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US4345248A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid crystal display device with write-in capability

Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-12-12
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Granted: 1982-08-17
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Expires: 2000-12-12
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Abstract

Abstract A novel type of liquid crystal display device is disclosed, whereby data can be written in, via the display device, by utilizing light-generating means such as a light pen. The display device is of matrix configuration, with a switching element being provided individually for each of the elements of the display matrix, and is characterized by a photoelectric element being provided for each display element, whereby data is written in. The discrimination circuit means whereby the statuses of the photoelectric elements are sensed, in a time sharing manner, can utilize the same row and column electrodes used to drive the switching elements of the display matrix, and the photoelectric elements can be formed during the same process, and upon the same substrate, as the switching elements.

Inventors

  • 👤 Seigo Togashi
  • 👤 Akira Tsuzuki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 17:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/0412; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/13338; G02F1/135; G02F1/1354; G06F3/042; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G3/3648; G09G3/3685; G09G3/3688

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 95 words
A liquid crystal display device, comprising: means for generating a plurality of drive signals; at least two substrates; a layer of liquid crystal sandwiched between said substrates; a plurality of electrodes formed upon said substrates; a plurality of display elements controlled by said drive signals applied through said electrodes; a plurality of switching elements provided upon a first one of said substrates; a plurality of photoelectric elements provided upon said first one of said substrates; and means for detecting variations in characteristics of said photoelectric elements resulting from changes in levels of light impinging thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 95 words
A liquid crystal display device, comprising: means for generating a plurality of drive signals; at least two substrates; a layer of liquid crystal sandwiched between said substrates; a plurality of electrodes formed upon said substrates; a plurality of display elements controlled by said drive signals applied through said electrodes; a plurality of switching elements provided upon a first one of said substrates; a plurality of photoelectric elements provided upon said first one of said substrates; and means for detecting variations in characteristics of said photoelectric elements resulting from changes in levels of light impinging thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said photoelectric elements are arranged in the form of a matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said display elements are arranged in the form of a matrix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said display elements is controlled by a corresponding one of said switching elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said switching elements and said photoelectric elements comprises at least one semiconductor portion, and wherein said semiconductor portion is of identical type in both said switching elements and in said photoelectric elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said photoelectric elements comprises a rectifying element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said photoelectric elements comprises at least two rectifying elements, electrically connected in opposition to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A display device according to claim 5, wherein said semiconductor comprises amorphous silicon which contains dangling bonds produced by terminators consisting of a substance which is a member of a group including hydrogen, fluorine and oxygen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
A display device according to claim 2, wherein changes in the characteristics of said photoelectric elements are read out over row electrodes and column electrodes coupled to said matrix array of photoelectric elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein said drive signal generation means and said photoelectric element characteristic detection means are operated in a time-sharing manner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 53 words
A display device according to claim 10, wherein said display elements are sequentially coupled to said drive signals during a first frame interval and wherein said photoelectric elements are sequentially coupled to said photoelectric detection means during a second frame interval, said first and second frame intervals being repeated in an alternating manner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 47 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of said photoelectric elements is formed simultaneously with the formation of a portion of each of said switching elements during manufacture of said switching elements and said photoelectric elements upon said first substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 35 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said switching elements and said photoelectric elements comprises a plurality of thin film regions of conductive and semiconductive substances deposited successively upon said first substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
A display device according to claim 13, wherein predetermined ones of said thin film regions are arranged to be in electrical contact with conductive thin film regions constituting said plurality of electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
A display device according to claim 1, wherein said switching elements comprise thin-film field-effect transistors.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4104617A Cited
US4177354A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-08-16 1986-02-15 1986-08-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-08-16 1990-02-15 1990-08-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-08-16 1994-02-15 1994-08-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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