IP Library Granted Patent US 8,894,264
Granted Patent B2
US 8,894,264 · App. 13/770,433 · Granted Nov 25, 2014

Spread illuminating apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,894,264
App. No.
13/770,433
Granted
Nov 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spread illuminating apparatus includes: a light guide plate with an emitting surface, a plurality of optical sheets laminated on the emitting surface, a light-blocking member that defines an effective area of the emitting surface, a light source, and a frame for accommodating the above constituents. The plurality of optical sheets are formed such that a position of an edge of each optical sheet on the incident light surface side of the light guide plate is spaced farther apart from the incident light surface of the light guide plate as moving toward a top layer of the optical sheets counted from the emitting surface, and the light-blocking member is fixed to each optical sheet and extends from the incident light surface side of the light guide plate so as to cover a vicinity of the edges of the plurality of optical sheets.

Claims (21)

1. A spread illuminating apparatus comprising:

a light guide plate where one surface among a pair of opposing principal surfaces is an emitting surface,

a plurality of optical sheets laminated on the emitting surface,

a light-blocking member that defines an effective area of the emitting surface,

a light source disposed facing an incident light surface of the light guide plate, and

a frame for accommodating the light guide plate, the plurality of optical sheets, the light-blocking member, and the light source,

wherein the plurality of optical sheets are formed such that a position of an edge of each optical sheet on the incident light surface side of the light guide plate is spaced farther apart from the incident light surface of the light guide plate as moving toward a top layer of the optical sheets counted from the emitting surface, and

the light-blocking member is fixed to each optical sheet and extends from the incident light surface side of the light guide plate so as to cover a vicinity of the edges of the plurality of optical sheets.

2. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an inclined surface is formed in a range of a predetermined width from the incident light surface of the light guide plate toward a center of the emitting surface of the light guide plate such that the thickness between the pair of opposing principal surfaces becomes thinner toward the center of the light guide plate,

a range more toward the center than the inclined surface of the light guide plate has a constant thickness, and

a range of a predetermined width of the plurality of optical sheets from the edge on the incident light surface side of the light guide plate is inclined following the inclined surface formed on the emitting surface of the light guide plate.

3. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein an optical sheet positioned at the topmost layer counted from the emitting surface among the plurality of optical sheets is disposed in parallel to the emitting surface of the light guide plate in a portion where the thickness is constant, the topmost layer arranged without resting on the inclination of other optical sheets positioned below the topmost layer.

4. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, on the side of the incident light surface of the light guide plate, a top side edge of the topmost layer counted from the emitting surface among the plurality of optical sheets is positioned corresponding to a top side edge of an optical sheet disposed directly below the topmost layer in the laminating direction of the plurality of optical sheets.

5. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, on the side of the incident light surface of the light guide plate, a top side edge of an optical sheet disposed above the bottommost layer counted from the emitting surface among the plurality of optical sheets is positioned below a top side edge of the bottommost layer in the layering direction of the plurality of optical sheets.

6. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical sheets include a first sheet positioned in a first layer counted from the emitting surface, a second sheet laminated on top of the first sheet, and a third sheet laminated on top of the second sheet.

7. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, on the side of the incident light surface of the light guide plate, a top side edge of an optical sheet disposed above the bottommost layer counted from the emitting surface among the plurality of optical sheets is positioned below a top side edge of the bottommost layer in the layering direction of the plurality of optical sheets.

8. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, on the side of the incident light surface of the light guide plate, a top side edge of an optical sheet disposed above the bottommost layer counted from the emitting surface among the plurality of optical sheets is positioned below a top side edge of the bottommost layer in the layering direction of the plurality of optical sheets.

9. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of optical sheets include a first sheet positioned in a first layer counted from the emitting surface, a second sheet laminated on top of the first sheet, and a third sheet laminated on top of the second sheet.

10. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of optical sheets include a first sheet positioned in a first layer counted from the emitting surface, a second sheet laminated on top of the first sheet, and a third sheet laminated on top of the second sheet.

11. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of optical sheets include a first sheet positioned in a first layer counted from the emitting surface, a second sheet laminated on top of the first sheet, and a third sheet laminated on top of the second sheet.

12. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of optical sheets include a first sheet positioned in a first layer counted from the emitting surface, a second sheet laminated on top of the first sheet, and a third sheet laminated on top of the second sheet.

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 Feb 21, 2013
From: TAKADA, SHOHEI; HORIKAWA, TOMOTAKA
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030012/0457 →