Abstract: A transmittance adjuster unit includes multiple transmittance adjusters arranged in a predetermined pattern, if the pattern density is ?(x, y), the maximum luminance Fmax of the light emitted from the light emission plane of a planar illumination device when the unit is not provided is 1, the minimum luminance is Fmin, and the relative luminance with respect to the maximum luminance Fmax of the light emitted from a predetermined position (x, y) of the emission plane is F(x, y), the relationship between the luminance F(x, y) and the pattern density ?(x, y) satisfies the following expression: ?(x, y)=c{F(x, y)?Fmin}/(Fmax?Fmin), wherein 0.5?c?1. This unit is thin and lightweight, and can reduce unevenness of the luminance without reducing the average luminance of the incident light. The planar illumination device includes the transmittance adjuster unit and a liquid crystal display device includes the planar illumination device.

Abstract: A reflector is used in a display device and is disposed parallel to a predetermined plane, and has plural unit reflecting portions each having a reflection face for reflecting incident light in a direction different from that of regular reflection light of the predetermined plane. Further, the distance between a first tangential plane abutting on a first reflection face arranged in an arbitrarily extracted first unit reflecting portion at a reference point arranged in an arbitrary position on the first reflection face, and a second tangential plane abutting on a second reflection face arranged in a second unit reflecting portion adjacent to the first unit reflecting portion in parallel with the first tangential plane is preferably half or more of a coherent length of the incident light.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes rod type light sources, a light guide plate having light guide plate blocks, each being formed of an integral assembly of at least two light guide plate units each having a rear surface with a groove formed to accommodate a rod type light source and a light exit surface that is away from the rear surface and which is for emitting the light from the light source and a transmittance adjuster unit that is provided on a side closer to the light exit surface, and which has a sheet type optical member capable of transmitting light and transmittance adjusters provided on at least one surface of the optical member. The transmittance adjusters at a position corresponding to a seam between adjacent light guide plate blocks are distributed at a different density than the transmittance adjusters at a position corresponding to a joint between adjacent light guide plate units.

Abstract: A light guide plate of the invention has a plurality of unit light guide plates that are formed of a transparent resin material and which are joined together. Each of the unit light guide plates has a flat rectangular light exit surface and a back surface that is opposite the light exit surface and which has a parallel groove formed in generally a center and parallel to a side of the rectangular light exit surface. The light guide plate is used with a linear light source fitted in the parallel groove, satisfying the inequality (L0/280)2·k(14T2+710T)·(?0.65 log S+1.9)?10, where L0 is the length (mm) of the light guide plate, k is the linear expansion coefficient [/° C.] of the resin material, Ts is the surface temperature [° C.] of the linear light source that has become stable, S is half of the cross-sectional area [mm2] of the unit light guide plate as it is cut through a plane perpendicular to the parallel groove, and T=Ts?25.

Abstract: A front light and a reflective display using the same are provided. A light guide of the front light includes a plurality of patterns on the upper surface, each of the patterns including a first surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface, a second surface substantially perpendicular to the light-emitting surface or inclining relative to the light-emitting surface opposite to the light-entering surface, and a third surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface.

Abstract: According to a front light comprising an optical waveguide 25 and a light source 24 arranged on the side of the optical waveguide 25, the optical waveguide 25 comprises a light input surface and light emission surface 28, and a plurality of deflection patterns 26 are formed on the surface opposed to the light emission surface 28. Light from the light source 24 is input from the light input surface of the optical waveguide 25 and propagated in the optical waveguide 25. The light totally reflected by the deflection patterns 26 among the light propagated in the optical waveguide 25 is emitted from the light emission surface 28 in the direction oblique to the normal direction of the light emission surface 28. The light is emitted from the light emission surface 28 so as to be aligned in one direction regardless of its position.

Abstract: A reflector used for a display device has a plurality of unit reflecting portions. The unit reflecting portions are arranged by repeating arrangement patterns of unit regions. The unit regions have a repetition pitch that is integral times the pitch of pixels of a liquid crystal display and more than 5000 ?m. More preferably, the repetition pitch of unit regions is integral times the pitch of pixels of a liquid crystal display and more than 10000 ?m.

