JP2009245902A - Planar illumination device and liquid crystal display device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a planar illumination device with a simple structure which can emit light with proper color reproducibility and can display high definition images from a liquid crystal display panel. <P>SOLUTION: The illumination device has a light source, constructed of an LED unit and a light guide plate provided with a light incident face, to which light emitted from the light source enters and a light-emitting face for emitting the incident light. The LED unit has a pseudo-white LED chip which emits white light as the light emitted from a blue LED transmits through a phosphor layer, and a blue LED chip which is arranged in the vicinity of the pseudo-white LED chip and emits blue light. If the intensity of peak in the blue wavelength region of light mixing the light emitted from the pseudo-white LED chip and the light emitted from the blue LED chip is set to I<SB>0</SB>and the intensity in the wavelength 580 nm is set to I<SB>580</SB>, I<SB>580</SB>/I<SB>0</SB>>0.6 is satisfied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a planar illumination device used for a liquid crystal display device and the like and a liquid crystal display device using the same.

  As a liquid crystal display device, there is a configuration including a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit (that is, a planar illumination device) that irradiates light from the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and illuminates the liquid crystal display panel. This backlight unit basically includes a light source for illumination, a light guide plate that diffuses light emitted from the light source and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel, and optical members such as a prism sheet and a diffusion sheet.

  Currently, a backlight unit used for a liquid crystal display device such as a large-sized liquid crystal television is mainly a so-called direct type, in which an optical member such as a diffusion plate is disposed directly above a light source for illumination without a light guide plate. It is. In this system, a plurality of cold-cathode tubes, which are light sources, are arranged on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and a uniform light quantity distribution and necessary luminance are ensured with the inside as a white reflecting surface.

  However, in the direct type backlight unit, in order to make the light quantity distribution uniform, the thickness in the direction perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel needs to be a predetermined thickness, for example, about 30 mm. In the future, a thinner backlight unit will be desired. However, it is considered that it is difficult to realize a backlight unit having a thickness of 10 mm or less, for example, with a direct type, which is thinner from the viewpoint of uneven light quantity. .

Therefore, a backlight unit using a light guide plate in which scattering particles for scattering light in a transparent resin are mixed has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 includes a light scattering light guide having at least one light incident region and at least one light extraction surface region, and light source means for performing light incidence from the light incident surface region. The light scattering light source device is characterized in that the light body has a region that tends to decrease in thickness as it moves away from the light incident surface.

In such a planar illumination device, light emitted from a light source and entering the light-scattering light guide from the light incident surface propagates through the interior at a constant rate once or multiple scattering action. Receive. In addition, a substantial part of the light reaching the both surfaces of the light scattering light guide or the surface of the reflector is reflected and returned to the light scattering light guide.
Through such a complex process, a light beam emitted with high efficiency from the light extraction surface is generated with directivity in the obliquely forward direction when viewed from the direction of the light source. That is, the light emitted from the light source is emitted from the light extraction surface of the light scattering light guide.
Thus, it is described that uniform light can be emitted with high emission efficiency by using a light guide plate mixed with scattering particles.

  As the light guide plate, besides the light guide plate having a shape having a tendency to reduce the thickness as the distance from the light incident surface increases, the thickness decreases as the distance from the light incident surface increases. There is described a planar illumination device having a light guide plate in a shape in which light guide plates having a shape having a tendency are attached.

Here, as a light source for making light incident on the light guide plate of the planar lighting device, a light emitting diode (hereinafter also referred to as “LED”) can be used in addition to a fluorescent tube such as a cold cathode tube (Patent Document 2). And Patent Document 3).
Since the LED can emit light with high directivity, by using the LED as the light source, the light incident on the light guide plate can be delivered to the back of the light guide plate, and the planar illumination device is enlarged. be able to. Furthermore, the configuration of the power supply can be simplified.

Various methods have been proposed as methods for improving color reproducibility when a planar illumination device is used in a liquid crystal device.
For example, Patent Document 2 includes a first light source that emits blue monochromatic light and a second light source that emits red monochromatic light, and is generated by wavelength conversion from blue light and blue monochromatic light of the first light source. The light emitted from the white light source is arranged between the white light source that emits white light generated by additive color mixing by combining the green light and the red light of the second light source and the display surface of the liquid crystal display element. A liquid crystal display device having a structure including color correction means by subtractive color mixing is described.

Patent Documents 3 to 6 also describe a method for adjusting a color filter of a liquid crystal display panel.
For example, Patent Document 3 discloses that the wavelength for each 5 nm in the visible light region from 380 to 780 nm is λ _n nm, and the spectral transmittance (%) at the wavelength λ _n nm of the red pixel of the color filter is T ^R ( λ _n ), where the relative emission intensity obtained by normalizing the emission intensity of the backlight at the wavelength λ _n nm with the total emission intensity is I (λ _n ), these are I (620-680) × TR (620-680) A color image display device characterized by satisfying ≧ 1.1 is described.

  Patent Document 4 includes a plurality of optical shutters that control the amount of transmitted light, a color filter having three colors of red, green, and blue, and a single white light source that combines the light emission characteristics of each of the three colors. A color display device, wherein the peak wavelength of each color of the light source coincides with the peak wavelength of the transmission wavelength region of each color element of the color filter, and the light source has spectral characteristics in a narrower band than the color filter. The color display device is characterized in that the area of the triangle formed on the color coordinates by the transmitted light of the three colors transmitted through is larger than the area of the triangle indicating the transmission characteristics of the color filter.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a color liquid crystal display device using a blue-green-red light-emitting diode as a backlight color light source and using a blue-green-red color filter, wherein the blue peak wavelength of the light-emitting diode is 430 to 480 nm. The green peak wavelength is in the range of 520 nm to 570 nm, the red peak wavelength is in the range of 620 to 660 nm, and the spectral transmittance of the color filter at each of the blue, green, and red peak wavelengths of the light emitting diode is 80. A liquid crystal display device using a color filter, which is characterized by being at least%, is described.

  Patent Document 6 discloses a color filter having red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixel portions, and transmission on the shorter wavelength side than the peak wavelength of the transmittance of the green (G) pixel portion. The transmittance of both pixel portions at a wavelength where the transmittance and the transmittance on the longer wavelength side than the peak wavelength of the transmittance of the blue (B) pixel portion coincide with each other is 10% or less, and the transmittance of the green (G) pixel portion A liquid crystal display device using a color filter is described in which the maximum value of the rate is 60% or more and the maximum value of the transmittance of the blue (B) pixel portion is 50% or more.

JP 07-36037 A JP 2005-183139 A JP 2006-47975 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-253577 JP 2003-207770 A JP 2004-85592 A

  Here, an LED is used as the light source, and the configuration for emitting white light includes three types of LEDs having red, green, and blue as the central wavelengths of light emission, and the red light, green light, and blue emitted from each LED. A method of emitting white light by emitting light and mixing the colors, and a blue light emitted from the LED by providing a phosphor layer on the light emitting surface of the LED that emits light having a wavelength in the blue or ultraviolet region as a central wavelength. Or ultraviolet light is converted into white light by a phosphor layer and emitted.

  In the method using three types of LEDs having light emission central wavelengths of red, green, and blue, desired light is emitted from the light emission surface by adjusting the wavelength and light emission intensity of the light emitted from each color LED. However, since various characteristics such as temperature characteristics of the three types of LEDs are different, there are problems such as difficulty in control and complicated driving methods. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the light use efficiency and reduce the device cost.

On the other hand, a light source having a configuration in which a monochromatic LED and a phosphor are combined, in particular, a configuration in which a yellow phosphor is applied to the light emitting surface of an LED emitting blue light can be manufactured at low cost.
However, there is a problem that light emitted by combining such a blue LED and a phosphor has a low color temperature and it is difficult to adjust the color temperature without lowering the light utilization efficiency. For this reason, there is a problem that the color temperature of the light emitted from the light exit surface of the planar illumination device is low and adjustment is difficult.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 proposes a planar lighting device that combines a blue LED and a phosphor to form a pseudo-white light source and further arranges a red LED to improve the saturation.
By arranging the red LED in this manner, the color rendering property of red can be improved, but the color reproducibility of the entire lighting device may not be improved. In addition, the color temperature of light emitted from the light source cannot be improved.

Patent Documents 3 to 6 propose a liquid crystal display device that uses a color filter to enhance the color rendering or color reproducibility of emitted light.
Even when the color filter is arranged and transmitted through the color filter in this way, the color rendering of the light emitted from the liquid crystal display device can be improved, but the color reproducibility of the entire lighting device cannot be improved. There is. In addition, the color temperature of light emitted from the light source cannot be improved.

  In addition, a thin tandem backlight unit that uses a light guide plate that decreases in thickness as it moves away from the light source can be realized, but the light utilization efficiency depends on the relative dimensions of the cold cathode tube and the reflector. There was a problem that it was inferior to the direct type. In addition, when using a light guide plate having a shape that accommodates a cold cathode tube in a groove formed in the light guide plate, the thickness can be reduced as the distance from the cold cathode tube increases, but when the thickness of the light guide plate is reduced, There is a problem in that the luminance directly above the cold cathode tube disposed in the groove is increased, and the luminance unevenness of the light exit surface becomes remarkable. In addition, these types of light guide plates are complicated in shape, which increases processing costs, and is used for backlights of liquid crystal televisions having a large size, for example, a screen size of 37 inches or more, particularly 50 inches or more. When the light guide plate is used, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

In addition, light guide plates that have increased thickness as they move away from the light incident surface have been proposed in order to stabilize production and suppress luminance (light quantity) unevenness using multiple reflections. In addition, since the light incident from the light source passes through to the end portion in the opposite direction as it is, it is necessary to provide a prism or a dot pattern on the lower surface.
In addition, there is a method of disposing a reflecting member at the end opposite to the light incident surface and causing the incident light to be multiple-reflected and emitted from the light exit surface, but in order to increase the size, it is necessary to make the light guide plate thicker , It becomes heavy and the cost is high. There is also a problem that the light source is reflected, resulting in uneven brightness.

On the other hand, in the sidelight system using a flat light guide plate, minute scattering particles are dispersed inside in order to efficiently emit incident light from the light exit surface. With such a flat light guide plate, if the scattering fine particles are uniformly dispersed and the screen is enlarged, a light utilization efficiency of 83% can be ensured if the scattering fine particle concentration is 0.30 wt%. As shown in the illuminance distribution shown in FIG. 1, there is a problem that the central portion becomes dark and uneven in brightness, that is, uneven in brightness, and is visually recognized.
In order to flatten the luminance unevenness, it is necessary to decrease the concentration of the scattering fine particles to increase the light leaked from the tip, resulting in a decrease in utilization efficiency and a decrease in luminance. For example, if the scattering particle concentration is 0.10 wt% under the same conditions, the luminance unevenness can be greatly reduced as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 21, but the luminance is reduced and the light utilization efficiency is also reduced to 43%. There was a problem.
Furthermore, the brightness distribution on the light exit surface required for large displays such as large liquid crystal televisions is a so-called medium-high distribution, for example, a bell-shaped distribution near the center of the screen compared to the periphery. . However, a flat-shaped light guide plate in which scattered fine particles are dispersed can obtain a flat brightness distribution by reducing the concentration of the scattered fine particles, but there is a problem that a medium-high brightness distribution cannot be realized. It was.

  For thin backlights, it is also considered to use a light guide plate that increases in thickness as it moves away from the light source, as opposed to a tandem light guide plate. However, there is no disclosure about obtaining a light distribution near the center of the screen required for large-screen flat-screen LCD TVs compared to the periphery, so-called medium-high brightness distribution. There was a problem that wasn't done.

  In addition, the large light guide plate greatly expands and contracts due to ambient temperature and humidity, and repeats expansion and contraction of 5 mm or more with a size of about 50 inches. When the light guide plate expands and contracts, the light guide plate and the light source (for example, LED chip) may come into contact with each other, and the light source may fail, the light source may be misaligned, or the light guide plate may be damaged. Such failure of the light source, misalignment, and scratches on the light guide plate are problematic because they cause uneven brightness.

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems based on the above prior art, emit light with a simple configuration and high color reproducibility, and display a high-quality image from a liquid crystal display panel. The present invention provides a planar lighting device and a liquid crystal display device.
Another object of the present invention is in addition to the above-described object, and has a large and thin shape, which can emit light with high light use efficiency and low luminance unevenness, and is required for a large-screen thin liquid crystal television. A surface illumination device and a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining a light distribution in the vicinity of the center portion of the screen compared to the peripheral portion, that is, a so-called medium-high or bell-shaped brightness distribution and having little or no failure It is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a light source composed of at least one LED unit, a light incident surface on which light emitted from the light source is incident, and light that emits light incident from the light incident surface. A light guide plate having an emission surface, and the LED unit is composed of a blue LED that emits blue light and a yellow phosphor layer disposed on a surface of the blue LED, and the light emitted from the blue LED. Has at least one pseudo-white LED chip that emits white light by transmitting through the phosphor layer, and at least one blue LED chip that is disposed in the vicinity of the pseudo-white LED and emits blue light, The peak intensity in the blue wavelength region of the light obtained by mixing the light emitted from the pseudo white LED chip and the light emitted from the blue LED chip is I ₀ , and the wavelength is 58. The planar illumination device is characterized by satisfying I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 when the intensity at 0 nm is I ₅₈₀ .

Here, it is preferable that the blue LED chip emits blue light having a wavelength dependency different from that of the blue LED constituting the pseudo white LED chip.
The LED unit preferably has two types of pseudo white LED chips having different emission wavelengths.
The light source includes a plurality of the LED units and a support that supports the plurality of LED units, and the plurality of LED units are arranged in a row on one surface of the support. It is preferable.

The light guide plate has a light guide length between the two light incident surfaces of 480 mm or more and 500 mm or less, a particle size of the scattering particles of 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and a concentration of the scattering particles of 0.02 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less, and the particle diameter and concentration of the scattering particles are set such that the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles is a horizontal axis, and the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles is ) On the vertical axis, 6 points (4.0, 0.02), (4.0, 0.085), (7.0, 0.03), (7.0, 0.12) , (12.0, 0.06) and (12.0, 0.22), and the ratio of the light incident from the two light incident surfaces is emitted from the light emitting surface. The utilization efficiency of light is 55% or more, and the brightness of light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface is That the middle-high ratio of brightness distribution of the light exit plane indicating a ratio of brightness of light emitted from a central portion of the light exit surface is greater than 0%, preferably not more than 25%.
The light guide plate has a light guide length between the two light incident surfaces of 515 mm to 620 mm, a particle size of the scattering particles of 4.0 μm to 12.0 μm, and a concentration of the scattering particles. Is not less than 0.015 wt% and not more than 0.16 wt%, and the particle diameter and concentration of the scattering particles are such that the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles is the horizontal axis, and the particle concentration (wt %) On the vertical axis, 6 points (4.0, 0.015), (4.0, 0.065), (7.0, 0.02), (7.0, 0.09) ), (12.0, 0.035) and (12.0, 0.16).

In the light guide plate, a light guide length between the two light incident surfaces is 625 mm or more and 770 mm or less, a particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and the concentration of the scattering particles is Is 0.01 wt% or more and 0.12 wt% or less, and the particle diameter and concentration of the scattering particles are set such that the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles is a horizontal axis, and the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles is ) On the vertical axis, 6 points (4.0, 0.01), (4.0, 0.05), (7.0, 0.01), (7.0, 0.06) , (12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.12) are also preferable.
The light guide plate has a light guide length between the two light incident surfaces of 785 mm or more and 830 mm or less, a particle size of the scattering particles of 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and a concentration of the scattering particles. Is not less than 0.008 wt% and not more than 0.08 wt%, and the particle diameter and concentration of the scattering particles are set such that the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles is a horizontal axis, and the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles is ) On the vertical axis, 6 points (4.0, 0.008), (4.0, 0.03), (7.0, 0.009), (7.0, 0.04) , (12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.08).

  The light guide plate has a thickness of the light incident surface that is the thinnest is 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, and a thickness of the center of the bent portion that is the thickest is 1.0 mm or more and 6 mm. 0.04 mm or less, the radius of curvature of the curved portion is 6,000 mm or more and 45,000 mm or less, and the taper of the inclined surface with respect to a line parallel to the light exit surface is 0.1 ° or more and 0.8 °. The following is preferable.

The light guide plate has a scattering cross section of the scattering particles of Φ, a density of the scattering particles of N _p , a correction coefficient of K _C , and a length from the light incident surface to the end surface in the light incident direction of L. It is also preferable to satisfy the inequality 1.1 ≦ Φ · N _p · L · K _C ≦ 8.2 and 0.005 ≦ K _C ≦ 0.1.

Further, the present invention provides a planar illumination device according to any one of the above,
A color filter disposed on a surface from which light of the planar lighting device is emitted and configured by a red filter having at least a red color element, a green filter having a green color element, and a blue filter having a blue color element A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal panel comprising:

According to the present invention, even when a pseudo white LED chip is used as a light source, a planar illumination device capable of emitting light having a high color reproducibility and NTSC ratio and a high color temperature from the light emission surface is provided. be able to.
In addition, according to the present invention, light having a thin shape, high light use efficiency, and less luminance unevenness can be emitted, and the vicinity of the center portion of the screen required for a large-screen thin liquid crystal television is provided. It is possible to obtain a bright distribution compared to the peripheral portion, that is, a so-called medium-high or bell-shaped brightness distribution. Further, it is possible to prevent the light source and the light guide plate from being damaged and the positional relationship from deviating, and to obtain a planar illumination device that is unlikely to break down and that is less likely to cause uneven brightness and a liquid crystal display device using the same.

The planar lighting device according to the present invention will be described below in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
In the following description, a two-sided incident type planar illumination device in which light from a light source is incident on two sides of a light guide plate is a representative example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a liquid crystal display device including a planar illumination device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the light source section of the planar illumination device (hereinafter also referred to as “backlight unit”) shown in FIG. 4A is a partially omitted plan view showing the light guide plate of the planar illumination device shown in FIG. 2 and the light sources arranged on the two sides thereof, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is line sectional drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 10 includes a backlight unit 20, a liquid crystal display panel 12 disposed on the light emission surface side of the backlight unit 20, and a drive unit 14 that drives the liquid crystal display panel 12. Have In FIG. 1, a part of the liquid crystal display panel 12 is not shown in order to show the configuration of the planar lighting device.

The liquid crystal display panel 12 is arranged in advance in a specific direction, and a liquid crystal cell that changes the arrangement of molecules by applying an electric field and switches between transmission and non-transmission of light using a change in refractive index. The liquid crystal cell layer (illustration omitted) arranged regularly, and the color filter 80 arrange | positioned at the display surface side (surface by which the light which injected into the liquid crystal cell is radiate | emitted) of a liquid crystal cell layer are provided.
The liquid crystal display panel 12 selectively applies an electric field to each liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal cell layer to change the molecular arrangement, changes the refractive index generated in the liquid crystal cell, and switches between transmission and non-transmission of light, By selecting light that passes through the color filter 80, characters, figures, images, and the like are displayed on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 12.

Hereinafter, the color filter 80 of the liquid crystal display panel 12 will be described.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a part of the color filter in an enlarged manner.
The color filter 80 includes a red filter 82R that transmits red light component light, a green filter 82G that transmits green light component light, and a blue filter 82B that transmits blue light component light. 12 is arranged inside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the red filter 82R, the green filter 82G, and the blue filter 82B constituting the color filter 80 are arranged in order based on a certain rule. More specifically, a red filter 82R, a green filter 82G, and a blue filter 82B are arranged corresponding to one pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 12, respectively. Further, the above-described liquid crystal cell is arranged corresponding to each filter.
In the present embodiment, the color filter 80 is divided into a checkered pattern, and one red filter 82R, one green filter 82G, and one blue filter 82B are arranged in this order for one divided checkered region. In other words, in this embodiment, one pixel of the liquid crystal display panel is constituted by three cells in which each color is arranged.

Here, the filters of the respective colors are filters having different transmittance characteristics, and are filters having a high spectral transmittance in the wavelength range of the corresponding color and a low transmittance in the other wavelength ranges.
Specifically, the red filter 82R is a film having high transmittance characteristics of light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more, which is a red light component, and low spectral transmittance of light in other wavelength regions.
The green filter 82G is a film having a transmittance characteristic that is high in spectral transmittance of light having a wavelength of 500 nm or more and 570 nm or less, which is a green light component, and low in spectral transmittance of light in other wavelength regions. The filter 82B is a film having a transmittance characteristic that has a high spectral transmittance of light having a wavelength of 420 nm or more and 500 nm or less, which is a blue light component, and low spectral transmittance of light in other wavelength regions.
In other words, the red filter 82R has a wavelength with a maximum spectral transmittance of 600 nm or more, the green filter 82G has a wavelength with a maximum spectral transmittance of 500 nm or more and 570 nm or less, and the blue filter 82B The wavelength with the maximum transmittance is 420 nm or more and 500 nm or less.

  In the present embodiment, the filters for the respective colors are provided equally, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ratio may be different for each color. Further, the arrangement order is not particularly limited, and can be an arbitrary order.

  The light transmitted through the red filter 82R becomes red light, the light transmitted through the green filter 82G becomes green light, and the light transmitted through the blue filter 82B becomes blue light and is emitted from the color filter 80.

  The drive unit 14 applies a voltage to the transparent electrode in the liquid crystal display panel 12, changes the direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal cell, and controls the transmittance of light transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel 12. That is, as described above, the drive unit 14 controls whether or not light is transmitted through the filters of each color at each position by the liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal display panel 12. In this way, an image or the like is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 12 by switching whether to transmit the light that passes through the filter according to the position.

  The backlight unit 20 is an illuminating device that irradiates light from the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 12 to the entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel 12, and has a light emission surface 24 a having substantially the same shape as the image display surface of the liquid crystal display panel 12.

The backlight unit 20 according to the present invention includes two light sources 28, a light guide plate 30, an optical member unit 32, and a reflection plate 34 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 (A) and 4 (B). The lighting device main body 24 has a lower housing 42, an upper housing 44, a reinforcing member 46, and a supporting member 48.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a power storage unit 49 that stores a plurality of power supplies for supplying power to the light source 28 is attached to the back side of the lower housing 42 (see FIG. 2) of the housing 26.
Hereinafter, each component which comprises the backlight unit 20 is demonstrated.

The illuminating device body 24 includes a light source 28 that emits light, a light guide plate 30 that emits light emitted from the light source 28 as planar light, and an optical axis distance and an optical axis vertical distance between the light guide plate 30 and the light source 28. Is kept constant, the optical member unit 32 that scatters and diffuses the light emitted from the light guide plate 30 to make the light more uniform, and the light leaked from the light guide plate 30 is reflected. And a reflection plate 34 that is incident again on the light guide plate.
Here, the optical axis distance between the light guide plate 30 and the light source 28 is a distance between the light emitting surface of the light source 28 and the light incident surfaces (30d, 30e) of the light guide plate 30 as shown in FIG. c. The optical axis vertical distance between the light guide plate 30 and the light source 28 refers to the distance between the respective optical axes in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 30 and the light source 28.

First, the light source 28 will be described.
5A is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the light source 28 of the planar illumination device 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 5B is a diagram of the light source 28 shown in FIG. FIG. 5C is a schematic perspective view showing only one pseudo white LED (light emitting diode) chip 54 constituting the light source 28 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the light source 28 includes a plurality of LED units 50 and a light source support portion 52.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the LED unit 50 includes one pseudo white LED chip 54 and one blue LED chip 56.
The pseudo white LED chip 54 is a chip in which a fluorescent material is applied to the surface of a light emitting diode that emits blue light, and emits white light from the light emitting surface 58.
Specifically, the pseudo white LED chip 54 has a characteristic that a fluorescent material applied to the surface of the light emitting diode fluoresces when blue light emitted from the light emitting diode is transmitted. For this reason, the pseudo white LED chip 54 emits blue light from the light emitting diode, thereby causing the fluorescent material through which the blue light has been transmitted to emit light. White light is generated and emitted by the light emitted when the substance is fluorescent.
Here, examples of the pseudo white LED chip 54 include a chip in which a YAG (yttrium, aluminum, garnet) fluorescent material is coated on the surface of a GaN-based light-emitting diode, an InGaN-based light-emitting diode, or the like.

