Reflector Having Particular Shape Behind Light Source Patents (Class 349/67)
  • Patent number: 7430028
    Abstract: A viewing-angle adjustable liquid crystal display includes a display panel, a backlight unit, and a sidelight unit. The backlight unit is located under the sidelight unit, and the sidelight unit is disposed under the display panel. The sidelight unit includes a first sidelight source and a light-guide plate. The first sidelight source is disposed at one end of the light-guide plate. The displaying method includes providing direct light to the display panel in response to the narrow-viewing-angle-mode signal; and providing scattering light to the display panel in response to the wide-viewing-angel-mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Meng-Chang Tsai, Yung-Lun Lin, Chih-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 7429753
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a higher contrast in a display device having a lighting device as a front light. A lighting portion is attached to a reflective liquid crystal display portion. A first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate made of a glass substrate etc. are attached to each other with a sealing layer coated on those peripheral portions therebetween. The back surface of the first transparent substrate is attached to the reflective liquid crystal display portion, and an organic EL element is formed on the front surface of the first transparent substrate. The organic EL element is sealed in a space surrounded by the first transparent substrate, the second transparent substrate, and the sealing layer. The organic EL element is formed in a region corresponding to a pixel region of the reflective liquid crystal display portion. A desiccant layer is formed on the front surface of the second transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignees: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Tanase, Kazunobu Mameno, Norio Koma, Manabu Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20080211991
    Abstract: An LCD can include a Compact Collimating Reflector (CCR), is configured to be located downstream in a light path from an LCD light source, where the CCR is configured to reflect light from the LCD light source to provide collimated light downstream from the CCR. A light diffusion film is located downstream from the CCR and is configured to receive the collimated light from the CCR. An LCD panel is located downstream from the CCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Robert L. Wood
  • Patent number: 7411648
    Abstract: An auxiliary plate (10) is fixed to a rear plane of a housing for fixedly holding a lamp unit (6) having a plurality of lamps. In the auxiliary plate (10), a convex portion and a concave portion are combined. The convex portion has a space between the housing and itself, which is formed by protruding a sheet metal, and the concave portion contacts with the housing by denting the sheet metal. In the auxiliary plate 10, an area for mounting a board vulnerable to heat is formed with the convex portion and an air layer performs as heat insulation. The convex and concave portions are arrayed in a direction where heated air easily flows in another area. Thus, rigidity can be remarkably increased compared to a flat-shaped sheet metal, and heat generated by a backlight is effectively dissipated, as well as a temperature rise and an occurrence of a temperature gradient are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ishida
  • Publication number: 20080170180
    Abstract: It is to suppress the interference of the reflected light easily and securely even in a highly fine liquid crystal display device. The reflection plate comprises recessed or protruded parts and a reflection film formed over the recessed or protruded parts. A unit shape of the recessed or protruded parts is a polygon, an arbitrary point other than a centroid of the polygon that constitutes the recessed or protrude part is placed at a position that meets with an orderly-mannered lattice point as an origin, and each of the unit-shape polygons is arranged at a position that is rotated randomly with respect to the origin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Kobayashi, Yasuki Kudo, Kenichirou Naka
  • Publication number: 20080170175
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a rear substrate and a front substrate, an LC (liquid crystal) layer placed between the rear substrate and the front substrate, and a reflecting region which reflects external light in at least a portion of a region toward the LC layer at a side of the rear substrate to illuminate the LC layer, and the reflecting region includes an array of a plurality of reflecting surfaces which are formed so that at least a portion toward the front substrate of a side of the rear substrate is not parallel to the front substrate, a first medium layer having a first index of refraction and formed to have a flat surface on the reflecting surfaces, a second medium layer having a second index of refraction that is smaller than the first medium layer, and a third medium layer having a third index of refraction that is larger than the second medium layer, and a portion of light that travels from the rear substrate at an interface between the first medium layer and the second medium layer is
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung Nae CHO
  • Patent number: 7394960
    Abstract: A backlight unit is disposed at a lower side of a liquid-crystal display module LCD, and has a case that accommodates a fluorescent tube, as a light source for light incident to the liquid-crystal display module, a lamp reflector that accommodates the fluorescent tube, and an optical waveguide having an approximately square shape in the surface that converts linear light generated by the fluorescent tube and light of the linear light reflected from the lamp reflector into planar light, and inputs the planar light to the liquid-crystal display module. The lamp reflector is made of metal, and has stoppers provided at first parts facing both ends of a side surface of the optical waveguide opposite to the fluorescent tube, at positions closer to the optical waveguide than to a second part facing the side surface of the optical waveguide excluding the first parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Seiji Ohtake
  • Patent number: 7388634
    Abstract: A reflector and a liquid crystal display device in which original reflection characteristics can be sufficiently accomplished and moiré patterns can be prevented are provided. A reflector 30 formed with a plurality of concave portions 28b1, 28b2 on one surface of a base member along one arrangement direction is employed. When defining the section passing through the deepest point of the concave portion as a first section and defining the section perpendicular to the first section at the deepest point as a second section, the concave portions 28b1, 28b2 have symmetrical shapes on the basis of the first section and have asymmetrical shapes on the basis of the second section. When defining the directions along the first section in the concave portions 28b1, 28b2 as axis directions L1, L2, each of the axis directions L1, L2 are not parallel with the arrangement direction, and the axis directions L1, L2 are set to two or more directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Katsumasa Yoshii, Mitsuru Kano
  • Publication number: 20080123021
    Abstract: A LED package includes a substrate in which a reflective part is formed in a recessed shape, and at least one LED chip that is mounted on the reflective part of the substrate. In this case, the reflective part includes a base surface and a sidewall that is inclined at a first angle with respect to the base surface, and the LED chip is mounted on the sidewall. Further, a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display include the LED package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Se Ki Park, Gi Cherl Kim
  • Publication number: 20080123020
    Abstract: A backlight unit for use in a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The backlight unit which may include a reflection plate; a plurality of fluorescent tubes; and a diffusion plate. The reflection plate may include a rectangular-shaped bottom plate section, four side plate sections respectively formed upright from four sides of the bottom plate section with a skew in the direction of moving away from the bottom plate section, and an edge plate section that protrudes from a tip end of each of the side plate sections toward outside thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Hayashimoto
  • Patent number: 7372531
    Abstract: A reflective plate used in a liquid crystal display including a substrate, a first peak and depression layer of organic insulator on the substrate, a second peak and depression layer of organic insulator overlapping with the first peak and depression layer, and a reflective layer on the first and second peak and depression layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: LG Phillpis LCD Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sang Min Jang, Su Seok Choi, Hee Yeong Ryu
  • Patent number: 7372520
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a reduction in thickness with high luminance is achieved by laterally arranging two cold cathode fluorescent tubes in parallel to a main surface of the light guide plate along one side thereof and, at the same time, mutual interference in the pull-around disposition of power supply cables is eliminated. One of the cold cathode fluorescent tubes has a high-voltage-side electrode terminal thereof connected with one end of a high-voltage-side cable and a low-voltage-side electrode terminal thereof connected with one end of a flat cable. The flat cable has a mid-portion thereof bent at 90 degrees, and it traverses a lamp reflection plate, is further twisted at 90 degrees in the longitudinal direction, is further bent at 90 degrees and is merged with a pull-around path of the high-voltage-side cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mitsuhashi, Takeshi Harayama, Tetsuya Enomono
  • Patent number: 7367708
    Abstract: A direct type backlight unit includes a metal housing having a base, at least one metal supporting pin and a buffer element. The metal supporting pin is formed integrally on the base and protrudes upwardly therefrom for supporting an optical film disposed upon the backlight unit, and the buffer element is disposed between the metal supporting pin and the optical film so as to prevent the metal supporting pin from damaging the optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.
