ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20070263140A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: HINATA, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An electro-optical device that includes a first module, a plate-like second module, and a hinge portion. The first module is provided with an electro-optical panel having a polarizer. The electro-optical panel is disposed on a side of a display surface of the first module, on which surface an image is displayed. The second module is provided with a reflective polarizer and has at least a translucent portion in area that overlaps with the reflective polarizer in a direction perpendicular to the reflective polarizer. The hinge portion couples the first module to the second module. The hinge portion supports the second module so that the second module, when pivoted about a first axis parallel to the display surface, is allowed to be switched between a closed position in which the display surface is covered and an opened position in which the display surface is exposed to an outside, while the hinge portion pivotally supports the second module about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the reflective polarizer. The polarization axis of the polarizer and the polarization axis of the reflective polarizer each are set in a direction that is not parallel and perpendicular to the first axis.

Claims

1. An electro-optical device comprising:

a first module provided with an electro-optical panel having a polarizer on a side of a display surface of the first module, on which surface an image is displayed;

a plate-like second module provided with a reflective polarizer and having at least a translucent portion in area that overlaps with the reflective polarizer in a direction perpendicular to the reflective polarizer; and

a hinge portion that couples the first module to the second module, wherein the hinge portion supports the second module so that the second module, when pivoted about a first axis parallel to the display surface, is allowed to be switched between a closed position in which the display surface is covered and an opened position in which the display surface is exposed to an outside, while the hinge portion pivotally supports the second module about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the reflective polarizer, and wherein

a polarization axis of the polarizer and a polarization axis of the reflective polarizer each are set in a direction that is not parallel and perpendicular to the first axis.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the polarization axis of the reflective polarizer is substantially in parallel to the polarization axis of the polarizer when the second module is placed in a first closed position in which a first surface of the second module is exposed to the outside, and wherein the polarization axis of the reflective polarizer is substantially perpendicular to the polarization axis of the polarizer when the second module is placed in a second closed position in which a second surface of the second module is exposed to the outside.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 2, wherein the polarization axis of the reflective polarizer and the polarization axis of the polarizer each make an angle of 45 degrees with the first axis.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a lighting device that allows light to enter the electro-optical panel, wherein

the electro-optical device, in a state where the second module is placed in the first closed position, has a viewing mode in which the light emitted from the lighting device enters the electro-optical panel and is transmitted through the second module to be viewed, and a mirror mode in which light is not emitted from the lighting device and light that enters the reflective polarizer from a viewing side is reflected on the reflective polarizer to be viewed.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the second module includes a translucent input device that is disposed in parallel to the reflective polarizer.

6. An electronic apparatus having the electro-optical device according to claim 1.