Transparent Vehicle Display With Switchable Layer for Dark Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent displays in vehicles struggle to generate dark and/or black pixels without reducing transparency, and existing solutions to achieve this often compromise the display's overall transparency.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle display device featuring a planar transparent display with a switchable layer and a planar light guide, where the switchable layer can adjust transmittance to create dark pixels, and the light guide provides backlighting to enhance visibility through the display while maintaining transparency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a darkening layer is added behind the transparent display to generate dark and black pixels, then the ability to display dark pixels is improved, but the transparency of the display is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a switchable layer (electrochromic or PDLC film) that can dynamically change its optical properties between transparent and opaque states based on electrical control signals. This dynamic adaptability allows the display to generate dark pixels on demand without permanently reducing overall transparency, resolving the contradiction between dark pixel generation and transparency maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The switchable layer changes its transmittance parameter in response to electrical voltage application. When voltage is applied, the layer transitions from a high-transmittance state to a low-transmittance state, enabling dark pixel generation. When voltage is removed, the layer returns to its transparent state, preserving overall display transparency. This parameter change mechanism resolves the contradiction between displaying dark content and maintaining transparency.
2Illumination intensity
If a switchable layer is used to create dark pixels, then dark pixel generation is improved, but the overall transparency and light transmission are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The switchable layer provides dynamic control over light transmission, allowing the system to optimize between dark pixel generation and light transmission efficiency based on display content requirements. The layer only reduces transmittance when and where dark pixels are needed, rather than uniformly across the entire display, thus minimizing overall energy loss while achieving the desired visual effect.
3Illumination intensity
If the switchable layer transmittance is reduced to generate dark pixels, then dark pixel display is improved, but the visibility of the background through the display is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The switchable layer can be selectively activated in specific regions or pixels of the display rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This local control allows dark pixels to be generated only where needed for displaying dark content, while other regions maintain high transparency and background visibility, thus resolving the contradiction between dark pixel generation and background visibility.
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
The solution allows for the generation of dark and black pixels without significantly reducing transparency, enabling better visibility of the background through the display and providing efficient heat dissipation and additional storage space.
Implementation Method 1
a switchable layer which is applied on a side of the transparent display opposite to the display area and whose transmittance can be changed
Implementation Method 2
a planar light guide which, on one side, is arranged at a distance from the switchable layer and, on the other side, is configured to emit light from at least one light source via an exit surface in the direction of the transparent display
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle display device for an interior of a motor vehicle comprising a flat transparent display having a display area, a switchable layer being attached to a surface of the flat transparent display opposite to the display area, transmittance of the switchable layer being changeable. On a side of the switchable layer, a planar light guide is arranged, spaced apart from the switchable layer by a cavity. The planar light guide is configured to emit light from at least one light source via an exit surface along a direction of the flat transparent display. The planar light guide comprises at least one connection for the at least one light source, and the at least one connection is attached to a circumference of the planar light guide.