JPH09127508A - Edge light panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an edge light panel having high luminance and high uniformity in such a manner as to be adequate for use as a liquid crystal back light for a color LCD. SOLUTION: The respective dots 6 of the molded density modulation dot patterns 5 of the edge light panel A are formed to stripe shapes consisting of fine-band shaped, alternate crimped reflection parts 7 and mirror finished surface reflection parts 9. These crimped reflection parts 7 are formed as the assembly of many fine grooves 8 of an isosceles triangular shaped. Directivity toward the illumination surface is imparted to the reflection of the incident light thereof. The respective dots 6 assure the high luminance and high uniformity by sharing and adjusting the bright reflection by the crimped reflection parts 7 and the propagation of the incident light by the total reflection of the mirror finished surface reflection parts and controlling the reflection quantity of the incident light.

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 used for surface illumination such as a liquid crystal backlight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An edge light panel of this kind generally uses a density modulation dot pattern arranged by screen printing on a transparent substrate or integrally molded on a transparent substrate. The density modulation dot pattern controls the supplied incident light to guide light.

At this time, the dots of the density-modulated dot pattern are circular as a single ink surface of the printing when screen-printing, or a roughened surface when integrally molding,
The radiant reflection portion having a rectangular shape or other shape is formed, and the incident light is reflected by the entire reflection portion, and the reflected light is emitted as illumination light. On the other hand, the incident light is controlled by controlling the area of the dot or Density modulation with varying number,
Particularly, it is performed by controlling the amount of glitter reflection of incident light by the dots by density modulation in which the area or the number increases in the direction away from the incident end face.

[0004]

In this case, surface illumination such as a liquid crystal backlight can be performed by controlling incident light while ensuring brightness and uniformity that can be practically used. In order to further improve the brightness, for example, high reflection measures are taken to improve the reflection degree of each dot, and a transparent substrate is thin on the non-incident end face side to save space. If it is made into a wedge shape, it is not always possible to perform preferable surface illumination. In the former case, the brightness on the non-incident end face side decreases, and in the latter case, the non-incident end face side. This will result in dot see-through,
Therefore, in the above conventional one, if the conditions change,
It is not possible to deal with this, and it means that there are still problems with brightness and uniformity.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the problem to be solved is to deal with changes in various conditions such as high reflection of dots and wedge-like formation of a transparent substrate. The purpose is to provide an edge light panel that can ensure high performance.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] When the causes of the decrease in brightness on the non-incident end face side in the case of high reflection of the above dots and the see-through of dots in the case of forming a transparent substrate wedge were investigated, the former was a single Due to the high reflection of the dots forming the reflection portion for use, the amount of incident light consumed for brightness enhancement due to the bright reflection of the dots increases, resulting in severe consumption of the incident light and The latter is due to the lack of light quantity, and the latter is because the reflection cycle of the incident light is shortened due to the thinning of the transparent substrate, the light quantity of the incident light is relatively increased, and the dots are excessively reflected. It was found that the cause is that the control of the incident light became insufficient due to the change in the conditions.

Therefore, the present invention uses the above-mentioned density-modulated dot pattern as a control means for incident light, and uses it as a basic first-order control means, and further, a supplementary first control means corresponding to the change in the above-mentioned conditions. The secondary control means is used, and this supplementary secondary control means is performed by all or some of the dots in the density modulation dot pattern, and the dots are emitted with incident light as illumination light. As described above, a plurality of different types of reflection parts, that is, the reflection part for brilliance of the first reflection part that reflects the brilliance and the specular reflection part of the second reflection part that reflects the incident light to propagate, are formed. The secondary control is performed, so that the amount of incident light consumed as illumination light is reflected and the amount of incident light reflected for propagation toward the non-incident end face side. According to the present invention, all or a part of the dots of the density modulation dot pattern arranged on the transparent substrate are provided in a plurality of bright reflection portions and specular reflection portions. An edge light panel characterized by being formed with different kinds of reflection parts,
In addition to this, claim 2 is to make the arrangement of the reflection portion for brilliance and the specular reflection portion into a form which is relatively easy to produce and is surely suitable as a secondary control means. An edge light panel, characterized in that a plurality of different kinds of reflection parts for reflection and reflection parts for specular reflection are arranged in alternate striped stripes, and claim 3 is defined as the reflection part for reflection. 3. A plurality of different types of reflection portions for shining one of the reflection portions according to claim 1 or 2, so that the relationship with the specular reflection portion is also relatively easy to produce and surely becomes a form suitable as the secondary control means. An edge light panel, characterized in that the reflection portion is formed so as to project from the other specular reflection portion, and the dot is highly reflective, and the reflection portion for glittering is respectively Fully brightly reflected for high brightness lighting Azukasuru way, claims 1 to 3
One of the plurality of different types of reflection parts
An edge light panel, characterized in that it serves as a grain-reflecting portion for reflecting on a grain surface, and the grain-reflecting portion is formed by arranging fine grooves of an isosceles triangle in a meandering manner. By so doing, the glitter reflection direction is directed to the illumination surface, the glitter reflection is promoted, and it is effective for further increasing the brightness of the illumination light. Therefore, a plurality of grain surfaces of the grain reflection portion are provided. An edge light panel characterized by being formed by arranging microscopic grooves of an isosceles triangle in parallel or in a meandering shape, and claim 6 is effective for space saving when a liquid crystal backlight is mounted on another device. As described above, the transparent substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is formed into a wedge shape which is thinned toward the non-incidence end face side, and an edge light panel is produced. Easy and high precision So as to obtain a light panel, one of the density modulation dot pattern according to claim 1 to 6,
An edge light panel is characterized by being integrally molded and arranged on a transparent substrate by injection molding, and these are the means for solving the above and each problem as the gist of the invention.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings showing the following embodiments. In FIGS. 1 to 5, A is an edge light panel for a liquid crystal backlight of a color LCD, and 1 is an edge light panel. The transparent substrate, 5 is a density modulation dot pattern provided on the entire surface of one side of the transparent substrate 1 or the back surface of the liquid crystal backlight, and 6 is a dot in the density modulation dot pattern 5.

The transparent substrate 1 is formed in the shape of a wedge which is thinned toward the non-incident end face 3 side so as to contribute to space saving. In this example, the transparent substrate 1 is made of an acrylic transparent resin. Using the above density modulation dot pattern 5
The injection end face 2 has a thickness of 3.45 mm, the non-incidence end face 3 has a thickness of 1.3 mm, and the back surface is an inclined surface to face the non-incidence end face 3 side. With a thin side wall, wedge-shaped, 23 cm
It is a wedge-shaped one forming a flat rectangular panel of × 18 cm.

The density-modulated dot pattern 5 is integrally formed on the transparent substrate 1 by the above-mentioned injection molding and disposed. In this example, the area ratio of the dots 6 is large on the incident end face 2 side, and the non-incident end face is formed. The diameter of the dot 6 is relatively steplessly changed so that the diameter is small on the 3 side, and the pitch of the dots 6 is variable in the horizontal direction, that is, in the row direction with reference to the incident end face 2, The number of dots 6 is made larger on the 2 side, and the number of dots 6 is made coarse on the side of the non-incident end face 3 and made smaller on the side of the non-incidence end face 3, while the same in the vertical direction, that is, in the column direction with reference to the incidence end face 2. Density modulation is performed by changing both the area and the number of the dots 6 which are the intervals.
However, it is intended to make the brightness as high as possible and to perform uniform and preferable light guide.

Each dot 6 in this density-modulated dot pattern 5 is formed by providing all the dots with a plurality of different types of reflection portions, that is, a reflection portion 7 for brilliance and a reflection portion 9 for a specular surface. The bright reflection portion 7 and the specular reflection portion 9 of the reflection portion are arranged in alternate striped stripes, and one of the plurality of different reflection portions is used as the bright reflection portion 7 of the other reflection portion. 9 is formed as a protrusion, and the glitter reflection portion 7 of one of a plurality of different types of reflection portions is used as a grain reflection portion that reflects by the grain surface, and the grain surface of this grain reflection portion has a plurality of grain surfaces. The microscopic grooves 8 of an isosceles triangle are arranged in parallel.

That is, the dot 6 of this example has, for example, 100 μm.
˜1,200 μm, the preferred 300 μm ˜100
From 0 μm, in particular, about 300 μm is formed into a plane circular shape having a diameter based on this, and for example, a shining reflection portion 7 having a low protrusion of about 10 μm to 20 μm, which is approximately the same as the ink height when screen-printed. A plurality of different types of reflecting portions, such as a specular reflecting portion 9 which is a mirror surface in the same plane position as the other portion of the transparent substrate 1, are each set to, for example, 10 μm-100.
.mu.m, preferably about 30 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m, in the present example, formed into ultrafine strips of the same width and arranged alternately in parallel stripes. At this time, the plurality of different types of reflecting portions are arranged so that the brilliant reflecting portion 7 and the specular reflecting portion 9 are located, for example, parallel to the incident end face 2 of the transparent substrate 1, and the brilliant reflecting portions thereof are arranged. Numeral 7 designates this as a grain reflecting portion, that is, one for reflecting incident light on the grain surface.

The grain surface is provided at each glint reflection portion, in particular, at the apex thereof so as to perform diffused reflection of incident light, that is, glint reflection, and in this example, the grain surface indicates the direction of glint reflection of incident light. The microscopic groove 8 whose cross section is an isosceles triangle so that the dots 6 shine toward the illumination surface side as much as possible The directivity toward the illumination surface is given to the glitter reflection light of the light. Particularly, in the fine groove 8 of the present example, the glitter reflection light is directed to the illumination surface immediately above, and the glitter reflection light is applied to each dot. 6 In order to increase the brightness by making itself as bright as possible, each of the above-mentioned isosceles triangles is formed into a right-angled isosceles triangle so that its groove wall angle forms an angle of 45 ° with the transparent substrate 1. Therefore, the reflection part 7 for brilliance of the present example has a right angled isosceles triangle. In the form optimally enhanced configured and directivity of the bright reflected light by a set of parallel many fine grooves 8 is as by grain reflecting portion contributing to brightness enhancement.

On the other hand, the specular reflection portion 9 is the reflection portion 7 for brilliance.
Radiates the dots 6 by the brilliance reflection, particularly the brilliance reflection portion 7 to improve the illumination brightness, while the incident light is totally reflected as much as possible and is not consumed by the dots 6. It is formed as a mirror surface suitable for the above-mentioned total reflection so as to propagate to the incident end face 3 side, and in this example, the specular reflection portion 9 follows the inclined surface of the back surface of the transparent substrate 1 and the surface thereof. It is one that makes one.

At this time, the dots 6 formed by a plurality of different types of reflection portions, that is, the reflection portion 7 for brilliance and the reflection portion 9 for specular surface, have the same structure for all the dots of the density modulation dot pattern 5 in this example. Therefore, depending on the area change between the incident end face 2 side and the non-incident end face 3 side of the dot 6, that is, the diameter change,
It is assumed that the lengths of the reflection portion 7 for brilliance and the specular reflection portion 9 and the number of reflection portions 7 for brilliance are somewhat different. However, by making the dots 6 have the same configuration as a whole, There is no phenomenon such as non-uniformity that should be a problem that appears.

In the edge light panel A of this example,
The incident light supplied from the incident end face 2 into the transparent substrate 1 by the light source 20 has a basic first-order control means for the entire density-modulated dot pattern 5 with respect to brightness and uniformity as in the conventional case. While conducting the light guide, each dot 6 has its directivity due to the brilliance reflection of the brilliant reflection portion 7 in order to improve the brightness and the uniformity that remain for the liquid crystal backlight of the color LCD. The brilliance possessed and the propagation to the non-incident end face 3 side by total reflection of the specular reflection portion 9 are shared and effectively performed, and it becomes a supplementary secondary control means to secure the illumination brightness, The amount of incident light is adjusted to prevent consumption of incident light and to prevent the transparent substrate 1 from seeping through the dots 6 on the side of the non-incident end face 3 where the thickness of the transparent substrate 1 becomes thin, thus ensuring brightness and uniformity. Light guide Possible and then, can be the bright reflection portion 7 there further to the present embodiment is to improve the illumination brightness by the illumination light bright reflected light as much as possible, and of high intensity.

