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:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1994
Sadeg M Faris, Pleasantville, NY (US);
Carl Tung, Ossining, NY (US);
Reveo, Inc., Hawthorne, NY (US);
Abstract
A reconfigurable backlighting construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the backlighting construction is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen without the need for a bulky overhead projector, required by all prior art systems. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without physical removal of the light guiding panel and its light diffusing structures. If desired, these computer-based systems can be used to directly view 'spatially-multiplexed' images of 3-D objects or imagery during the direct viewing mode, and when desired these spatially-multiplexed images can be projected onto a wall surface or projection screen during the projection viewing mode. When the spatially-multiplexed images are viewed through electrically-passive polarized glasses, the 3-D object is perceived with stereoscopic depth sensation in either mode of viewing. A portable light projection accessory device is provided for use with the portable computer-based systems of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiments, the portable light projection device has first and second housing portions that are interconnected by a foldable structure that permits the first and second housing portions to be selectively reconfigured for simple trouble-free use during the projection viewing mode of operation, and for compact storage during the direct viewing mode of operation.