U.S. patent application number 16/487212 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-13 for lighting device and display device.
The applicant listed for this patent is SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to YOUZOU KYOUKANE, HISASHI WATANABE, HIROTOSHI YASUNAGA.
Application Number | 20210141148 16/487212 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005358369 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210141148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WATANABE; HISASHI ; et
al. |
May 13, 2021 |
LIGHTING DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A lighting device includes light guide plates each of which
includes a light exit section including a light exit surface and a
light entering section extending from the light exit section toward
a light source row and including an extended end surface as a light
entering surface. The light exit section has a thickness dimension
that is smaller than that of the light entering section at an
extended end thereof. The light guide plates are stacked on each
other such that the light exit sections thereof overlap each other
seen from a normal direction of the light exit surface. The light
entering section of one light guide plate and the light entering
section of another light guide plate are disposed next to each
other in an arrangement direction of the light sources so as not to
overlap each other seen from the normal direction of light exit
surface.
Inventors: |
WATANABE; HISASHI; (Sakai
City, Osaka, JP) ; YASUNAGA; HIROTOSHI; (Sakai City,
Osaka, JP) ; KYOUKANE; YOUZOU; (Sakai City, Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Sakai City, Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005358369 |
Appl. No.: |
16/487212 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
February 15, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/005187 |
371 Date: |
August 20, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/0076 20130101;
G02B 6/0073 20130101; G02B 6/0028 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F21V 8/00 20060101
F21V008/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2017 |
JP |
2017-031241 |
Claims
1. A lighting device comprising: a light source row including light
sources that are arrayed; a lighting circuit connected to the light
sources and configured to control lighting of the light sources by
a unit of a light source group that includes at least one of the
light sources; and light guide plates that light from the light
sources enters and the light exits as planar light, each of the
light guide plates being formed in a plate shape and having one
plate surface and another plate surface, each of the light guide
plates including a light exit section including the one plate
surface as a light exit surface through which the light exits, and
a light entering section extending from a first edge surface of
peripheral edge surfaces of the light exit section toward the light
source row and including an extended end surface as a light
entering surface through which the light from the light source
enters, wherein the light exit section has a thickness dimension
that is smaller than a thickness dimension of the light entering
section at an extended end thereof, the light guide plates includes
at least two light guide plates that configure a light guide plate
group, and the at least two light guide plates are stacked on each
other such that the light exit sections thereof overlap each other
seen from a normal direction of the light exit surface and the
light exit surfaces thereof face a same direction, and in the light
guide plate group, the light entering section of one light guide
plate and the light entering section of another light guide plate
are disposed next to each other in an arrangement direction of the
light sources so as not to overlap each other seen from the normal
direction of light exit surface.
2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness
dimension of the light entering section at the extended end thereof
is substantially equal to a thickness dimension of the light source
row.
3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light exit
surface and the other plate surface of the light exit section are
parallel to each other, the light entering section has an inclined
surface such that the thickness dimension of the light entering
section gradually increases from a basal end thereof toward the
extended end, and the inclined surface is inclined at an angle
.theta. with respect to the light exit surface or the other plate
surface and the angle .theta. is smaller than 5 degrees.
4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light
source row is mounted on one light source board.
5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the light
entering surfaces of the light guide plates are on a same plane
surface, and the light source board is fixed to all of the light
guide plates at the light entering sections. the light source board
is fixed to all of the light guide plates at the light entering
sections.
6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the
light guide plates includes the light entering sections at
intervals in the arrangement direction of the light sources, and
the light entering sections of the light guide plates are arranged
such that the light entering sections of a same light guide plate
are not arranged next to each other seen from the normal direction
of the light exit surface.
7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the light
entering sections of the light guide plates are arranged such that
a distance between the extended ends of the light entering sections
that are adjacent to each other is from 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm seen from
the normal direction of the light exit surface.
8. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the light exit
section is divided into divided areas by an elongated structure
that extends in a normal direction of the light entering surface,
and at least one of the light entering sections extends from a
portion of the first edge surface corresponding to each of the
divided areas and the extended end surface thereof is the light
entering
9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light
guide plates at least include a first light guide plate and a
second light guide plate that is disposed on the other plate
surface of the first light guide plate, the first light guide plate
includes a first uneven pattern on at least one of the light exit
surface and the other plate surface thereof, and the first uneven
pattern allows the light that has entered through the light
entering surface to exit through the light exit surface, the second
light guide plate includes a second uneven pattern on at least one
of the light exit surface and the other plate surface thereof, and
the second uneven pattern allows the light that has entered through
the light entering surface to exit through the light exit surface,
and the first uneven pattern and the second uneven pattern are
disposed not to overlap each other seen from the normal direction
of the light exit surface.
10. The lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the second
uneven pattern is relatively closer to the light entering section
than the first uneven pattern is.
11. The lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the first
light guide plate and the second light guide plate are formed in a
same shape and are disposed in an inverted arrangement such that a
plate surface of the first light guide plate corresponding to the
light exit surface becomes the other plate surface of the second
light guide plate.
12. The lighting device according to claim 9, further comprising
another light source row that includes light sources arranged along
another edge section that is opposite from one edge section along
which the light sources are arranged, the other light source row
and the light source row sandwiching the light guide plates
therebetween, wherein each of the light guide plates includes
another light entering section, and the other light entering
section extends from a second edge surface of the peripheral edge
surfaces of the light exit section toward the other light source
row and includes an extended end surface thereof as a light
entering surface through which the light from the other light
source row enters, and the second edge surface is opposite from the
first edge surface, and one of the first uneven pattern and the
second uneven pattern includes first uneven patterns or second
uneven patterns and one of the first uneven patterns or the second
uneven patterns are disposed at intervals in the normal direction
of the light entering surface.
13. A display device comprising: the lighting device according to
claim 1; and a display panel displaying images using light from the
lighting device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The technology described in this specification relates to a
lighting device and a display device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Recently, mobile terminal devices and television devices
have been strongly demanded to be thinner. A liquid crystal display
device including a liquid crystal panel has been widely used as
such an image display device. The liquid crystal panel requires a
backlight unit as a separately provided lighting device because the
liquid crystal panel does not emit light itself. The backlight unit
is generally classified into either a direct type or an edge-light
type according to arrangement of a light source. The light source
is arranged directly below a display surface of the liquid crystal
panel in the direct type and the light source is arranged on an
edge side of the liquid crystal panel. An edge-light type backlight
unit is preferably used to achieve further reduction in thickness
of the liquid crystal display device.
[0003] Furthermore, high contrast of display images and low power
consumption have been demanded. The technology of local dimming for
adjusting brightness of a light exit surface of the backlight unit
for every region has been proposed.
[0004] An example of an edge-light type backlight unit in which the
local dimming is achieved is described in Patent Document 1.
RELATED ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2012-69461
[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a backlight device that includes
light guide plates and a point light source group including point
light sources. The light guide plates overlap each other with a
same light output direction and each of the light guide plates
includes stripe-shaped projections. The point light source group
that includes the point light sources that emit light in an
extending direction of the stripe-shaped projections. The point
light source group is disposed for each of the light guide plates.
The backlight device controls lighting of the point light sources
by a unit of each point light source group according to lighting
signal from an external device. The lighting of the point light
source groups is controlled such that light travels in a belt-like
form and a light exit pattern is disposed for each of them to allow
the light to partially exit the light guide plate, and accordingly,
so-called two-dimensional local diming is achieved.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] However, in the above structure, a thickness dimension of
the backlight device is increased by stacking the light guide
plates. The point light source groups corresponding to the
respective light guide plates are necessary and this may complicate
a wiring structure.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] The technology described herein was made in view of the
above circumstances. An object of the technology described herein
is to provide a thin lighting device that can adjust exiting of
light through a light exit surface for every region and a display
device including such a lighting device.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0009] A lighting device disclosed in the specification includes a
following configuration.
[0010] (1) The lighting device includes a light source row
including light sources that are arrayed, a lighting circuit
connected to the light sources and configured to control lighting
of the light sources by a unit of a light source group that
includes at least one of the light sources, and light guide plates
that light from the light sources enters and the light exits as
planar light, each of the light guide plates being formed in a
plate shape and having one plate surface and another plate surface.
Each of the light guide plates includes a light exit section
including the one plate surface as a light exit surface through
which the light exits, and a light entering section extending from
a first edge surface of peripheral edge surfaces of the light exit
section toward the light source row and including an extended end
surface as a light entering surface through which the light from
the light source enters. The light exit section has a thickness
dimension that is smaller than a thickness dimension of the light
entering section at an extended end thereof. The light guide plates
includes at least two light guide plates that configure a light
guide plate group, and the at least two light guide plates are
stacked on each other such that the light exit sections thereof
overlap each other seen from a normal direction of the light exit
surface and the light exit surfaces thereof face a same direction.
