JP2006172785A - Surface light emitting device and light guide plate for surface light emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain even luminescence by reducing the luminance irregularity of a light guide plate even in the case of using one light source and to improve light extracting efficiency by reducing leaking light near the interface of the light source and the light guide plate. <P>SOLUTION: The surface light emitting device is equipped with the light source arranged to face an end face which is one of corners of the main face of the light guide plate and approximately orthogonal to the main face of the light guide plate. The corner part arranged with the light source of the light guide plate is chamfered and regarded as a light source arrange face 23 and a predetermined area in a light emission face 21 of the light guide plate is regarded as a light emission area 24. To increase a light emission component toward the light emission area 24, at least one of side faces of two edges across the light source arrange face 23 of the light guide plate is formed as a curved face continuously inclined so that the more an inclination angle is apart from the light source arrange face 23, the larger the inclination angle becomes. Thus, the component reflected toward the center side of the light emission face 21 can be increased as the distance from the light source arrange face 23 becomes longer and efficient light emission can be obtained even by a small number of light sources. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface light-emitting device and a light guide plate for a surface light-emitting device for spreading and outputting light from a light source over the entire light-emitting surface.

  In recent years, light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs), which are point light sources, are surfaced by light guide plates or reflective housings as light sources that emit light in the form of planes such as backlights and emergency lights for liquid crystal displays. The one spread in the shape is used. More specifically, light from a bullet-type or SMD-type (surface mount type) light-emitting diode in which an LED chip is arranged on a lead frame and sealed with a mold resin is introduced from the end face of the light guide plate, and the direction perpendicular to the end face A surface light emitting device that emits light in a planar shape from the main surface of the surface is often used. This surface light emitting device is configured to allow light from a plurality of light emitting diodes to enter from one end surface of a light guide plate having opposing main surfaces, and to emit light from the entire one main surface of the light guide plate.

  An example of such a surface light-emitting device is shown in the plan view of FIG. 1 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. The surface light emitting devices shown in these drawings use the LED 1 as a light source of a backlight of a liquid crystal display. In order to introduce the light from the LED 1 into the plate-like transparent member that is the light guide plate 2, the LED 1 is optically connected to the end face of the plate-like transparent member. Further, except for the end face to which the LED 1 is connected and the light extraction surface, the LED 1 disposed on the light guide plate 2 and the mounting substrate 3 is a housing that serves as a reflection plate made of a resin to which aluminum, silver, white pigment or the like is added. The surface light emitting device is configured by covering with the body 4. In particular, by combining a blue LED chip and a phosphor that absorbs blue light emitted from the blue LED chip and converts it into yellow, and using the LED 1 that can emit mixed color light such as white, as a light source. It can be used as a surface light emitting device capable of emitting various emission colors. Such surface light emitting devices are rapidly spreading as liquid crystal backlights for mobile phones. In addition, a full color expression including white light as a complementary color can be obtained by using a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, and a red LED chip.

In order to increase the amount of light with such a backlight, a plurality of LEDs are arranged. On the other hand, there is a demand for downsizing, thinning, and low power consumption of the backlight light source, and there is a tendency to reduce the number of LEDs used with higher output and higher brightness of LEDs. In a configuration in which one LED is used, a configuration in which the LED is arranged at a corner of the light guide plate in order to make light emission uniform may be employed. However, the directivity of the light from the LED is relatively strong because of its effective use. Therefore, at the present time when higher output and more stringent uniformity of LEDs are required in recent years, it is not sufficient to simply arrange the LEDs at the corners, and more uniform light emission over the entire surface of the light guide plate is required. ing.
JP-A-10-2223021

  On the other hand, in the thickness direction of the light guide plate, the end surface of the light guide plate 2 optically connected to the light source 1 is formed to have a thickness substantially equal to that of the light source 1 as shown in FIG. The light guide plate 2 as a whole needs to be mounted on the light emitting portion on the upper surface, and the thickness of the light guide plate 2 needs to be reduced to meet the demand for a thinner module. Conceivable. As a result, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, an inclined surface 2 </ b> B having a downward gradient from the end surface of the light guide plate 2 toward the center is formed. However, of the light emitted from the light source 1 toward the light guide plate 2, the component irradiated to the inclined surface 2 </ b> B passes through the light guide plate 2 because the incident angle becomes steeper as it approaches the light source 1 side. More ingredients. Light leaking from the vicinity of the end face of the light guide plate 2 cannot function as illumination light and becomes an ineffective component. For this reason, it is conceivable that the components that leak from the light guide plate 2 due to the inclined surface 2B and cannot be used effectively increase and the light extraction efficiency deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a surface light-emitting device and a light-emitting plate for a surface light-emitting device that can obtain uniform light emission by reducing luminance unevenness of the light-guide plate even when a small number of light sources are used. A second object of the present invention is to provide a surface light emitting device and a light guide plate for a surface light emitting device that reduce leakage light near the interface between the light source and the light guide plate and improve the light extraction efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, a surface light emitting device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a space formed therein, a first main surface disposed in the housing, and facing each other. A light guide plate having at least one main surface as a light emitting surface, the light emitting surface being substantially rectangular and having transparency, and any corner portion of the main surface of the light guide plate. And a single light source disposed so as to face an end surface substantially orthogonal to the main surface of the light guide plate. In this surface light-emitting device, the light source plate has a light source arrangement surface in which the corner where the light source is arranged is cut in a chamfered shape, and a predetermined area of the light emission surface of the light guide plate is a light emission area, and a light emission component toward the light emission area is In order to increase, at least one of the two sides sandwiching the light source arrangement surface of the light guide plate is formed into a curved surface formed such that the inclination angle increases as the distance from the light source arrangement surface increases. With this configuration, since the inclination of the curved surface increases as the distance from the light source arrangement surface increases, more components are reflected toward the center side of the light emitting surface, and as a result, an effect of compensating for insufficient luminance around the light emitting surface can be obtained. In addition, by aligning an object such as a liquid crystal panel placed on the surface light emitting device with the light emitting region, the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the side surface increases the component toward the light emitting region, thereby improving the luminance. Therefore, even a small number of light sources can efficiently emit light.

