Liquid crystal display with heater

• US 6,128,053 A
• Filed: 10/03/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Brandt, Peter, Tippl, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US09/185,489
• Time in Patent Office: 731 Days
• Field of Search: 349/147, 349/33, 349/72
• US Class Current: 349/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• 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 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

A display device, in particular for a vehicle, has a viewing screen including a liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal cell having a front cell wall and a rear cell wall and a liquid crystal substance arranged in the cell space between these cell walls, and with a heating device by means of which the display device can be heated. In order to ensure reliable operation of the display device even in the case of low temperatures, the heating device is arranged in the cell space of the liquid crystal cell directly or indirectly on the front cell wall and/or the rear cell wall.

Claims

1. A display device, suitable for use in a vehicle, the display device comprising:

a viewing screen having a liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal cell including a front cell wall and a rear cell wall and a liquid crystal substance arranged in a cell space between these cell walls; and

a heating device serving to heat the display device, wherein the heating device is located in the cell space of the liquid crystal cell at at least one of the cell walls;

wherein the heating device has an electrically conducting layer;

wherein the display device further comprises an electrode located in the plane of the electrically conducting layer, the electrode comprising a plurality of strips, and wherein elongated segments of the electrically conducting layer are arranged in interspace of the strips; and

wherein the electrode is a front electrode, the display device further comprising a rear electrode, and plated-through holes connecting a plane of the front electrode and a plane of the rear electrode, wherein the plated through holes electrically interconnect the elongated segments of the electrically conducting layer by means of connecting sections.