Patent ID: 7918597

Claim:
A spread illuminating apparatus comprising: a point light source; and a light guide plate comprising: a light entrance surface provided with a light introducing prism mechanism, the point light source being disposed to face the light entrance surface; a major surface provided with a light emitting pattern for emitting light from the point light source in a spread manner; and another major surface provided with a light diffusing pattern having a ridge-and-groove structure with a plurality of ridges and grooves extending in a direction perpendicular to the light entrance surface, wherein the light introducing prism mechanism comprises a plurality of prism pieces which are arrayed along the light entrance surface and each of which comprises a first light incidence face for introducing the light from the point light source into the light guide plate in a direction generally perpendicular to the light entrance surface and a second light incidence face for introducing the light from the point light source into the light guide plate in a direction generally parallel to the light entrance surface.