Display
First Claim
1. A display comprising a display device which is controllable to provide image display and a first liquid crystal device having at least one liquid crystal layer whose molecules are switchable between a first state providing a first viewing angle range and a second state providing a second viewing angle range which is within and smaller than said first viewing angle range, said first liquid crystal device being arranged, when said liquid crystal molecules are in said second state, to block at least partially light propagating towards a part of said first viewing angle range outside said second viewing angle range, said first liquid crystal device comprising at least one alignment surface and said at least one liquid crystal layer being in contact with said at least one alignment surface, each said at least one alignment surface at each said at least one liquid crystal layer comprising a uniform non-patterned alignment surface, wherein said first liquid crystal device is arranged, when said liquid crystal molecules are in said second state, to superimpose, on light propagating towards said part of said first viewing angle range, a spatially varying amplitude constituting an obscuring pattern for rendering unintelligible an image displayed by said display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display is provided for switching between a narrow or private viewing mode and a wide or public viewing mode. The display comprises a display device which is controlled to provide display of a desired image or sequence of images. This is associated with a liquid crystal device having at least one liquid crystal layer whose molecules are switchable between a first state providing a first angular viewing range and a second state providing a second angular viewing range which is within and smaller than the first angular viewing range. With the molecules in the second state, the device at least partially blocks light propagating towards part of the first angular viewing range outside the second angular viewing range. The or each liquid crystal layer is in contact with at least one alignment surface, the or each of which comprises a uniform non-patterned alignment surface.
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Citations
52 Claims
- 1. A display comprising a display device which is controllable to provide image display and a first liquid crystal device having at least one liquid crystal layer whose molecules are switchable between a first state providing a first viewing angle range and a second state providing a second viewing angle range which is within and smaller than said first viewing angle range, said first liquid crystal device being arranged, when said liquid crystal molecules are in said second state, to block at least partially light propagating towards a part of said first viewing angle range outside said second viewing angle range, said first liquid crystal device comprising at least one alignment surface and said at least one liquid crystal layer being in contact with said at least one alignment surface, each said at least one alignment surface at each said at least one liquid crystal layer comprising a uniform non-patterned alignment surface, wherein said first liquid crystal device is arranged, when said liquid crystal molecules are in said second state, to superimpose, on light propagating towards said part of said first viewing angle range, a spatially varying amplitude constituting an obscuring pattern for rendering unintelligible an image displayed by said display device.
Specification