Mitsubishi Rayon Company, Limited

Yasuo Wakui

Kenji Yagi

Minoru Shimizu

Masatoshi Toda

Tomonari Yoshimura

Yoshiya Kurachi

Provided is a plate-type light guide () in which two opposing main surfaces are set as light emitting surfaces (A,B) and at least one side-edge surface is set as a light incidence surface (). In such a light guide, a light emitting mechanism () is provided in at least one region of at least one main surface; the haze value is 3% or lower in the region where the light emitting mechanism is provided; when a perfect diffuse light enters through at least one light incidence surface (), a maximum emission angle (&#x3b8;A, &#x3b8;B), at which maximizes the intensity of emitted light () from the main surface is in a range from &#x2212;60 degrees to +60 degrees with respect to a normal line to the main surface; and the utilization efficiency of emitted light is 15% or greater.

Light guide, manufacturing method of light guide, optical shutter, and planar light-source device

Disclosed is a plate-like light guide element () provided with a light incident surface, a light exit surface (), and an underside surface () disposed on the opposite side of the light exit surface (). A foamed surface layer () is formed on at least a part of at least either the light exit surface () or the underside surface (). The foamed surface layer () contains air bubbles and has a recessed sectional surface including the normal direction of the light exit surface () or the underside surface (). The light guide element () is produced by performing infrared laser etching for at least a part of at least one of the main surfaces of a plate-like light guide element material composed of an acryl resin plate produced by a continuous plate production method, to form the foamed surface layer ().

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Yasuo Wakui