Display retainer and backlight
First Claim
1. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
- at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and
a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to retain a display panel relative to a major surface of a circuit board and to illuminate the display panel;
said retainer housing including a mount that orients the retainer housing such that the retained display panel is not parallel with the major surface of the circuit board.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Backlighting devices and methods for supporting and illuminating a display panel are disclosed. A display retainer and backlight device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may comprise one or more light pipes operatively coupled to a retainer housing that supports and illuminates an attached display panel. The retainer housing includes an optical waveguide that receives light collected by the one or more light pipes. A light scattering element and reflector may be employed to disperse and reflect the light rays to illuminate the backside of the display panel. A slot extending through a portion of the retainer housing may be configured to tightly receive an elastomeric zebra-strip, which electrically connects the circuit board to the display panel. A clip, tab or other fastening mechanism may be used to secure the retainer housing and display panel to the circuit board.
58 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to retain a display panel relative to a major surface of a circuit board and to illuminate the display panel;
said retainer housing including a mount that orients the retainer housing such that the retained display panel is not parallel with the major surface of the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 46, 47)
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19. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to retain and illuminate a display panel;
said retainer housing including a first major surface adjacent the display panel and a second major surface opposite the first major surface; anda reflector element positioned along at least part of the second major surface for reflecting light rays within or from the optical waveguide towards the first major surface and the display panel; and a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within or from the optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 48, 49)
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35. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source mounted to a circuit board; a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to support and illuminate a display panel, and one or more support legs coupled to the retainer housing configured to mount the retainer housing to the circuit board; a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within the optical waveguide; and a reflector element for reflecting light rays within or from the optical waveguide towards the display panel.
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36. A backlighting assembly, comprising:
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a circuit board; a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle greater than zero relative to the circuit board, said light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface; a display panel adjacent to the first surface of the light guide plate; and at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source into the light guide plate. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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37. A backlighting assembly, comprising:
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a circuit board; a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle greater than zero relative to the circuit board, said light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface; a display panel adjacent to the first surface of the light guide plate; at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source mounted on the circuit board into the light guide plate; a light dispersive element formed within the second surface of the light guide plate; and a reflector element coupled relative to the second surface of the light guide plate. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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38. A backlighting assembly, comprising:
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a circuit board; a light guide plate attached adjacent and at an angle relative to the circuit board, said light guide plate having a first surface, a second surface, and a slot; a display panel positioned adjacent to the first surface of the light guide plate; a zebra-strip disposed within the slot and configured to electrically connect the display panel to the circuit board; at least one light collector coupled to the light guide plate, each light collector configured to direct light rays from an external light source mounted on the circuit board into the light guide plate; a light dispersive element formed within or adjacent to the second surface of the light guide plate; and a reflector element coupled to or adjacent with the second surface of the light guide plate.
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39. A method of backlighting a display panel, comprising the steps of:
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providing an angled display retainer and backlight device having at least one light pipe optically coupled to a light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the display retainer and backlight device is configured to retain the display panel adjacent the first surface of the light guide plate and at an angle greater than zero relative to a circuit board; providing at least one light source mounted to the circuit board; collecting light rays emitted from said at least one light source and directing the light rays into the light guide plate; and reflecting the light rays towards the first surface of the light guide plate to backlight the display panel. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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40. A method of backlighting a display panel, comprising the steps of:
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providing an angled display retainer and backlight device having at least one light pipe optically coupled to a light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the display retainer and backlight device is configured to retain the display panel adjacent the first surface of the light guide plate and at an angle greater than zero relative to a circuit board; providing at least one light source surface mounted to the circuit board; collecting light rays emitted from said at least one light source and directing the light rays into the light guide plate; dispersing the light rays within the light guide plate; and reflecting the light rays towards the first surface of the light guide plate to backlight the display panel. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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41. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to support and illuminate a display panel;
said retainer housing including means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device at an angle relative to a circuit board.
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42. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to support and illuminate a display panel;
said retainer housing having a recess for at least partially retaining and positioning the display panel relative to said retainer housing.
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43. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; and a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to illuminate and support a display panel at an angle greater than zero relative to a circuit board; wherein each of said at least one light pipe includes an entrance for collecting light, and a curved portion configured to direct tight rays into the optical waveguide.
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44. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to illuminate and support a display panel at an angle greater than zero relative to a substrate;
said retainer housing including a reflector element for reflecting light rays within or from the optical waveguide towards the display panel; anda light scattering element for dispersing light rays within or from the optical waveguide; wherein at least one of said at least one light pipes includes an entrance for collecting light, and a curved portion configured to direct light rays into the optical waveguide.
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45. A display retainer and backlight device, comprising:
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at least one light pipe for collecting light rays emitted from an external light source; a retainer housing optically coupled to said at least one light pipe, said retainer housing including an optical waveguide and configured to support and illuminate a display panel; a light scattering element for dispersing light rays within of from the optical waveguide; and a reflector element for reflecting light rays within the optical waveguide towards the display panel; wherein said retainer housing includes means for mounting the display retainer and backlight device at an angle relative to a circuit board.
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Specification