Patent ID: 6873099

Claim:
An electroluminescent device comprising a plurality of electroluminescence elements, each element comprising a pair of electrodes opposing each other across at least one organic layer including a light emitting layer, arranged in a matrix pattern on one surface of an optically transparent substrate so as to power electroluminescence elements individually, at least one electrode of the pair of electrodes located on the optically transparent substrate side comprising an optically transparent electrode such that a light emitted from a light emitting layer energized is emitted towards the optically transparent substrate; and an optical device provided on another surface of the optically transparent substrate so as to scatter, diffract, or scatter and diffract, for external output, at least a portion of incident light emitted from the light emitting layer and injected into the optically transparent substrate and forming an angle to cause repeated total reflection at an exit face, while weakly scattering, transmitting, or scattering and transmitting other incident light for external outputs, wherein said optical device comprises a plurality of optical films laminated, with directivity axes thereof for a parallel light transmittance shifted relative to each other.