# US 2014/0192554 A1 · Illumination device and display device provided therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192554 A1 - Document ID: US20140192554A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,782 - Filed: 2012-08-17 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-18 - Assignees: Sharp KabushikiI Kaisha - Inventors: Masatoshi Tomomasa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192554A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - G02F 1/133317: {Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame} - G02F 1/133322: {Mechanical guidance or alignment of LCD panel support components} - G02F 1/133615: {Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side} - G02F 2201/46: Fixing elements - 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 Provided is an illumination device that can suppress uneven brightness in a member to be illuminated caused by the positioning structure of the light guide plate. An illumination device (10) includes light sources (11), a light guide plate (13) that guides light from the light sources, and positioning members (14) that position the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a light-exiting surface (13a) where light exits towards a display panel (2), and a rear surface (13b) arranged on the side opposite to the light-exiting surface. Recessed portions (13e) having a depth that does not reach the light-exiting surface are formed in edges of the rear surface of the light guide plate, and the positioning members engage the recessed portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illumination device, comprising: light sources; a light guide plate guiding light from the light sources; and a positioning member positioning the light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate includes a light-exiting surface where light exits towards a member to be illuminated, and a rear surface arranged on a side opposite to the light-exiting surface, wherein a recessed portion is formed in an edge of the rear surface of the light guide plate, the recessed portion having a depth that does not reach the light-exiting surface, and wherein the positioning member engages said recessed portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the light guide plate has four sides, wherein the recessed portion is formed in a side of the four sides, said side extending in a first direction, and wherein a length of the recessed portion in the first direction is shorter than a length of the side extending in the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the light guide plate has four sides, wherein the light sources are arranged along a prescribed side of the four sides, and wherein the recessed portion is formed in a side that intersects the prescribed side of the four sides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the light guide plate has four sides, and wherein the recessed portion is formed in at least two sides facing each other of the four sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the rear surface of the light guide plate has four sides, wherein the recessed portion is formed in a side of the four sides, said side extending in a first direction, and wherein the recessed portion includes a first inner face extending in the first direction, a second inner face extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a bottom surface intersecting the first inner face and the second inner face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the light sources are arrayed along a prescribed direction, and wherein a light-blocking layer is disposed on one of the first inner face and the second inner face that is parallel to an array direction of the light sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The illumination device according to claim 3, wherein the light sources are arranged along at least two sides facing each other of the four sides, wherein the recessed portion is formed in a side intersecting the two sides facing each other of the four sides, and wherein the recessed portion is formed in a middle of the side intersecting the two sides facing each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the light guide plate has four sides, wherein the recessed portion is formed in a side of the four sides, said side extending in a first direction, wherein a light-blocking member is disposed on an edge of the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate in a vicinity of the side extending in the first direction, the light-blocking member extending in said first direction, and wherein in a plan view the light-blocking member is arranged so as to overlap the positioning member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A display device, comprising: the illumination device according to claim 1; and a display panel illuminated by the illumination device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The display device according to claim 9, wherein a chassis having light-blocking characteristics is not arranged between the display panel and the light guide plate.