EP0267686A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Full colour liquid crystal display
Assignee: L3 Technologies ESS Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display provides a high quality colour image and efficient energy utilization. A layer (24) of liquid crystal material is controlled by a transparent electrode matrix (22) that is fixed to one surface of a fiber optic plate (18). A matrix of (primary colour emitting) phosphors (20), each in alignment with a transparent electrode (23), is fixed to the opposed surface of the plate. A source (34) of fluorescent energy excites the phosphors. A filter (30) located behind the fiber optic plate reflects visible light, both ambient and that emitted from the phosphors. The fiber optic plate acts as a relay lens and prevents cross pixel colour contamination while the generation of backlight by the phosphor conversion of fluorescent to visible energy is a highly efficient process.
Inventors
- 👤 John Colin Prince
- 👤 James Francis Farrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:20
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133617
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A display comprising: a) a light modulating member (24); and b) means (23) for applying a plurality of spatially distributed field values to said member whereby a pattern of light transmissive areas is generated within said light modulating member; characterised by c) a phosphor layer (20); and d) means (34) for exciting said phospor layer to emit visible light; wherein e) said phosphor layer is arranged so that the intensity of light emitted therefrom is modulated by the pattern of light transmissive areas of said light modulating member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A display comprising: a) a light modulating member (24); and b) means (23) for applying a plurality of spatially distributed field values to said member whereby a pattern of light transmissive areas is generated within said light modulating member; characterised by c) a phosphor layer (20); and d) means (34) for exciting said phospor layer to emit visible light; wherein e) said phosphor layer is arranged so that the intensity of light emitted therefrom is modulated by the pattern of light transmissive areas of said light modulating member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A display as defined in Claim 1, further including a fiber optic plate (18) intermediate said phosphor layer and said light modulating member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A display comprising, in combination: a) a light modulating member (24); b) means (23) for applying a plurality of spatially-distributed field values to said member whereby a pattern of light transmissive areas is generated within said light modulating member; c) means (34, 14) for transmitting visible light through said light modulating member; and d) a fiber optic plate (18) intermediate said last-named means (19) and said light modulating member whereby said visible light is relayed to the surface of said light modulating member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A display comprising, in combination: a) a light modulating member (24); b) means (23) for applying a plurality of spatially-distributed field values to said member whereby a pattern of light transmissive areas is generated within said light modulating member; c) means (34, 14) for transmitting visible light through said light modulating member; and d) a fiber optic plate (18) intermediate said last-named means (19) and said light modulating member whereby said visible light is relayed to the surface of said light modulating member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A display as defined in Claim 3, wherein said means for transmitting visible light further includes: a) means (14) for reflecting ambient light; and b) means (34) for backlighting said display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A display as defined in Claim 4, wherein said means for backlighting said display further includes: a) a phosphor layer 20); and b) means (34) for exciting said phosphor layer to emit visible light; wherein c) said phosphor light is arranged so that the intensity of light emitted from said layer is modulated by the pattern of light transmissive areas of said light modulating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A display as defined in Claims 1, 2 or 5, wherein said phosphor layer comprises a spatial matrix of phosphor elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A display as defined in Claim 1, 2, 5 or 6, wherein said phospor layer is arranged so that said display is multicoloured.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A display as defined in Claims 6 and 7, wherein the emission spectra of some of said phosphor elements differ so that said display is multicoloured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A display as defined in Claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein said phosphor layer is an integral layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A display as defined in any preceding Claim, characterised in that said means for applying a plurality of spatially-distributed field values comprises an electrode matrix (23).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A display as defined in Claim 10 when appended directly or indirectly to Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said phosphor layer and said electrode matrix are formed respectively on opposed surfaces of said fiber optic plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A display as defined in Claim 11, wherein said fiber optic plate comprises two individual plate elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A display as defined in Claim 6, wherein the reflective chromaticity of said phosphor elements approximates their emission spectra.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A display as defined in Claim 6 or any of Claims 7 to 13 when appended thereto comprising; a filter (30) comprising a plurality of filter elements, each of said filter elements being transmissive with respect to the spectrum of one of blue, green and red and being aligned with a phosphor element of corresponding emission spectrum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A display as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein said light modulating member comprises a layer of liquid crystal material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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