IP Library Granted Patent US 8,174,640
Granted Patent B2
US 8,174,640 · App. 12/184,833 · Granted May 8, 2012

Illumination apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,174,640
App. No.
12/184,833
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus includes a polarization plate, a light source, and a light transmission film disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and including a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof. The plurality of prisms each have a ridge line in a first direction and are continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate. The plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.

Claims (56)

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the refractive index in the arrangement direction of the plurality of prisms is equal to or approximately equal to the refractive index in the thickness direction thereof.

3. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a polarization plate;

a light source;

a light transmission film that is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the arrangement direction being smaller than the refractive indexes in the ridge line direction and thickness direction.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the refractive index in the ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is equal to or approximately equal to the refractive index in the thickness direction thereof.

5. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a parallel direction and an approximately parallel direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the arrangement direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the ridge line direction and thickness direction.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the refractive index in the ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is equal to or approximately equal to the refractive index in the thickness direction thereof.

7. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a parallel direction and an approximately parallel direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being smaller than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the refractive index in the arrangement direction of the plurality of prisms is equal to or approximately equal to the refractive index in the thickness direction thereof.

9. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel including a light-incident-side polarization plate, a light-exit-side polarization plate, and a liquid crystal cell disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light-exit-side polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the light-incident-side polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.

10. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel including a light-incident-side polarization plate, a light-exit-side polarization plate, and a liquid crystal cell disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light-exit-side polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the light-incident-side polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the arrangement direction being smaller than the refractive indexes in the ridge line direction and thickness direction.

11. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel including a light-incident-side polarization plate, a light-exit-side polarization plate, and a liquid crystal cell disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light-exit-side polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a parallel direction and an approximately parallel direction to a transmission axis of the light-incident-side polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the arrangement direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the ridge line direction and thickness direction.

12. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel including a light-incident-side polarization plate, a light-exit-side polarization plate, and a liquid crystal cell disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light-exit-side polarization plate;

a light source; and

a light transmission film that is disposed between the light-incident-side polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a parallel direction and an approximately parallel direction to a transmission axis of the light-incident-side polarization plate, and

wherein the plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being smaller than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.

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 Aug 11, 2008
From: HOSHI, MITSUNARI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021368/0520 →