Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a transflective liquid crystal display device that prevents display failure, such as an afterimage and unevenness like stains, and achieves a bright display with a wide viewing angle in both transmissive display and reflective display. The liquid crystal display device of the invention is a vertically-aligned transflective liquid crystal display device having a multigap structure. Each pixel can include, in a dot region, a plurality of islands, and connecting portions for electrically connecting the adjoining islands. Two islands, of the islands, can be disposed in a transmissive display region, and the remaining island is disposed in a reflective display region. A boundary sloping area in which the thickness of a liquid crystal layer continuously changes is disposed right below the connecting portion in the pixel electrode.

Abstract: The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of snow was measured from a 32-m tower at Dome C, at latitude 75°S on the East Antarctic Plateau. These measurements were made at 96 solar zenith angles between 51° and 87° and cover wavelengths 350–2400 nm, with 3- to 30-nm resolution, over the full range of viewing geometry. The BRDF at 900 nm had previously been measured at the South Pole; the Dome C measurement at that wavelength is similar. At both locations the natural roughness of the snow surface causes the anisotropy of the BRDF to be less than that of flat snow. The inherent BRDF of the snow is nearly constant in the high-albedo part of the spectrum (350–900 nm), but the angular distribution of reflected radiance becomes more isotropic at the shorter wavelengths because of atmospheric Rayleigh scattering. Parameterizations were developed for the anisotropic reflectance factor using a small number of empirical orthogonal functions. Because the reflectance is more anisotropic at wavelengths at which ice is more absorptive, albedo rather than wavelength is used as a predictor in the near infrared. The parameterizations cover nearly all viewing angles and are applicable to the high parts of the Antarctic Plateau that have small surface roughness and, at viewing zenith angles less than 55°, elsewhere on the plateau, where larger surface roughness affects the BRDF at larger viewing angles. The root-mean-squared error of the parameterized reflectances is between 2% and 4% at wavelengths less than 1400 nm and between 5% and 8% at longer wavelengths.

Abstract: The uniaxial-film-compensated wide-view liquid crystal displays, with initially homogeneous alignment and vertical alignment, are analyzed. For each compensation scheme, the analytical solutions with the illustration of Poincare sphere representation are derived. Based on the analytical solutions, the 100:1 iso-contrast contours at any viewing angle can be easily achieved for most of the compensation schemes.

Abstract: Volcano observatories and researchers are recognizing the potential usefulness of thermal imaging cameras both before and during volcanic eruptions. Obvious applications include measurements of the surface temperatures of active lava domes and lava flows to determine the location of the most active parts of these potentially hazardous features. If appropriate precautions are taken, the new generation of thermal imaging cameras can be used to extract quantitative as well as qualitative information on volcanic activity. For example, they can be used to measure the temperature of lava on eruption and to reveal how the crust cools during flow emplacement. This is important for the validation of lava flow models. To ensure that meaningful temperatures are collected, thermal imaging data must be corrected for instrumental errors, emissivity of the surface being imaged, atmospheric attenuation, viewing angle and surface roughness. Controlled laboratory experiments have been undertaken to determine the emissivity of smooth and rough samples and the effects of viewing angle and to quantify the errors. Measured emissivities range from 0.973 ± 0.002 for smooth samples of basalt and 0.984 ± 0.004 for rough samples. Errors in emissivity-corrected temperatures are within ±15°C for lava at 1100°C. Variations from individual sensor receptors, which provide individual pixel temperature data, were found to be 0.6% and instrumental errors of the cameras used were 0.1%. Apparent temperatures were found to vary by less than the instrumental error for viewing angles up to 30 degrees from normal to lava, and thereafter increased by ∼1°C per degree. By increasing the apparent viewing distance of a small vent on Mount Etna from 1.5 to 30 m, the maximum temperature is shown to decrease by 53°C due to integrated averaging of radiance over increased pixel areas. At a viewing distance of 250 m the maximum temperature decreased by ∼200°C with a further 75°C decrease due to atmospheric attenuation for a relative humidity of 50%. However, errors in relative humidity measurements can lead to atmospheric attenuation correction inaccuracies up to 200°C at viewing distances of 1 km. We show how temperatures measured using thermal imaging cameras can be corrected to give improved estimates of temperature distributions on the surface of active lava flows.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a mobile communication terminal comprises a first display and a second display and a user interface for allowing a user to select one or more images to be displayed on either of the first and second displays, wherein images displayed on both the first and the second display are viewable from a first viewing angle.

