US Patent 7804554 Surface emitting device and liquid crystal display

To provide source images is increased to enhance the uniformity of luminance distribution. A surface emitting device includes: a diffusing sheet constituting a light exiting surface; a reflector disposed opposite to the diffusing sheet; light sources disposed between the diffusing sheet and the reflector; and a prism sheet (light-source-image division sheet) disposed between the diffusing sheet and the light sources. The prism sheet has linear protrusions on the front surface thereof, and a flat portion parallel to the sheet surface between the adjacent linear protrusions. This generates light-source images through the flat portions in addition to the divided light-source images through the linear protrusions 16a to increase the number of light-source images, thereby improving luminance uniformity.