Abstract: A backlight unit can change the directional characteristics of exiting light by selectively turning on two light sources. The backlight unit includes a first prism sheet (4) having on a lower surface thereof a plurality of parallel prisms (3), a first lightguide plate (5) disposed underneath the first prism sheet (4), a second prism sheet (6) disposed underneath the first lightguide plate (5) and having on a lower surface thereof a plurality of parallel prisms (3), a second lightguide plate (7) disposed underneath the second prism sheet (6), a first light source (8) disposed adjacent to an edge surface of the first lightguide plate (5) to emit light into the first lightguide plate (5), and a second light source (9) disposed adjacent to an edge surface of the second lightguide plate (7) to emit light into the second lightguide plate (7).

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a top surface serving as a light-emitting surface, a bottom surface serving as a reflecting surface, and a periphery having a first side surface serving as an incident surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. The bottom surface is provided with reflecting prisms successively arranged in a direction from the first to second side surface. Each reflecting prism has a first slant surface and a second slant surface succeeding to the first slant surface. The first slant surface extends toward the top surface in a direction from the first side surface toward the second side surface and the second slant surface extends away from the top surface in the same direction. The second slant surface is formed such that a large part of light reflected back from the second side surface toward the first side surface is emitted from an area of the top surface near the first side surface.

Abstract: A light guide plate comprises: a plate ember having a light transmitting capability; and a light incidence face provided on a side surface of the plate member; wherein the plate member changes a path of light emitted from a light source arranged to face the light incidence face and emits planar illumination light from an upper surface of the plate member onto an object to be illuminated; wherein an undulated surface portion is formed on the light incidence face. Further, the undulated surface portion is formed by smoothly connecting curved recessed portions and curved raised portions. This arrangement prevents bright lines from being produced near the light source and also prevents brightness variations, thus making uniform an intensity distribution of light that has entered the light guide plate.

Abstract: A double-sided emitting backlight unit has a first light-emitting surface for illuminating a first liquid crystal display panel disposed to face the first light-emitting surface, a second light-emitting surface provided parallel to the first light-emitting surface to illuminate a second liquid crystal display panel that is smaller than the first liquid crystal display panel and disposed to face the second light-emitting surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the first and second light-emitting surfaces and each groove having a light-receiving surface that receives light from a light source. The second light-emitting surface is a prism surface provided with a multiplicity of grooves extending parallel to the light-receiving surface and having a triangular section.

Abstract: A light guide plate has a light emitting surface and a prism surface opposite to the light emitting surface. The prism surface includes a plurality of grooves extending parallel to each. The grooves have a constant depth, and widths of the grooves are varied, thereby adjusting the apex angles of the grooves. The depth of the grooves can be set to be not more than 20 microns.

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 guide plate includes a top surface serving as a light-emitting surface, a bottom surface serving as a reflecting surface, and a periphery having a first side surface serving as an incident surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. The bottom surface is provided with reflecting prisms successively arranged in a direction from the first to second side surface. Each reflecting prism has a first slant surface and a second slant surface succeeding to the first slant surface. The first slant surface extends toward the top surface in a direction from the first side surface toward the second side surface and the second slant surface extends away from the top surface in the same direction. The second slant surface is formed such that a large part of light reflected back from the second side surface toward the first side surface is emitted from an area of the top surface near the first side surface.

Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light guide plate having opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge surface. A part of the peripheral edge surface is a light entrance surface, and one of the opposite side surfaces is a light exit surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light entrance surface of the light guide plate. A light deflecting film is disposed adjacent and parallel to the light exit surface of the light guide plate. The light deflecting film has a multilayer construction wherein light reflecting layers and light transmitting layers are stacked one by one alternately. The light reflecting and transmitting layers are tilted at a predetermined angle to the light exit surface.

Abstract: The planar light source of this invention comprises: a light guide plate made of a platelike, light-transmitting material formed with a reflection surface on a bottom side thereof, the reflection surface being formed by combining a plurality of kinds of reflection means; and an illuminating light source arranged opposite a light receiving side surface of the light guide plate; wherein the light guide plate has formed smooth a boundary on the reflection surface between the plurality of kinds of reflection means so as not to form any step between the adjoining reflection means. This construction prevents the formation of a dark-bright fringe pattern between the plurality of reflections means when the light source is illuminated.

Abstract: A backlight system including a printed board, a plurality of light sources mounted on a surface of the printed board, a frame member disposed to surround the plurality of light sources, a plurality of through-holes provided in the printed board to reduce weight of the printed board, and a cover member disposed on the printed board to cover the plurality of through-holes, whereby accomplishing great reduction in weight of the printed board without lowering reflection efficiency of light emitted from the light sources and providing a backlight system capable of effectively using for a large liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A sheet light emitting apparatus, including a light guiding plate of a translucent material and having light receiving and light emitting surfaces, a light source disposed to face the light receiving surface, and a prism structure provided on the light receiving surface, the prism structure having plural kinds of prisms having different apex angles.

