Domed light housing for back-lit LCD display

• US 5,008,658 A
• Filed: 12/09/1986
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Russay, Thomas, Stacy, Carl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US06/939,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/765, 340/784, 340/716, 340/815.06, 340/815.07, 340/815.31, 350/345, 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/29, 362/30, 362/31, 362/247, 40/451, 40/452, 40/541, 40/, 40/544, 40/901
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13

Abstract

A housing having a generally rectangular cross section includes apertured front and lower portions which are respectively adapted to receive a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and which are oriented so as to face generally transversely relative to one another. Disposed within the housing between its front and lower portions are facing convex and concave inner walls which form a light channel between the LEDs and LCDs. With the LCDs and LEDs respectively positioned within the apertured front and lower portions of the housing and mounted thereto, the facing inner walls of the housing direct light from the LEDs onto the aft, inner surface of the LCDs in a diffuse, uniform manner which provides backlighting for the LCDs and prevents direct viewing of the LEDs from in front of the LCDs thus eliminating LED hot spots. The housing is comprised of two plastic sections adapted for secure snap-acting engagement and is provided with a semi-rough interior surface for diffuse reflection of the LED-emitted light.

Claims

1. A video display arrangement comprising:

a generally planar LCD display having an aft surface, a forward viewed surface, and a plurality of peripheral edges;

at least one LED; and

a hollow housing having an empty aperture extending therethrough and including an open forward section whereon is positioned said LCD display, an aft section for receiving said at least one LED, and a curvilinear intermediate section coupling said forward section to said aft section, wherein said at least one LED is positioned aft of and beyond a peripheral edge of said LDC display in an off-set manner and in non-alignment therewith such that light emitted by said at least one LED is transmitted through said empty aperture and is reflected by the curvilinear intermediate section of said housing onto the aft surface of said LCD display in providing backlighting therefor, wherein said housing includes first and second facing lateral panels and facing concave and convex panels coupled at respective adjacent ends to said first and second facing lateral panels so as to define said empty aperture.

2. The video display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the aft section of said housing includes an aperture for receiving and positioning said at least one LED in said housing.

3. The video display arrangement of claim 2 wherein said at least one LED is positioned below a lower peripheral edge of said LCD display.

4. The video display arrangement of claim 3 further including a PC board mounted to the aft section of said housing and coupled to said at least one LED for mounting and illuminating said at least one LED.

5. The video display arrangement of claim 1 wherein said facing concave and convex panels include respective complementary aft edge portions adapted for mutual engagement in coupling said concave and convex panels together.

6. The video display arrangement of claim 5 wherein said first and second facing lateral panels are coupled to and integral with said concave panel and are adapted to engage in tight-fitting relation respective lateral edge portions of said convex panel.

7. The video display arrangement of claim 6 wherein said first and second facing lateral panels each include a respective coupling boss and respective ends of said convex panel each include a respective locking flange on a lateral edge thereof adapted to engage a respective coupling boss in securely coupling said concave and convex panels in a snap-acting manner.

8. The video display arrangement of claim 1 wherein said LCD display and the open forward section of said housing are generally rectangular and wherein said LCD display is disposed in intimate contact with the open forward section of said housing around the periphery thereof.

9. The video display arrangement of claim 8 wherein the open forward section of said housing includes a recessed forward edge having an elongated, linear groove therein for engaging an edge of said LCD display substantially along the length thereof.

10. The video display arrangement of claim 1 further including a mounting bracket coupled to the housing for mounting the video display arrangement to a support structure.

11. The video display arrangement of claim 10 further including a PC board coupled to said LCD display for energizing said LCD display.

12. The video display arrangement of claim 11 further including coupling means for attaching the PC board to said mounting bracket.

13. The video display arrangement of claim 1 including a plurality of LEDs wherein the aft section of said housing includes a plurality of apertures for receiving and positioning said LEDs in said housing.

14. The video display arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of an opaque plastic having a semi-rough inner surface for diffusely and uniformly reflecting light emitted by said at least one LED onto the aft surface of said LCD display.

15. The video display arrangement of claim 1 further including a translucent colored background panel disposed immediately aft of said LCD display.