Rockwell International Corporation

James E Shaw

Gary D Bishop

Melvin L Campbell

A backlight for liquid crystal displays which includes several closely spaced lamps and a sculptured optic element disposed behind the lamps wherein, the sculptured optic element has a reflective back side and a partially reflective front side and an optically transmissive medium disposed there between. The optic element being sculptured so as to direct light rays emanating from the back of the lamps and from the side of the lamps in a direction away from colliding with other lamps and in a direction toward the median surface. The optic element essentially gathers light from behind and between the lamps and directs it in a direction toward the viewing surface.

Optical light piping reflector element for backlighting liquid crystal

A fluorescent lamp is provided which is resistant to lumen depreciation. The fluorescent lamp includes a tube constructed of an ultraviolet (UV) radiation transmissive material. A gas inside of the tube produces UV radiation in response to a stimulus. Phosphor particles in a phosphor particle containing coating adhered to an outer surface of the tube absorb UV radiation produced by the gas inside of the tube and producing visible light in response.

Avionics grade fluorescent lamp resistant to lumen depreciation

The present invention is a liquid crystal display with an improved backlighting system. A light source in the backlighting system radiates light in a first non-preferred direction. An optical apparatus coupled to the light source receives the light radiated by the light source in the first non-preferred direction and refracts it into a first preferred direction.

Refracting optic for fluorescent lamps used in backlighting liquid

A liquid crystal display is provided which has improved wide angle viewing characteristics. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal matrix. A non-planar fluorescent lamp positioned on a first side of the liquid crystal matrix has a center which traverses the fluorescent lamp in at least one longitudinal direction. A distance between the first side of the liquid crystal matrix and the fluorescent lamp center in a first portion of the fluorescent lamp is less than a distance between the first side of the liquid crystal matrix and the fluorescent lamp center in a second portion of the fluorescent lamp.

Backlighting system for liquid crystal displays having a non-planar

A non-uniform heating system is provided for liquid crystal displays. The system includes structure for applying a greater concentration of heat to the periphery of LCDs. Because mounting structures produce large heat sinks around the edges of LCDs, providing greater heat to the edges results in a more uniform distribution of heat across the LCDs. In another aspect of the heating system, rapid warming may be provided for preselected critical areas of a display to reduce warm-up time, reduce power consumption, and provide mission critical displays in situations such as scrambles of military aircraft on cold weather alert.

Liquid crystal display heating system

A compact backlighting luminaire is provided for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The body of the luminaire is formed of optically clear glass or acrylic resins. The body comprises a mesa extending from a base comprising a flange extending around the periphery of the mesa. The top of the mesa comprises at least two non-parallel sloped surfaces. The base of the luminaire body may form a wedge with the flange being thicker at one edge than at an opposite edge. The bottom surface and edges of the body may be coated with a reflective film. A fluorescent lamp extends around the periphery of the mesa and is supported by the flange. A cover may be provided to extend over the mesa and around the periphery of the flange to secure the lamp, to reduce illumination losses, and to provide a mounting surface for an LCD. Light from the lamp is reflected by the bottom and edge surfaces of the body and is incident on the sloped top surfaces of the mesa to provide uniform backlighting illumination for and LCD mounted atop the cover of the luminaire. The luminaire provides effective backlighting for full color flat panel displays without adding significantly to the depth dimension of the flat panel display.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

James E Shaw