The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1989
Applicant:
Inventor:
John L Henkes, Latham, NY (US);
Assignee:
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F21V / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
362255 ; 362125 ; 362216 ; 362223 ; 362339 ; 362300 ; 362307 ; 362311 ;
Abstract
An illuminator for a flat panel display utilizes at least one light source and at least one prism having total-internally-reflection at all but its front surface. Multiple images of the source(s) are provided over the front prism surface. A reflective coating can be used on at least one of the illuminator prism surfaces, so as to increase the total portion of the light from each source directed from an illuminator surface toward the display. The sources may be located within the prisms, or may be arranged colinearly with the elongated axis of each prism.