Visual display device
First Claim
1. A visual display device comprising:
- light source means; and
a display panel having a light receiving edge and first and second opposing surfaces extending away from said edge, said edge being positioned to be illuminated by said light source means;
the second surface being formed with steps having walls which are angled toward said edge such that light propagating through the display panel from said edge is refracted out of the display panel through said walls in a direction at least partially away from the first surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display device (10) is especially suited for use as a center-high-mounted stop-light (CHMSL) for an automobile rear window which slants downwardly from the horizontal by a small angle. The device (10) includes a linear light source (12) which preferably emits red light. A display panel (14) has a light receiving edge (14a) extending parallel and adjacent to the light source (12) and first and second opposing surfaces (14b, 14c). The second surface (14b) slants toward the first surface (14c) in a direction away from the edge (14a) and is formed with steps (14d) having walls (14e) which are angled toward the edge (14a) such that the peak output light propagating through the display panel (14) from the edge (14a) is refracted horizontally out of the panel (14). The walls (14e) of the steps (14d) are formed with laterally spaced depressions (14f) for lateral dispersion of light. In addition to use as a CHMSL, the display device (10) can be employed in other applications in which a uniform, linear light source is required.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A visual display device comprising:
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light source means; and a display panel having a light receiving edge and first and second opposing surfaces extending away from said edge, said edge being positioned to be illuminated by said light source means; the second surface being formed with steps having walls which are angled toward said edge such that light propagating through the display panel from said edge is refracted out of the display panel through said walls in a direction at least partially away from the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A display panel comprising:
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a light receiving edge; and first and second opposing surfaces; the second surface being formed with steps having walls which are angled toward said edge such that light propagating through the display panel from said edge is refracted out of the display panel through said walls in a direction at least partially away from the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification