Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device thermally insulated from light source heat, includes a display panel, a backlight module positioned on the display panel, a bezel positioned around the backlight module, and a thermal insulating element mounted on the bezel. The backlight module includes a light guiding plate and at least one light source located at a side of the light guiding plate. The thermal insulating element is positioned between the at least one light source and the bezel. A sealed space is formed between the thermal insulating element and the bezel. The thermal insulating element and the sealed vacuum space are configured to thermally insulate heat generated by the at least one light source and prevent heat from transferring to the bezel and display panel.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The related art as shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises an LCD device  300  having a display panel  301 , a bezel  303 , and a backlight module  305 . The bezel  303  defines a receiving space  3031 , and an end portion of the backlight module  305  is received in the receiving space  3031 . The backlight module  305  includes a light guiding plate  3051 , a circuit board  3055 , and at least one light source  3053  mounted on the circuit board  3055 . The circuit board  3055  is coupled to a side of the light guiding plate  3051 , and the at least one light source  3053  is located between the circuit board  3055  and the light guiding plate  3051 . In this LCD device  300 , the display panel  301  as well as the light source  3053  are prone to damage and failure as heat from the light source  3053  transfers to the bezel  303  and the display panel  301 , leading to device malfunction, damage, and ultimately device failure. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an LCD device of related art. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a planar view of a first exemplary embodiment of a heat-protected LCD device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the LCD device of  FIG. 2  along line III-III. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the thermal insulating element in the LCD device of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a planar view of a second exemplary embodiment of a heat-protected LCD device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the LCD device of  FIG. 5  along line VI-VI. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0011]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0012]    The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  illustrate an LCD device  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment. The LCD device  100  includes a display panel  10 , a backlight module  30  positioned under the display panel  10 , and a bezel  20  wraps around the backlight module  30 . The ends of the backlight module  30  extend to be received in the bezel  20 . In this embodiment, the display panel  10  has a rectangular shape, and the bezel  20  has a rectangular frame shape. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bezel  20  includes a first portion  23 , a second portion  25  opposite to the first portion  23 , and a middle portion  21  coupled between the first portion  23  and the second portion  25 . In this embodiment, the first portion  23  is parallel to the second portion  25 . The display panel  10  is located on the first portion  23 . The middle portion  21 , the first portion  23 , and the second portion  25  cooperatively form a receiving space  27  to receive the end portions of the backlight module  30 . 
         [0015]    The backlight module  30  includes a light guiding plate  31 , a circuit board  35 , at least one light source  33  mounted on the circuit board  35 , and a thermal insulating element  37 . The light guiding plate  31  includes a top surface  313  adjacent to the display panel  10 , a bottom surface  315  facing away from the display panel  10 , and a side surface  311  coupled between the top surface  313  and the bottom surface  315 . The side surface  311  faces towards the middle portion  21  of the bezel  20 . The end portions of the light guiding plate  31 , the circuit board  35 , the at least one light source  33 , and the thermal insulating element  37  are received in the receiving space  27 . 
         [0016]    A groove  317  is defined in the side surface  311 . The circuit board  35  and at least one light source  33  are received in the groove  317 . 
         [0017]    The circuit board  35  includes a first surface  351  and a second surface  353 , the second surface  353  is opposite to the first surface  351 . The second surface  353  is at least substantially adjacent to the middle portion  21  of the bezel  20 , and the first surface  351  faces away from the middle portion  21  of the bezel  20 . The second surface  353  is flush with the side surface  311 . That is, the second surface  353  and the side surface  311  are at least substantially coplanar. The at least one light source  33  is mounted on the first surface  351 . The at least one light source  33  emits light to the light guiding plate  31 . In this exemplary embodiment, the at least one light source  33  may be an LED lamp. The circuit board  35  may be a metal core printed circuit board. 
         [0018]    The thermal insulating element  37  is coupled to the side surface  311  of the light guiding plate  31  and covers the groove  317 . The thermal insulating element  37  directly contacts the circuit board  35 , but it spaced apart from the middle portion  21  of the bezel  20 . The thermal insulating element  37  prevents heat from the light source  33  from being dissipated to the bezel  20 . 
         [0019]    The thermal insulating element  37  can be a common thermal insulating element. Such an element may have a single-layer structure, a double-layer structure, or a multi-layered structure. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the thermal insulating element  37  has a multi-layered structure and includes a thermal insulation material layer  375 . A metal reflecting layer  377  is positioned on the thermal insulation material layer  375 . An organic pigmented layer  378  is positioned on the metal reflecting layer  377 , and an adhesive layer  379  is positioned on the organic pigmented layer  378 . The adhesive layer  379  directly contacts the side surface  311  of the light guiding plate  31 . The thermal insulation material layer  375  may be made of polyethylene terephthalate. 
