Visual Angle Regulator for LCD Privacy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) lack the ability to switch between wide and narrow visual angles, posing a challenge in situations where users need to protect personal information from being seen by others.
Innovation Solution
A visual angle regulator is integrated into the LCD, comprising substrates, electrodes, a polymer layer with a linear grooved structure, and a negative liquid crystal layer, which changes the propagation direction of light based on applied voltage to achieve wide or narrow visual angles by refracting or absorbing light accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If FFS or IPS mode is used to improve visual angle, then the visual angle becomes wide, but personal information becomes visible to people around the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the visual angle of the LCD adjustable rather than fixed. The visual angle regulator can switch between wide visual angle mode (when privacy is not a concern) and narrow visual angle mode (when privacy protection is needed). This dynamic adjustment allows the display to adapt to different usage scenarios, resolving the contradiction between having a wide visual angle for sharing information and having a narrow visual angle for protecting personal information.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed wide visual angle is provided, then information sharing is enabled, but the device cannot protect personal information from being seen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by introducing a visual angle regulator that can dynamically change the visual angle characteristics of the LCD. The regulator includes liquid crystal layers and optical elements that can alter light propagation based on applied voltage, enabling transition between wide and narrow visual angles. This dynamic capability allows the device to switch between information sharing mode and privacy protection mode, providing both ease of operation for sharing and adaptability for privacy scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the visual angle regulator is not applied with voltage, then collimation light generates refraction to diverge for wide visual angle, but the device cannot switch to narrow visual angle mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the voltage-dependent optical properties of liquid crystal materials. When voltage is applied to the visual angle regulator, the liquid crystal molecules reorient, changing the refractive index and thereby altering light propagation from divergent to parallel. This parameter change (refractive index modulation through voltage control) enables switching between wide and narrow visual angle modes without requiring mechanically complex moving parts, thus achieving adaptability while managing device complexity.
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 the LCD to switch between wide and narrow visual angles, enhancing user privacy by controlling the visibility of display content based on the applied voltage, thus addressing the limitation of prior art LCDs that only offered a fixed wide visual angle.
Implementation Method 1
the light with a polarization direction which is parallel to a long axis direction of the negative liquid crystal molecules has a propagation direction which is unchanged
Implementation Method 2
the collimation light generates refraction to diverge by the visual angle regulator
Implementation Method 3
light with a polarization direction which is perpendicular to the long axis direction of the negative liquid crystal molecules is absorbed by the lower polaroid
Data Source
AI summary
A visual angle regulator of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is arranged between an LCD panel and a backlight. When the visual angle regulator is applied with a voltage, the LCD is in a narrow visual angle mode. When the visual angle regulator is not applied with a voltage, the LCD is in a wide visual angle mode, which allows the LCD to have the wide visual angle mode and the narrow visual angle mode.