Multilayer video screen

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 9137525
  • Patent Number
    9,137,525
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 15, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 15, 2015
    9 years ago
Abstract
A display device comprising at least two display layers at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar configuration to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/NZ2003/000153, filed Jul. 15, 2003, which published in English. The entire disclosure of the International Application No. PCT/NZ2003/000153 is incorporated herein by reference.


TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to methods of providing improved quality video display system.


BACKGROUND ART

A method of creating the appearance of depth in video displays is to use a multilayer display system typically comprising at least two parallel coaxial video screens separated by between 10 and 100 millimetres in depth. The rear screen can be larger than the front screen and the screens are preferably separated by a slab of clear material of refractive index substantially greater than 1 which both supports the two screens and helps avoid the effect of looking through a window in that the edges of the view between the screens are made to largely disappear. The front screen is transparent except where its pixels are activated to create a display so that it is possible to see behind much of the front screen to the background shown on the rear screen. Backlighting for the front screen is provided by illumination from the rear screen or more commonly a common backlight is used for both screens, being placed behind the rear screen which for this case is also transparent except where pixels are activated. The front screen can also be formed from transparent electro-luminescent technology where pixels and sub-pixels produce their own light. With the backlit system it is found that there is sufficient diffusion of light from the back screen even when activated to allow normal colour vision on the front screen as well.


Multi-layered display (MLD) units provide a significant improvement over existing single layer display (SLD) units or displays. MLD units may be used to nest display content over spacially displaced or stacked layers to provide an enhanced mechanism for information absorption and analysis by users. An example of an existing multi-layer display is discussed for example in WO9942889 A.


Reference throughout this specification will also be made to the present invention being used in conjunction with multi-layer displays of the type disclosed in WO9942889A. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the present invention may also be adapted for use with other types of MLD units and reference to the above only throughout this specification should in no way be seen as limiting.


It is known from studies of human vision that the human eye is more sensitive to intensity than colour in interpreting detail in images. Furthermore, of the primary colours red green and blue, the eye is least sensitive to blue. The relative sensitivity of the eye to red is 0.51 compared to green and to blue is 0.19. Accordingly a video image in which the blue sub-pixels are up to 5 times the area of the green sub-pixels shows no obvious visual loss of resolution compared to an image in which the blue sub-pixels are the same size as the green sub-pixels. Therefore it is possible to reduce the cost of a video pixel system by using a smaller number of larger blue sub-pixels without losing resolution.


A pixel is defined as the smallest resolvable area of an image on a display device. Each pixel in a monochrome image has its own brightness, from 0 for black to the maximum value (e.g. 255 for an eight-bit pixel) for white. In a colour image, each pixel has its own brightness and colour, usually represented as a triple of red, green and blue intensities. To turn on a pixel, the integrated circuit sends a charge down the correct column of one substrate and a ground activated on the correct row of the other. The row and column intersect at the designated pixel and that delivers the voltage to untwist the liquid crystals at that pixel. A sub-pixel is the colour filter and its components.


Liquid Crystal Displays depend on thin film transistors (TFT). Thin film transistors are tiny switching transistors and capacitors. They are arranged in a matrix on a glass substrate and often referred to as the black matrix. To address a particular pixel, the proper row is switched on, and then a charge is sent down the correct column. Since all of the other rows that the column intersects are turned off, only the capacitor at the designated pixel receives a charge. The capacitor is able to hold the charge until the next refresh cycle. And if the amount of voltage supplied to the crystal is carefully controlled, it can be made to untwist only enough to allow some light through. By doing this in very exact, very small increments, Liquid Crystal Displays can create a grey scale. Most displays today offer 256 levels of brightness per pixel.


The basic form of the multilayer display as described above suffers from certain problems. When similar liquid crystal display screens are used for both the front and rear screens the display suffers from a Moiré fringe pattern which makes it unusable. Moiré interference is usually described as “an independent usually shimmering pattern seen when two geometrically regular patterns (such as two sets of parallel lines or two liquid crystal display screens) are superimposed especially at an acute angle”. The independent pattern seen is the result of the interference between the two or more regular patterns. This can be circumvented as disclosed in patent WO9942889A such as by placing at least one light diffusing layer immediately in between display layers. However one effect of the diffusion screen is to reduce the sharpness of the rear screen to viewers. Another undesirable effect is to reduce the contrast of the rear screen to viewers.


A further problem with the system is that it is difficult to get sufficient brightness from the backlighting for the display. By improving the transparency of one or more of the pixel patterns the brightness of the image seen in the display can be improved.


