BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of certain components of a mobile phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mobile phone including an LCD device.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the LCD device of the mobile phone of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 an exploded, isometric view of an LCD device of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of certain components of a conventional mobile phone, the mobile phone including an LCD device.
FIG. 5 is an exploded, isometric view of the LCD device of the mobile phone of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various embodiments of the present invention in detail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of certain components of a mobile phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 2 includes an LCD device 22, a wireless communication system 23, and a battery 24. The battery 24 is configured to respectively provide operation voltages to the wireless communication system 23 and the LCD device 22. The wireless communication system 23 is configured to receive and send radio waves from and to other remote mobile phones (not shown). Typically, the radio waves include voice information signals. The LCD device 22 is configured to display information such as the time, phone numbers needed by a user, and operating states of the battery 24 and the mobile phone 2.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the LCD device 22. The LCD device 22 includes an LCD panel 25 configured to display images, and a backlight module 26 configured to illuminate the LCD panel 25. The LCD panel 25 includes a main display area 251, and a non-display area 252 at one side of the display area 251. The non-display area 252 has a driver integrated circuit (IC) 253 for driving the display area 251, a photoelectric cell unit 254, and an input/output interface circuit 255. The photoelectric cell unit 254 includes a plurality of square solar cells 256 arranged in a row. The solar cells may for example be amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells or polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells. The input/output interface circuit 255 is configured to provide signals to the display area 251, and output electrical power generated by the photoelectric cell unit 254 to the battery 24. The battery 24 can store the electrical power generated by the photoelectric cell unit 254.
When the mobile phone 2 is located in a lighted environment, the photoelectric cell unit 254 generates electrical power. The electrical power is output to the battery 24 via the input/output interface circuit 255. The battery 24 is thereby charged, and stores the electrical power. Thus the stand-by time of the mobile phone 2 can be increased.
FIG. 3 an exploded, isometric view of an LCD device 32 of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The LCD device 32 is similar to the above-described LCD device 22. However, a photoelectric cell unit 354 of the LCD device 32 includes a plurality of square solar cells 356 arranged in a regular m×n type matrix. Thus, depending on the configuration of, say, an associated mobile phone, each of the solar cells 356 can receive a same amount of light in a lighted environment.
In a further alternative embodiment, a photoelectric cell unit can be integrated on an LCD panel. Thus a volume of, say, an associated mobile phone can be reduced; and a process of assembly of the mobile phone can be simplified.
The present LCD panel and LCD device can be applied in any of various products that require an LCD panel and/or an LCD device, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras, notebooks, and the like.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that numerous modifications and alterations of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.
Patent Application
20070252799
