Patents by Inventor Diana Ulrich Kean

Diana Ulrich Kean has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8698718
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Patent number: 8400384
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Publication number: 20130050610
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which includes a combination including a liquid crystal layer located between an entrance polarizer and an exit polarizer; a backlight configured to illuminate the combination on a side of the liquid crystal layer which includes the entrance polarizer for viewing by an observer on a side of the liquid crystal layer which includes the exit polarizer; and an additional optical element which is positioned between the entrance polarizer and the exit polarizer and is configured to provide additional functionality and/or improved display performance in the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Lesley Anne PARRY-JONES, Diana Ulrich KEAN
  • Patent number: 8344976
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Patent number: 8314918
    Abstract: A display includes a display device having a first polarizer and a second polarizer or a reflector, and a display layer disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer or the reflector. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display layer and one of the first polarizer and the second polarizer or reflector. The liquid crystal molecules of at least one region of the liquid crystal layer are switchable between a first state in which the display has a first display mode with a first viewing angle range and a second state in which the display has a second display mode having a second viewing angle range smaller than the first viewing angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, Anthony John Carver, Paul A. Gass, Heather Ann Stevenson, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Publication number: 20120188238
    Abstract: A multiple view directional display comprises a pixelated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels assigned to display a second image, and a parallax barrier aperture array for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window not overlapping the first viewing window. The display further comprises first light directing means for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region of each first pixel away from the second viewing window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich KEAN, Jonathan MATHER
  • Publication number: 20120147026
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Paul Antony GASS, Diana Ulrich KEAN, Nathan SMITH, Thomas Mathew WYNNE-POWELL, Allan EVANS, Benjamin John BROUGHTON
  • Patent number: 8154800
    Abstract: A multiple view directional display comprises a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels (P1) assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels (P2) assigned to display a second image, and a parallax barrier aperture array (21) for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window (2) and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window (3) not overlapping the first viewing window. The display further comprises first light directing means (31) for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region (25) of each first pixel away from the second viewing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, Jonathan Mather
  • Patent number: 8144093
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Publication number: 20120056914
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Paul Antony GASS, Diana Ulrich KEAN, Nathan SMITH, Thomas Mathew WYNNE-POWELL, Allan EVANS, Benjamin John BROUGHTON
  • Patent number: 7965268
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Publication number: 20110122329
    Abstract: A display for providing several viewing modes of different angular viewing characteristics comprises a display device and a passive optical device (9) of a parallax optic of fixed optical characteristics. The display device comprises a light emitting or modulating layer (7) between first and second electrode arrangements (5, 10, 11). The first electrode arrangement (5) comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes defining pixels of the display device. The second electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of counter electrodes (10, 11) arranged so that each of the pixel electrodes (5) faces a portion of each of the counter electrodes. The counter electrodes are controllable so as to select which portion of each pixel is active. This provides, in cooperation with the optical device (9) the plurality of display viewing modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Benjamin John Broughton, Allan Evans, Michel Sagardoyburu, Nathan James Smith, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Diana Ulrich Kean
  • Publication number: 20110012924
    Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Diana Ulrich Kean, Nathan Smith, Thomas Mathew Wynne-Powell, Allan Evans, Benjamin John Broughton
  • Publication number: 20090168164
    Abstract: A multiple view directional display comprises a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels (P1) assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels (P2) assigned to display a second image, and a parallax barrier aperture array (21) for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window (2) and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window (3) not overlapping the first viewing window. The display further comprises first light directing means (31) for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region (25) of each first pixel away from the second viewing window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, Jonathan Mather
  • Publication number: 20090128746
    Abstract: A display includes a display device having a first polarizer and a second polarizer or a reflector, and a display layer disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer or the reflector. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display layer and one of the first polarizer and the second polarizer or reflector. The liquid crystal molecules of at least one region of the liquid crystal layer are switchable between a first state in which the display has a first display mode with a first viewing angle range and a second state in which the display has a second display mode having a second viewing angle range smaller than the first viewing angle range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, Anthony John Carver, Paul Anthony Gass, Heather Ann Stevenson, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 7359105
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator comprises: a first substrate (25); a second substrate (26); a layer of electrooptic material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A first electrode arrangement (27) is disposed over the first substrate (25); and a second electrode arrangement (35) is disposed over the second substrate (26). The first electrode arrangement (27) comprises first and second electrode layers (28,29) disposed over the first substrate, with the spacing between the first electrode layer (28) and the first substrate (25) being different to the spacing between the second electrode (29) layer and the first substrate (25). The first electrode layer (28) and the second electrode arrangement (35) are configured so as to co-operate, in use, to define a plurality of first addressable regions in the electrooptic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Diana Ulrich Kean, David James Montgomery
  • Patent number: 7154653
    Abstract: A parallax barrier comprises evenly spaced groups of slits. Each group comprises two or more slits which are evenly spaced and the groups are spaced with a period which is greater than the product of the number of slits in each group and the slit period in each group. Such a barrier may be used with a spatial light modulator having columns of pixels whose structure cooperates with the barrier structure to provide a wider angle between views in a multiple view display, such as an autostereoscopic 3D display or a display providing two or more different views to two or more observers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, David James Montgomery, Jonathan Mather, Grant Bourhill, Graham R. Jones
  • Publication number: 20040218245
    Abstract: A parallax barrier comprises evenly spaced groups of slits. Each group comprises two or more slits which are evenly spaced and the groups are spaced with a period which is greater than the product of the number of slits in each group and the slit period in each group. Such a barrier may be used with a spatial light modulator having columns of pixels whose structure cooperates with the barrier structure to provide a wider angle between views in a multiple view display, such as an autostereoscopic 3D display or a display providing two or more different views to two or more observers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, David James Montgomery, Jonathan Mather, Grant Bourhill, Graham R. Jones