KR20050090825A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In the display device, the display unit includes a driver for generating a driving signal in response to an external signal, a display panel for displaying an image in response to the driving signal, and a connection member coupled to the display panel to provide an external signal to the driver. In addition, the backlight unit includes a light source member provided in the connection member and a light guide member that receives light from the light source and guides the light toward the display panel. Therefore, the assembly process time of the display device can be shortened and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Description

Display device {DISPLAY APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device capable of improving productivity.

In general, the liquid crystal display device includes a backlight unit disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel and generating light and providing the light to the liquid crystal display panel. However, the backlight unit not only increases the weight and volume of the liquid crystal display, but also has a high power consumption. In particular, this problem of the backlight unit is more serious in a portable liquid crystal display device which requires light weight, small size and low power consumption.

In order to overcome the above problems, recently, the liquid crystal display device employs a backlight unit including a light emitting diode (LED), which is a point light source. As LEDs not only reduce power consumption, but also are suitable for light and thin components, more backlight units employing LEDs are increasing. In particular, since the LED has a narrow irradiation distance, the LED is used in a small and medium-sized portable liquid crystal display having a small display area.

In addition to the LED, the liquid crystal display employing the LED further includes a component for driving the LED or a component for assembling the LED to the liquid crystal display. That is, the liquid crystal display device employing the LED not only increases the assembly process time due to the above components, but also increases the manufacturing cost, thereby lowering the overall productivity of the liquid crystal display device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve the productivity of a display device employing a point light source.

A display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display unit and a backlight unit. The display unit includes a driver generating a driving signal in response to an external signal, a display panel displaying an image in response to the driving signal, and a connection member coupled to the display panel to provide the external signal to the driver. The backlight unit may include a light source provided in the connection member and a light guide member configured to receive the light from the light source and guide the light toward the display panel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a display device includes a display unit, a backlight unit, and a storage unit.

The display unit includes a driver generating a driving signal in response to an external signal, a liquid crystal display panel displaying an image in response to the driving signal, and a connection film coupled to the liquid crystal display panel to provide the external signal to the driver. The backlight unit may include a point light source that receives a light generation signal through the connection film, and a light guide plate that receives the light from the point light source and guides the light toward the liquid crystal display panel.

The accommodation unit includes a mold frame and a chassis to accommodate the backlight unit and the display unit. An accommodating space for accommodating the point light source is formed in the mold frame, and the chassis includes a first through hole having a size that allows the point light source to pass through a position corresponding to the accommodating space.

According to such a display device, the light source is provided in the connection film attached to the display panel to receive the light generation signal through the connection film to generate the light. Accordingly, the display device does not require a separate component for driving the light source, thereby shortening the manufacturing cost and the assembly process time of the display device.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line AA ′ of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, the liquid crystal display device 600 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the display unit 100 for displaying an image and the rear surface of the display unit 100 to generate light. And a backlight unit 200 provided to the display unit 100.

The display unit 100 is a display panel 110 for displaying the image, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 120 coupled to the display panel 110 to receive an external signal, and the The driver 130 may generate a driving signal for driving the display panel 110 in response to an external signal.

The display panel 110 includes an array substrate 111, a color filter substrate 112 facing the array substrate 111, and a liquid crystal interposed between the array substrate 111 and the color filter substrate 112. It consists of layers (not shown).

One end 111a of the array substrate 111 extends longer than one end 112a of the color filter substrate 112. Therefore, the driver 130 having a chip shape is mounted on one end 111a of the array substrate 111. In addition, the FPC 120 is attached to one end 111a of the array substrate 111 to provide the external signal to the driver 130.

The first surface 121 of the FPC 120 is provided with first to third LEDs 211, 212, and 213 in the form of point light sources. The first to third LEDs 211 to 213 generate the light in response to a light generation signal from the outside applied through the FPC 120. Although not shown in the drawing, the FPC 120 is provided with various wirings for providing the light generation signal to the first to third LEDs 211 to 213. The first to third LEDs 211 to 213 will be described in detail later in the description of the backlight unit 200.

The backlight unit 200 includes first to third LEDs 211 to 213 that generate the light, and a light guide plate 220 that guides the light and exits in the direction of the display panel 110.

Each of the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 generates injected minority carriers (electrons or holes) using a p-n junction structure of a semiconductor, and emits light by recombination thereof. Here, the number of the LED is not limited to three but may be variously changed.

The light guide plate 220 has a rectangular plate shape having a size corresponding to that of the display panel 110. The light guide plate 220 includes an incident surface 221, an exit surface 222, and a reflective surface 223.

The incident surface 221 receives the light from the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 adjacent to the first to third LEDs 211 to 213. The emission surface 222 extends from the first end 221a of the incident surface 221 to emit the incident light. The reflective surface 223 extends from the second end 221b of the incident surface 221 to face the emission surface 222, and reflects the incident light toward the emission surface 222.

In FIG. 1, the light guide plate 220 has a flat plate shape in which a distance between the emission surface 222 and the reflective surface 223 is constant. However, the light guide plate according to the present invention may have a wedge shape in which the distance between the emission surface 222 and the reflective surface 223 becomes narrower as the distance from the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 increases.

A plurality of optical sheets 230 are disposed on the emission surface 222 to improve optical characteristics of light emitted from the emission surface 222. The plurality of optical sheets 230 are formed to have a size corresponding to the exit surface 222 and are disposed on the exit surface 222.

Meanwhile, a reflecting plate 240 formed to have a size corresponding to the reflecting surface 223 is disposed below the reflecting surface 223. The reflection plate 240 reflects the light leaking from the reflection surface 222 toward the light guide plate 220 to improve the light efficiency of the backlight unit 200.

The liquid crystal display device 600 further includes an accommodation unit 500 that accommodates the backlight unit 200 and the display unit 100. The storage unit 500 includes a mold frame 300 and a bottom chassis 400.

3 is a plan view illustrating a coupling relationship between a mold frame, a light guide plate, and first to third LEDs illustrated in FIG. 1.

1 to 3, the mold frame 300 has a rectangular frame shape including first to fourth sidewalls 310, 320, 330, and 340. The mold frame 300 includes a first accommodating space R1 accommodating the light guide plate 220 and a reflecting plate 240, and second and third accommodating spaces accommodating the first to third LEDs 211 to 213. (R2, R3) are formed.

In the first storage space R1 defined by the first to fourth sidewalls 310, 320, 330, and 340, the reflective plate 240, the light guide plate 220, and the plurality of optical sheets 230 are sequentially formed. It is stored. The second and third storage spaces R2 and R3 are recessed to a predetermined depth from the first sidewall 310. The first and second LEDs 211 and 212 are accommodated in the second storage space R2, and the third LED 213 is stored in the third storage space R3.

Here, the mold frame 300 has two receiving spaces R2 and R3 to accommodate the first to third LEDs 211 to 213. However, the mold frame 300 may include one accommodating space (not shown) accommodating all of the first third LEDs 211 to 213 or three accommodating the first to third LEDs 211 to 213, respectively. It may have three storage spaces (not shown).

First to fourth stepped portions 311, 321, 331, and 341 are formed on upper ends of the first to fourth sidewalls 310 to 340, respectively, and on the first to fourth stepped portions 311 to 341. The display unit 100 is seated. An edge of the display panel 110 seated on the first to fourth stepped portions 311 to 341 may have the first to fourth sidewalls so that the display unit 100 does not leave the mold frame 300. Guided by 310 to 340).

Meanwhile, an upper end of the first sidewall 310 is partially cut and a first height h1 of the first sidewall 310 in the cut out area is defined by the second to fourth sidewalls 320 to 340. 2 is lower than the height (h2). The reason why the first height h1 of the first sidewall 310 is lowered in the cutout region will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom chassis shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

1 to 4, the bottom chassis 400 includes a bottom surface 410 and fifth to eighth sidewalls 420, 430, 440, and 450 extending from the bottom surface 410. Coupling with the frame 300. The mold frame 300 is seated on the bottom surface 410, and the first to fourth sidewalls 310 to 340 of the mold frame 300 are the fifth to eighth portions of the bottom chassis 400. Coupling against the side walls (420 to 450).

