Patent Publication Number: US-11391878-B2

Title: Light emitting module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/810,420, filed Mar. 5, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-039973, filed on Mar. 5, 2019, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-084913, filed on Apr. 26, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a light emitting module. 
     A backlight device consisting of a plurality of backlight units each including a lightguide plate is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-150940. The lightguide plate of each backlight unit has a recess at the center of a surface opposite to the emission surface, in which a LED is placed. The plurality of backlight units are arranged such that the emission surfaces of the light guide plates are coplanar and, as a whole, constitute a backlight device. According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-150940, an optical sheet which includes a plurality of lens portions is provided on the emission surface side of the lightguide plate of each backlight unit, and a light-reflecting layer which has a plurality of openings is interposed between the lens portions and the light guide plate such that the evenness of light is improved. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-150940 also discloses that the lens portions are enlarged as the distance from the LED increases. 
     Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-063684 discloses an optical unit which includes a plurality of optical elements on the upper surface side of a plurality of LEDs arranged on a substrate. In this optical unit, each of the plurality of LEDs is located inside a hole formed in a surface of a corresponding optical element which is opposite to the emission surface. In the optical unit of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-063684, a recess is formed in the emission surface of each optical element immediately above a LED. Also, a lens array is formed so as to surround the central portion of the emission surface at which the recess is formed. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-063684 discloses that a light-diffusing portion, a reflecting portion, or a light shielding portion may be provided inside the recess. 
     SUMMARY 
     Reducing the thickness of the light emitting module which includes a plurality of light sources, such as LED, while suppressing the luminance unevenness is beneficial. As the thickness of the light emitting module is reduced, for example, the size of a device which includes a light emitting module as a backlight can be further reduced. 
     A light emitting module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a lightguide plate having an upper surface and a lower surface that is opposite to the upper surface, the upper surface including a first hole; a light emitting element provided on a lower surface side of the lightguide plate, the light emitting element opposing the first hole; and a reflective resin layer, wherein the first hole includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first lateral surface sloping with respect to the upper surface, the second portion has a second lateral surface sloping with respect to the upper surface, the second lateral surface being present between an opening in the upper surface and the first lateral surface of the first portion, and the reflective resin layer is located in the first portion of the first hole. 
     According to at least any of embodiments of the present disclosure, a light emitting module is provided which achieves improved light uniformity although its thickness is small. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing an example of configuration of a surface-emission light source of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows a schematic cross section of an example of a light emitting module shown in  FIG. 1  and an example of external appearance of the light emitting module as viewed from the upper surface side of a lightguide plate. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic enlarged view showing part of  FIG. 2  including a light emitting element and its vicinity. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic enlarged view when the vicinity of the first hole is viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface of the lightguide plate, showing another example of the shape of a reflective resin layer. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic enlarged view when the vicinity of the first hole is viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface of the lightguide plate, showing still another example of the shape of the reflective resin layer. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic plan view showing another example of the external appearance when the light emitting module is viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface of the lightguide plate. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the surface-emission light source shown in  FIG. 1  is connected with a wiring board. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a wiring pattern of an interconnect layer disposed on the surface-emission light source side. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic plan view showing an example where a plurality of units of the surface-emission light source shown in  FIG. 1  are two-dimensionally arrayed. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic plan view showing a configuration where a plurality of sets of the surface-emission light sources shown in  FIG. 9  are arrayed in two rows and two columns. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a light emitting module of another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic plan view showing an exemplary external appearance when the light emitting module shown in  FIG. 15  is viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface of the lightguide plate. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic plan view showing another example of a lightguide plate which has a plurality of protrusions at its upper surface. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic plan view showing still another example of a lightguide plate which has a plurality of protrusions at its upper surface. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram showing the external appearance of a sample of Example where a diffuser sheet and the first and second prism sheets were placed on the upper surface side of the lightguide plate, which was viewed from the upper surface side of the lightguide plate with the light emitting elements being lit up. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram showing the external appearance of a sample of Comparative Example where a diffuser sheet and the first and second prism sheets were placed on the upper surface side of the lightguide plate, which was viewed from the upper surface side of the lightguide plate with the light emitting elements being lit up. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative, and the light emitting module of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the numerical values, shapes, materials, steps, and the order of steps, etc., to be shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made thereto so long as they do not lead to technical contradictions. The embodiments described below are merely illustrative, and various combinations are possible so long as they do not lead to technical contradictions. 
     The size, the shape, etc., of the components shown in the figures may be exaggerated for ease of understanding, and they may not represent the size and the shape of the components, the size relationship therebetween in an actual light emitting module. Illustration of some components may be omitted in order to prevent the figures from becoming excessively complicated. 
     In the following description, components of like functions may be denoted by like reference signs and may not be described redundantly. Terms indicating specific directions and positions (e.g., “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, and other terms including such terms) may be used in the description below. These terms are used merely for the ease of understanding relative directions or positions in the figure being referred to. The arrangement of components in figures from documents other than the present disclosure, actual products, actual manufacturing apparatuses, etc., may not be equal to that shown in the figure being referred to, as long as it conforms with the directional or positional relationship as indicated by terms such as “upper” and “lower” in the figure being referred to. In the present disclosure, the term “parallel” encompasses cases where two straight lines, sides, planes, etc., are in the range of about 0±5°, unless otherwise specified. In the present disclosure, the term “perpendicular” or “orthogonal” encompasses cases where two straight lines, sides, planes, etc., are in the range of about 90±5°, unless otherwise specified. 
     Embodiment of Surface-Emission Light Source 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of configuration of a surface-emitting light source according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The surface-emission light source  200  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a lightguide plate  210  which has an upper surface  210   a  and a light-reflective member  240  in the shape of a layer located under the lightguide plate  210 . Note that  FIG. 1  also shows arrows in the x direction, the y direction and the Z direction, which are orthogonal to each other, for the purpose of illustration. Arrows indicating these directions may be also shown in other figures of the present disclosure. 
     The surface-emitting light source  200  has a plate shape as an entirety. The upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210  forms an emission surface of the surface-emitting light source  200 , and typically has a rectangular shape. Herein, the x direction and the y direction described above respectively coincide with one and the other of mutually orthogonal sides of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  210 . The length of one side of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  210  is in the range of, for example, not less than 1 to 200 cm. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, one side of the rectangular shape of the upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210  has a length of not less than 20 mm and not more than 25 mm. The longitudinal length and the transverse length of the rectangular shape of the upper surface  210   a  can be, for example, about 24.3 mm and about 21.5 mm, respectively. 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the surface-emission light source  200  is a collective body of a plurality of light emitting modules  100  each of which includes at least one light emitting element. As schematically shown in  FIG. 1 , in this example, the surface-emission light source  200  includes 16 light emitting modules  100  in total which are two-dimensionally arrayed. Herein, the 16 light emitting modules  100  are arrayed in 4 rows and 4 columns. The number of light emitting modules  100  included in the surface-emission light source  200  and the arrangement of the light emitting modules  100  are arbitrary and not limited to the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the light emitting modules  100  includes a first hole  10  which includes, in its part, an opening at the upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210 . As will be described later, the surface-emission light source  200  can include an optical sheet, such as diffuser sheet, prism sheet, or the like, which is located on the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210  so as to cover the first holes  10 . The number of diffuser sheets located on the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210  may be one or may be two or more. Likewise, the number of prism sheets located on the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210  may be one or may be two or more. 
     As will be described later in detail, the light emitting element of each of the light emitting modules  100  is located at a position generally immediately under the first hole  10 . In this example, corresponding to the array of the light emitting modules  100  in 4 rows and 4 columns, the light emitting elements are arrayed in 4 rows and 4 columns along the X direction and the Y direction. The arrangement pitch of the light emitting elements can be, for example, in a range of about 0.05 to 20 mm, and may be in the range of about 1 to 10 mm. Herein, the arrangement pitch of the light emitting elements refers to the distance between the optical axes of the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements may be arranged at regular intervals or may be arranged at irregular intervals. The arrangement pitch of the light emitting elements may be equal, or may be different, between two different directions. 
       FIG. 2  shows a light emitting module  100 A which is an example of the light emitting module  100 . In  FIG. 2 , a cross section of the light emitting module  100 A taken along a plane perpendicular to the upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210  in the vicinity of the center of the light emitting module  100 A and an exemplary external appearance of the light emitting module  100 A as viewed from the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210  in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface  210   a  are schematically shown together in a single drawing. 
