Abstract: The lighting apparatus comprises light sources (16) and a planar light conductor (18). The planar light conductor (18) includes opposed surfaces, side surfaces and end surfaces, and a plurality of prisms (28) are provided on one of the end surfaces (23). Said a plurality of prisms (28) have the function of the linear light conductor and provides a solid planar light conductor. The configuration of said plurality of prisms (28) is varied in accordance with positions thereof. The light source (16) is arranged so that the light is incident from position near the end surface. One of the opposed surfaces has means (26) for causing the light propagating inside the planar light conductor to exit from said one of the surfaces. The side surfaces or the bottom surface of the planar light conductor has slit (30, 32) or a groove (34). The liquid crystal display includes the lighting apparatus.

Abstract: A rod-shaped light transmission body that has a plurality of prisms and converts light incident from a light source to linear light through the prisms to output the linear light, the prisms including a first prism having a function of totally reflecting the incident light to output the light from the rod-shaped light transmission body, and second and third prisms that are positioned on both sides of the first prism, each of the second and the third prisms having a function of transmitting and deflecting the incident light.

Abstract: A backlight (lighting device) is arranged on a backside of a liquid crystal panel, and comprises an LED, an optical waveguide, a reflective sheet, and a prism sheet. A diffractive optical element (DOE) constituted of a binary concave and convex pattern is formed in an end surface of the optical waveguide on an LED arranged side.

Abstract: A lighting device including a light guide plate, a light source unit disposed on the side of the light guide plate and a polarization separation element disposed between the light guide plate and the light source unit. The polarization separation element is used for transmitting linearly polarized light in a first polarized direction and reflecting linearly polarized light in a polarized direction normal to the first polarized direction. The light source unit includes a pillar-shaped light guide which light exits at a first side surface, a spot light emission source disposed on the end surface of the pillar-shaped light guide, and a reflecting layer disposed on a second side surface of a prism surface opposed to the first side surface for reflecting light from the spot light emission source.

Abstract: An illuminating device comprises a pair of light sources and a rod-like photoconductor. The rod-like photoconductor includes a pair of planes of incidence entered by the light from the light sources, a reflection surface having a plurality of prisms and an exit plane located opposite to the reflection surface. The width between the reflection surface and the exit plane at the planes of incidence of the rod-like photoconductor is smaller than the width of the light sources in the same direction. As a result, the brightness distribution of the light exiting from the rod-like photoconductor becomes uniform. The illuminating device is combined with a plate-like photoconductor to make up a planar illuminating device. Also, the illuminating device is combined with a liquid crystal panel to make up a liquid crystal display apparatus.

Abstract: A plurality of first light reflection parts 20a in the form of a first V-shaped groove, for reflecting light entering from a first light source 12a and a plurality of light reflection parts 20b in the form of a second V-shaped groove, for reflecting light entering from a second light source 12b are formed, an intersection angle ?p of the planes of the first V-shaped groove and an intersection angle ?p of the planes of the second V-shaped grooves are substantially equal to each other, the planes of said plurality of first light reflection parts and the planes of said plurality of second light reflection parts are tilted at respective angles at which the light exits in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the linear light conductor 14, said plurality of first light reflection parts are formed in at least a region near the end of the linear light conductor, opposite to the end thereof near which the first light source is disposed, and said plurality of second reflection part

Abstract: A backlight device for a transmissive liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of light sources, including a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and a light guide plate. The light guide plate causes light entering into it through one surface thereof to emerge out of another surface thereof toward the liquid crystal panel. A controller for the backlight device selects at least one of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and LED, depending on brightness required for the liquid crystal display device and determines, in accordance with the required brightness, the brightness of the selected light source to operate the light source accordingly.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus 10 comprising light sources 12a, 12b for emitting light, a plurality of light reflection portions 20 formed on the reflection side for reflecting light incident from the light sources, and a linear photoconductor 14 for causing the light to exit from the exit side opposed to the reflection side, the planes of the plurality of reflection portions being respectively tilted at angles which converge the light to the human eyes watching. Angles of the light reflection portions are set so that exit angles of light exiting from the linear photoconductor are required angles, whereby the lighting apparatus can have a uniform light intensity distribution. The application of the lighting apparatus can provide a liquid crystal display of good display characteristics.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device comprises first and second light sources, a light guide plate, and a liquid crystal unit. The first light source is disposed on one of two opposing side surfaces of the light guide plate. The second light source is disposed on the other of the two opposing side surfaces of the light guide plate. A first plurality of substantially parallel grooves are formed in a first surface of the light guide plate which is substantially parallel with a display surface of the liquid crystal unit. A second plurality of substantially parallel grooves are formed in a second surface opposing the first surface of the light guide plate. At least one of a dimension and density of the first plurality of grooves substantially monotonically changes from one in the vicinity of one of the light sources to one in the vicinity of the other of the light sources.

Abstract: The display device includes a spatial modulator having a plurality of pixels and a periodical structural body having condenser elements corresponding to the pixels of the spatial modulator. Each of the pixels of the spatial modulator includes a plurality of color dots arranged in a first direction. A length of a peripheral region of the respective pixel encircling the plurality of color dots, measured in the first direction, is longer than a length of the condenser element of the periodical structural body, measured in the first direction. In addition, combinations of the pixels in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement with the condenser elements in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement are disclosed.

Abstract: Light L1 emitted by a light source unit 2 is non-polarized. The light L1 is transmitted by a phase modulation element 4 to be non-polarized light L2 and enters a polarization separation element 6 which transmits light polarized in a first polarized direction and reflects light polarized in a second polarized direction normal to the first polarized direction. The polarization separation element 6 transmits first linearly polarized light L3 and reflects second linearly polarized light L4 whose polarized direction is normal to the linearly polarized light L3. The linearly polarized light L3 goes to a light guide plate not shown. The linearly polarized light L4 enters a phase modulation element 4 to be transformed to circularly polarized light L5, and circularly polarized light L5 returns to the light source unit 2. The light L5 which has returned to the light source unit 2 repeats reflections, etc. in the light source unit 2 to be again non-polarized light L1 and exits the light source unit 2.

Abstract: A substrate made of glass serves both as a substrate for a touch panel and as that for a front light, and has both functions of propagating an ultrasonic wave in order to detect a touched position, and propagating light emitted from a light source to guide the light toward a reflective-type liquid crystal display. In the case where an image on the liquid crystal display is made visible by external light, external light which has been transmitted through the substrate is reflected by the liquid crystal display, and the reflected light is again transmitted through the substrate to be emitted from the front face. In the case where the front light function is used, light which has been introduced into the substrate from the light source is reflected by the liquid crystal display, and the reflected light is transmitted through the substrate to be emitted from the front face.

Abstract: The head mount type display device includes an optical system having a light emitting element, a display element illuminated by the light emitting element, and an image forming element 20 for producing an image. The display element is arranged between the image forming element and the first focal point of the image forming element at a position nearer to the first focal point of the image forming element. A virtual image of the display element is formed by the image forming element 20 and the light emitted by the light emitting element is focussed on a second focal point of the image forming element. It is designed such that the eye of an observer is located on the second focal point when use. In another form, the optical system includes first and second elliptical concave mirrors with respective ones of focal points arranged at a common position.

Abstract: A wavelength filter includes lattice structures that are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction of an optical axis. Each of the lattice structures has regions of two different refractive indices that are alternately arranged.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device comprises first and second light sources, a light guide plate, and a liquid crystal unit. The first light source is disposed on one of two opposing side surfaces of the light guide plate. The second light source is disposed on the other of the two opposing side surfaces of the light guide plate. A first plurality of substantially parallel grooves are formed in a first surface of the light guide plate which is substantially parallel with a display surface of the liquid crystal unit. A second plurality of substantially parallel grooves are formed in a second surface opposing the first surface of the light guide plate. At least one of a dimension and density of the first plurality of grooves substantially monotonically changes from one in the vicinity of one of the light sources to one in the vicinity of the other of the light sources.

Abstract: A display device including a diffraction grating from which a diffracted light of the zeroth order and a diffracted light of the first order having different color light components emerge to establish color separation. An array of micro-lenses is arranged on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel has a plurality of picture elements and each picture element includes a plurality of color display dots. The color display dots in each picture element are arranged in the vertical relationship and in the order of wavelength of the light. A green light component of diffracted light of the first order is made incident normal to the liquid crystal panel, and the diffracted light of the zeroth order passes through the liquid crystal panel at a greater angle relative to the normal to the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: The display device includes a spatial modulator having a plurality of pixels and a periodical structural body having condenser elements corresponding to the pixels of the spatial modulator. Each of the pixels of the spatial modulator includes a plurality of color dots arranged in a first direction. A length of a peripheral region of the respective pixel encircling the plurality of color dots, measured in the first direction, is longer than a length of the condenser element of the periodical structural body, measured in the first direction. In addition, combinations of the pixels in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement with the condenser elements in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement are disclosed.

Abstract: The display device includes a spatial modulator having a plurality of pixels and a periodical structural body having condenser elements corresponding to the pixels of the spatial modulator. Each of the pixels of the spatial modulator includes a plurality of color dots arranged in a first direction. A length of a peripheral region of the respective pixel encircling the plurality of color dots, measured in the first direction, is longer than a length of the condenser element of the periodical structural body, measured in the first direction. In addition, combinations of the pixels in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement with the condenser elements in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement are disclosed.

Abstract: A backlight device for a transmissive liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of light sources, including a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and a light guide plate. The light guide plate causes light entering into it through one surface thereof to emerge out of another surface thereof toward the liquid crystal panel. A controller for the backlight device selects at least one of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and LED, depending on brightness required for the liquid crystal display device and determines, in accordance with the required brightness, the brightness of the selected light source to operate the light source accordingly.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus 10 comprising light sources 12a, 12b for emitting light, a plurality of light reflection portions 20 formed on the reflection side for reflecting light incident from the light sources, and a linear photoconductor 14 for causing the light to exit from the exit side opposed to the reflection side, the planes of the plurality of reflection portions being respectively tilted at angles which converge the light to the human eyes watching. Angles of the light reflection portions are set so that exit angles of light exiting from the linear photoconductor are required angles, whereby the lighting apparatus can have a uniform light intensity distribution. The application of the lighting apparatus can provide a liquid crystal display of good display characteristics.