Display having thin cross-section and/or multi-colored output

• US 20070285917A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wadia, Bahar, Mueller, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements

Abstract

A display includes a substrate having front and rear sides and defining one or more optical paths. A light source corresponding to each optical path is associated with the rear side of the substrate. Light propagates from the light source to the front side of the substrate through the corresponding optical path. Offsetting the light source from the centerline of the optical path improves light diffusion by promoting light reflection off the sides of the optical path. Multiple light sources of different colors can be associated with each optical path to provide for variable color output from each optical path at the front side of the substrate.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having a first side and a second side;

said first substrate defining a first optical path extending from said first side of said first substrate to said second side of said first substrate; and

a first light source associated with said first side of said first substrate and further associated with said first optical path such that light emitted by said first light source propagates from said light source to said second side of said substrate via said first optical path but not in a single straight line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second substrate associated with said first side of said first substrate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second substrate is integrated with said first substrate in a substantially parallel relationship.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first optical path comprises a first aperture in said first substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first optical path comprises an optically transmissive medium.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said first substrate further defining one or more additional optical paths extending from said first side of said first substrate to said second side of said first substrate;

and

one or more additional light sources associated with said first side of said first substrate, each of said one or more additional light sources corresponding to a specific one of said one or more additional optical paths such that light emitted by a specific one of said one or more additional light sources is visible from said second side of said substrate by way of the respective optical path and such that said light emitted by said specific one of said one or more additional light sources propagates from said specific one of said one or more additional light sources via the corresponding optical path but not in a single straight line.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein light emitted by any specific one of said light sources does not propagate through any of said optical paths except the optical path corresponding to said specific light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said display apparatus comprises a seven-segment display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting point source.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting material.

11. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having a first side and a second side;

said first substrate defining a first optical path extending from said first side of said first substrate to said second side of said first substrate; and

a first light source associated with said first side of said first substrate such that light emitted by said first light source is visible from said second side of said substrate and such that the majority of said light emitted by said first light source propagates from said light source to said second side of said substrate via said first optical path but not in a single straight line.

12. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having a first side;

said first substrate comprising a first optical path extending to said first side of said first substrate; and

a first plurality of light sources associated with said first optical path such that light emitted from a first of said plurality of light sources blends with light emitted from a second of said plurality of light sources and such that the blended light propagates to said first side of said substrate via said first optical path.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light emitted from each of said first of said plurality of light sources and said second of said plurality of light sources propagates to said second side of said substrate through said first optical path only as a constituent element of the blended light.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein light emitted from a third of said plurality of light sources blends with light emitted from each of said first and said second of said plurality of light sources and wherein the blended light propagates to said second side of said substrate via said first optical path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said light emitted from each of said first of said plurality of light sources, said second of said plurality of light sources, and said third of said plurality of light sources propagates to said second side of said substrate through said first optical path only as a constituent element of the blended light.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light emitted by said plurality of light sources is blended within said first optical path.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said optical path comprises an optically transmissive material.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said optical path comprises a cavity defined by said first substrate.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said optical path comprises a penetration defined by said first substrate.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a first of said plurality of light sources emits light of a first color and a second of said plurality of light sources emits light of a second color.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein a third of said plurality of light sources emits light of a third color.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, said first substrate further comprising:

one or more additional optical paths extending to said second side of said first substrate; and

one or more additional pluralities of light sources associated with said first side of said substrate, each of said one or more additional pluralities of light sources corresponding to a specific one of said one or more additional optical paths such that light emitted from each of said plurality of light sources blends with light emitted from at least one other of said plurality of light sources and such that said blended light propagates to said second side of said substrate via said first optical path.