Patent ID: 7133019
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An image display apparatus comprising a lighting system including an optical waveguide designed to allow light entering through its end faces to go out through one of its main faces; and light sources disposed alongside the end faces of the optical waveguide respectively, for emitting light so as to be incident on the end faces; a LCD element for displaying images by allowing a liquid crystal layer which constitutes a screen to transmit the light emitted from the lighting system with varied transmittance of the liquid crystal layer, the LCD element having a pair of substrates opposed to each other and the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; and actuating means for varying the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer according to image signals, wherein the LCD element is designed such that when an angle of view with respect to a specified direction of the screen varies, provided that the LCD element is in a white display mode entirely, the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer varies so as to have peak values at viewing angles other than viewing angles in the vicinity of 0 degree, wherein each light source includes a plurality of elongated arc tubes which have different girths and are placed alongside their associated end face of the optical waveguide; and a reflecting member for reflecting light coming from the plurality of arc tubes to the associated end face of the optical waveguide, wherein the thinnest one of the plurality of arc tubes is disposed at a position closer to the associated end face than others, the end faces of the optical waveguide are flat faces perpendicular to the main faces of the optical waveguide, and the plurality of arc tubes are disposed so as not to overlap with one another when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the associated end face, and wherein the lighting system is designed to emit the light to the LCD element such that intensities of light beams emitted in directions of the viewing angles in the vicinity of 0 degree are higher than intensities of light beams emitted in directions of the viewing angles at which the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer has a peak value.