     The light emitting module  100 A includes a lightguide plate  110 A, a light emitting element  120  and a reflective resin layer  130 . The lightguide plate  110 A has an upper surface  110   a  that includes a first hole  10 A and a lower surface  110   b  that is opposite to the upper surface  110   a . The reflective resin layer  130  is provided inside the first hole  10 A. The lightguide plate  110 A may be a part of the lightguide plate  210  shown in  FIG. 1 . The first hole  10 A of the lightguide plate  110 A may be one of the plurality of first holes  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that the lightguide plate  110 A may be in the form of a single lightguide plate which is continuous between two adjoining light emitting modules  100 A in the surface-emission light source  200 . Note that, however, for example, when each light emitting module  100 A includes an independent lightguide plate  110 A, a definite border may be found between the lightguide plates  110 A of two light emitting modules  100 A in the surface-emission light source  200 . 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the light emitting module  100 A may further include a light-reflective member  140  which is located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A. The light-reflective member  140  is a part of the light-reflective member  240  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the light-reflective member  140  includes a basal portion  140   n  which is in the shape of a layer and a wall portion  140   w  rising from the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A to the upper surface  110   a  side of the lightguide plate  110 A. The wall portion  140   w  has a slope surface  140   s  which surrounds the light emitting element  120 . In the lower part of  FIG. 2 , the rectangle B, which is the outermost one of the broken line rectangles, represents the position of the inner periphery of the wall portion  140   w . In the example described herein, the inner periphery of the wall portion  140   w  is rectangular, although the inner periphery of the wall portion  140   w  may have any other shape, such as circular, elliptical, etc. As is the lightguide plate  110 A, the light-reflective member  140  can be continuous so as to extend across two adjoining light emitting modules  100 A in the surface-emission light source  200 . 
     The first hole  10 A of the lightguide plate  110 A is provided in the vicinity of the center of the upper surface  110   a . Herein, the first hole  10 A includes a first portion  11 A which has a first lateral surface  11   c  sloping with respect to the upper surface  110   a  and a second portion  12 A which has a second lateral surface  12   c  sloping with respect to the upper surface  110   a . As shown in the drawing, the second lateral surface  12   c  of the second portion  12 A may be part of one or more lateral surfaces which define the shape of the first hole  10 A which is present between an opening  12   a  located at the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A and the first lateral surface  11   c  of the first portion  11 A. The degree of the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c  with respect to the upper surface  110   a  may be different from the degree of the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c  with respect to the upper surface  110   a . In this example, the first portion  11 A of the first hole  10 A generally has the shape of an inverted cone, and the second portion  12 A of the first hole  10 A has the shape of an inverted truncated cone. 
     In the light emitting module  100 A, the light emitting element  120  is located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A so as to oppose the first hole  10 A provided in the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , a second hole  20  is provided at the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A, and the light emitting element  120  is located inside this second hole  20  in a plan view. The optical axis of the light emitting element  120  is generally coincident with the center of the first hole  10 A. 
     As previously described, the reflective resin layer  130  of each light emitting module  100 A is located inside the first hole  10 A. In the present embodiment, the reflective resin layer  130  is in the first portion  11 A that is part of the first hole  10 A which is closer to the light emitting element  120 . In this example, the reflective resin layer  130  is arranged so as to occupy the entirety of the first portion  11 A inside the first hole  10 A. 
     As will be described later, the reflective resin layer  130  may contain or be made of a light-reflective material. The first hole  10 A is provided at a position in the lightguide plate  110 A which opposes the light emitting element  120  and, therefore, light emitted from the light emitting element  120  can be reflected at a position on the lateral surface which defines the shape of the first hole  10 A. Particularly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first hole  10 A, which includes the first portion  11 A that has the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second portion  12 A that has the second lateral surface  12   c , is provided on the upper surface  110   a  side of the lightguide plate  110 A and, therefore, the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second lateral surface  12   c , which have inclinations of different degrees with respect to the upper surface  110   a , are used as a reflection surface such that light from the light emitting element  120  can be more efficiently diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A. Further, since the reflective resin layer  130  is arranged so as to oppose the light emitting element  120 , the luminance in a region of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A immediately above the light emitting element  120  can be prevented from being excessively higher than in the other regions. Herein, since the reflective resin layer  130  is selectively provided inside the first portion  11 A of the first hole  10 A, excessive decrease of the luminance in the region immediately above the light emitting element  120  can be avoided. As a result, light of improved uniformity can be realized while the overall thickness of the light emitting module  100 A is reduced. 
     Hereinafter, the constituents of the light emitting module  100 A will be described in more detail. 
     Lightguide Plate  110 A 
     The lightguide plate  110 A has the function of diffusing light from the light emitting element  120  and emitting it from the upper surface  110   a . In the present embodiment, an aggregate of the upper surfaces  110   a  of the plurality of lightguide plates  110 A constitute the light emitting surface of the surface-emission light source  200 . 
     The lightguide plate  110 A is a generally plate-shaped light-transmitting member that may be formed of at least one of a thermoplastic resin such as acrylic, polycarbonate, cyclic polyolefin, polyethylene terephthalate and polyester, a thermosetting resin such as epoxy and silicone, glass, and combinations thereof. Particularly, polycarbonate, among others, can realize a high transparency while being inexpensive. Note that the terms “light-transmitting” and “light transmission” as used herein are understood to encompass diffusiveness for incident light, and not limited to being “transparent”. The lightguide plate  110 A may have a light diffusion function by including a material dispersed therein that has a different refractive index than that of the base material, for example. 
     The first hole  10 A provided in the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A has the function of reflecting light emitted from the light emitting element  120  and then introduced from the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A such that the reflected light diffuses throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A. By providing the first hole  10 A as such a light-diffusing structure in the lightguide plate  110 A, the luminance can be improved at the upper surface  110   a  exclusive of the region immediately above the light emitting element  120 . That is, the luminance unevenness across the upper surface of the light emitting module  100 A can be suppressed, and the first hole  10 A as the light-diffusing structure contributes to reduction in thickness of the lightguide plate  110 A. The thickness of the lightguide plate  110 A, i.e., the distance from the lower surface  110   b  to the upper surface  110   a , is typically in a range of about 0.1 to 5 mm. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the thickness of the lightguide plate  110 A can be within the range of not more than about 750 μm. 
       FIG. 3  enlargedly shows part of  FIG. 2  including the light emitting element  120  and its vicinity. In the present embodiment, the first hole  10 A includes the first portion  11 A that has the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second portion  12 A that has the second lateral surface  12   c . As previously described, the reflective resin layer  130  is located inside the first portion  11 A. In the example shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the entirety of the first portion  11 A is filled with the reflective resin layer  130 . For example, when the entirety of the first portion  11 A is filled with the reflective resin layer  130  and the entirety of the first lateral surface  11   c  is covered with the reflective resin layer  130 , light introduced into the lightguide plate  110 A and traveling to the first hole  10 A can be effectively reflected at the first lateral surface  11   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in this example, the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c  with respect to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A is smaller than the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c . Due to such a shape of the first hole  10 A, the area of the first lateral surface  11   c  can be increased while increase in depth of the first hole  10 A is suppressed. Therefore, light incident on the first lateral surface  11   c  can be more effectively diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A while increase in thickness of the lightguide plate  110 A is avoided. On the contrary, the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c  with respect to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A may be smaller than the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c . Due to such a configuration, the capacity of the second portion  12 A can be increased while increase in thickness of the lightguide plate  110 A is avoided. For example, the air layer in the first hole  10 A can be enlarged to a broader area. Accordingly, a greater amount of light is incident on the second lateral surface  12   c , and the light can be more effectively diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  of the first portion  11 A of the first hole  10 A and the cross-sectional shape of the second lateral surface  12   c  of the second portion  12 A are both curved. In this case, the degree of the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second lateral surface  12   c  can be defined as follows. 
     The degree of the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c  can be defined by the angle formed by a line extending between the lower end and the upper end of the first lateral surface  11   c  and a line parallel to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A in a cross-sectional view. Likewise, the degree of the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c  can also be defined by the angle formed by a line extending between the lower end and the upper end of the second lateral surface  12   c  and a line parallel to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A in a cross-sectional view. Note that, however, in this example, the cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  and the cross-sectional shape of the second lateral surface  12   c  are both curved. In such a case, the degree of the inclination can be determined as follows. 
     Herein, the first portion  11 A of the first hole  10 A generally has the shape of an inverted cone. Therefore, the first portion  11 A has an opening  11   a  inside the first hole  10 A, and the opening  11   a  corresponds to the periphery of the base of the inverted cone shape of the first portion  11 A. Herein, the angle θ 1  formed by a line C 1  in  FIG. 3  and a line parallel to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A represents the degree of the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c . The line C 1  is a line extending between a part of the first portion  11 A at which the distance from the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A is smallest (in this example, the apex of the inverted cone) and the opening  11   a . Likewise, the angle θ 2  formed by the line C 2  in  FIG. 3  extending between the opening  11   a  of the first portion  11 A and the opening  12   a  of the second portion  12 A and a line parallel to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A represents the degree of the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c.    