The contrast sensitivity of the human visual system is the capability of the latter to detect the difference in brightness between neighboring regions in a scene. A high sensitivity means the ability to distinguish small differences in brightness. Human visual contrast sensitivity is largely dependent upon the sizes of the neighboring regions in question. That is, the sensitivity is a function of spatial frequency. Many psychophysical experiments have been conducted to determine how the human visual contrast sensitivity varies with spatial frequency. Most often used as test scenes are bar patterns or gratings with different spatial frequencies and contrast. For each frequency, gratings of different contrast are shown to human subjects to determine the lowest contrast discernible. It turns out that the human visual contrast sensitivity also varies with the orientation of the grating; it achieves the highest value when a grating is horizontally or vertically oriented and achieves the lowest value when a grating is oriented at 45 degrees from horizontal. Different results are obtained by different experimenters due in part to different experimental conditions and assumptions. However, all the results show that the human visual contrast sensitivity, as a function of spatial frequency, varies in a curve. The curve has the normalized sensitivity and is based on the data obtained by several experimenters. In most experimental results the spatial frequency is expressed in terms of cycles per degree of a subject's field of view. This unit is translated to cycles per inch (cpi) at a normal viewing distance of 12 inches. The peaks of the curves from different experimenters range from about 10 cycles per inch to 50 cycles per inch with an average of about 20 cycles per inch. The sensitivity drops rapidly at frequencies away from the peak frequency.


Reference throughout this specification will now be made to the present invention as applying to video screens for a multilayer display system. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of displays using one or more screens may be used in conjunction with the invention.


All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.


It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or ‘comprising ’ is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.


It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.


Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar configuration to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced.


The term “dissimilar configuration” as used here-in should be interpreted to mean any different arrangement at the component and/or sub-component level such as for example, a variation in pixel pattern, the use of a different technology, or the re-arrangement of sub-pixels such as colour filters.


The term “display layer” as used here-in should be interpreted to mean any device for displaying images which may include (without limitation) LCD, OLED, Projection Display Devices; however the technology employed needs to allow the images displayed on rear layer(s) be viewable though overlapping areas of front layer(s). As such at the least all but the rear layer will need to be transparent (at least in part) or transmissive to light (at least in part). In the case where a backlighting system is the sole source of light to illuminate images the rear most layer will also need to be transparent (at least in part) or transmissive to light (at least in part).


Preferably the dissimilarity in configuration between the at least two display layers is that they are different display technologies. Alternatively they may be the same display technology for example (without limitation) LCDs but with dissimilarities in their components for example (without limitation) at the pixel and/or sub-pixel level.


Generally, the greater the dissimilarity between the configuration of the at least two display layers that have dissimilar configurations; the less moiré interference will be experienced when those display layers are overlapped.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which have tessellated pixel patterns and which are at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar pixel pattern to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced.


The term “pixel pattern” as used here-in should be interpreted to mean the arrangement of the pixels on a display layer.


The term “tessellated pixel pattern” as used here-in should be interpreted to mean any regular pixel pattern which is repeated over the display layer. By way of example (and without limitation) a simple tessellated pixel pattern would be a checker-board arrangement of square pixels. A more complicated example would be (without limitation) a hexagonally shaped pixel. However the pixels tessellated together need not be the same shape and may be any combination of like and unlike pixels tessellated together.


Preferably the dissimilarity in pixel pattern between the at least two display layers is that on each layer the pixels that are tessellated are different in shape to the pixels that are tessellated on other display layer(s).


Generally, the greater the dissimilarity or the lesser the “correlation” between the pixel patterns on the at least two display layers that have dissimilar pixel patterns; the less moiré interference will be experienced when those display layers are overlapped.


The term correlation as used here-in is used to measure the degree at which two or more signals are related. For example a correlation co-efficient of 1 would be two identical patterns and a co-efficient of 0 would be two completely unlike patterns.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which have tessellated pixel patterns and which are at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar sub-pixel pattern to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced.


The term ‘sub-pixel pattern’ as used here-in should be interpreted to mean the arrangement of the sub-pixels being the colour filters and their associated components.


Preferably the dissimilarity in sub-pixel pattern between the at least two display layers is that on each layer the sub-pixels are different in shape and/or arrangement to the sub-pixels that on other display layer(s). For example (and without limitation) in typical display devices a red, green and blue sub-pixel or colour filter is used. By re-arranging their layout, shape and/or size (or even the materials which are used to make up those sub-pixels), moiré interference will be change when such display layers are overlapped.


Generally, the greater the dissimilarity or the lesser the “correlation” between the sub-pixel patterns on the at least two display layers that have dissimilar sub-pixel patterns, the less moiré interference will be experienced when those display layers are overlapped.


Preferably the pixel and sub-pixel patterns employed allow a high transmissivity of light through the front display layer(s) to the viewer.


Alternatively and at its most simplest the use of a different materials at the component and/or sub-component can create a dissimilarity in the pixel pattern and/or sub-pixel such as (without limitation) if a different material is used for the black matrix which encompasses each pixel causing for example (without limitation) a thicker or thinner or more transmissive black matrix, a different pixel pattern will be present.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which have tessellated pixel patterns and which are at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar sub-pixel pattern to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced and where said dissimilarity between pixels on different display layers is that at least one of the borders of said pixels has (have) different curvature.


Preferably the at least one curved pixel border will be tessellated with its neighbouring pixels.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which have tessellated sub-pixel patterns and which are at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar sub-pixel pattern to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced and where said dissimilarity between pixels on different display layers is that at least one of the borders of said sub-pixels has (have) different curvature.


