Abstract: A display device includes control electronics and a pixellated liquid crystal (LC) panel. The control electronics receives inputs of main image data for a main image and side image data for a side image. The control electronics outputs combined image data combining the main and side images such that an on-axis viewer perceives from the combined image the main image, and an off-axis viewer perceives from the combined image the side image. The output image data comprises data values chosen from a set of available output data values for the pixels selected from multiple sets of available data values depending on at least on the side image data. For a pixel currently being processed, the output data value is chosen from the selected set of available output data values for which a resulting luminance value is closest to a target luminance value for the current pixel.

Abstract: An optical component (1) is switchable between a directional mode and a 2-D mode. The optical component (1) comprising a lens array and an electro-optic layer, for example a liquid crystal layer, disposed in the path of light through the lens array. In the 2-D display mode the lens array has an optical effect on light passing through the component and the electro-optic layer at least partially nullifies the effect. For example the electro-optic layer may, in the 2-D display mode, scatter light or diverge light so as to nullify the focusing effect of the lens array. The optical component (1) may be disposed in the path of light through an image display panel (2) to form a display that may be switched between a directional display mode, eg a 3-D display mode, and a 2-D display mode by suitably switching the optical component (1).

Abstract: A switchable imaging device (1) has a first mode of operation in which the device performs an imaging function and a second mode of operation different from the first mode, for example a non-imaging mode. In the first mode of operation the device comprises at least one first region that performs a lensing action and at least one second region that at least partially absorbs light passing through the or each second region. The switchable imaging device (1) may be disposed in path of light through an image display panel (4). This provides a display that may be operable in either a directional display mode such as an autostereoscopic 3D display mode or a 2-D display mode, by controlling the switchable imaging device to be in its first mode or its second mode.

Abstract: A display device in which ambient light reflections, for example, from IPS or FFS type displays are reduced by a circular polariser (e.g., linear polariser combined with external quarter waveplate) to make the light circular polarized, as it traverses the multiple reflective layers between the polariser and LC layer, and then an internal quarter waveplate converts the light back to linear polarisation before it enters the LC, so the display can operate as normal, while the circular polariser absorbs unwanted reflections of ambient light from within the display.

Abstract: A color display includes multiple composite pixels, each composite pixel including sub-pixels of more than one color type. Sub-pixels of at least one of the color types are provided with differing luminance capability in different composite pixels. Each composite pixel may include red, green and blue sub-pixels having different luminance capability in different composite pixels. The differing luminance capability may be achieved by providing sub-pixels of at least one of the color types of differing relative area. An image data processing unit (IDPU) receives input image data of a standard format, and modifies the input image data into output image data for display to account for a discrepancy between the luminance capability based on the differing luminance capability or differing size of each sub-pixel, and a luminance capability as expected based on the input image data. The IPDU then outputs the output image data to control the composite pixels.

Abstract: A display system includes a first image display, a second image display, a specular reflective polariser disposed between the first image display and the second image display, and an optical diffuser layer disposed between the first image display and reflective polariser. The reflective polariser and optical diffuser may be combined into a single film with the reflective polariser disposed on a viewing side of the display system, and the optical diffuser disposed between the first image display and reflective polariser. A controller is configured to address image data to the first image display and the second image display. The controller, the first image display and second image display are configured to selectively operate to pass light through the specular reflective polariser and the optical diffuser layer in accordance with multiple display functions in which the first image display and the second image display have different viewing properties to a viewer.

