KR20080032284A - Backlight assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A backlight assembly is provided to enable a lamp ground member to ground an electrode unit of a lamp on a receiving vessel, thereby omitting single-piece parts for grounding the electrode unit of the lamp and accordingly reducing the number of component parts of the backlight assembly. Plural lamps(10) include a lamp body(11) and first and second electrode units(13) respectively formed in end parts of the lamp body. A receiving vessel includes a bottom plate(32) where the lamps are arranged, and a side wall for forming a receiving space by being prolonged from the bottom plate. A lamp ground member includes a ground plate(41) grounded in the bottom plate, and plural electrode ground units(42) which are protruded from the ground plate to be contacted with the first electrode unit.

Description

Backlight Assembly {BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY}

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

2 is a perspective view of the lamp ground member shown in FIG.

3 is a plan view of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line II-II ′.

6 is an exploded perspective view of a backlight assembly in another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a perspective view of the lamp ground member shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the side cover shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III ′ of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV ′ of FIG. 6.

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

5: power supply board 10: lamp

11 lamp body 13 first electrode portion

20: lamp supporter 30: storage container

34: first fastening hole 40: lamp ground member

41: upper portion 42: electrode ground portion

43: first fixing portion 44: second fixing portion

45 guide opening 47 second fastening hole

48: side portion 61, 65: side cover

66: protrusion 70: optical sheet

100: backlight assembly

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a backlight assembly with a reduced number of components for grounding.

In general, a backlight assembly of a liquid crystal display device is a direct method of irradiating light to a liquid crystal panel by placing a lamp, which is a light source, on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, and a light guide plate is provided on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, and the lamp is disposed on at least one side of the light guide plate Thus, the light is separated into an edge method for irradiating light to the liquid crystal panel through the light guide plate. The direct method is light uniformity and durability is lower than the edge method, but because it drives a plurality of lamps in parallel it is mainly used in large liquid crystal display devices that require high brightness due to excellent light utilization efficiency.

 When driving the lamps on a single side, a lamp driving voltage is applied to the hot electrode of the lamp, and the cold electrode of the lamp is grounded. The hot electrode may be electrically connected to the inverter through a lamp holder or a lamp socket. When the lamp holder is used, the hot electrode may be electrically connected to the inverter through a lamp holder, a wire soldered to the hot electrode inserted into the lamp holder, and a connector formed at an end of the wire.

On the other hand, the cold electrode may be grounded to the bottom chassis using a lamp holder or lamp socket. When the lamp holder is used, the cold electrode may be grounded by inserting a cold electrode into the lamp holder and connecting a metal piece screwed to the cold electrode and the bottom chassis with a wire.

When using a lampholder, a plurality of lampholders are coupled to a lamp alignment plate of metal material screwed to the bottom chassis. At this time, the terminal of the lamp socket is in direct contact with the cold electrode and the lamp alignment plate, the cold electrode can be grounded to the bottom chassis.

In the grounding method of the cold electrode as described above, a number of units such as a lamp holder, a wire, a screw, a lamp socket, and a lamp alignment plate are used. In addition, there is a problem that the step of assembling the backlight assembly increases due to a lamp coupling process, a soldering process, and a screw fastening process in each of the lampholders or the lampholders.

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a backlight assembly having a reduced number of components for grounding a plurality of lamps.

In order to realize the above object of the present invention, a backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps, a storage container, and a lamp ground member. The lamp includes a lamp body and a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion respectively formed at the ends of the lamp body. The storage container includes a bottom plate on which lamps are disposed and a side wall extending from the bottom plate to form a storage space. The lamp ground member includes a ground plate and a plurality of electrode ground portions. The ground plate is grounded to the bottom plate, and each electrode ground portion protrudes from the ground plate to contact the first electrode portion.

