Patent ID: 9052427
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An edge light illumination unit comprising: a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate being separated from and facing each other; a light source emitting light to a first end surface of the first transparent substrate or the second transparent substrate; a light modulation layer disposed in a gap between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, wherein the light modulation layer exhibits a scattering property to scatter light emitted from the light source or transparency with respect to light emitted from the light source, based on a magnitude of an electric field; and an electrode generating an electric field for a first mode or an electric field for a second mode in the light modulation layer, when a voltage is applied thereto, wherein the light modulation layer generates a plurality of first strip-shaped illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting the first end surface at a first angle using light from the light source, when the electric field for the first mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer, wherein the electrode causes an edge of each of the plurality of first strip-shaped illumination light beams to have a concavo-convex shape, and wherein an amplitude of the concavo-convex shape varies with a distance from the light source, and wherein the light modulation layer generates a plurality of second strip-shaped illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting the first end surface at an angle different from the first angle or a direction parallel to the first end surface using light from the light source, when the electric field for the second mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer.