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US005130827A
[ii] Patent Number: 5,130,827 [45] Date of Patent: Jul. 14, 1992
4,435,046 3/1984 Nishimura 350/334
4,519,679 5/1985 Horikiri et al 350/339 R
4,541,692 9/1985 Collins et al 350/339 D
4,770,499 9/1988 Kobayashi et al 350/339 D
4,838,661 6/1989 McKee et al 350/339 D
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
56-72416 6/1981 Japan 350/334
57- 102611 6/1982 Japan 350/339 R
58- 162931 9/1983 Japan 350/345
2143987 2/1985 United Kingdom 340/784
Primary Examiner—Rolf Hille
Assistant Examiner—Minhloan Tran
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Brian L. Ribando
[57] ABSTRACT
An LCD has both active and passive display areas. The active areas are presented by selective energization of dichroic liquid crystal, and the passive areas are created by a mask. The LCD cell includes a sealed cavity containing the dichroic liquid crystal which has an area substantially less than the total display area. The remaining portion of the LCD cell is free of liquid crystal and is transparent to the passage of light from a rear light source.
16 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