Preferably the at least one curved sub-pixel border will be tessellated with its neighbouring sub-pixels.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which have tessellated pixel patterns and which are at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar pixel and/or sub-pixel pattern to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced and where said dissimilarity between display layers is that at least one of the boundaries of the pixels and/or the sub-pixels are at an angle to one another.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which are at least in part overlapping where the display layers are configured such that the overlap of like components on different display layers that are contributing to moiré interference is arranged in such a way that each such moiré contributing component is overlapping a dissimilar component on the other display layer(s) and thereby moiré interference is reduced.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which are at least in part overlapping where the display layers are configured such that the overlap of like sub-components on different display layers that are contributing to moiré interference is arranged in such a way that each such moiré contributing sub-component is overlapping a dissimilar sub-component on the other display layer(s) and thereby moiré interference is reduced.


Preferably there is no overlap of similar components and/or sub-components but alternatively and more practically any reduction in overlap of similar components and/or sub-components will affect moiré interference, such that part but minimal overlap of like components and/or sub-components is preferred.


Correlation


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which are at least in part overlapping in which at least two of said display layers have components surrounded by black matrix and the overlap of said black matrix on different display layers is arranged such that the pattern of black matrix on a layer is overlapping a dissimilar pattern of black matrix on the other layer(s).


Preferably there is no overlap of similar black matrix pattern but alternatively and more practically any reduction in overlap of similar black matrix pattern will affect moiré interference, such that part but minimal overlap of similar black matrix pattern is preferred.


Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a multi layer display device comprising at least two display layers which are at least in part overlapping in which at least two which are comprised of sub-pixels including colour filters and the overlap of said sub-pixels on different display layers is arranged such that the pattern of sub-pixels on a layer is overlapping a dissimilar pattern of sub-pixels on the other layer(s).


Preferably there is no overlap of similar sub-pixels and/or sub-pixel patterns but alternatively and more practically any reduction in overlap of sub-pixels and/or sub-pixel pattern will affect moiré interference, such that part but minimal overlap of similar black matrix pattern is preferred.


Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a display multi layer device comprising at least two display layers at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar configuration such as (without limitation) dissimilar pixel and/or sub-pixel patterns to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced and moiré interference is additionally reduced through the use of at least one transmissive, light diffusing interstitial layer between display layers.


According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a multilayer display system wherein:

  • a) Image formation layers are chosen so as to render the moiré interference produced substantially indistinguishable to the human visual system;
  • b) Different pixel patterns may be chosen on the front and rear image formation layers to prevent the formation of Moiré fringe patterns substantially distinguishable to the human visual system;
  • c) Different sub-pixel patterns may be used on the front and rear image formation layers to prevent the formation of Moiré fringe patterns substantially distinguishable to the human visual system;
  • d) Sub-pixel patterns may be contained within a tessellated geometric pattern where the edges of the sub pixels may be curved and the shape of the sub-pixels may be chosen to avoid moiré interference;
  • e) On one or all image formation layers for each sub-pixel may typically surrounded by sub-pixels of a different colour;
  • f) Sub-pixels and pixels may be arranged on one or both screens in a tessellated pattern to simplify manufacture and to optimise the connections to the rows and columns;
  • g) The slope of the borders of the pixels formed on a previous screen may be at an angle between 1 degree and 90 degrees to those of a subsequent screen;
  • h) The slope of the borders of the sub-pixels formed on a previous screen may be at an angle between 1 degree and 90 degrees to those of a subsequent screen; and/or
  • i) Interstitial layers are placed between the image formation layers so as to prevent the formation of moiré interference whilst not producing changes in the sharpness, brightness and chromatic features of the image formation layers, which are substantially distinguishable by the human visual system;


In theory, moiré interference in layered displays appears when geometrical patterns with a similar spatial frequency are overlaid. The resulting interference occurs as a variation in density of the interfering elements and has a much larger period than the contributing patterns. In multi-layered displays this description can divide further by considering three separate geometric patterns which can be, depending on the technology employed

    • a) the black pixel matrix
    • b) the column and row lines and other opaque driving electronics
    • c) colour filters


The interference between subsequent black pixel matrices appears as a periodic variation in the density of the black lines in both the horizontal and vertical directions. And while individual lines may be too small to be detected when each pattern is viewed separately, the periodic variation in density may be detectable and is often annoying to the viewer. The same can be said for the driving electronic matrix.


The interference between subsequent colour filter elements appears as sets of large fringes, each set composed of distinct colours similar to those in the contributing pattern. Individual fringes appear when colour filters of the same type appear overlapping or partially overlapping to the viewer. The perceived colour of the fringes is less saturated than that of the contributing filters because overlapping of dissimilar colour filters does not produce black.


In order to achieve minimal moiré interference perception the contrast and spatial frequency of the moiré fringes produced needs to be below the threshold of the human visual system. Since the frequency of the moiré interference varies depending on the viewing distance and the distance between the layers and it is preferable that these parameters free for other purposes, counter measures need to be directed towards lessening the contrast of the interference.


To achieve minimal contrast in the resulting fringes by the layers the shape of the colour sub-pixels on separate layers has to be chosen carefully, so that when the patterns are overlaid there is minimal variation in the area of intersection of the colour stripes as one moves along the horizontal or vertical axis of the display. The patterns may be formed by dividing the simple geometric shapes forming the tessellation into different sub-pixel regions with straight or curved borders.


