# US 12,216,346 B2 · Lighting unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,346 B2 - Document ID: US12216346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/515,522 - Filed: 2023-11-21 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-07 - Assignees: Japan Display Inc. - Applicants: Japan Display Inc. - Inventors: Kazuki Ichihara; Naoyuki Asano; Motoki Tsuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216346B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/133308: {Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels} - G02B 6/0091: {of the light source relative to the light guide (G02B6/0021 takes precedence)} - G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals - G02F 1/133615: {Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side} - G02B 6/0068: {Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources} - G02F 1/1347: Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells - G02F 2202/28: Adhesive materials or arrangements - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A display device includes a display panel including a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates, a transparent substrate disposed on at least one side of the display panel, and a lighting unit configured to project light from the side of the transparent substrate. The lighting unit includes at least one light source, at least one light guide incident with the light emitted from the light source, and a support member having an L-shaped cross section and extending along one side of the display panel to which the at least one light source and the at least one light guide are fixed. The at least one light source and the at least one light guide are disposed on different sides of the support member. The lighting unit is fixed to the transparent substrate or the display panel by the support member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting unit, comprising: a support member including a first flat portion extending in a first direction and a second flat portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; light sources; a wiring board mounted with the light sources on the first flat portion; and a light guide on the second flat portion, wherein the light guide includes a first surface facing to the light source and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein an outer edge portion of the second flat portion is located outside the second surface, and wherein the support member includes a surface attached to a display panel on a side of the second flat portion opposite to the light guide side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a slit-like through hole, and the wiring board is led out through the slit-like through hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighting unit according to claim 2, wherein the light guide includes a third surface facing the second flat portion of the support member and connecting the first surface and the second surface, the first surface is facing the first flat portion, and the third surface is bonded to the second flat portion by a first adhesive layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein the light sources are mounted on the wiring board, the wiring board is between the light sources and the first flat portion, and the wiring board is bonded to the first flat portion by a second adhesive layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lighting unit according to claim 4, wherein the support member has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the L-shaped cross-sectional shape includes a portion extending in the first direction and a portion extending in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the display panel includes a glass substrate, and wherein a first surface of the glass substrate faces to the second surface of the light guide. ### Claim 7 A lighting unit, comprising: a support member including a first flat portion extending in a first direction and a second flat portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; light sources; a wiring board mounted with the light sources on the first flat portion; and a light guide on the second flat portion, wherein the light guide includes a first surface facing to the light source and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein an outer edge portion of the second flat portion is located outside the second surface, and wherein the support member includes a surface attached to a display panel on a side of the second flat portion same to the light guide side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lighting unit according to claim 7, wherein the support member includes a slit-like through hole, and the wiring board is led out through the slit-like through hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lighting unit according to claim 8, wherein the light guide includes a third surface facing the second flat portion of the support member and connecting the first surface and the second surface, the first surface is facing the first flat portion, and the third surface is bonded to the second flat portion by a first adhesive layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lighting unit according to claim 9, wherein the light sources are mounted on the wiring board, the wiring board is between the light sources and the first flat portion, and the wiring board is bonded to the first flat portion by a second adhesive layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lighting unit according to claim 10, wherein the support member has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the L-shaped cross-sectional shape includes a portion extending in the first direction and a portion extending in the second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The lighting unit according to claim 7, wherein the display panel includes a glass substrate, and wherein a first surface of the glass substrate faces to the second surface of the light guide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lighting unit according to claim 12, wherein the glass substrate is bonded to the second flat portion by a third adhesive layer. ### Claim 14 A lighting unit, comprising: a support member including a first flat portion extending in a first direction and a second flat portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; light sources; a wiring board mounted with the light sources on the first flat portion; and a light guide on the second flat portion, wherein the light guide includes a first surface facing to the light source and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein an outer edge portion of the second flat portion is located outside the second surface, and wherein the support member includes a surface at the first flat portion to attach a display panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lighting unit according to claim 14, wherein the support member includes a slit-like through hole, and the wiring board is led out through the slit-like through hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lighting unit according to claim 15, wherein the light guide includes a third surface facing the second flat portion of the support member and connecting the first surface and the second surface, the first surface is facing the first flat portion, and the third surface is bonded to the second flat portion by a first adhesive layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lighting unit according to claim 16, wherein the light sources are mounted on the wiring board, the wiring board is between the light sources and the first flat portion, and the wiring board is bonded to the first flat portion by a second adhesive layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighting unit according to claim 17, wherein the support member has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the L-shaped cross-sectional shape includes a portion extending in the first direction and a portion extending in the second direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The lighting unit according to claim 14, wherein the display panel includes a glass substrate, and wherein a first surface of the glass substrate faces to the second surface of the light guide.