Abstract: In a backlighting device for use with display panels that comprises a light conducting plate made of a light-transmissive material, one of the major faces of said light conducting plate being provided with a light diffusing capability and covered with a specular or light diffusing/reflecting plate, and a linear light source provided in proximity to the end portion of at least one side of said light conducting plate, the improvement wherein at least one sheet that is made of a light-transmissive material and that has a multiple of raised structures having straight ridgelines at minute intervals on the same side in such a manner that the ridgelines are substantially parallel to one another or at least one sheet that is made of a light-transmissive material and that has a multiple of pyramidal or conical projecting structures at minute intervals on the same side, said projecting structures having portions of such a shape that the vertical angles are substantially the same, is provided on the exit face of the lig

Abstract: In a backlighting device for use with display panels that comprises a light conducting plate made of a light-transmissive material, one of the major faces of said light conducting plate being provided with a light diffusing capability and covered with a specular or light diffusing/reflecting plate, and a linear light source provided in proximity to the end portion of at least one side of said light conducting plate, the improvement wherein at least one sheet that is made of a light-transmissive material and that has a multiple of raised structures having straight ridgelines at minute intervals on the same side in such a manner that the ridgelines are substantially parallel to one another or at least one sheet that is made of a light-transmissive material and that has a multiple of pyramidal or conical projecting structures at minute intervals on the same side, said projecting structures having portions of such a shape that the vertical angles are substantially the same, is provided on the exit face of the lig

Abstract: An apparatus for producing fused silica includes at least one anodic plasma arc electrode and at least one cathodic plasma arc electrode adjustably arranged with respect to one another so that the plasma arcs formed thereby couple together to form a plasma arc coupling zone. A feedstock material is fed into a region between the electrodes or to a region near the electrodes where the plasma arc coupling zone is formed. A platform is located beneath the plasma arc coupling zone to receive the silica product which is formed in the plasma arc coupling zone. The platform may be rotated about its axis and move up and down along its axis. A cooling device also may be included with the platform. The plasma anode torch used in the apparatus includes a cylindrical nozzle with a non-consumable, copper, blunt ended electrode disposed therein. A channel is provided between the electrode and the nozzle wall to allow the plasma gas to pass through the torch.

Abstract: Method for the production of fused silica in which a particulate silica feedstock material is passed from a silica feed tube through or near a plasma arc coupling zone in which at least two plasma arcs of opposite polarity are coupled, thereby raising the temperature of the feedstock material and collecting the material as fused silica.

Abstract: An improved backlighting device for liquid-crystal display panels comprising a linear light source the length of which is equal to or less than the length of an end portion of a light conducting plate at which light is admitted from the linear light source placed adjacent to it, the linear light source being enclosed with a light diffusing reflector that has a slit formed in the surface through which incident light is admitted into the light conducting plate and which is provided in such a way as to form a clearance from the surface of the linear light source, one major surface of the light conducting plate being partially covered with a light diffusing material under specified conditions that has a higher refractive index than the material of which the light conducting plate is made, the major surface being further covered with a specular or light diffusing/reflecting plate, with a plurality of light diffusing plates being provided on the other major (light emerging) surface of the light conducting plate.

Abstract: A back lighting device for a liquid crystal display has a light scattering coating in the form of dots covering the light emitting surface of a photo-conductive plate. The coating covers 3-50% of the surface nearest an end thereof adjacent a linear light source and covers 80-100% of the surface farthest from the light source. The variation of the coating rate across the surface produces uniform distribution of emitted light from the back lighting device.

Abstract: A light transmitting rod (22) on an end surface of which is disposed a reflecting mirror (26) and on the other end surface of which is mounted a lamp (44) as a light source for emitting light into the light transmitting rod (22) is attached to a base (12), and a diffusion stripe (24) is formed by applying fine powder having a high refractive index to the outer circumferential surface of the light transmitting rod (22) in a rectilinearly pin-striped manner along the axial direction thereof, whereby an even linear light profile of high luminous energy level and having uniform luminous energy as well as no polarization which is also irradiation light having a small light distribution beam angle and being substantially parallel rays can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to provide a light source unit used suitably in business and office machines such as an image scanner, an optical printer, a monochromatic copying machine, a color copying machine, a facsimile machine and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of producing metallic chromium by carbon reduction of chromium oxide, wherein granules prepared from a mixture of a finely divided chromium oxide, a finely divided carbon and a binder are passed, while being carried by a gas stream, through a plasma flame. The metallic chromium product is preferably further subjected to refining, either by heating the product to at least 1,200.degree. C. at a reduced pressure in a vacuum furnace or by irradiating the product with a plasma flame in a protective atmosphere.