Sakai, Seiji (Tokyo, JP)
Mori, Akihiro (Kumamoto, JP)
Yamaguchi, Takashi (Tokyo, JP)
Yoneda, Toshiyuki (Tokyo, JP)

Plaque It! Sponsored by: Flash of Genius

11/684350

04/01/2008

03/09/2007

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Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)

362/555

362/560, 362/225, 362/561, 362/249, 362/612, 362/613

F21V33/00

362/608, 362/224, 362/609, 362/249, 362/561, 362/560, 362/555, 362/632, 362/225, 362/610, 362/612, 362/613

4989122	Light box	January, 1991	Allekotte et al.	362/97
5453855	Liquid crystal display device backlit by LED's coupled to printed circuit board	September, 1995	Nakamura et al.
6024462	High efficiency high intensity backlighting of graphic displays	February, 2000	Whitehead
6419369	Sheet-like source light device and liquid crystal display device using the same	July, 2002	Itoh
6893135	Light guides suitable for illuminated displays	May, 2005	Wright et al.

JP0232320	February, 1990
JP150061994	February, 1994
JP0772815	March, 1995
JP8184829	July, 1996
JP2001126523	May, 2001
JP2002289023	October, 2002
JP2002319308	October, 2002
JP2003132722	May, 2003
JP2003157711	May, 2003

Tso, Laura

Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

The invention claimed is:

1. A planar light source device comprising: a housing having an opening portion on a top face and having a hollow space; a scattering plate provided at the opening portion; a reflecting plate provided at the bottom portion of the hollow space of the housing; and a plurality of point light sources arranged in series along at least one side plane of the housing, a plane, being vertical to a central axis of the plurality of point light sources, which is slanted to the scattering plate.

2. The planar light source device according to claim 1, further comprising: a refractive element, arranged in parallel with the plurality of point light sources and between the plurality of point light sources and the hollow space, that refracts irradiating light from the plurality of point light sources.

3. A display device comprising: the planar light source device as recited in claim 1, a display arranged on the planar light source device.

4. A planar light source device comprising: a housing having an opening portion on a top face and having a hollow space; a scattering plate provided at the opening portion; a reflecting plate provided at the bottom portion of the hollow space of the housing; and a plurality of point light sources arranged in series along at least one side plane of the housing; an angle at which luminance being the maximum among the light distribution of irradiating light from the plurality of point light sources for a central axis of the plurality of point light sources being referred to as φ₃ (−90°≦φ₃≦90°), an angle forming a plane being vertical to the central axis of the plurality of point light sources and the bottom face of the housing being referred to as δ, an equation, that is, δ+φ₃≧90° being satisfied, and the plurality of point light sources provided at the inside of the top face of the housing.

5. The planar light source device according to claim 4, further comprising: a refractive element, arranged in parallel with the plurality of point light sources and between the plurality of point light sources and the hollow space, that refracts irradiating light from the plurality of point light sources.

6. A display device comprising: the planar light source device as recited in claim 4, a display arranged on the planar light source device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hollow type planar light source device which does not employ light guiding plate. More specifically, the present invention relates to a planar light source device using a plurality of point light sources such as light emitting diodes which emit monochromatic lights such as R (red), G (green) and B (blue), and a display device using the device.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional planar light source device, the portion of light radiated from a cold-cathode tube and light which is radiated from the cold-cathode tube and reflected on the cylindrical surface of a light source cover becomes parallel light with a focus lens and radiated on the reflection plane of a reflecting plate, and the reflected light is scattered from a scattering plate to be radiated (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54625/1996 (page 3, line 18 of the left column to line 45 of the right column, FIG. 2)).

Further, other conventional planar light source device is composed of a light distribution means, light emitting diodes, a reflection means which is provided so as to face the light distribution means, a hollow space which is formed between the light distribution means and the reflection means, and a reflector (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 258764/2002 (page 4, line 3 of the left column to page 5, line 43 of the left column, FIG. 1)).

Since cold-cathode tubes having low directivity as a light source are used in a conventional planar light source device, there has been a problem that the quality of display is lowered, since focusing property at a condenser lens is low, luminance nearby the light source comes to be higher in comparison with luminance at a position far from the light source, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity are generated in display.

Further, when light emitting diodes having high directivity are used as a light source, there has been a problem that the quality of display is lowered, since the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity are generated in display in accordance with the light distribution of point light sources.

The present invention is achieved in order to solve the problems, and it is the purpose of the invention is to provide a planar light source device which does not generate the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity in case of using point light sources having the high directivity of radiating light, and a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining superior display property by using the planar light source device.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is a planar light source device including a housing having an opening portion on a top face and having a hollow space, a scattering plate provided at the opening portion, a reflecting plate provided at the bottom portion of the hollow space of the housing, a plurality of point light sources arranged in series along at least one side of the housing, and a refractive element, arranged in parallel with the plurality of point light sources and between the plurality of point light sources and the hollow space, that refracts irradiating light from the plurality of point light sources, and the refractive element refracts light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light against an irradiated planes of the refractive element, to a bottom face side of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the schematic composition of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the II-II line of a planar light source device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an LED arrangement chart showing one example of the arrangement of LEDs;

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of a substantial part for illustrating the light path of light passing the refractive element;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the light distribution of radiating light from LEDs related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of other reflector related to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the light distribution of irradiating light against the irradiated plane of the refractive element when other reflector related to Embodiment 1 is used;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the light distribution of irradiating light against the irradiated plane of the refractive element when a conventional light source having no directivity and other reflector related to Embodiment 1 are used;

FIG. 9 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the first slant portions at a reflecting plate;

FIG. 10 is an illustration view for illustrating the relation of distances between the first slant portions and the refractive element;

FIG. 11 is an illustration view showing the ratio of luminance of the central portion of a display surface to the peripheral portion of the display surface against the distances x of a flat portion;

FIG. 12 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has a scattering reflection portion at the reflecting plate;

FIG. 13 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the second slant portions at the reflecting plate;

FIG. 14 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the second slant portions and a scattering reflection portion at the reflecting plate;

FIG. 15( a ) is a side view of other scattering plate related to Embodiment 1 and FIG. 15( b ) is a plan view of other scattering plate related to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 16 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the substrate of point light sources is provided only at one side of the housing;

FIGS. 17( a ) to 17 ( d ) are partial section views of other refractive element related to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 18 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the substrate of point light sources is slanted by an angle of ζ against the scattering plate;

FIG. 19 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the substrate of point light sources and the refractive element are slanted by an angle of ζ against the scattering plate;

FIG. 20 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the reflecting plate providing the point light sources only at one side plane of the housing has the first slant portions;

FIGS. 21( a ) to 21 ( c ) are luminance distribution charts in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element is changed, FIG. 21( a ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element is not provided, FIG. 21( b ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element having a shape shown in FIG. 2 is provided, and FIG. 21( c ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element having a shape shown in FIG. 17( c ) is provided;

FIGS. 22( a ) to 22 ( c ) are illustration views for illustrating a case of dividing the refractive element into several parts so as to cross the direction of length hand of the refractive element, FIG. 22( a ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing it with a plane perpendicular to the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ), FIG. 22( b ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing it with a plane oblique to the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ), and FIG. 22( c ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing so that the section of the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ) is formed with a plurality of planes;

FIG. 23 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the edge of a reflector is extended to an effective display zone;

FIG. 24 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the point light sources are provided at the side of the housing;

FIG. 25 is a view showing the light distribution of radiating light from other LED which is used as the point light sources related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a partial section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIGS. 27( a ) to 27 ( c ) are partial section views of other refractive element related to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 28 is a partial section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIGS. 29( a ) and 29 ( b ) are evolution charts showing the refractive element related to Embodiment 3, FIG. 29( a ) is a top view viewed from the top face side of the housing, and FIG. 29( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side;