Incidentally, the edge light panel A of this example has extremely good uniformity over the whole, has no darkness and no see-through of the dots 6, and greatly improves the brightness and the uniformity as compared with the conventional one, and, for example, dots. 6 Compared with the case where the whole is used as the glitter reflection part of the grain reflection part of other forms such as non-directional fine grooves, the liquid crystal of the color LCD has a very high brightness which further improves the brightness by about 5%. As an edge light panel for backlights, it has become particularly suitable for high brightness and high uniformity.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show an edge light panel A according to another example. In this example, the edge light panel A is formed in a wedge shape and uses the same transparent substrate 1 as described above. The same density-modulated dot pattern 5 is also integrally formed by injection molding, and the glitter reflection portion 7 of all the dots 6 is a grain reflection portion that performs reflection by a similar grain surface, while The fine grooves 8 of an isosceles triangle are formed in a meandering manner, that is, the reflection part 7 for brilliance of the present example has a plurality of fine grooves 8 of an isosceles right triangle which are also arranged in parallel and each of which is fine. A large number of fine grooves 8 meandering in the shape of an isosceles right triangle, which are arranged by carving so as to have a wavy shape at a pitch of
In the same manner, the directivity toward the illumination surface is given to the glint reflected light of the incident light as a result of the aggregate of the above, and thereby the glint reflection portion 7 in the dot 6 is formed.
This is an example in which the reflection surface of is enlarged more than that of the above example so that the brightness can be further improved. Similarly, the brightness and the uniformity are greatly improved as compared with the conventional one, and the whole of the above is reduced. Even when compared with the reflection part for glitter of the reflection part,
Furthermore, the brightness was improved to 5% or more, and the brightness was extremely high, and it was possible to obtain a high brightness and high uniformity, which is particularly suitable as an edge light panel for a liquid crystal backlight of a color LCD.

Since the remainder is constructed in the same manner as the above example, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 4 is a side end surface on both sides which are mirror surfaces like the incident end surface 2 and the non-incident end surface 3 of the transparent substrate 1, and 10 is one surface opposite to the density modulation dot pattern 5 of the transparent substrate 1, that is, illumination. Similarly, a liquid crystal backlight is constructed by integrally molding the surface side by injection molding, facing the entrance end surface 2 and facing the crossing direction, and disposing a reflection sheet (not shown) on the back surface for diffusing the bright reflection light of the dots 6. In order to obtain the integrated diffusion prism surface in place of the previous diffusion sheet, 11 is the transparent substrate 1
Is a reflection tape stretched on the non-incident end face 3 and the side end faces 4 on both sides.

