JPH05127160A - Incident light supply device for edge light panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an incident light supply device where average brightness is drastically improved under such restrictive conditions that it is made as compact as possible and power is saved like a liquid crystal backlight. CONSTITUTION:The incident light supply device B is constituted of a mirror frame 20 and a lamp house 30, and the mirror frame 20 is arranged to be interposed between the incident end face of an edge light panel 2 and a primay light source. While light from the primary light source is reflected by the lamp house 30, it advances the piercing section 21 of the mirror frame 20 and irregularly reflected by a mirror surface 23, then supplied to an incident end face 4 as incident light, so that the loss of the light from the light source is avoided and the irregular reflection on the edge light panel 2 is accelerated, thereby improving brightness by >=60%.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an edge light panel lighting device, and more particularly to an incident light supply device for the edge light panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An edge light panel illuminating device supplies light from a primary light source to an incident end surface of an edge light panel so that a diffused reflection surface of the edge light panel emits secondary light. As the incident light supply device, for example, No. Shokai 32-33108, No. Hei 1-
No. 90085, JP-A-2-32320, etc. are known, and according to these, in general, this incident light supply device covers the primary light source facing the incident end face of the edge light panel in the longitudinal direction. A U-shaped lamp house is used, and the lamp house is used to increase the amount of incident light by promoting reflection of the light source light at the outer periphery of the primary light source non-opposing side to the incident end face side.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 64-33108 uses a C-shaped lamp house, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-90085 uses a U-shaped lamp house, the front end of which is the entrance end face of the edge light panel. It is arranged so as to come into contact with the edge portion, and in JP-A-2-32320, a C-shaped to U-shaped lamp house is used and a prism is provided between the incident end face of the edge light panel and the primary light source. To be taken.

[0004]

Since the edge light panel lighting device has a feature that it is compact and can obtain uniform brightness, it is frequently used as a liquid crystal backlight instead of the direct type lighting device.

However, when the edge light illuminating device is used as a liquid crystal backlight today, the liquid crystal display surface is limited to a monochrome display surface. For example, when the liquid crystal display surface is used for a color display surface, the lack of brightness is remarkable. Yes, it is hard to say that it can be put to practical use.

Generally, the average luminance obtained by this kind of edge light panel lighting device is 950 to 1,150 cd / m ^2.
This is because this brightness has no practical problem for the monochrome display surface, but it is necessary to improve the brightness at least twice or more for the color display surface.

Brightness can be improved, for example, by increasing the number of primary light sources. However, since the liquid crystal backlight is mounted and used in equipment such as a television receiver, a computer, a word processor, etc., it is generally indispensable to make it as compact as possible. In addition, it is indispensable to save power as much as possible due to the increasing trend of portable type. For example, if the brightness is not improved within the current range of one side light source by a single primary light source and both side light sources by both side primary light sources. There will be a constraint that it will not happen.

The brightness may be improved by further improving the edge light panel, but increasing the amount of incident light is an effective brightness improving means. Although it has a certain effect as compared with the case where is not used, it is difficult to exceed the current brightness.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an incident light supply device which realizes a dramatic improvement in average luminance under the above-mentioned restrictions.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a result of intensive research conducted on the above problems, the incident light supplied to the incident end surface of the edge light panel diffuses the light from the light source before the incident as non-directionally as possible. We have found the fact that it is possible to effectively improve the brightness by making the light incident on the lamp. To this end, the mirror frame described below is provided between the incident end face of the edge light panel and the primary light source, and the lamp house is installed. It has been found that forming a tapered U shape is extremely effective.

