Patent ID: 6144359
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: B60K,B60Q,G02F,G09G

Abstract:
An avionics display device for use in the cockpit of an aircraft, the display device comprising:a liquid crystal display in a transflective mode adapted for using a source of light to display information to a viewer;a backlight adapted to controllably provide at least a portion of the source of light for use by the liquid crystal display in displaying the information;a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) device positioned between the liquid crystal display and the backlight;an ambient light sensor adapted to sense a level of ambient light in the cockpit of the aircraft and to provide a sensor output indicative of the sensed ambient light level; andluminance control circuitry coupled to the ambient light sensor, to the backlight and to the PDLC device, the luminance control circuitry receiving the sensor output and generating as a function of the sensed ambient light level control signals for controlling an intensity of the light provided by the backlight and for controlling the transmissivity of the PDLC device.