Patent ID: 9347644
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: F21V,G02B,G02F

Claim Text:
1. A lens to cover a light-emitting surface of a light source, the lens thereby guiding light from the light source in oblique directions relative to the light source, the lens comprising, in a planar view: a light transmitting region which transmits the light from the light source; a light blocking region which blocks the light from the light source, the light transmitting region being divided into a plurality of light transmitting regions by the light blocking region so that the light from the light source passes through the plurality of light transmitting regions and is separated into beams traveling in different directions; and a light transmission control member that is electrically switched between a first state in which the light transmission control member transmits light and a second state in which the light transmission control member blocks light, wherein the light transmission control member electrically forms the light blocking region, the light transmission control member includes a slide shutter including (i) a pair of light blocking members arranged so as to overlap each other, each of which includes a light blocking portion and a light transmitting portion and (ii) a slide mechanism that electrically causes at least one of the pair of light blocking members to slide, and the light transmission control member is configured such that it forms the light blocking region, by which the light transmitting region is divided, when said at least one of the pair of light blocking members is caused to slide so that the light blocking portions of one of the pair of light blocking members cover the light transmitting portions of the other of the pair of light shielding members and thereby a light blocking portion which is continuous in a planar view is formed.