Abstract: The present invention provides a display device including: a transparent plate having at least one recessed portion formed on a rear surface side thereof, the recessed portion forming a pattern corresponding to a design to be displayed; a first reflecting member which is disposed on the rear surface side of the transparent plate and on a region except for the recessed portion of the transparent plate, and has light reflectivity at a surface facing the transparent plate; a second reflecting member which is disposed on the rear surface side of the transparent plate and on a region including the recessed portion of the transparent plate, and has light reflectivity at a surface facing the transparent plate; and a light emitting device for emitting light, when illuminated, to a front surface side of the transparent plate through the recessed portion of the transparent plate without exiting light from the region except for the recessed portion of the transparent plate to the front surface side of the transparent pl

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel and an illumination unit. The illumination unit has a planar light emitting region formed by an EL element. The light emitting region is formed by a plurality of linear light emitting regions that extend in a direction perpendicular to the vertical scanning direction of liquid crystal. The linear light emitting regions are switched between a light emitting state and a non-light emitting state based on a command signal from a controller in a manner that the linear light emitting regions sequentially emit light in synchronization with vertical scanning of the liquid crystal. Each linear light emitting region is controlled to be in the non-light emitting state at least during a drive data rewriting period of a portion of the liquid crystal immediately above the linear light emitting region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display device including: a transparent plate having at least one recessed portion formed on a rear surface side thereof, the recessed portion forming a pattern corresponding to a design to be displayed; a first reflecting member which is disposed on the rear surface side of the transparent plate and on a region except for the recessed portion of the transparent plate, and has light reflectivity at a surface facing the transparent plate; a second reflecting member which is disposed on the rear surface side of the transparent plate and on a region including the recessed portion of the transparent plate, and has light reflectivity at a surface facing the transparent plate; and a light emitting device for emitting light, when illuminated, to a front surface side of the transparent plate through the recessed portion of the transparent plate without exiting light from the region except for the recessed portion of the transparent plate to the front surface side of the transparent pl

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: An optical waveguide according to the present invention has a light exit surface located on a side opposite of a back surface. An incident surface connects the back surface and the light exit surface with each other. A plurality of saw-tooth grooves are formed on the back surface. Surfaces defining the saw-tooth grooves include first guide surfaces that reflect light that enters the optical waveguide through the incident surface so that the light advances toward the first guide surface. A plurality of curved surface prisms are provided on the light exit surface. Each prism has a peak line. An arcuate cross-section groove is provided between the peak lines of each adjacent pair of the prisms. Each arcuate cross-section groove is defined by a section of the light exit surface between the peak lines of the corresponding prisms.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes light admitting portions and a light emitting portion. Each light admitting portion admits light from a point light source. The light emitting portion emits light admitted by the light admitting portions. Each light admitting portion has an incidence portion. Each incidence portion includes incidence planes each extending in the width direction of the light admitting portions, and V-shaped grooves, which are alternately arranged. Each light admitting portion has a pair of flat reflection planes, which extend between the corresponding incidence portion and the light emitting portion. The distance between the reflection planes in each light admitting portion increases from a side opposite from the light emitting portion toward the light emitting portion. Therefore, the light emitting efficiency of the optical waveguide is improved, and brightness unevenness created the vicinity of each point light source is reduced.