In particular, first and second protrusions 331 and 332 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) are formed in the third sidewall 330 of the mold frame 300 and face the third sidewall 330. First and second fixing grooves 441 and 442 are formed in the seventh sidewall 440 of the bottom chassis 400. In addition, third and fourth protrusions 341 and 342 (shown in FIG. 3) are formed on the fourth sidewall 340 of the mold frame 300, and the bottom faces the fourth sidewall 340. Third and fourth fixing grooves 451 and 452 are formed in the eighth sidewall 450 of the chassis 400.

Subsequently, when the mold frame 300 is coupled to face the bottom chassis 400, the first and second protrusions 331 and 332 are fitted into the first and second fixing grooves 441 and 442, respectively. The third and fourth protrusions 341 and 342 are fitted into the third and fourth fixing grooves 451 and 452, respectively. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the mold frame 300 is coupled to the bottom chassis 400, the reflecting plate 240 and the light guide plate 220 accommodated in the mold frame 300 may have the bottom chassis ( Supported by the bottom surface 410.

First and second through holes 411 and 412 formed through the bottom surface 410 are formed in the bottom surface 410 of the bottom chassis 400. The first through hole 411 is provided at a position corresponding to the second accommodating space R2 of the mold frame 300, and the second through hole 412 is formed in the first portion of the mold frame 300. It is provided in the position corresponding to 3 storage spaces R3.

Meanwhile, the FPC 120 attached to one end 111a of the array substrate 111 may have an upper end of the first sidewall 310 of the mold frame 300 and the fifth of the bottom chassis 400. The side wall 420 is bent to be bent to the rear surface 460 of the bottom chassis 400.

When the FPC 120 is disposed on the rear surface 460, the first and second LEDs 211 and 212 pass through the first through hole 411 of the bottom chassis 400 to form the mold frame ( It is stored in the second storage space (R2) of 300. In addition, the third LED 213 passes through the second through hole 412 of the bottom chassis 400 and is received in the third storage space R3 of the mold frame 300.

Accordingly, the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 accommodated in the second and third storage spaces R2 and R3 may be disposed to be adjacent to the incident surface 221 of the light guide plate 220. . As a result, the light generated from the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 is incident into the light guide plate 220 through the incident surface 221.

As such, since the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 are provided in the FPC 120 for the display panel 110 attached to the display panel 110, the liquid crystal display device 600 may be configured as the first to third LEDs 211 to 213. The FPC for the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 is not provided separately. Therefore, the FPC for the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 is removed from the liquid crystal display device 600, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device 600. In addition, the assembling process of the FPCs for the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 may be removed to shorten the assembling process time of the liquid crystal display device 600.

5 is a plan view of the display unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the display unit 100 may receive a driving signal for driving the display panel 110, the FPC 120 receiving the external signal, and the display panel 110 in response to the external signal. It includes the driver 130 to output.

The driver 130 consists of one chip and is mounted on one end 111a of the array substrate 111. Although not shown in the drawing, the driver 130 includes a gate driving circuit for generating a gate signal and a data driving circuit for generating a data signal.

The display panel 110 is divided into a display area DA displaying an image and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA. First to nth gate lines GL1 to GLn receiving the gate signal from the driver 130 and the data signal from the driver 130 in the array substrate 111 corresponding to the display area DA. First to mth data lines DL1 to DLm are provided. The first to nth gate lines GL1 to GLn extend in a first direction D1, and the first to mth data lines DL1 to DLm are orthogonal to the first direction D1. Extend in the direction D2.

The display area DA further includes a plurality of thin film transistors (hereinafter referred to as TFTs) and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the TFTs, respectively. For example, a gate electrode of a first TFT Tr1 is connected to the first gate line GL1, and a source electrode of the first TFT Tr1 is connected to the first data line DL1. The drain electrode of the first TFT Tr1 is coupled with the first pixel electrode PE1. Therefore, the plurality of TFTs and the plurality of pixel electrodes are formed in a matrix form on the array substrate 111.

