PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10466392-B1
Application Number: US-201715678904-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Systems with textured light-scattering films

Abstract:
A window or other component may have glass layers and an interposed polymer layer in which a textured light-scattering layer with a diffuse reflectivity is embedded. The textured light-scattering layer may have a textured polymer carrier film coated with a partially reflective layer such as a metal layer. The polymer carrier film may be textured to cause gaps to form within the partially reflective layer. The gaps may be patterned to form ohmic heating current paths or other signal paths through the partially reflective layer. The partially reflective layer may also serve as an electrode in a light modulator such as a liquid crystal light modulator or other light modulator. Images may be projected onto the textured light-scattering layer. The light-scattering layer may also help extract light from a light guiding layer adjacent to the partially reflective layer.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle window, comprising:
 first and second glass layers separated by a polymer layer; and 
 a textured light-scattering layer embedded in the polymer layer, wherein the textured light-scattering layer includes a substrate layer with a textured surface and a partially reflective coating on the textured surface, the partially reflective coating on the textured surface has a diffuse reflectivity, the substrate layer of the textured light-scattering layer has a planar surface that opposes the textured surface, a first portion of the polymer layer is interposed between the textured surface and the first glass layer, and a second portion of the polymer layer is interposed between the planar surface and the second glass layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1  wherein the partially reflective coating comprises a metal layer. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle window defined in  claim 2  wherein the textured surface includes vertical sidewalls that create gaps in the metal layer and the gaps pattern the metal layer into a signal path through which current flows to ohmically heat the metal layer. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1  further comprising a light modulator layer embedded in the polymer layer. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle window defined in  claim 3 , wherein the gaps divide the metal layer into a serpentine path. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle window defined in  claim 3 , wherein the gaps pattern the metal layer into a signal path configured to distribute data signals across the window. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an antireflective layer, wherein the second glass layer is interposed between the antireflective layer and the polymer layer. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , wherein the textured light-scattering layer is configured to convey light from a light source in a direction parallel to a lateral surface of the first and second glass layers via total internal reflection. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface faces the first glass layer and the planar surface faces the second glass layer. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle window defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a pixel array configured to emit light into the textured light-scattering layer through the planar surface. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a tint layer that absorbs visible light, wherein a portion of the polymer layer forms the tint layer. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a tint layer that absorbs visible light, wherein the textured light-scattering layer forms the tint layer. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle window defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tint layer that absorbs visible light. 
 
     
     
       14. A vehicle window, comprising:
 first and second glass layers separated by a polymer layer; 
 a textured light-scattering layer embedded in the polymer layer, wherein the textured light-scattering layer includes a substrate layer with a textured surface and a partially reflective coating on the textured surface, the partially reflective coating on the textured surface having a diffuse reflectivity; and 
 a light modulator having an active layer interposed between electrodes, wherein the partially reflective coating forms one of the electrodes. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle window defined in  claim 14  wherein the active layer comprises a liquid crystal layer and wherein one of the electrodes is formed from a transparent conductive coating layer. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle window defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a tint layer that absorbs visible light. 
 
     
     
       17. A vehicle window, comprising:
 first and second glass layers separated by a polymer layer; 
 a textured light-scattering layer embedded in the polymer layer, wherein the textured light-scattering layer includes a substrate layer with a textured surface and a partially reflective coating on the textured surface, the partially reflective coating on the textured surface having a diffuse reflectivity; and 
 an array of pixels coupled to the second glass layer, wherein the pixels emit light that passes through the partially reflective coating. 
 
     
     
       18. The vehicle window defined in  claim 17 , wherein the array of pixels contacts the textured light-scattering layer. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle window defined in  claim 17 , wherein the second glass layer is interposed between the array of pixels and the polymer layer, the vehicle window further comprises a light absorbing layer coupled to the array of pixels, and the array of pixels is interposed between the light absorbing layer and the second glass layer. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle window defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a tint layer that absorbs visible light.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/380,158, filed on Aug. 26, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to light scattering structures, and, more particularly, to systems having light-scattering films. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In vehicles, building systems, portable electronic devices, and other systems, it is often desirable to provide structures that modify the propagation of light. For example, windows are sometimes provided with frosted surfaces or mirror coatings to enhance privacy. 
     It can be challenging to incorporate structures for modifying the propagation of light into windows. If care is not taken, windows may be too reflective, may be insufficiently transparent for viewing, or may have other undesired attributes. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system such as a vehicle may include structures with textured light-scattering layers. The structures may include windows, exterior vehicle lighting structures, and other vehicle components. The structures may be used in buildings, vehicles, and other systems. 
     A window may have glass layers and an interposed polymer layer. The window may have a textured light-scattering layer with a diffuse reflectivity that is embedded within the polymer layer. 
     The textured light-scattering layer may have a textured polymer carrier film coated with a partially reflective layer. The partially reflective layer may be formed from metal that serves as a one-way mirror and that can block infrared light. 
     The polymer carrier film may be textured to cause gaps to form within the partially reflective layer. The gaps may be patterned to form ohmic heating current paths or other signal paths through the partially reflective layer. 
     The partially reflective layer may serve as an electrode in a light modulator such as a liquid crystal light modulator or other light modulator. The light modulator may also have transparent conductive electrodes such as electrodes formed from indium tin oxide. 
     Images may be projected onto a textured light-scattering layer in a window. The light-scattering layer may also help extract light from a light guiding layer adjacent to the partially reflective layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing how a textured light scattering layer may be formed in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in forming a window with a light scattering layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative laminated window with a textured light scattering layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative window with a patterned conductive layer of the type that may be used to form signal lines for an ohmic heating element or other component in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light modulator with a textured light-scattering electrode layer that may be incorporated in a window or other component in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative laminated structure having a textured light-scattering layer overlapping a display in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative laminated structure having a textured light-scattering layer overlapping a transparent display and tint layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window having a textured layer that may serve as a light extraction structure in a light guide so or a projector screen for displaying projected images in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system may have structures formed from one or more layers of glass, polymer, conductive material (e.g., transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide), crystalline materials (e.g., sapphire), and/or other materials. The structures may include opaque layers and/or transparent layers (e.g., transparent glass and polymer layers, etc.). In some configurations, displays, optical filters, tint layers, light modulators, and other components may be incorporated into the structures. 
     The structures may include one or more textured light-scattering layers. The textured light-scattering layers may provide the structures with a desired appearance (e.g., an appearance characterized by a diffuse reflectivity and few specular reflections). If desired, the structures may be formed as part of windows in a vehicle, building, or other system, exterior or interior lighting for a vehicle, building, or other system, or as part of other components. Illustrative configurations in which the structures with the textured light-scattering layers are used in windows for a system such as a vehicle or building may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     An illustrative system with windows and other structures that may include one or more textured light-scattering layers is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  may be a vehicle having portions such as portions  18  and  20 . Portion  18  may include wheels  14 , a body such as body  12  with a chassis to which wheels  14  are mounted, propulsion and steering systems, and other vehicle systems. Body  12  may include doors, trunk structures, a hood, side body panels, a roof, and/or other body structures. Seats may be formed in the interior of vehicle  10 . Portion  20  may include windows such as window(s)  16 . Window  16  and portions of body  12  may separate the interior of vehicle  10  from the exterior environment that is surrounding vehicle  10 . Windows  16  may include front windows on front F of vehicle  10 , a moon roof window or other window extending over some or all of top T of vehicle  10 , rear windows on rear R of vehicle  10 , and side windows on the sides of vehicle  10  between front F and rear R. If desired, structures with textured light-scattering layers may be used in forming laminated glass structures and other structures that serve as exterior lighting components (e.g., front and rear lights  26 , center high mounted stop lamps, running lights, etc.). 
