IP Library Granted Patent US 12,687,746
Granted Patent B2
US 12,687,746 · App. 18/966,278 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Light emitting unit, liquid crystal module, display device, and lighting system

Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
G02F1/133317G02B6/0088G02F1/133308G02F1/13332G02F1/133608G02F1/133615
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,687,746
App. No.
18/966,278
Filed
Dec 3, 2024
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2875
USPC
362/611
Abstract

A display device includes a liquid crystal module ( 10, 20, 30 ) including a display panel ( 10 ) and a light emitting unit ( 20 ) that illuminates the display panel ( 10 ). The light emitting unit ( 20 ) includes a support substrate ( 24 ) that is disposed to face the display panel ( 10 ), a light guide member ( 21 ) that is provided between the display panel ( 10 ) and the support substrate ( 24 ), and has a first end surface ( 213 ) and a second end surface ( 214 ), a light source ( 22 ) that is disposed to face the first end surface ( 213 ), and a holding member ( 25 ) that is provided between the display panel ( 10 ) and the support substrate ( 24 ) along an outer edge of the support substrate ( 24 ), and has a facing surface joined to the second end surface ( 214 ). This display device has a structure suitable for a thin profile.

Claims (27)

1 . A display device comprising:

a display panel;

a light emitting unit that faces the display panel and illuminates the display panel;

a unitary structure having a flat portion positioned along an edge of the display panel and oriented perpendicular to a front surface of the display panel and having a second portion that extends inward from the flat portion such that the second portion faces a rear surface of the display panel;

a rear support substrate that faces the rear surface of the display panel;

a light guide member that is part of the light emitting unit and is provided between the display panel and the rear support substrate; and

a third structure that contacts a distal end of the second portion and faces at least one end surface of the light guide member,

wherein the unitary structure forms a T-shaped structure that covers an entire edge of the display panel.

2 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a light source that is disposed to face a first end surface of the light guide member that is perpendicular to the front surface of the display panel.

3 . The display device according to claim 2 , further comprising a second end surface of the light guide member that faces the first end surface and is a mirror surface.

4 . The display device according to claim 3 , further comprising a light reflecting layer that covers the second end surface.

5 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the third structure is oriented parallel to the flat portion.

6 . The display device according to claim 5 , wherein the third structure is fixed to the second portion.

7 . The display device according to claim 6 , wherein the third structure is positioned between the display panel and the rear support substrate.

8 . The display device according to claim 7 , further comprising a holding member positioned between the third structure and at least one end surface of the light guide member.

9 . The display device according to claim 8 , further comprising an adhesive layer adhered to the holding member and positioned between the holding member and the at least one end surface of the light guide member.

10 . The display device according to claim 9 , further comprising an optical film positioned between the adhesive layer and the at least one end surface of the light guide member.

11 . The display device according to claim 8 , further comprising an optical film positioned between the holding member and the at least one end surface of the light guide member.

12 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear support substrate includes a metal material.

13 . The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the holding member is provided to run along two end surfaces of the light guide member that are perpendicular to the first end surface.

14 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal module.

15 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide member comprises a glass material having a higher rigidity than resin materials and having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than resin materials.

16 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reflection sheet disposed on a back surface of the light guide member.

17 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the third structure is fixed to the second portion.

18 . The display device according to claim 17 , wherein the third structure is positioned between the display panel and the rear support substrate.

19 . The display device according to claim 18 , further comprising a holding member positioned between the third structure and at least one end surface of the light guide member.

20 . The display device according to claim 19 , further comprising an adhesive layer adhered to the holding member and positioned between the holding member and the at least one end surface of the light guide member.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-104062 · May 25, 2016 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18214730 · Jun 27, 2023
Continuation 17883657 · Aug 9, 2022
Continuation 16096067 · Mar 23, 2017
Related Publication 20250155633A1 · May 15, 2025
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