On the other hand, the color filter substrate 213 corresponds to the display area DA, and the common electrode CE facing the pixel electrodes with red, green and blue color pixels (not shown) and the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. ) Is provided. For example, the common electrode CE forms a first liquid crystal capacitor Clc1 facing the first pixel electrode PE1 with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. Therefore, the drain electrode of the first TFT Tr1 is connected to the first liquid crystal capacitor Clc1. Thus, the liquid crystal layer is arranged by the voltage difference applied to the pixel electrode and the common electrode to adjust the transmittance of the light provided from the backlight unit 200.

6 is a plan view of a display unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements as in FIG. 5, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the display unit 101 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driver 140 includes a data driving circuit (not shown) for generating a data signal and a gate driving circuit for generating a gate signal ( 150 is embedded in the peripheral area PA of the display panel 110.

The driver 140 is electrically connected to the first to m th data lines DL1 to DLm to provide the data signal to the first to m th data lines DL1 to DLm. In addition, the driver 140 is connected to the gate driving circuit 150 to provide various signals necessary for the gate driving circuit 150 to generate the gate signal. The gate driving circuit 150 is electrically connected to the first to nth gate lines GL1 to GLn in the peripheral area PA, so that the gate signal is connected to the first to nth gate lines GL1 to GLn. To provide.

7 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. However, in FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as in FIG. 2, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, the liquid crystal display 601 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the display unit 100 for displaying an image and on the rear surface of the display unit 100 and generates the light to generate the display. The backlight unit 200, which is provided to the unit 100, and the storage unit 500 that accommodates the display unit 100 and the backlight unit 200.

The display unit 100 is coupled to the display panel 110 for displaying an image, the FPC 120 coupled to the display panel 110 to receive an external signal, and the display panel 110 in response to the external signal. The driver 130 for generating a driving signal for driving a.

The backlight unit 200 includes an LED 214 mounted on the FPC 120 to generate the light and the light guide plate 220 to guide the light to the display panel 110.

The accommodating unit 500 includes a mold frame 300 and a bottom chassis 400, and the first accommodating space R1 and the LEDs 214 accommodate the light guide plate 220 in the mold frame 300. ) Is a fourth storage space (R4) for receiving. The first sidewall 310 of the mold frame 300 has a third through hole 311 penetrating the first sidewall 310 and serving as a passage connecting the fourth storage space R4 to the outside. Is formed. In addition, a fourth through hole 421 penetrating the fifth side wall 420 is formed in the fifth side wall 420 of the bottom chassis 400 corresponding to the third through hole 311.

The FPC 120 attached to one end 111a of the array substrate 111 may have an upper end of the first sidewall 310 of the mold frame 300 and the fifth sidewall of the bottom chassis 400. 420 is bent to the back 460 of the bottom chassis 400 while wrapping. Here, the LED 214 provided in the FPC 120 sequentially passes through the fourth through hole 421 of the bottom chassis 400 and the third through hole 311 of the mold frame 300. As a result, it is accommodated in the fourth storage space R4 of the mold frame 300.

Therefore, the LED 214 accommodated in the fourth storage space R4 may be disposed to be adjacent to the incident surface 221 of the light guide plate 220. As a result, the light generated from the LED 214 is incident into the light guide plate 220 through the incident surface 221.

As such, when the LED 214 penetrates through the first and fifth sidewalls 310 and 420 and is received in the fourth accommodation space R4, the length of the FPC 120 is reduced. As shown in FIG. 2, when the LEDs 211 to 213 pass through the bottom surface 410 of the bottom chassis 400, the second storage space R2 is accommodated. The FPC 120 extends to the bottom surface 410 of the bottom chassis 400. However, when the LED 214 penetrates through the first and fifth sidewalls 310 and 420 and is received in the fourth storage space R4, the FPC 120 extends to the fifth sidewall 420. Can be. Therefore, the length of the FPC 120 can be reduced, thereby further reducing the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display 601.

According to such a display device, the LED is provided in the display panel FPC attached to the display panel to receive the light generation signal through the display panel FPC to generate the light.

Therefore, the display device does not need a separate FPC for LED to drive the LED. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the display device can be reduced, and the assembly process time can be shortened.

Although described with reference to the embodiments above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

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

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line A-A` shown in FIG.

