US5438484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface lighting device and a display having such a lighting device
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-03
•
Granted: 1995-08-01
•
Expires: 2012-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A surface lighting device receiving incident rays through two opposing faces of a light guide from light source to emit the incident rays from a face different from the two faces. The light guide is divided into plural divisions which are jointed together.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiyuki Kanda
- 👤 Hisao Tajima
- 👤 Hiroshi Takabayashi
- 👤 Takashi Yamamoto
- 👤 Hideo Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:08
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/005; G02B6/0051; G02B6/0055; G02B6/0066; G02B6/007; G02B6/0071; G02B6/0081; G02B6/0086; G02B6/009; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/0409; G09F13/0418; G09F13/0454; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G02B6/0026; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0045; G02B6/0046; G02B6/0058; G02B6/0061; G02B6/0068; G09F13/18; G09F2013/1804; G09F2013/1827; G09F2013/1831; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 89
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A lighting device with a light emitting flat surface, comprising: a light guide having the emitting surface, and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface; and two light sources arranged correspondingly to the pair of end surfaces, wherein said light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A lighting device with a light emitting flat surface, comprising: a light guide having the emitting surface, and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface; and two light sources arranged correspondingly to the pair of end surfaces, wherein said light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are linear light sources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are linear light sources and said light guide is divided at positions parallel to said linear light sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided at positions having equal or substantially equal distances from said light sources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the junction of said light guide is made by adhesives, setting, or welding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 5, wherein said welding is a ultrasonic welding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided in linear symmetry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided at positions in the central or substantially central portion of said light guide and parallel or substantially parallel to said two opposing faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 8, wherein said light guide is further divided at positions having an equal distance or substantially equal distance from said positions where the light guide is divided.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided into at least three portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the junctions between surfaces of said light guide are inclined to the surface to which the rays of light from the light guide are irradiated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 11, wherein the angles of said inclination are 245° to 90° to the face opposite to said surface to be irradiated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the junctions between surfaces of said light guide are inclined to the face to emit the rays of light from the light guide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 13, wherein the angles of said inclination are 245° to 90° to the face opposite to said face of emission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses of said light guide are different on said light source side and said positions for its division.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 15, wherein the thickness of said light guide is thicker on said light source side than the thickness of said position for its division.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided by diagonal lines.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is configured to be quadrangle for its light emission face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 18, wherein light sources are arranged respectively for a set of opposing sides of said quadrangle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is divided in point symmetry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is made of glass or plastic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 21, wherein said plastic material is acrylic resin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said device has a reflection board opposing to a surface opposite to said light emission face of said light guide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said device has a diffusion board on said light emission face side of said light guide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a diffusion reflection pattern is provided on the face side opposite to the light emission face side of said light guide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 25, wherein said diffusion reflection pattern is arranged in such a manner that the arrangement density on said incident light side or in the position farther away from said position where the light guide is divided is higher than the arrangement density on the incident side of light from said light source or the position where said light guide is divided.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is installed by clip shaped members having spring capability.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 27, wherein said clip shaped members are arranged on a reflection board which reflects rays of light from said light source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 28, wherein said reflection board is further provided with leads for supplying power to said light source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 23, wherein said reflection board and/or light guide is arranged to set the color of said reflection board and/or light guide against the standard color within a range of -2.0 to 0 at Δb value in CIE1976L*a*b* chromatic space.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
90 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 19, wherein of said light sources, the length of effective emission portions of the light sources is longer than the length of effective emission surface of the surface lighting device on the side where said light sources are arranged for those arranged on the two opposing side ends, and is shorter than the length of the effective emission surface of the surface lighting device on the side where said light sources are arranged for those arranged on the other two opposing side ends.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surface lighting device according to claim 31, wherein the configuration of said effective emission surface is rectangular and the lengths of effective emission portions of said light sources are equal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
84 words
Surface lighting means, comprising: a light guide having a light emitting flat surface and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface; two light sources arranged correspondingly to the pair of end surfaces; and a display having a display panel, said surface lighting means illuminating said display panel with rays of light emitted from said light emitting flat surface, and wherein said light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
84 words
Surface lighting means, comprising: a light guide having a light emitting flat surface and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface; two light sources arranged correspondingly to the pair of end surfaces; and a display having a display panel, said surface lighting means illuminating said display panel with rays of light emitted from said light emitting flat surface, and wherein said light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light sources are linear light sources.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light sources are linear light sources, and said light guide is divided at positions parallel to said linear light sources.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided at positions having equal or substantially equal distances from said light sources.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein the plural divisions are joined by adhesives, setting, or welding.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 38, wherein said welding is a ultrasonic welding.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided in linear symmetry.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided at positions in the central or substantially central portion of said light source and parallel or substantially parallel to said two opposing faces.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 41, wherein said light guide is further divided at positions having an equal distance or substantially equal distance from said positions where the light guide is divided.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided into at least three portions,
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 43 wherein the junctions between surfaces of said light guide are inclined to the surface to which the rays of light from the light guide are irradiated,
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 44, wherein the angles of said inclination are 245° to 90° to the face opposite to said surface to be irradiated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 37, wherein the junctions between surfaces of said light guide are inclined to the faces to emit the rays of light from the light guide.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 46, wherein the angles of said inclination are 245° to 90° to the face opposite to said face of emission.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein the thicknesses of said light guide are different on said light source side and said position for its division.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
33 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 48, wherein the thickness of said light guide is thicker on said light source side than the thickness of said position for its division.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided by diagonal lines.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is configured to be quadrangle for its light emission face.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 51, wherein light sources are arranged respectively for a set of opposing sides of said quadrangle.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is divided in point symmetry.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light guide is made of glass or plastic material.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 54, wherein said plastic material is acrylic resin.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
31 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said means has a reflection board opposing to a surface opposite to said light emission face of said light guide.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said means has a diffusion board on said light emission face side of said light guide.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein a diffusion reflection pattern is provided on the face side opposite to the light emission face side of said light guide.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
70 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 58, wherein said diffusion reflection pattern is arranged in such a manner that the arrangement density on said incident light side or in the position farther away from said position where the light guide is divided is higher than the arrangement density on the incident side of light from said light source or the positions where said light guide is divided.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said light sources are installed by clip shaped members having spring capability.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
30 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 60, wherein said clip shaped members are arranged on a reflection board which reflects rays of light from said light source.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
26 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 61, wherein said reflection board is further provided with leads for supplying power to said light source.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
48 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 56, wherein said reflection board and/or light guide is arranged to set the color of said reflection board and/or light guide against the standard color within a range of -2.0 to 0 at Δb* value in CIE1976L*a*b* chromatic space.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
92 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 52, wherein of said light sources, the length of effective emission portions of the light sources is longer than the length of effective emission surface of the surface lighting device on the side where said light sources are arranged for those arranged on the two opposing side ends, and is shorter than the length of the effective emission surface of the surface lighting device on the side where said light sources are arranged for those arranged on the other two opposing said ends.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
33 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 64, wherein the configuration of said effective emission surface is rectangular and the lengths of effective emission portions of said light sources are equal.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
23 words
Surface lighting means and a display according to claim 33, wherein said display panel is the surface for the contents to be displayed.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
48 words
A light guide for guiding a light introduced therein, comprising: a light emitting flat surface and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface, wherein the light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
48 words
A light guide for guiding a light introduced therein, comprising: a light emitting flat surface and a pair of end surfaces crossing the light emitting surface, wherein the light guide comprises plural light transmitting members joined together, so that the junction surface therebetween crosses the light emitting surface.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is divided along the surface parallel to the light incident surface.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is divided at a position equally distant from the incident surface.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the sections of the light guide are joined together by means of adhesive, assembling or welding.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
13 words
A light guide according to claim 70, wherein the welding is ultrasonic welding.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is divided linear-symmetrically.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is further divided at a position equally distant from the former dividing position.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is divided into three sections.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light guide according to claim 74, wherein one of the sections is inclined with regard to the light incident surface.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light guide according to claim 75, wherein the inclination angle is 45-90 degrees.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
18 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein a surface opposite to the light emission surface is inclined.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein a thickness of the light guide at the light incident surface is different from that at the dividing position.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light guide according to claim 78, wherein the thickness of the light guide at the light incident surface is greater.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the plural light transmitting members are joined diagonally.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein four light transmitting members are formed.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
20 words
A light guide according to claim 81, wherein the four light transmitting members correspond to four sides of a quadrilateral.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light guide according to claim 81, wherein the light guide is made of a plastic or glass material.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is provided with a diffusion plate at a side of light emission surface.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light guide according to claim 67, wherein the light guide is provided with a diffusion reflection pattern at a side opposite to the light emission surface.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light guide according to claim 85, wherein the diffusion reflection pattern arrangement density in the vicinity of the light emitting flat surface is smaller than that at a position distant from the light incident surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1371272A
Cited
US2017597A
Cited
US2740735A
Cited
US3154281A
Cited
US4071883A
Cited
US4335421A
Cited
US4487475A
Cited
EP0167721A1
Cited
DE3835754A1
Cited
US4860171A
Cited
US5064276A
Cited
EP0355064A2
Cited
US4974122A
Cited
US4957343A
Cited
US5150231A
Cited
US5050946A
Cited
US5202950A
Cited
EP0501761A2
Cited
US5222171A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |