Abstract:
A method, system, and display assembly is disclosed herein. The aspects disclosed herein include the providing of at least two lenses covering a respective display, with the two lenses bonded together with an optical clear adhesive. The optical clear adhesive may be shaped in a predetermined manner, such as a curve. Also included herein are systems for driving electronic signals to the respective displays. The signals may undergo processing in order to provide a seamless look via the display assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Displays are employed to convey digital information via a lighted platform. The displays are installed in a variety of contexts and environments, such as televisions, advertisements, personal computing devices, and more commonly, in vehicles. 
         [0002]    The standard display assembly includes display driving logic with various instructions as to the patterns to communicate to an array of lighting elements. The display driving logic communicates signals that instruct which of the lighting elements to light up, and a corresponding intensity and color (if available). The display assembly may be incorporated with various interface devices, such as keyboards, pointers, gaze trackers, head trackers, eye trackers, touch screens, and the like. 
         [0003]    The displays are usually cased with transparent substances, such as lenses, that allow light being illuminated to be projected to the viewer&#39;s eyes. The lens faces the viewers, and thus, implementers provide different shapes, sizes, and types based on an implementers preference. Further, different locations and such may necessitate the lens to be a specific type and shape. 
         [0004]    In recent years, different curved lens have been introduced. The curved lens allow for a non-linear and tapered surface to be provided to the viewer. Thus, by having a non-linear presentation, the implementer of a display assembly may effectively provide a secondary type of display to the viewer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following description relates to a display assembly, a system for driving electrical signals to the display assembly, and a method of manufacturing the display assembly. 
         [0006]    A display assembly is disclosed herein. The display assembly includes a first lens connected to a first display driver; a second lens connected to a second display driver, the second lens forming an angle with the first lens; and an adhesive layer applied to first lens and the second lens. 
         [0007]    In another example, the display assembly further includes a first display driver and a second display driver electrically coupled to a source, the source being configured to generate display data via both the first display driver and the second display driver. 
         [0008]    In another example, the display data is further configured to be split into a first portion communicated to the first display driver, and a second portion communicated to the second display driver. 
         [0009]    In another example, the adhesive layer is an optically clear adhesive (OCA). 
         [0010]    In another example, the OCA is a liquid optical clear adhesive. 
         [0011]    In another example, the OCA is a provided with a predefined shape. 
         [0012]    In another example, the predefined shape is a curve. 
         [0013]    In another example, the predefined shape is a convex. 
         [0014]    In another example, the predefined shape is concave. 
         [0015]    In another example, the first lens and the second lens are rectangular and flat. 
         [0016]    The system for driving a display assembly with multiple lenses, each of the multiple lenses covering a respective display device is described herein. The system includes a display data receiver configured to receive data from an electronic source; an image separator configured to separate the received data for each of the respective multiple lenses; a formula adjuster configured to adjust a property associated with each of the separated received data to produce image data for each of the respective display devices based on its respective covered lens. 
         [0017]    In another example, the multiple lenses of the system include a first lens and a second lens, and the formula adjuster adjusts each of the separated received data to adjust for an angle formed by the first lens and the second lens. 
         [0018]    In another example, the multiple lenses of the system includes a first lens and a second lens, and the formula adjuster adjusts each of the separated received data to adjust for an adhesive layer covering the first lens and the second lens. 
         [0019]    In another example, the multiple lenses of the system includes a first lens and a second lens, and the formula adjuster adjusts each of the separated received data based on a specific pixel, the specific pixel&#39;s location on the display associated with the first lens, and its distance from the second display. 
         [0020]    A method for providing a seamless display with multiple lenses, each of the multiple lenses being associated with a respective display is described herein. The method includes providing a first lens associated with a first display; providing a second lens associated with a second display; orientating the first lens and the second with each other; and providing an adhesive layer on both the first lens and the second lens. 
         [0021]    In another example of the method, the adhesive layer has a predetermined shape on a surface opposing a viewer of the seamless display. 
