Method of backlighting a display panel of an ATM

• US 5,739,876 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Stewart, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Tai V.
• Application Number:
  US08/711,520
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 349/1, 349/57, 349/62, 349/63, 349/67, 349/68, 349/58, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 902/8, 345/32, 362/1
• US Class Current: 349/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133618 for ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0422 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/145 curved reflectors

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a display panel having a back side and a front side. A mirrored surface receives sunlight and reflects the sunlight towards a lens system. The lens system focuses the reflected sunlight and directs the focused light towards the back side of the display panel to provide backlighting for the display panel. The backlighting enables the front side of the display panel to be viewed with improved contrast. Preferably, the display panel is of the liquid crystal display (LCD) type, and the mirrored surface is parabolic in shape.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal for allowing a customer to carry out a transaction, the self-service terminal comprising:

a card reader for receiving a customer identifying card from the customer and reading data from the card to verify the identity of the customer;

a display panel having a back side and a front side for displaying information to be viewed by the customer while the customer is carrying out the transaction;

a transparent piece encircling at least a portion of the display panel and through which sunlight can be transmitted; and

an optical unit located in the vicinity of the back side of the display panel for (i) receiving sunlight transmitted through the transparent piece, (ii) reflecting the received sunlight, and (iii) directing the reflected sunlight towards the back side of the display panel to backlight the display panel to enable the customer to view the front side of the display panel while the customer is carrying out the transaction;

the optical unit including a lens system which focuses the reflected sunlight towards the back side of the display panel, the optical unit including a mirrored surface which receives sunlight and reflects the sunlight towards the lens system, the mirrored surface being parabolic.

2. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is of the liquid crystal display (LCD) type.

3. A self-service terminal for allowing a customer to carry out a transaction, the self-service terminal comprising:

a card reader for receiving a customer identifying card from the customer and reading data from the card to verify the identity of the customer;

a display panel having a back side and a front side for displaying information to be viewed by the customer while the customer is carrying out the transaction;

a reflector unit for receiving sunlight and reflecting the sunlight; and

a lens system positioned between the back side of the display panel and the reflector unit for focusing reflected sunlight from the reflector unit towards the back side of the display panel to backlight the display panel to enable the customer to view the front side of the display panel while the customer is carrying out the transaction;

the reflector unit including a mirrored surface which receives sunlight and reflects the sunlight towards the lens system, the mirrored surface being parabolic.

4. A self-service terminal according to claim 3, wherein the display panel is of the liquid crystal display (LCD) type.