EP0436853A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Fiber optic faceplate liquid crystal display
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-12-11
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the teachings of this invention, a novel liquid crystal display is taught which includes a layer of liquid crystal material (601), one or more polarizers (605a, 605b), and a fiber optic faceplate (619). The fiber optic faceplate serves to allow ambient light from a much wider range of incident angles to illuminate the LCD than would be the case with prior art LCDs, and allows the viewer to position himself so as to avoid front surface glare and still see the display brightly illuminated, even in difficult lighting situations.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence M. Hubby, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A display apparatus for displaying a plurality of character images on a generally planar screen that is transparent to light, the character images being formed to be viewed by a viewer who looks at the characters from the front side of the screen, characte rized by a. a faceplate (619), i. formed with an outer face and an inner face, the outer face serving to be viewed by the viewer to see the character images displayed on the inner face; ii. formed from a plurality of optical fibers or tubes which are aligned substantially parallel to one another, b. a first means (605a), formed for optically treating the light passing through the faceplate; c. a second means (601) for generating and removing a plurality of characters that are viewed through the faceplate, and d. a third means (607) for reflecting the light passing through the faceplate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the two surfaces of the faceplate (619) are aligned to be generally coplanar; that the optical fibers or tubes are perpendicular to both the outer surface and the inner surface and transmit light from an external light source to illuminate the characters; that the first means (605a) polarizes the light passing through the faceplate and is positioned behind and substantially coplanar with the inner surface of the faceplate (619); that the second means (601) comprises a liquid crystal display and is positioned behind and substantially coplanar with the inner surface of the faceplate; and that the third means (607) is positioned behind and substantially coplanar with the inner surface of the faceplate (619), the first means (605a) and the second means (601).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 or 2, characte rized in that said first means (605a) comprises a polarizer having a thickness within the range of approximately 0.5 to 25 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 or 2, characte rized in that said first means (605a) comprises a polarizer comprising an organic dye.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus of one of claims 1 to 4, characte rized in that said faceplate (619) is formed to a thickness within the range of approximately 0.7 to 1.1 millimeters.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in one of claims 1 to 5, charac terized in that said optical fibers or tubes comprise glass.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in one of claims 1 to 6, charac terized in that said optical fibers or tubes have an optimum transmission wavelength of approximately 0.66 na.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as in one of claims 1 to 7, charac terized in that a sheath which encloses each of the optical fibers or tubes along its longitudinal axis is formed to azimutally diffuse within the faceplate (619) the ambient light if any incident on the faceplate, thereby enhancing the visibility of the image displayed on the upper face of the faceplate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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