Surface light source device

• US 5,363,294 A
• Filed: 03/27/1992
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Fukushima, Hiroshi, Yamamoto, Kunitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/858,949
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/31, 362/223, 362/308, 362/311, 362/327, 362/328, 362/330, 362/307, 362/290
• US Class Current: 362/330
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side

Abstract

A surface light source device includes a light guiding plate which is transparent, a line light source provided on one end edge of the light guiding plate, an end edge reflection layer provided on the other end edge of the light guiding plate, and a light diffusion/transmission section provided on a back face of the light guiding plate. A ratio of an area of the light diffusion/transmission section to a whole area of the back face of the light guiding plate gradually increases with an increase in distance from the light source end edge in a region from the end edge on the light source end of the light guiding plate to a position at which a surface emission luminance of the light guiding plate is lowest, and is constant in a region from the position to the other end edge on the end edge reflection layer end of the light guiding plate. A back face reflection layer which is white is provided on the back face of the light guiding plate.

Claims

1. A surface light source device comprising:

a transparent light guiding plate having a first end edge, a second end edge opposite said first end edge, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite said first side edge, a front face and a back face;

a line light source mounted along said first end edge of said light guiding plate;

an end edge reflection layer mounted along said second end edge of said light guiding plate;

a back face reflection layer which is white and is provided on said back face of said light guiding plate;

a light diffusion/transmission section provided on said back face of said light guiding plate;

wherein, in a first region from said first end edge to a first predetermined position between said first and second end edges, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section increases gradually along a first direction perpendicular to said first end edge with an increase in distance from said first end edge; and

wherein, in a second region from said first predetermined position to said second end edge, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section is constant along said first direction.

2. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, wherein

said first predetermined position substantially corresponds to a position at which a surface emission luminance of said light guiding plate is lowest when said light diffusion/transmission section is absent.

3. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, wherein

in a third region extending in a second direction parallel with said first end edge from a second predetermined position to a third predetermined position, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section is constant along said second direction;

said second predetermined position is located along said second direction centrally between said first and second side edges of said light guiding plate, and said third predetermined position is located along said second direction between said second predetermined position and said first side edge of said light guiding plate; and

in a fourth region extending in said second direction from said third predetermined position to said first side edge of said light guiding plate, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section increases quadratically along said second direction.

4. A surface light source device as recited in claim 3, further comprising

a light diffusion layer provided on said front face of said light guiding plate.

5. A surface light source device as recited in claim 3, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises a granular transparent substance having a refractive index substantially equal to or less than that of said light guiding plate.

6. A surface light source device as recited in claim 3, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises dots.

7. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, wherein

in a third region extending, in a second direction parallel with said first end edge, from a second predetermined position to a third predetermined position, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section is constant along said second direction, said second direction extending from said second predetermined position toward said third predetermined position;

said second predetermined position is located along said second direction between said second side edge and a center point located centrally between said first and second side edges, and said third predetermined position is located along said second direction between said first side edge and said center point; and

in a fourth region extending in said second direction from said third predetermined position to said first side edge of said light guiding plate, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section increases quadratically along said second direction.

8. A surface light source device as recited in claim 7, wherein

in a fifth region extending, in a third direction opposite said second direction, from said second predetermined position to said second side edge of said light guiding plate, a density of said light diffusion/transmission section increases quadratically along said third direction.

9. A surface light source device as recited in claim 8, further comprising

a light diffusion layer provided on said front face of said light guiding plate.

10. A surface light source device as recited in claim 8, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises a granular transparent substance having a refractive index substantially equal to or less than that of said light guiding plate.

11. A surface light source device as recited in claim 8, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises dots.

12. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a light diffusion layer provided on said front face of said light guiding plate.

13. A surface light source device as recited in claim 12, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises a granular transparent substance having a refractive index substantially equal to or less than that of said light guiding plate.

14. A surface light source device as recited in claim 12, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises dots.

15. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises a granular transparent substance having a refractive index substantially equal to or less than that of said light guiding plate.

16. A surface light source device as recited in claim 15, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises dots.

17. A surface light source device as recited in claim 1, wherein

said light diffusion/transmission section comprises dots.