         [0022]    Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of system for displaying content via a display assembly according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 2( a )-( c )  illustrate an example of a display assembly according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a method for assembling a display assembly according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example method for implementing the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates various elements of a display assembly which may be used in the method in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 6( a ) and ( b )  illustrate an example of the display assembly implemented with and without the system of  FIG. 1 , respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The invention is described more fully hereinafter with references to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that for the purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of each” will be interpreted to mean any combination the enumerated elements following the respective language, including combination of multiples of the enumerated elements. For example, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” will be construed to mean X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g. XYZ, XZ, YZ, X). Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals are understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
         [0030]    The providing of a curved lens for a display assembly is become increasingly sought after for a variety of design reasons. As explained in the Background, curved lens suit a variety of applications based on need and aesthetic reasons. However, many manufacturers have faced difficulties in providing a curved lens in a cost-effective and easy to produce manner. 
         [0031]    Current technologies require machining curved lens structures that fit specific applications. However, because the curved lens has to be produced at a specific instance and/or manufacturing process, the introduction of curved lens manufacturing may be difficult. Further, other components associated with the display assembly would also have to be re-manufactured and tooled to work effectively with the newly designed curved lens. Thus, providing a cost effective manner of delivering a curved display assembly employing existing lens technologies does not currently exist. 
         [0032]    Disclosed herein are methods, systems and display assemblies for providing a curved lens structure. Employing the aspects disclosed herein, a manufacturer may effectively provide a curved lens appearance while using planar conventional lenses. The aspects disclosed herein also entail providing systems and methods for adjusting a display based on the curved lens implementation discussed herein. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of system  100  for displaying content via a display assembly  150 . The system  100  is exemplary and may be implemented with the various lenses/display assemblies disclosed herein. The system  100  includes a display data receiver  101 , an image separator  102 , and a formula adjustor  105   
         [0034]    As shown, display data  101  is received from any known source for generating image based data via the display data receiver  101 . For example, various electronic programs employ graphical user interface (GUI)s to convey digital information. The information may be propagated by display data  101  and communicated to system  100 . 
         [0035]    The display data  101  is separated, via the image separator, for each of the multiple displays associated with the display assembly  150 . As explained below, the display assembly  150  may compose multiple lenses/displays to form a singular display. 
         [0036]    System  100  employs a formula adjuster  105 , which will be explained in greater detail below, to transform the display data  101  in a manner so that the information may be displayed on different lenses that make up the display assembly  150 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an example method  400  used in an implementation of system  100 , with the method  400  ensuring that the driving of the separated image data is performed in a manner to provide a seamless appearance to a viewer of the display assembly  150 . 
         [0037]    System  100  produces output data for each respective lens (and corresponding display systems associate with each of the respective lens) employed by the display assembly  150 . While the number of lenses shown in this disclosure may be two, other number of lenses may be implemented. Thus, system  100  produces lens output data, lens data 1 ( 110 ), . . . lens data X ( 120 ). Each of the lens output data items may be individual produced with the formula adjuster  105  concepts discussed with method  400 . Each lens may have a specific display driver associated with the electronics employed to selectively illuminate and control the various pixels associated with the respective lens. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a display driver 1 ( 130 ) is coupled to a first lens, while a display driver X ( 140 ) is coupled to a second lens. The range of 1 . . . X is merely exemplary, with a number of lens greater than two being selected by an implementer of display assembly  150  and system  100 . 
         [0039]    Each display driver produces specific pixel data associated with the lens in which the display driver is associated. The data is produced in an (X,Y) coordinate fashion, which indicates that an array of data associated with the horizontal and vertical elements of the respective lens is contained in the respective data file—(X,Y) info 1 ( 111 ) . . . (X,Y) info X ( 112 ). 
         [0040]    Based on the data propagated from the various display drivers, an image is produced on the display assembly  150 . Examples of the display assembly  150  according to an exemplary embodiment contained herein is described in greater detail in  FIGS. 2( a )-( c ) . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  illustrates a method  300  for assembling the display assembly  150  shown in  FIGS. 2( a )-( c ) . In  FIG. 2( a ) , a first lens  200  is provided (operation  310 ). Lens  200  may be any lens employed to provide digital content. The lens includes four surfaces,  201 - 204 . The surface  201  faces a viewer of the display assembly, while the opposing surface  202  is not viewed by the viewer and may be obscured from sight. Electronic circuitry employed to communicate digital information to be displayed via the lens may be situated behind surface  202 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 2( b ) , a second lens  210  is provided (operation  320 ). The second lens  210  has surfaces  211 - 214  that correspond respectively to surfaces  201 - 204 . As explained above, in one example, the display assembly  150  may include just two lenses. Alternatively, more lens may be added (see operation  330 ). Thus, a number of lenses may be selectively chosen depending on an implementation selected. 
