IP Library Granted Patent US 8,164,711
Granted Patent B2
US 8,164,711 · App. 12/464,127 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Liquid crystal display device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,164,711
App. No.
12/464,127
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal display device which can make the surface brightness of an edge-light-type backlight uniform is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight includes a light guide plate which is arranged on a back side of the liquid crystal display panel, a light source arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a first main surface of the light guide plate which faces the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner, and a reflection sheet which is arranged on a back side of the light guide plate as viewed from the liquid crystal display panel. The light guide plate is made of a transparent resin having a refractive index of 1.53 or less. On a surface of the light guide plate opposite to the first main surface, a second main surface which is substantially parallel to the first main surface and a plurality of inclined surfaces which are inclined at a preset angle with respect to the second main surface are formed. An angle of the inclined surface positioned near a position at which light from the light source is incident and an angle of the inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source from the light source is incident differ from each other.

Claims (50)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a backlight which radiates lights to the liquid crystal display panel, wherein

the backlight includes a light guide plate and a light source arranged on an outer peripheral portion of the light guide plate, and a light diffusion sheet which is arranged between the light guide plate and the liquid crystal display panel,

the light guide plate is made of a transparent plastic resin having a refractive index of 1.53 or less,

the light guide plate has a first main surface and a second main surface which faces the first main surface in an opposed manner,

the first main surface of the light guide plate is disposed at a position which is closer to the liquid crystal display panel than a position of the second main surface of the light guide plate with respect to the liquid crystal panel,

the second main surface has a plurality of first inclined surfaces, and

a polarization direction of the lights radiated from the light guide plate and a polarization direction of the light diffusion sheet are set equal to each other.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surfaces of the light guide plate are formed such that an angle of the first inclined surface positioned near a position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate and an angle of the first inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate differ from each other, and wherein out of the first inclined surfaces, the angle of the first inclined surface positioned near the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate is set larger than the angle of the first inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate is formed such that an angle of the inclined surface positioned near a position at which the light from the light source is incident is set to 4 degrees or less.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second main surface has second inclined surfaces which abut on the first inclined surfaces,

an angle of the second inclined surface with respect to the first main surface is set larger than an angle of the first inclined surface with respect to the first main surface, and an area of one second inclined surface is set smaller than an area of one first inclined surface.

5. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is formed of a light emitting diode.

6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first main surface of the light guide plate is formed in an approximately rectangular shape,

the light source is arranged on a first side surface which abuts on the first main surface of the light guide plate, and

the plurality of inclined surfaces formed on the light guide plate extends in the direction parallel to the first side surface of the light guide plate and is arranged parallel to each other in the direction orthogonal to the first side surface.

7. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the backlight has a prism sheet arranged between the first main surface of the light guide plate and the liquid crystal display panel, and a cross section of the prism sheet has an asymmetrical shape.

8. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface projects outwardly from the second main surface.

9. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface is recessed inwardly from the second main surface.

10. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a backlight which radiates lights to the liquid crystal display panel, wherein

the backlight includes a light guide plate, a light source arranged on an outer peripheral portion of the light guide plate, a prism sheet which is arranged between the light guide plate and the liquid crystal display panel, and a light diffusion sheet which is arranged between the light guide plate and the liquid crystal display panel,

the light guide plate is made of a transparent plastic resin having a refractive index of 1.53 or less,

the light guide plate has a first main surface and a second main surface which faces the first main surface in an opposed manner,

the first main surface of the light guide plate is disposed at a position which is closer to the liquid crystal display panel than a position of the second main surface of the light guide plate with respect to the liquid crystal panel,

the second main surface has a plurality of first inclined surfaces,

and

a polarization direction of the lights radiated from the light guide plate and a polarization direction of the light diffusion sheet are set equal to each other.

11. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the first inclined surfaces of the light guide plate are formed such that an angle of the first inclined surface positioned near a position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate and an angle of the first inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate differ from each other, and wherein out of the first inclined surfaces, the angle of the first inclined surface positioned near the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate is set larger than the angle of the first inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source is incident on the light guide plate.

12. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the light guide plate is formed such that an angle of the inclined surface positioned near the position at which the light from the light source is incident is set to 4 degrees or less.

13. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein

the second main surface has second inclined surfaces which abut on the first inclined surfaces,

an angle of the second inclined surface with respect to the first main surface is set larger than the angle of the first inclined surface with respect to the first main surface, and an area of one second inclined surface is set smaller than an area of one first inclined surface.

14. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the light source is formed of a light emitting diode.

15. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the first main surface of the light guide plate is formed in an approximately rectangular shape,

the light source is arranged on a first side surface which abuts on the first main surface of the light guide plate, and

the plurality of inclined surfaces formed on the light guide plate extends in the direction parallel to the first side surface of the light guide plate and is arranged parallel to each other in the direction orthogonal to the first side surface.

16. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the first inclined surface projects outwardly from the second main surface.

17. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the first inclined surface is recessed inwardly from the second main surface.

18. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a light emitted from the light source is reflected by the first inclined surface of the second main surface and radiated from the first main surface, and

wherein a peak of an intensity of the light radiated from the first main surface is inclined in a direction away from the light source.

19. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 ,

wherein a light emitted from the light source is reflected by the first inclined surface of the second main surface and radiated from the first main surface, and

wherein a peak of an intensity of the light radiated from the first main surface is inclined in a direction away from the light source.

20. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 19 ,

wherein a cross section of the prism sheet has an asymmetrical shape.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC
To: MAGNOLIA PURPLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071890/0202 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
Reel/Frame 065614/0223 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065614/0644 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065654/0250 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 065615/0327 →
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 May 12, 2009
From: SHIRAISHI, YASUHISA; TSURUOKA, ATSUSHI; TOBE, AKIYOSHI; NISHIZAWA, SHIGEKI; YAJIMA, TOSHIHIRO
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.; HITACHI DISPLAY DEVICES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022667/0858 →