Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Particular illumination
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-28
2003-08-05
Chowdhury, Tarifur R. (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Particular illumination
C349S061000, C349S065000, C349S058000, C362S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06603519
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front lighting unit and a liquid crystal display (LCD) using such a front lighting unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been used in various kinds of devices including portable wireless communication units such as handheld wireless telephone sets.
FIG. 6
is a schematic longitudinal section of a portion of a handheld telephone showing a conventional LCD. In
FIG. 6
, the telephone has a casing including a front portion
601
and a back portion
602
. By metal plating, a thin layer of metal
603
is formed on the front portion
601
. A protective member in the form of a protective cover
604
is placed to cover an opening or window
605
of the front portion
601
. Disposed between the front portion
601
and a back portion
602
is a translucent LCD panel
606
with a backlighting unit
607
. The LCD panel
606
is formed over the backlighting unit
607
.
To meet a request for portable wireless communication units to install color LCDs, it is recommendable to use a reflective color LCD, which is of low energy consumption. Reflective color LCD is needed especially in handheld telephones, which may be used in dark places. Reflective color LCD requires a front lighting unit. Examples of a LCD using a front lighting unit are described in JP-A 10-161123, JP-A 11-218757, JP-A 11-232919, JP-A 11-326903, and JP-A 11-344695.
In
FIG. 6
, a substrate of the LCD panel
606
uses glass. To prevent the substrate from breaking, there is a need for provision of sufficient amount of distance between the protective cover
604
and the LCD panel
606
. It is also needed to use a protective cover with a sufficient amount of thickness around 1 mm for required strength. These make a further reduction in thickness difficult.
JP-A 11-344695 discloses a LCD employing a laminated structure of a transparent touch panel placed on a light conductive panel of a front lighting unit. Employing this structure, there is a reduction in thickness to some degree. The touch panel does not serve as a protective member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a front lighting unit that may make much contribution to a reduction in thickness of a liquid crystal display.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display employing the front lighting unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one exemplary implementation of the invention, there is provided a front lighting unit comprising:
a light conductive member having one side; and
a protective member fixedly attached to the one side of the light conductive member to define therebetween a closed space to seal between the light conductive member and the protective member.
According to another exemplary implementation of the invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display comprising:
a front lighting unit including a light conductive member having one side, and a protective member fixedly attached to the one side of the light conductive member to define therebetween a closed space to seal between the light conductive member and the protective member; and
a liquid crystal panel having one side,
the light conductive member of the front lighting unit being fixedly attached to the one side of the liquid crystal panel to define therebetween a closed space to seal between the light conductive member and the liquid crystal panel.
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patent: 4768300 (1988-09-01), Rutili
patent: 5341231 (1994-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5808707 (1998-09-01), Niibori et al.
patent: 6168281 (2001-01-01), Suzuki
patent: 6204898 (2001-03-01), Maeda
patent: 2001/0022494 (2001-09-01), Fujishiro
patent: 10-161123 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 11-133419 (1999-05-01), None
patent: 11-174972 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 11-194339 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 11-218757 (1999-08-01), None
patent: 11-232919 (1999-08-01), None
patent: 112376114 (1999-08-01), None
patent: 11-326903 (1999-11-01), None
patent: 11-344695 (1999-12-01), None
patent: 2000-29008 (2000-01-01), None
patent: 2000-89910 (2000-03-01), None
patent: 2000-162594 (2000-06-01), None
patent: 2000314874 (2000-11-01), None
patent: 20000305092 (2000-11-01), None
patent: 2001133774 (2001-05-01), None
patent: WO 99/63394 (1994-12-01), None
Chowdhury Tarifur R.
Michael Best & Friedrich LLC
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