Abstract: Plural diffusion patterns are formed on a light-incident surface of an optical film, while plural prisms are formed on a light-emitting surface. The diffusion patterns have, in at least one section thereof, a main inclined surface that is curved face with a relatively small inclination and an auxiliary inclined surface that is oppositely inclined to the main inclined surface with a relatively large inclination.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical device is disclosed. The method includes coating a substrate with a resin thin layer, wherein temperature of the resin thin layer is controlled lower than a polymerization reaction starting temperature thereof and the resin is not substantially polymerized, heating the resin thin layer to a temperature higher than polymerization reaction starting temperature and glass-transition temperature but lower than a thermal decomposition starting temperature of the resin so that the resin thin layer is polymerized on the substrate to form a resin thin film thereon, pressing a stamp having an inverted micro-asperity pattern against the resin thin film such that a micro-asperity pattern is formed on a surface of the resin thin film; cooling the resin thin film to a temperature lower than the glass-transition temperature; and separating the stamp from the resin thin film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical device is disclosed. The method includes coating a substrate with a resin thin layer, wherein temperature of the resin thin layer is controlled lower than a polymerization reaction starting temperature thereof and the resin is not substantially polymerized, heating the resin thin layer to a temperature higher than polymerization reaction starting temperature and glass-transition temperature but lower than a thermal decomposition starting temperature of the resin so that the resin thin layer is polymerized on the substrate to form a resin thin film thereon, pressing a stamp having an inverted micro-asperity pattern against the resin thin film such that a micro-asperity pattern is formed on a surface of the resin thin film; cooling the resin thin film to a temperature lower than the glass-transition temperature; and separating the stamp from the resin thin film.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a reflector plate capable of suppressing coloring caused by interference and enhancing visibility. A plurality of first reflecting units 10 and a plurality of second reflecting units 11 are provided together. In this case, a reflecting plane 11a of the second reflecting unit 11 is set to be smaller in diameter and have smaller difference in in-plane height than those of a reflecting plane 10a of the first reflecting unit 10, and an arrangement interval between the second reflecting units 11 is set to be greater than that between the first reflecting units 10.

Abstract: According to a front light comprising an optical waveguide 25 and a light source 24 arranged on the side of the optical waveguide 25, the optical waveguide 25 comprises a light input surface and light emission surface 28, and a plurality of deflection patterns 26 are formed on the surface opposed to the light emission surface 28. Light from the light source 24 is input from the light input surface of the optical waveguide 25 and propagated in the optical waveguide 25. The light totally reflected by the deflection patterns 26 among the light propagated in the optical waveguide 25 is emitted from the light emission surface 28 in the direction oblique to the normal direction of the light emission surface 28. The light is emitted from the light emission surface 28 so as to be aligned in one direction regardless of its position.

Abstract: A front light and a reflective display using the same are provided. A light guide of the front light includes a plurality of patterns on the upper surface, each of the patterns including a first surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface, a second surface substantially perpendicular to the light-emitting surface or inclining relative to the light-emitting surface opposite to the light-entering surface, and a third surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface.

Abstract: A cylindrical embossment roll whose outer circumferential surface is formed with a micro-asperity pattern is prepared. A substrate is coated with a thin resin film. The substrate is held by a transfer stage, and a micro-asperity pattern is formed on the thin resin film by pressing the outer circumferential surface of the embossment roll against the thin resin film with a pressurizing mechanism while rolling the embossment roll on the thin resin film.

Abstract: A reflector is used in a display device and is disposed parallel to a predetermined plane, and has plural unit reflecting portions each having a reflection face for reflecting incident light in a direction different from that of regular reflection light of the predetermined plane. Further, the distance between a first tangential plane abutting on a first reflection face arranged in an arbitrarily extracted first unit reflecting portion at a reference point arranged in an arbitrary position on the first reflection face, and a second tangential plane abutting on a second reflection face arranged in a second unit reflecting portion adjacent to the first unit reflecting portion in parallel with the first tangential plane is preferably half or more of a coherent length of the incident light.

Abstract: A reflector used for a display device has a plurality of unit reflecting portions. The unit reflecting portions are arranged by repeating arrangement patterns of unit regions. The unit regions have a repetition pitch that is integral times the pitch of pixels of a liquid crystal display and more than 5000 &mgr;m. More preferably, the repetition pitch of unit regions is integral times the pitch of pixels of a liquid crystal display and more than 10000 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In a reflection type display apparatus in which a forward lightening apparatus is arranged in front of a reflection type display panel, lowering of contrast occurred when the forward lightening apparatus is turned ON is prevented. In this reflection type display apparatus, the forward lightening apparatus is adhered via an adhesive layer to a front surface of the reflection type display panel having a reflection plane. The reflection plane is constituted by a large number of first very fine patterns having a spherical shape, and a large number of second very fine patterns whose front surfaces are inclined. External light which is vertically entered into the front surfaces is reflected by the first patterns, and thereafter, the reflected external light is projected as a display along a forward direction. The forward lightening apparatus is arranged by providing a light source on a side surface of a light conducting plate having a wedge shape.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method of an optical device having a micro-asperity pattern that has various kinds of accurate three-dimensional shapes and is realized as thin films. A substrate is coated with a resin thin film made of a photosensitive resin, and the temperature of the resin thin film is controlled so as to be lower than the photosensitivity extinction temperature of the resin thin film. A micro-asperity pattern of a stamper is pressed against the resin thin film when the resin thin film is in a softened or melted state by pressurizing means, whereby a micro-asperity pattern is formed on the surface of the resin thin film.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical film having a diffusion pattern that can diffuse light and direct at least a part of incident light vertically to the surface of the optical film. Further, the present invention provides an optical film having both a function of a prism sheet and a function of a diffusion sheet.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a reflector plate capable of suppressing coloring caused by interference and enhancing visibility. A plurality of first reflecting units 10 and a plurality of second reflecting units 11 are provided together. In this case, a reflecting plane 11a of the second reflecting unit 11 is set to be smaller in diameter and have smaller difference in in-plane height than those of a reflecting plane 11a of the first reflecting unit 10, and an arrangement interval between the second reflecting units 11 is set to be greater than that between the first reflecting units 10.