Backlight device and liquid crystal display apparatus

A planar light source device includes a first light source for emitting a first light ray having a punctate spatial luminance distribution; a second light source for emitting a second light ray; a first spatial luminance distribution conversion portion for changing the first light ray to a linear spatial luminance distribution; a second spatial luminance distribution conversion portion for changing a spatial luminance distribution of the first and second light rays to a planar spatial luminance distribution; wherein the first light ray is a laser light; the second light ray has a divergence angle larger than the divergence angle of the first light ray when the first light ray is emitted from the first light source; and a slow-axis direction of the first light ray entering the second spatial luminance distribution conversion portion is parallel to an outgoing direction of the planar light.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a backlight device using a laser light source to illuminate a liquid crystal display element from a back surface side of the liquid crystal display element and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the backlight device.

BACKGROUND ART

Since a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display apparatus does not emit light for itself, a backlight device must be provided on the back surface side of the liquid crystal display element as a light source for illuminating the liquid crystal display element. In recent years, demand for thinner liquid crystal display apparatuses has been rising. Sidelight-type backlight devices which include a thin plate-like light guide plate and a light source disposed so as to face a side of the light guide plate and create a planar light source by entering light from a side face of the light guide plate are widely used.

The conventional mainstream of the light source of the backlight device was cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), which produces white light with a fluorescent substance applied on an inner wall of a glass tube. However, since performances of light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been tremendously improved in recent years, demand for backlight devices using LEDs as light sources is rapidly increasing.

Devices known as LEDs can be divided broadly into two types. A type of an LED is a monochromatic LED, which produces monochromatic light of red color, green color, blue color, or the like by direct emission of the LED. Another type of an LED is a multicolor LED, which includes a monochromatic LED and a fluorescent substance and produces light of a plurality of colors by exciting the fluorescent substance by the light emitted from the monochromatic LED. Some multicolor LEDs include a monochromatic blue LED and a fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and produces light of green color to red color. The multicolor LED can configure a white LED which generates white light having a wide spectrum ranging from the blue color to the red color. Since the white LED has high emission efficiency and is effective for reducing power consumption, it has been widely used as a light source of the backlight device.

A Liquid crystal display element in the liquid crystal display apparatus includes color filters. The liquid crystal display apparatus displays colors using wavelengths of red color, green color and blue color filtered by the color filters. If the light source has a broad wavelength bandwidth of a continuous spectrum, like the white LED, in order to expand the color reproduction range, the liquid crystal display apparatus must improve chromatic purity of display colors by narrowing the wavelength band of light passing through the color filters. Narrowing the wavelength of light that passes through the color filters increases the amount of unwanted light. In other words, usage efficiency of light by the liquid crystal display element deteriorates greatly. Accordingly, the luminance of the display surface of the liquid crystal display element lowers. Furthermore, if it is tried to improve the luminance, the power consumption of the liquid crystal display apparatus increases.

The CCFL and white LED in general use have a peak at about 615 nm (a wavelength obtained by shifting a wavelength from red color toward orange color) in the red wavelength range because of the characteristics of the fluorescent substance. If it is tried to improve the chromatic purity in the wavelength region of 630 to 640 nm, which is preferable as pure red in the red color, the amount of transmitted light decreases extremely, thereby lowering the luminance significantly. The CCFL and white LED have a small amount of energy especially in the spectrum of the red color of 600 nm to 700 nm. If it is tried to improve the chromatic purity in the wavelength region of 630 to 640 nm, which is preferable as pure red in the red color, the amount of transmitted light decreases extremely, thereby lowering the luminance significantly.

In order to expand the color reproduction range while minimizing loss of light by the color filters, alight source that emits a light ray of a narrow wavelength bandwidth must be used. That is, in order to expand the color reproduction range, a light source that emits a light ray with a high chromatic purity must be used. In recent years, a liquid crystal display apparatus using monochromatic LEDs that emit light rays of the three primary colors, red, green, and blue, respectively is proposed. A liquid crystal display apparatus using monochromatic lasers that emit light rays of the three primary colors respectively is also proposed. In these liquid crystal display apparatuses, the three primary colors of light are mixed to generate white light.

In recent years, a liquid crystal display apparatus including a backlight unit using monochromatic LEDs or lasers with a narrow spectral width as the light source are proposed to expand the color reproduction range. The narrow spectral width means that the chromatic purity is high. Particularly, a laser has a very high monochromaticity. A laser also has high light emission efficiency. Accordingly, use of LEDs and lasers makes it possible to provide bright images with a wide color reproduction range. Use of LEDs and lasers also makes it possible to provide a low-power-consumption liquid crystal display apparatus. Particularly, because of their high monochromaticity, lasers can expand the color reproduction range greatly and can improve the picture quality of the liquid crystal display apparatus significantly.

When the light rays emitted from these light sources are mixed to generate white light, however, a difference in spatial luminance distribution on the display surface of the liquid crystal display element of the different colors appear as color unevenness. To reduce the color unevenness, the spatial luminance distributions in the surfaces of different colors must be improved in uniformity. However, light emitted from light sources using different light emission principles or light emitting elements of different properties differ in divergence angle or light emission efficiency, and the number of light sources to be disposed and the ways of disposing the light sources vary. For these reasons, an optimum means for uniforming the spatial luminance distribution in the surface must be provided for each light source.

If point light sources such as LEDs and lasers are used as light sources of a sidelight-type backlight device, luminance in the vicinity of the light source is considerably high. This results in unevenness in luminance around the incident end of light. That kind of unevenness in luminance can be reduced, for example, by arranging a great number of point light sources at short intervals in a row analogously to a linear light source. Since the backlight device of the liquid crystal display apparatus requires high uniformity in spatial luminance distribution in a surface, a quite number of light sources would be necessary. This would increase the power consumption, lower the manufacturability, and increase the cost.

If the light rays of different colors have different unevenness in luminance, color unevenness occurs. Unevenness in luminance and unevenness in color in the liquid crystal display apparatus will decrease picture quality remarkably. Therefore, the backlight device is required to provide planar light of each color with a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the surface. The spatial luminance distribution in the surface is a distribution indicating the degree of luminance in positions expressed two-dimensionally in a given plane.

A technology for uniforming the spatial luminance distribution in the surface with a minimum number of light sources when LEDs and other point light sources are used has been reported. For example, in the technique disclosed in patent document 1, the light emitting elements in the liquid crystal display apparatus are covered with hemispherical transparent materials including a plurality of materials having different refractive indices. The light rays emitted from the light emitting elements are diffused by refraction, and the distribution of light in the light input portion of the light guide plate can be made closer to light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The linear light source is a light source that emits a light ray having an almost uniform spatial luminance distribution in one-dimensional direction. The light rays from a plurality of point light sources can be overlapped to generate a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source).

For example, a planar light source unit in patent document 2 has a light diffusing face in the back surface of a light guide plate, and the light diffusing face is provided to convert a light ray from a point light source to a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). In addition, the planar light source unit has a light diffusing face for uniforming the spatial luminance distribution in the surface of the backlight device. In the diffusing face for converting a light ray from a point light source to a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), the rate of covering the diffusion material is lowered in a part where the point light source has a high luminance. In a part where the point light source has a low luminance, the rate of covering the diffusion material is increased. With this configuration, a light ray from a point light source can be converted to a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source).

Backlight units including a special light guide plate for each light source having different properties for the purpose of suppressing color unevenness is also reported. For example, a backlight unit for flat display panel including a special light guide plate for the light source of each color is proposed in patent document 3. This backlight unit for flat display panel includes different light sources of different colors and light guide plates corresponding to the light source, and they are layered. In this backlight unit, monochromatic planar light rays exiting the light guide plates are added up to generate a white illuminating light ray. With this configuration, the structure of each light guide plate can be optimized for the properties of the single light source corresponding to the light guide plate. Accordingly, this configuration allows the uniformity of the planar spatial luminance distribution of each color to be improved, consequently color unevenness to be suppressed. The planar spatial luminance distribution is a distribution indicating the degree of luminance with respect to a position expressed in two dimensionally in a given plane.

The technology according to patent document 1 and patent document 2 adds an optical element for converting a light ray from a point light source to a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). Accordingly, a light ray having an approximately uniform spatial luminance distribution in a one-dimensional direction can be sent into the light guide plate from its face. Then, a linear light source having uniform planar spatial luminance distribution can be obtained. These optical elements, however, require complicated structures. If a point light source with a high directionality, like a laser, is used as a light source, a complicated optical element with higher diffuseness would be required. That type of optical element would require a longer optical distance to convert alight ray from the point light source to a light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), so the apparatus would become large. Therefore, these types of optical elements are not suitable when a laser light source is used.

A backlight unit based on a technology disclosed in patent document 3 includes a light guide plate for each of a plurality of light sources having different properties. Accordingly, a planar light source having suppressed color unevenness and uniform planar spatial luminance distribution can be obtained. In that configuration, a plurality of light guide plates must be layered, and the backlight unit would become large especially in the direction of thickness of the unit.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-269289Patent document 2: Japanese Patent No. 2917866Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H6-138459

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

When a white LED is used as a light source of a liquid crystal display apparatus, as in patent document 1 or 2, the color range of the red color would become narrow. Further, when a monochromatic red LED is used as a light source of a liquid crystal display apparatus, the color range of the red color would become narrow. Furthermore, when a CCFL is used as a light source of a liquid crystal display apparatus, as in patent document 3, the color range of the red color would become narrow.

That is because the CCFL and white LED widely used in existing backlight devices has a peak in the red wavelength band at a wavelength of around 615 nm, closer to the orange color. In other words, the amount of energy of light in the red color range is small. Particularly, the proportion of light of 630 to 640 nm preferable as red color in the red color range is very small.

If it is tried to increase chromatic purity in the wavelength region of 630 to 640 nm, particularly preferable as the red color, the amount of transmitted light decreases greatly, thereby lowering the luminance significantly. Since a monochromatic red LED has a wide wavelength bandwidth of several tens of nanometers, use of a filter having a narrow wavelength bandwidth would lower the luminance.

If the light sources of three primary colors are lasers, the chromatic purity can be improved, but the power consumption becomes a problem, in comparison with a multicolor LED using fluorescent substance.

In view of the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a backlight device and a liquid crystal display apparatus that can reduce deterioration of usage efficiency of light and can expand the color reproduction range.

Means of Solving the Problems

To solve the problems described above and to achieve the object, a backlight device according to the present invention includes a first light source for emitting a first light ray, which is a red laser light and a second light source for emitting a second light ray, which is a cyan light ray, in a complementary relationship with the laser light, and the second light source includes alight emitting diode which emits a blue light ray and a fluorescent substance which absorbs the blue light ray and emits a green light ray.

Effect of the Invention

The backlight device and liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention can suppress power consumption and can provide high-quality images with an expanded color reproduction range.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Liquid crystal display apparatuses and backlight devices according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The liquid crystal display apparatuses and backlight devices according to the present invention will not be confined to the embodiments given below.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus100, which is a transmission-type display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A backlight device in the first embodiment includes a first backlight unit2and a second backlight unit3. For ease of understanding, let a short side direction of a liquid crystal display element1be a Y-axis direction, a long side direction of the liquid crystal display element1(direction orthogonal to a Y-axis) be an X-axis direction, and a direction perpendicular to an X-Y plane be a Z-axis direction. In addition, let a side of a display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1be a positive Z-axis direction, an upper direction of the liquid crystal display apparatus (an upper direction when the liquid crystal display apparatus100is placed so that its screen faces in a horizontal direction) be a positive Y-axis direction, and a light output direction of a first light source20a, which will be described later, be a positive X-axis direction.

As shown inFIG. 1, the liquid crystal display apparatus100includes the transmission-type liquid crystal display element1, a first optical sheet31, a second optical sheet32, the first backlight unit2, the second backlight unit3, and a light reflection sheet15. The components1,31,32,2,3and15are laid on top of one another in the Z-axis direction. The liquid crystal display element1has the display surface1aparallel to the X-Y plane.

The liquid crystal display apparatus100includes a liquid crystal display element driver52shown inFIG. 2, as a driver for driving the liquid crystal display element1in accordance with an input video signal. Further, the liquid crystal display apparatus100includes light sources20aand20bas a first light source20included in the first backlight unit2, and a light source driver53afor driving the light sources20aand20b. In the first embodiment, a combination of the light source20aand the light source20bwill be referred to as the first light source20. The liquid crystal display apparatus100further includes a light source10as a second light source included in the second backlight unit3, and a light source driver53bfor driving the light source10. The operation of the liquid crystal display element driver52and the light source drivers53aand53bis controlled by a controller51.

The controller51generates control signals (such as a liquid crystal display element control signal55and light source control signals56aand56b) by performing image processing on a video signal54supplied from a signal source, which is not illustrated, and supplies these control signals to the liquid crystal display element driver52and the light source drivers53aand53b. The light source drivers53aand53bdrive the light sources20a,20band10in accordance with the light source control signals56aand56bfrom the controller51respectively and have the light sources20a,20band10emit light rays. The controller51can adjust a proportion of luminance of light rays22aand22b, which are first light rays emitted from the light sources20aand20band luminance of a light ray13, which is a second light ray emitted from the light source10, by controlling the light source driver53a.

