JP2012226923A - Surface light source device and transmission type display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface light source device capable of making lightweight and reducing the number of members, and having a bright and appropriate visual angle, and provide a transmission type display device equipped with this.SOLUTION: The surface light source device 10 is provided with a deflection optical sheet 14 and a light source part 12. A unit prism 143 of the deflection optical sheet 14 is a nearly columnar shape which is concave toward the light source part 12 side, and is aligned in plurality along the sheet surface and includes an incident face 143a where light enters and a total reflection face 143b for totally reflecting at least a part of the light incident from the incident face 143a, and these are a curved face or a bent face which is concave toward the outside. The light source part 12 includes light source rows 12A, 12B extending in a parallel direction with the length direction of the unit prism 143 and projects light diagonally against the deflection optical sheet 14 from a side direction of the alignment direction on a face side where the unit prisms 143 are formed, in a cross-section which is parallel with the alignment direction of the unit prisms 143 and orthogonally crossing the sheet face of the deflection optical sheet 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface light source device and a transmissive display device including the surface light source device.

  A liquid crystal transmissive display device such as a liquid crystal television is provided with a surface light source device that illuminates an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel (liquid crystal display panel) from the back side. This surface light source device is roughly classified into a direct type in which a light source is arranged immediately below an optical member such as an optical sheet, and an edge light type in which a light source is arranged on the side of the optical member.

In the edge light type surface light source device, a light guide plate method using a light guide plate that guides light from a light source positioned laterally with respect to the LCD panel is widely known. In this light guide plate method, the light from the light source enters from the side surface (light incident surface) of the light guide plate, travels through the light guide plate to the other side surface while being repeatedly reflected on the light exit surface and the back surface of the light guide plate. The light exits from the light exit surface little by little as it advances in the light direction. Thereby, the emitted light quantity from the light guide plate in the light guide direction is made uniform (for example, Patent Document 1).
This edge light type surface light source device of the light guide plate type has the advantage that the thickness of the surface light source device itself can be made thinner than a direct type surface light source device, and is widely used.

JP 2007-227405 A

However, the conventional light source plate type surface light source device as described in Patent Document 1 has many components. In particular, when a printed light guide plate or the like is used, the light guide plate is thicker and heavier than other optical members such as a deflecting optical sheet. There was also a problem that the cost was high.
Further, as the optical performance of the surface light source device, it is always required to efficiently converge the light from the light source, increase the luminance of the image, and realize a suitable viewing angle.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a surface light source device that can reduce the number of members and reduce the weight thereof, and has a bright and suitable viewing angle, and a transmissive display device including the surface light source device.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.
The invention according to claim 1 is a surface light source device for illuminating the transmissive display unit from the back, wherein the deflecting optical sheet (14, 24) having a plurality of unit optical shapes (143, 243) arranged on one side, and the deflection A light source section (12) that projects light obliquely onto the optical sheet, and the unit optical shape is a substantially columnar shape that protrudes toward the light source section, and is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction along the sheet surface. And a plurality of incident surfaces (143a, 143b, 243a, 243b) on which light is incident, and a total reflection surface (143b) that faces the incident surface and totally reflects at least part of the light incident from the incident surface. , 143a, 243b, 243a), and the total reflection surface and the incident surface are curved or curved surfaces that are convex outward, and the light source section is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the unit optical shape. The light source array (12 , 12B), and a plane in which the unit optical shape is formed with respect to the deflection optical sheet in a cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes and is orthogonal to the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet The surface light source device (10) is characterized in that light is projected obliquely in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes from the side in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the surface light source device according to the first aspect, the unit optical shapes (143, 243) are parallel to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the sheet surface. L is a length of a line segment passing through the vertex (t) and a point (v) serving as a contact point between the adjacent unit optical shapes, and the total reflection surfaces (143a, 143b, 243a, 243b) and the above The surface light source device (10) is characterized by satisfying a relationship of 0.05 × L ≦ d ≦ 0.15 × L, where d is the maximum distance to the line segment.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the surface light source device according to the first or second aspect, the unit optical shapes (143, 243) are arranged in a cross section parallel to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the sheet surface. The cross-sectional shape is a part of at least two parabolas (P1, P2), and the cross-sectional shape is from the top portion (243a) of the unit optical shape to the bottom portion (243b) on the emission side with respect to the top portion. The shape is formed by using different parabolas in at least two sections on the top side and the bottom side, and the apex of the top is Z = 0, and the exit side is positive on the Z axis with respect to the top. The direction of the parabola (P1) on the top side is expressed as Z (X2), where the direction perpendicular to the Z axis in the cross-sectional shape is the X axis and the vertex of the top is X = 0. ) = a1X ^2, the bottom portion Expression Z of parabola ^{(P2) (X) = a2X} 2 -h2, ( proviso that a1 <a2, a1, a2, h2 is a positive number) that is, the surface light source device according to claim ( 10).
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the surface light source device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the unit optical shape (143, 243) is parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface. In the sectional shape, the height of the unit optical shape is H, the width is W, and the base angle is α, and light emitted from the light source unit (12) and incident on the deflecting optical sheet (14, 24) is the unit optical shape. Arctan (1.5 × (W / H) at substantially the center of the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes, where θ is the angle formed with the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet in the arrangement direction of )) ≧ θ and α ≦ 70 °, the surface light source device (10).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the surface light source device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the light source unit (12) is configured so that the deflecting optical sheet (14, 24) A side reflector disposed at a position facing the center of the unit optical shape (143, 243) in the arrangement direction, and the light emitted from the light source unit is disposed at least at the end of the deflection optical sheet on the light source unit side The surface light source device (10) is characterized by being regularly reflected by (13b) and entering the deflecting optical sheet.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the surface light source device according to the fifth aspect, the light emitted from the light source unit (12) is disposed on the opposite side of the light source unit from the deflecting optical sheet (14). The surface light source device (10) is characterized by being reflected by a back reflecting portion (13a) and the side surface reflecting portion (13b) and entering the deflection optical sheet.

Invention of Claim 7 is the surface light source device (10) of any one of Claim 1 to Claim 6, and the transmissive display part (11) illuminated from the back surface by the said surface light source device, Is a transmissive display device (1).
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the transmission type display device according to the seventh aspect, a second unit optical having a substantially quadrangular prism shape is provided on the opposite side of the transmission type display unit (11) from the surface light source device (10). The shape (153) includes a viewing angle expansion sheet (15, 35) arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes (143, 243) of the deflection optical sheet (14). A transmissive display device (1) is characterized.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the transmissive display device according to the eighth aspect, a portion (354) that becomes a groove between the second unit optical shapes (153) is filled with a diffusion material (k). This is a transmissive display device (1).

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A surface light source device that illuminates a transmissive display unit from the back, comprising a deflection optical sheet in which a plurality of unit optical shapes are arranged on one side, and a light source unit that projects light obliquely onto the deflection optical sheet, The unit optical shape is a substantially columnar shape that is convex toward the light source unit side, and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along the sheet surface. A total reflection surface that totally reflects at least part of the light incident from the incident surface, and the total reflection surface and the incident surface are curved or bent surfaces that are convex outward, and the light source unit has a unit optical shape. The unit optical shape has a light source array extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes and perpendicular to the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet. Arrangement of unit optical shapes on the formed surface side From lateral side, it was assumed for projecting light obliquely in the unit optical shape arrangement direction.
Accordingly, since the unit optical shape is a curved surface or a bent surface with its incident surface and total reflection surface convex outward, in the unit optical shape arrangement direction, light is deflected and emitted substantially in the front direction, and substantially in the front direction. While maintaining the brightness, it is possible to realize an appropriate viewing angle by widening the emission angle by the curved surface or the curved surface.
In addition, light can be emitted from the sheet surface with almost uniform brightness without using the light guide plate, which is the thickest and heaviest in general surface light source devices, reducing the number of parts and reducing the weight of the surface light source device. Production costs can be reduced.

