# US 5,703,665 A · Liquid crystal device having resilient support members arranged at vertices of an isosceles triangle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,665 A - Document ID: US5703665A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/677,327 - Filed: 1996-07-02 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-03 - Assignees: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masayoshi Muramatsu; Masaaki Ozaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703665A ## CPC - G02F 1/133308: {Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels} - G02F 2201/503: Arrangements improving the resistance to shock - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract In a liquid crystal device, three semi-spherical protrusions are fixed on an inner surface of a bottom wall of a spacer. These protrusions are in contact with an outer surface of an elongated sheet portion of an electrode sheet for the liquid crystal device. The protrusions form an isosceles triangle so that the electrode sheet is supported at three points. Each elastic member is held between the elongated sheet portion of the electrode sheet and a top wall of a frame at a position facing each protrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid crystal device comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a frame for accommodating said liquid crystal panel; holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and a wall of said frame for holding said liquid crystal panel in said frame; and interposing means disposed between said frame and said holding means, said interposing means including interposing members positioned substantially at three vertices of an isosceles triangle, said interposing means being for allowing movement of said liquid crystal panel with respect to said frame about a side of said isosceles triangle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: two of said interposing members are disposed at both ends of a side of said liquid crystal panel and a remaining interposing member is disposed substantially at a center of another side of said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: said interposing members are protrusions mounted on said holding means, and said interposing members are disposed to face said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein: said protrusions have semi-spherical ends for contacting said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: said interposing members are made up of elastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, said liquid crystal device further comprising: additional holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and said interposing means, said additional holding means including concave portions; wherein said interposing members protrude from a surface of said holding means which faces said liquid crystal panel, said interposing members are cylindrical protrusions having semi-spherical heads facing said additional holding means, and said concave portions of said additional holding means are for accommodating said semi-spherical heads of said interposing members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, said liquid crystal device further comprising: elastic means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and another wall of said frame to face said interposing members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: another wall of said frame includes a concavity for contacting said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: said liquid crystal panel is filled with smectic liquid crystal. ### Claim 10 A liquid crystal device comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a frame for accommodating said liquid crystal panel; holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and a wall of said frame for holding said liquid crystal panel in said frame; and interposing means disposed between said frame and said holding means, said interposing means being interposing members positioned substantially at three vertices of a triangle, said interposing means being for allowing movement of said liquid crystal panel with respect to said frame about a side of said triangle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein: two of said interposing members are disposed at both ends of a side of said liquid crystal panel and a remaining interposing member is disposed substantially at a center of another side of said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein: said interposing members are protrusions mounted on said holding means, and said interposing members are disposed to face said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A liquid crystal device according to claim 12, wherein: said protrusions have semi-spherical ends for contacting said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein: said interposing members are made up of elastic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, said liquid crystal device further comprising: additional holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and said interposing means, said additional holding means including concave portions; wherein said interposing members protrude from a surface of said holding means which faces said liquid crystal panel, said interposing members are cylindrical protrusions having semi-spherical heads facing said additional holding means, and said concave portions of said additional holding means are for accommodating said semi-spherical heads of said interposing members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, said liquid crystal device further comprising: elastic means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and another wall of said frame to face said interposing members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein: another wall of said frame includes a concavity for contacting said liquid crystal panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein: said liquid crystal panel is filled with smectic liquid crystal. ### Claim 19 A liquid crystal device comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a frame for accommodating said liquid crystal panel; holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and a wall of said frame for holding said liquid crystal panel in said frame; and protrusions disposed on said holding means, said protrusions positioned substantially at three vertices of an isosceles triangle, said protrusions and said holding means contacting only at said vertices. ### Claim 20 A liquid crystal device comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a frame for accommodating said liquid crystal panel; holding means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and a wall of said frame for holding said liquid crystal panel in said frame; protrusions disposed on said holding means, said protrusions positioned substantially at three vertices of an isosceles triangle, said protrusions being for allowing movement of said liquid crystal panel with respect to said frame about a side of said isosceles triangle; and elastic means disposed between said liquid crystal panel and another wall of said frame, said elastic means being disposed to face said protrusions.