The first backlight unit2changes the red light rays22aand22bemitted from the light sources20aand20bto illuminating light rays33aand33btraveling in the positive Z-axis direction and then exit them toward a back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. These illuminating light rays33aand33bpass through the second optical sheet32and the first optical sheet31and are applied to the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. The second backlight unit3changes the light ray13coming from the light source10(the light ray has a cyan tint having peak intensities in blue and green) to an illuminating light ray14traveling toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1and then exits the illuminating light ray14. The illuminating light ray14passes through the first backlight unit2, the second optical sheet32and the first optical sheet31and reaches the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. The first optical sheet31is a sheet with an effect of collecting light rays exited from the backlight unit in a normal direction with respect to the screen of the liquid crystal display apparatus100. The second optical sheet32is a sheet with a function of suppressing optical effects such as slight unevenness in illumination.

The light reflection sheet15is disposed directly under the second backlight unit3(in the negative Z-axis direction inFIG. 1and on a back surface side of the liquid crystal display apparatus100). Light exited from the first backlight unit2and the second backlight unit3toward the back surface (in the negative Z-axis direction) reflects off the light reflection sheet15and is used as an illuminating light ray on the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. As the light reflection sheet15, a light reflection sheet based on plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate and a light reflection sheet made by depositing metal on a surface of a substrate can be used.

The liquid crystal display element1has a liquid crystal layer parallel to the X-Y plane. The display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1has a rectangular shape. The X-axis direction and Y-axis direction shown inFIG. 1are directions along two orthogonal sides of the display surface1a. The liquid crystal display element driver52changes optical transmittance of the liquid crystal layer in units of pixels in accordance with the liquid crystal display element control signal55supplied from the controller51. Each pixel has three sub-pixels, and each sub-pixel has a color filter that passes red light, green light, or blue light only. The liquid crystal display element driver52displays a color image on the display surface by controlling transmittance of each sub-pixel. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display element1generates image light by modulating illuminating light rays entering from the first backlight unit2and the second backlight unit3spatially. The liquid crystal display element1outputs the image light from the display surface1a. The image light is light ray having image information. In the first embodiment, the controller51can control the light source drivers53aand53bseparately to adjust the proportion of the luminance of the red illuminating light rays33aand33bexited from the first backlight unit2and the luminance of cyan illuminating light ray14exited from the second backlight unit3. By adjusting the amount of luminescence of light source in accordance with the proportion of luminance of colors needed for the video signal54, power consumption can be lowered.

The first backlight unit2includes a first planar laser light source unit200aand a second planar laser light source unit200b. The first planar laser light source unit200aincludes the light source20aand a light guide plate21adisposed parallel to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The second planar laser light source unit200bincludes a light source20band a light guide plate21bdisposed parallel to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1.FIG. 3Ashows a schematic view of the first planar laser light source unit200aviewed in the positive Z-axis direction (viewed from a lower side inFIG. 1).FIG. 3Bshows a schematic view of the second planar laser light source unit200bviewed in the positive Z-axis direction (viewed from the lower side inFIG. 1).

The light source20aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit200afaces an end face23awhich is a light incidence end face in a negative X-axis direction of the light guide plate21awhich is a first light guide plate. For example, the light source20aincludes a plurality of laser light emitting elements arranged at regular intervals in the Y-axis direction. The light guide plate21aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit200ais formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate21ais a plate-like member. The light guide plate21ahas microscopic optical elements25a, which function as an optical element unit, in its back surface24aon the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1. The light ray (outgoing light ray)22aemitted from the light source20aenters the light guide plate21afrom the end face23aof the light guide plate21aand travels in the light guide plate21aby total reflection. In the second planar laser light source unit200b, the light source20bfaces an end face23bwhich is a light incidence end face in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate21bwhich is the first light guide plate. For example, the light source20bincludes a plurality of laser light emitting elements arranged at regular intervals in the Y-axis direction. The light guide plate21bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit200bis formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate21bis a plate-like member. The light guide plate21bhas microscopic optical elements25bin its back surface24b. The light ray (outgoing light ray)22bemitted from the light source20benters the light guide plate21bfrom the end face23bof the light guide plate21band travels in the light guide plate21bby total reflection.

It is preferable that laser light emitting elements having identical characteristics be used as the light source20aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit200aand the light source20bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit200b. It is also preferable that the laser elements be disposed at the same intervals, in the same positions and at the same angles with reference to the end faces23aand23bof the light guide plates21aand21b. It is further preferable that the light guide plate21aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit200aand the light guide plate21bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit200bhave an identical structure. In other words, it is preferable that the first planar laser light source unit200aand the second planar laser light source unit200bhave identical characteristics.

The first backlight unit2includes the first planar laser light source unit200aand the second planar laser light source unit200bthat have identical characteristics. The first planar laser light source unit200aand the second planar laser light source unit200bhave such positional relationships that they are rotated by 180 degrees around the normal line (line in the Z-axis direction inFIG. 1) to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The light guide plate21aand the light guide plate21bare layered so that four side faces of the light guide plate21aand four side faces of the light guide plate21bare aligned in the same planes. In other words, the light source20aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit200aand the light source20bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit200bare disposed so as to face each other. The light source20aemits a light ray in the positive X-axis direction. The light source20bemits a light ray in the negative X-axis direction. Therefore, the light rays (light rays22aand22b) emitted from the light sources20aand20btravel in the opposite directions. However, both the illuminating light ray33aexited from the first planar laser light source unit200aand the illuminating light ray33bexited from the second planar laser light source unit200bare exited toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

In the first backlight unit2in the first embodiment, the two planar laser light source units200aand200bare layered in the direction (positive Z-axis direction) in which the illuminating light rays are emitted, as described above. The illuminating light rays33aand33bare illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit2when the light sources20aand20bincluded in the first backlight unit2are lit up. The illuminating light rays33aand33bexited from the two planar laser light source units200aand200bare added together. Therefore, the spatial luminance distribution in the X-Y plane of the illuminating light ray exited from the first backlight unit2becomes the sum of the spatial luminance distributions of the two planar laser light source units200aand200bin the X-Y plane.

The light guide plates21aand21bare formed by a transparent material such as an acrylic plastic (PMMA). Each of the light guide plates21aand21bis a plate-like member with a thickness of 2 mm, for example. The light rays (laser light rays)22aand22bentering the light guide plates21aand21bfrom their end faces23aand23btravel in the X-axis direction by repeating reflection inside the light guide plates21aand21b, by total reflection at the interface between air and the light guide plates21aand21b. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the light guide plates21aand21binclude optical transmission portions26aand26bfor transmitting the light rays22aand22bemitted from the light sources20aand20bjust inside the light guide plates21aand21b. The optical transmission portions26aand26bare a first spatial luminance distribution conversion portion having the function of converting a punctate spatial luminance distribution to a linear spatial luminance distribution. The light guide plates21aand21binclude also optical element portions27aand27bfor changing the traveling directions of the light rays22aand22btraveling in the X-axis direction through the optical transmission portions26aand26bto the Z-axis direction.

The optical transmission portions26aand26bincluded in the light guide plates21aand21bare disposed in the vicinity of the end faces23aand23b. The light rays22aand22bemitted from the light sources20aand20benter the light guide plates21aand21bfrom the end faces23aand23b. Then, the light rays22aand22btravel in the optical transmission portions26aand26bin the X-axis direction. In the optical transmission portions26aand26b, the front surfaces (faces on the side of the liquid crystal display element1) and the back surfaces24aand24b(faces on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1) of the light guide plates21aand21bwhere the light rays22aand22benter do not have special structures such as projections and are plane surfaces. Therefore, the light rays22aand22btraveling in the optical transmission portions26aand26btravel, while keeping their divergence angles and traveling directions. The light rays22aand22bemitted from the light sources20aand20bspread spatially because of their divergence angles by traveling in the optical transmission portions26aand26b.

The light guide plates21aand21bhave optical element portions27aand27bin positions differing from the optical transmission portions26aand26b. The optical element portions27aand27bhave the function of converting a light ray having a linear spatial luminance distribution to a light ray having a planar spatial luminance distribution. The optical element portions27aand27balso has the function of emitting the light ray having the linear spatial luminance distribution toward the liquid crystal display element1. The optical element portions27aand27bare a second spatial luminance distribution conversion portion. The optical element portions27aand27binclude the microscopic optical elements25aand25bin their back surfaces24aand24b(faces on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1) respectively. The microscopic optical elements25aand25bconvert the light rays22aand22btraveling in the light guide plates21aand21bto light rays (the illuminating light rays33aand33b) exited toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1(in the positive Z-axis direction). Each of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bhas a convex hemispherical shape (such as a shape of a convex lens). When the light rays22aand22btraveling in the X-axis direction from the optical transmission portions26aand26benter the microscopic optical elements25aand25bin the optical element portions27aand27b, they are refracted by their curved faces. Then, some of the light rays22aand22btraveling in the light guide plates21aand21bfail to satisfy the conditions of total reflection at the interface between air and the front surfaces (faces on the side of the liquid crystal display element1) of the light guide plates21aand21b. The light rays that fail to satisfy the conditions of total reflection are exited from the front surface of the light guide plate21aand travel toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1and are exited from the front surface of the light guide plate21band travel through the light guide plate21atoward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

The microscopic optical elements25aand25bdisposed in the optical element portions27aand27bof the light guide plates21aand21bvary their disposition densities with respect to their positions in the X-Y plane on the light guide plates21aand21b. This allows the spatial luminance distributions in the plane of the illuminating light rays33aand33bexited from the light guide plates21aand21btoward the liquid crystal display element1. The disposition density is a proportion of the area occupied by the microscopic optical elements25aand25bper unit area. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the disposition density can be adjusted by changing the number of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bper unit area. The disposition density can also be adjusted by changing the size of the microscopic optical elements25aand25b(area of a single microscopic optical element) per unit area, as shown inFIG. 1. In the first embodiment, the disposition densities of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bvary with respect to the position in the traveling direction (positive and negative X-axis directions inFIG. 3) of the laser light rays22aand22b, as shown inFIG. 3. More specifically, the light guide plates21aand21bdo not have the microscopic optical elements25aand25bin the vicinity of the end faces23aand23b. The microscopic optical elements25aand25bare provided in ranges from the vicinity of the central positions in the X-axis direction of the light guide plates21aand21bfrom the positions of the end faces on the opposite side of the end faces23aand23b. The disposition densities vary in phases or continuously from low to high from the vicinity of the central positions toward the end faces of the light guide plates21aand21b.

As the microscopic optical elements25aand25b, a microscopic optical element shaped like a convex lens, with a surface curvature of approximately 0.15 mm, the maximum height of approximately 0.005 mm, and a refractive index of approximately 1.49 can be adopted, for example. The material of the light guide plates21aand21band the microscopic optical elements25aand25bcan be an acrylic plastic. However, the material of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bis not limited to an acrylic plastic. The material of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bmay be another plastic material such as a polycarbonate plastic or a glass material if it has a high optical transmittance and a high forming ability.

In the first embodiment, each of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bis shaped like a convex lens, but the microscopic optical elements25aand25bare not confined to that shape. The microscopic optical elements25aand25bmay have any other shape if it has such structure that a laser light ray traveling in the light guide plate in the X-axis direction is refracted and directed toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. Each of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bmay have a prism shape or a shape having a random uneven pattern, for example.

In the first embodiment, the light guide plate has a thickness of 2 mm, but the thickness of the light guide plate is not confined to this thickness. In terms of making liquid crystal display apparatuses thinner and lighter and improving usage efficiency of light by increasing frequency of multiple reflections, use of thin light guide plates is preferable. Since the laser light source has a light emitting face with a small area and also has a high directionality, high optical coupling efficiency can be obtained with a thin light guide plate. The lowered rigidity caused by using the thin light guide plate and other problems should be considered here.

As the light sources20aand20b, use of a light source that emits a laser light ray having a highly monochromatic spectrum with a peak wavelength at 640 nm and a full-width-at-half-maximum spectral width of 1 nm is preferable. The full-width-at-half-maximum divergence angle is 40 degrees in a fast-axis direction and is 10 degrees in a slow-axis direction. In the first embodiment, the laser light emitting elements are disposed so that the fast-axis direction becomes parallel to a short side direction of a side end face of the light guide plate. This disposition brings the fast-axis direction in which the divergence angle is large parallel to the short side direction in the side end face of the light guide plate, or a direction in which a distance between confronting faces of the light guide plates becomes the narrowest (Z-axis direction inFIG. 1). This increases the number of reflections of the laser light ray inside the light guide plate, thereby increasing light entering the microscopic optical elements25aand25bin the light guide plates21aand21b. Accordingly, a light ray extraction efficiency E by the microscopic optical elements25aand25bcan be improved. The light ray extraction efficiency E is defined as given below.
E=(amount of light emitted toward liquid crystal display element)/(amount of light traveling in light guide plate)

According to the first embodiment, diameters of the laser light rays emitted from the light sources20aand20bare like a very small spots with respect to extents of the end faces23aand23bin the Y-axis direction, and the light sources20aand20bcan be considered as point light sources. The light rays (laser light rays)22aand22b, however, can travel sufficient optical distances in the optical transmission portions26aand26bdisposed in the vicinity of the light incidence end faces of the light guide plates21aand21bby total reflection. Since the light rays22aand22bspread because of their divergence angles, the light rays22aand22bfrom adjacent laser light emitting elements overlap each other, producing a light ray having an even spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction, or a light ray having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction (a light ray which is similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The light rays22aand22bnow has a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction (a light ray which is similar to a light ray emitted from the linear light source).

