# US 2009/0153778 A1 · Lighting device, liquid crystal display device, and electronic apparatus

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- Number: US 2009/0153778 A1
- Document ID: US20090153778A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/270,882
- Filed: 2008-11-14
- Published: 2009-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-13
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Eiji NAKAYA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090153778A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package}
- G02F 1/133601: {for spatial active dimming}
- G02F 1/133615: {Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- 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

## Abstract

A lighting device includes: a plurality of backlights each having a light guide plate disposed in the back of a lighting object to guide light and emit the light to the lighting object and a light source disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate to emit the light to the light guide plate; and connection portions connecting the plurality of backlights. Here, the plurality of backlights connected to each other forms a backlight unit to emit light to the lighting object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting device comprising:
a plurality of backlights each having a light guide plate disposed in the back of a lighting object to guide light and emit the light to the lighting object and a light source disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate to emit the light to the light guide plate; and
connection portions connecting the plurality of backlights,
wherein the plurality of backlights connected to each other forms a backlight unit to emit light to the lighting object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit allowing the backlight unit to freely move relative to the lighting object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the driving unit includes one of a winding portion winding and unwinding the backlight unit and a folding unit folding and unfolding the backlight unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the backlight unit is disposed to have a curve surface shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are driven independently of each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the light sources are turned on in a state where the backlight unit is wound or folded.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein an LED element is used as the light source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A liquid crystal display device comprising:
the lighting device according to claim 1; and
a transmissive liquid crystal panel disposed as the lighting object in the front of the lighting device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein the number of the backlight units is at least two, and
wherein the backlight units freely move relative to the liquid crystal panel from the outer circumference side.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

An electronic apparatus comprising:
the liquid crystal display device according to claim 8; and
an object disposed in the back of the liquid crystal display device,
wherein the object is viewed from the front side of the liquid crystal display device through the liquid crystal display device.