Patent Publication Number: US-2002008811-A1

Title: Adjustable liquid crystal display device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an adjustable LCD display device, and especially relates to an adjustable LCD display device having an adjustable mechanism, two polarizers and a LCD locating between the two polarizers. As the two polarizers make a relative rotation by the adjustable mechanism, either of the contrast and the tint of the characters and the background on the LCD change.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional LCD device. The conventional LCD device includes a LCD  7 , a first polarizer  2 , a second polarizer  6  and a light source  1 . The LCD  7  has a first glass  3 , a liquid crystal layer  4  and a second glass  5 , wherein the liquid crystal layer  4  is sandwiched between the first glass  3  and the second glass  5 . The first polarizer  2  is positioned under the first glass  1 , and the second polarizer  6  is positioned over the second glass  5 . The light source is positioned near one side of the first polarizer  2  and emits an unpolarized light toward the LCD  7 .  
       [0005] As the light source  1  emits an unpolarized light and the LCD  7  receives an image data, the first polarizer  2  will convert the unpolarized light to a linear polarized light. Next, the linear polarized light will pass through the second polarizer  6 . Finally, the characters and the background shown on the LCD device have unchangeable tint and contrast.  
       [0006] However, the first polarizer  2  and the second polarizer  6  are respectively fixed under and over the LCD  7 . Once they are set, these kinds of display device are not easy to change the brightness, contrast and the tint. However, the present consuming electronics are requested to be changeful and led by consumers, so the conventional LCD device is unable to satisfy the consumers who like the new and loathe the old.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] An object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems of the prior art by providing an adjustable liquid crystal display (refer to LCD) device. The adjustable LCD device comprises a LCD, a light source, a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The LCD comprises a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, wherein the light-emitting surface displays the image and the characters. The light source emits an original light beam toward the light-receiving surface of the LCD. The first polarizer is positioned between the light source and the LCD for converting the original light beam into a polarized light, which passes through the LCD. The second polarizer is positioned on the light-emitting surface of the LCD. The present invention further comprises an adjustable mechanism. The first polarizer and the second polarizer can make a relative rotation by the adjustable mechanism. As an angle included by a first polarizing axis of the first polarizer and a second polarizing axis of the second polarizer can be varied by the adjustable mechanism, the characters and the background on the LCD can be displayed in different tint and contrast. Moreover, user can change the tint and the contrast of the characters and the background on the LCD device at user&#39;s own will. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] This and other objects and features of this invention will become clear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanied drawings in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional LCD device;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable LCD device of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable LCD device of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable LCD device of the third embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a view of a cellular phone utilizing the adjustable LCD device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0014] First Embodiment  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable liquid crystal display (refer to LCD) device of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016] The adjustable LCD device comprises a liquid crystal display (refer to LCD)  70 , a light source  10 , a first polarizer  20  and a second polarizer  60 .  
     [0017] The LCD  70  comprises a first glass  30 , a liquid crystal layer  40  and a second glass  50 , wherein the first glass  30  includes a light-receiving surface and the second glass  50  includes a light-emitting surface for displaying the image data. The light source  10  emits an original light beam toward the LCD  70 . The light-receiving surface of the first glass  30  faces the light source  10 , and the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  emits an image light toward users.  
     [0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the first polarizer  20  is positioned between the LCD  70  and the light source  10 . The first polarizer  20  is assembled with an adjustable mechanism  80 , and a space forms between the first polarizer  20  and the first glass  30  of the LCD  70 . The first polarizer  20  converts the original light beam emerging from the light source  10  into a first polarized light, which is able to pass through the LCD  70 .  
     [0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the second polarizer  60  is positioned on the same side as the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  of the LCD  70 . The second polarizer  60  converts the first polarized light passing through the LCD  70  into a second polarized light, which has the same polarization direction with the polarized axis of the second polarizer  60 .  
     [0020] The characteristic of the embodiment of the present invention is that as the first polarizer  20  and the second polarizer  60  make a relative rotation by adjusting the adjustable mechanism  80 , either of the contrast and the tint of the characters and the background on the LCD change. In other words, as the angle included by a first polarizing axis of the first polarizer  20  and a second polarizing axis of the second polarizer  60  is varied by the adjustable mechanism  80 , the characters and the background on the LCD  70  will display different tint and contrast.  
     [0021] In the embodiment, the adjustable mechanism  80  can further assemble with a LCD cover (not shown) of the LCD device to reach the purposes of easy design and adjust.  
     [0022] Second Embodiment  
     [0023]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable LCD device of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0024] The adjustable LCD device comprises a liquid crystal display (refer to LCD)  70 , a light source  10 , a first polarizer  20  and a second polarizer  60 .  