     Herein, the cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second lateral surface  12   c  is curved. However, the cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  and the second lateral surface  12   c  is not limited to a curved shape but may be a bent and/or stepped shape or a linear shape. The cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  and the cross-sectional shape of the second lateral surface  12   c  do not need to be identical with each other. If the cross-sectional shape of the first lateral surface  11   c  and/or the second lateral surface  12   c  is a curved shape such as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , particularly a curve which is convex toward the inside of the first hole  10 A, light is likely to diffuse to positions away from the center of the lightguide plate  110 A. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of achieving uniform light on the upper surface  110   a  side. 
     In this example, the inside of the second portion  12 A of the first hole  10 A is not filled with a resin or the like, i.e., is the air layer. In other words, the inside of the second portion  12 A has a lower refractive index than the first portion  11 A. Therefore, in this example, the second lateral surface  12   c  of the second portion  12 A is the interface between the air layer and the lightguide plate  110 A and functions as a reflection surface such that light introduced into the lightguide plate  110 A and traveling toward the first hole  10 A is brought back into the lightguide plate  110 A. That is, the second lateral surface  12   c  of the second portion  12 A enables light which is incident on the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A at a near-vertical angle to diffuse into the lightguide plate  110 A. The second portion  12 A may be filled with a material which has a lower refractive index than the material of the reflective resin layer  130 . 
     The specific shape of the first hole  10 A is not limited to the shape illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The specific configuration of the first hole  10 A as the light-diffusing structure can be appropriately determined according to the shape and characteristics of the light emitting element located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A. The shape of the first portion  11 A and the second portion  12 A of the first hole  10 A may be the shape of, for example, a cone, a polygonal pyramid such as quadrangular pyramid, hexagonal pyramid, etc., or a truncated polygonal pyramid. The depth of the first hole  10 A is in the range of, for example, not less than 300 μm and not more than 400 μm. The depth of the first portion  11 A can be in the range of, for example, not less than 100 μm and not more than 200 μm. The diameter of the opening  11   a  of the first portion  11 A can be, for example, about 2 mm. The diameter of the opening  12   a  of the second portion  12 A can be, for example, about 3 mm. 
     The lightguide plate  110 A may be a single layer, or may have a layered structure including a plurality of light-transmitting layers. When a plurality of light-transmitting layers are layered together, a layer having a different refractive index, e.g., an air layer, or the like, may be provided between any layers. With the provision of an air layer, for example, between any layers of the layered structure, it may be easier to diffuse light from the light emitting element  120  and it allows to further reduce the unevenness in luminance. 
     In the illustrated example, the lightguide plate  110 A has the second hole  20  on the lower surface  110   b  side at a position opposite to the first hole  10 A. Inside the second hole  20 , a bonding member  190  and a light emitter  100 U that includes the light emitting element  120  are provided. The light emitter  100 U includes a plate-like wavelength conversion member  150 , a bonding member  160  and a second light-reflective member  170  in addition to the light emitting element  120 . The light emitter  100 U is bonded at the position of the second hole  20  of the lightguide plate  110 A by the bonding member  190 . 
     As seen from  FIG. 2 , the second hole  20  has the shape of, for example, a truncated quadrangular pyramid. Typically, the center of the second hole  20  that is located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A is approximately coincident with the center of the first hole  10 A that is located on the upper surface  110   a  side. A dimension of an opening  20   a  of the second hole  20  which is formed at the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A along a diagonal direction of the rectangular shape can be, for example, in range of 0.05 to 10 mm, preferably not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 1 mm. 
     When the planar shape of the second hole  20  is rectangular, the second hole  20  may be formed at the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A such that one side of the rectangular shape of the second hole  20  is parallel to one side of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 A as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second hole  20  may be formed at the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A so as to be inclined with respect to one side of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example where the rectangular shape of the opening  20   a  of the second hole  20  is inclined by 45° with respect to the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 A. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , by forming the second hole such that each side of the rectangular shape of the opening  20   a  is generally parallel to the diagonal line of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 A, the four lateral surfaces of the second hole  20  face the corners of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 A. That is, the distance from the corners of the truncated quadrangular pyramid shape of the second hole  20  to the lateral surfaces of the lightguide plate  110 A can be decreased while the distance from the lateral surfaces of the second hole  20  to the corners of the lightguide plate  110 A is increased. According to the optical characteristics of the light emitter  100 U, such a configuration can more strongly suppress the luminance unevenness. 
     Examples of the planar shape of the second hole  20  include not only rectangular shapes such as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6  but also circular shapes. It is not indispensable for an embodiment of the present disclosure that the external shape of the second hole  20  is similar to the external shape of the lightguide plate  110 A. The shape and size of the second hole  20  can be appropriately determined according to required optical characteristics. For example, the second hole  20  may have the shape of a truncated cone. 
     Reflective Resin Layer  130   
     Again, refer to  FIG. 3 . As previously described, the reflective resin layer  130  is located in the first portion  11 A of the first hole  10 A. It is not indispensable for an embodiment of the present disclosure that the entirety of the first portion  11 A is filled with the reflective resin layer  130 . The reflective resin layer  130  may occupy part of the first portion  11 A. For example, the reflective resin layer  130  may be provided in the first hole  10 A so as to cover the first lateral surface  11   c  of the first portion  11 A. 
     The reflective resin layer  130  is made of a light-reflective material such as, for example, a resin material in which a light-reflective filler is dispersed. In this specification, the terms “reflective” and “light-reflective” refer to a circumstance where the reflectance at the emission peak wavelength of the light emitting element  120  is not less than 60%. The reflectance of the reflective resin layer  130  at the emission peak wavelength of the light emitting element  120  is more beneficially not less than 70%, still more beneficially not less than 80%. 
     The base material of a resin material used for forming the light-reflective resin layer  130  can be a silicone resin, a phenolic resin, an epoxy resin, a BT resin, a polyphthalamide (PPA), etc. The light-reflective filler used can be metal particles, or particles of an inorganic or organic material which has a higher refractive index than the base material. Examples of the light-reflective filler include particles of titanium dioxide, silicon oxide, zirconium dioxide, potassium titanate, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, mullite, niobium oxide, barium sulfate, or particles of various rare earth oxides such as yttrium oxide and gadolinium oxide. It is beneficial that the reflective resin layer  130  is white. 
     The distribution of the light-reflective filler in the reflective resin layer  130  may be generally uniform throughout the reflective resin layer  130  or may be nonuniform or gradient. For example, if in the step of forming the reflective resin layer  130  the filler precipitates or separates from the base material before the base material is cured, the distribution of the light-reflective filler in the reflective resin layer  130  can be nonuniform. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the reflective resin layer  130  can include a first region  131  and second regions  132  in which the density of the filler is relatively low. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , there are a plurality of second regions  132  extending from the periphery to the center of the first hole  10 A. Alternatively, as in the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the reflective resin layer  130  can include a plurality of island portions  133  in the vicinity of the opening  11   a  of the first portion  11 A. 
     If the number density of the filler which is defined by the number of the filler per unit area in a plan view is relatively high in the vicinity of the center of the reflective resin layer  130  as compared with the vicinity of the periphery of the reflective resin layer  130 , the luminance in a region immediately above the light emitting element  120  can readily be prevented from being locally excessively high and, therefore, this is beneficial. In each of the examples shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the number density of the filler is relatively high in the vicinity of the center of the reflective resin layer  130  as compared with the vicinity of the periphery of the reflective resin layer  130 . 
     When the reflective resin layer  130  is located above the light emitting element  120 , light emitted from the light emitting element  120  traveling toward the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A in the vicinity of the center of the lightguide plate  110 A can be reflected by the reflective resin layer  130 . Therefore, light emitted from the light emitting element  120  can be efficiently diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A. Also, the luminance in a region of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A immediately above the light emitting element  120  can be prevented from being locally excessively high. Note that, however, it is not indispensable that the reflective resin layer  130  completely blocks light from the light emitting element  120 . In this sense, the reflective resin layer  130  may have a semi-transmissive property such that the reflective resin layer  130  transmits part of the light from the light emitting element  120 . 
