Abstract: Apparatus for a smudge-resistant structure and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary smudge-resistant structure includes a transparent substrate having a macrostructured surface configured to reduce contact with the transparent substrate and an oxidizing layer overlying the macrostructured surface.

Abstract: A visual search assistance system and related operating method are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the method dynamically determines a desired line-of-sight vector from an occupant of a vehicle to a visual target, and dynamically determines, with an onboard tracking system of the vehicle, an actual line-of-sight vector for the occupant of the vehicle. The actual line-of-sight vector is temporally associated with the desired line-of-sight vector. The method compares the actual line-of-sight vector against the desired line-of-sight vector to obtain a difference measurement, and generates a notification when the obtained difference measurement exceeds a threshold value. The notification provides guidance to redirect a gaze direction of the occupant toward the visual target.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing image uniformity in a head-up display (HUD) are provided. An imaging subsystem is characterized in that if light of a first uniformity is propagated therethrough, an uncompensated image would be displayed to a user via uncompensated image light. The uncompensated image light has first and second portions with respective first and second values of a radiant property. A difference between the first and second values is a first amount. The light source is configured to emit source light of a second, predetermined uniformity through the imaging system such that a compensated image is displayed to the user via compensated image light. The first portion of the compensated image light has a third value of the radiant property, and the second portion of the compensated image light has a fourth value of the radiant property. A difference between the third and fourth values is less than the first amount.

Abstract: A visual search assistance system and related operating method are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the method dynamically determines a desired line-of-sight vector from an occupant of a vehicle to a visual target, and dynamically determines, with an onboard tracking system of the vehicle, an actual line-of-sight vector for the occupant of the vehicle. The actual line-of-sight vector is temporally associated with the desired line-of-sight vector. The method compares the actual line-of-sight vector against the desired line-of-sight vector to obtain a difference measurement, and generates a notification when the obtained difference measurement exceeds a threshold value. The notification provides guidance to redirect a gaze direction of the occupant toward the visual target.

Abstract: Apparatus for a smudge-resistant structure and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary smudge-resistant structure includes a transparent substrate having a macrostructured surface configured to reduce contact with the transparent substrate and an oxidizing layer overlying the macrostructured surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling the touch sensitivity of a projected capacitive touch detection system are provided. The temperature that is at least representative of the touch sensitive region temperature is sensed. Based on the sensed temperature, the numbers of the capacitive touch sensors that have different strength electric fields applied thereto are varied and/or the relative magnitudes of the different electric fields are varied. When installed in a vehicle, the operational state of the vehicle may also impact this operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for compensating a liquid crystal display for changes in brightness level. The apparatus comprises a variable brightness back-light optically coupled to a display panel whose properties depend upon back-light brightness. An electrical circuit measures back-light brightness and/or display flicker and sends this information to a controller. The controller automatically determines a display panel compensation signal based on back-light brightness and/or display flicker, and sends this compensation signal to the display panel to optimize the display panel properties for the commanded or observed back-light brightness level or flicker level so as to, for example, minimize display panel flicker and/or ghost image retention. Such automatic compensation is especially useful for head-up displays that must accommodate large variations in display brightness, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting content comprising a plurality of frames using display panel comprising an array of display elements. A method comprises transferring image data for a first frame of the plurality of frames to a display element at the beginning of a first frame interval and activating an illumination assembly after transferring image data for the first frame to the display element to present the first frame. The method further comprises transferring image data for a second frame to an energy storage element corresponding to the display element during the first frame interval, and deactivating the illumination assembly prior to transferring the image data for the second frame from the energy storage element to the display element.

Abstract: A touch screen display and touch screen system is provided. The display and system include a rigid substrate having a top face, a plurality of parallel conductive scan lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of parallel conductive sense lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of dielectric pads located at junctions of the plurality of scan lines and plurality of sense lines electrically isolating the plurality of scan lines from the plurality of sense lines, a flexible substrate having a bottom face oriented above the top face of the rigid substrate and a plurality of conductive features located on the bottom face of the flexible substrate and electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling the touch sensitivity of a projected capacitive touch detection system are provided. The temperature that is at least representative of the touch sensitive region temperature is sensed. Based on the sensed temperature, the numbers of the capacitive touch sensors that have different strength electric fields applied thereto are varied and/or the relative magnitudes of the different electric fields are varied. When installed in a vehicle, the operational state of the vehicle may also impact this operation.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for controlling the luminance of a display. One apparatus includes a pre-charge circuit configured to supply a pre-charge voltage to a column of LED pixels, a programming circuit configured to supply current to the column, and a switch configured to selectively couple the pre-charge circuit or the programming circuit to the column. A system includes an array of LED pixels arranged in a plurality of columns. A plurality of pre-charge circuits, each configured to selectively supply a pre-charge voltage to at least one column of pixels, and a plurality of current sources, each configured to selectively supply current to at least one column of pixels are also included. One method includes determining a pre-charge voltage for each of a plurality of columns based on a target luminance level selected from the plurality of luminance levels and supplying the determined pre-charge voltages to the columns.

