Display unit of input integral type

• US 5,659,332 A
• Filed: 12/21/1994
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yoshitaka, Ishii, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US08/361,844
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 345/104, 345/87, 345/173, 345/175, 345/176, 345/180, 345/183, 345/182, 358/901.1, 340/815.42, 178/18, 178/19, 385/42, 385/48, 385/49, 385/131, 385/132, 385/901, 40/448, 359/55, 359/56, 349/12, 349/193
• US Class Current: 345/104
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1326 Liquid crystal optical waveguides or liquid crystal cells specially adapted for gating or modulating between optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136277 formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A display unit of an input integral type has a display panel provided with a liquid crystal as a display medium. In the display unit, an optical waveguide is integrally formed in the shape of a matrix and approximately guides light having a predetermined wavelength in parallel with a surface of a display substrate.

Claims

1. A display unit of an input integral type having a liquid crystal display panel and an optical inputting means for inputting a light, said liquid crystal display pane comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of picture element electrodes thereon;

a second substrate arranged so as to oppose to said first substrate and having a common electrode thereon for driving liquid crystal with said picture element electrodes;

a plurality of first light waveguides arranged in parallel with each other for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means; and

a plurality of second light waveguides arranged in parallel with each other so as to cross with said first light waveguides respectively for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means;

said first light waveguides and said second light waveguides being arranged on an inner face of one of said first substrate and said second substrate,

said optical inputting means inputting said light to one or a series of said first light waveguides and to one or a series of said second light waveguides simultaneously, so as to indicate a position thereof.

2. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said first light waveguides and said second light waveguides are arranged on an inner face of said first substrate.

3. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said first light waveguides and said second light waveguides are arranged on an inner face of said second substrate.

4. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second light waveguides does not overlay on said picture element electrode.

5. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is constructed by a silicon monocrystal.

6. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display unit further comprises a plurality of first photo sensing means formed on one end of said first light waveguides, each first photo sensing means for sensing a light, inputted by said light inputting means, and a plurality of second photo sensing means formed on one end of said second light waveguides, each second photo sensing means for sensing a light inputted by light inputting means.

7. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to repeat a turn-on state and a turn-off state at a predetermined frequency and a predetermined light intensity.

8. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light having a light spot, the diameter of which becomes greater as said optical input means is strongly pushed.

9. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said optical inputting means comprises a light emitting diode or a laser.

10. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light having a predetermined wavelength.

11. A display unit according to claim 10, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light which is separated from a dominant wavelength of the circumferential light.

12. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said optical inputting means is wireless and separated from said liquid crystal display panel.

13. A display unit of an input integral type having a liquid crystal display panel and an optical inputting means for inputting a light, said liquid crystal display panel comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of picture element electrodes thereon;

a second substrate arranged so as to oppose to said first substrate and having a common electrode thereof for driving liquid crystal with said picture element electrodes;

a plurality of first light waveguides arranged on an inner face of said first substrate in parallel with each other for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means; and

a plurality of second light waveguides arranged on an outer face of said first substrate in parallel with each other so as to cross with said first light waveguides respectively for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means;

said optical inputting means inputting said light to one or a series of said first light waveguides and to one or a series of said second light waveguides simultaneously, so as to indicate a position thereof.

14. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said one of said first substrate and said second substrate is said first substrate.

15. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second light waveguides does not overlay on said picture element electrode.

16. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is constructed by a silicon monocrystal.

17. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said display unit further comprises a plurality of first photo sensing means formed on one end of said first light waveguides, each first photo sensing means for sensing a light, inputted by said light inputting means and a plurality of second photo sensing means formed on one end of said second light waveguides, each second photo sensing means for sensing a light inputted by light inputting means.

18. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to repeat a turn-on state and a turn-off state at a predetermined frequency and a light intensity.

19. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light having a light spot, the diameter of which becomes greater as said optical input means is strongly pushed.

20. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said optical inputting means comprises a light emitting diode or a laser.

21. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light having a predetermined wavelength.

22. A display unit according to claim 21, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light which is separated from a dominant wavelength of the circumferential light.

23. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said optical inputting means is wireless and separated from said liquid crystal display panel.

24. A display unit of an input integral type having a liquid crystal display panel and an optical inputting means for inputting a light, said liquid crystal display panel comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of picture element electrodes thereon;

a second substrate arranged so as to oppose to said first substrate and having a common electrode thereof for driving liquid crystal with said picture element electrodes;

a plurality of first light waveguides arranged on an inner face of said first substrate in parallel with each other for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means; and

a plurality of second light waveguides arranged on an inner face of said second substrate in parallel with each other so as to cross with said first light waveguides for guiding said light inputted by said optical inputting means;

said optical inputting means inputting said light to one or a series of said first light waveguides and to one or a series of said second light waveguides simultaneously, so as to indicate a position thereof.

25. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein each of said first and second light waveguides does not overlay on said picture element electrode.

26. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is constructed by a silicon monocrystal.

27. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein said display unit further comprises a plurality of first photo sensing means formed on one end of said first light waveguides, each first photo sensing means for sensing a light, inputted by said light inputting means, and a plurality of second photo sensing means formed on one end of said second light waveguides, each second photo sensing means for sensing a light inputted by light inputting means.

28. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to repeat a turn-on state and a turn-off state as a predetermined frequency and a predetermined light intensity.

29. A display unit according to claim 24, said optical inputting means adapted to emit a light having a light spot, the diameter of which becomes greater as said optical input means is strongly pushed.

30. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein said optical inputting means comprises a light emitting diode or a laser.

31. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light having a predetermined wavelength.

32. A display unit according to claim 31, wherein said optical inputting means is adapted to emit a light which is separated from a dominant wavelength of the circumferential light.

33. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein said optical inputting means is wireless and separated from said liquid crystal display panel.