WO2008015810A1

WO2008015810A1 - Connector for external terminal tubular lamp, illuminating device having the connector, and display

Info

Publication number: WO2008015810A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/055185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshimi Nakao
Original assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2006-08-04
Filing date: 2007-03-15
Publication date: 2008-02-07

Abstract

A connector having excellent reliability of connection to an external terminal of an external terminal tubular lamp and an external terminal. A terminal fitting (15) having elastic contact pieces (15c) for radially holding the external terminal (7a) is fitted to the connector (12) connected to the external terminal (7a) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end part of the tubular lamp (7). The directions of extension of the elastic contact pieces (15c) are parallel to the axial direction of the tubular lamp (7). Consequently, even if the lengths of lamps are different, the lamp is warped, or the directions and arrangements of the connectors at both ends of the lamp vary, the reliability of the connection can be improved.

Description

External terminal tubular lamp connector and lighting device and display device having the same

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a lamp connector of an illuminating device suitably used for a display device, and more particularly to a connector connected to an external terminal formed on an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of a tubular lamp.

Background art

[0002] As an example of a flat display device, for example, a liquid crystal display device including a transmissive liquid crystal display panel generally has an illumination device disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel. This illumination device is a device that includes a linear light source such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that is a light source, adjusts the characteristics of light emitted from the linear light source, and irradiates the back side of the display panel. The irradiated light is transmitted through the display panel, and an image is displayed in a visible state on the front side of the display panel.

[0003] Such a lighting device is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-172978. As a linear light source in this illumination device, an external terminal type fluorescent lamp called EEFL (External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp) having an electrode formed outside the glass tube at the end of the lamp is employed. Figure 6 shows the connector used to connect this external terminal fluorescent lamp. As shown in the figure, the terminal fitting 20 of this connector has two pieces of contact pieces 20a, 20a that sandwich an external terminal 21a formed at the end of the lamp 21. The contact pieces 20a and 20a are provided with contact portions 20b and 20b having a shape obtained by bending a flat plate so that the inner peripheral surface force of the connection portions 20b and 20b faces the outer peripheral surface of the external terminal 21a. When connected, they are connected and connected!

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, in recent years, such tubular lamps have a tendency to become longer, and the variation in the lamp length, the sled of the lamp, or the misalignment of the orientation of the connectors at both ends has become large. Therefore, in the connection structure to the external terminal 21a by the terminal fitting 20 as shown in Fig. 6, the connection signal There was a problem with reliability. For example, if the lamp is warped, as shown in Fig. 7, the contact area 22 between the external terminal 21a and the terminal fitting 20 of the lamp 21 on the left side of the figure, and the external terminal 21a and the terminal fitting of the lamp 21 on the right side of the figure The contact area 23 due to 20 may be different, resulting in poor contact. In addition, mechanical stress such as bending stress was applied to the lamp, which could cause damage such as cracking of the lamp.

[0005] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a connector having good connection reliability with the external terminal of the external terminal tubular lamp.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an external terminal tubular lamp connector according to the present invention is a connector connected to an external terminal formed on an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of a tubular lamp, and this connector includes: A terminal fixture provided with a plurality of elastic contact pieces for clamping the external terminal from the radial direction; and the extending direction of the elastic contact pieces is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the tubular lamp. It is a summary.

[0007] In this case, it is preferable that the terminal fitting is provided with a connection piece connected to the circuit board. Further, it is preferable that a terminal metal holder for holding the terminal metal is provided.

[0008] Then, it is preferable to configure as an illuminating device including such an external terminal tubular lamp connector and an external terminal tubular lamp connected to the connector. Moreover, it is good to comprise as a display apparatus provided with such an illuminating device.

The invention's effect

[0009] According to the external terminal tubular lamp connector having the above-described configuration, the terminal fitting is provided with a plurality of elastic contact pieces that sandwich the external terminal formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end of the tubular lamp from the radial direction. In addition, since the extending direction of the elastic contact piece is a direction along the axial direction of the tubular lamp, the lamp length variation, the lamp warp, or the misalignment of the connectors at both ends is arranged. Displacement force There is little change in contact area with and without connection, and connection reliability is high. Further, since the displacement can be absorbed in this way, the structure is such that no mechanical stress is applied to the tubular lamp. In addition, the multi-point contact configuration improves connection reliability. And the extending direction of the elastic contact piece of the terminal Since this is a configuration along the axial direction of the tubular lamp, it is easy to hold the radial force of the external terminal by a plurality of elastic contact pieces, and the shape of the terminal fitting can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Become.