FIG. 30 is an illustration view showing light path possibly occurring when light transmitting in the refractive element is totally reflected on a radiating plane; occurring when light transmitting in the refractive element is totally reflected on a radiating plane;

FIGS. 31( a ) to 31 ( c ) are evolution charts showing other refractive element related to Embodiment 3, FIG. 31( a ) is a top view viewed from the top face side of the housing, FIG. 31( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side, and FIG. 31( c ) is a side view viewed from the direction of length hand of the refractive element;

FIG. 32 is a section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 33( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 33( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 34( a ) is a section view of other refractive element related to Embodiment 4 and FIG. 34( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side of other refractive element related to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 35( a ) is a section view of further other refractive element related to Embodiment 4 and FIG. 35( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side of further other refractive element related to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 36 is a partial section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIGS. 37( a ) to 37 ( b ) are evolution charts showing other refractive element related to Embodiment 5, FIG. 37( a ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side, and FIG. 37( b ) is a side view viewed from the direction of length hand of the refractive element;

FIG. 38 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 5;

FIG. 39 is a sectional view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 40( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 6 of the present invention, and FIG. 40( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 41 is a section view of the refractive element related to Embodiment 6;

FIG. 42 is a section view of other refractive element related to Embodiment 6;

FIG. 43 is a section view of further other refractive element related to Embodiment 6;

FIG. 44 is a section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 7 of the present invention;

FIG. 45( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 7 of the present invention, and FIG. 45( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 46 is a section view of the refractive element related to Embodiment 7;

FIG. 47 is a section view of other refractive element related to Embodiment 7;

FIG. 48 is a section view of further other refractive element related to Embodiment 7;

FIG. 49 is a section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 50( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 8 of the present invention, and FIG. 50( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 51 is a section view of other refractive element related to Embodiment 8;

FIG. 52 is a section view of further other refractive element related to Embodiment 8;

FIG. 53 is a section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 9 of the present invention;

FIG. 54( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 9 of the present invention, and FIG. 54( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 55 is a section view of the refractive element related to Embodiment 9;

FIG. 56 is a section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 10 of the present invention;

FIG. 57( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 10 of the present invention, and FIG. 57( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a );

FIG. 58 is a partial section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 11 of the present invention;

FIG. 59 is an illustration view for illustrating the positional relation between the substrate of point light sources and the bottom face of the housing related to Embodiment 11; and

FIG. 60 is a partial section view of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 12 of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT OF THE INVENTION

EMBODIMENT 1

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the schematic composition of a planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an LED arrangement chart showing one example of the arrangement of point light sources 3 using light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the like. FIG. 4 is a magnified view of a substantial part for illustrating the light path of light passing the refractive element. FIG. 5 is a view showing the light distribution of radiating light from LEDs which are used for the point light sources 3 related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIGS. 1 to 5, the housing 1 of the planar light source device is composed of a top face 1 a , a bottom face 1 b and 4 side planes 1 c and has an opening portion 1 d on the top face 1 a.

The whole opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 is provided with a scattering plate 2 . The scattering plate 2 is a glass substrate or a resin plate such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acryl (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC) which has a function of transmitting light. Further, those in which a reflecting material is mixed and those whose surface is roughened are used for the scattering plate 2 and a function for scattering irradiated light is imparted, thereby, it is preferable because the planar light source device having wide directivity can be obtained.

As the point light sources 3 , a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as LED), a laser diode (LD) and the like can be employed. In Embodiment 1, LEDs are used, and it is composed of the first point light sources 3 a which emit red light (R), the second point light sources 3 b which emit green light (G) and the third point light sources 3 c which emit blue light (B).

The LEDs which emit red, green or blue color have high luminescence efficiency in comparison with LEDs which emit white color, and it is preferable because a display device having high color reproducibility can be obtained by combining the permeation property of red, green and blue colors of color filters used for a liquid crystal display device with the luminescence spectra of LEDs. Further, it is preferable because the hue of radiating light from a planar light source device can be easily changed by independently controlling LEDs by each color.

A plurality of point light sources 3 are provided by being arranged in the direction of length hand of the substrate 4 of the point light sources on the rectangular substrate 4 of the point light sources. The substrate 4 of the point light sources is provided in parallel along two facing side planes 1 c of the housing 1 and the plurality of point light sources 3 are provided in parallel along the side planes 1 c of the housing 1 .

The numbers of each of the first point light sources 3 a , the second point light sources 3 b and the third point light sources 3 c provided on the substrate 4 are not required to be always equal, and the numbers of each of the first point light sources 3 a , the second point light sources 3 b and the third point light sources 3 c may be arbitrarily set so as to be able to be optimized at a desired chromaticity after being transmitted through liquid crystal display elements. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, they can be arranged in the repeating permutation of G, B, G, R, G, and B.

The housing 1 shields light so that light does not externally leak as little as possible, and a reflecting plate 5 is provided at the bottom face 1 b which is the inside of the housing 1 and the side plane 1 c where the substrate 4 of the point light sources is not arranged nearby so that light is reflected on the inside to proceed to the opening portion 1 d . Light is propagated in air in the hollow space 6 by forming the hollow space 6 between the reflecting plate 5 and the scattering plate 2 .

The reflecting plate 5 consists of a material which is obtained by depositing a metal such as aluminum or silver on a metal plate of such as aluminum or silver or a resin sheet. Further, the reflecting plate 5 is a regularly reflecting material which has a function of regularly reflecting light, and propagates light from the light source to a counter light source side by repeating reflection in which an incident angle coincides with a reflection angle on the reflecting plane of the reflecting plate 5 .

A reflector 7 surrounds the point light sources 3 excluding the hollow space 6 side and reflects light from the light source to the hollow space 6 side. Further, the reflector 7 consists of a metal plate having a reflecting layer which is formed by aluminum or silver, or a white sheet made of a resin.

Further, the reflection coefficient of the reflecting plate 5 and the reflector 7 is preferably 90% or more in order to suppress reflection loss on the reflecting plane. Further, when the reflection coefficient is enhanced by making the inside of the housing 1 white, reflection in the inside is further improved and it is preferable because light loss is lessened. Further, although the reflecting plate 5 and the reflector 7 are composed of separate members, the number of members is lessened by integrally forming the reflecting plate 5 and the reflector 7 with the same member to be able to improve the workability of assembling. Further, when the housing 1 is designed to meet with the functions of the reflecting plate 5 and the reflector 7 , it is preferable because the number of members can be reduced.

A refractive element 8 is provided between the point light sources 3 and the hollow space 6 along the arrangement direction of the plurality of point light sources 3 and refracts irradiating light for the irradiated plane of the refractive element 8 to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 . More preferably, light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light for an irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is refracted so as to be radiated for the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 .

Further, the refractive element 8 in Embodiment 1 has a bottom face 8 a which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , the irradiated plane 8 c which forms a slant angle at the reverse side from first cristas 8 b to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the parallel bottom face 8 a which passes the first cristas 8 b of the bottom face 8 a parallel to the point light sources 3 side, radiating plane 8 e which forms a predetermined slant angle at the reverse side from the second cristas 8 d to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the parallel bottom face 8 a which passes the second cristas 8 d of the bottom face parallel to the hollow space 6 , and a facing face 8 f which faces in parallel to the bottom face 8 a . The refractive element 8 is a trapezoidal section shape in which thickness is increased from the top face 1 a to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 , and formed by a transparent resin such as acryl or glass. Hereat, the bottom face 8 a of the refractive element 8 is arranged in nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , but it is not limited to this arrangement so far as light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light for the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is refracted to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 . For example, it may be arranged in nearly parallel to the scattering plate 2 or the reflecting plate 5 or the like.

Optical sheets which comprise a plurality of optical sheets for effectively utilizing light and are not illustrated are arranged on the scattering plate 2 and liquid crystal display elements not illustrated are arranged on the scattering plate 2 through the optical sheets.

Further, the optical sheets are a composition that a lens sheet is sandwiched by scattering sheets. Further, when the improvement of luminance is required, a plurality of lens sheets may be combined considering the direction of prisms of the sheet which are formed on the surface. Further, 2 or more of scattering sheets can be used for improving scattering property. Further, one lens sheet may be used depending on the property of light distribution or may not be used. Further, a protective sheet, a lens sheet or a polarized reflection sheet may be used in combination. Furthermore, none of them can be used. It is preferable because the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity can be further reduced by light scattering effect by the scattering plate 2 and re-reflection by the reflecting plate 5 , by using the optical sheet having a function of reflecting the portion of light such as the lens sheet or the polarized reflection sheet in which continuous triangular prisms with an apex angle of nearly 90° are formed at liquid crystal display elements side, to the scattering plate 2 .

As the display portion which is arranged at the upper portion of the planar light source device, liquid crystal display elements which apply the birefringence of liquid crystal, printed articles on which characters and pictures are printed on a transparent plate, and the like are mentioned, but the liquid crystal display elements are used as the display portion in Embodiment 1. The liquid crystal display elements are composed of a coloring layer, a light shielding layer, thin layer transistors (hereinafter, referred to as TFT) being switching elements, a TFT array substrate on which electrodes such as pixel electrodes and wires are formed and a counter substrate, a spacer which retains two substrates at an equal interval, a sealing agent which adheres two substrates, a sealant which seals after injecting liquid crystal between the two substrates, an orienting film which primarily orients the liquid crystal, a polarizing plate which polarizes light and the like, on an upper side substrate or a lower side substrate not illustrated. However, since ready-made liquid crystal display elements are used in the present invention, illustration hereat is abbreviated.

The liquid crystal display device is composed by including a circuit substrate not illustrated which drives the liquid crystal display elements and arranging the liquid crystal display elements on the upper portion of the planar light source device.

The light path by which light emitted from the point light sources 3 is radiated from the scattering plate 2 is illustrated.

Monochromatic lights of red, green and blue colors which are emitted from the first point light sources 3 a , the second point light sources 3 b and the third point light sources 3 c being as the point light sources 3 are reflected directly or by a reflector 7 and irradiated on the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 .

Although irradiating lights with all incident angles exist on the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 , radiating light from the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 by irradiating light with an incident angle φ _i at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light relative to the irradiated plane 8 c is refracted on the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 ; therefore radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced and the distribution of radiating light from the scattering plate 2 can be uniformly improved. In particular, the radiating light is refracted so as to be radiated for the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , therefore most part of lights is reflected on the reflecting plate 5 and radiated from the scattering plate 2 , and the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source can be reduced. Further, since the propagation distance of light in the hollow space 6 is increased, the color mixture and mixing of light are promoted and it is preferable because the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity can be remarkably reduced.

Further, light which is reflected on the surface of the irradiated plane 8 c exists among lights which are irradiated from an oblique direction against the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 . Since the light which is reflected on the surface of the irradiated plane 8 c is reflected to the reflector 7 side and propagated in space which is surrounded by the reflector 7 and the refractive element 8 , the light spreads in the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 . The light which is irradiated on the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 spreads to the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 again and is radiated from the radiating plane 8 e ; therefore the unevenness of luminance of the radiating light from the refractive element 8 in the arrangement direction of the point light sources 3 can be reduced. Further, the color mixture of lights in space which is surrounded by the reflector 7 and the refractive element 8 is generated in the first point light source 3 a , the second point light source 3 b and the third point light source 3 c which are different in luminescent colors, and the unevenness of chromaticity of the radiating lights from the refractive element 8 in the arrangement direction of the point light sources 3 can be reduced.

When linear light sources such as cold-cathode tubes which exist in series to the direction of length hand of polarizing elements are used as the light source, the proportion of the volume of the light source which occupies space surrounded by the reflector 7 and the refractive element 8 is larger in comparison with a case that the point light sources which are provided separately to the direction of length hand of polarizing elements are used as the light source. Accordingly, probability by which light reflected on the refractive element or the reflector is irradiated on the linear light sources is higher in comparison with probability by which light reflected on the refractive element or the reflector is irradiated on the point light sources, and loss caused by re-irradiation to the light source of surface reflecting light is increased by using the linear light sources. Namely, loss caused by re-irradiating to the light source of surface reflecting light is decreased by using the point light sources, and the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity can be efficiently reduced; therefore superior display quality with high in utilizing efficiency of light can be obtained.

As illustrated below using FIG. 4, irradiating light with an incident angle φ _i (−90°<φ _i <90°) at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light relative to the irradiated plane 8 c is controlled by the refractive element 8 so as to radiate for the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 . Hereat, the refractive index of the refractive element 8 is referred to as n (n is larger than the refractive index 1 of air), the slant angle of the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is referred to as θ ₁ (0<θ ₁ ≦90°) and the slant angle of the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 is referred to as θ ₂ (0<θ ₂ ≦90°).

Light which is irradiated on the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 at an incident angle φ _i is refracted by the refractive angle α of the following formula (1) according to the Snell's Law.
α=Sin ⁻¹ ((1 /n )×Sinφ _i ) (1)

Further, light passing in the refractive element 8 is irradiated on the radiating plane 8 e at an incident angle β (=180°−θ ₁ −θ ₂ −α), and is refracted and radiated on the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 at a refractive angle φ ₀ of the following formula (2) according to the Snell's Law.

$\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}{\varphi }_0={\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(n\times \mathrm{Sin}\beta \right)\\ ={\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-\alpha \right)\right)\\ ={\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-{\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(\left(1/n\right)\times \mathrm{Sin}{\varphi }_i\right)\right)\right)\end{array}& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

An angle γ (=φ ₀ −(90°−θ ₂ )) relative to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 is 0° or more so that radiating light from the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 is radiated to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 .

Namely, it is required to satisfy the following inequality (3).

$\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}0°\le \gamma ={\varphi }_0-\left(90°-{\theta }_2\right))\\ ={\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(\begin{array}{c}180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-\\ {\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(\left(1/n\right)\times \mathrm{Sin}{\varphi }_i\right)\end{array}\right)\right)-\\ 90°+{\theta }_2\end{array}& \left(3\right)\end{array}$

Hereat, LEDs being the point light sources 3 control the directivity of the radiating light by sealing LED elements with a lens shaped resin. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when right rotation from an upper side perpendicular to the central axis of arrangement direction of the LED elements is referred to as positive and LEDs which have the light distribution in which luminance is the maximum when the angle of the radiating lights from LEDs is at ±80° are used as the point light sources 3 , an incident angle φ _i at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is 10° when the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is nearly vertical to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , namely, the slant angle θ ₁ of the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is 90°. When the refractive index n of the refractive element 8 is 1.5, the slant angle θ ₂ of the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 satisfies θ ₂ <70.05° from the inequality (3); therefore the bright portion nearby the light source is reduced and the distribution of luminance can be improved.

Further, it is preferable to satisfy the following the inequality (4) in order to prevent loss by the total reflection in the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 .

$\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}1>n\times \mathrm{Sin}\beta =n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-\alpha \right)\\ =n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-{\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(\left(1/n\right)\times \mathrm{Sin}{\varphi }_i\right)\right))\end{array}& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

Further, when the slant angle θ ₁ of the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is 90°, an incident angle φ _i at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c is 10° and the refractive index n of the refractive element 8 is 1.5, the slant angle θ ₂ of the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 satisfies θ ₂ >41.55° by the inequality (4), and thereby, the irradiating light at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights relative to the irradiated plane 8 c is not totally reflected at the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 ; therefore light can be efficiently radiated from the radiating plane 8 e.

Light which is radiated from the radiating plane 8 e of the refractive element 8 to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 is normally reflected by the normal reflecting material of the reflecting plate 5 and light is propagated from the light source to the reverse side of the light source.

The light which is irradiated on the scattering plate 2 is divided into the component of light transmitting in the scattering plate 2 and the component of light which is reflected by particles in the scattering plate 2 . Among these, the component of light which is reflected to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 is normally reflected on the reflecting plate 5 and irradiated again on the scattering plate 2 . The component of light which is irradiated on the scattering plate 2 and transmitted is radiated to all directions.

Light which is radiated from the top face of the scattering plate 2 passes optical sheets comprising a scattering sheet, a protective sheet or a lens sheet to be irradiated on liquid crystal display elements. The liquid crystal layer is oriented by switching the ON-OFF of voltage by switching elements not illustrated in the liquid crystal display elements, and light which is irradiated to the liquid crystal display elements is modulated in accordance with picture signals to display the respective colors of red, green and blue colors.

Further, in Embodiment 1, the reflector 7 is in a shape which surrounds the point light sources 3 excluding the hollow space 6 side and reflects light from the light source to the hollow space 6 side. However, when the shape of the reflector 7 is formed so that an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights relative to the irradiated plane of light (hereinafter, referred to as direct light) which reaches directly the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 from the point light sources 3 coincides with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane of light (hereinafter, referred to as indirect light) which is reflected by the reflector 7 from the point light sources 3 and reaches the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 , the direct light and the indirect light from the light source can be efficiently refracted to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 through the refractive element 8 .

Further, when the shape of the reflector 7 is formed so that the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights relative to the irradiated plane 8 c of the indirect light is smaller in comparison with the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights relative to the irradiated plane 8 c of the direct light, the indirect light from the light source can be further efficiently refracted to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 through the refractive element 8 .

As shown in FIG. 6, the sectional shape of the reflector 7 is composed of a straight line portion 7 a which is the section of a plane provided at the point light sources 3 and a curve portion 7 b which is the portion of a parabola in which the axis of a parabola in which LED elements are focus is slanted by an angle ε against the straight line portion 7 a . Further, in the case that an angle at which luminance is the maximum among the direct light is set as φ _i (0°<φ _i <90°), the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the indirect light is lessened in comparison with the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the direct light, when the angle ε which is formed between the axis of a parabola and the straight line portion 7 a is ε<90°−φ _i . In particular, when ε is ε=90°−φ _i , the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the direct light coincides with the incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the indirect light.

Hereat, LEDs being the point light sources 3 control the directivity of the radiating light by sealing LED elements with a lens shaped resin. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when right rotation from an upper side perpendicular to the central axis of arrangement direction of the LED elements is referred to as positive and LEDs which have the light distribution in which luminance is the maximum when the angle of the radiating light from LEDs is at ±80° are used as the point light sources 3 , the angle ε which is formed between the axis of a parabola and the straight line portion 7 a is set as 10°. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, when left rotation from an upper side perpendicular to the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 which is viewed from the reflector side is set as positive, the light distribution of irradiating light for the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 has a sharp peak at an incident angle of 10° and the controllability by the refractive element 8 can be further improved. FIG. 6 is a partial section view of other reflector related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing the light distribution of irradiating lights against the irradiated plane of the refractive element when other reflector related to Embodiment 1 is used.

Further, when the angle ε which is formed between the axis of a parabola and the straight line portion 7 a is smaller than 10°, the light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is broadened and the controllability by the refractive element 8 is lowered, but since the indirect light is radiated from the refractive element 8 to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 in comparison with the direct light, effects for reducing the bright portion nearby the light source and improving the distribution of luminance can be obtained.

Further, a case that cold-cathode tubes and the like having no directivity are used as the light source (FIG. 8) is compared with a case that the point light sources having directivity are used as the light source (FIG. 7). Since the luminescent plane of the cold-cathode tubes is columnar, reflected lights are not adequately parallel and light which is not reflected on the reflector and reaches directly the irradiated plane 8 c has no directivity when the reflector that is composed of only a curve portion which is one portion of a parabola in which the axis of the parabola in which the central axis of the cold-cathode tubes is focus is slanted by an angle of 10° against the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 is used. Therefore, the light distribution is broadened. As shown in FIG. 3, the angle range of an incident angle relative to the irradiated plane 8 c is broad and the radiating light from the radiating plane 8 d of the refractive element 8 is also broadened against the radiating plane 8 d . Accordingly, light which reaches directly the scattering plate 2 from the refractive element 8 nearby the light source cannot be suppressed, and the bright portion nearby the light source cannot be reduced in comparison with a case that the point light sources having directivity are used as the light source. FIG. 8 is a view showing the light distribution of irradiating lights against the irradiated plane of the refractive element when a conventional light source having no directivity and other reflector related to Embodiment 1 is used.

Further, in Embodiment 1, the reflecting plate 5 which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 is used, but as shown in FIG. 9, the reflecting plate 5 may have the first slant portions 6 a in which a gap between the scattering plate 2 and the reflecting plate 5 is increased from the facing refractive element 8 to the center of the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 . Thereby, the incident angle of light at the first slant portions 5 a is enlarged in comparison with an incident angle at the reflecting plate which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 , and light which is reflected by the reflecting plate can be reflected far from the light source. FIG. 9 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the first slant portions at a reflecting plate. FIG. 10 is an illustration view for illustrating the relation of distances between the first slant portions and the refractive element. FIG. 11 is an illustration view showing the ratio of luminance of the central portion of a display surface to the peripheral portion of the display surface against the distances x of a flat portion.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is preferable to have the first slant portions 5 a , namely, to reduce the distances x (mm) at a flat portion from the second cristas 8 d of the refractive element 8 to the first slant portions 5 a in view of enhancing a ratio of the luminance at the central portion of a display face to the luminance of a display face peripheral portion nearby the light source.

In general, it is preferable that the luminance of the central portion of a display surface is high in comparison with the peripheral portion of the display surface, and when the distance x at a flat portion is 2.5 mm or less, it is preferable because the ratio of the luminance at the central portion of a display face to the luminance of a display face peripheral portion is 1 or more.

The first slant portions 5 a may be composed of a plurality of slant planes so that an angle which is formed with the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 approaches stepwise to 0° from the facing refractive element 8 to the center of the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 , and they may be formed by a curved surface. Thereby, the distribution of luminance can be more accurately controlled in comparison with a case that the first slant portions 5 a are formed by a single slant plane.

In Embodiment 1, a normal reflecting material having a function of normally reflecting light is used as the reflecting plate 5 , but as shown in FIG. 12, a scattering reflection portion 9 may be provided by providing those which are obtained by roughening the surface of a portion of the normal reflecting material of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 along the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 , or by coating a white resin sheet or a metal plate in white at the portion of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 , along the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 . FIG. 12 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has a scattering reflection portion at the reflecting plate.

Even if the angle of light against the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 is nearly horizontal, the scattering reflection portion 9 can disarrange the propagation direction of light by scattering light which is irradiated on the scattering reflection portion 9 , and can reflect it to the scattering plate 2 side. In particular, since the scattering reflection portion 9 is situated at the center of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 , the luminance of the central portion of display can be preferably enhanced. Further, the reflection coefficient of the scattering reflection portion is preferably 90% or more for suppressing reflection loss at the reflection plane.

As shown in FIG. 12, irradiating light in which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is refracted by the refractive element 8 , the horizontal distance to the center O of the opening 1 d of the housing 1 on the basis of a position S at which the light is radiated from the radiating plane 8 e is referred to as L, and a vertical distance from the center O of the opening 1 d of the housing 1 to the reflecting plate 5 which is arranged at the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 is referred to as d. Hereat, radiating light which is radiated from the position S can be firstly reflected on the reflecting plate 5 at the center of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 by satisfying the following formula (5), and it is preferable because the luminance of the central portion of display surface can be enhanced in comparison with the surrounding of the point light sources.

