US5477423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat-panel display device, illumination system comprises a second part which is a detachable cover along which the radiation source can be removed
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1994-07-01
•
Granted: 1995-12-19
•
Expires: 2014-07-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a flat-panel display device (1) which is illuminated by a plate-shaped waveguide (7) which is irradiated by a radiation source (15) at one end face (25). The radiation source (15) is arranged in a reflective lighthousing (13), a first part (17) of which is an integral part of a support (3) and a second part (19) is detachable so that the radiation source (15) can be replaced with recesses in the lighthousing, so that the radiation source (15) is space apart from the reflector (29) and at a distance d from the waveguide (7). FIG. 1.
Inventors
- 👤 Carel W. Fredriksz
- 👤 Petrus A. J. G. Brouwer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0081; G02B6/0086; G02B6/009; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A flat-panel display device comprising an illumination system and a transmission display panel, the illumination system comprising a support, a plate-shaped waveguide and at least one lighthousing accommodating a tubular radiation source having a radius r for illuminating at least one end face of the waveguide, and a reflector for reflecting radiation emitted by the radiation source towards the waveguide, characterized in that the lighthousing comprises a first part which is an integral part of the support and a second part which is a detachable cover along which the radiation source can be removed, and further characterized in that means are provided for securing the radiation source in a position which is spaced apart from the reflector and at a distance d from the waveguide, and further characterized in that recesses are provided in the lighthousing, and further characterized in that said position is determined by cooperation between at least the securing means and the recesses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A flat-panel display device comprising an illumination system and a transmission display panel, the illumination system comprising a support, a plate-shaped waveguide and at least one lighthousing accommodating a tubular radiation source having a radius r for illuminating at least one end face of the waveguide, and a reflector for reflecting radiation emitted by the radiation source towards the waveguide, characterized in that the lighthousing comprises a first part which is an integral part of the support and a second part which is a detachable cover along which the radiation source can be removed, and further characterized in that means are provided for securing the radiation source in a position which is spaced apart from the reflector and at a distance d from the waveguide, and further characterized in that recesses are provided in the lighthousing, and further characterized in that said position is determined by cooperation between at least the securing means and the recesses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reflector is a foil, one end of which is secured on a surface of the waveguide at a waveguide end face, and further characterized in that, when the radiation source is arranged in the lighthousing and when the detachable cover is provided, the foil is bent into a shape whose radius of curvature is smaller than the radius of curvature l/r of the radiation source for at least a part of the reflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lighthousing has a radius R over at least a given trajectory, within which trajectory the reflector takes the same shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the radius r of the radiation source, the distance l between the radiation source and the reflector and the distance d between the radiation source and the waveguide are defined by the following relations: 0<l/t≦18 0<d/(R-r)≦2 in which R is the inner radius of the lighthousing and t is the thickness of the waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that that the position (l,d) of the radiation source is defined by: 0.7≦l/t≦0.9 0.9≦d/(R-r)≦1.1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the securing means comprises pre-formed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the resilient synthetic material has a vibration-damping effect.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reflector is specularly reflecting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illumination system suitable for use in a flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A radiation source suitable for use in a flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the radiation source is elongate, further characterized in that preformed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material are provided at the ends of the radiation source, and further characterized in that connection wires are provided for the radiation source, which connection wires pass through the lampholders.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A radiation source as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the resilient synthetic material has a vibration-damping effect.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation source as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that sleeves are provided on the lampholders at a side along which the connection wires extend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the lighthousing has a radius R over at least a given trajectory, within which trajectory the reflector takes the same shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the securing means comprises pre-formed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the securing means comprises pre-formed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the securing means comprises pre-formed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat-panel display device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the securing means comprises pre-formed lampholders made of a resilient synthetic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation source as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that sleeves are provided on the lampholders at a side along which the connection wires extend.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2034952A
Cited
EP0266184A2
Cited
US4985809A
Cited
EP0469321A2
Cited
JPH04141687A
Cited
EP0545429A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-18 | 1999-06-19 | 1999-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-18 | 2003-06-19 | 2003-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-18 | 2007-06-19 | 2007-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |