Self-illuminated liquid crystal timepiece

Abstract

Abstract The time piece includes seven-bar-segment digital time indicating displays, the segments being selectively actuated by a time indicating source through a logic circuit. In one form, the display face includes a clear front glass, a dark back reflector glass spaced from the front glass, liquid crystals disposed between the glasses and an electrode material formed on the back glass with portions thereof removed while the remaining portions form electrodes for the seven bar segments. Selected energization of the electrodes energizes the liquid crystal segments to provide a light scattering effect whereby light incident to the energized liquid crystal segments is reflected to provide a digital display against a dark background. A nuclear powered light source surrounds the display face to provide light incident to the energized liquid crystals for digital display under dark conditions. In another form, the front glass is coated white except for the segments and a nuclear powered light source is located behind the rear clear glass plate on which the electrodes are carried. In the daytime, the energized bar segments reflect light rendering the same indistinguishable from the white opaque surface whereby the natural color of the nuclear light source appears through the nonenergized and transparent liquid crystal bar segments providing a daytime digital time display. For nighttime display, the nuclear powered light source transmits light through the nonenergized liquid crystal bar segments to provide the digital time display.

Inventors

• 👤 J Bergey

Bibliographic Details