Abstract:
A bezel for a TV display has two or more bezel elements, one being more diffusive of light from a source juxtaposed with the bezel assembly than the other element. One element can laterally border the other element or one element can be directly behind the other. More than two bezel elements may be used.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent app. 61/179,304, filed May 18, 2009. 
    
    
     I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to bezels that surround video displays. 
     II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Video displays may be framed by bezels, which are plastic frames that surround the displays. As understood herein, to improve the visual look and feel of a bezel, creative lighting strategies and bezel construction may be used to enhance the bezel to also promote and enhance the viewability of the display itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A layered bezel assembly has a clear light diffusing layer or bezel element juxtaposed with an element or layer of a different material that can be clear or transluscent colored or even opaque allowing for different appearances of illuminated edges of the assembly. 
     The layered approach can be from the front to back of the bezel or from the outer edge to the inner edge, such that the outer edge material is darkened or black, leading to a clear or translucent diffusion layer for lighting the inner bezel portion near the display. An outer portion of the bezel thus can be darkened or composed of non-lighted material. In the case of the layered front to back option, the back layer can be composed of traditional bezel composites, while having the front layer on top of it capable of being lighted. Thus, when the front portion is unlit, the bezel appears “normal” like the shiny black plastic bezels currently used, and when the surface translucent layer is lit, the bezel has a colored lit hue. 
     Accordingly, an apparatus includes a video display such as a flat panel TV display and one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes (LED) juxtaposed with the video display. A bezel assembly frames the video display. The bezel assembly includes at least first and second bezel elements, and the first bezel element is more diffusive of light from the light source than the second bezel element. 
     In one example embodiment the first bezel element extends laterally beyond the second bezel element relative to the display. The first bezel element can be more diffusive of light than the second bezel element. Alternatively, the first bezel element can be less diffusive of light than the second bezel element. In some cases a third bezel element can be laterally disposed between the first and second bezel elements. 
     In other examples the first bezel element includes plural sub-elements embedded in the second bezel element and separated from each other by material of the second bezel element. 
     In still other examples the first bezel element is disposed between the display and the second bezel element and does not laterally extend beyond the second bezel element. In these embodiments the first bezel element can be more diffusive of light than the second bezel element. Alternatively, the first bezel element can be less diffusive of light than the second bezel element. 
     If desired, the light source may project light parallel to a front surface of the display and at least one of the bezel elements reflects the light perpendicularly away from the display. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus includes a video display, at least one light source juxtaposed with the video display, and a bezel assembly framing the video display. The light source projects light parallel to a front surface of the display the bezel assembly reflects the light perpendicularly away from the display. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus includes a TV display and a multi-layer internally illuminated bezel assembly framing the display. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example display system that can use present bezel principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a first example bezel assembly, showing the display and light sources in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a second example bezel assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a third example bezel assembly, showing the display in phantom; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a fourth example bezel assembly, showing the display and light sources in phantom; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  show additional views of the example shown in  FIG. 5 , specifically, top view of the left hand side of the display, front view of the display, and front side view of the left hand side, respectively; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a fifth example bezel assembly, showing the display and light sources in phantom; and 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show additional views of the example shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an example display system  10  is shown that includes a TV  12  with TV chassis  14  bearing a TV display  16  such as but not limited to a flat panel matrix or plasma display. The display  16  is controlled by a TV processor  18  accessing a computer readable storage medium  20  to present video images from a selected video source such as a TV tuner  22  or other over the air broadcast receiver or disk player. Other sources of video may be provided, e.g., the Internet through an Internet interface, a home theater, a cable head end, etc. 
     The computer readable storage medium  20  may be solid state or disk-based storage containing data and instructions to the TV processor  18  to execute portions of the logic divulged below. It is to be understood that while  FIG. 1  shows that the processor  18 , medium  20 , and TV tuner  22  are in the chassis  14 , in alternate embodiments one or more of these components may be separately housed in, e.g., a set-top box. 
     A bezel assembly  24  frames the display  16 . When the display is rectangular the bezel assembly  24  likewise is rectangular as shown, extending laterally beyond the display  16  on the sides and on the top and bottom of the display. The bezel assembly  24  typically is made of plastic or glass. 
