Optical element, image display device and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

An optical element includes a light guide plate and a first light transmitting material disposed to be in contact with a first surface of the light guide plate. The light guide plate has a second surface opposite to the first surface. The light guide plate includes a first part and a second part made of a light transmissive material, and a transflective layer disposed between the first part and the second part. The transflective layer is disposed to be inclined with respect to the first surface and the second surface and to extend from the first surface to the second surface. The first surface has a non-flatness portion. The non-flatness portion of the first surface is covered with the first light transmitting material. A surface of the first light transmitting material that is opposite to a surface that is in contact with the first surface is flat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical element comprising:
 a light guide plate; and   a first light transmitting material that is disposed so as to be in contact with a first surface of the light guide plate;   wherein
 the light guide plate has a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, 
 the light guide plate includes a first part made of a light transmissive material, a second part made of a light transmissive material, and a transflective layer disposed between the first part and the second part, 
 the transflective layer is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the first surface and the second surface and so as to extend from the first surface to the second surface, 
 the first light transmitting material, the first part, and the second part have the same refractive index, 
 the first surface of the light guide plate has a non-flatness portion, 
 the non-flatness portion of the first surface is covered with the first light transmitting material, and 
 a surface of the first light transmitting material that is opposite to a surface that is in contact with the first surface is flat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The optical element according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a first end portion of the transflective layer is exposed in the first surface, and the first end portion of the transflective layer is covered with the first light transmitting material.   
     
     
         3 . The optical element according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second light transmitting material that is disposed so as to be in contact with the second surface of the light guide plate, the second light transmitting material having the same refractive index as the first light transmitting material;   wherein
 the second surface of the light guide plate has a non-flatness portion, 
 the non-flatness portion of the second surface is covered with the second light transmitting material, and 
 a surface of the second light transmitting material that is opposite to a surface that is in contact with the second surface is flat. 
   
     
     
         4 . The optical element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 a second end portion of the transflective layer is exposed in the second surface, and the second end portion of the transflective layer is covered with the second light transmitting material.   
     
     
         5 . The optical element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the surface of the first light transmitting material that is opposite to the surface that is in contact with the first surface is parallel with the surface of the second light transmitting material that is opposite to the surface that is in contact with the second surface.   
     
     
         6 . An image display device comprising the optical element according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . An image display device comprising the optical element according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         8 . An image display device comprising the optical element according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         9 . An image display device comprising the optical element according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         10 . An image display device comprising the optical element according to  claim 5 .