DISPLAY

• US 20130050287A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Noble International, Inc. (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Noble International, Inc. (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Jeff, van der Pol, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/582,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs

Abstract

A display device, including: one or more layers of material having a light transmission region, a unit of information to be highlighted, and a light blocking region; and a backlight unit having a planar waveguide body, a light source configured to direct light into the waveguide body, and at least one light director associated with a portion of the waveguide body so as to direct light transversely to a plane of the waveguide body. The directed light travels through the light transmission region, and the directed light is directed toward the unit of information to be highlighted.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

one or more layers of material comprising a light transmission region, a unit of information to be highlighted, and a light blocking region;

a backlight unit comprising a planar waveguide body, a light source configured to direct light into the waveguide body, and at least one light director associated with a portion of the waveguide body so as to direct light transversely to a plane of the waveguide body,

wherein the directed light travels through the light transmission region, and wherein the directed light is directed toward the unit of information to be highlighted.

2. The display device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of backlight units, and at least one unit of information to be backlit per backlight unit.

3. The display device of claim 2, comprising a processor configured to control illumination of the backlight units so that the backlight units illuminate according to a predetermined pattern.

4. The display device of claim 3, comprising a sequence activation switch configured to trigger the illumination according to the predetermined pattern.

5. A display device, comprising:

one or more layers of material comprising a light transmission region, a unit of information to be backlit, and a light blocking region;

a backlight unit comprising a planar waveguide body, a light source configured to direct light into the waveguide body, and at least one light director associated with a portion of the waveguide body so as to direct light transversely to a plane of the waveguide body, wherein the directed light travels through the light transmission region, and wherein the directed light is directed toward the unit of information to be highlighted;

a processor comprising a computer program code module that causes the processor to illuminate the backlight unit according to a predetermined pattern.

6. The display device of claim 5, comprising a plurality of backlight units, and at least one unit of information to be highlighted per backlight unit, wherein the computer program module controls illumination of the backlight units according to a predetermined pattern.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A display device, comprising:

a translucent information layer substrate;

information associated with the translucent information layer substrate, comprising at least one unit of information to be highlighted;

a structural layer;

a light blocking layer comprising at least one light blocking layer opening that aligns with the at least one unit of information to be highlighted; and

a backlight system between the structural layer and the light blocking layer comprising at least one backlight unit and a power supply, wherein each backlight unit comprises a flexible, planar waveguide body, a light source mounted on the waveguide body, and at least one light director associated with a portion of the waveguide body so as to direct light transversely to a plane of the waveguide body and toward the at least one light blocking layer opening.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the at least one light director is a film attached to a surface of the portion of the waveguide body that aligns with the at least one light blocking layer opening.

11. The display device of claim 9, wherein the at least one light director is integral to the waveguide body and aligns with the at least one light blocking layer opening.

12. The display device of claim 9, wherein a light blocking layer opening shape matches and aligns with a respective shape of the at least one unit of information to be highlighted.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein a light director shape matches and aligns with the shape of the at least one unit of information to be highlighted.

14. The display device of claim 9, wherein the backlight unit further comprises a light source blocking cover body between the light source and the light blocking layer.

15. The display device of claim 9, wherein the backlight unit further comprises a waveguide edge barrier covering edges of the waveguide body.

16. The display device of claim 9, wherein the backlight system further comprises a switch, wherein activation of the switch activates the light source.

17. The display device of claim 9, comprising a sound emitting device, wherein activation of a switch activates the sound emitting device.

18. The display device of claim 9, comprising a control circuit, wherein activation of a switch activates the control circuit, and wherein the control circuit controls power throughout the display device.

19. The display device of claim 9, wherein the at least one unit of information to be highlighted comprises a plurality of units of information to be highlighted, the light blocking layer comprises a plurality of openings that correspond to respective units of information to be highlighted, and the backlight system comprises a plurality of light directors corresponding to respective portions of the waveguide body that align with the light blocking layer openings.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the backlight system comprises a single backlight unit with which all the light directors are associated.

21. The display device of claim 19, wherein the backlight system comprises a plurality of backlight units.

22. The display device of claim 21, comprising a control circuit, wherein the control circuit controls power throughout the display device and illuminates each backlight unit according to a predetermined pattern.

23-40. -40. (canceled)