Abstract: A lighting unit for illuminating a liquid crystal panel includes a point light source and a light guide. The light guide includes a first side surface extending in a direction x and having a light incidence portion facing the light source, a second side surface extending in a direction y perpendicular to the direction x, a third side surface spaced from the second side surface in the direction x, and an outlet surface for exit of light. The second side face is formed with a plurality of recesses each including a slant surface for causing light emitted from the light source to be reflected toward the third side surface. The recesses progressively increase in depth as they are positioned farther from the light source.

Abstract: A lighting unit for a liquid crystal panel includes a light guide plate and a light source to emit light into the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes an obverse and a reverse surfaces spaced in a thickness direction. The light guide plate further includes a pair of first side surfaces extending in parallel between the obverse and the reverse surfaces, and a second side surface extending transversely of the first side surfaces. The obverse surface of the light guide plate is formed with a plurality of inclined surfaces for causing the light rays travelling within the light guide plate longitudinally to be reflected towards the reverse surface. Each of the first side surfaces of the light guide plate includes a light-inlet portion inclining at an acute angle to the second side surface. The light source is disposed to face the light-inlet portion.