IP Library Granted Patent US 9,244,546
Granted Patent B2
US 9,244,546 · App. 13/164,376 · Granted Jan 26, 2016

Image display device, electronic apparatus using the same, display output control method for image display device, and output control program thereof

Inventors: Koji Mimura (Kanagawa, JP); Ken Sumiyoshi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
G06F3/041G02F1/1323G01R31/024G09G3/3603G09G2320/028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,244,546
App. No.
13/164,376
Granted
Jan 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a display device having a viewing angle changing function, which is capable of preventing leakage of information displayed on a display screen even when there is a fault generated in changing the viewing angle. The image display device including a viewing angle changing element capable of changing a wide vision display and a narrow vision display and including a display element is provided with a detection element which detects a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element and a module for changing to a narrow vision display when there is a fault based on a detection value of the detection element. For example, when there is a fault, a transparent heater is operated to heat a liquid crystal layer to set a transparent-scattering changing element to a transparent state and forcibly set the display device to a narrow vision display.

Claims (20)

1. An image display device, comprising:

a display device main body which includes a display element for displaying prescribed image information to outside and a viewing angle changing element for setting to change outputted display of image information on the display element at least from a wide vision display to a narrow vision display based on a changing command from the outside, wherein:

the display device main body is provided with an operation state detection element which detects an operation state of the viewing angle changing element based on an electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element; and

a fault judging module which compares an electric current value detected by the operation state detection element with an electric current value under a normal operation measured and stored in advance and, judges whether or not there is a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a result of the comparison, wherein

the viewing angle changing element is provided with a narrow vision forcible setting module which operates when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault, and forcibly sets the outputted display of the display element to a narrow vision display state, wherein

the narrow vision forcible setting module is formed by a forcible heating mechanism which heats the viewing angle changing element, and wherein

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is stopped and the forcible heating mechanism heats the viewing changing element, and

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is not a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing elements is not stopped.

2. The image display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the forcible heating mechanism is formed by a transparent heater made with a transparent electrode and a power supply circuit which supplies power to the transparent heater.

3. An electronic apparatus, comprising the image display device as claimed in claim 1 loaded for displaying information.

4. A display output control method used for an image display device comprising a display device main body which includes a display element for displaying prescribed image information to outside and a viewing angle changing element for setting to change outputted display of image information on the display element at least from a wide vision display to a narrow vision display based on a changing command from the outside, the method comprising:

detecting an electric current flowing into the viewing angle changing element by an electric current detection element provided to the display device main body;

executing comparison processing for comparing the electric current value detected by the electric current detection element with an electric current value under a normal operation measured and stored in advance, and judgment processing by a fault judging module provided to the display device main body for judging whether or not there is a fault generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a result of the comparison; and

setting the output display of the display element to a narrow vision display state forcibly by a narrow vision forcible setting module that is provided to the viewing angle changing element, when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault,

wherein the narrow vision forcible setting module is formed by a forcible heating mechanism which heats the viewing angle changing element, and wherein

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is stopped and the forcible heating mechanism heats the viewing changing element, and

when it is judged by the fault judging module that there is not a fault generated in the viewing changing element, the electric current flowing in the viewing angle changing element is not stopped.

5. The image display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the viewing angle changing element judges whether or not a fault classified into a plurality of modes is generated in the viewing angle changing element based on a level of an electric current value detected by an electric current detection element.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 8, 2011
From: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
To: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027195/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2011
From: MIMURA, KOJI; SUMIYOSHI, KEN
To: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 026469/0484 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2010-141024 · Jun 21, 2010 · national
JP 2011-052914 · Mar 10, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110310085A1 · Dec 22, 2011