Benjamin J Richards

US Patent:

20220283432, Sep 8, 2022

Filed:

Mar 2, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/189763

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Benjamin J. Richards - Burbank CA, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G02B 27/01
B60K 35/00

Abstract:

A display or light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal (LC) array layer having a plurality of LC pixels, and a transparent LED layer having a plurality of LED pixels. A controller is operatively connected to the LC array layer and the transparent LED layer. The controller is configured to selectively trigger emission of light from a selection of the LED pixels, and to selectively darken a selection of the LC pixels that correspond directly to the selection of LED pixels. Therefore, the emitting LED pixels and the darkened LC pixels match and light is emitted from the LED pixels in substantially the opposite direction of the LC array layer. The display screen, or different aspects thereof, may be operatively incorporated into one or more windows of a vehicle, may be a standalone unit, or may be incorporated into a building.

US Patent:

20220283458, Sep 8, 2022

Filed:

Mar 2, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/189784

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Benjamin J. Richards - Burbank CA, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/133
G02F 1/137
B60J 3/04

Abstract:

A light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal array mounted to a window. The liquid crystal array has a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) pixels, each of which is selectively darkenable. A controller is operatively connected to the liquid crystal array and configured to darken a set of the LC pixels, such that the darkened set of LC pixels limits light passage through the window in one or more selected areas. The LC pixels need not limit light passage through the entire window. The controller may determine a location of a glare source relative to the window and a location of a user proximate the window, and then darken the set of the LC pixels in an area between the glare source and the user, such that the glare source is limited from shining onto the user. The screen may be incorporated into vehicles or buildings.