Image display/input apparatus

An image display/input apparatus comprising;

• a flat blacklight for emitting light beams from a surface thereof;
• an image display/input panel constituted of a liquid crystal display panel wherein a light receiving element is incorporated in each pixel;
• means for receiving the light beams emitted by the blacklight and outputting light beams substantially perpendicularly to the image display/input panel, said means being disposed between the blacklight and the image display/input panel;
• a control circuit for controlling the image display/input panel such that in displaying an image, each pixel is turned on or off according to image data so as to display an image corresponding to the image data, and that in inputting an image, the pixels are sequentially turned on and off to optically scan an original document which is placed on the image display/input panel with a surface thereof having optical density information being in contact with the image display/input panel;
• wherein said means comprises an optical control plate which exhibits an optical transmission property or an optical diffusion property according to a change of an electric signal so as to control a direction characteristic of the light beams, and wherein said control circuit further controls the electric signal to be inputted to the optical control plate such that in displaying an image, the optical control plate has the optical diffusion property and that in inputting an image, the optical control plate has the optical transmission property.

An image display/input apparatus comprising;

• a flat blacklight for emitting light beams from a surface thereof;
• an image display/input panel constituted of a liquid crystal display panel wherein a light receiving element is incorporated in each pixel;
• means for receiving the light beams emitted by the blacklight and outputting light beams substantially perpendicularly to the image display/input panel, said means being disposed between the blacklight and the image display/input panel;
• a control circuit for controlling the image display/input panel such that in displaying an image, each pixel is turned on or off according to image data so as to display an image corresponding to the image data, and that in inputting an image, the pixels are sequentially turned on and off to optically scan an original document which is placed on the image display/input panel with a surface thereof having optical density information being in contact with the image display/input panel;
• wherein said means comprises a directive plate which consists of two prism sheets each having a flat surface and an opposed uneven surface having prism-shaped concaves and convexes, wherein the prism sheets are superimposed on each other in such a manner that a direction in which the concaves and the convexes of one prism sheet extend is perpendicular to a direction in which the concaves and the convexes of the other prism sheet extend, and wherein each convex of the prism sheets has a vertical angle .theta. in a range from 90.degree. to 120.degree..