The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1996
Shinichiro Saito, Hachioji, JP;
Norio Nakamura, Tokyo, JP;
Yasuo Shono, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshinori Higuchi, Tokyo, JP;
Atsunori Ohyama, Tokyo, JP;
Konica Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiba Corporation, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Abstract
A plane light source unit includes a tubular light source, and a light guide. The light guide has a light emitting surface and a reflecting surface in addition to a light incident face placed near the tubular light source to receive light emitted from the tubular light source. The light guide has a plurality of projections or grooves arrayed on the light emitting surface to extend parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction of the tubular light source so as to cause the light incident from the light incident face to emerge from the light emitting surface. The height or depth of each of the projections or grooves increases from the central portion to the two end portions in the longitudinal direction of the tubular light source.