       FIGS. 2-6  show various embodiments of the bezel assembly  24 . In  FIG. 2 , a typically plastic first bezel element  26  extends laterally beyond a second typically plastic bezel element  28  relative to the display  16  as shown. The bezel elements  26 ,  28  are separate layers. In other words, the first bezel element  26  extends beyond the outer perimeter of the second bezel element  28  with the bezel assembly being made in some embodiments using a multi-shot mold. The first bezel element can be less diffusive of light than the second bezel element  28 . In this case, the first bezel element  26  can be transparent or more translucent than the second bezel element, which in some cases may be completely opaque. Accordingly, when one or more light sources  30  such as white or colored LEDs that may be disposed behind the front surface of the bezel assembly (embedded in the bezel material or disposed between the bezel assembly and display  16 ) are illuminated, the effect is to illuminate the outer bezel element  26  and not the inner bezel element  28 . 
     Or, the outer element  26  can be more diffusive of light than the second (inner) bezel element  28 , which may be transparent. In such an embodiment the inner element  28  transmits light from the LEDs to the outer element  26 , which can be colored plastic, creating a floating effect of color. 
     The inner element  28  may be opaque and the outer element may be opaque at its inner periphery, tapering in a lateral gradient to a translucent outer periphery. This can be accomplished by partitioning materials from inner to outer periphery. 
       FIG. 3  shows that instead of lateral layers, a front bezel element  32  can be positioned in front of an interior bezel element  34  such that the front element  32  does not laterally extend beyond the edges of the interior bezel element  34 . In such a case, one or more white or multi-colored light sources  36  may be sandwiched between the bezel elements  32 ,  34 . The front bezel element  32  can be more diffusive of light than the interior bezel element  34  or it can less diffusive. In one embodiment the interior bezel element  34  is black and the front bezel element  32  is clear or colored translucent plastic, such that when the sources  36  are deenergized the interior bezel is visible to appear as a normal black bezel whereas when the sources  36  are energized, the front bezel element  32  becomes illuminated, giving the bezel assembly a colored hue. 
     As was the case with the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , in the embodiment of  FIG. 3  the transition from one diffusion material to another may gradual by, e.g., stacking triangles up to form a rectangle. 
       FIG. 4  shows that a first bezel element  38  can surround the display  16  and a second bezel element can include comprises plural sub-elements  40  which are embedded in the first bezel element  38  and which are separated from each other by material of the first bezel element. The sub-elements  40  have different light diffusion characteristics from the first bezel element  38  and may even have differing light diffusion characteristics as between each other. One or more light sources  42  such as LEDs may be disposed between the bezel element  38  and the display. 
       FIG. 5  shows that three bezel elements each of which successively laterally overlaps the immediate inner edge can be provided. Specifically, an inner bezel element  28   a  can be laterally contiguous with the display  16 , a middle bezel element  44  can be laterally contiguous to with the inner element  28   a  and laterally extend beyond it, and an outer bezel element  26   a  can be laterally contiguous to with the middle element  44  and laterally extend beyond it. The bezel elements  26   a ,  44 ,  28   a  may have respective light diffusion characteristics and light sources may be provided in the bezel as described above. 
     In alternate embodiments, the inner and outer elements  28   a ,  26   a  may both be relatively darker although still permitting the passage of light and the middle element  44  may be lighter such that when the LEDs are lit, the inner element  44  appears to illuminated with the color of LED that is lit and the inner and outer elements appear dark, or the default color of the bezel. When the LEDs are not lit all three elements may appear dark, or the default color of the bezel.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate this. In  FIG. 5A , the shape of the middle element  44  looking down on the TV display is triangular as shown. 
     A bezel assembly  46  is shown in  FIG. 6  that may be implemented by any of the bezel assemblies described previously. In  FIG. 6 , one or more light sources  48  such as LEDs are situated laterally beyond the outer edge of the bezel assembly  46 . The light sources  48  project light parallel to the front surface of the display  16  essentially into the edge of the bezel assembly  46 , with the bezel assembly  46  reflecting the light perpendicularly away from the display toward the viewer.  FIGS. 7 and 8  show additional views of the feature shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     While the particular ACTIVE BEZEL EDGE LIGHTING WITH DIFFUSER LAYER is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.