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US4664481A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid crystal display device having fluorescent tube illuminator

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-08-07
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Granted: 1987-05-12
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Expires: 2006-08-07
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Abstract

Abstract A reflecting plate is disposed in such a manner as to surround a fluorescent tube in a U shape in its axial direction. A light diffusion-transmission plate is disposed in such a manner as to bridge over the open end portions of the U-shaped reflecting plate and to extend in the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. A liquid crystal display element is disposed on this light diffusion-transmission plate. In the liquid crystal display device having the construction described above, the present invention disposes shading means for increasing the quantity of light near the filament portions and limiting the quantity of light on the light emission surface inside the fluorescent tube.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroshi Ito
  • 👤 Masaru Kugo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 09:51
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133602; G02F1/133611; H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/35; G02F1/133604

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
In a liquid crystal display device consisting essentially of: a fluorescent tube having a fluorescent material coated therein and an inert gas and a mercury vapor sealed therein and emitting light by discharge; a reflecting plate dispoeed in such a manner as to surround said fluorescent tube in a U shape in an axial direction of said fluorescent tube; a light diffusion-transmission plate disposed in such a manner as to bridge over the open end portion of said U-shaped reflecting plate and extend in the axial direction of said fluorescent tube; and a liquid crystal element disposed on said light diffusion-transmission plate; the improvement wherein shading means for increasing the quantity of light near filament portions and restricting the quantity of light of the light emission surface is disposed on said fluorescent tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
In a liquid crystal display device consisting essentially of: a fluorescent tube having a fluorescent material coated therein and an inert gas and a mercury vapor sealed therein and emitting light by discharge; a reflecting plate dispoeed in such a manner as to surround said fluorescent tube in a U shape in an axial direction of said fluorescent tube; a light diffusion-transmission plate disposed in such a manner as to bridge over the open end portion of said U-shaped reflecting plate and extend in the axial direction of said fluorescent tube; and a liquid crystal element disposed on said light diffusion-transmission plate; the improvement wherein shading means for increasing the quantity of light near filament portions and restricting the quantity of light of the light emission surface is disposed on said fluorescent tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1 wherein said shading means consists of a shade curtain disposed on the light emission surface of said fluorescent tube other than its filament portions and having a reflection function and a transmission function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said shade curtain is fixed tightly to the outer periphery of the light emission surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said shade curtain is formed coarsely in such a fashion that the light transmission quantity becomes progressively greater towards both end portions of said fluorescent tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said shade curtain is produced by vacuum-depositing reflecting members in a mesh or dot form on a light transmission film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4618216A Cited
JPS59155829A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-05-11 1990-11-10 1991-05-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-05-11 1994-11-10 1995-05-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-05-11 1998-11-10 1999-05-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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