Abstract: The transmittance in fringe-field switching liquid crystal (LC) displays, which show a wide viewing angle, is dependent on the position along the electrode position. The reason for this is that the dielectric torque (and hence the twist angle) varies with position. This effect depends on the type of LC: a display using an LC with positive dielectric anisotropy has less transmittance than one with negative dielectric anisotropy. Furthermore, the transmittance decreases with decreasing cell gap. The difference between the LC types can be reduced and the transmittance can be improved greatly even for a low cell gap by optimizing the electrode structure to enhance the region of in-plane twist.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved light diffusing plates and films that can be used in backlights to increase brightness, provide more control over the viewing angle, reduce thickness and the reduce the overall display cost. By using a volumetric, asymmetric scattering region within a diffuser plate or film, light can be preferentially scattered more in one direction than the other direction. In backlights where the illumination light sources are substantially linear arrays, a diffuser plate or film that scatters predominantly in the direction perpendicular to the linear array will have more efficient forward light throughput than one that scatters light in a symmetric light scattering profile. In addition, a light re-directing region such as an asymmetric scattering region can efficiently allow a light-emitting device to be direct lit and edge lit, simultaneously.

Abstract: Active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) displays have been considered a potential candidate for the next generation of flat panel displays due to the ability of AMOLED in providing wider viewing angle, larger color gamut, and lower fabrication cost. In this paper we present a new optical feedback pixel circuit that preserves the advantages of active matrix structure while demanding simple off-panels driver and four active components at each pixel but compensates for the luminance degradation of the AMOLED display

Abstract: We propose a curved integral imaging system with large depth achieved by the additional use of a large-aperture lens in a conventional large-depth integral imaging system. The additional large-aperture lens provides a multidirectional curvature effect and improves the viewing angle. The proposed system has a simple structure due to the use of well-fabricated, unmodified flat devices. To calculate the proper elemental images for the proposed system, we explain a modified computer-generated pickup technique based on an ABCD matrix and analyze an effective viewing zone in the proposed system. From experiments, we show that the proposed system has an improved viewing angle of more than 7 degrees compared with conventional integral imaging.

Abstract: An augmented reality apparatus and method in which the direction of a camera is adjusted to be consistent with a direction toward which a user faces and an augmented reality image is realized for a subject image incident from the adjusted camera direction. The augmented reality apparatus includes a viewing angle determination module which determines a viewing angle of a user, an image input module which receives an image of one or more subjects within the viewing angle of the user, an image synthesization module which generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the subject image with a digital image, and a display module which displays the synthesized image.

Abstract: We have demonstrated a totally new liquid crystal display (LCD) mode using a smectic A-like phase of banana-shaped molecules. An in-plane electric field was applied to homeotropically aligned cells, resulting in fast polarization reorientation and the associated birefringence. The reported LCD mode has all the advantages of the existing LCD modes, such as vertical alignment (VA), in-plane switching (IPS), ferroelectric LC (FLC) or antiferroelectric LC (AFLC) and V-shaped switching (VS) modes; namely, fast response of the order of 100 µs, high contrast ratio (3000:1), wide viewing angle, continuous gray level, and small threshold voltage. These performances originate from the cooperative motion of bent molecules with quasi-long-range order of dipoles based on a two-dimensional Langevin process.

Abstract: A security device comprises at least two regions, each region comprising a prismatic surface structure defining an array of substantially planar facets. Each region forms a reflector due to total internal reflection when viewed at least one first viewing angle and is transparent when viewed at at least one second viewing angle. The said at least one first viewing angle of one region is different from the at least one first viewing angle of the other region.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a support structure and a camera carried by the support structure and including a detector surface and a lens having an optical axis, and having a field of view. A display is carried by the support structure in a fixed relation to the camera. The display has a normal viewing angle perpendicular to a surface of the display. The field of view of the camera has a main line of sight extending at an acute angle to the normal viewing angle of the display.

Abstract: A viewing-angle controllable color filter substrate includes: a display layer includes a plurality of openings separated from each other, shading regions disposed between openings that displays images; and a viewing angle control layer with an electrochromic pattern. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display includes: forming a display layer on an upper substrate and a viewing angle control layer including an electrochromic pattern; forming on a lower substrate a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a matrix; and forming a liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: We have developed an integral three-dimensional (3-D) television that uses a 2000-scanning-line video system that can shoot and display 3-D color moving images in real time. We had previously developed an integral 3-D television that used a high-definition television system. The new system uses -6 times as many elemental images [160 (horizontal) x 118 (vertical) elemental images] arranged at -1.5 times the density to improve further the picture quality of the reconstructed image. Through comparison an image near the lens array can be reconstructed at -1.9 times the spatial frequency, and the viewing angle is -1.5 times as wide.

Abstract: An in-vehicle display apparatus includes a display portion that respectively displays images on a first screen for a driver and on a second screen for a front passenger on a common display to be visible from a viewing angle of the driver and another viewing angle from the front passenger, and further includes an operating portion, a signal outputting portion, a signal receiving portion, an operator detecting portion, and a controller. The signal receiving portion receives signals from the signal outputting portion, when the driver or the front passenger touches the operating portion.

Abstract: We report a flexible bistable polymer dispersed smectic-A liquid crystal matrix display combining two advanced technologies developed by Kent State University and PolyDisplay ASA. The ion-doped smectic-A liquid crystal/polymer composite system produces lightweight, thin, and robust flexible displays with image memory, high contrast, wide viewing angle, and low power consumption.

Abstract: Holographic displays employing binary phase modulation have been demonstrated to be attractive on the grounds of efficiency and miniaturization, and they offer a plausible approach to two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) image projection and display. A novel algorithm--one-step phase retrieval--and corresponding hardware architecture have recently been proposed, providing the performance required for real-time holographic display. However, since viewing angle varies inversely with pixel size, very small display pixels are required to achieve a wide field of view. This is particularly problematic for 3D displays, as the requirement for a large display with small pixels has hitherto necessitated an unachievably large electrical bandwidth. We present a novel approach, utilizing fixed random pixelated quaternary phase masks of greater resolution than the displayed hologram, to dramatically increase the viewing angle for 2D and 3D holographic displays without incurring a bandwidth penalty or significantly degrading image quality. Furthermore, an algorithm is presented to generate holograms accounting for the presence of such a phase mask, so that only one mask is required.

Abstract: We have developed a CVA (Controllable Viewing-Angle) device using a hybrid aligned nematic liquid-crystal cell which allows a high light-shielding effect and a wide range of available viewing-angle control. By putting the CVA device on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) LC (Liquid-Crystal) Panel, we have realized a simple controllable viewing-angle LCD.

Abstract: Three-dimensional displays are drawing attention as next-generation devices. Some techniques which can reproduce three-dimensional images prepared in advance have already been developed. However, technology for the transmission of 3D moving pictures in real-time is yet to be achieved. In this paper, we present a novel method for 360-degrees viewable 3D displays and the Transpost system in which we implement the method. The basic concept of our system is to project multiple images of the object, taken from different angles, onto a spinning screen. The key to the method is projection of the images onto a directionally reflective screen with a limited viewing angle. The images are reconstructed to give the viewer a three-dimensional image of the object displayed on the screen. The display system can present images of computer-graphics pictures, live pictures, and movies. Furthermore, the reverse optical process of that in the display system can be used to record images of the subject from multiple directions. The images can then be transmitted to the display in real-time. We have developed prototypes of a 3D display and a 3D human-image transmission system. Our preliminary working prototypes demonstrate new possibilities of expression and forms of communication.

