KR100736668B1 - Cold cathode fluorescent lamp and direct-type backlight assembly using thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a direct-type backlight assembly using the same are provided to couple a conductor at both outsides of a glass tube of the lamp by simple fitting, thereby requiring no additional conductive cables in order to supply power to inner electrodes. A directly type backlight assembly includes a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps, which respectively have tubular lamps(10) having inner electrodes at both sides, which are integrally formed with lead wires for electric connection with the outside, and conductors(14) having receptacle terminals at a side to be coupled with the lead wires and opened cylindrical metal electrodes at the other side. The conductors are electrically connected with the lead wires of the inner electrodes by the receptacle terminals and fitted at both sides of the tubular lamps for surrounding the tubular lamp, so that power is applied to the lamps by through the conductors. A bottom cover(20) is mounted with a reflection plate(21) and formed with a plurality of openings at both sides. An inverter(50) applies power to the cold cathode fluorescent lamps, wherein clamps(52) are protruded from a rear surface of the cover bottom and attached to a board of the inverter for fixing the conductors and electrically connecting them.

Description

Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp and Direct Backlight Assembly Using The Same

1 is a view showing the structure of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to the prior art,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a general structure for a direct type backlight device according to the prior art,

3 is a detailed view illustrating a structure in which a cold cathode fluorescent lamp is coupled to a backlight device according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

4 is a detailed view showing a structure in which a conductive line is coupled to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to the related art;

5 is a view showing the structure of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention,

6a to 6e are views showing the structure of the conductor shape of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention,

7 is a view showing the structure of the conductor shape of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention,

8 is a cross-sectional view of a backlight device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a view showing a detailed structure of a backlight device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings **

10: fluorescent lamp (CCFL) 11: glass tube

12 internal electrode 13 lead wire

14: conductor 20: cover bottom

21: reflector 30: fixing means

40: conductive cable 41: connector

50: inverter 52: clamp

60: light diffusion plate 70: light diffusion sheet

80: protective cap

The present invention relates to a backlight device, and more particularly, to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a backlight device using the same, in which a conductor is provided outside of a fluorescent lamp having an internal electrode to be easily coupled to a cover bottom.

Recently, as the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms. Accordingly, liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electro luminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) Various flat panel display devices have been researched and developed.

Here, LCD, which is a liquid crystal display device, is used as a mobile flat panel display device due to its excellent image quality, light weight, thinness, and low power consumption, and is particularly used as a laptop, computer monitor, and television monitor.

However, LCDs do not emit light by themselves and require a separate external light source to realize high quality images. Therefore, the LCD structure further includes a backlight unit as a light source of the liquid crystal display panel in addition to the liquid crystal display panel, so that the backlight unit uniformly supplies a high brightness light source to the liquid crystal display panel, thereby realizing high quality images.

In general, a backlight of a liquid crystal display is classified into an edge-lighting and a direct-lighting backlight according to a method of disposing a light source.

Here, the side backlight is mainly used in liquid crystal display devices for thinning portable communication devices due to its relatively thin thickness, and the direct type backlight is a liquid crystal for high brightness large screens such as notebooks and TV monitors due to high light efficiency. It is mainly used for display devices. In particular, in the case of the direct type backlight, the use of the liquid crystal display device is increasing in size to several tens of inches or more.

Light sources used in these backlights include cylindrical fluorescent lamps such as Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL), Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (HCFL), and External Electrode Fluorescent Lamps (EEFL). Or various light sources such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) devices and EL (Electro Luminescence) devices.

Since the light sources have advantages and disadvantages according to the type of backlight, various light sources may be used depending on the backlight, but cold cathode fluorescent lamps are mainly used for direct type backlights that require high brightness gradually and increase in size.

1 shows a structure of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to the prior art, FIG. 2 shows a general structure of a direct type backlight device according to the prior art, and FIG. 3 shows a backlight device according to the embodiment of FIG. Figure shows a detailed structure combined with a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical cold cathode fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as 'CCFL') has mercury (Hg), argon gas (Ar), and neon gas (Hg) inside a tube-shaped glass tube 11. An inert gas such as Ne) is filled in, and phosphors are formed on the inner wall of the glass tube 11, and both sides of the glass tube 11 form a structure in which internal electrodes 12 of an anode and a cathode are provided.

In this structure, when an electric field is applied to the internal electrode 12, electrons emitted from the cathode excite an inert gas to emit ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet rays are irradiated onto the applied phosphor to change into white visible light, thereby functioning as a lamp. do.

 In addition, the conventional CCFL has a structure in which a conductive connecting lead 13 is connected to the internal electrode 12 to protrude outward on both sides of the glass tube 11 to apply an electric field to the internal electrode from the outside.

 Meanwhile, the structure of the direct backlight device using the fluorescent lamp includes a cover bottom 20, a plurality of fluorescent lamps 10, a light diffusion plate 60, and a light diffusion sheet 70 as shown in FIG. 2. It is composed.

Here, the fluorescent lamp 10 is composed of CCFLs as a light source for emitting visible light, and a plurality of fluorescent lamps 10 according to the size of the backlight device.

The cover bottom 20 is to fix and support the fluorescent lamp 10, the inner surface of the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10 can be concentrated to the upper liquid crystal display panel (not shown) to increase the light efficiency The reflector 21 is provided.

The light diffusing plate 60 and the light diffusing sheet 70 are for preventing the shape of the fluorescent lamp from appearing on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel and showing uniform luminance as a whole. Scatter and disperse.

In the backlight device using the CCFL, a coupling structure with a cover bottom for applying power to the CCFL will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

CCFL 10 is coupled to both sides of the lamp by the fixing means 30 is fixed to the cover bottom 20, can be fixed alone or in pairs. The conductive cable 40 is integrally connected to the fixing means 30, and one side of the conductive cable 40 is provided with a connector 41.

The connector 41 is coupled to the coupling means 51 of the inverter 50 to apply power to the CCFL. For this purpose, the connector 41 is constituted by means of detachable means to the inverter. In this case, the inverter 50 is generally positioned on the outer bottom of the cover bottom and may be integrally formed with a printed circuit board (not shown) having various circuits for controlling the backlight device.

In the conventional backlight device having the above structure, the fixing means 30 for fixing both ends of the CCFL 10 must be separately provided in the process of coupling the CCFL 10 to the cover bottom 20, and the CCFL ( In order to apply power to 10, the CCFL 10 and the inverter 50 must be connected by using a separate conductive cable 40.

In addition, the direct type backlight device uses a plurality of CCFLs 10 under the liquid crystal display panel. Therefore, when one of the CCFLs 10 has reached the end of its life or a defect occurs, the liquid crystal display panel has a significantly darker portion than the other parts. Appear immediately and lamp replacement is frequent. In this case, it is very difficult to separate and recombine the CCFL from the fixing means 30, and in some cases, the difficulty of integrally replacing the conductive cable 40 connected to the fixing means 30 occurs.

In particular, in the backlight device according to the related art, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive wire 43 inside the conductive cable and the lead wire 13 of the CCFL internal electrode are coupled by a process such as welding. In this case, due to the flow of the conductive cable 40 connecting the CCFL 10 to the inverter 50, there is a high possibility that a problem occurs in the electrical connection between the conductive line 43 and the lead line 13.

That is, according to the backlight device using the CCFL according to the prior art, the structure of the backlight device is complicated, the manufacturing cost increases due to many components in the manufacturing process.

In addition, the process of combining the fluorescent lamp is difficult and complicated, even in the case of replacing the lamp, the difficulty of the process and a high cost occurs.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above problems, in the backlight device using a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, the structure is simple, but the cold cathode fluorescent lamp can be easily fixed to the cover bottom, to apply power An object of the present invention is to provide a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a backlight device using the same which can be easily connected to an inverter.

