Light emission source and light emission method using light emission source

• US 20060268576A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Matsui, Akira, Homma, Kenji, Kiyomoto, Hironobu
• Application Number:
  US11/439,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/613
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A light emission source includes a reflector, a first light reflecting surface disposed on the reflector, a light guide disposed on the side of the reflector with the first light reflection surface, and a light emitter for emitting light towards the light guide. The light guide includes a second light reflection surface disposed facing the first light reflection surface for reflecting some light and transmitting remaining light, and a light emission surface disposed on an opposite side of the second light reflection surface on the light guide for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter, light reflected by the first light reflection surface, and light reflected by the second light reflection surface. A light emission source includes a light guide. The light guide includes a light emitter, a first light reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light emitter, and a light emission surface for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter, and light reflected by the first light reflection surface. The first light reflection surface includes two types of reflection surfaces. The two types of reflection surfaces include a partial reflection surface for reflecting some light and transmitting remaining light, and a high reflectance reflection surface for reflecting nearly all light. A light emission method uses such a light emission source. A light emission source array, a backlight, and a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of such light emission sources.

Claims

1. A light emission source comprising:

a reflector,

a first light reflecting surface disposed on the reflector,

a light guide disposed on the side of the reflector with the first light reflection surface, and

a light emitter for emitting light towards the light guide, wherein

the light guide comprises;

a second light reflection surface disposed facing the first light reflection surface for reflecting some light and transmitting remaining light, and

a light emission surface disposed on an opposite side of the second light reflection surface on the light guide for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter, light reflected by the first light reflection surface, and light reflected by the second light reflection surface.

2. The light emission source according to claim 1, wherein the first reflection surface and the second light reflection surface each comprise a plurality of reflective regions divided by steps.

3. The light emission source according to claim 2, wherein the second light reflection surface is shaped to reflect light towards regions lacking in light reflected by the first light reflection surface due to steps on the first light reflection surface.

4. The light emission source according to claim 1, wherein the first light reflection surface and the second light reflection surface have identical patterns.

5. The light emission source according to claim 4, wherein the first light reflection surface and the second light reflection surface are disposed such that the patterns are horizontally offset with respect to each other.

6. The light emission source according to claim 1, wherein the first light reflection surface and the second light reflection surface have different patterns.

7. The light emission source according to claim 1, further comprising a third light reflection surface disposed between the first light reflection surface and the second light reflection surface for reflecting some light and transmitting remaining light.

8. The light emission source according to claim 1, wherein a space between the first light reflection surface and the second light reflection surface is filled with a medium having a smaller refractive index than the light guide.

10. A light emission source array comprising a plurality of the light emission sources according to claim 1.

12. A backlight comprising a plurality of the light emission sources according to claim 1 arranged in a common plane.

14. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising the light emission source array according to claim 10, and a liquid crystal display panel disposed facing the light emission source array.

9. A light emission source comprising:

a light guide, the light guide comprising;

a light emitter,

a first light reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light emitter, and

a light emission surface for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter, and light reflected by the first light reflection surface,

wherein

the first light reflection surface comprises two types of reflection surfaces, the two types of reflection surfaces comprising a partial reflection surface for reflecting some light and transmitting remaining light, and a high reflectance reflection surface for reflecting nearly all light.

11. A light emission source array comprising a plurality of the light emission sources according to claim 9.

13. A backlight comprising a plurality of the light emission sources according to claim 9 arranged in a common plane.

15. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising the light emission source array according to claim 11, and a liquid crystal display panel disposed facing the light emission source array.

16. A light emission method using a light emission source, the light emission source comprising:

a reflector,

a light guide disposed on a reflective side of the reflector, and

a light emitter for emitting light towards the light guide, wherein

a surface of the light guide facing the reflector reflects some of the light emitted by the light emitter, and transmits the remaining light,

a light reflection surface on the reflector reflects the light transmitted through the light guide, and

the light emitted by the light emitter, the light reflected by the surface of the light guide facing the reflector, and the light reflected by the light reflection surface on the reflector are emitted towards the outside of the light emission source.