JP2009176899A - Unit surface light-source light-emitting body element, surface light-source light-emitting body unit, backlight unit, lighting device, and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a unit surface light-source light-emitting body element that easily corresponds to different sizes and different shapes or the like, and also, to provide a surface light-source light-emitting body unit, a backlight unit, a lighting device, and a display device. <P>SOLUTION: The unit surface light-source light-emitting body element 1 has a surface light-source light-emitting body 2 that surface-emits light by a light-emitting face 5a and has an almost quadrangular-plate shape. Surface light-emission is executed by providing light-emitting diodes on a substrate and a microlens array in a light-emitting direction inside the surface light-source light-emitting body 2. Each recessed part 9 and each protruding part 10 fittable to each other are provided to each side-face 8, facing each other, of the surface light-source light-emitting body 2. Each recessed part 9 is respectively provided with each input terminal 11a, 11b for connecting to a power supply while each protruding part 10 is respectively provided with each output terminal 12a, 12b. The unit surface light-source light-emitting body elements 1 are electrically connected with each other by fitting each recessed part 9 and each protruding part 10 to each other. Consequently, it is possible to manufacture the surface light-source light-emitting body unit, having a proper size and a proper shape, in which each light-emitting face 5a is connected to each other by coupling the unit surface light-source light-emitting body elements 1 with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes an LED (light emitting diode) light source, an EL (electroluminescence) light source, and the like, a unit surface light source light emitting element capable of surface light emission, and a surface light source light emitting unit formed by connecting a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting element. The present invention relates to a backlight unit, an illumination device, and a display device using these.

Conventionally, a display device typified by a liquid crystal display device (LCD) has an image display unit such as a liquid crystal panel disposed on the light emission surface side of a backlight unit incorporating a light source, and emits light emitted from the backlight unit. The image is displayed through the image display unit. The backlight unit has a direct type and a side edge type.
For example, in a direct-type backlight unit, a rod-shaped light source such as a cold cathode ray tube is provided on the back side, and light emitted from this light source is emitted as illumination light diffused in a planar shape through a light guide plate, and a prism sheet, etc. The light is emitted toward an image display unit such as a liquid crystal panel through the light collecting means. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a planar illumination device including a direct-type backlight unit.
Further, in the side-edge type backlight unit, a bar-shaped light source is provided on the side of the light guide plate, and light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light guide plate and diffused into a planar shape to be emitted as illumination light. .

Display devices equipped with such backlight units are manufactured in different sizes, such as backlight sources, backlight units, and liquid crystal panels, in order to produce various sizes of display devices to meet various customer needs. ing. Currently, display devices are mainly about 32 inches, and display devices larger than 50 inches, 60 inches, or even 100 inches are also manufactured.
Further, display devices such as light transmission type commercial signs equipped with a lamp-type backlight light source have a greater need for various sizes than liquid crystal display devices, and each time a display device of each size can be manufactured. It is common. In general illumination and special illumination fields, design is particularly important, and lighting devices and display devices of various shapes, sizes, and colors are required.
In the planar illumination device described in Patent Document 1 described above, a plurality of light guide plates of a backlight unit are connected according to required dimensions, and rod-shaped light sources are arranged in parallel grooves on the back side provided for each light guide plate. The structure to set is adopted.
JP 2007-207598 A

  However, in order to cope with various sizes and shapes, a light guide plate or a plurality of light sources of each size must be prepared according to the required size and shape of the backlight unit, lighting device, display device, etc. There was a problem that production was complicated and time-consuming. In addition, as the size of the backlight unit, lighting device, display device, etc. increases, the handling property during assembly and manufacturing deteriorates, and there is a problem that the manufacturing efficiency decreases and the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and unit surface light source emitter elements, surface light source emitter units, and backlights using these that can be easily accommodated even if their sizes and shapes are different. An object is to provide a unit, a lighting device, and a display device.

The unit surface light source light emitter element according to the present invention includes a surface light source light emitter that emits light from a light emitting surface, and has either a positive electrode or negative electrode input terminal and a positive electrode or negative electrode output terminal for connection to a power source. A unit surface light source emitter element comprising one or both,
The unit surface light source light emitting element is connected to each other at an input terminal and an output terminal so that they can be electrically connected to each other.
According to the present invention, since one or both of the input terminal and the output terminal are provided, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements can be connected, the size can be increased as long as the amount of power supply is allowed, and the unit Depending on how the surface light source light emitter elements are connected, one having an appropriate shape can be manufactured. In addition, the shape of the unit surface light source light emitter element may be any shape and can correspond to any shape.
Preferably, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting elements having the same shape are manufactured and connected in an appropriate direction in order to manufacture an arbitrary shape.

In addition, one of the input terminal and the output terminal is provided in the concave portion, and the other is provided in the convex portion that can be fitted into the concave portion, and the input terminal and the output terminal are electrically connected with the concave portion and the convex portion fitted. It is preferable that it is connected to.
According to the present invention, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements are formed by fitting the other convex portion into one concave portion with respect to one unit surface light source light emitter element and another unit surface light source light emitter element. The input terminal and the output terminal are electrically connected while being connected and integrated, and the whole can be made into a single light emitting surface or surface light source.

