Display device with a transparent optical filter

• US 6,020,945 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: DOWA Holdings Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dowa Mining Company Limited
• Inventors: Onioh, Takashi, Nagasaki, Kojyu, Inuyama, Shigeyoshi, Ueno, Teturo, Sawai, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur R.
• Application Number:
  US08/966,647
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 349/117, 349/119, 345/104, 345/173
• US Class Current: 349/119
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133502 Antiglare, refractive index matching layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133638 Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n

Abstract

Optical filter which is adapted to prevent the reflection of external light and improve a signal level of a signal sent from a display device by preventing attenuation thereof, and which is further adapted to prevent a change in hue of an image and to improve the hue, contrast and brightness of an image, thereby enhancing visibility. First, a liquid crystal display device (1) outputs light which is linearly polarized light. First linearly polarizing plate (2) is mounted in the filter in such a manner as to be adjusted to an axis of polarization of the linearly polarized light. Namely, the light outputted from the liquid crystal display device (1) passes through the first linearly polarizing plate (2) without being changed. The light passing through the first linearly polarizing plate (2) is then changed by a first quarter-wave phase difference plate (11) into circularly polarized light so that the phase difference between extraordinary light and ordinary light is (1/4) of the wavelength. Subsequently, light passes through a transparent touch panel (12) and further propagates through a second quarter-wave phase difference plate (7). At that time, a phase difference therebetween is caused by (-1/4) of the wavelength of the light in which the phase difference of (1/4) of the wavelength has been caused. Thus, when passing through the touch panel(12), the light is changed into linearly polarized light. Then, the light, which has propagated through the transparent touch panel (12) and the second quarter-wave phase difference plate (7), passes through the second linearly polarizing plate (6).

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a display device adapted to emit linearly polarized light;

a transparent optical device mounted on said display device, said transparent optical device comprising a non-polarizing or low-polarizing member;

an anti-reflective layer, comprising a linearly polarizing plate and a phase difference plate, provided on a surface of said transparent optical device; and

another phase difference plate, provided between said display device and said phase difference plate of the anti-reflective layer, that imparts a phase difference that cancels a phase difference imparted by said phase difference plate of the anti-reflective layer.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both of said phase difference plates are quarter-wave phase difference plates.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-polarizing or low-polarizing member is made of a high-polymer or glass.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-polarizing or low-polarizing member is shaped like a plate or film.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display device.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transparent optical device is a hermetically sealed structure that is filled with inert gases.

7. A display apparatus comprising:

a display device having a screen;

a transparent touch panel device mounted on the screen of said display device;

an anti-reflective layer, comprising a linearly polarizing plate and a phase difference plate, provided on a surface of said touch panel device; and

another phase difference plate provided between said display device and said transparent touch panel device that imparts a phase difference that cancels a phase difference of light emitted from said display device imparted by said phase difference plate of the anti-reflective layer.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising another linearly polarizing plate interposed between the display device and said another phase difference plate.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said linearly polarizing plate and said phase difference plate of said anti-reflective layer are stacked in such a manner as to be integral with each other and form a layered element, and wherein said layered element is bonded or fixed to said transparent touch panel device by interposing bonding means or a spacer between a part of said layered element facing a peripheral portion of said transparent touch panel device, which is other than an operating section of said transparent touch panel device, and said peripheral portion of said transparent touch panel device.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bonding means is an adhesive double coated film.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display device.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said liquid crystal display device is of the polymer dispersed type.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a transparent member composing said transparent touch panel device comprises said another phase difference plate.