In the light guide plate group, the light entering section of one
light guide plate and the light entering section of another light
guide plate are disposed next to each other in an arrangement
direction of the light sources so as not to overlap each other seen
from the normal direction of light exit surface.
[0011] According to such a configuration, the exiting of light
through the light exit surface of the lighting device can be
adjusted for every region by controlling the light that enters each
of the light guide plates. The light entering sections of the light
guide plates are overlapped with each other. Since the light exit
section of each light guide plate is relatively thinner than the
light entering section thereof, the thickness dimension of the
light guide plate group that may be increased by the overlapping of
the light exit sections is less likely to be increased. Further,
the light entering sections that are relatively thick are not
overlapped each other. Therefore, even if the light guide plates
are stacked on each other, the thickness dimension of the whole
light guide plate group is not increased by the overlapping of the
light entering sections. The light entering sections of the light
guide plates are aligned alternately in the arrangement direction
of the light sources. According to such a configuration, each of
the light entering sections is disposed opposite each of the light
sources included in the light source row such that the light
efficiently enters the light guide plates. Thus, light from one
light source row can enter the light guide plates, and therefore,
increase of the thickness dimension or complication of wiring
structure that may be caused by providing multiple light source
rows are less likely to be caused.
[0012] (2) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the thickness
dimension of the light entering section at the extended end thereof
may be substantially equal to a thickness dimension of the light
source row.
[0013] According to such a configuration, the light from the light
source group is allowed to efficiently enter through the light
entering surface while increase of the thickness dimension of the
lighting device being restricted.
[0014] (3) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light exit
surface and the other plate surface of the light exit section may
be parallel to each other, the light entering section may have an
inclined surface such that the thickness dimension of the light
entering section gradually increases from a basal end thereof
toward the extended end, and the inclined surface may be inclined
at an angle .theta. with respect to the light exit surface or the
other plate surface and the angle .theta. is smaller than 5
degrees.
[0015] The angle of incidence of light with respect to an interface
between the light guide plate and air is preferable to be great
such that the light that has entered the light guide plate does not
exit through the interface. Namely, the angle between the light
emitting direction of light that is emitted by the light source and
the interface between the light guide plate and the air is
preferable to be small as possible.
[0016] A range of the angle .theta. between the inclined surface
and the light exit surface for achieving total reflection of the
incidence light at the inclined surface will be described below in
a configuration including a generally used light guide plate that
is made of acrylic resin.
[0017] If light travels from a medium M1 having a refractive index
n1 to a medium M2 having a refractive index n2, an angle of
incidence a and an angle of refraction @ of the light with respect
to an interface between the medium M1 and the medium M2 is
represented by a following formula.
sin .alpha./sin .beta.=n2/n1 (1)
[0018] In the formula (1), a critical angle .alpha.1 at which all
of light rays that travel from the light guide plate made of
acrylic resin toward air are reflected (namely, the angle of
refraction .beta. is 90 degrees) is obtained as follows. 1.49,
which is the refractive index of acrylic resin, is substituted in
n1, 1.00, which is the refractive index of atmosphere, is
substituted in n2, and sin 90.degree.=1 is substituted in sin
.beta.. Accordingly, the formula (1) becomes
.alpha.1.apprxeq.42.2.degree.. On the other hand, the angle of
refraction .beta.1 of light that has entered the light guide plate
at an angle quite close to a tangent line of the light entering
surface (namely, the angle of incident a is quite close to 90
degrees) is obtained by substituting 1.00, which is the refractive
index of atmosphere, into n1, substituting 1.49, which is the
refractive index of acrylic resin, into n2, and substituting sin
90.degree.=1 into sin .alpha.. Accordingly,
.beta.1.apprxeq.42.2.degree. is obtained. If the equation of
.alpha.=(90.degree.-42.2.degree.)-.theta.>42.2.degree. is
satisfied, the light that has entered the light guide plate through
the light entering surface is totally reflected by the inclined
surface toward the light exit section. Namely, the range of the
angle .theta. for achieving total reflection of the incidence light
at the inclined surface is
.theta.>47.8.degree.-42.2.degree.=5.6.degree..
[0019] Other than acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin or various
kinds of glasses are generally used as the material of the light
guide plate. The refractive index of such material is greater than
the refractive index of acrylic resin. Therefore, if the angle
.theta. is limited to the above range, the light is less likely to
exit through the inclined surface and the light that has entered
the light entering section can travel to the light exit section at
high efficiency and to be used.
[0020] (4) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light
source row may be mounted on one light source board.
[0021] According to such a configuration, only one light source
board is disposed for the multiple light guide plates. Therefore,
the wiring is easily formed and the structure of the lighting
device is simplified. Increase of the thickness dimension of the
lighting device that may be caused by providing multiple light
source boards is less likely to be caused.
[0022] (5) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light
entering surfaces of the light guide plates may be on a same plane
surface, and the light source board may be fixed to all of the
light guide plates at the light entering sections.
[0023] According to such a configuration, the light guide plates
are fixed to the light source board with a simple structure. As a
result, unnecessary space is less likely to be created between the
light source and the light guide plate and the light use efficiency
is improved and brightness of the light exit surface is
improved.
[0024] (6) In the lighting device disclosed herein, each of the
light guide plates may include the light entering sections at
intervals in the arrangement direction of the light sources, and
the light entering sections of the light guide plates may be
arranged such that the light entering sections of a same light
guide plate are not arranged next to each other seen from the
normal direction of the light exit surface.
[0025] According to such a configuration, the light entering
sections of the light guide plates extend alternately and face the
light source row. Therefore, the light from the light source group
can enter each of the light guide plates through each of the light
entering sections efficiently. Accordingly, the local dimming as
described below can be achieved with high contrast. In the local
dimming, the light emission by the light source group is controlled
to adjust the exiting of light that exits through the light exit
surface for every belt-like shaped divided area that extends in the
normal direction of the light entering surface.
[0026] (7) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light
entering sections of the light guide plates may be arranged such
that a distance between the extended ends of the light entering
sections that are adjacent to each other is from 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm
seen from the normal direction of the light exit surface.
[0027] According to such a configuration, when the light guide
plates are stacked on each other, the adjacent light entering
sections are less likely to be contacted with each other and
problems are less likely to be caused.
[0028] (8) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light exit
section may be divided into divided areas by an elongated structure
that extends in a normal direction of the light entering surface,
and at least one of the light entering sections may extend from a
portion of the first edge surface corresponding to each of the
divided areas and the extended end surface thereof may be the light
entering surface through which light from the light source group
enters.
[0029] According to such a configuration, the elongated structure
keeps the light to stay within the belt-like shaped divided area
that extends in the normal direction of the light entering surface.
Accordingly, the light directivity is increased and optical
independency of each divided area is increased. The light that has
emitted by the light source disposed in each divided area and
entered the light entering section can travel to the light exit
section efficiently. Luminance contrast is increased for every
divided area of the light exit surface and power consumption
becomes less. The elongated structure may be formed with unevenness
of prisms or a cylindrical shape.
[0030] (9) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the light guide
plates at least may include a first light guide plate and a second
light guide plate that is disposed on the other plate surface of
the first light guide plate. The first light guide plate may
include a first uneven pattern on at least one of the light exit
surface and the other plate surface thereof, and the first uneven
pattern may allow the light that has entered through the light
entering surface to exit through the light exit surface. The second
light guide plate may include a second uneven pattern on at least
one of the light exit surface and the other plate surface thereof,
and the second uneven pattern may allow the light that has entered
through the light entering surface to exit through the light exit
surface. The first uneven pattern and the second uneven pattern may
be disposed not to overlap each other seen from the normal
direction of the light exit surface.
[0031] According to such a configuration, the first uneven pattern
or the second uneven pattern is disposed in any position of each of
the light guide plates. Accordingly, the light that has travelled
within each of the light guide plates changes its travel direction
at the position to exit the light guide plate and the exiting of
light through the light exit surface can be adjusted for every area
with respect to the normal direction of the light entering surface.
The exiting of light is adjusted for every belt-shaped divided area
by controlling lighting of the light source group and the
two-dimensional local dimming can be achieved as well. The first
uneven pattern and the second uneven pattern are arranged so as not
to overlap each other such that the luminance contrast of the light
exit surface is increased for every area corresponding to the
pattern. The first uneven pattern and the second uneven pattern
include lens projections, prisms, or embosses. The first uneven
pattern and the second uneven pattern may have the same shape or
may have different shapes.
[0032] (10) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the second
uneven pattern may be relatively closer to the light entering
section than the first uneven pattern is.