     Window  16  may be formed from one or more layers of transparent glass, clear polymer (e.g., polycarbonate), polymer adhesive layers, and/or other layers. In some arrangements, window(s)  16  may include laminated window structures such as one or more layers of glass with interposed polymer layer(s). The polymer in a laminated window may be, for example, a polymer such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     Vehicle  10  may include control circuitry  24  and input-output devices  22 . Control circuitry  24  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of vehicle  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  24  may be used to control the operation of vehicle  10  and the components in vehicle  10  (e.g., components associated with windows  16 , lights  26 , input-output devices  22 , etc.). For example, processing circuitry can display images on display components associated with windows  16 , may turn on and off windows and lights, may adjust the transparency of light modulators in windows  16 , lights  26 , and/or other input-output devices  22 , and/or may make other adjustments to components such as windows  16 , lights  26 , etc. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Input-output devices  22  may allow data to be supplied to vehicle  10  and to a user and may allow data to be provided from vehicle  10  to external systems or a user. Input-output devices  22  may include buttons, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, and other user input devices. Microphones may be used to gather voice input from a user and may gather information on ambient sounds. Devices  22  may include ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors, accelerometers, image sensors, and/or other sensors for gathering input. Output may be supplied by devices  22  using audio speakers, tone generators, vibrators, haptic devices, displays, light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and other output components. Devices  22  may include wired and wireless communications circuitry that allows vehicle  10  (e.g., control circuitry  24 ) to communicate with external equipment and that allows signals to be conveyed between components (circuitry) at different locations in vehicle  10 . 
     One or more textured light-scattering layers may be incorporated into windows  16 , lights  26 , and other components of vehicle  10 . Illustrative operations associated with forming a textured light-scattering layer are shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a layer such as layer  28  (e.g., a polymer layer or other layer) may be processed to provide layer  28  with textured surface  30 . Textured surface  30  may be formed by embossing layer  28  with a textured roller, by pressing against surface  30  with a textured plate in a press, or by otherwise applying pressure with a textured tool. Laser processing techniques, chemical processing techniques, and/or other processing techniques may also be used in forming textured surface  30 . Textured surface  30  preferably has a pseudorandom distribution of protrusions (peaks) such as protrusion  32  and recesses (valleys) such as recess  34 . 
     Following formation of textured surface  30 , a metal coating layer or other reflective coating such as reflective layer  36  may be formed on surface  30  (e.g., by physical vapor deposition or other suitable deposition techniques). Layer  36  preferably has a thickness that is sufficiently thin to preserve the textured nature of textured surface  30  (e.g., coating  36  may be less than 1 micron in thickness, less than 0.2 microns in thickness, less than 0.1 microns in thickness, less than 0.5 microns, more than 0.01 microns, etc.). Layer  36  may be formed from aluminum, silver, other metals, multiple layers of dielectric and/or metal, or other suitable materials that allow layer  36  to form a reflective textured light-scattering layer supported by layer  28 . Layers such as layer  36  may be formed on multiple sides of one or more carrier layers such as layer  28 . Configurations in which textured light-scattering layer  40  has a single-sided coating  36  on a single carrier layer  28  may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     If desired, thin metal films (e.g., silver layers, etc.) or other films (e.g., dielectric and/or metal layers) may be used in forming layer  36  and layer  36  may serve as an infrared light reflecting and/or blocking filter and/or may serve as a partial visible light reflector (e.g., a 50% light visible light reflecting layer for a one-way mirror, a visible light reflecting layer that reflects less than 50% or more than 50%, etc.). Layer  36  may be supported by layer  28  to form textured light-scattering layer  40 . Layer  40  may be incorporated into windows  16 , lights  26 , and/or other components in vehicle  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing illustrative processing operations of the type that may be associated with forming windows  16  or other structures incorporating a textured light-scattering layer such as layer  40 . 
     During the operations of block  42 , an embossing tool (e.g., a rotating embossing roller used in a roll-to-roll plastic film processing system, a laser, or other embossing equipment) may be used to form textured surface  30  on layer  28 . Layer  28  may be a carrier film formed from a flexible polymer layer such as a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other suitable polymer film. The thickness of layer  28  may be more than 10 microns, more than 50 microns, more than 100 microns, less than 200 microns, or other suitable thickness. The peak-to-peak roughness of the surface texture (i.e., the thickness of layer  28  at peaks such as peak  32  of layer  28  of  FIG. 2  minus the thickness of layer  28  at valleys such as valley  34  of layer  28  of  FIG. 2 ) may be more than 0.5 microns, more than 2 microns, more than 8 microns, more than 40 microns, may be less than 60 microns, or may have other suitable values. The pseudorandom pattern of the peaks (protrusions) and valleys (recesses) in layer  28  may help prevent undesired gratings from forming and may help minimize interference effects. 
     During the operations of block  44 , a physical deposition tool (e.g., an evaporation tool, a sputtering tool, etc.) or other equipment for depositing one or more layers of material on layer  28  may be used to deposit reflective layer  36 , thereby forming textured light-scattering layer  40 . Layer  36  may be formed form silver, aluminum, multiple dielectric layers and/or metal layers, or other layer(s) of material so that layer  36  is at least partly reflective to visible and/or infrared light. In some configurations, layer  36  may form an infrared blocking layer (e.g., an infrared blocking filter that blocks 90% or more of incoming infrared light, an infrared blocking layer that has an infrared light transmission of less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 5%, more than 1%, etc.) and may be transparent to visible light (e.g., visible light transmission may be more than 60%, more than 80%, or more than 90%). In other configurations, layer  36  may be more reflective at visible light wavelengths (e.g., layer  36  may reflect more than 50% of visible light, more than 80% of visible light, or more than 90% of visible light). Configurations in which other combinations of infrared light reflection and visible light reflection are provided by layer  36  may also be used. 
     During the operations of block  46 , layer  40  may be laminated with one or more additional layers to form windows  16 , lights  26 , and/or other components in vehicle  10 . For example, layer  40  may be laminated between opposing outer and inner glass layer in a laminated safety glass window. Layer  40  may also be laminated to display layers, light modulator layers, glass substrate layers, filter layers and/or other layers (e.g., to form windows  16 , lights  26 , and other components in vehicle  10 ). Lamination operations may involve attaching layers together with adhesive (e.g., PVB, EVA, etc.), may involve application of heat, and/or may involve application of pressure. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative textured layer such as layer  40  that has been incorporated into a window. As shown in  FIG. 4 , window  16  may include outer window layer  50  and inner window layer  52 . Layers  50  and  52  may be formed from glass, plastic, or other suitable window material. Illustrative configurations for window  16  in which window layers such as layer  50  and  52  are formed from glass layers may sometimes be described herein as an example. If desired, window  16  may include additional layers of glass or plastic (i.e., window  16  may be a triple-glass-layer laminate, etc.). Configurations for window  16  that are based on two glass layers such a window  16  of  FIG. 4  are merely illustrative. 
     Textured light-scattering layer  40  may be formed from reflective layer  36  on textured polymer carrier layer  28 . Layer  40  may be embedded within polymer layer  54  (e.g., a polymer adhesive layer such as a layer of PVB, a layer of EVA, etc.) and may be sandwiched between sandwiched between outer window layer  50  and inner window layer  52 . The overall thickness of layer  54  may be 100-400 microns, more than 150 microns, more than 250 microns, less than 500 microns, or other suitable thickness. 
     The outer portion of layer  54  (i.e., the layer between layer  36  and outer layer  50 ) may be clear or tinted (e.g., the outer portion of layer  54  may be clear to enhance the transparency of window  16 ). The inner portion of layer  54  (i.e., the layer between layer  28  and inner layer  52 ) may be formed from clear material or a material that absorbs visible light (e.g., a gray tinted polymer or other tinted material). Clear material or visible-light absorbing material may be used in forming carrier layer  28 . If desired, visible-light-absorbing material (e.g., gray tint) may also be incorporated into some or all of layer  52  or other glass layers in window  16 . 
     The textured surface of layer  40  helps scatter light  38  that shines on layer  36  of layer  40  from the exterior of window  16 . This causes light  38  to reflect diffusely and prevents a viewer such as external viewer  58  who is viewing window  16  in direction  60  from the exterior of vehicle  10  from observing bright specular reflections from window  16 , even in direct sunlight or other bright exterior lighting conditions. When viewed from the exterior of vehicle  10 , window  16  may therefore present viewer  58  with a diffuse reflectivity and overall soft appearance. 
     Reflective layer  36  may be formed from one or more layers of aluminum, silver, other metals, or stacks of dielectric and metal layers. These structures may provide layer  36  with a visible light reflection of about 30-70%, more than 20%, less than 80%, or other suitable value. When the exterior of vehicle  10  is bright and the interior of vehicle  10  is dark (e.g., during daylight conditions), the presence of partially reflecting layer  36  may form a one-way mirror on window  16  that provides vehicle occupants with privacy. External viewers will not be able to easily view into the interior of vehicle  10  because a significant fraction of the bright light on the exterior of vehicle  10  will be reflected by layer  36  and will overwhelm the portion of the dim interior light of vehicle  10  that passes through layer  36  and the rest of window  16 . 
     Metal layers such as silver layers or other layers  36  may also help form an infrared light blocking filter in window  16  (e.g., one or more silver layers in layer  40  may block 10% or more, 50% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, or less than 99% of infrared light from the exterior of vehicle  10 ). 
     The presence of clear material in the outer portion of layer  54  may help enhance transmission through window  16  (e.g., so a viewer inside vehicle  10  such as viewer  62  may observe objects such as object  64  that are outside of vehicle  10  when looking through window  16  in direction  66 ). The presence of visible light absorbing material in layer  28 , the inner portion of layer  54 , and/or layer  52  may enhance the one-way mirror effect produced by the partial reflection of layer  36 . Visible-light-absorbing layers in window  16  (e.g., layer  28 , the tinted inner portion of layer  54 , and/or layer  52 ) may have a light transmission of less than 90%, less than 60%, less than 50%, more than 5%, more than 60%, more than 70%, more than 80%, or other suitable light transmission value. This may provide window  16  with an overall visible light transmission of 10-90%, 20-80%, more than 50%, more than 70%, more than 80%, less than 90%, less than 75%, or other suitable value. 
     If desired, one or more additional layers such as layer  68  may be included in window  16  (e.g., on the outside of window  16 , in the middle of window  16 , and/or on the inside of window  16  facing the interior of vehicle  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Layers such a layer  68  may include, for example antireflection coating layers. The incorporation of an antireflection layer (e.g., layer  68 ) on the inner surface of glass layer  52  may help reduce specular interior light reflections off of the interior surface of layer  52  and may help reduce haze for a viewer such as viewer  62  who is viewing external object  64  through window  16 . When the exterior of vehicle  10  is dark and interior lighting is on in the interior of vehicle  10 , light from the interior lighting has the potential to create undesired light reflections. Antireflection layer  68  and the use of the textured surface of layer  28  in layer  40  to impart texture to layer  36  may help reduce undesired specular reflections of interior light back into the interior of vehicle  10  from layer  36 . Tinting in layer  52 , the inner portion of layer  54 , and/or layer  28  may help reduce hazy reflections of interior light from the inner surface of layer  36  back into the interior of vehicle  10 . 
     An active layer such as active layer  51  may optionally be incorporated between layer  54  and an additional polymer layer such as additional polymer layer  54 ′ on layer  52 . Additional polymer layer  54 ′ may be a polymer adhesive layer such as a layer of PVB, a layer of EVA, etc. With this type of arrangement, both layer  51  and layer  40  may be embedded within a polymer layer (PVA, EVA, etc.) between layers  50  and  52 . 
     Active layer  51  may be a light modulator such as a liquid crystal light modulator with polarizers, a guest-host liquid crystal light modulator, a light modulator such as a suspended particle device, an electrochromic light modulator, an adjustable haze layer such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal device, a cholesteric liquid crystal device, or other light modulating layer. Layer  51  may have a pair of transparent electrodes formed from thin metal, transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide, or other transparent conductive electrode structures and may have liquid crystal structures, suspended particle device structures, or other active layer structures sandwiched between the electrodes. 
     If desired, different orders may be used for the layers of window  16  of  FIG. 4 . For example, the positions of layers  36  and  28  may be reversed, the positions of layers  51  and layer  40  may be reversed, etc. 
     Textured surface  30  of layer  28  may be provided with vertical or near-vertical structures (i.e., surfaces that extend perpendicularly to the planar surfaces of the layers in window  16 ). These vertical or near-vertical structures can create gaps  56  in layer  36  when layer  36  is deposited on surface  30  of layer  28 . The vertical structures in layer  28  may be formed by using an embossing tool with corresponding vertical-sidewall protrusions and/or recesses to emboss a texture with vertical sidewall structures onto layer  28  or by using other texture-forming equipment to form textured surface  30 . 
