Multicolored illuminator and portable information apparatus having the same

• US 6,315,440 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CAMCAR Intellectual Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Satoh, Noriyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/499,400
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 362/230, 362/231, 362/561, 362/235, 362/244, 362/249, 362/31, 349/62, 349/65, 349/68, 349/69
• US Class Current: 362/561
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence

Abstract

An illuminator comprises: a printed board 9; light-emitting element bodies 23 mounted on this printed board 9 and each including a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and which are formed integrally; a light guide 20 having a light guiding means for guiding light from these light-emitting element bodies 23 as light sources onto a predetermined surface; and a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display 19 held by this light guide 20 and for displaying characters, symbols, figures, etc. while being illuminated by the light guide means, wherein the plurality of light-emitting element bodies 23 are disposed at intervals along one side of this liquid crystal display 19 so as to face in one and the same direction.

Claims

1. An illuminator comprising:

a printed board;

a plurality of light-emitting groups, each light-emitting group being mounted on the printed board and constituted by a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and disposed at predetermined intervals;

light guide means guiding lights from said light-emitting element groups onto a predetermined surface; and

a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display for displaying while being illuminated by said light guide means;

wherein said light-emitting element groups being disposed at intervals along one side of said rectangular liquid crystal display.

4. An illuminator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said light-emitting elements can emit light simultaneously.

5. An illuminator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein currents flowing into said light emitting elements are controlled to thereby change the intensity of illumination light.

2. An illuminator comprising:

a printed board;

light-emitting element bodies, each of said bodies being mounted on said printed board and constituted by a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and provided integrally with each other;

light guide means guiding lights from said light-emitting element bodies onto a predetermined surface; and

a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display for displaying while being illuminated by said light guide means;

wherein said light-emitting element bodies being disposed at intervals along one side of said rectangular liquid crystal display.

3. An illuminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least three said light-emitting element bodies are disposed at intervals along one side of said rectangular liquid crystal display.

6. A portable information apparatus comprising:

an illuminator including

a printed board;

a plurality of light-emitting groups, each light-emitting group being mounted on the printed board and constituted by a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and disposed at predetermined intervals;

light guide means guiding lights from said light-emitting element groups onto a predetermined surface; and

a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display for displaying while being illuminated by said light guide means;

wherein said light-emitting element groups being disposed at intervals along one side of said rectangular liquid crystal display.

7. A portable information apparatus comprising:

an illuminator including

a printed board;

light-emitting element bodies, each of said bodies being mounted on said printed board and constituted by a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and provided integrally with each other;

light guide means guiding lights from said light-emitting element bodies onto a predetermined surface; and

a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display for displaying while being illuminated by said light guide means;

wherein said light-emitting element bodies being disposed at intervals along one side of said rectangular liquid crystal display.

8. A portable information apparatus having a multicolored illuminator comprising:

a printed board;

light-emitting element bodies, each of the bodies being mounted on the printed board and constituted by a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wavelength and provided integrally with each other;

a light guide unit for guiding lights from the light-emitting element bodies onto a predetermined surface; and

a liquid crystal display for displaying while being illuminated by the light guide unit,

wherein the light guide unit includes a light path changing unit for changing light paths of lights emitted from the light-emitting element bodies,

wherein the light-emitting element bodies are arranged along one side of the light guide unit so that the lights from the light-emitting element bodies are entered into one surface of the light guide unit.

9. A portable information apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light path changing unit changes the light paths by reflection.