Moreover, it is preferable to provide a light emitting diode as a light source inside.
According to the present invention, by using a light emitting diode as a light source, the luminance is high with low power consumption, and the light quantity can be easily adjusted by arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in order to cope with higher luminance.
The light emitting diode further preferably includes a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, and a blue light emitting diode.
Since the light emitting diode has three primary colors, it can reproduce a full color and can correspond to all kinds of colors.

The light emitting diode is connected to color adjusting means for adjusting the amount of power supplied to the light emitting diode.
According to the present invention, the brightness and color of the light emitted from the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source light emitting element can be appropriately adjusted by adjusting the amount of power supplied to the light emitting diode, and when the three primary color light emitting diodes are provided In addition to being able to reproduce full color, the brightness and color of the light emitted from the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source light emitting element can be appropriately adjusted by adjusting the amount of power supplied to each light emitting diode by the color adjusting means. Therefore, it is possible to realize arbitrary color development, luminance, and the like as a display device such as a backlight, a lighting device, and a liquid crystal member.

In addition, the surface light source emitter may include communication means capable of communicating with the surface light source emitters of other unit surface light source emitter elements.
The unit surface light source illuminator element communicates with the surface light source illuminator by communicating with the communication means provided in the surface light source illuminator of the other unit surface light source illuminant element, so that all unit surface light source illuminators connected thereto. Information on brightness, color, temperature, etc. of other unit surface light source emitter elements can be recognized by communicating with each other, and information on brightness, color, temperature, etc. among multiple unit surface light source emitter elements Recognition, adjustment of brightness, color, temperature, etc. of each unit surface light source light emitter element based on this, detection of abnormality, etc. can be appropriately performed.

Moreover, you may provide the brightness enhancement film on the light emission surface, and the further brightness increase effect can be provided by letting the light radiate | emitted from the light emission surface of a unit surface light source light emitter element pass a brightness enhancement film.
Further, a light diffusing layer may be provided on the light emitting surface, and light emitted from the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source light emitting element is transmitted through the light diffusing layer, thereby improving the uniformity of color tone and the viewing angle. An effect of improving unevenness in illuminance can be imparted.

In the surface light source unit according to the present invention, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements described above are joined to each other at the input terminal of one unit surface light source light emitter element and the output terminal of another unit surface light source light emitter element. It is characterized by being connected.
According to the present invention, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements are connected by joining the input terminal of one unit surface light source light emitter element and the output terminal of another unit surface light source light emitting element and connecting them together. An appropriately shaped surface light source emitter unit can be manufactured, and unit surface light source emitter elements can be connected in an appropriate number within an allowable range of the amount of power supplied from the power source to form an integrated light emitting surface. In addition, an appropriately shaped surface light source emitter unit can be manufactured depending on how the unit surface light source emitter elements are connected. Further, the unit surface light source light emitter element may have any shape and can correspond to any shape. Preferably, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements having the same shape are manufactured and sequentially arranged in an appropriate direction. It is preferable to connect and manufacture an arbitrary shape in consideration of cost and manufacturing efficiency. In addition, the power source for supplying power is connected to at least one unit surface light source light emitter element among the plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements to supply power to the plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements. Excellent power supply becomes possible.
A backlight unit according to the present invention is characterized in that one or a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting elements described in any one of claims 1 to 8 are connected and arranged.
This backlight unit corresponds to the surface light source emitter unit described above.

In the lighting device according to the present invention, a plurality of the unit surface light source emitter elements described above are joined to each other at the input terminal of one unit surface light source emitter element and the output terminal of another unit surface light source emitter element. It is characterized by becoming.
Since a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting element elements can be connected to form an integrated light emitting surface, the lighting device can be formed in a required shape for a desired illumination object or the like. In addition, when the luminance of the lighting device is insufficient, it can be dealt with by adding and connecting unit surface light source emitter elements, and design can be given depending on the connection method of the unit surface light source emitter elements. .

A display device according to the present invention is characterized in that one or a plurality of the unit surface light source emitter elements described above are connected and provided with a liquid crystal member on the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source emitter element. To do.
According to the present invention, a pixel structure is provided by providing a liquid crystal member, and a single unit surface light source light emitter element alone or a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements are connected. However, the light emitted from the light emitting surface formed by connecting one or a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting element elements is transmitted through the liquid crystal member, so that a high-quality image with substantially uniform luminance can be output.

A display device according to the present invention is characterized in that one or a plurality of the unit surface light source light emitter elements described above are connected and provided with a touch panel on the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source light emitter elements. To do.
According to the present invention, it is possible to input from the outside to the unit surface light source light emitting element by providing the touch panel, and a display image irradiated with light from the unit surface light source light emitting element in an appropriately shaped display device. Can be input by operating the touch panel.

A display device according to the present invention includes a backlight unit in which one or more unit surface light source light emitting elements are connected and arranged, and a light emitting surface side on the unit surface light source light emitting element side. And an image display unit that displays an image with light that passes through.
The display device of the present invention can display or observe an image of transmitted light by transmitting light emitted through the backlight unit to the image display unit using the unit surface light source light emitting element as a backlight unit.

  According to the unit surface light source light emitting element, the surface light source light emitter unit, the backlight unit, the illumination device, and the display device using the unit surface light source according to the present invention, even if the required surface light source size and shape are different. Surface light sources corresponding to various sizes and shapes can be formed by connecting one or more light emitting elements as a unit. Therefore, an appropriately shaped backlight unit, illumination device, and further display device can be manufactured using a combination of these one or more unit surface light source light emitter elements as a surface light source. Moreover, there is no need to manufacture a surface light source according to the shape of the backlight unit, lighting device, and display device each time, and it can be manufactured by combining an appropriate number of unit surface light source light emitter elements, so the size is increased. However, it is easy to handle at the time of manufacture, can be manufactured efficiently, and the manufacturing cost is low.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a unit surface light source luminous element according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of a unit surface light source light emitter element, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram provided in the unit surface light source light emitter element, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of FIG. 4.
A unit surface light source light emitter element 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a surface light source light emitter 2 formed in a substantially polygonal shape, for example, a substantially rectangular plate shape. In this unit surface light source light emitting element 1, an LED element (light emitting diode) 3 is provided in the center of the substrate 4 as a light source inside the housing 2a of the surface light source light emitter 2 (see FIG. 2). For example, a plate-like optical connector 5 is disposed on the surface of the LED element 3 facing the light emitting direction. Usually, since the LED element 3 is a substantially point light source, it is necessary to make it a surface light source, and the optical connector 5 has a light diffusion structure having an optical function of making the point light source a surface light source.

For example, a microlens array 6 is disposed as the optical connector 5. In the microlens array 6, convex lens-like microlenses 6 a are arranged in a matrix on one or both of the upper and lower surfaces (only the upper surface in FIG. 2) of a substrate made of a transparent resin. In the example shown in FIG. 2, microlenses 6a are arranged on a light emitting surface 5a that is a light emitting surface.
The optical connection body 5 is not limited to the microlens array 6, but is a light diffusible translucent light that can convert a point light source composed of the LED elements 3 into a surface light source when light is emitted from the surface light source light emitter 2. Any member may be used, for example, a lens array such as a Fresnel lens or a lenticular lens, or a filler having different refractive indexes dispersed inside a translucent synthetic resin member. A diffusion member or the like having an uneven shape may be used.

Further, the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a pair of concave portions 9 and 9 and convex portions 10 and 10 on, for example, two opposing side surfaces 8 and 8 of the surface light source light emitter 2. The concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 can be fitted to each other.
The pair of recesses 9 and 9 is provided with an input terminal for power supply connection, one of which constitutes a positive (+) input terminal 11a and the other constitutes a negative (−) input terminal 11b. The convex portion 10 is provided with an output terminal 12 for power connection, one of which constitutes a positive (+) output terminal 12a and the other constitutes a negative (-) output terminal 12b. Two adjacent side surfaces 8 and 8 are provided with a set of a concave portion 9 and a positive input terminal 11a, and a concave portion 9 and a negative input terminal 11b, respectively. Similarly, the other two side surfaces 8 and 8 adjacent to each other are provided with a pair of a convex portion 10 and a positive output terminal 12a, and a convex portion 10 and a negative output terminal 12b, respectively.

The positive and negative output terminals 12a and 12b and the positive and negative input terminals 11a and 11b are not limited in size, shape, and material, but need to be able to carry electricity and be able to withstand energization. . When the concave portions 9, 9 on one side surface 8 of the two unit surface light source light emitting element 1, 1 and the convex portions 10, 10 on the other side surface 8 are fitted and connected, the input terminals 11a and 11b and the output terminal 12a are connected. , 12b also need to be connected.
Further, instead of the above-described configuration, positive and negative output terminals 12a and 12b are provided in the concave portions 9 and 9 of one side surface 8, and positive and negative input terminals 11a and 10 are provided on the convex portions 10 and 10 of the other side surface 8, respectively. 11b may be provided. Alternatively, a concave portion 9 and a convex portion 10 may be provided on one side surface 8 and the concave and convex portions may be fitted to each side surface 8. In this case, the input terminals 11 a and 11 b and the output terminals 12 a and 12 b are convex with the concave portion 9. Which part 10 is provided is arbitrary.
Further, when there is no need to output electricity from the unit surface light source light emitting element 1, only the concave portion 9 and the positive and negative input terminals 11a and 11b are provided, and the convex portion 10 and the output terminals 12a and 12b are not provided. Configuration can be adopted. Alternatively, conversely, the unit surface light source luminous element 1 may be provided with only the convex portion 10 and the output terminals 12a and 12b.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an electric circuit provided in the unit surface light source luminous element 1, and the power source 14 includes a positive (+) electric wiring 15 and a negative (−) electric wiring 16. The electrical wiring 15 is connected to the positive input terminal 11a and the output terminal 12a, and the electrical wiring 16 is connected to the negative input terminal 11b and the output terminal 12b. Thus, when the plurality of unit surface light source luminous element 1 are connected to the positive input terminal 11a and the output terminal 12a, and the negative input terminal 11b and the output chase 12b, respectively, by the concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 (see FIG. 5). One power source 14 can provide power.
That is, FIG. 4 shows a surface light source light emitter unit 18 in which four unit surface light source light emitter elements 1 are connected, and the concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 on each side surface 8 of each unit surface light source light emitter element 1 are connected. They are interconnected. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the surface light source emitter unit 18 is connected to each other by electric wirings 15 and 16 in which the input terminals 11 a and 11 b and the output terminals 12 a and 12 b of each unit surface light source emitter element 1 extend from the power source 14. Is electrically connected.
The surface light source emitter unit 18 is not limited to the number of unit surface light source emitter elements 1 shown in FIG. It can be used as a surface light source for a backlight unit, an illumination device, or a display device.

Since the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 causes the LED element 3 to emit light inside the surface light source light emitter 2. As a result, light is emitted radially and condensed through each microlens 6a by the microlens array 6 which is the optical connector 5, and from the light emitting surface 5a which is the entire upper surface of the surface light source emitter 2 shown in FIGS. Nearly uniform light is emitted as surface emission. For this reason, the unit surface light source light emitting element 1 emits light from the entire light emitting surface 5a of the surface light source light emitter 2, so that it can be used as a backlight or an illumination device.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting element 1, for example, four surface light source light emitter units 18 connected by a concave portion 9 and a convex portion 10 to be in an electrically conductive state are provided. By manufacturing the light source for surface light emission, the unit surface light source light emitting element 1 can be expanded to an arbitrary shape and size according to the number of connections. Therefore, the surface light source emitter unit 18 can be used for a backlight unit, a display device, and a lighting device having an arbitrary size and shape within a range of power that can be supplied by a single power source 14.
In addition, when manufacturing a backlight unit, a display device or a lighting device of any size or shape, it can be manufactured by mass-producing and assembling a single type of unit surface light source light emitting element 1, so that the size, shape, etc. Regardless, the production is simple, the cost can be reduced, the production efficiency is good, the assembly is possible at the site of use, and the handling is easy.

The present invention is not limited to the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 and the surface light source light emitter unit 18 according to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Next, other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be described, but the same or similar parts and members as those of the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a surface light source unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the surface light source luminous body unit 20 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of sets, for example, two sets of the power supply 14 and the electrical wirings 15 and 16 are arranged, and each set of the electrical wirings 15 and 16 is a different unit. The surface light source element 1 is electrically connected to the positive and negative input terminals 11a and 11b of the recesses 9 and 9 provided on one side surface 8 thereof. By adopting such a circuit configuration, a surface light source having a light emitting surface having a larger area composed of a plurality of light emitting surfaces 5a by connecting a larger number of unit surface light source light emitting element 1 according to the number of power supplies 14. Can be formed.
In the present embodiment, the internal circuit configuration of the surface light source emitter unit 20 shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the internal circuit configuration of the surface light source emitter unit 18 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

Next, a surface light source emitter unit in which a number of unit surface light source emitter elements 1 are appropriately connected will be described.
First, FIG. 7 shows a surface light source unit 22 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
The surface light source emitter unit 22 shown in FIG. 7 is formed by connecting an appropriate number, for example, 16 unit surface light emitter elements 1. In the example shown in the figure, the surface light source light emitter unit 22 has a substantially square surface light source, but is not limited to this, and an appropriate shape such as a rectangle or a triangle can be adopted. Moreover, the number of the power supplies 14 connected with this surface light source light emitter unit 22 can be set as appropriate.

8 and 9 show a surface light source unit 24 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This surface light source light emitter unit 24 has a substantially star-shaped surface light source in plan view in an assembled state. This surface light source light emitter unit 24 is constituted by a combination of a substantially regular pentagonal unit surface light source light emitter element 25 and a substantially triangular plate-shaped unit surface light source light emitter element 26 in plan view shown in FIG.
A substantially regular pentagonal plate-like unit surface light source light emitting element 25 shown in FIG. 9A includes a side surface 8 having two concave portions 9 and 9 and a side surface 8 having two convex portions 10 and 10, respectively. It consists of A substantially triangular plate-shaped unit surface light source light emitting element 26 shown in FIG. 9B has two side surfaces 8 each having a plurality of concave portions 9 or convex portions 10 corresponding to the lengths of the three side surfaces 8 and a substantially pentagonal unit. The surface light source element 25 has a side surface 8 having a length equal to the side surface 8 of each side and having a corresponding number of concave portions 9 or convex portions 10. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the unit surface light source light emitting element 26 having a substantially triangular plate shape is manufactured in two types (which are indicated by reference numerals 26a and 26b) in which the unevenness of the bottom side surface 8 is different. Yes.