Abstract: A backlight system comprising a light-guiding plate (1), a light emitting source (2) disposed to face a light-entrance surface (1c), which is a side surface of the light-guiding plate (1), a prismatic sheet (3) disposed at a position facing an upper surface (1a) of the light-guiding plate (1), and a reflecting sheet (4) disposed to face a lower surface (1b) of the light-guiding plate (1), light emitted from the light emitting source (2) enters the light-guiding plate (1), and the light being adapted so as to change the path thereof in the light-guiding plate (1) and then, the light is emitted from the upper surface of the light-guiding plate and enters the prismatic sheet (3), and the light is adapted to arrange a direction thereof in the prismatic sheet (3) to irradiate illumination light emitted from a from exit surface which is the upper surface (1a) of the prismatic sheet to an object, and the prismatic sheet (3) including a lens mechanism provided on the final exit surface and configured to refract the l

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.

Abstract: A planar light source of this invention is formed with chamfered portions at an upper end of the light receiving side surface where the light receiving side surface and the light emitting surface of the light guide plate intersect and at a lower end of the light receiving side surface where the light receiving side surface and the reflection surface of the light guide plate intersect. The chamfered portions can make indistinguishable the bright lines, that may be produced during illumination, to prevent a dark-bright fringe pattern from showing up, thereby preventing a possible degradation of liquid crystal display quality.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing an elastic connector, integrated with an electrode of at least either a chip-type LED or a printed circuit board on which a LED element is directly mounted and to which the LED is electrically connected. The LED-integrated connector can subsequently be mounted on another circuit board by being sandwiched and compressed between a lower surface of the chip-type LED or lower surface of the LED-mounted printed circuit board and the other circuit board to which the LED-integrated connector is being mounted, so as to provide an electric connection. The method providing a LED-integrated connector which is thin and cost-effective while able to provide a simple and secure conductivity between electrodes of the chip-type LED and other circuit board, to which the LED-integrated connector is subsequently mounted.

Abstract: A backlight system is provided which comprises a light guide plate formed with a light diffusion surface to reflect light from a light source and a reflection sheet positioned on the light diffusion surface side of the light guide plate. A light scattering area to positively scatter light is formed in the reflection sheet at a position adjacent to the light source to eliminate brightness variations in light rays emitted from the light guide plate, thereby producing a uniform brightness in a planar light emission.

Abstract: A lighting device has a light source for emitting lighting light for illuminating a display, and a light guide plate for changing the direction of the lighting light to the display. A polarization separation film is provided for separating polarization of the lighting light into P-polarized light and S-polarized light for illuminating the display.

Abstract: A backlight system comprising a light-guiding plate (1), a light emitting source (2) disposed to face a light-entrance surface (1c), which is a side surface of the light-guiding plate (1), a prismatic sheet (3) disposed at a position facing an upper surface (1a) of the light-guiding plate (1), and a reflecting sheet (4) disposed to face a lower surface (1b) of the light-guiding plate (1), light emitted from the light emitting source (2) enters the light-guiding plate (1), and the light being adapted so as to change the path thereof in the light-guiding plate (1) and then, the light is emitted from the upper surface of the light-guiding plate and enters the prismatic sheet (3), and the light is adapted to arrange a direction thereof in the prismatic sheet (3) to irradiate illumination light emitted from a from exit surface which is the upper surface (1a) of the prismatic sheet to an object, and the prismatic sheet (3) including a lens mechanism provided on the final exit surface and configured to refract the l

Abstract: A light guide plate comprises: a plate ember having a light transmitting capability; and a light incidence face provided on a side surface of the plate member; wherein the plate member changes a path of light emitted from a light source arranged to face the light incidence face and emits planar illumination light from an upper surface of the plate member onto an object to be illuminated; wherein an undulated surface portion is formed on the light incidence face. Further, the undulated surface portion is formed by smoothly connecting curved recessed portions and curved raised portions. This arrangement prevents bright lines from being produced near the light source and also prevents brightness variations, thus making uniform an intensity distribution of light that has entered the light guide plate.

Abstract: A backlight system comprising a light-guiding plate having a light-entrance surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface, a light source disposed to face the light-entrance surface, a reflecting sheet disposed to face the lower surface of the light-guiding plate, a prismatic sheet disposed to face the upper surface of the light-guiding plate, and a micro-prismatic mechanism provided on the lower surface of the prismatic sheet, the micro-prismatic mechanism including a plurality of projection-like prismatic parts extending parallel to the light-entrance surface of the light-guiding plate and disposed at intervals in a generally perpendicular direction to the light-entrance surface, each prismatic part having a pair of prismatic surfaces, of each pair of prismatic surfaces, at least the prismatic surface on the side further from the light source forming into a curved surface.