Abstract: The measurements of surface temperature are prone to important directional anisotropy related to the structure of the canopy and the radiative and energy exchanges inside of it. Directional effects must be taken into account for a number of practical applications such as the correction of large swath satellite data, the assimilation of thermal infrared (TIR) measurements in surface models, the design of future spatial missions… For urban canopies, experimental measurements of TIR directional anisotropy previously performed during summer days over Marseille in the framework of the ESCOMPTE campaign (2001) revealed significant angular surface temperature variations with noticeable hot spot effects whose intensity was related to the canopy structure. The CAPITOUL project (http://medias.cnrs.fr/capitoul/) provided the opportunity to extend these results to other seasons and to nighttime conditions. The experimental setup is based on the use of 2 airborne TIR cameras with different lenses, inclination and resolution, and installed aboard a small aircraft. The flight protocol allowed the retrieval of directional anisotropy in all azimutal directions and in a range of zenith viewing angles between nadir and 62°. Measurements were performed during several intensive operation periods (IOP) in summer (2004 july), autumn (2004 September and October) and winter (2005 February). Only the first results of the 2004 autumn and 2005 winter IOPs are presented in this paper. The results obtained in daytime conditions confirm the systematic hot spot effects observed in previous experiments over cities. The variations found seem to be particularly important in winter when sun elevation is low: for instance they range between −4 and 10 K between oblique and nadir viewing in February. During nighttime conditions, angular variations are much lower (always less than 2 K between nadir and 60° zenithal viewing angle), whichever the azimutal viewing direction.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a viewing angle of a display, includes determining a location of one or more viewers and determining lighting conditions. Additionally, the method includes calculating an optimal viewing position of the display based on the location of the one or more viewers and the lighting conditions and adjusting the display based on the optimal viewing position.

Abstract: — Display-measurement methods different from conventional 2-D display measurements are needed for verifying the optical characteristics of autostereoscopic (3-D) displays and for comparing different 3-D display technologies. Industry is lacking standardized measurement methods, and the reported results can not always be compared. The selected set of characteristics discussed in this paper and partly defining the quality of the 3-D experience are crosstalk, viewing freedom, and optimum viewing distance. Also, more conventional display characteristics such as luminance are discussed, since the definitions for these characteristics in 3-D mode usually differ from those used for the 2D displays. We have investigated how these chosen 3-D display characteristics can be objectively measured from transmissive two-view and multiview 3-D displays. The scope of this article is to generally define those basic characteristics as well as the different measurement methods. Most of the 3-D characteristics can be derived from the luminance and colors versus the viewing angle. Either a conoscopic or a goniometric measurement system can be used, as long as the angular and stray-light properties are suitable and known. The characteristics and methods are currently discussed in the display-quality standardization forums.

Abstract: A high performance liquid crystal display using combined fringe and in-plane horizontal electric fields is proposed. The strong electric fields cause more liquid crystals to reorient almost in plane above and between the pixel electrodes. As a result, the operation voltage is lower and transmittance is higher than those of fringe field switching and in-plane switching modes, while preserving a wide viewing angle. Such a high performance device is particularly attractive for large panel liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: We report a liquid crystal display (LCD) using a nanowire grid polarizer (NWGP) to replace the bottom sheet linear polarizer (LP). The top LP and bottom NWGP configurations enable backlight recycling for enhancing optical efficiency while keeping a high contrast ratio and wide viewing angle. The electro-optic performance of this device configuration is studied based on the effective-medium theory and 4×4 matrix method. Results show that this configuration exhibits a 100:1 contrast ratio over 75° viewing cone in a film-compensated multidomain vertical alignment LCD and 10:1 over 65° viewing cone in a fringe-field switching LCD without any compensation film.

Abstract: A fringe-field-switching (FFS) liquid crystal display (LCD) using a thin cell doped with a reverse-handed chiral compound is proposed. Such a FFS LCD exhibits a fast response time (∼8ms), high transmittance (>90%), low operating voltage (5Vrms), and intrinsically wide viewing angle. Its application for LCD televisions in order to reduce image blurring is emphasized.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable security element (12) for safeguarding objects of value with an optically variable colored layer (40), which contains first optically variable effect pigments (34) for producing a visual impression, which depends on the viewing angle, and second effect pigments (36), which can be aligned reversibly by an external magnetic field, wherein the degree of the markedness of the visual impression of the optically variable effect pigments (34), which is dependent on the viewing angle, depends on the orientation of the magnetically alignable effect pigments (36) relative to the plane of the colored layer (40).

Abstract: A method for marking a position of a real world object on a see-through display is provided. The method includes capturing an image of a real world object with an imaging device. A viewing angle and a distance to the object are determined. A real world position of the object is calculated based on the viewing angle to the object and the distance to the object. A location on the see-through display that corresponds to the real world position of the object is determined. A mark is then displayed on the see-through display at the location that corresponds to the real world object.

Abstract: Among the various methods to produce three-dimensional (3D) images, holography occupies a special niche. Indeed, holograms provide highly realistic 3D images with a large viewing angle capability without the need for special eyewear. Such characteristics make them valuable tools for a wide range of applications such as medical, industrial, military, and entertainment imaging. To be suitable for an updatable holographic display, a material needs to have a high diffraction efficiency, fast writing time, hours of image persistence, capability for rapid erasure, and the potential for large display area-a combination of properties that has not been realized before.

Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting apparatus in which light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting device is improved and viewing angle dependency of an emission color is reduced. The light-emitting apparatus includes a cavity structure and a periodic structure. When guided-wave light is diffracted by the periodic structure in a direction that forms an angle which is larger than 90° and smaller than 180° relative to a guided-wave direction of an optical waveguide in the cavity structure, a wavelength of the diffracted light becomes longer as the diffraction angle increases.

Abstract: A simple wide-view and broadband circular polarizer comprising of a linear polarizer and two uniaxial films is proposed to enhance the viewing angle of transflective liquid crystal displays (LCDs). For the transmissive mode, over the entire 90deg viewing cone, the normalized light leakage from two stacked circular polarizers is suppressed to below 1.5times10-2, and contrast ratio over 10:1 is obtained using a normally black vertically aligned transflective LCD. At the same time, this configuration warrants a broadband operation and reasonably good viewing angle (10:1 contrast ratio is over 40 at all directions) for the reflective mode. The physical mechanisms for achieving broadband operation and wide viewing angle are discussed.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically correcting the viewing angle of a rear-view mirror on a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling around a curve. The system estimates the curvature of the road using only vehicle speed and vehicle steering angle information. The road curvature estimation is used to determine the radius of curvature of the road, which can then be used to determine the corrected viewing angle of the rear-view mirror. Depending on whether the road is curving to the right or to the left will determine whether the left side rear-view mirror or the right side rear-view mirror will be adjusted.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display device which can improve viewing angle characteristics and a driving method of the liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device including the liquid crystal display device. In a liquid crystal display device which performs display by aligning liquid crystal molecules at a tilt or radially at a tilt, one pixel is divided into a plurality of regions (sub-pixels) and a signal applied to each sub-pixel is made different every desired period. Alternatively, a signal applied to each sub-pixel is made different with respect to an adjacent pixel. To improve viewing angle characteristics by changing transmittance of the liquid crystal molecules every desired period in addition to improving the viewing angle characteristics of a viewer by making the liquid crystal molecules slanted to increase directions of alignment.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically correcting the viewing angle of a rear-view mirror on a vehicle towing a trailer when the vehicle is traveling around a curve. If the dimensions of the trailer are unknown, then the corrected viewing angle is the same as the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. If the dimensions of the trailer are known, then trigonometry is used to determine the corrected viewing angle. Depending on whether the road is curving to the right or to the left will determine whether the left side rear-view mirror or the right side rear-view mirror is adjusted.