[0033] The second light guide plate is disposed farther away from
the display panel than the first light guide plate is. The display
panel is disposed on the light exit surface side with respect to
the light guide plate group. Therefore, the light is likely to be
dispersed within the second light guide plate before reaching the
display panel. Therefore, according to the configuration including
the second uneven pattern on the light entering section side,
compared to a configuration including the first uneven pattern
closer to the light entering section, there is less occurrence of
unevenness in the exiting of light (spot unevenness) in a portion
near the light entering section. Such unevenness may be caused if
the light from the light source does not sufficiently reach the
portion.
[0034] (11) In the lighting device disclosed herein, the first
light guide plate and the second light guide plate may be formed in
a same shape and may be disposed in an inverted arrangement such
that a plate surface of the first light guide plate corresponding
to the light exit surface becomes the other plate surface of the
second light guide plate.
[0035] According to such a configuration, a cost for manufacturing
the light guide plates is reduced and management of parts becomes
easy. A lighting device that includes two light guide plates may be
configured as described above, if the first light guide plate and
the second light guide plate include the same number of light
entering sections of the same dimension and include the same number
of uneven patterns that have the same dimension and are disposed
alternately, and one of the first uneven pattern and the second
uneven pattern is disposed on the light exit surface and another
one is disposed on the other surface.
[0036] (12) The lighting device disclosed herein may further
include another light source row that includes light sources
arranged along another edge section that is opposite from one edge
section along which the light sources are arranged, the other light
source row and the light source row sandwiching the light guide
plates therebetween. Each of the light guide plates may include
another light entering section, and the other light entering
section may extend from a second edge surface of the peripheral
edge surfaces of the light exit section toward the other light
source row and includes an extended end surface thereof as a light
entering surface through which the light from the other light
source row enters, and the second edge surface may be opposite from
the first edge surface. One of the first uneven pattern and the
second uneven pattern may include first uneven patterns or second
uneven patterns and one of the first uneven patterns or the second
uneven patterns may be disposed at intervals in the normal
direction of the light entering surface.
[0037] According to such a configuration, in the configuration that
can increase a size of the light exit surface and increase
luminance, the light that has not exited through a target region
and travelled within the light guide plate is less likely to be
directed by the adjacent uneven pattern. Accordingly, high
luminance contrast of the light exit surface can be maintained and
quality of display images can be increased.
[0038] The present specification discloses a display device as
described below.
[0039] (13) The display device includes the lighting device
according to any one of the above (1) to (12), and a display panel
displaying images using light from the lighting device.
[0040] According to such a configuration, the thin display device
that can display an image with low power consumption and high
contrast is provided. A liquid crystal display device that includes
a liquid crystal panel is used as the display panel can be used
various usages of mobile terminal devices such as a smartphone or a
tablet device, and a display of a television device or a personal
computer, and is particularly effectively used for devices that are
demanded to be very thin.
Advantageous Effect of the Invention
[0041] According to the technology described herein, a thin
lighting device that can adjust exiting of light through a light
exit surface for every region and a display device including such a
lighting device are provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 is a partially-exploded perspective view illustrating
a schematic configuration of a lighting device according to a first
embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-sectional configuration of the lighting device according to
the first embodiment taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating
connection of LEDs and a lighting circuit.
[0045] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of
FIG. 2 and illustrating an edge section where the LEDs are
arranged.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating
arrangement of a light entering section of each light guide plate
and LEDs.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically illustrating arrangement
relation of the light entering section of each light guide plate
and the LEDs.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a partially-exploded plan view illustrating a
schematic configuration of a lighting device according to a first
modification of the first embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-sectional configuration of the lighting device according to
the first modification of the first embodiment taken along line B-B
in FIG. 7.
[0050] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-sectional configuration of a lighting device according to a
second modification of the first embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 10 is a partially-exploded perspective view
illustrating a schematic configuration of a lighting device
according to a third modification of the first embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 11 is a partially-exploded plan view illustrating a
schematic configuration of a lighting device according to a second
embodiment.
[0053] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-sectional configuration of the lighting device according to
the second embodiment taken along line C-C in FIG. 11.
[0054] FIG. 13 is a partially-exploded plan view illustrating a
schematic configuration of a lighting device according to a third
embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-sectional configuration of the lighting device according to
the third embodiment taken along line D-D in FIG. 13.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
[0056] A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 to 6.
[0057] In this embodiment section, a backlight unit (a lighting
device) 1 will be described as an example. X-axis, Y-axis and
Z-axis may be present in the drawings and each of the axial
directions represents a direction represented in each drawing. A
right side in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6 is referred to as a right side,
an upper side in FIGS. 2 and 4 is referred to as a front-surface
side (a lower side in the drawings is referred to as a back-surface
side), and an upper side in FIG. 1 is referred to as a rear side (a
lower side is referred to as a front side). A symbol is put on one
of the same components and others may not be provided with any
symbols.
[0058] The backlight unit 1 according to the present embodiment is
configured to be disposed behind a liquid crystal panel (a display
panel) 2 that has quadrangular plan-view shape illustrated with a
two-dot chain line. The liquid crystal panel 2 that has a
configuration as follows can be used although details of the liquid
crystal panel 2 will not be described. The liquid crystal panel 2
includes a pair of glass substrates that are bonded to each other
while having a predetermined gap therebetween and includes liquid
crystals that are enclosed in a space between the glass substrates.
On one of the pair of substrates, switching components (such as
TFTs) that are connected to source lines and gate lines that are
perpendicular to each other, pixel electrodes that are connected to
the switching components, and an alignment film are arranged. On
another one of the glass substrates, a color filter, a counter
electrode, and an alignment film are arranged. The color filter
includes color portions of red (R), green (G), blue (B) that are
arranged at certain arrangement. Polarizing plates are disposed on
outer surfaces of the substrates. The liquid crystal panel 2 is
arranged such that a normal line direction to a plate surface
thereof matches the Z-axis direction.
[0059] A general configuration of the backlight unit 1 will be
described.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backlight unit 1 has a
substantially quadrangular plan-view shape and is a so-called
edge-light type (a side-light type) backlight unit. A light source
row 14L is arranged along one side edge portion of a light guide
plate group 20G that is disposed within the backlight unit 1.
[0061] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the backlight unit 1
includes a frame 11 that has a thin quadrangular shape. The frame
11 opens on both sides with respect to the Z-axis direction (a
front-surface side and a back-surface side) and are arranged such
that a long side direction thereof matches the Y-axis direction and
a short side direction thereof matches the X-axis direction. The
frame 11 is a component for collectively fixing the components that
will be described later and may be molded from polycarbonate resin.
In the present embodiment, a white frame is used; however, a black
frame may be used to prevent light from leaking outside.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an optical member 12, which has a
quadrangular plan-view shape, is disposed in the frame 11 close to
the front-surface side. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the backlight unit
1 without including the optical member 12. The optical member 12
covers a hole of the frame 11 on the front surface side thereof (on
a liquid crystal panel 2 side) and is disposed between the liquid
crystal panel 2 and the light guide plate group 20G, which will be
described later. The optical member 12 is obtained by selecting a
diffuser sheet, a prism sheet, and a polarizing reflection sheet
(for example, "DBEF" produced by 3M) as appropriate and stacking
the sheets. In this embodiment section, the optical member 12
includes three sheets of a prism sheet 12A, a prism sheet 12B, and
a diffuser sheet 12C that are stacked on each other in this order
from the front-surface side (the liquid crystal panel 2 side). As
illustrated in FIG. 2, a back surface of a double-sided adhesive
tape 31 is attached to a front surface of the prism sheet 12A that
is disposed closest to the front surface out of the optical member
12 such that the optical member 12 is connected to the right and
left short-side sections of the frame via the double sided adhesive
tape 31. The liquid crystal panel 2 is put on the front surface of
the double sided adhesive tape 31 such that the components are
fixed to each other.
[0063] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an LED board (a light
source board) 13 is disposed in a position along a right side short
section of the frame 11. The LEDs 14 of a side-surface light
emitting type, which will be described later, are used in this
embodiment. Therefore, the LED board 13 has an elongated plate
shape that extends in the X-axis direction and is arranged such
that a normal line direction to the main plate surface thereof
matches the Z-axis direction or is parallel to the plate surfaces
of the liquid crystal panel 2 or the optical member 12. A substrate
of the LED board 13 is made of synthetic resin that has insulation
properties and flexibility. Wiring (not illustrated) that is a
portion of a metal film made of a copper foil is disposed on the
surface of the substrate so as to connect the LEDs 14 and a
lighting circuit that are mounted on the LED board 13. In this
embodiment, the wiring is disposed such that all of the LEDs 14
arrayed on the LED board 13 are connected to each other in
parallel. As illustrated in FIG. 3, light emission intensity can be
controlled for every LED 14 according to luminance data that is
sent from an external image process circuit 41 to the lighting
circuit 42. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the LED board 13 is
fixed to the back side surface of the right side short frame
section of the frame 11 with the double-sided adhesive tape 32 that
is attached to the right side edge of the LED board 13 and is fixed
to light guide plates 20A, 20B, which will be described later, with
the double sided adhesive tape 33 that is attached to the left side
edge of the LED board 13.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and other drawings, the light
emitting diodes (LEDs, a light source) 14 (twelve LEDs in this
embodiment) are mounted on the surface of the LED board 13 to be
arrayed along the elongated direction thereof and form a light
source row 14L. The light source row 14L is arranged inside the
frame 11 such that the LEDs 14 are arrayed along the right short
frame section of the frame 11. In this embodiment, one side surface
of the LED 14 that is adjacent to amounting surface thereof to be
mounted on the LED board 13 is a light emission surface and a
so-called side surface-emitting type LED is used for the LED 14.
