Patent Application
20140233237
Display technology and uses have advanced over the years to the point where many different types and sizes of display systems are used in a variety of different settings. For example, tablet computers, laptop computers, audio/video players, and mobile phones all typically include display systems for displaying various content to users. In some situations users desire to keep the content being displayed private. For example, a user may be viewing a document that he or she desires to keep private and not be read by other people sitting next to the user. The light from current display systems, however, is oftentimes radiated at a wide angle. This can be problematic as it can make it difficult for users to keep the content being displayed on their devices private.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In accordance with one or more aspects, a light concentrator assembly system includes multiple light concentrators and multiple angular rotators. Each of the multiple light concentrators has an input portion and an output portion, and each is configured to reduce an angular spectrum of light from a different part of a light source received via the input portion of the light concentrator. Each of the multiple angular rotators is configured to route light from a different part of the light source to the input portion of one of the multiple light concentrators while maintaining the angular spectrum of the light.
In accordance with one or more aspects, a light concentrator assembly system includes multiple light concentrators in a light concentrator portion. Each of the multiple light concentrators is configured to receive light at an input portion of the light concentrator and output light at an output portion of the light concentrator. Each of the multiple light concentrators is further configured to reduce the angular spectrum of a light beam received from a different one of multiple parts of a same light source.
The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features.
A light concentrator assembly is discussed herein. The light concentrator assembly includes a concentrator portion having multiple light concentrators. The light concentrator assembly concentrates light received from different parts of a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), and outputs light beams that have an angular spectrum narrower than the light beam received from the light source. Each concentrator of the light concentrator assembly concentrates light from one or more parts of the same light source. The concentrators in the light concentrator assembly can have various shapes, such as an approximately parabolic shape.
The light beams received by the concentrator portion have the same (or approximately the same) angular spectrum as the light output by the light source. Depending on the number and/or shape of concentrators in the concentrator portion, the light concentrator assembly can include an angular rotator portion having multiple angular rotators that each route light from one or more parts of the light source to a different one of the multiple concentrators. Each angular rotator portion routes the light from one or more of the parts of the light source while maintaining the angular spectrum of the light output by that part of the light source.
The light output by the multiple concentrators of the concentrator portion has a light beam width that increases to preserve etendue of the concentrator as the output becomes more collimated. However, because each of the multiple concentrators concentrates light for only part of the light source, each of the multiple concentrators can be shorter than a single concentrator would be, allowing the light concentrator assembly itself to be shorter and thus used in smaller spaces than a single larger concentrator can be used.
Layers 102 can be configured to implement various functionality, such as filtering light emitted by another layer 102, providing protection against scratches to other layers, providing protection against breakage of display system 100, sensing touch or other inputs to display system 100, and so forth. Layers 102 include at least one light emitting panel that emits light that is in turn emitted or output by display system 100. Light is emitted from display system 100 outward from the top surface of top layer 102(1) in the direction illustrated by arrows 104.
Display system 100 emits light in the direction illustrated by arrows 104, and has a narrow angular distribution of light. The angular distribution of light refers to the range of angles relative to a particular direction (e.g., the normal of the surface of display system 100 from which light is emitted) that the light can be seen by a user and thus the content being displayed viewed by the user. The angular distribution of light can also be referred to as the viewing angles for display system 100.
In display system 100, light is emitted by at least one layer 102 that is a light emitting panel. The light emitting panel can be implemented in a variety of different manners.
Light sources 202 emit light having a particular etendue, which is the product of the beam width and the angular distribution of the emitted light (beam width×angular distribution). The angular distribution of the light refers to the range of angles relative to a particular direction that the light can be seen by a user as discussed above. The beam width of the light refers to the physical width (the physical area) of the light source emitting the light (e.g., the physical area of a surface of light source 202 from which the light is emitted). Light concentrator assemblies 204 reduce the angular distribution of light output by light sources 202. The angular distribution of light output by a display system including light emitting panel 200 is dependent on the angular distribution of light input to light emitting panel 200. The angular distribution of light output by a display system including panel 200 increases as the angular distribution of light input to panel 200 increases, and decreases as the angular distribution of light input to panel 200 decreases. Thus, by narrowing the angular distribution of the light input into light emitting panel 200 using light concentrator assemblies 204, the angular distribution of light output by panel 200 can also be narrowed.
In the example of
Light emitting panel 200 can be implemented in a variety of different manners. In one or more embodiments, light emitting panel 200 is implemented using plastic or glass, and has a wedge shape as illustrated in the side view or cross-section view of
Similar to the discussion above regarding
Light source 502 is typically a single light source, such as a single LED, but is treated as having multiple different parts. Although light source 502 is treated as having multiple different parts, light source 502 need not be (and typically is not) physically changed to obtain this separation into different parts.
