Patent ID: 8194507

Claim:
A hidden display comprising: at least one light emitting display element; and a display panel having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface of the display panel being in contact with the at least one light emitting display element such that light emitted from the light emitting display element is optically coupled into the display panel, the outside surface of the display panel including a display region for displaying illuminated information formed by the light optically coupled into the display panel, wherein the display panel is transparent to at least a portion of the light from the light emitting display element optically coupled into the display panel such that the light from the light emitting display element is visible on the outside surface as the illuminated information, and wherein the display is opaque to ambient light impinging upon the outside surface such that the light emitting display element is not visible behind the outside surface when the light emitting element does not emit light, and wherein the outside surface provides a diffuse reflection of ambient light such that a substantial portion of ambient light is reflected without creating a mirror-like effect.