Each of the LEDs 14 is arranged such that an optical axis thereof
substantially matches the Y-axis direction. From a view point of
reducing a thickness of the backlight unit 1, the side
surface-emitting type LED is preferably used for the LED 14 rather
than a so-called top surface-emitting type LED in which a surface
opposite from the mounting surface to be mounted on the LED board
13 is a light emission surface. An LED that emits white light and
an LED that emits RGB lights may be used in combination for the LED
14. In this embodiment, only white LEDs, which are generally used,
are used.
[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light guide plate group
20G that includes two light guide plates is disposed inside the
frame 11 and light from the LEDs 14 travel within the light guide
plate group 20G toward the optical member 12 and finally to the
liquid crystal panel 2. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the light guide
plate group 20G is disposed between the light source row 14L, which
is arranged at the right edge section inside the frame 11, and the
left short frame section of the frame 11. As illustrated in FIG. 2,
the light guide plate group 20G is disposed between the optical
member 12 and a reflection sheet 15 with respect to the Z-axis
direction. Accordingly, the arrangement direction in which the LEDs
14 (the LED board 13) and the light guide plate group 20G are
arranged matches the Y-axis direction and the arrangement direction
in which the optical member 12 (the liquid crystal panel 2) and the
light guide plate group 20G are arranged matches the Z-axis
direction. Thus, the arrangement directions are perpendicular to
each other. The light emitted by the LEDs 14 in the Y-axis
direction enters the light guide plate group 20G and travels within
the light guide plate group 20G to be directed toward the front
surface side (toward the optical member 12) in the Z-axis direction
and exits the light guide plate group 20G. Details of the light
guide plate group 20G will be described later.
[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reflection sheet 15 is
disposed on the back surface side of the light guide plate group
20G. The reflection sheet 15 has a quadrangular plan view shape and
is disposed to cover the back-side hole of the frame 11. The
reflection sheet 15 is disposed to cover an entire area of a light
exit section 21, which will be described later, on the back surface
side of the light guide plate group 20G. The reflection sheet 15
reflects light that exits the light guide plate group 20G through
the back surface thereof toward the front surface side and allows
the reflected light to exit through a light exit surface 21a. A
generally used white sheet or a mirror surface sheet may be used as
the reflection sheet 15. "LUMIRROR (registered trademark)"
manufactured by TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. may be used as a white sheet
and "ESR" manufactured by 3M may be used as a mirror surface
sheet.
[0067] Next, the light guide plate group 20G will be described in
detail.
[0068] The light guide plate group 20G of this embodiment includes
an upper light guide plate (a first light guide plate) 20A that is
disposed on a relatively front surface side and a lower light guide
plate (a second light guide plate) 20B that is disposed on a
relatively back surface side. Hereinafter, a suffix A or B is added
after the symbol such as the upper light guide plate 20A or the
lower light guide plate 20B to describe each of the light guide
plates 20 separately and no suffix is added to generally describe a
light guide plate. A suffix A or B is added after the symbol to
describe a configuration of each of the light guide plates 20
separately and no suffix is added to generally describe a
configuration of a light guide plate.
[0069] The light guide plate 20 may be made of material having the
refractive index sufficiently higher than that of air and high
transmissivity, and may be made of resin such as transparent
acrylic or polycarbonate or various kinds of glass. In this
embodiment, two acrylic resin plates are used for the upper light
guide plate 20A and the lower light guide plate 20B.
[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and other drawings, the light guide
plate 20 includes the light exit section 21 that has a
substantially quadrangular plan view plate shape and light entering
sections 22 that extend rightward from the light exit section 21.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and other drawings, the light guide plate
20 is disposed such that a plate surface of the light exit section
21 is parallel to the optical member 12 (the liquid crystal panel
2) and the reflection sheet 15. As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 5,
and other drawings, the light entering section 22 extends from a
first edge surface 21b of the light exit section 21 in the Y-axis
direction toward the right side light source row 14L such that an
extended edge surface of the light entering section 22 faces each
LED 14. The first edge surface 21b is a right edge surface of the
peripheral edge surfaces of the light exit section 21 and is
parallel to the X-axis. Each of the light guide plates 20 includes
multiple light entering sections 22 (six light entering sections 22
in this embodiment) at intervals and all of the light entering
sections 22 included in each light guide plate 20 have a same
shape. The light entering section 22A of the upper light guide
plate 20A and the light entering section 22B of the lower light
guide plate 20B have plane symmetric shapes one of which is an
inverted shape of another one. The light exit section 21A of the
upper light guide plate 20A overlaps the light exit section 21B of
the lower light guide plate 20B such that the light entering
sections 22A and 22B project alternately. The light exit section 21
and the light entering section 22 are integrally formed together in
each of the light guide plates 20 and do not have an interface (a
connection surface) and are optically continuous to each other. The
extended edge surface of the light entering section 22 is a light
entering surface 22a through which light emitted by the LED 14
enters. Point light that has entered each light guide plate 20
through the light entering surface 22a travels to the light exit
section 21 and is converted into planar light. The converted planar
light exits the light guide plate 20 through a front side plate
surface thereof that is a light exit surface 21a toward the front
side (an optical member 12 side, a liquid crystal panel 2
side).
[0071] The light entering section 22 will be described with
reference to FIG. 6 and other drawings.
[0072] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6(A) and other drawings, the
light entering section 22 has an isosceles trapezoid in a plan view
seen from a normal direction of the light exit surface 21a. In FIG.
6(A), the light entering section 22 has a width dimension xE at a
basal end in the X-axis direction and a width dimension xF at an
extended end in the X-axis direction and the width dimensions xE,
xF satisfy xE>xF. In the light guide plate 20A or the light
guide plate 20B, an interval between basal ends of the adjacent
light entering sections 22A or the adjacent light entering sections
22B is xE. From a view point of increasing light use efficiency of
light that is emitted by the LED 14, xF is preferably greater than
a width dimension xL of the LED 14 (specifically, a width dimension
of a light emission section of the LED 14) (xF>xL). In an
overlapping state in which the light exit sections 21A, 21B are
overlapped with each other, a distance xl between the extended ends
of the light entering section 22A and light entering section 22B
that are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction is
preferably 0.2 mm or greater including a manufacturing tolerance
from a viewpoint of preventing physical contact of the light
entering sections 22 when the light guide plates 20 are stacked on
each other. An upper limit of xl is particularly determined;
however, if xl becomes too large, the number of LEDs 14 that can be
arranged in the frame 11 is decreased and luminance may be
insufficient. Therefore, xl is preferably 2.0 mm or smaller.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 6(B) and other drawings, the light
entering section 22 has a thickness dimension at the extended end
thereof that is substantially equal to a thickness dimension of the
LED 14. Namely, in FIG. 6(B), the thickness dimension dF of the
extended end is almost same as the thickness dimension dL of the
LED 14 (dF dL). The thickness dimension of the first edge surface
21b of the light exit section 21 that is the basal end of the light
entering section 22 is equal to a thickness dimension dE of the
light exit section 21 and dE is smaller than dL, which will be
described later. Therefore, each light entering section 22 has an
inclined surface 22b such that the thickness dimension of the light
entering section gradually increases from the basal end toward the
extended end. As illustrated in FIG. 4 and other drawings, the
light entering section 22A of the upper light guide plate 20A has
the inclined surface 22b on a back surface thereof and the light
entering section 22B of the lower light guide plate 20B has the
inclined surface 22b on a front surface thereof. A front surface of
the light entering section 22A is flush with the light exit surface
21a of the light exit section 21A and a back surface of the light
entering section 22B is flush with a back surface (another plate
surface) 21c of the light exit section 21B.
[0074] In FIG. 6(B), the inclined surface 22b is inclined at an
angle .theta. with respect to the light exit surface 21a such that
the angle .theta. is smaller than 5 degrees (.theta.<5.degree.).
Therefore, if the thickness dimension of the LED 14 is represented
by dL, the thickness dimension of the light exit section 21 is
represented by dE, and an extended length of the light entering
section 22 is represented by yF, a following formula (2) is
satisfied.
(dL-dE)/yF<tan 5.degree..apprxeq.0.0874 (2)
[0075] Furthermore, if the light guide plate group 20G includes the
light guide plates 20 that include the light exit sections 21 of
the same thickness dimension dE and the number of light guide
plates 20 is n, the formula (2) is represented by a following
formula (3).
(n-1)dE/yF<tan 5.degree..apprxeq.0.0874 (3)
[0076] In the present embodiment, the two light guide plates 20
include the light exit sections 21 of the same thickness dimension
dE. Therefore, for example, if dL is 0.4 mm and dE is 0.2 mm, the
extended length yF of the light entering section 22 illustrated in
FIG. 6(A) is preferably 2.3 mm or greater.
[0077] The light entering surface 22a of the present embodiment is
a plane surface that is parallel to a light emission surface of the
LED 14 that has a prism shape.
[0078] The light exit section 21 will be described.
[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and other drawings, the light exit
section 21 has a quadrangular shape that can cover most portion of
the hole of the frame 11 in a plan view. Specifically, a width
dimension along the X-axis direction is slightly smaller than an
inner width dimension of the frame 11 in the X-axis direction and a
length dimension in the Y-axis direction is a length dimension
obtained by subtracting a length necessary for arranging the LED
board 13, the light source row 14L, and the light entering section
22 from the Y-axis inner width dimension of the frame 11. Edge
surfaces of the peripheral edge surface of the light exit section
21 except for the first edge surface 21b are opposite the white
long frame sections or white short frame sections of the frame 11.
According to such a configuration, light that has exited the light
guide plate group 20G through side edge surfaces is reflected by
the frame sections and enters the light guide plate 20 again.
[0080] In the present embodiment, the thickness dimensions dE of
the light exit sections 21A, 21B of the two light guide plates 20A,
20B are equal to each other. The thickness dimension of the light
exit sections 21A, 21B that are stacked on each other is
substantially equal to the thickness dimension dL of the LED 14.
Namely, 2 dE: dL is satisfied (FIG. 6(B)).
[0081] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and other drawings, grooves (an
elongated structure) 23 are formed on the light exit surface 21a
that is a front surface of the light exit section 21. The grooves
23 extend in the Y-axis direction from a position of the basal end
of the light entering section 22 or a position between the LEDs 14.
The groove 23 has a V-shaped cross section and functions as a prism
that changes a direction of the light that reaches the groove 23.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the light exit surface 12a is divided
into sections by the grooves 23 such that each section has a width
dimension in the X-axis direction is 2.times.E. Accordingly, six
belt-shaped divided areas S1-S6 that extend in the Y-axis direction
are formed. The groove 23 is formed to exert a so-called confine
effect and to prevent the light that has travelled within one
divided area S from being dispersed to adjacent another divided
area S. The groove 23 is necessarily formed at least near the
borders between the divided areas S and may be formed in other
areas.
[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light exit section 21 includes
an uneven pattern 25 on the back surface 21c thereof and the uneven
pattern 25 includes lens-shaped projections that project toward the
back side. The light that has travelled within the light guide
plate 20 exits outside by the uneven pattern 25. In the present
embodiment, the light exit surface 21a is divided into two sections
with respect to the Y-axis direction as illustrated in FIG. 1. The
upper light guide plate 20A includes a first uneven pattern 25A on
a left region (far from the first edge surface 21b) of the back
surface 21c of the light exit section 21A and the lower light guide
plate 20B includes a second uneven pattern 25B on a right region
(close to the first edge surface 21b) of the back surface 21c of
the light exit section 21B.
[0083] As described before, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the light
exit surface 21a is divided into six sections in the X-axis
direction and two sections in the Y-axis direction according to a
combination of the grooves 23 and the uneven patterns 25 and twelve
regions A1 to A12 are formed. The twelve regions A1 to A12 have the
same area and correspond to the twelve LEDs 14, respectively (a
corresponding relation will be described later).
[0084] Next, operations of the backlight unit 1 according to the
present embodiment that includes the above-described configuration
will be described.
[0085] If a power of a liquid crystal display device that includes
the backlight unit 1 is turned on, driving of the liquid crystal
panel 2 is controlled by the image process circuit 41, which is not
illustrated, and luminance data is sent to the lighting circuit 42.
The lighting circuit 42 controls driving of each LED 14 of the
backlight unit 1 according to the luminance data such that the
light is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 2 and a certain image
appears on the liquid crystal panel 2. Operations of the backlight
unit 1 will be described in detail.
[0086] The lighting circuit 42 controls the lighting of each LED 14
according to the luminance data that is transmitted from the image
process circuit 41 that is an external device. The light that is
emitted by each LED 14 enters the light entering section 22 through
the light entering surface 22a that is opposite each LED 14. The
light that has entered the light entering section 22 is totally
reflected by an interface between the light entering section 22 and
an external air layer and is less likely to leak outside and
travels within the light entering section 22 to the light exit
section 21.
[0087] The light that has reached one of the divided areas S of the
light exit section 21 further travels within the one divided area S
and reaches a region A where the uneven pattern 25 is formed. The
groove 23 restricts the light from travelling outside the divided
area S. If the light reaches the uneven pattern 25 in the region A,
the direction of the light is changed and this creates light rays
that have an angle of incident smaller than a critical angle and
most of the light rays exit the light guide plate 20 through the
light exit surface 21a to the outside. The exiting of light through
the light exit surface 21a can be adjusted for each of the twelve
regions A1 to A12 by controlling the lighting of each of the twelve
LEDs 14L1 to 14L12.
[0088] For example, the light that is emitted by the most rear side
LED 13L1 enters the upper light guide plate 20A through the most
rear side light entering section 22A and travels therein to the
divided area S1 of the light exit section 21A and travels within
the divided area S1. If the light reaches the region A1 where the
first uneven pattern 25A is formed, the light exits through the
light exit surface 21a to the outside. The light that is emitted by
the sixth LED 14L6 from the rear side enters the lower light guide
plate 20B through the light entering section 22B that is opposite
the LED 14L6 and travels therein to the divided area S3 of the
light exit section 21B. The light exits to the outside through the
light exit surface 21a of the region A6 where the second uneven
pattern 25B is formed.
[0089] Thus, for example, the exiting of light through the region
A1 is adjusted by controlling the lighting of the LED 14L1 and the
exiting of light through the region A6 is adjusted by controlling
the lighting of the LED 14L6.
[0090] As described before, each of the LEDs 14 is controlled to be
lighted on such that the light exits through the corresponding
region A of the light exit surface 21a. Accordingly, the local
dimming (control for every region) is achieved for the planar light
that exits through the light exit surface of the whole backlight
unit 1 that includes the twelve regions A1 to A12.
[0091] The backlight unit 1 according to the present embodiment
includes the light source row 14L, the lighting circuit, and the
light guide plates 20. The light source row 14L includes the LEDs
14 that are arrayed in the X-axis direction. The lighting circuit
is connected to each of the LEDs 14 and configured to control the
lighting of each LED 14. The light from the LEDs 14 enters the
light guide plates 20 and exits the light guide plates 20 as planar
light. Each of the light guide plates 20 includes the light exit
section 21 and the light entering sections 22. The light exit
section 21 has a plate shape and the front side plate surface
thereof is the light exit surface 21a through which the light
exits. The light entering sections 22 extend from the first edge
surface 21b toward the light source row 14L and each of the
extended end surfaces is the light entering surface 22a through
which light enters. The first edge surface 21b is on the right side
one of the peripheral edge surfaces of the light exit section 21.
The thickness dimension dE of the light exit section 21 is smaller
than the thickness dimension dF of the light entering section 22 at
the extended end thereof. The upper light guide plate 20A and the
lower light guide plate 20B are stacked on each other such that the
light exit sections 21 thereof are overlapped with each other in
the Z-axis direction (the normal direction of the light exit
surface 21a) and the light exit surfaces 21a face the front side.
The upper light guide plate 20A and the lower light guide plate 20B
that are stacked on each other configure the light guide plate
group 20G. The light entering sections 22A of the upper light guide
plate 20A and the light entering sections 22B of the lower light
guide plate 20B are disposed alternately in the X-axis direction
(the arrangement direction of the LEDs 14) so as not to overlap
seen from the Z-axis direction.
[0092] In the backlight unit 1 according to the present embodiment,
the exiting of light through the light exit surface 21a can be
adjusted for each one of the twelve regions A1 to A12 by
controlling the light that enters the light guide plates 20A, 20B.
