Lighting fixtures, refrigerators and freezers

Abstract

To improve the lighting quality of lighting equipment. [Solution] The lighting device 1 irradiates light onto the irradiation surface. The lighting device 1 comprises a light source unit that irradiates light emitted from a light source 12, and a light shielding unit provided between the light source unit and the irradiation surface, which shields the light incident from the light source unit. In the region where light from the light source unit is incident, the light shielding rate of the light shielding unit gradually decreases from one end to the other end in the first direction, and the light distribution angle of the light reflected in the first direction on the irradiation surface is smaller than the light distribution angle of the light reflected in the second direction which intersects the first direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting device, a refrigerator, and a freezer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a lighting device that irradiates light over a wide area by causing the light emitted from a light source to enter a light guide plate formed in a planar shape. Patent Document 1 discloses a planar light source (lighting device) having a wide irradiation surface while suppressing unevenness in luminance on the irradiation surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, a lighting device may be used to irradiate an object (for example, food) with light. In such a lighting device, in order to visually recognize the object as a high-quality one, a predetermined process may be performed on the irradiation surface irradiated with the light of the lighting device. When a predetermined process is performed on the irradiation surface, the boundary between the irradiation range and the non-irradiation range becomes distinct on the irradiation surface, and the lighting quality may deteriorate.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a lighting device, a refrigerator, and a freezer that can improve lighting quality.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] <To achieve the above objective, an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an illumination device that irradiates light onto an illumination surface, comprising a light source unit that irradiates light emitted from a light source, and a light shielding unit provided between the light source unit and the illumination surface and shielding light incident from the light source unit, wherein the light shielding unit has a gradually decreasing light shielding rate in the region into which light from the light source unit is incident, from one end to the other end in a first direction, and the illumination surface has a light distribution angle of light reflected in the first direction that is smaller than the light distribution angle of light reflected in a second direction intersecting the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, lighting quality can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the positional relationship between the lighting device and the storage shelf according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A plan view of the light guide plate, gradient sheet, and diffuser cover according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A graph showing the light distribution angles of reflected light in the X and Y directions on the upper surface of the storage shelf according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] A graph showing the luminance distribution of the illumination range in the X direction of the lighting device according to the first embodiment and comparative example. [Figure 6] A diagram showing a lighting device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram showing a gradient sheet according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] A side view showing a refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] A side view showing a refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 10] A diagram showing one example of prism arrangement. [Figure 11] A diagram showing another example of prism arrangement. [Figure 12] Figure showing Arrangement Example 3 of Prisms. [Figure 13] Figure showing Arrangement Example 4 of Prisms. [Figure 14] Figure showing Arrangement Example 5 of Prisms. [Figure 15] Figure showing Arrangement Example 6 of Prisms. [Figure 16] Plan view showing another configuration example of the gradation sheet.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses in any way. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0010] (First Embodiment) (Overall Configuration of Refrigerator) FIG. 1(a) is a front view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. In the following description, the width direction of the refrigerator 100 is the X direction (first direction), the depth direction of the refrigerator 100 is the Y direction (second and third directions), and the vertical direction of the refrigerator 100 is the Z direction.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 is formed in a box shape with an open front surface (the left side of the drawing in FIG. 1(b)). The refrigerator 100 includes a top surface 101, side surfaces 102, a rear surface 103, and a plurality (three in FIG. 1) of storage shelves 104.

[0012] The top surface 101, side surfaces 102, and rear surface 103 are made of a white resin material and have the property of diffusing the irradiated light. Note that a lighting device for irradiating the entire interior of the refrigerator may be provided on the top surface 101. ​​​

[0014] The storage shelf 104 is made of a metal material (specifically, stainless steel (SUS)). An object (not shown) is placed on the upper surface 104a of each storage shelf 104. The object is, for example, food or the like.

[0015] A housing 105 containing the lighting device 1 is provided at the lower part of each storage shelf 104. The lighting device 1 is arranged in the front inside the housing 105 (the left side in the drawing in FIG. 1(b)). The lighting device 1 irradiates light toward the upper surface 104a (corresponding to the irradiation surface) of the storage shelf 104 arranged below it and the object.

[0016] (Configuration of the lighting device) FIG. 2(a) is a front view showing the positional relationship between the lighting device and the storage shelf according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view showing the positional relationship between the lighting device and the storage shelf according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of the light guide plate 11, FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of the gradation sheet 13, and FIG. 3(c) is a plan view of the storage shelf 104.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the lighting device 1 includes a light guide plate 11, a plurality of light sources 12, a gradation sheet 13 (light shielding portion), and a diffusion cover 14. Note that the light guide plate 11 and the light source 12 correspond to the light source unit.

[0018] The light guide plate 11 is a substantially plate-shaped member formed of a material having light transmissivity such as glass. Examples of the glass material constituting the light guide plate 11 include BK7, synthetic quartz for excimer laser, synthetic quartz, and anhydrous synthetic quartz. Note that the light guide plate 11 may be formed of a material such as a resin having light transmissivity. Examples of the resin material constituting the light guide plate 11 include, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, ABS resin, acrylic, polyamide, polycarbonate, and Teflon (registered trademark).

[0019] The light guide plate 11 has a reflective surface 111 and an emitting surface 112. The reflective surface 111 and the emitting surface 112 are planes that are positioned opposite each other.

[0020] The light source 12 is a solid-state light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or an organic electro-luminescence (OEL) element. In this embodiment, the light source 12 is, for example, a chip-shaped light-emitting diode element. The light source 12 is placed on the incident surface 110 of the light guide plate 11 (the left and right sides in the drawing of Figure 2(a)) and irradiates the light guide plate 11 with light.

[0021] Multiple prisms 113 are formed on the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11. The prisms 113 are formed in a concave shape on the reflective surface 111 and are hollow inside. Each prism 113 is formed to extend in the Y direction (see Figure 3(a)).

[0022] Each prism 113 reflects the incident light from the light source 12 towards the exit surface 112. Therefore, the incident light that enters the light guide plate 11 from the light source 12 is emitted from the exit surface 112. In other words, the light guide plate 11 includes a so-called direct optical path in which the incident light that enters the incident surface 110 from the light source 12 is directly reflected by the prism formed on the reflective surface 111 and emitted from the exit surface 112.

[0023] The gradient sheet 13 is provided on the light-emitting surface 112 side of the light guide plate 11. The gradient sheet 13 blocks a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting surface 112 of the light guide plate 11. The gradient sheet 13 is made of a light-transmitting material and can be made of a thin material such as a sheet, flat plate, or film.

[0024] The diffusion cover 14 is located below the gradation sheet 13. The diffusion cover 14 diffuses the light transmitted through the gradation sheet 13 (a portion of the light emitted from the light guide plate 11's emission surface 112) in the X and Y directions. For example, the diffusion cover 14 diffuses the incoming light in the X and Y directions by containing particles with different refractive indices inside. Alternatively, the diffusion cover 14 may diffuse the incoming light in the X and Y directions by having its upper or lower surface formed in a wave shape. The diffusion cover 14 is made of a light-transmitting material and can be a thin material such as a sheet, flat plate, or film.

[0025] Light that has passed through the diffusion cover 14 is directed towards the upper surface 104a (irradiation surface) of the storage shelf 104.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3(c), multiple thin linear grooves are formed on the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 in the X direction. In other words, the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is treated with a hairline finish along the X direction. This makes scratches on the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 less noticeable and also reduces the metallic luster of the storage shelf 104, thereby improving its aesthetic appeal.

[0027] However, if the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is treated with a hairline finish along the X direction, the light reflected from the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is widely diffused in the Y direction, but hardly diffused at all in the X direction.

[0028] Figure 4(a) is a graph showing the light distribution angle of reflected light in the X direction from the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104, and Figure 4(b) is a graph showing the light distribution angle of reflected light in the Y direction from the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104. Figures 4(a) and (b) show the light distribution angle of reflected light when the incident angle of the irradiated light to the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is 20 degrees, 40 degrees, and 60 degrees.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the light distribution angle of the reflected light from the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is wide in the Y direction and narrow in the X direction. This is thought to be because when the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is treated with a hairline finish along the X direction, fine irregularities are arranged in a row in the Y direction, causing the reflected light to diffuse, while in the X direction, a single recess extends, causing the incident light to be specularly reflected by the bottom surface of the recess.

[0030] In other words, when light is shone onto the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 using a normal lighting device, the boundary between the illuminated area and the unilluminated area becomes sharp, resulting in a decrease in lighting quality.

[0031] Therefore, in this embodiment, a gradient sheet 13 is provided between the light guide plate 11 and the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 in the lighting device 1.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3(b), the gradient sheet 13 has the highest light-blocking rate at both the left and right edges of the drawing in the X direction, and the lowest light-blocking rate in the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, in the X direction, the light-blocking rate of the gradient sheet 13 gradually decreases from the left edge to the center of the drawing, and gradually increases from the center to the right edge of the drawing. In other words, the light-blocking rate of the gradient sheet 13 changes in the X direction.

[0033] Figure 5(a) is a graph showing the luminance distribution of the illumination range in the X direction of the lighting device according to the first embodiment, and Figure 5(b) is a graph showing the luminance distribution of the illumination range in the X direction of a comparative example lighting device (a lighting device without the gradient sheet 13). In Figure 5(b), the change in luminance is steep at both the left and right ends in the X direction, so the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas becomes sharp. In contrast, in Figure 5(a), the change in luminance at both the left and right ends in the X direction becomes gentler due to the gradient sheet 13, so the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas can be blurred. This improves the quality of the lighting.

[0034] (Second Embodiment) Figure 6(a) is a front view of the lighting device according to the second embodiment, and Figure 6(b) is a front view of the lighting device according to the second embodiment. In Figure 6, compared to Figure 2, a reflective sheet 15 (reflective part) is provided on the reflective surface 111 side of the light guide plate 11.

[0035] The reflective sheet 15 reflects the light transmitted from the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11 to the upper part of the drawing, and then reflects it to the lower part of the drawing. This improves the light efficiency of the lighting device 1. The reflective sheet 15 is made of a light-reflecting material and can be made of a thin material such as a sheet, flat plate, or film.

[0036] (Third embodiment) Figure 7(a) is a plan view of the gradient sheet according to the third embodiment, and Figure 7(b) is a plan view of the storage shelf according to the second embodiment. In Figures 7(a) and (b), compared with Figures 3(b) and (c), the direction in which the light shielding rate changes in the gradient sheet 13 and the direction of the hairline finish on the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 are in the X direction.

[0037] Specifically, the gradient sheet 13 has the highest light-blocking rate at both the top and bottom edges of the drawing in the Y direction, and the lowest light-blocking rate in the center of the drawing in the Y direction. Furthermore, in the Y direction, the light-blocking rate of the gradient sheet 13 gradually decreases from the top edge to the center of the drawing, and gradually increases from the center to the bottom edge of the drawing. In other words, the light-blocking rate of the gradient sheet 13 changes in the Y direction.

[0038] The top surface 104a of the storage shelf 104 is treated with a hairline finish along the Y direction.

[0039] In this embodiment, the gradient sheet 13 makes the change in brightness at both ends in the Y direction of the illumination range gradual, thus blurring the boundary between the illumination range and the non-illuminated range. This improves the quality of illumination.

[0040] (Fourth Embodiment) Figure 8 is a side view showing a refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment. In Figure 8, compared to Figure 1(b), a mirror 106 is provided on the back surface 103. By providing a mirror 106 on the back surface 103, the illumination range of the lighting device 1 can be widened in the depth direction (Y direction), thereby improving the perceived depth of the refrigerator 100.

[0041] (Fifth embodiment) Figure 9 is a side view showing a refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment. In Figure 9, compared to Figure 1(a), two lighting devices 1 are provided for each storage shelf 104.

[0042] Specifically, a housing 105 is provided at the bottom of the storage shelf 104. The housing 105 houses lighting devices 1 at both the front (left side of the drawing) and the rear (right side of the drawing). By placing a lighting device 1 at the rear of the storage shelf 104, sufficient light can be ensured even at the back of the refrigerator 100 (right side of the drawing).

[0043] (Example of prism arrangement) In each of the above embodiments, the arrangement of prisms formed on the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11 may be any one of the prism arrangement examples 1 to 6 described below.

[0044] (Example of layout 1) Figure 10(a) is a front view showing example 1 of the prism arrangement, and Figure 10(b) is a top view showing example 1 of the prism arrangement.

[0045] As shown in Figure 10(b), the multiple prisms 113 extend in the Y direction from the top edge to the bottom edge of the drawing.

[0046] As shown in Figure 10(a), the multiple prisms 113 include prisms 113 with different sizes in the Z direction. Specifically, the prisms 113 positioned at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction have a smaller size in the Z direction than the prism 113 positioned in the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, the multiple prisms 113 have a gradually increasing size in the Z direction from the left end to the center of the drawing in the X direction, and a gradually decreasing size in the Z direction from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the multiple prisms 113 have an increasing size in the Z direction as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Consequently, the illumination quality can be improved.

[0047] (Placement example #2) Figure 11(a) is a front view showing another example of prism arrangement, and Figure 11(b) is a top view showing another example of prism arrangement.

[0048] As shown in Figure 11(b), multiple prisms 113 are arranged in a dot pattern on the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11.