(2) The unit optical shape is a line segment passing through a vertex of the unit optical shape and a point that becomes a contact point between the adjacent unit optical shapes in a cross-sectional shape parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface. When the length is L and the maximum distance between the total reflection surface and the line segment is d, the relationship of 0.05 × L ≦ d ≦ 0.15 × L is satisfied. Therefore, the unit optical shape efficiently deflects light substantially in the front direction in the arrangement direction, and the light is diverged appropriately by the curved surface of the total reflection surface, thereby widening the viewing angle.

(3) The unit optical shape is a part of at least two parabolas in the cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface, and the cross sectional shape is from the top of the unit optical shape. It is a shape formed by using different parabolas in at least two sections on the top side and the bottom side of the section up to the bottom which becomes the emission side with respect to the top, and the top of the top is set to Z = 0 with respect to the top When the exit side is the positive direction of the Z-axis (Z2 side), the direction perpendicular to the Z-axis in the cross-sectional shape is the X-axis, and the apex of the top is X = 0, the formula of the parabola on the top side is Z = A1X ² , and the parabolic equation on the bottom side is Z = a2X ² −h2, where a1 <a2 and a1, a2, and h2 are positive numbers. Therefore, the unit optical shape efficiently deflects light substantially in the front direction in the arrangement direction, and the light is diverged appropriately by the curved surface of the total reflection surface, thereby widening the viewing angle.

(4) The height of the unit optical shape in the cross-sectional shape that is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes and orthogonal to the sheet surface is H, the width is W, and the base angle is α. When the angle formed by the incident light with the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shape is θ, arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ and α ≦ 70 °. Therefore, the light can be efficiently launched in the front direction, and the light utilization efficiency can be increased.

(5) The light source unit is disposed at a position facing the center of the arrangement direction of the unit optical shape with respect to the deflection optical sheet, and light emitted from the light source unit is at least an end portion on the light source unit side of the deflection optical sheet. The light is regularly reflected by the side-surface reflecting portion arranged in the light and enters the deflecting optical sheet. Therefore, the configuration on the back side of the deflecting optical sheet can be reduced in size, the number of parts can be reduced, and the surface light source device can be reduced in weight and space.

(6) The light emitted from the light source unit is reflected by the plate-like back reflecting unit and the side reflecting unit disposed on the side opposite to the deflecting optical sheet of the light source unit, and enters the deflecting optical sheet. Accordingly, the configuration on the back side of the deflecting optical sheet can be reduced in size and thickness, the number of parts can be reduced, and the surface light source device can be reduced in weight and space.

(7) Since the transmissive display device includes the surface light source device according to the present invention and a transmissive display unit illuminated from the back by the surface light source device, it has a bright and suitable viewing angle, reduces the number of components, and is lightweight. It is possible to obtain a transmissive display device that can be realized.

(8) On the opposite side of the surface light source device of the transmissive display device, the field unit in which the second unit optical shape having a substantially quadrangular prism shape is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes of the deflection optical sheet Since the angle expansion sheet is provided, the viewing angle in the longitudinal direction of the unit optical shape, which is insufficiently controlled by the deflecting optical sheet, can be expanded.

(9) Since the part which becomes the groove between the second unit optical shapes is filled with the diffusing material, the viewing angle expansion effect can be further enhanced.

It is a figure which shows the surface light source device 10 and the display apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the light source part. It is a figure explaining the deflection | deviation optical sheet 14 of 1st Embodiment. A mode that light injects into the deflection | deviation optical sheet 14 of 1st Embodiment is shown. It is a figure which shows the emission angle distribution in the arrangement direction (screen left-right direction) of the unit prism 143 of the deflection | deviation optical sheet 14 of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the viewing angle expansion sheet | seat 15 of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mode of the light radiate | emitted from the viewing angle expansion sheet. It is a figure which shows the outgoing angle distribution of the incident light to the viewing angle expansion sheet | seat 15 in the arrangement direction (screen up-down direction) of the 2nd unit optical shape 153, and the emitted light from the viewing angle expansion sheet | seat 15. FIG. It is a figure explaining the unit lens 243 of the deflection | deviation optical sheet 24 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode that light injects into the unit lens. It is a figure which shows the outgoing angle distribution of the light of (theta) = 10 degrees (incident angle 80 degrees with respect to a sheet | seat surface) in the arrangement direction (screen left-right direction) of the unit lenses 243 of the deflection | deviation optical sheet 24 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the viewing angle expansion sheet | seat 35 of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining deflection optical sheets 44A-44C of a modification.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, each figure shown below including FIG. 1 is the figure shown typically, and the magnitude | size and shape of each part are exaggerated suitably for easy understanding.
In addition, the terms “plate”, “sheet”, “film” and the like are used, but these are generally used in the order of thickness, “plate”, “sheet”, “film”. I am using it. However, since there is no technical meaning in such proper use, the description in the claims is used in the unified description of the sheet. Accordingly, the terms “sheet”, “plate”, and “film” can be appropriately replaced. For example, the deflection optical sheet may be a deflection optical film or a deflection optical plate.
Furthermore, numerical values such as dimensions and material names of each member described in the present specification are examples of the embodiment, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately selected and used.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a surface light source device 10 and a display device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a display device 1 including the surface light source device 10, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the surface light source device 10 and the display device 1 in the horizontal direction of the screen.
A display device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a liquid crystal transmission display device including an LCD panel 11, a surface light source device 10, a viewing angle widening sheet 15, and the like. The surface light source device (backlight) 10 is a device that illuminates the LCD panel 11 from the back, and includes a light source unit 12, a reflection unit 13, and a deflection optical sheet 14.
The display device 1 illuminates and displays an image displayed on the LCD panel 11 with light emitted from the surface light source device 10.

The LCD panel 11 is a transmissive display unit including a transmissive liquid crystal display element. The LCD panel 11 includes a pair of polarizing plates 112 and 113 and a liquid crystal layer 111 provided between the polarizing plates 112 and 113, and is a substantially rectangular plate-like member.
In the LCD panel 11 of the present embodiment, the display screen (observation area) for displaying an image is substantially rectangular, the display screen size is 32 inches diagonal (700 mm × 400 mm), and the resolution is 1920 × 1080 dots. Can be displayed.
In the drawings and the following description, when the display device 1 is used, when the observer observes the LCD panel 11 from the front, the screen vertical direction (vertical direction) is the Y direction, and the screen horizontal direction (horizontal direction). The X direction and the depth direction (direction orthogonal to the observation screen) are defined as the Z direction. The observer visually recognizes the display on the screen of the LCD panel 11 from the observer side Z2 toward the back side Z1. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the screen horizontal direction and the screen vertical direction are the screen horizontal direction (X direction) and the screen vertical direction (Y direction) when the display device 1 and the surface light source device 10 are used. ).

Of the pair of polarizing plates 112 and 113 of the LCD panel 11, the polarizing plate that becomes the light incident side (Z1 side) in the thickness direction (Z direction) is the lower polarizing plate 112, and the polarized light that becomes the output side (Z2 side) The plate is referred to as the upper polarizing plate 113. These polarizing plates 112 and 113 divide the incident light into two orthogonal polarization components (P wave and S wave), transmit a polarization component (for example, P wave) in a direction parallel to the transmission axis, and transmit the transmission axis. The polarization component in the direction orthogonal to the direction (the direction parallel to the absorption axis) has a function of absorbing (for example, S wave). In the present embodiment, the direction of the transmission axis of the lower polarizing plate 112 and the direction of the transmission axis of the upper polarizing plate 113 are orthogonal to each other when viewed from the observer side (Z2 side).
The liquid crystal layer 111 can apply an electric field to each region in which each pixel is formed. When the electric field is applied, the alignment of the liquid crystal in the region is changed.

The LCD panel 11 includes a pair of polarizing plates 112 and 113 and a liquid crystal layer 111, thereby controlling light transmission and blocking as follows.
The polarized light in a specific direction (for example, P wave) transmitted through the lower polarizing plate 112 passes through a region to which the electric field of the liquid crystal layer 111 is applied, so that the polarization direction is rotated by 90 °. On the other hand, when polarized light in a specific direction transmitted through the lower polarizing plate 112 is transmitted through the region where the electric field of the liquid crystal layer 111 is not applied, the polarization direction is maintained.
Therefore, depending on whether or not an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer 111, the polarized light in a specific direction transmitted through the lower polarizing plate 112 is transmitted through the upper polarizing plate 113 positioned on the emission side of the liquid crystal layer 111, or the upper polarizing plate 113. It is possible to control whether it is absorbed and blocked.
The LCD panel 11 according to the present embodiment is a so-called normally black type in which polarized light in a specific direction transmitted through the lower polarizing plate 112 can pass through a region to which an electric field is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the light source unit 12. FIG. 2A is a diagram of the light source unit 12 and the reflection unit 13 viewed from the LCD panel 11 side (Z2 side) along the normal direction of the LCD panel 11. FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the light source rows 12A and 12B of the light source unit 12. In FIG. 2B, the prism layer 142 (unit prism 143) of the deflecting optical sheet 14 is omitted for easy understanding.
The light source unit 12 is a part that emits light that illuminates the LCD panel 11 from the back, and projects light to the deflecting optical sheet 14 so as to be incident on the sheet surface mainly within a predetermined angle range from the horizontal direction of the screen. . The light source unit 12 of the present embodiment is a light source in which a plurality of point light sources 121 are arranged at regular intervals along the vertical direction of the screen (Y direction) at the approximate center of the LCD panel 11 of the display device 1 in the horizontal direction of the screen (X direction). It has columns 12A and 12B.

  The reflection part 13 has the effect | action which reflects light. The reflecting portion 13 is provided so as to substantially surround a plate-like back surface portion 13a located on the back surface side (Z1 side) of the light source portion 12 and a peripheral portion of the back surface portion 13a. It has a frame-shaped side surface portion 13b (13b-1 to 13b-4) that protrudes toward the deflection optical sheet 14 in the thickness direction (Z direction). The reflecting portion 13 is preferably one that mainly reflects light specularly (regular reflection), and the inner surface (the light source portion 12 side) of the back surface portion 13a and the side surface portion 13b may be formed by applying a silver paint. In addition, a metal film may be provided.

The light source rows 12A and 12B are formed by arranging point light sources 121 in a vertical direction (Y direction) of the screen at a predetermined interval. Although the LED light source is used for the point light source 121 of this embodiment, it is not restricted to this, The thing which emits the light which has the directivity whose half-value angle is about +/- about ± 15 degrees, such as a laser light source, is used. It is preferable.
The light source rows of the light source rows 12A and 12B are respectively on the side surface portions 13b-1 and 13b-3 which are both ends of the reflecting portion 13 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light source rows 12A and 12B. As shown in FIG. 1 (b) and FIG. 2 (b), the light is emitted in the opposite direction in the horizontal direction of the screen. That is, in the horizontal direction of the screen (X direction), the point light source 121 of the light source array 12A emits light toward the X1 side, and the point light source 121 of the light source array 12B emits light toward the X2 side. . The light L1 emitted from the light source row 12A is reflected mainly by the back surface portion 13a and the side surface portion 13b-1 of the reflecting portion 13 and enters the deflecting optical sheet 14. The light L2 emitted from the light source row 12B is reflected mainly by the back surface portion 13a and the side surface portion 13b-3 of the reflecting portion 13 and enters the deflecting optical sheet 14.

  The incident angle range of the light projected from the light source rows 12A and 12B to the deflection optical sheet 14 is from the virtual light source rows 12C and 12D located outside the back surface of the deflection optical sheet 14 to the deflection optical sheet 14, respectively. It is equal to the incident angle range of light emitted obliquely. When light is projected using the virtual light source rows 12C and 12D as an actual light source row, the position thereof is larger than the deflection optical sheet 14 and the like and located on the back side, and the display device 1 is increased in size. However, in the present embodiment, the light source arrays 12A and 12B are arranged at the approximate center in the left-right direction of the screen of the back surface portion 13a of the reflecting portion 13, and the emitted light is reflected twice by the back surface portion 13a and the side surface portion 13b of the reflecting portion 13. By doing so, it is possible to make the light incident on the deflecting optical sheet 14 in the same incident angle range as that projected from the virtual light source arrays 12C and 12D, and space saving of the light source unit 12 and the reflection unit 13 is achieved.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the deflection optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the deflecting optical sheet 14, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a part of a cross section parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143 and perpendicular to the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet 14. It shows. Here, the sheet surface indicates a surface that is a planar direction of the sheet when viewed as the entire sheet in each sheet, and the same definition also in the present specification and claims. It is used as. For example, the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet 14 is a surface that is the plane direction of the deflecting optical sheet 14 when viewed as the entire deflecting optical sheet 14, and is an exit surface (Z2 side surface) 14 b of the deflecting optical sheet 14. It is a parallel surface and a surface parallel to the observation surface of the LCD panel 11.
The deflecting optical sheet 14 is an optical sheet in which unit prisms 143 are arranged in one direction (screen left-right direction, X direction) along the sheet surface on the surface 14a on the light source unit 12 side (Z1 side). In this deflecting optical sheet 14, light from the light source unit 12 is incident on the unit prism 143, and is refracted and totally reflected at the interface of the unit prism 143, whereby the unit prism 143 is arranged in the arrangement direction (right and left of the screen). Direction) in the direction substantially normal to the sheet surface.

The deflecting optical sheet 14 includes a base material layer 141 and a prism layer 142.
The base material layer 141 is a layer that serves as a base (base material) of the deflecting optical sheet 14, and a resin-made sheet-like member having optical transparency can be used. The base material layer 141 of the present embodiment uses a sheet-shaped member made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and having a thickness of 188 μm. The base material layer 141 is not limited to the PET resin, and may be a sheet-like member such as a polycarbonate (PC) resin, an acrylic resin, or a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) resin, and the thickness thereof is 30 to 30. You may select suitably in the range of 500 micrometers.

The prism layer 142 is integrally provided on the light source unit 12 side (Z1 side) of the base material layer 141, and a unit prism 143 is formed on the surface of the light source unit 12 side.
The prism layer 142 is formed of an ultraviolet curable resin, but is not limited thereto, and other ionizing radiation curable resins such as an electron radiation curable resin may be used. The prism layer 142 of this embodiment is a urethane acrylate resin.
The unit prism 143 has a unit optical shape which is a substantially isosceles triangular prism shape convex toward the light source unit 12 side (Z1 side). The longitudinal direction of the unit prism 143 is the screen vertical direction (Y direction), and the screen horizontal direction (X direction). Are arranged in succession. The side surfaces 143a and 143b of the unit prism 143 are both curved surfaces that are convex toward the light source unit 12 side.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cross-sectional shape of the unit prism 143 in a cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143 and orthogonal to the sheet surface is a substantially isosceles triangular shape having a vertex t. Two sides (corresponding to the side surfaces 143a and 143b) facing each other across the vertex t are curves that are convex toward the light source unit 12 side.

The width of the unit prism 143 (the dimension between the points v serving as a contact point between the adjacent unit prisms 143 in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143) is W, and the height of the unit prism 143 is adjacent from the vertex t in the direction orthogonal to the sheet surface. The dimension to the contact point v between the unit prisms 143 is H. Further, no flat portion or the like is provided between the unit prisms 143, the unit prisms 143 are arranged adjacent to each other, and the arrangement pitch Pt is equal to the width W of the unit prisms 143.
Further, the side surface 143a, 143b of this unit prism 143 is a curved surface (cylindrical surface) that is convex outward (on the light source unit 12 side), and its radius of curvature is R. Therefore, the unit prism 143 has a symmetrical shape about the Z direction in the arrangement direction (X direction).
In this embodiment, as an example, the width and pitch of the unit prism 143 are W = Pt = 38 μm, the height H is 16 μm, and the curvature radius R of the side surfaces 143a and 143b is 45 μm.

As shown in FIG. 4 described later, for example, the unit prism 143 refracts light from the light source array 12A by being incident on the side surface 143a serving as the incident surface and being totally reflected by the side surface 143b serving as the total reflection surface. The light is emitted to the LCD panel 11 side. The light from the light source array 12B is incident on the side surface 143b serving as the incident surface and refracted, and is totally reflected by the side surface 143a serving as the total reflection surface and is emitted to the LCD panel 11 side.
Since the unit prism 143 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the Z direction as an axis in the arrangement direction (X direction), the light from the light source arrays 12A and 12B can be evenly emitted in the arrangement direction, and brightness. It has the effect | action which improves the uniformity of.

  The arrangement direction (X direction) of the unit prisms 143 is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of the transmission axis of the lower polarizing plate 112, and from the light source unit 12 to the reflection unit when viewed from the normal direction of the sheet surface. It is substantially parallel to the main traveling direction (left-right direction of the screen) of the light reflected by 13 etc. and traveling toward the unit prism 143.

In the cross section shown in FIG. 3B, the unit prism 143 has a length L of a line segment connecting the apex t and a point v serving as a contact point between the adjacent unit prisms 143, and this line segment and the side surface 143a, When the maximum distance to 143b is d,
0.05 × L ≦ d ≦ 0.15 × L
Satisfy the relationship.
Here, when 0.05 × L> d, the shape is close to a substantially triangular prism-like lens, and is refracted and totally reflected by the side surfaces 143a and 143b of the unit prism 143, and is emitted in a substantially front direction of the sheet surface. However, the diffusion effect is insufficient and the viewing angle is narrowed.
When d> 0.15 × L, the light is diverged (diffused) by the side surfaces 143a and 143b of the unit prism 143, the emission angle of the emitted light from the deflecting optical sheet 14 is widened, and the viewing angle is wide. However, the front brightness decreases.
Therefore, it is preferable to satisfy the range of 0.05 × L ≦ d ≦ 0.15 × L. In the unit prism 143 of this embodiment, d = 0.11 × L, which satisfies the preferable range.

The unit prism 143 has a height H (the distance between the apex t in the thickness direction of the deflecting optical sheet and the point v serving as a contact point between the adjacent unit prisms 143) and the unit prism 143 is H. The width of 143 is W. Here, when the angle formed by the light emitted from the light source unit and incident on the deflecting optical sheet 14 with the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet 14 in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143 is θ (see FIGS. 2B and 4). , Substantially at the center in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143 on the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet 14,
arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ
Satisfy the relationship. However, at this time, the base angle α of the unit prism 143 is set to α ≦ 70 °. Note that the base angle α is an angle formed by the tangent line of the side surfaces 143a and 143b at the point v with the direction parallel to the sheet surface in the cross section shown in FIG.

  When arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) <θ, the light incident on the unit prism 143 from one side surface is not totally reflected on the other side surface and is directed to the LCD panel 11 side on the sheet surface. On the other hand, light is emitted at a large emission angle. Such light is transmitted obliquely through the LCD panel 11, reflected by the surface of the LCD panel 11 on the viewer side, and returned to the light source unit 12 side, so that the light use efficiency is lowered. Therefore, it is preferable to satisfy the relationship arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ in order to improve the light use efficiency and realize bright illumination.

Further, even if the above equation is satisfied, if α> 70 °, the light totally reflected by the side surface of the unit prism 143 is emitted at a large emission angle with respect to the sheet surface, and as described above, Reflected by the surface of the LCD panel 11 on the viewer side and returned to the light source unit 12 side, the light use efficiency decreases. Therefore, it is preferable that the base angle α ≦ 70 °.
The unit prism 143 of this embodiment has arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) = 74.32 °, and θ = 3 ° at the approximate center of the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet 14 in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143. Yes, arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ is satisfied, and α = 50 °, which satisfies the above-described preferable range.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which light is incident on the deflecting optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the light L1 from the light source row 12A is incident on the unit prism 143, it is incident from the side surface 143a serving as the incident surface, totally reflected by the side surface 143b serving as the total reflection surface, Proceed to the LCD panel 11 side. At this time, the direction of the light L1 is deflected substantially in the front direction in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143.
Further, when the light L2 from the light source row 12B enters the unit prism 143, it enters from the side surface 143b serving as the incident surface, totally reflected by the side surface 143a serving as the total reflection surface, and proceeds to the emission side (LCD panel 11 side). . At this time, the direction of the light L2 is deflected substantially in the front direction in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143.
Since the side surfaces 143a and 143b serving as the incident surface and the total reflection surface are both curved surfaces that are convex outward (on the light source unit 12 side), the light from the light source unit 12 is reflected from the side surfaces 143a and 143b. By refraction and total reflection, the exit angle with respect to the sheet surface is appropriately expanded in the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an emission angle distribution in the arrangement direction (left-right direction of the screen) of the unit prisms 143 of the deflection optical sheet 14 according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents relative luminance, and the horizontal axis represents the emission angle. This emission angle distribution shows the result of measuring the emission angle distribution with a goniophotometer (Gonio Photometer Co., Ltd. Murakami Color Research Laboratory) after actually lighting the surface light source device 10 under dark room conditions. . The measurement is performed at the center of the deflection optical sheet 14 of the surface light source device 10 at the center in the vertical direction of the screen and in the horizontal direction of the screen, and the end of the screen in the horizontal direction of the screen and the center in the vertical direction of the screen. I went in two places.
As shown in FIG. 5, by using the deflecting optical sheet 14, the emission angle distribution in the horizontal direction (X direction) of the screen does not depend on the position in the horizontal direction of the screen (that is, the incident light from the light source unit on the sheet surface). It showed a similar distribution (regardless of angle). In addition, at the central portion and the end portion, the half-value angle was about ± 30 to 35 °, and a suitable wide viewing angle could be obtained. Further, the peak luminance at the end portion and the central portion is substantially equal, and the unevenness of brightness is improved in the horizontal direction of the screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the viewing angle widening sheet 15 of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the viewing angle widening sheet 15, and FIG. 6B is a cross section orthogonal to the sheet surface of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 and parallel to the arrangement direction of the second unit optical shapes 153. A part of is enlarged.
The viewing angle expansion sheet 15 is an optical sheet that is disposed closer to the viewer side (Z2 side) than the LCD panel 11 and has an action of expanding the viewing angle in the vertical direction of the screen.
The viewing angle widening sheet 15 includes a base material layer 151 and an optical shape layer 152.
The base material layer 151 is a member that becomes a base (base material) of the viewing angle widening sheet 15, and a resin-made sheet-like member having optical transparency can be used. The base material layer 151 of the present embodiment uses a sheet-like member made of PET resin and having a thickness of 188 μm. The substrate layer 151 is not limited to this, and a resin sheet-like member such as a PC resin, an acrylic resin, or a TAC resin can be used, and the thickness is appropriately selected within a range of 30 to 500 μm. Can be used.

