IP Library Granted Patent US 8,690,411
Granted Patent B2
US 8,690,411 · App. 13/606,766 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Backlight device, light source device, lens, electronic apparatus and light guide plate

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,690,411
App. No.
13/606,766
Granted
Apr 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a backlight device. The device includes: a light emitting element; a lens having an incident surface on which light emitted by the light emitting element is incident, and an outgoing surface which has an ability to converge the light and from which the light incident on the incident surface goes out; a light guide plate having a light incidence plane and introducing through the incidence plane the light going out from the outgoing surface, so as to perform surface light emission; and a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of the light going out from the outgoing surface of the lens, toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate.

Claims (16)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a light emitting element;

a lens having an incident surface on which light emitted by the light emitting element is incident, and an outgoing surface configured to converge light and from which the light incident on the incident surface is transmitted;

a light guide plate having a light incidence plane and introducing through the incidence plane the light transmitted from the outgoing surface, so as to perform surface light emission;

a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of the light transmitted from the outgoing surface of the lens, toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate, wherein the reflective member comprises a first reflective portion provided so as to face a side surface of the lens and causing light having already been transmitted through the side surface to be repeatedly incident on the side surface and to be transmitted through the outgoing surface, and wherein the reflective member comprises a second reflective portion configured to reflect light having already been transmitted through the outgoing surface toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate, the first reflective portion including a base part having a constant thickness and the second reflective portion including a wedge part having a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction further from the base part and toward the light guide plate; and

a transmittance modulating element having a plurality of pixels and operative to modulate the transmittance of the light emitted by the light guide plate on a pixel basis.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective member comprises a base part having an end edge portion that is disposed a distance furthest from the light guide plate relative to other portions of the reflective member.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the end edge portion of the base part is closer to the light guide plate than the light emitting element is to the light guide plate and the incident surface includes a principal surface configured to converge light and a projected surface provided at an end portion of the principal surface and projected from the principal surface.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein light emitted by the light emitting element is incident on the projected surface prior to reflection by the base part of the reflective member.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first reflective portion comprises a base part having an end edge portion that is disposed a distance further from the light guide plate relative to second reflective portion, wherein the end edge portion of the base part is closer to the light guide plate than the light emitting element is to the light guide plate.

6. A light guide plate comprising:

an incidence plane through which light emitted by a light emitting element is introduced;

at least one of a lens and a prism provided at the incidence plane; and

a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of light transmitted from an outgoing surface of the lens or prism toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate, wherein the reflective member comprises a first reflective portion provided so as to face a side surface of the lens or prism and causing light having already been transmitted through the side surface to be repeatedly incident on the side surface and to be transmitted through the outgoing surface, and wherein the reflective member comprises a second reflective portion configured to reflect light having already been transmitted through the outgoing surface toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate, the first reflective portion including a base cart having a constant thickness and the second reflective portion including a wedge part having a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction further from the base part and toward the light guide plate.

7. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the base part has an end edge portion that is disposed a distance furthest from the light guide plate relative to other portions of the reflective member.

8. The combination of claim 7 , wherein the end edge portion of the base part is closer to the light guide plate than the light emitting element is to the light guide plate and the incident surface includes a principal surface configured to converge light and a projected surface provided at an end portion of the principal surface and projected from the principal surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2017
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SATURN LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 043177/0794 →