Hand-held transmissive LCD having a separation between touch screen and LC panel

• US 6,088,068 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Halttunen, Mikko Veijo Tapani, Vanttila, Jaakko Samuli
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, MINH TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/768,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 345/12, 345/16, 345/23, 345/173, 349/12, 349/23, 349/29, 349/25
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 using a force resistance transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9643 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31

Abstract

Display apparatus, particularly for hand-held equipment, comprising a display means adjustable to vary the transmission of light therethrough and a light source for transmitting light through the display means. A translucent or opaque screen may be provided for receiving light transmitted through the display means. The light transmitted through the display means may be projected to a surface remote from the display apparatus.

Claims

1. Display apparatus for hand-held equipment, comprising:

a light-transmissive display means adjustable to vary the transmission of light therethrough;

a light source on one side of the display means and spaced therefrom for projecting artificial light through the display means; and

a screen on the other side of the display means and spaced therefrom for receiving light transmitted through the display means and displaying an image resulting from that light, at least part of the screen being constituted by at least part of a pressure-sensitive input means.

2. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the display means has an active region which can be adjusted to vary the transmission of light through the display means to display said image.

3. Display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the image is magnified in comparison to a corresponding pattern at the active region.

4. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the screen is moveable with respect to a body of the hand-held equipment for displaying the image.

5. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the screen is located at an exterior surface of the hand-held equipment.

6. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the screen comprises a translucent region.

7. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the screen comprises a region that is at least partially reflective.