Watch Display Layers for Transparent and Augmented Reality Modes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies, such as smart glass and LCD displays, operate independently and lack consolidation, preventing the creation of a unitary display that combines their functionalities, particularly in wearable devices like watches.
Innovation Solution
A multilayered intelligent display system for watches that integrates smart glass and LCD technologies, allowing for transparent, opaque, and augmented reality modes, with layers that can be selectively controlled to display different content or remain transparent, enabling a hybrid display experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If smart glass and LCD displays operate independently, then each technology can function on its own, but they cannot provide integrated functionalities in a unified display system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines smart glass and LCD display technologies into a single integrated display system. The smart glass layer and LCD layer are positioned adjacent to each other within the same display assembly, allowing them to work together to provide both transparent and display modes in one unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated display system provides multiple functions: it can operate as a transparent window mode using the smart glass layer, as a display mode using the LCD layer, or combine both functionalities simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single display system to replace what would otherwise require separate independent systems.
2Loss of information
If the display panel displays image content, then information is provided to the user, but the watch face becomes obscured and less visible
Solution Approach 1:
The smart glass layer can dynamically change its optical properties between transparent and opaque states. When the LCD needs to display information, the smart glass can become transparent to allow the display content to show through, while when the watch face needs to be visible, the smart glass can become opaque to block the display panel from obscuring it.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system is divided into functionally independent layers: the smart glass layer that controls transparency and the LCD layer that displays content. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, and they can be controlled independently to achieve the desired balance between watch face visibility and information display.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multilayered display system is created, then functionality is enhanced and versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system uses a nested layer structure where the smart glass layer and LCD layer are positioned one above the other within the same housing. This nesting approach allows multiple functional layers to be integrated in a compact arrangement that simplifies the overall assembly process compared to creating separate independent display systems.
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 system provides a versatile and interactive display that enhances user experience by combining the functionalities of smart glass and LCD technologies, offering transparency, opacity, and augmented reality modes, while reducing power consumption by utilizing ambient light.
Implementation Method 1
a selectively opaque panel... the selectively opaque panel is opaque... the selectively opaque panel is substantially transparent
Data Source
AI summary
A display system includes a watch having a watch face; and an intelligent display system. The display system includes a display panel, a selectively opaque panel, a memory having programming instructions, and a controller in communication with the display panel and the selectively opaque panel, and the memory. The display system is operable in each of: (a) display mode wherein the display panel is actuated by the controller to display image content, and at least a portion of the selectively opaque panel is opaque; (b) a transparent mode wherein the display panel does not display image content, the selectively opaque panel is substantially transparent, and the watch face is substantially visible; and (c) an augmented reality mode wherein the display panel is actuated by the controller to display image content, and the selectively opaque panel is substantially transparent, the watch face being substantially visible behind the display system.