IP Library Granted Patent US 7,153,018
Granted Patent B2
US 7,153,018 · App. 10/506,811 · Granted Dec 26, 2006

Illumination unit and liquid crystal display comprising it

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,153,018
App. No.
10/506,811
Granted
Dec 26, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting unit comprises a light source, a light guiding plate disposed in the vicinity of the light source for guiding light from the light source, a first reflecting sheet disposed so as to cover a rear surface of the light guiding plate, and a second reflecting sheet disposed so as to cover the light source and the light guiding plate covered with the first reflecting sheet, wherein the first reflecting sheet is interposed and held between the second reflecting sheet and the light guiding plate. The first reflecting sheet may be formed by a single layer or plural layers.

Claims (23)

1. A lighting unit comprising:

a light source;

a light guiding component for guiding light emitted from the light source to an object to be illuminated; and

a reflecting component configured to cover the light guiding component, wherein

the reflecting component comprises a reflecting sheet configured to cover a surface of the light guiding component, and a hold sheet for holding the whole reflecting sheet and

the reflecting sheet is interposed and held between the light guiding component and the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet such that the reflecting sheet is not fixed to the light guiding component and the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet.

2. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet is fixed to the light guiding component.

3. The lighting unit according to claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet is fixed to a surface of the light guiding component.

4. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet is formed by a reflecting sheet.

5. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein an electrically conductive sheet is disposed on a region of the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet which is configured to cover the light source, and configured to block an electromagnetic wave radiated from the light source.

6. The lighting unit according to claim 5 , wherein

the light guiding component is a light guiding plate;

the light source is disposed along an end face of the light guiding plate;

the reflecting sheet covers at least a rear surface of the light guiding plate;

the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet covers the rear surface of the light guiding plate covered with the reflecting sheet, the light source, and the end face of the light guiding plate; and

the electrically conductive sheet is disposed on a surface of the hold sheet for holding the reflecting sheet.

7. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a lighting unit according to claim 1 ;

a liquid crystal panel disposed on a light emanating surface side of the lighting unit; and

a drive unit for driving the lighting unit and the liquid crystal panel.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 comprising the lighting unit according to claim 5 .

9. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hold sheet is configured to cover the light source.

10. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hold sheet is configured to have a thermal conductivity coefficient lower than that of the reflecting sheet.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028339/0273 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY CENTRAL INC.
Reel/Frame 028339/0316 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2007
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
To: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018999/0148 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2004
From: NOMURA, MITSUO
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016415/0269 →