SEAMLESS DISPLAY PANEL TILING USING AN OPTICAL EXPANSION LAYER

• US 20130279012A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Johnny, Teller, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/754,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279012A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/622
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/027 comprising magnifying means G02B27/023, G02B27/025, G02B27/04, G02B27/06 and G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1066 for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components

Abstract

A display panel for use with a multi-panel display. The display panel includes a display panel including an array of display pixels disposed surrounded by a bezel, the array of display pixels for emitting a display image having a first size, and an optical expansion layer disposed over the array of display pixels to magnify the display image to appear to have a second size larger than the first size and to at least partially conceal the bezel surrounding the housing. The optical expansion layer includes a first array of microlenses optically coupled to the array of display pixels to cause light from the display pixels to diverge, a second array of microlenses having complementary optical power to the first array of microlenses; and an optically transparent offset layer disposed between the first and second arrays of microlenses. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Claims

1. A display panel for use with a multi-panel display, the display panel comprising:

a display panel including an array of display pixels disposed surrounded by a bezel, the array of display pixels for emitting a display image having a first size; and

an optical expansion layer disposed over the array of display pixels to magnify the display image to have a second size that appears larger than the first size and that at least partially conceals the bezel surrounding the housing, wherein the optical expansion layer includes;

a first array of microlenses optically coupled to the array of display pixels to cause light from the display pixels to diverge;

a second array of microlenses having complementary optical power to the first array of microlenses; and

an optically transparent offset layer disposed between the first and second arrays of microlenses.

2. The display panel of claim 1 wherein there is a one-to-one correspondence between optical elements of the first array an optical elements in the second array.

3. The display panel of claim 1 wherein optical elements in the first array are substantially optically aligned with their corresponding optical element in the second array.

4. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the second array of microlenses are laterally offset relative to the first array of microlenses.

5. The display panel of claim 4 wherein the second array of microlenses has an irregular layout pattern to reduce an appearance of seams between adjacent display panels when the display panel is included in the multi-panel display.

6. The display panel of claim 1 wherein there is a one-to-many correspondence between optical elements of the second array and optical elements in the first array.

7. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the optical elements of the first array cause light received from one or more pixels to diverge such that the light exiting the optical elements appears to originate from an image plane behind their array of display pixels.

8. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the optical elements of the first array and the optical elements in the second array can be randomized to have a regular pattern, such that light is directed between optical elements in the first array an optical elements of the second array along oblique optical paths.

9. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the offset layer, the first array, and the second array are formed as a single piece.

10. The display panel of claim 9 wherein the microlenses of the first array are formed as voids in one surface of the offset layer.

11. The display panel of claim 9 wherein the single piece is adhered to the array of display pixels.

12. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the display panel and the optical expansion layers are both non-planar.

13. The display panel of claim 1 wherein one or both of the display panel and the optical expansion layer are flexible.

14. The display panel of claim 1 wherein microlenses in the first and second arrays closest to the edges of the optical expansion layer are tilted.

15. The display of claim 1, further including a mechanism to translate, rotate, or both rotate and translate the microlenses in the first array, the microlenses in the second array, or the microlenses in both the first array and the second array.

16. A tiled multi-panel display comprising a plurality of display panels tiled together along at least one edge of each display panel, each display panel comprising:

an array of display pixels disposed surrounded by a bezel, the array of display pixels for emitting a display image having a first size; and

an optical expansion layer disposed over the array of display pixels to magnify the display image to have a second size that appears larger than the first size and that at least partially conceals the bezel surrounding the housing, wherein the optical expansion layer includes;

a first array of microlenses optically coupled to the array of display pixels to cause light from the display pixels to diverge;

a second array of microlenses having complementary optical power to the first array of microlenses; and

an optically transparent offset layer disposed between the first and second arrays of microlenses.

17. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel optical elements in the first array are substantially optically aligned with their corresponding optical element in the second array.

18. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel the second array of microlenses are laterally offset relative to the first array of microlenses.

19. The multi-panel display of claim 18 wherein in at least one display panel the second array of microlenses has an irregular layout pattern to reduce an appearance of seams between adjacent display panels.

20. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel the optical elements of the first array cause light received from one or more pixels to diverge such that the light exiting the optical elements appears to originate from an image plane behind their array of display pixels.

21. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel the optical elements of the first array and the optical elements in the second array can be randomized to have a regular pattern, such that light is directed between optical elements in the first array an optical elements of the second array along oblique optical paths.

22. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel the offset layer, the first array, and the second array are formed as a single piece.

23. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein each display panel is non-planar.

24. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein the display panels are flexible.

25. The multi-panel display of claim 16 wherein in at least one display panel microlenses in the first and second arrays closest to the edges of the optical expansion layer are tilted.

26. The multi-panel display of claim 16, wherein at least one display panel further includes a mechanism to translate, rotate, or both rotate and translate the microlenses in the first array, the microlenses in the second array, or the microlenses in both the first array and the second array.