[0010] In this case, if the terminal fitting is provided with a connection piece to be connected to the circuit board, for example, the connector can be directly connected to the inverter circuit board that supplies power to the lamp. This reduces the number of parts such as harnesses that connect the connector and inverter circuit board. Furthermore, if the terminal fitting holder for holding the terminal fitting is provided, it is easy to fix the terminal fitting and to prevent the terminal fitting from rattling.

[0011] And, if it is configured as an illuminating device comprising such an external terminal tubular lamp connector and an external terminal tubular lamp connected to the connector, the connection reliability between the lamp and the connector is improved. The brightness of the inside lamp can be made uniform. Further, according to the display device including the illumination device having such a configuration, a display device in which the brightness of the display in use is uniform can be obtained.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a display device including an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a lamp connector provided in the lighting device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between the lamp connector shown in FIG. 2 and an external terminal of a tubular lamp.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a lamp connector and external terminals when the tubular lamp shown in FIG. 2 is displaced upward.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the tubular lamp applied to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lamp connector provided in a conventionally used lighting device.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between the lamp connector of FIG. 6 and a tubular lamp.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an external terminal tubular lamp connector and a lighting device including the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an illustration of the present invention. 1 schematically shows a main part of a structure of a display device including an illumination device according to an embodiment.

A liquid crystal display device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a bezel 2, a display panel 3, and a lighting device 4. The bezel 2 is a frame member of the display panel 3, and the display panel 3 is formed by bonding two pieces of glass and sealing the liquid crystal between them.

[0015] The illumination device 4 includes a frame 5, optical sheets 6, an external terminal tubular lamp 7, a reflector 8, a chassis 9, a side holder 10, an inverter circuit board 11, and a ground circuit board 13. . The frame 5 has a frame shape, and is for fixing the optical sheets 6 to the mounting surface of the chassis 9 and the side holder 10. The optical sheets 6 are for adjusting the characteristics of light incident on the display panel 3 from the external terminal tubular lamp 7, and are composed of, for example, a diffusion plate, a diffusion sheet, a lens sheet, and a polarizing reflection sheet in order from the bottom. Is done.

[0016] As the external terminal tubular lamp 7, an EEFL (External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp) having an electrode formed outside the glass tube at the end of the lamp is used. The external terminal tubular lamp 7 is provided with a lamp connector 12 at both ends so that a driving voltage is supplied. The reflection plate 8 installed under the external terminal tubular lamp 7 is for reflecting light emitted from the external terminal tubular lamp 7 to the display panel 3 side. The chassis 9 and the side holder 10 are members for forming a lamp accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of external terminal tubular lamps 7 in parallel. In this case, the chassis 9 is formed in a substantially box shape by sheet metal processing of a metal plate material, and constitutes a bottom portion of the lamp housing portion and a side wall portion on the long side. The side holder 10 is a white resin member and similarly forms a side wall portion on the short side of the lamp housing portion.

[0017] In addition, an inverter circuit board 11 and a ground board 13 for generating a high-voltage AC voltage for driving the external terminal tubular lamp 7 are provided on the rear surface of the chassis 9 as a power supply unit. A control circuit board 14 for controlling the display panel 3 is also provided on the rear surface of the chassis 9. The inverter circuit board 11 and the control circuit board 14 are covered with an inverter circuit board cover 11a and a control circuit board cover 14a, respectively.

Next, an external terminal tubular lamp connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Light up. In the figure, the direction in which the lamp is inserted for connection will be described as the front part. As shown, the lamp connector 12 includes a terminal fitting 15 and a terminal fitting holder 16. The terminal fitting 15 is formed by punching a conductive plate and then bending by pressing or the like. The terminal fitting 15 is connected to the external terminal portion 7a of the external terminal tubular lamp 7 and supplied with a driving voltage.

[0019] In this case, the terminal fitting 15 includes a cylindrical portion 15a having a plurality of arc-shaped elastic contact pieces 15c divided in the circumferential direction by longitudinal slits 15b. These elastic contact pieces 15c are extended from the base portion 15d in the direction of the lamp shaft so as to elastically hold the external terminal 7a to be inserted from the radial direction. Specifically, conductive connection is established by contacting the inner surface force of the contact portion 15e bent inward at the front end of the elastic contact piece 15c with the outer peripheral surface of the external terminal 7a. Note that the extending direction of each elastic contact piece 15c may be, for example, an oblique direction with respect to the lamp axis direction so as to be spiral.

