Display device

Abstract

A display device includes an edge-lit light-transmitting sheet having first and second opposed parallel surfaces. A matrix is applied to at least one of the first and second surfaces and comprises a series of lines extending between opposed edges of the sheet. The spacings between the lines and/or the thicknesses of the lines are so chosen as to obtain a desired intensity of illumination at selected areas of the sheet.

1 . A method of making a display device of the kind specified which includes applying a matrix to at least one of the first and second surfaces which comprises a series of lines extending between opposed edges of the sheet and in which the spacings between the lines and/or the thicknesses of the lines are so chosen as to obtain a desired intensity of illumination at selected areas of the sheet.  
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a matrix of markings is applied to each of the first and second surfaces so as to cover at least a major proportion of each surface.  
   
   
       3 . A display device of the kind specified which includes a matrix applied to at least one of the first and second surfaces which comprises a series of lines extending between opposed edges of the sheet and in which the spacings between the lines and/or the thicknesses of the lines are so chosen as to obtain a desired intensity of illumination at selected areas of the sheet.  
   
   
       4 . A display device as claimed in  claim 2 , in which a matrix of markings is applied to each of the first and second surfaces so as to cover at least a major proportion of each surface.  
   
   
       5 . A display device as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the sheet of light-transmitting material is of generally rectangular form and there is a first series of lines extending between two of the opposed edges of the sheet and a second series of lines extending between the other two opposed edges of the sheet.  
   
   
       6 . A display device as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the two series of lines intersect to define a plurality of hexagons, i.e. the matrix is in the form of a honeycomb pattern.  
   
   
       7 . A display device of the kind specified which includes a matrix applied to at least one of the first and second surfaces and in which the matrix is of honeycomb form.  
   
   
       8 . A display device as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the light-transmitting sheet is of an acrylic material.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the markings are applied by inkjet printing.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the markings are applied by means of a stencil, by means of a transfer, by laser printing or by engraving.  
   
   
       11 . A display device as claimed in  claim 7 , produced by a method in which a computer-controlled system is used for choosing the thicknesses of the lines forming the hexagons and/or the sizes of the hexagons forming the honeycomb.