The blue LED chip 54 is an LED chip composed of a light emitting diode that emits blue light, and emits blue light from the light emitting surface.
As the blue LED, a GaN light emitting diode, an InGaN light emitting diode, an AlGaN light emitting diode, or the like can be used.

The LED unit 50 is configured as described above.
The LED unit 50 emits the mixed white light by mixing the light emitted from the pseudo white LED chip and the light emitted from the blue LED chip with a light guide plate described later.
Here, the LED unit 50 has a peak intensity in the blue wavelength region of light obtained by mixing the light emitted from the pseudo white LED chip and the light emitted from the blue LED chip as I _0, and the intensity at a wavelength of 580 nm. When I ₅₈₀ , light satisfying I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is emitted.
Here, the blue wavelength region is a wavelength region of 430 nm or more and 480 nm or less. The peak intensity is the highest intensity in the region.

The light source support portion 52 is a plate-like member that is disposed so as to face the light incident surface (30 d, 30 e) whose one surface is the thinnest side end surface of the light guide plate 30.
The light source support 52 supports the plurality of LED units 50 on a side surface that is a surface facing the light incident surface (30d, 30e) of the light guide plate 30 with a predetermined distance therebetween. Specifically, the plurality of LED units 50 constituting the light source 28 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first light incident surface 30d or the second light incident surface 30e of the light guide plate 30 to be described later, in other words, the light emitting surface 30a. Are arranged in an array parallel to the line where the first light incident surface 30d intersects or parallel to the line where the light exit surface 30a and the second light incident surface 30e intersect, and are fixed on the light source support 52. ing.
Further, the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue LED chip 56 constituting each LED unit 50 also support the light source along the longitudinal direction of the first light incident surface 30d or the second light incident surface 30e of the light guide plate 30 described later. It is fixed on the part 52.
The light source support 52 is formed of a metal having good thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, and also has a function as a heat sink that absorbs heat generated from the LED unit 50 and dissipates it to the outside. The light source support portion may be provided with fins that can increase the surface area and enhance the heat dissipation effect, or may be provided with a heat pipe that transfers heat to the heat dissipation member.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5C, the light emitting surface 58 of the pseudo white LED chip 54 of the present embodiment is longer in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction than in the arrangement direction of the pseudo white LED chip 54. Has a short rectangular shape, that is, a rectangular shape having a short side in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 30 to be described later (direction perpendicular to the light exit surface 30a). In other words, the light emitting surface 58 has a shape in which b> a, where a is the length perpendicular to the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 and b is the length in the arrangement direction. Further, q> b, where q is the LED chip (pseudo white LED 54 or blue LED 56) adjacent to the pseudo white LED chip 54. Thus, the relationship between the length a of the light emitting surface 58 of the pseudo white LED chip 54 in the direction perpendicular to the light emitting surface 30a of the light guide plate 30, the length b in the arrangement direction, and the arrangement interval q of the pseudo white LED chips 54 is as follows. Q>b> a is preferably satisfied.
By making the light emitting surface 58 rectangular, a thin light source can be obtained while maintaining a large light output. By reducing the thickness of the light source, the planar illumination device can be reduced in thickness. In addition, the number of LED chips can be reduced.

Since the pseudo white LED chip 54 can make the light source thinner, it is preferable that the pseudo white LED chip 54 has a rectangular shape in which the thickness direction of the light guide plate 30 is a short side. LED chips having various shapes such as a shape, a polygonal shape, and an elliptical shape can be used.
In addition, although description is abbreviate | omitted, it is preferable to make the blue LED chip 56 into the shape and arrangement | positioning space | interval which satisfy | fill the said relationship similarly to the pseudo white LED chip 54.

In the present embodiment, since the apparatus can be made thinner and more appropriately mixed in color, the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue LED chip 56 of each LED unit 50 are connected to the first light incident of the light guide plate 30 described later. Although arranged along the longitudinal direction of the surface 30d or the second light incident surface 30e, the present invention is not limited to this, and the arrangement relationship is not particularly limited, and the first light incident surface 30d or the second light incident surface. You may arrange in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of 30e.
In the present embodiment, the LED units 50 are arranged in a single row to form a single layer structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of LED arrays having a configuration in which a plurality of LED units 50 are arranged on an array support are provided. A multi-layered LED array having a configuration of individual and stacked layers may be used as the light source. Even when LED arrays are stacked in this manner, more LED arrays can be stacked by making the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue LED chip 56 of the LED unit 50 rectangular and making the LED array thin. In this manner, a larger amount of light can be output by stacking multiple LED arrays, that is, by increasing the filling rate of the LED array (each LED chip of the LED unit). Moreover, it is preferable that arrangement | positioning space | intervals also satisfy | fill the said formula similarly to the above-mentioned each LED chip of the LED array of the layer adjacent to each LED chip of an LED array. That is, in the LED array, it is preferable that each LED chip of the LED unit and each LED chip of the LED unit of the LED array of the adjacent layer are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

Next, the light guide plate 30 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the shape of the light guide plate 30. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the light guide plate 30, and FIG. 7B is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the light guide plate 30 illustrated in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the light guide plate 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat light emission surface 30a and two ends formed substantially perpendicular to the light emission surface 30a at both ends of the light emission surface 30a. Two light incident surfaces (first light incident surface 30d and second light incident surface 30e) and opposite to the light exit surface 30a, that is, on the back side of the light guide plate, the first light incident surface 30d and the second light Parallel to the incident surface 30e, symmetrical with respect to the bisector α (see FIGS. 1 and 4) that bisects the light exit surface 30a, and tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the light exit surface 30a. Two inclined surfaces (first inclined surface 30b and second inclined surface 30c) and both ends of the light emitting surface 30a where the light incident surface is not formed (perpendicular to the line of intersection of the light emitting surface 30a and the light incident surface) Two side surfaces (first side surface 30) formed substantially perpendicular to the light exit surface 30a. And a the second side surface 30 g). A curved portion 30h having a radius of curvature R is formed at a joint portion between the two inclined surfaces (the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c).

Note that the two light incident surfaces 30d and 30e are located opposite to the opposite long sides of the substantially rectangular light exit surface 30a, and the two light incident surfaces 30d are arranged from the light sources 28 disposed opposite to each other. And 30e propagate in the light guide plate 30 parallel to the opposing short sides of the substantially rectangular light exit surface 30a.
The first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c are axisymmetric with respect to the bisector α, and are inclined symmetrically with respect to the light exit surface 30a. The curved portion 30h is also curved in line symmetry with respect to the bisector α. The light guide plate 30 has a thickness that increases from the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e toward the center, and a portion corresponding to the bisector α in the center, that is, the center of the curved portion 30h. The portion is thickest (tmax), and the two light incident surfaces (first light incident surface 30d and second light incident surface 30e) at both ends are thinnest (tmin).
That is, the cross-sectional shape of the light guide plate 30 is line symmetric with respect to the central axis passing through the bisector α.

  Here, in the present invention, the light guide length L through which the light propagates between the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e has a liquid crystal panel 4 having a screen size of 37 inches (37 ″) or more. Since the target is the liquid crystal panel 4 having a screen size of 480 mm or more and a maximum screen size of 65 inches (65 ″) or more, it needs to be 830 mm or less. More specifically, for a screen size of 37 inches (37 ″), the light guide length L is not less than 480 mm and not more than 500 mm, resulting in screen sizes of 42 inches (42 ″) and 46 inches (46 ″). On the other hand, the light guide length L is not less than 515 mm and not more than 620 mm, and for screen sizes of 52 inches (52 ") and 57 inches (57"), the light guide length L is not less than 625 mm and not more than 770 mm. For a screen size of 65 inches (65 ″), the light guide length L is preferably 785 mm or more and 830 mm or less.

Further, the minimum thickness tmin of the light incident surfaces 30d and 30e where the light guide plate 30 has the smallest thickness is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.
The reason is that if the minimum thickness is too small, the light incident surfaces 30d and 30e become too small, light incidence from the light source 28 decreases, and light with sufficient luminance cannot be emitted from the light emitting surface 30a. However, if the minimum thickness is too large, the maximum thickness becomes too thick, and the weight is too heavy to be suitable as an optical member such as a liquid crystal display device. It is because it does not satisfy more than%.
The maximum thickness tmax at the center of the curved portion 30h where the light guide plate 30 is thickest is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less.
The reason is that if the maximum thickness is too thick, the weight is too heavy to be suitable as an optical member such as a liquid crystal display device, and light penetrates and transmits, so that the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more. If the maximum thickness is too thin, the radius of curvature R of the central curved portion 30h is too large to be suitable for molding, and as in the case of a flat plate, at a particle concentration that achieves a medium-high luminance distribution, This is because the light use efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more, and conversely, a medium-high distribution cannot be realized at a particle concentration at which the light use efficiency is 55% or more.

Therefore, the taper of the inclined back surfaces 30b and 30c, that is, the taper angle (inclination angle) is preferably 0.1 ° or more and 0.8 ° or less.
The reason is that if the taper is too large, the maximum thickness will be larger than necessary, and the distribution will be too medium and high, and if the taper is too small, the minimum thickness will be small. Similarly to the case where the radius is too large, the curvature radius R (hereinafter also referred to as “center radius R”) of the curved portion 30h is too large to be suitable for molding, and a medium-high distribution is obtained at a particle concentration at which light utilization efficiency is 55% or more. This is because the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more at a particle concentration that achieves a medium-high luminance distribution, as in the case of a flat plate.
As a result, the curvature radius R of the curved portion 30h is preferably 6,000 mm or more and 45,000 mm or less.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the taper angle of the inclined back surfaces 30b and 30c is θ, L _R = 2R sin θ, and the maximum thickness tmax = tmin − [(L _R / 2 ) Tan θ + R cos θ−R], and taper angle θ = tan ⁻¹ [(tmax−tmin) / (L / 2)].

In the present invention, the shape of the light guide plate 30 is made such that the thickness increases from the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e toward the center (hereinafter referred to as an inverted wedge shape). In this case, the incident light is easily propagated deeper, the in-plane uniformity is improved while maintaining the light use efficiency, and a so-called bell-shaped luminance distribution is obtained. That is, by adopting such a shape, the distribution in which the center becomes dark in the above-described conventional flat light guide plate can be made uniform or medium-high, so-called bell-shaped distribution.
Further, by smoothly joining the central joining portions of the inclined back surfaces 30b and 30c as the curved portion 30h, the band unevenness that can be formed at the central joining portion can be made uniform or medium-high so-called bell-shaped distribution.

  In the light guide plate 30 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light incident from the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e is scattered fine particles contained in the light guide plate 30 (details will be described later). The light passes through the light guide plate 30 and is reflected directly or after being reflected by the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c, and then is emitted from the light exit surface 30a. At this time, some light may leak from the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c, but the leaked light covers the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c of the light guide plate 30. Then, the light is reflected by a reflection sheet (not shown) and is again incident on the light guide plate 30.

  The light guide plate 30 is formed by kneading and dispersing minute scattering particles for scattering light in a transparent resin. Examples of the transparent resin material used for the light guide plate 30 include PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PC (polycarbonate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), benzyl methacrylate, MS resin, or COP (cycloolefin polymer). An optically transparent resin such as As the scattering particles kneaded and dispersed in the light guide plate 30, Tospearl, silicone, silica, zirconia, dielectric polymer, or the like can be used. By including such scattering particles in the light guide plate 30, it is possible to emit illumination light that is uniform and has less luminance unevenness from the light exit surface.

Here, the particle size of the scattering fine particles dispersed in the light guide plate 30 used in the planar lighting device 10 of the present invention needs to be 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less. The reason is that high scattering efficiency can be obtained, the forward scattering property is large, the wavelength dependency is small, and color unevenness can be selected.
In addition, it is preferable to consider the following points in addition to the wavelength dependency in selecting the optimum particle size of the scattering fine particles to be dispersed in the light guide plate 30 used in the planar lighting device 10 of the present invention.
First, in the scattered light intensity distribution (angular distribution) by a single particle, it is necessary to satisfy the condition that the light scattered in the forward 0 to 5 ° is 90% or more. This is because the light guide plate 30 used in the planar illumination device 10 of the present invention having an inverted wedge shape has a distance of at least 240 mm from the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e on the side surface of the light guide plate 30, at one side. In the case of incident light, it is necessary to guide light at least a distance of 480 mm or more from the light incident surface. If less than 90% of light scatters 0 to 5 ° forward, light is guided to the back of the light guide plate 30. It is not possible.

