US4142781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical display device with electro-optical light valves
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1976-12-02
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1996-12-02
Abstract
Abstract Electro-optical display device which may operate either in a one or multi-color mode and utilizes electro-optical light valves for controlling transmittance of a passive light through the device characterized by passively amplifying the brightness of the display device with the addition of a light trap which includes a fluorescent plate having mirrored edge surfaces. While the invention or improvement may be utilized with any passive optical display device, it is particularly useful with a liquid crystal display device.
Inventors
- 👤 Guenter Baur
- 👤 Waldemar Greubel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133617; G02F1/0102; G02F1/0105; G09; G09F; G09F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
In an optical display device having a display plate with at least one electro-optical light valve for controlling transmittance of light through the display plate, the improvement comprising means for collecting light and amplifying the brightness of the display device, said means including a flourescent plate having mirrored edge surfaces so that light is collected in the flourescent plate and directed onto each of the light valves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
In an optical display device having a display plate with at least one electro-optical light valve for controlling transmittance of light through the display plate, the improvement comprising means for collecting light and amplifying the brightness of the display device, said means including a flourescent plate having mirrored edge surfaces so that light is collected in the flourescent plate and directed onto each of the light valves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the electro-optical light valves comprises electrodes for applying an electric field to a liquid crystal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent plate has a fluorescent light exit window in registry with each of the electro-optical light valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein each of the electro-optical light valves includes means for applying electrical field on a ferroelectric ceramic to control transmittance of light therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein each of the electro-optical light valves comprises means for creating electrochromic effect.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein the fluorescent plate is disposed behind the electro-optical light valves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein said means comprises a first flourescent plate disposed in front of the electro-optical light valves and a second flourescent plate disposed behind the electro-optical light valves, said first and second plates being optically interconnected by extensions having reflecting end surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein the exit windows of the fluorescent plate comprise notches having metallic mirrored coatings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an optical display device according to claim 3, wherein the exit windows of the fluorescent plate comprise light dispersing color pigment layers disposed on a surface of said fluorescent plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the electro-optical light valves comprises means for applying a field across a liquid crystal layer to control the transmittance of light therethrough, wherein the flourescent plate is disposed in front of the electro-optical light valves, and wherein the means for collecting light includes the electro-optical light valves optically connected to the flourescent plate by extensions having reflecting end surfaces, said electro-optical light valves when energized creating light exit windows for causing the emission of light from the means for collecting light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an optical display device according to claim 10, which includes a light diffusing layer disposed in front of the electro-optical light valves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
In an optical display device according to claim 10, which includes a film having a fluorescent material pigment layer disposed in front of the electro-optical light valves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an optical display device according to claim 12, which includes a filter film disposed in front of said film, said filter film being of a material that only passes the fluorescent light created by the fluorescence material pigment layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent plate includes an additional source of illumination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the additional source of illumination comprises a light source received in a rectangular recess in the fluorescent plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
In an optical display device according to claim 14, wherein the additional source of illumination comprises a synthetic material plate having phosphorescing particles embedded therein, said synthetic material plate being in optical contact with an end surface of the flourescent plate, said end surface having a dichroic mirror so that illumination from the phosphorescing particles can pass into the flourescent plate to create additional flourescent excitation therein whereas the flourescent light is reflected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
In an optical display device according to claim 14, wherein the additional source of illumination comprises a layer of phosphorescent particles adjacent the back side of the fluorescent plate, said layer of phosphorescent particles being spaced from the back side of the fluorescent plate so that no optical contact exists between the fluorescent plate and the layer of phosphorescing particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the flourescent plate is provided with an inner and outer ring, respectively, of light exit windows which will display hours and minutes of a clock.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent plate is disposed behind the display plate and includes a filter disposed on a surface of the fluorescent plate opposite the viewing direction, said filter being of a material so that only light of the part of the spectrum which is absorbed in the fluorescent plate is passed therethrough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an optical display device according to claim 19, which includes a layer of phosphorescent particles disposed between the fluorescent plate and the filter, said layer of phosphorescent particles having no optical contact with the fluorescent plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
In an optical display device according to claim 19, wherein the filter is a high pass filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an optical display device according to claim 21, wherein the high pass filter consists of an absorbing color film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an optical display device according to claim 21, wherein the high pass filter consists of an additional fluorescent plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an optical display device according to claim 23, wherein the additional fluorescent plate has mirrors on three end surfaces with the fourth end surface being free of a mirror and which device includes a solar cell attached to the fourth end surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an optical display device according to claim 23, which includes a layer of phosphorescent particles disposed between the fluorescent plate and the additional fluorescent plate, said layer of phosphorescent particles not being in optical contact with the fluorescent plates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein said fluorescent plate comprises fluorescing molecules having an anisotropic shape, said molecules being oriented in a uniform fashion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an optical display device according to claim 26, wherein the fluorescent plate comprises a synthetic material with the molecules having an anisotropic shape disposed therein, and said uniform orientation was achieved by stretching the synthetic material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein each electro-optical light valve comprises electrodes for applying an electrical field to a liquid crystal layer, and wherein the fluorescent plate has an exit window associated with each of the liquid crystal light valves.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an optical display device according to claim 28, which includes two linear polarizers with the display plate disposed therebetween and one of the two polarizers being disposed between the display plate and the fluorescent plate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein each of the liquid crystal light valves are rotational cells.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein the linear polarizers have a form and shape corresponding to each of the liquid crystal light valves to cover the light valves and leaving the remainder of the display plate free of the polarizers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein the linear polarizers are arranged parallel to each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein the direction of polarization of the linear polarizers are arranged perpendicular to one another, and said polarizers have a size and shape corresponding to the exit windows and overlie same.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein the linear polarizers are selective polarizers so that light of the wavelength to excite the fluorescent material of the fluorescent plate passes through the linear polarizers unpolarized.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an optical display device according to claim 29, wherein the fluorescent plate has a mixture of fluorescent material dissolved therein, said mixture fluorescing in two different colors, and wherein one of the two linear polarizers is replaced by a combination of two selective polarizers with one of said two selective polarizers polarizing light of one of said two colors and the other selective polarizer polarizing light of said other color, said two selective polarizers being disposed with their direction of polarization oriented at 90° to each other so that the direction of polarization of one of the two color components of light produced by the fluorescent plate extends perpendicular to the direction of polarization of the other component.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
In an optical display device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material of the fluorescent plate consists of a mixture of fluorescent materials having absorption bands lying in different wavelengths, said materials having approximately identical emission bands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-05 | 1982-09-04 | 1983-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-05 | 1986-09-04 | 1987-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-05 | 1990-09-04 | 1991-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |