Image display device, electronic apparatus using the same, display output control method for image display device, and output control program thereof

• US 9,244,546 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mimura, Koji, Sumiyoshi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): FRY, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US13/164,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/211, 359/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1309 Repairing; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1323 Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/506 Repairing, e.g. with redundant arrangement against defective part
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/508 Pseudo repairing, e.g. a defective part is brought into a condition in which it does not disturb the functioning of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/028 by changing the viewing angle properties, e.g. widening the viewing angle, adapting the viewing angle to the view direction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3603 with thermally addressed liquid crystals

Abstract

Provided is a display device having a viewing angle changing function, which is capable of preventing leakage of information displayed on a display screen even when there is a fault generated in changing the viewing angle. The image display device including a viewing angle changing element capable of changing a wide vision display and a narrow vision display and including a display element is provided with a detection element which detects a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element and a module for changing to a narrow vision display when there is a fault based on a detection value of the detection element. For example, when there is a fault, a transparent heater is operated to heat a liquid crystal layer to set a transparent-scattering changing element to a transparent state and forcibly set the display device to a narrow vision display.

Claims

1. An image display device, comprising:

a display device main body which includes a display element for displaying prescribed image information to outside and a viewing angle changing element for setting to change outputted display of image information on the display element at least from a wide vision display to a narrow vision display based on a changing command from the outside, wherein;

the display device main body is provided with an operation state detection element which detects an operation state of the viewing angle changing element based on an electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element; and

a fault judging module which compares an electric current value detected by the operation state detection element with an electric current value under a normal operation measured and stored in advance and, judges whether or not there is a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a result of the comparison, wherein

the viewing angle changing element is provided with a narrow vision forcible setting module which operates when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault, and forcibly sets the outputted display of the display element to a narrow vision display state, wherein

the narrow vision forcible setting module is formed by a forcible heating mechanism which heats the viewing angle changing element, and wherein

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is stopped and the forcible heating mechanism heats the viewing changing element, and

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is not a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing elements is not stopped.

2. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the forcible heating mechanism is formed by a transparent heater made with a transparent electrode and a power supply circuit which supplies power to the transparent heater.

3. An electronic apparatus, comprising the image display device as claimed in claim 1 loaded for displaying information.

5. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the viewing angle changing element judges whether or not a fault classified into a plurality of modes is generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a level of an electric current value detected by an electric current detection element.

4. A display output control method used for an image display device comprising a display device main body which includes a display element for displaying prescribed image information to outside and a viewing angle changing element for setting to change outputted display of image information on the display element at least from a wide vision display to a narrow vision display based on a changing command from the outside, the method comprising:

detecting an electric current flowing into the viewing angle changing element by an electric current detection element provided to the display device main body;

executing comparison processing for comparing the electric current value detected by the electric current detection element with an electric current value under a normal operation measured and stored in advance, and judgment processing by a fault judging module provided to the display device main body for judging whether or not there is a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a result of the comparison; and

setting the output display of the display element to a narrow vision display state forcibly by a narrow vision forcible setting module that is provided to the viewing angle changing element, when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault,

wherein the narrow vision forcible setting module is formed by a forcible heating mechanism which heats the viewing angle changing element, and wherein

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is stopped and the forcible heating mechanism heats the viewing changing element, and

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is not a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is not stopped.