Abstract: A linear light source is disposed adjacent to the side face of a transparent light conducting plate. The thickness of the light conducting plate decreases as the position goes away from the light source. Light diffusing elements are formed on the major surface of the light conducting plate opposite to its light exit surface. At least one transparent sheet has, on the same surface thereof, a number of prisms having straight ridges that are arranged substantially parallel with each other at small intervals. The transparent sheet is disposed on the side of the light exit surface of the light conducting plate so that extensions of the straight ridges intersect the light source substantially perpendicularly.

Abstract: A backlighting device for use with display panels has a plurality of light diffusing elements formed in dots or stripes on one of the two major faces of a light conducting plate that is made of a light-transmissive material. The device also has a linear light source provided in proximity to the end portion of at least one side of the light conducting plate. In the device, at least one sheet that is made of a light-transmissive material and which has a multiple of prisms or raised structures having straight ridgelines defined by the apices and minima of the raised structures at small intervals on the same side of the sheet.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a solar battery and a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a plurality of digits. A plurality of column electrodes are provided for each digit, and a plurality of common electrodes are provided for all the digits. A regulator receives and stabilizes the output voltage of the solar battery. A pulse generator generates a clock pulse signal. It is an oscillator with CMOS structure to permit implementation as a LSI. A CPU is driven by the stabilized voltage and the clock pulse signal to provide data to be displayed on the display unit. A liquid crystal driver circuit applies common signals, which can assume two different voltage levels and have a waveform with the logic level thereof inverted for every one held cycle period, to the common electrodes. The driver circuit applied column signals of either one of the two voltage levels corresponding to the display data to the column electrodes.