$\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}{\mathrm{Tan}}^{-1}\left(d/L\right)=\gamma \\ ={\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(180°-{\theta }_1-{\theta }_2-{\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(\left(1/n\right)\times \mathrm{Sin}{\varphi }_i\right)\right)\right)-\\ 90°+{\theta }_2\end{array}& \left(5\right)\end{array}$

Further, in Embodiment 1, the reflecting plate 5 which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 is used, but as shown in FIG. 13, the reflecting plate 5 may have the second slant portions 5 b in which a gap between the scattering plate 2 and the reflecting plate 5 is decreased from the facing refractive element 8 to the center of the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 . Further, it may be a composition that the second slant portions 5 b are linked at the center of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 . FIG. 13 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the second slant portions 5 b at the reflecting plate. FIG. 14 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 which has the second slant portions 5 b and a scattering reflection portion 9 at the reflecting plate.

Even if the angle of light against the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 is nearly horizontal, the second slant portions 5 b can obtain an adequate reflection angle for reflecting light which is irradiated on the second slant portions 5 b , to the scattering plate 2 side. In particular, since it has the second slant portions 5 b at the center of the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 , the luminance of the central portion of display can be preferably enhanced. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the second slant portions 5 b have the scattering reflection portion 9 .

The second slant portions 5 b may be composed of a plurality of slant planes or of a curved surface so that an angle which is formed with the bottom face 1 d of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 is enlarged stepwise from the facing refractive element 8 to the center of the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 . Thereby, the distribution of luminance can be more accurately controlled in comparison with a case that the second slant portions 5 b are formed by a single slant plane.

Further, in Embodiment 1, a plane 15 which is vertical to the central axis 14 of the point light sources 3 is in parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 , but as shown in FIG. 18, the substrate 4 of the point light sources may be provided so as to be slanted to the hollow space side against the scattering plate 2 so that an angle of ζ is formed between the plane 15 which is vertical to the central axis 14 of the point light sources 3 and the scattering plate 2 . FIG. 18 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the substrate of point light sources is slanted by an angle of ζ against the scattering plate.

Thus, light which is radiated from the point light sources 3 and reaches the refractive element 8 is slanted to the bottom face side by the angle of ζ by slanting the substrate 4 of the point light sources by the angle of ζ to the hollow space side against the scattering plate 2 in comparison with a case that the substrate 4 of the point light sources is provided in parallel to the scattering plate 2 . Consequently, the light which is refracted and radiated at the refractive element 8 is also slanted to the bottom face side by the angle of ζ, the bright portion nearby the light source is further reduced and the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the reflector 7 and the refractive element 8 may be obliquely arranged in accordance with the slant of the substrate 4 of the point light sources, and the uniformity of luminance and chromaticity can be improved in the same manner as the planar light source device shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 19 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the substrate of point light sources and the refractive element are slanted by an angle of ζ against the scattering plate.

In Embodiment 1, although the edge at the hollow space 6 side of the top face of the reflector 7 is not extended to the opening portion 1 d of the housing 1 , the edge 7 b of the reflector 7 may be extended to the hollow space 6 side than the edge 17 a of the effective display zone 17 as shown in FIG. 23. In this case, space is provided between the top face 7 a of the reflector 7 and the top face 1 a of the housing 1 and the second reflectors 16 for reflecting light from the hollow space 6 side to the hollow space 6 are provided in the space. Hereat, the effective display zone 17 is a zone in which light from the planar light source device among the display portion which is not illustrated is irradiated, and is a display zone which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape in the case of the liquid crystal display elements. FIG. 23 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the edge of a reflector is extended to an effective display zone.

Although radiating lights with a wide range exist from the point light sources 3 , the direction of the radiating lights is adjusted by the reflector 7 and they are radiated from the opening portion of the reflector 7 to the hollow space 6 through the refractive element 8 . Hereat, the size of the opening portion of the reflector 7 is limited by broadening the gap between the top face 7 a of the reflector 7 and the top face 1 a of the housing 1 , and the maximum value of the angle of ζ of light which reaches from the point light sources 3 to the scattering plate 2 is also limited. When the angle of ζ is reduced, light which reaches the scattering plate 2 is separated from the point light sources 3 , the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source can be improved.

By providing the second reflectors 16 in the gap between the top face 7 a of the reflector 7 and the top face 1 a of the housing 1 , light which would reach the gap from the hollow space 6 side is reflected to the hollow space 6 side, and the utilization efficiency of light can be enhanced.

Since the second reflectors 16 is formed in such a manner that its reflection plane is slanted to the hollow space 6 side from the top face 7 a of the reflector 7 to the top face 1 a of the housing 1 , the light from the hollow space 6 side can be reflected on the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source can be preferably improved.

The second reflectors 16 comprise preferably a material having a reflection coefficient of 90% or more such as a metal plate having a reflecting layer which is formed by aluminum or silver, or a white sheet made of a resin, in the same manner as the reflector 7 .

Since the edge 7 b of the reflector 7 is extended to the hollow space 6 side than the edge 17 a of the effective display zone 17 , the maximum value of the angle of ζ of light which reaches directly from the point light sources 3 to the scattering plate 2 is further reduced and the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, thereby the bright portion nearby the light source can be improved.

Since the edge 7 b of the reflector 7 exists extendedly in the effective display zone 17 , there is a concern that the shade of the reflector 7 is generated at the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source, but the edge 7 b of the reflector 7 being objective is stored in a zone at the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 than a zone which combines the point light sources 3 at the edge 7 b side which faces the objective edge 7 b with a tangential line which is formed between the edge 17 a of the effective display zone 17 at the objective edge 7 b side and the rear face 2 a of the scattering plate 2 , in the hollow space 6 . Since light from the point light sources 3 at the edge 7 b side which faces the objective edge 7 b can reach the portion of the scattering plate 2 which should be the shade by the objective edge 7 b , thereby the good distribution of luminance without the unevenness of contrasting can be obtained.

Thus, since the light from the point light sources 3 is refracted by the refractive element 8 to the reflecting plate 5 and light which reaches directly nearby the light source of the scattering plate 2 from the refractive element 8 can be reflected on the top face 7 a of the reflector 7 , the light which reaches directly nearby the light source of the scattering plate 2 is further effectively reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source can be improved. In FIG. 23, the bottom face of the refractive element 8 is slanted along the first slant portion 5 a of the reflecting plate 5 . Since the refractive element 8 is made as such shape, light which is reflected on the bottom face of the refractive element 8 can reach the scattering plate 2 at a position separated from the light source.

In FIG. 23, the reflector 7 and the second reflectors 16 are composed of different members, but the number of members is decreased and the workability of assembling can be improved by integrally forming the reflector 7 and the second reflectors 16 with the same member.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 15( a ) and 15 ( b ), since light shielding patterns 10 by which the transmitting quantity of light is increased in accordance with separation from the point light sources 3 nearby the refractive element 8 are provided on the scattering plate 2 , the portion of light which is irradiated on the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reflected; therefore the bright portion nearby the light source is preferably reduced. The light shielding patterns 10 are formed by white dot printing or by deposition of such as silver or aluminum, and a reflection function is imparted to the scattering plate 2 . FIG. 15( a ) is a side view of other scattering plate related to Embodiment 1 and FIG. 15( b ) is a plan view of other scattering plate related to Embodiment 1.

In Embodiment 1, the substrate 4 of the point light sources in which the plurality of point light sources 3 are mounted is provided in parallel along two facing side planes 1 c of the housing 1 , but when adequate luminance is obtained, the point light sources 3 may be arranged along the one side plane 1 c among the four side planes 1 c of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 16. In this case, the reflecting plate 5 has a curved surface which decreases the gap between the reflecting plate 5 and the scattering plate 2 from the point light sources 3 to the reverse light source side so that luminance of the display is uniform. FIG. 16 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the point light sources are provided only at one side of the housing.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 20, the reflecting plate 5 has the first slant portion 5 a in which the gap between the reflecting plate 5 and the scattering plate 2 is increased from the point light sources 3 to the reverse light source side, and a curved surface in which the gap between the reflecting plate 5 and the scattering plate 2 is decreased from the point light sources 3 to the reverse light source side. FIG. 20 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the reflecting plate providing the point light sources 3 only at one side face of the housing has the first slant portion.

In Embodiment 1, a square pole whose section is trapezoidal is used as the refractive element 8 , but it is not limited to the trapezoidal shape so far as radiating lights from the refractive element by the irradiating light with an incident angle in which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the refractive element can be refracted to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 .

Hereat, when the upper part of the page of FIGS. 17( a ) to 17 ( d ) is set as the top face 1 a side of the housing 1 and the left side is set as the point light sources 3 side, the refractive element 8 is a trapezoidal shape in which the lower side of the section of the refractive element 8 is longer than the upper side, for example, as shown in FIG. 17( a ), and the irradiated plane and the radiating plane are an oblique shape together; therefore surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased, the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source and the unevenness of colors can be reduced. Further, the irradiated plane is slanted to a right side against the lower side and surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased; therefore the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity of the radiating light from the refractive element 8 in the arrangement direction of the point light sources 3 can be further reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17( b ), since the irradiated plane and the radiating plane are composed by a curved surface for the section shape of the refractive element 8 , it is possible to accurately control the section shape in accordance with the angle of light which is irradiated to the refractive element. For example, since the higher the incident position of the irradiating light to the refractive element 8 is, the larger the incident angle from the point light sources 3 is, it is desirable that the slant angle θ ₁ of the irradiated plane and the slant angle θ ₂ of the radiating plane are reduced, and it is desirable to set a curve in which the higher the incident position is, the smaller the tangential angle of a curved surface which carries out action equivalent to the slant angles of θ ₁ and θ ₂ is. The refractive element 8 is ideally a columnar lens which provides the image of the point light sources 3 at the lower portion of center of the hollow space 6 .

As shown in FIG. 17( c ), the refractive element 8 is a trapezoidal shape in which the lower side of the section of the refractive element 8 is longer than the upper side, the irradiated plane is slanted and the radiating plane is a shape vertical to the lower side; therefore surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased, the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source and the unevenness of colors can be reduced. Further, the irradiated plane is slanted to a right side against the lower side and the surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased; therefore the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity of the radiating light from the refractive element 8 in the arrangement direction of the point light sources 3 can be further reduced. Further, when light which is reflected by the bottom face 8 a of the refractive element 8 or the reflector at the bottom face 8 a side among the light irradiated on the irradiated plane is irradiated on the radiating plane, an incident angle for the irradiated plane is large in comparison with a case that the irradiated plane is slanted against the lower side, and total reflection on the irradiated plane occurs easily. Thereby, the radiating light from the scattering plate nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source and the unevenness of colors can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 17( d ), the refractive element 8 is a pentagonal shape in which the lower side of the section of the refractive element 8 is longer than the upper side and about parallel, and is a composition in which the irradiated plane is slanted and the radiating plane are the first planes vertical to the lower side and the second planes slanted to the lower side. According to the shape, surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased, and light which is radiated from the second planes of the radiating plane among lights parallel to the bottom face of the refractive element 8 which passes in the refractive element 8 is large in a radiation angle to the bottom face side on the radiation surface in comparison with light which is radiated from the first plane. Consequently, the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source and the unevenness of colors can be reduced.

Thus, it is preferable that the shape of the refractive element is selected by the directivity of the point light sources and a refractive index ratio of the refractive element to a peripheral medium surrounding the refractive element. FIGS. 17( a ) to 17 ( d ) are partial section views of other refractive element related to Embodiment 1.

Hereat, FIG. 21( a ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element is not provided, FIG. 21( b ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element having a shape shown in FIG. 2 is provided, and FIG. 21( c ) is a luminance distribution chart in the partial section view of the II-II line of the planar light source device shown in FIG. 1 when the refractive element having a shape shown in FIG. 17( c ) is provided. When FIG. 21( a ) is compared with FIG. 21( b ) or 21 ( c ), it is grasped that the bright portion nearby the point light sources 3 is remarkably reduced by using the refractive element 8 . When FIG. 21( b ) is compared with FIG. 21( c ), it is grasped that the bright portion nearby the point light sources 3 is further reduced by making a shape that the irradiated plane 8 c of the refractive element 8 is slanted to the hollow space 6 side from the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 to the top face 1 a . Further, when the refractive element 8 is not used, the unevenness of colors is observed nearby the point light sources 3 , but when the refractive element 8 with a shape shown in FIG. 2 is used, the unevenness of colors is considerably reduced and when the refractive element 8 with a shape shown in FIG. 17( c ) are used, the unevenness of colors is not observed.

Further, the refractive element 8 is prepared by molding and the like, and when the length of the refractive element 8 is long, warpage and shrinkage are enlarged; therefore the refractive element 8 may be divided into several parts so as to cross the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 . For example, as shown in FIG. 22( a ), it may be divided by a plane vertical to the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 . Further, as shown in FIG. 22( b ), it may be divided by a plane oblique to the direction of length hand of the refractive element 8 . Further, as shown in FIG. 22( c ), it may be divided so that the section of the refractive element 8 is formed by a plurality of faces.

However, when space is generated between respective divided faces of the divided refractive elements 8 , light which passes the space without being irradiated once in the refractive element 8 and reaches the hollow space 6 exists among light from the point light sources 3 in the division of the refractive element 8 as shown in FIG. 22( a ) or 22 ( b ); therefore it is preferable that the refractive element 8 is divided as shown in FIG. 22( c ). FIG. 22( a ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing the refractive element with a plane perpendicular to the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ), FIG. 22( b ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing the refractive element with a plane oblique to the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ), and FIG. 22( c ) is an illustration view for illustrating a case of dividing so that the section of the direction of length hand of the refractive element shown in FIG. 17( a ) is formed with a plurality of planes.

In the above illustration, the point light sources 3 are provided on the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 along the side face 1 c side of the housing 1 , but they are not limited to this arrangement. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, they may be provided at the side face 1 c side of the housing 1 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 25, it is preferable that the point light sources 3 has light distribution property that the light distribution to a direction providing the point light sources 3 is broad and directivity is a direction vertical to a direction providing the point light sources 3 and high in the central axis of LED. Since the light distribution of the point light sources 3 to a provision direction is broad, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity caused by the studded point light sources 3 can be reduced. Further, since directivity is high to a direction vertical to a direction providing the point light sources 3 , the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the point light sources 3 can be reduced in good controllability by the refractive element. FIG. 24 is a partial section view of other planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 in which the point light sources are provided at the side face of the housing. FIG. 25 is a chart showing the light distribution of radiating light from other LED which is used as the point light sources related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Further, the point light sources 3 are provided along the short side of the housing 1 , but it may be provided at the long side of the housing 1 .

As described above, according to the planar light source device related to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the refractive element 8 which is extended to the arrangement direction of the plurality of point light sources 3 between the point light sources 3 and the hollow space 6 refracts light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating light for the irradiated plane of the refractive element 8 , to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 . More preferably, since most of lights among the radiating light from the refractive element 8 can be radiated to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 by refracting light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the irradiated plane of the refractive element 8 , to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 , luminance nearby the point light sources is not heightened in comparison with luminance at a position far from the point light sources and the unevenness of luminance on a display surface can be suppressed.

EMBODIMENT 2

FIG. 26 is a partial section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIGS. 27( a ) to 27 ( c ) are partial section views of other refractive element related to Embodiment 2. In FIG. 26, the same numerals as FIGS. 1 to 25 show the same portions or equivalent portions, and their illustration is abbreviated. The refractive element 11 has the bottom face 11 a which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 , the irradiated plane 11 c which forms a fixed oblique angle θ _i at the reverse side from the first crista 11 b to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the parallel bottom face 11 a which passes the first crista 11 b of the bottom face 11 a in the point light sources 3 side, a plurality of faces 11 g which are nearly parallel to the bottom face 11 a , the radiating planes 11 e which form a fixed oblique angle θ ₂ at the reverse side from the cristas 11 d to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the parallel bottom faces 11 g which pass the respective cristas 11 d of a plurality of parallel planes 11 g , and the facing planes 11 f which face the bottom face 11 a in parallel. It is only different from Embodiment 1 in that the refractive element 11 is composed of a plurality of parallel planes 11 g and the radiating planes 11 e . It exhibits the similar action effect as Embodiment 1 other than the action effect according to the refractive element 11 which is described later.

