IP Library Granted Patent US 7,614,777
Granted Patent B2
US 7,614,777 · App. 11/729,777 · Granted Nov 10, 2009

Liquid crystal display device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,614,777
App. No.
11/729,777
Granted
Nov 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device of high quality having high brightness and uniform brightness distribution by focusing the light radiation direction from a light guide plate in the vertical direction with respect to a light radiation surface of the light guide plate. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a flat lighting device which radiates an illumination light to a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The flat lighting device includes a light guide plate which has an upper surface facing a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner and constituting a light radiation surface and a bottom surface which is arranged opposite to the upper surface. One LED is arranged at a first corner portion of the light guide plate and another LED is arranged at a second corner portion of the light guide plate arranged adjacent to the first corner portion. By forming reflection surfaces which are inclined toward the upper surface from the bottom surface of the light guide plate and inclined surfaces which abut on the reflection surfaces on the lower surface of the light guide plate, the light radiation direction from the light guide plate is focused in the vertical direction with respect to the upper surface of the light guide plate.

Claims (44)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a backlight which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel,

wherein the backlight includes

a first light source element and a second light source element,

a light guide plate which allows incidence of light thereon from the first light source element and the second light source element, and

a plurality of pyramids, each of the plurality of pyramids comprising a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface,

wherein the first inclined surface is formed on the light guide plate and facing to the first light source element, and

second inclined surface is formed on the light guide plate and facing to the second light source element, and

wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are contacted with each other so as to form two sides of each pyramid,

a tangent line of the first inclined surface to the light guide plate is orthogonal to the light from the first light source element, and

a tangent line of the second inclined surface to the light guide plate is orthogonal to the light from the second light source element, and

wherein a size of the first inclined surface and a size of the second inclined surface increase as a distance from the first light source element and the second source element increases.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein inclined angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are set to values which fall within a range of 55°±10° with respect to a bottom surface of the light guide plate.

3. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a flat lighting device which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel,

wherein the flat lighting device includes

a light guide plate which has a light radiation surface which faces a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner and a bottom surface which is arranged opposite to the light radiation surface,

a first light source element which is arranged at a first corner portion of the light guide plate,

a second light source element which is arranged at a second corner portion adjacent to the first light emitting element, and

a plurality of pyramids, each of the plurality of pyramids comprising a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface,

wherein the first inclined surface is formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate and is inclined toward the light radiation surface from the bottom surface, the first inclined surface capable of reflecting light from the first light source element toward the light radiation surface, and

the second inclined surface is formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate and is inclined toward the light radiation surface from the bottom surface, the second inclined surface capable of reflecting light from the second light source element toward the light radiation surface, and

wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are contacted with each other so as to form two sides of each pyramid, a line at which the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are contacted with each other is inclined with respect to the bottom surface,

a tangent line of the first inclined surface is orthogonal to the light from the first light source element, and

a tangent line of the second inclined surface is orthogonal to the light from the second light source element, and

wherein a size of the first inclined surface and a size of the second inclined surface increase as a distance from the first light source element and the second source element increases.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein inclined angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are set to values which fall within a range of 55°±10°.

5. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a flat lighting device which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel,

wherein the flat lighting device includes

a light guide plate which has a light radiation surface which faces the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner and a bottom surface which is arranged opposite to the light radiation surface,

a first light emitting element which is arranged at a first corner portion of the light guide plate,

a second light emitting element which is arranged at a second corner portion adjacent to the first light emitting element, and

a plurality of pyramids, each of the plurality of pyramids comprising a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface,

wherein a first inclined surface is formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate and is inclined toward the light radiation surface from the bottom surface, the first inclined surface capable of reflecting light from the first light emitting element toward the light radiation surface, and

a second inclined surface is formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate and is inclined toward the light radiation surface from the bottom surface, the second inclined surface capable of reflecting light from the second light emitting element toward the light radiation surface, and

wherein the first inclined surface and the bottom surface are contacted with each other at a first tangent line, the first tangent line being orthogonal to a straight line drawn to the first inclined surface from the first light emitting element,

the second inclined surface and the bottom surface are contacted with each other at a second tangent line, the second tangent line being orthogonal to a straight line drawn to the second inclined surface from the second light emitting element,

the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are contacted with each other so as to form two sides of each pyramid, and a line at which the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are contacted with each other is inclined with respect to the bottom surface, and

wherein a size of the first inclined surface and a size of the second inclined surface increase as a distance from the first light source element and the second source element increases.

6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 , wherein inclined angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are set to values which fall within a range of 55°±10° with respect to the bottom surface of the light guide plate.

Assignments (4)
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE OF PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Dec 12, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027362/0532 →
MERGER/CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 12, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027363/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAY DEVICES, LTD.
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 026223/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2007
From: KOGANEZAWA, NOBUYUKI; TOBE, AKIYOSHI
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.; HITACHI DISPLAY DEVICES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 019188/0450 →