IP Library Granted Patent US 11,041,984
Granted Patent B2
US 11,041,984 · App. 16/781,177 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Display device and automobile

Inventor: Akimasa Yuuki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
G02B6/0018G02F1/1323G02F1/133509G02F1/133524G02F1/133528
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,041,984
App. No.
16/781,177
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A viewing angle between a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle is switched, and the viewing angle is suppressed from becoming excessively narrow when the viewing angle is switched to the narrow viewing angle. The ultraviolet light guide plate is superimposed on the display panel. A first main surface of the ultraviolet light guide plate is on a side where the pixels are disposed. The film is disposed on the first main surface of the ultraviolet light guide plate. Openings of the film are disposed on an optical path that passes through the pixels and travels in a first direction. Non-opening portions of the film are disposed on an optical path that passes through the pixels and travels in a second direction. The film is made of a photochromic photosensitive material. The ultraviolet light source irradiates an end surface of the ultraviolet light guide plate with ultraviolet light.

Claims (25)

1. A display device comprising:

a display panel including pixels;

an ultraviolet light guide plate that is superimposed on the display panel and has a first main surface on a side where the pixels are disposed, a second main surface on a side opposite to the side on which the pixels are disposed, and an end surface;

a film disposed on the first main surface, having openings disposed on an optical path that passes through the pixels and travels in a first direction and non-opening portions disposed on an optical path that passes through the pixels and travels in a second direction different from the first direction, and made of a photochromic photosensitive material; and

an ultraviolet light source irradiating the end surface with ultraviolet light,

wherein a state of the film is changed from a transmission state in which visible light is transmitted to a light shielding state in which the visible light is absorbed, when the ultraviolet light source irradiates the end surface with ultraviolet light.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the pixels include first pixels,

the display panel further includes second pixels,

the openings are disposed on an optical path that passes through the second pixels and travels in the second direction, and

the non-opening portions are disposed on an optical path that passes through the second pixels and travels in the first direction.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the display panel is a liquid crystal panel, and includes a liquid crystal cell and a polarizing plate superimposed on the liquid crystal cell, and

the ultraviolet light guide plate and the film are sandwiched between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizing plate.

4. The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a first ultraviolet absorption layer disposed on the first main surface so as to be superimposed on the film and a second ultraviolet absorption layer disposed on the second main surface.

5. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ultraviolet light source irradiates a first region of the end surface with ultraviolet light, and

the display device further comprises an ultraviolet reflection film disposed in a second region different from the first region of the end surface.

6. An automobile comprising:

a driver's seat;

a passenger seat; and

the display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first direction is a direction from the display device to one of the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and

the second direction is a direction from the display device to an other of the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
To: TRIVALE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 058171/0257 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2020
From: YUUKI, AKIMASA
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051711/0047 →