Visual display device with fluorescent dye-doped edge-illuminating emitter panel
First Claim
1. A visual display device, comprising:
- display panel means formed with a display pattern on a surface thereof and having a light receiving edge andfluorescent dye doped emitter panel means for absorbing light incident upon a surface thereof and emitting light through an edge thereof, said edges of said emitter and display panel means being optically coupled to each other for edge illumination of said display pattern, said emitter and display panel means each comprising light transmitting substrates.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light emitting panel is formed of a transparent plastic substrate doped with fluorescent dye which absorbs incident light through a relatively large surface area and emits light of a longer wavelength out through one edge. The incident light may be ambient or produced by a fluorescent light source. The edge emitted light is optically coupled into an edge of a display panel, which may be a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display or a plastic panel having a display surface formed with an etched or printed pattern, grating or hologram. The substrate materials of the emitting and display panels, as well as an optical adhesive which joins the edges thereof, preferably have an essentially similar index of refraction which is larger than that of air causing light propagating through the panels to be internally reflected and exit the structure only through the pattern on the display surface. The display panel is preferably transparent in the absence of light incident on the emitting panel, and produces a display visible from only one direction upon application of incident light. The display panel may be constituted as a center-high-mounted stop light for an automotive vehicle.
119 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A visual display device, comprising:
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display panel means formed with a display pattern on a surface thereof and having a light receiving edge and fluorescent dye doped emitter panel means for absorbing light incident upon a surface thereof and emitting light through an edge thereof, said edges of said emitter and display panel means being optically coupled to each other for edge illumination of said display pattern, said emitter and display panel means each comprising light transmitting substrates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A stoplight device for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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fluorescent dye doped emitter panel means for absorbing light incident upon a surface thereof and emitting light through an edge thereof; light source means for radiating light onto said surface of the emitter panel means in response to application of a vehicle brake; and display panel means formed with a stoplight display pattern on a surface thereof and having an edge which is optically coupled to said edge of the emitter panel means for edge illumination of the display pattern. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
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fluorescent dye doped emitter panel means for absorbing light incident upon a surface thereof and emitting light through an edge thereof; and liquid crystal display panel means having a display pattern on a surface thereof and having an edge which is optically coupled to said edge of the emitter panel means for edge illumination of the display pattern. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification