1. An edge-light type surface light source device, comprising:
a light guide section; and
a plurality of light sources each of which emits light via a side surface of the light guide section toward the light guide section,
the plurality of light sources being provided on a pair of sides of the light guide section which pair of sides face each other,
a longest one of light emitting parts of the respective plurality of light sources having a length shorter than lengths of the respective pair of sides of the light guide section on which the plurality of light sources are provided,
the plurality of light sources being each configured to emit light having a first luminance gradient on an edge of a range, to be irradiated with light, which first luminance gradient is smaller than a second luminance gradient of light having a substantially uniform luminance on an entire range to be irradiated with light,
wherein L+(N\u22121)y\u221a(\u03bb2\u22121)\u2267x is satisfied, where
(i) \u03bb indicates a refractive index of the light guide section,
(ii) x indicates a length of each of the pair of sides of the light guide section,
(iii) y indicates a length of a side of the light guide section, the side being neither one of the pair of sides of the light guide section,
(iv) L indicates a sum total of the lengths of the respective plurality of light sources which are provided on the pair of sides each having the length x, and
(v) N indicates the number of the plurality of light sources which are provided on the pair of sides each having the length x.
2. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of light sources is provided to extend along a corresponding one of sides of the light guide section; and
light emitted from at least one of end parts of the at least one of the plurality of light sources has a luminance smaller than a luminance of light emitted from a center part of the at least one of the plurality of light sources.
3. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources includes three or more point light sources.
4. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is provided such that a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the at least one of end parts has a luminance smaller than a luminance of a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the center part.
5. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
the at least one of the plurality of light sources includes, as the three or more point light sources, a plurality of point light sources in each of (i) the at least one of the end parts and (ii) the center part; and
the plurality of point light sources which are provided in the at least one of the end parts is more sparsely provided as compared with the plurality of point light sources which are provided in the center part.
6. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that an electric current which drives a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the at least one of the end parts is smaller than an electric current which drives a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the center part.
7. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
the at least one of the plurality of light sources includes, as the three or more point light sources, a plurality of point light sources in each of (i) the at least one of the end parts and (ii) the center part; and
the number of columns of the plurality of point light sources which are provided in the at least one of the end parts is larger than the number of columns of the plurality of point light sources which are provided in the center part.
8. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that (i) the three or more point light sources are each driven by use of a pulse width modulation and (ii) an electric current which drives a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the at least one of the end parts has a duty ratio smaller than a duty ratio of an electric current which drives a point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the center part.
9. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of light sources is provided to extend along a corresponding one of sides of the light guide section; and
light emitted from at least one of end parts of the at least one of the plurality of light sources has a distribution characteristic which is different from a distribution characteristic of light emitted from a reference light source, which is a light source that emits light having a substantially uniform luminance on an entire range to be irradiated with light.
10. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources includes three or more point light sources.
11. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that a direction of at least one point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the at least one of the end parts differs from a direction of at least one point light source which is provided in at least one of end parts of the reference light source.
12. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that at least one of point light source of the three or more point light sources which is provided in the at least one of the end parts is provided in a height which is different from a height in which at least one point light source which is provided in at least one of end parts the reference light source is provided.
13. An edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a light reflecting section which reflects light emitted from the at least one of the end parts.
14. An edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a light absorption section which absorbs light emitted from the at least one of the end parts.
15. An edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a light diffusion section which diffuses light emitted from the at least one of the end parts.
16. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that the three or more point light sources are provided on a substrate by use of a connecting system in which a solder is employed.
17. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the three or more point light sources are light emitting diodes.
18. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the light emitting diodes are white light emitting diodes.
19. An edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes which are different from each other in luminescent color.
20. The edge-light type surface light source device as set forth in claim 1, wherein on an entire surface, to be irradiated with light, of the light guide section, (i) a luminance distribution caused by light emitted from one of the plurality of light sources and (ii) a luminance distribution caused by light emitted from another one of the plurality of light sources have a relation in which their phases are opposite to each other.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for mounting an electrical lamp using a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket including a first opening, a second opening and a mounting face, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting the electrical lamp at least partly though the mounting bracket; positioning the mounting bracket first opening adjacent a first surface such that the first
surface is in close proximity to the first opening; and securing the mounting face to a structure.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of inserting the electrical lamp comprises the steps of:
inserting the electrical lamp at least partly through the mounting bracket first opening; and
inserting the electrical lamp at least partly through the mounting bracket second opening.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of positioning the mounting bracket first opening further comprises the step of positioning the mounting bracket such that the mounting bracket first opening is a distance from the first surface that is less than about three-quarters of a length of the lamp.
4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said step of positioning the mounting bracket first opening comprises the step of positioning the first opening at a distance from the first surface that facilitates preventing the electrical lamp from being removed from the mounting bracket.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electric lamp is connected to a lamp holder, said step of inserting the electrical lamp further comprises the step of engaging the lamp holder to the mounting bracket.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of securing the mounting face to a structure further comprises the step of fastening the mounting face to the structure with at least one fastener.
7. A mounting bracket for an electrical lamp, said mounting bracket comprising:
a mounting face;
a first wall extending from said mounting face, said first wall defining a first opening comprising a first opening diameter; and
a second wall extending from said mounting face, said second wall defining a second opening comprising a second opening diameter, said second opening diameter smaller than said first opening diameter.
8. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 7 wherein the lamp has a first end, a second end and a length extending therebetween, said first wall and said second wall substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance less than approximately three-quarters the length of the lamp.
9. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mounting face comprises at least one opening.
10. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 9 wherein said openings comprise a plurality of slots for receiving fasteners.
11. A lamp assembly comprising:
an electric lamp having a first end, a second end, a length extending therebetween, at least a first outer diameter and at least a second outer diameter, each said first outer diameter smaller than each said second outer diameter; and
a mounting bracket comprising a mounting face, a first wall, and a second wall, said first wall extending from said mounting face and defining a first opening comprising a first opening diameter, said second wall extending from said mounting face and defining a second opening comprising a second opening diameter, said second opening diameter smaller than said lamp second outer diameter, said electric lamp extending at least partly through said second opening such that said lamp second outer diameter is adjacent said first wall.
12. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mounting bracket first wall and said mounting bracket second wall are spaced apart and substantially parallel.
13. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said mounting bracket first wall and said mounting bracket second wall are spaced apart a distance less than about three-quarters said lamp length.
14. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mounting bracket first opening and said mounting bracket second opening are concentrically aligned.
15. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mounting face comprises at least one opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough.
16. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein said mounting face comprises a plurality of opening extending therethrough.
17. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said mounting face openings comprise a plurality of slots for receiving fasteners therethrough.
18. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 11 further comprising a lamp holder, said lamp holder attached to said lamp and received within said mounting bracket first opening.
19. A lamp assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein said lamp holder configured to secure said electric lamp such that said lamp is substantially stationary relative to said mounting bracket.
20. A lamp assembly secured to a structure, said lamp assembly comprising:
an electric lamp having a first end, a second end, a length extending therebetween, at least one lamp first outer diameter, and at least one lamp second outer diameter each said lamp first outer diameter smaller than each said lamp second outer diameter; and
a mounting bracket comprising
a mounting face comprising a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners therethrough,
a first wall extending from said mounting face and defining a first opening comprising a first opening diameter, and
a second wall extending from said mounting face and defining a second opening concentrically aligned with said first opening, said second opening comprising a second opening diameter, said second opening diameter smaller than said first opening diameter, said second opening diameter smaller than each said lamp second outer diameter, said first wall and said second wall substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance less than about three-quarters said lamp length, said electric lamp extending at least partly through said second opening, said lamp second outer diameter adjacent said first wall, said first wall being less than about three-quarters said lamp length from a first surface, said mounting face secured to a structure.