Abstract: A beam shaping device (1; 31) comprising first (3; 33) and second (4; 37) optically transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2; 36) sandwiched there between, and first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes arranged on a side of the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) facing the first substrate (3; 34). The beam shaping device (1; 31) is controllable between beam-shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam-shaping device in a direction perpendicular thereto. The beam shaping device (1; 31) is configured in such a way that application of a voltage (V) across the first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes results in an electric field having a portion essentially parallel to the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) in a segment thereof between neighboring portions of the electrodes (5, 6; 34; 35) and extending substantially from the first substrate (3; 34) to the second (4; 35) substrate.

Abstract: A beam shaping device (1; 31) comprising first (3; 33) and second (4; 37) optically transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2; 36) sandwiched there between, and first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes arranged on a side of the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) facing the first substrate (3; 34). The beam shaping device (1; 31) is controllable between beam-shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam-shaping device in a direction perpendicular thereto. The beam shaping device (1; 31) is configured in such a way that application of a voltage (V) across the first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes results in an electric field having a portion essentially parallel to the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) in a segment thereof between neighboring portions of the electrodes (5, 6; 34; 35) and extending substantially from the first substrate (3; 34) to the second (4; 35) substrate.

Abstract: An auto-stereoscopic display device includes a display panel having an array of display pixels for producing a display; and a view forming unit having an array of view forming elements. Each view forming elements is configurable to focus the outputs of groups of the display pixels into views projected towards a user in different directions. The display device further includes a view deflecting unit to selectably change the directions in which the plurality of views is projected towards the user. The view deflecting unit includes at least one birefringent prism having a first refractive index for light having a first polarization direction and a second refractive index for light having a second polarization direction. The view deflecting unit further includes a polarization switch in registration with the birefringent prism for providing the birefringent prism with display light having the first or second polarization direction.

Abstract: It is disclosed an appearance-modifying device (10), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby. The appearance-modifying device (10) comprises two oppositely arranged substrates (11, 12), which are spaced apart by a spacer structure (13). The spacer structure (13) spaces apart the two substrates (11, 12) in such a way that a space between the two substrates (11, 12) is divided into a plurality of cells (15, 16), the shapes of the individual cells (15, 16) being such that an aperiodic cell pattern (14) is formed by the cells (15, 16). Each cell (15, 16) may comprise an optically transparent fluid having a plurality of particles dispersed therein. The particles are moveable in the fluid through application of an electric field. An appliance at least partly covered by the appearance-modifying device (10) is also disclosed. Furthermore, it is disclosed a method for manufacturing the appearance-modifying device.

Abstract: A scanning display apparatus includes a display operable to receive driver signals and generate corresponding visual information for presentation on the display, to sense radiation received at the display and generating corresponding sensing signals corresponding to a region proximate to the display. The apparatus also includes computer hardware coupled to the display for generating driver signals for the display and for receiving the sensing signals from the display. The computer hardware is operable to provide an interactive user interface at the display.

Abstract: An appearance-modifying device (10; 30), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby, comprising: first (11) and second (12) oppositely arranged optically transparent substrates; a spacer structure (13; 32) spacing apart the first (11) and second (12) substrates in such a way that a space between the first (11) and second (12) substrates is divided into a plurality of cells (15, 16; 31a-c).

Abstract: An image display including a touch-sensitive display, that creates tactile sensation and movement of an object (3-2) along its surface is provided. Actuators including conductive rods (4-111, 4-112) attached together may be used, such that each rod of the actuator (4-11) may increase or decrease in size when current is applied to that rod to cause the actuator to bend toward a specified direction. Also, an image display that includes ball bearings (1-10) whose rotation is controlled by driving magnets (1-21, 1-22) to cause an object to move is provided. Further, air holes (3-11) tilted in various directions to control object movement by air pressure may be provided. Moreover, rods (3-10) may be moved up or down as activated by driving magnets (2-20). The actuators, rods, ball bearing assemblies, or holes may provide touch sensitivity for the image display.

Abstract: An image display including a touch-sensitive display, that creates tactile sensation and movement of an object (3-2) along its surface is provided. Actuators including conductive rods (4-111, 4-112) attached together may be used, such that each rod of the actuator (4-11) may increase or decrease in size when current is applied to that rod to cause the actuator to bend toward a specified direction. Also, an image display that includes ball bearings (1-10) whose rotation is controlled by driving magnets (1-21, 1-22) to cause an object to move is provided. Further, air holes (3-11) tilted in various directions to control object movement by air pressure may be provided. Moreover, rods (3-10) may be moved up or down as activated by driving magnets (2-20). The actuators, rods, ball bearing assemblies, or holes may provide touch sensitivity for the image display.

Abstract: A beam shaping device (1; 50; 60) comprising first (3) and second (4) substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2) sandwiched between the substrates, and a first electrode layer (5; 51) provided on a side of the first substrate (3) facing the liquid crystal layer (2). The beam shaping device is controllable between beam shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam shaping device, and further comprises an insulating layer (7) covering the first electrode layer (5; 51) and a second electrode layer (6; 53) provided on top of the insulating layer. The second electrode layer (6; 53) comprises a conductor pattern exposing a portion of the insulating layer (7).

