Mirror display

• US 10,269,305 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Masahiro, Hakoi, Hiroyuki, Sakai, Akira, Yoshida, Hidefumi, Kanai, Takaharu, Shimizu, Takako, Itou, Yuuki, Ogawa, Atsushi, Tsuruta, Akira, Yuasa, Takayuki, Mizushima, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Michaud, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US15/114,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133302 Rigid substrates, e.g. inorganic substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133512 Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix G02F1/136209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133548 Wire-grid polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133557 Half-mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133562 on the viewer side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13363 Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133638 Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/01 Number of plates being 1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/05 Single plate on one side of the LC cell
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/04 : Structural and physical details of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 : for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 : for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 : the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 : the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 : Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 : using liquid crystals

Abstract

The present invention provides a mirror display that has improved design aesthetics and makes it possible to sufficiently improve visibility in mirror mode in dark environments. The mirror display according to the present invention includes a half mirror plate having a half mirror layer, a display device, a case, and an auxiliary illumination unit that includes an auxiliary light source. The case supports at least the half mirror plate and the display device and includes an outer frame that covers an edge of a front surface of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side. The display device is arranged on a rear side of the half mirror plate. The auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame. The auxiliary illumination unit is controlled separately from the display device and emits light towards the viewing side when the mirror display is in mirror mode. As measured on the viewing side, a brightness of the light emitted from the auxiliary illumination unit is greater than a brightness of the display device when the display device is in a white display state.

Claims

1. A mirror display, comprising:

a half mirror plate including a half mirror layer;

a display device;

a case; and

an auxiliary illumination unit including an auxiliary light source,

wherein the case supports at least the half mirror plate and the display device and includes an outer frame that covers an edge of a front surface of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side,

wherein the display device is arranged on a rear side of the half mirror plate,

wherein the auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame,

wherein the display device emits display light, and the mirror display is switchable between a display mode in which the display light passes through the half mirror plate and a mirror mode in which the display device does not emit the display light,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit is controlled separately from the display device and emits light toward the viewing side when the mirror display is in the mirror mode, and

wherein, as measured on the viewing side of the mirror display, a brightness of the light emitted from the auxiliary illumination unit is greater than a brightness of the display device when the display device is in a white display state.

2. The mirror display according to claim 1, wherein a size of the display device is the same as a size of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plane view from the viewing side.

3. The mirror display according to claim 2,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit further includes a light guide plate arranged on the rear side of the outer frame,

wherein the auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the outer frame and along an edge of the light guide plate, and

wherein the light emitted from the auxiliary light source enters the light guide plate and is then emitted towards the viewing side.

4. The mirror display according to claim 2,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit further includes a diffuser arranged on the viewing side of the half mirror layer,

wherein the auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the outer frame and along an edge of the half mirror plate;

and

wherein the light emitted from the auxiliary light source enters the half mirror plate and the diffuser and is then emitted towards the viewing side.

5. The mirror display according to claim 1, wherein a size of the display device is less than a size of the half mirror plate when viewed in the plan view from the viewing side.

6. The mirror display according to claim 5, further comprising:

a light shield arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate and outside of a region in which the display device and the half mirror plate face one another,

wherein an opening is formed in the light shield, and

wherein the light emitted from the auxiliary light source passes through the opening and the half mirror plate and is then emitted towards the viewing side.

7. The mirror display according to claim 5, further comprising:

a light shield arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate and outside of a region in which the display device and the half mirror plate face one another,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit further includes a diffuser arranged on the viewing side of the half mirror layer and outside of the region in which the display device and the half mirror plate face one another,

wherein the auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the outer frame and along an edge of the half mirror plate, and

wherein the light emitted from the auxiliary light source enters the half mirror plate and the diffuser and is then emitted towards the viewing side.

8. The mirror display according to claim 1,

wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device, and

wherein the half mirror layer includes at least one reflective polarizer.

9. The mirror display according to claim 2,

wherein the half mirror layer includes at least one reflective polarizer,

wherein the display device includes, arranged in order from the half mirror plate, a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit that includes a display light source,

wherein the auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the backlight unit, and

wherein a brightness of the auxiliary light source is greater than a brightness of the display light source.

10. The mirror display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor that measures a distance to objects on the viewing side,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit automatically adjusts brightness and color in conjunction with the position sensor.

11. The mirror display according to claim 1, further comprising:

an illuminance sensor that measures a brightness of an ambient environment,

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit automatically adjusts brightness in conjunction with the illuminance sensor.

12. The mirror display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a color sensor that measures color tones present in an ambient environment, wherein the auxiliary illumination unit automatically adjusts color in conjunction with the color sensor.

13. The mirror display according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame overlaps the auxiliary light source when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side.

14. A mirror display comprising:

a half mirror plate that includes a half mirror layer; and

a display device;

wherein the display device emits display light, and the mirror display is switchable between a display mode in which the display light passes through the half mirror plate and a mirror mode in which the display device does not emit the display light,

wherein the display device includes an auxiliary illumination unit that is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate and that emits light towards a viewing side when the mirror display is in the mirror mode, and

wherein, as measured on the viewing side of the mirror display, a brightness of the light emitted from the auxiliary illumination unit is greater than a brightness of the display device when the display device is in a white display state.

15. The mirror display according to claim 14,

wherein the display device includes, arranged in order from the half mirror plate, a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit that includes a display light source,

wherein the liquid crystal display includes, arranged in order from the half mirror plate, a first polarizer, a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a second substrate, and a second polarizer, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit includes a part of the display light source.

16. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein at least one of the first and the second substrates in a color filter substrate that includes a color filter layer,

wherein the color filter substrate includes a portion in which the color filter layer is thinner than in other portions, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from the part of the display light source towards the viewing side through said portion of the color filter substrate.

17. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein at least one of the first and the second substrates is a color filter substrate that includes a color filter layer,

wherein the color filter substrate includes a portion in which the color filter layer is not present, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from the part of the display light source towards the viewing side through said portion of the color filter substrate.

18. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein at least one of the first and the second substrates in a color filter substrate that includes a color filter layer,

wherein the color filter layer includes a portion in which a concentration of a material used to form the color filter layer is lower than in other portions, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from the part of the display light source towards the viewing side through said portion of the color filter layer.

19. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein at least one of the first and the second substrates is a color filter substrate that includes a color filter layer,

wherein the color filter substrate includes a portion constituted by pixels in which the color filter layer is not present and pixels in which the color filter layer is present, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from the part of the display light source towards the viewing side through said portion of the color filter substrate.

20. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein the liquid crystal display panel includes a portion in which at least one of the first and second polarizers is not present, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from the part of the display light source towards the viewing side through said portion of the liquid crystal display panel.

21. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein the backlight unit includes a portion in which more of the display light sources are arranged than in other portions, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from said portion of the backlight unit towards the viewing side.

22. The mirror display according to claim 16,

wherein the backlight unit includes a portion in which the display light sources of colors other than white are arranged, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit emits light from said portion of the backlight unit towards the viewing side.

23. The mirror display according to claim 15,

wherein a size of the liquid crystal display panel is less than a size of the backlight unit when viewed in a plan view from the viewing side, and

wherein the auxiliary illumination unit is arranged in a region outside of a region in which the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight unit face one another.

24. The mirror display according to claim 14,

wherein the half mirror layer includes at least one reflective polarizer.

25. The mirror display according to claim 14, wherein the half mirror plate overlaps the auxiliary light source when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side.