LIGHT DIFFUSER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LIGHT DIFFUSER, PLANE LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND LIGHTING DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light diffuser which allows sufficiently balanced light output without the reduction in brightness regardless of the reduction of a distance to a light source due to thinning and improves light use efficiency and improves productivity due to unification and member-saving, a method of manufacturing the light diffuser, and a plane light emitting device, a display device, and a lighting device which use the light diffuser. SOLUTION: In the light diffuser, one or more foam layers which have an anisotropic or isotropic diffusing rugged structure on frontmost surfaces thereof on the light output surface side and have foamed by application of radiation energy and heat energy from the rugged structure to the light input surface side are laminated, and a bubble density of the foam layers has a prescribed distribution pattern, and bubbles are distributed in the foam layers at a bubble occupation area rate of ≤65%, and preferably, the foam layers have a less foam area wherein the bubble occupation area rate is ≤0.5% and a much foam area wherein the bubble occupation area rate is ≥1%. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT