Patent · US Expired

Apertured fluorescent illumination device for backlighting an image plane

US5645337A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
15References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 1995
Grant dateJul 8, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60K2360/336
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A backlighting unit for illuminating a planar display is provided, comprising an illumination source having a light emitting portion for emitting illumination toward the generally planar display, and a reflector for collecting the emitted illumination and reflecting the collected illumination toward the planar display, the reflector being positioned intermediate the illumination source and the display. The illumination source is a fluorescent lamp having an interior surface thereof substantially coated with a phosphor, and the light emitting portion is an aperture in the fluorescent lamp wherein no phosphor coating is present. The fluorescent lamp may be provided with a reflective wrap for increasing its illumination gain. A lens positioned between the reflector and the display receives the illumination reflected by the reflector and redirects the received illumination toward the display to provide even backlit illumination thereof.

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