DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20180226056A1
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charn-Hang Cliff Chan
• Original Assignee: Charn-Hang Cliff Chan
• Inventors: CHAN, Charn-Hang Cliff
• Application Number:
  US15/741,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20180226056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/06 Means for bringing about special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits

Abstract

A display apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of display units (2), each display unit (2) has an adjustable opacity panel (3) switchable between a transparent state and a high opacity state, and a display space (4) for holding an item behind the panel (3), the display space (4) being visible through the panel (3) in the transparent state and not visible in the high opacity state. A controller (5) is configured to switch the panels (3) between the transparent and high opacity states in accordance with one or more of the following: a preset program, a remote instruction from a user, a touch input from a user.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of display units, each having an adjustable opacity panel switchable between a transparent state and a high opacity state, and a display space for holding an item behind the panel, the display space being visible through the panel in the transparent state and not visible in the high opacity state; and

a controller configured to switch the panels between the transparent and high opacity states in accordance with one or more of the following;

a preset program, a remote instruction from a user, a touch input from a user.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1 comprising one or more light sources, each light source having a colour such that when one of the light sources is on, at least one panel adopts the colour of said one light source, or when a plurality of the light sources is on, said panel adopts the combination of colours of said light sources.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to switch the light sources on or off in accordance with one or more of the following:

a preset program, a remote instruction from a user, a touch input from a user.

4. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one or more display units comprises a projector for projecting visual content onto the panel of said display unit, the visual content being visible on said panel in the high opacity state.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to perform one or more of the following:

projecting visual content onto said panel,

changing the visual content projected onto said panel, in accordance with one or more of the following;

a preset program,

a remote instruction from a user,

a touch input from a user.

6. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the preset program is embedded within the controller, or is located locally or remotely in one of the following:

a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld device, a smartphone.

7. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the remote instruction is issued via one or a combination of the following:

a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld device, a smartphone.

8. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the following characteristics of the high opacity state is variable:

colour, tint, shade, tone, degree of opacity.

9. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one panel has a semi-transparent state between the transparent and high opacity states, an item in the display space behind said panel being partially visible in the semi-transparent state, the controller configured to switch said panel between the transparent, semi-transparent, and high opacity states in accordance with one or more of the following:

a preset program, a remote instruction from a user, a touch input from a user.

10. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display units are modular and each display unit is positionable into a different position relative to the other display units.

11. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one or more display units are connectable to the controller via another display unit.

12. A display apparatus according to claim 11 wherein one or more display units is connectable to the controller via another display unit by means of a contact connection between the display units.

13. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the panel is coloured.