Impact resistant ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus

• US 5,150,231 A
• Filed: 12/27/1990
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshihara, Satoshi, Takabayashi, Hiroshi, Uehara, Makoto, Tajima, Hisao, Miyamoto, Takao, Onitsuka, Yoshihiro, Iwamoto, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRICE, RONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/634,740
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 350/331 T, 350/334, 350/350 S, 350/331 R, 359/44, 359/83, 359/100, 359/48
• US Class Current: 349/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/132 Thermal activation of liquid crystals exhibiting a thermo-optic effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/503 Arrangements improving the resistance to shock

Abstract

A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided with a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates. A supporting member having a frame supports the liquid crystal panel, and an elastic member for secures the liquid crystal panel in a floating state to the frame of the supporting member so as to define an almost closed space enclosed with the liquid crystal panel, the supporting member and the elastic member. A backlight illuminates the liquid crystal panel below the supporting member so as to define the almost closed space enclosed with the liquid crystal panel, the supporting member, the elastic member and the backlight.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between said pair of substrates;

a supporting member having a frame for supporting said liquid crystal panel;

an elastic member for fixing said liquid crystal panel in a floating state to said frame of said supporting member so as to define an almost closed space enclosed with said liquid crystal panel, said supporting member and said elastic member; and

a backlight for illuminating said liquid crystal panel below said supporting member so as to define said almost closed space enclosed with said liquid crystal panel, said supporting member, said elastic member and said backlight.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member comprises an air-leaking part.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member comprises plastic.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member comprises a rubber adhesive.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

7. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between said pair of substrates;

a panel-supporting plate for supporting said liquid crystal panel;

a supporting member having a frame for supporting said panel-supporting plate;

an elastic member for fixing said panel-supporting plate in a floating state to said frame of said supporting member so as to define an almost closed space enclosed with said panel-supporting plate, said supporting member and said elastic member; and

a backlight for illuminating said liquid crystal panel below said supporting member so as to define said almost closed space enclosed with said panel-supporting plate, said supporting member, said elastic member and said backlight.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said supporting member comprises an air-leaking part.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said supporting member comprises plastic.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said elastic member comprises a rubber adhesive.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said liquid crystal comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

13. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between said pair of substrates;

a drive integrated circuit for driving said liquid crystal panel; and

a peripheral circuit for said drive integrated circuit,

wherein said liquid crystal panel, said drive integrated circuit and said peripheral circuit in combination form a structural unit having a face in contact with an almost closed space.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a panel-fixing plate supporting said structural unit.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a supporting member having a frame, said panel-fixing plate being supported in a floating sate by an elastic member connected to said frame.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein an air-leaking part is formed in at least one member or between members defining said almost closed space.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said supporting member and said panel-fixing plate comprises plastic.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said elastic member comprises a rubber adhesive.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said drive integrated circuit comprises a tape automation-bonded integrated circuit.

20. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said said drive integrated circuit is mounted on a print circuit board.

21. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said said drive integrated circuit and said peripheral circuit are mounted on said pair of substrates of said liquid crystal panel.

22. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said liquid crystal comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

24. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

(a) a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between said pair of substrates;

(b) a panel-fixing plate for fixing said liquid crystal panel;

(c) a supporting member having a frame for supporting said panel-fixing plate; and

(d) an elastic member for fixing said liquid crystal panel in a floating state to said frame of said supporting member; and

(e) a planar heat-generating member, so as to define an almost closed space enclosed with said liquid crystal panel, said panel-fixing plate, said supporting member, said elastic member and said planar-heat generating member.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said planar-heat generating member has a heat-generating area which is larger than the display area of said liquid crystal panel.

26. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said planar heat-generating member comprises a transparent electrode arranged on a transparent substrate.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said transparent electrode comprises a plurality of stripe electrodes so as to form a heat-generating area including a peripheral part with a larger heat-generating density than a central part.

28. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a backlight for illuminating said liquid crystal panel below said supporting member so as to define said almost closed space enclosed with said liquid crystal panel, said panel-fixing plate, said supporting member, said elastic member, said planar heat-generating member and said backlight.

29. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said elastic member comprises a rubber adhesive.

30. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said planar-heat generating member is fixed to said liquid crystal panel by an adhesive.

31. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said liquid crystal comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal.