Single display assembly having selective reflectors to view indicia

• US 6,132,048 A
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Qi, Peana, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/393,282
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 353/20, 353/120, 353/122, 353/DIG. 3, 349/61, 349/16, 349/62, 349/162, 349/113, 359/15
• US Class Current: 353/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605

Abstract

A single display assembly (10) has an electronically controllable display (11) with a plurality of display elements (12) and sandwiched by two support plates (13,14), two polarizers (15,16) and two selective reflectors, namely a first selective reflector (17) and a second selective reflector (18). Support plates (13,14) and polarizers (15,16) are transparent media to permit passage of light. Selective reflectors (17,18) are holographic reflectors that are each pre-recorded with characteristics that includes a range (19 or 20) of predetermined incident angles relative to inward facing horizontal surfaces (24,25) and an angular transparency range (not shown) for passage of light. Assembly (10) has two opposite sides (21,22) to view indicia provided by display elements (12). Indicia can be selectively viewed from either of sides (21 or 22) without interference from external background of a remaining one of sides (21 or 22).

Claims

1. A single display assembly having selective reflectors, said assembly comprising:

an electronically controllable display; and

at least two selective reflectors including a first selective reflector and a second selective reflector, said display being sandwiched by said selective reflectors,

wherein incident light passing through said first selective reflector and said display is reflected back by said second selective reflector through said display and said first selective reflector, said incident light being received within a range of predetermined incident angles relative to an inward facing horizontal surface of said first selective reflector.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein incident light passing through said second selective reflector and said display is reflected back by said first selective reflector through said display and said second selective reflector, said incident light being received within a range of predetermined incident angles relative to an inward facing horizontal surface of said second selective reflector.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said selective reflectors has an angular transparency range associated with said range of predetermined incident angles of the other of said reflectors.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selective reflectors are holographic reflectors.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said holographic reflectors comprises one or more layers of holographic elements.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising at least two transparent media.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said transparent media includes polarizers.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said transparent media includes support plates.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising at least one light guide having at least one light source respectively coupled thereto, said selective reflectors being sandwiched by said at least one light guide.