IP Library Granted Patent US 7,481,568
Granted Patent B2
US 7,481,568 · App. 11/636,992 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

Surface light source device, flat type display device and liquid crystal display device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,481,568
App. No.
11/636,992
Granted
Jan 27, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An uneven surface portion is formed on the inner surface of a lamp holder to thereby reduce the contact area between the inner surface of the lamp holder and a light incident face of a light guide plate. The light incident face of the light guide plate and the inner surface of the lamp holder are prevented from coming into close contact with each other due to heat transferring from cold-cathode fluorescent tubes and to the light guide plate. The heat transferring via the lamp holder to the light guide plate is intercepted by an air layer occurring between the uneven surface portion of the lamp holder and the light incident face of the light guide plate. Accordingly, it can be prevented that a part of the lamp holder sticks to the light incident face of the light guide plate of the backlight when the lamp holder is replaced.

Claims (25)

1. A surface light source device comprising:

a tubular light source;

a holder that is attached to at least one end portion of the light source and has at least one side surface; and

a flat plate type light guide body that has one end portion brought into contact with one side surface of the holder and guides light incident from the one end portion to one principal surface in a planar form, the light source and the holder being detachably attached in a state that the one end portion of the light guide body faces the light source, wherein

the holder has a shape of the one side surface of the holder designed as an uneven surface so that the contact area between the one side surface of the holder and the one end portion of the light guide body is reduced,

the light source and the holder are detachable from the light guide body, and

the uneven surface is provided with a plurality of projecting portions arranged in a direction crossing the detaching direction of the light source and the holder with respect to the light guide body, and large-diameter projecting portions provided at both the sides of the uneven surface so as to sandwich the plurality of projecting portions therebetween, the lateral dimension of the large-diameter projecting portions being larger than that of the projecting portions.

2. The surface light source device according to claim 1 , wherein the uneven surface is provided with a plurality of groove portions each having a U-shaped cross section, and the groove portions are arranged in a direction crossing the detaching direction of the light source and the holder with respect to the light guide body.

3. The surface light source device according to claim 1 , wherein the uneven surface is provided with projecting portions each of which is located between the neighboring groove portions, and the groove portions and the projecting portions are alternately arranged in a direction crossing the detaching direction of the light source and the holder with respect to the light guide body.

4. A flat type display device comprising:

the surface light source device according to claim 1 ; and

a flat display panel attached so as to face one principal surface of the light guide body of the surface light source device.

5. A surface light source device comprising:

a tubular light source;

a holder that is attached to at least one end portion of the light source and has at least one side surface; and

a flat plate type light guide body that has one end portion brought into contact with one side surface of the holder and guides light incident from the one end portion to one principal surface in a planar form, the light source and the holder being detachably attached in a state that the one end portion of the light guide body faces the light source, wherein

the holder has a shape of the one side surface of the holder designed as an uneven surface so that the contact area between the one side surface of the holder and the one end portion of the light guide body is reduced,

the uneven surface has groove portions each having a U-shaped cross-section,

the light source and the holder are moved along the longitudinal direction of the light source so as to be detachable from the light guide body, and

the groove portions are provided continuously across both end portions of the holder along the longitudinal direction of the light source.

6. The surface light source device according to claim 5 , wherein the uneven surface is provided with a plurality of groove portions each having a U-shaped cross section, and the groove portions are arranged in a direction crossing the detaching direction of the light source and the holder with respect to the light guide body.

7. The surface light source device according to claim 5 , wherein the uneven surface is provided with projecting portions each of which is located between the neighboring groove portions, and the groove portions and the projecting portions are alternately arranged in a direction crossing the detaching direction of the light source and the holder with respect to the light guide body.

8. A flat type display device comprising:

the surface light source device according to claim 5 ; and

a flat display panel attached so as to face one principal surface of the light guide body of the surface light source device.

Assignments (2)
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 →