In one embodiment, the ground plate includes a top portion and a side portion. The upper surface portion faces the bottom plate, and a plurality of electrode ground portions are formed on the upper surface portion. The side portion extends from the edge of the upper surface portion and contacts the bottom plate. Each electrode ground portion includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion. The first fixing part contacts one side of the first electrode part. The second fixing part is spaced apart from the first fixing part in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the ground plate, and is in contact with the other side of the first electrode. The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are formed by cutting a portion of the upper surface portion and bending the upper portion, respectively. When observing from the width direction, the 1st fixing part and the 2nd fixing part are arrange | positioned at Y shape. When observing in the longitudinal direction, the first fixing part and the second fixing part are arranged in the shape of an 11 character. At the corners where the top and side portions meet, openings are formed in which end portions of the lamps are disposed corresponding to the electrode ground portions, respectively.

In another embodiment, a portion of the upper surface portion is formed to be cut and bent so as to be parallel to the side portion disposed in the width direction. A support groove in which the first electrode part is disposed is formed at the upper edge of the electrode ground part. The backlight assembly further includes a side cover covering the lamp ground member. Protrusions are formed in the side cover to couple the support grooves to restrain the first electrode. The side cover includes a support plate and a top plate. Guide plates are formed in the support plate to prevent interference with the lamps. The top plate extends from the support plate to face the bottom plate. Protrusions are formed on the back of the top plate.

Fastening holes for screwing are formed in the upper surface between the electrode grounds. The backlight assembly may further include a power supply substrate and a lamp holder. The lamp holder is coupled to the second electrode part to electrically connect the second electrode part and the power supply substrate. The power supply substrate applies a lamp driving power to the second electrode portion.

According to the backlight assembly and the display device, the first electrode portion of the lamp can be grounded in a small number of units and processes, thereby reducing the number of components of the backlight assembly and improving the efficiency of the automatic assembly process.

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

Backlight assembly

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the backlight assembly 100 includes a plurality of lamps 10, a storage container 30, and a lamp ground member 40.

In this embodiment, the lamp 10 is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL). In another embodiment, the lamp 10 may be an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL).

The lamp 10 includes a lamp body 11, a first electrode part 13, and a second electrode part. The lamp body 11 is a straight tube into which discharge gas such as argon and mercury are injected, and phosphors are coated on the inner wall of the lamp body 11. The first electrode portion 13 and the second electrode portion are arranged to face each other at both ends of the lamp body 11. The first electrode part 13 and the second electrode part each include a discharge electrode and a lead wire. The discharge electrode is disposed inside the lamp body 11, and the lead wire extends from the discharge electrode to the outside of the lamp body 11. Hereinafter, the 1st electrode part 13 and the 2nd electrode part are used as what refers to a lead wire.

The storage container 30 accommodates the plurality of lamps 10. The storage container 30 includes a bottom plate 32, a first sidewall 31, a second sidewall 33, a third sidewall 35, and a fourth sidewall 37.

The bottom plate 32 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the first side wall 31, the second side wall 33, the third side wall 35 and the fourth side wall 37 are formed from four sides of the bottom plate 32. Each extends to form a storage space. The first side wall 31 and the second side wall 33 are disposed to face each other, the third side wall 35 and the fourth side wall 37 are opposite to each other and the first side wall 31 and the second side wall 33 Connect each of them.

Stepped portions are formed at upper ends of the third sidewall 35 and the fourth sidewall 37. A plurality of first fastening holes 34 for screwing are formed in the bottom plate 32 adjacent to the first side wall 31. In the bottom plate 32 adjacent to the second side wall 33, a plurality of wire drawing holes for wire withdrawal are formed along the second side wall 33.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a lamp holder 15 and a connector 17. The lamp holder 15 receives an end portion of the lamp 10 in which the second electrode part is formed. Two lamps 10 are coupled to one lamp holder 15. The lamp holder 15 is fixed to the bottom plate 32 near the second side wall 33, and the connector 17 connected to the lamp holder 15 is led out to the rear surface of the bottom plate 32 through the wire extraction hole. .

