Edge light panel and its production

• US 5,408,387 A
• Filed: 11/30/1992
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meitaku System Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Meitaku System Company Limited
• Inventors: Murase, Shinzo, Matsui, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US07/988,412
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 359/48, 359/49, 362/26, 362/27, 362/31, 362/327, 362/330, 362/331, 362/333, 362/339, 362/332
• US Class Current: 362/623
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00278 Lenticular sheets B29D11/00269 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0215 the surface having a regular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1845 Interchangeable poster

Abstract

Reflective material is closely provided to cover the surfaces of a diffusing-reflection arrangements that are defined by a dot pattern on a transparent substrate, thereby fabricating an edge light panel. The diffusing-reflecting arrangements are in microspheric configurations, so that they can act as a condenser lenses, thereby achieving a much higher luminance in combination with the location of the reflective material.

Claims

1. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being formed by screen printing of a solvent volatile type of curable ink containing minuscule beads and said reflective means being formed of heat transfer layers containing a reflective pigment by heat transfer.

2. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being formed as minuscule rectangular configurations by screen printing of a solvent volatile type of curable ink containing minuscule beads, and said reflective means being formed of heat transfer layers containing a reflective pigment by heat transfer to cover a part of top surface regions of said diffusing-reflection means.

3. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being formed as minuscule trapezoidal configurations by screen printing of a solvent volatile type of curable ink containing minuscule beads, and said reflective means being formed of heat transfer layers containing a reflective pigment by heat transfer to cover a part of top surface regions of said diffusing-reflection means.

4. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being formed of transparent resin that is integrally molded with said transparent substrate.

5. An edge light panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top surface region of said transparent resin is undulated.

6. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being in minuscule rectangular configurations formed of transparent resin that is integrally molded with said transparent substrate and said reflective means being formed to cover a part of top surface regions of said diffusing-reflection means.

7. An edge light panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top surface region of said transparent resin is undulated.

8. An edge light panel including a transparent substrate, diffusing-reflection means formed on a back side of said transparent substrate, and reflective means that are integrally and closely stacked on said diffusing-reflection means to cover at least a part of said diffusing-reflection means, said diffusing-reflection means being in semi-microspheric forms and said reflective means being formed only upon surfaces of said diffusing-reflection means while said back side of said transparent substrate remains free of said reflective means;

said edge light panel being further characterized by said diffusing-reflection means being in minuscule trapezoidal configurations formed of transparent resin that is integrally molded with said transparent substrate and said reflective means being formed to cover a part of top surface regions of said diffusing-reflection means.

9. An edge light panels claimed in claim 8, wherein the top surface region of said transparent resin is undulated.