KR20060063023A - Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A backlight assembly having improved light efficiency and product reliability and a liquid crystal display device having the same are provided.

The backlight assembly of the present invention comprises a light source unit having a light source and a housing; A light guide plate for guiding the light irradiated from the light source unit to the front; And fixing means for fixing the light source unit and the light guide plate.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the light guide plate is firmly fixed to the light source unit by the fixing means, thereby preventing the lowering of the light efficiency due to the detachment of the light guide plate and blocking the possibility of detachment of the light guide plate, thereby improving product reliability.

Backlight assembly, liquid crystal display, fixing means, bent portion, locking step, light guide plate

Description

Backlight Assembly and Liquid Crystal Display Device Having the Same}             

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 2 shows the backlight assembly of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view illustrating the light guide plate of FIG. 3;

5 shows the housing of FIG. 3;

6 shows a backlight assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 shows a backlight assembly according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

8 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

9 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.                 

10 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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

11 light source unit 12 light guide plate

13: reflector 14: light source

15: housing

16, 32, 34, 42, 51, 52, 62, 71, 72: fastening means

17, 36, 38, 44, 53, 55, 64, 72, 76: bend

18, 37, 39, 46, 54, 56, 65, 73, 77

48, 57, 58: elastic member

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly having improved light efficiency and product reliability, and a liquid crystal display device having the same.

Light and small and high image display apparatuses capable of displaying an image are in the spotlight. The image display device includes a liquid crystal display device, a field emission display device, a plasma display panel, and an electro-luminescence device. .

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional liquid crystal display, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the backlight assembly of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, a conventional liquid crystal display device includes a support main 110 having an accommodation space, a backlight assembly 180 accommodated in the support main 110, and the backlight assembly 180. And a case top 170 supporting the liquid crystal panel 160 and the support main 110 and the liquid crystal panel 160. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display may further include a cover bottom for supporting the support main 110. The cover bottom is coupled to the case top 170 to support the support main 110 and the liquid crystal panel 160.

In the liquid crystal panel 160, a plurality of pixels including red, green, and blue colors are arranged in a matrix structure. The liquid crystal panel 160 is filled with liquid crystals between two substrates. The liquid crystal panel 160 generates a predetermined electric field according to the data voltage applied to each pixel, and the displacement of the liquid crystals is controlled according to the electric field to control the transmittance of light supplied from the backlight assembly 180. The image is displayed.

The backlight assembly 180 is provided at a side to illuminate light, and is provided on the same plane as the light source unit 140 to guide the light emitted from the light source unit 140 to the front. The light guide plate 130 and the optical sheets 150 stacked on the light guide plate 130 to diffuse light supplied from the light guide plate 130 are provided. The optical sheet 150 may include a diffusion sheet, a scattering sheet and the like. A reflecting plate 120 for reflecting light emitted from the light source unit 140 is attached to the bottom of the light guide plate 130.

2 shows a part of the backlight assembly, that is, the light source unit and the light guide plate.

1 and 2, the support main 110 is provided such that the light source unit 140 and the light guide plate 130 are located on the same plane. The light source unit 140 may be seated on a side surface of the support main 110, and the light guide plate 130 may be provided on the same plane as the light source unit 140.

The light source unit 140 includes a light source 142 that emits light, and a housing 144 formed to surround the light source 142 and to surround a part of the light guide plate 130 and the reflecting plate 120. The housing 144 surrounds a portion of the upper surface of the light guide plate 130 and a portion of the bottom surface of the reflective plate 120 to support the light guide plate 130 and the reflective plate 120.

However, in the conventional backlight assembly, the housing 144 simply supports the light guide plate 130 and the reflective plate 120 so that the light guide plate 130 and the reflective plate 120 may be easily separated from the housing 144. Accordingly, light loss may occur through the gap between the housing 144 and the light guide plate 130, thereby reducing light efficiency. In particular, when performing an impact experiment for confirming the degree to which the light guide plate 130 is separated from the housing 144 in the process, when the impact in the direction of the light incident portion, in the conventional backlight assembly structure, most of the light guide plate 130 And the reflector plate 120 tends to deviate from the housing. This problem is a major cause of deterioration of product quality.

An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device having the same, by fixing the light guide plate to the light source unit more rigidly, to prevent a decrease in light efficiency and to improve product reliability.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the liquid crystal display device comprises a backlight assembly having a light source unit having a light source and a housing and a fixing means for fixing the light guide plate; And a liquid crystal panel which controls a transmittance of light emitted from the backlight assembly to display a predetermined image.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a backlight assembly includes: a light source unit having a light source and a housing; A light guide plate for guiding the light irradiated from the light source unit to the front; And fixing means for fixing the light source unit and the light guide plate.

