Patent · US Expired

Surface illuminant device emitting light in multiple directions in concentrative manner

US6357888B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 1999
Grant dateMar 19, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/0053
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A surface illuminant device includes a surface illuminant having a light distribution characteristic with no directivity relative to specific directions, and a prism sheet having a plurality of prisms each having a predetermined apical angle. The prism sheet is placed on the light emission side of the surface illuminant. One side of the prism sheet on which a plurality of prisms are placed is opposite to the light emission side of the surface illuminant. Accordingly, light can be emitted in a plurality of specific directions in concentrative manner to enhance luminance in that plurality of directions. Further, the surface illuminant device includes an optical sheet which condenses the incident light. In the luminance distribution (light distribution characteristic) thus obtained, the luminance gently decreases in the vicinity of the directions in which light is emitted in concentrative manner.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.