KR20060033063A - Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display having the same are disclosed. The backlight assembly includes lamps in which the electrode part is fixed to the power supply member, the first mold accommodated on both sides of the storage container, a conductive power supply member fixed to the first mold, and electrode parts formed on outer surfaces of both ends. And a fixing member coupled to the power applying member to surround the electrode portion. The backlight assembly further includes a second mold coupled to the first mold while covering the electrode portion and having a fixing portion for pressing the power applying member. Therefore, the lamps can be more stably fixed and the assembly failure of the power applying member can be eliminated.

Description

BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME}

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relationship of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view showing the power applying member shown in FIG.

4 is a perspective view showing the fixing member shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second mold shown in FIG. 1 upside down. FIG.

6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: backlight assembly 200: storage container

300: first mold 400: power supply member

410: clip portion 420: connection portion

500 lamp 510 electrode part

600: fixing member 700: second mold

740: fixing part 810: diffusion plate                 

820: optical sheet 830: reflector

840: inverter 910: liquid crystal display panel

970: top chassis

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device having the same, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly for supplying separate light for displaying an image and a liquid crystal display device having the same.

In general, a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display) is a flat panel display device that displays an image by using a liquid crystal (Liquid Crystal), thinner and lighter than other display devices, has the advantage of low driving voltage and low power consumption This has been widely used throughout the industry.

Such a liquid crystal display device requires a backlight assembly for supplying additional light because the liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image is a non-light emitting device that does not emit light by itself.

In recent years, as the size of the liquid crystal display panel increases, the size of the backlight assembly also increases. As a result, the backlight assembly has been widely used as a direct type backlight assembly in which light-generating lamps are arranged in parallel with each other on the rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel.                         

Such direct backlight assemblies require a large number of lamps for high brightness and brightness uniformity. Therefore, recently, in order to reduce cost and drive stability, an external electrode type lamp capable of driving a plurality of lamps in parallel with one inverter has been developed. Since the external electrode type lamp has a structure in which external electrodes are formed on outer surfaces of both ends, a parallel driving requires a power supply member for connecting the external electrodes of the lamps in parallel. At this time, the power applying member is composed of a clip portion for fixing the lamp and a connection portion for connecting the clip portion.

However, when the lamps are clipped to the clip part and fixed, the lamps are less fitted to the clip part or the lamps are detached from the clip part by external impact. In addition, a failure such as lifting or deformation due to the connection part not fully secured may occur.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a backlight assembly capable of stably fixing lamps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having the above-described backlight assembly.

The backlight assembly for achieving the above object of the present invention includes a container, a first mold, a power applying member, lamps and a fixing member. The first mold is accommodated on both sides of the storage container, respectively. The power applying member is conductive and is fixed to the first mold. The lamps include electrode portions formed on outer surfaces of both ends, and the electrode portions are fixed to the power applying member. The fixing member is coupled with the power applying member to surround the electrode part.

The backlight assembly further includes a second mold coupled to the first mold while covering the electrode portion. The second mold further includes a fixing part for pressing the connection part.

A liquid crystal display device for achieving another object of the present invention includes a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display panel. The backlight assembly may include a storage container, a first mold respectively accommodated at both sides of the storage container, a conductive power applying member fixed to the first mold, and electrode portions formed on outer surfaces of both ends, and the electrode portion is the power supply member. Lamps fixed to the fixing member, and fixing members coupled to the power applying member to surround the electrode unit. The liquid crystal display panel displays an image using light supplied from the backlight assembly.

According to the backlight assembly and the liquid crystal display having the same, the lamps can be more stably fixed and the lifting of the power applying member can be prevented.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the backlight assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage container 200, a first mold 300, a power applying member 400, lamps 500, and a fixing member 600. )

The storage container 200 includes a bottom portion 210 and a side portion 220 extending from an edge of the bottom portion 210 to provide a storage space. The storage container 200 is, for example, made of a metal having excellent strength and little deformation.

The first mold 300 is accommodated on both sides of the storage container 200, respectively. The first mold 300 includes a coupling portion 310 to which the power applying member 400 is fixed and a sidewall 320 extending vertically from the coupling portion 310. The coupling part 310 corresponds to the bottom part 210 of the storage container 200, and the side wall 320 corresponds to the side part 320 of the storage container 200. The coupling part 310 is formed with bosses 312 for guiding the coupling position of the power applying member 400. The first mold 300 is made of an insulating material for insulation between the metal storage container 200 and the metal power supply member 400.

The power applying member 400 is fixed to each of the first molds 300 disposed on both sides of the storage container 200. The lamps 500 are fixed to the power applying member 400. Holes 422 into which the bosses 312 of the first mold 300 are inserted are formed in the power applying member 400. The power applying member 400 is made of metal to apply the driving voltage provided from the inverter 840 to the lamps 500.

