Display device

• US 7,444,052 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Tokui, Kei, Takeuchi, Yukihisa, Nanataki, Tsutomu, Shimogawa, Natsumi, Iwauchi, Kenichi, Shikata, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HOANG Q
• Application Number:
  US11/083,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/120
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide

Abstract

A display device includes an illuminating device having an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to the optical waveguide plate, a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between the optical waveguide plate and the drive assembly, and a light scattering layer disposed on the displacement transmitter assembly. The actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with the optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from the optical waveguide plate as emitted light. The display device also includes an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from the illuminating device to display an image. The illuminating device has a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of the displacement transmitter assembly that confronts the optical waveguide plate.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

an illuminating device comprising;

an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto;

a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to said optical waveguide plate;

a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between said optical waveguide plate and said drive assembly; and

a light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly,

wherein said actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with said optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from said optical waveguide plate as emitted light; and

an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from said illuminating device to display an image, said optical modulator comprising a liquid crystal panel having a front panel, a rear panel, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said front panel and said rear panel,

wherein said illuminating device includes a light reflecting layer disposed on an upper portion of said drive assembly which confronts said optical waveguide plate.

2. A display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical sheet disposed between said illuminating device and said optical modulator.

3. A display device comprising:

an illuminating device comprising;

an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto;

a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to said optical waveguide plate;

a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between said optical waveguide plate and said drive assembly; and

a light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly,

wherein said actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with said optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from said optical waveguide plate as emitted light; and

an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from said illuminating device to display an image, said optical modulator comprising a liquid crystal panel having a front panel, a rear panel, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said front panel and said rear panel,

wherein said illuminating device includes a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of said displacement transmitter assembly which confronts said optical waveguide plate.

4. A display device according to claim 3, wherein said light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly is disposed on said light reflecting layer.

5. A display device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an optical sheet disposed between said illuminating device and said optical modulator.

6. A display device comprising:

an illuminating device comprising;

an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto;

a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to said optical waveguide plate;

a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between said optical waveguide plate and said drive assembly; and

a light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly,

wherein said actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with said optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from said optical waveguide plate as emitted light; and

an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from said illuminating device to display an image, said optical modulator comprising a liquid crystal panel having a front panel, a rear panel, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said front panel and said rear panel,

wherein said illuminating device includes a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of said drive assembly which confronts said optical waveguide plate.

7. A display device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of said displacement transmitter assembly which confronts said optical waveguide plate, wherein said light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly is disposed on said light reflecting layer.

8. A display device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an optical sheet disposed between said illuminating device and said optical modulator.

9. A display device comprising:

an illuminating device comprising;

an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto;

a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to said optical waveguide plate;

a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between said optical waveguide plate and said drive assembly; and

a light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly,

wherein said actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with said optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from said optical waveguide plate as emitted light; and

an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from said illuminating device to display an image, said optical modulator comprising a liquid clystal panel having a front panel, a rear panel, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said front panel and said rear panel,

wherein said illuminating device includes a spacer disposed between said drive assembly and said optical waveguide plate, and a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of said spacer which confronts said optical waveguide plate.

10. A display device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of said displacement transmitter assembly which confronts said optical waveguide plate, wherein said light scattering layer disposed on said displacement transmitter assembly is disposed on said light reflecting layer.

11. A display device according to claim 9, further comprising:

an optical sheet disposed between said illuminating device and said optical modulator.