Content redirection in a multi-layered display system

• US 10,642,062 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pure Depth Limited
• Inventors: Newton, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Richard J
• Application Number:
  US15/915,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20180259782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/508 Pseudo repairing, e.g. a defective part is brought into a condition in which it does not disturb the functioning of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/08 Fault-tolerant or redundant circuits, or circuits in which repair of defects is prepared
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/12 Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes

Abstract

A multi-layered display (MLD) system having improved reliability for vehicular and other applications, is described. In one example, the MLD system detects a fault associated with a first display screen of the MLD, selects one of the display screens other than the first display screen as a backup display screen, combines an image generated for displaying on the first display screen and an image generated for displaying on the selected backup display screen to form a combined image, and displays the combined image on the selected backup display screen.

Claims

1. A multi-layered display (MLD) system for displaying three-dimensional images, comprising:

a plurality of display screens including at least a first display screen and a second display screen arranged in a substantially parallel and overlapping manner; and

a processing system comprising at least one processor and memory, the processing system configured to;

detect a fault associated with the first display screen;

select one of the display screens other than the first display screen as a backup display screen;

combine a first image generated for displaying on the first display screen and a second image generated for displaying on the selected backup display screen to form a combined image;

display the combined image on the selected backup display screen;

identify one or more prioritized objects in the first image; and

display the identified one or more prioritized objects in a manner different from the display of the combined image.

2. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein selecting one of the display screens comprises:

detecting an undamaged display screen from among the plurality of display screens;

if the detecting successfully detects an undamaged display screen, assign the detected undamaged screen as the selected backup display screen; and

if the detecting fails to detect an undamaged display screen, determine a least damaged display screen among the plurality of display screens, and assign the determined least damaged display screen as the selected backup display screen.

3. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein said combining comprises calculating the combined image based upon an arithmetic sum of the first image and the second image.

4. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the identified one or more prioritized objects comprises:

determining whether at least a portion of the first display screen is operational;

generating a third image comprising the identified one or more prioritized objects; and

if the determining determines that a portion of the first display is operational, displaying the third image on the first display screen.

5. The multi-layered display system according to claim 4, wherein the third image is rerouted to a working portion, which is different from a portion of the first display screen in which the prioritized objects were originally displayed, of the first display screen.

6. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layered display system displays a vehicle dashboard display, and wherein the one or more prioritized objects include a warning light and/or transmission indicator.

7. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to set the first display screen at least partially off.

8. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of display screen of the plurality of display screens is a liquid crystal display.

9. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display screens is stacked in normally black mode.

10. The multi-layered display system according to claim 9, wherein a rear-most display screen of the plurality of display screens is a non-transparent display screen.

11. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display screens comprises a stack of liquid crystal display (LCD) layers within a single pair of cross-polarizers on external facing surfaces.

12. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display screens comprises a stack of transparent light emitting diode (TLED) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) layers.

13. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display screens comprises at least one non-transparent display screen.

14. The multi-layered display system according to claim 1, wherein the fault is due to a crack in the first display screen, one or more non-functioning rows or columns in the first display screen, a region of dead pixels in the first display screen, and/or dead first display screen.

15. A method for displaying three-dimensional images in a multi-layered display (MLD) system comprising a plurality of display screens including at least a first display screen and a second display screen arranged in a substantially parallel and overlapping manner, the method comprising:

detecting, using a processing system comprising at least one processor and memory, a fault associated with the first display screen;

selecting one of the display screens other than the first display screen as a backup display screen;

combining a first image generated for displaying on the first display screen and a second image generated for displaying on the selected backup display screen to form a combined image;

displaying the combined image on the selected backup display screen;

identifying one or more prioritized objects in the first image; and

displaying the identified one or more prioritized objects in a manner different from the displaying of the combined image.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein selecting one of the display screens comprises:

detecting an undamaged display screen from among the plurality of display screens;

if the detecting successfully detects an undamaged display screen, assign the detected undamaged screen as the selected backup display screen; and

if the detecting fails to detect an undamaged display screen, determine a least damaged display screen among the plurality of display screens, and assign the determined least damaged display screen as the selected backup display screen.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said combining comprises calculating the combined image based upon an arithmetic sum of the first image and the second image.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a multi-layered display (MLD) system having a plurality of display screens including at least first and second display screens arranged in a substantially parallel and overlapping manner, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

detect a fault associated with the first display screen;

select one of the display screens other than the first display screen as a backup display screen;

combine a first image generated for displaying on the first display screen and a second image generated for displaying on the selected display screen to form a combined image;

display the combined image on the selected display screen;

identify one or more prioritized objects in the first image; and

display the identified one or more prioritized objects in a manner different from the display of the combined image.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein selecting one of the display screens comprises:

detecting an undamaged display screen from among the plurality of display screens;

if the detecting successfully detects an undamaged display screen, assign the detected undamaged screen as the selected backup display screen; and

if the detecting fails to detect an undamaged display screen, determine a least damaged display screen among the plurality of display screens, and assign the determined least damaged display screen as the selected backup display screen.