Surface light source device of side-light type

• US 6,049,649 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation, Yasuhiro Koike
• Inventors: Arai, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US08/823,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 385/133, 362/31, 349/5, 349/62, 349/82, 359/455-456, 359/619, 359/40, 359/251, 353/81
• US Class Current: 385/133
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• 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 6/0053 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 of side-light type enables concentrated output of illumination light to a frontal direction. A flux having clear directivity is outputted from window portions 1w on an emitting surface 5 of a light guide plate 1 with emitting directivity. This flux is represented by a beam C01 outputted in a direction at an angle of 70°. A flux C02 incident on reflection portions 1r is returned to the light guide plate 1 and is given an opportunity of output from the window portions 1w again. The flux C01 having escaped from the window portions 1w to an air layer AR is obliquely incident on flat regions 14g of a propagation direction characteristics modifier 14, and a degree of parallelization of the flux in a propagation direction is improved. The flux is blocked by the reflection portions 1r from being incident on a notch portion (uneffective area) between the flat regions 14g. After total reflection by a total reflection surface 14b of each projection element 14c, the flux is outputted from a flat outside surface 14h to a frontal direction without degrading the improved degree of parallelization. The projection elements 14c may be two-dimensionally arrayed. A prismatic groove or a cylindrical lens array may be formed on the outside surface 14h to two-dimensionally enhance the degree of parallelization.

Claims

1. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes one-dimensional array of a large number of projection elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

at least a part of a side portion of each projection element has a reflective deflection surface having a function of deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes reflection portions formed in a distributed state so as to restrain a flux outputted with directivity from the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said projection elements.

7. A surface light source device of side-light type according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said reflection pattern means includes a reflection pattern sheet disposed between the emitting surface of said light guide plate and said propagation direction characteristics modifier, and said reflection portions are formed on said reflection pattern sheet.

8. A surface light source device of side-light type according to claim 7, wherein said light guide plate has a wedge-shaped cross section having a tendency to reduce thickness according as distance from said side end surface increases.

9. A surface light source device of side-light type according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said reflection pattern means includes a reflection portion formed in a distributed state on the emitting surface of said light guide plate.

10. A surface light source device of side-light type according to claim 9, wherein said light guide plate has a wedge-shaped cross section having a tendency to reduce thickness according as distance from said side end surface increases.

11. A surface light source device of side-light type according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said light guide plate has a wedge-shaped cross section having a tendency to reduce thickness according as distance from said side end surface increases.

2. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light guide supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes one-dimensional array of a large number of ridge elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

said large number of ridge elements are lined up in parallel to said side end surface and respectively have reflective deflection surfaces each disposed at a side portion relatively distant from said light supply means and having a function of deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes a large number of reflection portions distributed in the shape of strips to restrain a flux outputted with directivity from the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said ridge elements.

3. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light guide supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes one-dimensional array of a large number of projection elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

at least a part of a side portion of each projection element has a reflective deflection surface having a function of two-dimensional deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes reflection portions formed in a distributed state to restrain a flux outputted with directivity from the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said propagation direction characteristics modifier.

4. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light guide supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes a two-dimensional array of a large number of pole-shaped projection elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

each of said large number of pole-shaped projection elements has at least one reflective reflection surface having a function of two-dimensional deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes a large number of reflection portions distributed in the shape of grid to restrain a flux outputted with directivity from the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said propagation direction characteristics modifier.

5. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light guide supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes a two-dimensional array of a large number of square-pole-shaped projection elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

each of said large number of square pole-shaped projection elements has three reflective deflection surfaces formed so as to have a function of two-dimensional deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes a large number of reflection portions distributed in the shape of grid so as to restrain a flux outputted with directivity from the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said propagation direction characteristics modifier.

6. A surface light source device of side-light type, comprising:

a light guide plate with emitting directivity;

a light guide supply means disposed along a side end surface of said light guide plate;

a propagation direction characteristics modifier disposed along an emitting surface of said light guide plate; and

a reflection pattern means for controlling light incident on said propagation direction characteristics modifier;

wherein said propagation direction characteristics modifier includes a two-dimensional array of a large number of conical-shaped projection elements each having a distal end provided with a flat region serving as an input surface substantially parallel to said emitting surface;

each of said large number of conical-shaped projection elements has a peripheral surface having a function of two-dimensional deflection to a frontal direction based on reflection including the total reflection; and

said reflection pattern means includes a large number of reflection portions distributed in the shape of grid so as to restrain a flux outputted with directivitfrom the emitting surface of said light guide plate from being incident on portions other than the flat regions of said propagation direction characteristics modifier.