In the illustrated example of
Angular rotator portion 704 is illustrated as a trapezoid with cross-hatching simply to represent the multiple angular rotators—the shape of the angular rotators in portion 704 can vary based on the number of angular rotators included in portion 704 and for different implementations as desired by the designer of light concentrator assembly 700. Each angular rotator routes light from a part of light source 706 to an input portion of a corresponding concentrator 708. Each angular rotator in portion 704 preserves the angular spectrum of the light beam input to the angular rotator, resulting in the light beam input to the input portion of a concentrator 708 having the same (or approximately the same) angular spectrum as the light beam had when input to the angular rotator (e.g., the same or approximately the same angular spectrum as the light beam had when output by the part of light source 706). In one or more embodiments, there is a one-to-one correlation between angular rotators and concentrators, so each angular rotator routes light to a single concentrator. Alternatively, in some situations an angular rotator can route light to the input portions of multiple concentrators.
The angular spectrum of light refers to the intensity of the light at various angles relative to a reference direction (e.g., a normal of the surface from which the light is emitted). For example, a light source may emit light having an angular spectrum that is a 60-degree Lambertian output, with the light intensity dropping 50% at plus or minus 60 degrees from the reference direction. The angular spectrum of light can be reduced or narrowed, which refers to reducing the intensity of the light at particular angles relative to the reference direction, typically reducing the intensity of the light at angles further from the reference direction. For example, the angular spectrum of the light emitted by a light source may have a reduced angular spectrum with the light intensity dropping 50% at plus or minus 20 degrees from the reference direction. Thus, by reducing or narrowing the angular spectrum of light, the angular distribution of the light is also reduced or narrowed.
Concentrators 708 concentrate light received at an input portion (e.g., portion 716(1) of concentrator 708(1)), and output the light at an output portion (e.g., portion 718(1) of concentrator 708(1)) in the direction of arrows 720. The light output by each of the multiple light concentrators in light concentrator assembly 700 is output in a direction parallel or approximately parallel to the light output by each of the other ones of the multiple light concentrators in assembly 700. In the illustrated example, concentrators 708 have an approximately parabolic shape with a narrower input portion than output portion. Although concentrators 708 are illustrated as being approximately parabolic, it should be noted that concentrators of other shapes can alternatively be used.
The light output by a light concentrator assembly (e.g., assembly 500 of
The light concentrator assembly 500 of
In the illustrated examples of light concentrator assemblies in FIGS. 5 and 7-12, a side view or cross-section view of the light concentrators are illustrated. In one or more embodiments, the light source is a rectangle (e.g., as illustrated in
Angular rotator 822 routes light from light source part 832 (as well as some light from light source part 834) to concentrator 812 while preserving the angular spectrum of the light beam output by light source parts 832 and 834. Angular rotator 824 routes light from light source part 834 (as well as some light from light source part 832) to concentrator 814 while preserving the angular spectrum of the light beam output by light source parts 832 and 834. Angular rotator 826 routes light from light source part 836 (as well as some light from light source part 838) to concentrator 816 while preserving the angular spectrum of the light beam output by light source parts 836 and 838. Angular rotator 828 routes light from light source part 838 (as well as some light from light source part 836) to concentrator 818 while preserving the angular spectrum of the light beam output by light source parts 836 and 838.
The light concentrator assemblies discussed herein can be manufactured in a variety of different manners. In one or more embodiments, the light concentrator assemblies are manufactured using injection molding, with spaces surrounding the light concentrators and angular rotators (if any) being represented by pins or other metal pieces of a mold. The light concentrators and angular rotators (if any) are filled with a material having high transparency and low light scattering characteristics, such as acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, or other material through which light can travel using conventional injection molding techniques, and then the pins or other metal pieces are removed. After removal of the pins or other metal pieces, the light concentrators and angular rotators manufactured from the injected material remain.
In some situations, manufacturing of the light concentrator assemblies can be made more difficult due to their small size. In such situations, the light concentrators and/or angular rotators can be generated as multiple pieces and then combined in order to facilitate the manufacturing of the light concentrator assemblies (e.g., by allowing larger pins or other pieces of metal to be used).
By manufacturing the light concentrator assembly in multiple pieces and combining the pieces, the pins or other metal pieces can be much larger than if the entire light concentrator assembly were manufactured as a single piece. For example, rather than having a pin or metal piece to occupy the space between light concentrators 812 and 814 and angular rotators 822 and 824, the pins or metal pieces can be larger as they occupy (when generating the one set of two light concentrators 812 and 816, and two angular rotators 822 and 826) the space between light concentrators 812 and 816 and angular rotators 822 and 826.