In Embodiment 1, since it is composed of the refractive element 8 being a single prism as FIG. 2, the thickness of the refractive element 8 is thickened when a small oblique angle θ ₂ is required, and miniaturization and weight saving are difficult. However, in Embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 26, since the refractive element 11 is a composition having a prism array in which a lot of prisms are repeatedly arranged, the refractive element 11 can be thinned, and miniaturization and weight saving can be achieved as a device.

In Embodiment 2, when light from the point light sources 3 is irradiated on the planes 11 g parallel to the refractive element 11 , it is radiated to a direction different from a case that it is irradiated on the radiating plane 11 e ; therefore it becomes loss. In order to suppress the loss to a small level, the area of the radiating plane 11 e is enlarged so as to reduce light which is irradiated on the parallel planes 11 g . Namely, the parallel planes 11 g has an angle which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing or the bottom face 11 a side of the refractive element 11 .

Further, in Embodiment 2, the respective radiating planes 11 e of the refractive element 11 are composed of planes in which the oblique angle θ ₂ coincided, but it is not limited to the shape so far as the radiating light from the refractive element 11 by the irradiating light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights for the refractive element 11 can be refracted to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 .

Hereat, when the upper part of the page of FIGS. 27( a ) to 27 ( c ) is set as the top face 1 a side of the housing 1 and the left side is set as the point light sources 3 side, the direction of the radiating light can be more accurately controlled in accordance with the irradiation light to the refractive element 11 by having a curved surface in which the oblique angle θ ₂ is changed to the radiating plane side, as shown in FIG. 27( a ).

As shown in FIG. 27( b ), the refractive element 11 can independently control the direction of the radiating light against the irradiating light at the top face 1 a side and the irradiating light at the bottom face 1 b side by arranging a shape in which the oblique angle θ ₂ of the radiating plane is gradually enlarged from the top face 1 a to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 ; therefore the radiating light can be more accurately controlled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 27( c ), surface reflection on the irradiated plane is increased by making a shape in which the irradiated plane side in FIG. 27( a ) is slanted, the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 nearby the light source is reduced, and the bright portion nearby the light source and the unevenness of colors can be reduced. Further, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of chromaticity of the radiating light from the refractive element 11 in the arrangement direction of the point light sources 3 can be further reduced by increasing surface reflection on the irradiated plane.

Thus, it is preferable that the shape of the refractive element is selected by the directivity of the point light sources and a refractive index ratio of the refractive element to a peripheral medium surrounding the refractive element.

EMBODIMENT 3

FIG. 28 is a partial section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIGS. 29( a ) and 29 ( b ) are evolution charts showing the refractive element related to Embodiment 3, FIG. 29( a ) is a top view viewed from the top face side of the housing, and FIG. 29( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side. FIG. 30 is an illustration view showing a light path possibly occurring when light transmitting in the refractive element is totally reflected on a radiating plane. In FIGS. 28 to 30, the same numerals as FIGS. 1 to 27( c ) show the same portions or equivalent portions, and their illustration is abbreviated.

The refractive element 12 has the bottom face 12 a which is nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 or the scattering plate 2 , the irradiated plane 12 c which forms a fixed oblique angle θ ₁ at the reverse side from the first crista 12 b to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the bottom face 12 a which passes the first crista 12 b of the bottom face 12 a to the point light sources 3 side, a plurality of faces 12 g which are parallel to the bottom face 12 a , the radiating plane 12 e which forms a fixed oblique angle θ ₂ at the reverse side from the cristas 12 d to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 against the parallel bottom faces 12 g which pass the respective cristas 12 d of a plurality of parallel planes 12 g , and the facing planes 12 f which face the bottom face 12 a in parallel. Further, the irradiated plane 12 c of the refractive element 12 has concave portions 12 h which are extended to the thickness direction of the housing 1 . In Embodiment 3, the concave portions 12 h are composed by combining 2 planes, and the convex portions with an apex angle θ ₃ (0°<θ ₃ <180°) are formed by the adjacent concave portions 12 h.

Embodiment 3 is different from Embodiments 1 and 2 only in a point that the refractive element 12 has the concave portions 12 h which are extended to the thickness direction of the housing 1 . It exhibits the similar action effect as Embodiments 1 and 2 other than the action effect according to the concave portions 12 h of the refractive element 12 described later.

In Embodiment 3, as shown in FIGS. 29( a ) and 29 ( b ), since the concave portions 12 h which are extended to the thickness direction of the housing 1 are formed on the irradiated plane 12 c of the refractive element 12 at the light source side, the aggregate of light from the plurality of point light sources 3 which are discrete against the whole irradiated plane 12 c is spread to the direction of length hand inside the refractive element 12 for light irradiated on the irradiated plane 12 c ; therefore the unevenness of contrasting in the whole radiating plane of the refractive element 12 can be reduced. Since monochromatic lights comprising red, green and blue colors can be mixed, the generation of the unevenness of colors can be suppressed.

Hereat, when the refractive index of the refractive element 12 is set as n (n is larger than the refractive index 1 of air), an apex angle which is formed by the adjacent concave portions 12 h of the refractive element 12 is set as θ ₃ (0°<θ ₃ <180°) and an incident angle from the point light sources 3 to the irradiated plane 12 c of the refractive element 12 is set as φ ₂ (−90°<φ ₂ <90°), it is preferable to satisfy the following inequality (6) in order to prevent loss by the total reflection in the radiating plane 12 e of the refractive element 12 .

$\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}1>n\times \mathrm{Sin}{\beta }_1=n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(90°-{\theta }_3/2-\alpha \right)\\ =n\times \mathrm{Sin}\left(90°-{\theta }_3/2-{\mathrm{Sin}}^{-1}\left(\left(1/n\right)\times \mathrm{Sin}{\varphi }_2\right)\right))\end{array}& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

Further, in Embodiment 3, the refractive element 12 is composed by combination of 2 planes by the concave portions 12 h and composed by forming the convex portions with apex angles θ ₃ (0°<θ ₃ <180°) by the adjacent concave portions 12 h , but it is not limited to the shape so far as light irradiated the irradiated plane 12 c can be spread inside the refractive element 12 in a direction of length hand.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 31( a ) to 31 ( c ), since the concave portion is a curved surface which forms a concave lens and the convex portion of an apex angle is formed by adjacent concave portions, the refractive angle can be adjusted by the position of the concave portions and can be more accurately controlled. FIGS. 31( a ) to ( c ) are evolution charts showing other refractive element related to Embodiment 3, FIG. 31( a ) is a top view viewed from the top face side of the housing, FIG. 31( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side, and FIG. 31( c ) is a side view viewed from the direction of length hand of the refractive element.

Further, the direction of length hand of the refractive element may be broaden by pasting a sheet which has an anisotropic scattering function in which scattering degree to a direction of length hand of a prism sheet and the refractive element whose concave portion is extended to the thickness direction of the housing is larger in comparison with the scattering degree to a short direction, on the irradiated plane or the radiating plane of the refractive element.

Thus, it is preferable that the shape of the refractive element is selected by the directivity of the point light sources and a refractive index ratio of the refractive element to a peripheral medium surrounding the refractive element.

EMBODIMENT 4

FIG. 32 is a section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIGS. 33( a ) and 33 ( b ) are illustration views for illustrating action of the refractive element, FIG. 33( a ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element related to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 33( b ) is a magnified view nearby the refractive element of FIG. 17( a ). In FIGS. 32 to 33( b ), the same numerals as FIGS. 1 to 31( c ) show the same portions or equivalent portions, and their illustration is abbreviated. Embodiment 4 is different from Embodiment 1 only in a point that the shape of the refractive element 48 described later and the bottom face 48 a of the refractive element 48 are a rough surface, and it exhibits the similar action effect as Embodiment 1 other than the action effect according to the refractive element 48 .

The refractive element 48 in Embodiment 4 has the bottom faces 48 a which are provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of point light sources 3 between the point light sources 3 and the hollow space 6 , and are nearly parallel to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 , the facing portions 48 f which face the bottom faces 48 a in parallel, the irradiated plane 48 c which is brought in contact with the facing portions 48 f and the bottom faces 48 a and slanted to the hollow space 6 , and the radiating plane 48 e which is brought in contact with the facing portions 48 f and the bottom faces 48 a and slanted to the point light sources 3 . Further, the bottom faces 48 a are rough faces on which fine unevenness is provided as a light scattering means. Further, the refractive element 48 is prepared with a transparent resin such as acryl or glass.

The refractive element 48 refracts and radiates light which is irradiated directly from the point light sources 3 or through the reflector 7 , to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 . Further, it is preferable to adjust the slant of the irradiated plane 48 c and the radiating plane 48 e so as to refract and radiate light with an incident angle at which luminance is the maximum among the irradiating light on the irradiated plane 48 c , from the opening portion 1 d side of the housing 1 to the bottom face 1 b side.

In Embodiment 4, as shown in FIG. 33( a ), since the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 are rough surfaces, light which reaches the bottom face of the refractive element 108 to be reflected and is radiated from the scattering plate 2 nearby the point light sources 3 can be broadened as FIG. 17( a ) which is shown in FIG. 33( b ), and the unevenness of luminance of the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 can be improved. Further, since light is also broadened to the direction of length hand of the refractive element 48 by being scattered and reflected on the bottom faces 48 a , the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of colors originated in that the point light sources 3 are discretely arranged can be also improved. Further, the portion of light is radiated from the bottom faces 48 a , but is reflected by the reflector 7 and returns again to the inside of the refractive element 48 to be utilized.

In Embodiment 4, the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 are rough surfaces as an optical scattering means, but the present invention is not limited to this arrangement.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 34( a ) and 34 ( b ), the broadening of light reflected on the bottom faces 48 a to the direction of length hand of the refractive element can be selectively controlled by forming grooves which are extended to a horizontal direction of the refractive element 48 on the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 . Consequently, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of colors originated in that the point light sources 3 are discretely arranged can be also improved. FIG. 34( a ) is a section view of refractive element related to Embodiment 4 and FIG. 34( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side of other refractive element related to Embodiment 4.

As shown in FIGS. 35( a ) and 35 ( b ), the broadening of light reflected on the bottom faces 48 a to the horizontal direction of the refractive element can be selectively controlled by forming grooves which are extended to the direction of length hand of the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 . Consequently, it can be mitigated that luminance is heightened nearby the point light sources 3 and the unevenness of luminance can be improved. FIG. 35( a ) is a section view of refractive element and FIG. 35( b ) is a frontal view viewed from the hollow space side of refractive element.

As the light scattering means, a scattering reflection sheet such as a scattering sheet and a white sheet can be pasted on the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 . Further, an anisotropic scattering sheet in which scattering degree is different to an orthogonal direction can be pasted. The broadening of light to the direction of length hand and the horizontal direction of the refractive element can be independently controlled by using the anisotropic scattering sheet and the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of colors nearby light injection can be effectively improved.

In Embodiment 4, the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of colors nearby light injection are improved by providing the light scattering means on the bottom faces 48 a of the refractive element 48 , but in the present invention, the shape of the refractive element is not limited to this arrangement, and the unevenness of luminance and the unevenness of colors of the radiating light from the scattering plate 2 can be further improved by the effect shown in Embodiments 1 to 3 and the effect of Embodiment 4, by providing the light scattering means on the bottom faces of the refractive element having shapes which are shown in Embodiments 1 to 3.

In the Embodiments illustrated above, although the substrate 4 of the point light sources on which the plurality of point light sources 3 are provided in parallel along the 2 facing side planes 1 c of the housing 1 , the point light sources 3 can be provided along the one side face 1 c among the 4 side planes 1 c of the housing 1 if adequate luminance is obtained. If luminance is insufficient, the point light sources 3 may be provided along 3 or 4 of the side planes 1 c.

In the Embodiments illustrated above, a regularly reflecting material which has a function of regularly reflecting light is used as the reflecting plate 5 , but those which are obtained by roughening the portion of surface of the regularly reflecting material, or those in which a white resin sheet or a scattering reflecting portion coating a white color on a metal plate is provided on the portion of the reflecting plate can be also used. In particular, the luminance of a position separated from the point light sources 3 can be heightened by providing the scattering reflecting portion at a position separated from the point light sources 3 such as nearby the center of the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 .

EMBODIMENT 5

FIG. 36 is a partial section view of the planar light source device related to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In FIG. 36, the same numerals as FIGS. 1 to 35 show the same portions or equivalent portions, and their illustration is abbreviated. The refractive element 13 has at least one side plane 13 d which connects the irradiated plane 13 a with the radiating plane 13 b and the side plane 13 d reflects totally the irradiating light from the point light sources 3 to the refractive element 13 . In particular, when LEDs having the light distribution in which luminance is the maximum in an adequate angle for the central axis of LEDs as shown in FIG. 5 are used as the point light sources 3 , the side plane 13 d preferably reflects totally light to a direction at which luminance is the maximum among light distribution of irradiating lights from the point light sources 3 to the refractive element 13 . Further, when LEDs having the light distribution in which luminance is the maximum in the central axis of LEDs as shown in FIG. 25 are used as the point light sources 3 , light to a direction at which luminance is the maximum among the light distribution of irradiating lights from the point light sources 3 to the refractive element 13 reaches the radiating plane 13 b without being irradiated on the side plane 13 d.

The side faces of the refractive element 13 in Embodiment 5 is composed of 2 facing planes 13 c which are parallel for the side planes 1 c of the housing 1 vertical to the direction of length hand of the refractive element 13 and 2 facing curved planes 13 d which connect 2 facing planes.

The irradiated plane 13 a is a semispherical shape which surrounds LEDs matching with the lens shape of a resin sealing the LED elements so that lights to all directions from LEDs being the point light sources 3 are irradiated nearly perpendicular to the irradiated plane 13 a . Thereby, an incident angle at the irradiated plane 13 a can be reduced (vertical incidence), and light irradiated on the irradiated plane 13 a can be efficiently irradiated on the curved surfaces 13 d or the radiating plane 13 b.

Since the radiating plane 13 b of the refractive element 13 is a curved surface and a shape in which the slant of the tangential line of the curved surface is gradually enlarged relative to the bottom face 1 b of the housing 1 from the top face 1 a of the housing 1 to the bottom face 1 b , light radiated from any position of the radiating plane 13 b reaches the lower portion of center of the hollow space 6 , namely a far position at a reverse light source side.

Further, Embodiment 5 is different from Embodiments 1 to 3 only in a point that the side planes 13 d of the refractive element 13 which totally reflects the irradiating light from the point light sources 3 to the refractive element 13 are provided, and it exhibits the similar action effect as Embodiments 1 to 3 other than the action effect according to the side faces of the refractive element 13 described below.

In Embodiment 5, the directivity of light is efficiently adjusted without radiating light from the side faces to the outside of the refractive element 13 by totally reflecting light on the curved surfaces 13 d being the side planes of the refractive element 13 , and the direction of light is refracted to the bottom face 1 b side of the housing 1 on the radiating plane 13 d to be radiated; therefore the bright portion nearby the light source can be reduced.

In Embodiment 5, the refractive element 13 is composed of 2 facing planes 13 c which are parallel to the side planes