Patent ID: 7275850

Claim:
A backlight unit comprising: one or more light sources that emit light; a light guide panel that guides the propagation of light incident on one side edge thereof; one or more light-reception portions having a first entrance face slanted opposite the side edge of the light guide panel on which the light is incident at a predetermined angle; and one or more reflecting elements that are disposed between each of the light-reception portion and each of the light sources and guides the light emitted by the light source so that it is incident on the first entrance face; wherein each of the one or more reflecting element comprises: a second entrance face on which the light emitted by the light source is incident; a reflection face that reflects the light incident through the second entrance face so as to change the propagation path of the light, and an exit face that directs the light incident directly from the second entrance face and the light incident through the reflection face toward the light-reception portion.