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a plurality of lamp supporters 20. The lamp supporters 20 are fixed to the bottom plate 32. The lamp supporter 20 aligns the lamps 10 side by side with each other, and prevents the lamps 10 from sagging.

2 is a perspective view of the lamp ground member shown in FIG. 3 is a plan view of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

2 and 3, the lamp ground member 40 supports the end of the lamp 10 in which the first electrode 13 is formed. The lamp ground member 40 may be formed of a conductive metal. The lamp ground member 40 is fixed to the bottom plate 32 to cover the first fastening holes 34 formed near the first side wall 31. The lamp ground member 40 includes a ground plate 41 and a plurality of electrode grounds 42.

The ground plate 41 includes an upper surface portion 46 and a side portion 48.

The upper surface portion 46 has a quadrangular plate shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lamp 10. The side portion 48 extends from each of the four edges of the upper surface portion 46 and is in contact with the bottom plate 32 of the storage container 30 to be grounded. The upper surface portion 46 is formed with a plurality of electrode ground portions 42 at regular intervals. Each electrode ground portion 42 fixes the first electrode portion 13 of the lamp 10, and grounds the first electrode portion 13 to the bottom plate 32.

Each electrode ground portion 42 includes a first fixing portion 43 and a second fixing portion 44. The first electrode part 13 is sandwiched between the first fixing part 43 and the second fixing part 44. Accordingly, the first fixing part 43 is in contact with one side of the first electrode part 13 having a rod shape, and the second fixing part 44 is in contact with the other side of the first electrode part 13.

The first fixing part 43 and the second fixing part 44 are formed by cutting a part of the upper surface part 46 of the ground plate 41, respectively. A portion of the upper surface portion 46 is cut in a predetermined width along the longitudinal direction of the upper surface portion 46, and then bent upwards to form the first fixing portion 43. As a result, the first fixing part 43 extends in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface part 46, and the upper end of the first fixing part 43 is once again in the direction in which the first fixing part 43 is bent. It is more bent.

The second fixing part 44 is formed at a position spaced apart from the first fixing part 43 in the longitudinal direction of the lamp 10 and the longitudinal direction of the upper surface part 46, respectively. After a portion of the upper surface portion 46 is cut off, the first fixing portion 43 is bent in a direction opposite to the bending direction to form the second fixing portion 44. The upper end of the second fixing part 44 is bent again in the direction in which the second fixing part 44 is bent again.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line II-II ′.

4 and 5, when observed in the width direction of the upper surface portion 46, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the lamp 10, the first fixing portion 43 and the second fixing portion 44 are approximately Y-shaped. Arranged in shape. When observing from the longitudinal direction of the upper surface part 46, the 1st fixing part 43 and the 2nd fixing part 44 are arrange | positioned in 11 shape substantially.

A plurality of guide openings 45 are formed at the corners of the ground plate 41 where the upper surface portion 46 and the side portion 48 meet. The guide openings 45 are formed at predetermined edges in a width direction of the upper surface portion 46 and a height direction of the side surface portion 48, respectively. The guide opening 45 prevents interference between the end of the lamp 10 and the ground plate 41 when the lamp 10 is coupled to the electrode ground 42. In another embodiment, when the heights of the first fixing part 43 and the second fixing part 44 are sufficiently large, the guide opening 45 formed at the corner may be omitted.

Second fastening holes 47 are formed in the upper surface portion 46 between the electrode ground portions 42. The second fastening holes 47 are aligned to correspond to the first fastening holes 34 formed in the bottom plate 32, respectively. The screw 49 is coupled to each of the first fastening holes 34 and the second fastening holes 47 to fix the lamp ground member 40 to the bottom plate 32. In another embodiment, a fastening hole may be formed in the upper surface part 46, and a fastening protrusion inserted into the fastening hole may be formed in the bottom plate 32. Alternatively, a fastening hole may be formed in the bottom plate 32, and a fastening protrusion may be formed in the upper surface part 46.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a power supply substrate 5. The power supply substrate 5 is disposed on the rear surface of the bottom plate 32 to output the lamp driving voltage. The connector 17 is electrically connected to the second electrode portion via a wire. The connector 17 drawn out through the wire drawing hole is electrically connected to a terminal formed on the power supply board 5.

