IP Library Granted Patent US 7,492,520
Granted Patent B2
US 7,492,520 · App. 11/758,364 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Light source apparatus and display apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,492,520
App. No.
11/758,364
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source apparatus is provided. The light source apparatus includes: a light-emitting portion; a light-guiding plate having the light-emitting portion disposed at a side surface thereof, light beams being emitted from a top surface of the light-guiding plate; and a light path converting sheet above the light-guiding plate, formed of a prism sheet including cylindrical prisms, a cross-section of which is an isosceles triangle. Each of the prisms includes a light incidence plane that forms a first equilateral constituting an apex angle of the isosceles triangle, a reflection plane that forms a base of the isosceles triangle and a light exit plane that forms a second equilateral constituting the apex angle of the isosceles triangle The prism is disposed such that the light incidence plane is approximately perpendicular to a direction of light beams with highest luminous intensity among the light beams emitted from the top surface of the light-guiding plate.

Claims (16)

1. A light source apparatus comprising:

a light-emitting portion;

a light-guiding plate having the light-emitting portion disposed at a side surface thereof, light beams being emitted from a top surface of the light-guiding plate; and

a light path converting sheet above the light-guiding plate, formed of a prism sheet including cylindrical prisms, a cross-section of which is a polygon obtained by deforming an isosceles triangle;

wherein each of the prisms on the prism sheet includes at least a first light incidence plane that forms a first equilateral constituting one surface of each of the prisms associated with an apex angle of the isosceles triangle, a first reflection plane that forms a base of the isosceles triangle, and a second light incidence plane that forms one side of the polygon, a second reflection plane that forms another side of the polygon and a light exit plane that forms a second equilateral constituting another surface of each of the prisms associated with the apex angle of the isosceles triangle, an angle formed with the second reflection plane and the light exit plane being equal to an angle formed with the second reflection plane and the second light incidence plane, and

wherein each of the prisms is disposed such that the first light incidence plane is approximately perpendicular to a direction of light beams with highest luminous intensity and that the second light incidence plane is approximately perpendicular to a direction of light beams with second highest luminous intensity, among the light beams emitted from the top surface of the light-guiding plate.

2. A light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting portion includes a light-emitting diode or a fluorescent lamp.

3. A display apparatus comprising:

a display unit for displaying an image; and

a light source apparatus for illuminating the display unit from a back side of said display unit,

the light source apparatus including

a light-emitting portion,

a light-guiding plate having the light-emitting portion disposed at a side surface thereof, light beams being emitted from a top surface of the light-guiding plate, and

a light path converting sheet above the light-guiding plate, formed of a prism sheet including cylindrical prisms, a cross-section of which is a polygon obtained by deforming an isosceles triangle;

wherein each of the prisms on the prism sheet includes at least a first light incidence plane that forms a first equilateral constituting one surface of each of the prisms associated with an apex angle of the isosceles triangle, a first reflection plane that forms a base of the isosceles triangle, a second light incidence plane that forms one side of the polygon, a second reflection plane that forms another side of the polygon and a light exit plane that forms a second equilateral constituting another surface of each of the prisms associated with the apex angle of the isosceles triangle, an angle formed with the second reflection plane and the light exit plane being equal to an angle formed with the second reflection plane and the second light incidence plane, and

wherein each of the prisms is disposed such that the first light incidence plane is approximately perpendicular to a direction of light beams with highest luminous intensity and that the second light incidence plane is approximately perpendicular to a direction of light beams with second highest luminous intensity, among the light beams emitted from the top surface of the light-guiding plate.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2017
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SATURN LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 043177/0794 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2007
From: YOKOTA, KAZUHIRO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019543/0805 →