EP1008977A2 - Panneau d'affichage - Google Patents

Panneau d'affichage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1008977A2
EP1008977A2 EP99309833A EP99309833A EP1008977A2 EP 1008977 A2 EP1008977 A2 EP 1008977A2 EP 99309833 A EP99309833 A EP 99309833A EP 99309833 A EP99309833 A EP 99309833A EP 1008977 A2 EP1008977 A2 EP 1008977A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
window
panel
display panel
led
illuminated display
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99309833A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1008977A3 (fr
Inventor
Thomas Wood Gowans
Henry John Lee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GE Power UK
Original Assignee
Alstom UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alstom UK Ltd filed Critical Alstom UK Ltd
Publication of EP1008977A2 publication Critical patent/EP1008977A2/fr
Publication of EP1008977A3 publication Critical patent/EP1008977A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/35—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/33—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in display panels, and in particular to display panels incorporating both a liquid crystal display device (LCD) and at least one light emitting diode (LED).
  • LCD liquid crystal display device
  • LED light emitting diode
  • a typical interface or display may comprise a display panel incorporating one or more light emitting diodes which are illuminated in dependence upon the status of the machine. For instance, in a very simple display a red light emitting diode can be provided which is illuminated when a fault occurs, or a green light emitting diode may be illuminated to show normal running of the machine.
  • a more advanced display can be achieved by replacing the light emitting diodes with a liquid crystal display panel capable of displaying alpha-numeric or other graphical information.
  • the invention provides an illuminated display panel comprising a panel portion adapted to be viewed by a user, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel which is viewable through an opening in the panel portion, a window of transparent material adapted to cover the LCD panel and opening, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) located behind the window, the window incorporating at least one lens which directs light from the light emitting diode through the window so as to be viewed by the user.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • LED light emitting diode
  • the invention thus provides a display panel which includes both a liquid crystal display and at least one LED where the LED is focused by a respective lens incorporated into the window covering the liquid crystal display.
  • the window comprises a single piece of plastics material.
  • the window may be of transparent or translucent material.
  • the material may be tinted.
  • the window may conveniently be produced by a moulding process. This results in low manufacturing costs.
  • the lens can be formed integrally with the window by moulding the window with the lens incorporated therein by shaping or contouring the rear face of the window.
  • the front surface could be shaped instead to define the lens.
  • the lens is preferably formed during the moulding process.
  • the window is spaced from the LED.
  • the lens ensure sufficient control of light. In the past, it has been necessary to butt the LEDs up to the front panel, making manufacture more complex.
  • a mask of substantially opaque material such as a paint or lacquer, may be applied to part of the rear of the window. This may, for instance block out light from passing through the window other than through an area for viewing information displayed on the liquid crystal display and the LED.
  • the area unmasked for the liquid crystal display may be square or rectangular, and perhaps round for the lens.
  • the illuminated display panel can be incorporated into a hand held interface or input device, in which case the panel portion may form the front face (or part thereof) of a hand held casing which includes a numeric or alpha-numeric keypad.
  • the interface device may, in one arrangement, be an input device for a motor controller.
  • the invention may therefore, in a second aspect, comprise an input device for a motor controller incorporating a display panel in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
  • the LED is mounted onto a printed circuit board behind the front panel. They may be surface mounted.
  • the liquid crystal display may also be connected to this board either directly or via a short flying lead.
  • the board can be located at least partially behind the panel so that the LED is located directly behind a respective lens formed into the window.
  • each lens may have an individual shape, for example, a convex lens shape can be provided which is at least partially recessed into the rear of the window to sharply focus the light from an associated LED.
  • each lens may be formed as a cylindrical bore in the rear of the window with a convex base.
  • a concave form could be provided to spread out the light from the LED.
  • the hand held interface device may comprise a first rear casing portion adapted to support a circuit board onto which each LED is mounted, and the front display panel may extend across the rear portion and circuit board like a clam shell to complete the unit.
  • the window can be fixed across the opening in the front of the display panel portion, either flush with, above or below the opening. It may be glued in place or clipped in place. It may be larger than the opening.
  • the display panel portion may include at least one further opening adjacent the opening for the liquid crystal display.
  • Each additional opening may be associated with a respective LED. This assists in guiding light from the LED to the window.
  • not all the LEDs need to have an associated opening formed in the front panel and a single opening may co-operate with more than one LED.
  • An advantage of such a construction is that it prevents light from the LEDs leaking away toward other parts of the window or the LED display.
  • the portion of the window defining each lens may include an integral cylindrical channel to guide the light from the LEDs.
  • the handheld interface device may include a keypad. This may be mounted on the printed circuit board and extend through one or more openings in the front panel portion.
  • the liquid crystal display panel may be adapted to display information input from the keypad and/or supplied to the hand held unit by a remote unit connected to the display unit by a cable.
  • the display unit 1 is a hand held input device comprising a thin moulded back casing 2 covered with a front panel portion 3 which incorporates a multi-button keypad, one button of which is labelled 4.
  • the unit also incorporates a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 5 and four light emitting diodes (LEDs) 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d.
  • the LCD and LEDs are mounted behind a window 7 on a printed circuit board 10 between the back casing 2 and front panel portion 3, and are visible through openings in the front panel portion 3.
  • the unit can be connected, for example, to an input to a motor controller through an electrical cable (not shown), and provides a display of the system status and allows the user to input commands to the controller. For example, one LED may be illuminated to indicate that the motor controller is powered up, another to show the motor is running, another to show that an overload condition has been reached, and a final LED to show that the controller has tripped. Indicia (not shown) on the display panel adjacent the LEDs may be used to help the user identify the meaning of the LEDs.
  • the window 7 comprises a clear plastic moulding which has a substantially planar rear face 7b and is convex over at least the portion of its front face 7a overlaying the LCD panel 5. This provides a degree of magnification and makes the liquid crystal display easier to read.
  • the window 7 serves to protect the LCD panel 5 from damage and also has a number of lenses 8 moulded into its rear face 7b to focus and guide light from the LEDs 6. This can be seen in figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
  • Figure 2 shows the hand held unit in cross section along the line X-X.
  • a circuit board 10 supports the LEDs 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d spaced below the window on the front panel 3. Only one LED 6b is shown. This can more clearly be seen in figure 3.
  • the window 7 above the LED 6b is formed into a lens 8 comprising a convex lens portion which is recessed into the rear face 7b of the window 7. This is slightly larger in diameter than the emitting area of the LED 6.
  • the lens 8 focuses and directs the light from the LED 6 through the window towards a user.
  • the front panel 3 extends across the area of the LEDs behind the window 7. This acts to support the window and is also formed into a number of small cylindrical openings which help guide the light from the LEDs to the window.
  • the circuit board within the unit supports the LEDs, LCD panel and the keypad. It provides the control circuitry for the display and the keypad and interfaces to the motor controller via a lead (not shown) which connects to a D-type connector (also not shown) on the rear of the unit. Feet 11 on the base of the casing 2 allow the keypad to be used on a table or other flat surface as well as in the hand if desired.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
EP99309833A 1998-12-07 1999-12-07 Panneau d'affichage Withdrawn EP1008977A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9826813 1998-12-07
GB9826813A GB2344681A (en) 1998-12-07 1998-12-07 A display panel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1008977A2 true EP1008977A2 (fr) 2000-06-14
EP1008977A3 EP1008977A3 (fr) 2000-12-06

Family

ID=10843732

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99309833A Withdrawn EP1008977A3 (fr) 1998-12-07 1999-12-07 Panneau d'affichage

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1008977A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2344681A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111261056A (zh) * 2020-02-07 2020-06-09 山东科技大学 一种开关显示装置及其装配方法

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1038841A (fr) * 1975-11-05 1978-09-19 Northern Electric Company Limited Indicateur a diodes electroluminescent pour tableau a boutons-poussoirs
JPS55113387A (en) * 1979-02-22 1980-09-01 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Light emitting diode indicator
GB2139392B (en) * 1983-05-05 1986-10-22 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Display device
US4642627A (en) * 1984-03-13 1987-02-10 General Electric Company Illuminated compact control surface
GB8611998D0 (en) * 1986-05-16 1986-06-25 Husky Computers Ltd Liquid crystal displays
US4899140A (en) * 1986-09-13 1990-02-06 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Display device for copying machines and the like
EP1022787B2 (fr) * 1989-05-31 2012-07-11 OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH Procédé de production d'un élément optique fixable sur une surface et élément optique fixable sur une surface
DE9007512U1 (de) * 1990-04-26 1992-04-02 AEG Stromversorgungs-Systeme GmbH, 59581 Warstein Anzeigebedieneinrichtung
AT401587B (de) * 1993-12-30 1996-10-25 Rosenitsch Harald Ing Anzeigevorrichtung mit einem rasterkörper
DE19630734C2 (de) * 1995-07-31 2001-01-25 Toyoda Gosei Kk LED-Anzeigeeinrichtung
US5841857A (en) * 1996-11-20 1998-11-24 Harris Corporation Telephone test set LCD panel carrier

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111261056A (zh) * 2020-02-07 2020-06-09 山东科技大学 一种开关显示装置及其装配方法
WO2021155621A1 (fr) * 2020-02-07 2021-08-12 山东科技大学 Appareil d'affichage à commutateur et son procédé d'assemblage
US11333318B2 (en) 2020-02-07 2022-05-17 Shandong University Of Science And Technology Switch display apparatus and assembling method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9826813D0 (en) 1999-01-27
GB2344681A (en) 2000-06-14
EP1008977A3 (fr) 2000-12-06

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