FIG. 4is a view illustrating that laser light rays emitted from two adjacent laser light sources form a light ray having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source) after it travels a given optical length. As shown inFIG. 4, a spatial luminance distribution40is a luminance distribution corresponding to a position in the Y-axis direction of a laser light ray emitted from a single laser light source in a given position in the X-axis direction. The luminance distribution shows an angular luminance distribution having an approximately Gaussian profile intrinsic to the laser light ray. The angular luminance distribution has such a profile in that a central luminance is high and decreases sharply as a distance from a center increases. Therefore, if a single laser light ray enters a microscopic optical structure (microscopic optical elements25aand25b), the angular luminance distribution of the laser light ray would be reflected in the spatial luminance distribution in a plane of an illuminating light ray emitted from a light guide plate, producing uneven luminance. However, if a plurality of laser light rays emitted from the laser light sources disposed closely in the Y-axis direction are overlapped spatially, the distributions are uniformed. For example, if a single laser light ray having the spatial luminance distribution40and a single laser light ray having a spatial luminance distribution41shown inFIG. 4are overlapped, a resultant spatial luminance distribution has a uniform distribution, producing an even spatial luminance distribution like a spatial luminance distribution42. As described here, by arranging laser light emitting elements to produce an even spatial luminance distribution in a direction in which the light sources are arranged (Y-axis direction), a light ray having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to its traveling direction can be produced. Therefore, by overlapping a plurality of light rays each having an uneven distribution, a resultant spatial luminance distribution can be an even luminance distribution. Accordingly, alight ray having an even spatial luminance distribution in a direction of arrangement of the light sources, or a light ray having a linear shape in a direction perpendicular to its traveling direction, can be created.

In order to overlap the light rays of neighboring laser light emitting elements, the laser light rays should travel at least an optical distance determined by the divergence angles of the laser light rays and the disposition distance between the laser light sources. The light guide plates21aand21bincluded in the planar laser light source units200aand200bin the first embodiment, however, have the optical transmission portions26aand26bbefore the laser light rays enter the microscopic optical elements25aand25b. The optical transmission portions26aand26bhave an optical traveling distance that is required for the laser light ray to spread because of its own divergence angle, spatially in the direction in which the laser light emitting elements are disposed. Therefore, the laser light rays can enter the microscopic optical elements25aand25bafter they become highly even light rays, or light rays having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to its traveling direction (similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source).

In the first embodiment, the light sources20aand20binclude a plurality of laser light emitting elements with an equal divergence angle and an angular luminance distribution arranged at equal intervals. Therefore, linear laser light sources with a highly even spatial luminance distribution can be obtained.

After the light ray having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to its traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source) is produced as described above, part of light (light rays22aand22b) entering the microscopic optical elements25aand25bincluded in the optical element portions27aand27bare refracted and emitted as the illuminating light rays33aand33bfrom the surfaces of the light guide plates21aand21btoward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. The microscopic optical elements25aand25bare formed in the back surfaces24aand24bof the light guide plates21aand21brespectively. Now, light (light rays22aand22b) entering the microscopic optical elements25aand25bhas an even spatial luminance distribution in the direction in which the laser light sources (light sources20aand20b) are arranged (in the Y-axis direction), or has a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to its traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). Therefore, even illuminating light rays33aand33bcan illuminate the liquid crystal display element1without uneven luminance caused by a difference in spatial luminance distributions among the light sources.

On the other hand, the planar laser light source units200aand200bindividually include portions (optical transmission portions26aand26b) from which illuminating light rays are not emitted in the light traveling direction (X-axis direction). The optical transmission portions26aand26bare provided to convert light coming from the laser light source (punctate light source) to light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). In the first embodiment, the planar laser light source units200aand200bare layered to make up for the portions from which illuminating light rays are not emitted each other. That is, portions where the planar laser light source unit200adoes not emit a light ray and portions where the planar laser light source unit200bemits a light ray (portions in the negative X-axis direction from the central position on the X-axis inFIG. 3) are layered in the Z-axis direction. Portions where the planar laser light source unit200bdoes not emit a light ray and portions where the planar laser light source unit200aemits a light ray (portions in the positive X-axis direction from the central position on the X-axis inFIG. 3) are layered in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the first backlight unit2including the planar laser light source unit200aand the planar laser light source unit200bcan emit illuminating light rays from the entire surface.

In the first embodiment, the disposition densities in the X-axis direction of the microscopic optical elements25aand25bthat determine their individual spatial luminance distributions are optimized to form an even spatial luminance distribution by adding the spatial luminance distributions in the X-axis direction of the planar laser light source unit200aand the planar laser light source unit200b.

FIG. 5is a graph showing a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution in the X-axis direction of the illuminating light rays33aand33bemitted from the first backlight unit2, obtained as a result of simulation. A spatial luminance distribution43is a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution in the X-axis direction of the first planar laser light source unit200a. A spatial luminance distribution44is a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution in the X-axis direction of the second planar laser light source unit200b. A spatial luminance distribution45is a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution in the X-axis direction of the first backlight unit2formed by adding the spatial luminance distribution43and the spatial luminance distribution44.

It can be inferred from the one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution43of the illuminating light ray33aexited from the first planar laser light source unit200ashown inFIG. 5that light is not emitted from a portion from the end face23ain the negative X-axis direction to the vicinity of the central position in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate21a. In the one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution43, luminance gradually increases in the positive X-axis direction from the vicinity of the central position in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate21aand is kept to a given level of luminance in the vicinity of the end face facing the end face23ain the positive X-axis direction. On the other hand, the one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution44of the illuminating light ray33bexited from the second planar laser light source unit200bhas an inverted spatial luminance distribution of the first planar laser light source unit200a. In the one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution44, light is not exited from a portion from the end face23bin the positive X-axis direction to the vicinity of the central position in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate21b. In the one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution44, luminance gradually increases from the vicinity of the central position in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate21band is kept to a given level of luminance in the vicinity of the end face facing the end face23bin the negative X-axis direction.

The spatial luminance distribution45in the plane of illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit2is generated by adding the illuminating light ray33aexited from the first planar laser light source unit200aand the illuminating light ray33bexited from the second planar laser light source unit200b. Accordingly, the spatial luminance distribution45in the plane of illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit2becomes a uniform distribution in the X-axis direction.FIG. 6shows results of actual spatial luminance distribution measurement in the plane of illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit2prototyped as configured in the first embodiment. As can be understood fromFIG. 6, in the first backlight unit2including the two planar laser light source units200aand200blayered in the Z-axis direction, highly uniform illuminating light rays can be obtained in a laser-light traveling direction (X-axis direction).

In the first embodiment, the optical transmission portions26aand26bthat are considered necessary to convert the light rays from the plurality of laser light sources, which are point light sources, to a light ray having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source) are provided in an effective image display area. Therefore, a ratio of an area of the backlight device to an area of the liquid crystal display apparatus in an image display plane (X-Y plane) can be suppressed while a sufficient optical distance is kept for traveling laser light rays. Consequently, a liquid crystal display apparatus with stylish appearance (liquid crystal display element1with a thin bezel) can be realized while high-quality images are provided. The bezel is a frame (cabinet) around the liquid crystal panel.

The second backlight unit3includes light sources10and a light guide plate11. The light source10is a light source having a wide divergence angle and a linear spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction, such as a light source utilizing an LED. The light guide plate11is disposed parallel to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The light guide plate11includes an optical diffuse reflective portion12in its back surface (on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1). The light sources10are disposed so as to face both end faces (light incident end faces) of the light guide plate11in the X-axis direction and enter light (incident light ray13) into a center from the two end faces of the light guide plate. The incident light ray13travels in the light guide plate11, which is a second light guide plate, by total reflection. Part of the incident light ray13that has traveled is diffusely-reflected by the optical diffuse reflective portion12, which is a diffuse reflective structure, in the back surface and exited as the illuminating light ray14from a front surface (on the side of the liquid crystal display element1) of the light guide plate11. The illuminating light ray14exited from the second backlight unit3passes through the first backlight unit2, the second optical sheet32, and the first optical sheet31and illuminates the liquid crystal display element1.

As described earlier, the two light guide plates21aand21bof the first backlight unit2layered (in the positive Z-axis direction) above the second backlight unit3are formed by transparent materials. The light guide plates21aand21bare plate-like members. The light guide plates21aand21binclude microscopic optical elements25aand25bformed by a transparent material in their back surfaces. The light guide plates21aand21bexert little optical influence such as absorption and reflection on the illuminating light ray14passing through them. The illuminating light ray14here is an illuminating light ray exited from the second backlight unit3. Therefore, the illuminating light ray14can be used efficiently as an illuminating light ray that illuminates the liquid crystal display element1with little loss of light.

The light source10is a light source that emits green and blue incident light rays13. The light ray emitted from the light source10is combined with the red illuminating light rays33aand33bexited from the first backlight unit2and becomes white light. The light source10is a device formed by filling a package including monochromatic blue LEDs, for example, with green fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and produces green light. The light source10includes a plurality of cyan LEDs closely arranged in the Y-axis direction. The light source10formed by the cyan LEDs emits cyan light having peaks in the vicinity of 450 nm and 530 nm and a continuous spectrum in the band of 420 nm to 580 nm. A light source that emits blue light and green light by a combination of an excitation light source and fluorescent substance, for example, can be used as the light source10. Alternatively, an LED or a fluorescent lamp configured to emit blue light or green light by exciting green fluorescent substance by blue light can also be used as the light source10.

The light guide plate11is a 4 mm-thick plate-like member formed by a transparent material, for example. The light guide plate11includes the optical diffuse reflective portion12in its back surface. The optical diffuse reflective portion12is a diffuse reflective structure for directing light exited from the light source10toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. The optical diffuse reflective portion12can be formed by applying spots of a diffuse reflective material on the back surface of the light guide plate11, for example. The spots of the applied diffuse reflective material are distributed so that the density is low in the vicinity of the light incident end from the light source10, increases as the distance from the light source10increases, and maximizes in the center in the X-axis direction of the light guide plate11. This makes it possible to uniform spatial luminance distributions in the X-Y plane of the illuminating light rays14exited from the light guide plate11.

The laser light source is a point light source with a high directionality. Therefore, one conventional problem is uneven luminance in a plane. In the liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment, even if laser light sources (light sources20aand20b) are used, illuminating light rays with uniform spatial luminance distribution in a plane can be generated, as described above. That is because a sufficient optical traveling distance is provided to let neighboring laser light rays overlap spatially one another because of their intrinsic divergence angles until they form light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). Therefore, a liquid crystal display apparatus that can display a high-quality image with suppressed unevenness in luminance can be provided. In the first embodiment, the configuration described above is provided a simple structure by using the effective image display area of the liquid crystal display apparatus effectively. Therefore, the liquid crystal display apparatus can be realized without increasing the size of the backlight device with respect to the effective image display area.

In the first embodiment, the light source of the first backlight unit2is a laser light source, but the light source is not limited to the laser light source and may be another light source that has a small light emitting area similarly to the laser light source and has a divergence angle. By using that type of light source, like a laser light source, a planar light source with highly uniform spatial luminance distribution in the plane can be created. For example, by using an LED light source, a high effect can be obtained. With laser, however, an effect described below can be obtained.

The liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment includes a red laser and a cyan LED. The cyan LED includes a monochromatic blue LED and a green fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and emits green light. By using highly monochromatic lasers as the light sources20aand20bof the backlight unit2, chromatic purity of display colors can be improved than when a monochromatic LED or a multicolor LED is used. Therefore, the liquid crystal display apparatus100using lasers as the light sources20aand20bcan display more vivid colors than a liquid crystal display apparatus using another light source. In comparison with a monochromatic LED, a laser has a higher output and higher photoelectric conversion efficiency at an input of a high current, so that a small device with high power and low power consumption can be implemented.

The liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment uses a red laser because of the reasons explained below.

A white LED widely used in the conventional backlight device emits a light ray in the red color range with a small amount of energy. Particularly, the proportion of light in the wavelength range of 630 to 640 nm preferable as pure red in the red color range is very small. Therefore, if it is tried to improve the chromatic purity in this wavelength region, the amount of transmitted light decreases extremely, thereby lowering luminance considerably. Moreover, humans are highly sensitive to a color difference in the red color. For example, a monochromatic red LED having a narrower wavelength bandwidth than the white LED has a wavelength bandwidth of several tens of nanometers. On the contrary, the wavelength bandwidth of the red laser is just several nanometers. The wavelength bandwidth of the red color is perceived as a conspicuous difference by human eyes. The wavelength bandwidth here means the difference in chromatic purity.

Therefore, replacement of the red light among three primary colors with a red laser light produces a high effect in lowering the power consumption and improving the chromatic purity. From these reasons, the liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment uses a laser for the red light source. The red laser light ray here has a wavelength within the wavelength band of 630 to 650 nm as its dominant wavelength, more preferably a wavelength within the wavelength band of 630 to 640 nm as its dominant wavelength.

A white LED having a continuous spectrum from blue to red or a monochromatic red LED having a broad wavelength bandwidth has been used conventionally. In that case, part of red light passes through a green filter having an adjacent spectrum, thereby lowering chromatic purity of green color as well. In the liquid crystal display apparatus100of the first embodiment, however, the increased chromatic purity of the red color decreases the amount of red light passing through the green filter, so that the chromatic purity of the green color can be improved.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus100, blue light and green light are generated by the cyan LED including a monochromatic blue LED and a fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and emits green light. For the green color, use of a monochromatic LED or a monochromatic laser for emitting green light may be possible. Simple and small monochromatic LEDs and monochromatic lasers that can be applied to a display are inferior to a multicolor LED using a fluorescent substance in terms of low power consumption and high power. So, the liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment uses a fluorescent substance for green light, instead of light emitting elements such as a monochromatic LED or a monochromatic laser, in order to simplify and downsize the device and to lower power consumption.

In the first embodiment, as alight source for emitting blue light and exciting a green fluorescent substance, a monochromatic blue LED is used. It is also effective to use a blue laser instead of the monochromatic blue LED for the purpose of broadening the color reproduction range. When a blue light-emitting element is configured to excite a fluorescent substance to obtain a different color of light, similarly to the light source10of the first embodiment, use of the LED is preferable to use of a laser.

The reason is as follows: While the LED is driven by a low current and provides a low output, the laser is driven by a high current and provides a high output. The driven laser generates a very large amount of heat. While light emitted from the LED has a wide divergence angle, light emitted from the laser has a very narrow divergence angle. With the laser, the density of intensity of excitation light incident to the fluorescent substance (intensity of incident light per unit area of fluorescent substance) becomes very high. Part of light absorbed by the fluorescent substance is converted to another wavelength and exited to the outside, and most of the remaining part of light is converted to thermal energy. Generally, internal conversion efficiency of the fluorescent substance (the amount of light converted to light having another wavelength with respect to the amount of absorbed light) ranges approximately from 40% to 80%. The thermal energy generated at the same time accounts for 20% to 60% of the energy of incident light. Accordingly, if a high-power laser light ray with a high density of intensity enters, the fluorescent substance generates a very large amount of heat.

The increased amount of heat generated by the laser including the fluorescent substance would raise the temperature of the fluorescent substance. The increased amount of heat generated by the fluorescent substance itself would also raise the temperature of the fluorescent substance. The increased temperature of the fluorescent substance would lower internal conversion efficiency of the fluorescent substance significantly, thereby lowering luminance or increasing power consumption. Therefore, the light source10in the first embodiment uses a cyan LED that includes a blue LED and a fluorescent substance which emits green light when excited by the blue light, to emit cyan light.

The liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment uses a laser only for the red color of the three primary colors and uses the cyan LED for the blue color and green color, as described above. The cyan LED includes a monochromatic blue LED and a fluorescent substance that absorbs the blue light and emits green light. Accordingly, in comparison with the conventional liquid crystal display apparatuses using a white LED, monochromatic LEDs of the three primary colors, or monochromatic lasers of the three primary colors, a liquid crystal display apparatus that implements a wide color reproduction range with low power consumption can be provided by the simple and inexpensive configuration.

In the first embodiment, as the light source of the first backlight unit, a red laser light source having a peak wavelength at 640 nm is used, but the light source of the first backlight unit is not confined to that. A red laser having a different wavelength, for example, may be used as the light source of the first backlight unit. It is also effective to use an LED which emits monochromatic light with a comparatively high monochromaticity, as the light sources20aand20bof the first backlight unit2. In order to obtain a broader color reproduction region, use of a laser light source having the narrowest possible spectral width has a greater effect on expanding the color reproduction region. The laser light source having a narrow spectral width is a laser light source having a high monochromaticity. In the first embodiment, the light source10of the second backlight unit3must use a light source for radiating light of a complementary color needed to create white light, with respect to the monochromatic light sources20aand20bused as the light sources of the first backlight unit2.

If a light source having a continuous spectrum such as a white LED is used and if the chromatic purity is improved by narrowing the wavelength that can pass through the color filter included in the liquid crystal display element, the loss of light (optical loss) by the color filter would increase, thereby lowering the luminance of an image. In the first embodiment, the chromatic purity is improved by improving the monochromaticity of the light source. Therefore, the loss of light (optical loss) decreases, and the decrease of luminance of the image can be reduced. The chromatic purity can be improved while low power consumption is maintained.

In comparison with a monochromatic LED light source, a monochromatic laser light source has a higher monochromaticity and can be driven by a lower power. The monochromatic laser light source has an advantage of improving coupling efficiency to the light guide plate because of its high directionality.

In the first embodiment, the first backlight unit2formed by layering the plurality of planar light sources includes the light guide plates21aand21band the microscopic optical elements25aand25bprovided in the light guide plates and all of these members are formed by transparent materials. In the backlight device300formed by layering the plurality of backlight units2and3, the light guide plate disposed on the positive Z-axis side (upper layer) and the microscopic optical elements provided in the light guide plate are formed by transparent materials. Therefore, the loss of light coming from the backlight unit provided on the negative Z-axis side (lower layer) can be suppressed, and high usage efficiency of light can be obtained. It is because the light guide plate disposed on the positive Z-axis side (upper layer) and the microscopic optical elements are formed by transparent materials.

In the first embodiment, the plurality of planar laser light source units200aand200bincluded in the first backlight unit2have similar characteristics, but the present invention is not confined to the configuration. As described above, the illuminating light rays exited from the plurality of planar laser light source units are added up in the X-Y plane direction in the first embodiment. This accounts for the first backlight unit having a uniform planar spatial luminance distribution. The configuration of adding up the illuminating light rays in the X-Y plane direction is a factor of the invention. If the factor is achieved, the planar spatial luminance distribution of the illuminating light rays exited from the plurality of planar laser light source units may be different.

In the first embodiment, the two (a pair of two) planar laser light source units200aand200bincluding the light sources20aand20brespectively are layered, but another configuration can be adopted. If the illuminating light rays for illuminating the entire liquid crystal display element evenly are generated by adding up the illuminating light rays exited from the planar laser light source units, just a single planar laser light source unit may be configured, and alternatively, three or more planar laser light source units may be layered.

As described above, the illuminating light rays exited from the plurality of planar laser light source units are added up in the X-Y plane direction. Therefore, the first backlight unit has a uniform planer spatial luminance distribution. In this configuration, each of the planar laser light source units may have any planar spatial luminance distribution. Any number of planar laser light source units can be layered. Then, it is preferable that the light guide plate included in each of the planar laser light source units have an optical transmission portion in the vicinity of an incident end of the laser light source. The optical transmission portion has an optical transmission distance required to allow a light ray emitted from a laser light emitting element to overlap spatially a light ray emitted from an adjacent laser light emitting element and to uniform a spatial luminance distribution in a direction in which the laser light emitting elements are arranged. The optical transmission portion does not include the microscopic optical elements. Since the optical transmission portion is provided, a laser light ray entering the optical element portion becomes light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). Therefore, the illuminating light rays refracted by the microscopic optical elements and exited from the front surface of the light guide plate toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1do not have unevenness in luminance distribution. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display apparatus100that offers a high picture quality with suppressed display unevenness (unevenness in luminance and colors) can be provided.

If the configuration described above can be achieved, the laser light source disposition interval and the disposition of the laser light source such as an orientation and an angle of the laser light source with respect to the incident end face of the light guide plate are not limited. The laser light source may face any end face of the four faces of the light guide plate. Then, by brining the incident end face of the laser light source to the short-side end face of the liquid crystal display apparatus, the optical transmission distance of the laser light ray can be increased efficiently. Therefore, illuminating light rays with highly uniform planar spatial luminance distribution can be obtained.

According to the first embodiment, the laser light ray first travels a sufficiently long optical transmission distance in the light guide plate by multiple reflection. Next, a plurality of laser light rays are overlapped spatially. Accordingly, speckle noise suffering the conventional image display apparatus utilizing a high coherent laser light source is reduced.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus (transmission-type liquid crystal display apparatus)600according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A backlight device in the second embodiment includes a first backlight unit2and a second backlight unit4. The liquid crystal display apparatus600in the second embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment in that the second backlight unit3of the liquid crystal display apparatus100of the first embodiment is replaced with the second backlight unit4having a different structure. Otherwise, the liquid crystal display apparatus600of the second embodiment is basically the same as the liquid crystal display apparatus100of the first embodiment. InFIG. 7, elements that are identical to or correspond to the elements of the liquid crystal display apparatus100described in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The second backlight unit4has a plurality of light sources that emit cyan light having a wide divergence angle, like the light sources10provided on the second backlight unit3in the first embodiment. The plurality of light sources10are disposed two-dimensionally in an X-Y plane immediately below the first backlight unit2(in a negative Z-axis direction). The second backlight unit4is a backlight unit immediately below the light source. Here, a light source that emits cyan light with a wide divergence angle is a cyan LED, for example. Light emitted from the light source10is diffused by a diffusing plate60, then passes through the first backlight unit2, a first optical sheet32, and a second optical sheet31, and illuminates a back surface1bof a liquid crystal display element1.

The diffusing plate60is provided to diffuse and transmit light emitted from the light sources10arranged two dimensionally in the second backlight unit4. The diffusing plate60is formed by a material having a high optical diffusion capability (degree of diffusion) so that light having a high uniformity in the plane can be generated from illuminating light rays14coming from the light source10.

The second backlight unit4is effective when a large amount of luminescence is required. A large amount of luminescence is required when the liquid crystal display apparatus600has a large screen or when the blue band or green band of a color filter of the liquid crystal display element1is narrowed to expand a color reproduction range, for example. In those cases, sufficient brightness can be kept by using the second backlight unit4immediately below the light source.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus (transmission-type liquid crystal display apparatus)700according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A backlight device in the third embodiment includes a first backlight unit7and a second backlight unit3. The liquid crystal display apparatus700in the third embodiment is a more suitable form of the liquid crystal display apparatus100in the first embodiment. In the liquid crystal display apparatus700in the third embodiment, conditions of an optical transmission portion are studied in detail and improved. InFIG. 8, elements having functions identical to or corresponding to the elements used in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Elements that will be described in detail in the third embodiment are denoted by new reference numerals, separately from the elements of the first embodiment.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus700in the third embodiment, the first backlight unit7converts red light rays (outgoing light rays)72aand72bemitted as first light rays from light sources70aand70bas first light sources into illuminating light rays37aand37btraveling in a positive Z-axis direction and exits them toward a back surface1bof a liquid crystal display element1. The illuminating light rays37aand37bpass through a second optical sheet32and a first optical sheet31and are applied to the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

The first backlight unit7includes a first planar laser light source unit77aand a second planar laser light source unit77b. The first planar laser light source unit77aincludes the light source70aand a light guide plate71a. It is preferable that the light guide plate71abe disposed in parallel to a display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The second planar laser light source unit77bincludes the light source70band a light guide plate71b. It is preferable that the light guide plate71bbe disposed in parallel to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1.

The light source70aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit77ais disposed so as to face an end face73aof the light guide plate71ain a negative X-axis direction. The light guide plate71ais a first light guide plate. The end face73ais a light incidence end face. For example, the light source70aincludes a plurality of laser light emitting elements arranged at equal intervals in a Y-axis direction. The light guide plate71aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit77ais formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate71ais a plate-like member. A back surface74aof the light guide plate71ahas microscopic optical elements75a, which are optical element portions, as shown inFIG. 9. The back surface74ais a face of the light guide plate71aon the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1(on the side in a negative Z-axis direction). Light emitted from the light source70aenters the light guide plate71afrom the end face73aof the light guide plate71aand travels in the light guide plate71aby total reflection.

Likewise, the light source70bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit77bis disposed so as to face an end face73bof the light guide plate71bin an X-axis direction. The light guide plate71bis a first light guide plate. The end face73bis a light incidence end face. For example, the light source70bis a plurality of laser light emitting elements arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction. The light guide plate71bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit77bis formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate71bis a plate-like member. The light guide plate71bhas microscopic optical elements75b, which are optical element portions, in a back surface74b. The back surface74bis a face of the light guide plate71bon the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1(on the side in the negative Z-axis direction). Light emitted from the light source70benters the light guide plate71bfrom the end face73bof the light guide plate71band travels in the light guide plate71bby total reflection.

It is preferable that the light source70aincluded in the first planar laser light source unit77aand the light source70bincluded in the second planar laser light source unit77buse laser light emitting elements having the same characteristics. It is also preferable that intervals at which the laser light emitting elements are disposed in the light source70abe the same as intervals at which the laser light emitting elements are disposed in the light source70band that positional relationships (distance, angle, etc.) between the laser light emitting elements and the end face73aof the light guide plate71aare the same as positional relationships (distance, angle, etc.) between the laser light emitting elements and the end face73bof the light guide plate71b. It is further preferable that the light guide plate71aand the light guide plate71bincluded in the first planar laser light source unit77aand the second planar laser light source unit77brespectively have the same structure. That is, it is preferable that the first planar laser light source unit77aand the second planar laser light source unit77bhave the same characteristics.

In the first backlight unit7, the first planar laser light source unit77aand the second planar laser light source unit77bhaving mutually equal characteristics have such positional relationships that they are rotated by 180 degrees around a normal line (line in a Z-axis direction inFIG. 8) to the display surface1a, in a central position of the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The light guide plate71aand the light guide plate71bare layered so that side faces (end faces) of the light guide plate71aand side faces (end faces) of the light guide plate71bare aligned in the same planes. That is, the light source70aand the light source70bare disposed so as to face each other. Here, the light source70ais a light source included in the first planar laser light source unit77a. The light source70bis a light source included in the second planar laser light source unit77b. The light source70aemits a light ray (outgoing light ray)72ain a positive X-axis direction. The light source70bemits a light ray (outgoing light ray)72bin the negative X-axis direction. The light rays72aand72bemitted respectively from the light sources70aand70btravel in opposite directions. However, any of the illuminating light rays37aand37bexited from the planar laser light source units77aand77bare exited toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

In the first backlight unit7in the third embodiment, the two planar laser light source units77aand77bare layered in the direction (positive Z-axis direction) in which the illuminating light rays are exited, as described above. Accordingly, the illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit7are a collection of the illuminating light rays37aand37bexited from the two planar laser light source units77aand77b. The illuminating light rays37aand37bexited from the first backlight unit7are illuminating light rays obtained when the light sources70aand70bincluded in the first backlight unit7are lit up. Therefore, a spatial luminance distribution in an X-Y plane of the illuminating light rays exited from the first backlight unit7becomes a collection of spatial luminance distributions in the X-Y plane of the two planar laser light source units77aand77b.