Abstract: An appearance-modifying device (10; 30; 80; 100), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby, comprising a first substrate (11) having a first electrode (17a, 18a; 33) arranged on a first side thereof; a second substrate (12) arranged opposite the first side of the first substrate (11), the second substrate (12) having a second electrode (18a, 18b; 35) arranged on a side thereof facing the first substrate (11); a spacer structure (13; 32) spacing apart the first (11) and second (12) substrates in such a way that a space between the first (11) and second (12) substrates is divided into a plurality of cells (15, 16; 31a-c; 81a-c; 101).

Abstract: It is disclosed an appearance-modifying device (10), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby. The appearance-modifying device (10) comprises two oppositely arranged substrates (11, 12), which are spaced apart by a spacer structure (13). The spacer structure (13) spaces apart the two substrates (11, 12) in such a way that a space between the two substrates (11, 12) is divided into a plurality of cells (15, 16), the shapes of the individual cells (15, 16) being such that an aperiodic cell pattern (14) is formed by the cells (15, 16). Each cell (15, 16) may comprise an optically transparent fluid having a plurality of particles dispersed therein. The particles are moveable in the fluid through application of an electric field. An appliance at least partly covered by the appearance-modifying device (10) is also disclosed. Furthermore, it is disclosed a method for manufacturing the appearance-modifying device.

Abstract: An appearance-modifying device (10; 30), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby, comprising: first (11) and second (12) oppositely arranged optically transparent substrates; a spacer structure (13; 32) spacing apart en the first (11) and second (12) substrates in such a way that a space between the first (11) and second (12) substrates is divided into a plurality of cells (15, 16; 31a-c).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an appearance-modifying device (2, 6, 9; 10; 30), for modifying the visual appearance of a surface covered thereby is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first substrate (11) having, on a first side thereof, a first electrode layer (17) covered by a dielectric layer (21); providing a second substrate (12) opposite the first side of the first substrate (11); arranging a spacer structure (13) between the first (11) and second (12) substrates to form a plurality of-cells (15, 16; 31) in such a way that an area occupied by each cell includes a portion of the first electrode layer (17); providing a second electrode (18) spaced apart from the first electrode layer (17) at least by the dielectric layer (21), forming, in each of the cells (15, 16; 31), a recess in the dielectric layer (21); and providing, in each of the cells(15, 16; 31), an optically transparent fluid (19) having a plurality of particles (20) dispersed therein.

Abstract: An auto-stereoscopic display device which addresses the problem of how to provide an improved three dimensional effect without degrading the resolution of the views. The auto-stereoscopic display device comprises: image forming means having an array of display pixels for producing a display; view forming means positioned in registration with the image forming means and having an array of view forming elements, the view forming elements each being configurable to focus the outputs of groups of the display pixels into a plurality of views projected towards a user in different directions; and view deflecting means positioned in registration with the view forming means, the view deflecting means being arranged to selectably change the directions in which the plurality of views are projected towards the user.

Abstract: A beam shaping device (1; 50; 60) comprising first (3) and second (4) substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2) sandwiched between the substrates, and a first electrode layer (5; 51) provided on a side of the first substrate (3) facing the liquid crystal layer (2). The beam shaping device is controllable between beam shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam shaping device, and further comprises an insulating layer (7) covering the first electrode layer (5; 51) and a second electrode layer (6; 53) provided on top of the insulating layer. The second electrode layer (6; 53) comprises a conductor pattern exposing a portion of the insulating layer (7).

Abstract: A beam shaping device (1; 31) comprising first (3; 33) and second (4; 37) optically transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2; 36) sandwiched there between, and first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes arranged on a side of the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) facing the first substrate (3; 34). The beam shaping device (1; 31) is controllable between beam-shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam-shaping device in a direction perpendicular thereto. The beam shaping device (1; 31) is configured in such a way that application of a voltage (V) across the first (5; 34) and second (6; 35) electrodes results in an electric field having a portion essentially parallel to the liquid crystal layer (2; 36) in a segment thereof between neighboring portions of the electrodes (5, 6; 34; 35) and extending substantially from the first substrate (3; 34) to the second (4; 35) substrate.

Abstract: A scanning display apparatus (10) is described. The apparatus (10) includes a display (70) operable: (I) to receive driver signals and generate corresponding visual information for presentation on the display (70); and (ii) to sense radiation received at the display (70) and generating corresponding sensing signals corresponding to a region proximate to the display. The apparatus (10) also includes computer hardware (80) coupled to the display (70) for generating the one or more driver signals for the display (70) and for receiving the one or more sensing signals from the display (70), the computer hardware (80) being operable to provide an interactive user interface (ULI) at the display (70). The display (70) comprises an array of pixel devices (150), each such device (150) integrally being operable to emit radiation therefrom or transmit radiation therethrough, and also to sense radiation incident thereupon. Preferably, the pixel devices (150) are implemented in polyLEDs and/or LCD/TFT technologies.