Alternatively, the light concentrator assemblies discussed herein can be manufactured in different manners. For example, the light concentrator assemblies can be manufactured using injection molding, with the light concentrators and angular rotators (if any) being represented by pins or other metal pieces of a mold. The surrounding areas (where pins or metal are absent) are filled with a plastic (e.g., acrylic or polycarbonate) or other material (which may have high transparency and low light scattering characteristics) using conventional injection molding techniques, and then the pins or other metal pieces are removed. Thus, rather than the concentrator assemblies themselves being manufactured from plastic or other material through which light can travel, the light concentrator assemblies are the spaces within the plastic after removal of the pins or other metal pieces.
In one or more embodiments, a display system including the light concentrator assemblies discussed herein supports a private viewing mode. When in the private viewing mode, the angular distribution of light output by the display system is narrowed (e.g., plus or minus 20 degrees from a normal of the surface of the display system). A normal or non-private viewing mode can also be supported by the display system, in which the angular distribution of light output by the display system is wider than the private viewing mode (e.g., plus or minus 60 degrees from a normal of the surface of the display system).
The private viewing and normal viewing modes can be implemented in a variety of different manners. In one or more embodiments, different light sources are interspersed among one another in the display system, some outputting light through light concentrator assemblies and others not outputting light through light concentrator assemblies. For example, a row of LEDs along one side of a light emitting panel can input light to the light emitting panel, with alternating (e.g., odd numbered) LEDs outputting light through light concentrator assemblies and other (e.g., even numbered) LEDs not outputting light through light concentrator assemblies. In such embodiments, the private viewing mode is activated by powering on and using the light sources that output light through light concentrator assemblies as the light sources for the light emitting panel of the display system, and the normal viewing mode is activated by powering on and using the light sources that do not output light through light concentrator assemblies as the light sources for the light emitting panel of the display system.
It should be noted that, for the light concentrator assemblies discussed herein, all (or approximately all) of the light from the light source is input to the multiple concentrators of the light concentrator assembly. In situations in which the light concentrator assembly does not include an angular rotator portion, the input portions of the multiple light concentrators of the light concentrator assembly receive all (or approximately all) of the light directly from the light source. In situations in which the light concentrator assembly includes an angular rotation portion, the angular rotators of the angular rotation portion route all (or approximately all) of the light from the light source to the multiple light concentrators of the light concentrator assembly. Thus, very little (if any) light from the light source is lost as a result of using the light concentrator assembly discussed herein.
In process 1400, light is routed from different parts of a light source to light concentrators while maintaining the angular spectrum of the light (act 1402). The light concentrators are different light concentrators of a concentrator assembly, as discussed above. The light from the different parts of the light source can be input to the light concentrators directly, or can be routed through angular rotators of an angular rotator portion prior to being input to the light concentrators as discussed above.
Each light concentrator narrows the angular spectrum of the light input to the light concentrator (act 1404). By narrowing the angular spectrum, the angular distribution of the light is also narrowed. The light concentrators are different light concentrators of a concentrator assembly, as discussed above. The light concentrators can have various shapes as discussed above.
Computing device 1500 includes hardware components including one or more processors 1502, one or more computer readable media 1504 which can include one or more memory and/or storage components 1506, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 1508, and a bus 1510 that allows the various components and devices to communicate with one another. Various additional hardware components can optionally be included in computing device 1500. Computer readable media 1504 and/or one or more I/O devices 1508 can be included as part of, or alternatively may be coupled to, computing device 1500. Processor 1502, computer readable media 1504, one or more of devices 1508, and/or bus 1510 can optionally be implemented as a single component or chip (e.g., a system on a chip). Bus 1510 represents one or more of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, a processor or local bus, and so forth using a variety of different bus architectures. Bus 1510 can include wired and/or wireless buses.
Memory/storage component 1506 represents one or more computer storage media. Component 1506 can include volatile media (such as random access memory (RAM)) and/or nonvolatile media (such as read only memory (ROM), Flash memory, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so forth). Component 1506 can include fixed media (e.g., RAM, ROM, a fixed hard drive, etc.) as well as removable media (e.g., a Flash memory drive, a removable hard drive, an optical disk, and so forth).
One or more input/output devices 1508 allow a user to enter commands and information to computing device 1500, and also allows information to be presented to the user and/or other components or devices. Examples of input devices include a keyboard, a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a microphone (e.g., for voice inputs), a touchscreen or other sensor (e.g., for gesture inputs), a scanner, and so forth. Examples of output devices include a display device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, a network card, and so forth. Input/output devices 1508 can include a display system 100 of
Computing device 1500 can implement various functionality using software or program modules. Generally, software includes routines, programs, applications, objects, components, data structures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. An implementation of these modules and techniques may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available medium or media that can be accessed by a computing device. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise “computer storage media” and “communication media.”
“Computer storage media” include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. Computer storage media refer to media for storage of information and/or storage that is tangible, in contrast to mere signal transmission, carrier waves, or signals per se. Thus, computer storage media refers to non-signal bearing media, and is not communication media.
“Communication media” typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also include any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
