Planar light source and display device using the same

• US 6,425,675 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kuraray Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kuraray Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Yoichi, Hiramatsu, Shinji, Hamashima, Isao, Fujisawa, Katsuya, Onishi, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/841,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 349/62, 349/64, 349/65, 362/31, 362/330, 362/331, 362/339
• US Class Current: 362/607
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube

Abstract

A planar light source device includes a light source 2, a reflector shade 8, a light guide member 3 having at least one side face 1 positioned adjacent the light source for receiving light from the light source and reflected by the reflector shade, and a light output plate 4 positioned adjacent the light guide member 3 with a first surface positioned adjacent a light exit surface of the light guide member 3. The first surface is formed with a multiplicity of projections 7 having respective tips held in tight contact with the light exit surface of the light guide member 3, at least a portion of each of the projections 7 having a curved facet. Of a function descriptive of a sectional shape of each of the projections 7 that is parallel to a direction of travel of light and also a direction normal to the light output plate 4, the maximum value of the absolute value of a linear differential of a portion representative of a facet counter to the light source is chosen to be within the range of 1 to 3.

Claims

1. A planar light source device which comprises:

a light source;

a reflector shade;

a light guide member having at least one side face positioned adjacent the light source for receiving light that is emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector shade, said light guide member having a light exit surface; and

a light output plate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and positioned in face-to-face relation with the light guide member with the first surface positioned adjacent the light exit surface of the light guide member, said first surface being formed with a multiplicity of projections having respective tips held in tight contact with the light exit surface of the light guide member, at least a portion of each of the projections having a curved facet;

wherein of a function descriptive of a sectional shape of each of the projections that is parallel to a direction of travel of light and also a direction normal to the light output plate, the maximum value of the absolute value of a linear differential of a portion representative of a facet counter to the light source is chosen to be within the range of 1 to 3.

2. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 1, wherein of the function descriptive of the sectional shape of each of the projections a quadric differential value of that portion representative of the facet counter to the light source is chosen to be within the range of −

10 to 20 [1/unitary length], where the unitary length (a. u.) is represented by a length of such each portion of projection as measured in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of light.

3. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 2, wherein of the function descriptive of the sectional shape of each of the projections a quadric differential value of that portion representative of the facet counter to the light source has a point of inflection.

4. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the projections has an axis inclined relative to the direction normal to the light output plate and forms an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of light.

5. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the projections has an axis inclined relative to the direction normal to the light output plate and forms an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of light.

6. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the projections has an axis inclined relative to the direction normal to the light output plate and forms an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of light.

7. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide member and the tips of the projections of the light output plate are optically coupled with each other through at least one optically transparent layer.

8. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the projections of the light output plate has a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of the light guide member and the refractive index of the optically transparent layer is greater than the refractive index of the light guide member.

9. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the optically transparent layer positioned between the light guide member and the light output plate has a refractive index that is smaller than the refractive index of the projections of the light output plate.

10. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the optically transparent layer includes at least an intermediate film and a bond layer disposed on each of opposite surfaces of the intermediate film and the ratio of a hygroscopic expansion coefficient of the intermediate film relative to that of the light output plate is chosen to be within the range of 0.1 to 10.

11. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the optically transparent layer includes at least an intermediate film and a bond layer disposed on each of opposite surfaces of the intermediate film and the ratio of a thermal expansion coefficient of the intermediate film relative to that of the light output plate is chosen to be within the range of 0.5 to 2.

12. The planar light source device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the optically transparent layer includes at least an intermediate film and a bond layer disposed on each of opposite surfaces of the intermediate film and wherein the ratio of a thermal expansion coefficient of the intermediate film relative to that of the light output plate is chosen to be within the range of 0.5 to 2 and the ratio of a hygroscopic expansion coefficient of the intermediate film relative to that of the light output plate is chosen to be within the range of 0.1 to 10.

13. A method of making a planar light source device as defined in claim 10, wherein the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film are bonded together by means of a bonding agent and the intermediate film and the light guide member are also bonded together by means of a bonding agent.

14. A method of making a planar light source device as defined in claim 11, wherein the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film are bonded together by means of a bonding agent and the intermediate film and the light guide member are also bonded together by means of a bonding agent.

15. A method of making a planar light source device as defined in claim 12, wherein the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film are bonded together by means of a bonding agent and the intermediate film and the light guide member are also bonded together by means of a bonding agent.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of bonding the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film together includes a substep of contacting them by means of a semi-hardened bonding agent and a substep of subsequently hardening the semi-hardened bonding agent completely.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of bonding the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film together includes a substep of contacting them by means of a semi-hardened bonding agent and a substep of subsequently hardening the semi-hardened bonding agent completely.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of bonding the tips of the projections of the light output plate and the intermediate film together includes a substep of contacting them by means of a semi-hardened bonding agent and a substep of subsequently hardening the semi-hardened bonding agent completely.

19. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 1 and a transmissive type display element disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

20. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 2 and a transmissive type display element disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

21. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 3 and a transmissive type display element disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

22. The display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transmissive type display element is a liquid crystal display element.

23. The display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the transmissive type display element is a liquid crystal display element.

24. The display device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the transmissive type display element is a liquid crystal display element.

25. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 1 and a printed film disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

26. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 2 and a printed film disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

27. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 3 and a printed film disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device.

28. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 1 and a molded member disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device and having a light scattering capability.

29. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 2 and a molded member disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device and having a light scattering capability.

30. A display device which comprises the planar light source device as defined in claim 3 and a molded member disposed on a light exit surface of the planar light source device and having a light scattering capability.