Display system with phase oriented reflective control

• US 10,434,948 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tonar, William L., Cammenga, David J., Dozeman, Gary J., Minikey, Jr., Danny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soto Lopez, Jose R
• Application Number:
  US15/612,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3041 comprising multiple thin layers, e.g. multilayer stacks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/122 where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer

Abstract

A vehicle display mirror system is disclosed. The system comprises a display device and a reflecting polarizer. The display device is operable to display image data on a display surface as display light. The reflecting polarizer comprises a light receiving surface proximate the display surface and configured to output the display light in a first polarization from an emitting surface. The system further comprises a liquid crystal element, a polarizing element, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the liquid crystal element and configured to selectively align a liquid crystal material to pass the display light through the liquid crystal element and deactivate the liquid crystal element to adjust a received light from the first polarization to a second polarization and reflect the second polarization from the emitting surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle display mirror system, comprising:

a display device operable to display image data on a display surface as display light;

a reflecting polarizer comprising a light receiving surface disposed proximate the display surface, the reflecting polarizer configured to output the display light in a first polarization from an emitting surface, wherein the reflecting polarizer is angled in a non-parallel configuration from the display surface at a first angle, wherein the first angle is between 2 degrees and 8 degrees;

a liquid crystal element comprising a liquid crystal material and forming a first surface and a second surface, the first surface disposed proximate the emitting surface, wherein the liquid crystal element is angled in a non-parallel configuration from the reflecting polarizer at a second angle;

a polarizing layer forming a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface disposed proximate the second surface of the liquid crystal element; and

a controller in communication with the liquid crystal element, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the liquid crystal material to;

in a display state, align the liquid crystal material to pass the display light through the liquid crystal element in the first polarization and outward from the fourth surface; and

in a mirror state, deactivate the liquid crystal element to adjust a received light from the first polarization to a second polarization and reflect the second polarization from the emitting surface.

2. The display mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising an electro-optic device disposed proximate the fourth surface.

3. The display mirror system according to claim 2, wherein the electro-optic device is configured to receive the received light and output the received light into the polarizing layer.

4. The display mirror system according to claim 3, wherein the electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate configured to form a cavity, the cavity configured to retain an electro-chromic medium.

5. The display mirror system according to claim 2, further comprising a glare light sensor configured to communicate a glare signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a reflectance of the received light.

6. The display mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing layer is arranged substantially parallel to the liquid crystal element.

7. The display mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the first angle and the second angle are similar angles.

8. The display mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the first angle and the second angle are complementary angles orienting the display surface of the display device parallel to the liquid crystal element.

9. The display mirror system according to claim 7, wherein the first angle is between 2 degrees and 6 degrees.

10. A vehicle display apparatus, comprising:

a display device operable to display image data on a display surface as display light;

a reflecting polarizer comprising a light receiving surface disposed proximate the display surface, the reflecting polarizer configured to output the display light in a first polarization from an emitting surface, wherein the reflecting polarizer is angled from the display surface at a first angle;

a liquid crystal element comprising a liquid crystal material and forming a first surface and a second surface, the first surface disposed proximate the emitting surface, wherein the liquid crystal element is angled from the reflecting polarizer at a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle form interior angles greater than one degree, wherein the polarizing layer is arranged as a transversal to the interior angles;

a polarizing layer forming a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface disposed proximate the second surface of the liquid crystal element; and

a controller in communication with the liquid crystal element, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the liquid crystal material to;

in a display state, align the liquid crystal material to pass the display light through the liquid crystal element in the first polarization and outward from the fourth surface; and

in a mirror state, deactivate the liquid crystal element to adjust a received light from the first polarization to a second polarization and reflect the second polarization from the emitting surface.

11. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially similar such that the display surface is parallel to the liquid crystal element.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an electro-optic device disposed proximate the fourth surface.

13. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an anti-reflective coating applied to a viewing surface of the electro-optic device.

14. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the electro-optic device comprises an electrochromic structure configured to change in transmittance in response to a voltage potential communicated from the controller.

15. A vehicle display mirror system, comprising:

a display device operable to display image data on a display surface as display light;

a reflecting polarizer comprising a light receiving surface disposed proximate the display surface, the reflecting polarizer configured to output the display light in a first polarization from an emitting surface, wherein the reflecting polarizer is arranged at a first angle in a non-parallel configuration relative to the display surface;

a liquid crystal element comprising a liquid crystal material and forming a first surface and a second surface, the first surface disposed proximate the emitting surface, wherein the liquid crystal element is arranged at a second angle in a non-parallel configuration relative to the reflecting polarizer, wherein the first angle and the second angle are formed by a transversal formed by the reflecting polarizer;

a polarizing layer forming a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface disposed proximate the second surface of the liquid crystal element; and

a controller in communication with the liquid crystal element, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the liquid crystal material to;

in a display state, align the liquid crystal material to pass the display light through the liquid crystal element in the first polarization and outward from the fourth surface; and

in a mirror state, deactivate the liquid crystal element to adjust a received light from the first polarization to a second polarization and reflect the second polarization from the emitting surface.

16. The display mirror system according to claim 15, further comprising an electro-optic device disposed proximate the fourth surface.

17. The display mirror system according to claim 16, wherein the electro-optic device is configured to receive the received light and output the received light into the polarizing layer.

18. The display mirror system according to claim 17, wherein the electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate configured to form a cavity, the cavity configured to retain an electro-chromic medium.

19. The display mirror system according to claim 16, further comprising a glare light sensor configured to communicate a glare signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a reflectance of the received light.