Super bright low reflection liquid crystal display

• US 6,181,394 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VIA Optronics GmbH
• Original Assignee: White Electronic Designs, Corp. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sanelle, Joseph J., Breiling, Diggy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Tai V.
• Application Number:
  US09/235,584
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 349/96, 349/117, 349/158, 349/161, 349/40, 349/122, 349/137, 349/139, 349/54
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133334 Electromagnetic shields
• 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 1/133502 Antiglare, refractive index matching layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13356 characterised by the placement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133562 on the viewer side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133567 on the back side

Abstract

A liquid crystal display (LCD) exhibiting enhanced optical viewing performance. In a preferred embodiment, the LCD comprises a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate and an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) panel. The LCD also comprises a rear polarizer adhered to the rear of the AMLCD panel with an index-matched, pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The LCD further comprises an indium tin oxide coating adapted for use as a heating element, the coating being applied to the front of the second glass substrate. The heating element is also adhered to the rear polarizer with a silicone-based, index-matched, optical bonding material. In addition, the LCD comprises an indium tin oxide coating usable as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield, the coating being applied to the rear of the first glass substrate. The EMI shield is also adhered to the front of the AMLCD panel with the above-mentioned silicone-based bonding material. The LCD also comprises a front polarizer crossed relative to the rear polarizer. The front polarizer is adhered to the front of the first glass substrate by the above-mentioned silicone-based bonding material. The LCD additionally comprises a third glass substrate bonded to the front of the front polarizer by the above-mentioned index-matched PSA. The LCD further includes an anti-reflection coating applied to the front of the third glass substrate. The LCD also includes a backlight positioned behind the second glass substrate.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a first glass plate;

(b) a second glass plate;

(c) a liquid crystal display panel positioned between said first and second glass plates;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said second glass plate;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first glass plate, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer; and

(f) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first glass plate and said liquid crystal display panel.

2. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic interference shield is an indium tin oxide thin film coating applied to the first glass plate.

3. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a first glass substrate;

(b) a second glass substrate;

(c) a liquid crystal display panel positioned between said first and second glass substrates;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said second glass substrate;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first glass substrate, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer;

(f) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first glass substrate and said liquid crystal display panel; and

(g) a third glass substrate positioned in front of said front polarizer.

4. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a first glass substrate;

(b) a second glass substrate;

(c) a liquid crystal display panel positioned between said first and second glass substrates;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said second glass substrate;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first glass substrate, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer;

(f) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first glass substrate and said liquid crystal display panel; and

(g) a third glass substrate positioned in front of said front polarizer;

(h) wherein all of said first glass substrate, said second glass substrate, said third glass substrate, said front polarizer, said rear polarizer and said electromagnetic interference shield have indices of refraction that are substantially matched.

5. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a heating element positioned between said rear polarizer and said second glass substrate and adapted to be connected to a power source for use as a heating element, said heating element having an index of refraction substantially matching that of said rear polarizer and that of said second glass subtrate.

6. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 5 wherein said heating element is a coating applied to said second glass substrate and wherein said electromagnetic shield is a coating applied to said first glass substrate.

7. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 6 wherein said front polarizer is adhered to said third glass substrate with an index-matched pressure sensitive adhesive and is bonded to said first glass substrate with an index-matched optical bonding material, wherein said rear polarizer is adhered to said liquid crystal panel with an index-matched pressure sensitive adhesive and is bonded to said heating element with an index-matched optical bonding material and wherein said electromagnetic interference shield is bonded to said liquid crystal display panel with an index-matched optical bonding material.

8. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 7 further comprising an anti-reflection coating applied to the front of said third glass substrate.

9. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a backlight positioned behind said second glass substrate.

10. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 9 wherein said liquid crystal display panel is an active matrix liquid crystal display panel.

11. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 9 wherein said front and rear polarizers are non-compensated linear polarizers.

12. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a first glass plate;

(b) a second glass plate;

(c) a liquid crystal display panel positioned between said first and second glass plates;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said second glass plate, said rear polarizer being adhered directly to said liquid crystal display panel with a first adhesive;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first glass plate and adhered directly to said first glass plate with a second adhesive, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer; and

(f) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first glass plate and said liquid crystal display panel, said electromagnetic interference shield being adhered directly to said liquid crystal display panel.

13. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic interference shield is a coating applied to said first glass plate.

14. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a heating element positioned between said rear polarizer and said second glass plate and adapted to be connected to a power source for use as a heater, said heating element being a coating applied to said second glass plate and adhered directly to said rear polarizer.

15. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a third glass plate, said third glass plate being positioned in front of and adhered directly to said front polarizer.

16. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 15 further comprising an anti-reflection coating applied to the front of said third glass plate.

17. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a liquid crystal display panel;

(b) a single rear glass plate positioned behind said liquid crystal display panel;

(c) a first front glass plate, said first front glass plate being positioned in front of said liquid crystal display panel;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said single rear glass plate;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first front glass plate, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer; and

(f) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first front glass plate and said liquid crystal display panel.

18. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a second front glass plate, said second front glass plate being positioned in front of said front polarizer.

19. A liquid crystal display comprising:

(a) a first glass plate;

(b) a second glass plate;

(c) a liquid crystal display panel positioned between said first and second glass plates;

(d) a rear polarizer positioned between said liquid crystal display panel and said second glass plate;

(e) a front polarizer positioned in front of said first glass plate, said front polarizer being crossed relative to said rear polarizer;

(f) a third glass plate positioned in front of said front polarizer, said front polarizer being directly adhered to said third glass plate with a first adhesive, wherein said first adhesive is an index-matched, pressure sensitive adhesive; and

(g) an electromagnetic interference shield positioned between said first glass substrate and said liquid crystal display panel.