Surface light source device

• US 5,450,292 A
• Filed: 03/15/1993
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi, Yokoyama, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/031,309
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/26, 362/216, 362/290, 362/330
• US Class Current: 362/613
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0409 Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency arrangements of reflectors G09F13/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1813 provided with a coating showing a pattern of dots of variable density
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1831 using more than one light source

Abstract

A surface light source device having light sources provided along all four side edges of a light-conducting member. A light guide has a diffusion plate on its front surface and a reflection surface on its back surface. The back surface of the light-conducting member has a pattern consisting of tiny rough surface areas. The pattern is so formed that in a direction of connecting a pair of two opposed sides of the light-conducting member, the density of the rough surface areas is the largest in the center portion, but gradually decreases toward the two opposed side edges and reaches the smallest density on the two opposed side edges. Thus, the surface light source device increases the brightness and provides a uniform distribution of brightness.

Claims

1. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member consisting of rectangular transparent sheet material;

a plurality of linear light sources provided along all four side edges of said light-conducting member;

a diffusion plate provided adjacent to a front surface of said light-conducting member; and

a reflection surface provided adjacent a back surface of said light-conducting member, said back surface of said light-conducting member having a pattern consisting of a plurality of tiny rough surface areas, wherein said pattern has a uniform sum of area for said tiny rough surface areas per unit area in a direction of a pair of opposed sides of said light-conducting member, while as viewed in a direction of a second pair of opposed sides of said light-conducting member, said pattern having a largest density of said rough surface areas in a center portion of said pattern, but gradually decreasing toward said second pair of opposed sides and reaching a smallest density on said two opposed sides.

6. A surface light source device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said plurality of linear light sources include a one-piece light source surrounding all four side edges of said light-conducting member.

7. A surface light source device according to claim 6, wherein said light-conducting member has a shield member on each corner thereof.

8. A surface light source device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a pair of said plurality of linear light sources are provided along each side edge of said light-conducting member and wherein said pair of said plurality of linear light sources are contained in a pair of lamphouses having rough surfaces formed on outer faces thereof and are connected together.

9. A surface light source device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a pair of said plurality of linear light sources are provided along each side edge of said light-conducting member and wherein said pair of said plurality of linear light sources are contained in a pair of lamphouses having a multiplicity of depressions formed on outer faces thereof and are connected together.

2. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member consisting of rectangular transparent sheet material;

a plurality of linear light sources provided along all four side edges of said light-conducting member;

a diffusion plate provided adjacent to a front surface of said light-conducting member; and

a reflection surface provided adjacent a back surface of said light conducting member, said light-conducting member having a curved surface so that said light-conducting member has a thickness at a center portion thereof which is less than a thickness at all four side edges of said light-conducting member, and said back surface having a rough surface.

3. A surface light source device according to claim 2, wherein said light-conducting member has a flat front surface and a concave back surface.

4. A surface light source device according to claim 3, wherein said concave face of said light-conducting member contains a light source lighting component.

5. A surface light source device according to claim 2, wherein said light-conducting member has a concave front surface and a flat back surface.

10. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member consisting of rectangular transparent sheet material;

a plurality of linear light sources provided along all four side edges of said light-conducting member;

a diffusion plate provided adjacent to a front surface of said light-conducting member; and

a reflection surface provided adjacent a back surface of said light-conducting member, said back surface of said light-conducting member having a pattern consisting of a plurality of tiny rough surface areas, wherein said pattern has a uniform sum of area for said tiny rough surface areas per unit area in a direction of a pair of opposed sides of said light-conducting member while as viewed in a direction of a second pair of opposed sides of said light-conducting member, said pattern having a largest density of said rough surface areas in a center portion of said pattern, but gradually decreasing toward said second pair of opposed sides and reaching a smallest density on said two opposed sides;

wherein said plurality of light sources include a pair of L-shaped light sources.

11. A surface light source device according to claim 10, wherein said light-conducting member has a shield member on each corner thereof.

12. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member consisting of rectangular transparent sheet material;

a plurality of linear light sources provided along all four side edges of said light-conducting member;

a diffusion plate provided adjacent to a front surface of said light-conducting member; and

a reflection surface provided adjacent a back surface of said light conducting member, said light-conducting member having a curved surface so that said light-conducting member has a thickness at a center portion thereof which is less than a thickness at two opposed ends, and said back surface having a rough surface;

wherein said plurality of linear light sources include a pair of L-shaped light sources.

13. A surface light source device according to claim 12, wherein said light-conducting member has a shield member on each corner thereof.

14. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member including a rectangular transparent sheet material and having a front surface and back surface and four peripheral edges;

a light source disposed adjacent to said four peripheral edges;

a diffusion plate disposed adjacent to said front surface;

a reflection plate disposed adjacent to said back surface;

wherein said back surface includes a roughened pattern formed thereon, said roughened pattern including a plurality of dots, said dots being of constant size between a first two opposed of said peripheral edges, and said dots decreasing in size from a center portion of said back surface towards a second two opposed of said peripheral edges.

15. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member including a rectangular transparent sheet material and having a front surface and back surface and four peripheral edges;

a light source disposed adjacent to said four peripheral edges;

a diffusion plate disposed adjacent to said front surface;

a reflection plate disposed adjacent to said back surface;

wherein said back surface includes a roughened pattern formed thereon, said roughened pattern including a plurality of dots, said dots being of constant size between a first two opposed of said peripheral edges, and said dots decreasing in size from a center portion of said back surface towards a second two opposed of said peripheral edges; and

wherein said light-conducting member includes four corners, each having a shield member connected thereto.

16. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member including a rectangular transparent sheet material and having a front surface and back surface and four peripheral edges;

a light source disposed adjacent to said four peripheral edges;

a diffusion plate disposed adjacent to said front surface;

a reflection plate disposed adjacent to said back surface;

wherein said back surface includes a roughened pattern formed thereon, said roughened pattern including a plurality of dots, said dots being of constant size between a first two opposed of said peripheral edges, and said dots decreasing in size from a center portion of said back surface towards a second two opposed of said peripheral edges; and

wherein said light-conducting member has a thickness that is greater at said four peripheral edges than at said center portion.

17. A surface light source device according to claim 16, wherein said back surface is concave.

18. A surface light source device according to claim 16, wherein said front surface is concave.

19. A surface light source device comprising:

a light-conducting member including a rectangular transparent sheet material and having a front surface and back surface and four peripheral edges;

a light source disposed adjacent to said four peripheral edges;

a diffusion plate disposed adjacent to said front surface;

a reflection plate disposed adjacent to said back surface;

wherein said back surface includes a roughened pattern formed thereon, said roughened pattern including a plurality of dots, said dots being of constant size between a first two opposed of said peripheral edges, and said dots decreasing in size from a center portion of said back surface towards a second two opposed of said peripheral edges; and

wherein said light source includes at least one linear light source, said linear light source being housed within a housing having a roughened outer surface.