Electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device

• US 6,346,973 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Kazuhiro, Shibamoto, Masaaki, Sakaishi, Katsunobu, Hiramoto, Masami, Saito, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/964,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 349/69, 379/368, 362/24
• US Class Current: 349/69
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/503 Arrangements improving the resistance to shock
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

On the front surface of a single electroluminescent panel, there are provided a display panel, such as a liquid crystal display panel, for controlling transmission of light to perform display, and an operation panel having a plurality of operation switches and substantially transmitting light through at least a portion thereof which requires illumination. When the overall rear surfaces of the display panel and the liquid crystal display panel are adhered to the electroluminescent panel by an adhesive, the vibration sound generated from the electroluminescent panel can be reduced. Further, when an appropriate pigment is diffused into the adhesive, light for illuminating the display panel and the operation panel is adjusted to a desired color.

Claims

1. An electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device comprising:

a display panel for controlling transmission of incident light from outside to perform display;

an operation panel having an operation switch and substantially transmitting light through at least a portion thereof which requires illumination; and

a single electroluminescent panel for illuminating the display panel and the operation panel, the single electroluminescent panel being adhered to a substantial overall rear surface of each of the display panel and the operation panel by an adhesive including a pigment.

2. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the display panel and the operation panel, the flexible circuit board being adhered to a rear surface of the electroluminescent panel by the adhesive.

3. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the electroluminescent panel is flexible.

4. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent panel has an electroluminescent layer formed by diffusing fluorescent material powder into a dielectric layer, and a pair of electrodes holding therebetween the electroluminescent layer, the electroluminescent layer being selectively formed on the display panel and the operation switch.

5. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel which includes a pair of substrates, each having electrodes and liquid crystal sealed therebetween.

6. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the pair of substrates of the liquid crystal display panel are flexible electrode substrates obtained by forming electrodes on flexible films.

7. The electroluminescent panel-attached electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a cellular phone.