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: When an organic EL device 9 is turned ON, an image of a design 2b of a design film 2 formed by light L2 emitted when light L1 generated in an organic layer 7 is transmitted through the design film 2 and a transparent member 3 and then enters a half mirror layer 4 and an image of the design 2b of the design film 2 formed by light L5 emitted when the above-mentioned light is reflected by the half mirror layer 4 and then reflected by a reflection electrode layer of the organic EL device 9 are shifted to each other in a horizontal direction without a loss. As a result, the design 2b drawn on the design film 2 comes up and is seen in three dimensions. When the organic EL device 9 is turned OFF, the light emission from a surface light-emission apparatus 1 stops so that the apparatus serves as a simple mirror by virtue of the half mirror layer 4.

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 light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an exit plate facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. The reflection-exit plane has a first end intersecting an incidence plane and a second end intersecting an opposite end plane. An inclination angle, defined by the exit plane and a line that contains the first end and the second end, is greater than 0.20° and less than 0.75°. The reflection-exit plane includes a light admission portion that reflects light entering through or reflected on the incidence plane to the exit plane.

Abstract: A mirror with lighting system includes a plurality of organic electroluminescent elements arranged adjacent to one another. A light emission switching device selects one of a full light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, a partial light emission state where some of the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, and a non-light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements do not emit light. Therefore, the mirror with lighting system has great light intensity without an external lighting when being used as a lighting system as compared to when being used as a mirror, and permits the entire surface to be used as a mirror when the environment is bright.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an exit plane facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. The reflection-exit plane has a first end intersecting the incidence plane and a second end intersecting the opposite end plane. An inclination angle defined by the incidence plane and a line that contains the first end and the second end is greater than 0.2° and less than 0.75°. The reflection exit plane includes a light admission portion that reflects light entering through or reflected on the incidence plane to the exit plane. This minimizes the parallax to an invisible level to improve the visibility while improving the uniformity of the brightness distribution.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an incidence plane, which permits light to enter the light guiding plate, an opposite and plane opposite to the incidence plane an exit plane facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. A plurality of grooves are formed on the reflection exit plane. In any adjacent pair of the grooves, the depth of the groove closer to the opposite end plane is equal to or greater than the depth of the groove closer to the incidence plane. The depth of the grooves substantially increase from the incidence plane toward the opposite end plane. This improves the uniformity of brightness distribution.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an incidence plane, an opposite end plane opposite to the incidence plane, an exit plane facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. A plurality of grooves are formed on the reflection-exit plane. The depth of the grooves monotonously increases from the incidence plane toward the opposite end plane. Each groove is defined by intersecting first and second planes. In each groove, the angle defined by the first plane and the exit plane is substantially equal to that of the other grooves. In each groove, the angle defined by the first plane and the second plane is substantially equal to that of the other grooves. This waveguide increases the brightness and improves the uniformity of brightness distribution.

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.

Abstract: An optical element gathers light emitted from a planar luminous element having isotropic light emitting characteristics. The optical element includes an incidence plane and a plurality of protrusions. The incidence plane is formed on one side of the optical element for permitting the light to enter the optical element and faces the planar luminous element. The protrusions are formed on the other side of the optical element and each protrusion has a shape of a frustum.

Abstract: An optical element is arranged between a planar lighting element and a liquid crystal panel for collecting light that exits from the planar lighting element. The optical element has an incidence plane and a plurality of protrusions. The light that exits from the planar lighting element enters into the optical element. A plurality of the protrusions is provided on a surface facing the incidence plane. Substantially all the protrusions are each arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with an opening of a respective pixel of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an incidence plane, an opposite end plane opposite to the incidence plane, an exit plane facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. A plurality of grooves are formed on the reflection-exit plane. The depth of the grooves monotonously increases from the incidence plane toward the opposite end plane. Each groove is defined by intersecting first and second planes. In each groove, the angle defined by the first plane and the exit plane is substantially equal to that of the other grooves. In each groove, the angle defined by the first plane and the second plane is substantially equal to that of the other grooves. This waveguide increases the brightness and improves the uniformity of brightness distribution.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source to illuminate a liquid crystal cell. A reflector reflects light from the light source. A first surface and a second surface selectively transmits or reflects light. A first region is formed on the first surface at a location that is relatively near the light source. The first region includes a first inclined face and a second inclined face. The first inclined face reflects light from the light source to guide light to the reflector. The second inclined face reflects light from the light source to the second surface so that the second surface emits light. A second region is formed on the first surface at a location that is relatively far from the light source. The second region includes a third inclined face and a fourth inclined face. The third inclined face reflects light from the light source to the second surface so that the second surface emits light.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source and irradiates the light onto a display portion. The light guiding plate has an incidence plane, which permits light to enter the light guiding plate, an opposite and plane opposite to the incidence plane an exit plane facing the display portion, and a reflection-exit plane opposite to the exit plane. A plurality of grooves are formed on the reflection exit plane. In any adjacent pair of the grooves, the depth of the groove closer to the opposite end plane is equal to or greater than the depth of the groove closer to the incidence plane. The depth of the grooves substantially increase from the incidence plane toward the opposite end plane. This improves the uniformity of brightness distribution.

Abstract: A light guiding plate guides light from a light source to illuminate a display. A reflector reflects light from the light source. A first surface and a second surface selectively transmits or reflects light. A first region is formed on the first surface at a location that is relatively near the light source. The first region includes a first inclined face and a second inclined face. The first inclined face reflects light from the light source to guide light to the reflector. The second inclined face reflects light from the light source to guide light to the second surface. A second region is formed on the first surface at a location that is relatively far from the light source. The second region includes a third inclined face and a fourth inclined face. The third inclined face reflects light from the light source to guide light to the second surface. The fourth inclined face reflects light reflected by the reflector to guide to the second surface.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced plastic pipe has a joint section formed in one end. The joint section is coupled to another member. The pipe includes a helical layer formed with a fiber. The fiber is wound at a winding angle that is equal to or less than forty-five degrees. The fiber volume fraction of the joint section is lower than the fiber volume fraction of the remainder of the pipe.

Abstract: A drive shaft having a body section and a yoke section formed with at least one end of the body section. A hole is formed in the yoke section. The body section and yoke section are integrally made of a fiber reinforced composite material including a filament and a plastic adhered to the filament. The shaft comprises a plurality of shaft fiber layers forming the body section. Each shaft fiber layer includes a plurality of shaft fiber elements being arranged at predetermined intervals. A plurality of yoke fiber layers form the yoke section. Each yoke fiber layer includes a plurality of yoke fiber elements. Each yoke fiber element has ends connected to each shaft fiber element. Each yoke fiber element has either a closed loop arrangement (CLA) or an open loop arrangement (OLA). The CLA is defined by the yoke fiber elements forming closed loops around the hole. The OLA is defined by the yoke fiber elements forming open loops around the hole.