    Inventor: Chih Chieh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7366393
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignees: Optical Research Associates, Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cassarly, Steven R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7352418
    Abstract: An LCD apparatus is provided. The LCD apparatus includes lamps for generating a first light, a diffusing member, and a receiving member. The diffusing member diffuses the first light from the lamps and reflected light to emit a second light having uniform brightness distribution. The LCD apparatus also includes an LCD panel receiving the second light and displaying images in response to the second light by use of liquid crystal, and a top chassis combined to the receiving member to secure the LCD panel onto the receiving member. The distances between the respective lamps and the diffusing member vary in association with positions of the respective lamps such that the closer to a central portion of the diffusing member a lamp is placed, the shorter a distance between the lamp and the diffusing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7349620
    Abstract: A wiring circuit board is supported on the back surface of a light-guide plate and the wiring circuit board is inclined in a predetermined direction relative to the panel surface of a liquid crystal panel or to an arrangement position of a holding case. As a result, a substrate terminal is also arranged at an inclined position in the predetermined direction. A connector is mounted on a circuit board. Connector terminals of the connector are elastically deformable at least in a direction contacting the substrate terminal. These connector terminals are conductively connected to a plurality of mounting terminals, which are exposed and extended on the surface of the circuit board, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumoto Shinojima
  • Patent number: 7342618
    Abstract: A back light device for use in a liquid crystal display device, which includes: at least one lamp; a light guide plate for guiding light emitting from the lamp; a diffusing sheet for diffusing light emitting from the light guide plate; at least one prism sheet located on the diffusing sheet, concentrating light; a protecting sheet located on the prism sheet; and a reflector located under the light guide plate, reflecting light directing downward the light guide plate. At least one of an edge portion of the diffusing sheet adjacent to the lamp, an edge portion of the protecting sheet adjacent to the lamp, and the reflector includes a printing portion made of colorless ink containing a light scattering agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Kon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080055518
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an upper cover comprising a display window, a liquid crystal panel provided behind the upper cover, a light guide plate provided behind the liquid crystal panel, a light source unit provided along a side of the light guide plate, and a light source cover which comprises a reflection unit that is joined to the upper cover and reflects light emitted from the light source unit to the light guide, and a support unit that extends from a side of the reflection unit to a rear of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Dae-yoon Jung
  • Patent number: 7339637
    Abstract: A light source device includes a housing, a reflecting plate, at least one lamp support member and a plurality of lamps. The housing has a substantially flat bottom plate. The reflecting plate is disposed on the bottom plate of the housing. The lamp support member is disposed on the reflecting plate for forming an opening. The lamps are disposed in the opening and directly mounted by the lamp support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.
    Inventors: Wei Chou Chen, Mei Hui Lin
  • Publication number: 20080030653
    Abstract: A backlight assembly including a plurality of lamps, a reflection sheet disposed below the plurality of lamps, the reflection sheet reflecting light upward from below the plurality of lamps and including a bottom surface and a pair of side walls extending upward from two opposite sides of the bottom surface, wherein each of the side walls has an upper flat base, a lower flat base, and a pair of sloping portions, wherein the upper flat bases of the side walls form an upper flat base of the reflection sheet and the lower flat bases of the side walls form a lower flat base of the reflection sheet, a heat blocking plate disposed above the lamps and on the lower flat base of the reflection sheet, and a bottom receiving container receiving the plurality of lamps, the reflection sheet, and the heat blocking plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Sung-hun Lee, Chul-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 7322706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting light intensity for discharge lamp projectors with an optical assembly that contains a spherical mirror and a discharge lamp, and a Fresnel lens provided in front of the lamp of the optical assembly. The device is characterized in that an iris diaphragm (5) is provided on the optical assembly, in front of the lamp, in correspondence with the focus of the optical assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: De Sisti Lighting S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario De Sisti, Fabio De Sisti
  • Patent number: 7307600
