IP Library › Granted Patent US 12704722
Granted Patent B2
US 12704722 · App. 17/969,695 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Illumination device and display device

Inventors: Shinichi Komura (Tokyo, JP); Koichi Okuda (Tokyo, JP); Ken Onoda (Tokyo, JP); Hiroaki Kijima (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
G02B27/0172G02B6/002G02B6/0053G02B6/0055
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704722
App. No.
17/969,695
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, an illumination device includes a light guide, a plurality of light source elements, and a reflector including a first portion parallel to a second edge of the light guide and a second portion parallel to a third edge of the light guide, and the third edge includes first short edges extending in the first direction and second short edges extending in the second direction, which are alternately arranged, and the second portion includes first pieces extending in the first direction and second pieces extending in the second direction, which are alternately arranged.

Claims (51)

1 . An illumination device comprising:

a light guide including a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a third edge provided between the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge extending in the second direction and opposing the second edge;

a plurality of light source elements adjacent to and opposing the fourth edge of the light guide; and

a reflector including a first portion parallel to the second edge and a second portion parallel to the third edge, wherein

the third edge includes first short edges extending in the first direction and second short edges extending in the second direction, which are arranged alternately in the first direction or the second direction so that the third edge has a step-like shape,

the second portion includes first pieces extending in the first direction and second pieces extending in the second direction, which are arranged alternately in the first direction or the second direction so that the second portion has a step-like shape,

each of the first short edges opposes each of the first pieces,

each of the second short edges opposes each of the second pieces,

each of the first short edges is spaced apart from each of the first pieces,

each of the second short edges is spaced apart from each of the second pieces, and

emission surfaces of all of the light source elements are aligned in a straight line in the second direction.

2 . The illumination device according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of light source elements are each a laser light source emitting a laser beam.

3 . A display device comprising:

an illumination device comprising:

a light guide including a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a third edge provided between the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge extending in the second direction and opposing the second edge;

a plurality of light source elements adjacent to and opposing the fourth edge of the light guide; and

a reflector including a first portion parallel to the second edge and a second portion parallel to the third edge; and

a polygonal display panel comprising a rectangular-shaped first area and two trapezoid-shaped second areas interposing the first area therebetween, which are disposed along the second direction, wherein

the third edge includes first short edges extending in the first direction and second short edges extending in the second direction, which are arranged alternately in the first direction or the second direction so that the third edge has a step-like shape,

the second portion includes first pieces extending in the first direction and second pieces extending in the second direction, which are arranged alternately,

each of the first short edges opposes each of the first pieces,

each of the second short edges opposes each of the second pieces,

each of the first short edges is spaced apart from each of the first pieces,

each of the second short edges is spaced apart from each of the second pieces, and

emission surfaces of all of the light source elements are aligned in a straight line in the second direction.

4 . The display device according to claim 3 , wherein

the plurality of light source elements are each a laser light source emitting a laser beam.

5 . The display device according to claim 3 , wherein

a first light source element of the plurality of light source elements, which illuminates the first area has a luminance of emitting light higher than that of a second light source element which illuminates the second area.

6 . The display device according to claim 5 , wherein

the light guide includes a plurality of convex portions extending in the second direction, and

a distribution in height of the convex portions provided in an area of the light guide, which overlaps the first area is different from a distribution in height of the convex portions provided in an area of the light guide, which overlaps the second area.

7 . A display device comprising:

an illumination device comprising:

a light guide including a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a third edge provided between the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge extending in the second direction and opposing the second edge;

a plurality of light source elements adjacent to and opposing the fourth edge of the light guide; and

a reflector including a first portion parallel to the second edge and a second portion parallel to the third edge; and

a polygonal display panel comprising a rectangular-shaped first area and two trapezoid-shaped second areas interposing the first area therebetween, which are disposed along the second direction, wherein

the third edge includes first short edges extending in the first direction and second short edges extending in the second direction, which are arranged alternately in the first direction or the second direction so that the third edge has a step-like shape,

the second portion includes a plurality of pieces extending in the second direction and spaced apart from each other,

each of the second short edges opposes each of the plurality of pieces,

each of the second short edges is apart from each of the plurality of pieces, and

emission surfaces of all of the light source elements are aligned in a straight line in the second direction.

8 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein

the plurality of light source elements are each a laser light source emitting a laser beam.

9 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein

a first light source element of the plurality of light source elements, which illuminates the first area has a luminance of emitting light higher than that of a second light source element which illuminates the second area.

10 . The display device according to claim 9 , wherein

the light guide includes a plurality of convex portions extending in the second direction, and

a distribution in height of the convex portions provided in an area of the light guide, which overlaps the first area is different from a distribution in height of the convex portions provided in an area of the light guide, which overlaps the second area.