Abstract: In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.

Abstract: A housing (HG) for a backlight unit (49) includes a bottom section (22), a wall section (23) and a side section (VP), and the side section (VP) is at least a part of a first groove (DH1) which sandwiches a mounting substrate (11).

Abstract: An indicator device includes a light emitting element for emitting light, and a light conducting plate having a light incidence surface for conducting light from the light emitting element inside thereof and a light output surface, for a lighted indication by the light output surface. The light conducting plate has a triangular recess recessed to form with prescribed recess depths in one planer surface thereof, for light from the light emitting element to be reflected in part. The triangular recess has a recess extremity constituting a single vertex disposed in position on an optical axis of the light emitting element and nearer to the light incidence surface than other end parts thereof. The recess depths becomes shallower as the V-form recess extends from the recess extremity, allowing for an evenness of luminance of light over the light output surface formed on the light conducting plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit (49) comprising a light-emitting unit (UT) and a light guide plate (42) for receiving light from the light-emitting unit (UT). In this backlight unit (49), a light-receiving surface (42S) of the light guide plate (42) receiving light from an LED (12) is provided with a recess (DH) for housing an FTC (14) which connects mounted boards (11) arranged side by side.

Abstract: A light source device, a backlight unit, and a liquid crystal display device are each capable of improving uniformity of a luminance and a color of a display surface. The light source device includes a board; a plurality of point light sources arranged on a surface of the board and connected in series; and a variable resistor, wherein the variable resistor is disposed on the surface on which the plurality of point light sources are arranged of the board; at least one point light source arranged on an end side among the plurality of point light sources is connected in parallel to the variable resistor; and the board has a through-hole in a region where a variable resistor is located.

Abstract: The illumination device is provided with a plurality of light guide bodies, the bottom face of which is given light reflection/scattering treatment, light sources individually connected to the end portions of a plurality of the light guide bodies to radiate the bottom faces of a plurality of the light guide bodies, and a control unit for changing the intensity of light made incident from the light sources to a plurality of the light guide bodies. A plurality of the light guide bodies are laminated so as to be at least partially overlapped at the respective light emitting regions of the light guide bodies, and the control unit allows the intensity of light made incident from the light sources to the light guide bodies to change with the lapse of time.

Abstract: A luminous module for mounting in a household appliance has a housing that is embodied in such a way as to receive a luminous element. The luminous module further contains a first optical wave guide having a light admission surface via which light emitted by the luminous element enters the first optical wave guide, and a light output surface via which the light emerges from the luminous module. The housing is embodied in such a way as to alternatively receive a first luminous element and a second luminous element that is different from the first.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include an optical conductor having at least one slot, cavity or hole in at least one side that defines at least one input surface for a light source having a light output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component. The optical conductor has a predetermined pattern of deformities that vary to cause a desired light output distribution to be emitted from a plurality of specific surface areas of the optical conductor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include an interferometric optical modulator comprising a substrate layer and a light direction layer. Such an interferometric modulator may be integrated with a diffuser layer in a display device in a way that physically integrates the diffuser layer into the light direction layer in a way where the diff-user layer does not interact with light propagating within the light direction layer. As a result, most of the light propagating within the light direction layer does not penetrate into the diffuser which would inhibit performance of the display. In some embodiments, the interface between the diffuser layer and the light direction layer has a lower index of refraction than the light direction layer and the transparent substrate so that total internal reflection occurs at the interface.

Abstract: A surface light source device according to the invention includes a housing having an opening portion on at least one face, an LED light source held by one face of the housing opposing the opening portion, and a light guiding plate arranged at a position so as to cover the opening portion and the LED light source. The light guiding plate includes a recess provided at a position corresponding to the LED light source for storing a part of the LED light source. A light quantity adjusting means is provided at a bottom part of the recess for adjusting light from the LED light source. The light quantity adjusting means includes a reflection sheet having a reflection function and a transmission function in which a total light transmittance t satisfies t??r2 cos ?/{(1?cos ?)(S??r2)}, supposing that an average radius is defined as r, a distance from the LED light source is defined as H, a light-emitting area of the LED light source is defined as S, and a total light quantity is defined as L.