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a portable phone has a casing, a display element provided in the casing, and a panel attached to the casing to cover the display element. A half mirror layer and a shading layer are formed on the panel. An opening of the shading layer is above the display element. The surface of the panel is seen in a substantially continuously uniform color when no electricity is supplied to the display element, and a display produced by the display element can be seen through the panel when electricity is supplied to the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hisamitsu Takagi, Kazuhiro Kakuguchi, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7295263
    Abstract: A display device suitable for a game machine has dot printed films which are printed on a light guide plate which constitutes a backlight for illuminating a liquid crystal display panel. The dots of the dot printed films are arranged more densely in a window-frame portion corresponding region, which faces a display region of the liquid crystal display panel, and in the vicinity of an inner periphery of a transmission portion corresponding to a region which faces a transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Hitachi Displays Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Shiraishi, Hisao Hirayama, Akio Tezuka, Makoto Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20070236628
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an illumination light unit including an array of LEDs disposed on a substrate, a controlled transmission mirror positioned to receive illumination light from the array of LEDs, and a reflector sheet positioned between the substrate and the controlled transmission mirror. The reflector sheet includes an array of reflectors each having an aperture. Respective LEDs of the array of LEDs protrude through respective apertures of the reflectors. Each reflector is operable to direct at least a portion of illumination light from its respective LED to the controlled transmission mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20070222918
    Abstract: A backlight module comprises a light guide plate, a light source disposed on one lateral side of the light guide plate, a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, and a color layer of a predetermined color disposed under the reflector. Light from the light source is guided by the light guide plate. A part of the light penetrates the reflector and is reflected by the color layer to generate colored light which is mixed to the light from the light source to create light of desired color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Meng-Ju Chuang
  • Patent number: 7273640
    Abstract: A reflective optical film comprises a layer containing a polyester voided with inorganic particles such as barium sulfate in a size and an amount sufficient to provide a visible light reflectivity of at least 93%, a void volume of 40 to 70%, the film at least (1) having a thickness of less than 150 ?m, or (2) containing UV particles in amounts sufficient to provide a UV light reflectivity of less than 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Denmark Finance A/S
    Inventors: Thomas M. Laney, Kenneth W. Best, Jr., Robert P. Bourdelais
  • Patent number: 7270462
    Abstract: A reflector for flat panel display device. The device is constructed having two sidewalls and a base wall defining with the sidewalls a receiving chamber having a substantially U-shaped cross section for holding a light source. The sidewalls and the base wall each have a reflecting surface adapted to reflect light from the light source installed in the reflector. The sidewalls each have a protruded flange (block) respectively disposed at an outer side for grounding with a grounding metal frame. The protruded flange (block) of each sidewall is not disposed with the respective sidewall on the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Chungwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Tien Yu, Chung-Yung Li
  • Patent number: 7270467
    Abstract: In a backlight assembly and a flat panel display apparatus, the backlight assembly has a diffusing plate, a supporting member and a reflecting plate. The supporting member has a base body portion, a supporting portion supporting the diffusing plate and a lamp holder receiving lamps to uniformly maintain spaced intervals between the lamps. The base body portion is disposed under the reflecting plate. The supporting portion and the lamp holder are inserted through engaging openings formed at the reflecting plate such that the supporting portion and the lamp holder are upwardly protruded with respect to the reflecting plate. Accordingly, the backlight assembly may reduce an area of the reflecting plate covered by the supporting member, thereby providing the light having uniform brightness distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7261457
    Abstract: A surface light source conversion member, which converts emission light from a light source to planar light, has a predetermined thickness at a part thereof where a light incidence surface of a light guide, which is opposed to the light source, is located. A reflector, which reflects emission light from the light source toward the light incidence surface, includes a clamp portion that clamps the surface light source conversion member in a thickness direction thereof. The clamp portion contacts a corner portion that is formed between a light emission surface of the light guide and the light incidence surface of the light guide and is separated from the light emission surface. The reflector creates a gap, which is smaller than a predetermined thickness, between the light source and the light incidence surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 7259810
