KR20080038488A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device is provided to reduce the thickness of the display device using an integrated fixing unit having an opening portion and enable the fixing unit to have strong resistance to an external shock as a first fixing member and a second fixing member are joined to each other strongly, thereby improving the durability of the display device. A display device(100) comprises a display panel, a light source unit, a light guide plate, and a fixing unit(10). The light source unit includes at least one light source applied to supply light to the display panel. The light guide plate guides the light applied to be radiated from the light source. The fixing unit has an opening portion and fixes the light source unit and the light guide plate. The fixing unit comprises a first fixing member(101) and a second fixing member(103). The first fixing member surrounds the opening portion. The second fixing member is formed on at least one surface of the first fixing member and surrounds the opening portion. A reflecting member covers an opening part of a fixing unit(10), and is fixed by using a tape(90) at its edges.

Description

Display device {DISPLAY DEVICE}

1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the display device of FIG. 1.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

4 is a perspective view of a fixing member included in a display device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a display device that is slim and resistant to external impact.

Various types of display devices have been developed. Among various display devices, liquid crystal display devices (LCDs), which have improved performances due to rapidly developing semiconductor technologies, are widely used.

The liquid crystal display device can be miniaturized, lightweight, and low power, and thus can replace a conventional cathode ray tube (CRT). Therefore, the liquid crystal display device is used as a small product such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), and the like as well as a monitor and a TV which are medium and large products. On the other hand, since the liquid crystal display device is not a self-luminous device, a light source for supplying light is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of slimming and improving strength.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a display device includes: a light source unit including: i) a display panel, ii) at least one light source adapted to provide light to the display panel, iii) a light guide plate for guiding light applied to exit from the light source; iv) a fixing unit having an opening and fixing the light source unit and the light guide plate. The fixing unit includes i) a first fixing member surrounding the opening, and ii) a second fixing member formed on at least one surface of the first fixing member and surrounding the opening.

The display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a reflective member reflecting light applied to exit from the light guide plate. The reflective member may cover the opening. The strength of the first fixing member may be greater than the strength of the second fixing member. The second fixing member may be made of a resin material. The first fixing member may be made of a metal material. The stationary unit can be manufactured by insert molding. The second fixing member may face the side of the light guide plate.

The first fixing member comprises: i) a first surface portion, ii) a second surface portion bent while being connected with the first surface portion, and iii) a third curved portion being parallel with the first surface portion while being connected with the second surface portion; It may include a surface portion. The first fixing member may include i) a first surface portion and ii) a second surface portion bent while being connected with the first surface portion. The first surface portion or the second surface portion may include a protrusion protruding from the second fixing member.

The first fixing member may comprise a groove formed in one or more surfaces. The second fixing member may be exposed through the groove. The exposed surface of the second fixing member exposed through the groove may be located on a plane substantially the same as the surface of the first fixing member around the groove.

The display panel may be a liquid crystal display panel. Display panels can be used in portable products.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described embodiments of the present invention to be easily implemented by those skilled in the art. As can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, the following embodiments are only intended to illustrate the present invention, and various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It can be modified. Where possible the same or similar parts are represented with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

When mentioning that a part is on top of another part, it may be directly on top of another part or may be accompanied by another part in between. In contrast, when a part is mentioned above another part, no other part is intervened in between.

It is to be understood that the terms first, second and third are used to describe various parts, components, regions, layers and / or sections, but are not limited to these. These terms are only used to distinguish one part, component, region, layer or section from another part, component, region, layer or section. Accordingly, the first portion, component, region, layer or section described below may be referred to as the second portion, component, region, layer or section without departing from the scope of the invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural forms as well, unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the term "comprising" embodies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and other specific characteristics, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and / or group. It does not exclude the presence or addition of.

Terms indicating relative space such as "below" and "above" may be used to more easily explain the relationship of one part to another part shown in the drawings. These terms are intended to include other meanings or operations of the device in use with the meanings intended in the figures. For example, turning the device in the figure upside down, some parts described as being "below" of the other parts are described as being "above" the other parts. Thus, the exemplary term "below" encompasses both up and down directions. The device can be rotated 90 degrees or at other angles, the terms representing relative space being interpreted accordingly.

Although not defined otherwise, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Commonly defined terms used are additionally interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the related technical literature and the presently disclosed contents, and are not interpreted in an ideal or very formal sense unless defined.

Embodiments of the invention described with reference to perspective and cross-sectional views specifically illustrate ideal embodiments of the invention. As a result, various modifications of the drawings, for example, manufacturing methods and / or specifications, are expected. Thus, the embodiment is not limited to the specific form of the illustrated region, but includes, for example, modification of the form by manufacture. For example, regions shown or described as flat may have properties that are generally rough and / or rough. Also, portions shown to have sharp angles may be rounded. Accordingly, the regions shown in the figures are only approximate in nature, and their forms are not intended to depict the exact form of the regions and are not intended to narrow the scope of the invention.

1 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a display device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The display device 100 can be used for portable products such as mobile phones, PDAs, and PMPs.

The display device 100 includes a display panel 50, a light source unit 76, and a light guide plate 74. In addition, a plurality of optical members 72 and reflecting members 80 are further included in order to efficiently use the light emitted from the light source 761. The light source unit 76, the light guide plate 74, and the like are stored using the fixing unit 10 to fix the light source unit 76.

The light source unit 76 provides light to the display panel 50. The light source unit 76 includes a light source 761 and a flexible printed circuit board 762. The light source 761 is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 762 and electrically connected to a wiring pattern formed on the flexible printed circuit board 762. The flexible printed circuit board 762 is connected to the printed circuit board 40 by the connecting portion 403. Therefore, the light source 761 is driven by receiving a driving voltage from the printed circuit board 40.

Although three light sources 761 are shown in FIG. 1, the number of light sources 761 may be one or more. A light emitting diode (LED) may be used as the light source 761. Since the light emitting diode is easily miniaturized, it is suitable for use as a portable product.

Light emitted from the light source 761 is incident through the side surface of the light guide plate 74. Light incident on the light guide plate 74 is diffused and guided by the light guide plate 74 and is emitted to the optical member 72 side. The reflective member 80 is attached to the lower portion of the fixed unit 10 to reflect light to minimize light loss. For this purpose, the reflective member 80 may be made of a light reflective material, for example, aluminum. The light guide plate 74 may be manufactured using PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate) or the like. A plurality of patterns are formed on the surface of the light guide plate 74 to diffuse the light to the entire surface of the light guide plate 74. The plurality of patterns differ in size depending on their positions.

The plurality of optical members 72 straighten and uniform the light emitted from the light guide plate 74. Therefore, the display panel 50 can be provided with light that is uniform and has improved straightness. The optical member 72 may include a diffusion member, a prism member, a protective member, and the like. The diffusion member diffuses the light to make it uniform, and the prism member improves the linearity of the light. The protective member covers the prism member to protect the prism formed in the prism member. As shown in Fig. 1, the optical member 72 is manufactured in the form of a sheet. In addition, the optical member 72 may be manufactured in the form of a plate.

The display panel 50 uses a liquid crystal display panel as an example. Other light receiving display panels may be used. The display panel 50 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 40 through a flexible printed circuit film (FPC film) 401. Although the flexible printed circuit film 401 is shown to be broken in FIG. 1, it is actually connected.

The display panel 50 includes a TFT (thin film transistor) panel 501, a color filter panel 503, and liquid crystal (not shown) injected between both panels. The TFT panel 501 faces the color filter panel 503, and a plurality of TFTs are formed in a matrix form. The data line is connected to the source terminal of the TFT panel 501 and the gate line is connected to the gate terminal. In the drain terminal, a pixel electrode made of conductive and transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) is formed.

Since the data line and the gate line of the TFT panel 501 are connected to the printed circuit board 40, when an electrical signal is input from the printed circuit board 40, electrical signals are input to the source terminal and the gate terminal of the TFT. The TFT is turned on or off in accordance with the input of the electrical signal so that the electrical signal necessary for pixel formation is output to the drain terminal. The integrated circuit chip 505 is mounted on the TFT panel 501 to control the display panel 50. The integrated circuit chip 505 generates a plurality of timing signals for applying data driving signals and gate driving signals at appropriate times, and then applies them to the data lines and the gate lines of the display panel 50, respectively. A protective film 507 is applied around the integrated circuit chip 505 to protect the integrated circuit chip 505.

