Spread illuminating apparatus

• US 20050243575A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Kunimochi, Toru
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/606
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side

Abstract

A side light type spread illuminating apparatus comprises: a light conductive plate having a plurality of prisms formed on a light exit surface thereof, point light sources; and a prism sheet disposed on the light conductive plate, wherein the prisms have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken along a line orthogonal to the direction the prisms extend, and are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another within a range of 10 to 200 μm, and such that overall tangential angles at respective ends of the prisms vary irregularly within a range of 40 to 70 degrees, and wherein the respective ridges of the prisms are located on a common virtual plane, whereby the prism sheet are supported evenly by all of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

Claims

1. A spread illuminating apparatus comprising:

a light conductive plate having a light exit surface provided with a plurality of prisms which define one extension direction, have respective configurations different from one another in cross section taken along a line orthogonal to the extension direction, and which have their respective ridges located on a common virtual plane;

at least one point light source disposed at a side surface of the light conductive plate; and

a prism sheet having a prism surface provided with a plurality of prisms which define one extension direction, the prism sheet being disposed on the light conductive plate such that the prism surface faces the light exit surface of the light conductive plate, and that the extension direction of the prisms of the prism sheet is oriented substantially orthogonal to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

2. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate is substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the light conductive plate, at which the at least one point light source is disposed.

3. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another.

4. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken the line orthogonal to the extension direction thereof, and wherein two tangential angles at respective butting ends of adjacent two of the prisms of the light conductive plate are equal to each other.

5. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein overall tangential angles at respective ends of the prisms of the light conductive plate are arranged to vary irregularly within a range of 40 to 70 degrees.

6. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken the line orthogonal to the extension direction thereof, and wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another within a range of 10 to 200 μ

m.

7. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

8. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the roughened surfaces of the prisms of the light conductive plate have an average surface roughness of 0.1 to 1.0 μ

m.

9. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another.

10. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken the line orthogonal to the extension direction thereof, and wherein two tangential angles at respective butting ends of adjacent two of the prisms of the light conductive plate are equal to each other.

11. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken the line orthogonal to the extension direction thereof, and wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another within a range of 10 to 200 μ

m.

12. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

13. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

14. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

15. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

16. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the prisms of the light conductive plate have their surfaces roughened with micro ridges and grooves extending in one direction parallel to the extension direction of the prisms of the light conductive plate.