Apparatus and method for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal

• US 7,151,515 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Myung, Jung, Jae-Ik
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/144,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 345 87-102, 345211-213, 345/113, 345/114, 455/556.1, 455/556
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 Dielectric stack polarisers

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for embodying mirror function in a portable terminal by which a user can use an LCD of the portable terminal as a mirror, with a rear polarizer of the LCD constructed to allow the LCD to reflect incident light and to perform as a mirror when powered off, and to perform the original function of LCD when powered on. The LCD may further comprise a front polarizer for polarizing the external incident light to a certain direction, a liquid crystal for deflecting the incident light from the front polarizer about a molecular axis in the liquid crystal and arraying the light parallel to the direction of an electric field to pass the light along the molecular axis, and a rear polarizer for reflecting incident light from the liquid crystal when power is not applied and allowing the incident light to pass by the liquid crystal when power is applied.

Claims

1. A portable communication terminal having a transmitter, a receiver, a keypad for inputting signals, and an apparatus for displaying information and performing a mirror function, the apparatus comprising:

an LCD operating as a mirror and a common display unit having at least a rear polarizer made of a material for reflecting incident light to allow said LCD to function as a mirror and a reflector to allow said LCD to function as a display;

a key input unit of the keypad for generating a signal in response to a key input for a mirror function by a user;

a power control unit for controlling power to said LCD; and

a control unit for controlling said power control unit in response to said signal in response to said key input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LCD further comprises a compensation film attached to one side of said rear polarizer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rear polarizer reflects light when power is not applied.

4. A portable communication terminal having a transmitter, a receiver, a keypad for inputting signals, and an apparatus for displaying information and performing a mirror function, the apparatus comprising:

an LCD operating as a mirror and a common display unit having at least a rear polarizer made of a material for reflecting incident light to allow said LCD to function as a mirror when power is not applied and a reflector to allow said LCD to function as a display when power is applied;

a key input unit of the keypad for generating a signal in response to a key input for a mirror function by a user;

a power control unit for controlling power to said LCD; and

a control unit for controlling said power control unit to turn off power applied to said LCD when said key input is not performed for a predetermined time period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said LCD further comprises a compensation film attached to one side of said rear polarizer.

6. A portable communication terminal having a transmitter, a receiver, a keypad, and an LCD for performing a mirror function and a common display function, the LCD comprising:

a front polarizer for polarizing an external incident light in a direction;

a liquid crystal for deflecting said incident light from said front polarizer about an arrayed molecular axis when power is not applied to allow said liquid crystal to function as a mirror, and arraying said molecular axis parallel to a direction of an electric field to deflect said light along said molecular axis when power is applied to allow said liquid crystal to function as a display; and

a rear polarizer for reflecting essentially all incident light when power is not applied.