  In the surface light emitting device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the cross section of the light guide plate, the entire thickness of the light guide plate is made thinner than the thickness of the light source plate on which the light source is arranged. A horizontal plane extending in the horizontal direction from the end surface can be formed, and an inclined surface that continues from the edge of the horizontal plane to the thickness portion of the light guide plate formed thinner than the end surface can be formed. With this configuration, the light emitting surface of the light guide plate is formed with a horizontal plane from the light source arrangement surface and an inclined surface continuous from the horizontal plane to the light emission surface, so that leakage light from the light source in the vicinity of the light source arrangement surface can be reduced.

  Further, in the surface light emitting device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the horizontal plane is formed such that the width from the light source arrangement surface to the inclined surface on the light emission surface of the light guide plate becomes wider as the distance to the light source arrangement surface is closer. Has been. With this configuration, the ineffective component near the light source arrangement surface is reduced by the wide horizontal plane on the side closer to the light emitting area from the light source arrangement surface, while the ineffective component can be reduced by reflected light from the side surface on the side far from the light emitting area. Leakage light in both regions can be reduced to improve brightness and suppress uneven light emission.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the curved surface is formed on both sides of the light guide plate on which the light source is disposed, and each inclination angle is a distance from the side surface to the light emitting region. The closer it is, the sharper it is formed. With this configuration, the component of the light reflected from the side surface and traveling toward the light emitting region can be adjusted according to the distance from the side surface to the light emitting region, and a surface light emitting device with less light emission unevenness can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the light source is a light emitting diode. With this configuration, even a light emitting diode with strong directivity can efficiently emit light while suppressing uneven light emission in the light emitting region.

  Furthermore, the surface light-emitting device which concerns on the 6th side surface of this invention makes the main surface facing the light emission surface of a light-guide plate a reflective surface, and has arrange | positioned the reflective sheet in the reflective surface. With this configuration, light traveling through the light guide plate is reflected by the reflecting surface and is efficiently emitted from the light emitting surface, so that the light emitting efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, a surface light emitting device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a light guide plate having a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, wherein at least one main surface is a light emitting surface, And at least one light source optically connected to the end face of the light guide plate. In this surface light-emitting device, the light source is disposed at a corner sandwiched between the two sides of the light guide plate as viewed from the light emission observation surface side, which is the light emitting surface, and at least one of the two sides is continuously angled away from the light source. It has a part which becomes large. With this configuration, the light component of the light source is reflected more toward the center side of the light emitting surface due to a continuous angle change, and as a result, an effect of compensating for insufficient luminance around the light emitting surface can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the light source is an SMD type LED. With this configuration, even a light emitting diode with strong directivity can efficiently emit light while suppressing uneven light emission in the light emitting region.

  Furthermore, in the surface light emitting device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the first main surface of the light guide plate extends in the horizontal direction from the end surface of the light guide plate optically connected to the SMD type LED. A horizontal plane and an inclined plane that continues to a second substantially horizontal plane in which the thickness of the light guide plate is smaller than that of the first substantially horizontal plane. With this configuration, leakage light from the light source in the vicinity of the light source arrangement surface can be reduced.

  The light-emitting plate for a surface light-emitting device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention includes a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, and at least one main surface is used as a light-emitting surface. The surface is substantially rectangular and has transparency. In this surface light-emitting device light guide plate, one corner of the light guide plate is used as a light source arrangement surface for optically connecting to the light source of the surface light-emitting device, and a predetermined region of the light-emitting surface is a light-emitting region. And at least one of the two sides sandwiching the light source arrangement surface of the light guide plate is formed on a curved surface formed so that the inclination angle increases as the distance from the light source arrangement surface increases. ing. With this configuration, since the curved surface becomes larger as the distance from the light source arrangement surface increases, more components are reflected toward the center side of the light emitting surface, and as a result, an effect of compensating for insufficient luminance around the light emitting surface can be obtained.

  According to the surface light-emitting device and the light-guiding plate for the surface light-emitting device of the present invention, it is possible to suppress light emission unevenness even when a small number of light-emitting elements are used as a light source, and to improve luminance and efficiently use light emission. High-performance, high-quality surface light-emitting devices and surface light-emitting device light guide plates that are suitable for downsizing and thinning, and that can also meet the demands for uniform brightness and improved light-emitting luminance over the entire light-emitting surface. The

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a surface light emitting device and a light guide plate for the surface light emitting device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is for the surface light emitting device and the surface light emitting device. The light guide plate is not specified as follows. Further, the present specification by no means specifies the members shown in the claims to the members of the embodiments. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, and are merely explanations. It's just an example. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing.