Abstract: A multiple view display comprises a display device and a plurality of converging lenses, such as a lenticular screen. Each lens cooperates with a respective region of the display device comprising one or more pixels (L) for displaying part of a first image for viewing in a first viewing region (Region 2 windows) and second pixels (R) for displaying part of a second image for viewing in a second region (Region 1 windows). The second pixels (R) are spaced horizontally from the first pixels (L). Each lens comprises first and second portions (Region 1, Region 2) extending vertically and parallel to each other and having lens centers (Lens Center 1, Lens Center 2) spaced apart horizontally. Each lens forming first and second images of the respective region of the display device, the first and second images being displaced from one another in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A display comprises independently addressable pixels, a pixel comprising first and second electrodes (12a,12b) disposed on a first substrate and spaced apart from one another. A counter electrode (22) is provided on a second substrate, with an electro-optical material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. A controller, in use, applies a first voltage to the first electrode of the pixel, a second voltage different to the first voltage to the second electrode of the pixel, and a third voltage to the counter electrode of the pixel to define in the pixel at least one of a first region (18a), a second region (18c) and a third region (18b). The first, second and third voltages are selected such that an area of the first region, second region and third region or each of the first, second region and third region defined in the pixel produces a desired greyscale level for the pixel.

Abstract: An optical modulation device has an electro-optical cell in which first and second electrodes (3a, 3b) are disposed on a first substrate (1), in electrical contact with a resistive layer (2) disposed on the first substrate. A third electrode (3c) is disposed on a second substrate (5), and an electro-optic material (4) is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. When different voltages (V0, V1) are applied to the first and second electrodes (3a, 3b) in a first mode of operation, a voltage gradient is set up along the resistive layer (2). By applying an intermediate voltage (Vsig) to the third electrode (3c), it is possible to define at least a first region (6a) in the electro-optical cell in which the voltage applied across the electro-optical material is lower than a switching threshold voltage and a second region (6b) in the electro-optical cell in which the voltage applied across the electro-optical material is greater than the switching threshold voltage.

Abstract: A display system which includes a first image display; a second image display; a reflective polariser disposed between the first image display and the second image display, with the second image display disposed on a viewing side of the display system; and a controller for addressing image data to the first image display and the second image display, wherein the controller, the first image display and second image display are configured to selectively operate in accordance with: a first display function in which the first image display is visible to a viewer through the second image display and the second image display appears substantially transparent to the first image display; a second display function in which the display system is in a reflective mode that conveys information to a user; and a third display function in which images are addressed to both the first image display and the second image display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises an active matrix substrate (6) and a counter-substrate (7) provided with homeotropic alignment surfaces (11). A layer of nematic liquid crystal material is provided between the alignment surfaces (11) so as to form a vertically aligned nematic device. The substrates (6, 7) carry a pixel electrode arrangement and a counter-electrode arrangement which define a plurality of pixel regions. Each of least some of these regions has a pixel electrode (13), which may be split into two halves, and a counter-electrode (8) which are arranged to apply an electric field for controlling the liquid crystal director (12) out-of-plane tilt angle. A further electrode (14), for example in the form of a plurality of parallel fingers, cooperates with at least one of the other electrodes (8, 13) to apply a second electric field for controlling the director in-plane azimuth angle. Such a device may be used, for example, as a switchable public/private display.

Abstract: A display comprises a parallax optic (2), such as a combined parallax barrier and lens array, and a pixellated display device (1). The pixels of the display device (1) are arranged as groups cooperating with a parallax element (4) of the parallax optic (2). Each group comprises a first pixel (A) aligned with the centre of the parallax element (4), second and third pixels (B, C) on either side of the first pixel (A), and fourth pixels (D) shared with adjacent groups and disposed outside the second pixels (B, C). The parallax elements (4) make the different pixels of each group visible in different viewing regions. A control arrangement selects regions of the display and selects different combinations of the pixels of each group for image display within respective regions so as to provide simultaneously-present different viewing modes having different viewing range characteristics.

Abstract: A display comprises independently addressable pixels, a pixel comprising first and second electrodes (12a,12b) disposed on a first substrate and spaced apart from one another. A counter electrode (22) is provided on a second substrate, with an electro-optical material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. A controller, in use, applies a first voltage to the first electrode of the pixel, a second voltage different to the first voltage to the second electrode of the pixel, and a third voltage to the counter electrode of the pixel to define in the pixel at least one of a first region (18a), a second region (18c) and a third region (18b). The first, second and third voltages are selected such that the area of the or each of the first, second region and third region defined in the pixel produces a desired greyscale level for the pixel.

