Abstract: A reflection detection apparatus includes: a light-emitting surface; a detection light output portion to obliquely emit detection light from an emission area as a part of the light-emitting surface; a plurality of light-receiving devices to selectively receive, as reflected detection light, the detection light that is emitted to an external object from the emission area and enters the light-emitting surface with a predetermined angle after being reflected by the external object; and a height detection portion to obtain a height of a spot at which the detection light is reflected by the external object using positional information of the light-receiving device which has received the reflected detection light and positional information of the emission area, the height being a distance from the light-emitting surface.

Abstract: A surface light source device, which may perform surface light emission using a plurality of light guide members while suppressing formation of emission lines, and a display device using the surface light source device is provided. The surface light source device includes light sources, and a plurality of light guide members, each light guide member having a light incidence surface for light entering from each of the light sources, and making surface light emission based on incident light from the light incidence surface. The plurality of light guide members are arranged on the same plane, and each light guide member has tapered or curved surfaces adjacent to the light incidence surface, each tapered or curved surface having a predetermined angle against the light incidence surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight capable of suppressing loss of light from an invisible light source and a displaying/imaging apparatus using the same. The backlight includes: a light guide plate having a light emitting face and a rear face opposed to the light emitting face; a visible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; an invisible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; a first reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate, reflecting light from the visible light source, and transmitting light from the invisible light source; and a second reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate and reflecting light from at least the invisible light source out of the visible light source and the invisible light source.

Abstract: A surface emission apparatus includes a first light source for emitting invisible light rays; a second light source for emitting visible light rays; a light guide having a light entrance surface for entering therethrough into the light guide the invisible light rays emitted from the first light source and the visible light rays emitted from the second light source, and a light exit surface for emitting the invisible light rays and the visible light rays therethrough out of the light guide; and a plurality of optical devices disposed on a surface of the light guide which confronts the light exit surface, for scattering more of the invisible light rays than the visible light rays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display device including, a visual target, and a backlight adapted to illuminate the visual target from the rear, the backlight including, a plurality of first light sources, second light sources, and a light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate has a plurality of projecting portions on a side surface portion thereof upon which the light, produced by the plurality of first and second light sources is incident, the projecting portions being arranged, along the side surface portion and project toward the one side of the given direction, the plurality of first light sources are disposed to be opposed to the tip surfaces of the plurality of projecting portions, and the second light sources are disposed to be opposed to the bottom surfaces of recessed portions formed between the plurality of projecting portions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display device including, a visual target, and a backlight adapted to illuminate the visual target from the rear, the backlight including, a plurality of first light sources, second light sources, and a light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate has a plurality of projecting portions on a side surface portion thereof upon which the light, produced by the plurality of first and second light sources is incident, the projecting portions being arranged, along the side surface portion and project toward the one side of the given direction, the plurality of first light sources are disposed to be opposed to the tip surfaces of the plurality of projecting portions, and the second light sources are disposed to be opposed to the bottom surfaces of recessed portions formed between the plurality of projecting portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight capable of suppressing loss of light from an invisible light source and a displaying/imaging apparatus using the same. The backlight includes: a light guide plate having a light emitting face and a rear face opposed to the light emitting face; a visible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; an invisible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; a first reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate, reflecting light from the visible light source, and transmitting light from the invisible light source; and a second reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate and reflecting light from at least the invisible light source out of the visible light source and the invisible light source.

Abstract: A reflection detection apparatus includes: a light-emitting surface; a detection light output portion to obliquely emit detection light from an emission area as a part of the light-emitting surface; a plurality of light-receiving devices to selectively receive, as reflected detection light, the detection light that is emitted to an external object from the emission area and enters the light-emitting surface with a predetermined angle after being reflected by the external object; and a height detection portion to obtain a height of a spot at which the detection light is reflected by the external object using positional information of the light-receiving device which has received the reflected detection light and positional information of the emission area, the height being a distance from the light-emitting surface.

Abstract: A surface light source device, which may perform surface light emission using a plurality of light guide members while suppressing formation of emission lines, and a display device using the surface light source device is provided. The surface light source device includes light sources, and a plurality of light guide members, each light guide member having a light incidence surface for light entering from each of the light sources, and making surface light emission based on incident light from the light incidence surface. The plurality of light guide members are arranged on the same plane, and each light guide member has tapered or curved surfaces adjacent to the light incidence surface, each tapered or curved surface having a predetermined angle against the light incidence surface.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a display panel including a plurality of pixels laid out on the surface of a pixel area of the display panel; and an illumination section configured to generate illumination light in a normal direction perpendicular to the display panel, wherein the illumination section has a light source, a light guiding board, the display panel also includes a plurality of photo sensor devices, the light source includes an invisible light source, the light guiding board includes an invisible light beam reflection section.