FIG. 3 shows a surface light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3A is a plan view of the surface light emitting device, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the light guide plate. A surface light emitting device 100 shown in this figure includes a housing 40, a light guide plate 20 disposed inside the housing 40, and a light source 11 disposed at a corner of the light guide plate 20. In a state where the light guide plate 20 is optically connected to the substrate on which the light source 11 is mounted, the upper surface of the light guide plate 20 is the light emitting surface 21, the lower surface is the reflecting surface 22, and the light introduced from the light source 11 to the light guide plate 20 is the light emitting surface. 21 is emitted.
(Light guide plate 20)

The light guide plate 20 has a substantially flat plate shape having a first main surface and a second main surface. In this example, the first main surface is a light emitting surface 21 and the second main surface is a reflecting surface 22. A light source arrangement surface 23 for arranging the light source 11 can be provided at the corner of the light guide plate 20. In particular, in the configuration in which the light source is disposed only at one place, when the light source is disposed at the center portion of one of the end surfaces of the rectangular light guide plate, less light is transmitted to the corner of the end surface where the light source is disposed due to the directivity of the light source. This area tends to be dark. For this reason, it is possible to further contribute to uniform light emission by arranging one light source so as to be directed from the corner to the corner on the diagonal line. In particular, when a light emitting element having strong directivity such as an LED is used as the light source, the arrangement at the corner is preferable. The light source arrangement surface 23 can be shaped so as to be chamfered by cutting the apex portion. The light source 11 is disposed so as to face the light source arrangement surface 23 and optically joined to form an incident end surface of light. In addition, the light source arrangement surface 23 can arrange | position SMD type | mold LED and a bullet-type LED not only in the case where it cuts into a chamfering shape but in the hole and recessed part which were partially hollowed out the light-guide plate. In this specification, even in such a configuration, it means that the LED as the light emitting element is arranged at a corner sandwiched between two sides of the light guide plate when viewed from the light emission observation surface side which is a light emitting surface.
(Light emitting area 24)

The purpose of this light guide plate 20 is to extract light incident from the light source 11 in a specific light emitting area 24 within the light emitting surface 21 which is one main surface efficiently and with uniform luminance. is there. The light emitting area 24 is matched with an area to be illuminated such as a display portion of a liquid crystal display panel. For example, when used in a liquid crystal backlight, the entire light emitting surface 21 does not become a liquid crystal display portion, and the liquid crystal display portion is usually located in a region smaller than the backlight. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a uniform surface light emitting device without waste by configuring so that uniform light emission can be efficiently obtained only at a necessary portion while improving the light introduction and utilization efficiency in a portion where illumination is unnecessary. For this reason, the light guide plate 20 can be designed such that the light emitting area 24 is designated according to the application to be used, such as a liquid crystal backlight application, and uniform and high luminance light emission can be obtained in the light emitting area 24.
(Curved surface 25)

The side surface of the light guide plate 20 can be a curved surface 25 in which at least one side adjacent to the light source arrangement surface 23 is curved, out of two surfaces in contact with the light source arrangement surface 23, that is, a substantially rectangular shape constituting the main surface. The curved surface 25 adjusts the inclination angle so that the reflected light of the light emitted from the light source 11 and reflected from the side surface increases the light emission component toward the light emitting region 24 as the distance from the light source arrangement surface 23 increases. In general, the light output from the light source 11 decreases as it propagates through the light guide plate 20, and the amount of light decreases as the distance from the light source 11 increases. For this reason, it exists in the tendency for a brightness | luminance to fall, so that it is far from the corner where the light source 11 is arrange | positioned. Therefore, the inclined angle of the curved surface 25 is a curved surface formed so as to increase as the distance from the light source arrangement surface 23 increases. As a result, the curvature of the curved surface 25 increases as the distance from the light source arrangement surface 23 increases, so that more components are reflected toward the light emitting region 24 side. Is obtained. In this way, by forming the inclination angle of the curved surface 25 to be steeper as the distance from the light source 11 increases, the light component toward the light emitting region 24 increases as the distance from the light source 11 increases. The effect of getting close to light emission can be obtained. In order to reduce the total volume of the light guide plate, the side that affects the light emitting region can be curved, and the others can be straight. Therefore, at least by the part where the angle continuously increases as the distance from the LED as the light emitting element increases, it is possible to suppress uneven light emission in the light emitting region and contribute to uniform light emission.
(Horizontal plane 26)

  Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3B, the light guide plate 20 has a light source arrangement surface 23 with a large thickness, while the light guide plate 20 has a small overall thickness. The change in thickness in the vicinity of these boundary portions, that is, in the vicinity of the light source arrangement surface 23, is a horizontal plane 26 extending in the horizontal direction from the end surface of the light source arrangement surface 23 as a first substantially horizontal plane, and constitutes a light emitting region from the edge of the horizontal plane 26. The inclined surface 27 which continues to the thickness part of the whole light-guide plate 20 which is a 2nd substantially horizontal surface is formed. Thereby, leakage light from the light source 11 on the light source arrangement surface 23 can be suppressed, which can contribute to improvement of light use efficiency, reduction of luminance unevenness, and downsizing of the entire surface light emitting device.