The light guide plates71aand71bare formed by a transparent material such as an acrylic plastic (PMMA). The light guide plates71aand71bare plate-like members having a thickness of 2 mm, for example. The light rays (laser light rays)72aand72bentering the light guide plates71aand71bfrom the end faces73aand73btravel in the X-axis direction by repeating reflection in the light guide plates71aand71b, by total reflection at the interface between air and the light guide plates71aand71b. The light guide plates71aand71binclude optical transmission portions76aand76b, which are first spatial luminance distribution conversion portions, and optical element portions78aand78b, which are second spatial luminance distribution conversion portions. The optical transmission portions76aand76bare portions for transmitting the light rays72aand72bemitted from the light sources70aand70bjust in the light guide plates71aand71b. The microscopic optical elements75aand75bchange the traveling direction of the light rays72aand72btraveling in the X-axis direction through the optical transmission portions76aand76bmainly to the Z-axis direction (direction toward the liquid crystal display element1).

The optical transmission portions76aand76bincluded in the light guide plates71aand71bare disposed in the vicinity of the end faces73aand73b. The light rays72aand72bemitted from the light sources70aand70benter the light guide plates71aand71bfrom the end faces73aand73b. Then, the light rays72aand72btravel in the X-axis direction in the optical transmission portions76aand76b. In the optical transmission portions76aand76b, front surfaces (faces on the side of the liquid crystal display element1) and the back surfaces (faces on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1) of the light guide plates71aand71bdo not have special structures such as projections and are plane surfaces. The light ray72aenters the light guide plate71a. The light ray72benters the light guide plate71b. Therefore, the light rays72aand72btraveling in the optical transmission portions76aand76btravel, while keeping their own divergence angles and traveling directions. The light rays72aand72bemitted from the light sources70aand70bspread spatially by their own divergence angles while traveling in the optical transmission portions76aand76b.

As shown inFIG. 9, the optical transmission portions76aand76bincluded in the first light guide plates71aand71bof the third embodiment uniform a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction formed by adding laser light rays80pand81pespecially. The laser light rays80pand81pare emitted from adjacent laser light emitting elements80and81. Accordingly, the optical transmission portions76aand76brequire a given optical distance X in the X-axis direction.

The optical element portions78aand78bincluded in the light guide plates71aand71bhave the microscopic optical elements75aand75bhaving a which are point light sources, spread by their own divergence angles while traveling in the optical transmission portions76aand76b. The light rays (light rays72aand72b) spreading by their own divergence angles spatially overlap adjacent laser light rays (light rays72aand72b) to form light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in a direction in which the laser light emitting elements80and81are arranged (Y-axis direction), or light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The light rays having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction enter the microscopic optical elements75aand75band become the even illuminating light rays37aand37bexited toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

The light rays72aand72bemitted from the light sources70aand70b, which are point light sources, spread by their own divergence angles while traveling in the optical transmission portions76aand76b. The light rays (light rays72aand72b) spreading by their own divergence angles spatially overlap adjacent laser light rays (light rays72aand72b) to form light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in a direction in which the laser light emitting elements80and81are arranged (Y-axis direction), or light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to a light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The light rays having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction enter the microscopic optical elements75aand75band become the even illuminating light rays37aand37bexited toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1.

Taking the laser light emitting element80included in the light source70aand the laser light emitting element81adjacent to it in the Y-axis direction as an example, the optical transmission portions76aand76bincluded in the first light guide plates71aand71bof the third embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 9is a conceptual drawing showing the optical paths of the laser light rays80pand81p. The laser light rays80pand81pare emitted from the laser light emitting elements80and81and enter the light guide plate71afrom its end face73a.FIG. 10is a graph showing one-dimensional spatial luminance distributions80qand81qand a one-dimensional spatial luminance distribution82qformed by collecting the preceding distributions, of light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction. The one-dimensional spatial luminance distributions80qand81qare spatial luminance distributions in the Y-axis direction of the laser light rays80pand81ptraveling through the optical transmission portion76ahaving the optical distance X in the X-axis direction.

As shown inFIG. 9, the laser light emitting elements80and81are adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction, leaving a distance d between them. The laser light emitting elements80and81are disposed so as to face the end face73aof the light guide plate71a. A distance f is kept between light emitting faces of the laser light emitting elements80and81and the end face73a. The laser light emitting elements80and81have the same characteristics. Approximately Gaussian angular luminance distributions at the half width at half maximum a in the X-Y plane of the laser light rays80pand81pemitted from the laser light emitting elements80and81have the same shapes. The half width at half maximum indicates an angle in an angular luminance distribution at which luminance becomes a half of the highest luminance, with respect to the center (zero degrees) at which luminance becomes the highest.

The laser light rays80pand81pemitted from the laser light emitting elements80and81enter the light guide plate70afrom the end face73aand travels in the optical transmission portion76a. The optical distance X in the X-axis direction of the optical transmission portion76ais defined by an expression (1), where d is the distance between light emitting points of the laser light emitting elements80and81; f is the distance between the emitting faces of the laser light emitting elements80and81and the end face73a; α is the half width at half maximum of the divergence angle in the X-Y plane of the light rays emitted from the laser light emitting elements80and81; and β is the half width at half maximum of the divergence angle in the X-Y plane of the laser light rays80pand81ptraveling in the light guide plate71a.

The half width at half maximum β in the light guide plate71ais defined by an expression (2). Here, let a refractive index of a layer in which the laser light rays80pand81pemitted from the laser light emitting elements80and81travel before entering the light guide plate71abe n1and a refractive index of the light guide plate71abe n2.

Here, light emitting areas of the laser light emitting elements80and81are small enough with respect to the distance d between the light emitting points of the laser light emitting elements80and81, and their magnitude is ignored.

The expressions (1) and (2) define a necessary optical distance X at which the laser light ray80pand the laser light ray81phave an intersection point in such a position where luminance is a half of the peak luminance on the corresponding optical axes in the spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction.

The laser light rays80pand81phave the same angular luminance distribution and have an angular luminance distribution symmetrical about their own optical axis. When the laser light rays80pand81ptravel the optical distance X defined by the expressions (1) and (2), the laser light rays80pand81phave a luminance L/2 at an intermediate point (Y=y2) between the points of peak luminance L (Y=y0, y1) as shown inFIG. 10. When the laser light rays80pand81poverlap each other, luminance at the intermediate point (Y=y2) becomes L. Conventionally, unevenness in luminance is generated by dark parts provided between bright parts provided on the optical axes of the laser light rays80pand81p. With the optical distance X defined by the expressions (1) and (2), a bright part (Y=y2) having the same luminance as the bright parts (Y=y0, y1) formed by the laser light rays80pand81pcan be interpolated between the bright parts (Y=y0, y1). Since the spatial luminance distributions of the bright parts (Y=y0, y1) are averaged out, light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray having a highly uniform luminance distribution from a linear light source) can be generated.

The laser light rays80pand81ptravel through the optical transmission portion76ahaving the optical distance X defined by the expressions (1) and (2), as described above. Accordingly, while the size of the optical transmission portion76ais minimized, light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction, with a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction can be generated.

The microscopic optical elements75aare provided in an area from the end portion in the positive X-axis direction of the optical transmission portion76ato the end portion in the positive X-axis direction of the light guide plate71a. They are disposed so that the disposition density continuous varies from low to high in the positive X-axis direction. The structure and the characteristics of the microscopic optical elements75aare the same as those described in the first embodiment.

The light ray72a(laser light ray) is emitted from the light source70aand travels in the optical transmission portion76aof which length in the X-axis direction equals the optical distance X. The laser light ray72abecomes light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the direction in which the light sources70aare arranged (Y-axis direction), or light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), then enters the optical element portion75a, and becomes a planar light source having a uniform planer spatial luminance distribution and illuminates the liquid crystal display element1.

The first planar laser light source unit77ahas been described. The second planar laser light source unit77balso includes the optical transmission portion76bthat satisfies the expressions (1) and (2). The light ray72b(laser light ray) becomes a light ray having high uniformity, or light having a linear shape in the cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), enters the microscopic optical elements75b, and becomes a planar light source having a uniform planer spatial luminance distribution and illuminates the liquid crystal display element1.

As an aggregation of the first planar laser light source unit77aand the second planar laser light source unit77b, the first backlight unit7becomes a planar light source having a highly uniform planar distribution. In the illuminating light rays, unevenness in the planar spatial luminance distribution is suppressed. Therefore, a high-image-quality liquid crystal display apparatus700with suppressed display unevenness can be provided.

In the third embodiment, the lengths of the optical transmission portions76aand76bin the X-axis direction equal the optical distance X defined by the expressions (1) and (2). Accordingly, the planar laser light source units77aand77bhaving high uniformity can be formed. By making the optical distance longer than X defined by the expressions (1) and (2), uniformity of the planar spatial luminance distributions of the planar laser light source units77aand77bcan be improved further.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 11is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus800, which is a transmission-type display apparatus, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. For ease of understanding, let a short side direction of a liquid crystal display element1be a Y-axis direction, a long side direction of the liquid crystal display element1(direction orthogonal to a Y-axis) be an X-axis direction, and a direction perpendicular to an X-Y plane be a Z-axis direction. In addition, let a side of a display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1be a positive Z-axis direction, an upper direction of the liquid crystal display apparatus (an upper direction when the liquid crystal display apparatus800is placed so that its screen faces in a horizontal direction) be a positive Y-axis direction, and a light output direction of a second light source10, which will be described later, be a positive X-axis direction.

As shown inFIG. 11, the liquid crystal display apparatus800includes the transmission-type liquid crystal display element1, an optical sheet31, an optical sheet32, a backlight device303, and a light reflection sheet15. The components1,31,32,303and15are laid on top of one another in the Z-axis direction. The liquid crystal display element1has the display surface1aparallel to the X-Y plane including the X-axis and Y-axis. The optical sheet31is a first optical sheet. The optical sheet32is a second optical sheet.

FIG. 12shows the liquid crystal display apparatus800shown inFIG. 11, viewed in a negative Z-axis direction. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the backlight device303includes a light guide plate811, an optical diffuse reflective portion812, a light guide element5, a light source6, and the light source10. The light source6is a first light source, and the light source10is a second light source.

The light guide plate811and the optical diffuse reflective portion812form a second spatial luminance distribution conversion portion which converts a light ray having a linear spatial luminance distribution to a light ray having a planar spatial luminance distribution and exits the light ray having the planar spatial luminance distribution toward the liquid crystal display element1. The optical diffuse reflective portion812is disposed in contact with a face in the negative Z-axis direction of the light guide plate811. The light guide element5has the function of converting a punctate spatial luminance distribution to a linear spatial luminance distribution. The light guide element5constitutes a first spatial luminance distribution conversion portion. The light guide element5is shaped almost like a rectangular prism and is disposed so that one longitudinal face having a longer side as its side face faces a side face of the guide plate811. That is, one long side of the light guide element5is put in the Y-axis direction, and two short sides of the light guide element5are put in the X-axis direction and the negative Z-axis direction. One short side of the light guide element5is parallel with the X-axis, and another short side of the light guide element5is parallel to the Z-axis. A face of the light guide element5facing the face of the light guide plate811is a light output face5cof the light guide element5. The face of the light guide plate811facing the face of the light guide element5is a light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811. The light output face5cof the light guide element5is configured to have a smaller thickness in the negative Z-axis direction than the light incidence face811a. It is preferable that a central position of the light guide element5in a thickness direction (Z-axis direction) be aligned with a central position of the light guide plate811in a thickness direction (Z-axis direction). In the light output face5cof the light guide element5, microscopic concave optical elements850having a curvature just in an X-Z section are formed. The microscopic optical element850is a cylindrical face having its central axis in the Y-axis direction, having a curvature (curve) in the X-Z section, not having a curvature (linear) in the orthogonal direction (Y-axis direction). The light output face5cof the light guide element5has a plurality of microscopic optical elements850arranged in the Z-axis direction. With the microscopic optical elements850, a divergence angle in the X-Z plane of a light ray61emitted from the light output face5cof the light guide element5toward the light guide plate811can be increased.

The light source6emits the red light ray61. The light ray61enters the light guide element5from a light incidence face5aformed by the short sides and travels in the positive Y-axis direction in the light guide element5. A light ray871emitted from the light source10travels in the positive X-axis direction and enters the light guide element5from a light incidence face5b. The light incidence face5bis a face facing the light output face5cof the light guide element5that faces the light guide plate811. The light source10has a plurality of light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10ddisposed in the Y-axis direction to face the light incidence face5b. The light source6is a light emitting element having a small divergence angle and a high directionality, like the laser light source, for example. The light source10is formed by a plurality of light emitting elements having a large divergence angle. In other words, the light source6is a laser light source like the light sources20aand20bin the first embodiment, for example. Like the light source10in the first embodiment, the light source10is an LED light source as a plurality of light emitting elements. The light incidence face5ais a first light incidence face, and the light incidence face5bis a second light incidence face. The light ray61is a first light ray, and the light ray871is a second light ray.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the liquid crystal display apparatus800includes a controller51, a liquid crystal display element driver52, and light source drivers53aand53b.FIG. 13is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of the liquid crystal display apparatus800. The operation of the liquid crystal display apparatus800will be described with reference toFIG. 13. The liquid crystal display apparatus800includes the liquid crystal display element driver52for driving the liquid crystal display element1, the light source driver53afor driving the light source6, and the light source driver53bfor driving the plurality of light sources10. The operation of the liquid crystal display element driver52and the light source drivers53aand53bis controlled by the controller51.