When the lamp driving voltage is applied, an electric field is formed between the first electrode part 13 and the second electrode part, and an arc discharge is generated from the second electrode part. The discharge gas emits ultraviolet rays due to the arc discharge. Ultraviolet rays pass through the phosphor coated on the inner wall of the lamp body 11 and are converted into visible light.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a first side cover 61, a second side cover 65, and an optical sheet 70.

The first side cover 61 is disposed along the first sidewall 31 to cover the first electrode part 13 of the lamps 10. The first side cover 61 includes a support plate 62 and an upper plate 64. The support plate 62 is disposed to face the first side wall 31 and is in contact with the bottom plate 32. The support plate 62 is formed with guide grooves for preventing interference with the lamps 10. Top plate 64 extends from support plate 62 to face bottom plate 32. The upper plate 64 is formed with a stepped portion in which the optical sheet 70 to be described later is disposed.

The second side cover 65 is disposed along the second sidewall 33 to cover the second electrode portions of the lamps 10. The second side cover 65 includes a support plate 67 and an upper plate 69.

The optical sheet 70 improves optical characteristics such as brightness uniformity and front brightness of the light emitted from the lamps 10. The optical sheet 70 includes a diffusion plate 71 and light collecting sheets 73 and 75 stacked on the stepped portions formed on the first side cover 61 and the second side cover 65. The diffuser plate 71 improves the luminance uniformity of the light emitted from the lamps 10, and the light collecting sheets 73 and 75 improve the front luminance of the light emitted from the diffuser plate 71. The optical sheet 70 may further include a diffuser sheet interposed between the diffuser plate 71 and the light collecting sheets 73 and 75 and a reflective sheet disposed on the bottom plate 32.

6 is an exploded perspective view of a backlight assembly in another embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a perspective view of the lamp ground member shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the backlight assembly 300 includes a plurality of lamps 310, a storage container 330, a lamp grounding member 340, a lamp holder 315, a connector 317, and a power supply substrate 305. , A first side cover 361, a second side cover 365, and an optical sheet 370. The backlight assembly 300 is substantially the same as the backlight assembly 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 except for the lamp grounding member 340 and the first side cover 361.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lamp grounding member 340 includes a ground plate 341 and a plurality of electrode grounds 343. The ground plate 341 is substantially the same as the ground plate 41 shown in FIG. 2 except for the fact that the guide opening for preventing interference with the lamps 310 is omitted and the shape of the electrode ground portion 343. Do.

Thus, the ground plate 341 includes an upper surface portion 346 and a side portion 348. The electrode ground portions 343 are formed at regular intervals on the upper surface portion 346. Second fastening holes 347 are formed between the electrode ground portions 343, respectively.

A portion of the upper surface portion 346 is cut in the width direction of the upper surface portion 346 by a predetermined length, and then bent upwards to form the electrode ground portion 343. The electrode ground portion 343 is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface portion 346. The upper surface portion 346 has a plate shape and is formed parallel to the side surface portion 348 disposed in the width direction.

A rounded support groove 344 is formed at the upper edge of the electrode ground portion 343. The first electrode part 313 of the lamp 310 is disposed in the support groove 344. In order to prevent damage to the lamp 310 and the first electrode part 313, it is preferable that an insertion force is not necessary when the first electrode part 313 and the electrode ground part 343 are coupled to each other. Accordingly, the support groove 344 is preferably formed to have a width larger than the diameter or thickness of the first electrode portion 313.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the side cover shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III ′ of FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV ′ of FIG. 6.

8, 9, and 10, the first side cover 361 includes a support plate 362 and an upper plate 364. The first side cover 361 is substantially the same as the first side cover 61 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5 except that protrusions 366 are formed on the rear surface of the top plate.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of protrusions 366 are formed on the rear surface of the upper plate 364 corresponding to the first electrode portions 313 of the lamps 310. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of the protrusions 366 may be partially inserted into the support groove 344 of the electrode ground part 343 to be in contact with the first electrode part 313. Therefore, the first electrode part 313 is constrained in the vertical direction, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first electrode parts 313 and the lamp ground member 340.

The second side cover 365 is disposed along the second sidewall 333 to cover the second electrode portions of the lamps 310. The second side cover 365 includes a support plate 367 and an upper plate 369.

In this embodiment, the end of the lamp 310 in which the first electrode portion 313 is formed is not fixed by the lamp holder 315, unlike the end of the lamp 310 in which the second electrode portion is formed. The fixing force for fixing the electrode ground portion 343 and the protruding portion to the first electrode portion 313 may be smaller than that of the lamp holder 315. Therefore, in order to reduce the possibility that the first electrode portion 313 is spaced apart from the lamp ground member 340 due to external impact, the lamp supporter 320 may be disposed close to the first electrode portion 313.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the electrode portion of the lamp is grounded in the storage container by the lamp grounding member. Therefore, the lamp holder or lamp socket for grounding the electrode portion of the lamp, a printed circuit board (inverter slave), a single unit such as a connector connecting the electrode portion and the printed circuit board are omitted. Accordingly, the number of component parts of the backlight assembly is reduced.

In addition, the electrode ground portion of the lamp ground member has a Y shape, or has a fixing groove in which the electrode portion is disposed without the need for insertion force. Therefore, the lamps can be automatically assembled on the storage container more efficiently.

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 (11)

A plurality of lamps including a lamp body and a first electrode part and a second electrode part respectively formed at ends of the lamp body; A storage container including a bottom plate on which the lamps are disposed and a side wall extending from the bottom plate to form a storage space; And And a lamp grounding member including a ground plate grounded on the bottom plate and a plurality of electrode ground portions protruding from the ground plate and contacting the first electrode portion. The method of claim 1, wherein the ground plate is An upper surface portion facing the bottom plate and having a plurality of electrode ground portions formed thereon; And And a side portion extending from an edge of the upper surface portion to contact the bottom plate. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the electrode ground portion A first fixing part in contact with one side of the first electrode; And And a second fixing part spaced apart from each other in the length direction and the width direction of the ground plate from the first fixing part to be in contact with the other side of the first electrode. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein the first fixing part and the second fixing part are formed by cutting a portion of the upper surface portion and bending the upper portion, respectively. The method of claim 3, wherein when viewed in the width direction, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is arranged in a Y-shape, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion 11 The backlight assembly, characterized in that arranged in the shape of a chair. 4. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein guide openings at which end portions of the lamps are disposed in correspondence with the electrode ground portions are formed at corners where the upper surface portion and the side portion meet each other. According to claim 2, wherein each of the electrode ground portion is formed so that the side portion arranged in the width direction of the upper surface portion of the upper surface portion is cut and bent to the upper side, And a support groove in which the first electrode portion is disposed at an upper edge of the electrode ground portion. The backlight assembly of claim 7, further comprising a side cover covering the lamp ground member and having protrusions coupled to the support groove to restrain the first electrode. The method of claim 8, wherein the side cover A support plate on which guide grooves are formed to prevent interference with the lamps; And And a top plate extending from the support plate to face the bottom plate and having the protrusions formed on a rear surface thereof. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a power supply substrate configured to apply a lamp driving power to the second electrode portion. The backlight assembly of claim 10, further comprising a lamp holder coupled to the second electrode part to electrically connect the second electrode part and the power supply substrate.

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