JPH1048614A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to recognize the display contents of a liquid crystal panel without requiring the internal illumination by electric energy even when dark. SOLUTION: The front surface of a case 1 is provided with the liquid crystal panel 2 of a light transmission type within its display window 1a and the case is provided with a lighting window 1b for making the light from the outside incident. The lighting window 1b is provided with a diffusion plate 3 for diffusing incident light. The case 1 is internally provided with a reflection plate 4 for diffusing and reflecting the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate 3 toward the liquid crystal panel 2. The case 1 is internally provided with a light storage means 5 for storing the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate 3. Stimulable phosphors 5a are applied on the front surface of the reflection plate 4 as the light storage means. The reflection plate and the light storage means are integrated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display using a light transmission type liquid crystal panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid crystal display device using a light transmission type liquid crystal panel can be visually recognized using external light in a bright environment, but is difficult to visually recognize in a dark environment such as at night. Therefore, in general, a configuration is adopted in which an internal illumination that requires electric energy is provided on the back side of a light transmission type liquid crystal panel. A light storage means is provided on the back of the display section of the liquid crystal panel to store light incident from outside through the liquid crystal panel during a bright daytime, and display the liquid crystal panel at night by light emission from the light storage means. There is also a configuration in which is visible.

[0003]

Among the above-mentioned conventional devices, those having a configuration in which the internal illumination is turned on by electric energy consumes a large amount of power and costs when used in a dark place for a long time. There was a point.

In a configuration in which light storage means is provided on the back of a liquid crystal panel, light enters through the liquid crystal panel.
The light storing efficiency is lower than the original performance of the light storing means. further,
Uneven light accumulation occurs due to the display pattern of the liquid crystal, resulting in uneven light emission during light emission, resulting in poor display quality.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a light-storing means in a case, allows light to enter from a lighting window when the light is bright, and stores the incident light. . And when it gets dark for this,
The light stored in the light storing means is emitted, so that the display contents of the liquid crystal panel can be recognized even when it is dark without requiring internal illumination by electric energy. Since the light that enters from the daylighting window, not through the liquid crystal panel, is stored, sufficient light storage can be performed, resulting in high efficiency and uniform light emission.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, a light-transmitting liquid crystal panel is provided on the front of a case, and a lighting window through which light from the outside is incident is provided on the case. A diffusion plate is provided, and a reflection plate for diffusing and reflecting the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate toward the liquid crystal panel is provided in the case, for storing the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate in the case. The light storage means is provided.

It is preferable that the luminous storage means has a luminous phosphor disposed on a surface other than the display portion on the back of the liquid crystal panel or on the back of the front plate of the case and on the inner side of the case. .

It is preferable to simplify the structure by integrating the reflecting plate and the light storing means by giving the above-mentioned reflecting plate a light storing effect. It is preferable that a diffusion plate for diffusing light is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel.

In the liquid crystal panel configured as described above,
The light incident while the light is bright and diffused by the diffusion plate is stored in the light storing means provided in the case, and when the light becomes dark, the stored light is emitted to work to illuminate the liquid crystal panel.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, a display window 1a is opened in the front of a case 1, and a light transmission type liquid crystal panel 2 is provided inside the display window. A lighting window 1b through which light from the outside is incident is provided on the upper surface of the case 1, and a diffusing plate 3 for diffusing the incident light is provided in the lighting window. In the case 1, there is provided a reflector 4 for diffusing and reflecting the incident light diffused by the diffuser 3 toward the liquid crystal panel 2. A white reflector is used as an example of the reflector.

In the case 1, a light storing means 5 for storing the incident light diffused by the diffusing plate 3 is provided. In this embodiment, the light storing means 5 is an example of the light storing means 5. Luminescent phosphor 5a is applied to the front surface,
The reflecting plate and the light storing means are integrated by giving the light storing effect to the reflector.

A diffusing plate 6 for diffusing light is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 so as to further diffuse light directed to the liquid crystal panel 2.

Another example of the light storing means 5 is shown in FIGS. In this example, the luminous phosphor 5b is applied to a surface other than the display portion on the back surface of the diffusion plate 6, and the luminous phosphors 5c, 5c are also applied to the inner side surface of the case 1 to form the luminous means 5. .

Although not shown, if the diffusion plate 6 is not provided, a luminous phosphor may be provided on the surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 other than the display section, and the luminous phosphor may be provided in a case. 1
May be applied to the back surface of the front plate. However, it is not preferable to provide a light accumulator on the back surface of the display unit of the liquid crystal panel, as in the related art, because it is inefficient and causes uneven light emission.

With such a structure, in a bright place, a part of the incident light which is diffused from the lighting window 1b by the diffusion plate 3 and reaches the diffusion plate 6 partially, and a part of the light is reflected by the reflection plate 4
And the light reaches the diffusion plate 6 and a part of the light is stored in the luminous phosphor 5a. The light that has reached the diffusion plate 6 is diffused, then reaches the light transmission type liquid crystal panel 2 and is transmitted forward. The liquid crystal panel 2 performs display by controlling transmitted light by a driver (not shown). The state of this display is confirmed from the front.

In a dark place, part of the light emitted from the luminous phosphor 5a reaches the diffusion plate 6 and is diffused, and then reaches the light transmissive liquid crystal panel 2 and is transmitted forward.

Although a white reflector has been described as an example of the reflector, the present invention is not limited to this, and a mirror surface or a diffusion surface may be used as appropriate. In addition, an example in which a luminous phosphor was applied was shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a sheet-like luminous phosphor was adhered, or a luminous phosphor was mixed with a resin. But it is good.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the light storage means is provided in the case, and the lighting window through which light from the outside is incident is provided in the case, so that when the light is bright, a part of the incident light from the lighting window can be stored. When the light becomes dark, the light stored in the light storing means is emitted, and even when the light is dark, the display contents of the liquid crystal panel can be recognized for a long time without the need for internal illumination by electric energy. In addition, since the incident light is taken in from the lighting window, the light can be stored more efficiently than in a configuration in which the light storing means is directly provided on the back surface of the display unit of the liquid crystal panel.

If the phosphorescent means is formed by disposing a phosphorescent phosphor on a surface other than the display portion on the back of the liquid crystal panel or on the back of the front plate of the case, and on the inner side of the case, No space is required and space efficiency is good. When the reflector and the light storing means are integrated by giving the reflector a light storing effect, the configuration can be further simplified.

Further, if a diffusion plate for diffusing light is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel, light directed to the liquid crystal panel is further diffused, so that uniform light is applied to the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel to make the display uniform. It is valid.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 1b Lighting window 2 Liquid crystal panel 3 Diffusion plate 4 Reflection plate 5 Light storage means 5a, 5b, 5c Luminescent phosphor 6 Diffusion plate

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light transmission type liquid crystal panel is provided on a front surface of a case, and a lighting window through which light from the outside is incident on the case is provided. A diffusing plate for diffusing the incident light is provided on the lighting window. A reflection plate for diffusing and reflecting the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate toward the liquid crystal panel in the case; and storing the incident light diffused by the diffusion plate in the case. Liquid crystal display device provided with a light storage means for the display. 2. The luminous means according to claim 1, wherein the luminous means comprises a luminous phosphor on a surface of the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel other than the display portion or on a back surface of the front plate of the case and on the inner side surface of the case. A liquid crystal display device, which is provided. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting plate and the light storing means are integrated by giving the reflecting plate a light storing effect. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a diffusion plate for diffusing light is provided on a back surface of the liquid crystal panel.