The lamps 500 are fixed to the power applying member 400 and arranged in parallel with each other. Each lamp 500 includes electrode portions 510 formed on outer surfaces of both ends. Each lamp 500 is fixed to the electrode unit 510 is coupled to the power supply member 400. The lamps 500 generate light in response to a driving voltage generated from the inverter 840 and applied to the electrode unit 510 through the power applying member 400.

The fixing member 600 is coupled with the power applying member 400 to surround the electrode portion 510 from the top of the power applying member 400. The fixing member 600 prevents the lamps 500 from being separated from the power applying member 400. For example, the fixing member 600 is made of the same metal material as the power applying member 400.

Meanwhile, the backlight assembly 100 further includes a second mold 700 that is coupled to the first mold 300 while covering the electrode portions 510 of the lamps 500. The second mold 700 covers the area of the electrode portions 510 of the lamps 500 that are substantially free of light, thereby improving luminance uniformity. The second mold 700 may further include a diffusion plate fixing part 710 for guiding a storage position of the diffusion plate 810 disposed thereon.

The backlight assembly 100 is supported by the second mold 700, and includes a diffuser plate 810 disposed on the upper portions of the lamps 500, an optical sheet 820 disposed on the diffuser plate 810, and a lamp ( The inverter 840 further includes a reflector plate 830 disposed under the 500 and a driving voltage for driving the lamps 500.

The diffusion plate 810 diffuses the light generated from the lamps 500 to improve the brightness uniformity of the light. The diffusion plate 810 has a plate shape having a predetermined thickness and is spaced apart from the lamps 500 at predetermined intervals. The diffusion plate 810 is made of, for example, a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) material.

The optical sheet 820 improves the luminance characteristic of the light transmitted through the diffuser plate 810. The optical sheet 820 may include a light collecting sheet for condensing the light diffused through the diffusion plate 810 to improve the front brightness of the light. In addition, the optical sheet 820 may include a diffusion sheet for diffusing the light diffused through the diffusion plate 810 once again. On the other hand, the backlight assembly 100 may add or remove the optical sheet 820 according to the required brightness characteristics.

The reflective plate 830 is attached to the bottom 210 of the storage container 200, and reflects light directed downward from the light generated from the lamps 500 toward the diffuser plate 810.

The inverter 830 is disposed on the rear surface of the storage container 200. The inverter 830 boosts the low-voltage alternating voltage applied from the outside to a high-voltage alternating voltage suitable for driving the lamps 500 and outputs a driving voltage. The inverter 840 and the power applying member 400 are connected through the first and second power lines 842 and 844. The driving voltage output from the inverter 840 is applied to the electrode portions 510 of the lamps 500 through the first and second power lines 842 and 844 and the power applying member 400.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relationship of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a power applying member illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing member illustrated in FIG. 1.

2, 3, and 4, the power applying member 400 is fixed to the engaging portion 310 of the first mold 300. The power applying member 400 includes clip parts 410 to which the electrode parts 510 of the lamps 500 are fixed, and a connection part 420 connecting the clip parts 410. The clip parts 410 are spaced apart at equal intervals for equal intervals of the lamps 500. The clip portions 410 are open at the top thereof to allow the lamps 500 to be inserted. The connection part 420 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 500 to connect the clip parts 410 to each other. The connection part 420 is formed with holes 422 into which the bosses 312 formed in the coupling part 310 of the first mold 300 are inserted. The power applying member 400 may further include protrusions 440 extending upward from the connection part 420. The protrusions 440 are formed at positions corresponding to the clip portions 410. The protrusions 440 prevent flow in the longitudinal direction of the lamps 500 that are fixed to the clip portions 410.

The fixing members 600 are coupled to the clip portions 410 so that the lamps 500 may be inserted into the clip portions 410, and then cover the open areas of the clip portions 410. The fixing members 600 may have a cylindrical shape substantially corresponding to the electrode portion 510, and may be partially opened to engage the clip portions 410. By the combination of the fixing member 600 and the clip portion 410, the possibility of detachment of the lamp 500 is significantly reduced.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second mold shown in FIG. 1 upside down. FIG.

1 and 5, the second mold 700 has a bottom from the top surface 720 and the top surface 720 parallel to the bottom portion 210 of the storage container 200. It includes an inclined surface 730 extending inclined in the direction of the portion (210). Openings 732 are formed in the inclined surface 730 corresponding to the positions of the lamps 500.

The second mold 700 further includes a fixing part 740 for fixing the connection part 420 of the power applying member 400. The fixing part 740 protrudes from the upper surface 720 toward the connection part 420 to fix the connection part 420. The fixing part 740 is formed to correspond between the clip parts 410 adjacent to each other. The fixing part 740 presses the connection part 420 to prevent the connection part 420 from being lifted up or flowing. The fixing part 740 is provided with a groove 742 into which the boss 312 of the coupling part 310 penetrating the hole 422 of the connection part 420 can be fitted.