For this reason, when the particle diameter of the scattering fine particles is smaller than 4.0 μm, that is, when the particle diameter is smaller than 4.0 μm, the scattering becomes isotropic, so the above condition cannot be satisfied. When an acrylic resin is selected as the base material and a silicone resin is selected as the particles, the particle size of the silicone resin scattering fine particles is more preferably 4.5 μm or more.
On the other hand, if the particle size of the scattering fine particles is larger than 12.0 μm, that is, if it exceeds 12.0 μm, the forward scattering property of the particles becomes too strong, so that the mean free path in the system increases and the number of scattering decreases. For this reason, luminance unevenness (firefly unevenness) between the light sources (LEDs) appears in the vicinity of the incident end, and thus the upper limit value is limited to 12.0 μm.
The reason is that if the particle concentration is too high, it becomes a phenomenon similar to that of a flat plate, so that a medium-high luminance distribution cannot be realized. If the particle concentration is too low, light penetrates and passes through. This is because the utilization efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more.

Thus, by selecting an optimum particle size (combination of particle refractive index and base material refractive index) included in the limited range of the particle size of the scattering fine particles of the present invention, it is possible to obtain outgoing light with no wavelength unevenness. Can do.
In the above-described example, scattering particles having a single particle size are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a mixture of scattering particles having a plurality of particle sizes may be used.

Moreover, since the light guide length of the light guide plate 30 used in the planar illumination device 10 of the present invention is 480 mm to 830 mm, the concentration of the scattering particles needs to be 0.008 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less.
Specifically, when the light guide length L is 480 mm ≦ L ≦ 500 mm, the concentration of the scattering particles needs to be 0.02 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less.
In addition, when the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 480 mm corresponding to a screen size of 37 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.02 wt% or more and 0.085 wt%. The content is more preferably as follows, and most preferably 0.047 wt%. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.03 wt% or more and 0.12 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.065 wt%. . Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.06 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.122 wt%. .

Further, when the light guide length L is 515 mm ≦ L ≦ 620 mm, the concentration of the scattering particles is preferably 0.015 wt% or more and 0.16 wt% or less.
In addition, when the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 560 mm corresponding to a screen size of 42 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.015 wt% or more and 0.065 wt%. More preferably, it is more preferably 0.035 wt%. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.02 wt% or more and 0.09 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.048 wt%. . Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.04 wt% or more and 0.16 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.09 wt%.

  In addition, when the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 590 mm corresponding to a screen size of 46 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.015 wt% or more and 0.060 wt%. More preferably, it is more preferably 0.031 wt%. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.02 wt% or more and 0.08 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.043 wt%. . Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.035 wt% or more and 0.15 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.081 wt%.

When the light guide length L is 625 mm ≦ L ≦ 770 mm, the concentration of the scattering particles is preferably 0.01 wt% or more and 0.12 wt% or less.
When the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 660 mm corresponding to a screen size of 52 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.010 wt% or more and 0.050 wt% or less. Is more preferable, and 0.025 wt% is most preferable. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.015 wt% or more and 0.060 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.034 wt%. Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.030 wt% or more and 0.120 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.064 wt%.

  Furthermore, when the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 730 mm corresponding to a screen size of 57 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.010 wt% or more and 0.040 wt% or less. Is more preferable, and 0.021 wt% is most preferable. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.010 wt% or more and 0.050 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.028 wt%. . Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is preferably 0.020 wt% or more and 0.100 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.053 wt%.

When the light guide length L is 785 mm ≦ L ≦ 830 mm, it is preferable that the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.006 wt% or more and 0.08 wt% or less.
Further, when the light guide length of the light guide plate is L = 830 mm corresponding to a screen size of 65 inches and the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.5 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.008 wt% or more and 0.030 wt% or less. More preferably, it is most preferable to set it as 0.016 wt%. When the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 7.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.009 wt% or more and 0.040 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.022 wt%. . Furthermore, when the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 12.0 μm, the concentration of the scattering particles is more preferably 0.020 wt% or more and 0.080 wt% or less, and most preferably 0.041 wt%. .

From the above, in the present invention, the particle size and concentration of the scattering particles dispersed in the light guide plate 30 need to satisfy a predetermined relationship in accordance with the light guide length between the two light incident surfaces 30d and 30e of the light guide plate 30. I understand that there is.
Therefore, in the present invention, when the light guide length of the light guide plate 30 is 480 mm or more and 500 mm or less, as described above, the particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less. The concentration needs to be 0.02 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less, and as shown in the graph of FIG. 8A, the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles is taken as the horizontal axis, When the particle concentration (wt%) is the vertical axis, the particle size and concentration of the scattering particles are 6 points (4.0, 0.02), (4.0, 0.085), (7.0, 0). .03), (7.0, 0.12), (12.0, 0.06) and (12.0, 0.22).
When the light guide length of the light guide plate 30 is 515 mm or more and 620 mm or less, as described above, the particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.00. Scattering is 015 wt% or more and 0.16 wt% or less, and the particle diameter (μm) is on the horizontal axis and the particle concentration (wt%) is on the vertical axis as shown in the graph of FIG. The particle size and concentration of the particles are 6 points (4.0, 0.015), (4.0, 0.065), (7.0, 0.02), (7.0, 0.09), It must be within the region enclosed by (12.0, 0.035) and (12.0, 0.16).

When the light guide length of the light guide plate 30 is 625 mm or more and 770 mm or less, as described above, the particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.00. When the particle size (μm) is on the horizontal axis and the particle concentration (wt%) is on the vertical axis as shown in the graph of FIG. Particle size and concentration of 6 points (4.0, 0.01), (4.0, 0.05), (7.0, 0.01), (7.0, 0.06), ( 12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.12).
When the light guide length of the light guide plate 30 is 785 mm or more and 830 mm or less, as described above, the particle diameter of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, and the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.00. Scattering is 008 wt% or more and 0.08 wt% or less, and the particle diameter (μm) is the horizontal axis and the particle concentration (wt%) is the vertical axis as shown in the graph of FIG. The particle size and concentration of the particles are 6 points (4.0, 0.008), (4.0, 0.03), (7.0, 0.009), (7.0, 0.04), It must be within the area surrounded by (12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.08).

  The reason why the particle size and concentration of the scattering particles need to be within the region surrounded by the six points in the graphs shown in FIGS. 8 (A), (B), FIG. 9 (A) and (B) If the particle concentration is too high, it becomes the same as a flat plate when the particle concentration is too high, and a medium-high luminance distribution cannot be realized. If the particle concentration is too low, light penetrates and passes through, so that the light utilization efficiency 55 If the particle size is too small, the light utilization efficiency is improved, but a medium-high luminance distribution cannot be realized, and if the particle size is too large, a medium-high luminance distribution can be realized. However, the light utilization efficiency is low.

Thus, by selecting the optimum particle concentration included in the limited range of the particle concentration of the scattering fine particles of the present invention, it is possible to emit light with higher light utilization efficiency compared to the case where it is dispersed in a flat light guide plate. it can. In the present invention, light utilization efficiency of at least 55% or more, that is, exceeding 70% can be achieved.
From the above, since an optimum combination of particle diameter and particle concentration can be selected, the light emitted from the LED light source can be emitted uniformly with a mixing length of about 10 mm by selecting these combinations.

The light guide plate 30 used in the planar illumination device 10 according to the present invention in which the scattering fine particles are dispersed is used in the light utilization efficiency indicating the ratio of light incident from the two light incident surfaces. Needs to be 55% or more. The reason for this is that if the light utilization efficiency is less than 55%, a light source with a higher output is required to obtain the required luminance. However, if a light source with a higher output is used, the light source becomes hot and power consumption is increased. This is because the warpage and elongation of the light guide plate 30 increase, and the required brightness distribution, that is, the so-called medium-high or bell-shaped brightness distribution cannot be obtained.
Further, the medium to altitude degree of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface, which indicates the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface, is greater than 0%. It must be 25% or less. The reason for this is that the vicinity of the center of the screen required for a large-screen thin LCD TV is brighter than the periphery, that is, a so-called medium-high or bell-shaped brightness distribution.
Such a light guide plate 30 can be manufactured using an extrusion molding method or an injection molding method.

Here, the light guide plate 30 includes a first light incident surface 30d, a second light incident surface 30e, a light exit surface 30a, which are light incident surfaces, a first inclined surface 30b, and a second inclined surface 30c, which are light reflecting surfaces. It is preferable that the surface roughness Ra of at least one of the surfaces is smaller than 380 nm, that is, Ra <380 nm.
By making the surface roughness Ra of the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e to be light incident surfaces smaller than 380 nm, diffuse reflection on the surface of the light guide plate can be ignored, that is, the surface of the light guide plate Diffuse reflection can be prevented, and the incident efficiency can be improved.
Further, by making the surface roughness Ra of the light exit surface 30a smaller than 380 nm, the diffuse reflection transmission on the light guide plate surface can be ignored, that is, the diffuse reflection transmission on the light guide plate surface can be prevented, Light can be transmitted to the back by total reflection.
Furthermore, by making the surface roughness Ra of the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c to be light reflecting surfaces smaller than 380 nm, diffuse reflection can be ignored, that is, diffuse reflection on the light reflecting surface is reduced. It is possible to prevent the total reflection component from being transmitted further.

The light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention is basically configured as described above, but can be designed as follows. In the following design method, a case where the light guide plate is not formed with various holes for connecting to the upper housing 42 and the lower housing 44 of the housing 26 will be described. Since the light is formed only on the part, the light emitted from the light exit surface is basically the same.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for designing a light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention.
First, as shown in FIG. 10, in step S10, mixing is performed from the screen size of the liquid crystal display device to which the backlight unit using the light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention is applied to the short side length of the screen size. The light guide length is determined by adding about 10 mm as the zone length.
Next, in step S12, the maximum thickness tmax of the light guide plate is determined from the screen size.
In step S14, the base material resin used for the light guide plate and the particle conditions of the scattering fine particles to be added are determined.

  Subsequently, in step S16, the particle concentration at which the light use efficiency E [%] is 55% or more is determined in the flat-plate-shaped scattered fine particle dispersion light guide plate (scattering light guide plate) having the determined light guide length. Here, E = Iout / Iin × 100 [%], and Iout and Iin represent incident and outgoing light beams [lm], respectively. The particle concentration is determined by simulation. If there is a difference between the actual measurement value of the light utilization efficiency E and the simulation value, it is necessary to determine the design value of the particle concentration in consideration of the difference. There is. If there is this difference, it is preferable to obtain in advance the difference between the actual measured value and the simulation value of the light utilization efficiency E.

  Next, in step S18, the design value of the particle concentration is fixed, and the taper angle θ or the maximum thickness tmax of the inclined rear surface shape (reverse wedge shape) of the light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention is changed. The brightness distribution of the light exit surface of the light plate is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the intermediate altitude is within a predetermined range, and the taper angle θ is determined. At this time, the radius of curvature R of the central curved portion is determined according to the light guide length and combined with the taper. Here, the intermediate altitude degree D is represented by 0 <D ≦ 25 and D = [(Lcen−Ledg) / Lcen] × 100 [%]. Here, the medium altitude degree D means the medium altitude degree (the degree at which the central portion becomes high) of the luminance distribution, and Lcen and Ledg represent the luminance at the central portion and the luminance at the screen end side (near the incident portion), respectively. The taper angle θ is determined by simulation. If there is a difference between the measured value of the particle concentration and the simulation value, the luminance distribution is grasped in consideration of the difference, and the intermediate altitude D It is necessary to determine the taper angle θ. When there is this difference, it is preferable to obtain the difference between the actually measured value of the particle concentration and the simulation value in advance.

Subsequently, in step S20, the incident portion thickness (minimum thickness) tmin is determined from the relationship between the maximum thickness tmax of the light guide plate and the taper (taper angle θ) and the radius of curvature R of the central curved portion. An LED chip having a light emitting part with a thickness less than the incident part thickness tmin is selected.
In this way, the light guide plate used for the planar illumination device of the present invention can be designed.
The relationship between the particle concentration [wt%], the light utilization efficiency [%] and the intermediate altitude [%] in the case of a light guide plate with a screen size of 37 inches, a maximum thickness of 3.5 mm, and a light guide length of 480 mm As shown in FIG.
As is clear from the figure, in the range of the particle concentration from 0.05 wt% to 0.2 wt%, the light utilization efficiency exceeds 70%, but the particle concentration ranges from 0.05 wt% to 0.07 wt%, and It can be seen that in the range of 0.19 wt% to 0.2 wt%, the intermediate altitude is minus, that is, the luminance distribution is low in the central portion. For example, it is understood that if a medium to high degree of 10% or more is required, the particle concentration needs to be designed in the range of 0.08 wt% to 0.16 wt%.

When the screen sizes designed in this way are 37 inches, 42 inches, 46 inches, 52 inches, 57 inches, and 65 inches, the light guide plate has a light guide length [mm], a maximum thickness [mm], and a particle concentration [wt%]. ], Taper, radius of curvature R [mm] of the central curved portion, light utilization efficiency [%] and intermediate altitude [%] are shown in Table 1.

In any case, the light guide plate satisfies the preferable limitation range of the present invention, so that even a large screen has a thin shape, high light utilization efficiency, and emits light with less unevenness in luminance. In addition, a bright distribution in the vicinity of the center of the screen, which is required for a large-screen thin liquid crystal television, compared to the peripheral portion, that is, a so-called medium-high or bell-shaped brightness distribution can be obtained.
The light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention is basically configured as described above.

Next, the optical member unit 32 will be described.
The optical member unit 32 converts the illumination light emitted from the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 into light with no uneven brightness, and emits illumination light with more uniform brightness from the light exit surface 24a of the illumination device body 24. As shown in FIG. 2, a diffusion sheet 32a that diffuses illumination light emitted from the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 to reduce luminance unevenness, and a tangent line between the light incident surface and the light exit surface It has a prism sheet 32b on which parallel microprism arrays are formed, and a diffusion sheet 32c that diffuses illumination light emitted from the prism sheet 32b to reduce luminance unevenness.

  As the diffusion sheets 32a and 32c and the prism sheet 32b, those disclosed in [0028] to [0033] of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-23497 related to the applicant's application can be applied.

In the present embodiment, the optical member unit is constituted by the two diffusion sheets 32a and 32c and the prism sheet 32b disposed between the two diffusion sheets. However, the arrangement order and arrangement of the prism sheets and the diffusion sheets are not limited. The number is not particularly limited, and is also not particularly limited as a prism sheet or a diffusion sheet, as long as the luminance unevenness of the illumination light emitted from the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 can be further reduced, Various optical members can be used.
For example, as the optical member, in addition to or in place of the above-described diffusion sheet and prism sheet, a transmittance adjusting member in which a large number of transmittance adjusting bodies made of a diffusive reflector are arranged in accordance with luminance unevenness can also be used.

Next, the reflecting plate 34 of the lighting device main body will be described.
The reflection plate 34 is provided to reflect light leaking from the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c of the light guide plate 30 and to make it incident on the light guide plate 30 again, thereby improving the light utilization efficiency. be able to. The reflection plate 34 has a shape corresponding to the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c of the light guide plate 30, and is formed so as to cover the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c of the light guide plate 30 are formed in a triangular cross section, and the reflecting plate 34 is also formed in a shape that complements this. ing.

  The reflecting plate 34 may be formed of any material as long as it can reflect light leaking from the inclined surface of the light guide plate 30. For example, the reflecting plate 34 is stretched after kneading a filler in PET, PP (polypropylene), or the like. Resin sheet with increased reflectivity by forming voids, a sheet with a mirror surface formed by vapor deposition of aluminum on the surface of a transparent or white resin sheet, a resin sheet carrying a metal foil or metal foil such as aluminum, or sufficient on the surface It can be formed of a thin metal plate having excellent reflectivity.

The upper guide reflection plate 36 is disposed between the light guide plate 30 and the diffusion sheet 32a, that is, on the light emission surface 30a side of the light guide plate 30, and the end of the light emission surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 and the light emission surface 30a (first light incident). The end portion on the surface 30d side and the end portion on the second light incident surface 30e side) are disposed so as to cover each other. In other words, the upper guide reflection plate 36 is disposed so as to cover from a part of the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 to a part of the light source support part 52 of the light source 28 in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction. . That is, the two upper guide reflectors 36 are disposed at both ends of the light guide plate 30, respectively.
Thus, by arranging the upper guide reflection plate 36, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the light source 28 from leaking to the light exit surface 30 side without entering the light guide plate 30.
Thereby, the light emitted from each LED chip of the LED unit 50 of the light source 28 can be efficiently incident on the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e of the light guide plate 30, and the light utilization efficiency is improved. Can be made.

The lower guide reflection plate 38 is disposed on the side opposite to the light exit surface 30a side of the light guide plate 30, that is, on the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c side so as to cover a part of the light source 28. . The end of the lower guide reflector 38 on the center side of the light guide plate is connected to the reflector 34.
By providing the lower guide reflection plate 38, the light emitted from the light source 28 can be prevented from leaking to the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c side of the light guide plate 30 without entering the light guide plate 30. .
Thereby, the light emitted from each LED chip of the LED unit 50 of the light source 28 can be efficiently incident on the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e of the light guide plate 30, and the light utilization efficiency is improved. Can be made.
Here, as the upper guide reflector 36 and the lower guide reflector 38, various materials used for the reflector 34 described above can be used.
In the present embodiment, the reflecting plate 34 and the lower guiding reflecting plate 38 are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each may be a separate member.

Here, the upper guide reflector 36 and the lower guide reflector 38 reflect the light emitted from the light source 28 toward the first light incident surface 30d or the second light incident surface 30e, and the light emitted from the light source 28 is reflected. The shape and width are not particularly limited as long as the light can be incident on the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e and the light incident on the light guide plate 30 can be guided to the center side of the light guide plate 30.
In the present embodiment, the upper guide reflector 36 is disposed between the light guide plate 30 and the diffusion sheet 32a. However, the position of the upper guide reflector 36 is not limited to this, and constitutes the optical member unit 32. You may arrange | position between sheet-like members, and may arrange | position between the optical member unit 32 and the upper housing | casing 44. FIG.

Next, the housing 26 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 26 accommodates and supports the illuminating device main body 24 and is sandwiched between the light emitting surface 24 a side and the first inclined surface 30 b and the second inclined surface 30 c side of the light guide plate 30. The lower housing 42, the upper housing 44, the folding member 46, and the support member 48 are provided.

  The lower housing 42 has a shape having an open top surface and a bottom surface portion and side surfaces provided on four sides of the bottom surface portion and perpendicular to the bottom surface portion. That is, it is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with one surface open. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower housing 42 supports the illuminating device main body 24 housed from above with a bottom surface portion and a side surface portion, and a surface other than the light exit surface 24 a of the illuminating device main body 24, that is, the illuminating device main body. 24 covers the surface (back surface) and the side surface opposite to the light exit surface 24a.

The upper housing 44 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape in which a rectangular opening smaller than the rectangular light emitting surface 24a of the lighting device body 24 serving as an opening is formed on the upper surface, and the lower surface is opened.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper housing 44 includes the lighting device main body 24 and the lower housing 42 in which the lighting device main body 24 and the lower housing 42 are housed from above the planar lighting device main body 24 and the lower housing 42. The other side surface portion 22b is also placed so as to cover it.

The folding member 46 has a concave (U-shaped) shape whose cross-sectional shape is always the same. That is, it is a rod-like member having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the extending direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the folding member 46 is inserted between the side surface of the lower housing 42 and the side surface of the upper housing 44, and the outer surface of one U-shaped parallel part is the bottom surface of the lower housing 42. It is connected to the side surface portion 22 b and the outer side surface of the other parallel portion is connected to the side surface of the upper housing 44.
Here, as a method for joining the lower housing 42 and the folding member 46, and a method for joining the folding member 46 and the upper housing 44, various known methods such as a method using bolts and nuts, a method using an adhesive, and the like. Can be used.

Thus, by arranging the folding member 46 between the lower housing 42 and the upper housing 44, the rigidity of the housing 26 can be increased, and the light guide plate can be prevented from warping. Thus, for example, light can be emitted efficiently with little or no luminance unevenness, but even when a light guide plate that is likely to warp is used, the warp can be corrected more reliably, or the light guide plate can be warped. Can be prevented more reliably, and light with no or uneven brightness can be emitted from the light exit surface.
In addition, various materials, such as a metal and resin, can be used for the upper housing | casing of a housing | casing, a lower housing | casing, and a folding member. In addition, as a material, it is preferable to use a lightweight and high-strength material.
In the present embodiment, the folding member is a separate member, but it may be formed integrally with the upper housing or the lower housing. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which does not provide a folding | turning member.

The support member 48 has a shape with the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction. That is, it is a rod-like member having the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 48 is between the reflection plate 34 and the lower housing 42, more specifically, the end of the first inclined surface 30 b of the light guide plate 30 on the first light incident surface 30 d side. The light guide plate 30 and the reflection plate 34 are fixed to and supported by the lower housing 42.
The light guide plate 30 and the reflection plate 34 can be brought into close contact with each other by supporting the reflection plate 34 with the support member 48. Further, the light guide plate 30 and the reflection plate 34 can be fixed at predetermined positions of the lower housing 42.

In this embodiment, the support member is provided as an independent member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the support member may be formed integrally with the lower housing 42 or the reflection plate 34. In other words, a protrusion may be formed on a part of the lower casing 42 and used as a support member, or a protrusion may be formed on a part of the reflector and the protrusion may be used as a support member. .
Further, the arrangement position is not particularly limited, and it can be arranged at an arbitrary position between the reflector and the lower housing, but in order to stably hold the light guide plate, In the present embodiment, it is preferable to dispose near the first light incident surface 30d and near the second light incident surface 30e.

Further, the shape of the support member 48 is not particularly limited, and can be various shapes, and can be made of various materials. For example, a plurality of support members may be provided and arranged at predetermined intervals.
In addition, the support member has a shape that fills the entire space formed by the reflector and the lower housing, that is, the surface on the reflector side is shaped along the reflector, and the surface on the lower housing side is the lower housing. It is good also as a shape along. As described above, when the entire surface of the reflection plate is supported by the support member, it is possible to reliably prevent the light guide plate and the reflection plate from separating, and to prevent uneven brightness from being generated by the light reflected from the reflection plate. be able to.

The planar lighting device 20 is basically configured as described above.
The planar lighting device 20 emits light from each of the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue LED chip 56 of the LED unit 50 of the light source 28 disposed at both ends of the light guide plate 30.
The light emitted from the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue LED chip 56 enters the light incident surface (the first light incident surface 30d and the second light incident surface 30e) of the light guide plate 30. Light incident from each surface passes through the light guide plate 30 while being scattered by the scatterers included in the light guide plate 30, and directly or after being reflected by the first inclined surface 30b and the second inclined surface 30c. The light exits from the light exit surface 30a. At this time, part of the light leaking from the first inclined surface 30 b and the second inclined surface 30 c is reflected by the reflecting plate 34 and enters the light guide plate 30 again.
In this way, the light emitted from the light exit surface 30 a of the light guide plate 30 passes through the optical member 32 and is emitted from the light exit surface 24 a of the illumination device body 24 to illuminate the liquid crystal display panel 12.
The white light emitted from the pseudo white LED chip 54 and the blue light emitted from the blue LED chip 56 are mixed in the light guide plate 30, and white light and blue light are emitted from the light exit surface 24 a of the illuminating device body 24. White light mixed with is emitted.
The liquid crystal display panel 12 displays characters, figures, images, and the like on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 12 by controlling the light transmittance according to the position by the drive unit 14.

In addition, by using an LED unit composed of a pseudo white LED chip and a blue LED chip as a light source, the light emitted from the LED unit emits light that satisfies the above-mentioned I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6. Even when a pseudo-white LED chip is used as the light source, the color reproducibility can be increased, and the NTSC (National Tedition System Committee) ratio can be increased. Thereby, it can be suitably used as a liquid crystal display device for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel.
Moreover, the color temperature of the light emitted from the light source can be increased by using the pseudo white LED chip and the blue LED chip.
Further, the use of a pseudo white LED chip as a light source can reduce the cost of the apparatus.

  The blue LED used for the pseudo white LED chip and the blue LED used for the blue LED chip are preferably LEDs that emit blue light having different wavelengths. That is, it is preferable to use LEDs that emit light having different color temperatures. By using an LED that emits light of a different wavelength as the blue LED, the color reproducibility can be further improved. In addition, the color temperature can be easily adjusted, and light having an appropriate color temperature can be emitted with a simple adjustment.

Here, in the planar illumination device 10 described above, the LED unit of the light source is one pseudo white LED chip and one blue LED chip. However, the invention is not limited to this, and at least one pseudo white LED chip and at least one pseudo white LED chip are used. If one blue LED chip is combined, the number is not limited. Also, the type is not limited to one type, and a plurality of types of pseudo white LED chips and a plurality of types of blue LED chips may be combined. A plurality of types of pseudo white LED chips and one type of blue LED chip may be combined, or a plurality of types of blue LED chips and one type of pseudo white LED chip may be combined.
12 (A) and 12 (B) are front views showing another example of the light source used in the planar illumination device of the present invention.
For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the LED unit 28a may be composed of two pseudo white LED chips 54 and one blue LED chip 56. As shown in FIG. 28b may be composed of one pseudo white LED chip 54a, one pseudo white LED chip 54b of different types, and one blue LED chip 56.

Hereinafter, the planar illumination device of the present invention will be described in more detail using specific examples.
First, in Example 01 of this specific example, a combination of one pseudo white LED chip 54 and one blue LED chip 56 was used as the LED unit 50. In Example 02, a combination of two pseudo white LED chips 54 and one blue LED chip 56 was used as the LED unit 50a. In Example 03, a combination of one pseudo white LED chip 54a, one pseudo white LED chip 54b, and one blue LED chip 56 was used as the LED unit 50b.

  Here, the same type of LED chip was used for the pseudo white LED chips 54 and 54a, and the LED chip of a different type from the pseudo white LED chip 52 was used for the pseudo white LED chip 54b. The blue LED chip 54 was the same type of blue LED chip in any of the examples. FIG. 13 is a graph showing the spectral distribution (wavelength dependence) of light emitted from the LED chips of the pseudo white LED chip 54 (54 a), the pseudo white LED chip 54 b, and the blue LED chip 56. Here, in FIG. 13, the horizontal axis is the wavelength [nm], and the vertical axis is the relative intensity.

In Example 01, Example 02, and Example 03, first, the wavelength dependence of the mixed light was measured using the light source having the above-described configuration.
Further, the chromaticity (u ′, v ′ coordinates) of light emitted from the light source and the NTSC ratio were measured using a commonly used RGB color filter.
Here, as the color filter, a color filter (color filter used in Sharp 46RX1W) used in a commercially available liquid crystal TV panel was used. This color filter is a filter having the transmittance distribution shown in FIG.

For comparison, as Comparative Example 01, when a blue LED chip is not used for the light source unit and only the pseudo white LED chip 54 is used, as Comparative Example 02, a blue LED chip is not used for the light source unit and pseudo white is used. Even when only the LED chip 54b was used, the chromaticity (u ′, v ′ coordinates) of light and the NTSC ratio were measured.
Further, as Comparative Example 03, the light chromaticity (u ′, v ′ coordinates) and the NTSC ratio were measured when only the other pseudo white LED chip was used as the light source unit without using the blue LED chip. Further, as Comparative Example 04, light chromaticity (u ′, v ′ coordinates) when a light source unit of a combination of a pseudo white LED chip and a blue LED chip that does not satisfy I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is used. And NTSC ratio were also measured.
Here, in Comparative Example 03, a generally used pseudo white LED (Nichia's NFSW036) was used as the LED unit. In Comparative Example 04, a commonly used pseudo white LED (LXCL-PWF manufactured by Philips Lumileds Lighting) and a blue LED (LXML-PR01 manufactured by Philips Lumileds Lighting) were combined and used as an LED unit.

The measurement results are shown in Table 2 and Table 3. Here, in this measurement, the case where the NTSC ratio was 90% or more was marked as ◎, and the case where the NTSC ratio was less than 90% was marked as x. Here, when the NTSC ratio is 90% or more, it can be suitably used for a high-performance liquid crystal display device.
FIG. 15 shows the spectral distribution (wavelength dependence) of light emitted (emitted) from each of Example 01, Example 02, Example 03, Comparative Example 03, and Comparative Example 04. Here, also in FIG. 15, the horizontal axis is the wavelength [nm] and the vertical axis is the relative intensity. As shown in FIG. 15, it can be seen that Comparative Example 03 and Comparative Example 04 do not satisfy I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6.
Further, FIG. 16 shows the three primary color points of the light emitted in the case of Example 01, Example 02, Example 03, and Comparative Example 01 in a chromaticity diagram in the CIEu′v ′ color system.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 16, 2, and 3, an LED unit composed of a pseudo white LED and a blue LED chip and satisfying I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is used as a light source ( In Example 01, 02, 03), when an LED unit composed only of a pseudo white LED chip is used as a light source (Comparative Examples 01, 02), an LED unit satisfying I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is used as the light source. It can be seen that the NTSC ratio can be made higher than when used as (Comparative Examples 03 and 04). Further, as shown in Comparative Examples 03 and 04, it is understood that the NTSC ratio does not increase when I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is not satisfied.
From the above, the effects of the present invention are clear.

  Here, since this embodiment can efficiently emit light having higher luminance from the light exit surface, the side where the light incident surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 intersects the light incident surface becomes a long side and intersects the side surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light emission surface may be a square shape, the light incident surface side may be a short side, and the side surface side may be a long side.

  In this embodiment, the light source 28 is disposed only on the light incident surfaces 30d and 30e. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light incident surfaces 30d and 30e are as shown in FIGS. The main light source 28 is the light source 28 disposed opposite to the first side surface 30g and the second side surface 30f. The auxiliary light source 29 is provided opposite to the first side surface 30g and the second side surface 30f. And it is good also as a 4th light-incidence surface. By doing in this way, the brightness | luminance of the light inject | emitted from a light-projection surface can be made higher.

The sub light source 29 basically has the same configuration as that of the main light source 28 described above in the first embodiment except for the arrangement position with respect to the light guide plate 30 and the arrangement density of the LED chips.
The two sub light sources 29 are disposed to face the first sub incident surface 30h and the second sub incident surface 30i of the light guide plate 30, respectively. Specifically, the sub-light source 29 including the plurality of LED units 50 and the light source support portion 52 is disposed to face the first side surface 30h, and the sub-light source including the plurality of LED units 50 and the light source support portion 52 is provided. 29 is arranged to face the second side face 30i.

As described above, the sub light source 29 is disposed at a position facing the first sub incident surface 30 h and the second sub incident surface 30 i of the light guide plate 30, and light is also incident from the side surface side of the light guide plate 30. Light with higher luminance can be emitted from the light emission surface 30a, and the amount of light can be increased. Thereby, a large amount of illumination light can be emitted from the light exit surface, the light exit surface can be enlarged, and a large screen can be realized in the liquid crystal display device.
Moreover, the occurrence of a failure due to a failure of the sub-light source or the like can be prevented by arranging the interval maintaining member 31 on the light source support portion 52 of the sub-light source.

Moreover, you may produce a light-guide plate by mixing a plasticizer in said transparent resin.
Thus, by producing a light guide plate with a material in which a transparent material and a plasticizer are mixed, the light guide plate can be made flexible, that is, a flexible light guide plate. It can be deformed into a shape. Therefore, the surface of the light guide plate can be formed into various curved surfaces.
By making the light guide plate flexible in this way, for example, when using a light guide plate or a planar lighting device using the light guide plate as a display plate for illumination, the wall having a curvature is also used. It becomes possible to mount the light guide plate, and the light guide plate can be used for more types, a wider range of electric decoration, POP (POP advertisement), and the like.

Here, as the plasticizer, phthalate ester, specifically, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DOP (DEHP)) ), Di-normal octyl phthalate (DnOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), dinonyl phthalate (DNP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), phthalic acid mixed ester (C _{6 to} C ₁₁ ) (610P, 711P, etc.) And butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP). In addition to phthalate esters, dioctyl adipate (DOA), diisononyl adipate (DINA), di-normal alkyl adipate (C6, _{8, 10} ) (610A), dialkyl adipate (C7, ₉ ) ( 79A), dioctyl azelate (DOZ), dibutyl sebacate (DBS), dioctyl sebacate (DOS), tricresyl phosphate (TCP), tributyl acetylcitrate (ATBC), epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), trimellitic acid Examples include trioctyl (TOTM), polyester, and chlorinated paraffin.

  The planar lighting device according to the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. May be.

For example, a mixing unit formed of a material having a refractive index close to that of the light guide plate 30 may be disposed between the light guide plate 30 and the light source (the light source 28 and / or the sub light source 29). Further, a part of the light incident surface and / or side surface of the light guide plate may be formed of a material having a smaller refractive index than other portions.
By reducing the refractive index of the portion where the light emitted from the light source is incident, the light emitted from the light source can be made incident more efficiently and the light utilization efficiency can be further increased. .

  Further, for example, a plurality of light guide plates may be arranged in parallel at the positions where the side surfaces of the light guide plates face each other, and one light emission surface may be formed by the plurality of light guide plates. In this case, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions a sublight source only to the side surface of the side which is not adjacent to the other light-guide plate of the light-guide plate of both ends.

  Moreover, since light with a medium and high luminance distribution can be emitted from the light exit surface, the light guide plate preferably satisfies the various ranges described above, but it is also preferable to use a light guide plate in the following ranges.

The light guide plate has a scattering cross-sectional area of scattering particles contained in the light guide plate 30 as Φ, and the length from the light incident surface of the light guide plate to the position where the thickness in the direction orthogonal to the light exit surface is maximized in the light incident direction. In this embodiment, L _{G is} the length of half of the light incident direction of the light guide plate (the direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface 30d of the light guide plate 30; hereinafter also referred to as “optical axis direction”). When the density of scattering particles (number of particles per unit volume) contained in the optical plate 30 is N _p and the correction coefficient is K _C , the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is 1.1 or more. And a value of the correction coefficient K _C of 0.005 or more and 0.1 or less is satisfied. Since the light guide plate 30 includes scattering particles that satisfy such a relationship, the illumination light can be emitted from the light exit surface with uniform and less uneven brightness.

In general, the transmittance T when a parallel light beam is incident on an isotropic medium is expressed by the following formula (1) according to the Lambert-Beer rule.
T = I / I ₀ = exp (−ρ · x) (1)
Here, x is a distance, I ₀ is incident light intensity, I is outgoing light intensity, and ρ is an attenuation constant.

The attenuation constant ρ is expressed by the following equation (2) using the scattering cross-sectional area Φ of particles and the number of particles N _p per unit volume contained in the medium.
ρ = Φ · N _p (2)
Therefore, the length of the half of the optical axis direction of the light guide plate when the L _G, the light extraction efficiency E _out is given by the following equation (3). Here, half the length L _G of the optical axis of the light guide plate, the length from one of the light incident surface of the light guide plate 30 in a direction perpendicular to the light incident surface of the light guide plate 30 to the center of the light guide plate 30 .
Furthermore, the light extraction efficiency and are, with respect to the incident light, the fraction of light reaching the position spaced the length L _G in the optical axis direction from the light incident surface of the light guide plate, for example, the light guide plate 30 shown in FIG. 2 In this case, it is a ratio of light reaching the center of the light guide plate (a position having a half length in the optical axis direction of the light guide plate) with respect to light incident on the end face.
E _out ∝exp (−Φ · N _p · L _G ) (3)

Here the formula (3) applies to a space of limited size, to introduce a correction coefficient K _C for correcting the relationship between the expression (1). The compensation coefficient K _C is a dimensionless compensation coefficient empirically obtained where light optical medium of limited dimensions propagates. Then, the light extraction efficiency E _out is expressed by the following formula (4).
_{E out = exp (-Φ · N} p · L G · K C) ··· (4)

According to the equation (4), when the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is 3.5, the light extraction efficiency E _out is 3%, and Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C When the value of is 4.7, the light extraction efficiency E _out is 1%.
From this result, it can be seen that the light extraction efficiency E _out decreases as the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C increases. Since light is scattered as it travels in the direction of the optical axis of the light guide plate, the light extraction efficiency E _out is considered to be low.