     Herein, the upper surface  130   a  of the reflective resin layer  130  is generally flat. Note that, however, the shape of the upper surface  130   a  of the reflective resin layer  130  is not limited to this example but may be convexed toward the side opposite to the light emitting element  120  or concaved toward the light emitting element  120  side. Particularly, when the upper surface  130   a  of the reflective resin layer  130  is convexed toward the side opposite to the light emitting element  120 , the thickness in the vicinity of the center of the reflective resin layer  130  relative to the position of the opening  11   a  of the first portion  11 A is relatively large. As a result, the luminance in a region immediately above the light emitting element  120  can be more effectively prevented from being locally excessively high. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the reflective resin layer  130  fills the space between the deepest part of the first portion  11 A and the position of the opening  11   a . In other words, in this example, the reflective resin layer  130  does not reach a higher level beyond the position of the opening  11   a  inside the first hole  10 A. However, it is not indispensable for an embodiment of the present disclosure that the reflective resin layer  130  does not include a portion beyond the position of the opening  11   a . It is tolerable that the reflective resin layer  130  includes a portion which is present inside the second portion  12 A of the first hole  10 A. If the inclination of the first lateral surface  11   c  is smaller than the inclination of the second lateral surface  12   c , increase in area of the reflective resin layer  130  in the first hole  10 A in a plan view can readily be suppressed even though part of the reflective resin layer  130  reaches the inside of the second portion  12 A. That is, excessively low luminance in the vicinity of the first hole  10 A can readily be avoided. 
     Light Emitting Element  120   
     Typical examples of the light emitting element  120  include an LED. In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the light emitting element  120  includes a main body  122 , and an electrode  124  located on the side opposite to the upper surface  120   a  of the light emitting element  120 . For example, the main body  122  may include a support substrate of sapphire or gallium nitride, etc., and a semiconductor layered structure on the support substrate. The semiconductor layered structure includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between these semiconductor layers. The semiconductor layered structure may include a nitride semiconductor (In x Al y Ga 1-x-y N, 0≤x, 0≤y, x+y≤1) capable of emitting light in the ultraviolet to visible range. In this example, the upper surface  120   a  of the light emitting element  120  coincides with the upper surface of the main body  122 . The electrode  124  may include a pair of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and may have the function of supplying a predetermined current to the semiconductor layered structure. 
     The light emitting elements  120  provided in the surface-emission light source  200  may each be an element that emits blue light or may be an element that emits white light. The light emitting elements  120  may include elements that emit light of different colors from each other. For example, the light emitting elements  120  may include elements that emit red light, elements that emit blue light, and elements that emit green light. Herein, an LED that emits blue light is shown as an example of the light emitting element  120 . 
     In this example, in each light emitting module  100 A, the light emitting element  120  is secured to the lower surface of the wavelength conversion member  150  by the bonding member  160 . The planar shape of the light emitting element  120  is typically a rectangular shape. One side of the rectangular light emitting element  120  has a length of, for example, 1000 μm or shorter. The light emitting element  120  may have a length of 500 μm or shorter in each of the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. A light emitting element having a length of 500 μm or shorter in each of the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction is easily available at low cost. Alternatively, the light emitting element  120  may have a length of 200 μm or shorter in each of the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. A light emitting element having such short sides is advantageous to represent a high definition video, and/or to perform a local dimming operation or the like when being applied to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device. Particularly, a light emitting element having a length of 250 μm or shorter both in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction has a small area size of the upper surface thereof, and therefore, outputs a relatively large amount of light from a side surface thereof. Therefore, it is easy to obtain a batwing light distribution characteristic. Herein, a batwing light distribution characteristic generally refers to a light distribution characteristic that is defined as an emission intensity distribution such that the emission intensity is higher at angles at which the absolute value of the light distribution angle is greater than 0°, where 0° is the optical axis that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the light emitting element. 
     Wavelength Conversion Member  150   
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the wavelength conversion member  150  is located inside the second hole  20  between the lightguide plate  110 A and the light emitting element  120 . In other words, the wavelength conversion member  150  is located at a position which is above the light emitting element  120  and which is at the bottom portion of the second hole  20 . Herein, “the bottom portion of the second hole  20 ” means a portion of the second hole  20  which is considered as the bottom portion when the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A is oriented upward. In this specification, the terms “bottom portion” and “bottom surface” can also be used without being bound by the orientation of the light emitting module depicted in the figure. When the light emitting module  100 A is in the orientation shown in  FIG. 3 , the bottom portion of the second hole  20  can also be said to be a ceiling portion of the dome-shaped structure formed on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     The wavelength conversion member  150  absorbs at least part of light emitted from the light emitting element  120  and emits light at a wavelength different from the wavelength of the light from the light emitting element  120 . For example, the wavelength conversion member  150  may convert part of blue light from the light emitting element  120  and emit yellow light. With such a configuration, blue light which has passed through the wavelength conversion member  150  and yellow light emitted from the wavelength conversion member  150  are mixed together, resulting in white light. In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 , light emitted from the light emitting element  120  is basically guided into the lightguide plate  110 A via the wavelength conversion member  150 . Therefore, the mixed light may be diffused inside the lightguide plate  110 A and, for example, white light with suppressed luminance unevenness may be extracted from the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A. The embodiment of the present disclosure is advantageous in achieving uniform light as compared with a case where light is first diffused in the lightguide plate and then the wavelength thereof is converted. 
     The wavelength conversion member  150  is, typically, a member in which phosphor particles are dispersed in a resin. Examples of the resin in which the phosphor particles are to be dispersed include silicone resins, modified silicone resins, epoxy resins, modified epoxy resins, urea resins, phenolic resins, acrylic resins, urethane resins, fluoric resins, and a resin containing two or more of these resins. From the viewpoint of efficiently guiding light into the lightguide plate  110 A, it is beneficial that the base material of the wavelength conversion member  150  has a lower refractive index than the material of the lightguide plate  110 A. A material which has a different refractive index from that of the base material may be dispersed in the material of the wavelength conversion member  150  such that the wavelength conversion member  150  can have a light diffusion function. For example, particles of titanium dioxide, silicon oxide, or the like, or combinations thereof may be dispersed in the base material of the wavelength conversion member  150 . 
     The phosphor may be a known material. Examples of the phosphor include YAG-based phosphors, fluoride-based phosphors such as KSF-based phosphors, nitride-based phosphors such as CASN, and β-SiAlON phosphors, and combinations thereof. The YAG-based phosphors are examples of a wavelength converting substance which is capable of converting blue light to yellow light. The KSF-based phosphors and CASN are examples of a wavelength converting substance which is capable of converting blue light to red light. The β-SiAlON phosphors are examples of a wavelength converting substance which is capable of converting blue light to green light. The phosphor may be a quantum dot phosphor. 
     It is not indispensable that the phosphor contained in the wavelength conversion member  150  is the same among a plurality of light emitting modules  100  included in the same surface-emission light source  200 . Among the plurality of light emitting modules  100 , the phosphor dispersed in the base material of the wavelength conversion member  150  may differ. In some of a plurality of second holes  20  provided in the lightguide plate  210  of the surface-emission light source  200 , a wavelength conversion member which is capable of converting incident blue light to yellow light may be provided and, in some others of the second holes  20 , a wavelength conversion member which is capable of converting incident blue light to green light may be provided. Further, in the remaining second holes  20 , a wavelength conversion member which is capable of converting incident blue light to red light may be provided. 
     Bonding Member  160   
     The bonding member  160  is a light-transmitting member that covers at least part of a lateral surface of the light emitting element  120 . As schematically shown in  FIG. 3 , the bonding member  160  typically includes a layer-shaped portion that is located between the upper surface  120   a  of the light emitting element  120  and the wavelength conversion member  150 . 
     The material of the bonding member  160  can be a resin composition which contains a transparent resin material as the base material. The bonding member  160  has a transmittance of, for example, not less than 60% for light which has the emission peak wavelength of the light emitting element  120 . From the viewpoint of effectively using light, the transmittance of the bonding member  160  at the emission peak wavelength of the light emitting element  120  is beneficially not less than 70%, more beneficially not less than 80%. 
     Typical examples of the base material of the bonding member  160  include a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or a silicone resin. Examples of the base material of the bonding member  160  include a silicone resin, a modified silicone resin, an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, a polymethylpentene resin or a polynorbornene resin, or a material containing two or more of these resins. The bonding member  160  typically has a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the lightguide plate  110 A. In the bonding member  160 , for example, a material which has a different refractive index from the base material may be dispersed such that the bonding member  160  has a light diffusion function. 
     As previously described, the bonding member  160  covers at least portion of the lateral surface of the light emitting element  120 . The bonding member  160  has an outer surface which is the interface with the light-reflective member  170  which will be described later. Light emitted from the lateral surface of the light emitting element  120  so as to be incident on the bonding member  160  is reflected at the position of the outer surface of the bonding member  160  toward a region lying above the light emitting element  120 . The cross-sectional shape of the outer surface of the bonding member  160  is not limited to a linear shape such as shown in  FIG. 3 . The cross-sectional shape of the outer surface of the bonding member  160  may be a zigzag line, a curve which is convex in a direction toward the light emitting element  120 , or a curve which is convex in a direction away from the light emitting element  120 . 
     (Second) Light-Reflective Member  170   
     The light-reflective member  170  is a member which is located on the lower surface side of the wavelength conversion member  150  (on a side opposite to the lightguide plate  110 A) and which is capable of reflecting light. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the light-reflective member  170  covers the outer surface of the bonding member  160 , part of the lateral surface of the light emitting element  120  which is not covered with the bonding member  160 , and the lower surface of the light emitting element  120  which is opposite to the upper surface  120   a  exclusive of the electrode  124 . The light-reflective member  170  covers the lateral surface of the electrode  124 , while the lower surface of the electrode  124  is exposed out of the lower surface of the light-reflective member  170 . 
     The material of the light-reflective member  170  can be similar to the material of the reflective resin layer  130 . For example, the material of the light-reflective member  170  and the material of the reflective resin layer  130  may be the same. The lower surface of the light emitting element  120 , exclusive of the electrode  124 , is covered with the light-reflective member  170 , whereby leakage of light to the side opposite to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A can be suppressed. Further, the light-reflective member  170  also covers the lateral surface of the light emitting element  120  so that light from the light emitting element  120  can be converged at a higher place and efficiently guided into the wavelength conversion member  150 . 
     Second Bonding Member  190   
     As previously described, the light emitter  100 U is provided at the bottom portion of the second hole  20  by means of the second bonding member  190 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , at least part of the second bonding member  190  is located inside the second hole  20 . The second bonding member  190  may include a portion which is present between the bottom portion of the second hole  20  and the wavelength conversion member  150 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second bonding member  190  can include a portion raised toward the side opposite to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A beyond the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     The second bonding member  190  is made of a resin composition which contains a transparent resin material as the base material as is the bonding member  160 . The material of the second bonding member  190  may be the same as, or may be different from, the material of the bonding member  160 . The second bonding member  190  typically has a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     Light-Reflective Member  140   
     The light-reflective member  140  is capable of reflecting light and covers at least part of the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A. Herein, the light-reflective member  140  may cover not only the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A but also the second bonding member  190 . When the second bonding member  190  is covered with the light-reflective member  140  as in this example, leakage of light from the second bonding member  190  to the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A is suppressed so that the light extraction efficiency can be improved. 
     The light-reflective member  140  may include the wall portion  140   w  in its part and, as a result, part of the upper surface  140   a  of the light-reflective member  140  which is opposite to the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A has the slope surface  140   s . As seen from  FIG. 2 , typically, the slope surface  140   s  surrounds the light emitting element  120  along the four sides of the rectangular shape of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A. The slope surface  140   s  may function as a reflection surface which is capable of reflecting incident light toward the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A. Therefore, the light-reflective member  140  that has the slope surface  140   s  is located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A, whereby light traveling toward the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A can be reflected by the slope surface  140   s  toward the upper surface  110   a , so that light can be efficiently extracted from the upper surface  110   a . Further, the slope surface  140   s  is provided in a peripheral portion of the lightguide plate  110 A, so that the luminance in the peripheral portion of the lightguide plate  110 A can be prevented from being relatively low as compared with the central portion. 
     The cross-sectional shape of the slope surface  140   s  may be curved such as shown in  FIG. 2  or may be linear. The cross-sectional shape of the slope surface  140   s  is not limited to such examples but may include steps, bends, etc. 
     The height of the wall portion that surrounds the light emitting element  120  may vary among a plurality of light emitting modules  100  included in a single surface-emission light source  200  or may vary within a single light emitting module  100 . For example, one of a plurality of slope surfaces  140   s  included in a single surface-emission light source  200  which is located at the outermost position in the lightguide plate  210  of the surface-emission light source  200  may have a greater height than the slope surfaces  140   s  located at the other portions of the lightguide plate  210 . 
     The material of the light-reflective member  140  may be the same as the material of the above-described second light-reflective member  170 . When the material of the light-reflective member  140  is the same as the material of the light-reflective member  170 , a light-reflective member which covers an approximate entirety of the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 A may be integrally formed of a light-reflective material. When the light-reflective member  140  is provided on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 A, the effect of reinforcing the lightguide plate  110 A may also be achieved. 
     Interconnect Layer  180   
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the light emitting module  100 A further includes an interconnect layer  180  located on the lower surface  140   b  of the light-reflective member  140 . The interconnect layer  180  includes a wiring electrically coupled with the electrode  124  of the light emitting element  120 . In this example, the interconnect layer  180  is depicted as being present on the light-reflective member  170 , although the interconnect layer  180  can include a portion which is present on the lower surface  140   b  of the light-reflective member  140 . 
     The interconnect layer  180  is typically a single-layer or multilayer film which is made of a metal such as Cu. The interconnect layer  180  is connected with an unshown power supply, or the like, and accordingly functions as a terminal for supplying a predetermined electric current to each light emitting element  120 . 
     The interconnect layer  180  is provided on the lower surface  100   b  side of the light emitting module  100 A, whereby for example a plurality of light emitting elements  120  included in the surface-emission light source  200  can be electrically coupled together via the interconnect layer  180 . That is, the light emitting element  120  can be driven by the unit of the surface-emission light source  200 , for example. As will be described later, a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200  can be combined together to form a larger surface-emission light source, and a local dimming operation of this surface-emission light source is possible. When the interconnect layer  180  is provided on the lower surface  100   b  side of the light emitting module  100 A, wirings are provided on the surface-emission light source  200  side that includes a plurality of light emitting elements  120  and, therefore, connection with the power supply, or the like, is easy. That is, by connecting the power supply, or the like, surface emission is easily realized. As a matter of course, the light emitting element  120  may be driven by the unit of one or more light emitting modules  100 A. 
       FIG. 7  shows a state where the surface-emission light source  200  is connected with a wiring board. In one embodiment, a light-emitting device of the present disclosure can include a wiring board  260  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the wiring board  260  includes an insulating substrate  265 , an interconnect layer  262  provided on the insulating substrate  265 , and a plurality of vias  264 . The interconnect layer  262  is provided on one of the principal surfaces of the insulating substrate  265 . The vias  264  have connection with the interconnect layer  262 . The interconnect layer  262  is electrically coupled with the surface-emission light source  200  by the vias  264  provided inside the insulating substrate  265 . 
     The wiring board  260  is located on the lower surface side of the surface-emission light source  200 , i.e., on the side opposite to the upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210 . The surface-emission light source  200  is mounted to the wiring board  260  by, for example, soldering the interconnect layer  180  to the vias  264  of the wiring board  260 . According to the present embodiment, the interconnect layer  180  that has connection with each of the light emitting elements  120  can be provided on the surface-emission light source  200  side and, therefore, connections required for local dimming and the like can be easily formed without forming a complicated wiring pattern on the wiring board  260  side. The interconnect layer  180  can have a larger area than the lower surface of the electrode  124  of each light emitting element  120  and, therefore, formation of electrical connections with the interconnect layer  262  is relatively easy. Alternatively, for example, if the light emitting module  100 A does not include the interconnect layer  180 , the electrode  124  of the light emitting element  120  may be connected with the vias  264  of the wiring board  260 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of the wiring pattern of the interconnect layer  180 . For the sake of simplicity,  FIG. 8  shows an example where four units of the surface-emission light source  200  shown in  FIG. 1  are connected with a single driver  250 . 
     Each surface-emission light source  200  can include the interconnect layer  180 . In each surface-emission light source  200 , the interconnect layer  180  electrically couples together a plurality of light emitting modules  100 A included in the surface-emission light source  200 . In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the interconnect layer  180  included in each surface-emission light source  200  connects four light emitting elements  120  in series and connects four groups of the serially-connected light emitting elements  120  in parallel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , each of these interconnect layers  180  can be connected with the driver  250  that drives the light emitting elements  120 . The driver  250  may be provided on a substrate which supports an aggregate of the surface-emission light sources  200  (e.g., wiring board  260 ) and electrically coupled with the interconnect layer  180 . Alternatively, the driver  250  may be provided on another substrate which is separate from the substrate that supports an aggregate of the surface-emission light sources  200  and electrically coupled with the interconnect layer  180 . With such a circuit configuration, a local dimming operation by the unit of the surface-emission light source  200  which includes 16 light emitting elements  120  is possible. As a matter of course, connection of a plurality of light emitting elements  120  via the interconnect layer  180  is not limited to the example shown in  FIG. 8 . The light emitting elements  120  may be connected such that each of the light emitting modules  100 A included in the surface-emission light source  200  can be independently driven. Alternatively, the light emitting modules  100 A included in the surface-emission light source  200  may be separated into a plurality of groups, and a plurality of light emitting elements  120  may be electrically coupled such that the light emitting elements  120  are driven by the unit of a group including a plurality of light emitting modules  100 A. 
     As described hereinabove, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, light from the light emitting element  120  can be diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A while excessive increase in luminance in a region immediately above the light emitting element  120  is suppressed by reflection at the reflective resin layer  130 . Thereby, it can provide uniform light although it is small in thickness. Further as in the example described with reference to  FIG. 3 , the wavelength conversion member  150  is interposed between the light emitting element  120  and the lightguide plate  110 A, so that color-mixed light can be diffused throughout the plane of the lightguide plate  110 A before being emitted from the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, for example, the thickness of the structure including the light-reflective member  140 , in other words, the distance from the lower surface of the electrode  124  of the light emitting element  120  to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A, may be reduced to, for example, 5 mm or smaller, 3 mm or smaller, or 1 mm or smaller. The distance from the lower surface of the electrode  124  of the light emitting element  120  to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 A can be not less than about 0.7 mm and not more than about 1.1 mm. 
       FIG. 9  shows an example where a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200  are two-dimensionally arrayed. By two-dimensionally arraying a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200 , a large-area light emitting surface can be realized. 
     A surface-emission light source  300  shown in  FIG. 9  includes a plurality of sets of the surface-emission light source  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the example shown in  FIG. 9 , the surface-emission light sources  200  are arrayed in 8 rows and 16 columns.  FIG. 9  schematically shows the two-dimensional array of the surface-emission light sources  200  as viewed from the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210 . 
     The lightguide plates  210  of two surface-emission light sources  200  which are adjoining each other in the row or column direction are typically in direct contact with each other. However, it is not indispensable that a two-dimensional array is formed such that the lightguide plates  210  of two adjoining surface-emission light sources  200  are in direct contact with each other. A lightguide structure may be interposed between two adjoining lightguide plates  210  such that the lightguide structure optically couples together the two adjoining lightguide plates  210 . Such a lightguide structure can be formed by, for example, applying a light-transmitting adhesive onto the lateral surface of the lightguide plate  210  and then curing the applied adhesive. Alternatively, the lightguide structure may be formed by two-dimensionally arraying a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200  with gaps therebetween, filling the gaps between two adjoining lightguide plates  210  with a light-transmitting resin material, and thereafter curing the resin material. The material of the lightguide structure provided between the lightguide plates  210  can be the same as the material of the previously-described bonding member  160 . As the base material of the lightguide structure, using a material which has a refractive index equal to or higher than the material of the lightguide plate  210  is beneficial. The lightguide structure provided between the lightguide plates  210  may have a light diffusion function. 
     When the longitudinal length L and the transverse length W of each surface-emission light source  200  are, for example, about 24.3 mm and about 21.5 mm, respectively, the array of surface-emission light sources  200  shown in  FIG. 9  is suitable for a 15.6-inch screen size with an aspect ratio of 16:9. For example, the surface-emission light source  300  shown in  FIG. 9  can be suitably used for the backlight unit of a laptop computer having a 15.6-inch screen size. 
     In this example, an aggregate of the upper surfaces  210   a  of the lightguide plates  210 , which is the upper surface of each surface-emission light source  200 , forms a light emitting surface. Therefore, by changing the number of surface-emission light sources  200  included in the surface-emission light source  300  or by changing the arrangement of the surface-emission light sources  200 , the surface-emission light source  300  can be readily applied to a plurality of types of liquid crystal panels of different screen sizes. That is, there is no need to redo the optical calculations for the lightguide plate  210  included in the surface-emission light source  200  or to remake a mold for formation of the lightguide plate  210 , and it is possible to flexibly conform to changes in the screen size. Therefore, changing the screen size will not incur an increase in the manufacturing cost and the lead time. 
       FIG. 10  shows a configuration where a plurality of sets of the surface-emission light sources  200  shown in  FIG. 9  are arrayed in two rows and two columns. In this case, a total of 512 surface-emission light sources  200  together form a surface-emission light source  400  that is compatible with a 31.2-inch screen size with an aspect ratio of 16:9. For example, the array of the surface-emission light sources  200  shown in  FIG. 10  can be used as the backlight unit of a liquid crystal television, etc. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is relatively easy to obtain a large-area light emitting surface. 
     According to the method of forming a larger light emitting surface by a combination of a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200 , it is possible to flexibly conform to liquid crystal panels of a variety of screen sizes without the necessity of re-designing the optical system or remaking a mold for formation of the lightguide plate in consideration of the screen size. That is, it is possible to produce a backlight unit that is compatible with a certain screen size at a low cost and within a short period of time. Another advantage is that even if there is a light emitting element that cannot be lit due to a breakage of wire, or the like, it is possible to simply replace a surface-emission light source that includes the inoperative light emitting element. Note that in a surface-emission light source which includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of surface-emission light sources  200  such as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , one or more diffuser sheets and/or one or more prism sheets may be provided on the upper surface  210   a  side of the plurality of lightguide plates  210  so as to cover all of the upper surfaces  210   a.    
       FIG. 11  shows a light emitting module of another embodiment of the present disclosure. The light emitting module  100 B shown in  FIG. 11  is different from the light emitting module  100 A which has been described with reference to  FIG. 2  in that the light emitting module  100 B includes a lightguide plate  110 B in place of the lightguide plate  110 A. 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B has a first hole  10 B which opposes the second hole  20  on the lower surface  110   b  side. The first hole  10 B includes a first portion  11 B which has a first lateral surface  11   c  and a second portion  12 A which has a second lateral surface  12   c . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first portion  11 B further has a bottom surface  11   b  connecting to the first lateral surface  11   c . That is, in this example, the first portion  11 B has the shape of an inverted truncated cone which is defined by the first lateral surface  11   c  and the bottom surface  11   b . The diameter of the circular shape of the bottom surface  11   b  of the first portion  11 B is, for example, about 0.3 mm. 
     Typically, the bottom surface  11   b  of the first portion  11 B is a flat surface which is parallel to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B. The shape of the first portion  11 B of the first hole  10 B is determined so as to include the bottom surface  11   b  and, therefore, the depth of the first hole  10 B can be reduced while the reduction in volume of the reflective resin layer  130  is suppressed. That is, the light emitting module  100 B can have a smaller thickness. 
       FIG. 12  shows a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The light emitting module  100 C shown in  FIG. 12  includes a lightguide plate  110 C. As shown in the drawing, the lightguide plate  110 C is different from the previously-described lightguide plates  110 A and  110 B in that the second hole  20  is not provided on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 C and that the light-reflective member  140  covers an approximate entirety of the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 C. Note that, as does  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 12  schematically shows together in a single drawing a cross section of the light emitting module  100 C taken along a plane perpendicular to the upper surface  210   a  of the lightguide plate  210  in the vicinity of the center of the light emitting module  100 C and an exemplary external appearance of the light emitting module  100 C as viewed from the upper surface  210   a  side of the lightguide plate  210  in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface  210   a.    
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, formation of the second hole  20  in the lightguide plate is not indispensable. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the light emitter  100 U may be bonded onto the lower surface side of the light emitting module  100 C, i.e., herein, onto the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 C. The light emitter  100 U may be bonded to the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 C using the above-described bonding member  190 . Note that, instead of the light emitter  100 U, the light emitting element  120  may be secured onto the lower surface  110   b  of the lightguide plate  110 C via the wavelength conversion member  150 . 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the wavelength conversion member  150  is interposed between the light emitting element  120  and the lightguide plate  110 C. Herein, the wavelength conversion member  150  has a rectangular shape in a plan view. As shown in the lower part of  FIG. 12 , in a plan view, the wavelength conversion member  150  is located in a region more internal than the opening  12   a  that defines the periphery of the first hole  10 A. In this example, one side of the rectangular shape of the wavelength conversion member  150  is parallel to one side of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 C, although the wavelength conversion member  150  may be located on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 C such that one side of the rectangular shape of the wavelength conversion member  150  is not parallel to one side of the rectangular shape of the lightguide plate  110 C. 
     When the thicknesses of the wavelength conversion member  150  and the light-reflective member  140  are adjusted such that the entirety of the lateral surfaces of the wavelength conversion member  150  is covered with the light-reflective member  140 , leakage of light from the lower surface  100   b  side of the light emitting module  100 C can be suppressed and, therefore, this is advantageous from the viewpoint of the light extraction efficiency. As a matter of course, the first hole  10 B that is shaped as shown in  FIG. 11  may be employed in place of the first hole  10 A of the lightguide plate  110 C. 