[0020] Similarly to the terminal fitting 15, the connection piece 15f in which the conductive plate member is also die-cut is fitted into a projecting portion 15g formed so that the center portion of the base portion 15d projects in a cylindrical shape toward the rear side. (See Figure 3). The front end portion 15h of the connection piece 15f is tapered so as to be inserted into the through hole portion l ib of the inverter circuit board 11. The front end portion 15h of the connection piece 15f inserted into the through hole portion l ib is solder-connected to the power supply circuit pattern 11c on the back surface (see FIG. 3).

[0021] The terminal fitting holder 16 is formed of an insulating grease material and accommodates and holds the terminal fitting 15 to prevent rattling. The base portion 16a formed in a pedestal shape has a predetermined height in order to position the terminal fitting 15 in the height direction with respect to the upper surface of the inverter circuit board 11. In addition, a guide groove 16c and a connection piece insertion hole 16d communicating with the guide groove 16c are formed in the vertical direction in the connection piece housing portion 16b erected on the rear portion of the base portion 16a.

[0022] The guide groove 16c functions as a guide when the connection piece 15f is accommodated. Further, the connecting piece 15f inserted into the connecting piece insertion hole 16d through the guide groove 16c has a tip 15h protruding from the bottom surface of the base 16a by a predetermined length (see FIG. 3). Then, the connection piece 15f of the terminal fitting 15 is accommodated in the guide groove 16c and the connection piece insertion hole 16d of the terminal fitting holder 16. As a result, the terminal fitting 15 is held by the terminal fitting holder 16. It should be noted that the connection piece 15f is preferably inserted into the terminal fitting holder 16 by press-fitting. The terminal bracket 15 is firmly held by the terminal bracket holder 16.

[0023] According to the lamp connector 12 having such a configuration, the terminal fitting 15 provided with a plurality of elastic contact pieces 15c that sandwich the external terminal 7a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end of the external terminal tubular lamp 7 from the radial direction. And the extending direction of each elastic contact piece 15c is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the external terminal 7a inserted for connection. With such a configuration, the change in the contact area between the elastic contact piece 15c and the external terminal 7a with or without the lamp length variation, the lamp sled, or the misalignment of the connector orientations at both ends can be reduced. As a result, connection reliability is increasing.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, even when the external terminal tubular lamp 7 is shifted slightly upward as compared with that of FIG. 3, the displacement is caused by a plurality of elastic contact pieces 15 c provided on the terminal fitting 15. Is absorbed, so there is less change in the contact area compared to the case of Fig. 3. In addition, as a result of absorbing the deviation in this way, bending stress is not applied to the tubular lamp, so there is no risk of breakage such as lamp breakage.

[0025] Further, since the connection to the external terminal 7a is a multipoint contact (4 points in the embodiment), the connection reliability is improved. In addition, since the terminal fitting 15 is provided with a connection piece 15f for connecting the circuit board, the connector 12 can be directly connected to the inverter circuit board 11 that supplies power to the lamp. Parts such as harnesses that connect the inverter circuit board 11 are reduced. Further, since the terminal fitting holder 16 for holding the terminal fitting 15 is provided, the terminal fitting 15 is easily fixed, and rattling of the terminal fitting 15 is prevented.

[0026] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiment, and can of course be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there.

[0027] For example, in the embodiment described above, the force described using EEFL as the external terminal tubular lamp, as shown in Fig. 5, is a common CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) 17 electrode 17a Can also be applied to the configuration in which the external terminal 18a is used with the cap 18. Needless to say. In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which one terminal fitting holder 16 is provided for each terminal fitting 15 is shown. However, a configuration in which the terminal fitting holders 16 are connected together is also possible. The number of parts is reduced and the cost is reduced.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A connector that is connected to an external terminal formed on the outer peripheral surface of an end of a tubular lamp, and the connector is provided with a plurality of elastic contact pieces that sandwich the external terminal from the radial direction. And an extension direction of the elastic contact piece is a direction along an axial direction of the tubular lamp.

2. The external terminal tubular lamp connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fitting is provided with a connection piece connected to a circuit board.

[3] A terminal metal holder is provided to hold the terminal metal! 3. The external terminal tubular lamp connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector is an external terminal.

[4] An illumination device comprising: the external terminal tubular lamp connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and the external terminal tubular lamp connected to the connector.

[5] A display device comprising the illumination device according to claim 4.