Transparent interfaces

1. Global No.1 Technology

The newly developed transparent Interface consists of the following three technological elements, which are combined to realize a highly transparent LCD capable of displaying in full color.

• ①Edge Lighting (LCD lit from the edge of the panel glass)

• ②Newly developed liquid crystal that can switch between being transparent and light-scattering

• ③Field Sequential Driving (high-speed switching of the three colors red, green, and blue)

A simple diagram of the display principle is shown in Figure 1. Light is guided from the edge of the panel to all areas inside of the display in the same way that light passes through optical fiber (this light is not visible from outside the glass). Then, by controlling the state of transparency and scattering, through the application of voltage, at the single-pixel level, the light inside the panel can then be transmitted outside of the panel and therefore viewable to users. This light is distributed equally on both sides of the glass. By switching the color of the light guiding the panel at a speed faster than perceptible to the human eye, users will see images displayed in full color. It is like an ultra-high-speed flipbook. In this way, we have demonstrated a new display principle that does not use polarizers, color filters, or backlights, components thought to be essential to color LCDs. These conventional components absorb light, resulting in a very low transmittance rate of 10% or less. By removing these components, we have achieved never before seen levels of transmittance and transparency.

2. Key Differentiating Features

3. New Value Creation

We believe that these three features will enable us to create new customer experiences and realize new value that have yet been difficult to achieve with ordinary non-transparent displays.

• (1)Only Visible When Needed
  A commonly used display, when not in use, is a black board with a large, unwanted presence. In other words, conventional displays have become walls. They disrupt the eyelines of people using a space and fail to harmonize with the space in which they are installed. The newly developed transparent Interface has the appearance of glass when not in use, so it is much more able to blend in and harmonize with the interior environments in which it is installed.

• (2)Improving Face-to-Face Communication
  By placing a transparent interface in between people having face-to-face conversations, facial expressions and body language can be viewed alongside transcriptions or translations of the spoken words, improving the quality of the communication. This can make possible face-to-face communication between people who do not share a common language or when at least one person has hearing impairments.

• (3)A More Sharable Display
  When multiple people use an ordinary display, they all must view it from the same side. This means that everyone is looking in one direction, making it difficult to view people’s facial expressions and body language while viewing the information on the display. By taking advantage of the two-way viewability and wide viewing angle of the transparent interface, it is possible to place the interface in the center and have participants surround it from all angles. This allows multiple people to see facial expressions and displayed information simultaneously. Furthermore, when sharing information like a route of travel on a map, one user can trace the route with their finger, and the other person can follow along from the other side of the display and absorb the information more easily. In this way, we believe that the display can provide value by connecting people with each other instead of getting in the way like traditional displays.

• (4)View the Real and the Virtual Simultaneously
  The high level of transparency allows backgrounds and objects to be seen clearly through the display, enabling new uses such as superimposing information on background scenery or real objects. For example, the reading of a wine bottle can be improved through the superimposing of information of grape variety, region, winery, and vintage, and the viewing of a garden can be improved by adding a layer of images like those of falling leaves dancing in the air. We believe these uses will become increasingly important with further advances in Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

*：Transmittance with diffuse light source.