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US5838401A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Impact resistant crystal apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-14
•
Granted: 1998-11-17
•
Expires: 2017-03-14
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Abstract

Abstract A liquid crystal apparatus includes a rectangular plate member, a frame-shaped support member disposed with a prescribed gap from and so as to surround the plate member, and a first elastic member disposed at the prescribed gap to connect the plate member and the support member to each other. The plate member is made free from connection to the support member by means of the first elastic member at corners of the plate member. The structure is effective for alleviating the warping of the liquid crystal panel causing liquid crystal alignment defects.

Inventors

  • 👤 Makoto Uehara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-10 00:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133308

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 83 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a rectangular plate member, a liquid crystal panel supported by the plate member, a frame-shaped support member disposed with a prescribed gap from and so as to surround the plate member, and a first elastic member disposed at the prescribed gap to connect the plate member and the support member to each other, wherein the plate member is free from connection to the support member by means of the first elastic member at corners of the plate member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 83 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a rectangular plate member, a liquid crystal panel supported by the plate member, a frame-shaped support member disposed with a prescribed gap from and so as to surround the plate member, and a first elastic member disposed at the prescribed gap to connect the plate member and the support member to each other, wherein the plate member is free from connection to the support member by means of the first elastic member at corners of the plate member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 1, further including a housing member disposed to cover the liquid crystal panel, and a second elastic member disposed between the housing member and the liquid crystal panel so as to define an almost closed space by the liquid crystal panel, the housing member and the second elastic member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel is affixed to the plate member via a third elastic member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is provided with an aperture, and the liquid crystal panel is disposed so as to close the aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel comprises a pair of substrates disposed substantially parallel to each other and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said liquid crystal is a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light source is disposed on a back side of the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light source comprises a fluorescent lamp and a light guide member for guiding from light from the fluorescent lamp toward the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a diffusion means is disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal panel so as to diffuse light from the light source to form planar light for illuminating the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said plate member is provided with an aperture, and the diffusion means is disposed so as to close the aperture and define an almost closed space together with the plate member and the light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of lamps held within a space baked by a reflection plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
A liquid crystal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a diffusion plate is disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal panel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH03118515A Cited
US5150231A Cited
US5710607A Cited
US5400160A Cited
US5583681A Cited
US5659376A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-11-16 2002-05-18 2002-11-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-11-16 2006-05-18 2006-11-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-11-16 2010-05-18 2010-11-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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