Polarized enhanced confidentiality

• US 10,061,138 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• 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, Remi Marcel Louis, Stanfield, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie M
• Application Number:
  US15/847,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20180107014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 700245, 700258, 700259, 700264
• 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 a work environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens is visible from inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens 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. From outside the work environment, the inside of the environment can be seen through the window, but with an altered view of the information on the displays.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a viewing area;

an information screen disposed within the viewing area, the information screen configured to display information visible on the information screen from within the viewing area, the information screen configured to display the information by;

reflecting polarized light of a first polarization;

emitting polarized light of the first polarization;

or

both reflecting and emitting polarized light of the first polarization;

a window comprising;

a transparent substrate; and

a window polarizer extending across the transparent substrate, the window polarizer oriented with its polarization axis to block light of the first polarization and pass light of a second polarization;

a viewing-restricted area separated from the viewing area by the window, where display of the information to the viewing-restricted area is inhibited by the window polarizer, but the viewing area is at least partially visible through the window via light of the second polarization.

2. The system of claim 1, where the information screen comprises:

a whiteboard; and

a polarizer affixed to a surface of the whiteboard.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a projector; and

a source polarizer disposed at an output of the projector, the source polarizer configured to polarize light emitted by the projector in first polarization; and

where the information screen comprises a projector screen configured to reflect the light emitted by the projector after polarization.

4. The system of claim 3, where an orientation of the source polarizer is rotatably adjustable to select a portion of the light from the projector to be polarized in the first polarization.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed within the viewing area, the light source configured to illuminate the viewing in area in light of the second polarization.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wall separating the viewing area from the viewing-restricted area, where the window is embedded within the wall.

7. The system of claim 1, where the window comprises a panel of a divider configured to separate the viewing area from the viewing-restricted area.

8. A method comprising:

displaying information on an information screen within a viewing area by;

reflecting polarized light of a first polarization off of the information screen;

emitting polarized light of the first polarization from the information screen;

or

both reflecting and emitting polarized light of the first polarization;

blocking polarized light of the first polarization at a window disposed between the view area and a viewing-restricted area to obstruct viewing of the information through the window, the window comprising;

a transparent substrate; and

a window polarizer extending across the transparent substrate, the window polarizer oriented with its polarization axis to block light of the first polarization and pass light of a second polarization; and

allowing transmission of light of the second polarization through the window.

9. The method of claim 8, where the information screen comprises:

a whiteboard; and

a polarizer affixed to a surface of the whiteboard.

10. The method of claim 8, where displaying the information comprises:

passing emitted light from a projector through a source polarizer; and

reflecting the emitted light off of the information screen after passing the emitted light through the source polarizer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotatably adjusting an orientation of the source polarizer to select a portion of the light from the projector to be polarized in the first polarization.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising inhibiting viewing to the viewing-restricted area responsive to an entry of a person, a robotic telepresence, or both into the viewing-restricted area.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising illuminating the viewing area with a light source configured to generate light of the second polarization.

14. A method of manufacture comprising:

fabricating a window comprising;

a transparent substrate; and

a window polarizer extending across the transparent substrate, the window polarizer oriented with its polarization axis to block light of a first polarization and pass light of a second polarization;

the window configured to, when placed to separate a viewing-restricted area from a viewing area;

inhibit, by the window polarizer, display of information on an information screen to the viewing-restricted area where;

the information screen is disposed within the viewing area, the information screen configured to display the information which is visible on the information screen from within the viewing area, the information screen configured to display the information by;

 

reflecting polarized light of the first polarization;

 

emitting polarized light of the first polarization;

or

 

both reflecting and emitting polarized light of the first polarization;

allow, at least partially, viewing of the viewing area from the viewing-restricted area through the window via light of the second polarization.

15. The method of manufacture of claim 14, further comprising fabricating the information screen.

16. The method of manufacture of claim 15, where the information screen is configured to display the information by:

passing emitted light from a projector through a source polarizer; and

reflecting the emitted light off of the information screen after passing the emitted light through the source polarizer.

17. The method of manufacture of claim 16, where an orientation of the source polarizer is rotatably adjustable to select a portion of the light from the projector to be polarized in the first polarization.

18. The method of manufacture of claim 16, further comprising embedding a camera within the information screen.

19. The method of manufacture of claim 15, where the information screen comprises:

a whiteboard; and

a polarizer affixed to a surface of the whiteboard.

20. The method of manufacture of claim 14, further comprising fabricating a light source, the light source configured to, when disposed within the viewing area, illuminate the viewing in area in light of the second polarization.