Multi-element backlight to highlight or obscure informational element
A multi-pixel display panel can display an image that includes an informational element. A multi-element backlight panel can backlight the display panel. A controller coupled to the display panel and the backlight panel can control the backlight panel to illuminate the informational element more brightly or more dimly than portions of the image away from the informational element. In some examples, the controller can illuminate personal information more dimly than portions of the image away from the personal information, which can provide privacy for a user. In some examples, the controller can illuminate a prompt for a user action more brightly than portions of the image away from the prompt, which can call attention of the user to the prompt. In some examples, the controller can adjust an illumination level of at least a portion of the backlight panel in response to a sensed ambient light level.
1. A system, comprising:
a multi-pixel display panel configured to display an image that includes an informational element;
a multi-element backlight panel configured to backlight the display panel;
at least two sensors located around a perimeter of the display panel configured to determine whether an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight; and
a controller coupled to the display panel and the backlight panel, the controller configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the informational element more brightly or more dimly than portions of the image away from the informational element, wherein to control the backlight panel includes to modify a driving signal sent to the backlight panel, such that during operation, the backlight panel has a first non-zero illumination level proximate the informational element and a second non-zero illumination level different from the first non-zero illumination level away from the informational element, wherein the illumination of the informational element includes to pulse the illumination of the informational element, wherein to pulse the illumination of the informational element includes at least one of a ramp up to an elevated illumination level or a ramp down from the elevated illumination level, and wherein upon a determination that an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight, the controller is to brighten only the area of the display panel positioned in sunlight.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the informational element includes at least one of an alphanumeric element or a graphical element.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the informational element includes an alphanumeric element;
the alphanumeric element includes personal information of a user; and
the controller is configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the alphanumeric element more dimly than portions of the image away from the alphanumeric element.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the informational element requests attention from a user; and
the controller is configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the informational element more brightly than portions of the image away from the informational element.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the informational element includes a prompt for an action by the user.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the display panel is touch-sensitive, and the prompt requests that the user respond to the prompt on the touch-sensitive display panel.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the backlight panel to pulse the illumination of the informational element.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense an ambient light level, wherein the controller is configured to control the backlight panel to adjust an illumination level of at least a portion of the backlight panel in response to the sensed ambient light level.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors positioned around a perimeter of the display panel.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein a number of pixels in the multi-pixel display panel is greater than a number of elements in the multi-element backlight panel.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the backlight panel includes a two-dimensional array of independently controllable light emitting diodes.
12. A method, comprising:
displaying an image on a multi-pixel display panel, the image including an informational element;
backlighting the display panel with a multi-element backlight panel;
determining whether an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight; and
controlling the backlight panel to illuminate the informational element more brightly or more dimly than portions of the image away from the informational element, wherein controlling the backlight panel includes modifying a driving signal sent to the backlight panel, such that during operation, the backlight panel has a first non-zero illumination level proximate the informational element and a second non-zero illumination level different from the first non-zero illumination level away from the informational element, wherein the illumination of the informational element includes to pulse the illumination of the informational element, and wherein to pulse the illumination of the informational element includes at least one of a ramp up to an elevated illumination level or a ramp down from the elevated illumination level, and wherein upon the determining that an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight, brightening only the area of the display panel positioned in sunlight.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the informational element includes at least one of an alphanumeric element or a graphical element.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the informational element includes an alphanumeric element;
the alphanumeric element includes personal information of a user; and
the backlight panel is controlled to illuminate the alphanumeric element more dimly than portions of the image away from the alphanumeric element.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the display panel is touch-sensitive;
the informational element includes a prompt that requests that the user respond to the prompt on the touch-sensitive display panel; and
the backlight panel is controlled to illuminate the informational element more brightly than portions of the image away from the informational element.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sensing an ambient light level with a plurality of sensors positioned around a perimeter of the display panel; and
controlling the backlight panel to adjust an illumination level of at least a portion of the backlight panel in response to the sensed ambient light level.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
a number of pixels in the multi-pixel display panel is greater than a number of elements in the multi-element backlight panel; and
the backlight panel includes a two-dimensional array of independently controllable light emitting diodes.
18. A system, comprising:
a multi-pixel display panel configured to display an image that includes an alphanumeric element;
a multi-element backlight panel configured to backlight the display panel, the backlight panel including a two-dimensional array of independently controllable light emitting diodes, wherein a number of pixels in the multi-pixel display panel is greater than a number of light emitting diodes in the multi-element backlight panel;
at least two sensors located around a perimeter of the display panel configured to determine whether an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight; and
a controller coupled to the display panel and the backlight panel, the controller configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the alphanumeric element more brightly or more dimly than portions of the image away from the alphanumeric element, wherein to control the backlight panel includes to modify a driving signal sent to the backlight panel, such that during operation, the backlight panel has a first non-zero illumination level proximate the informational element and a second non-zero illumination level different from the first non-zero illumination level away from the informational element, wherein the illumination of the informational element includes to pulse the illumination of the informational element, and wherein to pulse the illumination of the informational element includes at least one of a ramp up to an elevated illumination level or a ramp down from the elevated illumination level, and wherein upon a determination that an area of the display panel is positioned in sunlight, the controller is to brighten only the area of the display panel positioned in sunlight.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein:
the alphanumeric element includes personal information of a user; and
the controller is configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the alphanumeric element more dimly than portions of the image away from the alphanumeric element.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein:
the display panel is touch-sensitive;
the alphanumeric element includes a prompt that requests that a user respond to the prompt on the touch-sensitive display panel; and
the controller is configured to control the backlight panel to illuminate the alphanumeric element more brightly than portions of the image away from the alphanumeric element.