Display device

• US 20040150658A1
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmark Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valmark Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Balarezo, Brando H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0409 Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency arrangements of reflectors G09F13/14

Abstract

A display device including an illumination source disposed behind an at least partially translucent display area, with a diffuser baffle disposed therebetween. The diffuser baffle includes at least one diffuser lens with a gap on at least one side thereof. Light emitted by one or more light devices on the illumination source is dispersed and scattered by the diffuser lens and gap in the diffuser baffle before being projected on the back of the at least partially translucent display area. The dispersed and scattered light from behind more evenly illuminates the at least partially translucent display area.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a display area, said display area being at least partially translucent;

an illumination source disposed behind said display area; and

a diffuser baffle disposed between said illumination source and said display area, said diffuser baffle comprising;

at least one spacer; and

at least one diffuser lens disposed adjacent to said at least one spacer,

wherein said at least one spacer forms a gap between said at least one diffuser lens and one of said display area and said illumination source.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said diffuser baffle further comprises:

a second spacer disposed on a side of said at least one diffuser lens opposite from said at least one spacer; and

a second diffuser lens disposed adjacent to said second spacer, wherein said second spacer forms a gap between said second diffuser lens and one of said display area and said illumination source.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein said diffuser baffle further comprises:

a third spacer disposed on a side of said second diffuser lens opposite from said second spacer; and

a third diffuser lens disposed adjacent to said third spacer, wherein

said third spacer forms a gap between said third diffuser lens and one of said display area and said illumination source.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein said illumination source includes at least one light device electrically coupled to an electrical power source.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein said at least one light device is an LED.

6. The display device of claim 4, further comprising a switch operable to control the operation of said at least one light device.

7. The display device of claim 4, further comprising electronic circuitry to control the operation of said at least one light device in a predetermined manner.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein said first spacer and said first diffuser lens are laminated together in a substantially transparent laminating material, and said gap formed by said first spacer includes an inert gas.