Although the illustrated example is as described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the dots of the density modulation dot pattern is scattered, for example, at a predetermined portion in the plane or over the entire area. Forming a plurality of different types of reflection parts for the brilliance reflection part and the specular reflection part so that they are mixed, and the arrangement of the reflection part for brilliance and the specular reflection part are staggered with respect to each other. Shape other than stripes, such as mixed and mixed shapes, and when the reflection part for brilliance and the specular reflection part are formed in stripes, they are arranged so as to intersect the incident end face, or randomly. In such a way that the bright reflection part is made of screen printing ink, the surface is made rough by integral molding, and the specular reflection part is made the remaining transparent substrate surface to form dots. The reflection part for brilliance and the specular reflection part are flush On the same surface, and the specular reflection part is formed so as to project from the reflection part for brilliance, and the reflection part for brilliance is formed in the concave and convex recesses, and the reflection part for brilliance is used as a grain reflection part. At this time, it is also possible to divide the grain surface in the longitudinal direction or to use fine grooves that extend in a non-directional manner, to make the transparent substrate a flat panel panel of the same thickness, etc. The transparent substrate of the present invention has a specific material, shape, structure, number, dimension, direction, relationship between these, and addition of these to the glitter reflection portion, the specular reflection portion, the grain reflection portion used as necessary, and the fine groove. , Manufacturing method,
Further, the usage of the edge light panel and the like can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0022]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of different types of reflection portions, a bright reflection portion and a specular reflection portion, are provided for all or a part of the dots of the density modulation dot pattern arranged on the transparent substrate. Therefore, the density-modulated dot pattern is used as a basic primary control means for the incident light to guide light, and all or some of the dots are respectively reflected by the glitter reflection part. Of the specular reflection part and propagate to the non-incident end face side by total reflection of the specular reflection part, and serve as a supplementary secondary control means to secure the illumination brightness and consume the incident light. Therefore, the light quantity of the incident light is adjusted so that the incident light can be effectively and properly utilized, and it is possible to guide the light with both brightness and uniformity ensured, and use the above-mentioned adjustment function. Adapts to different conditions It is possible to provide an edge light panel with highly secure the brightness and uniformity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, in addition to the above, the edge light is characterized in that the bright reflection portions and the specular reflection portions of the plurality of different types of reflection portions are arranged in alternate striped stripes. It is relatively easy to produce the panel, and it is possible to surely adopt a suitable form as the second control means from the arrangement mode.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of different types of reflecting portions is formed so as to project the glittering reflecting portion with respect to the other specular reflecting portion. While the panel is easy to produce, the reflection part for brilliance and the specular reflection part are suitable for performing the brilliance and propagation of incident light most effectively, respectively, and are surely suitable as the second control means. Can be

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the glitter reflection portion of one of the plurality of different types of reflection portions is a grain reflection portion that reflects by a grain surface. Therefore, in addition to the above,
Since the reflection part for brilliance effectively performs brilliant reflection of incident light, the dots can be made highly reflective and suitable for high-intensity illumination, and also suitable for integral molding such as injection molding. Can be one.

According to a fifth aspect, the grain surface of the grain reflecting portion is
Since a plurality of isosceles triangular fine grooves are formed in parallel or in a meandering manner, in addition to the above,
The directivity for directing the reflected light toward the illumination surface side can be imparted to the bright reflection of the bright reflection portion, and it can be made suitable for improving the brightness.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the transparent substrate is formed in a wedge shape which is thinned toward the non-incidence end face side. Therefore, in addition to the above, on the thinned non-incidence end face side. Can also be used for liquid crystal backlights, etc., with a high degree of uniformity in which dots do not show through, which contributes to space saving.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the density-modulated dot pattern is integrally formed and disposed on a transparent substrate by injection molding. Therefore, in addition to the above, brightness and uniformity are provided. The edge light panel can be easily and surely produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an edge light panel showing a density modulation dot pattern.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the edge light panel with the reflective tape broken.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a dot model.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a model of an edge light panel.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a model of a reflection part for brilliance.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an edge light panel of another example.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a dot model.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a model of an edge light panel.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a reflection portion for brilliance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Edge light panel 1 Transparent substrate 5 Density modulation dot pattern 6 Dots 7 Bright reflection part 8 Fine groove 9 Mirror reflection part

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. The whole or a part of dots of a density-modulated dot pattern arranged on a transparent substrate is formed by providing a plurality of different types of reflection portions, that is, a reflection portion for brightness and a specular reflection portion. Edge light panel to do. 2. An edge light panel, characterized in that a plurality of different types of reflection parts for reflection and a specular reflection part are arranged in alternate fine stripe shapes. 3. The edge light panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the plurality of different types of reflection portions is formed so that the glitter reflection portion protrudes from the other specular reflection portion. 4. An edge light panel, wherein one of the plurality of different types of reflecting portions according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is used as a brilliant reflecting portion for reflecting by a crease surface. 5. An edge light panel, characterized in that the grain surface of the grain reflecting portion according to claim 4 is formed by arranging a plurality of isosceles triangular fine grooves in parallel or in a meandering manner. 6. An edge light panel, characterized in that the transparent substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is formed in a wedge shape having a reduced thickness toward a non-incidence end face side. 7. An edge light panel, characterized in that the density modulation dot pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is integrally molded and disposed on a transparent substrate by injection molding.