US6157424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
2D/3D imaging display
Assignee: Dimension Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-30
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2018-03-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved 2D/3D display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display uses both an imaging LCD and a secondary LCD. The secondary LCD is a light line forming LCD which can be placed between a light line forming system and the imaging LCD for eliminating ghost images, or can be used as the light line forming system itself. Variations of a glass sandwich employing an imaging liquid crystal layer and a line forming liquid crystal layer are disclosed. Alternatively, the secondary LCD may comprise a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips. Displays in which a 2D or 3D window can be viewed within a 3D or 2D window, respectively, are disclosed using light line forming systems and alternatively using light line forming LCD's which have the opaque stripes divided into individually controllable areas. Movement of one window within another window is disclosed. Also disclosed is a strip diffuser for improving visual characteristics in 3D mode and movable elements for alternating between 2D and 3D mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse B. Eichenlaub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1347; G02B; G02B30/00; G02B30/20; G02B30/26; G02B30/27; G02B30/30; G02B30/31; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/305; H04N13/31; H04N13/356; H04N13/359; H04N13/361; H04N13/398; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133504; G02F1/133528; G02F1/133538; G02F1/1336; G02F1/13476; H04N13/10; H04N13/189; H04N13/20; H04N13/286; H04N13/324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A 2D/3D display, comprising: an image forming LCD; a secondary LCD; and an electronic control, connected to the secondary LCD to selectively provide the secondary LCD to be clear when the display is in 2D mode and the secondary LCD to exhibit dark opaque stripes when the display is in 3D mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A 2D/3D display, comprising: an image forming LCD; a secondary LCD; and an electronic control, connected to the secondary LCD to selectively provide the secondary LCD to be clear when the display is in 2D mode and the secondary LCD to exhibit dark opaque stripes when the display is in 3D mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode; a light line forming device, the transparent lines of the secondary LCD being coincident with light lines from the light line forming device, wherein the dark opaque stripes of the secondary LCD block stray light that can cause ghost images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode; a light line forming device, the transparent lines of the secondary LCD being coincident with light lines from the light line forming device, wherein the dark opaque stripes of the secondary LCD block stray light that can cause ghost images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 1 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a light line forming liquid crystal layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 1 wherein the secondary LCD further comprises a front layer of glass and a rear layer of glass sandwiching the liquid crystal layer therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 4 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear layer of glass and a front layer of glass divided by an image forming liquid crystal layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 5 wherein the image forming LCD further comprises a front polarizer on the front layer of glass and a rear polarizer on the rear layer of glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, the secondary LCD comprising a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips having clear spaces in between the polarizing strips.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, the secondary LCD comprising a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips having clear spaces in between the polarizing strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein the liquid crystal layer and the polarizing strips are separated by a layer of glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein a position of molecules within the liquid crystal layer can be changed, upon application of a voltage, to be perpendicular to a polarization direction of the polarizing strips.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 9 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer and wherein a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer, such that the polarization strips appear opaque upon application of the voltage, forming the dark opaque stripes for 3D mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer and wherein a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 1, in which the secondary LCD comprises a plurality of individually addressable sections and the electronic control comprises a plurality of outputs for independently addressing the sections for selectively switching the sections between 2D and 3D modes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 12, wherein the electronic control produces a signal that causes the controllable sections outside a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and another signal that causes the controllable sections within the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 12, wherein the electronic control produces a signal that causes the controllable sections within a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and another signal that causes the controllable sections outside the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, at least some of the dark opaque stripes having individually controllable sections, wherein a 3D imaging area can be viewed within a larger 2D imaging area by turning the controllable sections of the opaque stripes outside a subspatial defined area on the secondary LCD clear while the opaque stripes within the defined area remain dark; software for generating coordinates of a boundary of a defined area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
A 2D/3D display comprising: an image forming LCD; and, a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, at least some of the dark opaque stripes having individually controllable sections, wherein a 3D imaging area can be viewed within a larger 2D imaging area by turning the controllable sections of the opaque stripes outside a subspatial defined area on the secondary LCD clear while the opaque stripes within the defined area remain dark; software for generating coordinates of a boundary of a defined area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 15 comprising a controller for translating information from the software, and comprising line drivers for receiving signals from the controller to make the secondary LCD go clear everywhere except within the defined area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 14 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a light line forming liquid crystal layer, the dark opaque stripes being formed by the liquid crystal layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 14 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips having clear spaces in between the polarizing strips.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 18 wherein a position of molecules within the liquid crystal layer can be changed, upon application of a voltage, to be perpendicular to a polarization direction of the polarizing strips, the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer, a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer, such that the polarization strips appear opaque upon application of the voltage, forming the dark opaque stripes for 3D mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 7, where the secondary LCD comprises a plurality of individually addressable sections.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 20, further comprising an electronic control that produces a first signal that causes the controllable sections outside a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and a second signal that causes the controllable sections within the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 20, further comprising an electronic control that produces a first signal that causes the controllable sections within a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and a second signal that causes the controllable sections outside the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The 2D/3D display of claim 1, where the electronic control applies a voltage to generate dark opaque stripes in the secondary LCD in 3D mode and zero voltage to make the secondary LCD turn clear in 2D mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |