Display apparatus with electrochromic mirror

• US 10,321,120 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Keun-bae, Lee, Won Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brittingham, Nathaniel P
• Application Number:
  US14/855,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20160127719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/31 involving active parallax barriers involving directional light or back-light sources G02B30/33
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus including: a display panel; a backlight configured to supply light to the display panel; and a parallax barrier disposed between the display panel and the backlight, wherein the parallax barrier includes an electrochromic mirror (ECM).

Claims

1. A three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

a backlight configured to supply light to the display panel;

a parallax barrier including an electrochromic mirror (ECM) and disposed between the display panel and the backlight; and

a controller configured to control the ECM,

wherein the ECM comprises one or more blocking portions configured to block light and one or more transmitting portions configured to transmit light,

wherein a size and a position of the one or more blocking portions and the one or more transmitting portions, respectively, are adjusted based on electricity applied to the ECM, and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to a portion of the display panel displaying a dark portion of a screen, control the ECM to set an area of the ECM corresponding to the portion of the display panel as a blocking portion.

2. The 3D display apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the blocking portions and the transmitting portions are alternately formed in the ECM.

3. The 3D display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust positions of the blocking portions and positions of the transmitting portions based on a position of a viewer.

4. The 3D display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backlight comprises:

a light guide panel configured to guide the supplied light toward the display panel;

a pair of 3D light sources disposed on opposite ends of the light guide panel; and

a two-dimensional light source disposed behind the light guide panel.

5. The 3D display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pair of 3D light sources and the two-dimensional light source comprise respective substrates and respective pluralities of light emitting diodes disposed on the respective substrates.

6. The 3D display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal panel.

7. A display apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

a backlight configured to supply light to the display panel;

an electrochromic mirror (ECM) disposed between the display panel and the backlight; and

a controller configured to control the ECM,

wherein the ECM comprises one or more blocking portions configured to block light and one or more transmitting portions configured to transmit light,

wherein a size and a position of the one or more blocking portions and the one or more transmitting portions, respectively, are adjusted based on electricity applied to the ECM, and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to a portion of the display panel displaying a dark portion of a screen, control the ECM to set an area of the ECM corresponding to the portion of the display panel as a blocking portion.

8. The display apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the blocking portions and the transmitting portions are alternately formed in the ECM.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the backlight comprises:

a light guide panel configured to guide the supplied light toward the display panel;

a pair of 3D light sources disposed on opposite side ends of the light guide panel; and

a two-dimensional light source disposed behind the light guide panel.

10. The display apparatus of claim 7, wherein a reflectivity of the ECM is adjustable based on the electricity applied to the ECM.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reflectivity of the ECM is adjustable based on the electricity applied to the ECM to provide the one or more blocking portions and the one or more transmitting portions.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control the ECM to form a parallax barrier with the one or more blocking portions and the one or more transmitting portions.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to control the ECM to form the parallax barrier by forming the one or more blocking portions and the one or more transmitting portions in alternating strips.

14. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to control the ECM to adjust the parallax barrier based on a position of a viewer of the display apparatus relative to a front of the display panel.

15. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to control the ECM to adjust the parallax barrier based on a distance of a viewer of the display apparatus from the display panel.