Surface light source device

• US 5,769,522 A
• Filed: 07/24/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Isamu, Katoh, Hideaki, Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi, Yokoyama, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/685,841
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/26, 362/27, 362/331, 362/309, 362/330, 362/329, 362/339, 362/337, 362/308, 362/336, 362/268
• US Class Current: 362/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A surface light source device comprising at least one light source, a transparent panel, a diffusing panel and a reflecting surface. This surface light source device is configured so that brightness is enhanced in a direction perpendicular to the diffusing panel by disposing, on the side of a front surface of the transparent panel, a transparent sheet which has protrusions having a saw-tooth-like sectional shape formed on one surface thereof.

Claims

1. A surface light source device comprising:

a transparent panel made of a transparent material and having a rectangular shaped surface;

at least one linear light source disposed in a vicinity of at least one edge of said transparent panel;

a reflecting surface disposed on a rear surface of said transparent panel; and

a plurality of diffusing members including;

a first diffusing member made of a transparent material and having at least one randomly varying coarsened surface having a first randomly varying unevenness of a first depth, said first diffusing member being disposed adjacent a light emitting surface of said transparent panel, and

a second diffusing member made of a transparent material and having at least one randomly varying coarsened surface having a second randomly varying unevenness of a second depth larger than said first depth;

said first diffusing member being disposed between said second diffusing member and said transparent panel.

2. A surface light source device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first depth of said first random unevenness is no greater than about 10 micrometers; and

a pitch of said first random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers.

3. A surface light source device according to claim 2, wherein:

a mean of said pitch of said first random unevenness is greater than a mean of said first depth of said first random unevenness.

4. A surface light source device according to claim 1, wherein:

said second depth of said second random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers; and

a pitch of said second random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers.

5. A surface light source device according to claim 4, wherein:

a mean of said pitch of said second random unevenness is less than a mean of said second depth of said second random unevenness.

6. A surface light source device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein:

said transparent panel has a quadrilateral shape; and

said at least one linear light source comprises two linear light sources disposed respectively in a vicinity of first and second opposite edges of said transparent panel.

7. A surface light source device according to claim 6, wherein:

a thickness of said transparent panel is thicker at each of said first and second opposite edges than at a center portion of said transparent panel, and said transparent panel gradually thins in thickness between each of said first and second opposite edges and said center portion.

8. A surface light source device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein:

said transparent panel has a quadrilateral shape; and

said at least one linear light source comprises four linear light sources each disposed in a vicinity of a respective edge of said transparent panel.

9. A surface light source device according to claim 8, wherein:

a thickness of said transparent panel is thickest at each of said respective edges thereof, and said transparent panel is thinnest at a center portion thereof.

10. A surface light source device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein:

one only linear light source is disposed in a vicinity of said transparent panel.

11. A surface light source device according to claim 10, wherein:

a thickness of said transparent panel is thicker at said at least one edge where said one only linear light source is disposed than at another edge of said transparent panel opposite said at least one edge.

12. A surface light source device comprising:

a transparent panel made of a transparent material;

a light source disposed in a vicinity of at least one edge of said transparent panel;

a reflecting surface disposed on a rear surface of said transparent panel;

a first diffusing member made of a transparent material having a randomly varying coarsened surface of a first randomly varying unevenness having a first depth, said first diffusing member being disposed adjacent a light emitting surface of said transparent panel; and

a second diffusing member made of a transparent material having a randomly varying coarsened surface of a second randomly varying unevenness having a second depth larger than said first depth;

said first diffusing member being disposed between said second diffusing member and said transparent panel.

13. A surface light source device according to claim 12, wherein:

said first depth of said first random unevenness is no greater than about 10 micrometers; and

a pitch of said first random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers.

14. A surface light source device according to claim 12, wherein:

said second depth of said second random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers; and

a pitch of said second random unevenness is no greater than about 100 micrometers.

15. A surface light source device according to claim 13, wherein a mean of said pitch of said first random unevenness is greater than a mean of said first depth of said first random unevenness.

16. A surface light source device according to claim 14, wherein a mean of said pitch of said second random unevenness is less than a mean of said second depth of said second random unevenness.