Surface illuminating light source device and surface illuminating device

• US 8,272,772 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OPTO Design, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OPTO Design, Inc.
• Inventors: Sato, Eiichi, Fukuoka, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNWIDDIE, MEGHAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/665,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 362 971- 973, 362/235, 362/259, 362/296.01, 362/296.09, 362/298, 362/301, 362/341, 362/606, 362/609, 362/612
• US Class Current: 362/609
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133611 including means for improving the brightness uniformity

Abstract

Uniform illuminating light is obtained on a surface at a prescribed distance from a radiation surface without increasing the thickness in a light radiation direction by using the light from the light source highly efficiently. A surface illuminating light source device is provided with a light source for radiating light; a light guide body propagating light from the light source and having a radiation surface at a prescribed position in the radiation direction; a casing closing the light guide body except the radiation surface and having the light source arranged substantially at the center; an inner reflection section arranged between the casing and the light guide body and having a reflection surface which reflects light propagating inside the light guide body; and a radiation side reflection section having an outer reflection section which is arranged on the radiation surface and has a reflection surface that reflects light propagating inside the light guide body at a prescribed rate and an opening section which is formed on the outer reflection section and through which reflection light reflected at least once on one of the reflection surfaces among the light from the light source passes.

Claims

1. A surface illuminating light source device comprising:

a group of light sources including a single point-light source or a combination of a plurality of point-light sources that emit light;

an optically transmissive light guide body propagating light from the light source and having a radiation surface at a prescribed position in the radiation direction;

a casing closing surfaces of the light guide body except the radiation surface and having an inner reflection unit formed of a bottom surface and a side reflection section that reflect light, in which the light source is arranged substantially at a center of the bottom surface; and

a radiation side reflection unit arranged on the radiation surface, wherein

the radiation side reflection unit is formed of a member that reflects or passes light propagating inside the light guide body at a prescribed rate, and

an opening section is formed on a periphery of the radiation side reflection unit while a central portion of the radiation side reflection unit is a non-opening section so that an amount of light passing through the radiation side reflection unit increases as it gets farther from a center of the radiation surface facing the light source,

wherein when proportion of total area of the opening section against a prescribed standard area is opening rate A, b and c are invariables, and distance from a center of the radiation surface facing the light source is x, the opening section satisfies the following formula;

A=bx²+c.

2. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the opening section has a larger area as it gets farther from the non-opening section.

3. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide body is air.

4. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the inner reflection unit and the radiation side reflection unit are formed of an ultrafinely foamed reflection plate.

5. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the opening section is a circular, rectangular, annular, or discontinuous annular hole.

6. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the opening section has a side wall and makes light reflected on the side wall pass therethrough.

7. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation side reflection unit has a non-through hole on the non-opening section for adjusting light reflection amount.

8. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation side reflection unit has a narrow through groove for adjusting light reflection amount.

9. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is formed of a single light emitting diode or a combination of a plurality of light emitting diodes.

10. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the casing has a shape of a rectangle in a plan view.

11. The surface illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein an interior of the casing is divided into a plurality of blocks, single point-light source is arranged at a center of the bottom plane of each divided block, and the radiation side reflection unit is arranged immediately above each of the point-light sources.

12. A surface illuminating light source device comprising:

a group of light sources including a single point-light source or a combination of a plurality of point-light sources that emit light;

an optically transmissive light guide body propagating light from the light source and having a radiation surface at a prescribed position in the radiation direction;

a casing closing surfaces of the light guide body except the radiation surface and having an inner reflection unit formed of a bottom surface and a side reflection section that reflect light, in which the light source is arranged substantially at a center of the bottom surface; and

a radiation side reflection unit arranged on the radiation surface, wherein

the radiation side reflection unit is formed of a member that reflects or passes light propagating inside the light guide body at a prescribed rate, and

an opening section is formed on a periphery of the radiation side reflection unit while a central portion of the radiation side reflection unit is a non-opening section so that an amount of light passing through the radiation side reflection unit increases as it gets farther from a center of the radiation surface facing the light source,

wherein when distance along the radiation surface from the center of the radiation surface facing the light source to the opening section is x, distance from the light source to the radiation side reflection unit in the radiation direction is d, opening dimension of the opening section is a, and thickness of the radiation side reflection unit is t, d/x<

t/a is satisfied.

13. A surface illuminating device comprising:

an arrangement including a plurality of surface illuminating light source devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of surface illuminating light source devices includes;

a group of light sources including a single point-light source or a combination of a plurality of point-light sources that emit light;

an optically transmissive light guide body propagating light from the light source and having a radiation surface at a prescribed position in the radiation direction;

a casing closing surfaces of the light guide body except the radiation surface and having an inner reflection unit formed of a bottom surface and a side reflection section that reflect light, in which the light source is arranged substantially at a center of the bottom surface; and

a radiation side reflection unit arranged on the radiation surface, wherein

the radiation side reflection unit is formed of a member that reflects or passes light propagating inside the light guide body at a prescribed rate, and

an opening section is formed on a periphery of the radiation side reflection unit while a central portion of the radiation side reflection unit is a non-opening section so that an amount of light passing through the radiation side reflection unit increases as it gets farther from a center of the radiation surface facing the light source,

wherein when proportion of total area of the opening section against a prescribed standard area is opening rate A, b and c are invariables, and distance from a center of the radiation surface facing the light source is x, the opening section satisfies the following formula;

A=bx²+c.