    Abstract: A direct lighting type LCD apparatus includes lamps for generating a first light, a diffusing member for diffusing the first light and light reflected from a reflecting member to emit a second light having uniform brightness distribution, and a receiving member for receiving the lamps, the diffusing member and the reflecting member for reflecting the first light to the diffusing member. The lamps are arranged in the receiving member to be separated from the diffusing member at selected distances, respectively, which may be different from one another. The direct lighting type LCD apparatus may have brightness distribution which is controlled by varying the distances between the respective lamps and the diffusing member to improve quality of image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7248308
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes: at least one light source; a light conductive plate which has the at least one light source disposed at one end surface thereof, and which allows light emitted from the at least one light source and introduced therein to exit out therefrom through both major surfaces thereof toward first and second liquid crystal display elements disposed respectively over the both major surfaces of the light conductive plate, wherein the second liquid crystal display element has a smaller display screen size than the first liquid crystal display element; and a reflecting means which is disposed at the other major surface of the light conductive plate so as to cover at least areas not covered by the second liquid crystal display element, and which reflects light toward the first liquid crystal display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mizutani, Satoshi Kawashima, Kazutoshi Takayanagi, Katsuji Ishigami, Motoji Egawa
  • Patent number: 7242445
    Abstract: A display device disclosed herein comprises: a display part including a first thin plate having flexibility and a second thin plate having flexibility, the second thin plate being provided on the first thin plate; a fixing portion which fixes the first thin plate and the second thin plate together on a first direction within each main surface of the first and second thin plates; and a close contact member which is provided in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within the main surface, and which brings the first thin plate and the second thin plate into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiko Akiyama, Masao Tanaka, Yujiro Hara, Rieko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7215390
    Abstract: A module of a back-lit liquid crystal display, as is used in particular in the operating panel of a large domestic appliance, is simple from a production procedure point of view, and is spatially compact and has close tolerances in regard to the installation dimensions. Further the module has good illumination of a transmissive liquid crystal cell, when a light guide panel is disposed in a trough-shaped reflector member and the liquid crystal cell is disposed at a small spacing relative to the coupling-out surface of the panel on the side walls of the trough-shaped member. A frame engages over the configuration in a cover-like manner and determines a height of the module in regard to its positively locking anchorage in the circuit board on which the trough-shaped reflector member then resiliently rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Norbert Mörsch
  • Patent number: 7206040
    Abstract: A backlight is disposed on a rear surface side of a subject to be irradiated and illuminates the subject to be irradiated from the rear surface side. The backlight includes: a light guide plate; an intermediate light guide disposed along an end surface on one side of the light guide plate; and a light source disposed to an end portion of the intermediate light guide. One surface side of the light guide plate is formed into a reflection surface on which a concavoconvex shape is formed so as to reflect light propagating inside thereof. The other surface side of the light guide plate is formed into an exit surface that outputs the light reflected by the reflection surface. The reflection surface includes a plurality of grooves that are formed of a gentle slope portion and a steep slope portion. The subject to be irradiated is disposed outside of the exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Kano
  • Patent number: 7190503
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electro-optical device having a curved display surface with high reliability is provided. A liquid crystal panel 100 comprising a TFT array substrate 10 and a counter substrate 20, each composed of a glass substrate or a quartz substrate, is thinned down to, for example, a thickness of 25 ?m by a polishing process or an etching process. Subsequently, a first polarizing plate 140, first spacers 260, the liquid crystal panel 100, second spacers 270, and a second polarizing plate 150 are superposed on a base 210 having a curved surface 220 in this order, and then the outer circumference of the second polarizing plate 150 is pressed against the base 210 while curving the second polarizing plate 150 along the curved surface 220 of the base 210. Then, in order to maintain such a curved state, the second polarizing plate 150 is fixed to the base 210 by a double-faced tape 280.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuya Ide
  • Patent number: 7176995
    Abstract: A reflective plate used in a liquid crystal display including a substrate, a first peak and depression layer of organic insulator on the substrate, a second peak and depression layer of organic insulator overlapping with the first peak and depression layer, and a reflective layer on the first and second peak and depression layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Min Jang, Su Seok Choi, Hee Yeong Ryu
  • Patent number: 7139046
    Abstract: A light guide plate 122 is shaped like a wedge whose thickness gradually decreases from the left end in the figure to the right end, and a light guide plate 142 is shaped like a wedge whose thickness gradually decreases from the right end in the figure to the left end. Since the wedges of the light guide plates 122 and 142 are arranged in a staggered manner, the thickness of the entire liquid crystal display device 100 can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiyoshi Katahira
  • Patent number: 7136123
    Abstract: A reflector is incorporated in a liquid crystal display panel for directing light to an optical path from a lamp to a liquid crystal panel, and a high voltage line is directly connected to an electrode of the lamp, but a low voltage line is connected through a conductive pattern formed on the reflector to the other electrode of the lamp, wherein the conductive pattern is formed from a layer of conductive filler printed on the reflector through thermosetting so that the conductive pattern is thick enough to withstand thermal stress without enlargement of the liquid crystal display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sato, Hideki Kaneko, Michiaki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7128424
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light-emitting tube and a reflector. The light-emitting tube has a light-emitting portion that generates a light beam by an electric discharge between electrodes, and sealing portions provided on both sides of the light-emitting portion. The light-emitting tube has a sub-reflection mirror that covers substantially a front half of the light-emitting portion. The reflector has a neck portion provided with an insertion hole to which the light-emitting tube is inserted, and a reflecting portion integrally formed with the neck portion and having an ellipsoidal curved reflecting surface that irradiates the light beam emitted by the light-emitting portion to align the light beam in a predetermined direction. The opening diameter of the insertion hole on the side of the reflecting surface is greater than the external diameter of the sub-reflection mirror and within the internal diameter of a valid reflection area of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Fujisawa, Takeshi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 7106394
    Abstract: A double-sided, direct-irradiation type backlight unit has a structure of capable of reducing the luminance irregularity and improve the luminance efficiency. The backlight unit has a scatter-reflection rod member 101 between each adjacent two of elongate lamps. The scatter-reflection rod member 101 has a symmetric shape with respect to the line passing the center thereof in X-direction, and that passing the center thereof in Y-direction. The light emitted from the elongate lamp 102 in X-direction is reflected by the scatter-reflection-rod member 101 and then travels in the direction toward the front- and rear-side diffusion plates 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin-Ichirou Ono, Hirokazu Fukuyoshi
  • Patent number: 7064741
    Abstract: A light source device and display device capable of suppressing occurrence of unevenness in luminance therefrom by using a light guide with concave or convex structural portions in combination with a reflection layer disposed adjacent the light guide and including a plurality of spacers for strategically positioning the layer's reflecting surface from the light guide. Light within the light guide is both reflected from the guide (e.g., to an adjacent display panel) or emitted onto the reflecting surface and passed back through the guide for eventual emission (e.g., to the same display panel). A reflection sheet including a base sheet, reflection layer and structural portions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsu, Akiko Nishikai, Michikazu Noguchi, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7057679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light guide plate for a liquid crystal display back light and a liquid crystal display module of a car audio in use with the light guide plate, capable of preventing occurrence of a moiré phenomenon by removing a pattern on an incident light side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wan-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 7044609
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light-emitting tube including a light-emitting portion that generates a light beam by an electric discharge between electrodes and sealing portions provided on both sides of the light-emitting portion; a reflector including a neck portion provided with an insertion hole to which the light-emitting tube is inserted, and a reflecting portion integrally formed with the neck portion and having an ellipsoidal curved reflecting surface that irradiates forward the light beam emitted by the light-emitting portion and aligns the light beam in a predetermined direction. The light-emitting tube has a sub-reflection mirror that covers substantially front half of the light-emitting tube. The insertion hole has a diameter that is enlarged from the base end thereof toward the distal end in a light irradiation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Fujisawa, Takeshi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 7042167
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a back light device for LCDs. The back light device includes an inverter to supply an alternating current or a pulse, a plurality of fluorescent lamps to radiate visible light, a reflection member to reflect the light radiated from the fluorescent lamps, a diffusion member to diffuse the light, and a frame to house the above elements therein. An external electrode is provided at a first end of each of the fluorescent lamps, and an internal electrode is provided at a second end of each of the fluorescent lamps. An extension electrode is provided on an outer surface of the second end of each of the fluorescent lamps to be connected to an associated internal electrode. A holding terminal is provided at each of both ends of each fluorescent lamp to connect the external and extension electrodes to each other. Further, an inverter is provided to operate the fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: LS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deuk Il Park, Choong Yop Rhew
  • Patent number: 7042539
    Abstract: A reflection plate is formed so as to have a wavy surface, and to have uneven distribution of normal line directions of the surface in terms of a specific azimuth angle. The wavy surface is formed due to line-shaped protruding patterns and an insulation film layer. The protruding patterns intersect with one another to form concave portions each having a shape of a closed figure. The protruding patterns are formed by patterning such that they have almost uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Yuichi Yamaguchi, Hidenori Ikeno, Takahiko Watanabe, Hironori Kikkawa, Fumihiko Matuno
  • Patent number: 7027110
    Abstract: A display device disclosed herein comprises: a display part including a first thin plate having flexibility and a second thin plate having flexibility, the second thin plate being provided on the first thin plate; a fixing portion which fixes the first thin plate and the second thin plate together on a first direction within each main surface of the first and second thin plates; and a close contact member which is provided in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within the main surface, and which brings the first thin plate and the second thin plate into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiko Akiyama, Masao Tanaka, Yujiro Hara, Rieko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7021813
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus for improving brightness of light, a backlight assembly and an LCD device having the same are provided. The LCD device includes a backlight unit having a lamp for emitting a first light, a light guiding plate for guiding the first light, and a lamp reflector disposed adjacent to the lamp to partially cover the lamp and receiving the first light exited from the lamp, the lamp reflector having a plurality of protrusion portions for diffusing and reflecting the received first light to generate a second light; and a display unit for displaying images in response to the second light, the display unit having a lower substrate, an upper substrate opposite to the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the lower and the upper substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Duk Lee, Jin-Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 6992739
    Abstract: The invention provides a light reflector and a light-reflective liquid crystal display device with the improved image quality. A plurality of projection sets 8 are formed on the substrate 1, each of said plurality of projection sets 8 comprising one projection 6 and seven projections 6 arranged around said one projection 6. After the formation of those projection sets 8, the planarizing film 9 and then the pixel electrode 10 are formed in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Masaji Shinjo
  • Patent number: 6966662
    Abstract: A reflector having light diffusibility for suppressing a reflected image within a wide viewing angle range and having a particular brightness at a specific viewing angle range, and a reflective liquid crystal display device using the reflector, are provided. The reflector 1 comprises a plurality of light-reflective concave portions 3, which are formed on a surface S of a substrate, wherein each of the concave portions 3 is formed with a first curved surface A1 located at one peripheral portion S1 of the concave portion 3 and a second curved surface B1 located at the other peripheral portion S2 thereof, the deepest point D1 is located on the first curved surface A1, and the maximum value ?b1 of the absolute value of the second curved surface B1 to the surface S of the substrate is larger than that of the maximum value ?a1 of the absolute value of the first curved surface A1 to the surface S of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumasa Yoshii, Chie Chikira
  • Patent number: 6960010
    Abstract: A lighting device has a light source for emitting lighting light for illuminating a display, and a light guide plate for changing the direction of the lighting light to the display. A polarization separation film is provided for separating polarization of the lighting light into P-polarized light and S-polarized light for illuminating the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignees: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Matsumoto, Junji Miyashita