Abstract: A batch-molding multi optical transmission sheet assembly includes a batch-molding multi optical transmission sheet, a housing member, and a fixing element. The batch-molding multi optical transmission sheet includes a sheet-like covering part made of plastic, and a plurality of optical transmission regions, inside the covering part, including a core region made of plastic that is disposed to extend along an extending direction of the covering part and a clad region made of plastic that surrounds an outer circumference of the core region, the optical transmission regions being arranged in a line in substantially parallel with each other along a principal surface of the covering part. The housing member includes a disposition hole in which at least one end part of the batch-molding multi optical transmission sheet is housed. The fixing element fixes the batch-molding multi optical transmission sheet and the housing member.

Abstract: An optical polymer material includes an alternating copolymer made of a monomer of a styrene derivative and a monomer of a maleimide derivative, and has a nonlinear property in which the photoelastic coefficient of the optical polymer material decreases to a predetermined value with increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative, and rises above the predetermined value with further increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative. A composition ratio of the styrene derivative is within a predetermined range. An absolute value of the photoelastic coefficient is equal to or smaller than a first absolute value within the predetermined range of the composition ratio, and an absolute value of the intrinsic birefringence is equal to or smaller than a second absolute value of the optical polymer material within the predetermined range of the composition ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical material including a cyclic olefin copolymer containing at least a repeating structural unit [A] represented by the general formula (1) and a repeating structural unit [B] represented by the general formula (2) and having a molar ratio [A]/[B] of from 95/5 to 1/99, wherein the absolute value of the ratio ?OB/?F is from 0.001 to 0.250 in which ?OB represents the amount of a change in the absolute value of the orientation birefringence calculated from the phase difference (nm) at a wavelength of 633 nm/film thickness (?m) in a stretched film obtained from the optical material, and ?F represents the amount of a change in the absolute value of the orientation coefficient determined from the dichroic ratio of parallel light intensity I? to perpendicular light intensity I?, each relative to the orientation direction according to Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract: In order to fix an optical fiber to a desired position in a holding member easily and tightly, provided is an optical collimator (10) having a plastic optical fiber (13) and a cylindrical holder (11). The holder (11) is configured to hold a collimator lens (12) at an end and has an insertion hole (11a) at an opposite end for inserting the plastic optical fiber (13). The plastic optical fiber (13) is sandwiched by an inner surface of a recess (11e) which is formed at a part of the holder (11) in proper alignment with the collimator lens (12).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for producing plastic optical member comprising a core region and a clad region. The method comprises carrying out polymerization of a polymerizable monomer, thereby obtaining an area corresponding to the core region. The Polymerization is carried out in the presence of a polymerization initiator having a ten-hour, half-life decomposition temperature Th (° C.) (Tb−20≦Th; Tb is the boiling point (° C.) of the polymerizable monomer), at an initial polymerization temperature T1 (° C.) (Tb−10≦T1≦Tg; Tg is the glass transition point (° C.) of the polymer made of the polymerizable monomer), for a period which is equal to or longer than 10% of the half-life of the polymerization initiator at T1; and further carried out at an elevated temperature T2 (° C.

Abstract: A guide plate has a major face on which projections are arranged, wherein the projections have an arch-like profile within the vicinity of an incidence end face, or, in addition to this, within regions along both side end faces, thereby preventing the guide plate from producing abnormal brightness which could be caused by reflective appearance of edges. A primary light source is disposed beside the guide plate. Major faces of the guide plate provide an emission face and a back face. A prism sheet and a protection sheet are disposed along the emission face. A liquid crystal display panel is additionally arranged to provide a liquid crystal display. The guide plate has a wedge-shaped cross section and a minor face at its thicker end provides the incidence end face along the primary light source. The emission face may be provided with light scattering pattern to promote emission.

Abstract: A guide plate having an emission face for light-output, a back face and an incidence end face for light-input is improved. The emission face is provided with a plurality of projections each of which includes a blunt top portion. The projections have shapes such as like domes or like ridges. Each dome-like projection has a diameter ranging, for example, from 50 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m and has a height ranging, for example, from 0.1 &mgr;m to 50 &mgr;m. The dome-like projections distribute with density such that one or more projections are allocated, for example, per box of 0.5 mm×0.5 mm. Ridge-like projections run so as to have a crossing angle, for example, 60 degrees or more with respect to the incidence end face. Ratio of repetition pitch of the ridge-like projections to their height falls within a range, for example, from 5000:1 to 1:1. Height of each ridge-like projection may fall within a range from 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A graded-refractive-index optical plastic material composed of an amorphous fluoropolymer and at least one material which differs from the polymer in refractive index by at least 0.001, wherein the material is so distributed as to have a concentration gradient in a specific direction, and a method for its production.

Abstract: A light control member formed by a prism sheet 5 is arranged along an emitting surface 12 of a light guide plate of a side light type surface light source device for liquid-crystal display backlighting arrangement and the like. The prism sheet 5 is provided with numerous projections formed with a height H1 at a pitch D1. Roughness is imparted to the emitting surface 12 by matt-processing or adhesion of fine particles. The roughness is preferably within the arithmetic average roughness Ra range 0.02-0.25 &mgr;m. Non-uniformity may be applied to height H1 of the prism sheet 5. The tendency of the prism sheet to adhere to the emitting surface is reduced and degradation of light quality prevented by the roughness of the emitting surface and/or non-uniform height of projections on the prism sheet.

Abstract: Illuminating light, supplied from a primary light source of a surface light source device of side light type, passes through an incidence surface (12A) and enters a wedge-shaped scattering guide plate (12). Inside the guide plate (12), the illuminating light propagates toward the end while being repeatedly reflected between a back face (12B) and an emission surface (12C). During this process, the illuminating light receives scattering action of particles or the like in the guide plate (12). The emission surface (12C) provides a prism surface. The back face (12B) comprises a plurality of projections in a belt region (AR1) along an edge (EL). The projections run generally parallel to the edge (EL) and each has a pair of slopes (12G and 12H). The height of the projections (that is, depth of the troughs) or the inclination of the slopes (12G and 12H) preferably decrease according to distance from the edge (EL).

Abstract: A surface light source device has a narrowed visual field and increased brightness. The surface light source device can be applied to a liquid crystal display. The back side of a fluorescent lamp is covered with silver foil. Light emitted from the lamp enters a wedge-shaped light guide plate through its incident surface. The light guide plate is designed so that directional light exits from the guide plate. When the light is guided toward a thin-walled end surface through the light guide plate, the light is scattered, reflected, and undergoes other action. Collimated light flux gradually exits from the exiting surface. The light flux passes through two prism sheets successively. As a result, the direction of propagation of the light is restricted in two dimensions. The light flux of increased brightness is directed to the liquid crystal panel. V-shaped channels formed in the prism faces of the two prism sheets PS1, PS2 are arrayed in two mutually perpendicular directions while facing outward.

Abstract: A graded-refractive-index optical plastic material composed of an amorphous fluoropolymer and at least one material which differs from the polymer in refractive index by at least 0.001, wherein the material is so distributed as to have a concentration gradient in a specific direction, and a method for its production.

Abstract: A set of light guide blocks B L 1˜B L 3 provide a tandem arrangement. The light guide block B L 1 is supplied with light from a primary light source L 1. The other primary light sources L 2, L 3 are arranged in recesses formed around distal portions of the light guide blocks B L 1, B L 2, supplying the light guide blocks B L 2, B L 3 with primary light, respectively. Overlap of mutually neighboring light guide blocks gives tang-shaped overlapping portions 17a, 17b, 27a, 27b as well as overlapping bands 17c, 27c, thereby avoiding electrodes at both ends of the primary light sources L 2, L 3 from causing short of brightness. The light guide blocks B L 1˜B L 3 may be in the form of unified single guide plate. Primary light sources L 1˜L 3 may have a shape such that electrode sections of both ends are curved. A compact surface light source device with a large emission area is provided.

Abstract: A surface light source device of side light type is provided with guide plate, a primary light source, a reflection sheet and a prism sheet. The back surface of the guide plate provides a light control surface (arrows D to F). This light control surface has a great number of projections running generally at right angles to an incidence end surface. Each projection includes a pair of slopes. Inclination angles of the slopes of the pair with respect to a normal to a general plane of the guide plate are equal to each other on a generally central portion of an emission surface, while inclination angles of respective inner slopes become larger gradually than those of respective outer slopes toward areas near both side portions, as viewed from an incidence end surface. Length between two side edges of the guide plate may be larger than length thereof along the running direction of the projections, as viewed from the incidence end surface.

Abstract: A light incident into a wedge type light scattering conducting element from a light incident surface of the light scattering conducting element is converted into a light flux having a directionality and is output from a light output surface. The output light is input to a wedge type emitting direction characteristic adjusting element arranged with a positional relationship complementary to the light scattering conducting element. A prism shaped irregularity for adjusting a propagating directionality of the light in longitudinal/transverse directions is formed on a light input surface/light output surface of the wedge type emitting direction characteristic adjusting element. The wedge type emitting direction characteristic adjusting element has a weakened scattering power depending on requirements, thereby a degree of directionality sharpness of the light emitted from a surface light source device is adjusted.

Abstract: A light regulator and a surface light source device employing the light regulator. For liquid-crystal display applications, the surface light source device can effectively prevent degradation in the quality of the emitted light and can reliably provide the required directivity correction. The light regulator is formed by laminatedly arranging a light scattering surface between first and second sheet-like members. The two sheet-like members mutually differ in shape, material and refractive index. Scattering means arranged between the first and second sheet-like members prevents Newton's rings due to spaces between the two sheet-like members from occurring. A light diffusion sheet may be disposed between the first and second sheet-like members.

Abstract: In a surface light source device of side light type applied to a liquid crystal display or the like, particularly, a surface light source device of side light type with emitting directivity, irregularities in luminance of output light are prevented from occurring in the vicinity of an incidence surface. In a surface light source device of side light type 10, a diffusible area M1 to diffusely reflect illumination light and an absorptive area (on a reflection sheet 11) to restrain the illumination light from reflection from bands in the vicinity of the incidence surface oppositely with the emitting surface of a light guide plate 12 with emitting directivity. It is thereby possible to reduce irregularities in output light luminance occurring in the vicinity of the incidence surface T. A light reflection member 18 may be arranged so as to extend over an edge EU of the emitting surface of the light guide plate 12, with directivity of illumination light emitted from the the emitting surface being modified.

Abstract: A surface light source device of side-light type enables concentrated output of illumination light to a frontal direction. A flux having clear directivity is outputted from window portions 1w on an emitting surface 5 of a light guide plate 1 with emitting directivity. This flux is represented by a beam C01 outputted in a direction at an angle of 70.degree.. A flux C02 incident on reflection portions 1r is returned to the light guide plate 1 and is given an opportunity of output from the window portions 1w again. The flux C01 having escaped from the window portions 1w to an air layer AR is obliquely incident on flat regions 14g of a propagation direction characteristics modifier 14, and a degree of parallelization of the flux in a propagation direction is improved. The flux is blocked by the reflection portions 1r from being incident on a notch portion (uneffective area) between the flat regions 14g.

Abstract: In a surface light source device of side light type applied to a liquid crystal display or the like, a light control member is prevented from clinging to a light guide plate. The light guide plate is formed by means of injection molding with molds 16A and 16B. The molds 16A and 16B have an additional cavity 13 in a portion corresponding to a position close to an incidence surface of the light guide plate 11, with a gate G being arranged in the cavity. In the mold 16B, its inside surface corresponding to an emitting surface 12 is roughened. According to gradient in roughness, the emitting surface of a light guide plate to be manufactured is roughened so as to have uniform or graded roughness. On a center line C--C, the inside surface is much roughened in a portion distant from the cavity 13. Further, on a crossing line D--D, the inside surface is roughened so as to reduce the roughness according to distance from the center.

Abstract: In a surface light source device of side light type applied to a liquid crystal display device, etc., more specifically a surface light source device of side light type having a directivity emitting characteristic, a bright-and-dark-band contrast which is generated in a vicinity of an incidence surface is prevented. In a surface light source device of side light type, light diffusible areas composed on main-and-supplementary diffusible areas are formed on a slanted surface and an emitting surface of a light guide plate having a directivity emitting characteristic. A silver sheet is fixed to a projected portion of a prism sheet along an upper edge, and an illumination light which arrives at the upper edge from a fluorescent lamp is blocked so that the strong brightening of the upper edge is prevented. An illumination light form a lower edge is blocked by a reflector or a frame and reflected diffusively. The light diffusible area may be formed on one of the slanted surface and the emitting surface.