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

In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to elements having the same function.                     

3 is a view illustrating a backlight assembly according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a view showing the light guide plate of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view showing the housing of FIG. 3.

3 to 5, the backlight assembly 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided at a side of the light source unit 11 for irradiating light, and on the same plane as the light source unit 11. And a light guide plate 12 for guiding the light irradiated from the light source unit 11 to the front, and fixing means 16 for fixing the light source unit 11 and the light guide plate 12. The bottom of the light guide plate 12 is attached with a reflecting plate 13 for reflecting the light irradiated from the light source unit 11.

In all the embodiments of the present invention, the light source unit 11 is formed to surround a light source 14 emitting light and the light guide plate 12 and a part of the reflective plate 13 at the same time. The housing 15 is provided. The light source 14 may include a fluorescent lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. Although not shown in FIG. 3, a holder for fixing the light source 14 is formed in the housing 15. For example, two round plates are formed on the upper side of the holder to which the light source 14 can be inserted. The light source 14 may be inserted and fixed between two rounded plates. The housing 15 has two ends (upper end and lower end) which are bent vertically from the top and end in parallel.

The fixing means 16 includes a bent portion 17 formed at an upper end of the housing 15, and a locking step 18 formed at a portion of the light guide plate 12 corresponding to the bent portion 17. . In more detail, the bent portion 17 is formed in a 'b' shape on the upper end of the housing 15. The bent portion 17 may be formed in a 'Z' shape in addition to the 'b' character. That is, the bent portion 17 may be formed to be further bent in the direction of the light source 14. The locking step 18 is formed at the end of the light guide plate 12 in the direction of the light source 14. The locking step 18 may be formed to have a predetermined distance width from the end outer surface 22 of the light guide plate 12 in the direction of the light source 14, that is, the light incident surface. Alternatively, although not shown in FIG. 3, the latching jaw may be formed to have a predetermined width in an area spaced a predetermined distance from an end outer surface 22 in the direction of the light source 14 of the light guide plate 12. The upper surface 24 and the inner surface 23 of the locking jaw 18 is in surface contact with the bent portion 17. In this case, the inner surface 23 of the locking jaw 18 is caught by the bent surface 21 of the bent portion 17. On the other hand, the lower end of the housing 15 is formed in a straight shape as it is. That is, the backlight assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed at a portion corresponding to the bent portion 17 at the bent portion 17 formed at the upper end of the housing 15 of the light source unit 11. By engaging the locking projections 18 of the light guide plate 12, it is possible to prevent the light guide plate 12 from being separated from the light source unit 11 due to impact or vibration. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a decrease in light efficiency due to light loss and to improve reliability of a product of the backlight assembly.

In the backlight assembly 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the latching jaw 18 and the bent portion 17 are disposed in the housing due to spatial constraints caused by the reflective plate 13 attached to the bottom surface of the light guide plate 12. It is formed on each side of the 15 and the light guide plate 12.                     

The structure of the backlight assembly for overcoming the spatial constraints of the reflector and for securing the light guide plate further securely is shown in FIG. 6.

6 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 6, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention (see Fig. 1).

The backlight assembly 30 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include first and second fixing means 32 and 34 for fixing the light source unit 11 and the light guide plate 12. The light source unit 11 may include a light source 14 and a housing 15 surrounding the light source 14. The first fixing means 32 is a first hooked portion 36 formed at an upper end of the housing 15 and a first latch formed at a portion of the light guide plate 12 corresponding to the first bent portion 36. The jaw 37 is provided. The second fixing means 34 includes a second bent portion 38 formed at the lower end of the housing 15 and a second locking portion formed at a portion corresponding to the second bent portion 38 of the light guide plate 12. The jaw 39 is provided. The first locking jaw 36 and the second locking jaw 38 may be formed to face each other on the same line, and the first bent portion 37 and the second bent portion 39 may face each other on the same line. Can be. The reflective plate 13 may be attached to the bottom surface of the light guide plate 12 except for the length of the second bent portion 38. As such, by removing the reflective plate 13 by the length of the second bent portion 38, the first and second locking projections 37 and 39 may be formed on the upper and lower sides of the light guide plate 12.

In the backlight assembly 30 structure, the first locking jaw 37 is fixed by the first bent portion 36 and the second locking jaw 39 is fixed by the second bent portion 38. Will be. Therefore, since the upper and lower sides of the light guide plate 12 are fixed at the same time, it is possible to more firmly fix the light guide plate 12, thereby preventing the degradation of the light efficiency due to the separation of the light guide plate can further improve product reliability.

The locking step 18, 37, and 39 described above are smaller in size than the overall size of the light guide plate 12. Therefore, when the impact is strongly applied, the locking jaws 18, 37, 39 may be broken by the bent portions 17, 36, 38 of the housing 15. To solve this problem, a backlight assembly structure as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is derived.

7 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 7, the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment of the present invention. However, the backlight assembly 40 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is elastic to protect the light guide plate 12 by dispersing or buffering the force applied to the light guide plate 12 when impacting the first embodiment of the present invention. Member 48 may be further provided. In the third embodiment of the present invention, description of elements overlapping with the first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

The backlight assembly 40 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 11 having a light source 14 and a housing 15, a light guide plate 12, and a bent portion formed at an upper end of the housing 15. A fixing means 42 having a locking jaw 46 formed at a portion corresponding to the bent portion 44 of the 44 and the light guide plate 12, and the bending portion 44 is in contact with the locking jaw 46. The elastic member 48 interposed between the surfaces may be provided. The bottom of the light guide plate 12 may be further provided with a reflecting plate 13 for reflecting light. The elastic member 48 may be made of an elastic material that can disperse the force applied upon impact. For example, the elastic member 48 may be made of a rubber material. The elastic member 48 may be formed in the form of an adhesive tape and attached to the upper and inner surfaces of the locking jaw 46, and the elastic material is coated on the upper and inner surfaces of the locking jaw 46 by a coating process or the like. Can be. Therefore, when the impact is applied, the locking projection 46 of the light guide plate 12 may be prevented from being hit by the bending portion 44 and broken.

8 is a diagram illustrating a backlight assembly according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 8, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, description of elements overlapping with the second embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

The backlight assembly 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 11 having a light source 14 and a housing 15, a light guide plate 12, and a first end formed at an upper end of the housing 15. First fixing means 51 having a first locking jaw 54 formed at a portion of the bent portion 53 and the light guide plate 12 and corresponding to the first bent portion 53, and the first bent portion 53. ) Of the first elastic member 57 disposed between the contact surface of the first locking projection 54 and the second bent portion 55 and the light guide plate 12 formed at the lower end of the housing 15. A second fixing means 52 having a second locking jaw 56 formed at a portion corresponding to the second bent portion 55, and of the second bending portion 55 and the second locking jaw 56; A second elastic member 58 disposed between the contact surfaces is provided. The first and second elastic members 57 and 58 may be made of a rubber material capable of dispersing a force applied upon impact. The first and second elastic members 57 and 58 may be attached to the first and second locking jaws 53 and 55 in the form of a tape, and may be directly coated with a rubber material.

In the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention described above, the locking jaws 18, 37, 39, 46, 54, and 56 are fixed by the bent parts 17, 36, 38, 44, 53, and 55. However, even in this case, there may be a possibility that the light guide plate 12 is separated from the housing 15. 9 and 10 illustrate a backlight assembly structure capable of fundamentally preventing such deviation.

9 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the backlight assembly 60 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 11 having a light source 14 and a housing 15, a light guide plate 12, and a housing 15. Fixing means (62) having a bent portion (64) formed at the upper end of the () and a light guide plate (65) formed in a portion corresponding to the bent portion (64) of the light guide plate (12). The bent portion 64 has a shape that is bent inwardly to prevent the light guide plate 12 from being separated. The locking jaw 65 has a shape corresponding to an inwardly bent shape formed in the bent portion 64 to be fixed to the bent portion 64. Therefore, since some projections 67 of the locking jaw 65 and some projections 66 of the bent portion 64 are inserted and fixed to each other, it has a complete fixing function. Accordingly, the light guide plate 12 may never be separated from the housing 15, thereby improving reliability of the product and preventing a decrease in light efficiency due to light loss.

10 illustrates a backlight assembly according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the backlight assembly 70 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 11 having a light source 14 and a housing 15, a light guide plate 12, and a housing 15. First fixing means (71) having a first bent portion (72) formed at an upper end of the light guide plate and a first locking step (73) formed at a portion corresponding to the first bent portion (72) of the light guide plate (12); And a second bent portion 76 formed at a lower end of the housing 15 and a second locking step 77 formed at a portion of the light guide plate 12 corresponding to the second bent portion 76. And fixing means 72. Each of the first and second bent portions 72 and 76 has a shape that is bent inwardly to prevent the light guide plate 12 from being separated. The first and second locking jaws 73 and 77 are formed in the first and second bent portions 72 and 76 so as to be locked to the first and second bent portions 72 and 76, respectively. It has a shape corresponding to the shape bent into. Therefore, some protrusions 75 of the first locking jaw 73 and some protrusions 74 of the first bent portion 72 are inserted into and fixed to each other, and some protrusions 79 of the second locking jaw 77 are fixed. ) And some projections 78 of the second bent portion 76 are inserted and fixed to each other, thereby having a complete fixing function. Accordingly, the light guide plate 12 is never detached from the housing 15, thereby improving reliability of the product and preventing a decrease in light efficiency due to light loss.                     