The color filter panel 503 is disposed on the TFT panel 503 opposite the TFT panel 501. The color filter panel 503 is a substrate in which RGB pixels, which are color pixels in which a predetermined color is expressed while light passes, are formed by a thin film process, and a common electrode made of ITO is coated on the entire surface thereof. When power is applied to the gate terminal and the source terminal of the TFT and the thin film transistor is turned on, an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode of the color filter substrate. The arrangement angle of the liquid crystal injected between the TFT panel 501 and the color filter panel 503 by the electric field is changed, and the light transmittance is changed according to the changed arrangement angle to obtain a desired pixel. Polarizers (not shown) are attached to both surfaces of the display panel 50 to polarize light passing through the display panel 50.

The printed circuit board 40 includes a tail portion 405 and a connector 407. The connector 407 is installed at one end of the tail part 405 to transmit an external signal to the printed circuit board 40. In the case of a cellular phone, the connector 407 is connected with a keypad.

The fixing unit 10 includes a first fixing member 101 and a second fixing member 103. The fixed unit 10 is manufactured by the insert molding method. That is, after the first fixing member 101 is inserted into the injection mold, the second fixing member 103 is injected to manufacture the unitary fixing unit 10. In this case, the second fixing member 103 is formed on the surface of the first fixing member 101. Insert molding is omitted because it can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

Conventionally, internal parts of the liquid crystal display are fixed by forming fastening portions on the bottom chassis of the metal material and the mold frame of the resin material, and combining them. However, as the fastening part is broken during external impact, the internal parts are not fixed and the external parts are squeezed out or the arrangement is disturbed. In particular, when the bottom chassis and the mold frame are used separately, the thickness of the liquid crystal display device becomes so thick that there is a problem in that the mobile phone cannot be slimmed.

In contrast, the display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention fixes all the internal parts of the display device 100 by using the integrated fixing unit 10, so that the display device 100 is not only resistant to external impact but also to the display device 100. ) Can be ultra slim. Furthermore, since the lower plate supporting the light guide plate 74 or the like does not exist in the fixing unit 10, the entire thickness of the display device 100 may be further reduced. Hereinafter, the fixing unit 10 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is combined and then flipped 180 ° with respect to the y axis. In FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 40 of FIG. 1 is omitted for convenience of description.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reflective member 80 covers the opening 105 (shown in FIG. 1) of the fixing unit 10. The reflective member 80 is fixed by attaching a tape 90 to the edge of the fixing unit 10. In this case, since the reflective member is located outside of the fixing unit 10, it is possible to use a thicker one, which does not tear well even to an external impact. Since the reflective member 80 completely covers the opening 105 to reflect the light emitted from the light source 761 (shown in FIG. 1), the light loss can be minimized.

Since the fixing unit 10 includes the first fixing member 101 and the second fixing member 103 having different strengths from each other, the fixing unit 10 can further increase its strength, such as a composite material. For example, the strength of the first fixing member 101 is greater than that of the second fixing member 103. Therefore, the fixing unit 10 is not only resistant to external shock but also well protects internal components of the display device 100. As a result, the durability of the display device 100 is greatly improved.

The first fixing member 101 is made of a metal material to secure strength above a predetermined level. The first fixing member 101 is manufactured by bending or punching a metal sheet or the like. As the metal material, stainless steel or aluminum may be used. The second fixing member 103 can be made of a resin material. Since the second fixing member 103 is in direct contact with internal parts of the display device 100, a resin material capable of buffering is suitable. In addition, when assembling the display device 100 inside another product, a fastening part having a somewhat complicated shape is required. Therefore, since the fastening part must be manufactured by injection molding or the like, it is suitable to manufacture the second fixing member 103 with a resin material.

