Flat panel display wtih external integral heater

• US 8,009,262 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Mission Systems LLC (Mercury Systems, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Panel Corporation (Mercury Systems, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dunn, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lauren
• Application Number:
  US11/057,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 349/161, 349/59
• US Class Current: 349/161
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell

Abstract

A flat panel display has an optically-transparent electrically-conductive layer, especially an indium tin oxide layer, directly formed on an outer front surface of a liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly having a front plate, a rear plate, and a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between said front and rear plates. The optically-transparent electrically-conductive layer is preferably uniform and functions as an integral heater when connected to a direct current power source.

Claims

1. A flat panel display comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly comprising a front plate, rear plate, a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between the front and rear plates, and a thin film transistor (TFT) array interposed between the front and rear plates;

a rear polarizer placed below the rear plate of the LCD; and

a

a first layer of index-matching dielectric material formed on a face of the front plate opposite the liquid crystal material;

an electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer formed directly atop the first layer of index-matching dielectric material;

means for driving the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer as a heater, said means in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer; and

a second layer of index-matching dielectric material formed directly atop the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer and;

a front polarizer place atop the second layer of index-matching dielectric material.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer operates as an EMI shield for the LCD.

3. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical ground in electrical connection with the means for driving the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer as a heater.

4. The display of claim 3 further comprising:

a capacitor in electrical communication between the means for driving the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer as a heater and the electrical ground.

5. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) between the front polarizer and the second layer of index-matching dielectric material.

6. The display of claim 5 further comprising:

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) between the rear polarizer and the rear plate of the LCD.

7. The display of claim 1 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a non-uniform thickness.

8. The display of claim 1 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a constant resistance value between 15 and 20 ohms/sq.

9. A flat panel display comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly comprising a front color plate, a rear plate, a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between the front color plate and rear plate, and a thin film transistor (TFT) array interposed between the front color plate and rear plate;

a rear polarizer placed below the rear plate of the LCD;

a first layer of index-matching dielectric material formed on a face of the front color plate opposite the liquid crystal material;

an electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer formed directly atop the first layer of index-matching dielectric material;

means for driving the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer as a heater, said means in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer;

a second layer of index-matching dielectric material formed directly atop the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer; and

a front polarizer placed atop the second layer of index-matching dielectric material.

10. The display of claim 9 further comprising:

an anti-reflective coating applied to the top surface of the front polarizer.

11. The display of claim 9 further comprising:

an electrical ground in electrical connection with the means for driving the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer as a heater.

12. The display of claim 11 further comprising:

a capacitor in electrical communication between the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer and the electrical ground.

13. The display of claim 9 further comprising:

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) between the front polarizer and the second layer of index-matching dielectric material.

14. The display of claim 13 further comprising:

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) between the rear polarizer and the rear plate of the LCD.

15. The display of claim 9 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a non-uniform thickness.

16. The display of claim 9 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a constant resistance value between 15 and 20 ohms/sq.

17. A device for heating a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a front plate, the heating device comprising:

a first layer of index-matching dielectric material formed on a face of the front plate opposite the liquid crystal material;

an electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer formed directly atop the first layer of index-matching dielectric material; and

a second layer of index-matching dielectric material formed directly atop the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer.

18. The LCD heating device of claim 17 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a constant resistance value between 15 and 20 ohms/sq.

19. The LCD heating device of claim 17 wherein:

the electrically-conductive optically-transparent layer has a non-uniform thickness.