Each of the fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention may further include an elastic member for alleviating impact and preventing cracking of the light guide plate 12.

Although six embodiments are described in the above description, more embodiments may exist for a structure in which the light guide plate, which is a technical idea pursued in the present invention, is not separated from the light source unit. Therefore, although not described above, any technology falling within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention may be regarded as the technical idea of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the fixing means at the end of the housing and the end of the light guide plate corresponding thereto, it is possible to prevent the light efficiency caused by the detachment of the light guide plate and further improve the reliability of the product.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (18)

A backlight assembly having a light source unit having a light source and a housing and a fixing means for fixing the light guide plate, the backlight assembly illuminating light; And Liquid crystal panel for displaying a predetermined image by controlling the transmittance of light irradiated from the backlight assembly Liquid crystal display comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing means, A bent portion formed at one end of the housing; And A locking step formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the bent portion Liquid crystal display comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing means, A first bent portion formed at an upper end of the housing; A first latching jaw formed at a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the first bent portion; A second bent portion formed at a lower end of the housing; And A second locking step formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the second bent portion; Liquid crystal display comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing means, A bent portion formed at one end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; And A locking step formed in a portion corresponding to the bent portion of the light guide plate and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the bent portion. Liquid crystal display comprising a. The elastic member according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the bent portion and the latching jaw are provided at a portion in contact with the surface to disperse the impact amount. Liquid crystal display device further comprising. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing means, A first bent portion formed at an upper end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; A first latching jaw formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the first bent portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the first bent portion; A second bent portion formed at a lower end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; And A second locking step formed in a portion corresponding to the second bent portion of the light guide plate and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the second bent portion; Liquid crystal display comprising a. According to claim 3 or 6, The first bent portion and the first elastic member is provided in a portion where the first engaging projection is in contact with the first elastic member for dispersing the impact amount; And A second elastic member provided at a portion where the second bent portion and the second locking jaw are in surface contact with each other to disperse an impact amount; Liquid crystal display device further comprising. A light source unit having a light source and a housing; A light guide plate for guiding the light irradiated from the light source unit to the front; And Fixing means for fixing the light source unit and the light guide plate Backlight assembly comprising a. The backlight assembly of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises one of a fluorescent lamp, a light emitting diode, and an organic light emitting diode. The reflector of claim 8, further comprising a reflector provided on a bottom surface of the light guide plate to reflect light from the light source. The backlight assembly further comprising. The method of claim 8, wherein the fixing means, A bent portion formed at one end of the housing; And A locking step formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the bent portion Backlight assembly comprising a. The method of claim 8, wherein the fixing means, A first bent portion formed at an upper end of the housing; A first latching jaw formed at a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the first bent portion; A second bent portion formed at a lower end of the housing; And A second locking step formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the second bent portion; Backlight assembly comprising a. The method of claim 8, wherein the fixing means, A bent portion formed at one end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; And A locking step formed in a portion corresponding to the bent portion of the light guide plate and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the bent portion. Backlight assembly comprising a. The elastic member according to claim 11 or 13, wherein the bent portion and the latching jaw are provided at a portion contacting the surface to disperse the impact amount. The backlight assembly further comprises. The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein the elastic member is made of a rubber material. The method of claim 8, wherein the fixing means, A first bent portion formed at an upper end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; A first latching jaw formed in a portion of the light guide plate corresponding to the first bent portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the first bent portion; A second bent portion formed at a lower end of the housing and having a shape bent inwardly of the housing; And A second locking step formed in a portion corresponding to the second bent portion of the light guide plate and having a shape corresponding to the bent shape formed in the second bent portion; Backlight assembly comprising a. 17. The apparatus of claim 12 or 16, further comprising: a first elastic member provided at a portion where the first bent portion and the first locking jaw are in surface contact with each other to disperse an impact amount; And A second elastic member provided at a portion where the second bent portion and the second locking jaw are in surface contact with each other to disperse an impact amount; The backlight assembly further comprises. 18. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the first and second elastic members are made of rubber.

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