Whilst using dissimilar pixel and sub-pixel arrangements may be a useful counter measure to moiré interference additional, although minimal blurring of the sub-pixels may still be necessary to reduce the contrast of the moiré fringes and hence make them imperceptible to human visual system, this is best achieved with a directional diffuser. The simplest form of which is made by interfering a plane or diverging wave with a diffuse wave in either a reflection or transmission format. The resulting hologram will reconstruct the diffuse source when illuminated at the original angle. The position and size of the original diffuse source will determine the projection zone and the gain of the screen. A small diffuse source recorded a meter away from the holographic plate will form a very high gain screen that is visible only when the viewer is in the angular zone subtended by the small source at 1 meter.


The directional diffuser effectively blurs the image by taking light emitted by the image and randomly changes its direction by an angle somewhere between zero and the projection angle. Since the directional diffuser is placed at a particular distance from the image formation layer light appears to have come from a point a small distance from its actual origin. By changing both projection angle and the distance from the image formation layer, both the gain of the display and image blur size can be controlled. The image should be spread as uniformly as possible over a distance of at least one pixel, thus decreasing the contrast of the small features that contribute to the moiré interference and hence the viewers perception of it. It is preferable to spread the image of the sub-pixel no more than one pixel since this can over blur the image, decreasing its visibility. Since most existing technology is optimised to be viewable from all angles it is desirable to make the projection angle as small as practically possible and have the holographic diffuser at a large distance from the image formation layer, so as not to loose contrast of the overall display. Whilst the holographic diffusion pattern may be recorded using a laser and mask arrangement it can be reproduced, and indeed any diffusion pattern may be produced to within a given tolerance by many different methods. One such method is calenderending where an adhesive, usually epoxy that is curable by ultra-violet radiation, is applied to the desired surface and a 3D negative impression of the surface, on a transparent substrate, to be reproduced is pushed into the adhesive. The adhesive is then cured by applying the UV radiation through the substrate, and the substrate removed leaving a surface impression. Also the pattern may be applied to the surface during its manufacturing process, such as embossing the pattern onto a plastic sheet whilst the surface is still soft. It also may be applied using material removal systems such as acid or abrasion.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:



FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a pixel where the sub pixels are in the vertical stripe arrangement.



FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a moiré interference pattern in where the black lines represent one colour from a stripe pattern pixel.



FIG. 3 illustrates an oblique view of a preferred embodiment of the multi layer display.



FIG. 4 illustrates a profile view of a preferred embodiment of the multi layer display.



FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a sub pixel of an alternative arrangement.



FIG. 6 illustrates the moiré interference produced by the centre blue region of a preferred embodiment.



FIG. 7 illustrates a further alternative sub pixel arrangement for use in a preferred embodiment.



FIG. 8 illustrates the diagrammatic representation of the moiré interference produced by the centre blue region in a preferred embodiment.



FIG. 9 illustrates the output cone (20) of directional diffuser (21) on light rays (22) emitted from image formation layers.



FIG. 10 illustrates an ideal intensity profile (25) of a rectangular sub pixel after being blurred by diffuser, compared with the intensity distribution of sub-pixel (24) before being diffused by diffuser where (25) denotes x-axis and (23) denotes the horizontal axis of the image formation layer.





BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION


FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a typical LCD panel consisting of a tessellated pixel pattern consisting of a red sub pixel (1), a green sub pixel (2), and a blue sub pixel (3).



FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a moiré interference pattern in where the black lines represent one colour from a display layer utilising a stripe pattern pixel overlapping another display utilising a strip pattern pixel. The vertical section delimited by braces shows where the moiré pattern is most dense (4) and the vertical section delimited by braces shows where the interference is least dense (5).



FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention being a multi-layered display composed of a backlight (6) lighting two image formation layers or display layers (7) and (9) both of which are (at least in part) transparent or transmissive to light and interstitial transmissive light diffusing films (8) all of which are co-linear. In a typical embodiment of a multi layer display the display layers utilise the pixel and sub-pixel arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 however in the preferred embodiment illustrated the display layers utilise different configurations, such that display layer 7 has tessellated pixels of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 while display layer 9 utilises the pixel arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5 in which a centre blue sub-pixel or colour filter (14) is diamond in shape with straight edges and which is placed within a square and surrounded by red (15) and green (16) sub pixels which occupy the remaining area within the pixel boundaries. The resulting moiré interference from overlapping these pixel patterns (assuming that the interstitial transmissive light diffusing films have no effect on moiré interference) is illustrated in FIG. 3 which is a diagrammatic representation of moiré interference produced by the centre blue region in this preferred embodiment. In FIG. 6 there is less difference when compared to FIG. 2 in density between the less dense vertical region delimited by braces (17) and the more dense strip delimited by braces (18). Preferably the pixel pattern and sub-pixel patterns utilised will be very transmissive to light.



FIG. 7 illustrates a further alternative sub pixel arrangement where a centre blue sub pixel (17) with arc shaped edges is adjacent to a red sub pixel (18) and a green sub pixel (19). In a preferred embodiment the sub-pixel pattern illustrated in FIG. 7 is utilised in a tessellated fashion on a display layer which overlaps another display layer which uses the pixel pattern illustrated in FIG. 1 again in a tessellated fashion. The resulting moiré interference from overlapping these pixel patterns (assuming that any interstitial transmissive light diffusing films used have no effect on moiré interference) is illustrated in FIG. 8 which is a diagrammatic representation of moiré interference produced by the centre blue region where there is less difference when compared to FIG. 2 in density between the less dense vertical region delimited by braces (20) and the more dense vertical region delimited by braces (21).


Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims
  • 1. A multi-component display comprising: a first display screen comprising a first plurality of pixels, wherein said first display screen is operable to display a first image using said first plurality of pixels, and wherein a first pixel of said first plurality of pixels comprises a first plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a first pattern; anda second display screen comprising a second plurality of pixels, wherein said second display screen is operable to display a second image using said second plurality of pixels, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen, wherein a second pixel of said second plurality of pixels comprises a second plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a second pattern, wherein said second pattern is different from said first pattern, and wherein an overlap of said first plurality of sub-pixels and said second plurality of sub-pixels is configured to reduce Moiré interference, and wherein said second pixel comprises a square boundary having edges and wherein said second pattern of said second plurality of sub-pixels of said second pixel comprises a blue sub-pixel configured in a diamond pattern with straight edges such that at least one edge of said diamond pattern is not parallel to said edges of said square boundary of said second pixel, and first and second red sub-pixels and first and second green sub-pixel occupy remaining areas of said square boundary.
  • 2. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of pixels are arranged in a first tessellated pixel pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels are arranged in a second tessellated pixel pattern.
  • 3. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of pixels are arranged in a third pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels are arranged in a fourth pattern.
  • 4. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein said first display screen is selected from a group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display and a projection display device.
  • 5. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein said second display screen is selected from a group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display and a projection display device.
  • 6. The multi-component display of claim 1 further comprising: at least one interstitial layer disposed between said first and second display screens.
  • 7. The multi-component display of claim 6, wherein said at least one interstitial layer comprises a diffuser.
  • 8. The multi-component display of claim 1 further comprising: a component operable to generate light to illuminate said first image and said second image.
  • 9. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein a first pixel of said first plurality of pixels has a first shape, and wherein a second pixel of said second plurality of pixels has a second shape.
  • 10. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein a first pixel of said first plurality of pixels has a border with a first curvature, and wherein a second pixel of said second plurality of pixels has a border with a second curvature.
  • 11. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein a first sub-pixel of said first plurality of sub-pixels has a first shape, and wherein a second sub-pixel of said second plurality of sub-pixels has a second shape.
  • 12. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein a first sub-pixel of said first plurality of sub-pixels has a border with a first curvature, and wherein a second sub-pixel of said second plurality of sub-pixels has a border with a second curvature.
  • 13. The multi-component display of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of pixels comprises a first plurality of color filters arranged in a first pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels comprises a second plurality of color filters arranged in a second pattern.
  • 14. A multi-component display comprising: a first display screen comprising a first plurality of pixels, wherein said first display screen is operable to display a first image using said first plurality of pixels, wherein said first display screen utilizes a first display technology, and wherein said first display screen comprises a first black matrix pattern; anda second display screen comprising a second plurality of pixels, wherein said second display screen is operable to display a second image using said second plurality of pixels, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen, wherein said second display screen comprises a second black matrix pattern that is different from said first black matrix pattern, wherein said second display screen utilizes a second display technology, and wherein said second display technology is different from said first display technology, and wherein said overlap is configured to reduce Moiré interference.
  • 15. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said first plurality of pixels are arranged in a first tessellated pixel pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels are arranged in a second tessellated pixel pattern.
  • 16. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said first plurality of pixels are arranged in a first pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels are arranged in a second pattern.
  • 17. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said first display technology is selected from a group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display and a projection display device.
  • 18. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said second display technology is selected from a group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display and a projection display device.
  • 19. The multi-component display of claim 14 further comprising: at least one interstitial layer disposed between said first and second display screens.
  • 20. The multi-component display of claim 19, wherein said at least one interstitial layer comprises a diffuser.
  • 21. The multi-component display of claim 14 further comprising: a component operable to generate light to illuminate said first image and said second image.
  • 22. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein a first pixel of said first plurality of pixels has a first shape, and wherein a second pixel of said second plurality of pixels has a second shape.
  • 23. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein a first pixel of said first plurality of pixels has a border with a first curvature, and wherein a second pixel of said second plurality of pixels has a border with a second curvature.
  • 24. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said first plurality of pixels comprises a first plurality of sub-pixels, and wherein said second plurality of pixels comprises a second plurality of sub-pixels.
  • 25. The multi-component display of claim 24, wherein a first sub-pixel of said first plurality of sub-pixels has a first shape, and wherein a second sub-pixel of said second plurality of sub-pixels has a second shape.
  • 26. The multi-component display of claim 24, wherein a first sub-pixel of said first plurality of sub-pixels has a border with a first curvature, and wherein a second sub-pixel of said second plurality of sub-pixels has a border with a second curvature.
  • 27. The multi-component display of claim 14, wherein said first plurality of pixels comprises a first plurality of color filters arranged in a first pattern, and wherein said second plurality of pixels comprises a second plurality of color filters arranged in a second pattern.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
520132 Jul 2002 NZ national
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 371c Date
PCT/NZ03/00153 7/15/2003 WO 00 7/19/2006
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO2004/008226 1/22/2004 WO A
US Referenced Citations (127)
Number Name Date Kind
2543793 Marks Mar 1951 A
2961486 Marks Nov 1960 A
3536921 Caulfield Oct 1970 A
3605594 Gerritsen Sep 1971 A
3622224 Wysocki et al. Nov 1971 A
3863246 Tricka et al. Jan 1975 A
3891305 Fader Jun 1975 A
3918796 Fergason Nov 1975 A
3940788 Abe et al. Feb 1976 A
3955208 Wick et al. May 1976 A
3992082 Katz Nov 1976 A
4153654 Maffitt et al. May 1979 A
4165922 Morrissy Aug 1979 A
4190856 Ricks Feb 1980 A
4239349 Scheffer Dec 1980 A
4281341 Byatt Jul 1981 A
4294516 Brooks Oct 1981 A
4333715 Brooks Jun 1982 A
4447141 Eisenkraft May 1984 A
4448489 Sato et al. May 1984 A
4472737 Iwasaki Sep 1984 A
4523848 Gorman et al. Jun 1985 A
4541692 Collins et al. Sep 1985 A
4613896 Takita et al. Sep 1986 A
4648691 Oguchi et al. Mar 1987 A
4649425 Pund Mar 1987 A
4670744 Buzak Jun 1987 A
4734295 Liu Mar 1988 A
4736214 Rogers Apr 1988 A
4768300 Rutili Sep 1988 A
4792850 Liptoh et al. Dec 1988 A
5032007 Silverstein et al. Jul 1991 A
5046826 Iwamoto et al. Sep 1991 A
5046827 Frost et al. Sep 1991 A
5086354 Bass et al. Feb 1992 A
5107352 Fergason Apr 1992 A
5112121 Chang et al. May 1992 A
5124803 Troxel Jun 1992 A
5132839 Travis Jul 1992 A
5132878 Carey Jul 1992 A
5261404 Mick et al. Nov 1993 A
5337181 Kelly Aug 1994 A
5367801 Ahn Nov 1994 A
5473344 Bacon et al. Dec 1995 A
5537233 Miura et al. Jul 1996 A
5557684 Wang et al. Sep 1996 A
5583674 Mosley Dec 1996 A
5585821 Ishikura et al. Dec 1996 A
5589980 Bass et al. Dec 1996 A
5600462 Suzuki et al. Feb 1997 A
5689316 Hattori et al. Nov 1997 A
5695346 Sekiguchi et al. Dec 1997 A
5706139 Kelly Jan 1998 A
5745197 Leung et al. Apr 1998 A
5751385 Heinze May 1998 A
5764317 Sadovnik et al. Jun 1998 A
5796455 Mizobata et al. Aug 1998 A
5796509 Doany et al. Aug 1998 A
5822021 Johnson et al. Oct 1998 A
5825436 Knight Oct 1998 A
5838308 Knapp et al. Nov 1998 A
5924870 Brosh et al. Jul 1999 A
5956180 Bass et al. Sep 1999 A
5976297 Oka et al. Nov 1999 A
5990990 Crabtree Nov 1999 A
6005654 Kipfer et al. Dec 1999 A
6018379 Mizobata et al. Jan 2000 A
6061110 Hisatake et al. May 2000 A
6067137 Ohnishi et al. May 2000 A
6100862 Sullivan Aug 2000 A
6114814 Shannon et al. Sep 2000 A
6122103 Perkins et al. Sep 2000 A
6141067 Ikka Oct 2000 A
6147741 Chen et al. Nov 2000 A
6204902 Kim et al. Mar 2001 B1
6239852 Oono et al. May 2001 B1
6287712 Bulovic et al. Sep 2001 B1
6300990 Yamaguchi et al. Oct 2001 B1
6326738 McAndrew Dec 2001 B1
6341439 Lennerstad Jan 2002 B1
6351298 Mitsui et al. Feb 2002 B1
6377306 Johnson et al. Apr 2002 B1
6392725 Harada et al. May 2002 B1
6412953 Tiao et al. Jul 2002 B1
6414728 Faris et al. Jul 2002 B1
6443579 Myers Sep 2002 B1
6489044 Chen et al. Dec 2002 B1
6504587 Morishita et al. Jan 2003 B1
6512559 Hashimoto et al. Jan 2003 B1
6515881 Chou et al. Feb 2003 B2
6557999 Shimizu May 2003 B1
6562440 Tsuchiya et al. May 2003 B1
6573961 Jiang et al. Jun 2003 B2
6578985 Seraphim et al. Jun 2003 B1
6590605 Eichenlaub Jul 2003 B1
6593904 Marz et al. Jul 2003 B1
6609799 Myers Aug 2003 B1
6639349 Bahadur Oct 2003 B1
6679613 Mabuchi Jan 2004 B2
6693692 Kaneko et al. Feb 2004 B1
6771327 Sekiguchi Aug 2004 B2
6812649 Kim Nov 2004 B2
6845578 Lucas Jan 2005 B1
6897855 Matthies et al. May 2005 B1
6906762 Witehira et al. Jun 2005 B1
6947024 Lee et al. Sep 2005 B2
7072095 Liang et al. Jul 2006 B2
7205355 Liang et al. Apr 2007 B2
7262752 Weindorf Aug 2007 B2
7352424 Searle Apr 2008 B2
7372447 Jacobsen et al. May 2008 B1
20010040652 Hayashi Nov 2001 A1
20020027608 Johnson et al. Mar 2002 A1
20020047601 Shannon et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020064037 Lee May 2002 A1
20020075211 Nakamura Jun 2002 A1
20020105516 Tracy Aug 2002 A1
20020111195 Kweon et al. Aug 2002 A1
20020154102 Huston Oct 2002 A1
20020163728 Myers Nov 2002 A1
20020163729 Myers Nov 2002 A1
20030043106 Woo Mar 2003 A1
20030132895 Berstis Jul 2003 A1
20030184665 Berstis Oct 2003 A1
20040012708 Matherson Jan 2004 A1
20050146787 Lukyanitsa Jul 2005 A1
20060103951 Bell et al. May 2006 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (147)
Number Date Country
2480600 Jul 2000 AU
2453800 Aug 2000 AU
6821901 Dec 2001 AU
2009960 Sep 1990 CA
2020372 Jan 1991 CA
2345128 Mar 2000 CA
1356584 Jul 2002 CN
1369997 Sep 2002 CN
2730785 Jan 1979 DE
19757378 Jul 1998 DE
29912074 Nov 1999 DE
19920789 May 2000 DE
19916747 Oct 2000 DE
76651 Apr 1983 EP
0 195 584 Sep 1986 EP
409188 Jul 1989 EP
0 336 351 Oct 1989 EP
0389123 Sep 1990 EP
454423 Oct 1991 EP
595387 May 1994 EP
0802684 Oct 1997 EP
1116070 Mar 2000 EP
0999088 May 2000 EP
1151430 Aug 2000 EP
1155351 Aug 2000 EP
1046944 Oct 2000 EP
1081774 Mar 2001 EP
1093008 Apr 2001 EP
20000733927 Jul 2001 EP
1231757 Aug 2002 EP
1271944 Jan 2003 EP
1287401 Mar 2003 EP
1923860 May 2008 EP
1 448 520 Sep 1976 GB
2107482 Apr 1983 GB
2312584 Oct 1997 GB
2314943 Jan 1998 GB
2347003 Aug 2000 GB
2372618 Aug 2002 GB
93472 Nov 1994 IL
49096628 Jan 1973 JP
56-007916 Jan 1981 JP
56-7916 Sep 1981 JP
57-119389 Jul 1982 JP
60024502 Feb 1985 JP
60-103895 Jun 1985 JP
60-122920 Jul 1985 JP
60211830 Oct 1985 JP
60-233684 Nov 1985 JP
60-244924 Dec 1985 JP
61-166524 Jul 1986 JP
61-200783 Sep 1986 JP
62-067094 Mar 1987 JP
62-122494 Jun 1987 JP
62-161294 Jul 1987 JP
62-191819 Aug 1987 JP
62-191820 Aug 1987 JP
62-235929 Oct 1987 JP
63-100898 May 1988 JP
63-203088 Aug 1988 JP
63-274918 Aug 1988 JP
63-318856 Dec 1988 JP
2-262119 Oct 1990 JP
03-002835 Jan 1991 JP
3021902 Jan 1991 JP
3-101581 Apr 1991 JP
3148622 Jun 1991 JP
3174580 Jul 1991 JP
3-233548 Oct 1991 JP
3226095 Oct 1991 JP
4-034521 Feb 1992 JP
4-034595 Feb 1992 JP
04-107540 Apr 1992 JP
4191755 Jul 1992 JP
5-007373 Jan 1993 JP
5-091545 Apr 1993 JP
5-142515 Jun 1993 JP
6-233328 Aug 1994 JP
63-039299 Nov 1994 JP
7006827 Jan 1995 JP
8-076139 Mar 1995 JP
7146473 Jun 1995 JP
07-198921 Aug 1995 JP
07-198942 Aug 1995 JP
7-209573 Aug 1995 JP
7-222202 Aug 1995 JP
8-036375 Feb 1996 JP
08335043 Dec 1996 JP
09-033858 Feb 1997 JP
9-043540 Feb 1997 JP
9-096789 Apr 1997 JP
9-102969 Apr 1997 JP
9-133893 May 1997 JP
09211392 Aug 1997 JP
9-282357 Oct 1997 JP
9-308769 Dec 1997 JP
10-003355 Jan 1998 JP
10039821 Feb 1998 JP
10-105829 Apr 1998 JP
10-228347 Aug 1998 JP
10232304 Sep 1998 JP
10-312033 Nov 1998 JP
11-066306 Mar 1999 JP
11-202793 Jul 1999 JP
11-205822 Jul 1999 JP
2000-075135 Mar 2000 JP
2000-111940 Apr 2000 JP
2000-113988 Apr 2000 JP
2000-142173 May 2000 JP
2001-56410 Feb 2001 JP
2002014772 Jan 2002 JP
2002-504764 Feb 2002 JP
2001-215332 Apr 2002 JP
2002-097269 Apr 2002 JP
2001-42310 Aug 2002 JP
2002-258284 Sep 2002 JP
2002-287144 Oct 2002 JP
2002-350772 Dec 2002 JP
2002-099223 Oct 2003 JP
2002-156608 Dec 2003 JP
20005178 Apr 2001 NO
343229 Apr 2001 PL
9112554 Aug 1991 WO
91-12554 Aug 1991 WO
91-15930 Oct 1991 WO
9115930 Oct 1991 WO
9209003 May 1992 WO
92-09003 May 1992 WO
9627992 Sep 1996 WO
9714987 Apr 1997 WO
9703025 Nov 1997 WO
98-04087 Jan 1998 WO
9804087 Jan 1998 WO
9816869 Apr 1998 WO
98-16869 Apr 1998 WO
9847106 Oct 1998 WO
9942889 Aug 1999 WO
9944095 Sep 1999 WO
0017708 Mar 2000 WO
0036578 Jun 2000 WO
0048167 Aug 2000 WO
