Display Device and Portable Information Device Having a Mirror Function

• US 20080030644A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innolux Hong Kong Holding Ltd (InnoLux Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TPO Displays Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Ukawa, Yusei, Otsuki, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/61
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells

Abstract

The invention has an object of providing a display device which can make a full use of a mirror functionality even in a dark environment. A display device comprising: image forming means (50, 60, 70, 71) for displaying information to be displayed during one state external light during the other state; input means (30) for inputting a mirrorfunction executing instruction; and control means (82) for causing the image forming means to be switched to the other state in response to the mirror-function executing instruction. The display device further comprises an illumination unit (91) for irradiating an object to be reflected in the mirror (60) with light during the other state.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

image forming means for displaying information to be displayed during one state and forming a mirror by reflecting external light during the other state;

input means for inputting a mirror-function executing instruction; and

control means for causing the image forming means to be switched to the other state in response to the mirror-function executing instruction, further comprising;

an illumination unit for irradiating an object to be reflected in the mirror with light during the other state.

2. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means cause the illumination unit to be allowed to be turned on in response to the mirror-function executing instruction.

3. A display device as defined in claim 2, wherein the control means cause the illumination unit to be turned on in response to the mirror-function executing instruction.

4. A display device as defined in claim 2, wherein the control means are responsive to the mirror-function executing instruction to cause the illumination unit to be driven at an illumination intensity according to external lightness information.

5. A display device as defined in claim 2, wherein the control means are capable of beforehand selecting a submode in which the illumination unit should be made to be turned on in response to the mirror-function executing instruction or a submode in which the illumination unit should be made to be driven at an irradiation intensity according to external lightness information unit in response to the mirror-function executing instruction.

6. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein when a setting is established that the illumination unit should be off or when a setting is established that the illumination unit should be caused to make irradiation at a predetermined intensity, the control means control the illumination unit in accordance with the setting.

7. A display device as defined in claim 4, comprising a photodetector or input means for acquiring the external lightness information.

8. A display device as defined in claim 1, the device being a transmissive type display device having a backlight, wherein the illumination unit is constituted by the backlight.

9. A display device as defined in claim 8, wherein light emitted by the backlight is allowed to be transmitted to the outside through at least a part of an outer peripheral portion of a mirror-forming area of the image forming means during the other state.

10. A display device as defined in claim 1, the device being a reflective type display device having a frontlight, wherein the illumination unit is constituted by the frontlight, and light emitted by the frontlight is allowed to be applied to the object after being reflected on a mirror formed in the image forming means during the other state.

11. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein power supplying of the illumination unit is forced to be off in a power saving mode.

12. A display device as defined in any one of claim 1, wherein the illumination unit has an illumination directivity to direct light toward a predetermined use j position on a substantially vertical line at a substantial center of a principal plane 1 of a mirror formed in the mirror forming means.

13. A display device as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting an illumination directivity and/or a spot shape of light rays of the illumination unit.

14. A display device as defined in claim 12, wherein the illumination unit comprises a light source and at least one reflective plate reflecting the light emitted by the light source to direct the light toward the predetermined use position.

15. A display device as defined in claim 12, wherein the illumination unit comprises a light source and at least one optical refractor refracting the light emitted by the light source to direct the light toward the predetermined use position.

16. A display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the illumination unit comprises a light source, a reflective type polarizing plate for transmitting a first polarized light component of the light emitted by the light source therethough and reflecting a second polarized light component other than the first I polarized light component and a reflective plate arranged opposed to the reflective type polarizing plate with the light light source being between the reflective plate and the polarizing plate for reflecting the light from the source and the second polarized light component, and wherein the image forming means mainly reflect light of the first polarized light component on its mirror during the other state.

17. A portable information device comprising a display device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means are responsive to an incoming call or specific state presented by the portable information device to perform illumination control of the illumination unit so as to give a notice of the call or specific state.