Privacy filter apparatus for a notebook computer display

• US 6,765,550 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Janick, Jan Michael, Resnick, Russell Alan, Locker, Howard Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US09/844,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 353/104, 359/609, 349/497, 349/12, 349/117, 348/744
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/00 Optical elements other than lenses light guides G02B6/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1323 Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing

Abstract

The display of a notebook computer includes a privacy filter extending over the display screen to limit the viewing angle within which the image on the screen can be discerned. To allow for normal viewing when the privacy feature is not required, the privacy filter is movable from the screen by sliding into a cavity extending from one side of the screen to be rolled onto a roller or to be stored partly behind the screen. Alternately, a privacy filter is provided that is electrically switchable between a mode in which the viewing angle is limited and a mode in which normal viewing is permitted. The movable privacy filter includes closely spaced louvers surrounded by clear plastic or, alternately, a polarizer. The switchable privacy filter includes a liquid crystal device and a polarizer.

Claims

1. Display apparatus for a notebook computer including a forward extending lower portion having a number of keys to be depressed for providing a user input, and an upper portion pivotally mounted along a rear edge of said forward-extending lower portion to extend upward from said forward extending lower portion when said upper portion is opened, wherein said display apparatus comprises:

a display panel including a display surface, wherein said display panel causes a visible image to be produced on said display surface in response to electrical signals generated within said computing system;

a display cover extending around said display panel, wherein said display cover includes a window outwardly exposing said display surface and a cavity extending from a first end of said window to a closed end of said cavity, wherein said display panel and said display cover form portions of said upper portion of said notebook computer, and wherein a portion of said display cover extending around said cavity extends forward from a portion of said display cover extending around said window and above said forward extending lower portion when said upper portion is opened;

a privacy filter including a filter sheet, wherein said privacy filter is movable between a closed position with said filter sheet extending to cover said display surface and an open position exposing said display surface through said window, wherein a first portion of said privacy filter in said open and closed positions extends into said cavity, and wherein said filter sheet limits a viewing angle through which said visible image is discernible; and

a roll rotatably mounted within said cavity, wherein a first end of said privacy filter is attached to a peripheral surface of said roll, wherein rotating said roll in a first direction wraps an increasing portion of said privacy filter around said roll, moving said privacy filter from said closed position to said open position, and rotating said roll opposite said first direction unwraps an increasing portion of said privacy filter from said roll, moving said privacy filter from said open position to said closed position.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a spring causing said roll to rotate in said first direction, and a latch holding said privacy filter in said closed position, wherein said spring moves said privacy filter from said closed position to said open position when said latch is released with said privacy filter in said closed position.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said privacy filter includes a bar attached to an end of said privacy filter opposite said first end of said privacy filter, and

said latch engages said bar as said privacy filter is moved into said closed position.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a motor driving said roll in said first direction and, alternately, opposite said first direction.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising:

means for accepting a first user input for opening said privacy filter and a second user input for closing said privacy filter;

a first detector providing a first signal indicating that said privacy filter is in said open position, wherein said motor drives said roll in said first direction in response to said first user input until said first signal is provided; and

a second detector providing a second signal indicating that said privacy filter is in said closed position, wherein said motor drives said roll in said second direction in response to said second user input until said second signal is provided.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a first slot extending along a first edge of said window, wherein said first edge of said window extends from said first end of said window, and wherein a first edge portion of said privacy filter slides within said first slot; and

a second slot extending along a second edge of said window, wherein said second edge of said window extends opposite said first edge of said window, and wherein a second edge portion of said privacy filter slides within said second slot.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter sheet includes a plurality of transparent sections separated by louvers.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display panel includes a liquid crystal display causing an illuminated portion of said visible image to be polarized in a first plane, and said filter sheet includes a polarizer cross polarized with light polarized in said first plane.

9. Display apparatus for a computing system, comprising:

a display panel including a display surface, wherein said display panel causes a visible image to be produced on said display surface in response to electrical signals generated within said computing system;

a display cover extending around said display panel, wherein said display cover includes a window outwardly exposing said display surface and a cavily extending from a first end of said window to a closed end of said cavity, wherein said cavity includes a rear cavity portion extending along a side of said display panel opposite said display surface;

a privacy filter including a filter sheet, wherein said privacy filter is movable between a closed position with said filter sheet extending to cover said display surface and an open position exposing said display surface through said window, wherein a first portion of said privacy filter in said open and closed positions extends into said cavity, and wherein said filter sheet limits a viewing angle through which said visible image is discernible; and

a curved deflector deflecting a portion of said privacy filter into said rear cavity portion as said privacy filter is moved from said open position into said closed position.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said privacy filter includes a bar for moving said privacy filter, extending outward from an end of said privacy filter opposite said first portion of said privacy filter.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said privacy filter is held in place by frictional contact between said privacy filter and said curved deflector.

12. The display apparatus of claim 9, additionally comprising:

a first slot extending along a first edge of said window, wherein said first edge of said window extends from said first end of said window, and wherein a first edge portion of said privacy filter slides within said first slot; and

a second slot extending along a second edge of said window, wherein said second edge of said window extends opposite said first edge of said window, and wherein a second edge portion of said privacy filter slides within said second slot.