         [0043]    In operation  340 , an orientation angle  220  is selected between the lenses. The angle  220 , as shown is provided in such a manner so that the lenses surface  201  and  211  face each other. 
         [0044]    In operation  350 , an optical clear adhesive (OCA) layer  230  (or liquid OCA) is applied. This application bonds the various lens provided above together. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 2( c ) , an adhesive layer  230  is formed in the space between the lenses  200  and  210 . The adhesive layer  230  is transparent and allows light emanating from lenses  200  and  210  (via surfaces  201  and  211  respectively) to propagate via the adhesive layer  230  to a viewer of the display assembly  150 . 
         [0046]    With the display assembly  150  shown above, splitting a display image into multiple screens is used. However, because the lenses are oriented at each other with angle  220 , the image appears in a disjointed and non-seamless manner. As shown in  FIG. 6( a ) , the image on the display assembly  150  will be affected by the angle  220 . The viewer will see the image, but it will be disjointed because the various image portions will be shown at an angle. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method  400  for adjusting a display driver to compensate for a display assembly  150  shown in  FIG. 2( c ) . The method  400  may be incorporated in system  100 . 
         [0048]    In operation  410 , a determination is made as to whether an adhesive layer is applied. If the adhesive layer is applied, the method  400  proceeds to operation  420 . If no, the method  400  proceeds to end  460 . 
         [0049]    In operation  420 , the amount of adhesive, the shape, and various other aspects of the adhesive is retrieved.  FIG. 5  illustrates various elements of adhesive layer  230  including to the elements already shown (such as the angle  220  and the shape  231 ) that may be retrieved in operation  420 . As shown, the various elements retrieved in addition to the angle  220  and the shape  231  are the length to the surface  510  (for each specific pixel), the width of the display  520 , and the specific material used  500 . 
         [0050]    In operation  430 , an iterative step (as shown in operation  435 ) is performed. Each pixel is analyzed based on all the elements analyzed in operation  420  to determine whether the pixel should be driven in a different manner (i.e. with a different amount of illumination or color). 
         [0051]    The function to drive each pixel in a different manner may be based on one, some, or all of the following: 
         [0052]    1) lens technology used; 
         [0053]    2) angle  220 ; 
         [0054]    3) shape  231 ; 
         [0055]    4) length from surface  510 ; 
         [0056]    5) width  520 ; and 
         [0057]    6) material used  500 . 
         [0058]    The above method is performed on a pixel by pixel method. However, a digital signal processing (DSP) technique may also be used to ensure that the images sent to each lens is done so that the viewer sees a seamless image after the adhesive layer is applied. 
         [0059]    In operation  440 , each pixel is adjusted based on the analysis in operation  440 . Each pixel may be adjusted on the respective lens to provide a seamless appearance. The display drivers (e.g. those shown in  FIG. 1 ), may also be adjusted accordingly based on the application of system  100 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 6( a ) and ( b )  illustrate an example of the display assembly  150  implemented without system  100  and with system  100 , respectively. As shown, display data  101  is communicated to the display assemblies  150  employing the aspects shown in  FIG. 1 . The display data  101  is split and various portions are individually communicated to the various lenses included in the display assembly  150 . In  FIG. 6( a ) , the resultant image on the display assembly  150  is shown in a non-seamless manner. Essentially, the image is shown with the discontinuity of two lens shown. This discontinuity is created by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the crease between the lenses, the angle, and the mere fact that two lenses are used. 
         [0061]    On the contrary, in  FIG. 6( b ) , because the elements discussed with system  100  are incorporated, the image now appears seamless. Thus, a viewer may affectively gaze upon display assembly  150  and not notice 1) the fact that the lenses are at an angle  220  with each other, and 2) that two lenses are used and not one. 
         [0062]    As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.