Illumination device and liquid crystal apparatus including same
First Claim
1. An illumination device, comprising:
- a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member;
wherein the light guide member includes an anisotropic grating.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination device is formed from a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member. The light guide member is formed to include an anisotropic grating preferably at a boundary between an anisotropic member having a refractive index anisotropy and a substantially non-anisotropic member laminated on the anisotropic member. The anisotropic grating may be formed as a one-dimensionally arranged grating for causing selective diffraction of, e.g., an ordinary ray. As a result, the illumination device is caused to function as a planar light source emitting linearly polarized light of a uniform luminance distribution suitably used in combination with a transmission-type or reflection-type liquid crystal device to form a small-sized and thin liquid crystal apparatus.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An illumination device, comprising:
- a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member;
wherein the light guide member includes an anisotropic grating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member;
-
12. A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising:
- an illumination device emitting light, and a liquid crystal device illuminated by the light emitted from the illumination device;
wherein said illumination device is disposed along the liquid crystal device and includes a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member;
the light guide member including an anisotropic grating. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- an illumination device emitting light, and a liquid crystal device illuminated by the light emitted from the illumination device;
-
21. A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising:
- an illumination device emitting light, and a liquid crystal device illuminated by the light from the illumination device to allow selective transmission of the light therethrough for data display,
wherein said illumination device is disposed long the liquid crystal device and includes a light-transmissive light guide member, and a light source disposed on a side of the light guide member to emit light to the light guide member;
the light guide member including an anisotropic grating and provided with a reflector disposed opposite to the liquid crystal device with respect to the light guide member disposed therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- an illumination device emitting light, and a liquid crystal device illuminated by the light from the illumination device to allow selective transmission of the light therethrough for data display,
Specification