Polarized enhanced confidentiality

• US 9,547,112 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Mead, Matthew, Noll, Paul, Mead, Lisa, Casal, Rmi Marcel Louis, Stanfield, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/696,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150247962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/258, 700/259, 700/264, 318/568.12, 901/1, 901/47, 382/293, 382/294, 382/253, 382/254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0015 characterised by the lens design
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/281 used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information in an environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens and polarized non-emissive surfaces located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization and the surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens and surfaces are visible to a person inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens and non-emissive surfaces from outside of the work environment. A polarizing filter having a second direction of polarization arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization is positioned proximate to the window. A person outside the work environment can see inside the environment through the window, but has an altered view of the information on the displays and surfaces.

Claims

1. A system for controlling visibility of information in an enclosed work environment, the system comprising:

one or more polarized electronic screens located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized electronic screens have a first direction of polarization and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized electronic screens is visible to a person inside the enclosed work environment;

one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized electronic screens and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces is visible to the person inside the enclosed work environment;

wherein the enclosed work environment is enabled to allow for a person to have a view within the work environment including viewing of the one or more polarized electronic screens and non-electronic surfaces from outside of the enclosed work environment; and

a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across a camera lens, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;

wherein a person outside of the enclosed work environment can see inside of the enclosed work environment through the camera lens, but has a similarly altered view of the information on the one or more polarized electronic displays and one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera lens is operably connected to a video conferencing system.

3. A system for controlling visibility of information in an enclosed work environment, the system comprising:

one or more polarized emissive screens located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized emissive screens have a first direction of polarization and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized emissive screens is visible to a person inside the enclosed work environment;

one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized emissive screens and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces is visible to the person inside the enclosed work environment;

wherein the enclosed work environment comprises at least one substantially transparent window which permits viewing of the one or more polarized emissive screens and non-emissive surfaces from outside of the enclosed work environment; and

a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across the at least one substantially transparent window, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;

wherein a person outside of the enclosed work environment can see inside of the enclosed work environment through the transparent window, but has a similarly altered view of the information on the one or more polarized emissive displays and one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more polarized emissive screens comprise a display screen.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a network connected to the one or more emissive display screens.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces comprise a vertical surface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the vertical surface comprises a whiteboard.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the second direction of polarization is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction of polarization.

10. A system for preventing visibility of information in an enclosed room, the system comprising:

at least one polarized electronic display screen located within the enclosed room, wherein the at least one polarized electronic display screen includes a first direction of polarization;

at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard located within the enclosed room, wherein the at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard includes a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized electronic display screens;

wherein the enclosed room comprises at least one substantially transparent window for viewing of the at least one polarized electronic display screen and non-electronic whiteboard from outside of the enclosed room; and

a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across the at least one substantially transparent window, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization, and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;

wherein a person outside of the enclosed room cannot see information on the at least one polarized electronic display screen and polarized non-electronic whiteboard.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein information displayed on the at least one polarized electronic display screen is visible to a person inside the enclosed room.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a network connected to the LCD or LED display.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the information displayed on the at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard is visible to a person inside the enclosed room.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second direction of polarization is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction of polarization.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the polarizing filter completely covers the at least one substantially transparent window.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the enclosed room is a conference room.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a network connected to the LCD or LED display.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the polarizing filter partially covers the at least one substantially transparent window.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the enclosed room is a conference room.