0049453 Aug 2000 WO
0115128 Mar 2001 WO
0195019 Dec 2001 WO
0235277 May 2002 WO
02091033 Nov 2002 WO
03003109 Jan 2003 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (53)
Entry
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Mail Date Aug. 28, 2008.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624 Mail Date Jan. 5, 2009.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624 Mail Date Aug. 1, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/508,726 Mail Date May 1, 2008.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/528,334 Mail Date Aug. 5, 2008.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/528,334 Mail Date Feb. 24, 2009.
“Clearboard 1991-1994,” http://web.media.mit.edu/˜ishii/CB.html.
“Teamworkstation 1989-1994,” http://web.media.mit.edu/˜ishii/TWS.html.
“Textarc: An Alternate Way to View a Text,” http://textarc.org.
“Textarc: NYSCA Grant and Public Installation,” http″//textarc.org.
“Textarc: The Print and the Artist,” http://textarc.org.
Courter et al., Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Edition, 1999, Sybex Inc., pp. xxxi, 543, 685.
Harrison et al., “Transparent Layered User Interfaces: An Evaluation of a Display Design to Enhance Focused and Divided Attention” ACM, 13 pages, 1995.
Ishii et al., “Iterative Design of Seamless Collaboration Media”, Communications of the ACM, Aug. 1994, vol. 37, pp. 83-97.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/416,885 Jun. 15, 2006.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/416,885 Nov. 2, 2005.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Feb. 1, 2006.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Feb. 26, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Jul. 28, 2006.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Sep. 27, 2005.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Oct. 5, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432 Dec. 20, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624 Aug. 1, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/508,726 Jun. 1, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/508,726 Sep. 21, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 10/508,726 Dec. 11, 2006.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,847 Jan. 14, 2008.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,847 Jun. 4, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,847 Sep. 12, 2007.
Office Action U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,847 Nov. 16, 2006.
“Kodak Datashow HR/M Projection Pad”, Motion Picture & Audiovisual Products, Eastman Kodak Co., 1988.
Alampiev et al., “Technology of the Three Dimensional Electronic Matrix for Liquid Crystal Display” Jan. 1, 1976.
Blundell et al., “Volumetric Three-Dimensional Display Systems”, pp. 1-7.
Buzak, “CRT Displays Full-color 3-D Images”.
Cole, et al.; “A Three-Dimensional Display for Radar Returns”, pp. 52-53.
General Electric, “3-D Liquid Crystal Display for Mine Detecting Radar” Apr. 1, 1974.
Hattori, T. et al,; “Spatial Modulation Display Using Spatial Light Modulators”, Optical Engineering, vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 350-352, (Feb. 1992).
Kozo, T. “Three-Dimentional Display System by Laminated Llquid Crystal Display Device”, Patent Abstracts of Japan 02-262119 A, vol. 15, No. 19, pp. 1153, (Jan. 16, 1998).
L.F. Hodges et al., “True Three-Dimensional CRT-Based Displays,” Infor. Display, pp. 18-22 (May 1987).
Minoru, T. “Displaying Method for Stereoscopic Image Using Liquid Crystal Display Element”, Patent Abstracts of Japan 62-235929 A, vol. 12, No. 102, pp. 684, (Apr. 5, 1998).
Tamura et al., “Multilayer 3-D Display Adapter”, Applied Optics, vol. 17, No. 23, pp. 3695-3696 (Dec. 1, 1978).
Technical Report of the Institute of Television Engineers of Japan, vol. 20, No. 5, Feb. 1996.
Tomohiko Hattori et al: “Spatial Light Modulators” Optical Engineering, vol. 31, No. 2, Feb. 1, 1992, pp. 350-352.
Kozo, T. “Three-Dimentional Display System by Laminated Liquid Crystal Display Device”, Patent Abstracts of Japan 02-262119 A, vol. 15, No. 19, pp. 1153, (Jan. 16, 1998).
Final OA Dated Feb. 24, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/528,334.
Non Final OA Dated Jan. 5, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624.
Non Final OA Dated Apr. 14, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/475,432.
Non-Final Office Action Dated Sep. 1, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/528,334.
Non-Final Office Action Dated Dec. 28, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 12/046,265.
Office Action dated Feb. 5, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624.
Non-Final Office Action Dated Jun. 22, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624.
Office Action Mailed Jul. 9, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 12/046,265.
Office Action Mailed Oct. 8, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 10/492,624.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20060290594 A1 Dec 2006 US