[0049] As shown in Figure 11(a), the multiple prisms 113 include prisms 113 with different sizes in the Z direction. Specifically, the prisms 113 positioned at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction have a smaller size in the Z direction than the prism 113 positioned in the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, the multiple prisms 113 have a gradually increasing size in the Z direction from the left end to the center of the drawing in the X direction, and a gradually decreasing size in the Z direction from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the multiple prisms 113 have an increasing size in the Z direction as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Therefore, the illumination quality can be improved.

[0050] (Placement example #3) Figure 12(a) is a front view showing the third example of prism arrangement, and Figure 12(b) is a top view showing the third example of prism arrangement.

[0051] As shown in Figure 12(b), the multiple prisms 113 extend in the Y direction from the top edge to the bottom edge of the drawing.

[0052] As shown in Figure 12(a), the multiple prisms 113 are all the same size in the Z direction. The density of prisms 113 at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction is lower than the density of prisms 113 at the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, in the X direction, the density of prisms 113 gradually increases from the left end to the center of the drawing, and gradually decreases from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the density of the multiple prisms 113 increases as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Consequently, the quality of illumination can be improved.

[0053] (Placement example #4) Figure 13(a) is a front view showing example 4 of the prism arrangement, and Figure 13(b) is a top view showing example 4 of the prism arrangement.

[0054] As shown in Figure 13(b), multiple prisms 113 are arranged in a dot pattern on the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11.

[0055] As shown in Figure 13(a), the multiple prisms 113 are all the same size in the Z direction. The density of prisms 113 at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction is lower than the density of prisms 113 at the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, in the X direction, the density of prisms 113 gradually increases from the left end to the center of the drawing, and gradually decreases from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the density of the multiple prisms 113 increases as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Consequently, the quality of illumination can be improved.

[0056] (Placement example #5) Figure 14(a) is a front view showing example 5 of the prism arrangement, and Figure 14(b) is a top view showing example 5 of the prism arrangement.

[0057] As shown in Figure 14(a), the multiple prisms 113 have the same size in the Z direction.

[0058] As shown in Figure 14(b), the multiple prisms 113 include prisms 113 with different sizes in the Y direction. Specifically, the prisms 113 positioned at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction are smaller in the Y direction than the prism 113 positioned in the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, the multiple prisms 113 have a gradually increasing Y-direction size from the left end to the center of the drawing in the X direction, and a gradually decreasing Y-direction size from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the multiple prisms 113 have an increasing Y-direction size as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Consequently, the illumination quality can be improved.

[0059] (Placement example #6) Figure 15(a) is a front view showing example 6 of the prism arrangement, and Figure 15(b) is a top view showing example 6 of the prism arrangement.

[0060] As shown in Figure 15(a), the multiple prisms 113 have the same size in the Z direction.

[0061] As shown in Figure 15(b), multiple prisms 113 are arranged in a dot pattern on the reflective surface 111 of the light guide plate 11. The density of prisms 113 at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction is lower than the density of prisms 113 at the center of the drawing in the X direction. Furthermore, the density of prisms 113 gradually increases from the left end to the center of the drawing in the X direction, and gradually decreases from the center to the right end of the drawing. In other words, the density of prisms 113 increases as they move away from the incident surface 110. This allows the brightness at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction to be suppressed, thereby blurring the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas. Consequently, the quality of illumination can be improved.

[0062] (Other examples of gradient sheet configurations) Figures 16(a) and (b) are plan views showing other configuration examples of the gradient sheet.

[0063] As shown in Figure 16(a), the gradient sheet 13 has the highest light shielding rate at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction and at both the top and bottom ends of the drawing in the Y direction, and the lowest light shielding rate in the center of the drawing. Furthermore, in the X direction, the light shielding rate of the gradient sheet 13 gradually decreases from the left end to the center of the drawing, and gradually increases from the center to the right end of the drawing. Similarly, in the Y direction, the light shielding rate of the gradient sheet 13 gradually decreases from the top end to the center of the drawing, and gradually increases from the center to the bottom end of the drawing. In other words, the light shielding rate of the gradient sheet 13 changes in both the X and Y directions. Because the gradient sheet 13 makes the change in brightness at both ends of the illuminated area in the X and Y directions gradual, the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas can be blurred. This can improve the quality of illumination.

[0064] As shown in Figure 16(b), the gradient sheet 13 has the highest light-shielding rate at both the left and right ends of the drawing in the X direction and at both the top and bottom ends of the drawing in the Y direction, and the lowest light-shielding rate in the center of the drawing. Furthermore, the gradient sheet 13 has a roughly elliptical shape in the area of ​​low light-shielding rate in the center of the drawing. Even with this configuration, the change in brightness at both ends of the illuminated area in the X and Y directions becomes gradual, so the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated areas can be blurred. This improves the quality of illumination.