Abstract: A projection screen (600) for receiving projector light (30) from a projector facing direction includes a substrate (502) having a plurality of features (504) Each of the features includes a reflective surface (504) oriented to the projector facing direction Each of the reflective surfaces is curved in a first direction (510) to provide a desired horizontal viewing angle, and is curved in a second direction (504) to provide a desired vertical viewing angle

Abstract: A liquid crystal display, which allows proper optical compensation for bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell and exhibits high contrast, excellent viewing angle properties and a high black display fidelity, is provided. A bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell is properly optically compensated for by properly controlling the optical properties, including wavelength dispersion, of a first optical anisotropic layer and a second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A dual light source of backlight systems was proposed to obtain an adjustable viewing angle of LCDs. A top lightguide plate (LGP-T) in combination with a reverse prism sheet was utilized to redirect the emitting rays towards restricted normal viewing cones while a bottom lightguide plate (LGP-B) towards wide viewing cones. Adjustable viewing angles could be easily switched between 60 ° and 140 ° according to personal preference. Luminous uniformity of 81% and 72% was acquired for narrow and wide viewing modes, respectively. In addition, a cost benefit of super high brightness could be easily achieved when adopt the dual light source of backlight system module.

Abstract: Disclosed is an LCD capable of adaptively selecting a gamma curve based on a viewing angle. The LCD includes: a viewing angle detector for detecting the viewing angle of an LCD panel to generate information about the viewing angle, and a gamma curve determiner for selecting a gamma curve corresponding to the information of the viewing angle and controlling the gray level with a gamma voltage value defined by the selected gamma curve. The viewing angle detector has a driving voltage generator and a voltage divider. The driving voltage generator outputs a gate-on/off voltage and an analog driving voltage based on an externally input power, and the voltage divider drops the level of the gate-on voltage to generate a first voltage. A viewing angle generator outputs information about the viewing angle based on the analog driving voltage and the first voltage.

Abstract: We have developed a high-transmittance in-plane switching (HT-IPS) liquid crystal display (LCD) using special electrode design on the same substrate. The featured electrode configuration generates substantial horizontal electric fields between the electrode groups, and fringe fields with rich horizontal components within the regions of electrode groups. The former is similar to the IPS mode and the latter is similar to the fringe-field switching (FFS) mode. The HT-IPS mode exhibits a high transmittance (> 90 % of twisted nematic (TN) mode), as well as wide viewing angle for cells using both positive and negative dielectric anisotropy LC materials. In addition, we also compare the electro-optical performance of the HT-IPS with IPS and FFS cells under the same conditions

Abstract: An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate, gate lines and data lines intersecting each other on the first substrate and defining red, green, blue sub-pixels, and viewing angle controlling sub-pixels, thin film transistors at the intersections of the gate lines and the data lines, first pixel electrodes and first common electrodes spaced apart from each other and alternately disposed at the red, green, and blue sub-pixels, second pixel electrodes at the viewing angle controlling sub-pixels, second common electrodes on the second substrate and at positions corresponding to the second pixel electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided which can display different text/image information depending on the viewing angle and the viewer, display a high reality three-dimensional image viewable from any direction and realize stereoscopic viewing without glasses or the like. The display apparatus includes a display unit having a view angle-limiting filter on its surface, a rotary mechanism to rotate the display unit and a control unit which implements control so that when the display unit, rotated by the rotary mechanism, is faced to each of plural directions, the display unit displays a different text/image content associated with the direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present application, a color liquid crystal display device is disclosed which can realize display having a high color reproducibility when a screen is viewed from an oblique direction as well as from a front direction, while improving a viewing angle dependence of γ-characteristics by employing a pixel division method. Gamma correction is carried out as follows independently for each R, G, and B with reference to R, G, and B correction tables so as to obtain a good color tracking. That is, the gamma correction is carried out such that chromaticity in the front view is shifted toward blue in an oblique hue correction range, which is determined by a pixel division ratio and the like, so as to reduce a shift of the chromaticity in the oblique view toward yellow in the oblique hue correction range, while maintaining a color balance in the other range (a gradation value range of 32 to 255 except for the oblique hue correction range). The present invention is suitable for a color liquid crystal display device employing the pixel division method.

Abstract: A protective automatic darkening filter construction 10 includes two low twist liquid crystal cells 26, 30 interspersed between a series of offset polarizers 24, 28, 32. The resulting construction provides improved homogeneity in the dark state as viewed by the user over a large viewing angle. By reducing variations in shade, visibility through the filter may be improved.