Visor for a computer terminal display and method

United States Patent m

Waintroob

[54] VISOR FOR A COMPUTER TERMINAL DISPLAY AND METHOD

[76] Inventor: Stewart B. Waintroob, 3175 N. Price Rd., No. 1092, Chandler, Ariz. 85224

[21] Appl. No.: 635,290

[22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1990

[51] Int. CI.5 G02B 27/00

[52] U.S. CI 359/601; 359/609;

358/252

[58] Field of Search 359/601, 614, 610, 599,

359/609; 358/252, 255, 253

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,612,612 9/1952 Szegho et al. .

2.955,507 10/1960 Leitz .

3,378.636 4/1968 Hamilton .

3,718,078 2/1973 Plummer 359/601

4.114,983 9/1978 Maffitt et al 359/580

4.190.321 2/1980 Dorer et al 359/581

4.340.276 7/1982 Maffitt et al 359/581

...

US005121253A

[ii] Patent Number: 5,121,253 [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 9, 1992

4.427.264 1/1984 Kamerlina 358/252

4,569.572 2/1986 Kopich 359/601

4.753.516 6/1988 Doi et al 359/609

4.772.096 9/1988 Kai et al 359/601

Primary Examiner—Loha Ben

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Harry M. Weiss

[57] ABSTRACT

A display visor for attaching to a display unit of a computer work station and for minimizing the magnitude and amount and intensity of reflected light beams caused by light beams projected by the screen of a computer display unit. The display visor includes a left wall having a left inner layer and a right wall having a right inner layer and a top wall having a top inner layer. Each inner layer is a granular layer of a substantially black coloring for diffusing a part of the projected light beam in inner surface recesses of each inner layer and for absorbing another part of the projected light beam in the substantially black coloring.

14 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

VISOR FOR A COMPUTER TERMINAL DISPLAY
AND METHOD

The invention generally relates to a visor for display 5 type equipment and method, and, in particular, the invention relates to a visor for a computer display and method having means including a light absorbing and non-reflecting inner surface that increases visual contrast on the display including color and depth, reduces 10 glare, avoids wash out of images on the display, reduces total Ultra Violet light exposure from the display, and permits a user of the display much greater comfort and ease in the use of the display thereby providing a higher level of concentration and focus on the images located 15 on the display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art display visor for connection to a monitor or display terminal of a computer generally com- 20 prised left, right and top walls wherein the inner surface of each wall was not able to adequately reduce the glare and light intensity that is reflected from the display off the inner surface of each wall of the visor to the eyes of a person viewing the monitor or display. 25

One major problem associated with the prior art display visor is that such reflected light from the inner surfaces of the walls of the visor are simultaneously viewed by a user along with the information contained on the display thereby causing a difficulty in seeing the 30 specific contents on the monitor screen without visual interference, also known as visual noise, glare, and good contrast.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,276 discloses a method for reducing reflectivity on the surface of a lens, window or 35 similar light transparent medium. There is no suggestion, disclosure nor teaching in this reference of a visor for a display nor how the disclosed method could be used to provide a visor with an internal continued black and granular surface to reduce glare. 40

U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,983 discloses a light transmission type optical element which has an anti-reflecting surface. There is no suggestion, disclosure nor teaching in this reference of a visor for a display now how the disclosed light transmission type optical element with 45 its anti-reflecting surface could be used to provide a visor with an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,636 discloses a light filter mounted on a color television tube. The filter body is 50 made of transparent material and incorporates a plurality of filter elements wherein each element constitutes a tier of alternating transparent and light absorbing areas to provide multiple light transmitting apertures bordered by light absorbing material. There is no sugges- 55 tion, disclosure nor teaching in this reference of a visor for a display nor how the filter with its multiple light transmitting apertures bordered by light absorbing material could be used to provide a visor with an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare. 60

U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,507 discloses a focusing plate or lens type device wherein a rough surface on the plate acts to diminish focusing and a ground glass surface area serves to provide sharp focusing. There is no disclosure of a visor for a display nor how the focusing 65 plate could be used with its light transmissive and opaque regions to provide a visor with an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,612 discloses a Cathode Ray Tube having a light transmissive glass face plate thereon which has protuberances thereon to reduce the reflectivity of the viewing plate. There is no disclosure of a visor for a display nor how the light transmissive glass face plate can be used to provide a visor with an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,096 discloses a light shade which uses a plurality of opaque walls located along the thickness of a light transmissive medium thereby defining light transmissive cells. A light transmissive substrate plate has one surface attached to the light shade while the other surface of the light transmissive substrate is microscopically rugged. However, there is no disclosure of a visor having an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare nor how the light shade can be used to provide a visor with an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,321 discloses a coating technique for use on, for example, optical devices such as lenses or windows wherein a metal layer is deposited which layer is then formed into an oxide layer and the surface thereof converted into a plurality of leaflets to provide an anti-reflecting surface. However, there is no disclosure of a visor or the use of a visor having an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare nor now the coating technique can be used to form a visor having an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,516 discloses an anti-reflection plate for a display device which uses two layers on a transparent substrate. One layer is flat and transparent while the second layer applied to the first layer has an uneven surface thereon to prevent reflection of external light on a screen of a display device. However, there is no disclosure of a visor nor of a visor for a computer display that has an internal combined black and granular surface to reduce glare.

None of the above cited references teach or disclose a visor for a computer terminal display that incorporates combining both a black or light absorbing and non-reflecting inner surface on the walls of the visor to achieve all of the advantages noted above associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved visor for a computer display and method.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved visor for a computer terminal display and method wherein the inner surfaces of the walls of the visor function to increase visual contrast on the display including color and depth reduce glare, avoid wash out of the images on the display, and permits a user of the display much greater comfort and ease in the use of the display thereby providing a higher level of concentration and focus on the images located on the display.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved visor for a computer display and method wherein ultra violet light exposure from the display is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a display visor for connection to a monitor or display of a computer is provided. This display visor comprises a left wall, a right wall and a top wall respectively having a left inner