Backlighting apparatus and display apparatus using the same

• US 6,095,656 A
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Honguh, Yoshinori, Shimura, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US09/136,886
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 362/291, 362/30, 362/97
• US Class Current: 362/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein

Abstract

A backlighting apparatus for radiating light on a flat surface to be illuminated comprises a light source having a linear light emitting portion, a light shield section, provided along an outer periphery of the light source on the side of the to-be-illuminated surface, for shielding light traveling directly from the light source toward the to-be-illuminated surface, and a first optical element provided in a longitudinal direction of the light source such that the first optical element faces the light source, the first optical element having a reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the to-be-illuminated surface. A cross-sectional shape of the reflection surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source is determined such that light reflected by the reflection surface of the first optical element has a substantially uniform illuminance distribution on the to-be-illuminated surface.

Claims

1. A backlighting apparatus for radiating light to a flat surface to be illuminated, the apparatus comprising:

a light source having a linear light emitting portion;

light shield means, provided along an outer periphery of the light source on the side of said to-be-illuminated surface, for shielding light traveling directly from the light source toward the to-be-illuminated surface; and

a first optical element located parallel to the light source such that the first optical element faces the light source, the first optical element having a reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the to-be-illuminated surface,

wherein a cross-sectional shape of the reflection surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source is determined such that light reflected by the reflection surface of the first optical element has a substantially uniform illuminance distribution on the to-be-illuminated surface.

2. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of said reflection surface is provided with a low-reflectance region having a lower reflectance than the other region on the reflection surface, the low-reflectance region extending in the longitudinal direction of the light source.

3. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of said reflection surface is provided with a reflection region having a radius of curvature different from a radius of curvature of the other region on the reflection surface, the reflection region extending in the longitudinal direction of the light source.

4. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second optical element for improving directivity of light from the first optical element and guiding the light with the improved directivity to the to-be-illuminated surface.

5. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second optical element for improving directivity of light from the first optical element and guiding the light with the improved directivity to the to-be-illuminated surface.

6. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second optical element for improving directivity of light from the first optical element and guiding the light with the improved directivity to the to-be-illuminated surface.

7. The backlighting apparatus according, to claim 4, wherein the second optical element improves the directivity of light both in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light source and in a direction perpendicular to said parallel direction.

8. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second optical element improves the directivity of light both in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light source and in a direction perpendicular to said parallel direction.

9. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second optical element improves the directivity of light both in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light source and in a direction perpendicular to said parallel direction.

10. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a diffusion plate for diffusing light from the first optical element and guiding the diffused light to the to-be-illuminated surface.

11. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a diffusion plate for diffusing light from the first optical element and guiding the diffused light to the to-be-illuminated surface.

12. The backlighting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a diffusion plate for diffusing light from the first optical element and guiding the diffused light to the to-be-illuminated surface.

13. A display apparatus comprising:

a plate-shaped display panel;

a light source having a linear light emitting portion;

light shield means, provided along an outer periphery of the light source on the side of the display panel, for shielding light traveling directly from the light source to the display panel; and

a first optical element located parallel to the light source such that the first optical element faces the light source, the first optical element having a reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the display panel,

wherein a cross-sectional shape of the reflection surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source is determined such that light reflected by the reflection surface of the first optical element has a substantially uniform illuminance distribution on the display panel.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a second optical element, provided between the display panel and the light source, for improving directivity of light from the first optical element and guiding the light with the improved directivity to the display panel.