Mirror with built-in display

• US 20070041096A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Peeters, Emiel, Cornelissen, Hugo, Van Delden, Martinus Hermanus, Nieuwkerk, Armanda
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/483
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133622 Colour sequential illumination

Abstract

A mirror device (1) which can be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display (5) with a polarizing min or (2) placed in front of it. the reflectivity of such a mirror display is enhanced by providing at its non-viewing side a further polarizing mirror (11) Color absorption in the display is prevented by placing the color filter (13) or a color (sequential) backlight (30) behind this reflective polarizer at the back of the display.

Claims

1. A polarizing mirror (1) for viewing purposes having a first plane (2) reflecting light of a first kind of polarization (20′

) to a viewing side, the mirror passing light of a second kind of polarization (20″

) and being provided with a display device (5) at its non-viewing side, which display device during use provides light of the second kind of polarization, the mirror display device having at the non viewing side at least one of a group comprising a further polarizing mirror and color generating means (13, 30).

2. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 1, having the further polarizing mirror between an electro-optical layer (6) of the display device and color generating means.

3. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 2, the color generating means comprising a color filter (13).

4. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 2, the color generating means comprising a color sequential backlight (30).

5. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 2, the color generating means comprising a backlight emitting narrow bands of light.

6. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 5, the emitting bands of light having a bandwidth of at most 20 nm.

7. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 1, the polarizing mirror at its viewing side having polarizing means (32,34) being switchable between two optical states.

8. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 7 in which the switchable polarizing means at its viewing side comprises between two substrates a liquid crystal layer comprising a dye (34).

9. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 7 in which the switchable polarizing means at its viewing side comprises a ½

λ

retarder (32) and a polarizer (33).

10. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 1, the polarizing mirror between the display device and the further polarizing mirror having polarizing means being switchable between two optical states.

11. A polarizing mirror as claimed in claim 10 in which the switchable polarizing means between the display device and the further polarizing mirror comprises between two substrates a liquid crystal layer comprises a dye.