The optical shape layer 152 is made of an ultraviolet curable resin, and is integrally formed on the viewer side (Z2 side) of the base material layer 151. The optical shape layer 152 is not limited to the ultraviolet curable resin, and may be formed of other ionizing radiation curable resins such as an electron beam curable resin.
The optical shape layer 152 has a plurality of second unit optical shapes 153 arranged in the vertical direction of the screen (Y direction) along the sheet surface on the surface on the viewer side (Z2 side).
The second unit optical shape 153 has a substantially quadrangular prism shape, and a plurality of second unit optical shapes 153 are arranged in the screen vertical direction (Y direction) with the screen horizontal direction (X direction) as the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 6B, the second unit optical shape 153 has a substantially isosceles trapezoidal cross section in a cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface. The width W3 of the top surface 153a on the side) is smaller than the width W4 between the points v3 serving as a valley bottom on the LCD panel 11 side. The arrangement pitch of the second unit optical shapes 153 is Pt3, and the pitch Pt3 is equal to the width W4. The height of the second unit optical shape 153 (the distance between the top surface 153a in the thickness direction and the point v3 serving as the valley bottom) is H3.
In the second unit optical shape 153 of this embodiment, the arrangement pitch Pt3 is 40 μm, the height H3 is 100 μm, the width W3 of the top surface 153a is 20 μm, and the base angle β is about 85 °.
6B shows an example in which the top surface 153a and the side surfaces 153b and 153c of the second unit optical shape of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 are planar, but the invention is not limited thereto, and the second unit optical shape is convex outward. It may be a curved surface or a bent surface.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of light emitted from the viewing angle widening sheet 15.
In FIG. 7, the cross section of the viewing angle expanding sheet 15 that is parallel to the screen vertical direction (Y direction) and orthogonal to the sheet surface is expanded, and the light emitted from the second unit optical shape 153 of the viewing angle expanding sheet 15 is enlarged. The situation is shown schematically.
Light incident on the viewing angle widening sheet 15 from the LCD panel 11 has an incident angle with respect to the sheet surface of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 in the vertical direction of the screen within a range of ± 20 °. This is because the directivity of light emitted from the light source unit 12 is high, the unit prism 143 mainly exerts a light beam control action in the horizontal direction of the screen, and has a small light beam control action in the vertical direction of the screen.
As shown in FIG. 7, a part of the light incident at an incident angle of about 0 ° to about 20 ° with respect to the sheet surface in the vertical direction of the screen is emitted from the top surface 153a as it is in a substantially front direction. Further, the other light is totally reflected by the side surfaces 153b and 153c of the second unit optical shape 153 and emitted from the top surface 153a, so that the emission angle with respect to the sheet surface of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 is increased.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the incident angle distribution of the incident light on the viewing angle widening sheet 15 and the outgoing light from the viewing angle widening sheet 15 in the arrangement direction (up and down direction of the screen) of the second unit optical shapes 153.
In FIG. 8, the vertical axis represents the relative luminance, and the horizontal axis represents the emission angle with respect to the sheet surface of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 in the arrangement direction of the second unit optical shapes 153 (the vertical direction of the screen).
This emission angle distribution is obtained by displaying the transmissive display device 1 in white under dark room conditions and actually turning on the surface light source device 10, and using a variable angle photometer (Gonio Photometer Co., Ltd. Murakami Color Research Laboratory). The result of measuring the distribution is shown. Note that the measurement was performed on the center portion of the deflection optical sheet 14 of the transmissive display device 1 which is the center in the vertical direction of the screen and the horizontal direction of the screen. The incident light was measured with the viewing angle widening sheet 15 removed.
As shown in FIG. 8, the half-value angle of the incident light in the vertical direction of the screen was about ± 17 °. However, the viewing angle expansion sheet 15 diffuses the viewing angle characteristics, and the half-value angle in the vertical direction of the screen is increased. It could be expanded to about ± 30 °. Thereby, in this embodiment, a preferable viewing angle can be obtained also in the vertical direction of the screen.

From the above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a surface light source device that does not use a light guide plate, reduces the number of components, and can be manufactured at a low cost and at a low cost. Moreover, this surface light source device can efficiently converge the light from the light source unit 12 in the substantially normal direction, and can realize a suitable viewing angle in the bright and horizontal direction of the screen (unit prism arrangement direction). .
Further, according to the present embodiment, the light from the LCD panel is spread in the vertical direction of the screen (the arrangement direction of the second unit optical shapes 153) by the viewing angle widening sheet 15, so the viewing angle in the vertical direction of the screen is also widened. Can do. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the display device 1 having a preferable viewing angle without reducing the luminance in the vertical direction of the screen and the horizontal direction of the screen.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the light from the light source unit 12 is reflected by the back surface part 13a and the side surface part 13b of the reflection unit 13, thereby deflecting the light from the same position as the positions of the virtual light source arrays 12C and 12D. The incident light can be incident on the deflecting optical sheet 14 in the same incident angle range as that projected onto the sheet 14, and the surface light source device 10 and the display device 1 can be made thinner and the housing can be made smaller.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the unit lens 243 of the deflection optical sheet 24 according to the second embodiment.
The deflecting optical sheet 24 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as the deflecting optical sheet 14 according to the first embodiment except that the deflecting optical sheet 24 includes a lens layer 242 in which unit lenses 243 are formed instead of the prism layer 142. . Accordingly, parts having the same functions as those of the deflecting optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals at the end thereof, and redundant description is appropriately omitted.
The deflection optical sheet 24 of the second embodiment can be used for the surface light source device 10 and the transmissive display device 1 in the same manner as the deflection optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment.

The deflection optical sheet 24 includes a base material layer 141 and a lens layer 242 formed on the light source unit 12 side (Z1 side) of the base material layer 141. On the surface of the lens layer 242 on the light source unit 12 (Z1 side), a plurality of unit lenses 243 are arranged in the horizontal direction of the screen (X direction).
The unit lenses 243 have a columnar unit optical shape that is convex toward the light source unit 12, and a plurality of unit lenses 243 are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction of the screen, with the vertical direction of the screen being the longitudinal direction. The unit lens 243 has a cross-sectional shape that is parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface, and is formed by overlapping two or more parabolas.
In FIG. 9, a part of a cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243 and orthogonal to the sheet surface is shown in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the cross-sectional shape of the unit lens 243 is formed by a part of each of two parabolas.
Since the top 243t of the unit lens 243 is the apex of the parabola, it does not form a clear ridge line like a conventional triangular prism unit prism. The top portion 243t is a portion having the smallest Z coordinate. Specifically, the top portion 243t is a vertex of a parabola forming this portion, and is a region including the vertex t of the unit lens 243.

Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the unit lens 243 will be described in more detail. In FIG. 9, the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243 is the X axis, the longitudinal direction is the Y axis, and the height direction is the Z axis. In the Z-axis direction, which is the height direction, the light source unit 12 side is set as a negative direction, and the LCD panel 11 side (outgoing side) is set as a positive direction.
As shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the unit lens 243 is a shape using a part of each of the two parabolas, and the shape on the top part 243t side is a part of the first parabola P1, and from this top part 243t Also, the bottom 243u side, which is the emission side, consists of a part of the second parabola P2.
The intersection of these parabolas P1 and P2 exists between the top part 243t and the bottom part 243u. When the intersection of the parabolas P1 and P2 is used as it is, a sharp point on the outside that cannot be differentiated is generated. In this embodiment, the vicinity of the intersection is smoothly connected with a curve (non-differentiable). It is the connection part 243c. As this connection part 243c, you may use arbitrary curves, such as a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, a hyperbola, a spline curve, and other free curves. The unit lens 243 may have a shape with a protruding point.

  The dimension of the connection part 243c can be in the range of 5 to 20% with respect to the height H of the unit lens 243, for example. Further, as in the present embodiment, when two or more parabolas are used, a curve other than the parabola such as the connection portion 243c does not occupy the main part of the contour line of the unit lens 243 (that is, the connection portion). If the dimension of 243c is 50% or less at the maximum with respect to the total length of the contour line of the sectional shape of the unit lens 243, there may be a portion drawn from other curves such as a circle or an ellipse.

The two parabolas P1 and P2 both have vertex coordinates X = 0 in the X-axis direction.
The two parabolas P1 and P2 have, in the Z-axis direction, the apex of the parabola P1 on the top 243t side has a coordinate Z = 0, and the apex of the parabola P2 on the bottom 243u side has a coordinate Z = −h (where h Is a positive number). Thereby, the parabola P1 and the parabola P2 cross in the area | region of the connection part 243c.
Here, a parabola that is bilaterally symmetric with respect to the Z axis and that always has a vertex at X = 0 is represented by a function Z (X) = aX ² −h as its parabolic formula.
Therefore, the equation of the parabola P1 is Z (X) = a1X ² −h1, and the equation of the parabola P2 is Z (X) = a2X ² −h2.
Here, for the coefficients a1, a2 and h1, h2, h1 = 0, h2> 0, and the condition that 0 <a1 <a2 is satisfied. Thus, the formula of the parabola P1 is Z (X) = a1X ^2, wherein the parabola P2 ^{is, Z (X) = a2X 2} -h2 , and the unit is formed by a parabola having a vertex at X = 0 lens 243 The cross-sectional shape in the XZ plane shown in FIG. 9 is symmetrical. Further, the conditions of the coefficients a1 and a2 are such that the parabola P1 on the top portion 243t side has a smaller curvature (slower slope), and the parabola P2 on the bottom portion 243u side has a larger curvature (steep slope). Selected to be.

