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:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1998
Masaru Higuchi, Hachioji, JP;
Minoru Fujiwara, Tokyo, JP;
Tetsuo Muto, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhiro Daiku, Iruma, JP;
Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An illumination panel comprises a light source, a photoconductor for guiding light from the light source, and an optical film for emitting light emitted from the photoconductor ahead of an observer. The photoconductor comprises a stepwise face having an incident end face onto which the light from the light source is projected, step faces, and step differentiating faces for emitting the light guided from the light source and connecting the step faces, and reflective films formed on the step faces. The optical film is arranged at the front side of the photoconductor, and has projected incident portions which are opposite to the step differentiating faces in a light emitting direction. The optical film emits the light emitted from the step differentiating faces ahead, and causes the light that is projected from the front to be reflected ahead on reflective faces on the step faces. In the incident portions, one of side faces opposite to the step differentiating faces of the photoconductor makes an incident face for receiving the light emitted from the step differentiating faces, and the other makes a refractive face for reflecting/refracting the light taken in the incident face toward its front face. A liquid crystal display element is arranged at the front of this illumination panel so that they constitute a liquid crystal display device.