SCREEN AND IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20130082986A1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: YAMAUCHI, Taisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/137 characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13756 the liquid crystal selectively assuming a light-scattering state G02F1/1334, G02F1/13718 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/62 Translucent screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13

Abstract

A screen including a first liquid crystal layer area including a polymer dispersion liquid crystal material and capable of switching a state of the first liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a scatter state based on voltage application and a second liquid crystal layer area provided outside the first liquid crystal layer area, including a liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye, and capable of switching a state of the second liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a colored state based on voltage application.

Claims

1. A screen comprising:

a first liquid crystal layer area including a polymer dispersion liquid crystal material and capable of switching a state of the first liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a scatter state based on voltage application; and

a second liquid crystal layer area provided outside the first liquid crystal layer area, including a liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye, and capable of switching a state of the second liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a colored state based on voltage application.

2. The screen according to claim 1,

wherein the screen is capable of operating in a first state in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, and a second state in which the first and second liquid crystal layer areas both operate in the transmission state, and

an image is displayed in the first liquid crystal layer area that operates in the first state.

3. The screen according to claim 1,

wherein the voltages are applied by common electrodes to the first and second liquid crystal layer areas.

4. The screen according to claim 2,

wherein the first state is produced when the voltages are applied, and

the second state is produced when no voltage is applied.

5. The screen according to claim 2,

wherein the second state is produced when the voltages are applied, and

the first state is produced when no voltage is applied.

6. The screen according to claim 1,

wherein the voltages are applied by different electrodes independently of each other to the first and second liquid crystal layer areas.

7. The screen according to claim 1,

wherein a color displayed in the colored state is black.

8. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 1;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

9. The image display system according to claim 8,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.

10. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 2;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

11. The image display system according to claim 10,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.

12. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 3;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

13. The image display system according to claim 12,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.

14. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 4;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

15. The image display system according to claim 14,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.

16. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 6;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

17. The image display system according to claim 16,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.

18. An image display system comprising:

the screen according to claim 7;

a projector that displays an image on the screen; and

a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.

19. The image display system according to claim 18,

wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.