Multiple image display apparatus

• US 20070069974A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murayama, Akio, Kawata, Yasushi
• Application Number:
  US11/524,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

A multiple image display apparatus includes a back surface display apparatus arranged on a back surface side, a transmission type display device arranged to oppose a display region of the back surface display apparatus, and a light path control unit arranged between the back surface display apparatus and the display device and opposing the display region of the back surface display apparatus and the display device. The light path control unit is configured to optionally switch a transmission mode for transmitting light and a diffusion mode for diffusing light.

Claims

1. A multiple image display apparatus comprising:

a back surface display apparatus arranged on a back surface side;

a transmission type display device opposed to a display region of the back surface display apparatus; and

a light path control unit arranged between the back surface display apparatus and the display device and opposed to the display region of the back surface display apparatus and the display device, the light path control unit being configured to arbitrarily control a transmission mode for transmitting light and a diffusion mode for diffusing light.

2. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a transparent backlight which illuminates the display device and is arranged between the display device and the back surface display apparatus,

wherein the light path control unit is arranged between the display device and the backlight, or between the backlight and the back surface display apparatus.

3. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a transmission type liquid crystal display device.

4. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light path control unit has an effective region opposing the display device and includes a control unit which selectively controls the transmission mode and the diffusion mode in the entire effective region and in an arbitrary region of a part of the effective region.

5. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the transmission mode and the diffusion mode of the light path control unit and displays an image displayed by the back surface display apparatus and an image displayed by the display device as independent images or as an overlapped composite image.

6. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light path control unit has a pair of transparent substrates arranged opposing each other, a polymer dispersing type liquid crystal arranged between the substrates, and an electrode which applies a voltage to the polymer dispersing type liquid crystal.

7. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a housing defining a hermetically sealed space in which the back surface display apparatus, the light path control unit, and the display device are housed, and the housing has a window portion from which the display region of the display device is exposed.

8. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back surface display apparatus has a liquid crystal display device and a backlight which illuminates the liquid crystal display device.

9. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back surface display apparatus includes a meter and a light source which illuminates the meter.

10. The multiple image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back surface display apparatus has a cylindrical support member arranged to be rotatable and having images formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a light source which illuminates the outer peripheral surface of the support member.