Systems and Methods for Compensating for Visual Distortion Caused by Surface Features on a Display

Abstract

Systems and methods for compensating for visual distortion caused by surface features on a display are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: a display including one ore more surface features; a processor configured to: receive a display signal including graphical data; determine a location of the surface feature; transform the display signal based at least in part on the location of the surface feature; and cause the transformed display signal to be displayed.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device comprising,
 a flexible display having a surface feature on a surface of the flexible display;   a processor communicatively coupled to the flexible display; and   a memory comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a display signal associated with content to be displayed on the flexible display; 
 transform at least a portion of the display signal based at least in part on the surface feature so as to generate a transformed display signal, the transformed display signal being configured to compensate for visual distortion from the surface feature; and 
 transmit the transformed display signal to the flexible display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface feature is at least one of a ridge or trough. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising a haptic substrate coupled to the flexible display, wherein the haptic substrate is configured to receive a signal from the processor and responsively apply a force to the flexible display that causes the flexible display to deform in shape to create the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 3 , wherein the haptic substrate is coupled to an underside of the flexible display. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface feature is a permanent surface feature on the surface of the flexible display 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned to detect the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display, wherein the processor is configured to transform at least the portion of the display signal based on a sensor signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible display is a touch-screen. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a processor of a mobile device, a display signal associated with content to be displayed on a flexible display of the mobile device;   transforming, by the processor, at least a portion of the display signal based at least in part on a surface feature on a surface of the flexible display so as to generate a transformed display signal, the transformed display signal being configured to compensate for visual distortion from the surface feature; and   transmitting, by the processor, the transformed display signal to the flexible display.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surface feature is at least one of a ridge or trough. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting a signal to a haptic substrate coupled to the flexible display, wherein the haptic substrate receives the signal and responsively applies a force to the flexible display that causes the flexible display to deform in shape to create the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the haptic substrate is coupled to an underside of the flexible display. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surface feature is a permanent surface feature on the surface of the flexible display. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transforming at least the portion of the display signal based on a sensor signal from a sensor positioned to detect the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible display is a touch-screen. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a display signal associated with content to be displayed on a flexible display;   transform at least a portion of the display signal based at least in part on a surface feature on a surface of the flexible display so as to generate a transformed display signal, the transformed display signal being configured to compensate for visual distortion from the surface feature; and   transmit the transformed display signal to the flexible display.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the surface feature is at least one of a ridge or trough. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 transmit a signal to a haptic substrate coupled to the flexible display, wherein the haptic substrate receives the signal and responsively applies a force to the flexible display that causes the flexible display to deform in shape to create the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the haptic substrate is positioned underneath the flexible display and configured to apply the force to the flexible display. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the surface feature is a permanent surface feature on the surface of the flexible display. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 transform at least the portion of the display signal based on a sensor signal from a sensor positioned to detect the surface feature on the surface of the flexible display.