Patent ID: 8564736

Claim:
A backlight unit for illuminating an illuminated object from behind, comprising: a plurality of linear light sources arranged in a first direction; a case for accommodating the linear light sources so as to cover the linear light sources from a side opposite to the illuminated object; a reflective sheet disposed on a bottom surface of the case facing the linear light sources; a diffuser plate, disposed opposite to the reflective sheet across the linear light sources, for receiving light on a light entrance surface thereof and emitting light from a light exit surface thereof in a diffused manner; and a pair of supporting members disposed to be spaced from each other in an extending direction of the linear light sources in the case, each of the supporting members having a reflecting portion for reflecting light coming from the linear light sources and the reflective sheet toward the diffuser plate, a first supporting portion for supporting the diffuser plate, and a second supporting portion for supporting the illuminated object, wherein the diffuser plate has, on the light exit surface thereof, a first light-controlling portion being configured to adjust light from the linear light sources and reflected light from the reflective sheet so as to obtain light uniformly distributed in the first direction, and a pair of second light-controlling portions extending in the first direction at positions corresponding to the supporting members and controlling the light emitted from the diffuser plate in the extending direction of the linear light sources.