Therefore, it can be seen that the larger the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is, the more preferable property is for the light guide plate. In other words, by increasing the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C , it is possible to reduce the light emitted from the surface facing the light incident surface and increase the light emitted from the light emission surface. it can. That is, increasing the value of _{Φ · N p · L G ·} K C, ( hereinafter also referred to "light use efficiency".) Percentage of the light emitted from light exit plane to the light incident on the incident surface of the high can do. Specifically, by setting 1.1 or the value of _{Φ · N p · L G ·} K C, the light use efficiency can be 50% or more.
Here, when the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is increased, the illuminance unevenness of the light emitted from the light exit surface 30a of the light guide plate 30 becomes significant, but Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C By making the value of 8.2 or less, the illuminance unevenness can be suppressed to a certain value (within an allowable range). Note that the illuminance and the luminance can be handled in substantially the same manner. Therefore, in the present invention, it is presumed that luminance and illuminance have the same tendency.
From the above, it is preferable that the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C of the light guide plate used in the planar illumination device of the present invention satisfies the relationship of 1.1 or more and 8.2 or less. More preferably, it is 0 or more and 7.0 or less. The value of _{Φ · N p · L G ·} K C is more preferably as long as 3.0 or more, most preferably, not less than 4.7.
The correction coefficient K _C is preferably 0.005 or more and 0.1 or less.

Hereinafter, the light guide plate will be described in more detail with specific examples. In the following specific examples, the luminance and the like were measured using an LED unit composed of one type of LED chip as the light source, but the LED unit having the pseudo white LED chip and the blue LED chip of the present invention was used. The same trend is basically the case.
First, the scattering cross section Φ, the particle density N _p , the length L _G of the light guide plate half in the optical axis direction, and the correction coefficient K _C are set to various values, and the values of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C are different. About each light-guide plate, the light use efficiency was calculated | required by computer simulation, and also illumination intensity nonuniformity was evaluated. Here, the illuminance unevenness [%] is the maximum illuminance of light emitted through the light exit plane of the light guide plate and I _Max, a minimum illuminance and I _Min, Average illuminance when the I _Ave [(I _Max - I _Min ) / I _Ave ] × 100.
The measured results are shown in Table 4 below. In the determination of Table 4, the case where the light use efficiency is 50% or more and the illuminance unevenness is 150% or less is shown as ◯, and the case where the light use efficiency is less than 50% or the illuminance unevenness is more than 150% is shown as x.
FIG. 18 shows the relationship between the value of Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C and the light utilization efficiency (the ratio of the light emitted from the light exit surface to the light incident on the light incident surface). Results are shown.

As shown in Table 4 and FIG. 18, by setting Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C to 1.1 or more, the light use efficiency is increased, specifically, the light use efficiency is set to 50% or more. It can be seen that by setting it to 8.2 or less, the illuminance unevenness can be reduced to 150% or less.
In addition, when Kc is set to 0.005 or more, the light use efficiency can be increased, and when it is set to 0.1 or less, the illuminance unevenness of light emitted from the light guide plate can be reduced. Recognize.

Then, the particle density N _p of the particles which kneaded or dispersed in the light guide plate creates various values of the light guide plate was measured illuminance distribution of light emitted from the respective positions of the light emitting surface of each light guide plate . In this exemplary embodiment, other conditions except for the particle density N _p, specifically, the scattering cross section [Phi, half the length of the optical axis direction of the light guide plate L _G, the correction coefficient K _C, the light guide plate The shape and the like were the same value. Accordingly, in the present _{embodiment, Φ · N p · L G} · K C changes in proportion to the particle density _{N p.}
FIG. 19 shows the result of measuring the illuminance distribution of the light emitted from the light exit surface for the light guide plates having various particle densities in this way. In FIG. 19, the vertical axis represents illuminance [lx], and the horizontal axis represents the distance (light guide length) [mm] from one light incident surface of the light guide plate.

Furthermore, the illuminance unevenness when the maximum illuminance of the light emitted from the side wall of the light guide plate of the measured illuminance distribution is I _Max , the minimum illuminance is I _Min , and the average illuminance is I _Ave [(I _Max −I _Min ) / I _Ave ] × 100 [%] was calculated.
FIG. 20 shows the relationship between the calculated illuminance unevenness and the particle density. In FIG. 20, the vertical axis is illuminance unevenness [%], and the horizontal axis is particle density [pieces / m ³ ]. FIG. 20 also shows the relationship between the light utilization efficiency and the particle density, where the horizontal axis is similarly the particle density and the vertical axis is the light utilization efficiency [%].

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, when the particle density is increased, that is, Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is increased, the light use efficiency is increased, but the illuminance unevenness is also increased. It can also be seen that when the particle density is lowered, that is, when Φ · N _p · L _G · K _C is reduced, the light utilization efficiency is reduced, but the illuminance unevenness is reduced.
Here, by the _{Φ · N p · L G ·} K C 1.1 or more 8.2 or less, the light use efficiency of 50% or more and illuminance unevenness of 150% or less. By setting the illuminance unevenness to 150% or less, the illuminance unevenness can be made inconspicuous.
_{That, Φ · N p · L G} · K C to be to less than 1.1 and not greater than 8.2 yields light use efficiency above a certain level, and illuminance unevenness also seen that it is possible to reduce.

  In addition, since the planar lighting device can be made larger and light with an appropriate luminance distribution (and / or illuminance distribution) can be emitted with high light use efficiency, a rectangular light guide plate for the planar lighting device can be used. A light exit surface, two light incident surfaces disposed at positions facing each other and including two opposing long sides of the light exit surface, respectively, from the two light entrance surfaces toward the center of the light exit surface, respectively It has two symmetrical inclined surfaces whose distance from the light exit surface is far away, a curved portion that joins these two inclined surfaces, and a shape and configuration including scattering particles that scatter light propagating therein. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for light guide plates having various shapes. For example, it can be used for a planar illumination device and a liquid crystal display device using a light guide plate in which scattering particles are not dispersed, and can also be used for a planar illumination device and a liquid crystal display device using a flat light guide plate.

Next, the light guide plate having a flat light exit surface of the planar illumination device shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail based on examples. In the following examples, the luminance and the like were measured using an LED unit composed of one type of LED chip as the light source, but the LED unit having the pseudo white LED chip and the blue LED chip of the present invention was used. The same trend is basically the case.
Using the light source 28 and the light guide plate 30 configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light guide length [mm] of the light guide plate 30, its shape, that is, the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm]. The incident light is incident from the two light incident surfaces 30d and 30e of the light guide plate 30 by changing the taper, the center radius R [mm], the particle diameter [μm] and the particle concentration [wt%] of the scattering fine particles dispersed in the light guide plate 30. The light utilization efficiency [%] indicating the ratio of the light emitted from the light emitting surface 30a to the emitted light and the luminance distribution of the light emitted from the light emitting surface 30a are obtained, and the peripheral portion of the light emitting surface 30a, that is, the light The medium altitude [%] of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface 30a indicating the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface 30a to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the incident surfaces 30d and 30e was obtained.

Example 1
As Example 1, the maximum thickness [mm], the minimum thickness [mm], and the particle diameter [μm] when the light guide length L [mm] of the light guide plate 30 corresponding to a screen size of 37 inches is L = 480 mm. When the particle concentration [wt%] is varied as shown in Table 1 and Table 5, the taper, the center radius (curvature radius of curvature) R [mm], the light utilization efficiency [%], the intermediate altitude [%] Was determined. The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6.
Here, Table 5 shows Invention Examples 11 to 16 for Example 1, and Table 6 shows Measurement Examples 11 to 15 for Example 1.

As is clear from Tables 5 and 6, in all of the inventive examples 11 to 16, the particle diameter [μm] and the particle concentration [wt%] satisfy the preferable limited range of the present invention, and the maximum Since the thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] also satisfy the preferable limited range of the present invention, the light use efficiency [%] is 61% or more and higher than 55%. ] Is also 19% to 23%, and satisfies the preferred limited range required by the present invention of more than 0% and 25% or less.
On the other hand, since the measurement example 11 has a particle concentration higher than the preferable limited range of the present invention, the phenomenon is similar to that of a flat plate, and thus a medium-high luminance distribution cannot be realized.

In the measurement example 12, both the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] are larger than the upper limit values of 6.0 mm and 3.0 mm, which are preferable limited ranges of the present invention, and light penetrates through. For this reason, the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy the limited range of 55% or more, and the weight is too heavy to be suitable as an optical member for a liquid crystal TV.
In measurement example 13, the taper angle is small and less than 0.1 ° from the preferred limited range of the present invention, the center radius R is large, and it is not suitable for molding, and the light utilization efficiency is 55% or more. Medium-high distribution cannot be realized with particle concentration.

Measurement Example 14 has a large central radius R, is not suitable for molding, is similar to a flat plate, and cannot achieve a light utilization efficiency of 55% or more at a particle concentration that achieves a medium-high luminance distribution.
Measurement Example 15 has a particle size smaller than the preferred limited range of the present invention and good light utilization efficiency, but cannot achieve a medium-high luminance distribution, and Measurement Example 16 has a particle size smaller than the preferred limited range of the present invention. Large, medium and high luminance distribution can be realized, but the light utilization efficiency is low.

(Example 2)
As Example 2, the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] when the light guide length L [mm] of the light guide plate 30 corresponding to the screen size of 42 inches and 46 inches is L = 560 mm and 590 mm, When the particle diameter [μm] and the particle concentration [wt%] are variously changed as shown in Tables 7 and 8, the taper, the center radius (curvature radius of curvature) R [mm], and the light utilization efficiency [%] ], Intermediate altitude [%] was determined. The results are shown in Table 7 and Table 8.
Here, Table 7 shows Invention Examples 21 to 24 for Example 2, and Table 8 shows Measurement Examples 21 to 23 for Example 2.

As is clear from Tables 7 and 8, all of the inventive examples 21 to 24 of Example 2 satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention in terms of particle diameter [μm] and particle concentration [wt%]. Moreover, since the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] also satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention, the light utilization efficiency [%] is 59% to 61%, which is higher than 55%. The intermediate altitude [%] is also 14% to 15%, which satisfies the preferred limited range required by the present invention of more than 0% and 25% or less.
On the other hand, measurement examples 21 and 22 have a particle concentration higher than the preferred limited range of the present invention, and thus exhibit the same phenomenon as a flat plate, and thus cannot achieve a medium-high luminance distribution.
In measurement example 23, both the maximum thickness [mm] and the taper angle are larger than the upper limit values of 6.0 mm and 0.8 ° of the preferred limited range of the present invention, the taper is too large, and the maximum thickness Becomes unnecessarily large and the distribution becomes too high and higher than necessary, and the weight is too heavy to be suitable as an optical member for a liquid crystal TV.

(Example 3)
As Example 3, the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] when the light guide length L [mm] of the light guide plate 30 corresponding to the screen size of 52 inches and 57 inches is L = 660 mm and 730 mm, When the particle diameter [μm] and the particle concentration [wt%] are variously changed as shown in Table 9 and Table 10, taper, central portion (curved portion radius) R [mm], light utilization efficiency [%], medium The altitude [%] was determined. The results are shown in Table 9 and Table 10.
Here, Table 9 shows Invention Examples 31 to 32 for Example 3, and Table 10 shows Measurement Examples 31 to 35 for Example 3.

As is clear from Table 9 and Table 10, all of the present invention examples 31 to 32 of Example 3 satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention in terms of particle diameter [μm] and particle concentration [wt%]. In addition, since the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] also satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention, the light use efficiency [%] is 60% to 61%, which is higher than 55%. The intermediate altitude [%] is also 14% to 14.2%, which satisfies the preferred limited range required by the present invention of more than 0% and 25% or less.
On the other hand, since the measurement example 31 has a particle concentration higher than the preferred limited range of the present invention, and thus exhibits the same phenomenon as a flat plate, it cannot realize a medium-high luminance distribution.

In Measurement Example 32, since the particle concentration is lower than the preferable limited range of the present invention, light penetrates and passes through, and thus the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more.
Further, in measurement example 33, the taper angle is larger than the upper limit value of 0.8 ° of the preferred limited range of the present invention, the taper is too large, and the distribution becomes excessively higher than necessary.
In measurement examples 34 and 35, the taper angle is smaller than 0.1 ° of the upper limit value of the preferred limited range of the present invention, the taper is too small, and the center radius R is too large, which is not suitable for molding. In Measurement Example 34, the medium-high distribution cannot be realized at a particle concentration at which the light utilization efficiency is 55% or more. In addition, measurement example 35 is the same as a flat plate, and the light use efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more at a particle concentration that achieves a medium-high luminance distribution.

Example 4
As Example 4, the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] when the light guide length L [mm] of the light guide plate 30 corresponding to the screen size of 52 inches and 57 inches is L = 660 mm and 730 mm, When the particle diameter [μm] and the particle concentration [wt%] are variously changed as shown in Tables 11 and 12, the taper, the center radius (curvature radius of curvature) R [mm], and the light utilization efficiency [%] ], Intermediate altitude [%] was determined. The results are shown in Table 11 and Table 12.
Here, Table 11 shows Invention Examples 41 to 44 for Example 4, and Table 12 shows Measurement Examples 41 to 45 for Example 4.

As is apparent from Tables 11 and 12, all of the present invention examples 41 to 44 of Example 4 satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention in terms of particle diameter [μm] and particle concentration [wt%]. Moreover, since the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] also satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention, the light use efficiency [%] is higher than 55%, both 57% to 68%. The intermediate altitude [%] is also 11% to 24%, which satisfies the preferred limited range required by the present invention of more than 0% and 25% or less.
On the other hand, in the measurement example 41, since the particle concentration is lower than the preferable limited range of the present invention, the light penetrates and penetrates, so that the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy 55% or more.

In the measurement example 42, both the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [mm] are larger than the upper limit values 6.0 mm and 3.0 mm of the preferable limited range of the present invention. For this reason, the light utilization efficiency does not satisfy the limited range of 55% or more of 50%, and the weight is too heavy to be suitable as an optical member for a liquid crystal TV.
In measurement example 43, the maximum thickness [mm] is smaller than the lower limit value 1.0 mm of the preferred limited range of the present invention, and the central radius R is too large, exceeding the preferred limited range of the present invention. If the particle concentration is not suitable for molding and the light utilization efficiency is 55% or more, a medium-high distribution cannot be realized.
In measurement example 44, the particle diameter is smaller than the preferred limited range of the present invention and the light utilization efficiency is good, but a medium-high luminance distribution cannot be realized. In measurement example 45, the particle diameter is smaller than the preferred limited range of the present invention. Large, medium and high luminance distribution can be realized, but the light utilization efficiency is low.

From the above results, the present invention has an appropriate shape according to the range of the respective light guide lengths of the light guide plate, and the maximum thickness [mm] and the minimum thickness [ mm], taper, central radius R [mm], and the particle diameter [μm] and particle concentration [wt%] of the scattering particles to be dispersed satisfy the preferred limited range of the present invention, and the light utilization efficiency [%] is 55. % Or more, the intermediate altitude [%] is more than 0% and 25% or less.
On the other hand, in the measurement examples, even in the range of the light guide length of any of the examples, since any of the above requirements is outside the preferable limited range of the present invention, the light utilization efficiency [%] does not satisfy 55% or more. The intermediate altitude [%] does not satisfy more than 0% and does not satisfy 25% or less, and excellent properties cannot be exhibited.
From the above, the effect of the present invention is clear.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device using the planar illuminating device which concerns on this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. It is an enlarged front view which expands and shows a part of color filter. (A) is a partially omitted plan view showing a light source and a light guide plate of the planar illumination device shown in FIG. 2, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of (A). (A) is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the light source of the planar illuminating device shown in FIG. 2, (B) is a front view of the light source shown to (A), (C) is (A). It is a schematic perspective view which expands and shows one pseudo white LED chip which comprises the light source shown in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the shape of the light-guide plate shown in FIG. (A) is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the light guide plate shown in FIG. 2, and (B) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the light guide plate shown in (A). (A) And (B) is a graph which shows the relationship between the particle diameter and particle concentration [wt%] of the scattering fine particle disperse | distributed to the light-guide plate used for the planar illuminating device of this invention, respectively. (A) And (B) is a graph which shows the relationship between the particle diameter and particle concentration [wt%] of the scattering fine particle disperse | distributed to the light-guide plate used for the planar illuminating device of this invention, respectively. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the design method of the light-guide plate used for the planar illuminating device of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the particle | grain density | concentration [wt%] of the light-guide plate used for the planar illuminating device of this invention, light utilization efficiency [%], and middle altitude degree [%]. (A) And (B) is a front view which shows another example of the light source used for the planar illuminating device of this invention, respectively. It is a graph which shows the spectrum distribution of the LED chip used for the measurement. It is a graph which shows the transmittance | permeability distribution of a color filter. It is a graph which shows spectrum distribution of a measurement result. It is a graph which shows the three primary color points of a measurement result in the chromaticity diagram in a CIEu'v 'color system. (A) is a partial omission plan view showing a light source and a light guide plate of another example of the planar illumination device of the present invention, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of (A). It is a diagram showing the results of measuring the relationship between _{Φ · N p · L G ·} K C and light use efficiency. It is a figure which shows the result of having measured the illumination intensity of the light inject | emitted from each light guide from which particle density differs, respectively. It is a figure which shows the relationship between light use efficiency, illumination intensity nonuniformity, and particle density. It is a graph which shows the illumination intensity distribution of the front direction of the conventional flat light-guide plate.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid crystal display device 12 Liquid crystal display panel 14 Drive unit 20 Backlight unit 24 Illuminating device main body 24a, 30a Light emission surface 26 Case 28, 28a, 28b Light source 29 Sub light source 30 Light guide plate 30b 1st inclined surface 30c 2nd inclined surface 30d First light incident surface 30e Second light incident surface 30f First side surface (third light incident surface)
30g Second side (fourth light incident surface)
32 Optical member unit 32a Diffusion sheet 32b Prism sheet 32c Diffusion sheet 34 Reflector plate 36 Upper guide reflector 38 Lower guide reflector 42 Lower housing 44 Upper housing 46 Reinforcement member 49 Power supply housing 50 LED unit 52 Light source support 54 54a, 54b Pseudo white LED chip 56 Blue LED chip 58 Light emitting surface α 2 bisector

Claims (12)

A light source composed of at least one LED unit, a light incident surface on which light emitted from the light source is incident, and a light guide plate including a light emission surface that emits light incident from the light incident surface,
The LED unit includes a blue LED that emits blue light and a yellow phosphor layer disposed on a surface of the blue LED, and light emitted from the blue LED passes through the phosphor layer to generate white light. Light emitted from the pseudo-white LED chip, having at least one pseudo-white LED chip that emits light, and at least one blue LED chip that is disposed in the vicinity of the pseudo-white LED chip and emits blue light When the intensity of the peak in the blue wavelength region of the light mixed with the light emitted from the blue LED chip is I ₀ and the intensity at the wavelength of 580 nm is I ₅₈₀ , I ₅₈₀ / I ₀ > 0.6 is satisfied. A planar illumination device characterized by that.   The planar illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the blue LED chip emits blue light having a wavelength dependency different from that of the blue LED constituting the pseudo white LED chip.   The planar illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit has two types of pseudo white LED chips having different emission wavelengths. The light source includes a plurality of the LED units and a support that supports the plurality of LED units,
The planar lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED units are arranged in a line on one surface of the support.   The light guide plate includes a rectangular light exit surface, two light incident surfaces each including two opposing long sides of the light exit surface and disposed at positions facing each other, and the light from the two light incident surfaces. Scattered particles that have two symmetrical inclined surfaces whose distances from the light emitting surface become farther toward the center of the emitting surface, and curved portions that join these two inclined surfaces, and scatter light propagating inside the two inclined surfaces. The planar illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The light guide plate is
The light guide length between the two light incident surfaces is 480 mm or more and 500 mm or less,
The particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.02 wt% or more and 0.22 wt% or less, and
The particle size and concentration of the scattering particles are 6 points (4.0, 0) in a graph in which the horizontal axis is the particle size (μm) of the scattering particles and the vertical axis is the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles. .02), (4.0, 0.085), (7.0, 0.03), (7.0, 0.12), (12.0, 0.06) and (12.0,0 .22) within the area surrounded by
The utilization efficiency of light indicating the ratio of the light incident from the two light incident surfaces being emitted from the light exit surface is 55% or more,
The medium to altitude of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface, which indicates the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface, exceeds 0%. The planar illumination device according to claim 5, which is 25% or less. The light guide plate is
The light guide length between the two light incident surfaces is 515 mm or more and 620 mm or less,
The particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.015 wt% or more and 0.16 wt% or less, and
The particle size and concentration of the scattering particles are 6 points (4.0, 0) in a graph in which the horizontal axis is the particle size (μm) of the scattering particles and the vertical axis is the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles. .015), (4.0, 0.065), (7.0, 0.02), (7.0, 0.09), (12.0, 0.035) and (12.0,0 .16) within the area surrounded by
The utilization efficiency of light indicating the ratio of the light incident from the two light incident surfaces being emitted from the light exit surface is 55% or more,
The medium to altitude of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface, which indicates the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface, exceeds 0%. The planar illumination device according to claim 5, which is 25% or less. The light guide plate is
The light guide length between the two light incident surfaces is 625 mm or more and 770 mm or less,
The particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.01 wt% or more and 0.12 wt% or less, and the particle size and concentration of the scattering particles are In the graph in which the horizontal axis represents the particle size (μm) of the scattering particles and the vertical axis represents the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles, 6 points (4.0, 0.01), (4.0, 0 .05), (7.0, 0.01), (7.0, 0.06), (12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.12) ,
The utilization efficiency of light indicating the ratio of the light incident from the two light incident surfaces being emitted from the light exit surface is 55% or more,
The medium to altitude of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface, which indicates the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface, exceeds 0%. The planar illumination device according to claim 5, which is 25% or less. The light guide plate is
A light guide plate including scattering particles that scatter light propagating therein,
The light guide length between the two light incident surfaces is 785 mm or more and 830 mm or less,
The particle size of the scattering particles is 4.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less, the concentration of the scattering particles is 0.008 wt% or more and 0.08 wt% or less, and the particle size and concentration of the scattering particles are: In the graph in which the horizontal axis represents the particle diameter (μm) of the scattering particles and the vertical axis represents the particle concentration (wt%) of the scattering particles, 6 points (4.0, 0.008), (4.0, 0 .03), (7.0, 0.009), (7.0, 0.04), (12.0, 0.02) and (12.0, 0.08) ,
The utilization efficiency of light indicating the ratio of the light incident from the two light incident surfaces being emitted from the light exit surface is 55% or more,
The medium to altitude of the luminance distribution of the light emitting surface, which indicates the ratio of the luminance of the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface to the luminance of the light emitted from the vicinity of the light incident surface of the light emitting surface, exceeds 0%. The planar illumination device according to claim 5, which is 25% or less. The light guide plate is
The thickness of the light incident surface with the smallest thickness is 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less,
The thickness of the center of the curved portion where the thickness is the largest is 1.0 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less,
The radius of curvature of the curved portion is 6,000 mm or more and 45,000 mm or less,
The planar illumination device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein a taper of the inclined surface with respect to a line parallel to the light exit surface is not less than 0.1 ° and not more than 0.8 °. In the light guide plate, the scattering cross section of the scattering particles is Φ, the density of the scattering particles is N _p , the correction coefficient is K _C , and the length from the light incident surface to the end surface in the light incident direction is L. 6. The planar illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the inequality 1.1 ≦ Φ · N _p · L · K _C ≦ 8.2 and 0.005 ≦ K _C ≦ 0.1 is satisfied. The surface illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
A color filter that is disposed on a surface from which the light of the planar lighting device is emitted and includes a red filter having at least a red color element, a green filter having a green color element, and a blue filter having a blue color element A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal panel.