     Gaps  56  may be patterned so as to create conductive strips of layer  36  (e.g., conductive lines or other conductive paths such as a path  36 T that is running into the page in the orientation of  FIG. 4 ) and other structures that are electrically isolated by gaps  56  from adjacent portions of layer  36  (see, e.g., adjacent portions  36 R). By forming an appropriate pattern of gaps  56 , layer  36  may therefore be patterned to form signal paths for distributing power, data signals, ohmic heating currents, and/or other signals across window  16 . 
     If desired, gaps  56  may be used to divide layer  36  into a serpentine path of the type shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in the example of  FIG. 5 , layer  36  may have gaps  56  that cause current I to flow back and forth across window  16 . Control circuitry  24  may be used to apply current I to layer  36  via terminals  70  to ohmically heat layer  36  and thereby heat window  16  (e.g., to defrost window  16 , etc.). 
     A light-modulator layer may have an electrode or pair of electrodes formed from textured conductive layers such as textured layer  36  of layer  40  and/or other conductive layers. As shown in  FIG. 6 , light modulator layer  74  may include first and second opposing substrates such as layers  72  and  76 . Layers  72  and  76  may be formed from clear glass, transparent plastic, or other suitable substrate materials. Light modulator  74  may include first and second electrodes. First electrode  80  may be formed from a transparent conductive coating such as a layer of indium tin oxide, a layer of metal that is sufficiently thin to be transparent, or other electrode material. Second electrode  80  may be formed from metal layer  36  on textured polymer layer  28  of layer  40 . Layer  40  may be attached to layer  76  using a layer of adhesive (as an example). Electrode  80  may be formed as a coating on the inner surface of layer  72 . If desired, electrode  80  may be a textured conductive electrode (e.g., an electrode such as electrode  36  on layer  28 ). 
     Layer  78  may be a guest-host liquid crystal layer or other suitable light modulation active layer (e.g., a layer of liquid crystal material in a cholesteric liquid crystal light modulator, a layer of electrolyte in an electrochromic light modulator, a layer of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal display, or any other suitable light modulator active layer). 
     Control circuitry  24  may be used to control light transmission through light modulator  74  by applying control signals to layer  78  using electrodes  80  and  36 . The use of a textured layer in forming layer  36  (and, if desired, layer  80 ) may help reduce specular light reflections and thereby enhance the appearance of light modulator  74 . If desired, light modulators such as light modulator  74  of  FIG. 6  may be incorporated into window  16 , lights  26 , and/or other components in vehicle  10  (e.g., layers  72  and/or  76  may be glass layers in a laminated glass window such as window  16  of  FIG. 4 , etc.). One or more of the layers in this type of window may be tinted, as described in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 7 , textured light-scattering layer  40  has been incorporated into a structure for a window or other component in vehicle  10  (component  82 ) in which light is emitted by a light-emitting component such as display  84 . Display  84  may include one or more substrate layers such as substrate layer  88  and may include thin-film circuitry and/or other structures that form an array of pixels  86  for displaying images (e.g., in response to receiving image data from control circuitry  24 ). If desired, light-emitting components such as component  84  may contain only one or a few light-emitting elements (e.g., a large light-emitting diode or a small number of large light-emitting diodes, one or a few edge-lit light guide plates, etc.). Configurations in which light-emitting components such as component  84  are displays are merely illustrative. 
     Textured layer  40  may overlap display  84 . When display  84  (or other suitable light-emitting component) is turned on, light (images) from display  84  may pass through layer  40  for viewing by viewer  58 . When display  84  is turned off, diffuse reflections of light from layer  40  (e.g., diffuse reflections of exterior light) may hide display  88  from view. The surface of layer  40  may be covered with layer  90  (e.g., a polymer resin and/or one or more additional layers such as antireflection layers, one or more glass window layers, one or more rigid plastic window layers, light-modulator structures (see, e.g., light modulator  74  of  FIG. 6 ), and/or other structures in vehicle  10 . 
