Illumination – Revolving
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2002-02-05
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Revolving
C362S551000, C362S558000, C362S331000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343867
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spread illuminating apparatus for use of illuminating a display portion of a personal computer and word processor (hereinafter referred to as “person com.”).
2. Description of Related Arts
As a display for person com., a cathode ray tube (so called picture tube) has been mainly used, however since this type is large-size, heavy weight and high energy consumption, recently a liquid crystal panel has been used very much. Accordingly, what is much in number of picture elements has been developed, and in addition since the elements for circuitry have been developed in miniaturization, for instance a so-called note-book type of person com. and such miniaturized one has been rapidly developed.
Thus, a demand for a liquid crystal panel has been increased rapidly, on the other hand, since the liquid crystal panel itself does not emit the light, an illuminating apparatus is needed for that purpose. Conventionally, as this kind illuminating apparatus, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL) has been used. Since these are, in any type, discharge lamps, a high voltage is necessary when making them discharge between electrodes. Accordingly, an oscillation circuit using semiconductors has been provided and a high voltage generated by the oscillation circuit has been supplied.
Since the person com. is a medley of electric circuits and electric apparatuses, it has to consume energy by itself. Therefore, an energy saving technology has been developed, at present, what has been highly developed in energy saving compared with the conventional ones has been prevailed. In particular, in a portable person com. such as so-called note book type, such tendency has outstanding. However, if energy consumption is large in its illuminating apparatus, most energy of battery has to be consumed by that.
Accordingly, without using a fluorescent lamp, in place of that, what is used with a light emitting diode in white has been developed, of which a patent application has been already filed by the present applicant (Patent application No. Hei 10-182076). One example of this type is explained based on
FIG. 5. A
spread body
1
is rectangular in configuration, on one end thereof, a bar-like light conductive member
2
is disposed. This light conductive member
2
is separated from the spread body
1
in
FIG. 5
, but in an actual one, it is tightly in contact with the spread body
1
so as to lead the light to the spread body
1
effectively. On one portion of the light conductive member
2
an optical path conversion means is provided.
On both sides of the light conductive member
2
, light emitting diodes (LED)
3
,
3
as a light emitter are disposed. This light emitting diode
3
is also separated from the light conductive member
2
in figure, actually it is tightly in contact with the light conductive member
2
. An emitting color of the light emitting diode
3
is white, when electric energy is supplied and the light is emitted from the diode, so as to direct most of the light toward the light conductive member
2
, the diode
3
is adapted to be surrounded with a case etc. In this construction, when these light emitting diodes
3
,
3
emit, that light directs to the spread body
1
through the light conductive member
2
and illuminates it.
What is illustrated in
FIG. 6
is a variation example, on both ends of the spread body
1
, light conductive members
2
A and
2
B are provided and on one end of each light conductive member
2
a light emitting diode
3
is disposed. In this construction, since the spread body
1
receives light from both sides, it can be illuminated uniformly. What is shown in
FIG. 7
is also a variation example. In this case, it is a case where, from a viewpoint of layout, the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B are not able to be disposed on both sides of the spread body
1
, two light conductive members
2
A and
2
B are disposed on one side of the spread body
1
. In this case, the light from the light conductive member
2
B which is located at a separated position seeing from the spread body
1
reaches to the spread body
1
through the light conductive member
2
A which is located close to the spread body
1
.
In each structure explained above, the light conductive member
2
(
2
A,
2
B) is formed with an optical path conversion means as mentioned above. As the optical path conversion means, there have been what is partially made by roughened on the surface thereof, what is applied with a white paint on the surface thereof, what is partially provided with prism-shaped portions on the surface thereof and what is totally roughened on the surface thereof. In any one of them, if the positions where the optical path conversion means of the two light conductive members
2
(
2
A,
2
B) are provided are not appropriate, the light from the light conductive member
2
B which is located far from the spread body
1
is refracted to undesirable direction under the influence of the optical path conversion means of the light conductive member
2
A, which causes to generate a problem to decrease the illumination efficiency.
FIG. 8
is for explanation of what is adapted to form an optical path conversion means
4
by roughening one portion of the surfaces of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B. In this case, since the positions of the optical path conversion means
4
,
4
of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B are not appropriate, although the light
5
(center light) of the light conductive member
2
B located far from the spread body
1
progresses to the light conductive member
2
A close to the spread body
1
, by being reflected on its own optical path conversion means
4
, the light
5
is diffused excessively due to the optical path conversion means
4
located at the surface thereof, and the light
5
to progress toward a desired direction is reduced greatly, as a result, it can not illuminate a liquid crystal panel effectively.
What is shown in
FIG. 9
shows the optical path conversion means
4
of which is formed by applying a white paint on one portion of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B. In this case, the white paint reflects the light
5
in a high reflectance and does not transmit the light
5
, therefore, the white paint prevent it from penetrating, and as a result, it functions as a shutter, and if the optical path conversion means
4
,
4
of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B are located at the same place, the light
5
of the light conductive member
2
B which is located far from the spread body
1
is directed toward the light conductive member
2
A which is located close to the spread body
1
by being reflected on its own optical path conversion means
4
, but it does not progress to the spread body
1
by being reflected on the optical path conversion means
4
applied on its one portion of the light conductive member
2
A.
In what is shown in
FIG. 10
, as an optical path conversion means
4
, a prism-shaped portion is formed on one. portion of the surfaces of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B. In this case, since the prism-shaped portion refracts the light
5
, if the optical path conversion means
4
,
4
of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B are located at the same place, the light
5
of the light conductive member
2
B located far from the spread body
1
progresses to the light conductive member
2
A close to the spread body
1
by being reflected on its own optical path conversion means
4
, but it progresses in the inappropriate direction in the spread body
1
by being re-refracted with the prism-shaped portion.
In what is shown in
FIG. 11
, as an optical path conversion means
4
, at least one surface of the light conductive members
2
A,
2
B is formed to be prism-shaped. In this case too, as well as in the case where one portion is prism-shaped, since the prism-shaped portion reflects and refracts the light
5
, if the optical path conversion means
4
,
4
of the light conductive members
2
Okada Masafumi
Suzuki Shingo
Toyoda Koichi
Minebea Co. Ltd.
Sember Thomas M.
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