The controller51performs image processing on video signals54supplied from a signal source, which is not illustrated, and generates control signals and supplies these control signals to the liquid crystal display element driver52and the light source drivers53aand53b. A liquid crystal display element control signal55is a control signal sent from the controller51to the liquid crystal display element driver52. A light source control signal56ais a control signal sent from the controller51to the light source driver53a. A light source control signal56bis a control signal sent from the controller51to the light source driver53b. The light source drivers53aand53bcontrol the light sources6and10respectively in accordance with the light source control signals56aand56bfrom the controller51and have the light sources6and10emit light rays.

FIG. 14is a diagram schematically showing structure of the light guide element5in the fourth embodiment.FIG. 14shows the light guide element5viewed in a negative X-axis direction. In other words,FIG. 14shows the side of the light incidence face5bof the light guide element5. The light incidence face5bof the light guide element5is the opposite face of the light output face5cfacing the light guide plate811. In the fourth embodiment, the light guide element5is formed by a transparent material and is a member like a square bar. In the fourth embodiment, the light guide element5includes a plurality of microscopic optical elements17, which are optical elements, in the light incidence face5b. The light ray61emitted from the light source6enters the light guide element5from the light incidence face5aand travels in the light guide element5by total reflection. The light rays871emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements (such as10ato10d) constituting the light source10enter the light guide element5from the light incidence face5b. The light rays871disperse when they pass through the microscopic optical elements17. The light rays871are mixed with the incident light ray61coming from the light source6in the light guide element5. Then, the light rays871are discharged from the light output face5cof the light guide element5toward the light guide plate811.

As described above, like a laser light source, the light source6is a light source having a small divergence angle and high directionality. In order to generate a light ray having a linear spatial luminance distribution from the light source with high directionality, the light ray61, which is a laser light ray, is directed into the light guide element5through the light incidence face5ahaving a small sectional area. The light incidence face5ais a face (face parallel to the X-Z plane inFIG. 12) perpendicular to the light traveling direction (Y-axis direction inFIG. 12) of the light ray61. Accordingly, the number of times of reflection in the light guide element5can be increased even for a laser light ray having high directionality and a small divergence angle. By using the microscopic optical elements17to take a given amount of the reflected light at a time and to emit it from the light output face5c, light having a linear spatial luminance distribution (light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction) can be generated easily. Here, since an optical distance of the light ray61up to first incidence on the microscopic optical element17is short, the light guide element5can minimize unnecessary space. Therefore, the backlight device303can be downsized.

The light guide plate811is disposed parallel to the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1. The light guide plate811includes the optical diffuse reflective portion812in its back surface. The back surface of the light guide plate811is on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display element1of the light guide plate811and is a face on the side in the negative Z-axis direction. The light guide element5is disposed so as to face the light incidence face811a. The light incidence face811ais an end face of the light guide plate811in the negative X-axis direction. A light ray809output from the light guide element5travels from the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811toward a center of the light guide plate811. The light ray809is a mixture of an illuminating light ray62and the light ray871.

The light ray809output from the light guide element5travels inside the light guide plate811by total reflection. Part of the light ray809is diffused and reflected by the optical diffuse reflective portion812disposed on a back surface side. The back surface side is on the side in the negative Z-axis direction. The diffused light is output from a front surface of the light guide plate811as an illuminating light ray810. The front surface of the light guide plate811is a face of the light guide plate811on the side of the liquid crystal display element1and is a face on the side in the positive Z-axis direction. The illuminating light ray810output from the light guide plate811passes through the optical sheet32and the optical sheet31and illuminates the liquid crystal display element1.

The optical sheet31has the function of directing the illuminating light ray810output from the backlight device303into a normal direction of the display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element800. The optical sheet32has the function of suppressing optical effects such as slight unevenness in illumination.

The light reflection sheet15is disposed in the negative Z-axis direction of the backlight device303. The light ray output from the backlight device303to a back surface side is reflected by the light reflection sheet15and is used as an illuminating light ray for illuminating a back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. The back surface side is on the side in the negative Z-axis direction. As the light reflection sheet15, a light reflection sheet based on plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate can be used, for example. As the light reflection sheet15, a different type of light reflection sheet such as a light reflection sheet made by depositing metal on a surface of a substrate may be used, for example.

The liquid crystal display element1includes a liquid crystal layer parallel to the X-Y plane orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. The display surface1aof the liquid crystal display element1has a rectangular shape. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown inFIG. 11are directions along two orthogonal sides of the display surface1a. The liquid crystal display element driver52varies the optical transmittance of the liquid crystal layer in units of pixels in accordance with the liquid crystal control signal55supplied from the controller51. Each pixel has three sub-pixels, and each sub-pixel has a color filter that passes red light, green light, or blue light only. The liquid crystal display element driver52generates a color image by controlling the transmittance of each sub-pixel. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display element1generates image light by modulating illuminating light rays entering from the backlight device303spatially. The liquid crystal display element1can output the image light from the display surface1a. The liquid crystal display element1has color filters of three primary colors of light, red, green, and blue, a color other than the three primary colors of light can be added to expand a color reproduction range.

The components in the fourth embodiment will be described in detail. The light source6is a laser light source having a highly monochromatic spectrum with a peak at 640 nm and a half-width-at-half-maximum spectral width of 1 mm. A half-width-at-half-maximum divergence angle of the light source6is 40 degrees in a fast-axis direction and is 10 degrees in a slow-axis direction. In the fourth embodiment, the laser light emitting elements included in the light source6are disposed so that the fast-axis direction with a greater half-width-at-half-maximum is reflected by the light incidence end face5band the light output end face5cof the light guide element5. That is, the fast-axis direction of the laser light emitting element is the X-axis direction inFIG. 11. The short side of the light incidence face811ais a side parallel to the Z-axis. The light source6is a first light source.

In other words, light rays in the fast-axis direction with a large divergence angle of the light rays61of the laser light emitting element are reflected between the light incidence face5band the light output face5cof the light guide element5. This configuration increases the number of reflections of the laser light ray in the light guide element5, thereby increasing the light rays61entering the microscopic optical elements17provided in the light guide element5. As a result, with this configuration, a light ray extraction efficiency F by the microscopic optical elements17can be improved. Here,
F=(amount of light output from light guide element to light guide plate)/(amount of light traveling in light guide element)

The light guide element5is a 2-mm-by-2-mm bar-like member formed by a transparent material such as an acrylic plastic (PMMA). As shown inFIGS. 12 and 14, the microscopic optical elements17having a convex hemispherical shape (hereafter referred to as a convex lens shape) for emitting light rays61traveling in the light guide element5into a direction of the light output face5c(positive X-axis direction) are formed in the light incidence face5b(face on the opposite side of the light guide plate811).

The light ray61entering the light guide element5from the light incidence face5atravels in the Y-axis direction in the light guide element5by repeating reflection, by total reflection at the interface between air and the light guide element5. The light rays61entering the microscopic optical elements17change their traveling directions on the curved faces, and some of them fail to satisfy the conditions of total reflection at the interface between air and the light output face5c(face on the side of the light guide plate811) of the light guide element5. The light rays61that fail to satisfy the conditions of total reflection are output as the illuminating light rays62from the light output face5cof the light guide element5toward the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811.

A disposition density is a proportion of an area occupied by the microscopic optical elements17per unit area. The disposition density can be adjusted by changing the number of microscopic optical elements17in the unit area. The disposition density can also be adjusted by changing the size of the microscopic optical elements17per unit area (area of a single microscopic optical element). Accordingly, a spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction of the illuminating light ray62output from the light guide element5can be controlled.

For example, a microscopic optical element17having a convex lens shape with a surface curvature of approximately 0.15 mm, the maximum height of approximately 0.005 mm, and a refractive index of approximately 1.49 can be used as a specific example of the microscopic optical element17. A material of the light guide element5and the microscopic optical elements17can be an acrylic plastic. However, the material of the light guide element5and the microscopic optical elements17is not limited to an acrylic plastic. As the material of the light guide element5and the microscopic optical elements17, any plastic material that has a high optical transmittance and a high forming ability, such as a polycarbonate plastic, may be used instead of an acrylic plastic. As the material of the light guide element5and the microscopic optical elements17, a glass material may be used instead of an acrylic plastic.

The light guide element5is structured to vary the disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17with respect to the position in the traveling direction (positive Y-axis direction inFIG. 12) of the light ray61. The microscopic optical elements17are provided on the light incidence face5bof the light guide element5. The area on the light incidence face5branges from the vicinity of the light incidence face5ain the light guide element5to the position of the end face facing the light incidence face5a. The disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17vary continuously from low to high from the light incidence face5a. That is, the disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17vary gradually or continuously from low to high from the light incidence face5atoward the end face facing the light incidence face5a.

The light ray61entering the light guide element5from the light incidence face5ais gradually emitted toward the light guide plate811by the microscopic optical elements17. As the light ray61travels in the Y-axis direction, the amount of light in the light guide element5decreases. However, the disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17increases in the Y-axis direction, as shown inFIG. 14. This increases a proportion of the amount of light entering the microscopic optical elements17with respect to the amount of light of the light ray61traveling in the light guide element5. As a result, the illuminating light rays62output from the light output face5cof the light guide element5toward the light guide plate811become light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction and having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The light output face5cis a face facing the light guide plate811.

The illuminating light rays62output from the microscopic optical elements17have a small divergence angle in the slow-axis direction. The slow-axis direction is in the Z-axis direction. Since the light rays61with a small divergence angle, emitted from the light source6, travels in the light guide element5by repeating reflection, the divergence angle given at the output from the light source6is maintained. Light entering the microscopic optical elements17changes its traveling direction, but the divergence angle changes little. When the illuminating light rays62with a small divergence angle enter the light guide plate811, a proportion of light entering the optical diffuse reflective portion812provided in the back surface of the light guide plate811decreases. This lowers the light ray extraction efficiency of the light guide plate811with respect to the illuminating light rays62. In addition, the positions of incidence of the illuminating light rays62in the optical diffuse reflective portion812become spatially uneven. This results in an uneven spatial luminance distribution of light output from the light guide plate811in the X-Y plane. In the fourth embodiment, the plurality of light sources6and10use the same light guide plate811. Since light rays entering the light guide plate811have almost the same characteristics, unevenness in color can be suppressed. In other words, it is preferable that the illuminating light rays62have a wide divergence angle.

In the fourth embodiment, the illuminating light rays62output from the light guide element5pass through the microscopic optical elements850provided in the light output face5cof the light guide element5. This increases the divergence angle of the illuminating light rays62in the thickness direction of the light guide plate811(slow-axis direction). The illuminating light rays62with the increased divergence angle are output from the light output face5ctoward the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811. The microscopic optical elements850have a curvature in the X-Z plane and increases the divergence angle of the illuminating light rays62in the X-Z plane. This improves the light ray extraction efficiency of the light guide plate811with respect to the illuminating light rays62. Consequently, the luminance of the backlight device303can be improved. In addition, power consumption can be lowered. The problem of uniforming a planar spatial luminance distribution of the illuminating light rays810output from the light guide plate811to the liquid crystal display element1can be solved. The problem of unevenness in color generated by mixing the colors of light from the light source6and light from the light source10can be solved.

The microscopic optical elements850in the fourth embodiment have a curvature just in the X-Z plane, and a plurality of them are arranged in the Z-axis direction. However, the present invention is not confined to that. If the following two requirements are met, the microscopic optical elements850may have another structure. A first requirement is that the divergence angle of light output from the microscopic optical elements17becomes large. The first requirement is equivalent to that an incident angle of light entering the light guide plate811becomes large. A second requirement is that the light ray is converted to an angular luminance distribution symmetrical about the traveling direction (X-axis direction) of the illuminating light rays62traveling in the light guide plate811in the thickness direction of the light guide plate811(Z-axis direction). For example, in the X-Z section of the light guide element5, a plurality of triangular prisms having a slant face may be arranged in the Z-axis direction. The structure is not limited to the arrangement of the microscopic optical elements (such as the microscopic optical elements850) in the one-dimensional direction (Z-axis direction), and the structure may include the arrangement of the microscopic optical elements in two-dimensional directions (Z-axis direction and Y-axis direction). However, since the effect of broadening the illuminating light rays62in the direction of thickness of the light guide plate811is dominant, the arrangement of the microscopic optical elements just in the one-dimensional direction (Z-axis direction) is simpler and takes effect more efficiently.

In the fourth embodiment, the microscopic optical elements850are provided in the light output face5c. The present invention is not confined to that. The microscopic optical elements850are provided to increase the divergence angle of the light rays61emitted from the light source6, so that they may be provided in another face that the light rays61or illuminating light rays62pass through before they enter the light guide plate811. In the fourth embodiment, the microscopic optical elements850may be provided in the light incidence face5aof the light guide element5or in the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811, for example.

