IP Library Granted Patent US 7,507,011
Granted Patent B2
US 7,507,011 · App. 11/431,943 · Granted Mar 24, 2009

Surface light source equipment and apparatus using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,507,011
App. No.
11/431,943
Granted
Mar 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surface light source equipment includes a light source and a light conductive plate having a light outgoing surface from which a light introduced from the light source outgoes. The light conductive plate is configured so tat the outgoing light is spread across substantially the entire surface of the light outgoing surface, and a plurality of patterns for reflection of a light conducted in the light conductive plate is formed on an opposite surface to the light outgoing surface of the light conductive plate. The respective patterns are structurcd such that, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light outgoing surface, a light is incident from a substantially fixed direction determined for every pattern. Each of the patterns has an inclined surface on a light incident side. The inclined surface substantially wholly shields both side surfaces of the pattern, as viewed from a direction of light incidence.

Claims (14)

1. A surface light source equipment comprising:

a point light source; and

a light conductive plate having a light outgoing surface from which a light introduced from the light source outgoes, the light conductive plate being configured so that the outgoing light is spread across substantially the entire surface of the light outgoing surface, and a plurality of patterns for reflection of a light conducted in the light conductive plate is formed on an opposite surface to the light outgoing surface of the light conductive plate, wherein

the respective patterns are structured such that, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light outgoing surface, a light is incident from a substantially fixed direction determined for every pattern, and

each of the patterns has an inclined surface on a light incident side, the inclined surface characterized in that, as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the light outgoing surface, the inclined surface is trapezoidal in shape, and an edge of the inclined surface positioned farther from the light source has a smaller width than an edge positioned closer to the light source, and the inclined surface substantially wholly shields both side surfaces of the pattern as viewed from a direction of light incidence.

2. The surface light source equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

a prism sheet is arranged on an observation side of the light conductive plate, and

after a light conducted in the light conductive plate and deflected by the pattern outgoes from the light outgoing surface in a direction inclined relative to a normal line to the light outgoing surface of the light conductive plate, the light is deflected by the prism sheet.

3. An image display unit comprising:

an image display panel; and

the surface light source equipment according to claim 2 , arranged on an observation side of the image display panel, or an opposite side thereto.

4. A portable information terminal comprising the surface light source equipment according to claim 2 .

5. An image display unit comprising: an image display panel; and the surface light source equipment according to claim 1 , arranged on an observation side of the image display panel, or an opposite side thereto.

6. A portable information terminal comprising the surface light source equipment according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: OMRON CORPORATION
To: TOHOKU DENSHI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055219/0844 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2006
From: UENO, YOSHIHIRO; MANABE, KATSUYUKI; SHINOHARA, MASAYUKI
To: OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017953/0097 →