IP Library Granted Patent US 8,454,220
Granted Patent B2
US 8,454,220 · App. 13/351,686 · Granted Jun 4, 2013

Illuminator with light source units radially arranged at a reference point of a base frame

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,454,220
App. No.
13/351,686
Granted
Jun 4, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided an illuminator comprising a plurality of light source units that include: a light guide plate; and a plurality of point light sources arranged on a lateral side of the light guide plate, each of the light source units being configured as that light introduced from the plurality of point light sources to the light guide plate is adapted to exit from a main surface of the light guide plate, wherein the plurality of light source units are radially positioned at a reference point of the base frame.

Claims (25)

1. An illuminator comprising:

a plurality of light source units that include:

a light guide; plate that includes:

an internal side positioned radially at a most inside position;

an external side positioned radially at a most outside position; and

a lateral side radially connecting the internal side and the external side; and

a plurality of point light sources arranged on the lateral side of the light guide plate, each of the plurality of light source units being configured such that light introduced from the plurality of point light sources to the light guide plate is adapted to exit from a main surface of the light guide plate,

wherein the plurality of light source units are radially positioned at a reference point of a base frame.

2. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

the light guide plate of each of the plurality of light source units is configured so that the external side of the light guide plate positioned farthest in a radial direction from the reference point of the base frame is made to have a wider width than the internal side of the light guide plate facing the reference point of the base frame.

3. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

a space defined between each of the lateral sides of the light guide plates of adjacent light source units is made constant from the internal side of the light guide plate facing the reference point of the base frame to the external side of the light guide plate positioned farthest in a radial direction from the reference point of the base frame.

4. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

the base frame has a circular configuration in a plan view, a center of the base frame is the reference point.

5. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of point light sources of each of the plurality of light source units are arranged along each of lug portions that is radially placed on the base frame.

6. The illuminator according to claim 5 , wherein

each of the lug portions is shaped to have a wall configuration, and

the plurality of point light sources of the plurality of light source units positioned adjacent to each other are arranged on two side surfaces of the lug portions.

7. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

a frame member is arranged to cover between each of the lateral sides of the light guide plates of adjacent light source units,

the frame member projecting in a direction that light exits from the main surface of the light guide plate to form a projected surface, and

the projected surface of the frame member includes a pair of inclined surfaces that taper while moving away from the main surface of the light guide plate in the direction that light exits.

8. The illuminator according to claim 1 , wherein

an interval between each individual point light source in the plurality of point light sources is adapted to shorten when moving from each of the internal sides of the light guide plates facing the reference point of the base frame to each of the external sides of the light guide plates positioned farthest in a radial direction from the reference point of the base frame.

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 Jan 17, 2012
From: OHNO, YASUO; FUJII, KAORI; NISHIO, MASAHISA
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027556/0651 →