Abstract: An LED flat lamp including a housing with a light-emitting area at the bottom thereof. The internal side thereof undergoes a reflexion treatment. At least one LED is disposed within the housing. A power connector is extended from the LED to the outside. The LED is installed on a circuit board. A light guide plate is installed at one side of the LED within the housing. The light exit side of the light guide plate is provided with a microstructure for a uniform light exit. Moreover, an optical film unit is attached to the bottom of the light guide plate such that the light-emitting area of the housing is covered with the optical film unit. The optical film unit consists of one or several brightness enhancement films and one or several diffusers. In this way, the problem of glaring light directly emitted by the prior art is resolved. The LED flat lamp in accordance with the invention can emit a non-glaring light and can be modularized into a standardized product.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing having a panel with an opening extending therethrough, a light source disposed within the electronic device and configured to transmit light through the opening, an optically-transmissive layer located on a side of the panel opposite a side of the light source and extending over the opening, and a reflective element disposed on the optically-transmissive layer and located at least partially coincident with a location of the opening.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include an interferometric optical modulator comprising a substrate layer and a light direction layer. Such an interferometric modulator may be integrated with a diffuser layer in a display device in a way that physically integrates the diffuser layer into the light direction layer in a way where the diff-user layer does not interact with light propagating within the light direction layer. As a result, most of the light propagating within the light direction layer does not penetrate into the diffuser which would inhibit performance of the display. In some embodiments, the interface between the diffuser layer and the light direction layer has a lower index of refraction than the light direction layer and the transparent substrate so that total internal reflection occurs at the interface.

Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light source emitting light and a light diffusing plate diffusing light emitted from the light source, the light diffusing plate having an ellipsoidal microlens, the ellipsoidal microlens being provided in a plural number and a major axis direction of the microlens being substantially orthogonal to a longer axis direction of the light source.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing having a display part (2) provided with an image display panel (1), a operation part (4) provided with operation keys (3), and a joint part (5) that connects together the display part and the operation part, and a lightguide plate (6) disposed in the casing. The lightguide plate is an edge-light type lightguide plate having a display illuminating part (6a) illuminating the image display panel, a key illuminating part (6b) illuminating the operation keys, and a connecting part (6c) that connects together the display illuminating part and the key illuminating part and that guides light therebetween. The lightguide plate is deformable in accordance with the deformation of the casing.

Abstract: A light guiding plate is provided on the obverse side of a display for displaying a display image while varying the display image. Unevenness is formed at a predetermined position at a reverse surface of the light guiding plate. A light emitting element is disposed at the side surface of the light guiding plate in such a manner as to introduce the light to the light guiding plate. Alternatively, an uneven portion in conformity with a pattern of a desired display image may be formed at a reverse surface of the light guiding plate, and a light emitting element is disposed at the side surface of the light guiding plate in such a manner as to introduce the light to the light guiding plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to electronic devices, in particular consumer electronic devices, including an electrophoactive display, as well as to electronic document reading devices, sometimes called e-readers, such as electronic books. We describe an electronic device including an electroactive display and a light to illuminate said display, wherein said display has a viewing surface, and wherein said light is configured to illuminate said display from in front and to one side of an edge of said viewing surface, across said viewing surface and through a front-most surface of said display.

Abstract: Communication display comprises a light source for backlighting an advertising spot or similar, arranged on a support. The light source comprises a web of optical fibres arranged facing the back of the support and adapted for emitting light laterally. Optical fibres present on at last one edge of the web are assembled in a plurality of bundles, each bundle being equipped at its free end with an assembling ring for securing each of the fibres with regard to others of the same bundle. The light source also includes a plurality of point sources facing at least one edge of the web of optical fibres, and convergent optical systems arranged facing each point source for uniformly collimating light rays emitted by the point sources towards the optical fibres. The convergent optical systems are arranged in a ball joint connection with centering supports and members for aligning the assembling rings.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus including an optical waveguide formed in direct to the housing thereof by comprising an outer case which is formed partly or entirely of transparent resin material, an optical waveguide provided to the transparent resin material of the outer case and a light emitting element to radiate the light flowing in the optical waveguide. Accordingly, the electronic apparatus itself can radiate the light freely by confining the light within the optical waveguide. Moreover, even if a flaw is generated on the surface of case, any influence is given to the quantity of light.