  The thickness of the light guide plate 20 is required to be as thin as possible in order to place a diffusion sheet on the upper surface or to make it thinner as a backlight or the like. On the other hand, in order to efficiently take in light from the light source 11 into the light guide plate 20, the thickness of the end face, that is, the light source arrangement surface 23, needs to be at least equal to or greater than that of the light source 11. As a result, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the light source arrangement surface 23 is thick and the other region, that is, the light emitting surface 21 is thin, and an inclined surface 27 is formed between them. However, in this configuration, the angle of incidence on the inclined surface 27 is tighter than that of the horizontal plane, and the component that light is transmitted without being reflected and leaks to the outside increases. In particular, the closer to the light source arrangement surface 23, the higher the ratio of this leaked light. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, a horizontal plane 26 is formed from the light source arrangement surface 23, and the components that can be effectively used by relaxing such a problem that the incident angle is steep are increased. Yes. That is, when the inclined surface 27 is formed from the light source arrangement surface 23, the incident angle increases, so that a component far below the critical angle is emitted from the light guide plate 20 and results in loss of light. By forming 26, light that does not exceed the critical angle can be effectively guided to the light emitting surface 21, and the light utilization efficiency can be improved. Further, the surface from the light source arrangement surface 23 to the horizontal surface 26 and the light emitting surface 21 can be a stepped step surface or a continuous surface. The continuous surface can avoid the concentration of light at the interface and suppress uneven light emission, and can be easily manufactured. Furthermore, these boundary surfaces can be chamfered, which can further reduce the concentration of light at the interface. Further, in order to give the surface itself a scattering property, it is possible to perform uneven processing.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitting surface 21 is not the entire main surface of the light guide plate 20, but a limited region of the light emitting surface 21 is used as the light emitting region 24, and the light emission quality at this portion can be further improved. . By constructing based on such an efficient idea, practical and high-quality light emission can be obtained even if the number of light sources used is reduced, and a surface light emitting device is efficiently realized with an inexpensive and simple configuration. it can.

  Further, the horizontal plane is not limited to the example of forming a uniform width from the light source arrangement surface as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a surface light emitting device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the light guide plate 20B. The light guide plate 20B shown in these drawings is formed so that the width of the horizontal plane 26B extending from the light source arrangement surface 23B to the inclined surface 27B increases as the distance from the light source arrangement surface 23B to the light emitting region 24 increases. . By forming in this way, the farther from the inner light emitting region 24 of the horizontal surface 26B, the smaller the ineffective component in the vicinity of the light source arrangement surface 23B by the wider horizontal surface 26B, while the curved surface 25 described above on the side closer to the light emitting region 24. Since the ineffective component can be reduced by the reflected light, the leakage light in both regions can be reduced, the luminance can be improved, and the light emission unevenness can be suppressed.

  In the above example, the width of the horizontal plane is changed linearly, but it can also be changed on a curved surface, and the shape of the horizontal plane can be adjusted to an optimum shape according to the shape and position of the display area. In addition, the width of the inclined surface as well as the horizontal surface may be changed.

  In the above example, the curved surface is provided only on one side surface in contact with the light source arrangement surface. However, the curved surface may be formed on both side surfaces for the purpose of further improving the light emission luminance. In this case, the inclination angle of each curved surface can be designed individually. Preferably, the inclination angle on the side farther from the curved surface to the light emitting region can be formed steeply. Thereby, the component of the light reflected by the curved surface and traveling toward the light emitting region can be adjusted according to the distance from the curved surface to the light emitting region, and a surface light emitting device with less light emission unevenness can be obtained.

  The light guide plate 20 is made of a transmissive resin. The light guide plate 20 can be produced by processing a transparent resin plate material such as an acrylic plate or polycarbonate into a required shape, or by injection molding a resin material. Moreover, the light guide plate 20 can also incline the reflective surface 22 and the light emission surface 21 from substantially parallel as needed. For example, the light emitting surface 21 and the reflecting surface 22 are inclined so that the distance between the light emitting surface 21 and the reflecting surface 22 becomes narrower from the light source arrangement surface 23 serving as the end surface of the incident surface toward the end surface of the opposing corner. As a result, the extraction efficiency can be improved by increasing the components of the light extracted from the light emitting surface 21. Furthermore, a pattern can be appropriately formed on the reflective surface 22 side of the light guide plate 20. By forming irregularities such as a dot pattern, a stripe pattern, a prism pattern, a cylindrical shape, and a prism shape, the light emitting surface 21 is formed. The reflected light can be increased. Further, by adjusting the shape, size, and the like of these patterns according to the position, that is, the distance from the light source, the light emission intensity can be made to be uniform. Further, on the lower surface of the light guide plate 20, that is, the reflection surface 22, in addition to forming irregularities for scattering light, a reflection sheet for improving the reflectance of light may be arranged as necessary. Further, the casing 40 itself that houses the light guide plate 20 may have a function of a reflecting plate. The housing 40 can be made of a resin to which aluminum, silver, or a white pigment is added. On the other hand, on the upper surface of the light guide plate 20, that is, the light emitting surface 21, one or a plurality of diffusion sheets and prism sheets for raising light in the normal direction may be arranged.

  In the surface light emitting device according to the above embodiment, one light source is used in one corner, but it is also possible to arrange light sources in a plurality of corners, for example, opposing corners and adjacent corners. It is also possible to further improve the luminance of the surface light emitting device by disposing each light source. Similarly, not only a rectangular light guide plate but also a polygonal light guide plate can be arranged at any or all corners. In the configuration of FIG. 3, the curved surface is formed only on the right side of the light source arrangement surface 23. However, the curved surface can be formed only on the left side according to the positional relationship with the display area, the shape, and the like. It goes without saying that it is also possible to do this.

