Patent US6466218B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6642977B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6642977B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal displays with repositionable front polarizers
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2001-06-20
•
Granted: 2003-11-04
•
Expires: 2021-06-20
Abstract
Abstract The present invention includes electronic devices having liquid crystal display modules and repositionable front polarizers. A viewer views the display module through a front polarizer, which can be repositioned to change the display appearance, enhance the display contrast, invert the image, increase ambient light exposure, provide privacy, or the like. Repositionable front polarizers can be tiltably and/or rotatably mounted in front of the display module, or can be remotely located, for example on a pair of polarizing eye glasses. The present invention also includes reflective liquid crystal displays that have internal front light guides disposed between a liquid crystal cell and a front polarizer. As such, the light from the front light guide can illuminate the liquid crystal cell without being attenuated by the front polarizer, resulting in a brighter front lit display.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith M. Kotchick
- 👤 Hassan Sahouani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133528; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0279; H04M1/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
An electronic device comprising: a liquid crystal display module for selectively altering a polarization of light for displaying information; and a front polarizer mounted to the electronic device so that the front polarizer can be tilted toward or away from the display module while maintaining viewability of the display module through the front polarizer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electronic device comprising: a liquid crystal display module for selectively altering a polarization of light for displaying information; and a front polarizer mounted to the electronic device so that the front polarizer can be tilted toward or away from the display module while maintaining viewability of the display module through the front polarizer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display module is capable of being operated in a reflective mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electronic device comprising a liquid crystal display capable of displaying information in a reflective mode, the liquid crystal display comprising: a liquid crystal display module for selectively altering a polarization of light, the display module having a front side oriented toward a viewer position; and a front polarizer associated with the liquid crystal display and disposed between the display module and the viewer position in a manner such that light from the front side of the display module illuminates the display module without first passing through the front polarizer, wherein the front polarizer is mounted to the electric device so that the front polarizer can be tilted toward or away from the display module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electronic device comprising a liquid crystal display capable of displaying information in a reflective mode, the liquid crystal display comprising: a liquid crystal display module for selectively altering a polarization of light, the display module having a front side oriented toward a viewer position; and a front polarizer associated with the liquid crystal display and disposed between the display module and the viewer position in a manner such that light from the front side of the display module illuminates the display module without first passing through the front polarizer, wherein the front polarizer is mounted to the electric device so that the front polarizer can be tilted toward or away from the display module.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3874163A
Cited
JPS54116898A
Cited
US4413915A
Cited
US4466704A
Cited
EP0182632A2
Cited
JPS6269202A
Cited
US4837817A
Cited
US4770500A
Cited
JPH02116826A
Cited
JPH02264218A
Cited
EP0397263A1
Cited
JPH0361993A
Cited
US5235449A
Cited
US5341231A
Cited
JPH06160834A
Cited
US5751483A
Cited
US5488496A
Cited
US5751389A
Cited
WO1996016015A1
Cited
WO1996037806A1
Cited
US5672296A
Cited
JPH0943599A
Cited
US5861931A
Cited
GB2307562A
Cited
US5666223A
Cited
US6115091A
Cited
JPH1010521A
Cited
US5768370A
Cited
US6147937A
Cited
WO1998052077A1
Cited
EP0996025A1
Cited
EP0927907A1
Cited
US5891297A
Cited
US6227276B1
Cited
WO2000003380A1
Cited
JP2000098369A
Cited
WO2000022463A1
Cited
US6245399B1
Cited
WO2000041030A1
Cited
WO2001031371A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-11-03 | 2007-05-05 | 2007-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-11-03 | 2011-05-05 | 2011-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-11-03 | 2015-05-05 | 2015-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |