Spread illuminating apparatus of multiple panel type

• US 7,588,364 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Adachi, Shigeyuki, Kitamura, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US11/898,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20080101082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 362/616, 362/628, 362/224, 362/237, 362/238, 362/360, 362/612, 362/561, 362/551, 362/330, 349/73, 349/64
• US Class Current: 362/616
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/008 of the partially overlapping type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side

Abstract

A spread illuminating apparatus includes a plurality of lighting units each of which includes a light conductor plate having a light outlet surface and a light inlet surface, and a light source disposed at the light inlet surface, and which are arranged two dimensionally with a predetermined distance provided between every two adjacent lighting units. The spread illuminating apparatus further includes a plurality of light transmissive members each of which is provided with means to reflect and diffuse light from the light source, and each of which is disposed at the light outlet surface side of the lighting unit. Leakage light from the light source is reflected and disused by the light transmissive member thereby reducing stray light, and at the same time the light transmissive member receives the leakage light and emits it from the outlet surface as effective light thereby enhancing the overall brightness in a uniform manner.

Claims

1. A spread illuminating apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lighting units each of which comprises a light conductor plate having a light-conductor surface as a light outlet surface, the light-conductor surface emitting light from a top surface of the light-conductor surface, and a side surface as a light inlet surface, and a light source disposed at the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, and which are arranged two dimensionally; and

a plurality of light transmissive members each of which is provided with means to reflect and diffuse light from the light source, and each of which is disposed at a light outlet surface side of each of the lighting units, wherein each of the plurality of light transmissive members emit light from a top surface of each of the light transmissive members,

wherein the plurality of lighting units are arranged such that a predetermined distance is provided between respective opposing ends of the light conductor plates of at least two lighting units adjacent to each other with respect to a direction orthogonal to the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, and

wherein the light transmissive members bridge the respective opposing ends of the light conductor plates of the at least two adjacent lighting units such that an end region of one of the light transmissive members attaches respective opposing end regions at the top surface of the light conductor plates of the at least two adjacent lighting units so as to directly cover the light source.

2. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light transmissive members each comprise:

an inclined surface formed at least at one end thereof and working as a means to reflect the light from the light source; and

the light transmissive members functioning as a subsidiary light conductor plate.

3. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a treatment to increase light reflectance is applied to the inclined surface of each of the light transmissive members.

4. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a means to convert an optical path of the light emitted from the light source and reflected at the inclined surface is formed at least at one light-transmissive surface of each of the light transmissive members.

5. A spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, Wherein the light transmissive members are disposed in a repeating geometry, and the plurality of lighting units are disposed in a respective repeating geometry corresponding to a size of a panel to be lighted.

6. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the light source contacts the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate.

7. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of the light transmissive members reflect and diffuse light from the light source outside of the apparatus directly and indirectly.

8. The spread illuminating apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the end regions of each of the light transmissive members contact respective opposing end regions of the light conductor plates.