Display apparatus

• US 7,023,617 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Tomoki, Matsuura, Kiyotaka, Tamaki, Ryosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dung T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): QI, ZHI QIANG
• Application Number:
  US10/118,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 349/61, 349/15, 349 68- 71, 362/31, 362/26, 359/462
• US Class Current: 359/462
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

A display apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmission type of fluorescent display lamp (FL) 1 on which a pattern layer is not masked. The rear and front spaces of the transmission type FL 1 are defined by frames 5, 6. On each frame 5, 6 is attached an illumination display member, such as a light guide plate 8 or a transmission sheet 9, so that illumination displays are provided at both front and rear sides of the FL 1 by a light emitting source 10 such as an LED, fluorescent lamp and so on. Thus, a greater three-dimensional visual effect (depth perception) can be obtained. Further, by utilizing spaces in the front and the rear of the transmission type FL 1, a wider representation and functional display through a microcomputer control can be performed. Use of the light emitting source 10 lowers cost in comparison with the conventional biplanar type of FL.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a transmissive display element comprising one of a fluorescent display lamp, an electroluminescence display, and a liquid crystal display;

a first frame at the front of said transmissive display element and shaped to define a front space;

a second frame at the rear of said transmissive display element and shaped to define a rear space;

a first illumination display member attached to said first frame so as to be located at the front of said transmissive display element;

a second illumination display member attached to said second frame so as to be located at the rear of said transmissive display element and visible through said transmissive display element from the front of said display apparatus;

a light emitting source for irradiating light to said first illumination display member and said second illumination display member so that both said first illumination display member and said second illumination display member are illuminated at the front of and at the rear of said transmissive display element, respectively, to obtain a three-dimensional visual effect.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first frame has a rectangular shape including an upper wall, a lower wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second frame has a rectangular box shape including an upper wall, a lower wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a back wall.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first illumination display member and said second illumination display member has a predetermined display printed thereon.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second illumination display member comprises a transmissive sheet.

6. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein said transmissive sheet has a predetermined color.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first illumination display member comprises a light guide plate.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first illumination display member comprises a first type of illumination display member, said second illumination display member comprising a second type of illumination display member different than said first type of illumination display member.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second type of illumination display member comprises a transmissive sheet, and said first type of illumination display member comprises a light guide plate.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said light guide plate is directly attached to said first frame, and said transmissive sheet is directly attached to said second frame.

12. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first illumination display member comprises one of a plurality of first illumination display members attached to said first frame, and said second illumination display member comprises one of a plurality of second illumination display members attached to said second frame.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said second illumination display members comprises a transmissive sheet attached to said second frame.

14. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first illumination display member is attached to said first frame so as to be spaced apart from said transmissive display element at the front of said transmissive display element.

15. The display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second illumination display member is attached to said second frame so as to be spaced apart from said transmissive display element at the rear of said transmissive display element.

16. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second illumination display member is attached to said second frame so as to be spaced apart from said transmissive display element at the rear of said transmissive display element.