     [0025] The LCD  70  comprises a first glass  30 , a liquid crystal layer  40  and a second glass  50 , wherein the first glass  30  includes a light-receiving surface and the second glass  50  includes a light-emitting surface for displaying the image data. The light source  10  emits an original light beam toward the LCD  70 . The light-receiving surface of the first glass  30  faces the light source  10 , and the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  emits an image light toward users.  
     [0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the first polarizer  20  is positioned between the LCD  70  and the light source  10 . The first polarizer  20  is positioned on the same side as the light-receiving surface of the first glass  30  of the LCD  70 . The first polarizer  20  converts the original light beam emerging from the light source  10  into a first polarized light, which is able to pass through the LCD  70 .  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the second polarizer  60  is positioned on the same side as the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  of the LCD  70 . The second polarizer  60  is assembled with an adjustable mechanism  80 , and a space forms between the second polarizer  60  and the second glass  50  of the LCD  70 . The second polarizer  60  converts the first polarized light passing through the LCD  70  into a second polarized light, which has the same polarization direction with the polarized axis of the second polarizer  60 .  
     [0028] The characteristic of the embodiment of the present invention is that as the first polarizer  20  and the second polarizer  60  make a relative rotation by adjusting the adjustable mechanism  80 , either of the contrast and the tint of the characters and the background on the LCD change. In other words, as the angle included by a first polarizing axis of the first polarizer  20  and a second polarizing axis of the second polarizer  60  is varied by the adjustable mechanism  80 , the characters and the background on the LCD  70  will display different tint and contrast.  
     [0029] In the embodiment, the adjustable mechanism  80  can further assemble with a backlight holder (not shown) of the LCD device to reach the purposes of easy design and adjust.  
     [0030] Third Embodiment  
     [0031]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable LCD device of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0032] The adjustable LCD device comprises a liquid crystal display (refer to LCD)  70 , alight source  10 , a first polarizer  20  and a second polarizer  60 .  
     [0033] The LCD  70  comprises a first glass  30 , a liquid crystal layer  40  and a second glass  50 , wherein the first glass  30  includes a light-receiving surface and the second glass  50  includes a light-emitting surface for displaying the image data. The light source  10  emits an original light beam toward the LCD  70 . The light-receiving surface of the first glass  30  faces the light source  10 , and the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  emits an image light toward users.  
     [0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the first polarizer  20  is positioned between the LCD  70  and the light source  10 . The first polarizer  20  is assembled with a first adjustable mechanism  80 , and a space forms between the first polarizer  20  and the first glass  30  of the LCD  70 . The first polarizer  20  converts the original light beam emerging from the light source  10  into a first polarized light, which is able to pass through the LCD  70 .  
     [0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the second polarizer  60  is positioned on the same side as the light-emitting surface of the second glass  50  of the LCD  70 . The second polarizer  60  is assembled with a second adjustable mechanism  90 , and a space forms between the second polarizer  60  and the second glass  50  of the LCD  70 . The second polarizer  60  converts the first polarized light passing through the LCD  70  into a second polarized light, which has the same polarization direction with the polarized axis of the second polarizer  60 .  
     [0036] The characteristic of the embodiment of the present invention is that as the first polarizer  20  and the second polarizer  60  make a relative rotation by adjusting the first adjustable mechanism  80  and the second adjustable mechanism  90 , either of the contrast and the tint of the characters and the background on the LCD change. In other words, as the angle included by a first polarizing axis of the first polarizer  20  and a second polarizing axis of the second polarizer  60  is varied by relative rotation, the characters and the background on the LCD  70  will display different tint and contrast.  
     [0037]FIG. 5 is a view of a cellular phone utilizing the adjustable LCD device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, as a user rotates the rotation mechanism, the polarizing angles of the first polarizer  20  and the second polarizer  60  vary. Consequently, the characters and background shown on the liquid crystal display device  300  change their tint and contrast upon the rotation of the rotation mechanism.  
     [0038] In all the embodiments of the present invention, as the first polarizer and the second polarizer make a relative rotation, the characters and the background on the liquid crystal display device change their tint and contrast, such as black characters and white background, white characters and black background, orange characters and blue background, yellow characters and purple background . . . etc. At the present day, the contrast ratio (refer to CR) of the conventional LCD device utilizing an electro-fluorescence lamp is about 11:1. However, in some of the embodiments with some specific angle of the present invention, the CR could raise to 20:1. The result is better than the conventional LCD.  
     [0039] In all the embodiments of the present invention, the light source comprises one selective of an electro-fluorescence lamp and a light emitting diode (refers to LED). The adjustable LCD device can be applied to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (refers to PDA) and a palm video game . . . etc.  
     [0040] While the preferred forms of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.