IP Library Granted Patent US 8,162,499
Granted Patent B2
US 8,162,499 · App. 12/473,761 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Backlight unit, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus

Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,162,499
App. No.
12/473,761
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A backlight unit includes: an arrangement surface on which a plurality of light sources are arranged; a plurality of reflection surfaces which are erected from a plurality of edges of the arrangement surface and reflect a light from the plurality of light sources, wherein the light emitted from the light sources and the light reflected from the plurality of reflection surfaces irradiate to an irradiation area surrounded by the plurality of reflection surfaces; the plurality of reflection surfaces are each inclined at an inclination angle smaller than 90 degrees with respect to extension surface of the arrangement surface which extends toward the outside of the reflection surface; at least one reflection surface of the plurality of reflection surfaces includes a large inclination area inclined at a large inclination angle and a small inclination area inclined at a small inclination angle; and the light source arranged close to the large inclination area is disposed closer to the outside frame of the irradiation area than the other light sources arranged close to the small inclination area in plan view from the irradiation area.

Claims (33)

1. A backlight unit comprising:

an arrangement surface on which a plurality of light sources are arranged; and

a plurality of reflection surfaces which are erected from a plurality of edges of the arrangement surface and reflect a light from the plurality of light sources,

wherein the light emitted from the light sources and the light reflected from the plurality of reflection surfaces irradiate to an irradiation area surrounded by the plurality of reflection surfaces;

the plurality of reflection surfaces are each inclined at an inclination angle smaller than 90 degrees with respect to extension surface of the arrangement surface which extends toward the outside of the reflection surface;

at least one reflection surface of the plurality of reflection surfaces includes a large inclination area inclined at a large inclination angle and a small inclination area inclined at a small inclination angle; and

the light source arranged close to the large inclination area is disposed closer to the outside frame of the irradiation area than the other light sources arranged close to the small inclination area in plan view from the irradiation area.

2. A backlight unit comprising:

an arrangement surface on which a plurality of light sources are arranged; and

a plurality of reflection surfaces which are erected from a plurality of edges of the arrangement surface and reflect a light from the plurality of light sources,

wherein the light emitted from the light sources and the light reflected from the plurality of reflection surfaces irradiate to an irradiation area surrounded by the plurality of reflection surfaces;

the plurality of reflection surfaces are each inclined at an inclination angle smaller than 90 degrees with respect to extension surface of the arrangement surface which extends toward the outside of the reflection surface;

at least one reflection surface of the plurality of reflection surfaces includes a large inclination area inclined at a large inclination angle and a small inclination area inclined at a small inclination angle; and

the large inclination area is provided at a position to which a larger amount of light is emitted from the light sources and the small inclination area is provided at a position to which a smaller amount of light is emitted from the light sources.

3. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , wherein the reflection surface is formed in a surface which continuously connects the large inclination area and the small inclination area.

4. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a case which includes a bottom plate and a plurality of side walls erected from edges of the bottom plate,

wherein the arrangement surface on which the plurality of light sources are arranged is placed on an inner surface of the bottom plate, and

wherein the plurality of reflection surfaces from which the light emitted from the plurality of light sources is reflected are arranged on inner surfaces of the plurality of side walls.

5. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a case which includes a bottom plate and a plurality of side walls erected from edges of the bottom plate,

wherein the bottom plate is the arrangement surface on which the plurality of light sources are arranged, and

wherein the plurality of reflection surfaces on which the light emitted from the plurality of light sources is reflected are arranged on inner surfaces of the plurality of side walls.

6. The backlight unit according to claim 4 , wherein a space is formed between the outside of the small inclination area and the inside of the side wall.

7. The backlight unit according to claim 6 , wherein an electronic component is provided in the space.

8. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , wherein a direction of the peak of the amount of light emitted from the light sources is inclined at an angle from 50 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to a front direction of the light sources.

9. An electro-optical device comprising:

the backlight unit according to claim 1 ; and

a display panel which is disposed to overlap with the irradiation area of the backlight unit,

wherein the display panel includes an effective display area for displaying an image, and

wherein in plan view from the irradiation area, an outside frame of the effective display area overlaps with the plurality of reflection area of the backlight unit.

10. The electro-optical device according to claim 9 , wherein the effective display area is provided within the irradiation area.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 9 .

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 044003/0557 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 043587 FRAME 0023. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Sep 21, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043931/0372 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 11, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043811/0553 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION; SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043587/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2009
From: NAKANISHI, DAISUKE
To: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022748/0182 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-199330 · Aug 1, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100027243A1 · Feb 4, 2010