Spread illuminating apparatus adapted to allow light to exit out from both surfaces of light conductive plate

• US 7,111,974 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Mizutani, Hitoshi, Egawa, Motoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/777,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 362/24, 362/26, 362/31, 362/330, 362/558, 362/561, 362600-602, 362/606, 362607-608, 362/609, 362/628, 362/611, 362/612, 362617-620, 362623-625, 362/550, 362/560, 349/64, 349/65, 349/67, 349/73, 349/96, 349/113, 349/143, 349/61
• US Class Current: 362/607
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence

Abstract

A spread illuminating apparatus for illuminating two objects includes: at least one light source; a light conductive plate having the at least one light source at an end surface thereof and defining first and second major surfaces from which light emitted from the at least one light source and introduced in the light conductive plate exits out respectively toward two objects to be illuminated; an optical sheet unit consisting of a diffuser sheet and condenser sheets, and disposed on at least the second major surface so as to cover an entire area thereof; and a reflecting means having a smaller surface area than the second major surface, and disposed directly on top of the optical sheet unit.

Claims

1. A spread illuminating apparatus for illuminating two objects, the apparatus comprising:

at least one light source;

a light conductive plate having the at least one light source at an end surface thereof and defining first and second major surfaces from which light emitted from the at least one light source and introduced in the light conductive plate exits out respectively toward the two objects, wherein the two objects partially overlap each other with the light conductive plate located therebetween;

an optical sheet unit consisting of a diffuser sheet and a condenser sheet, and disposed on at least the second major surface so as to cover an entire area thereof; and

a reflecting means having a smaller surface area than the second major surface, and disposed directly on top of the optical sheet unit.

2. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means is located so as to cover an area of the second major surface other than an area designated as a light exiting surface.

3. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser sheet has a haze factor ranging from 85 to 95%.

4. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condenser sheet is composed of two optical films which each have a prism pattern with a serrated sectional configuration formed on a surface thereof opposite to a surface facing the light conductive plate, and which have their respective prism patterns oriented orthogonal to each other.

5. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each optical film of the condenser sheet has a thickness ranging from 50 to 300 μ

m.

6. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means has its reflectance gradually varying at a given area close to the area designated as a light exiting surface.

7. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a deflecting means is disposed directly on top of the optical sheet unit on the second major surface so as to cover at least an area which is not covered by the reflecting means.

8. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each optical film of the condenser sheet has a thickness ranging from 50 to 300 μ

m.

9. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reflecting means has its reflectance gradually varying at a given area close to the area designated as a light exiting surface.