Abstract: The color reflected by an interferometric modulator may vary as a function of the angle of view. A range of colors are thus viewable by rotating the interferometric modulator relative to an observer. By placing a textured layer between an observer and an interferometric modulator, a pattern which includes the range of colors may be viewed by the observer, and the range of colors may thus be viewable from a single viewing angle.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for rendering and displaying a curved planar reformat (CPR) view (7') of a blood vessel's 3D tubular structure (1), wherein the viewing direction of the curved planar reformat view (7') is coupled to the viewing angle on a segmented or raw representation of the 3D tubular structure's ren- dered voxel volume to be visualized or, alternatively, to the C-arm geometry of a 3D rotational angiography device's C-arm system (6). The proposed method thus enables measurements on the X-ray image which do not suffer from spatial foreshortening and do not need to be calibrated. Thereby, said coupling can be performed bidirectional. According to a first aspect of the proposed method, this means that the viewing direction of the aforementioned curved planar reformat view (7') follows the viewing angle on a segmented or raw representation of the 3D tubular structure's rendered voxel volume to be visualized, or vice versa. According to another aspect of the proposed method, this means that the viewing direction of the curved planar reformat view (7') is set depending on the C-arm geometry given by the roll (tx ), pitch (t y ) and yaw angle (tz ) of a 3D rotational angiography device's C-arm system (6), or vice versa.

Abstract: We have developed a new wide viewing angle technology for 3D display with glasses. To utilize the circular light which made by combining patterned HW plate and QW plate, we can break the limitation of view angle for stereoscope display with linear patterned polarizer.

Abstract: Wide-viewing angle integral imaging by means of a negative refractive index planoconcave lens array is theoretically investigated. The optical properties of a negative refractive index lens are analyzed from the point of view of integral imaging. The effective focal length of a positive index planoconvex lens and a negative index planoconcave lens with the same surface spherical curvature R are approximated as fP,eff=2R and fN,eff=R, respectively. This short effective focal length of the negative index lens is advantageous for extending the viewing angle of the integral imaging. In addition, some other optical properties of a negative index lens are analyzed and compared for a positive index lens. Three-dimensional ray-tracing observation simulations of integral imaging systems with a negative index lens array and a positive index lens array are then performed, in a comparative study of the wide-viewing angle mode for integral imaging. A three-dimensional ray-tracing simulator for an integral imaging system is then developed. Some interesting issues that appear in the wide-viewing mode of integral imaging are discussed. The negative refractive index planoconcave lens was found to give a wider viewing angle of -60(deg.) ~+60(deg.) and reduces aberration with only a single spherical planoconcave lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in security devices that can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, and in particular to an optically variable security device utilising colourshift materials. The security device (10) comprises a first and a second layer (11a, lib) of a colourshifting material at least partially overlying each other and each having different colourshifting properties. At least partially applied over surface of one of the colourshifting layers is a light control layer (12) having a surface structure which modifies the angle of reflected light, such that light reflected by the security device is seen at a different viewing angle.

Abstract: A light control film, and light collimating assemblies and liquid crystal displays incorporating such light control films are described. The light control film includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, where the refractive index of each transmissive region is greater than the refractive index of each absorptive region. The absorptive regions form interfaces at angles that are close to the perpendicular to the light control film. A portion of the incident light intercepting the absorptive region undergoes Total Internal Reflection, and is transmitted through the film. The axial brightness of light passing through the film is increased, the brightness is more uniform within the viewing angle, and the viewing cutoff angle is sharpened.

Abstract: As an approach using bistable nematic liquid crystals, we present a liquid crystal display with viewing angle control using two stable states, splay and 180 degrees-twist at pi cell, with three terminal electrode structures. The splay state is controlled by in-plane switching for a wide viewing angle (WVA), while the 180 degrees-twist state is operated by vertical switching for a narrow viewing angle (NVA). With this bistable mode, we fabricated viewing angle-controlled LCDs without additional optical components.

Abstract: There are provided a viewing angle controlling system which can be used in a display device for which peep-prevention and viewing-angle-control are required, and makes it possible to control the viewing angle of a display, and an image display device using the same. The viewing angle controlling system includes: a first polarizer and a second polarizer which are each in the form of a film comprising an absorption dichroic material. The first polarizer has an absorption axis in its film plane, and the second polarizer has an absorption axis in the range of angle from 0 to 45° to the normal line of its film plane.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle including an axi-symmetric framing system rotatable about a centerline to define a shell of revolution having a uniformly-convex outer boundary. A narrow-beam sonar array is mounted on the axi-symmetric framing system, and includes a multitude of simultaneously-fireable and/or asynchronously-fireable transducers distributed substantially evenly over a 4π-steradian viewing angle. The present invention provides the necessary configuration for a vehicle wherein an internal algorithm can compare a “new” geometry to an “old” geometry collected earlier to construct a best fit of the new world map with the old world map and locate the vehicle within the context of the new world map. This then provides a completely independent mechanism for correction of the gradual drift in x and y that is not dependent on any form of external navigation aid.

Abstract: A parallel processing method for synthesizing multi-view images is provided, which may parallel process at least a potion of the following steps. First, multiple reference images are input, wherein each reference image is correspondingly taken from a reference viewing angle. Next, an intended synthesized image corresponding to a viewpoint and an intended viewing angle is determined. Next, the intended synthesized image is divided to obtain multiple meshes and multiple vertices of the meshes, wherein the vertices are divided into several vertex groups, and each vertex and the viewpoint form a view direction. Next, the view direction is referenced to find several near-by images from the reference images for synthesizing an image of a novel viewing angle. After the foregoing actions are totally or partially processed according to the parallel processing mechanism, separate results are combined for use in a next processing stage.

Abstract: Recent advances of LED-lit LCD TVs are reviewed. The influence of LED backlight on the color performance, electro-optic characteristics of the LCD TVs, and color-sequential LCDs are emphasized. The LED backlit LCDs not only exhibits a wider color gamut but also has a ∼ 1.3–2.5X smaller color shift than that of CCFL-BLU especially when there are no color filters used. Wide view angle of higher than 100:1 within the 85° viewing cone can be guaranteed with the optimal film compensation schemes. The LED light source as a 2D adaptive dimming backlight not only enhances the viewing angle but also lowers the power consumption. A thin twisted-nematic cell filled with a high birefringence exhibits a response time less than 2 ms, which is attractive for color sequential display using RGB LEDs.

Abstract: A merchandiser that includes a case that defines a product display area and that includes a frame having mullions. The mullions define at least one opening such that the food product within the product display area is accessible from the front of the case. The merchandiser also includes at least one shelf for supporting and displaying food product within the product display area, and a light assembly that is coupled to at least one of the mullions and that is positioned to illuminate the food product. The light assembly includes a first LED that has a first viewing angle and a second LED that has a second viewing angle that is smaller than the first viewing angle.

Abstract: We have developed a "controllable-viewing-angle (CVA)" device consisting of a hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) liquid-crystal (LC) cell and an negative C-plate. The CVA device can control the transmission of light at predetermined azimuth angles and at the polar angles without changing the transmission of light in the normal direction. By arranging the CVA device on top of a LC panel, we have realized a simple controllable-viewing-angle display. In particular, the CVA device using a HAN LC cell realizes a stronger light-shielding effect and better control over a wider range of viewing angles than possible with a homogeneous aligned LC cell.

Abstract: A method for creating a three-dimensional multi-stereoscopic viewing apparatus includes determining characteristics of a LCD display panel having first a pixel arrangement. The method also includes determining a specification for a lenticular lens configured to convert the first pixel arrangement to a second pixel arrangement and placing the lenticular lens on the display panel. The specification for the lenticular lens is determined by calculating a viewing distance from a refraction index, a width of the display panel, and an average distance between human eyes. Determining the specification for the lenticular lens also includes determining a viewing angle that maximizes viewing characteristics and determining characteristics of the lenticular lens.