Liquid crystal fiber optics large screen display panel

• US 4,299,447 A
• Filed: 06/27/1979
• Issued: 11/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Soltan, Parviz, Fletcher, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Edward S.
• Application Number:
  US06/052,649
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 350/331 R, 350/334, 350/345, 350/342, 350/96.25, 350/339 F
• US Class Current: 349/159
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133524 Light-guides, e.g. fibre-optic bundles, louvered or jalousie light-guides
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

A display screen shows a number of alphanumeric characters in accordance with computer originating signals. These signals are fed to a liquid crystal panel which responsively vaires its opacity and, preferably, tapered fiber optics extend from one side of the liquid crystal panel to the screen. In one mode light originating from a high intensity source behind the screen is transmitted through the fiber optics. In another mode light from the front of the screen is reflected from a reflector surface behind the liquid crystal panel to the display screen. Either mode of operation allows the fabrication of a matrix of a number of liquid crystal panels and their associated fiber optics to provide an expanded display screen. Thus, an expanded visual presentation is read out from a computer or similar source of controlling signals to assure that several observers are reliably informed.

Claims

1. In an apparatus having a reflective surface on one side of a liquid crystal panel to function in a reflective mode through a diffuse screen for displaying a plurality of alphanumeric characters and graphic information thereon, an improvement therefor is provided comprising:

a plurality of liquid crystal cells located behind the screen, the liquid crystal cells being adjacent to thin film transistor layers to form liquid crystal panels, and

a fused block of tapered optical fibers extending between each liquid crystal panel and the diffuse screen, the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers form the front plates of the liquid crystal cells and the light is transmitted through the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers, through the liquid crystal cells, then is reflected by the reflecting surface and then is transmitted back through the liquid crystal cells, the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers and the diffusing screen for transmitting lighted alphanumeric and graphic information to effect an expansion of the information.

2. An improvement according to claim 1 in which there are provided a plurality of sets of the liquid crystal panels including fused blocks of optical tapered fibers.

3. An improvement according to claim 2 in which the plurality of sets of liquid crystal panels including the fused blocks of optical fibers are arranged in a matrix of greater than two by two sets of the liquid crystal panels including fused blocks of optical fibers to provide an uninterrupted large screen.