Abstract: A surface emission apparatus includes a first light source for emitting invisible light rays; a second light source for emitting visible light rays; a light guide having a light entrance surface for entering therethrough into the light guide the invisible light rays emitted from the first light source and the visible light rays emitted from the second light source, and a light exit surface for emitting the invisible light rays and the visible light rays therethrough out of the light guide; and a plurality of optical devices disposed on a surface of the light guide which confronts the light exit surface, for scattering more of the invisible light rays than the visible light rays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including a display section; a light radiating section; a plurality of light converging lenses; and a plurality of light receiving devices, wherein the display section includes pixel areas each used for creating a pixel section, and sensor areas each used for creating one of the light receiving devices; the light radiating section outputs light and radiates the output light to the display section from a particular-side surface of the display section; each of the light converging lenses is created in one of the sensor areas each located in the display section and converges light generated by the light radiating section on a focal point inside the display section, passing on the converged light to the other-side surface of the display section; and each of the light receiving devices is created in one of the sensor areas to serve as a device for receiving light which arrives at the other-side surface of the display section as light reflected by a subject of detection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display device including, a visual target, and a backlight adapted to illuminate the visual target from the rear, the backlight including, a plurality of first light sources, second light sources, and a light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate has a plurality of projecting portions on a side surface portion thereof upon which the light, produced by the plurality of first and second light sources is incident, the projecting portions being arranged, along the side surface portion and project toward the one side of the given direction, the plurality of first light sources are disposed to be opposed to the tip surfaces of the plurality of projecting portions, and the second light sources are disposed to be opposed to the bottom surfaces of recessed portions formed between the plurality of projecting portions.

Abstract: Method of driving a liquid crystal display such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal display by multiplex addressing. The display has a pair of bases. A transparent electrode layer and an orientation film are formed in this order on each base. The two bases are placed opposite to each other with a certain gap between them. A ferroelectric liquid crystal material is inserted in the gap. Let Vthlow be the voltage applied when the transmittivity of the liquid crystal material begins to change. Let Vthhigh be the voltage applied when the transmittivity of the liquid crystal material substantially assumes its maximum value. First and second select pulses of opposite polarities are applied to the liquid crystal material. Let Vs1 be the voltage of the first select pulse. Let Vs2 be the voltage of the second select voltage. This method is characterized in that Vs1=±(Vthlow−&Dgr;V), where &Dgr;V>0, and that Vs2=∓(Vthhigh+&Dgr;V), where &Dgr;V>0.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal provided between the paired substrates wherein domains whose threshold voltages are different from one another are finely distributed throughout the liquid crystal. In particular, the respective substrates each has a transparent electrode and an alignment film formed thereon in this order and the substrates are assembled to establish a given space therebetween, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal being injected into the given space wherein domains are finely distributed as set out above, thereby providing a a liquid crystal display device. The fine distribution is such that when a transmittance through inverted domains is 25%, the number of domains (microdomains) having a size of larger than 2 &mgr;m&phgr; in a field of 1 mm2 is not smaller than 300, preferably not smaller than 600, and the width of the threshold voltage within the domains is not smaller than 2 volts within a transmittance range of from 10 to 90%.

Abstract: A reflection type display having a front light comprises a light guide plate having a light incident portion to which the lights are introduced, a planar surface arranged on the surface facing said first substrate and a prismatic surface arranged on the other surface, said prismatic surface comprising pseudo-planar surfaces which are formed at an angle of approximately 0.5 to 3.5 degrees with said planar surface and are raised greater as being distanced away from said light incident portion and slanted surfaces which are formed at an angle of approximately 40 to 60 degrees with said planar surface and are descended greater as being distanced away from said light incident portion, said pseudo-planar surfaces and said slanted surfaces are arranged alternately to form multiple prisms.

Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal device, which comprises matrix-addressed driving a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal, disposed between a pair of substrates and comprising finely distributed domains differing in threshold voltage for use in switching said liquid crystal, said method being a pulse modulation method comprising modulating at least one of pulse voltage and pulse width, a pixel electrode division method, or a time integration method. Also claimed is a liquid crystal device driven by any of said methods. The liquid crystal device provides a further improved analog multiple gray-scale level display, realizes a large-area display at a low cost, and enables drive at full color video rate.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a panel, a light guide plate and a light source. The panel is provided with a transparent first substrate lying on the side of the external incident light, a second substrate joined to the first substrate with a predetermined gap therebetween and lying on the reflection side, a guest-host liquid crystal layer held in the gap between the substrates, and electrodes provided on each substrate for applying a voltage to the guest-host liquid crystal layer. The light guide plate is composed of a transparent material and is arranged on the outside of the first substrate. The light source is arranged on the end of the light guide plate and generates illumination light as required. The light guide plate normally transmits external light onto the first substrate and emits the external light reflected from the second substrate, and also, as required, guides illumination light onto the first substrate and emits the illumination light reflected from the second substrate.

Abstract: A reflection type display device includes a panel, a light guide plate placed external to the panel, and a light source placed at the end of the light guide plate for generating illumination light as required. The light guide plate normally transmits external light onto a first substrate of the panel and emits the external light reflected from a second substrate of the panel, while, as required, guides illumination light onto the first substrate and emits the illumination light reflected from the second substrate. The light guide plate includes a planar section divided into bands and an inclined section lying between each planar section. The light guide plate reflects the illumination light guided from the light source at each inclined section so as to lead it onto the first substrate and emits the illumination light reflected from the second substrate through each planar section and inclined section.

Abstract: An illumination structure which is for viewing an image in a dark environment without deterioration of image quality in a bright environment is incorporated in a reflective display. A reflective display comprises a panel, a light guide plate, and a light source. The panel is provided with a transparent first substrate located on the incident side of the outside light, a second substrate bonded to the first substrate with interposition of a prescribed space and located on the side opposite to the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer held in the space between both substrates, and an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer. The light guide plate is placed on the outside of the first substrate. The light source is located on the end of the light guide plate, and emits the illumination light as required. The light guide plate allows the outside light to be transmitted, which is incident on the first substrate, and allows the outside light reflected on the second substrate to come out.