Display device having a multi-layered structure with light-emitting devices mounted thereon

• US 6,657,381 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Makoto Arutaki
• Original Assignee: Makoto Arutaki
• Inventors: Arutaki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HODGES, MATTHEW P
• Application Number:
  US09/699,722
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 313/512, 362/252, 362/800, 362/238
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/20 on convex supports or substrates, e.g. on the outer surface of spheres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2406 having needles or pins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A display device (1) includes a multi-layered structure (10) and a plurality of light-emitting devices (31) mounted on a display surface of the multi-layered structure. The multi-layered structure includes successively stacked first, second and third insulating layers (11, 12, 13) with the first layer on the display surface side, a first conductive layer (21) sandwiched between the first and second insulating layers, and a second conductive layer (2) sandwiched between the second and third insulating layers. Each of the first, second and third insulating layers is formed of such a material that a needle or the like can be stuck into it. Also, each of the first and second conductive layers is a layer of fibers, into which a needle or the like can be stuck.

Claims

1. A display device having a display surface, comprising:

a multi-layered structure comprising first, second and third successively stacked insulating layers, a first conductive layer disposed between said first and second insulating layers, and a second conductive layer disposed between said second and third insulating layers, said display surface being provided by one of opposing major surfaces of said multi-layered structure, said first insulating layer being located closest to said display surface; and

a plurality of light-emitting devices mounted on said display surface;

each of said first, second and third insulating layers and each of said first and second conductive layers being formed of such materials that a hole can be formed in said that layer by sticking a needle in that layer;

at least one of said first and second conductive layers being divided into a plurality of separate regions of any desired shapes;

each of said light-emitting devices having longer and shorter leads in pair, said pairs of leads being stuck into said multi-layered structure through said display surface substantially at any desired locations;

each of said longer leads, when stuck into said multi-layered structure through said display surface, extending through said first and second insulating layers and said first conductive layer at least into said second conductive layer to contact said second conductive layer, each of said longer leads having an insulating covering on such a portion thereof as to insulate that longer lead from said first conductive layer;

each of said shorter leads, when stuck into said multi-layered structure through said display surface, extending through said first conductive layer at least into said first conductive layer to contact said first conductive layer;

said first conductive layer being divided into a first plurality of separate regions, said second conductive layer being divided into a second plurality of separate regions, one of regions of one of said first and second conductive layers overlapping at least two regions of the other of said first and second conductive layers.

2. A multi-layered structure for a display device having a display surface, comprising:

first, second and third successively stacked insulating foamed plastic layers;

a first conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second foamed plastics layers for supplying power; and

a second conductive layer sandwiched between said second and third plastics layers for supplying power;

said display surface being provided by one of opposing major surfaces of said multi-layered structure;

said first insulating layer being located closest to said display surface;

each of said first, second and third insulating foamed layers being capable of forming a hole therein by sticking a needled into that layer;

each of said first and second conductive layer comprising a layer of fibers coated with metal and capable of forming a hole therein by sticking a needle into that layer;

said multi-layered structure being adapted such that leads of a light-emitting device can be stuck into said multi-layered structure through said display surface substantially at any desired locations;

at least one of said first and second conductive layers being divided into a plurality of separate regions;

each of said plurality of separate regions being connected through a switch to a power supply.