Abstract: A display system which includes a first image display; a second image display; a reflective polariser disposed between the first image display and the second image display, with the second image display disposed on a viewing side of the display system; and a controller for addressing image data to the first image display and the second image display, wherein the controller, the first image display and second image display are configured to selectively operate in accordance with: a first display function in which the first image display is visible to a viewer through the second image display and the second image display appears substantially transparent to the first image display; a second display function in which the display system appears as a plane mirror to the viewer; and a third display function in which the display system appears as a patterned mirror to the viewer.

Abstract: A switchable imaging device (1) has a first mode of operation in which the device performs an imaging function and a second mode of operation different from the first mode, for example a non-imaging mode. In the first mode of operation the device comprises at least one first region that performs a lensing action and at least one second region that at least partially absorbs light passing through the or each second region. The switchable imaging device (1) may be disposed in path of light through an image display panel (4). This provides a display that may be operable in either a directional display mode such as an autostereoscopic 3D display mode or a 2-D display mode, by controlling the switchable imaging device to be in its first mode or its second mode.

Abstract: An optical component (1) is switchable between a directional mode and a 2-D mode. The optical component (1) comprising a lens array and an electro-optic layer, for example a liquid crystal layer, disposed in the path of light through the lens array. In the 2-D display mode the lens array has an optical effect on light passing through the component and the electro-optic layer at least partially nullifies the effect. For example the electro-optic layer may, in the 2-D display mode, scatter light or diverge light so as to nullify the focusing effect of the lens array. The optical component (1) may be disposed in the path of light through an image display panel (2) to form a display that may be switched between a directional display mode, eg a 3-D display mode, and a 2-D display mode by suitably switching the optical component (1).

Abstract: A single view display of reduced power consumption is provided. The display comprises a display device for displaying the single view and an optical system for concentrating light modulated by the single view into a reduced angular range. A viewer direction determining system determines the direction of a viewer relative to the display and controls the display device and the optical system so that the angular range includes the direction of the viewer.

Abstract: A display device having a display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation includes a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group including a first pixel having a first type of luminance against viewing angle response, and a second pixel having a second type of luminance against viewing angle response, wherein the first and second luminance against viewing angle responses are different from one another. The display device further includes a controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of pixel groups, wherein the controller is configured to drive each of the plurality of pixel groups such that on average the plurality of pixel groups simultaneously provide a predetermined on-axis luminance and an predetermined off-axis luminance for a region of the image corresponding to each pixel group.

Abstract: A multiple view display comprises a display device and a plurality of converging lenses, such as a lenticular screen. Each lens cooperates with a respective region of the display device comprising one or more pixels (L) for displaying part of a first image for viewing in a first viewing region (Region 2 windows) and second pixels (R) for displaying part of a second image for viewing in a second region (Region 1 windows). The second pixels (R) are spaced horizontally from the first pixels (L). Each lens comprises first and second portions (Region 1, Region 2) extending vertically and parallel to each other and having lens centres (Lens Centre 1, Lens Centre 2) spaced apart horizontally. Each lens forming first and second images of the respective region of the display device, the first and second images being displaced from one another in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a first alignment surface which induces a high pretilt greater than 45° but less than 90°; a typical value is 85°. The pretilt has a component parallel to the surface pointing in a predetermined direction. A second alignment surface induces a low pretilt which is less than 45° but greater than 0°; a typical pretilt is 5°. The low pretilt has a component parallel to the second surface which also points in the predetermined direction. A layer of crystal material is disposed in between the first and second surfaces. A novel liquid crystal mode is thus provided and is referred to as the “splay-twist mode”. Such a device may be used in a switchable public/private display.