Reversible display module including transparent display panel and display system including the display module

• US 10,534,458 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Joo-yeon, Lee, Sang Chul, Lee, Jong Seo, Kim, Se Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ritchie, Darlene M
• Application Number:
  US16/159,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20190042015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/06 Means for bringing about special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0404 Cases or cabinets of the closed type A47F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133388 with constructional differences between the display region and the peripheral region
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0413 Frames or casing structures therefor
• 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 2023/0033 on refrigerated containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2027/001 Comprising a presence or proximity detector
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/0058 on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/04 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/065 : Advertising in food vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 : Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 : being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 : Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/16 : Digital picture frames

Abstract

Provided is an electric device including: a main body comprising a storage chamber with an opening; a door coupled to the main body and comprising a transparent display panel such that the transparent display panel covers at least a part of the opening when the door is closed; a movement detector being configured to detect a movement of the transparent display panel and output a movement detection signal corresponding to the movement; and a controller configured to identify a position of the transparent display panel based on the movement detection signal, and control the transparent display panel to reverse an image displayed on the transparent display panel based on the identified position of the transparent display panel being changed from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. An electric device comprising:

a main body comprising a storage chamber with an opening;

a door including a transparent display module configured to be movably coupled to the main body, wherein the transparent display module includes a frame and a transparent display panel installed in the frame;

a detector configured to detect existence of a shuman adjacent to the electric device;

a movement detector configured to detect a movement of the door and output a movement detection signal corresponding to the movement; and

a controller configured to;

change a transparency of the transparent display module based on a signal output by the detector,

identify a position of the transparent display panel on the movement detection signal, and

control the transparent display module to reverse an image displayed on the transparent display panel based on the position of the transparent display module being changed from a closed position to an open position.

2. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to identify a period of time during which the transparent display module remains at the open position based on the movement detection signal and control the transparent display module to change the reversed image based on the period of time.

3. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to identify an opening angle of the transparent display panel with respect to the main body based on the movement detection signal, and identify the open position of the transparent display module based on the opening angle.

4. The electric device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a brightness of the transparent display module based on the signal output by the detector.

5. The electric device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is further configured to change a still image displayed on a front side of the transparent display module to a moving image based on the signal output by the detector.

6. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display panel comprises a transparent touch display panel configured to generate a touch signal in response to detecting a touch input, and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the transparent display module to change the image displayed on the transparent display module based on receiving the touch signal.

7. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises:

a communication interface configured to perform communication with the controller; and

a storage configured to store data,

wherein the controller comprises a first signal processor configured to process data received by the communication interface, and a second signal processor configured to process the data stored in the storage.

8. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises:

a communication interface configured to perform communication with a terminal; and

a storage configured to store data,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the transparent display module to display information regarding the terminal in response to receiving data of the terminal.

9. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display panel is fixedly supported by the frame.

10. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is fixed to one or more edges of the transparent display panel, and

wherein the transparent display panel further comprises:

a light blocking member disposed on remaining edges of the transparent display panel, other than the one or more edges to which the frame is fixed, to block light from entering or exiting the transparent display panel through the remaining edges of the transparent display panel.

11. The electric device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive data; and

a display drive unit configured to drive the transparent display panel in response to a drive command from the controller,

wherein the controller is further configured to process the received data and output the drive command based on the processed data.

12. The electric device according to claim 11, wherein the communication interface, the controller, and the display drive unit are provided in the frame.

13. The electric device according to claim 10, wherein the transparent display panel comprises at least one polarizing plate, a light guide plate, and a liquid crystal panel, and

wherein the light blocking member is configured to fix the at least one polarizing plate, the light guide plate, and the liquid crystal panel.

14. The electric device according to claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller, the communication interface and the display drive unit, and

wherein the power supply unit comprises a rechargeable battery.

15. The electric device according to claim 14, wherein the main body comprises a first charging terminal connected to a power source,

wherein the power supply unit further comprises a second charging terminal connected to the rechargeable battery, and

wherein the rechargeable battery is charged by the power source when the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are in contact with each other.

16. An electric device comprising:

a main body comprising a storage chamber with an opening;

a door including a transparent display module configured to be movably coupled to the main body, wherein the transparent display module includes a frame and a transparent display panel installed in the frame;

a movement detector configured to detect a movement of the door and output a movement detection signal corresponding to the movement; and

a controller configured to;

control the transparent display module to reverse an image displayed on the transparent display panel based on a position of the transparent display module being changed from a closed position to an open position;

wherein the main body comprises a first charging terminal connected to a power source,

wherein the transparent display module comprises a rechargeable battery and a second charging terminal connected to the rechargeable battery such that the rechargeable battery is charged by the power source when the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are in contact with each other,

wherein the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are separated from each other when the door is open, and

wherein the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal come in contact with each other when the door is closed.

17. The electric device according to claim 16, wherein the transparent display panel is fixedly supported by the frame.