Cold cathode fluorescent lamp of the present invention for achieving the above object is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used as a light source of the backlight device, the inert gas is filled in the inside, the phosphor is coated on the inner wall, both the inside and the outside A lamp having a tube shape having an internal electrode integrally formed with an integrated lead wire for electrical connection thereof, and a receptacle terminal for coupling with the lead wire on one side thereof and an open cylinder on the other side thereof. Conductor consisting of a metal electrode of the shape; consisting of, the conductor is electrically connected to the lead wires of the terminal and the inner electrode is fitted to both sides of the tube (tube) are coupled in a shape surrounding the tube (tube) As a result, it is configured to apply power through the conductor.

In addition, the direct type backlight device of the present invention is filled with an inert gas inside, fluorescent material is applied to the inner wall and both sides of the tube-shaped lamp having an internal electrode formed integrally with a lead wire for electrical connection to the outside and a conductor formed on one side thereof to form a receptacle terminal for coupling with the lead wire and the other side to an open cylindrical metal electrode, the conductor being electrically connected to the lead wire of the internal electrode. A plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps coupled to and coupled to both sides of the tube, respectively, and a reflecting plate for reflecting light of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps, and a cover bottom having a plurality of openings formed at both sides thereof. ; An inverter for supplying power to and controlling the cold cathode fluorescent lamp; and a clamp attached to the inverter substrate to clamp and electrically connect the conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp to the opening of the cover bottom. The clamp protrudes from the rear surface of the cover bottom and is coupled to the conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp, so that power can be applied without a separate conductive cable.

In the above-described configuration, the backlight device is detachably coupled to the cover bottom, and further includes a protective cap for protecting the coupling portion of the clamp and the conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and to position the cold cathode fluorescent lamp in place. Characterized in that.

In the above-described configuration, the conductor has a cylindrical shape in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut, and one side is provided with a terminal for welding to the lead wire.

In addition, the conductor is a cylindrical shape in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut, and one side is provided with a terminal for elastically pressing the lead wire to be coupled.

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

5 shows the structure of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 6a to 6e shows the structure of the conductor shape of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 2 is a view showing the structure of the conductor shape of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the CCFL 10 includes a tube-shaped glass tube 11 having electrodes 12 on both sides thereof, and in particular, the CCFL 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an internal electrode 12. The conductor 14 connected to the) forms a structure coupled to the outside of the glass tube (11).

Here, the CCFL 10 is generally coated with phosphors on the inner wall of the glass tube 11 and filled with an inert gas such as neon (Ne) or argon (Ar) inside of the glass tube 11 to be generated from the internal electrodes 12 on both sides of the glass tube. The electric field becomes a lamp. The general structure and function of such CCFLs are generally well-known techniques and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In the CCFL according to the embodiment of the present invention, the above-described conductor 14 is a conductive metal material, and is coupled in a form surrounding the tube on both outer sides of the glass tube 11.

In the CCFL 10, the lead wire 13 connected to the internal electrode 12 protrudes to the outside in order to apply power to the internal electrode 12 of the glass tube, and the conductor 14 is the glass tube 11 as shown. The terminal formed on one side of the outside and formed on one side forms a structure in which the terminal is sealed to the lead wire 13 by welding or the like and electrically connected thereto.

In the above structure, since the conductor 14 connected to the lead wire 13 of the internal electrode 12 is fixedly coupled to the glass tube 11, the welding portion A, the internal electrode, and the sealing portion B of the glass tube may be damaged. It can be easily fixed to the cover bottom 20 of the backlight device, as will be described later.

The conductor according to the embodiment of the present invention may have a structure of various shapes as shown in Figure 6a to 6e.

In more detail, as shown in FIG. 6A, the conductor 14 has a hole-shaped terminal 14a formed on one side to be coupled to the lead wire 13 of the internal electrode, and the other side is formed of an open cylindrical body. Can be.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6B to 6E, a terminal for connecting to the lead wire 13 is formed at one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are opened and one side of the circumferential surface is cut. These terminals may be formed in a ring shape 14b as shown, a cylindrical shape 14c in which one side of the circumferential surface is cut, or one or two semi-cylindrical shapes 14d and 14e.

The conductor 14 configured as described above is fitted to the glass tube 11 so that the lead wire 13 of the internal electrode is fitted to the terminal, and the lead wire 13 and the terminals 14a to 14e are welded or the like. It is sealed in the way of and electrically connected. In this case, the terminals 14b to 14e may be configured to be connected in an inclined manner from a cylindrical body to facilitate welding for sealing the terminal and the lead wire.

On the other hand, Figure 7 is a structure for the conductor shape according to another embodiment of the present invention, the terminal to be coupled with the lead wire is configured to have an elastic force, by pressing the lead wire by the elastic force of the metal plate to be coupled.

  Looking in more detail, the conductor according to another embodiment of the present invention is a terminal 14f, 14g, 14h having an elastic force to be coupled to the lead wire 13 on one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut off 14i) is formed.

As shown in (a) and (b), one side of the terminals 14f and 14g has a groove formed therein so that the lead wire 13 can be positioned and the other side is bent outward. ) May be configured to support the pressure. In addition, as shown in (c), both sides of the terminal 14h may be formed to have elastic force, and in this case, as shown in (d), the terminal 14i may be configured to be bent inward and / or outward.

In the case of a connector formed of a terminal having elasticity as described above, a separate welding process is not required, and thus the connector may be more easily coupled with the lead wire 13 or the glass tube 11.

The backlight device using the CCFL having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

8 shows a cross-sectional structure of a backlight device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 9 is a view showing in detail the state in which the cold cathode fluorescent lamp is coupled to the cover bottom.

The backlight device according to the embodiment of the present invention is composed of a cover bottom 20 having a reflecting plate 21 therein and a plurality of CCFLs 10 serving as a light source within the cover bottom. A light diffusion plate and a light diffusion sheet for uniformizing light are stacked on the cover bottom 20.

Herein, the light diffusion plate or the light diffusion sheet is used to scatter and disperse the light emitted from the CCFL 10 so as to emit more uniform light upward, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted as a general known technique in the backlight device.

The CCFL 10 described above uses the CCFL described in the embodiment of FIG. 5 as a light source of the backlight device, and a plurality of CCFLs 10 may be arranged in parallel according to the size or use of the backlight.

In general, the cover bottom of the direct type backlight device is a case of a rectangular parallelepiped, and a plurality of light sources such as CCFLs are disposed therein, and a reflector plate for reflecting light emitted from the CCFL upwards to improve luminance is covered. It is provided on the inner surface of the bottom. In addition, the back of the cover bottom is provided with an inverter for supplying power and controlling the CCFL together in the form of a printed circuit board. As shown in FIG. 3, the CCFL 10 and the inverter 50 are connected to each other by a conductive cable 40. Form a structure that is connected.

However, the direct type backlight device according to the embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the CCFL 10 is directly connected to the inverter 50 positioned on the rear surface of the cover bottom 20 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. To this end, the clamp 52 is integrally provided on the inverter 50 substrate.

The clamp 52 described above is made of a conductive material in order to fix and support the CCFL 10 provided with the conductor 14 and at the same time to supply power, and the CCFL 10 is configured to be detachable in a fitted manner.

In addition, a plurality of openings are formed in the cover bottom 20 so that the clamp 52 may protrude from the rear surface. When the inverter 50 is coupled to the rear surface of the cover bottom 20, the clamp 52 covers the opening through the opening. The bottom 20 is protruded into the interior. The conductors 14 of each CCFL 10 are simply fitted to the plurality of clamps 52 protruding in this way.

That is, by the above-described configuration, the CCFL 10 is easily attached to and detached from the clamp 52, and is fixed in the cover bottom 20 to be electrically connected to the inverter 50, and in the process of attaching and detaching the CCFL 10. There is no fear that the welding portion to which the lead wire 13 and the conductor 14 of the internal electrode 12 are connected or the sealing portion of the internal electrode and the glass tube are damaged.

On the other hand, the protective cap 80 is further attached to the cover bottom 20 as shown to protect the coupling site to which the CCFL 10 and the clamp 52 is connected. The protective cap 80 is to protect the fixed portion of the CCFL from the light diffusion plate, etc. laminated on the upper side, the projection 81 is formed on the inner surface to position the position of the CCFL.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It may be changed and implemented.

As described above, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp of the present invention is provided with a conductor that can be coupled to the outside of the glass tube by simply inserting it, so that a separate conductive cable is not required to apply power to the internal electrode. The joining process is simple and inexpensive, and there is no fear that the welded portion with the lead wire is damaged by the flow of the conductive cable.

In addition, the backlight device of the present invention using the same as a fixing means for fixing and supporting the CCFL is integrally formed with the inverter and provided with a clamp protruding directly from the back of the cover bottom, it is possible to simply fit the conductor of the CCFL to the clamp In addition, the CCFL can be easily attached and detached, and the overall backlight device becomes simpler.

Claims (11)

In the cold cathode fluorescent lamp used as a light source of the backlight device, Inert gas is filled in the inside, the fluorescent material is coated on the inner wall, the inner side of the tube (lamp) of the lamp (tube) provided with an internal electrode integrally formed with a lead wire for electrical connection with the outside; and A receptacle terminal is formed on one side to be coupled to the lead wire, and the other side is a conductor composed of a cylindrical metal electrode opened to be coupled to the tube. The conductors are electrically connected to the lead wires of the terminal and the internal electrode and are coupled to both sides of the tube to surround the tube, and configured to apply power through the conductor. Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein the conductor has a ring-shaped terminal coupled to the lead wire at one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut. According to claim 1, wherein the conductor is open on both sides and one side of the cylindrical body cut in one side of the circumferential surface, characterized in that the cylindrical terminal in which one side of the circumferential surface for coupling with the lead wire is cut off is provided. Cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor is one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut, one or two terminals of semi-cylindrical shape for coupling with the lead wire is provided Cathode fluorescent lamp. According to claim 1, The conductor is formed on one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is formed so that the terminal for coupling with the lead wire has an elastic force, the lead wire is fitted by the elastic force of the metal plate Cold cathode fluorescent lamp, characterized in that configured to be coupled. In the backlight device, Inert gas is filled in the inside, phosphors are coated on the inner wall, and a tube-shaped lamp having an inner electrode formed with integrated lead wires for electrical connection to the outside on both sides thereof, and the lead wire on one side thereof. A receptacle terminal for coupling with the tube is formed and the other side is composed of a conductor composed of a cylindrical metal electrode which is open for coupling with the tube, the conductor being electrically connected to the lead wire of the internal electrode. A plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps which are inserted into and coupled to both sides of the tube; Wow, A cover bottom having a reflecting plate for reflecting light of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and having a plurality of openings at both sides thereof; An inverter for applying power to and controlling the cold cathode fluorescent lamp; And And a clamp attached to the inverter substrate to fix and electrically connect the conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp. And a clamp protruding from a rear surface of the cover bottom through an opening of the cover bottom to be coupled to a conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp, so that power can be applied without a separate conductive cable. The backlight device of claim 6, wherein the backlight device is detachably coupled to the cover bottom, and includes a protective cap for protecting the coupling portion of the clamp and the conductor of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and for positioning the cold cathode fluorescent lamp. Direct type backlight device, characterized in that configured. The direct type according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the conductor has a ring-shaped terminal for engaging with the lead wire at one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut. Backlight device. The cylindrical conductor according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the conductor has a cylindrical terminal in which one side of the circumferential surface for coupling with the lead wire is cut on one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are opened and one side of the circumferential surface is cut. Direct type backlight device, characterized in that. According to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the conductor is open on both sides and one side of the cylindrical body cut in one side of the circumferential surface, one or two terminals of semi-cylindrical shape for coupling with the lead wire is provided with A direct type backlight device. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the conductor is formed on one side of the cylindrical body in which both sides are open and one side of the circumferential surface is cut so that the terminal for coupling with the lead wire has an elastic force, by the elastic force of the metal plate The direct type backlight device, characterized in that the lead wire is configured to be fitted.

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