IP Library Granted Patent US 7,492,423
Granted Patent B2
US 7,492,423 · App. 11/208,526 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Lighting apparatus for liquid crystal display

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,492,423
App. No.
11/208,526
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting apparatus for an LCD (liquid crystal display) is provided to a body of a predetermined device. The lighting apparatus includes a transmissive LCD configured to be movable with respect to the body between a retracted position and a protruded position. An outer surface of the LCD is substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the LCD is provided when the LCD is located at the retracted position. The outer surface of the LCD is protruded from the plane of the body when the LCD is located at the protruded position. An open space is formed on an inner side of the LCD. And at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the LCD located at the protruded position from a rear side thereof is provided.

Claims (23)

1. A display device provided to a body of a predetermined device, comprising:

a transmissive liquid crystal display configured to be movable with respect to the body between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the liquid crystal display being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the liquid crystal display is provided when the liquid crystal display is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the liquid crystal display being protruded from the plane of the body when the liquid crystal display is located at the protruded position, an open space being formed on an inner side of the liquid crystal display; and

at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the liquid crystal display located at the protruded position from a rear side thereof.

2. The display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid crystal display is rotatably supported at one side end thereof, so that an opposite end portion of the liquid crystal display is protrusible outward from the device body; and

wherein the at least one light source is provided at an edge corresponding to the opposite end portion of the liquid crystal display.

3. The display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the entirety of the liquid crystal display is configured to protrude outward from the device body; and

wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources that are arranged along two edges corresponding to the sides of the liquid crystal display that are parallel to each other.

4. The display device according to claim 1 ,

comprising a reflector that is adapted to reflect beams on a surface of the device body facing the rear side of the liquid crystal display.

5. The display device according to claim 1 ,

comprising a diffusing system that is adapted to diffuse beams on the rear side of the liquid crystal display.

6. The display device according to claim 1 , comprising

a switching system that is configured to switch electric power supply to the at least one light source so that the light source is turned on when the liquid crystal display is in the protruded position and turned off when the liquid crystal display is in the retracted position.

7. The display device according to claim 1 , comprising:

a latching system that is configured to latch the liquid crystal display in the retracted position in the device body and release the liquid crystal display in a manual operation; and

a bias member that is configured to allow the liquid crystal display to expand outward from the device body.

8. A digital camera with a display device, comprising:

a transmissive liquid crystal display configured to be movable with respect to the camera body between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the liquid crystal display being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the camera body on which the liquid crystal display is provided when the liquid crystal display is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the liquid crystal display being protruded from the plane of the camera body when the liquid crystal display is located at the protruded position, an open space being formed on an inner side of the liquid crystal display; and

at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the liquid crystal display located at the protruded position from a rear side thereof.

9. A lighting apparatus provided to a body of a predetermined device, comprising:

at least one light source configured to emit light toward an open space to illuminate an object from a rear side thereof, the object being adapted to be movable with respect to the body between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the object being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the object is provided when the object is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the object being protruded from the plane of the body when the object is located at the protruded position, the open space being formed on an inner side of the object.

Assignments (2)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 7, 2009
From: PENTAX CORPORATION
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022068/0432 →