Transparent Display Device with Opaque Component Masking

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for electronic devices with displays that offer increased functionality, allowing users to view both real-world objects and graphical images simultaneously, while maintaining a compact and transparent design.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a transparent display screen with an opaque frame or black mask, enabling users to see through the device while displaying images, and can include multiple display screens arranged in overlaid or back-to-back configurations, with active and passive screens used based on image resolution and device orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a transparent display screen is used to allow users to view real-world objects, then transparency and viewability are improved, but electronic components become visible through the display

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidvisibility of electronic components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and relocates electronic components away from the transparent display area. Components are positioned in opaque regions (frames, borders, or non-transparent portions) surrounding the transparent display, separating them from the viewable transparent area so they do not interfere with the see-through effect while maintaining device functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The display device employs different optical properties in different regions: the central display area remains transparent for viewing real-world objects, while surrounding frames or borders are made opaque to conceal electronic components. This spatial differentiation of transparency allows simultaneous achievement of viewability and component hiding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple display screens are added to provide overlaid or back-to-back configurations, then functionality and user interaction are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddisplay configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple display screens in overlaid or back-to-back configurations within a single device housing. These displays are integrated to work together, with electronic components shared or coordinated between displays, providing enhanced functionality (such as viewing from both sides or layered information display) while managing complexity through unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple display screens are designed to serve multiple functions: they can display graphical information, allow see-through viewing of real-world objects, and be configured in different orientations (overlaid or back-to-back) to suit different usage scenarios. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile user interaction capabilities.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4191374A1Transparent electronic device
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 APPLE INC
  • EP4191374A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4191374A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4191374A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and system for displaying images on a transparent display of an electronic device. The display may include one or more display screens as well as a flexible circuit for connecting the display screens with internal circuitry of the electronic device. Furthermore, the display screens may allow for overlaying of images over real world viewable objects, as well as a visible window to be present on an otherwise opaque display screen. Additionally, the display may include active and passive display screens that may be utilized based on images to be displayed.