Liquid crystal display with an electrode connector

• US 5,612,804 A
• Filed: 09/22/1993
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHARLES LELAND
• Application Number:
  US08/125,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 359/82, 359/88, 359/89, 257/785
• US Class Current: 349/149
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process

Abstract

A liquid crystal display in which one end portion of a transparent film forming a film liquid crystal device is extended and connection terminals on which connection electrodes extending from transparent electrodes are formed are provided on an end of the extended portion. The connection electrodes formed on the connection terminals has a configuration corresponding to the configuration of electrodes formed on a liquid crystal drive circuit board electrically connected to the film liquid crystal device. The electrodes of the connection terminals and the electrodes formed on the liquid crystal drive circuit board are pressed and fixed on each other to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display in which transparent electrodes are formed on a pair of flexible transparent bases facing each other, and in which a liquid crystal is enclosed inside the bases, said liquid crystal display comprising:

an extended portion formed by extending an end portion of one of the pair of transparent bases together with the transparent electrodes;

connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion and connected to connected terminal means for applying operating voltages to the transparent electrodes; and

said connection terminal means being formed to provide an electrode arrangement corresponding to an electrode arrangement of the connected terminal means, electrodes of said electrode being formed in a many-petaled corolla-like configuration of sectors divided from a circle at equal angles.

2. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the connected terminal means is provided on a liquid crystal drive circuit board having a liquid crystal display control circuit.

3. A finder device of a camera comprising a liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein a display portion of said liquid crystal display is disposed in an optical path of a finder optical system so that a display on said display unit is superposed on a finder image.

4. A liquid crystal display in which transparent electrodes are formed on a pair of flexible transparent bases facing each other, and in which a liquid crystal is enclosed inside the bases, said liquid crystal display comprising:

an extended portion formed by extending an end portion of one of the pair of transparent bases together with the transparent electrodes;

first connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion and having electrodes formed in an electrode configuration corresponding to an electrode configuration of said connected terminal means for applying operating voltages to the transparent electrodes;

second connection terminal means provided as said connected terminal means, said second connection terminal means being arranged so that said first connection terminal means can be connected to said second connection terminal means, said second connection terminal means being provided on an electric circuit board separate from the transparent bases; and

press-fixing means for maintaining electrodes of said second connection terminal means and the electrodes of said first connection terminal means in contact with each other in an opposed position by pressing the electrodes on each other;

said electric circuit board being formed of a liquid crystal drive circuit board having a liquid crystal display control circuit, the electrodes of each of said first connection terminal means and second connection terminal means being formed in a many-petaled corolla-like configuration corresponding to the configuration of sectors divided from a circle at equal angles.

5. A finder device of a camera capable of superposing light other than object reflected light on a finder image, said finder device comprising:

liquid crystal display means disposed in an optical path of a finder optical system and having a pair of flexible transparent bases facing each other, transparent electrodes formed on the bases and a liquid crystal enclosed between the bases;

a liquid crystal drive circuit board disposed at a position removed from the finder optical system and having a drive control circuit for controlling said liquid crystal display means;

an extended portion formed by extending an end portion of one of the pair of transparent bases together with the transparent electrodes;

first connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion and having electrodes formed in an electrode configuration corresponding to an electrode configuration of connected terminal means for applying operating voltages to the transparent electrodes;

second connection terminal means provided as said connected terminal means, said second connection terminal means being provided on said liquid crystal drive circuit board, said second connection terminal means having the electrode configuration corresponding to the electrode configuration of said first connection terminal means; and

press-fixing means for maintaining the electrodes of said first connection terminal means and electrodes of said second connection terminal means in contact with each other in an opposed position by pressing the electrodes against each other.

6. A liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is driven by an electrical signal to display information in the form of a picture, a character or the like, said liquid display comprising:

a plastic film which is flexible and transparent for enclosing the liquid crystal;

transparent electrodes formed on said plastic film to apply electrical signals to the liquid crystal;

an extended portion formed into a circular shape by extending an end portion of said base together with said transparent electrodes; and

a pressure contact connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion of a circular shape and connected to said transparent electrodes.

7. A liquid crystal display according to claim 6, wherein said extended portion formed into a circular shape has a many-petaled corolla-like configuration corresponding to a configuration of sectors divided from a circle at equal angles.

8. A liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is enclosed between a pair of flexible transparent bases facing each other and having transparent electrodes formed thereon, said liquid crystal display comprising:

an extended portion having a many-petaled corolla-like configuration formed by extending an end portion of one of the pair of transparent bases together with the transparent electrodes;

first connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion;

a circuit board on which a liquid crystal drive circuit is mounted;

second connection terminal means formed on said circuit board to apply electrical signals to said transparent electrodes; and

press-fixing means for pressing said first and second connection terminal means together to provide electrical connections therebetween.

9. A liquid crystal display according to claim 8, wherein said press-fixing means comprises screw fastening means.

10. A liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is enclosed between portions of at least one flexible base, said liquid crystal display comprising:

first connection terminal means formed substantially into a circular shape on an end of the base;

second connection terminal means formed into a shape which is the same as that of said first connection terminal means on the base to transmit electrical signals; and

press-fixing means for pressing said first and second connection terminal means on each other to electrically connect the same.

11. A flexible liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is enclosed by film means, said liquid crystal display comprising:

electrical connection terminal means formed by said film means extending from said liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is enclosed, said connection terminal means including a plurality of electrode patterns formed in a many-petaled corolla-like configuration and led out of the liquid crystal display, said electrode patterns being directly connected to electrode patterns formed in a many-petaled corolla-like configuration in another electrical connection terminal means to another electrical connection terminal means having a surface different from one of a flat or curved surface on which the body of the liquid crystal display is disposed.

12. A liquid crystal display according to claim 11, wherein said electrical connection terminal means is connected to another electrical connection terminal means by being pressed against the electrical connection terminal means.

13. A liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal is enclosed between a pair of flexible transparent bases facing each other and having transparent electrodes formed thereon, said liquid crystal display comprising:

an extended portion having a many-petaled corolla-like configuration formed by extending an end portion of one of the pair of transparent bases together with the transparent electrodes;

first connection terminal means formed on an end of said extended portion;

a circuit board on which a liquid crystal drive circuit is mounted;

second connection terminal means formed on said circuit board to apply electrical signals to said transparent electrodes; and

press-fixing means for pressing said first and second connection terminal means together to provide electrical connections therebetween;

said press-fixing means comprising means for releasibly pressing said first and second connection terminal means, said releasible coupling means comprises a pressing member;

a resilient compressible member arranged between said pressing member and said first connection terminal means; and

threaded fastening means securing said pressing member to said second connection terminal means for maintaining the first and second connection terminal means in firm engagement;

said first and second connection terminal means being provided with electrodes arranged in a circular pattern; and

said pressing member being a ring-shaped washer.