Display panel and method of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10481306-B2
Application number	US-201615354766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 3, 2015
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A display panel includes a base material that transmits light, a groove portion defined in a back surface of the base material and defined corresponding to a display pattern that is displayed on a front surface side of the base material, a light-blocking film, formed on the back surface where the groove portion is not defined and on a side surface of the groove portion, that blocks light through the back surface, a light-transmissive region that includes a region on an upper surface of the groove portion where the light-blocking film is not formed and that transmits light, and a metal film formed in at least the light-transmissive region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display panel, comprising:
a base material that transmits light and that is formed in a plate shape;
a groove portion defined in a back surface of the base material and defined corresponding to a display pattern that is displayed on a front surface side of the base material;
a light-blocking film, formed on the back surface where the groove portion is not defined and on a side surface of the groove portion, that blocks light through the back surface;
a light-transmissive region that comprises a region on an upper surface of the groove portion where the light-blocking film is not formed and that transmits light; and

a metal film formed in at least the light-transmissive region,
wherein the metal film overlies the light-blocking film, and is of such a thickness that it transmits light,
wherein the light-blocking film is configured to reduce an intensity of light transmitted therethrough, and
wherein the light-blocking film is configured to have a light transmittance of not more than 1%.

2. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking film suppresses reflection of light entering through the front surface side of the base material.

3. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking film is formed covering an entirety of the side surface of the groove portion.

4. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the groove portion is parallel to a front surface of the base material.

5. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the metal film on the light-transmissive region is more than a half of a thickness of the base material away from the light-blocking film on the back surface.

6. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking film is formed covering only one or more side surfaces of the groove portion.

7. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking film is formed covering an entirety of opposing side surfaces of the groove portion.

8. A method of manufacturing a display panel, comprising:
defining a groove portion in a back surface of a base material corresponding to a display pattern, the base material being formed in a plate shape;
forming a light-blocking film that blocks light on the back surface and on the groove portion by applying a material of the light-blocking film to the back surface such that the light-blocking film covers an entirety of the back surface;
forming a light-transmissive region that transmits light by removing the light-blocking film on an upper surface of the groove portion; and

forming a metal film in at least the light-transmissive region of such a thickness that it transmits light,
wherein the light-blocking film is configured to reduce an intensity of light transmitted therethrough, and
wherein the light-blocking film is configured to have a light transmittance of not more than 1%.

Assignees

• Tokai Rika Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takano Yoshinori
• Fujimoto Takeshi

Classifications

• B44F1/00

  Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects · CPC title

• B44C5/04 Primary

  Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers · CPC title

• G02B5/003 Primary

  Light absorbing elements · CPC title

• G06F3/0412 Primary

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title