Integrated display panel assemblies
First Claim
1. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, and an other display associated with said other light emitting area, said first display comprising a liquid crystal display supported by said panel.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Integrated display panel assemblies include a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through the panel. On one of the sides of the panel is a first light emitting area for causing a portion of the conducted light to be emitted from the panel for backlighting an LCD or other display supported by the panel in overlying relation to the first light emitting area. The remainder of the conducted light passes beneath the first light emitting area to other light emitting areas on the panel for illuminating other displays associated with the other light emitting areas.
273 Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, and an other display associated with said other light emitting area, said first display comprising a liquid crystal display supported by said panel.
- 17. A display panel assembly comprising light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion containing a light source for providing light that is conducted through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides from which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel for backlighting a liquid crystal display overlying said first light emitting area, the remaining portion of the conducted light passing beneath said first light emitting area to other light emitting areas on said panel where additional light is emitted for lighting other displays associated with said other light emitting areas.
- 23. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, and an other display associated with said other light emitting area, said assembly comprising a hand held instrument including a liquid crystal display as said first display and key pads as said other display.
- 25. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, an other display associated with said other light emitting area, and a printed circuit board attached to an other side of said panel, said other display comprising key pads having portions extending through holes in said panel, said key pads when depressed causing contact with said printed circuit board to complete associated circuitry, said holes comprising said other light emitting area for causing light to be emitted around said key pads.
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27. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, an other display associated with said other light emitting area, a conductive trace on said one side of said panel, and conductors for establishing electrical contact between one of said displays and said conductive trace, said first display comprising a liquid crystal display and said other display comprising key pads, said conductors establishing electrical contact between said liquid crystal display or said key pads and said conductive trace.
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28. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, an other display associated with said other light emitting area, and a light source mounted in a recess, slot or cavity in said end portion of said panel, said recess, slot or cavity being filled with a transparent medium to eliminate any air interface between said light source and said panel.
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29. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, an other display associated with said other light emitting area, and a light source insert molded or cast within said end portion of said panel.
- 30. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, an other display associated with said other light emitting area, and a light source bonded to said end portion of said panel so as to eliminate any air interface between said light source and said panel.
- 32. A display panel assembly comprising a light conducting panel having opposite sides and an end portion for receiving light from one or more light sources for conduction through said panel, a first light emitting area on one of said sides through which a portion of the conducted light is emitted from said panel while the remaining portion of the conducted light passes beneath said first light emitting area to another light emitting area on said panel where additional light is emitted from said panel, a first display overlying said first light emitting area, and an other display associated with said other light emitting area, said panel including an optical focus section adjacent said end portion of said panel containing a light source, and a light transition area intermediate said optical focus section and said end portion, said light source being embedded or potted in said optical focus section to eliminate any air interface between said light source and said light transition area.
Specification