IP Library Granted Patent US 7,661,867
Granted Patent B2
US 7,661,867 · App. 12/068,526 · Granted Feb 16, 2010

Spread illuminating apparatus and display device incorporating same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,661,867
App. No.
12/068,526
Granted
Feb 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spread illuminating apparatus is provided which includes: a light conductor plate having a light inlet surface and two major surfaces; a light source unit disposed at the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate; and a light diffuser pattern disposed at the lower major surfaces of the two major surfaces of the light conductor plate, wherein the light source unit includes first and second white light sources which have respective different light emitting principles, are arranged in the width direction of the light conductor plate with their respective ends set close to one another, and which can be turned on and off independently of each other.

Claims (20)

1. A spread illuminating apparatus comprising:

a light conductor plate having a light inlet surface and two major surfaces;

a light source unit being disposed at the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, the light source unit including plural kinds of white light sources that are arranged close to one another and that emit white lights having respective different light emission spectra; and

a light diffuser pattern being disposed at least one of the two major surfaces of the light conductor plate, and being disposed at an area corresponding to the light source unit;

wherein the light diffuser pattern is provided on at least one of the two major surfaces of the light conductor plate, the light diffuser pattern being located at an area close to the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, and the light diffuser pattern includes a plurality of first regions that are located so as to face the light source unit in a light emitting direction of the light source unit and a plurality of second regions that are located between the first regions adjacently disposed, an area density occupied by the first regions being lower than an area density occupied by the second regions.

2. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plural kinds of white light sources of the light source unit include:

a first white light source comprising a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength converting substance; and

a second white light source comprising a semiconductor light emitting element and two wavelength converting substances, and

wherein white lights emitted by the first and second white light sources have respective different light emission spectra.

3. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source unit is structured such that the plural kinds of white light sources to emit white lights having respective different light emission spectra are arranged in a thickness direction of the light conductor plate.

4. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plural kinds of white light sources are put in an integrated structure.

5. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plural kinds of white light sources are put in one package component.

6. A display device comprising:

a spread illuminating apparatus, the spread illuminating apparatus including:

a light conductor plate having a light inlet surface and two major surfaces;

a light source unit being disposed at the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, the light source unit including plural kinds of white light sources that are arranged close to one another and that emit white lights having respective different light emission spectra; and

a light diffuser pattern being disposed at least one of the two major surfaces of the light conductor plate, and being disposed at an area corresponding to the light source unit;

the light diffuser pattern is provided on at least one of the two major surfaces of the light conductor plate, the light diffuser pattern being located at an area close to the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, and the light diffuser pattern includes a plurality of first regions that are located so as to face the light source unit in a light emitting direction of the light source unit and a plurality of second regions that are located between the first regions adjacently disposed, an area density occupied by the first regions being lower than an area density occupied by the second regions;

wherein the plural kinds of white light sources are controlled to turn on and off independently of one another.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 051803/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2008
From: EGAWA, MOTOJI; EDAMITSU, TAKASHI
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 020601/0040 →