Surface light source device

• US 5,961,197 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation, Yasuhiro Koike
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation, Yasuhiro Koike
• Inventors: Sasako, Hiromi, Watai, Kayoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US08/762,802
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/558, 362/551
• US Class Current: 362/628
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity

Abstract

A wedge-shaped light scattering guide plate 10 employed in a surface light source device of side-light type has a width equal to the length of a primary light source element. An incidence end surface 11 is formed as a matte surface (rough surface) by a matting process. The incidence end surface 11 is provided with roughness which is uniform or increases toward end portions. The roughened incidence end surface 11 produces scattered light in the vicinity of the incidence end surface, especially at both side end portions. The scattered light contributes to elimination of variation in luminance which tends to occur in the vicinity of the incidence end surface 11. A light diffusing plate may be interposed between the primary light source element and the light scattering guide plate.

Claims

1. A surface light source device of side-light type including a light scattering guide late having a thickness decreasing with distance from an incidence end surface and a rod-shaped primary light source element disposed along said incidence end surface wherein illuminating light from said primary light source element is deflected by said light scattering guide plate and is effected by internal scattering within said light scattering guide plate and is emitted from an emission surface of said light scattering guide plate,

a length of said primary light source element being substantially equal to a width of said light scattering guide plate;

and

the illuminating light from said primary light source element being diffused via said incidence end surface before being introduced into said light scattering guide plate,

wherein said incidence end surface has a roughness in a range of 0.05 μ

m-0.30 μ

m in terms of arithmetical mean roughness on a center line of a plane in parallel with said emission surface.

2. A surface light source device of side-light type including a light scattering guide plate having a thickness decreasing with distance from an incidence end surface and a rod-shaped primary light source element disposed along said incidence end surface wherein illuminating light from said primary light source element is deflected by said light scattering guide plate and is effected by internal scattering within said light scattering guide plate and is emitted from an emission surface of said light scattering guide plate,

a length of said primary light source element being substantially equal to a width of said light scattering guide plate;

and

said incident end surface being a rough surface provided with a tendency to have scattering power increasing from a central portion toward both end portions thereof whereby the illuminating light from said primary light source element being diffused via said incidence end surface before being introduced into said light scattering guide plate,

wherein said incidence end surface has a roughness in a range of 0.10 μ

m-0.50 μ

m in terms of arithmetical mean roughness on a center line of a plane in parallel with said emission surface.

3. A surface light source device of side-light type including a light scattering guide late having a thickness decreasing with distance from an incidence end surface and a rod-shaped primary light source element disposed along said incidence end surface wherein illuminating light from said primary light source element is deflected by said light scattering guide plate and is effected by internal scattering within said light scattering guide plate and is emitted from an emission surface of said light scattering guide plate,

a length of said primary light source element being substantially equal to a width of said light scattering guide plate;

and

a diffusing plate provided with a tendency to have scattering power increasing from a central portion toward both end portions thereof being interposed between said incident end surface and said primary light source element whereby the illuminating light from said primary light source element being diffused via said incidence end surface before being introduced into said light scattering guide plate.