Patent Application
20140085178
One type of mirror display includes a mirror with a liquid crystal display (LCD) device positioned behind the mirror. The mirror uses a reflective polarizer on glass to provide for a mirror-like highly reflective surface on the viewer side. When the LCD device is on and displaying information, the polarized light from the LCD device can pass through the reflective polarizer and is visible through the mirror. When the LCD device is off or not displaying information, the reflective polarizer in the area over the LCD device is not passing light from it and thus only reflects light to function as a mirror. These mirror displays do not provide for user interaction with the LCD device and only transmit information to the user when the LCD device is on. Accordingly, a need exists for a mirror display with increased functionality to provide for user interaction with it and other ways to change the displayed information.
A mirror display with controllable information display areas, consistent with the present invention, includes a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side. An LCD device is located on the non-viewer side of the mirror and is capable of displaying information display areas, which are viewable through the mirror on the viewer side. A processor is electronically connected with the LCD device for controlling a position of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.
A method for controlling information display areas on a mirror display, consistent with the present invention, includes displaying information display areas on a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side. The information display areas are provided from the non-viewer side of the mirror and are viewable on the viewer side. The method also includes using a processor to control a position of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror.
The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification and, together with the description, explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,
Embodiments of the present invention include a mirror display that allows a user to arbitrarily position and re-size discrete information display areas within the mirror. Other embodiments include controlling the information display areas in the mirror display based upon particular events.
An information display area is a discrete area displaying information on the LCD device. The information display areas are viewable on the viewer side of the mirror by the LCD device transmitting light through the reflective polarizer and glass sheet. Information display areas are typically rectangular but can have other shapes. Preferably, the areas of the LCD device not displaying information display areas are set to a black background so that those areas are not transmitting light through the reflective polarizer and glass sheet. An information display area can comprise the entire display area of the LCD device. The information display areas can be repositioned or resized using, for example, the Windows desktop and one of the Windows operating systems by Microsoft Corporation, in which case the information display areas are typically referred to as windows.
A sensor 20 is associated with mirror display 10. A host computer 24 is electronically connected with sensor 20 for receiving signals from the sensor. Host computer 24 is also electronically connected with LCD device 12 for use in controlling information display areas on mirror display 10 based upon signals received from sensor 20. Alternatively, host computer 24 can control the information display areas programmatically based upon particular events. For the electronic connection, host computer 24 can have a wired or wireless connection, or both, with sensor 20 and LCD device 12.
Sensor 20 can be located proximate mirror display 10 for receiving commands from a user to control a position of the information display areas. For example, sensor 20 can be implemented with an active depth sensor to receive gesture commands for use in controlling a position of information display areas on mirror display 10. Examples of an active depth sensor include the KINECT sensor from Microsoft Corporation and the sensor described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0199228, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
Sensor 20 can also be implemented with other types of sensors associated with mirror display 10 and not necessarily located proximate the mirror display. For example, sensor 20 can be implemented with a motion sensor or switch. Sensor 20 can be implemented with multiple sensors, for example a sensor located proximate mirror display 10 and another sensor not located proximate mirror display 10.
Aside from controlling a position of the information display areas based upon user commands, they can be controlled in other ways. For example, a motion sensor can detect when a person approaches the mirror display and, in response, move the information display areas to one or more sides of the mirror display such that the center is usable by the person as a mirror.
A mirror display can optionally accommodate more than one viewer. For example, this type of mirror display can utilize not just a proximity sensor but also or instead a more precise location sensor. When multiple users approach the mirror display, the active information display areas are repositioned away from the area directly in front of them and in such a way that those areas do not interfere with either adjacent information display areas or the areas that are used as a mirror.
The following are additional examples of events that can be used for controlling information display areas in a mirror display. Based upon a particular time of day, the mirror display can activate or move a position of the information display areas. A mirror display installed above a water sink in a bathroom can display weather, news, or stock information within information display areas during the times, for example morning hours, when someone is getting ready for work, and a user can enter the specific times during which such information will be displayed. A mirror display in a store fitting room can have current advertisement and store special sales provided in information display areas that automatically move to the sides when someone stands in close proximity in front of the mirror display.