In the backlight unit 1, since the light exit section 21 of the
light guide plate 20 is relatively thinner than the light entering
section 22 thereof, the thickness dimension of the whole light
guide plate group 20G that may be increased by the overlapping of
the light exit sections 21 is less likely to be increased. Further,
the light entering sections 22 that are relatively thick are not
overlapped each other. Therefore, even if the light guide plates 20
are stacked on each other, the thickness dimension of the whole
light guide plate group 20G is not increased by the overlapping of
the light entering sections 22. The light entering sections 22A of
the upper light guide plate 20A and the light entering sections 22B
of the lower light guide plate 20B are aligned alternately in the
X-axis direction (the arrangement direction of the LEDs 14).
According to such a configuration, each of the light entering
sections 22A, 22B is disposed opposite each of the LEDs 14 included
in the light source row 14L such that the light efficiently enters
both of the light guide plates 20A, 20B. Thus, light from one light
source row 14L can enter the light guide plates 20, and therefore,
increase of the thickness dimension of the backlight unit 1 or
complication of wiring structure that may be caused by providing
multiple light source rows are less likely to be caused.
[0093] In the present embodiment, the thickness dimension dF of the
extended end of the light entering section 22 is substantially
equal to the thickness dimension dL of the LED 14.
[0094] Accordingly, the light from the LED 14 is allowed to
efficiently enter through the light entering surface 22a while
increase of the thickness dimension of the backlight unit 1 being
restricted.
[0095] In the present embodiment, a total of the thickness
dimensions of the light exit sections 21A, 21B of the light guide
plates 20A, 20B is substantially equal to the thickness dimension
dL of the LED 14. Therefore, the thickness dimension of the
backlight unit 1 can be reduced to be substantially equal to the
thickness dimension dL of the LED 14. The front surface of the
upper light guide plate 20A and the back surface of the lower light
guide plate 20B can be flat. Therefore, the configuration of the
light guide plate 20 can be simplified, the backlight unit can be
thinner, and the light use efficiency can be improved.
[0096] In the present embodiment, the light exit surface 21a (the
front surface) and the back surface 21c of the light exit section
21 are parallel to each other and the light entering section 22
includes the inclined surface 22b that is inclined such that the
thickness dimension of the light entering section 22 gradually
increases from the basal end thereof toward the extended end. The
inclined surface 22b is inclined at the angle .theta. with respect
to the light exit surface 21a or the back surface 21c such that the
angle .theta. is 5 degrees or smaller.
[0097] Accordingly, the light that has entered through the light
entering surface 22a is less likely to exit through the inclined
surface 22b and the light that has entered the light entering
section 22 can travel to the light exit section 21 at high
efficiency to be used.
[0098] The light exit section 21 and the light entering sections 22
are integrally formed in the light guide plate 20. According to
such a configuration, the number of parts is reduced and the number
of mounting steps is reduced.
[0099] In the present embodiment, the light source row 14L that
includes an array of the LEDs 14 is mounted on one LED board
13.
[0100] According to such a configuration, only one light source
board is disposed for the multiple light guide plates 20.
Therefore, the wiring is easily formed and the structure of the
backlight unit 1 is simplified. Increase of the thickness dimension
of the backlight unit 1 that may be caused by providing multiple
light source boards is less likely to be caused and the backlight
unit 1 is reduced in size.
[0101] In the present embodiment, from a viewpoint of improving
brightness of the light exit surface and high contrast, the LED 14
that has high light emission intensity and high light directivity
is used as the light source. Further, from a viewpoint of reducing
a thickness of the backlight unit 1, the side-surface
light-emitting type LED is used as the LED 14.
[0102] In the present embodiment, the light entering surfaces 22a
of the light guide plates 20A, 20B are on the same plane surface
and the LED board 13 is fixed to all of the light guide plates 20
at the light entering sections 22A, 22B.
[0103] According to such a configuration, the light guide plates 20
are fixed to the LED board 13 with a simple structure of using one
double-sided adhesive tape 33. As a result, unnecessary space is
less likely to be created between the LED 14 and the light guide
plate 20 and the light use efficiency is improved and brightness of
the light exit surface 21a is improved.
[0104] In the present embodiment, in each of the upper light guide
plate 20A and the lower light guide plate 20B, the light entering
sections 22 that extend from the first edge surface 21b of the
light exit section 21 in the Y-axis direction are arranged at
intervals in the X-axis direction (the arrangement direction of the
LEDs 14). The light entering sections 22A of the upper light guide
plate 20A and the light entering sections 22B of the lower light
guide plate 20B are arranged such that the light entering sections
22 of the same light guide plate 20 are not disposed next to each
other in a plan view from the Z-axis direction (the normal
direction of the light exit surface 21a).
[0105] In other words, the light entering sections 22A of the upper
light guide plate 20A and the light entering sections 22B of the
lower light guide plate 20B extend alternately and face the light
source row 14L. Therefore, the light from the LEDs 14 can enter
each of the upper light guide plate 20A and the lower light guide
plate 20B through each of the light entering sections 22A, 22B
efficiently. Accordingly, the local dimming as described below can
be achieved with high contrast. In the local dimming, the light
emission by the LEDs 14 is controlled to adjust the exiting of
light that exits through the light exit surface 21a for every
belt-like shaped divided area S that extends in the Y-axis
direction (the normal direction of the light entering surface
22a).
[0106] In the present embodiment, the light entering section 22A of
the upper light guide plate 20A and the light entering section 22B
of the lower light guide plate 20B that are adjacent to each other
in a plan view seen from the Z-axis direction (the normal direction
of the light exit surface 21a) are disposed such that a space
between the extended ends thereof is from 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm.
[0107] According to such a configuration, when the upper light
guide plate 20A and the lower light guide plate 20B are stacked on
each other, the adjacent light entering sections 22A, 22B are less
likely to be contacted with each other and can be positioned in a
correct position easily.
[0108] The width dimension xF of the light entering section 22 at
the extended end thereof in the X-axis direction (the arrangement
direction of the LEDs 14) is substantially same as the width
dimension xL of the LED 14 in the same direction. This allows the
light from the LEDs 14 to enter through the light entering surfaces
22a effectively.
[0109] In the present embodiment, the light exit section 21 is
divided into the six belt-shaped divided areas S1-S6 by the five
grooves 23 that extend in the Y-axis direction (the normal
direction of the light entering surface 22a). One light entering
section 22 extends from a portion of the first edge surface 21b of
each light guide plate 20 corresponding to each divided area S and
the extended end surface is the light entering surface 22a through
which the light from the LED 14 enters.
[0110] The grooves 23 that have a function of prisms keep the light
to stay within the belt-like shaped divided area S that extends in
the Y-axis direction (the normal direction of the light entering
surface 22a). Accordingly, the light directivity is increased and
the light is less likely to travel to the adjacent divided area S.
According to the present embodiment, the light that has emitted by
the LEDs 14 in each divided area S and entered the light entering
section 22 can travel to the light exit section 21 efficiently.
Luminance contrast is increased for every divided area S1 to S6 of
the light exit surface 21a and power consumption becomes less.
[0111] In the present embodiment, one LED 14 and one light entering
section 22 are disposed corresponding to each divided area S.
Therefore, the light exit surface 21a is divided into the same
number of sections as the number of LEDs 14 (twelve) and the
exiting of light through the light exit surface 21a can be adjusted
for every small region.
[0112] In the present embodiment, the light guide pates 20 include
the upper light guide plate 20A and the lower light guide plate 20B
that is disposed on the back surface side of the upper light guide
plate 20A. The light exit section 21A of the upper light guide
plate 20A includes the first uneven pattern 25A on the back surface
21c thereof and the first uneven pattern 25A makes the light that
has entered through the light entering surface 22a to exit through
the light exit surface 21a. The light exit section 21B of the lower
light guide plate 20B includes the second uneven pattern 25B on the
back surface 21c thereof and the second uneven pattern 25B makes
the light that has entered through the light entering surface 22a
to exit through the light exit surface 21a. The first uneven
pattern 25A and the second uneven pattern 25B are arranged so as
not to overlap each other seen from the Z-axis direction (the
normal direction of the light exit surface 21a).
[0113] The first uneven pattern 25A or the second uneven pattern
25B is disposed in any position of the upper light guide plate 20A
and the lower light guide plate 20B. According to such a
configuration, the light that has travelled within each of the
light guide plates 20 changes its travel direction at the position
to exit the light guide plate 20. The light exit surface 21a is
divided into areas with respect to the Y-axis direction (the normal
direction of the light entering surface 22a) such that the exiting
of light through the light exit surface 21a can be adjusted for
every area. The exiting of light is adjusted for every belt-shaped
divided area by controlling lighting of the LEDs 14 and the
two-dimensional local dimming can be achieved as well. The first
uneven pattern 25A and the second uneven pattern 25B are arranged
so as not to overlap each other such that the luminance contrast of
the light exit surface 21a is increased for every area A
corresponding to the pattern.
[0114] In the present embodiment, the first uneven pattern 25A and
the second uneven pattern 25B include lens projections but may
include prisms or embosses. The first uneven pattern 25A and the
second uneven pattern 25B may have the same shape or may have
different shapes.
[0115] In the present embodiment, the second uneven pattern 25B of
the lower light guide plate 20B is arranged relatively on the right
side of (closer to the light entering section 22 than) the first
uneven pattern 25A of the upper light guide plate 20A.
[0116] The lower light guide plate 20B is disposed farther away
from the liquid crystal panel 2 than the upper light guide plate
20A is. Therefore, the light is likely to be dispersed within the
lower light guide plate 20B before reaching the liquid crystal
panel 2. The second uneven pattern 25B is closer to the light
entering section 22. Therefore, compared to a configuration
including the first uneven pattern 25A closer to the light entering
section 22, there is less occurrence of unevenness in the exiting
of light (spot unevenness) in a portion near the light entering
section 22. Such unevenness may be caused if the light from the LED
14 does not sufficiently reach the portion.
[0117] <First Modification of First Embodiment>
[0118] A first modification of the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In a backlight unit 101
according to the first modification, a surface and a position where
an uneven pattern 125 is disposed are different from those of the
first embodiment. Components same as those of the first embodiment
are provided with the same symbols and operations and effects
similar to those of the first embodiment will not be described
(also in a second modification and a second embodiment).
[0119] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a light guide plate group 120G of
the backlight unit 101 includes twelve regions A1 to A12 on a light
exit surface 121a thereof. First uneven patterns 125A and second
uneven patterns 125B are disposed on the regions A1 to A12 such
that the first uneven patterns 125A are not adjacent to each other
and the second uneven patterns 125B are not adjacent to each other
seen from the Z-axis direction (a normal direction of the light
exit surface 121a). The first uneven patterns 125A and the second
uneven patterns 125B are arranged in a so-called checkered pattern.
Namely, in FIG. 7, the first uneven pattern 125A is disposed on a
section overlapping each of the regions A101, A104, A105, A108,
A109, A112, and the second uneven pattern 125B is disposed on a
section overlapping each of the regions A102, A103, A106, A107,
A110, A111. As illustrated in FIG. 8, all the uneven patterns 125
are formed on opposing surfaces of the two light guide plates 120
with respect to the Z-axis direction. Namely, the first uneven
patterns 125A are formed on a back surface 121c of the upper light
guide plate 120A and the second uneven patterns 125B are formed on
a front side light exit surface 121a of the lower light guide plate
120B.
[0120] According to such a configuration, the upper light guide
plate 120A and the lower light guide plate 120B have completely the
same shape and size. Namely, the two light guide plates 120 that
have the same shape and size are stacked on each other while one of
them being turned over to configure the light guide plate group
120G. In the light guide plate group 120G, a front surface of the
light guide plate that is regarded as the light exit surface 121a
of the upper light guide plate 120A is to be disposed on a back
surface side of the lower light guide plate 120B and a surface of
the light guide plate that is on a back surface side of the upper
light guide plate 120A is to be disposed on a front surface side of
the lower light guide plate 120B and regarded as the light exit
surface 121a. According to such a configuration, a cost for
manufacturing the light guide plates is reduced and management of
parts becomes easy.
[0121] <Second Modification of First Embodiment>
[0122] A second modification of the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 9. In a backlight unit 201
according to the second modification, a surface where an uneven
pattern 225 is disposed differs from that of the backlight unit 101
according to the first modification of the first embodiment.
[0123] In a light guide plate group 220G of the backlight unit 201,
first uneven patterns 225A and second uneven patterns 225B are
arranged in a so-called checkered pattern in a plan view similar to
the arrangement of the first uneven patterns 125A and the second
uneven patterns 125B in the light guide plate group 120G according
to the first modification of the first embodiment. On the other
hand, as illustrated in FIG. 8, with respect to the Z-axis
direction, as illustrated in FIG. 9, all of the uneven patterns 225
are disposed on outer surfaces of two light guide plates 220A,
220B. Namely, the first uneven patterns 225A are disposed on a
light exit surface 121a of the upper light guide plate 220A and the
second uneven patterns 225B are disposed on the front side light
exit surface 121a of the lower light guide plate 220B.
[0124] With the configuration of the present modification, two
light guide plates 220 that have the same shape and size are
stacked on each other and one of which is turned over can be used
as the upper light guide plate 220A and the lower light guide plate
220B. Therefore, effects similar to those of the first modification
can be obtained.
[0125] <Third Modification of First Embodiment>
[0126] A third modification of the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 10. In a backlight unit 301
according to the third modification, positions where grooves 323
are formed are altered from those of the backlight unit 1 of the
first embodiment.
[0127] The backlight unit 301 includes light guide plates 320 and
the light guide plate 320 includes two grooves 323 on a light exit
surface 321a thereof. The light exit surface 321a is divided into
three divided areas S301 to S303 each of which has a width
dimension 4.times.E in the X-axis direction (a width dimension of a
light entering section 322 in the X-axis direction at a basal end
thereof is referred to as xE). Two light entering sections 322
extend from a portion of a first edge surface 321b of each of an
upper light guide plate 320A and a lower light guide plate 320B
corresponding to each divided area S and each of the two light
entering sections 322 is opposite a LED 314. Among the LEDs 314,
two LEDs 314 are opposite the light entering sections 322 that are
disposed in the same divided area S and the two LEDs 314 are
included in a light source group 314G. The LEDs 314 included in
each light source group 314G are connected to the lighting circuit
so as to be connected to each other in series and all of the light
source groups 314G are connected in parallel. The LEDs 314 that are
disposed in each light source group 14G may be connected to each
other in parallel. Specifically, in FIG. 10, among the LEDs 314L1
to 314L12 that are arrayed from the rear side to the front side,
each of a set of a LED 314L1 and a LED 314L3, a set of a LED 314L2
and a LED 314L4, a set of a LED 314L5 and a LED 314L7, a set of a
LED 314L6 and a LED 314L8, a set of a LED 314L9 and a LED 314L11,
and a set of a LED 314L10 and a LED 314L12 configures the light
source group 314G.
[0128] In this modification, the exiting of light through the light
exit surface 321a can be adjusted for each of six regions A301 to
A306 by controlling the lighting of the LED 314 by a unit of the
light source group 314G. For example, the lighting of the light
source group 314G that includes the LED 314L1 and the LED 314L3 is
controlled to adjust the exiting of light through the region A301
and the lighting of the light source group 314G that includes the
LED 314L6 and the LED 314 L8 is controlled to adjust the exiting of
light through the region A304.
[0129] According to this modification, the wiring structure for the
LEDs 314 is simplified and the lighting control can be performed
more easily. The light from the two LEDs 314 is supplied to one
region A and exit therethrough and luminance of each area A can be
increased.
Second Embodiment
[0130] A second embodiment will be described with reference to
FIGS. 11 and 12. A backlight unit 401 according to the second
embodiment greatly differs from the backlight unit 1 of the first
embodiment as follows. In the backlight unit 401, a light guide
plate group 420G includes three light guide plates 420 of an upper
light guide plate 420A, a lower light guide plate 420B, and an
intermediate light guide plate 420C.
[0131] According to this embodiment, each of the three light guide
plates 420 includes four light entering sections 422. Each of an
interval between the adjacent light entering sections 422A of the
upper light guide plate 420A, an interval between the adjacent
light entering sections 422B of the lower light guide plate 420B,
and an interval between the adjacent light entering sections 422C
of the intermediate light guide plate 420C is 2.times.E while the
width dimension of the light entering section 422 in the X-axis
direction at a basal end thereof being xE. As illustrated in FIG.
11, the light entering sections 422B, 422C, 422A (422) project from
respective light exit sections 421 that are overlapped with each
other in this sequence from the front side. As illustrated in FIG.
12, the light entering section 422A of the upper light guide plate
420A includes an inclined surface 422b on a front surface thereof,
the light entering section 422B of the lower light guide plate 420B
includes the inclined surface 421b on a back surface thereof, and
the light entering section 422C of the intermediate light guide
plate 420C includes the inclined surfaces 421b on front and back
surfaces thereof. The inclined surface 421b is inclined such that
the thickness dimension of the light entering section 422 gradually
increases from the basal end toward the extended end thereof.
[0132] The light exit section 421 of each of the three light guide
plates 420 of the present embodiment has a thickness dimension dL
that is defined as 3 dL.apprxeq.dL with respect to the thickness
dimension dL of the LED 14. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the light
exit section 421 includes three grooves 423 on a front side light
exit surface 421a and the light exit surface 421a is divided into
four divided areas S401 to S404 each of which has a width dimension
3.times.E in the X-axis direction. The light exit surface 421a is
divided into three sections with respect to the Y-axis direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the light exit section 421A of the upper
light guide plate 420A includes a first uneven pattern 425A on a
left side region of a back surface 421c, the light exit section
421C of the intermediate light guide plate 420C includes a third
uneven pattern 425C on a middle region of the back surface 421c,
and the light exit section 421B of the lower light guide plate 420B
includes a second uneven pattern 425B on a right side region of the
back surface 421c.
[0133] As described before, the light exit surface 421a is divided
into four sections in the X-axis direction and three sections in
the Y-axis direction according to a combination of the grooves 423
and the uneven patterns 425 and twelve regions A401 to A412 are
formed. In this embodiment, all of the twelve regions A401 to A412
have the same area and correspond to the twelve LEDs 14,
respectively.
[0134] According to the present embodiment, the light exit surface
421a is divided into the regions A each of which has a different
shape from that of the first embodiment and exiting of light is
adjusted. In the present embodiment, the number of light guide
plates 420 is greater than that of the first embodiment and three
light guide plates 420 are stacked on each other. However, the
thickness dimension dE of each of the light exit sections 421 is
further reduced and a thickness dimension of the whole light guide
plate group 420G is less likely to be increased.
Third Embodiment
[0135] A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
13 and 14. A backlight unit 501 according to the third embodiment
includes a light source row 514L on a left side of a light guide
plate group 520G in addition to the light source row 14L on a right
side thereof.
[0136] As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the present
embodiment, a LED board 513 is disposed on a left short side frame
section of the frame 11. The LED board 513 is similar to the LED
board 13 that is disposed on a back surface of the right short side
frame section. Twelve LEDs 514 that are mounted on the LED board
form the light source row 514L. The LED board 513 is fixed parallel
to the LED board 13 and a reflection sheet 515 is held between the
LED board 513 and the LED board 13 in the Y-axis direction. Optical
axis of each of the LEDs 514 that are included in the light source
row 514L substantially matches the Y-axis direction and a light
exit direction of the LED 514 is opposite from that of the LED
14.
[0137] Each of an upper light guide plate 520A and a lower light
guide plate 520B included in the light guide plate group 520G
includes light entering sections 522R and light entering sections
522L. The light entering sections 522R extend from the light exit
section 521 of each of the light guide plates 520A, 520B toward a
right side and face the respective LEDs 14. The light entering
sections 522L extend from the light exit section 521 of each of the
light guide plates 520A, 520B toward a left side and face the
respective LEDs 14. The shape and the dimension of the right side
light entering section 522R are similar to those of the light
entering section 22 of the first embodiment. The left side light
entering section 522L has an inverted shape of the light entering
section 522R with respect to the left and right direction. Namely,
each of the light guide plates 520 has a plane symmetric shape with
respect to a plane that passes through a center line of the light
exit section 21 with respect to the Y-axis direction and has a
normal line along the Y-axis.
[0138] As illustrated in FIG. 13, a light exit surface 521a is
divided into four sections with respect to the Y-axis direction. As
illustrated in FIG. 14, first uneven patterns 525A are disposed on
left edge regions and third regions from the left of a back surface
521c of a light exit section 521A of the upper light guide plate
520A, and second uneven patterns 525B are disposed on second
regions from the left and right edge regions of the back surface
521c of a light exit section 521B of the lower light guide plate
520B.
[0139] As described before, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the light
exit surface 521a is divided into six sections in the X-axis
direction and four sections in the Y-axis direction according to a
combination of the grooves 23 and the uneven patterns 525 and
twenty four regions A501 to A524 are formed. In this embodiment,
all of the twenty four regions A501 to A524 have the same area and
correspond to the twenty four LEDs 14, 514, respectively.
[0140] According to the present embodiment, compared to the first
embodiment, the exiting of light through the light exit surface
521a can be adjusted for each of smaller regions A and display
image resolution can be enhanced. The number of light sources for
supplying light that exits through the light exit surface 521a is
increased to increase luminance of the light exit surface 521a or
increase the size of the light exit surface 521a while suppressing
increase of a thickness dimension of the light guide plate group
520G and eventually suppressing increase of a thickness dimension
of the backlight unit 501.
[0141] The regions A where the first uneven patterns 525A are
disposed are not adjacent to each other in the normal direction of
the light entering surface and the regions A where the second
uneven patterns 525B are disposed are not adjacent to each other in
the normal direction of the light entering surface. Therefore, the
light that has not exited through a target region A and travelled
within the light guide plate 520 is less likely to be directed by
the uneven pattern 525 that is disposed on the adjacent region A.
For example, the light that has emitted by the right and most rear
side LED 14L1 is supposed to exit through the region A503. However,
if the first uneven pattern 525A is disposed on the adjacent region
A502, the light that has not exited through the region A503 and
further travelled within the light guide plate in the Y-axis
direction may easily exit through the region A502 by the first
uneven pattern 525A. According to the present embodiment, the first
uneven pattern 525A is not disposed on the region A502. Therefore,
unintentional exiting of light through the region A is less likely
to occur. Accordingly, high luminance contrast of the light exit
surface 521a can be maintained and quality of display images can be
increased.
Other Embodiments
[0142] The technology disclosed herein is not limited to the
embodiments, which have been described using the foregoing
descriptions and the drawings. For example, embodiments described
below are also included in the technical scope of the
technology.
[0143] (1) In each of the above embodiments, the light guide plates
are formed in a flat plate shape; however, it is not necessarily
limited thereto but they may be formed in a curved shape. The light
guide plates have a quadrangular plan view shape; however, it is
not necessarily limited thereto but they may have a plan view shape
of a polygonal shape such as a triangle or a pentagon or a plan
view shape that has a curved outline such as an oval.
[0144] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the light exit
sections of all of light guide plates that are included in a
lighting device are overlapped with each other. However, it is not
necessarily limited thereto and the light guide plates may be
arranged such that some of them overlap each other. Entire areas of
the light exit sections are not necessarily overlapped with each
other and a portion of the light exit section may overlap another
light exit section. The light guide plate group may include four or
more light guide plates. If the number of light guide plates
included in the light guide plate group is n, a total of the
thickness dimensions of the light exit sections is preferably equal
to or smaller than the thickness dimension of the light source row.
However, it is not necessarily limited thereto.
[0145] (3) In each of the above embodiments, all of the light guide
plates that are included in the light guide plate group are made of
the same material (acrylic resin). However, they may be made of
different materials. The thickness dimensions of the light exit
sections of the light guide plates are equal to each other.
However, it is not limited thereto and the thickness dimensions of
the light exit sections may be varied according to arrangement or
characteristics of the light guide plates.
[0146] (4) In each of the above embodiments, the reflection sheet
is disposed on the back side of the light guide plate group.
Instead of disposing the reflection sheet, a reflection layer may
be disposed on a back surface of the light guide plate. A
reflection layer may be disposed on peripheral edge surfaces except
for the light entering surface.
[0147] (5) A light scattering section may be included in the light
exit surface to unify a light exit distribution within each region
of the light exit surface. The light scattering section is provided
by printing dots made of light scattering particles on the light
guide plate, forming a rough surface by blasting, or forming quite
small projections and recesses when molding a light guide plate
with resin.
[0148] (6) In each of the above embodiments, the light source row
is arranged along the short side of the light guide plate (in the
X-axis direction); however, it is not limited thereto. Alight
source row may be arranged along one long side or two long sides
(in the Y-axis direction).
[0149] (7) In each of the above embodiments, the light entering
section has a prism shape; however, it is not limited thereto. A
light guide section may have a round columnar shape or an
elliptical columnar shape.
[0150] (8) In each of the above embodiments, the light guide
section and the light exit section are integrally formed with each
other. The light guide section and the light exit section may be
formed as separated components. In such a configuration, optical
fibers may be used as the light guide section. The separate
components of the light guide section and the light exit section
may be bonded to each other with adhesive and formed as an integral
component.
[0151] (9) In each of the above embodiments, the LEDs are used as
the light source; however, another kinds of light sources such as
cold cathode tubes or an organic ELs may be used as the light
source.
[0152] (10) In each of the above embodiments, the liquid crystal
display device that includes the liquid crystal panel as the
display panel; however, a display device that includes another
kinds of display panel may be included in the technical scope.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
[0153] 1: backlight unit (lighting unit), 2: liquid crystal panel
(display panel), 13: LED board (light source board), 14: LED (light
source), 14G: light source group, 14L: light source row, 20: light
guide plate, 20A: upper light guide plate (first light guide
plate), 20B: lower light guide plate (second light guide plate),
20G: light guide plate group, 21: light exit section, 21a: light
exit surface, 21b: first edge surface (first edge surface), 21c:
back surface (another plate surface), 22: light exit section, 22a:
light entering surface, 22b: inclined surface, 23: groove
(elongated structure), 25: uneven pattern, 42: lighting circuit
* * * * *