Abstract:
A method of display manufacturing/modification exploits the characteristics of remotely-locating one of the polarizers required to view a video display.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Polarizers present creative opportunities for displays that few people have tapped into. In fact, polarizers in displays have often been limited to applications like polarizing sheets that cover computer displays and ensure screen privacy. Such screens have a limited viewing angle that blocks viewers from seeing the screen unless they are looking at the screen relatively straight-on. Further, most polarizers are cut to the utilitarian shape that reflects their use: rectangular for viewing screens or custom shapes for glasses. These utilitarian-shaped polarizers and privacy screens do not provide much of a creative medium for designers. 
         [0002]    In the retail display field, transparent displays allow for screens to project images onto a display surface where objects behind the display remain visible. Transparent display technology allows retailers to overlay images and information in front of actual products or other tangible objects. This type of multimedia presentation—displays that interact with an actual object—opens creative possibilities for both retailers and designers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Both polarizers and transparent displays, alone or in combination, present creative opportunities described herein. 
         [0004]    A display comprises a light source; a rear polarizer; a liquid crystal; and a front polarizer; wherein the light source, rear polarizer, and the liquid crystal are contained within an integral unit and the front polarizer is removed from the integral unit at a distance. 
         [0005]    The remote polarizer expands traditional display technology. By limiting visibility to specific places or points, an entire new set of design capabilities is possible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic of an LCD optical stack. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a standard LCD display. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows the display of  FIG. 2  with the front polarizer removed at a distance. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows two variations of a front polarizer. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a transparent LCD with a remote polarizer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a transparent LCD with a remote polarizer with an inverted pattern cutout. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show a modified front polarizer in use with a transparent LCD. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a inverted pattern polarizer in use with a transparent LCD. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a modified polarized set off at a distance from a display. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show a modified polarizer set off at a distance from a display, where the polarizer is mounted in an object. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the remote display. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of the display. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  shows a schematic of another embodiment of the display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Polarizer System 
         [0020]    Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) displays comprise a system that integrates layers of materials to achieve specific visual effects when viewed from certain angles. Such a system can be a part of LCD technology, and may be comprised of primary and secondary polarizing films that provide different visual effects. 
         [0021]    A simplified LCD system may comprise an LCD component that is sandwiched between two polarizing films. When all the layers are used, the pixel elements of the LCD may be viewable and with only one polarizing film in the stack, the pixel elements of the LCD may not be viewable. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic structure of an LCD optical stack. While differences exist between manufacturers, this structure shows a common layering. A backlight unit light source  101  provides unpolarized white light that passes through a rear polarizer  102 , a liquid crystal  103 , a color filter  104 , and a front polarizer  105  with the light traveling in a direction  106  towards a user. 
         [0023]    The two polarizing filters  102 ,  105  may have axes of light transmission perpendicular to each other. Without the liquid crystal  103  between the polarizing filters  102 ,  105 , light passing through the first polarizer  102  would be blocked by the second polarizer  105 . The manipulation of the light by the liquid crystal makes for a visual image on a screen.  FIG. 2  shows a display  201  projecting such a visual image  202 . 
         [0024]    Remote-Locating a Polarizer, Shaping a Polarizer 
         [0025]    A front polarizer may be offset from a display by interposing the front polarizer sheet in between the viewer&#39;s line of sight and the display. This has been done with polarized glasses as a security feature on certain laptops that allow someone with the glasses to view an image invisible to a person without the glasses. 
         [0026]    When mass-manufactured, most displays have a front polarizer directly incorporated into the display, but this design is not mandatory: The display&#39;s body may be physically disconnected from its front polarizer, which opens many creative opportunities for designers. Further, the shape of such polarizers need not be limited to the shape of the screen or eye-covering—the polarizer shape can be anything. 
         [0027]    This system may require both the display and polarizer to function correctly—without one, the other may not function. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a removed front polarizer  305  at a distance from an integral display unit  202  that contains the layers of the LCD display  201  except for the polarizer  305 . Removing the front polarizer  305  at a distance from the integral display unit  202  allows for an optical sensor  330  (a person or camera) to view an image on the integral unit  202  using the polarizer  305  almost like a portal. This offset polarizer  305  offers certain creative possibilities, the examples of which follow. In manufactured sale of the displays  201  following the designs proposed herein, an LCD display  201  could be manufactured without the front polarizer  305  or with a detachable front polarizer  305 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows two variations of a polarizer film or layer  405  cut into a snowflake shape  401 . The desired shape may be the snowflake  401  or its inverse shape  402  and either or both of the shape  401  or its inverse  402  may be used with a display  201  to function as the front polarizer. 
         [0030]    Thus, the polarizer&#39;s shape need not be limited to the display shape or the shape of an eyeglass lens. Remote polarizers may be of any shape and size and integrated onto secondary structures such as store windows, beverage cases, motor vehicle windows, home and building windows. Such a polarizer could be cut into the shape of a popular soft drink bottle, snowflake, or others. This apparatus may be a two-part system comprised of a functional non-viewable display comprised of one half of its optical polarizing system and a secondary system of remote-positioned polarizing films. 
         [0031]    Remote Polarizer or Modified Polarizer on Transparent Displays 
         [0032]    A display without one of the polarizing films is perceived simply as a light source and a transparent display, which inherently lacks an integrated backlight and mechanical housing that blocks the surface area of the display, is simply seen as a clear (or colored translucent) material. 
         [0033]    In combination with a polarizer, either integral to the transparent display or remote from it, the use of a transparent display and polarizer allows for further creative opportunities described herein. 
         [0034]    Transparent displays and in particular transparent LCDs are a newcomer to display technology. Samsung and others started to produce them as of 2012-2013. Transparent LCD displays provide many creative avenues for designers. Imagine a shop window displaying an actual shirt, but the transparent display in front of the shirt depicting the shirt colors or models showing off the shirt. Or picture a display mounted above an actual shirt that is fed by a camera, allowing someone to see their head/body “in” the shirt. These are just some of the ways that transparent LCD panels might be used. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a transparent LCD display wall structure  500  comprised of multiple transparent LCD panels  501 . Such a wall structure allows for larger transparent LCD wall  500  than may be possible with current technologies. It should be appreciated that the bezels  503  limit the wall structure  500 &#39;s open appearance and thus minimizing the bezel size or placing them in a way to minimize their impact contributes to an improved wall structure  500 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the front polarizer may be a shaped polarizer  401 , variations comprised of multiple shaped parts across multiple panels  502 , or inverse shapes  402 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the visual effect of using a removed and shaped polarizing film  401  with a transparent LCD display  701 . With the snowflake-shaped polarizer  401  in place, images projected through the LCD display  701  may be visible within the shaped polarizer  401  while the remaining surface of the transparent LCD will remain transparent and the object  710  behind the screen will be visible. While what is shown here is a snowflake-shaped front polarizer  401  and snowman  710 , more creative applications of this technology are possible. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a similar arrangement to  FIGS. 7A and 7B  but  FIGS. 8A and 8B  show an inverted pattern polarizer  402  in use with a transparent LCD  801 . In such an application as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the object  710  is visible through the snowflake cutout instead of around it. As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the snowflake cutout area remains transparent while the remaining portion of the inverted-pattern polarizer  402  can be used to project images. 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates an application of a transparent display  901  lacking an integral front polarizer in which the modified front polarizer  401  is located at a distance from the liquid crystal  103  and display  901 . As shown, the front polarizer  401  is mounted on a secondary surface  920  at an offset distance from the display  901 . This allows for viewing of the object  710  behind the display  901  from viewing angles to the sides of the polarizer  401 . But when viewed through the shaped polarizer  401 , a viewer  930  would see images generated from the display  901 . Thus, the shaped polarizer  401  functions as a portal to see the displayed images not visible to viewers not looking through the polarizer  401 . This same effect is possible with the inverted-pattern polarizer  402 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show another variation where a front polarizer  1010  has been removed from a display  1000 . For the sake of simplicity, the polarizer  1010  (in the form to be described) replaces the polarizer  401  and secondary surface  920  in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the polarizer  1010  is embedded within a secondary object  1020 , in this case a crystal ball held by a wizard  1022 . To improve on the aesthetic of the polarizer  1010  in this setting, the polarizer  1010  is embedded within two halves  1021  of the crystal ball  1020 . Looking into the crystal ball  1020  and the polarizer  1010  therein, a person  1030  might see different images  1001  if the polarizer  1010  was aligned between the viewer&#39;s eye  1030  and a display  1000 . This could provide for a unique and realistic crystal ball effect. If viewing angles were managed properly it is possible that only one half  1021  of the crystal ball  1020  might be required. Further, of course, the displays  1000  could be transparent or opaque. 
         [0041]      FIG. 12  illustrates the use of the system disclosed where a consumer electronics device sits on a exclamation point  1220 . The exclamation point  1220  sits in front a display  1200  that has had the front polarizer  1210  removed. The display  1200  is fed an image  1201  that the user desires to see through the polarizer  1210 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 13  shows how a transparent display  1300  with or without a set-off front polarizer  1301 , could be retrofit to an existing beverage case  1380  or similar clear case. In such a display  1300 , a polarizer  1301  might be used to display advertising or other brand messages, while still allowing a viewer to see items  1310  in the case. Power and mechanical attachment could be made to the display  1300  through mounts  1315  with cables therein or other means. 
         [0043]    The entire front panel  1370  of the beverage case  1380  could also be a display  1300 , with or without a polarizer, but until the prices of such panels decrease, the above retrofitted panel solution may be preferable. 
         [0044]    Display Using Screen with Portions Removed 
         [0045]      FIG. 14  shows an alternate display arrangement. In it, a lenticular screen material  1450  that is auto stereoscopic (also called AS3D) is interspersed with display areas without the auto stereoscopic material  1460 . 
         [0046]    The auto stereoscopic material  1450  may receive multiple slices of a video and project different slices to different eyes, which allows for 3D image creation that can be viewed without glasses. Such a display with interspersed auto stereoscopic material  1450  and gaps  1460  to form patterns could be used with a transparent display. The combination of 3D images possible in the auto stereoscopic material  1450  and real objects visible through the gaps  1460  opens many creative possibilities. 
         [0047]    Such a display might be comprised of layers that are: 
         [0048]    X % AS3D 
         [0049]    Y % standard transparent LCD 
         [0050]    Z % transparent LCD without the front polarizer. 
         [0051]    This gives a designer at least three different layers to manipulate visual effects. 
         [0052]    The method and apparatus herein are not dependent on any specific manufacturer and can be used with a wide variety of display technology.