         [0020]    In this exemplary embodiment, the thermal insulating element  37  is not only coupled to the side surface  311  of the light guiding plate  31 , but also extends to be coupled to the bottom surface  315  of the light guiding plate  31 . That is, the thermal insulating element  37  has an “L” shape and includes a first attaching portion  371  and a second attaching portion  373 , the second attaching portion  373  extends from the first attaching portion  371 . In this exemplary embodiment, the second attaching portion  373  is perpendicular to the first attaching portion  371 . The first attaching portion  371  directly contacts both the side surface  311  of the light guiding plate  31  and the second surface  353  of the circuit board  35 . 
         [0021]    In this exemplary embodiment, an indentation  3131  is defined in the bottom surface  315  of the light guiding plate  31  adjacent to the side surface  311 . The second attaching portion  373  is received in the indentation  3131 . The second attaching portion  373  is flush with the bottom surface  315  of the light guiding plate  31 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  illustrate an LCD device  200  according to a second exemplary embodiment. The LCD device  200  includes a display panel  201 , a backlight module  50  positioned under the display panel  201 , and a bezel  40  wrapping around the backlight module  50 . The ends of the backlight module  50  extend to be received in the bezel  40 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bezel  40  includes a first portion  43 , a second portion  45  opposite to the first portion  43 , and a middle portion  41  coupled between the first portion  43  and the second portion  45 . In this exemplary embodiment, the first portion  43  is parallel to the second portion  45 . The display panel  201  is located on the first portion  43 . The middle portion  41 , the first portion  43 , and the second portion  45  cooperatively form a receiving space  47 . The receiving space  47  receives the end portions of the backlight module  50 . 
         [0024]    The backlight module  50  includes a light guiding plate  51 , a circuit board  55 , and at least one light source  53  mounted on the circuit board  55 . The light guiding plate  51  includes a top surface  513  adjacent to the display panel  201 , a bottom surface  515  facing away from the display panel  201 , and a side surface  511  coupled between the top surface  513  and the bottom surface  515 . The side surface  511  faces towards the middle portion  41  of the bezel  40  and is spaced apart from the middle portion  41 . End portions of the light guiding plate  51 , the circuit board  55 , and the at least one light source  53  are received in the receiving space  47 . 
         [0025]    A groove  517  is defined in the side surface  511 . The circuit board  55  and at least one light source  53  are received in the groove  517 . 
         [0026]    The circuit board  55  includes a first surface  551  and a second surface  553 , the second surface  553  opposite to the first surface  551 . The second surface  553  is adjacent to the middle portion  41  of the bezel  40 , and the first surface  551  faces away from the middle portion  41  of the bezel  40 . The second surface  553  is flush with the side surface  511 . That is, the second surface  553  and the side surface  511  are substantially coplanar. The at least one light source  53  is mounted on the first surface  551 . The at least one light source  53  is emits light to the light guiding plate  51 . In this exemplary embodiment, the at least one light source  53  may be an LED lamp, the circuit board  55  may be a metal core printed circuit board. 
         [0027]    The LCD device  200  further includes a thermal insulating element  57 . The thermal insulating element  57  is received in the receiving space  47  and positioned between the side surface  511  of the light guiding plate  51  and the middle portion  41  of the bezel  40 . The thermal insulating element  57  is spaced apart from the middle portion  41  of the bezel  40 . In this exemplary embodiment, the thermal insulating element  57  is also spaced apart from the side surface  511  of the light guiding plate  51 . In other exemplary embodiments, the thermal insulating element  57  may directly contact the side surface  511  of the light guiding plate  51 . 
         [0028]    In this exemplary embodiment, the thermal insulating element  57  is flat. The thermal insulating element  57  is coupled between the first portion  43  and the second portion  45 , thereby the receiving space  47  is divided into two spaces by the thermal insulating element  57 . The two spaces of the receiving space  47  are a sealed space  571  and an unsealed space  573 . The sealed space  571  is totally enclosed by the thermal insulating element  57 , the middle portion  41 , the first portion  43 , and the second portion  45 . The sealed space  571  is a vacuum space. A portion of the light guiding plate  51 , the circuit board  55 , and at least one light source  53  are received in the unsealed space  573 . 
         [0029]    The thermal insulating element  57  can be a common thermal insulating element with a single-layer structure, a double-layer structure, or a multi-layered structure. The thermal insulating element  57  may be made of a common thermal insulation material. 
         [0030]    The thermal insulating element  57  and the sealed space  571  prevent heat from the light source  53  from moving to the bezel  40 . 
         [0031]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as other features of a display device. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.