In addition, if the position of the connection part 243c is shown by the position of the height H direction of the unit lens 243, it can be set within the range of 25 to 75% from the bottom B side of the height H, for example.
In addition, h1 and h2 in the parabola type are set so that different parabolas P1 and P2 intersect each other. The position (Z coordinate numerical value, X coordinate numerical value) of the intersection between the parabolas P1 and P2 can be set as appropriate according to the values of h1 and h2 and the coefficients a1 and a2.

This unit lens 243 has a width (dimension between contact points v between adjacent unit lenses 243 in the arrangement direction) W and a height (a direction orthogonal to the sheet surface) of the bottom 243u on the base material layer 141 side (outgoing side). The relationship between the distance v between the point v and the apex t) in H) is preferably W / 2 ≧ H from the viewpoint of maintaining high front luminance.
When W / 2 <H, the viewing angle can be widened, but the front luminance decreases. In the case of such a shape, the unit lens 243 interferes with the adjacent unit lens 243 (or becomes a shadow of the adjacent unit lens 243), so the lens function does not function effectively, The light utilization efficiency is reduced.
Therefore, from the viewpoint of maintaining the front luminance and increasing the light utilization efficiency, W / 2 ≧ H is preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining the high front luminance.

  Furthermore, the deflection optical sheet 24 of the present embodiment is emitted from the light source unit 12 and the light L3 incident on the deflection optical sheet 24 is arranged in the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243 in the same manner as the deflection optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment. , When the angle formed with the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet 24 is θ (see FIG. 9), arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ and the base angle α ≦ 70 ° is satisfied. In the unit lens 243 of this embodiment, arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) = 71, 6 °, and θ = 10 ° in the approximate center of the sheet surface of the deflecting optical sheet 24 in the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243. Yes, arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ is satisfied, and α = 69 °, which satisfies the above-described preferable range.

As shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable that the unit lenses 243 are arranged without gaps between the unit lenses 243 so as to prevent light from passing through. Therefore, the arrangement pitch Pt of the unit lenses 243 is equal to the width W of the bottom portion 243u.
Further, the coefficients a1 and a2 in the parabolic formula are, for example, when the unit of length is μm, the parabolic coefficient a1 of the parabola P1 on the top 243t side is 0.01 ≦ a1 ≦ 0.06, The parabolic coefficient a2 of the parabola P2 on the bottom 243u side is set to 0.01 ≦ a2 ≦ 0.06, and a1 <a2 and the values of a1 and a2 may be set within this range. When the coefficients a1 and a2 satisfy this range, it is possible to realize an appropriate viewing angle while maintaining high front luminance, and to reduce luminance unevenness and improve surface uniformity of brightness. As an example, the coefficient a1 on the top 243t side may be 0.02, and the coefficient a2 on the bottom 243u side may be 0.05. When the unit of length is mm, the above values of a1 and a2 are 1000 times (in this case, h1 and h2 are naturally 1/1000).
The dimensions of the unit lens 243 as described above are, for example, a width W = 20 to 200 μm and a height H = 10 to 100 μm. As an example, the width W = 50 μm and the height H = 25 μm. At this time, W = 2H. At this time, when the unit lenses 243 are arranged without a gap, the arrangement pitch Pt = 50 μm.

At this time, regarding the length L of the line segment passing through the vertex t and the point v and the distance d at the point that is the farthest distance from this straight line, the unit lens 243 has 0.05 × L ≦ d. ≦ 0.15 × L is satisfied.
In the unit lens 243 of the present embodiment, d = 0.12 × L.

In this specification, a parabola is not limited to a parabola in a strict sense as a mathematical concept, and includes a strict parabola with a slight modulation. For example,
(1) A parabola in a strict sense that approximates a polygonal line, specifically,
(1-1) Polygons connecting adjacent points with line segments for a plurality of discrete (preferably 10 or more) points arranged on a parabola (1-2) Polygons (preferably inscribed in a parabola) More than a decagon)
(1-3) Polygon circumscribing the parabola (preferably a decagon or more)
(2) A curve or the like that is slightly displaced from the parabola (preferably, within 5% of each Z coordinate value) in a part or all of the parabola.
In the present invention, among those obtained by modulating these strict parabolas, the optical characteristics of the obtained optical sheet are practically not significantly different from those using strict parabolas, and the effects of the present invention are achieved. If it is a thing, it shall be included by the "parabola" in this invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of light incident on the unit lens 243. FIG. 10 shows light from the light source array 12A as an example.
As shown in the light L3 in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the light from the light source unit 12 (light source array 12A) is incident on the top 243t of the side surface 243a of the unit lens 243 in the horizontal direction of the screen (the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243). The light is incident and refracted, and is totally reflected by the bottom portion 243u of the opposite side surface 243b to be emitted substantially in the front direction. On the other hand, the light from the light source array 12B is incident on the top portion 243t of the side surface 243b of the unit lens 243 and is refracted, and is totally reflected by the bottom portion 243u of the opposite side surface 243a to be emitted in the substantially front direction. . At this time, the side surfaces 243a and 243b having the top portion 243t and the bottom portion 243u are both curved surfaces that are convex toward the light source portion 12 side. Therefore, in the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243, it is possible to appropriately widen the emission angle direction while emitting light substantially in the front direction.
The angle θ that the light emitted from the light source unit 12 makes with the sheet surface direction in the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243 when the light emitted from the light source unit 12 enters the deflecting optical sheet 24 is mainly within the range of about 2 to 14 ° (that is, the sheet surface). As shown in FIG. 10, all the light incident within this angle range is emitted while being efficiently diffused in a substantially front direction.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a light emission angle distribution of θ = 10 ° (incident angle of 80 ° with respect to the sheet surface) in the arrangement direction (horizontal direction of the screen) of the unit lenses 243 of the deflection optical sheet 24 of the second embodiment. .
Here, in a dark room environment, parallel light that becomes θ = 10 ° (incident angle of 80 ° with respect to the sheet surface) at the central portion (the center in the screen vertical direction and the screen horizontal direction) of the deflecting optical sheet 24 of the second embodiment. Was incident from both sides of the screen in the horizontal direction (X direction), and the emission angle distribution of the light in the horizontal direction of the screen (the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243) was measured. The equipment used for this measurement is the same as the measurement method of the emission angle distribution of the surface light source device 10 in the first embodiment described above.

  As shown in FIG. 11, parallel light incident at θ = 10 ° (incident angle of 80 ° with respect to the sheet surface) from both sides in the left-right direction (X direction) of the screen is arranged in the unit lens 243 by the deflecting optical sheet 24. In the direction (left-right direction of the screen), light is launched in a substantially front direction with respect to the sheet surface, and the half-value angle is also expanded to about ± 12 °. In the actual surface light source device, the light from the light source unit 12 is incident on the deflection optical sheet 24 mainly within an angle θ = about 2 to 14 ° (incident angle about 76 to 88 ° with respect to the sheet surface). Then, as shown in FIG. 10, it is started up substantially in the front direction and appropriately expanded in the left-right direction of the screen. Therefore, the deflection optical sheet 24 can realize a luminance improvement in a substantially front direction and a suitable viewing angle.