       FIG. 13  schematically shows a cross section of a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The light emitting module  100 N shown in  FIG. 13  includes a lightguide plate  110 B and a light emitter  100 T. The light emitter  100 T includes a light emitting element  120  and a wavelength conversion member  150 A. As schematically shown in  FIG. 13 , the light emitter  100 T is provided at the bottom portion of the second hole  20  of the lightguide plate  110 B via the bonding member  190 . 
     In this example, the wavelength conversion member  150 A covers not only the upper surface  120   a  of the light emitting element  120  but also the lateral surfaces of the main body  122 . The shape of the wavelength conversion member is not limited to a plate-like shape but may be a shape which covers the lateral surface of the light emitting element  120 . In this example, the light-reflective member  140  also covers parts of the wavelength conversion member  150 A and the light emitting element  120  located on the side opposite to the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B. Note that, however, the lower surface of the electrode  124  of the light emitting element  120  is exposed out of the lower surface  140   b  of the light-reflective member  140  on the lower surface  100   b  side of the light emitting module  100 N. Such a configuration can suppress leakage from the lower surface  140   b  of light traveling from the light emitting element  120  toward the lower surface  100   b  side of the light emitting module  100 N. 
       FIG. 14  schematically shows a cross section of a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The light emitting module  100 P shown in  FIG. 14  includes a lightguide plate  110 B, a light emitter  100 R and a wavelength conversion sheet  350 . In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the wavelength conversion sheet  350  is located on the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B. The wavelength conversion sheet  350  may be in contact with the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B or may be provided above the lightguide plate  110 B so as to be spaced away from the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B. When optical sheets such as diffuser sheet and prism sheet are provided above the lightguide plate  110 B, it is preferred that the diffuser sheet, the wavelength conversion sheet  350  and the prism sheet are provided above the lightguide plate  110 B in increasing order of distance from the upper surface  110   a . That is, it is preferred that the diffuser sheet is located between the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 B and the wavelength conversion sheet  350 , and the wavelength conversion sheet  350  is located between the diffuser sheet and the prism sheet. 
     The wavelength conversion sheet  350  is, typically, a resin sheet in which phosphor particles are dispersed. When such a wavelength conversion sheet  350  is used, the phosphor can be uniformly provided above the lightguide plate  110 B. The same effect can be achieved also when the lightguide plate  110 A is employed in place of the lightguide plate  110 B. The phosphor can be a known material. Examples of the phosphor include fluoride-based phosphors such as KSF-based phosphors, nitride-based phosphors such as CASN, YAG-based phosphors, and β-SiAlON phosphors. The phosphor may be a quantum dot phosphor. 
     The light emitter  100 R is different from the above-described light emitter  100 U in that the light emitter  100 R includes a plate-like light-transmitting member  320  instead of the wavelength conversion member  150 . That is, the light emitter  100 R includes a light emitting element  120 , the light-transmitting member  320 , a bonding member  160  and a light-reflective member  170 . 
     The light-transmitting member  320  is made of a material which is capable of transmitting light. Examples of the material of the light-transmitting member  320  include silicone resins, modified silicone resins, epoxy resins, modified epoxy resins, urea resins, phenolic resins, acrylic resins, urethane resins, fluoric resins, and a resin containing two or more of these resins. A material which has a different refractive index from that of the base material may be dispersed in the material of the light-transmitting member  320  such that the light-transmitting member  320  can have a light diffusion function. For example, particles of titanium dioxide, silicon oxide, or the like, may be dispersed in the base material of the light-transmitting member  320 . 
       FIG. 15  schematically shows a cross section of a light emitting module of still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The light emitting module  100 D shown in  FIG. 15  is also an example of the light emitting module  100  that is a constituent of the above-described surface-emission light source  200 . As shown in the drawing, the light emitting module  100 D includes a lightguide plate  110 D, which has an upper surface  110   a  and a lower surface  110   b , and a light emitting element  120  provided on the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 D. 
     The upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D includes, at least in its part, a first region  111 A in which a plurality of protrusions or recesses are provided. The first region  111 A is located in a region of the upper surface  110   a  which does not overlap the first hole  10 A. In the example shown in  FIG. 15 , a plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided in the first region  111 A. 
     When, for example, the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided in a region of the surface on the upper surface  110   a  side of the lightguide plate  110 D which does not overlap the first hole  10 A, light from the light emitting element  120  which is introduced into the lightguide plate  110 D from the lower surface  110   b  side of the lightguide plate  110 D can be efficiently extracted from the first region  111 A. That is, the luminance in the first region  111 A as viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D can be relatively improved. 
       FIG. 16  schematically shows an exemplary external appearance when the light emitting module  100 D shown in  FIG. 15  is viewed in the normal direction of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D. In this example, the first region  111 A occupies the entirety of a region of the upper surface  110   a  which does not overlap the first hole  10 A, and the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided in the form of a plurality of dots in the first region  111 A. Note that  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are merely schematic diagrams for illustrating the configuration of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D, and the number or shape of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  or other components may not be strictly identical between the cross-sectional view and the plan view. The same applies to the other drawings of the present disclosure. 
     As schematically shown in  FIG. 16 , the proportion of the protrusions  110   d  per unit area in the first region  111 A increases concentrically in an outward direction from the light emitting element  120 . In this example, each of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  has a circular external shape in a plan view, and the diameter of the circular shape of the protrusions  110   d  increases as the distance from the center of the lightguide plate  110 D increases. More specifically, protrusions  110   d  located in a region between an imaginary circle R 1  and an imaginary circle R 2  around the position of the light emitting element  120 , which are represented by dotted lines in  FIG. 16  (the circle R 2  is greater than the circle R 1 ), have a greater diameter than protrusions  110   d  located in a region between the circle R 1  and the opening  10   a  of the first hole  10 A. Further, some of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  which are located outside the circle R 2  have a greater diameter than the protrusions  110   d  located in a region between the circle R 1  and the circle R 2 . As understood from the configuration shown in  FIG. 16 , it is not indispensable that the diameter of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  evenly increases as the distance from the light emitting element  120  increases. 
     According to the configuration such as illustrated in  FIG. 16  where the proportion of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  per unit area in the first region  111 A increases concentrically in an outward direction from the light emitting element  120 , the light emitted from a position away from the light emitting element  120  can be relatively increased. In this example, a plurality of protrusions  110   d  provided near the four corners of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D have the largest diameter among the protrusions  110   d  provided in the first region  111 A. Therefore, as compared with the other regions of the first region  111 A, the luminance near the four corners of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D can be relatively increased. Since the luminance in a region which is likely to be relatively dark is improved, the luminance unevenness can be suppressed more effectively while increase in thickness of the lightguide plate  110 D is suppressed. 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 16 , each of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  is a circular dot. The diameter of the circular shape is in the range of, for example, not less than 1 μm and not more than 500 μm. As a matter of course, the planar shape of each protrusion  110   d  is not limited to a perfect circle. The planar shape of each of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  may be an elliptical shape, a deformed circular shape, a polygonal shape, or an indeterminate shape. In this specification, the planar shape of the protrusion or recess refers to the shape of the periphery of a protrusion or recess projected onto a plane parallel to the upper surface of the lightguide plate. When the planar shape of a protrusion (or recess) is not circular, the diameter of an imaginary circle which includes the periphery of the protrusion (or the opening of the recess) is in the aforementioned range, for example. 
     When the protrusions  110   d  are shaped so as to protrude above the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 D, total reflection inside the lightguide plate  110 D is suppressed so that the effect of increasing the light extracted from the upper surface  110   a  can be achieved. Thus, the protrusions  110   d  may have various shapes including hemispherical, conical, pyramidal, and truncated pyramidal shapes. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 16 , the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are two-dimensionally arranged in the first region  111 A such that the centers of the protrusions  110   d  are located on the lattice points of a triangular lattice. As a matter of course, the arrangement of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  is not limited to this example, and an arbitrary arrangement can be employed according to desired optical characteristics. For example, the plurality of protrusions  110   d  may be two-dimensionally arranged in the first region  111 A such that the centers of the protrusions  110   d  are located on the lattice points of a square lattice. 
       FIG. 17  shows another example of a lightguide plate which has a plurality of protrusions at the upper surface. The light emitting module  100 E shown in  FIG. 17  includes a lightguide plate  110 E. The lightguide plate  110 E has, at its upper surface  110   a , a first region  111 B and a second region  112 B located more internal than the first region  111 B. The second region  112 B is an annular region of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 E surrounding the first hole  10 A. The first region  111 B is a region outside the second region  112 B and surrounds the second region  112 B. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 17 , the first region  111 B is a part of the upper surface  110   a  which is outside the imaginary circle R 1 , and a plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided at its surface. Likewise as in the example which has been described with reference to  FIG. 16 , the diameter of the circular shape of protrusions  110   d  located in part of the first region  111 B outside the above-described imaginary circle R 2  is greater than the diameter of the circular shape of protrusions  110   d  located in another part of the first region  111 B inside the imaginary circle R 2 . Part of the first region  111 B outside the imaginary circle R 2  may be referred to as “outer region”, and another part of the first region  111 B which is closer to the light emitting element  120  than the outer region, in other words, a region between the imaginary circles R 1  and R 2 , may be referred to as “inner region”. In  FIG. 17 , the inner region  111 Bb is represented as the shaded area, and the outer region  111 Ba is represented as the darker-shaded area, for ease of understanding. 
     Meanwhile, the second region  112 B is another part of the upper surface  110   a  lying between the imaginary circle R 1  and the opening  10   a  of the first hole  10 A, and no protrusions  110   d  are provided at its surface. Therefore, in this example, the surface of the second region  112 B is a flat surface. As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the plurality of protrusions  110   d  do not need to be provided across the entirety of the first region  111 B but may be provided in at least part of the first region  111 B. When for example a plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided in a region of the lightguide plate  110 E which is relatively distant from the light emitting element  120 , light extracted from the region which is relatively distant from the light emitting element  120 , i.e., light extracted from the first region  111 B, increases as compared with the second region  112 B. As a result, the luminance of the first region  111 B that is more distant from the light emitting element  120  increases, and occurrence of luminance unevenness can be more effectively reduced. 
     Thus, in the examples shown in  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 17 , in the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate, the proportion of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  per unit area increases concentrically in an outward direction from the light emitting element  120 . Herein, the term “concentrically” used in this specification means having a common center but does not intend to mean that the shape of a plurality of figures which have a common center is limited to a perfect circle. The above-described imaginary circle R 1  and/or circle R 2  are not limited to perfect circles but can be ellipses or the like. For example, the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate  110 E is rectangular, the imaginary circle R 1  and the imaginary circle R 2  may be elliptical. In this case, the centers of these ellipses refer to the intersection of the major axis and the minor axis. 
     As previously described, the protrusions  110   d  can achieve the effect of increasing light extracted from the upper surface  110   a  so long as the protrusions  110   d  are shaped so as to protrude above the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate. Therefore, such a configuration can be employed that the proportion of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  per unit area is constant in the first region. 
       FIG. 18  shows still another example of a lightguide plate which has a plurality of protrusions at the upper surface. The light emitting module  100 K shown in  FIG. 18  includes a lightguide plate  110 K. The lightguide plate  110 K has, at its upper surface  110   a , a first region  111 F and a second region  112 F located more internal than the first region  111 F. In this example, a plurality of protrusions  110   d  are selectively provided in the first region  111 F at a constant pitch so as to have a constant size. If the proportion of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  per unit area is constant, such a configuration is possible that either or both of the size and the arrangement pitch of the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are not constant. According to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 18 , within the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate, the luminance of the first region  111 F in which the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided can be relatively improved. The second region  112 F may be omitted such that the plurality of protrusions  110   d  are provided across the entirety of the upper surface  110   a.    
     The shape of the protrusions provided in the first region is not limited to these examples. For example, the protrusions may be in the form of an annular convex ring. In this case, for example, by increasing the width of a plurality of convex rings as the distance from the light emitting element  120  increases, the proportion of the plurality of protrusions per unit area as viewed in plan can be increased concentrically in an outward direction from the light emitting element  120 . Therefore, likewise as in a case where a plurality of protrusions in the form of dots are provided in the first region, the luminance at a position in the first region which is distant from the light emitting element  120  can be improved, and the effect of suppressing luminance unevenness can be achieved. 
     A plurality of protrusions each having an annular shape and a plurality of protrusions each having the shape of a dot may be provided together at the upper surface  110   a . When the protrusions in the shape of dots are provided in addition to the annular protrusions, it is possible to suppress occurrence of an annular brightness/darkness pattern as compared with a case only the annular protrusions are provided. 
     Alternatively, a plurality of recesses may be provided in place of the plurality of protrusions. In this case, the plurality of recesses have such shapes that, for example, the opening of the recesses increases as the distance from the light emitting element  120  increases. 
     The plurality of recesses can be, for example, a plurality of dots. Herein, the term “dot” used in this specification generally refers to a figure which is round in a plan view, such as circle and ellipse. The term “dot” used in this specification is interpreted as including both a feature protruding above the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate and a feature recessed below the upper surface  110   a . Alternatively, the plurality of recesses may have the shape of an annular groove in the first region of the upper surface  110   a . By increasing the width of the ring-shaped groove as the distance from the light emitting element  120  increases, the proportion of the plurality of recesses per unit area as viewed in plan may be increased concentrically in an outward direction from the light emitting element  120 . Alternatively, the interval of the plurality of recesses each having an annular shape may be gradually decreased. 
     Alternatively, a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses may be provided together in the first region. The first region of the upper surface  110   a  of the lightguide plate can have a combination of two or more types of features selected from a plurality of protrusions each having the shape of a dot, a plurality of recesses each having the shape of a dot, a plurality of protrusions each having an annular shape, and a plurality of recesses each having an annular shape. 
     EXAMPLES 
     A plurality of samples of which the first holes had different configurations were produced and examined the distribution of the luminance achieved when a light emitting element was lit up. A two-stage slope was provided in the lateral surface of the first hole, and the reflective resin layer  130  was selectively formed inside the first portion which was a part of the first hole closer to the lower surface of the lightguide plate. The effect of suppressing luminance unevenness which was achieved by this configuration was investigated. 
     Example 
     As a sample of Example, a surface-emission light source was produced which included an array of light emitting modules in 4 rows and 4 columns, each having the same configuration as the light emitting module  100 B shown in  FIG. 11 . Herein, the entirety of the first portion  11 B of the first hole  10 B was filled with a silicone resin containing titanium oxide particles. 
     Comparative Example 
     As a sample of Comparative Example, a surface-emission light source was produced of which the shape of the first hole of each light emitting module was conical such that the lateral surface had a monotonous slope, and the entirety of the first hole was filled with a silicone resin containing titanium oxide particles. 
       FIG. 19  shows the external appearance of the sample of Example as viewed from the upper surface side of the lightguide plate. In  FIG. 19 , the external appearance is shown in a circumstance where the light emitting elements were lit up with a diffuser sheet and first and second prism sheets were being placed on the upper surface side of the lightguide plate.  FIG. 20  shows the external appearance of the sample of Comparative Example as viewed from the upper surface side of the lightguide plate as does  FIG. 19 . In  FIG. 20 , the external appearance is shown in a circumstance where the light emitting elements were lit up with a diffuser sheet and first and second prism sheets were being placed on the upper surface side of the lightguide plate. Herein, the first prism sheet and the second prism sheet were provided on the upper surface side of the lightguide plate such that the knife edges of the prisms of the first prism sheet perpendicularly intersected the knife edges of the prisms of the second prism sheet. 
     As seen from the comparison between  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , in the sample of Example, the luminance unevenness as viewed from the upper surface side of the lightguide plate is more suppressed. We evaluated the uniformity in luminance through the following procedure. From 16 light emitting modules arrayed in 4 rows and 4 columns, the part of 2 rows and 2 columns at the center was taken out and divided into a plurality of regions with a mesh of an arbitrary size. In each of the regions, the luminance was measured. The maximum and the minimum were extracted from luminance values measured in respective regions, and values resulting from the calculation of the following formula, which are referred to as “luminance uniformity (%)” of the samples, were compared.
 
((minimum luminance)/(maximum luminance))*100(“*” means multiplication)
 
     The luminance uniformity of the sample of Comparative Example was 78%. The luminance uniformity of the sample of Example was 92%. That is, in the sample of Example, the difference between the maximum luminance and the minimum luminance in the part of 2 rows and 2 columns at the center was smaller. Thus, it was ascertained that, by shaping the lateral surface of the first hole so as to have a two-stage slope and selectively forming a light-reflective resin layer in the first portion, the luminance unevenness across the upper surface of the lightguide plate can be more effectively suppressed as compared with a case where a light-reflective resin layer is formed over the entirety of the conical first hole. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure are useful in various types of light sources for lighting, on-vehicle light sources, display light sources, etc. Particularly, the embodiments of the present disclosure are advantageously applicable to backlight units for liquid crystal display devices. The light emitting module or surface-emission light source according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may suitably be used in backlights for display devices of mobile devices, for which there are strong demands for reducing the thickness, surface-emitting devices that are capable of local dimming, etc. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.