6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, since the backlight assembly has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the liquid crystal display 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment includes a backlight assembly 100 for supplying light and a display unit 900 for displaying an image.

The display unit 900 may include a liquid crystal display panel 910 for displaying an image using light supplied from the backlight assembly 100, and data and a gate printed circuit board for providing driving signals for driving the liquid crystal display panel 910. 920, 930.

The driving signals provided from the data and the gate printed circuit boards 920 and 930 are applied to the liquid crystal display panel 910 through the data and the gate flexible circuit films 940 and 950. The data and gate flexible circuit films 940 and 950 include, for example, a tape carrier package (TCP) or a chip on film (COF). Each of the data and gate flexible circuit films 940 and 950 controls the driving signal to apply the driving signals provided from the data and gate printed circuit boards 920 and 930 to the liquid crystal display panel 910 at an appropriate timing. Data and gate driving chips 942 and 952. Meanwhile, the gate printed circuit board 930 may be removed by forming separate signal wires (not shown) on the liquid crystal display panel 910 and the gate flexible circuit film 950.

The liquid crystal display panel 910 includes a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) substrate 912, a color filter substrate 914 coupled to the TFT substrate 912, and the two substrates 912 and 914. And a liquid crystal 916 interposed therebetween.

The TFT substrate 912 is a transparent glass substrate on which a switching element TFT (not shown) is formed in a matrix form. Data and gate lines are respectively connected to the source and gate terminals of the TFTs, and a pixel electrode (not shown) made of a transparent conductive material is connected to the drain terminal.

The color filter substrate 914 is a substrate in which RGB pixels (not shown) which are color pixels are formed by a thin film process. A common electrode (not shown) made of a transparent conductive material is formed on the color filter substrate 914.

In the liquid crystal display panel 910 having such a configuration, when power is applied to the gate terminal of the TFT and the TFT is turned on, an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Such an electric field changes the arrangement of the liquid crystal 916 interposed between the TFT substrate 912 and the color filter substrate 914, and the light supplied from the backlight assembly 100 according to the arrangement change of the liquid crystal 916. The transmittance is changed to obtain an image of a desired gradation.

The liquid crystal display 1000 may further include a top chassis 970 for fixing the liquid crystal display panel 910. The top chassis 970 is coupled to the storage container 200 while surrounding the edge of the liquid crystal display panel 910 to fix the liquid crystal display panel 910 to the upper portion of the backlight assembly 100. The top chassis 970 prevents the liquid crystal display panel 910 from being damaged by an external impact and prevents the liquid crystal display panel 910 from being separated from the backlight assembly 100.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device 1000 is disposed between the backlight assembly 100 and the liquid crystal display panel 910 to fix the diffusion plate 810 and the optical sheet 820 to support the liquid crystal display panel 910. A third mold 980 may be further included.

According to the backlight assembly and the liquid crystal display having the same, by fixing the lamps using the fixing member, it is possible to prevent the separation of the lamps, and to secure a more stable fixing force. In addition, by forming a fixing portion for fixing the power supply member to the mold to cover the electrode portion, it is possible to eliminate defects such as lifting of the power supply member.

In the detailed description of the present invention described above with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art or those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art will be described in the claims to be described later It will be understood that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

Storage container; First molds respectively received at both sides of the storage container; A conductive power applying member fixed to the first mold; Lamps including electrode parts formed on outer surfaces of both ends, and the electrode parts being fixed to the power applying member; And And a fixing member coupled to the power applying member to surround the electrode part. The method of claim 1, wherein the power applying member is Clip parts to which the electrode part is fixed; And And a connection part connecting the clip parts. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixing members are coupled to the clip parts. The backlight assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second mold coupled to the first mold while covering the electrode part. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the second mold further comprises a fixing part for pressing the connection part. The method of claim 4, wherein A diffusion plate supported by the second mold and disposed on the lamps; An optical sheet disposed on the diffusion plate; A reflector disposed below the lamps; And And an inverter generating a driving voltage for driving the lamps. A lamp having a storage container, a first mold accommodated on both sides of the storage container, a conductive power applying member fixed to the first mold, and electrode portions formed on outer surfaces of both ends, and the electrode portion being fixed to the power applying member. A backlight assembly including fastening members coupled to the power applying member to surround the electrode part; And And a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image using light supplied from the backlight assembly. The method of claim 7, wherein the power applying member is Clip parts to which the electrode part is fixed and to which the fixing member is coupled; And And a connection part connecting the clip parts. The method of claim 7, wherein the backlight assembly And a second mold coupled to the first mold while covering the electrode, and having a fixing part for pressing the connection part.

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