Graphic mirror

• US 10,331,004 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washington, Tamara Y.
• Application Number:
  US15/464,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20170277010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 359290-296, 359242, 359245, 359251-254, 359265-267, 359272, 359273, 359277, 359315-317, 359322
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0105 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0121 Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/01 transmissive
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00

Abstract

A graphic display apparatus including a substrate including a first major surface and a second major surface, the substrate configured to transmit light when the graphic display apparatus is in a transmissive mode and reflect light when the graphic display apparatus is in a reflective mode; a reflective layer positioned on the first major surface of the substrate; a tint layer positioned on the second major surface; a diffuser layer including an image that is positioned on the tint layer such that the diffuser layer and the substrate sandwich the tint layer; and a light source located proximate the diffuser layer such that the light source and the diffuser layer sandwich the image, wherein, when the graphic display apparatus is in the transmissive mode, the light source illuminates the image such that the image is viewable from the first major surface of the substrate, and when the graphic display apparatus is in the reflective mode, the image is not illuminated by the light source and is not viewable from the first major surface of the substrate.

Claims

1. A graphic display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate including a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the substrate configured to transmit light when the graphic display apparatus is in a transmissive mode and reflect light when the graphic display apparatus is in a reflective mode;

a reflective layer positioned on the first major surface of the substrate;

a tint layer positioned on the second major surface;

a diffuser layer including an image positioned adjacent the tint layer such that the diffuser layer and the substrate sandwich the tint layer; and

a light source located proximate the diffuser layer such that the light source and the diffuser layer sandwich the image,

wherein, in the transmissive mode, the light source illuminates the image such that the image is viewable from the first major surface of the substrate, and

in the reflective mode, the image is not illuminated by the light source and is not viewable from the first major surface of the substrate.

2. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tint layer is configured to prevent the image from being viewable when the graphic display apparatus is in the reflective mode.

3. The graphic display device according to claim 2, wherein the tint layer is configured to darken the substrate about 20 percent.

4. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor device configured to detect a condition proximate the substrate.

5. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the condition is movement proximate the substrate, and upon detection of the movement, the graphic display apparatus is switched from the transmissive mode to the reflective mode.

6. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is one of a light-emitting diode (LED), electroluminescent panels (ELP), cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), external fluorescent lamp (EEFL), and an incandescent light bulb.

7. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed from one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.

8. A graphic display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate including a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the substrate configured to transmit light when the graphic display apparatus is in a transmissive mode and reflect light when the graphic display apparatus is in a reflective mode;

a reflective layer positioned on the first major surface of the substrate;

an electrically conductive member positioned on the second major surface of the substrate, the electrically conductive member being transparent when the graphic display apparatus is in the transmissive mode and opaque when the graphic display apparatus is in the reflective mode;

an image that is positioned on the electrically conductive member such that the image and the substrate sandwich the electrically conductive member;

a light source located proximate the image for illuminating the image in the transmissive mode; and

a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to at least the electrically conductive member,

wherein, in the transmissive mode, the light source illuminates the image and the voltage source provides the voltage to the electrically conductive member to make the electrically conductive member transparent such that the image is viewable from the first major surface of the substrate, and

in the reflective mode, the voltage source provides the voltage to the electrically conductive member such that the electrically conductive member is opaque and the image is not viewable from the first major surface of the substrate.

9. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a sensor device configured to detect a condition proximate the substrate.

10. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the condition is movement proximate the substrate, and upon detection of the movement, the graphic display apparatus is switched from the transmissive mode to the reflective mode.

11. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light source is one of a light-emitting diode (LED), electroluminescent panels (ELP), cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), external fluorescent lamp (EEFL), and an incandescent light bulb.

12. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the substrate is formed from one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.

13. A graphic display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate including a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the substrate configured to transmit light when the graphic display apparatus is in a transmissive mode and reflect light when the graphic display apparatus is in a reflective mode;

a reflective layer positioned on the first major surface of the substrate;

an electrophoretic layer positioned on the second major surface of the substrate, the electrophoretic layer including a plurality of particles that can display an image when the graphic display apparatus is in the transmissive mode and make the electrophoretic layer opaque when the graphic display apparatus is in the reflective mode; and

a light source located proximate the electrophoretic layer for illuminating the image when the graphic display apparatus is in the transmissive mode;

wherein, when the graphic display apparatus is in the transmissive mode, the light source illuminates the image generated by the electrophoretic layer; and

when the graphic display apparatus is in the reflective mode, the electrophoretic layer is opaque such that only images reflected by the reflective layer are viewable at the first major surface.

14. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor device configured to detect a condition proximate the substrate.

15. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the condition is movement proximate the substrate, and upon detection of the movement, the graphic display apparatus is switched from the transmissive mode to the reflective mode.

16. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light source is one of a light-emitting diode (LED), electroluminescent panels (ELP), cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), external fluorescent lamp (EEFL), and an incandescent light bulb.

17. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the substrate is formed from one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.

18. The graphic display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of particles are present in a plurality of microcapsules.

19. The graphic display device according to claim 13, wherein the electrophoretic layer includes a pair of electrodes that, upon application of a voltage to the electrodes, either attract or repel the plurality of particles.

20. The graphic display device according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of particles include white particle and colored particles.