Patent US5083120A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5083120A
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Flat panel display utilizing leaky lightguides
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1990-02-23
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2010-02-23
Abstract
Abstract In a row-backlight column-shutter display, an array of sequentially illuminated leaky lightguides is utilized as the row-backlight component of the display. Light is coupled into each guide from a small high-peak-brightness source such as a light-emitting diode. Each guide is designed to leak light in a substantially uniform manner along the entire extent of a longitudinally extending edge of the guide. By combining such a row back light with an orthogonally disposed column shutter such as an array of ferroelectric liquid crystals, an advantageous flat panel display is realized.
Inventors
- 👤 Terence J. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A flat panel display assembly comprising a column-shutter subassembly including a plurality of addressable columns each capable of altering the transmission of light therethrough in response to activation thereof, and a row-backlight subassembly disposed behind and in close proximity to said column-shutter subassembly, said row-backlight subassembly including a plurality of addressable rows each capable of emitting light in response to activation thereof, said columns and rows being orthogonally disposed with respect to each other and defining at overlapping intersections thereof picture elements of an image to be displayed, the rows of said row-backlight subassembly respectively comprising elongated leaky lightguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A flat panel display assembly comprising a column-shutter subassembly including a plurality of addressable columns each capable of altering the transmission of light therethrough in response to activation thereof, and a row-backlight subassembly disposed behind and in close proximity to said column-shutter subassembly, said row-backlight subassembly including a plurality of addressable rows each capable of emitting light in response to activation thereof, said columns and rows being orthogonally disposed with respect to each other and defining at overlapping intersections thereof picture elements of an image to be displayed, the rows of said row-backlight subassembly respectively comprising elongated leaky lightguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as in claim 1 further including means for injecting light into said lightguides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as in claim 2 wherein each of said lightguides includes means on a limited surface portion thereof along the entire longitudinal extent of the guide for causing light to leak therefrom toward said column-shutter subassembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as in claim 3 wherein each of said lightguides is made of fused quartz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as in claim 3 wherein said means for injecting comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as in claim 5 wherein each lightguide has light-emitting diodes coupled to the respective ends thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as in claim 5 wherein each lightguide has a light-emitting diode coupled to one end thereof and a reflecting surface on the other end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as in claim 5 wherein said means for causing light to leak from each guide comprises a frosted portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as in claim 8 wherein the remaining surface of each guide is polished.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as in claim 9 further including a member for reflecting light that propagates through said polished surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly as in claim 10 wherein said reflecting member comprises a reflecting surface spaced apart from said polished surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as in claim 11 wherein each of said lightguides includes an additional frosted portion on the surface thereof in opposed relationship to said firstmentioned frosted portion and coextensive therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as in claim 12 further including a lenticular screen in close proximity to the first-mentioned frosted portion of each lightguide and coextensive therewith for controlling the angular distribution of light emanating from each lightguide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as in claim 13 further including a row-select circuit connected to said light-emitting diodes for causing light to be injected into said plural lightguides in a row-by-row fashion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as in claim 14 further including a column-select circuit connected to the columns of said column-select subassembly for independently electrically controlling said columns while each lightguide is emitting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as in claim 15 wherein the columns of said column-shutter assembly comprise ferroelectric liquid crystal elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as in claim 1 wherein each of said lightguides has a substantially uniform cross-section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-20 | 1995-07-22 | 1996-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-20 | 1999-07-22 | 2000-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-20 | 2003-07-22 | 2004-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |