METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INFORMATION DISPLAY AREAS IN A MIRROR DISPLAY

• US 20140085178A1
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kokkosoulis, George D., Wardhana, Jane K.
• Application Number:
  US13/625,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/02 Mirrors used as equipment hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers

Abstract

A mirror display with controllable information display areas. The mirror display includes a reflective viewer side to function as a mirror and an LCD device located on a non-viewer side to provide information display areas, which are viewable through the mirror display on the viewer side. A processor is electronically connected with the LCD device for controlling a position, such as the location and size, of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror. The position of the information display areas can be controlled via user input or a signal received from a sensor associated with the mirror.

Claims

1. A mirror display with controllable information display areas, comprising:

a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side;

an LCD device located on the non-viewer side of the mirror and capable of displaying information display areas; and

a processor electronically connected with the LCD device for controlling the information display areas,

wherein the information display areas are viewable through the mirror on the viewer side,

wherein the processor controls a position of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

2. The mirror display of claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises:

a glass sheet;

a reflective polarizer on the non-viewer side of the glass sheet; and

an optically clear adhesive between the glass sheet and the reflective polarizer.

3. The mirror display of claim 1, further comprising a sensor electronically connected with the processor for providing a signal to the processor for use controlling the position of the information display areas.

4. The mirror display of claim 3, wherein the signal is based upon user input to the sensor.

5. The mirror display of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a depth sensor.

6. The mirror display of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.

7. The mirror display of claim 1, wherein the position of the information display areas includes a location of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

8. The mirror display of claim 1, wherein the position of the information display areas includes a size of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

9. The mirror display of claim 1, wherein the LCD device includes a plurality of LCD devices located on the non-viewer side of the mirror.

10. The mirror display of claim 1, wherein a display area of the LCD device is substantially a same size as the mirror.

11. A method for controlling information display areas on a mirror display, comprising:

displaying information display areas on a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side, wherein the information display areas are provided from the non-viewer side of the mirror and are viewable on the viewer side of the mirror; and

controlling, using a processor, a position of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the information display areas through a reflective polarizer on the non-viewer side of the mirror.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the position of the information display areas based upon a signal received from a sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the position of the information display areas based upon user input.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the position of the information display areas based upon a signal received from a depth sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the position of the information display areas based upon a signal received from a motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling a location of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling a size of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying step comprises using a plurality of LCD devices to display the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying step comprises displaying the information display areas on substantially all areas on the viewer side of the mirror.