Abstract: A camera and method are usable for capturing images of scenes illuminated by ambient light. The camera has a body and an electronic imager disposed in the body. The electronic imager captures an ambient light image as a multicolored electronic image. A color detector is disposed in the body. The color detector measures the ambient light to provide a color value. A user interface disposed on the outside of said body, shows the electronic image and an indication of the color value. The indication is independent of the color balance of the electronic image.

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.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a full color liquid crystal display system providing compatibility with Class A night vision imaging goggles. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a color liquid crystal display (LCD) having dual modes of operation. The color LCD display includes a normal mode light source, a liquid crystal display stack positioned so as to receive light from the normal mode light source, and a night vision imaging system (NVIS) mode light source. The NVIS mode light source includes a NVIS mode white light source, a NVIS mode red light source, a NVIS filter receiving light from both the NVIS mode white light source and the NVIS mode red light source, and a waveguide receiving light from the NVIS filter for reflection to the LCD stack.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus with a liquid crystal display (LCD) such as a folding cellular phone, by which display contents on the LCD is viewable even when the apparatus is closed, and thus improving the visibility of the LCD. The folding electronic apparatus comprises a display unit housing and an operation unit housing, which are connected by a hinge in a manner permitting a turning movement of each housing. The display unit housing is fitted with a transmissive LCD, both sides of which are viewable, and the operation unit housing has input keys. The apparatus further comprises a display control means for controlling the LCD to display reversed display contents if necessary depending on whether a user views the front side of the LCD or its backside. One side of the operation unit housing, which is in face-to-face contact with the LCD when the apparatus is folded, is reflectorized for reflecting the light to the LCD.

Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to display, in particular to a liquid crystal display illuminated by ambient light. The display has a display area, and a light guide system for providing light to the display area, the light guide system comprising: a planar light guiding layer comprised of liquid crystal material and having a light emitting surface and a plurality of side faces disposed around the light emitting surface; a plurality of light pipes, each light pipe having a collector end for collecting ambient light and an output end, the output ends being arranged along the side faces of the light guiding layer so as to introduce the collected light into the guiding medium. The output ends of the light pipes are distributed evenly along each side face of the light guiding layer so as to provide homogeneous illumination to the display area.

Abstract: A light source in a backlight portion is composed of red LEDs, green LEDs, and blue LEDs. The numbers of respective kinds of LEDs used are selected so that the number of blue LEDs is not smaller than the number of red LEDs and the number of blue LEDs is not smaller than the number of green LEDs.

Abstract: In a combination instrument for a motor vehicle, in particular for a utility vehicle or a bus, having an LC display (1), a light-guiding plate (4) is provided, into which ambient light is injected from inside or from outside the motor vehicle, in which the injected ambient light is guided by total reflection at the side of the LC display (1) facing away from the viewer and which has, at the side of the LC display (1) facing away from the viewer, a coating (11) or a structure (13) for extracting the ambient light out of the light-guiding plate (4) there and for injecting the ambient light into the LC display (1). This measure backlights the LC display (1), leading to a significant increase in the contrast for information displayed on the LC display (1).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) arrangement having improved optical properties is disclosed. The LCD arrangement comprises a chip-on-glass display including a graphics area, a lightpipe, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The lightpipe is placed adjacent to the graphics area. The plurality of LEDs are located on the outer perimeter of the graphics area adjacent to the lightpipe.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to reduce unevenness in luminance caused on the display surface of a liquid crystal display element in a liquid crystal display device employing a direct backlight unit. To accomplish this object, the invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of light sources and a reflection member disposed opposite to the display surface of the liquid crystal display element, characterized in that the protrusions are provided in the regions between the plurality of light sources of the reflection member and each protrusion is triangular in cross section when it is cut by a plane perpendicular to the direction of extension of the plurality of light sources.

Abstract: A backlit LCD display apparatus includes an LCD display panel, a light source for backlighting the LCD display panel, a loss-less polarizing element positioned between the backlight and the LCD display panel, and a dimmer device in the form of a twisted nematic LCD cell positioned between the polarizing element, and the LCD display panel

Abstract: A light system is disclosed that may be used as a dual-mode LCD backlight. The light system includes a fluorescent lamp and a secondary light source that is attached to or formed upon an outer surface of the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp diffuses the light of the secondary light source.

Abstract: A first polarizer (absorption-type polarizer) (21) is disposed in a visible side of a liquid crystal cell (1) in which a liquid crystal layer (15) is sealed in-between a pair of transparent substrates (2, 5), and a second polarizer (reflection-type polarizer) (22), a third polarizer (an absorption-type polarizer or a reflection-type polarizer) (25), and an auxiliary light source (31) are disposed in order in the opposite side to the visible side and by polarizing emitted light from the auxiliary light source 31 by the third polarizer (25) and the second polarizer (22), polarization degree of light emitted from the second polarizer (22) into the liquid crystal cell (1) is improved, thereby unevenness of display caused by lack of the polarization degree and distribution of the polarization degree of the second polarizer (22) and contrast ratio are improved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is sequentially illuminated with three primary color lights in three primary color illumination steps including an off period (1) before, (2) before and after and (3) after the primary color light period, respectively. As a result, each primary color light illumination step includes a black picture display period corresponding to the off period, whereby motion picture blurring and color splitting can be suppressed without requiring a complicated circuit for generating new data for the black picture display.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus wherein in case a liquid-crystal display is lighted with plural colors using a body of luminous elements composed of plural luminous elements, a character, a mark and others can be also securely and plainly displayed so that a user can read the character, the mark, the digit and others and in addition, the system is not large-sized, and mobile information equipment provided with the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic device has a display housing which includes a display panel and at least two light sources used to backlight the display panel. The at least two light sources are activated independently of each other to selectively increase or decrease the illumination of the display panel. A circuit is coupled to the at least two light sources. The circuit determines which of the at least two light sources is chosen such that the combined life of the at least two light sources is increased.

Abstract: A head up display (HUD) has multiple light sources of varying intensities for projecting a high quality image under various lighting conditions. The light sources provide illumination through an electronic display (e.g. an AMLCD) in the HUD. A high brightness light source illuminates the electronic display during bright or day light conditions. A low brightness light source illuminates the electronic display during night or low light conditions. Both light sources illuminate the electronic display during intermediate lighting conditions. A light panel conducts and diffuses light from the light sources to illuminate the rear of the electronic display. An optional light mixer reduces uneven lighting of the high brightness light source. In operation, the intensities of the light sources are controlled as a function of ambient lighting conditions to optimise the projected image quality.

Abstract: A holographic universal display according to the present invention uses reflective lighting for a liquid-crystal panel. The system comprises at least two waveguide holograms in a matched configuration that redirects incident light beams as diffracted beams so that the beams passing out of the display are targeted towards the viewer. That is to say, light beams that are incident to the display at large angles, over a wide range, with respect to normal are redirected into a set, narrow range of angles close to the required angle for optimal viewing. The required angle for optimal viewing is nominally perpendicular to the plane of the display (i.e., normal), but is optionally selectable (by design of the holograms) to be an angle varies from the strict perpendicular.

Abstract: Disclosed are a flat panel display and a backlight which provides both night vision and day mode backlighting of the flat panel display. The backlight of the flat panel display includes a circuit card and day mode light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned coplanar with each other on the circuit card. Night vision (NVIS) LEDs are positioned on the circuit card coplanar with the day mode LEDs. An optical wave-guide is positioned in front of the day mode LEDs and the NVIS LEDs and is adapted to distribute light from the day mode LEDs and from the NVIS LEDs forward away from the LEDs and the circuit card.

Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal apparatus has a liquid crystal panel which includes a pair of a back side substrate and a viewer's side substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. The back side substrate is provided with a plurality of scanning electrodes for applying a scanning signal to the liquid crystal, and the viewer's side substrate is provided with a plurality of transparent data electrodes for applying data signals to the liquid crystal. Further, the scanning electrodes are provided with a reflective and diffusive surface of a metal so as to reflect light incident thereto through the viewer's side substrate. The reflective and diffusive metal scanning electrodes formed on the back substrate are not only effective for providing improved drive characteristics because of its high conductivity but also provides uniform diffusive reflected light for providing a paper-like improved display quality.

Abstract: A novel structure for the backlight of an LCD is provided, by which the frame portion of the screen can be further narrowed and the weight of the LCD can be reduced. In the backlight arranged in the display area corresponding to the display section of the LCD, the cold cathode tube, disposed along a part of a circumferential area of the display section, is surrounded by a light-introducing plate made of a light-transmitting material and a reflector, and an electro-luminescence lamp is provided between the display section and the reflector.

Abstract: A polarizer 14 is provided on the upper side of a liquid crystal panel 10, and a light scattering member 15 and a polarized light separator 16 are provided in turn on the lower side of the liquid crystal panel 10. Of light incident on the upper side of the polarized light separator 16, a linearly polarized light component parallel to the drawings is transmitted, a linearly polarized light component perpendicular to the drawings is reflected, and for light incident on the lower side thereof, a linearly polarized light component parallel to the drawings can be emitted upward. When the switch is off, the external light incident on the display device is reflected by the polarized light separator 16 to obtain a bright display, and when the switch is on, the incident external light is transmitted through the polarized light separator 16 to obtain a dark display.

Abstract: A voice-operated, interactive message display system designed for inter-vehicle and extra-vehicle communications. The system includes one or more display units having a matrix of light-emitting elements to transmit a message to other vehicles either to the front, rear, side, or combination thereof. The display units are controlled by a central control unit having a voice recognition and voice synthesis system, which is used to interactively determine a message to display and on which displays to present it. Upon manual activation, the message system vocally prompts the user for the message to display and the parameters for its display. The system may be implemented in at least two different embodiments. In one embodiment a powerful vocabulary memory unit is used and the content of the message is run-time programmable. If a less expensive vocabulary unit is used, the user may choose from a series of preprogrammed messages.

Abstract: An image display apparatus having a storage/display element for receiving writing light indicative of an image obtained from an original, storing the image and displaying the stored image, includes a light detecting mechanism for detecting light which has an influence on writing, and a determining circuit for determining an image storage operation condition for the storage/display element according to an amount of light detected by the light detecting mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the colour temperature in a liquid crystal display with background lighting. According to the invention, the liquid crystal display is lit by two or more background light lamps with different colour temperatures (LAMP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), the colour temperature range of the background light is extended and better opportunities for adjusting the colour temperature by changing the pass rate of the light are provided. In a more advanced solution, background light lamps with different colour temperatures (LAMP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) are switched on (S1) separately for setting the colour temperature of the display, and furthermore, the brightness of the background light lamps (LAMP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with different colour temperatures can be adjusted separately for setting the colour temperature.

Abstract: A LCD luminous structure comprises a LCD liquid crystal displaying plate which is connected with a circuit by a bus, a light guiding plate, a dispersing piece, etc., light emitting diodes or other light sources are installed on the sides of the light guiding plate. Wherein the luminous piece having the function of luminosity is installed on the bottom of the liquid crystal displaying plate. By above structure, the power may be saved and the cell need not be updated frequently.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling the brightness level of an LCD display. The brightness of a display having two light bulbs may be controlled by illuminating only one bulb to provide a relatively low brightness level or by illuminating both bulbs to provide a relatively high brightness level. This method and apparatus may be particularly useful in AC/DC powered devices, as a single bulb may be lit when the device is operating on DC power to conserve battery power, and both bulbs may be lit when the device is operating on AC power to provide enhanced brightness.

Abstract: An electro-optical backlighting panel construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the electro-optical backlighting panel is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without any sort of physical modification to the LCD display panel assembly.

Abstract: A display device includes a spatial light modulator capable of writing therein an image and capable of reading therefrom the written image by converting the image, and an illumination device which transmissively illuminates the spatial light modulator through respective different paths for writing the image and for reading the image.

Abstract: Light emitting devices are combined with non-imaging optical elements to create a backlighting system for liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). A pair of optically isolated sub-systems, or sections a night vision imaging system (NVIS) (14) and a daylight system (12) are combined to provide optimum display legibility in ambient illuminations ranging from bright sunlight to total darkness. The sub-systems utilize non-imaging optics based upon total internal reflection (TIR) and light reflection, both coupled to a light emitting source, such as fluorescent tubes (34) and other linearly shaped light sources. Light reflectors (32) are shaped to concentrate light onto non-imaging optics lens (30) so as to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the TIR lenses.

Abstract: A dual mode liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal material disposed between a first polarizer and a second reflective polarizer. A light source is disposed behind the second polarizer and an absorbing means is disposed behind the second polarizer in front of the light source. The reflective polarizer may be a wire grid polarizer and reflects one polarization back towards the front of the display to create a bright image. The other polarization is passed by the reflective polarizer and absorbed by the absorbing means. The absorbing means may be a third polarizer and a wave plate for rotating the polarization passed by the second polarizer before absorbing it so that the second and third polarizers pass the same polarization so that the light produced by the light source may also pass through to the front of the display. The absorbing means may also be a removable sheet of absorbing material.

Abstract: A pager having a notifier to notify the receipt of a call signal for itself, an LCD to display certain display messages, a light sensor to detect the light quantity of the light irradiated to the surface of the LCD, a control section to generate the contrast adjustment signal corresponding to the received light quantity of the LCD detected by the light sensor, a reference voltage generation section to generate the reference voltage according to the contrast adjustment signal generated by the control section, and an LCD driver to adjust the light intensity of the display message on the LCD according to the reference voltage supplied from the reference voltage generation section.

Abstract: An electro-optical backlighting panel construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the electro-optical backlighting panel is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without any sort of physical modification to the LCD display panel assembly.

Abstract: A reconfigurable backlighting construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the backlighting construction is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen without the need for a bulky overhead projector, required by all prior art systems. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without physical removal of the light guiding panel and its light diffusing structures.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display 10 is backlit by more than one light source 20 which is operated independently. Selective usage of the light sources extends the useful operating time of batteries when the liquid crystal display is used with a portable computer system.

Abstract: A light condensing plate (13) is disposed on the side of a rear surface of an LCD (2). A light guiding plate (9) is disposed on the side of a rear surface of the light condensing plate (13). A back light (5) is disposed on the side of a rear surface of the light guiding plate (9). The light guiding plate (9) has a light diffusing surface (10) formed on its surface opposed to the light condensing plate (13) and a reflection surface (11) formed on its surface opposed to the back light (5). The light guiding plate (9) has a light condensing surface (12) formed on its upper end portion so as to be opposed to an external light admitting window (6) defined on a viewfinder barrel (1). A lid (8) for opening and closing the external light admitting window (6) is provided on the viewfinder barrel.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device including a transmission-type liquid-crystal panel for displaying an image, a power source circuit for driving the liquid-crystal panel, a solar-cell panel disposed behind the liquid-crystal panel so as to be excited by external light transmitted through the liquid-crystal panel for generating electromotive force to thereby charge the power source circuit, and a liquid-crystal shutter provided between the liquid-crystal panel and the solar-cell panel for controlling the amount of external light to be transmitted to the solar-cell panel. In the device, the power source circuit can be sufficiently charged by the electromotive force from the solar-cell panel to prolong the operating time of the displayed device without increasing the area for installation of the solar-cell panel.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a display panel having a back side and a front side. A mirrored surface receives sunlight and reflects the sunlight towards a lens system. The lens system focuses the reflected sunlight and directs the focused light towards the back side of the display panel to provide backlighting for the display panel. The backlighting enables the front side of the display panel to be viewed with improved contrast. Preferably, the display panel is of the liquid crystal display (LCD) type, and the mirrored surface is parabolic in shape.

Abstract: An improved backlight assembly comprising an array of apertures in close proximity to a light source, an array of tapered optical elements that have a light input surface area smaller than the light output surface area. Light rays pass through the apertures and are directed to the optical elements which transmit the light rays via internal reflection to provide a partially collimated light source. The light rays then pass through an array of microlenses that transmit the light rays via refraction and provide a substantially more collimated light source for the display elements of a display. The backlight assembly is advantageously used as a backlighting means for electro-optical displays, especially those designed for military and avionics applications.