Lighting apparatus for liquid crystal display

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for an LCD (liquid crystal display) is provided to a body of a predetermined device. The lighting apparatus includes a transmissive LCD configured to be movable with respect to the body between a retracted position and a protruded position. An outer surface of the LCD is substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the LCD is provided when the LCD is located at the retracted position. The outer surface of the LCD is protruded from the plane of the body when the LCD is located at the protruded position. An open space is formed on an inner side of the LCD. And at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the LCD located at the protruded position from a rear side thereof is provided.

1 . A display device provided to a body of a predetermined device, comprising:
 a reflective liquid crystal display;   a transparent plate member arranged in front of the liquid crystal display, the plate member being configured to be movable with respect to the liquid crystal display between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the plate member being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the liquid crystal display is provided when the plate member is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the plate member being protruded from the plane of the body when the plate member is located at the protruded position, an open space being formed on an inner side of the plate member; and   at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the liquid crystal display, when the plate member is located at the protruded position, from a front side thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plate member is adapted to be rotatably supported at one side end thereof so that an opposite end portion of the plate member is protrusible outward from the device body; and   wherein the at least one light source is provided at an edge corresponding to the opposite end portion of the plate member.   
   
   
       3 . The display device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a switching system that is configured to switch electric power supply to the at least one light source so that the light source is turned on when the plate member is in the protruded position and turned off when the plate member is in the retracted position.   
   
   
       4 . The display device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a latching system that is configured to latch the plate member in the retracted position in the device body and release the plate member in a manual operation; and   a bias member that is configured to allow the plate member to expand outward from the device body.   
   
   
       5 . A digital camera with a display device, comprising:
 a reflective liquid crystal display;   a transparent plate member being arranged in front of the liquid crystal display and configured to be movable with respect to the liquid crystal display between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the plate member being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the camera body on which the liquid crystal display is provided when the plate member is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the plate member being protruded from the plane of the camera body when the plate member is located at the protruded position, an open space being formed on an inner side of the plate member; and   at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the liquid crystal display, when the plate member is located at the protruded position from a front side thereof.   
   
   
       6 . A lighting apparatus provided to a body of a predetermined device, comprising:
 a transparent plate member being arranged in front of an object and configured to be movable with respect to the object between a retracted position and a protruded position, an outer surface of the plate member being substantially in a same plane of a surface of the body on which the object is provided when the plate member is located at the retracted position, the outer surface of the plate member being protruded from the plane of the body when the plate member is located at the protruded position, an open space being formed on an inner side of the plate member; and   at least one light source configured to emit light toward the open space to illuminate the object, when the plate member is located at the protruded position from a front side thereof.