SEE-THROUGH DISPLAY

• US 20110157708A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henryk Birecki, Huei Pei Kuo, Laurence M. Hubby Jr, Steven L. Naberhuis
• Original Assignee: Henryk Birecki, Huei Pei Kuo, Laurence M. Hubby Jr, Steven L. Naberhuis
• Inventors: Kuo, Huei Pei, Birecki, Henryk, Naberhuis, Steven L., Hubby, Laurence M. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/006 Systems in which light light is reflected on a plurality of parallel surfaces, e.g. louvre mirrors, total internal reflection [TIR] lenses Fresnel mirrors G02B5/09, Fresnel lenses G02B3/08

Abstract

A screen includes a first set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a first side of the screen, and a second set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a second side of the screen. An observer on either side of the screen sees an image produced by light directed to that observer by that set of louvers on the same side of the screen as the observer. Objects on the other side of the screen from the observer are visible to the observer between the louvers.

Claims

1. A screen, comprising:

a first set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a first side of the screen, and

a second set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a second side of the screen,

wherein an observer on either side of the screen sees an image produced by light directed to that observer by the set of louvers on a same side of the screen as the observer; and

wherein objects on an opposite side of the screen from the observer are visible to the observer between the louvers.

2. The screen of claim 1, wherein the louver members each have a light absorbing side and a light reflecting side.

3. The screen of claim 2, wherein the light absorbing side of the louver members is coated with materials selected from the group consisting of:

chromium oxide, carbon, a carbon die, titanium, and combinations thereof.

4. The screen of claim 1, wherein the louver members comprise a number of cylindrical mirror segments.

5. The screen of claim 1, wherein the louver members comprise a number of elliptical mirror segments.

6. The screen of claim 1, wherein the louver members are arranged in curved rows with equal spacing therebetween, in which the curved rows are concentric to an image signal source.

7. The screen of claim 1, wherein the image signal light is evenly divided into a first and second portion and in which one of the first or second portion of image signal light is provided to observers on either side of the screen.

8. The screen of claim 1, wherein the first set of louver member are configured to receive a first image signal light and the second set of louver members are configured to receive a second image signal light.

9. A screen, comprising:

a first set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a first side of the screen, and

a second set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a second side of the screen,

said first set of louver members being positioned to receive an image signal light and redirect that image signal light to an observer in front of the screen,

said second set of louver members being positioned to receive an image signal light and redirect that image signal light to an observer in back of the screen, and

wherein objects on an opposite side of the screen from an observer are visible to that observer between the louvers.

10. The screen of claim 9, wherein the louver members each have a light absorbing side and a light reflecting side.

11. The screen of claim 10, wherein the light absorbing side of the louver members is coated with materials selected from the group consisting of:

chromium oxide, carbon, a carbon die, titanium, and combinations thereof.

12. The screen of claim 9, wherein the louver members comprise a number of cylindrical mirror segments.

13. The screen of claim 9, wherein the louver members comprise a number of elliptical mirror segments.

14. The screen of claim 9, wherein the louver members are arranged in curved rows with equal spacing therebetween, in which the curved rows are concentric to an image signal source.

15. The screen of claim 9, wherein the image signal light is evenly divided into a first and second portion and in which one of the first or second portion of image signal light is provided to observers on either side of the screen.

16. The screen of claim 9, wherein the first set of louver member are positioned to receive a first image signal light and the second set of louver members are positioned to receive a second image signal light.

17. A method of displaying an image on a screen, comprising:

with a first set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a first side of the screen, directing light of a projected image to an observer on said first side of the screen, and

with a second set of louver members at least partially disposed in the screen and located proximate to a second side of the screen, directing light of a projected image to an observer on said second side of the screen

wherein objects on an opposite side of the screen from the observer are visible to the observer between the louvers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the louver members are arranged in curved rows with equal spacing therebetween, in which the curved rows are concentric to an image signal source.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

dividing the image signal light evenly into a first portion and a second portion; and

directed said first portion of the image signal light to said first set of louvers and directing said second portion of the image signal light to said second set of louvers.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

with the first set of louver members, receiving a first image signal light; and

with the second set of louver members, receiving a second image signal light.