The light source10emits green and blue (hereinafter referred to as cyan) light rays871because white color is created by mixing red illuminating light rays62emitted from the light source6. More specifically, the light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10dconstituting the light source10are a package including a monochromatic blue LED, filled with a green fluorescent substance for absorbing blue light and emitting green light. The light source10includes a close arrangement of a plurality of cyan LEDs in the Y-axis direction. The light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10dincluding the cyan LEDs have a peak around 450 nm and around 530 nm. The light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10demit cyan light rays871having a continuous spectrum in the band of 420 nm to 580 nm. As light emitting elements constituting the light source10, a light source for emitting cyan light by a combination of an excitation light source and s fluorescent substance can be used. In the light emitting elements constituting the light source10, in addition to the configuration in which a green fluorescent substance is excited by blue light to emit cyan light, a configuration in which blue and green fluorescent substances are excited by ultraviolet light to emit cyan light can also be used. As the light emitting elements constituting the light source10, a fluorescent lamp can be used as well as the LED described above. The light source6is the first light source, and the light source10is the second light source.

The LED light source used as the light source10in the fourth embodiment has a wide divergence angle. So, as with the light source10in the fourth embodiment, the light rays871emitted from a plurality of light sources in the one-dimensional (Y-axis direction) arrangement spatially overlap the light ray871emitted from an adjacent light source because of their own divergence angle when they pass through the light guide element5. Further, since the microscopic optical elements17provided in the light guide element5have a curvature, the light rays871entering the microscopic optical elements17are spatially uniformed by optical diffusion.

When a plurality of light rays emitted from nearby light sources are spatially overlapped, their distributions are averaged to a spatial luminance distribution equalized in the direction of arrangement of the light sources. Even if a single light ray has an uneven spatial luminance distribution, by overlapping a plurality of light rays, their distributions can be averaged, and light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the direction of arrangement of the light sources and having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source) can be created.

The light guide element5is disposed so as to face the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811. The red illuminating light rays62emitted from the light source6and the cyan light rays871emitted from the light source10are separately output from the light output face5cof the light guide element5toward the light guide plate811, as light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). Accordingly, the controller51controls the light source drivers53aand53bseparately (light source control signals56aand56b) to adjust a ratio of luminance of the red illuminating light rays62emitted from the light source6to luminance of the cyan light rays871emitted from the light source10. Then, the light guide element5functions as a white linear light source. The light incidence face811ais a face of the light guide plate811in the X-axis direction.

In the fourth embodiment, the light guide element5is a square bar-like member having a 2-mm-by-2-mm end face. The present invention is not confined to that. The thickness of the light guide element5in the Z-axis direction should be smaller than the thickness of the light guide plate811at least in terms of optical coupling efficiency with the light guide plate811. Use of a light guide element5with a small thickness in the X-axis direction is preferable in terms of making the liquid crystal display thinner and lighter and improving usage efficiency of the light ray (light ray61) by increasing the number of reflections. Since the laser light source is a light source having a small area of light emitting face and a high directionality, high optical coupling efficiency can be provided with a thin light guide element5. However, decrease in rigidity resulting from the decreased thickness of the light guide element5should also be considered.

The light guide plate811is formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate811is a plate-like member having a thickness of 4 mm. The light guide plate811includes the optical diffuse reflective portion812for outputting the illuminating light rays62and the light rays871output from the light guide element5toward the back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1, in its back surface. The optical diffuse reflective portion812can be configured by printing spots of a diffuse reflective material such as white ink on the back surface of the light guide plate811, for example. A density of printed spots of the optical diffuse reflective material is varied so that the density is low in the vicinity of the light incidence face811aof the light guide element5and the density increases as a distance from the light guide element5increases. Accordingly, it becomes possible to make a uniform spatial luminance distribution of the illuminating light rays810in the X-Y plane.

The illuminating light rays810output from the light guide plate811toward the liquid crystal display element1are occasionally reflected in the negative Z-axis direction by a later component such as the optical sheet31or32, for example. To improve luminance and to lower power consumption, those rays must be used again as the illuminating light rays of the liquid crystal display element1. For that purpose, the backlight device303includes the light reflection sheet15in the negative Z-axis direction.

As the optical diffuse reflective portion812of the light guide plate811in the fourth embodiment, spots printed to reflect the light rays have been described as a specific example. The same effects as obtained by the diffuse reflective structure can be obtained by refractive reflection structures such as convex and concave shapes of a lens or a corrugated shape. Therefore, the optical diffuse reflective portion812includes refractive reflection structures as well as the diffuse reflective structure.

In the fourth embodiment, a laser light source is used as the light source6, but the present invention is not confined to that. The present invention is also effective for any light source which has a small light emitting area, has a divergence angle, and outputs a large amount of light per unit light emitting area, like the laser light source. For example, by using a monochromatic LED light source which outputs a large amount of light per unit area as the light source6, light having a uniform spatial luminance distribution and having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source) can be obtained by a compact configuration. On the other hand, the light source10is a light source which has a wide divergence angle and outputs a smaller amount of light per unit area than the light source6. In the fourth embodiment, a planar light source without unevenness in color can be created by using both the light source6and the light source10having different characteristics as described above.

The liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment includes a red laser and a cyan LED. The cyan LED includes a monochromatic blue LED and a green fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and emits green light. By using a highly monochromatic laser as the light source of the backlight device, chromatic purity of display colors can be improved than by using a monochromatic LED or a multicolor LED. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display apparatus800utilizing a laser as its light source can display more vivid colors than a liquid crystal display apparatus using another light source. In comparison with the monochromatic LED, the laser has higher output. The laser has higher photoelectric conversion efficiency at an input of a high current. So, the liquid crystal display apparatus800can implement a small size, high power and low power consumption.

The liquid crystal display apparatus800of the fourth embodiment uses a red laser. The reasons are described below.

A first reason is that the white LED widely used in the existing backlight device has a small amount of optical energy in the red color range. Particularly, the proportion of light of 630 to 640 nm preferable as pure red in the red color range is very small. Therefore, if it is tried to improve the chromatic purity in this wavelength region, the amount of light transmitted by a filter decreases considerably, thereby lowering the luminance remarkably. This is because a spectral width of the filter included in the liquid crystal display element1is narrowed to improve the chromatic purity. The spectral width of light passing through the filter is narrowed, and the amount of light decreases.

A second reason is that humans are highly sensitive to a color difference in the red color. For example, a monochromatic red LED having a narrower wavelength bandwidth than a white LED has a wavelength bandwidth of several tens of nanometers. On the contrary, the wavelength bandwidth of the red laser is just several nanometers. A difference in wavelength bandwidth of the red color is perceived as a more conspicuous difference by human eyes. The difference in wavelength bandwidth means a difference in chromatic purity.

Therefore, replacing the red light among three primary colors with the laser produces a high effect in lowering power consumption and improving the chromatic purity. From this reason, the liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment uses a laser as the red light source.

When a white LED or a monochromatic red LED having a broad wavelength bandwidth is used conventionally, part of red light passes through a green filter having an adjacent spectrum, thereby lowering chromatic purity of green color as well. The white LED here has a continuous spectrum from blue to red. In the liquid crystal display apparatus800of the fourth embodiment, however, the increased chromatic purity of the red color decreases the amount of red light passing through the green filter. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display apparatus800can improve the chromatic purity of the green color.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus800, blue light and green light are generated by the cyan LED including the monochromatic blue LED and the fluorescent substance which absorbs blue light and emits green light. For the green color, use of a monochromatic LED or a monochromatic laser for emitting green light may be possible. Simple and small LEDs and lasers that can be applied to a display are inferior to a multicolor LED using a fluorescent substance in terms of low power consumption and high power. So, the liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment uses a fluorescent substance for green light, instead of a light emitting element such as an LED or a laser, in order to simplify and downsize the device and to lower power consumption.

In the fourth embodiment, the monochromatic blue LED emits blue light and excites the green fluorescent substance. It is also effective to use a blue laser instead of the monochromatic blue LED for the purpose of broadening the color reproduction range. However, a blue light-emitting element is configured to excite a fluorescent substance to obtain a different color of light, similarly to the light source10of the fourth embodiment. In the configuration, the LED is preferable to the laser, as the blue light-emitting element. The reason is described below.

While the LED is driven by a low current and provides a low output, the laser is driven by a high current and provides high power. The driven laser generates a very large amount of heat. While light emitted from the LED has a wide divergence angle, light emitted from the laser has a very narrow divergence angle. With the laser, the density of intensity of excitation light incident to the fluorescent substance (intensity of incident light per unit area of fluorescent substance) becomes very high. Part of light absorbed by the fluorescent substance is converted to another wavelength and exited to the outside, and the remaining part of light is mainly converted to thermal energy. Generally, the internal conversion efficiency of the fluorescent substance (the amount of light converted to light having another wavelength with respect to the amount of absorbed light) ranges approximately from 40% to 80%. The thermal energy generated at the same time accounts for 20% to 60% of the energy of incident light. Accordingly, if a high-power laser light ray with a high density of intensity enters, the fluorescent substance generates a very large amount of heat.

The increased amount of heat generated by the laser including the fluorescent substance would raise the temperature of the fluorescent substance. The increased amount of heat generated by the fluorescent substance that absorbs blue light would also raise the temperature of the fluorescent substance. The increased temperature of the fluorescent substance would lower the internal conversion efficiency of the fluorescent substance significantly. Accordingly, the luminance would be lowered, and the power consumption would increase. Therefore, in the light source10in the fourth embodiment, it is preferable to use a cyan LED that includes a blue LED and a fluorescent substance which emits green light when excited by the blue light.

The liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment is configured to expand the color reproduction range efficiently with low power consumption, as described above. Among the light sources of the three primary colors, a laser is used only for the red color. A cyan LED is used for the blue color and green color. The cyan LED includes a monochromatic blue LED and a fluorescent substance that absorbs the blue light and emits green light. Accordingly, in comparison with conventional liquid crystal display apparatuses, a liquid crystal display apparatus that implements a wide color reproduction range with low power consumption can be provided by the simple and inexpensive configuration. The conventional liquid crystal display apparatuses include a liquid crystal display apparatus using a white LED, a liquid crystal display apparatus using monochromatic LEDs of the three primary colors, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using monochromatic lasers of the three primary colors.

Similarly to the liquid crystal display apparatus800of the fourth embodiment, by using a laser light source with high monochromaticity as a light source of the backlight unit, the chromatic purity of the display colors can be improved. As a result, a liquid crystal display apparatus that can display more vivid colors can be obtained, in comparison with the one using fluorescent lamps or LEDs, which are widely used conventionally, as light sources.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus800of the fourth embodiment, a monochromatic red laser light source is used as the light source6, and a light source that emits a light ray of a mixed color of blue and green is used as the light source10. As described above, the white LED using a yellow fluorescent substance has a small amount of energy especially for the emission spectrum in the red color range. Moreover, humans are highly sensitive to a color difference in the red color.

In the fourth embodiment, a red laser light source having a peak wavelength at 640 nm is used as the light source6. However, the present invention is not confined to that. A laser light source which emits red light having a different wavelength may be used. Alternatively, a laser light source for emitting monochromatic visible light such as blue or green light may be used. It is also effective to use an LED which emits monochromatic light with a comparatively high monochromaticity, as the light source6. In order to obtain a broader color reproduction region, use of a laser light source having the narrowest possible spectral width is preferable because it has a greater effect on expanding the color reproduction region. The laser light source having a narrow spectral width is a laser light source having a high monochromaticity. In the fourth embodiment, the light source10that emits a light ray of a complementary color is used, with respect to the light source6used as a monochromatic light source. That is, a combination of the light source6and the light source10generates white light. Here, the light source6is a first light source. The light source10is a second light source.

Generally, fluorescent lamps and LEDs can be used as the light source6. However, if the chromatic purity is improved by narrowing the region of wavelengths that pass through the color filter included in the liquid crystal display element1, loss of light by the color filter would increase, thereby lowering the luminance of the image. In the fourth embodiment, the chromatic purity is improved by increasing the monochromaticity of the light source6, so loss of light by the color filter decreases. In other words, loss of image brightness can be suppressed. The liquid crystal display apparatus800can lower power consumption. The chromatic purity of the image can also be improved.

It may also be possible to use a monochromatic red LED as the light source6. In comparison with the monochromatic LED light source, a laser light source has a higher monochromaticity. Accordingly, the display apparatus800can produce vivid images. The laser light source can be driven by low power. Because of its high directionality, coupling efficiency to the light guide element5can be improved. Therefore, the liquid crystal display apparatus800has an advantage of being able to lower power consumption. The liquid crystal display apparatus800also has an advantage of being able to improve the luminance.

According to the fourth embodiment, the controller51can adjust a proportion of luminance of the red illuminating light rays62emitted from the first light source6and luminance of the cyan light rays871emitted from the light source10by controlling the light source drivers53aand53bseparately. Accordingly, the controller51can adjust the amount of light emission by each light source in accordance with a proportion of luminance of the corresponding color required by each video signal54. By doing this, the liquid crystal display apparatus800can lower power consumption.

The backlight device303according to the fourth embodiment includes several types of light sources differing in divergence angle or the amount of light emission. In that case, with the simple and compact configuration in which the light guide element5is disposed in a face of the light guide plate811, luminance distributions of light rays emitted from the light sources can be uniformed, and different types of light can be mixed efficiently. Accordingly, even if several types of light sources emit different colors of light, a liquid crystal display apparatus that can display a high-quality image with suppressed color unevenness can be provided. According to the fourth embodiment, since a laser and other monochromatic light sources can be used as the light sources, a liquid crystal display apparatus that can display vivid images with a wide color reproduction range can be provided.

In the fourth embodiment, the light guide element5is disposed in the long side direction of the light guide plate811, or the Y-axis direction. However, the present invention is not confined to the configuration. By designing the optical diffuse reflective portion812to be disposed in the back surface of the light guide plate811, the same effect can be obtained by disposition on the short side of the light guide plate811.

In the fourth embodiment, the light source6is disposed so as to emit the light rays61from the light incidence face5ain the Y-axis direction. The light incidence face5ais an end face having short sides of the light guide element5. However, as shown inFIG. 16, the light source6and the light source10can be disposed side by side in the Y-axis direction. The light ray61emitted from the light source6in the positive X direction is guided onto the light incidence face5aof the light guide element5by using an optical element having an effect of refracting light, such as a prism851. The end face of the light guide element5may also be processed to form a reflecting face so that the traveling direction of the light ray61emitted from the light source6can be changed to the Y-axis direction.

In the fourth embodiment, the microscopic optical elements17have a convex lens shape. However, the present invention is not confined to the configuration. A different shape can be used if it includes structure that refracts the light ray61traveling in the Y-axis direction in the light guide element5into the X-axis direction and emits the light ray toward the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811. For example, microscopic optical elements having a prism shape may be used, for example. Microscopic optical elements having a random uneven pattern may also be used.

The convex lens shape can refract the light ray with the transparent structure. The shape is simple in comparison with structures such as a prism. Therefore, the convex lens shape can be easily created. Since the convex lens shape can be created by printing, it can be created easily even if the light guide element5is long. With a random uneven shape formed by sandblasting and the like, the light ray can be refracted in the Z-axis direction. For the convex lens shape, the convex shape can be designed. Therefore, a uniform spatial luminance distribution as a linear light source can be easily designed.

According to the fourth embodiment, the laser light ray (light ray61) travels in the light guide element5and the light guide plate811by multiple reflection. Therefore, speckle noise in conventional image display apparatuses using highly coherent laser light sources can be reduced.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 17is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus (transmission-type liquid crystal display apparatus)801according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display apparatus801in the fifth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment in that two light sources6, which are first light sources, are provided and disposed so as to face two end faces having short sides of light guide element85. A light guide plate811is disposed in a negative Z-axis direction of a liquid crystal display element1. Otherwise, the liquid crystal display apparatus801in the fifth embodiment is basically the same as the liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment. InFIG. 17, components identical to or corresponding to the components of the liquid crystal display apparatus800described in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 18is a diagram schematically showing structure of the light guide element85according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention and shows the side of a light incidence face85bof the light guide element85. The light incidence face85bis a second light incidence face where light rays871emitted from the light source10is incident. Like the light guide element5described in the fourth embodiment, the light guide element85is formed by a transparent material. Like the light guide element5described in the fourth embodiment, the light guide element85is a bar-like member. The light incidence face85bincludes microscopic optical elements17, which are optical elements. The light incidence face85bis on the opposite side of a light output face85cfacing the light guide plate811. The light incidence face85bis a second light incidence face.

Light incidence faces85aand85dof the light guide element85include microscopic optical elements85e. The microscopic optical elements85eare plurality of triangular prisms arranged in a Z-axis direction in a Y-Z section. Light rays61emitted from light sources6aand6bpass through the microscopic optical elements85e. At that time, light centered on the center of the divergence angle of the light ray61is converted to light having a wide angle with respect to the center of the divergence angle. The light ray61is given a wide angular luminance distribution in the Y-Z plane when it passes through the microscopic optical elements85e. The light rays61having a wide angular luminance distribution pass through the optical element15and enter the light guide plate811as illuminating light rays62. The illuminating light rays62have a wide divergence angle in the direction of thickness of the light guide plate811. Accordingly, light ray extraction efficiency of the light guide plate811with respect to the illuminating light rays62is improved. In the liquid crystal display apparatus801and a backlight unit included in the liquid crystal display apparatus801, the luminance can be improved. Further, power consumption of the liquid crystal display apparatus801and the backlight unit included in the liquid crystal display apparatus801can be reduced. A planar spatial luminance distribution of planar light generated by the illuminating light rays62passing through the light guide plate811is uniformed. Consequently, the illuminating light rays62and the light rays871emitted from the light source10can be mixed evenly. Therefore, the liquid crystal display apparatus801can suppress unevenness in color and can provide high-quality images. The microscopic optical elements85ecan be used in the light guide element5in the fourth embodiment, shown inFIGS. 12 and 16.

The disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17varies with respect to the position in the traveling direction (Y-axis direction inFIGS. 17 and 18) of the light rays61emitted from the light sources6aand6b. More specifically, the density varies continuously from low to high, from the vicinity of the light incidence face85aand the light incidence face85dof the light guide element85to the central position of the light guide element85in the Y-axis direction. The light sources6aand6bare first light sources. The light incidence face85ais a first light incidence face. The light incidence face85dis a third light incidence face.

The red light rays61emitted from the light sources6aand6btravel in the light guide element85by total reflection. The cyan light rays871emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10denter the light guide element85from the light incidence face85bof the light guide element85. The light rays871are diffused when they pass through the microscopic optical elements17. The light rays871are next mixed with the red illuminating light rays62emitted from the light sources6aand6b. Then, the illuminating light rays62and the light rays871are emitted from the light output face85cof the light guide element85toward the light guide plate811.

The light rays61entering the light guide element85from the light incidence faces85aand85dare gradually directed toward the light guide plate811by the microscopic optical elements17. So, the amount of light in the light guide element85decreases as it approaches the central position in the Y-axis direction. The disposition density of the microscopic optical elements17, however, increases, as it approaches the central position of the light guide element85in the Y-axis direction. This increases the proportion of amount of light entering the microscopic optical elements17with respect to the amount of light of the light rays61traveling in the light guide element85. As a result, the red illuminating light ray62emitted from the light output face85cof the light guide element85toward the light guide plate811become light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction.

The light source10that emits cyan light rays871has the same structure as the light source10in the fourth embodiment. Unlike the light sources6aand6b, the light emitting elements constituting the light source10are light emitting elements having a large divergence angle. Like the red light rays61(illuminating light rays62) emitted from the light sources6aand6b, the light rays871become light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source), having a uniform spatial luminance distribution in the Y-axis direction, just by passing through the light guide element85.

The light guide element85is disposed so as to face the light incidence face811aof the light guide plate811. The illuminating light rays62and the light rays871are emitted from the light output face85cof the light guide element85toward the light guide plate811, as light having a linear shape in a cross section perpendicular to the light traveling direction (a light ray similar to a light ray emitted from a linear light source). The illuminating light rays62here are red rays (light rays61) output from the light sources6aand6b. The light rays871are cyan light rays (light rays871) emitted from the light source10. A controller51adjusts the proportion of the luminance of the red light rays61emitted from the light source6and luminance of the cyan light rays871emitted from the light source10by controlling light source drivers53aand53bseparately. The light guide element85functions as a white linear light source. The light incidence face811ais an end face of the light guide plate811in the negative X-axis direction. The light output face85cis a face facing the light guide plate811.

The other components of the liquid crystal display apparatus801in the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the liquid crystal display apparatus800in the fourth embodiment. The other components include the liquid crystal display element1, a first optical sheet31, a second optical sheet32, the light guide plate811, and a light reflection sheet15. In the fifth embodiment, an optical element having the effect of refracting light in the fourth embodiment, such as the prism851, shown inFIG. 16, can be used.

Generally, as a screen of a liquid crystal display apparatus increases in size, a backlight unit is demanded to emit illuminating light rays having a greater amount of light. In order to increase the amount of light of illuminating light rays emitted from the backlight unit while maintaining white balance, it is generally necessary to increase the emission intensity of light sources or to increase the number of light sources. It is, however, hard to arrange light sources on the same light incidence face85aof a square-prism-shaped light guide element and have them enter the light rays. The reason is that a length of the side of the light guide element in the X-axis direction must be reduced in order to reflect the highly directional light rays61at a short optical distance. The length of the side in the Z-axis direction must be smaller than a thickness of the light guide plate811so that optical efficiency can be improved. Therefore, it is hard to increase the number of light sources.

According to the fifth embodiment, the light sources6aand6bcan be disposed on the light incidence faces85aand85dat both ends of the light guide element85. Since the two light sources6aand6bcan be disposed on the single light guide element85in the fifth embodiment, even if the liquid crystal screen increases in size, a sufficient amount of light can obtained from the backlight unit while balance is maintained.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 19is a diagram schematically showing structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus (transmission-type liquid crystal display apparatus)802according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display apparatus802in the sixth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display apparatus801in the fifth embodiment in that two light guide elements85are accompanied by light sources6aand6bor light sources6cand6d, which are first light source, and optical elements (light sources)10a,10b,10c, and10dand optical elements (light sources)10e,10f,10g, and10h, which are second light sources, and face each other on the opposite sides of a liquid crystal display element1. Otherwise, the liquid crystal display apparatus802of the sixth embodiment is basically the same as the liquid crystal display apparatus801of the fifth embodiment. InFIG. 19, the components identical to or corresponding to the components of the liquid crystal display apparatus801described in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown inFIG. 19, the two light guide elements85are disposed on both sides of a light guide plate811in a X-axis direction. The light guide plate811is placed in a negative Z-axis direction of the liquid crystal display element1. As for the light sources6aand6c, one light source is disposed on a single light incidence face85ato face the light incidence face85aof a different light guide element85. As for the light sources6band6d, one light source is disposed on a single light incidence face85dto face the light incidence face85dof a different light guide element85. In other words, each of the four light sources6a,6b,6c, and6dare disposed on each of the light incidence faces85aand85d, to face the light incidence faces85aand85d. The light incidence faces85aand85dhave short sides of the light guide element85.

In a negative X-axis direction of the light guide element85disposed in the negative X-axis direction of the light guide plate811, the plurality of light emitting elements10a,10b,10c, and10dare disposed so as to face a light incidence face85b. In a positive X-axis direction of the light guide element85disposed in the positive X-axis direction of the light guide plate811, the plurality of light emitting elements10e,10f,10g, and10hare disposed so as to face the light incidence face85b.

Light rays61emitted from the light sources6a,6b,6c, and6dtravel in the light guide element85. The light rays61entering microscopic optical elements17are refracted toward the light guide plate811and output as illuminating light rays62from a light output face85ctoward the light guide plate811. Light rays871emitted from the light emitting elements10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f,10g, and10henter the light guide element85from the light incidence face85band exit from the light output face85ctoward the light guide plate811.

According to the sixth embodiment, the four light sources6a,6b,6c, and6dcan be disposed, which are four times the light sources that can be disposed in the fourth embodiment. According to the sixth embodiment, the light sources are twice the light sources that can be disposed in the fifth embodiment. Accordingly, the sixth embodiment is effective for improving luminance in the liquid crystal display apparatus802and a backlight unit included in the liquid crystal display apparatus802.

The light guide plate811in the sixth embodiment is formed by a transparent material. The light guide plate811is a plate-like member having a thickness of 4 mm, for example. The light guide plate811includes an optical diffuse reflective portion812for emitting the light rays61and871emitted from the light sources6a,6b,6c,6dand the light emitting elements10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f,10g, and10h, which are disposed in its back surface, toward a back surface1bof the liquid crystal display element1. As shown inFIG. 20, the optical diffuse reflective portion812can be configured by printing spots of a diffuse reflective material on a back surface of the light guide plate811, for example. The printed spots of the diffuse reflective material are distributed so that the density is low in the vicinity of a light incidence face811aand the density increases as the distance from the two light guide elements85increase, approaching the center of the light guide plate811in the X-axis direction. The light incidence face811ais an end face where the illuminating light rays62and the light rays871emitted from the two light guide elements85are incident. Accordingly, the planar spatial luminance distribution in an X-Y plane of illuminating light ray810emitted from the light guide plate811can be uniformed. The illuminating light ray810is an illuminating light ray including a ray809formed by mixing the illuminating light ray62and the light ray871.

The other components of the sixth embodiment are the same as the components of the liquid crystal display apparatus801described in the fifth embodiment. The other components include the liquid crystal display element1, a first optical sheet31, a second optical sheet32, the light guide plate811, and a light reflection sheet15. In the sixth embodiment, an optical element having the effect of refracting light, such as the prism851, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.16, can be used.

The backlight unit according to the sixth embodiment can include a laser light source and many other light sources. The backlight unit according to the sixth embodiment can maintain white balance even if the liquid crystal display element1becomes larger in size. The backlight unit according to the sixth embodiment can provide a sufficient amount of light. Accordingly, the backlight unit according to the sixth embodiment is effective for increasing the luminance of the image display surface of the liquid crystal display apparatus802. The backlight unit according to the sixth embodiment is effective for increasing luminance of the light output face of the backlight unit.

Four light guide elements85can be disposed so as to face any of the four sides of the light guide plate, which will not be illustrated in a drawing. For example, the density of the diffuse reflective material applied on the back surface of the light guide plate811is varied from low to high, from the sides of the light guide plate811to the center. With this configuration, a backlight unit that can discharge a greater amount of light while maintaining white balance can be provided.

In the description of the embodiments, terms indicating positional relationships between components such as “parallel” and “perpendicular” and terms describing shapes of components have been used. In the description of the embodiments, words such as “approximately” and “nearly” are added, as in “nearly square,” “approximately 90 degrees,” and “almost parallel.” These words express that a range including the manufacturing tolerance and variations in assembly are covered. Even if a word like “approximately” is not included in the description of claims, the range including the manufacturing tolerance and variations in assembly should be covered. If a word like “approximately” is included in the description of claims, it means that the range including the manufacturing tolerance and variations in assembly are covered.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention is useful for liquid crystal display apparatuses and backlight units having a uniform planar spatial luminance distribution, and a high-picture-quality, stylish liquid crystal display apparatus can be provided.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS