Impact resistant liquid crystal apparatus

• US 5,710,607 A
• Filed: 06/22/1994
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• 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: Takabayashi, Hiroshi, Uehara, Makoto, Iwamoto, Hirofumi, Yoshihara, Satoshi, Tajima, Hisao, Miyamoto, Takao, Onitsuka, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Charles
• Application Number:
  US08/264,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 359/44, 359/48, 359/83, 359/100, 349/60, 349/64, 349/122, 349/150, 349/161
• 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 method of producing an impact resistant liquid crystal display, for a nematic liquid crystal display or a chiral smectic ferroelectric liquid crystal display, includes the steps of fixing a liquid crystal panel onto a panel fixing member so as to substantially expose the liquid crystal panel through an opening of the panel fixing member and disposing an elastic member along a periphery of the panel fixing member. The elastic member is affixed to a supporting member so as to define an almost closed space with the liquid crystal panel, the panel fixing member, the elastic member and the supporting member, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.

Claims

1. A method for producing a liquid crystal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a liquid crystal panel, a circuit board for driving the liquid crystal panel, and a panel fixing member having an opening;

b) electrically connecting the circuit board to the liquid crystal panel via a circuit film;

c) fixing the liquid crystal panel onto the panel fixing member so as to substantially expose the liquid crystal panel through the opening of the panel fixing member;

d) fixing the circuit board onto the panel fixing member;

e) disposing an elastic member along a periphery of the panel fixing member;

f) affixing the elastic member to a supporting member; and

g) disposing a plate-like member behind the liquid crystal panel in a direction of viewing the liquid crystal panel so as to define an almost closed space with the liquid crystal panel, the panel fixing member, the elastic member the supporting member and the plate-like member, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel,

said step (f) being performed immediately after said step (b).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel contains a nematic liquid crystal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel contains a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel is supported so as to suppress a flexural displacement thereof to within 2.5 mm at most at a time of an impact of up to 130 G.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said almost closed space communicates with ambient atmosphere through a bore.

6. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates;

a supporting member for supporting the liquid crystal panel via an elastic member;

a light source disposed behind the liquid crystal panel with reference to a direction of viewing; and

a plate-like member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light source so as to define a space behind the liquid crystal panel and in front of the light source, respectively in the direction of viewing the liquid crystal panel, the space being defined as an almost closed space, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plate-like member comprises at least one of a polarizer, a light curtain and a diffusion plate.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

9. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates;

a frame member for fixing the liquid crystal panel;

a drive circuit board disposed on the frame member;

a print circuit film for electrically connecting the drive circuit board and the liquid crystal panel;

a supporting member for supporting the frame member via an elastic member;

a light source disposed behind the liquid crystal panel in a direction of viewing the liquid crystal panel; and

a plate-like member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light source so as to define a space behind the liquid crystal panel and in front of the light source, respectively in the direction of viewing the liquid crystal panel, the space being defined as an almost closed space, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

11. A method for producing a liquid crystal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a liquid crystal panel, a circuit board for driving the liquid crystal panel, and a panel fixing member;

b) electrically connecting the circuit board to the liquid crystal panel via a circuit film;

c) fixing the liquid crystal panel onto the panel fixing member via an elastic member along a periphery of the panel;

d) fixing the circuit board onto the panel fixing member;

e) disposing a plate-like member between the liquid crystal panel and a light source so as to define an almost closed space with the liquid crystal panel, the elastic member and the plate-like member, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.

12. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates;

a panel-fixing plate for fixing the liquid crystal panel;

a drive circuit board disposed on the panel-fixing plate;

a drive circuit board disposed on the panel-fixing plate;

a print circuit film for electrically connecting the drive circuit board and the liquid crystal panel;

a supporting member for supporting the panel-fixing plate via an elastic member;

a light source disposed behind the liquid crystal panel;

a plate-like member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light source so as to define a space behind the liquid crystal panel and in front of the light source, respectively in a direction for viewing the liquid crystal panel; and

polarizers disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein the space is defined as an almost closed space so as to exhibit an air damping effect for suppressing flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said liquid crystal is a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plate-like member comprises a diffusion plate.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said plate-like member further includes a light curtain.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plate-like member further includes a light curtain.

18. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said panel-fixing plate and the liquid crystal panel are bonded to each other with an adhesive.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said supporting member has a bore for passing a leadwire cable therethrough.