The first fixing member 101 has a plurality of grooves 1011 on its surface. When insert molding, the second fixing member 103 is exposed to the outside through the groove 1011. Therefore, the fixing unit 10 in which the first fixing member 101 and the second fixing member 103 are integrated can be manufactured. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display device 100 taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second fixing member 103 is exposed to the outside through the groove 1011. The second fixing member 103 has an exposed surface 103a exposed through the groove 1011. In this case, the exposed surface 103a is positioned side by side with the surface 101a of the first fixing member 101 located around the groove 1001. That is, the exposed surface 103a and the surface 101a of the first fixing member 101 are substantially positioned on the virtual plane P extending in the z-axis direction. Therefore, the integrated fixing unit 10 may be used to securely fix the internal components while making the thickness of the display device 100 ultra slim.

On the other hand, the second fixing member 103 faces the side surface 80a of the light guide plate 80. Therefore, the side surface 80a of the light guide plate 80 is hardly damaged, and the second fixing member 103 firmly fixes the light guide plate 80 so that the light guide plate 80 does not flow.

4 schematically illustrates a fixing member 201 included in a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The fixing member 201 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the first fixing member 101 of FIGS. 1 to 3.

The fixing member 201 may be made of a metal material, and another fixing member is formed on the surface thereof by injection molding or the like to form the fixing unit. 4 shows another fixing member for convenience.

The fixing member 201 includes a first surface portion 2011, a second surface portion 2013, and a third surface portion 2015. The second surface portion 2013 is bent and connected to the first surface portion 2011. The third surface portion 2015 is bent and connected to the second surface portion 2013. The third surface portion 2015 is bent parallel to the first surface portion 2011. Since the fixing member 201 is formed in such a shape, injection molding another fixing member between the first surface portion 2011 and the third surface portion 2015 may surround another fixing member on three sides. It becomes cheaper and can produce a more rigid fixed unit. In addition, although the center of the fixing member 201 is formed to form the opening 2017, by forming the fixing unit in the manner described above, it is possible to more firmly fix the internal parts of the display device.

In addition, a protrusion 2019 is formed on the first surface portion 2011. The protrusion 2019 protrudes against another fixing member formed on the first surface portion 2011. When the protrusion 2019 is formed on the first surface portion 2011, a fixing unit having improved coupling force between the fixing members can be manufactured. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 2019 may also be formed on the second surface portion 2013 or the third surface portion 2015. When the fixed unit having the above-described structure is used, even when the display device is made ultra slim, durability can be sufficiently secured. Therefore, the display device is also resistant to external shocks.

The thickness of the display device may be further reduced by using an integrated fixing unit having an opening. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are firmly coupled so that the fixing unit is resistant to external impact. Therefore, durability of the display device can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described above, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set out below.

Claims (13)

Display panel, A light source unit including one or more light sources adapted to provide light to the display panel; A light guide plate for guiding light applied to exit from the light source; A fixing unit having an opening and fixing the light source unit and the light guide plate Including, The fixed unit, A first fixing member surrounding the opening, and A second fixing member formed on at least one surface of the first fixing member and surrounding the opening; Display device comprising a. In claim 1, And a reflective member for reflecting light applied to exit from the light guide plate, wherein the reflective member covers the opening. In claim 1, The strength of the first fixing member is greater than the strength of the second fixing member. In claim 3, The second fixing member is made of a resin material. In claim 4, The first fixing member is made of a metal material. In claim 5, And the fixing unit is manufactured by insert molding. In claim 1, And the second fixing member is opposite to the side surface of the light guide plate. In claim 7, The first fixing member, First surface part, A second surface portion bent while being connected to the first surface portion, and A third surface portion bent in parallel with the first surface portion while being connected to the second surface portion Display device comprising a. In claim 7, The first fixing member, A first surface portion, and A second surface portion bent while being connected to the first surface portion Including, And the first surface portion or the second surface portion includes a protrusion protruding from the second fixing member. In claim 1, The first fixing member includes a groove formed in the one or more surfaces, and the second fixing member is exposed through the groove. In claim 10, And an exposed surface of the second fixing member exposed through the groove is substantially on the same plane as the surface of the first fixing member around the groove. In claim 1, The display panel is a liquid crystal display panel. In claim 1, The display panel is used for a portable product.

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