  The light guide plate having the above configuration collects the spread of the light emitted from the light source in the horizontal direction in the display area by making the reflection angle of the reflected light deep on the curved surface, and the upward light near the light source arrangement surface. Leakage can also be suppressed by the horizontal plane. In particular, since the reflection angle of the curved surface increases as the distance from the light source increases, the light can be circulated to the tip portion where the light from the light source is difficult to reach. As a result, it is configured so that light emission in the light emission region related to light emission is high-intensity and uniform without being concentrated on a part not related to light emission. As a result, it is possible to obtain a surface light emitting device with excellent efficiency by eliminating waste and improving the quality of light emission at a necessary portion.

In addition, in order to diffuse light, the light source arrangement surface may not be a single flat surface but may be uneven. In this way, the incident direction can be set in advance, and light can be refracted and incident in an arbitrary direction. The unevenness formed on the light guide plate may be only a convex portion or a concave portion, and the shape thereof can be arbitrarily selected, such as a triangular pyramid, a cone, a triangular prism, a cylinder, or a rough surface.
(Light source 11)

  As the light source 11, a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED (light emitting diode) or an LD (laser diode) can be preferably used. In this embodiment, an LED is used. The LED element is not particularly limited as long as it has a pair of positive and negative electrodes on the same surface side and can emit a part of light emission from the side end surface. In the case of using a fluorescent material, it is preferable to use a semiconductor light emitting element having a light emitting layer capable of emitting a wavelength capable of exciting the fluorescent material to be used. Examples of such a semiconductor light emitting device include various semiconductors such as ZnSe and GaN, but a nitride semiconductor (InXAlYGa1-X-YN, 0 ≦ X that can emit a short wavelength capable of efficiently exciting a fluorescent material). , 0 ≦ Y, X + Y ≦ 1). Examples of the semiconductor structure include a homostructure having a MIS junction, a PIN junction, a pn junction, or the like, a heterostructure, or a double heterostructure. Various emission wavelengths can be selected depending on the material of the semiconductor layer and the degree of mixed crystal. In addition, a single quantum well structure or a multiple quantum well structure in which the semiconductor active layer is formed in a thin film in which a quantum effect is generated can be used.

  When a nitride semiconductor is used, a material such as sapphire, spinel, SiC, Si, ZnO, or GaN is preferably used for the semiconductor substrate. In order to form a nitride semiconductor with good crystallinity with high productivity, it is preferable to use a sapphire substrate or a gallium nitride substrate. A nitride semiconductor can be formed on the sapphire substrate by MOCVD or the like. A buffer layer of GaN, AlN, GaAIN or the like is formed on the sapphire substrate, and a nitride semiconductor having a pn junction is formed thereon.

  As an example of a light emitting device having a pn junction using a nitride semiconductor, a first contact layer formed of n-type gallium nitride, a first cladding layer formed of n-type aluminum nitride / gallium on a buffer layer, a composition An active layer having a multiple quantum well structure formed of multiple layers of indium gallium nitride having different ratios, a second cladding layer formed of p-type aluminum nitride / gallium, and a second contact layer formed of p-type gallium nitride are sequentially stacked. Such as a double hetero configuration. Nitride semiconductors exhibit n-type conductivity without being doped with impurities. When forming a desired n-type nitride semiconductor such as improving luminous efficiency, it is preferable to appropriately introduce Si, Ge, Se, Te, C, etc. as an n-type dopant. On the other hand, when forming a p-type nitride semiconductor, the p-type dopants such as Zn, Mg, Be, Ca, Sr, and Ba are doped. Since nitride semiconductors are not easily converted to p-type by simply doping with a p-type dopant, it is preferable to reduce resistance by heating in a furnace or plasma irradiation after introducing the p-type dopant. After the electrodes are formed, a light emitting element made of a nitride semiconductor can be formed by cutting the semiconductor wafer into chips.

  In the surface light emitting device of the present invention, when a white LED is used as a light source, an LED element capable of emitting ultraviolet light, a phosphor capable of emitting white light, a plurality of phosphors capable of emitting white light by color mixture, and blue light can be emitted. A phosphor that emits light that is complementary to the LED elements, and LED elements that can emit light of RGB (red, green, blue), BG (blue green), and R (red), respectively. Can do. In the case of emitting white light using mixed color light, particularly phosphor, the emission wavelength of the LED element should be 400 nm or more and 530 nm or less in consideration of the complementary color relationship with the emission wavelength from the fluorescent material, deterioration of the translucent resin, etc. Preferably, it is 420 nm or more and 490 nm or less. In order to further improve the excitation and emission efficiency of the LED element and the fluorescent material, 450 nm or more and 475 nm or less are more preferable. In addition, when a resin or inorganic glass that is relatively difficult to deteriorate due to ultraviolet rays is used as a sealing portion below the upper surface of the package, an ultraviolet region shorter than 400 nm or a short wavelength region of visible light is set as a main emission wavelength. An LED element can also be used. When an LED element having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region is used, the chromaticity is determined only by the emission color converted by the fluorescent material, so that the semiconductor light emission is compared with the case where a semiconductor light emitting element that emits visible light is used. Variations such as the wavelength of the element can be absorbed and mass productivity can be improved.

  When an LED element capable of emitting ultraviolet light having a main light emission peak in a short wavelength region near 400 nm is used as the LED element, the sealing portion close to the LED element is made of ultraviolet rays such as resin and glass that are relatively resistant to ultraviolet light. It is also possible to use a fluorescent material that can absorb visible light and emit visible light. Fluorescent materials that can fluoresce red, blue, and green with such short-wavelength light, for example, Y2O2S: Eu as a red phosphor, Sr5 (PO4) 3Cl: Eu as a blue phosphor, and (SrEu) as a green phosphor White light can be obtained by containing O.Al2O3 in an ultraviolet resistant resin or the like. In the case of using a light-emitting element that emits short wavelengths as described above, the substrate side of the light-emitting element is preferably opaque. In addition to the above phosphors, 3.5MgO.0.5MgF2 · GeO2: Mn, Mg6As2O11: Mn, Gd2O2: Eu, LaO2S: Eu as red phosphors, Re10 (PO4) 6Q2: Eu, Re10 (PO4) as blue phosphors 6Q2: Eu, Mn (where Re is at least one selected from Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, Q is at least one selected from halogen elements F, Cl, Br, I), BaMg2Al16O27: Eu, etc. Can be suitably used. By using these fluorescent materials, a white light emitting LED light source capable of emitting light with high luminance can be obtained.

When different types of fluorescent materials are mixed and arranged, it is preferable that the center particle sizes and shapes of the various fluorescent materials are similar. As a result, light emitted from various fluorescent materials can be mixed well and color unevenness can be suppressed. In addition, the fluorescent materials may not be mixed and used, but may be used as a laminate of thin film layers in which the layers of the sealing portions are thinned. When arranged as a thin film layer of a sealing portion made of various fluorescent materials, the red fluorescent material layer, the green fluorescent material layer, and the blue fluorescent material layer are sequentially laminated in consideration of the ultraviolet light transmittance of each fluorescent material. Is preferred. Further, in the thin film layer, when the central particle diameter of each fluorescent material is set to blue fluorescent material> green fluorescent material> red fluorescent material so that the particle size of the fluorescent material in each layer decreases from the lower layer to the upper layer, the uppermost layer UV light can be transmitted through the fluorescent material and converted into visible light, and ultraviolet leakage can be prevented. In addition, each color conversion layer can be arranged on the element so as to have a stripe shape, a lattice shape, or a triangle shape. In this way, it is preferable that the layers are arranged with a space between them to improve the color mixing property.
(Fluorescent substance)

  The particle size of the fluorescent material used in the present invention is preferably in the range of the center particle size of 6 μm to 50 μm, more preferably 15 μm to 30 μm. The fluorescent material having such a particle size has a light absorption rate and conversion efficiency. And the excitation wavelength is wide. Fluorescent materials smaller than 6 μm are relatively easy to form aggregates and are densely settled in the liquid resin, thus reducing the light transmission efficiency and excitation with poor light absorption and conversion efficiency. The wavelength range is narrow.

  Here, in the present invention, the particle size of the fluorescent material is a value obtained by a volume-based particle size distribution curve, and the volume-based particle size distribution curve can be obtained by measuring the particle size distribution of the fluorescent material by a laser diffraction / scattering method. It is. Specifically, in an environment of an air temperature of 25 ° C. and a humidity of 70%, a fluorescent substance is dispersed in an aqueous solution of sodium hexametaphosphate having a concentration of 0.05%, and a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer (SALD-2000A) It was obtained by measuring in a particle size range of 0.03 μm to 700 μm. In the present invention, the central particle size of the fluorescent material is a particle size value when the integrated value is 50% in the volume-based particle size distribution curve. It is preferable that the fluorescent material having this central particle size value is contained with high frequency, and the frequency value is preferably 20% to 50%. Thus, by using a fluorescent material with small variation in particle size, an LED light source having excellent contrast with suppressed color unevenness can be obtained.

  The phosphor used in the present embodiment is based on a cerium-activated garnet-based oxide phosphor capable of emitting light by exciting light emitted from a semiconductor light-emitting element having a nitride-based semiconductor as a light-emitting layer. Is. Specific examples of the fluorescent material include Y3Al5O12: Ce (YAG: Ce), Tb3Al3O12: Ce, and a mixture thereof. The fluorescent material may contain at least one of Ba, Sr, Mg, Ca, and Zn. Moreover, by containing Si, the reaction of crystal growth can be suppressed and the particles of the fluorescent material can be aligned. The yttrium / aluminum oxide fluorescent material activated by Ce is to be interpreted in a broad sense, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Lu, Sc, La, Gd and Sm is part or all of yttrium. Or a part or all of aluminum is used in a broad sense including a phosphor having a fluorescent action in which any one or both of Ba, Tl, Ga, and In are substituted.

  More specifically, the photoluminescent phosphor represented by the general formula (YzGd1-z) 3Al5O12: Ce (where 0 <z ≦ 1) or the general formula (Re1-aSma) 3Re′5O12: Ce (where 0 ≦ a < 1, 0 ≦ b ≦ 1, Re is at least one selected from Y, Gd, La, and Sc, and Re ′ is at least one selected from Al, Ga, and In.) Is the body. Since this fluorescent material has a garnet structure, it is resistant to heat, light and moisture, and the peak of the excitation spectrum can be made around 450 nm. Also, the emission peak is in the vicinity of 580 nm and has a broad emission spectrum that draws at least 700 nm.

  Further, the phosphor having the photoluminescence action can increase the excitation light emission efficiency in a long wavelength region of 460 nm or more by containing Gd (gadolinium) in the crystal. As the Gd content increases, the emission peak wavelength shifts to a longer wavelength, and the entire emission wavelength also shifts to the longer wavelength side. That is, when a strong reddish emission color is required, it can be achieved by increasing the amount of Gd substitution. On the other hand, as Gd increases, the emission luminance of photoluminescence by blue light tends to decrease. Furthermore, in addition to Ce, Tb, Cu, Ag, Au, Fe, Cr, Nd, Dy, Co, Ni, Ti, Eu, and the like can be contained as desired. Moreover, of the composition of the garnet phosphor having a garnet structure, the emission wavelength is reduced to the short wavelength side by substituting part of Al with Ga, and the part of Y of the composition is replaced with Gd. The wavelength can be shifted to the longer wavelength side.

  When substituting a part of Y with Gd, it is preferable that the substitution with Gd is less than 10%, and the Ce content (substitution) is 0.03 to 1.0. If the substitution with Gd is less than 20%, the green component is large and the red component is small. However, by increasing the Ce content, the red component can be supplemented and a desired color tone can be obtained without lowering the luminance. With such a composition, the temperature characteristics are good and the reliability of the light emitting diode can be improved. Further, when a photoluminescent phosphor adjusted to have a large amount of red component is used, an LED light source capable of emitting an intermediate color such as pink can be formed.

  In such a phosphor, an oxide or a compound that easily becomes an oxide at high temperature is used as a raw material for Y, Gd, Al, and Ce, and the raw materials are obtained by sufficiently mixing them in a stoichiometric ratio. . Alternatively, a mixed raw material obtained by mixing a coprecipitation oxide obtained by firing a solution obtained by coprecipitation of a solution obtained by dissolving a rare earth element of Y, Gd, and Ce in an acid in a stoichiometric ratio with oxalic acid and aluminum oxide. Get. An appropriate amount of fluoride such as barium fluoride or ammonium fluoride is mixed as a flux and packed in a crucible, and baked in air at a temperature range of 1350 to 1450 ° C. for 2 to 5 hours to obtain a baked product. Can be obtained by ball milling in water, washing, separating, drying and finally passing through a sieve.

In the LED light source of the surface light emitting device of the present invention, such a phosphor may be a mixture of a garnet phosphor activated by two or more kinds of cerium and other phosphors. By mixing two types of yttrium / aluminum / garnet phosphors with different amounts of substitution from Y to Gd, light having a desired color tone can be easily realized.
(Diffusion material)

In the present invention, the diffusion material is not particularly limited, and various materials such as barium titanate, barium sulfate, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, light calcium carbonate, and heavy calcium carbonate can be used. The particle size value of the diffusing material is preferably such that the center particle size is 1.0 μm or more and less than 5 μm, more preferably 1.0 μm or more and less than 2.5 μm. In addition, light from the fluorescent material is preferably diffusely reflected, and color unevenness can be suppressed. Moreover, when the diffusing material is a crushed type, the long side length measured by transmission electron microscopy is preferably 1.0 μm or more and less than 3.0 μm. The content of the diffusing material is preferably 0.5 parts by weight or more and 5 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the translucent member. Thereby, the luminous intensity and reliability of the LED light source can be improved without reducing the light extraction efficiency from the LED element and the fluorescent material. In addition, the half width of the emission spectrum can be narrowed, and a light emitting device with high color purity can be obtained. The refractive index of the translucent member is preferably 1.4 or more and 1.65 or less, and the refractive index of the diffusing material is preferably higher than that of the translucent member. As a result, an LED light source having excellent color mixing properties can be obtained in which light is reflected and scattered by the diffusing material.
(Filler)

Furthermore, in this invention, you may contain a filler in addition to a fluorescent substance in a sealing part. The specific material is the same as that of the diffusing material, but is different from the diffusing material in the central particle size. In this specification, the filler means a material having a central particle size of 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. When the filler having such a particle size is contained in the translucent resin, the chromaticity variation of the light emitting device is improved by the light scattering action, and the thermal shock resistance of the translucent resin can be enhanced. The filler preferably has a particle size and / or shape similar to that of the fluorescent material. Here, in this specification, the similar particle size means a case where the difference in the central particle size of each particle is less than 20%, and the similar shape means an approximate degree of each particle size with a perfect circle. This represents a case where the difference in the value of circularity (circularity = peripheral length of a perfect circle equal to the projected area of the particle / perimeter length of the projected particle) is less than 20%. By using such a filler, the fluorescent material and the filler interact with each other, and the fluorescent material can be favorably dispersed in the resin, thereby suppressing color unevenness. Furthermore, it is preferable that both the fluorescent substance and the filler have a central particle diameter of 15 μm to 50 μm, more preferably 20 μm to 50 μm. In this way, by adjusting the particle diameter, a preferable interval is provided between the particles. be able to. As a result, a light extraction path is ensured, and the directivity can be improved while suppressing a decrease in luminous intensity due to filler mixing. In addition, when the sealing member is formed by the stencil printing method by including the fluorescent substance and filler having such a particle size range in the translucent resin, clogging of the dicing blade is recovered in the dicing process after the sealing member is cured. A dresser effect can be brought about, and mass productivity is improved.
(Sealing part)

  The sealing portion that covers the LED element not only protects the LED element but also functions as a part that adjusts the light emission characteristics of the LED light source by containing the fluorescent material, the diffusing material, the filler, and the like. When the sealing portion does not contain a fluorescent material, it is possible to emit monochromatic light from the LED element, but by using the fluorescent material, an LED light source having a mixed color light of the light from the LED element and the light from the fluorescent material It can be. By using mixed color light, an LED light source having an arbitrary emission wavelength can be obtained, and in particular, white light emission used for a backlight or the like is easily obtained. Further, by using a filler, a diffusing material, and the like in addition to the fluorescent substance, it is possible to obtain mixed color light with excellent uniformity.

  When the sealing portion has a multilayer structure of two layers or two or more layers, the fluorescent material and the diffusing material can be contained in both of them, or can be contained in only one of them. When either one of them contains a fluorescent substance, the LED element and the fluorescent substance can be arranged in the vicinity by containing them in the lower layer rather than the upper layer. Can be absorbed and converted, which is preferable. When the fluorescent material is also contained in the upper layer, it may be the same fluorescent material as that contained in the lower layer, a fluorescent material having a different emission wavelength, or a fluorescent material having a different composition. Moreover, when using a different fluorescent substance, you may use the fluorescent substance which absorbs the light emission wavelength from the other fluorescent substance instead of the light from an LED element, and converts it into a different wavelength. Accordingly, even a fluorescent material that is not excited by light from the LED element can be used, so that mixed color light having a wider emission wavelength can be obtained.

  The surface light emitting device and the light guide plate for the surface light emitting device of the present invention can be suitably used for a backlight light source of a liquid crystal display.

It is a top view which shows a general surface light-emitting device. It is sectional drawing which shows a general surface light-emitting device. It is the top view which shows the surface emitting device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, and sectional drawing which shows a light-guide plate. It is a top view which shows the surface emitting device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the V-V 'line | wire of the light-guide plate of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI ′ of the light guide plate of FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

100, 200 ... surface emitting device 1 ... LED
2 ... light guide plate 2A ... joint surface 2B ... inclined surface 3 ... substrate 4 ... housing 11 ... light source 20, 20B ... light guide plate 21 ... light emitting surface 22 ... reflecting surfaces 23, 23B ... light source arrangement surface 24 ... light emitting region 25 ... curved surface 26, 26B ... Horizontal surfaces 27, 27B ... Inclined surface 40 ... Housing

Claims (10)

A housing with a space inside,
A first main surface and a second main surface, which are disposed in the casing and face each other, have at least one main surface as a light-emitting surface, and the light-emitting surface is substantially rectangular and has transparency. A light guide plate comprising,
A light source disposed at one of the corners of the main surface of the light guide plate and facing an end surface substantially orthogonal to the main surface of the light guide plate;
A surface emitting device comprising:
One corner of the light guide plate is a light source arrangement surface for optically connecting to the light source,
Among the light emitting surfaces of the light guide plate, a predetermined region is set as a light emitting region, and at least one of two sides sandwiching the light source arrangement surface of the light guide plate is inclined so that a light emitting component toward the light emitting region is increased. A surface light-emitting device, wherein the surface light-emitting device is formed into a curved surface formed so as to become larger as the distance from the arrangement surface increases. The surface emitting device according to claim 1,
In the cross section of the light guide plate, the entire thickness of the light guide plate is formed thinner than the thickness of the light source plate on which the light source is arranged, and
A surface light emitting device comprising: a horizontal plane extending in a horizontal direction from the end surface; and an inclined surface that is continuous from an edge of the horizontal plane to a thickness portion of a light guide plate formed thinner than the end surface. . The surface emitting device according to claim 2,
The surface light emitting device, wherein the horizontal plane is formed such that a width from a light source arrangement surface to an inclined surface on a light emission surface of a light guide plate becomes wider as a distance from the light source arrangement surface is closer. The surface emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The curved surface is formed on both sides of the light guide plate on which the light source is disposed, and each of the inclination angles is formed steeper as the distance from the curved surface to the light emitting region is closer. Light emitting device. The surface emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A surface light-emitting device, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode. The surface emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A surface light emitting device comprising a main surface facing the light emitting surface of the light guide plate as a reflecting surface, and a reflecting sheet disposed on the reflecting surface. A light guide plate having a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, wherein at least one main surface is a light emitting surface, and at least one light source optically connected to an end surface of the light guide plate In a surface light emitting device having
The light source is disposed at a corner sandwiched between two sides of the light guide plate when viewed from the light emission observation surface side that is a light emitting surface, and at least one of the two sides continuously increases in angle as the distance from the light source increases A surface light-emitting device comprising: The surface emitting device according to claim 7,
The surface light-emitting device, wherein the light source is an SMD type LED. The surface emitting device according to claim 8,
The first main surface of the light guide plate has a first substantially horizontal plane extending in a horizontal direction from an end surface of the light guide plate optically connected to the SMD type LED, and the thickness of the light guide plate is larger than that of the first substantially horizontal plane. A surface light emitting device having an inclined surface that continues to a thin second substantially horizontal plane. A light guide plate for a surface light emitting device, which includes a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, wherein at least one main surface is a light emitting surface, and the light emitting surface is substantially rectangular and has transparency. Because
One corner of the light guide plate is a light source arrangement surface for arranging to be optically connected to the light source of the surface light emitting device,
Among the light emitting surfaces, a predetermined region is set as a light emitting region, and at least one of two sides sandwiching the light source arrangement surface of the light guide plate is inclined from the light source arrangement surface so as to increase a light emitting component toward the light emission region. A light guide plate for a surface light emitting device, characterized in that the light guide plate is formed into a curved surface formed so as to increase with distance.

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