Abstract: A vehicle backlit panel includes a base substrate, an electroluminescent element and an outer substrate. The electroluminescent element is disposed on one side of the base substrate. The outer substrate overlies the electroluminescent element. The outer substrate includes a translucent substrate portion having areas of different thicknesses as measured in a direction of illumination through the outer substrate to form a three-dimensional graphic image with a three-dimensional appearance resulting from different translucency levels of the areas of different thicknesses.

Abstract: An illumination device for a flat panel display may include a light-guiding member for guiding light from a light-emitting lamp, wherein the light-emitting lamp has a light-emitting device incorporated in a lamp body, wherein the lamp body has a reflection surface that reflects light from the light-emitting device and an emitting surface that is opposite to the reflection surface and irradiates the reflected light from the reflection surface toward the light-guiding member. In certain example embodiments, the emitting surface is formed into a shape along the irradiated surface of the light-guiding member and the reflection surface is formed to be curved such that the reflected light is made approximately parallel seen from one direction upon reflecting the light from the light-emitting device.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight which supplies the display panel with light. The backlight unit includes a lighting source; a light converting unit which converts light emitted from the lighting source into uniform light; and a light incidence angle controlling unit which increases an angle of incidence of the light entering the light converting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light guide plate, a front illumination type liquid crystal display device using the same, and a method for displaying an image therein. A light reflection pattern is formed on a light reflection surface of the light guide plate so as to change an optical distribution and prevent the moiré phenomenon. The light reflection pattern prevents the light from being leaked through a side of the light guide plate, so an effective display area is not divided into a bright area, a boundary area, and a dark area. It is possible to change the optical distribution and to prevent the moiré phenomenon, so the liquid crystal display device can display an image with an improved brightness uniformity.

Abstract: A lighting unit is incorporated in an LC display. The lighting unit includes a light guide and a light source adjacent to the light guide. The light guide includes a rear surface facing an LC panel, a front surface opposite to the rear surface, a first side surface between the rear and the front surfaces, and a second side surface spaced widthwise from the first side surface. The light from the light source travels into the light guide, and from the first toward the second side surfaces. A reflector for reflecting the light incident on the second side surface toward the first side surface is formed on the second side surface. The front surface of the light guide is formed with first and second slant portions. Each first slant portion reflects the light, traveling from the first toward the second side surfaces, toward the rear surface of the light guide. Each second slant portion reflects the light, traveling from the second toward the first side surfaces, toward the rear surface of the light guide.

Abstract: A front light including a light-guiding plate for receiving light from a light-entering surface and emitting the light from a light-emitting surface, an intermediate light-guiding body disposed along the light-entering surface, light-emitting elements disposed at longitudinal ends of the intermediate light-guiding body. A side surface of the intermediate light-guiding body adjacent to the light-entering surface of the light-guiding plate is a light-emitting surface for emitting light from the light-emitting elements to the light-guiding plate. A side surface opposite to the light-emitting surface is a reflective surface. The total length of the intermediate light-guiding body and the light-emitting elements is the same as the width of the light-guiding plate, the length of at least the light-emitting surface of the intermediate light-guiding body is the same as the width of the light-guiding plate, and the length of the reflective surface is smaller than the length of the light-emitting surface.

Abstract: A license plate system for motorcycle, car, truck or boat including a row of lights supported along an edge of a clear plastic channel so that light from the row enters the interior of the pane through an edge surface of the panel. The front surface of the panel has an area that is textured to form the alpha-numeric characters of the license. The panel is sufficiently thin ( 1/8 to ½ inches) so that Light from the row of lights is confined between the front and rear surfaces of the panel except an area of the front surface that is textured. Therefore the contrast between the illumination of the textured area compared to the smooth area is very pronounced.

Abstract: A light-guide-plate structure has a light guide plate, an LED module disposed on at least one side of the light guide plate, and a reflection member disposed between the LED module and the light guide plate. The LED module includes a circuit board and a plurality of LEDs arranged on the circuit board. The reflection member covers the side and a bottom surface of the light guide plate. The reflection member has a plurality of openings corresponding to the LEDs of the LED module in order to enable the LEDs to face the side of the light guide plate.

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: Light emitting panel assemblies include one or more light emitting panel members each having at least one pattern of optical deformities that may be varied in size, shape, density, placement, angle, rotation and/or type to obtain at least one light output distribution having a form or shape of at least one of text, graphics, logo or image. At least some of the optical deformities may be shaped or oriented preferentially to cause different colored light propagating through the panel member in different directions to create a multi-colored light output distribution. Also, a plurality of panel members each having a different light output distribution may be placed in overlying relation to one another to produce a composite output distribution when viewed through the panel members or a display overlying the panel members.

Abstract: A lighting unit includes a reflector, a plurality of light-emitting elements and a controller. The light-emitting elements are respectively provided on the reflector for a plurality of light-emitting regions. The controller supplies a periodic drive signal to each of the light-emitting elements, thereby defining a state of the light-emitting element. The lighting unit illuminates a display panel including a light modulating layer with light that has been emitted from the light-emitting elements. The controller supplies drive signals of substantially different types to at least two of the light-emitting elements.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a first surface having a light incident surface and a light reflect surface, a second surface facing the first surface, through which the reflected light exits, a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the second surface, and a second edge surface connected between edges of the light incident surface and the second surface, being opposite to the first edge surface. A light source is disposed on the light incident surface. A light guide plate may also include a stepped edge portion formed at a marginal area of the light guide plate on which a light source is combined. The stepped edge portion includes a light incident surface, a light reflect surface, an upper surface through which the reflected light exits the light guide plate, and a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the upper surface, being opposite to the stepped edge portion.

Abstract: Provided is a planar light source device, which comprises a light guide having at least one side end serving as a light incident side and having one surface serving as a light-emitting side, a light source disposed in the vicinity of the side end of the light guide, and a light reflector disposed on the other side opposite to the light-emitting side, and which is characterized in that the light guide is essentially formed of a polyolefin resin, the light reflector is also essentially formed of a polyolefin resin, and when a piece of the light reflector having a face size of 1.5 cm×1.5 cm is prepared, and it is pressed against the surface of the light guide with its reflective face being in contact with the surface of the light guide under a load of 135 g/cm2 thereto, and, in that condition, when it is reciprocated 10 times on the surface of the light guide to a width of 5 cm every time at a speed of 2.5 cm/sec, then the surface of the light guide is not substantially scratched by it.

Abstract: A front light includes: a light source, a light guide plate, and a plurality of prism-shaped lenses, each being in contact with a lower surface of the light guide plate. A cross-section of each of the prism-shaped lenses, in a plane perpendicular to the side surfaces thereof, has a shape of equally-sided trapezoid. An obtuse angle ?out of the equally-sided trapezoidal cross-section and a critical angle ?c for the total reflection of the prism-shaped lenses satisfy the relationship of 90°<? out?90°+?c. When the light emitted from the light source enters the prism-shaped lens, the light is allowed to be reflected at a side surface defined by side-edges of the trapezoidal cross-section and thereafter exit through a lower surface. Thus, the light can illuminate pixel electrodes in a liquid crystal panel from a direction normal thereto.

Abstract: A lamp, in particular a motor vehicle lamp, comprises a light distribution device (14, 14?) into which the light of at least one light source (6) is fed in such a way as to produce a light flux which is firstly propagated through the light distribution device substantially parallel to a light exit surface defined thereby. Components are deflected out of the light flux by means of coupling-out structures (16, 16?) for delivery through the light exit surface.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an exit plate facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. The reflection-exit plane has a first end intersecting an incidence plane and a second end intersecting an opposite end plane. An inclination angle, defined by the exit plane and a line that contains the first end and the second end, is greater than 0.20° and less than 0.75°. The reflection-exit plane includes a light admission portion that reflects light entering through or reflected on the incidence plane to the exit plane.