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US 2001/0033480 A1Published application
LCD illuminating device
AssigneeNikon Corporation
InventorsTsutomu Wakabayashi, Akihiro Sugiyama, Shinichi Tsukada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An LCD illuminating device is equipped with a light guide device for guiding light from LEDs for illumination to a display panel, and illuminates segments on the display panel when a subject image is dark. The light guide device comprises a light guide with reflecting surfaces of which are parabolic in shape. The LEDs are located substantially at focal points of the parabolic reflecting surfaces so that the segment in a diffusing state on the display panel can be illuminated in a bright and uniform manner.
Claims19
An LCD illuminating device comprising:
- a display panel enclosing liquid crystal layer capable of switching between a diffusing state where light is diffused and a transparent state where light is transmitted, with a plurality of display segments;
- a selection unit that selects at least one display segment of the plurality of display segments of said display panel;
- a drive circuit that drives a display segment selected by said selection unit into said diffusing state and unselected display segments into said transparent state;
- a light source having a light emitting section that generates light for illuminating said display panel;
- and
- a light guide device having at least one light guide member that guides light from said light source to said display panel, wherein:
- said light guide member has a reflecting surface formed at least partially in a parabolic shape, and
- said light emitting section of said light source is located substantially at focal point of the parabolic reflecting surface.
5 more elements
An LCD illuminating device comprising:
- a display panel enclosing liquid crystal layer capable of switching between a diffusing state where light is diffused and a transparent state where light is transmitted, with a plurality of display segments;
- a selection unit that selects at least one display segment of the plurality of display segments of said display panel;
- a drive circuit that drives a display segment selected by said selection unit into said diffusing state and unselected display segments into said transparent state;
- a light source having a light emitting section that generates light for illuminating said display panel;
- and
- a light guide device having at least one light guide member that guides light from said light source to said display panel,
- wherein said light guide member is constituted by:
- a light guiding section that guides light of said light source in a direction orthogonal to the display surface of said display panel;
- an emitting section that emits light to an irradiated part of said display panel;
- and
- a reflecting section that reflects light guided by said light guiding section to said emitting section.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.