Abstract: A touch screen display and touch screen system is provided. The display and system include a rigid substrate having a top face, a plurality of parallel conductive scan lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of parallel conductive sense lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of dielectric pads located at junctions of the plurality of scan lines and plurality of sense lines electrically isolating the plurality of scan lines from the plurality of sense lines, a flexible substrate having a bottom face oriented above the top face of the rigid substrate and a plurality of conductive features located on the bottom face of the flexible substrate and electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying an image on a display device having first and second light sources are provided. A video signal is provided to the display device. The video signal includes a plurality of frames, and each frame includes first and second sub-frames corresponding to the respective first and second light sources. The first light source is operated for a first duration during the first sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second light source is operated for a second duration during the second sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second duration is different than the first duration.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting content comprising a plurality of frames using display panel comprising an array of display elements. A method comprises transferring image data for a first frame of the plurality of frames to a display element at the beginning of a first frame interval and activating an illumination assembly after transferring image data for the first frame to the display element to present the first frame. The method further comprises transferring image data for a second frame to an energy storage element corresponding to the display element during the first frame interval, and deactivating the illumination assembly prior to transferring the image data for the second frame from the energy storage element to the display element.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for dimming pixels on an active matrix light-emitting diode display. One apparatus includes an LED couplable between a voltage source and ground. First and second pulse-width modulation (PWM) drivers are also coupled to the LED. A system includes a plurality of LEDs forming a plurality of rows coupled between a voltage source and ground. A plurality of PWM drivers, each coupled to each of the LEDs in one of the plurality of rows, and a global PWM driver coupled to each of the plurality of LEDs in each of the plurality of rows are also included. One method includes providing current to each LED of a row of LEDs for a first portion of a cycle via a PWM driver, and providing current to each LED in the row for a second portion of the cycle via a different PWM driver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying an image on a display device having first and second light sources are provided. A video signal is provided to the display device. The video signal includes a plurality of frames, and each frame includes first and second sub-frames corresponding to the respective first and second light sources. The first light source is operated for a first duration during the first sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second light source is operated for a second duration during the second sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second duration is different than the first duration.

Abstract: A display device includes a substrate. At least a portion of a plurality of pixel circuits are disposed over or integrated into a first surface of the substrate, and arranged in a matrix. A control device is disposed over a second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for controlling the luminance of a display. One apparatus includes a pre-charge circuit configured to supply a pre-charge voltage to a column of LED pixels, a programming circuit configured to supply current to the column, and a switch configured to selectively couple the pre-charge circuit or the programming circuit to the column. A system includes an array of LED pixels arranged in a plurality of columns. A plurality of pre-charge circuits, each configured to selectively supply a pre-charge voltage to at least one column of pixels, and a plurality of current sources, each configured to selectively supply current to at least one column of pixels are also included. One method includes determining a pre-charge voltage for each of a plurality of columns based on a target luminance level selected from the plurality of luminance levels and supplying the determined pre-charge voltages to the columns.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for dimming pixels on an active matrix light-emitting diode display. One apparatus includes an LED couplable between a voltage source and ground. First and second pulse-width modulation (PWM) drivers are also coupled to the LED. A system includes a plurality of LEDs forming a plurality of rows coupled between a voltage source and ground. A plurality of PWM drivers, each coupled to each of the LEDs in one of the plurality of rows, and a global PWM driver coupled to each of the plurality of LEDs in each of the plurality of rows are also included. One method includes providing current to each LED of a row of LEDs for a first portion of a cycle via a PWM driver, and providing current to each LED in the row for a second portion of the cycle via a different PWM driver.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing image uniformity in a head-up display (HUD) are provided. An imaging subsystem is characterized in that if light of a first uniformity is propagated therethrough, an uncompensated image would be displayed to a user via uncompensated image light. The uncompensated image light has first and second portions with respective first and second values of a radiant property. A difference between the first and second values is a first amount. The light source is configured to emit source light of a second, predetermined uniformity through the imaging system such that a compensated image is displayed to the user via compensated image light. The first portion of the compensated image light has a third value of the radiant property, and the second portion of the compensated image light has a fourth value of the radiant property. A difference between the third and fourth values is less than the first amount.