Foldable case having back light

• US 6,494,593 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Jin Kwan, An, Myung Sup
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/754,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/561, 362/31, 362/26, 362/27, 362/29, 362/85, 362/812, 362/99, 349/65, 349/61, 361/681
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133374 for displaying permanent signs or marks
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing

Abstract

A foldable case having a back light is disclosed that a specific printed or injection-molded mark and a logo are emitted on a foldable case with which a liquid crystal display unit is integrally formed. The ON/OFF state of a power source of a liquid crystal display unit can be easily recognized even in a state that a foldable case is closed, and a specific mark or logo printed or injection-molded on an outer surface of the foldable case integrally formed with the liquid crystal display has a back light, so that divers desires of users can be satisfied as well as providing an elegant appearance.

Claims

1. A foldable case having a front inner surface and a rear outer surface, the foldable case comprising:

a light emitting unit provided in the foldable case;

a liquid crystal element provided in front of the light emitting unit, for displaying text or an image by the light emitted from the light emitting unit; and

rear illumination means for illuminating the rear outer surface of the case by light emitted from the light emitting unit.

2. The foldable case according to claim 1, wherein the rear illumination means comprises a panel having a specific marking or light transmittance holes formed as a logo.

3. The foldable case according to claim 2, wherein the specific marking is printed on a light transmittance sheet.

4. The foldable case according to claim 3, wherein the light transmittance sheet is integrally formed with the case.

5. The foldable case according to claim 2, wherein the light transmittance holes are empty.

6. The foldable case according to claim 2, wherein the light transmittance holes are filled with a transparent material.

7. The foldable case according to claim 2, wherein the light transmittance holes are filled with a translucent material.

8. In a display device having a case having a front inner surface and a rear outer surface, a light emitting unit provided in the case and a liquid crystal element provided in front of the light emitting unit, for displaying text or an image by the light emitted from the light emitting unit, the improvement comprising:

rear illumination means for illuminating the rear outer surface of the case by light emitted from the light emitting unit.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the rear illumination means comprise light transmittance holes formed in a section of a body of the case between the front inner surface of the case and the rear outer surface thereof.

10. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the rear illumination means comprises a panel having a specific marking or light transmittance holes formed as a logo.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the specific marking is printed on a light transmittance sheet.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the transmittance sheet is integrally formed with the case.

13. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the light transmittance holes are empty.

14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the light transmittance holes are filled with a transparent material.

15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the light transmittance holes are filled with a translucent material.

16. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the case is a folding case of a portable computer or telephone.

17. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the front inner surface of the case serves as a reflector.