Further, the side surface 8 of the base of the substantially triangular unit surface light source light emitting element 26 is formed on each side surface 8 of the substantially pentagonal unit surface light source light emitting element 25 by fitting the concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 together.
The surface light source light emitter unit 24 according to the present embodiment is composed of three types of unit surface light source light emitter elements 25, 26a, and 26b, all of which are recessed on the five side surfaces 8 of the substantially pentagonal unit surface light source light emitter element 25. 9 and the input terminals 11a and 11b may be formed, or the concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 may be formed on one side surface 8. Thereby, the substantially triangular unit surface light source light emitting element 26 may be one kind.
As described above, in the present embodiment, an appropriate irregularly shaped surface light source emitter unit 24 can be formed of a plurality of types of unit surface light source emitter elements 25, 26a, and 26b. The unit surface light source emitter elements 25, 26a, 26b obtained by dividing the unit surface can be mass-produced and assembled by simplifying the shape of the unit surface light source emitter elements 25, 26a, 26b as much as possible. Therefore, regardless of the size, shape, etc., it is easy to manufacture and can reduce the cost, so that the manufacturing efficiency is high and the handling is easy.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the unit surface light source luminous element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The unit surface light source light emitter element 28 shown in FIG. 10 has substantially the same configuration as the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to the first embodiment, and is different in the optical connector 5.
The unit surface light source light emitting element 28 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with a light transmitting member, for example, a light transmitting plate 30 as the optical connecting body 5 facing the LED element 3, and transmits light to the surface of the light transmitting plate 30 on the LED element 3 side. A diffraction grating 31 of the type is arranged. The diffraction grating 31 is configured by forming grooves at regular intervals on the light emission surface (or / and the incident surface) 31 a of the light from the LED element 3. The diffraction grating 31 has, for example, a substantially rectangular plate shape covering, for example, the LED element 3 that is a point light source and the periphery thereof, but has a length shorter than that of the light transmission plate 30.
Therefore, the light emitted radially from the LED element 3 is incident on the diffraction grating 31 with a predetermined emission angle with respect to the center line orthogonal to the diffraction grating 31 except immediately above, and is refracted by the diffraction grating 31. The light is diffracted only in the direction in which the optical path difference between the transmitted light from the adjacent grooves on the emission surface 31a satisfies a predetermined condition, and diffuses outward in the light transmission plate 30.
In this way, the light emitted from the LED element 3 is transmitted through the diffraction grating 31 so as to be diffused over the entire light transmitting plate 30 and scattered almost uniformly. The light is transmitted from the light transmitting plate 30, that is, the light emitting surface 5a to the outside. The illuminance of the emitted light can be made substantially uniform throughout.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the unit surface light source luminous element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The unit surface light source light emitter element 33 shown in FIG. 11 has substantially the same configuration as the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to the first embodiment, and is different in the arrangement of the LED elements 3 as light sources.
That is, in the unit surface light source luminous element 33 shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of LED elements 3 are arranged on the substrate 4 at a predetermined interval. Thus, by increasing the number of LED elements 3 as light sources, it is possible to provide an effect of increasing the luminance of the surface light source light emitter 2. In addition, by arranging a plurality of LED elements 3 at a predetermined interval, it is possible to have a function of alleviating illuminance unevenness of light emitted from the light emitting surface 5 a of the surface light source emitter 2.
Here, the plurality of LED elements 3 may be arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the center of the substrate 4. Alternatively, the plurality of LED elements 3 may be arranged in a matrix on the substrate 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions.
The individual LED elements 3 can also be used as display pixels. In particular, when the microlens array 6 is employed as the optical connector 5, it is more preferable that the individual LED elements 3 and the single microlens 6a are opposed to each other.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the unit surface light source luminous element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The unit surface light source light emitter element 35 shown in FIG. 12 has substantially the same configuration as the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to the first embodiment, and differs in the arrangement of the LED elements 3 as light sources.
In the unit surface light source luminous element 35 shown in FIG. 12, LED elements 3 of three colors including a red LED element 3a, a green LED element 3b, and a blue LED element 3c are arranged at predetermined intervals. By configuring the surface light source emitter 1 in this way, full-color light emission can be emitted from the light emitting surface 5a by including the red LED element 3a, the green LED element 3b, and the blue LED element 3c.
A plurality of the above-described three types of LED elements 3a, 3b, and 3c are provided, and are alternately arranged in a matrix like the unit surface light source light emitting element 33 of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. May be.
In FIG. 12, color adjusting means 34a, 34b, 34c for adjusting the amount of energization connected to the red LED element 3a, the green LED element 3b, and the blue LED element 3c through electric wiring may be provided. These color adjusting means 34a, 34b, 34c constitute a color tone correcting means, and the amount of electric power supplied to each red LED element 3a, green LED element 3b, blue LED element 3c is adjusted to increase / decrease, and each color LED element 3a. , 3b, and 3c can be adjusted to display multiple colors based on red, green, and blue. Thereby, arbitrary multicolor surface emission can be radiate | emitted from the light emission surface 5a.
Even in the case of the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 according to the first embodiment in which only one type of LED element 3 as a light source is disposed, the above-described color adjusting means 34 may be disposed.

Next, when each of the unit surface light source light emitter elements 1,..., 33, 35 is used as a backlight, a lighting device, or the like, the light emitting surface 5a of the surface light source light emitter 2 is selected according to the required optical characteristics. It may be required to provide a mechanism for adjusting the optical characteristics of the light emitted from the surface light source emitter 2 on the surface.
Here, an example of such a configuration will be described as an eighth embodiment with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
FIG. 13 is a main part configuration diagram showing a backlight unit 37 using, for example, the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 as each unit surface light source light emitter element described above. A brightness enhancement film 38 is disposed on the light emitting surface 5 a of the unit surface light source light emitting element 1. For example, the brightness enhancement film 38 is formed by integrating a plurality of columnar prisms having a triangular section shown in FIG. 14 in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.
Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting surface 5a of the unit surface light source light emitting element 1 is emitted in the direction perpendicular to the desired on-axis luminance, that is, the tangent to the emitting surface of the luminance enhancement film 38 (light emitting surface 5a). The luminance in the direction of the observer can be improved.

By the way, such a brightness enhancement film 38 improves the on-axis brightness and generates side lobe light that is wasted in the lateral direction without proceeding to the visual direction of the observer. The two brightness enhancement films 38 may be stacked in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other. Thereby, the on-axis luminance of the light emitted from the light emitting surface 5a of the unit surface light source luminous element 1 is increased, and the backlight unit 37 having a more uniform luminance can be obtained.
Instead of the brightness enhancement film 38 in which columnar prisms having a triangular cross section are arranged, for example, one lenticular lens film 39 in which a plurality of lenticular lenses as shown in FIG. 15 are arranged, or a direction substantially orthogonal to each other as shown in FIG. You may arrange | position in piles.

Next, the backlight unit according to the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The backlight unit 41 shown in FIG. 16 is a combination of, for example, a light diffusing film 42 that is a light diffusing layer disposed on the unit surface light source luminous element 1. The light diffusing film 42 is configured by dispersing and mixing fine particles (light diffusing particles) 44 for scattering light into a sheet-like transparent resin material 43. Here, the light diffusing film 42 is arranged through a slight space from the light emitting surface 5a. It is installed.
The fine particles 44 need to have a refractive index different from that of the transparent resin material 43 constituting the light diffusion film 42. As a result, the light incident on the light diffusion film 42 is refracted by the fine particles 44 and sufficiently scattered to be diffused substantially uniformly and emitted. Instead of the fine particles 44, fine cavities containing air may be dispersed and mixed. The exit surface 42a of the light diffusion film 42 is formed flat like the light emitting surface 5a of the unit surface light source light emitting element 1.
By adopting such a configuration, the luminance unevenness of the light emitted from the backlight unit 41 is alleviated, and the unit surface light source light emitting element 37 incorporating the multi-color LED elements 3a, 3b, 3c shown in FIG. When employed, it has the effect of reducing color unevenness.

Next, a liquid crystal display device using unit surface light source light emitting elements as a tenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The display device 46 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is a combination of a unit surface light source light emitting element 1 and a liquid crystal panel 47 disposed as a liquid crystal member. The liquid crystal panel 47 has a configuration in which a liquid crystal element is disposed between a pair of polarizing plates, for example. According to the display device 46 according to the present embodiment, the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 has a pixel structure, and only the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 can be used as the surface light source for the display device 46, thereby simplifying the configuration.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, 8, and the like, a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting elements 1 are joined at the concave portions 9 and the convex portions 10, and large surface light source light emitter units 18, 20, 22 and 24 are formed, and a large liquid crystal panel corresponding to the size and shape of the surface light source emitter units 18, 20, 22, and 24 is provided to manufacture a large high-quality display device 46. Can do.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17, the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 and the liquid crystal panel 47 corresponding to the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 are integrated, and a plurality of units are joined in the horizontal direction by the unit surface light source light emitter element 1. A high quality display device 46 can be obtained.

Next, a display device with a touch panel as an eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 18, the display device 50 according to the present embodiment is a combination of a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements 1, for example, four surface light source light emitter units 18 connected to each other. The In the figure, the touch panel 51 is separated from the unit surface light source light emitting element 1 but may be in close contact. This also applies to the brightness enhancement film 38 and the light diffusion film 42 in each of the above-described embodiments. The touch panel 51 is configured by laminating a matrix switch 53 on a liquid crystal panel 52 for a display monitor.
As shown in FIG. 19, the liquid crystal panel 52 placed on the light emitting surface 5a of the surface light source light emitter 2 for the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 has, for example, 4 × 4 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions in plan view. The liquid crystal pixels 54 are arranged in a matrix by dividing the liquid crystal. Therefore, a liquid crystal pixel driving transistor 55 is provided for each liquid crystal pixel 54. The touch panel 51 installed on the liquid crystal panel 52 is partitioned in a grid pattern for each liquid crystal pixel 54 and electrodes (not shown) are arranged, and can be controlled to be turned on and off.

In the display device 50 described above, the liquid crystal pixels 54 and the matrix switch 53 electrodes of the touch panel 51 are not limited to the 4 × 4 pixel sections described above. . The number of liquid crystal pixels 54 can be determined by the size of the surface light source light emitter 2 in the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 and further by the desired resolution. Instead of the matrix switch 53, a position detection member such as a resistive film method or a surface acoustic wave method may be employed.
As described above, according to the display device 50 according to the present embodiment, the touch panel 51 is stacked on the surface light source light emitter 2 in the unit surface light source light emitter element 1 to allow input from the outside. For example, the touch panel 51 can be turned ON / OFF with a switch function.

Next, a display device with a communication function will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 as a twelfth embodiment.
The surface light source light emitter unit 56 shown in FIG. 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements 57 having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. Has been. The LED element 3 is disposed inside each surface light source light emitter 2 of each unit surface light source light emitter element 57, and an optical connector 5 including, for example, a microlens array 6 is disposed at an opposing position. .
In each surface light source illuminator 2, a transmitter 58 and a receiver 59 are provided as communication means on the side of the LED element 3, for example. At least one of the transmission device 58 and the reception device 59, for example, the detection device for detecting the luminance, color, temperature, and the like of light emitted from its own LED element 3 at its side is mounted on the transmission device 58. Signals such as color, temperature, etc. can be transmitted from the transmitter 58 to the receiver 59 of the adjacent unit surface light source light emitter element 57. Then, signals such as luminance, color, temperature, etc. can be transmitted and received sequentially between adjacent unit surface light source light emitter elements 57, 57.
Note that transmission and reception between the transmission device 58 and the reception device 59 may be performed within the same surface light source emitter 2.
As a communication method, wireless communication such as infrared communication and visible light communication, or wired communication can be adopted.

In this surface light source light emitter unit 56, each unit light source light emitter element 57 is connected to each other by sequentially communicating with each other between the surface light source light emitters 2 of the plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements 57. Information such as the brightness, color, temperature, etc. of the surface light emitted from the surface light source emitter element 57 can be recognized by communicating with each other. Then, by adjusting the brightness, color, temperature, etc. of the LED elements 3 among the plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements 57 based on these mutual information, the brightness and color of the surface light emitted from the surface light source light emitter unit 56 are adjusted. Distribution of temperature and temperature can be set and changed arbitrarily. In addition, it is possible to appropriately detect abnormality of each unit surface light source light emitting element 57 and the like.
Two or more sets of transmission / reception devices 58 and 59 may be provided in one unit surface light source light emitting element 57.

As a modification, as shown in FIG. 21, the LED element 3 may be used as a transmission device instead of the transmission device 58, and a part of the emitted light may be used as a signal. By receiving with the detecting element of the receiving device 59 such as the light emitting element 57, it is possible to recognize luminance, color, temperature, etc., and achieve both light emission and communication. Also in this case, by using a part of the light emitted from the LED element 3 of the adjacent unit surface light source emitter element 57 as a signal, the luminance and color in the unit surface light source emitter element 57 of the entire surface light source emitter unit 56 are used. It is possible to make adjustments by recognizing temperature and the like.
In addition, a transmission / reception device may be provided outside, and a control signal may be transmitted to each unit surface light source light emitter element 57 constituting the surface light source light emitter unit 56 or information may be received conversely.

Note that the unit surface light source light emitter elements 1 and 28, 33, 35, 57, etc. according to the above-described embodiments are arranged inside the surface light source light emitter 2 as the LED element 3 as a light source in the drawing, Not only this but a side edge type can also be adopted.
For example, when a side edge type is adopted as a modification of the unit surface light source luminous element 1 according to the first embodiment, it has the configuration shown in FIG. That is, the unit surface light source light emitter element 61 shown in FIG. 22 is provided with, for example, a plate-like prism 62 or the LED element 3 as a light source on the side portion of the light guide plate, and a reflecting surface 62 a is provided on the back surface of the prism 62. ing. Alternatively, a sheet-like reflecting member 63 may be provided on the back side separately from the prism 62. For example, a microlens sheet 6 is provided on the emission surface of the prism 62 as the optical connector 5 having the light emitting surface 5a as described above.

Accordingly, the light emitted from the LED element 3 is diffused by being reflected by the reflecting surface 62a or the reflecting member 63 provided on the back side of the prism 62, and is directed to the microlens array 6 as the optical connecting body 5 to be diffused. And is emitted from the light emitting surface 5a in the normal direction. The prism 62 may be formed in a tapered shape that is often used for a side-edge type backlight in which the thickness decreases as the distance from the LED element 3 increases instead of the parallel plate shape.
Since the LED element 3 is a substantially point light source, it has a function of forming a surface light source by configuring the optical connector 5 with a microlens array or the like, and has a light diffusion structure. In this case, the power supply 14 and the electrical wirings 15 and 16 need only be energized only to the side portion where the LED element 3 is provided. In this case, when connecting a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements 61 each having a side edge type light source, the concave portion 9 and the convex portion 10 used for the connection need to be provided on the other three side surfaces 8 that do not include the light source of the LED element 3. There is.

  The other side surface light emitter elements 28, 33, 35, 57 and the surface light source units 18, 20, 22, 24, 56 described above can also employ a side edge type structure. Further, backlight units 37 and 41 using the above-mentioned unit edge light source light emitting element and lighting devices, and liquid crystal display devices 46 and 50 and display devices can also be employed.

  In each of the embodiments of the present invention described above, the LED element 3 is used as the internal light source of the unit surface light source light emitter elements 1, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35, 57. For example, an organic or inorganic EL (electroluminescence) element may be used. In this case, since the light source of the EL element is thin, it is not necessary to provide the optical connector 5 because the plate-like EL element constitutes the unit surface light source light emitter element, and the surface light source light emitter unit using the EL element or Also, a backlight unit, an illumination device, and a display device using these as a light source can be configured to be thinner.

As a backlight unit, a lighting device, or a display device, a brightness enhancement film 38, a light diffusion film 42, a touch panel 51, and liquid crystal panels 47, 52 are arranged on the side of the unit surface light source luminous element that emits light from the light emitting surface. Each embodiment to be provided has been described, but the brightness enhancement film 38 and / or the light diffusion film 42 and the like may be disposed between the unit surface light source light emitting element 1 and the touch panel 51 and the liquid crystal panels 47 and 52. Or you may arrange | position the brightness | luminance improvement film 38 and / or the light-diffusion film 42, etc. in the output surface side of the unit surface light source light emitter element 1, the touch panel 51, and the liquid crystal panels 47 and 52.
As a result, a more uniform and higher brightness image can be observed from the viewer side.
In addition, these optical members may have a laminated structure in contact with each other, or may have a structure separated from each other with an air layer interposed therebetween.

It is a principal part top view of the unit surface light source light emitter element by 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a substantially center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the unit surface light source light emitter element shown in FIG. It is a circuit diagram of a unit surface light source luminous element. It is a principal part top view of the surface light source light emitter unit which connected four unit surface light source light emitter elements. It is a circuit diagram of the surface light source light emitter unit shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the surface light source light emitter unit by 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part top view which shows the surface light source light emitter unit by 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part top view which shows the surface light source light emitter unit by 4th embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a top view of the unit surface light source light emitter element which comprises the surface light source light emitter unit shown in FIG. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the unit surface light source light emitter element by 5th embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the unit surface light source light emitter element by 6th embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the unit surface light source light emitter element by 7th embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the backlight unit of the unit surface light source light emitter element by 8th embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the brightness enhancement film arrange | positioned at the upper part of the unit surface light source light emitter element shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a perspective view in which a lenticular lens film as a modified example disposed instead of the brightness enhancement film illustrated in FIG. 14 is disposed so as to overlap each other in a substantially orthogonal direction. It is a block diagram of the backlight unit by 9th embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the display apparatus by 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the touchscreen type display apparatus by 11th embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the liquid crystal panel and unit surface light source light emitting element of the touchscreen type display apparatus shown in FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the surface light source light emitter unit provided with the communication function by 12th Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the surface light source light emitter unit by the modification of 12th embodiment. It is side surface explanatory drawing which shows a side edge type unit surface light source light emitter element.

Explanation of symbols

1, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35, 41, 53, 57, 61 Unit surface light source luminous element 3 LED element (light source)
3a Red LED element 3b Green LED element 3c Blue LED element 5 Optical connector 5a Light emitting surface 6 Microlens array 6a Microlens 8 Side surface 9 Concave portion 10 Convex portion 11a Positive input terminal 11b Negative input terminal 12a Positive output terminal 12b Negative electrode Output terminal 14 power supply 15, 16 electrical wiring 18, 20, 22, 24, 56 surface light source light emitter unit 10 unit surface light source light emitter element 30 light transmission plate 31 diffraction gratings 34 a, 34 b, 34 c Color adjustment means (color tone correction means) )
37, 41 Backlight unit 38 Brightness enhancement film 39 Lenticular lens film 42 Light diffusion film 46, 50 Liquid crystal display device 47, 52 Liquid crystal panel 51 Touch panel 53 Matrix switch 55 Liquid crystal pixel driving transistor

Claims (14)

Unit surface light source emission having a surface light source emitter that emits light on the light emitting surface, and having either or both of positive and negative input terminals and positive and negative output terminals for connection to a power source A body element,
A unit surface light source light emitter element characterized in that the unit surface light source light emitter elements can be electrically connected to each other by joining them at the input terminal and the output terminal.   One of the input terminal and the output terminal is provided in a concave portion, and the other is provided in a convex portion that can be fitted into the concave portion, and the input terminal and the output terminal are electrically connected with the concave portion and the convex portion fitted. 2. The unit surface light source light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the unit surface light source light emitting element is connected.   3. The unit surface light source light emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode as a light source.   The unit light source light emitting element according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting diode includes a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, and a blue light emitting diode.   5. The unit surface light source light emitting element according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting diode is connected with color adjusting means for adjusting an amount of electric power supplied to the light emitting diode.   6. The unit surface light source element according to claim 1, wherein the surface light source body includes communication means capable of mutual communication with the surface light source elements of the other unit surface light source elements. .   The unit surface light source light emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a brightness enhancement film on the light emitting surface.   8. The unit surface light source luminous element according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusion layer on the light emitting surface.   About the said unit surface light source light emitter element described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8, it joins by the input terminal of one said unit surface light source light emitter element, and the output terminal of the other said unit surface light source light emitting element. The surface light source light emitter units are connected to each other.   About the said unit surface light source light emitter element described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8, it joins by the input terminal of one said unit surface light source light emitter element, and the output terminal of the other said unit surface light source light emitting element. Lighting devices that are connected to each other.   One or more unit surface light source light emitter elements according to any one of claims 1 to 8 are connected and arranged, and a liquid crystal member is provided on the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source light emitter element. A display device characterized by comprising:   One or more unit surface light source emitter elements according to any one of claims 1 to 8 are connected and arranged, and a touch panel is provided on the light emitting surface of the unit surface light source emitter element. A display device comprising: A backlight unit in which one or a plurality of unit surface light source light emitting elements according to any one of claims 1 to 8 are connected and arranged, and the light emitting surface side is arranged and is transmitted through the backlight unit. A display device comprising: an image display unit configured to display an image with light to be emitted.   9. A backlight unit comprising one or a plurality of unit surface light source light emitter elements according to claim 1 connected and arranged.

Images