     Component  82  may be one of windows  16 , may be one of lights  26 , or may be any other component in vehicle  10 . Display  84  of  FIG. 7  (e.g., display substrate  88  and/or other layers in display  84 ) may be transparent or may be opaque so that viewer  58  cannot view objects through component  82 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , window  16  may have an adhesive layer such as adhesive layer  54  (e.g., a PVB layer or an EVA layer) that is sandwiched between window layer  50  and window layer  52  (e.g., glass layers or layers of rigid plastic). Textured layer  40  may be embedded within layer  54  between layers  50  and  52 . Display  84 T may be transparent and may be mounted on the interior surface of layer  52  (e.g., using an adhesive layer, etc.). Display  84 T may include an array of pixels  86  and a substrate such as transparent substrate  88 T. If desired, display  84 T may be a light-emitting component such as a light-emitting diode or small number of light-emitting diodes, may have one or a few light-guide plates, etc. In the example of  FIG. 8 , display  84 T has an array of pixels for displaying images to viewers inside and/or outside of vehicle  10 . 
     Display  84 T of  FIG. 8  and display  84  of  FIG. 7  may be organic light-emitting diode displays, liquid crystal displays, or other suitable displays. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a layer such as layer  92  may be formed between display  84 T and viewer  62  in the interior of vehicle  10 . Layer  92  may include visible-light-absorbing material and/or infrared-light-absorbing material. Layer  92  may, for example, be colored with a gray tint or other suitable tint. The light absorption provided by layer  92  may help enhance privacy for occupants of vehicle  10 . As with the arrangement of  FIG. 7 , images on pixel array  86  of display  84 T may be visible through layer  40  when display  84 T is on. Images on pixel array  86  may or may not be visible through layer  92 . When display  84 T is off, the presence of textured layer  40  may help hide display  84 T from the exterior of vehicle  10  and may provide the exterior of window  16  with a diffuse reflectivity and soft appearance. 
     In configurations in which layer  40  is visible from the exterior of vehicle  10 , portions of layer  40  and/or layers that overlap layer  40  such as the outer portion of layer  54  and/or layer  50  may be tinted to help layer  40  and the other structures of window  16  or other component match the external appearance of vehicle  10 . For example, window  16  may be tinted so that the diffuse reflections from layer  40  and the other portions of window  16  are matched in appearance to a paint color associated with a layer of paint on body  12 . In this situation, window  16  would be transparent to occupants of vehicle  10  such as viewer  62 . At night, when lighting outside of vehicle is low and when interior lighting in vehicle  10  is on, layer  40  will produce soft diffuse reflections of the interior lighting. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a light source such as light source  94  may emit light  96  into an edge portion of one or more light-guiding layers in window  16  such as layer  28 , portions of layer  54 , and/or other layers. This light may propagate laterally throughout window  16  in accordance with the principle of total internal reflection (e.g., in a scenario in which layer  28  has a higher refractive index than layer  54  so that light is guided in layer  28  and so that layer  54  serves as a cladding layer, etc.). The texture of layer  40  (e.g., the texture on the inner surface of layer  36  in the example of  FIG. 9 ) may scatter light  96  inwardly to provide interior illumination in vehicle for a vehicle occupant such as viewer  62  (i.e., layer  36  may be textured so that layer  36  serves as a light extraction layer). Light source  94  may contain one or more visible light-emitting diodes. 
     If desired, a projector such as projector  98  may project light  100  onto textured layer  40  that is visible to viewer  62 . Light  100  may, for example, have a pattern that allows light  100  to serve as decorative interior lighting and/or may be an image that contains text, graphics, fixed and/or moving images, etc. (e.g., when projector  98  is an image projector). Images that are projected onto textured layer  40  by projector  98  may be viewed by viewer  62  (i.e., textured layer  40  may serve as a diffusely reflective projector screen that forms a diffuse reflective surface for projector  98 ). 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170816
Publication Date: 20191105
Grant Date: 20191105
Priority Date: 20160826
Inventors: MELCHER, MARTIN
JONES, CHRISTOPHER D.
WILSON, JAMES R.
ROGERS, MATTHEW S.
MAZUIR, Clarisse
COHOON, GREGORY A.
LAST, MATTHEW E.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G03B21/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G03B21/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0289", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0236", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0221", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0221", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/208", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133504", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133555", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0194", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J3/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0118", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0101", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0289", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13439", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0101", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0194", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0118", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2370/334", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/208", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0289", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2370/77", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J3/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13439", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133504", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133555", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/0221", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/425", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/60", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2360/66", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2360/785", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K35/60", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2360/77", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60K2360/334", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 68391699