various display specifications and preventing interference patterns.
2Reliability
If the privacy angle is fixed in the privacy film design, then the privacy function is stable, but the use convenience is reduced and it cannot adapt to displays of different specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic privacy angle adjustment mechanism through voltage control of the liquid crystal layer. The privacy angle can be changed by applying different voltages that reorient the liquid crystal molecules, enabling the same privacy film to adapt to different display specifications and use scenarios while maintaining stable privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal privacy film that can work with multiple display types and specifications. By incorporating voltage-controlled liquid crystal structures, a single privacy film design can serve multiple functions and adapt to different displays, eliminating the need for different privacy films for different display models.
3Reliability
If different privacy films are selected for different display models, then the privacy function is optimized for each display, but the device complexity and selection process increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal privacy film that can be used with various display models through voltage-controlled adjustment. Instead of requiring different privacy films for different displays, a single multi-functional privacy film with adjustable parameters can optimize the privacy function for any display by controlling the liquid crystal orientation through applied voltage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes in the liquid crystal orientation to achieve optimization for different displays without physical replacement. By changing the voltage parameter, the privacy film's optical properties are adjusted to match different display characteristics, eliminating the complexity of selecting and replacing different privacy films.
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
Enables adjustable privacy angles and pitches, preventing moiré effects and accommodating various display specifications, while maintaining uniform light transmittance and allowing color differentiation for enhanced application flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a light-transmissive layer including a liquid crystal layer... the second optical property corresponds to a light-transmissive state of the liquid crystal layer
Implementation Method 2
The microstructure layer includes a plurality of microstructures... the first optical property corresponds to a state in which the microstructure layer shields light
Data Source
Figure 1A
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Figure 2
AI summary
A driving method of a privacy apparatus is provided. The privacy apparatus includes a light-transmissive layer and a plurality of electrically switchable optical structures. The light-transmissive layer includes a plurality of trenches not crossing over each other. The electrically switchable optical structures are respectively disposed in the trenches. The driving method of the privacy apparatus includes applying a driving electric field to a part of the trenches to render a part of the electrically switchable optical structures light-transmissive, and maintaining the other part of the electrically switchable optical structures opaque. Besides, a privacy apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are also provided.