Abstract: A film-shaped lightguide plate unit enables reductions in thickness and weight. The film-shaped lightguide plate unit (7) has a film-shaped lightguide plate (6) and a support frame (8) made of a film material to support at least the outer peripheral edge of the film-shaped lightguide plate (6). Optical sheets including the film-shaped lightguide plate, a diffusing sheet, a prism sheet, etc. are disposed inside the support frame.

Abstract: An optical film for use in a side-light type lighting device of a liquid crystal display or the like includes a plurality of tilted column-shaped transparent film cells extending from a light entrance surface to a light exit surface of the optical film. Light-reflecting layers are provided on a part of side surfaces of each film cell. Light from an LED light source enters a light guide plate, exits the top surface of the light guide plate, and enters the film cells. The light is reflected by the light-reflecting layers of the cells to exit therefrom as directed light.

Abstract: A light emitting sheet module includes a light guiding sheet to cover a plurality of key switches, at least one LED disposed on at least one end portion of the light guiding sheet, and a circuit board disposed on the one end portion of the light guiding sheet on which the LED is disposed. When the light emitting sheet module is, mounted on a switch board, it is capable of adaptation to key switches in a wide variety of forms and to illuminate the key switches with light emission of high brightness.

Abstract: A light emitting diode, capable of accomplishing enlargement of emitted range of light and equalization of brightness of emitted light has a substrate (22), electrodes (23a, 23b), a light emitting element (24) mounted on the substrate (22) and connected electrically with the electrodes (23a, 23b), a resinous cover (26) for sealing the light emitting element (24) and electrodes (23a, 23b) and an uneven shaped light scattering part (30) provided on the surface of the cover.

Abstract: A sheet switch module including a sheet switch (21) having a central contact (32) disposed on a circuit board (33), a circumferential contact (20) disposed circumferentially of the central contact (32), a spring (22) disposed above the central contact (32), and a transparent sheet member (23) configured to cover the spring (22), the sheet switch (21) forming a switching circuit such that the spring (22) provides electrical conduction between the central contact (32) and the circumferential contact (20) when the sheet member is pressed, the sheet member (23) being formed by a light guiding sheet (30) configured to guide light emitted from an LED (34) along an upper surface of the spring (22).

Abstract: An elastic connector integrated with electrodes on at least either a chip-type LED or a circuit board facing each other is sandwiched and compressed by the chip-type LED and the circuit board so as to provide an electric connection. The thus obtained integrated connector is thin and cost-effective while able to provide a secure conductivity between the electrodes of the printed circuit board and the chip-type LED in a simple connection method, and a LED including the integrated connector also is provided.