Beam light source and lighting device using same

• US 20020034071A1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mabuchi, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 6,669,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide

Abstract

This invention provides a beam light source which enables a light guide plate for receiving light to have a smooth end surface. A light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide for dispersing and emitting light emitted from a point light source in a form of beam light faces to a channel bottom surface as a scattering reflecting surface of a reflecting member. The light emitted from the light emitting surface is irregularly reflected on the channel bottom surface of the reflecting member so as to make viewing angle characteristics uniform. The light having the uniform viewing angle characteristics is transmitted from the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide through a side surface opposite to the light emitting surface, and is emitted from another side surface opposite to the above side surface.

Claims

1. A beam light source, comprising:

a point light source;

a beam-shaped light guide including a light incident surface for receiving light emitted from the point light source, many of reflecting surfaces for reflecting light received on the light incident surface to a direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the beam-shaped light guide, a light emitting surface, which is orthogonal to the light incident surface, for emitting the light reflected on the reflecting surface, and a side surface opposite to the light emitting surface;

a reflecting member having a channel section shape for controlling an emitting direction of light emitted from the beam-shaped light guide; and

a scattering reflecting surface, which is formed on at least a channel bottom surface of the reflecting member, for irregularly reflecting light,

wherein the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide is arranged so as to face to the channel bottom surface of the reflecting member, light emitted from the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide is irregularly reflected on the scattering reflecting surface on the channel bottom surface to make viewing angle characteristics uniform, is transmitted from the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide through the side surface, and is dispersed and emitted in a form of beam light from the side surface.

2. The beam light source according to claim 1,

wherein the reflecting surfaces are formed by spacing apart with an appropriate interval in the axis direction of the beam-shaped light guide.

3. The beam light source according to claim 1,

wherein the reflecting surfaces are formed on the side surface.

4. The beam light source according to claim 1,

wherein the beam-shaped light guide has a right prism shape, and the reflecting surfaces are formed on a surface formed of a side of the light incident surface and a side of the light emitting surface.

5. A lighting device, comprising:

a point light source;

a beam-shaped light guide for dispersing and emitting light emitted from the point light source in a form of beam light;

a reflecting member having a channel section shape for controlling an emitting direction of light emitted from the beam-shaped light guide; and

a surface light guide plate for receiving light from a beam light source on an end surface and dispersing and emitting the light from either or both of front and rear surfaces in a form of surface light;

wherein the beam-shaped light guide includes a light incident surface for receiving light emitted from the point light source, many of reflecting surfaces for reflecting light received on the light incident surface to a direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the beam-shaped light guide, a light emitting surface, which is orthogonal to the light incident surface, for emitting light reflected on the reflecting surface, and a side surface opposite to the light emitting surface, and

the reflecting member includes a scattering reflecting surface, which is formed on at least a channel bottom surface, for irregularly reflecting light, the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide is arranged so as to face to the channel bottom surface of the reflecting member, light emitted from the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide is irregularly reflected on the scattering reflecting surface on the channel bottom surface to make viewing angle characteristics uniform, is transmitted from the light emitting surface of the beam-shaped light guide through the side surface, and is incident from the side surface to an end surface of the surface light guide plate in a form of beam light.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5,

wherein the end surface of the surface light guide plate is formed in a smooth surface.

7. The lighting device according to claim 5,

wherein the reflecting surfaces are formed by spacing apart by an appropriate interval in the axis direction of the beam-shaped light guide.

8. The lighting device according to claim 5,

wherein the reflecting surfaces are formed on the side surface.

9. The lighting device according to claim 5,

wherein the beam-shaped light guide has a right prism shape, and the reflecting surfaces are formed on a surface formed of a side of the light incident surface and a side of the light emitting surface.