A surface light source device capable of suppressing generation of bright
line and preventing generation of crush of pattern forming on a light
guide plate even when pressure is applied, includes a plurality of
deflection patterns and diffusion patterns wherein the diffusion pattern
is formed on the light source side of the deflection pattern. Further,
the diffusion pattern is provided so as not to protrude outwards from the
light guide plate from the plane opposite to the light-emitting plane and
the diffusion pattern diffuses the light incident from a light guide
direction to a direction different from the light guide direction seen
from a direction perpendicular to the light emitting plane.