Reflector formed with highly reliable conductive pattern, process for fabricating reflector and liquid crystal display unit using the same

• US 7,136,123 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vista Peak Ventures LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Hideki, Sato, Yasuhiro, Nishiyama, Michiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEFER, AHMED N
• Application Number:
  US10/985,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113, 349 67- 70, 349/65, 349/152
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side

Abstract

A reflector is incorporated in a liquid crystal display panel for directing light to an optical path from a lamp to a liquid crystal panel, and a high voltage line is directly connected to an electrode of the lamp, but a low voltage line is connected through a conductive pattern formed on the reflector to the other electrode of the lamp, wherein the conductive pattern is formed from a layer of conductive filler printed on the reflector through thermosetting so that the conductive pattern is thick enough to withstand thermal stress without enlargement of the liquid crystal display unit.

Claims

1. A process for producing a reflector, comprising:

forming an insulating member from a first synthetic resin;

printing a conductive filler on a surface of said insulating member;

solidifying said conductive filler on said surface for producing a conductive pattern; and

forming a groove in said insulating member,

wherein said conductive pattern is formed in said groove, and

wherein said first synthetic resin comprises a thermoplastic resin, and said conductive pattern comprises a second synthetic resin comprising a thermosetting resin containing a conductive material.

2. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate resin and polycarbonate resin.

3. The process as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conductive filler comprises modified copolymerized polyester, silver and carbon.

4. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said forming comprises:

heating said first synthetic resin for producing a soft resin,

extruding said soft resin for forming a hot bar member, and

cooling said hot bar member for producing said insulating member.

5. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said forming comprises:

heating said first synthetic resin for producing a soft resin, and

extruding said soft resin for forming a hot bar member serving as said insulating member.

6. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive filler is printed by using a dispenser.

7. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first synthetic resin comprises an electrically insulating thermoplastic resin.

8. The process as set forth in claim 7, wherein said conductive filler comprises modified copolymerized polyester, silver and carbon.

9. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive filler comprises modified copolymerized polyester, silver and carbon.

10. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive pattern is coplanar with a surface of said insulating member to which said groove is open.

11. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insulating member comprises a channel shape defining an inner space for receiving a light source.

12. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insulating member comprises a channel shape defining an inner space for receiving an optical guide plate.

13. A process for producing a reflector, comprising;

forming an insulating member from a first synthetic resin;

printing a conductive filler on a surface of said insulating member; and

solidifying said conductive filler on said surface for producing a conductive pattern,

wherein said first synthetic resin comprises a thermoplastic resin, and said conductive pattern comprises a second synthetic resin comprising a thermosetting resin containing a conductive material, and

wherein said conductive pattern comprises a plurality of conductive sub-patterns arranged parallel to one another.

14. A process for producing a reflector, comprising:

forming a body comprising insulating resin, said body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a space open to an object to which a light is to be directed;

printing a conductive pattern on said outer surface for supplying an electric power to a light source placed in said space; and

forming a groove in said body,

wherein said conductive pattern is formed in said groove and said conductive pattern is coplanar with a surface of said body to which said groove is open, and

wherein said insulating resin comprises a thermoplastic resin, and said conductive pattern comprises a thermosetting resin.

15. The process as set forth in claim 14, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises a polyethylene terephthalate resin.

16. The process as set forth in claim 14, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises a polycarbonate resin.

17. The reflector according to claim 14, wherein said conductive pattern comprises a layer of conductive filler.

18. The process as set forth in claim 17, wherein said conductive filler comprises a copolymerized polyester.