Abstract: A transparent substrate used for an area light emitting device. The transparent substrate comprises a light incidence surface and a light exit surface opposite to the light incidence surface. A plurality of recesses are formed on the light exit surface bulged towards the light incidence surface. Each recess has a shape approximately corresponding to a portion of an oval sphere. Each recess perimeter on the light exit surface is approximately circle. Each recess is separately formed from other recesses.

Abstract: Provided is an organic EL device, including: a transparent substrate having a front surface and a rear surface; a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a light emitting layer and a second electrode layer that are formed in order on the front surface of the transparent substrate; and a reflective layer formed on the second electrode layer on a side opposite to the organic layer and having light reflectivity for light incident from the second electrode layer, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer being formed of a transparent material, light being extracted from the rear surface of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: An area lighting unit has an electroluminescent device, a light scattering portion on a side of a light exit surface of the electroluminescent device, and a light covering portion on a side of a light exit surface of the light scattering portion. The light converging portion includes first and second layered optical sheets, each having a planar light incidence portion through which light enters and a light exit portion through which the light exits. The light exit portion of each optical sheet forms parallel prismatic protrusions, each having a vertex angle of 90 degrees to 105 degrees. The optical sheets each are so arranged that the light incidence portion is oriented to the electroluminescent device and a direction in which the protrusions of the first optical sheet are arranged is perpendicular to a direction in which the protrusions of the second optical sheet are arranged.

Abstract: A luminescent panel has a light emitting portion for emitting isotropic light and a non-light emitting portion. A brightness compensating member has an incident portion and a light exit portion. The incident portion includes at least one inclined surface that is inclined relative to the light exit portion. The inclined surface is arranged to correspond to the non-light emitting portion. The inclined surface is configured so that the brightness of a section of the brightness compensating member that corresponds to the light emitting portion is substantially equal to the brightness of a section of the brightness compensating member that corresponds to the non-light emitting portion. Therefore, a substantially uniform brightness is obtained from the light exit portion.

Abstract: A transparent substrate used for an area light emitting device. The transparent substrate comprises a light incidence surface and a light exit surface opposite to the light incidence surface. A plurality of recesses are formed on the light exit surface bulged towards the light incidence surface. Each recess has a shape approximately corresponding to a portion of an oval sphere. Each recess perimeter on the light exit surface is approximately circle. Each recess is separately formed from other recesses.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device has a transparent substrate, an electroluminescent element, a transparent layer, and a brightness-enhancing layer. The transparent substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The electroluminescent element is provided on the first surface of the transparent substrate. Light emitted from exits the transparent substrate through the second surface. The transparent layer having a higher refractive index than the transparent substrate is provided on the second surface of the transparent substrate. The brightness-enhancing layer is provided on the transparent layer for enhancing brightness of light that has a specific wavelength.

Abstract: A bottom emission type electroluminescence device for emitting an increased amount of light rays in a direction that is within a predetermined angle relative to a light incidence surface of a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sandwiched between an electroluminescence element and a transparent layer. The refractive index of the transparent layer is greater than that of the transparent substrate. A plurality of projections and recesses are formed on the upper surface of the transparent layer.

Abstract: An optical device has an incident surface and a light exit surface located at an opposite side from the incident surface. The light exit surface defines a plurality of projections. The projections project away from the incident surface. Sections of the light exit surface that define projections include side faces of pyramids. Each of the pyramids has a bottom that is an imaginary plane substantially parallel to the incident surface. The side faces of each pyramid are slopes. At least one of the slopes is inclined at a range greater than 17° and less than 60° relative to the normal to the incident surface.

Abstract: A light extracting sheet is provided on a light extracting surface of an organic EL device. A prism sheet is provided on the light extracting sheet. The light extracting sheet has a first incident surface contacting the light extracting surface and a light exit surface located at an opposite side from the first incident surface. The light exit surface defines a plurality of first projections. Each of the first projections is pyramid. The prism sheet has a second incident surface that is substantially parallel to the light extracting surface and a light exit surface located at an opposite side from the second incident surface. The light exit surface defines a plurality of second projections. Each of the second projections is pyramid.

Abstract: A backlight in a liquid crystal display unit according to the present invention has a transparent substrate and an organic electroluminescent element provided on the transparent substrate. The backlight emits light emitted from the organic electroluminescent element from a light exit surface of the transparent substrate. A plurality of recesses are formed in the light exit surface. A part of the light exit surface between each adjacent pair of the recesses includes a plane that is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the transparent substrate. The backlight permits light emitted from the organic electroluminescent element to be efficiently emitted.

Abstract: An optical disc having a functional film, formed by a thin metal plate, and a protective film, formed on a transparent substrate, is disclosed. The protective film satisfies a condition d.gtoreq.2d.sub.0, where d is a maximum film thickness at an outer periphery of the protective film and d.sub.0 is a mean film thickness at a flat portion on a data area. A magneto-optical disc having a functional film which is a metal thin film having magneto-optical effects is also disclosed, wherein the protective film satisfies a condition that a difference L.sub.1 between a maximum film thickness d at the outer periphery of the protective film and a mean film thickness d.sub.0 at a flat portion of the data area is 40 .mu.m or less and the protective film has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R.sub.1 .gtoreq.12.48 mm at the outer periphery of the protective film.

Abstract: An optical disc having a functional film, formed by a thin metal plate, and a protective film, formed on a transparent substrate, is disclosed. The protective film satisfies a condition d.gtoreq.2d.sub.0, where d is a maximum film thickness at an outer periphery of the protective film and d.sub.0 is a mean film thickness at a flat portion on a data area. A magneto-optical disc having a functional film which is a metal thin film having magneto-optical effects is also disclosed, wherein the protective film satisfies a condition that a difference L.sub.1 between a maximum film thickness d at the outer periphery of the protective film and a mean film thickness d.sub.0 at a flat portion of the data area is 40 .mu.m or less and the protective film has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R.sub.1 .gtoreq.12.48 mm at the outer periphery of the protective film.

Abstract: An optical disc having a functional film, formed by a thin metal plate, and a protective film, formed on a transparent substrate, is disclosed. The protective film satisfies a condition d.gtoreq.2d.sub.0, where d is a maximum film thickness at an outer periphery of the protective film and d.sub.0 is a mean film thickness at a flat portion on a data area. A magneto-optical disc having a functional film which is a metal thin film having magneto-optical effects is also disclosed, wherein the protective film satisfies a condition that a difference L.sub.1 between a maximum film thickness d at the outer periphery of the protective film and a mean film thickness d.sub.0 at a flat portion of the data area is 40 .mu.m or less and the protective film has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R.sub.1 .gtoreq.12.48 mm at the outer periphery of the protective film.

Abstract: An optical disc having, as a recording layer, a first Sb--Se based thin film, a Bi--Te based thin film and a second Sb--Se based thin film, deposited in this order on a disc substrate, and a thin Al film deposited on the recording layer, is disclosed. Each of the first Sb--Se thin film and the second Sb--Se thin film has a composition such that Se accounts for not less than 70 atm % of the composition. The film thicknesses of the first Sb--Se based thin film and the second Sb--Se based thin film are set to not larger than 30 nm and to 15 to 25 nm, respectively, with the reflectance of the recording layer with respect to the laser beam with a wavelength of 680 nm being 10 to 25%. Alternatively, the first Sb--Se based thin film is of Sb.sub.2 Se.sub.3, the Bi--Te based thin film is of Bi.sub.2 Te.sub.3 and the second Sb--Se based thin film is of Sb.sub.2 Se.sub.

Abstract: A magneto-optic disc comprised of a substrate on which are formed a recording layer and a protective film and on which information is recorded by a magnetic head floating above the magneto-optic disc by a predetermined floating distance at least at the time of recording the information, wherein the height of the projections on the surface of the protective film of the magneto-optic disc is smaller than the floating distance of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A novel heat resistant sheet having excellent varnish impregnability, a high dielectric strength and a high physical strength is obtained by pressing and heating a mixed web of wholly-aromatic polyamide fibers [A] having tan .delta. (max) .gtoreq. 0.25 and Es < 130 g/d and wholly-aromatic polyamide fibers [B] having tan .delta. (max) .ltoreq. 0.2 and Es .gtoreq. 130 g/d under such conditions as said fibers [A] being heat fused.