Based on such knowledge, the present invention diffuses the light source light of the primary light source over the entire length in the longitudinal direction on the incident end face side of the edge light panel at the position between the primary light source and the edge light panel as diffusely as possible. The diffuse reflection means for supplying the incident light from the incident end face later is arranged, that is, the present invention is such that a large number of through sections are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the incident end face of the edge light panel.
It is characterized in that a mirror frame having an inner peripheral surface of these penetrating sections as a mirror surface is formed, and the mirror frame is interposed between an incident end face of the edge light panel and a primary light source facing the incident end face. Incident light supply device for edge light panel (Claim 1), Incident light supply device for edge light panel, wherein the mirror frame according to claim 1 is formed integrally or integrally with a lamp house that covers a primary light source in a longitudinal direction. (Claim 2) A pair of a primary light source facing the incident end surface of the edge light panel is covered with a non-opposing side outer periphery in a C-shape or a U-shape in the longitudinal direction and is tapered toward the incident end surface side. A tapered U-shaped lamp house is formed by arranging light source light guide fins, and the tip of the guide fin of the lamp house is set to the incident end face of the edge light panel or the The incident light supply device for an edge light panel (claim 3) and the lamp house according to claim 2 are characterized in that they are arranged so as to abut against the front and back edges of the surface, and a tapered U as in claim 3. An incident light supply device (claim 4) for an edge light panel, which is formed in a letter shape and is integrally or integrally formed so that the tips of a pair of light source light guide fins come into contact with a mirror frame. Each of these is the gist of the invention.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each penetrating section of the mirror frame promotes diffuse reflection of the light source light and supplies the light to the incident end face as incident light. Loss is prevented, claim 3 promotes diffuse reflection of the light source light between the light source light guide fins of the tapered U-shaped lamp house, and supplies it to the incident end face as incident light, and claim 4 claims Mirror frame and tapered U shape In addition to the diffused reflection of the light from the light source, the diffused lamphouse supplies the incident light as incident light to the incident end face, and in both cases, the diffused reflection in the edge light panel is greatly increased immediately after the incidence, thereby improving the brightness.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing the following embodiments. In FIGS. 1 to 4, A is a liquid crystal backlight by an edge light illuminating device, and the liquid crystal backlight A is not shown. The TV receiver, computer,
It is used as a device for use by being incorporated in a device such as a word processor.

The liquid crystal backlight A is provided from the liquid crystal display side.
Milky white polyester film 1 for light diffusion, edge light panel 2, and white polyester film 9 for light reflection
Of the primary light source 10 and the incident light supply device B, which are arranged in a laminated manner and are opposed to the incident end surface of the edge light panel 2.
Also, the reflection means 11 is provided on the three end faces of the edge light panel 2 by a white resin tape integrally bonded and integrated in a surrounding shape using a transparent adhesive.

The edge light panel 2 is a 6 mm thick 130
The diffused reflection pattern 5 is formed by screen printing so as to cover substantially the entire back surface of the acrylic transparent substrate 3 having a laterally long dimension of × 240, that is, the non-liquid crystal display surface side. A single light panel 2 is used.

The irregular reflection pattern 5 is formed by gradually increasing the area ratio of halftone dots of the irregular reflection unit so as to gradually increase the amount of irregular reflection in the in-plane direction from each end. The adjusted irregular reflection part 7 on the side of the reflecting means 11 and the position deviated to the reflecting means 11 side between them,
This is based on a halftone dot pattern which is divided into maximum diffused reflection parts 8 having the maximum amount of diffused reflections in common. The incident light diffuse reflection part 6 diffuses incident light and the adjustment diffuse reflection part 7 guides light. Incident light and reflection means 11
Diffuses the combined light with the reflected light in the suppressing direction to adjust the non-uniformity due to the high brightness of the combined light of the part, and the maximum diffused reflection part 8 maximizes the diffused light reduction part between them. As a whole, high-intensity and highly uniform back lighting can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the primary light source 10 is, for example, a single cold cathode fluorescent lamp of power saving 2 to 4 W, and the primary light source 10 is opposed so as to extend over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the incident end face 4 of the edge light panel 2. Thus, the liquid crystal backlight A is configured as an edge light illuminating device for one side light source.

The incident light supply device B in this example is a mirror frame 20 provided between the incident end surface 4 of the edge light panel 2 and the primary light source 10, and a U-shaped lamp integrally formed with the mirror frame 20. And a house 30.

That is, the mirror frame 20 has a plurality of through-sections 21 continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the incident end surface of the edge light panel 2, and the inner peripheral surface of the through-sections 21 is a mirror surface 23, which is formed into a frame-like shape. In this example, the mirror frame 20 uses a frame main body in which the partition wall 22 is made as thin as possible by extrusion molding of aluminum or injection molding of synthetic resin. In this case, the inner height H is preferably the edge light panel 2 of the preferred embodiment.
The same as the inner height H so that the inner width W is equal to or less than 1.5 times, more preferably 1.4 times or less the wall thickness of the edge light panel 2 of the preferred embodiment while being equal to the wall thickness. In addition, by making the thickness of the edge light panel 2 to be the same as that of the edge light panel 2, the edge light panel 2 is configured as a square grid with an opening area as large as possible.

The inner peripheral surface of the penetrating section 21 is formed as a mirror surface 23 by subjecting this frame body to vapor deposition or metal plating of silver, aluminum, or the like.

On the other hand, the lamp house 30 has a U-shape for covering the primary light source 10 in the longitudinal direction, and is provided with a pinching fin 31 whose tip extends in parallel. The above-mentioned mirror frame 20 is sandwiched between them and they are bonded together to be integrated, and the inner surface that covers the primary light source 10 is the same mirror surface as described above.

In the incident light supplying apparatus B of this example, the primary light source 10 is inserted and installed in the lamp house 30 of the apparatus.
The distance L between the primary light source 10 and the entrance end face 4 of the edge light panel 2 is set to 1.5 times the wall thickness of the edge light panel 2 of the preferred embodiment, and more preferably 1.4 times or less so as not to be too far apart. The primary light source 10 is arranged so that

In the liquid crystal backlight A of this embodiment, the light source light of the primary light source 10 is transmitted through the penetrating section 2 of the mirror frame 20.
1 and then to the penetrating section 21 of the mirror frame 20 after being reflected by the lamp house 30, the mirror surface 23 causes non-directional diffuse reflection, and the lamp house 30 and the mirror frame The entire amount of the light source light is supplied as incident light to the incident end surface 4 of the edge light panel 2 by the mirror surface 23 of 20 without any loss. Therefore, the incident light is sequentially supplied to the irregular reflection pattern 5 of the edge light panel 2 as non-directional light having no directivity in a specific direction, and the irregular reflection in the edge light panel 2 is greatly promoted to improve the brightness. In the present example, the luminance reached about 1,800 cd / m ² , which was about 60% higher than that of the conventional incident light supply device.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the incident light supply device B. In this example, the lamp house 30 covers the outer periphery of the primary light source 10 on the non-opposing side in a C shape, and
The pair of light source light guide fins 32, which are inclined and tapered toward the incident end face 4 side of the edge light panel 2, are arranged in a tapered U shape, while the mirror frame 2 is formed.
The upper and lower sides are similarly tapered toward the incident end face 4 side, and the tip of the light source light guide fin 32 is similarly pressure-bonded to the upper and lower sides of the mirror frame 20.

Although the rest is configured in the same manner as described above, when the incident light supply device B of this example is used, diffuse reflection of the light source light is further promoted, and a brightness improvement of about 70% which is higher than the above is obtained.

Further, FIGS. 6 and 7 show an incident light supply device B,
It is an example constituted by a tapered U-shaped lamp house 30. In each case, the outer periphery of the primary light source 10 on the non-opposing side is covered with a C shape in the longitudinal direction, and the taper is inclined toward the incident end face 4 side of the edge light panel 2. 6, a pair of light source light guide fins 32 are arranged, and in FIG. 6, the tips of the guide fins 32 are arranged so as to cover the front and back edges of the incident end face 4 of the edge light panel 2 in a covering manner. And also Fig. 7
This is an example in which the tip of the guide fin 32 is arranged so as to abut against the incident end surface 4 in a butt shape.

Although the brightness improvement ratio of these is relatively low compared to the case where the mirror frame 20 is used, it is still possible to improve the brightness by several pick-ups as compared with the conventional one.

Further, FIGS. 8 to 10 show a mirror frame 20.
2 is an example in which the shape of the through section 21 in FIG.
FIG. 8 shows an example in which the penetrating section 21 has a cylindrical shape and a triangular shape at the corner thereof to enlarge the opening area as much as possible.
Is an example in which the through-sections 21 are triangular and are arranged in the forward and reverse order to expand the opening area as much as possible, as shown in FIG.
0 is an example in which the penetrating section 21 has a polygonal shape and an I shape between the penetrating sections 21 and the opening area is enlarged as much as possible, and these can also obtain good results as in the above.

Although the illustrated example is as described above, the incident light supply device of the present invention can be constructed by using the mirror frame alone or in combination with the conventional lamp house or the like. In order to prevent the loss of light from the light source as much as possible and make it efficiently incident light, the mirror frame should be formed integrally or integrally with the lamp house as the incident light supply device as in the above example. Is particularly preferable.

The mirror frame is preferably installed so as to cover the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the incident end face of the edge light panel. At this time, in addition to the above example, the penetrating section is, for example, a square or rectangular grid having two upper and lower stages. By doing so, it is also possible to arrange the penetrating sections with different sizes. However, making the shape too complicated or increasing the wall thickness of the partition wall between the through sections should be avoided because it reduces the overall opening area. Therefore, for example, the I-shaped through section in FIG. 10 may be omitted. Therefore, it is not preferable to use only the polygonal through section.

