An illuminating display window has a window pane and a graphic element including fluorescent material. The graphic element has a major surface facing forward and a perimeter surface extending transverse to the major surface. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to the perimeter surface of the graphic element. The radiation includes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a non-visible spectrum. The graphic element fluoresces in response to the non-visible radiation to transmit visible light to an observer in front of the window pane. To form the graphic element, fluorescent ink can be deposited on a panel in a predefined pattern or a fluorescent panel could be shaped to have a predefined shape.

An illuminating display window has a window pane and a graphic element including fluorescent material. The graphic element has a major surface facing forward and a perimeter surface extending transverse to the major surface. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to the perimeter surface of the graphic element. The radiation includes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a non-visible spectrum. The graphic element fluoresces in response to the non-visible radiation to transmit visible light to an observer in front of the window pane. To form the graphic element, fluorescent ink can be deposited on a panel in a predefined pattern or a fluorescent panel could be shaped to have a predefined shape.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying messages by reducing a reflectivity of a display. A display, such as a smart mirror, provides reflective properties and digital information. The reflectivity of some portions of the display may be altered such that the display provides the visual effect of steam. By varying the reflectivity in different portions of the display, messages may be provided via the display so as to appear written in the steam. Trigger actions, such as a user entering the vicinity, the detected sound of miming water, and/or the like, may cause the visual effect of steam or display of the message. A user may provide a message by a hand gesture, or writing the message in the air and see the message at is provided via a display. Users may transmit messages to other users, and may view received messages in the display.

An illuminating display window has a window pane and a graphic element including fluorescent material. The graphic element has a major surface facing forward and a perimeter surface extending transverse to the major surface. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to the perimeter surface of the graphic element. The radiation includes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a non-visible spectrum. The graphic element fluoresces in response to the non-visible radiation to transmit visible light to an observer in front of the window pane. To form the graphic element, fluorescent ink can be deposited on a panel in a predefined pattern or a fluorescent panel could be shaped to have a predefined shape.

A planar lighting device according to an embodiment includes a light guide plate and a reflecting member. The light guide plate has an incident surface that receives light output from a light source and an output surface that outputs the light received by the incident surface. The reflecting member faces an end surface opposite to the incident surface of the light guide plate and reflects light leaking from the end surface. A plurality of first prisms are formed on an opposite surface opposite to the output surface-of the light guide plate to be away from the output surface stepwise from the incident surface to the end surface. The first prisms cause the light reflected by the reflecting member and traveling from the end surface toward the incident surface to be output from the output surface in a first direction as first light and cause the light entering into the incident surface and traveling from the incident surface toward the end surface to be output from the output surface in a second direction different from the first direction as second light.

In a display device (1), a light guide plate (2) includes a first emission structure region including a plurality of first emission structures (6 and 8) in which an incident direction for maximizing an amount of light emitted in a predetermined direction is a direction of a first light source (4), a second emission structure region including a plurality of second emission structures (9 and 10) in which the incident direction for maximizing the amount of light emitted in the predetermined direction is a direction of a second light source adjacent to the first light source, and a third emission structure region including a plurality of third emission structures (11 to 13) in which the incident direction for maximizing the amount of light emitted in the predetermined direction is a direction between the first light source and the second light source, and the third emission structure region is disposed between the first emission structure region and the second emission structure region.

A planar lighting device according to an embodiment includes a light guide plate and a reflecting member. The light guide plate has an incident surface that receives light output from a light source and an output surface that outputs the light received by the incident surface. The reflecting member faces an end surface opposite to the incident surface of the light guide plate and reflects light leaking from the end surface. A plurality of first prisms are formed on an opposite surface opposite to the output surface-of the light guide plate to be away from the output surface stepwise from the incident surface to the end surface. The first prisms cause the light reflected by the reflecting member and traveling from the end surface toward the incident surface to be output from the output surface in a first direction as first light and cause the light entering into the incident surface and traveling from the incident surface toward the end surface to be output from the output surface in a second direction different from the first direction as second light.

In a display device (1), a light guide plate (2) includes a first emission structure region including a plurality of first emission structures (6 and 8) in which an incident direction for maximizing an amount of light emitted in a predetermined direction is a direction of a first light source (4), a second emission structure region including a plurality of second emission structures (9 and 10) in which the incident direction for maximizing the amount of light emitted in the predetermined direction is a direction of a second light source adjacent to the first light source, and a third emission structure region including a plurality of third emission structures (11 to 13) in which the incident direction for maximizing the amount of light emitted in the predetermined direction is a direction between the first light source and the second light source, and the third emission structure region is disposed between the first emission structure region and the second emission structure region.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying messages by reducing a reflectivity of a display. A display, such as a smart mirror, provides reflective properties and digital information. The reflectivity of some portions of the display may be altered such that the display provides the visual effect of steam. By varying the reflectivity in different portions of the display, messages may be provided via the display so as to appear written in the steam. Trigger actions, such as a user entering the vicinity, the detected sound of miming water, and/or the like, may cause the visual effect of steam or display of the message. A user may provide a message by a hand gesture, or writing the message in the air and see the message at is provided via a display. Users may transmit messages to other users, and may view received messages in the display.

An illuminating display window has a window pane and a graphic element including fluorescent material. The graphic element has a major surface facing forward and a perimeter surface extending transverse to the major surface. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to the perimeter surface of the graphic element. The radiation includes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a non-visible spectrum. The graphic element fluoresces in response to the non-visible radiation to transmit visible light to an observer in front of the window pane. To form the graphic element, fluorescent ink can be deposited on a panel in a predefined pattern or a fluorescent panel could be shaped to have a predefined shape.