Therefore, even when the deflection optical sheet 24 having the unit lens 243 as described above is used, the viewing angle can be appropriately widened while maintaining high front luminance in the horizontal direction of the screen (the arrangement direction of the unit lenses 243). .
Further, since the contours of the top portion 243t and the bottom portion 243u are formed using the two parabolas P1 and P2, the shape of the unit lens 243 can be easily changed in design, the refractive index, the incident angle of the main light, and the like. In addition, desired optical performance can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the viewing angle widening sheet 35 of the third embodiment.
In FIG. 12, a part of a cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction (the vertical direction of the screen) of the second unit optical shapes 153 of the viewing angle widening sheet 35 and orthogonal to the sheet surface is shown enlarged.
The surface light source device of 3rd Embodiment is a form similar to the surface light source device 10 of 1st Embodiment. The display device according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the first embodiment, except that a viewing angle widening sheet 35 is provided instead of the viewing angle widening sheet 15 shown in the first embodiment. It is a form. Therefore, parts having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals at the end thereof, and repeated description is appropriately omitted.

In the viewing angle expanding sheet 35 of the third embodiment, the groove portions (valley portions) 354 between the second unit optical shapes 153 are filled with the diffusing material k, and the viewer side (Z2 side) than the second unit optical shapes 153. ) Is laminated with a surface functional layer 355.
The diffusing material k is a granular member having a function of diffusing light. The diffusing material k may be made of resin such as acrylic resin or silicon resin, or may be formed of an inorganic material such as glass. The diffusing material may be appropriately selected and used within an average particle size range of 1 to several tens of μm.
As described above, the diffusing material k may be filled as it is between the second unit optical shapes 153, or a resin having a lower refractive index than the second unit optical shape 153 and containing the diffusing material k is wiped. You may fill between the 2nd unit optical shapes 153 by (or squeezing) etc. Further, a resin containing a diffusing material k is applied so as to fill the valleys (groove portions 354) between the second unit optical shapes 153 and cover the top surface 153a of the second unit optical shape 153. Also good. In addition, by forming the groove portion 354 and the refractive index of the second unit optical shape 153 (optical shape layer 152) with different materials, the reflection generated at the interface between the groove portion 354 and the second unit optical shape 153 is used. It is possible to control light. Further, in addition to the diffusing material k, dark beads such as black may be filled to suppress a decrease in contrast due to external light.

The surface functional layer 355 is a sheet-like member disposed on the emission side with respect to the second unit optical shape 153. The surface functional layer 355 has a function of preventing the diffusing material filled between the second unit optical shapes 153 from falling off.
The surface functional layer 355 of the present embodiment has a hard coat function and an antiglare function, improves the scratch resistance of the observation screen of the display device 1, and reduces screen glare. Note that the surface functional layer 355 is not limited to this, and may have, for example, an antireflection function, an ultraviolet absorption function, an antifouling function, or the like. It can be selected as appropriate.
The viewing angle widening sheet 35 shown in the third embodiment can also be applied to a surface light source device and a display device including the deflection optical sheet 24 shown in the second embodiment.

By using the viewing angle widening sheet 35 as described above, of the light incident on the second unit optical shape 153, some light incident on the side surfaces 153b, 153c, etc. at an angle less than the critical angle is a groove portion. The light is diffused by the diffusion material k of 354 and emitted. Thereby, a viewing angle can be expanded and light can be used effectively. Further, it is possible to diffuse and reduce the peak of light incident on the side surfaces 153b and 153c at an angle less than the critical angle and refracted by the side surfaces 153b and 153c and emitted in a direction away from the front direction.
Further, by providing the surface functional layer 355 and the like, it is possible to reduce flickering of the screen, improve scratch resistance, and the like, and to improve the quality of the display device.

(Deformation)
Without being limited to the embodiments described above, various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.
(1) In each embodiment, although the base material layer 141 of the deflection | deviation optical sheets 14 and 24 showed the form which does not contain a diffusion material, it is not restricted to this, For example, the base material layer 141 disperse | distributes substantially uniformly. It is good also as sheet-like members made from resin etc. containing the made diffusion material. Further, the base material layer 141 does not contain a diffusing material, and the prism layer 142 of the deflecting optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment and the lens layer 242 of the deflecting optical sheet 24 of the second embodiment may also contain a diffusing material. Good.

Further, the deflecting optical sheets 14 and 24 may have a matte layer like the deflecting optical sheets 44A to 44C having a modified form as shown in FIG. The mat layer is a layer that forms a rough surface by mixing fine particles in a base material and projecting the particles from the surface of the base material. As such a mat layer, a known layer can be applied.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the deflecting optical sheets 44A to 44C.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, a deflection optical sheet 44A in which a mat layer 444 is provided on the LCD panel 11 side of the base material layer 141 may be used. For example, the mat layer 444 may be separated from the deflecting optical sheets 14 and 24 and disposed between the deflecting optical sheets 14 and 24 and the lower polarizing plate 112.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, the matte layer 444 may be a deflecting optical sheet 44B provided on the prism layer 142 side of the base material layer 141.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 13C, the deflecting optical sheet 44C may be formed as an internally added single-layer deflecting optical sheet 44C formed by extruding a thermoplastic resin containing a diffusing material. Good.

By setting it as these forms, the light emitted from the surface light source device 10 can be controlled to a desired one. That is, it is possible to obtain a viewing angle expansion effect by diffusion while increasing the front luminance by condensing the light appropriately in the front direction.
In FIG. 13, the deflection optical sheets 44 </ b> A to 44 </ b> C show an example in which a plurality of unit prisms 143 are formed on the light source unit 12 side like the deflection optical sheet 14 of the first embodiment described above. For example, a plurality of unit lenses 243 may be formed on the light source unit 12 side as in the deflection optical sheet 24 of the second embodiment described above.

(2) In each embodiment, the unit prism 143 and the unit lens 243 that are unit optical shapes have been shown to be formed of an ionizing radiation curable resin such as an ultraviolet curable resin. It may be formed using thermoplastic resin such as acrylic resin, PC resin or PE resin, thermosetting resin such as acrylic resin or epoxy resin, or inorganic material such as glass or ceramic. .
Depending on the material used, various forming methods such as a hot press method, a 2P method (photopolymer method) using an ionizing radiation curable resin, and injection molding can be selected.
Furthermore, in each embodiment, although the deflection | deviation optical sheets 14 and 24 showed the example which is a multilayer structure provided with the base material layer 141, the prism layer 142, or the lens layer 242, it is not restricted to this, For example, as a single layer Also good.
Similarly, the viewing angle expanding sheets 15 and 35 shown in the embodiments can be formed by appropriately selecting the material, the forming method, the single layer or the multilayer structure, and the like.

(3) In the first embodiment, the side surfaces 143a and 143b are cylindrical surfaces having a radius of curvature R. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other curved surfaces such as an elliptic cylinder surface and a free curved surface may be used. It may be formed from a surface.
In the second embodiment, the unit lens 243 has an example in which the cross-sectional shape parallel to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the sheet surface is formed by the two parabolas P1 and P2. It is good also as a shape formed of the above parabola.
Further, the unit lens 243 may have a configuration in which a cross-sectional shape parallel to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the sheet surface is formed from two or more catenary curves (suspension curves).

(4) In each embodiment, an example in which the display device includes the viewing angle widening sheets 15 and 35 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the viewing angle widening sheets 15 and 35 may not be provided. In this case, the viewing angle in the vertical direction is smaller than that in the case where the viewing angle expansion sheets 15 and 35 are provided, but the human eyeballs are aligned in the horizontal direction of the screen. In many cases, the viewing angle in the direction is more important than the viewing angle in the vertical direction of the screen. Therefore, even if the viewing angle expanding sheets 15 and 35 are not provided, the quality of the viewing angle does not deteriorate significantly. Therefore, the viewing angle expansion sheets 15 and 35 may not be provided in accordance with the desired optical performance of the display device 1 or the usage environment. With such a configuration, the display device can be further reduced in thickness and weight, and the display device can be provided at low cost.
In addition, a general-purpose diffusion sheet or the like may be disposed on the viewer side (Z2 side) of the LCD panel 11 without providing the viewing angle expansion sheets 15 and 35, or a surface functional layer 355 having a hard coat function or the like. May be arranged closer to the viewer than the LCD panel 11.
Furthermore, it is good also as a form which laminated | stacked the surface functional layer 355 on the observer side (Z2 side) of the viewing angle expansion sheet 15 of 1st Embodiment.

(5) In each embodiment, an example in which no other optical sheet is disposed between the LCD panel 11 and the deflecting optical sheets 14 and 24 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other optical sheets (for example, diffusion sheets) Alternatively, an optical sheet having a lens shape or a prism shape formed on the emission side) may be disposed between the deflection optical sheets 14 and 24 and the LCD panel 11.

(6) In each embodiment, although the light source row | line | columns 12A and 12B of the light source part 12 demonstrated and demonstrated the example which makes a longitudinal direction (array direction of the point light source 121) a screen up-down direction, it is not restricted to this, For example, The longitudinal direction (the arrangement direction of the point light sources 121) may be the left-right direction of the screen, and may be arranged at the center of the back surface portion 13a of the reflection unit 13 in the vertical direction of the screen. At this time, the deflection optical sheets 14 and 24 have the arrangement direction of the unit prisms 143 and unit lenses 243 as the screen vertical direction, and the viewing angle expansion sheets 15 and 35 have the arrangement direction of the second unit optical shape 153 as the screen horizontal direction. do it.

(7) In each embodiment, the deflection optical sheets 14 and 24, the LCD panel 11, and the viewing angle widening sheets 15 and 35 are shown as separate bodies. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Also good. For example, the base material layer 141 and the lower polarizing plate 112 of the deflecting optical sheets 14 and 24 may be integrally laminated, and the base material layer 151 and the upper polarizing plate 113 of the viewing angle widening sheets 15 and 35 may be integrally laminated. Good. For example, the prism layer 142 and the lens layer 242 are integrally formed on the light source unit 12 side of the lower polarizing plate 112 of the LCD panel 11, and the optical shape layer 152 is formed on the viewer side of the upper polarizing plate 113 of the LCD panel 11. By forming them integrally, the number of members can be further reduced, and the thickness and weight can be reduced. Further, the LCD panel 11 integrated in this way only needs to be disposed on the light source unit 12 and the reflection unit 13, and the manufacturing can be easily performed. Further, when the lens layer 242, the prism layer 142, and the optical shape layer 152 are formed on the polarizing plates 112 and 113 as described above, generally, in the LCD panel 11, the stretching axis of the lower polarizing plate 112 is the screen. Since the upper and lower polarizing plates 113 are often in the horizontal direction of the screen, the drawing axes of the polarizing plates coincide with the longitudinal directions of the unit lenses and the like, and the manufacturing can be easily performed.

(8) In each embodiment, the unit prism 143 and the unit lens 243 that are unit optical shapes are symmetric with respect to the Z direction in the arrangement direction. Also good.
In particular, when the light source unit 12 has only one light source row, the convergence performance and the like may be improved as an asymmetric shape.

(9) In each embodiment, the second unit optical shape 153 of the viewing angle expansion sheet 15 is an isosceles trapezoidal shape whose cross-sectional shape is smaller than the width on the LCD panel 11 side on the viewer side Although shown, it is not restricted to this, For example, it is good also as a non-isosceles trapezoid. Further, the second unit optical shape 153 may be partially formed from a curved surface such as the top surface 153a, or may be a polygonal column shape such as a hexagonal column shape. For example, by making the top surface 153a a curved surface that protrudes toward the viewer, the viewing angle widening effect can be further enhanced. Furthermore, the second unit optical shape 153 has a cross-sectional shape that is wider than the width on the LCD panel 11 side, for example, by disposing the viewing angle expanding sheet 15 in the reverse direction in the thickness direction (Z direction). It is good also as a large substantially trapezoid shape. In this case, contrast can be improved.

(10) In each embodiment, although the light source part 12 gave the example which has two light source row | line | columns 12A and 12B, not only this but it is good also as one light source row | line | column, for example. At this time, the position where the light source row is arranged is not limited to the center in the horizontal direction of the screen, and may be appropriately selected and arranged.
Moreover, in each embodiment, although the point light source 121 of the light source part 12 showed the example using an LED light source, it is not restricted to this, For example, it is preferable to use a light source with a certain high directivity, for example, emits a laser beam. A light source may be used.

  In addition, although this embodiment and modification can also be used in combination as appropriate, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 10 Surface light source device 11 LCD panel 12 Light source part 12A, 12B Light source row 121 Point light source 13 Reflection part 14, 24 Deflection optical sheet 141 Unit prism 15, 35 Viewing angle expansion sheet

Claims (9)

A surface light source device that illuminates a transmissive display unit from the back,
A deflection optical sheet in which a plurality of unit optical shapes are arranged on one side;
A light source unit that projects light obliquely onto the deflection optical sheet;
With
The unit optical shape is
A substantially columnar shape that protrudes toward the light source unit, and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along the sheet surface, and an incident surface on which light is incident, and the incident surface facing the incident surface A total reflection surface on which at least a part of incident light is totally reflected;
The total reflection surface and the incident surface are curved surfaces or bent surfaces that are convex outward,
The light source unit is
A light source array extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the unit optical shape,
In the cross section that is parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes and is orthogonal to the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet, the unit optical is the surface side on which the unit optical shape is formed with respect to the deflection optical sheet. Projecting light obliquely in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes from the side of the arrangement direction of the shapes,
A surface light source device. The surface light source device according to claim 1,
The unit optical shape is a line segment passing through a vertex of the unit optical shape and a point serving as a contact point between the adjacent unit optical shapes in a cross-sectional shape parallel to the arrangement direction and orthogonal to the sheet surface. When the length is L and the maximum value of the distance between the total reflection surface and the line segment is d,
0.05 × L ≦ d ≦ 0.15 × L
Satisfying the relationship
A surface light source device. In the surface light source device according to claim 1 or 2,
The unit optical shape is
In a cross section parallel to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the sheet surface, the cross sectional shape is a part of at least two parabolas, and the cross sectional shape is from the top of the unit optical shape to the top. It is a shape formed by using different parabola in at least two sections on the top side and the bottom side among the sections leading to the bottom which becomes the emission side,
The apex of the top is Z = 0, the exit side with respect to the top is the positive direction of the Z axis, the direction perpendicular to the Z axis in the cross-sectional shape is the X axis, and the top of the top is X = 0 When
The formula of the parabola on the top side is Z = a1X ² ,
The equation of the parabola on the bottom side is Z = a2X ² −h2,
(Where a1 <a2 and a1, a2, and h2 are positive numbers)
Being
A surface light source device. In the surface light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The unit optical shape has a height H, a width W, and a base angle α in a cross-sectional shape parallel to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes and perpendicular to the sheet surface. Is the angle formed by the light incident on the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shape is θ,
In the approximate center of the sheet surface of the deflection optical sheet in the arrangement direction of the unit optical shape,
arctan (1.5 × (W / H)) ≧ θ
And α ≦ 70 °
Meeting,
A surface light source device. In the surface light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The light source unit is disposed at a position facing the center of the unit optical shape in the arrangement direction with respect to the deflection optical sheet,
The light emitted from the light source unit is regularly reflected by at least a side reflection unit disposed at an end of the deflection optical sheet on the light source unit side, and is incident on the deflection optical sheet;
A surface light source device. The surface light source device according to claim 5,
The light emitted from the light source unit is reflected by the back reflecting unit disposed on the side opposite to the deflecting optical sheet of the light source unit and the side reflecting unit and is incident on the deflecting optical sheet;
A surface light source device. A surface light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A transmissive display unit illuminated from the back by the surface light source device;
A transmissive display device. The transmissive display device according to claim 7,
On the opposite side of the transmissive display unit from the surface light source device, a second unit optical shape having a substantially quadrangular prism shape is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the unit optical shapes of the deflection optical sheet. Having a viewing angle widening sheet,
A transmissive display device characterized by the above. The transmissive display device according to claim 8,
A portion that becomes a groove between the second unit optical shapes is filled with a diffusing material,
A transmissive display device characterized by the above.

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