Electronic appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9989694-B2
Application number	US-201514757665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

There is provided an electronic appliance having an improved structure enabling multi-image conversion. The electronic appliance includes a display device configured to display a plurality of images, wherein the display device includes first and second images that are selectively displayed on a screen. A first light-guiding layer is disposed between the screen and a second light-guiding layer, and two light sources disposed to selectively illuminate the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer. The second light-guiding layer has a thickness that is 25% to 45% greater than a thickness of the first light-guiding layer such that an intensity of light that is emitted from the first light source and introduced into the second light-guiding layer is greater than an intensity of light that is emitted from the second light source and introduced into the first light-guiding layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic appliance, comprising
a display device configured to display a plurality of images,
wherein the display device includes:
a first image and a second image that are selectively displayed;
a first light-guiding layer disposed below a screen;
a second light-guiding layer disposed below the first light-guiding layer; and
at least one light source disposed to selectively illuminate the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer,
wherein the second light-guiding layer has a thickness that is 25% to 45% greater than a thickness of the first light-guiding layer such that an intensity of light that is emitted from the at least one light source and introduced into the second light-guiding layer is greater than an intensity of light that is emitted from the at least one light source and introduced into the first light-guiding layer.

2. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source configured to emit a first light and a second light source configured to emit a second light that are disposed to face the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer.

3. The electronic appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the display device further includes a light shielding unit configured to guide the first light and the second light to the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer, respectively.

4. The electronic appliance according to claim 3 ,
wherein the light shielding unit includes:
a first light shielding unit provided between the first light source and the second light-guiding layer such that the first light is introduced into the first light-guiding layer; and
a second light shielding unit provided between the second light source and the first light-guiding layer such that the second light is introduced into the second light-guiding layer.

5. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the second image is provided on the second light-guiding layer.

6. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display device further includes a reflection layer that is disposed to face the first light-guiding layer with the second light-guiding layer in between such that light emitted from the at least one light source into the second light-guiding layer is able to move toward the screen, and
wherein the second image is provided between the second light-guiding layer and the reflection layer.

7. The electronic appliance according to claim 6 , wherein the first image and the second image are printed on the first light-guiding layer and the reflection layer, respectively, through laser etching.

8. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising an uneven structure to effectively alter a refractive index of light of the second light-guiding layer.

9. The electronic appliance according to claim 8 , wherein the uneven structure is formed by at least one of press processing and laser processing.

10. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the display device further includes a protection cover, which has a surface on which the screen is formed and is disposed on the first light-guiding layer, having an anti-scratch property.

11. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer include at least one of polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material.

12. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the display device further includes:
a printed circuit board that is disposed below the second light-guiding layer; and
a dome switch configured to deliver an electrical signal to the printed circuit board such that the at least one light source selectively illuminates the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer and the first image and the second image are selectively displayed.

13. The electronic appliance according to claim 12 ,
wherein the dome switch is provided on the printed circuit board, and
wherein a pressing unit protruding toward the dome switch is provided on the second light-guiding layer to selectively press the dome switch.

14. The electronic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the display device further includes:
a printed circuit board that is disposed to face the second light-guiding layer; and
a touch unit that is disposed over the second light-guiding layer with the first light-guiding layer in between and electrically connected to the printed circuit board such that the at least one light source selectively illuminates the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer, and the first image and the second image are selectively displayed.

15. An electronic appliance, comprising:
a display device, wherein the display device includes:
a plurality of image implementing units that include a plurality of images that are selectively displayed, at least one light-guiding layer on which the plurality of images are provided and at least one light source that is provided to illuminate the at least one light-guiding layer;
a light shielding unit that separates adjacent ones of the plurality of image implementing units such that light emitted from any light source among the plurality of image implementing units and light emitted from any other light source among the plurality of image implementing units do not interfere with each other; and
a printed circuit board that is disposed below a screen with the plurality of image implementing units and the light shielding unit in between,
wherein:
the plurality of image implementing units includes a first image implementing unit and a second image implementing unit disposed in a longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board, and
the light shielding unit is disposed between the first image implementing unit and the second image implementing unit.

16. The electronic appliance according to claim 15 ,
wherein the at least one light-guiding layer includes:
a first light-guiding layer that is disposed below a screen and on which a first image is provided; and
a second light-guiding layer that is below the first light-guiding layer and on which a second image is provided, and
wherein the second light-guiding layer has a thickness that is 25% to 45% greater than a thickness of the first light-guiding layer such that brightness of light that passes through at least one of the first light-guiding layer and the second light-guiding layer and is emitted to the screen becomes uniform.

17. The electronic appliance according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source and a second light source that are disposed to face the at least one light-guiding layer.

18. The electronic appliance according to claim 15 ,
wherein the light shielding unit is disposed along a perimeter of each of the plurality of image implementing units.

19. The electronic appliance according to claim 15 ,
wherein the display device further includes:
a dome switch that is electrically connected to the printed circuit board such that the at least one light source selectively illuminates the at least one light-guiding layer.

20. The electronic appliance according to claim 19 , wherein the display device further includes a protection cover that has a surface on which the screen is formed and has an anti-scratch property.

21. The electronic applia

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Jung Hye
• Bae Ah Hyun
• Kim Ki Du
• Kim Jin O

Classifications

• G02F1/133512

  Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix (G02F1/136209 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09F2013/185

  Embossed marks · CPC title

• G02F1/133524 Primary

  Light-guides, e.g. fibre-optic bundles, louvered or jalousie light-guides · CPC title

• G02F1/133553

  Reflecting elements (associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605) · CPC title

• G02B6/0065

  Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects · CPC title