Display retainer and backlight

• US 20040240193A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Grabinger, Cory L., Mertz, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package

Abstract

Backlighting devices and methods for supporting and illuminating a display panel are disclosed. A display retainer and backlight device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may comprise one or more light pipes operatively coupled to a retainer housing that supports and illuminates an attached display panel. The retainer housing includes an optical waveguide that receives light collected by the one or more light pipes. A light scattering element and reflector may be employed to disperse and reflect the light rays to illuminate the backside of the display panel. A slot extending through a portion of the retainer housing may be configured to tightly receive an elastomeric zebra-strip, which electrically connects the circuit board to the display panel. A clip, tab or other fastening mechanism may be used to secure the retainer housing and display panel to the circuit board.

Claims

1. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:

at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and

a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide configured to support and illuminate a display panel.

2. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said at least one light pipe and retainer housing are formed of a transparent material.

3. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said external light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

4. The display retainer and backlight of claim 1, further comprising a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within the optical waveguide.

5. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 4, wherein said light scattering element comprises a series of ridges or grooves.

6. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 4, wherein said light scattering element comprises an array of dispersive dots.

7. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

8. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said retainer housing includes means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device at an angle relative to a circuit board.

9. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 8, wherein said means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device to the circuit board comprises a plurality of support legs.

10. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of support legs comprises a first set of support legs configured to engage a first set of notches or holes on the circuit board, and a second set of support legs of shorter length than the first set of support legs configured to engage a second set of notches or holes on the circuit board.

11. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 9, wherein said at least one light pipe is embedded within said support legs.

12. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one light pipe includes an entrance for collecting light, and a curved portion configured to direct light rays into the optical waveguide.

13. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, further comprising a reflector element for reflecting light rays within the optical waveguide towards the display panel.

14. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 13, wherein said reflector element comprises a strip of reflective tape adhesively mounted to the optical waveguide.

15. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 13, wherein said reflector element is formed integral with the optical waveguide.

16. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises a plurality of light pipes.

17. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 1, wherein said retainer housing includes a slot configured to receive an elastomeric zebra-strip.

18. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 17, wherein said slot includes a plurality of bumps configured to tightly receive the zebra-strip.

19. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:

at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source;

a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide configured to support and illuminate a display panel;

a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within the optical waveguide; and

a reflector element for reflecting light rays within the optical waveguide towards the display panel.

20. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said at least one light pipe and retainer housing are formed of a transparent material.

21. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said external light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

22. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said light scattering element comprises a series of ridges or grooves.

23. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said light scattering element comprises an array of dispersive dots.

24. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

25. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said retainer housing includes means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device at an angle relative to a circuit board.

26. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 25, wherein said means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device to the circuit board comprises a plurality of support legs.

27. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of support legs comprises a first set of support legs configured to engage a first set of notches or holes on the circuit board, and a second set of support legs of shorter length than the first set of support legs configured to engage a second set of notches or holes on the circuit board.

28. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 26, wherein said at least one light pipe is embedded within said support legs.

29. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein each of said at least one light pipe includes an entrance for collecting light, and a curved portion configured to direct light rays into the optical waveguide.

30. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said reflector element comprises a strip of reflective tape adhesively mounted to the optical waveguide.

31. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said reflector element is formed integral with the optical waveguide.

32. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises a plurality of light pipes.

33. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 19, wherein said retainer housing includes a slot configured to receive an elastomeric zebra-strip.

34. The display retainer and backlight device of claim 33, wherein said slot includes a plurality of bumps configured to tightly receive the zebra-strip.

35. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:

at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source mounted to a circuit board;

a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide configured to support and illuminate a display panel, and a plurality of support legs coupled to the retainer housing configured to mount the retainer housing to the circuit board;

a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within the optical waveguide; and

a reflector element for reflecting light rays within the optical waveguide towards the display panel.

36. A backlighting assembly, comprising:

a circuit board;

a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle to the circuit board, said light guide plate having an top surface and a bottom surface;

a display panel adjacent to the top surface of the light guide plate; and

at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source into the light guide plate.

37. A backlighting assembly, comprising:

a circuit board;

a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle to the circuit board, said light guide plate having an top surface and a bottom surface;

a display panel adjacent to the top surface of the light guide plate;

at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source mounted on the circuit board into the light guide plate;

a light dispersive element formed within the bottom surface of the light guide plate; and

a reflector element coupled to the bottom surface of the light guide plate.

38. A backlighting assembly, comprising:

a circuit board;

a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle to the circuit board, said light guide plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a slot;

a display panel positioned adjacent to the top surface of the light guide plate;

a zebra-strip disposed within the slot and configured to electrically connect the display panel to the circuit board;

at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source mounted on the circuit board into the light guide plate;

a light dispersive element formed within the bottom surface of the light guide plate; and

a reflector element coupled to the bottom surface of the light guide plate.

39. A method of backlighting a display panel, comprising the steps of:

providing an angled display retainer and backlight device having at least one light pipe optically coupled to a light guide plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

providing at least one light source mounted to a circuit board;

collecting light rays emitted from said at least one light source and directing the light rays into the light guide plate; and

reflecting the light rays towards the top surface of the light guide plate to backlight the display panel.

40. A method of backlighting a display panel, comprising the steps of:

providing an angled display retainer and backlight device having at least one light pipe optically coupled to a light guide plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

providing at least one light source surface mounted to a circuit board;

collecting light rays emitted from said at least one light source and directing the light rays into the light guide plate;

dispersing the light rays within the light guide plate; and

reflecting the light rays towards the top surface of the light guide plate to backlight the display panel.