Patent · US Expired

Illuminated transparent display with microtextured back reflector

US5349503A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
13References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1993
Grant dateSep 20, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/0055
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Applicants have discovered that a particularly efficient illuminating device for a transparent display comprises a microtextured reflecting surface formed on a major surface of a transparent substrate and a light source for directing light into the transparent substrate approximately parallel to the major surface. Preferably the substrate has two major surfaces separated by a thickness in the range 0.5 to 1.0 mm so that the substrate acts as a light guide. A substantial portion of the light passing into the substrate undergoes total internal reflection until it hits a microelement and is reflected out of the substrate. The result is an efficient illuminating device particularly useful for lighting transparent displays.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.