Light-guide plate, area light source apparatus, and image reading apparatus

• US 20070159806A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kouzou Fujino, Makoto Ikeda, Tomihisa Saitou
• Original Assignee: Kouzou Fujino, Makoto Ikeda, Tomihisa Saitou
• Inventors: Ikeda, Makoto, Saitou, Tomihisa, Fujino, Kouzou
• Application Number:
  US11/717,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/97.400
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02815 Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02835 in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate light-guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0289 Light diffusing elements, e.g. plates or filters optical diffusing elements per se G02B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02462 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02479 Mounting or supporting means

Abstract

An LED module is mounted on a case frame by fitting three pins formed at a concave portion of the case frame, into holes in the LED module corresponding to the pins. A light-guide plate is fitted into the case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover in a descending direction. The light-guide plate is fixed by a hook provided for the case frame. A space between the light-guide plate and the LED module is prevented by pressing the light-guide plate to the LED module with a pressing spring. Since the light-guide plate is fitted into the case frame in the descending direction and a light scattering sheet is adhered to an outer end surface of the case frame in the descending direction, it is not necessary to reverse the worked product and so the number and time of working processes can be saved.

Claims

1. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planar-shaped;

at least one light source which is arranged on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover, for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source; and

a light scattering sheet which is arranged on an upper surface of said light-guide plate, wherein said light-guide plate is fitted into said case frame and is fixed to said case frame by a hook, as a projected latching portion, having an engaged surface on a lower end, which is provided for said case frame or said light-guide plate.

8. An area light source apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 5, and 7, wherein said hooks are formed at an uppermost portion of the inner surfaces of said case frame, said light-guide plate is formed with a stepped surface for being engaged to the engaged surfaces of said hook in an ascending direction and, thus, the upper surface of said light-guide plate and an outer end surface of said case frame exist on the same plane.

9. An area light source apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 5, and 7, wherein said hooks are formed at an intermediate portion in a height direction of the inner surface of said case frame, said light-guide plate is formed with a stepped surface for being engaged to the engaged surface of said hook in an ascending direction and, thus, the upper surface of said light-guide plate and an outer end surface of said case frame exist on the same plane.

2. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planar-shaped;

at least one light source which is arranged on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover, for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source; and

a light scattering sheet which is arranged on an upper surface of said light-guide plate, wherein said light scattering sheet is adhered to a lower surface of a reinforcing frame,

said case frame has a notch corresponding to a portion for accommodating said reinforcing frame at a part of an upper end surface, and

said reinforcing frame is accommodated in said case frame by fitting a projected latching portion provided at an end surface of said reinforcing frame, into a concave portion provided on an inner surface of the notch of said case frame.

3. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planar-shaped;

at least one light source which is arranged on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover, for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source; and

a light scattering sheet which is arranged on an upper surface of said light-guide plate, wherein said case frame has a notch corresponding to a portion for accommodating said light scattering sheet at a part of an upper end surface, and said light scattering sheet is accommodated in said case frame by fitting a projected latching portion provided on an end surface of said light scattering sheet, into a concave portion provided on an inner surface of the notch of said case frame.

4. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planar-shaped;

at least one light source which is arranged on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source;

a bottom cover; and

a light scattering sheet arranged at an upper surface of said light-guide plate,

wherein said bottom cover is fixed to said case frame by fitting a projected latching portion provided on an end surface of said bottom cover, into a concave portion provided at a lower portion of an inner surface of said case frame.

10. An image reading apparatus using a area light source apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 5, and 7, as an illumination light source of a transparent original.

5. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planar-shaped;

at least one light source which is arranged on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover, for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source; and

a light scattering sheet which is arranged on an upper surface of said light-guide plate,

wherein said light source is accommodated in a concave portion provided for said light-guide plate, and

said light-guide plate is fitted into said case frame and is fixed to said case frame by a hook, as a projected latching portion, having an engaged surface on a lower end, which is provided for said case frame or said light-guide plate while a spring provided for said case frame enables said light source to press said light-guide plate.

6. An area light source apparatus comprising:

a light-guide plate which is planer-shaped;

at least one light source which is arrange on a peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate;

a case frame formed integrally with a bottom cover, for accommodating said light-guide plate and said light source; and

a light scattering sheet which is arranged on an upper surface of said light-guide plate,

wherein said light source is mounted on said case frame by fitting at least one pin formed on said case frame, into a hole formed on said light source corresponding to said pin, and

said light-guide plate is fitted into said case frame so that said light source is arranged on the peripheral side-surface of said light-guide plate.

7. An area light source apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said light-guide plate is fixed to said case frame by a hook, as a projected latching portion, which has an engaged surface at a lower end and is provided for said case frame or said light-guide plate.