Surface light source apparatus

• US 5,779,339 A
• Filed: 01/16/1997
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Konishi, Satoru, Ohta, Kazushige, Obata, Takashi, Kawada, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/784,409
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/26, 362/29, 362/30, 349/58, 349/61
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0026 Wavelength selective element, sheet or layer, e.g. filter or grating

Abstract

A surface light source apparatus is constituted such that an overhang portion overhanging a light source is provided on part of an end surface where the light source of an optical guide plate is arranged in such a manner that it is flush with the front surface of the optical guide plate and that an incident light control unit formed from a resin for diffusing and attenuating light is provided integratedly on at least an overhang portion side out of the overhang portion and the end surface of the optical guide plate, and accordingly light from the light source is transmitted through the overhang portion, radiated in an illumination direction, and diffused and attenuated by the incident light control unit to equalize the amount of light so that it can be used as illumination light. Thereby, the total area of the light emitting portions is increased.

Claims

1. A surface light source apparatus comprising an optical guide plate formed substantially rectangular from a transparent member and having a reflection treated rear surface and at least one light source arranged on one of end surfaces on the thickness sides of said optical guide plate, wherein

an overhang portion overhanging the light source is provided integratedly on part of the end surface where the light source of the optical guide plate is arranged in such a manner that it is flush with the front surface of the optical guide plate;

and

an incident light control unit formed from a resin for diffusing and attenuating light is provided integratedly on at least an overhang portion side out of the light source facing surfaces of the overhang portion and the end surface of the optical guide plate.

2. A surface light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said incident light control unit is changed only in the direction of transmitting light from the light source and reduced to zero at a boundary portion.