Surface luminous source panel with areas having different reflector speck densities

Claim 1

A surface luminous source panel for use in a surface luminous source apparatus having a first light source and a second light source, said surface luminous source panel comprising: a transparent substrate having opposing faces and a plurality of peripheral edges, a first of said peripheral edges being disposed at a first end of said transparent substrate and being positioned adjacent said first light source, and a second of said peripheral edges being disposed at a second end of said transparent substrate opposite said first end thereof and being positioned adjacent said second light source; and an irregular reflection layer comprising irregular reflector specks arranged on one of said opposing faces of said transparent substrate, said irregular reflection layer including a parallel pattern section in which said irregular reflector specks occupy an area per unit length of said irregular reflection layer which smoothly increases at a first rate with a distance from said first peripheral edge in an area between said second peripheral edge and a center location midway between said first and second peripheral edges and with a distance from said second peripheral edge in an area between said second peripheral edge and said center location, and first and second regulating pattern sections in which said irregular reflector specks occupy an area per unit length of said irregular reflection layer which smoothly increases at a second rate with a distance from said first and second peripheral edges, respectively, said first rate being greater than said second rate; and wherein said one of said opposing faces of said transparent substrate includes first and second narrow margin portions extending adjacent and parallel to said first and second peripheral edges, respectively, said first and second narrow margin portions being free of said irregular reflector specks.