Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus and electronic apparatus using ultraviolet ray emitting elements

• US 20030042847A1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Ueno, Masato, Machida, Shyuichi, Hirano, Tadao, Usui, Norihisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/503
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133617 Illumination with ultraviolet light; Luminescent elements or materials associated to the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0017 in which the light emitting display elements may be activated at will or are controlled in accordance with the ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

A display emitting apparatus that irradiates an optically transparent display unit with Ultraviolet rays of light from below to cause luminescent layers provided on the display unit to emit colored rays of light to provide a highly colorful and very ornamental display (FIG. 1).

Claims

1. A Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus comprising:

an optically transparent display unit;

a luminescent layer provided on said display unit for reacting to Ultraviolet rays to emit colored rays of light; and

a Ultraviolet ray emitting element provided below said display unit for irradiating said display unit from below with Ultraviolet rays emitted thereby.

2. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises a face with a transparent plastic member for diffusing the Ultraviolet rays emitted by said Ultraviolet ray emitting element.

3. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises a liquid crystal display unit that, in turn, comprises at least a liquid crystal cell that, in turn, comprises a pair of upper and lower transparent electrodes, liquid crystal sealed between said pair of electrodes, an upper polarizing plate provided on an upper surface of said liquid crystal cell, and a lower polarizing plate provided on a lower surface of said liquid crystal cell.

4. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said luminescent layer is provided on an upper surface of said upper polarizing plate that, in turn, is provided on said upper surface of said liquid crystal display unit.

5. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said luminescent layer is provided on an upper surface of said liquid crystal cell of said liquid crystal display unit.

6. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said luminescent layer is provided on a lower surface of said liquid crystal cell of said liquid crystal display unit.

7. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said luminescent layer is provided on a lower surface of said lower polarizing plate provided on said lower surface of said liquid crystal display unit.

8. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said liquid crystal display unit comprises a semitransparent reflective plate below said lower polarizing plate with said luminescent layer being provided on an upper surface of said semitransparent reflective plate.

9. The Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said liquid crystal display unit comprises a semitransparent reflective plate below said lower polarizing plate with said luminescent layer being provided on a lower surface of said semitransparent reflective plate.

13. An electronic device comprising in a case said Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 1.

10. A Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus comprising:

an optically transparent display unit;

a luminescent layer provided on said display unit for reacting to Ultraviolet rays to emit colored rays of light;

a Ultraviolet ray emitting element provided below said display unit for irradiating from below said display unit with Ultraviolet rays emitted thereby;

a transparent cover provided above said display unit; and

a wavelength selector provided on said cover for reflecting Ultraviolet rays and for allowing other rays of light to pass therethrough.

14. An electronic device comprising in a case said Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 10.

11. A Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus comprising:

an optically transparent display unit;

a flat-surface light-emitting element provided below said display unit for irradiating from below said display unit with rays of light emitted thereby;

a luminescent layer provided on an upper surface of said flat-surface light-emitting element for reacting to Ultraviolet rays to emit colored rays of light; and

a Ultraviolet ray emitting element provided on a periphery of said display unit at a higher position than said display unit for irradiating said display unit downward with Ultraviolet rays emitted thereby.

15. An electronic device comprising in a case said Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 11.

12. A Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus comprising:

an optically transparent touch-in element;

a luminescent layer provided on said touch-in element for reacting to Ultraviolet rays to emit colored rays of light; and

a Ultraviolet ray emitting element provided below said touch-in element for irradiating from below said touch-in element with Ultraviolet rays emitted thereby

16. An electronic device comprising in a case said Ultraviolet ray emitting apparatus according to claim 12.