Screen and image display system

Abstract

A screen including a first liquid crystal layer area including a polymer dispersion liquid crystal material and capable of switching a state of the first liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a scatter state based on voltage application and a second liquid crystal layer area provided outside the first liquid crystal layer area, including a liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye, and capable of switching a state of the second liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a colored state based on voltage application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A screen comprising:
 a first liquid crystal layer area including a polymer dispersion liquid crystal material and capable of switching a state of the first liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a scatter state based on a voltage application; and   a second liquid crystal layer area, including a liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye, and capable of switching a state of the second liquid crystal layer area between a transmission state and a colored state based on a voltage application, wherein   the second liquid crystal layer area is disposed around the first liquid crystal layer area, such that the first liquid crystal layer area is framed by the second liquid crystal layer area.   
     
     
         2 . The screen according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the screen is capable of operating in a first state in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, and a second state in which the first and second liquid crystal layer areas both operate in the transmission state, and   an image is displayed in the first liquid crystal layer area that operates in the first state.   
     
     
         3 . The screen according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the voltages are applied by common electrodes to the first and second liquid crystal layer areas.   
     
     
         4 . The screen according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first state is produced when the voltages are applied, and   the second state is produced when no voltage is applied.   
     
     
         5 . The screen according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second state is produced when the voltages are applied, and   the first state is produced when no voltage is applied.   
     
     
         6 . The screen according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the voltages are applied by different electrodes independently of each other to the first and second liquid crystal layer areas.   
     
     
         7 . The screen according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the predetermined color displayed in the colored state is black.   
     
     
         8 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 1 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         9 . The image display system according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.   
     
     
         10 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 2 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         11 . The image display system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.   
     
     
         12 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 3 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         13 . The image display system according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.   
     
     
         14 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 4 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         15 . The image display system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.   
     
     
         16 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 6 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         17 . The image display system according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.   
     
     
         18 . An image display system comprising:
 the screen according to  claim 7 ;   a projector that displays an image on the screen; and   a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector.   
     
     
         19 . The image display system according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the controller instructs the screen to operate in the first state, in which the first liquid crystal layer area operates in the scatter state and the second liquid crystal layer area operates in the colored state, in response to outputting an image signal to the projector.