As described above, the size of the through section is equivalent to the inner height with respect to the thickness of the edge light panel, that is, the thickness of the incident end face, and the inner width is within 1.5 times, more preferably Since it is possible to obtain particularly good results, it is preferable to set the distance between the primary light source and the incident end face within 1.5 times, and more preferably within 1.4 times within 1.4 times. It is preferable to set each penetration section and depth in the mirror frame accordingly.

The mirror surface of the mirror frame has a mirror shape with a reflectivity as high as possible. For example, it is necessary to avoid unevenness on the mirror surface because it hinders the progress of light from the light source toward the incident end surface. Is preferred. The mirror surface can also be formed by stretching a metal foil, a thin glass mirror, etc., but it is easy to use the above vapor deposition or plating, and the mirror frame or its body can also be constructed by assembling individual members. However, the above-mentioned molding is convenient for obtaining a simple and accurate product.

The tapered U-shaped lamp house may be constructed in the same manner as the mirror house, but the light source light guide fin can secure a space between the primary light source and the incident end face without making it too long. To

It is possible to make one of the pair of guide fins horizontal and incline the other, but it is more preferable to incline both.

When the tapered U-shaped lamp house is formed integrally with or integrally with the mirror frame, the mirror frame can be made horizontal without being tapered.

As can be seen from the above, the edge light illuminating device is applied to a device other than the liquid crystal backlight, in this case, the edge light panel is laminated, and the thickness of the incident end face is adjusted accordingly. In implementing the present invention, the mirror frame is constructed based on the laminated thickness, the irregular reflection surface of the edge light panel is formed into a different pattern, and it is formed by another means such as shot blasting. Specific shapes, structures, dimensions, materials, production methods, etc. of panels, mirror frames, penetrating sections, mirror surfaces, U-shaped lamp houses, light source light guide fins, and the like, and additions to them do not contradict the gist of the above invention. As long as it can be variously modified, it is not limited to those illustrated or described above.

[0037]

Since the present invention is configured as described above,
In both cases, the light source light of the primary light source can be diffused as much as possible between the incident end faces of the edge light panel and then supplied as incident light to the incident end faces. By accelerating the increase, the brightness of the edge light panel can be increased from several to 60%.
Alternatively, it is possible to make a great improvement by about 70%.

Therefore, even if the liquid crystal backlight is made as compact as possible and power is saved, the average brightness can be dramatically improved. It is possible to open up the way to the use as a liquid crystal backlight of the liquid crystal display surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

 Fig. 1 Exploded perspective view of liquid crystal backlight Fig. 2 Perspective view of incident light supply device Fig. 3 Partially enlarged vertical sectional view of liquid crystal backlight Fig. 4 Partially enlarged front view of mirror frame Fig. 5 Incident light supply according to another example 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of a liquid crystal backlight according to another example. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of a liquid crystal backlight according to another example. Enlarged front view FIG. 9 Partially enlarged front view of a mirror frame according to another example FIG. 10 Partially enlarged front view of a mirror frame according to another example

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An edge light panel, wherein a large number of through sections are continuously arranged in a longitudinal direction of an incident end surface of the edge light panel, and a mirror frame having an inner peripheral surface of each of the through sections as a mirror surface is formed. 2. An incident light supply device for an edge light panel, characterized in that it is interposed between an incident end face of and a primary light source facing the incident end face. 2. An incident light supply device for an edge light panel, wherein the mirror frame according to claim 1 is formed integrally or integrally with a lamp house that covers a primary light source in a longitudinal direction. 3. A pair of light sources in which a non-opposing side outer periphery of a primary light source facing an incident end face of an edge light panel is covered with a C-shape or a U-shape in a longitudinal direction and is tapered toward the incident end face side. A tapered U-shaped lamp house is formed by arranging light guide fins, and the guide fin tips of the lamp house are arranged so as to be in contact with the incident end face of the edge light panel or the front and back edges of the end face. An incident light supply device for an edge light panel, which is characterized in that 4. The lamp house according to claim 2 is formed into a tapered U shape as in claim 3, and the tips of the pair of light source light guide fins are integrally or integrally formed so as to contact the mirror frame. An incident light supply device for an edge light panel, which is characterized in that