[0065] (Other embodiments) As described above, embodiments have been explained as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to embodiments that are modified, replaced, added, or omitted as appropriate.

[0066] In the embodiments described above, the case in which the lighting device 1 is installed in the refrigerator 100 was explained as an example, but the lighting device 1 can also be installed in the freezer.

[0067] In the embodiments described above, the example was given where the illumination surface of the lighting device 1 is the storage shelf 104, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, if the lighting device 1 is a lighting device that illuminates items inside a showcase, the invention is applicable if the wall surface inside the showcase is treated with a hairline finish. In this case, it is sufficient that the direction of the hairline finish applied to the wall surface inside the showcase matches the direction in which the light shielding rate changes in the gradient sheet 13. In this case, the direction of the hairline finish does not necessarily have to match the direction in which the prism extends.

[0068] In the embodiments described above, the upper surface 104a of the storage shelf 104, which has a hairline finish, was used as an example of an illumination surface in which the light distribution angle of the reflected light in the first direction and the light distribution angle of the reflected light in the second direction are different. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, by applying a predetermined process to the illumination surface, it is possible to achieve different light distribution angles for the first and second directions. In this case, the first and second directions do not necessarily have to intersect perpendicularly; it is sufficient that the first and second directions intersect (are different).

[0069] In the embodiments described above, the example of a light source 12 being an LED or the like was explained, but the light source 12 may be other light sources such as fluorescent lamps or incandescent light bulbs. Also, multiple light sources 12 may be arranged in the Y direction (depth direction). The light source 12 may also be a light source that extends in the Y direction, such as an optical tube or a straight fluorescent lamp.

[0070] In each of the above embodiments, a focusing lens may be placed between the light source 12 and the light guide plate 11 (incident surface 110). This improves the light efficiency of the lighting device.

[0071] In the embodiments described above, the lighting device 1 is assumed to have light sources 12 on both the left and right sides in the X direction, but the light source 12 may be provided on only one side in the X direction. In this case, the gradient sheet 13 should have a gradually decreasing light shielding rate from one side to the other in the X direction. [Industrial applicability]

[0072] The lighting device described herein can improve lighting quality when used, for example, in a refrigerator. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Lighting device 11 Light guide plate 110 Incidence plane 111 Reflective surface 112 Ejection surface 113 Prism 12 light source 13. Gradient sheet (light-blocking part) 14 Diffusion Cover 15. Reflective sheet (reflective part) 100 Freezer 101 Top surface 102 Side view 103 Back side 104 Storage shelves 104a Top surface (irradiation surface) 105 cabinets 106 Mirror

Claims

1. A lighting device that irradiates light onto an illumination surface, A light source unit that emits light from a light source, It comprises a light-shielding portion provided between the light source and the irradiation surface, which blocks the light incident from the light source, In the region into which light from the light source is incident, the light shielding rate of the light shielding portion gradually decreases from one end to the other end in the first direction. The illumination device wherein the illumination surface has a light distribution angle in which the light reflected in the first direction is smaller than the light distribution angle in which the light reflected in the second direction intersecting the first direction.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to the second direction.

3. The illumination device according to claim 2, wherein the illumination surface is subjected to a hairline finish along the first direction.

4. The aforementioned light source unit is The aforementioned light source, A light guide plate having an incident surface into which light emitted from the light source enters, a reflective surface that reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface provided opposite to the reflective surface that emits the light incident from the reflective surface, The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of prisms formed on the reflective surface.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, further comprising a diffusion cover provided between the light-shielding portion and the irradiation surface for diffusing incident light.

6. The lighting device according to claim 4, further comprising a reflective portion provided on the reflective surface side of the light guide plate for reflecting incident light.

7. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of prisms increase in size as they move away from the incident surface.

8. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the density of the plurality of prisms increases as they move away from the incident surface.

9. The lighting device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the plurality of prisms extend from one end to the other end in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The lighting device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the plurality of prisms are arranged in a dot pattern when the light guide plate is viewed in plan view.

11. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of prisms extend in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the width in the third direction increases as it moves away from the incident surface.

12. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the number of prisms increases in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction as they move away from the incident surface.

13. A refrigerator equipped with the lighting device described in claim 1.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising a mirror provided on the back of the interior of the refrigerator.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the lighting device is arranged on a storage shelf provided inside the refrigerator.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the lighting device includes a lighting device positioned at the front end of a storage shelf located inside the refrigerator and a lighting device positioned at the rear end of the storage shelf.

17. A freezer equipped with the lighting device described in claim 1.

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