3 is a plan view illustrating a coupling relationship between a mold frame, a light guide plate, and a plurality of LEDs illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom chassis shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a plan view illustrating the display unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

6 is a plan view illustrating a display unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100, 101: display unit 110: display panel

120: FPC 130: driver

200: backlight unit 211, 212, 213: first to third LED

220: light guide plate 300: mold frame

400: bottom chassis 500: storage unit

600, 601: liquid crystal display device

Claims (18)

A display unit having a driver generating a driving signal in response to an external signal, a display panel displaying an image in response to the driving signal, and a connection member coupled to the display panel to provide the external signal to the driver; And And a backlight unit provided in the connection member and having a light source for generating light and a light guide member for receiving the light from the light source and guiding the light toward the display panel. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit accommodating the backlight unit and the display unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the storage unit, A first accommodating member having a frame shape by the first side wall, the first accommodating member including a first accommodating space accommodating the light guide member and a second accommodating space recessed from the first side wall to accommodate the light source; And A second accommodating member including a bottom surface and a second sidewall extending from the bottom surface, the second accommodating member having a first through hole penetrating the bottom surface at a position corresponding to the second accommodating space, and coupled to the first accommodating space; Display device comprising a. The display device of claim 3, wherein the light source provided in the connection member is stored in the second accommodation space of the first accommodation member through the first through hole of the second accommodation member. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first accommodating member further includes a stepped portion at an upper end of the first sidewall, and the display unit is seated on the stepped portion. The method of claim 2, wherein the storage unit, The first side wall has a frame shape, has a first storage space for receiving the light guide member and a second storage space for receiving the light source, and connects the second storage space to the outside on the first sidewall. A first receiving member having a second through hole formed therein; And A second accommodating member including a bottom surface and a second sidewall extending to the bottom surface, the second accommodating member having a third through hole penetrating the second side wall at a position corresponding to the second accommodating space and coupled to the first accommodating space; Display device comprising a. The method of claim 6, wherein the light source provided in the connecting member is sequentially passed through the third through hole of the second receiving member and the second through hole of the second receiving member to the A display device, characterized in that stored in the second storage space. The display device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a point light source. The method of claim 1, wherein the light guide member, An incident surface receiving the light adjacent to the light source; An emitting surface extending from the first end of the incident surface and emitting the light provided through the incident surface; And And a reflective surface extending from the second end of the incident surface to face the emission surface and reflecting the light provided through the entrance surface in the direction of the emission surface. The method of claim 1, wherein the backlight unit, An optical sheet provided on the emission surface to improve optical characteristics of the light emitted from the emission surface; And And a reflector disposed below the reflecting surface to reflect the light leaking from the reflecting surface toward the light guide plate. The display device of claim 1, wherein the connection member is made of a flexible film. The display device of claim 1, wherein the driver has a chip shape and is provided on the display panel. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver, A gate driver generating a gate signal among the driving signals; And And a data driver for generating a data signal among the driving signals. The display device of claim 13, wherein the gate driver is embedded in the display panel. A display unit having a driver generating a driving signal in response to an external signal, a liquid crystal display panel displaying an image in response to the driving signal, and a connection film coupled to the liquid crystal display panel to provide the external signal to the driver; A backlight unit having a point light source that receives a light generation signal through the connection film and generates light, and a light guide plate that receives the light from the point light source and guides the light toward the liquid crystal display panel; And A storage unit accommodating the backlight unit and the display unit, The storage unit, A mold frame in which a storage space for storing the point light source is formed; And And a chassis in which a first through hole is formed at a position corresponding to the storage space so that the point light source passes. The display device of claim 15, wherein the chassis comprises a bottom surface and sidewalls extending from the bottom surface, and the first through hole is formed through the bottom surface. The display device of claim 15, wherein the mold frame has a rectangular frame shape formed by a first sidewall, and a second through hole is formed in the first sidewall to connect the storage space to the outside. 18. The chassis of claim 17, wherein the chassis comprises a bottom surface and a second side wall extending from the bottom surface, wherein the first through hole is formed through the second side wall at a position corresponding to the second through hole. Display device characterized in that.