LCD backlighting method and apparatus using a xenon flash tube including drive circuit
First Claim
1. An apparatus for backlighting and illuminating a flat panel display having a planar surface wherein said flat panel display is utilized as a means for displaying data in a hand-held portable data terminal, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a flashtube for providing a light output to the flat panel display generally across the planar surface thereof, said flashtube containing primarily an inert gas and providing a nearly continuous white, incoherent light output;
(b) means interposed between said flashtube and the flat panel display for evenly distributing and diffusing the light output of said flashtube across the planar surface of the flat panel display such that the light output of said flashtube illuminates the flat panel display with a substantially even flux density distribution; and
(c) means, operatively connected to said flashtube, for electrically driving said flashtube wherein the light output of said flashtube is operatively controlled therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An liquid-crystal display panel is illuminated by one or more xenon flash tubes as a backlighting source. The LCD backlight includes a back reflector, a reflecting cavity, and a light diffuser. The LCD panel is illuminated by triggering a flash of light from the xenon flash tube at a given frequency, reflecting the flash of light off of a back reflector, and diffusing the flash of light through a light diffuser. Flash lamp drive circuitry controls the triggering of a flash of light from a xenon flash lamp.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. An apparatus for backlighting and illuminating a flat panel display having a planar surface wherein said flat panel display is utilized as a means for displaying data in a hand-held portable data terminal, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a flashtube for providing a light output to the flat panel display generally across the planar surface thereof, said flashtube containing primarily an inert gas and providing a nearly continuous white, incoherent light output; (b) means interposed between said flashtube and the flat panel display for evenly distributing and diffusing the light output of said flashtube across the planar surface of the flat panel display such that the light output of said flashtube illuminates the flat panel display with a substantially even flux density distribution; and (c) means, operatively connected to said flashtube, for electrically driving said flashtube wherein the light output of said flashtube is operatively controlled therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for backlighting an LCD panel, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a liquid-crystal display panel; (b) at least one flashlamp for producing light, said at least one flashlamp being disposed adjacent to said liquid-crystal display panel for providing illumination thereof, wherein said flashlamp contains xenon; (c) a diffuser means for altering the flux density of the light produced by said at least one flashlamp such that the light diffused therefrom is evenly distributed across said liquid-crystal display panel, said diffuser means being disposed between said liquid-crystal display panel and said at least one flashlamp; (d) a reflector means for altering the direction of light produced by said at least one flashlamp, said reflector means being disposed adjacent to said at least one flashlamp such that the light reflected therefrom is directed toward said liquid-crystal display panel; and (e) a circuit means electrically connected to said at least one flashlamp for triggering flashes of light from said at least one flashlamp such that light is thereby produced. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of backlighting an LCD panel comprising:
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(a) triggering a flash of light from a xenon light source at a given frequency; (b) reflecting said flash of light off of a reflector disposed adjacent to the xenon light source; (c) diffusing said flash of light through a light diffuser, the light diffuser receiving light directly incident from the xenon light source and light reflected off of the reflector; and (d) illuminating a liquid-crystal display, the liquid-crystal display being adjacent to the light diffuser and receiving the light diffused therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An apparatus for backlighting an LCD panel, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a liquid-crystal display panel; (b) at least one flashlamp for producing light, said at least one flashlamp being disposed adjacent to said liquid-crystal display panel for providing illumination thereof, wherein said flashlamp contains xenon; (c) a diffuser for altering the flux density of the light produced by said at least one flashlamp such that the light diffused therefrom is evenly distributed across said liquid-crystal display panel, said diffuser being disposed between said liquid-crystal display panel and said at least one flashlamp; (d) a reflector for altering the direction of light produced by said at least one flashlamp, said reflector being disposed adjacent to said at least one flashlamp such that the light reflected therefrom is directed toward said liquid-crystal display panel; and (e) a circuit electrically connected to said at least one flashlamp for triggering flashes of light from said at least one flashlamp such that light is thereby produced. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. In combination, an apparatus comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data terminal having a flat panel display; and (b) means disposed within said hand-held portable data terminal for illuminating the flat panel display of said hand-held portable data terminal wherein said illuminating means includes a flashtube, said flashtube containing primarily xenon gas and providing a nearly continuous white, actinic, incoherent light output.
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Specification