Abstract:
A plasma display device may include a plasma display panel, a chassis arranged on one side of the plasma display panel, the chassis supporting the plasma display panel, a plurality of circuit units arranged on one surface of the chassis, the circuit units generating electrical signals that are used to drive the plasma display panel, a signal transmission member linking the circuit units to each other and to the plasma display panel so as to transmit the electrical signals, a coupling member installed on at least one of the circuit units, coupling the signal transmission member to at least one of the circuit units, and a foreign material blocking member installed on at least one of the circuit units, preventing a foreign material from intruding into the coupling member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a plasma display device, and more particularly, to a plasma display device including a foreign material blocking member. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Plasma display devices are flat display devices that display an image using a gas discharge phenomenon. Plasma display devices may provide large screens with a number of desirable traits, e.g., a high-quality image display, a very thin and light design, and a wide-range viewing angle. In addition, these displays may be manufactured in a simplified manner, when compared with other flat display panels. Accordingly, plasma display devices have attracted considerable attention as the most promising next-generation flat display devices. 
         [0005]    Such plasma display devices include a plasma display panel (PDP) that displays an image by exciting a phosphor material with ultraviolet rays generated during gas discharge. PDPs may be classified into types according to the discharge voltage applied to the discharge cells, e.g., a direct current (DC) type, an alternating current (AC) type, and a hybrid type. PDPs may also be classified into a facing discharge type and a surface discharge type according to the type of discharge structure used. 
         [0006]    Facing discharge PDPs have a problem in that their life spans may be reduced due to a degradation of a phosphor material caused by ions generated during discharge. On the other hand, surface discharge PDPs minimize the degradation of a phosphor material by collecting discharge on a side opposite to a side on which the phosphor material is formed, whereby the problems of the structure of facing discharge PDPs may be minimized. Hence, surface discharge PDPs are widely used at present. 
         [0007]    Plasma display devices may include a PDP which displays an image, a chassis that supports the PDP, and a number of circuit units that process electrical signals used to drive the PDP. A signal transmission member, e.g., a tape carrier package (TCP) or a flexible flat cable (FFC), may connect the circuit units to each other or may connect each of the circuit units to input electrodes on the PDP to drive the display. 
         [0008]    One end of the signal transmission member may be connected to a circuit unit by a connector which may be a coupling member. The connector may be mounted on a circuit board together with other circuit elements during mass-production of the circuit units. However, the connector may include conductive metal pins that electrically contact the pins of the signal transmission member. The pins of the connector may be partially exposed even after the connector is installed in a circuit unit. When an external foreign substance contacts the exposed pins, an electrical signal being transmitted by the signal transmission member may be mixed with noise, leading to erroneous image displays. 
         [0009]    To prevent this problem, in the conventional art, the exposed pins may be covered with silicone after a connector is mounted on a circuit unit. 
         [0010]    However, this process increases the production lead time of a circuit unit by the amount of time required to dry the silicone, and there may be difficulty in controlling the amount of silicone to be used. Hence, the silicone may intrude up to the connector&#39;s actuator. The actuator may be rotated to couple the signal transmission member to the connector. The silicone may compromise the connection between the connector and the signal transmission member. 
         [0011]    In addition, when the pins of an assembled connector may become short-circuited, the silicone coating may need to be reapplied. However, once silicone is applied, it may be very difficult to completely remove the silicone. 
         [0012]    Efforts to remove the silicone may increase the probability of secondary damage, e.g., destruction of a printed circuit board (PCB). 
         [0013]    Further, the actuator of the conventional plasma display device may be opened excessively, which may damage the connector. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention is therefore directed to a plasma display device having a foreign material blocking member, which substantially overcomes one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0015]    It is therefore a feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a foreign material blocking member for a circuit coupling member that may prevent the compromise of the circuit coupling from foreign material. 
         [0016]    It is therefore another feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an actuator limiter that may prevent the actuator from excessive movement and thereby prevent damage to the actuator. 
         [0017]    At least one of the above and other features and advantages of the present invention may be realized by providing a plasma display device including a plasma display panel, a chassis on one side of the plasma display panel, supporting the plasma display panel, a plurality of circuit units arranged on one surface of the chassis, generating electrical signals to drive the plasma display panel, a signal transmission member connecting the circuit units to each other and to the plasma display panel so as to transmit the electrical signals, a coupling member on at least one of the circuit units, coupling the signal transmission member to at least one of the circuit units, and a foreign material blocking member on the at least one of the circuit units, preventing a foreign material from intruding into the coupling member. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the signal transmission member may be at least one member of the group consisting of a flexible flat cable (FFC) and a tape carrier package (TCP). 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the foreign material blocking member may include a plurality of mounting bosses, wherein each mounting boss may include a relief slot to enable quick attachment to and removal from the circuit unit. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, an end of each of the bosses may include a member having a vertical cross-section in the shape of an arrowhead whose outer circumference increases from a bottom end to a top end of the arrowhead. 
         [0021]    In other embodiments, the foreign material blocking member may include a shield that encloses an exposed pin coupling portion of the coupling member. 
         [0022]    In other embodiments, the circuit unit includes holes through which at least one boss of the foreign material blocking member may be coupled to the circuit unit. 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, the coupling member may include a fixed coupler fixed to the circuit unit, and an actuator rotatably attached to the coupling member to couple the signal transmission member to the coupling member. 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, the foreign material blocking member may include an actuator limiter that limits rotation of the actuator. 
         [0025]    In still other embodiments, the actuator limiter may define the rotation range for the actuator. 
         [0026]    In still other embodiments, the fixed coupler may include a protruding tab and the foreign material blocking member may include a groove, wherein the protruding tab engages the groove when the fixed coupler and the block may be fully engaged. 
         [0027]    In even other embodiments, the protruding tab may be formed on at least one of a pair of side surfaces and a rear surface of the fixed coupler, and the groove on the foreign material blocking member may be disposed to engage the protruding tab. 
         [0028]    In yet other embodiments, the plasma display device may include a horizontal coupling surface integral with the foreign material blocking member, and slanted engagement ramps disposed on the foreign material blocking member and the fixed coupler perpendicular to the horizontal coupling surface. 
         [0029]    In even other embodiments, the plasma display device may include a vertical coupling surface integral with the foreign material blocking member and slanted engagement ramps disposed on the foreign material blocking member and the fixed coupler perpendicular to the vertical coupling surface. 
         [0030]    According to the present invention, foreign material may be prevented from compromising electrical connections of a plasma display device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a plasma display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a plasma display panel according to the plasma display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate perspective views of a coupling member, a signal transmission member, and a foreign substance preventing member according to the plasma display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of a coupling member according to the plasma display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of the coupling member of  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an interface between the coupling member and a block member according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a method of connecting a coupling member and a block member of a plasma display device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a method of connecting a coupling member and a block member of a plasma display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0028073, filed on Mar. 28, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Plasma Display Device,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0041]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0042]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a plasma display device  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the plasma display device  10  may include a plasma display panel (PDP)  20  and a chassis base  40 . 
         [0044]    The PDP  20  may include a plurality of electrodes  222 ,  223  (see  FIG. 2 ) formed between two facing substrates  21  and  22 . A discharge gas may be injected between the front panel  21  and the rear panel  22 , and then a discharge voltage may be applied to the discharge gas. A phosphor material in the PDP  20  may be excited by ultraviolet (UV) light generated from the discharge gas and voltage in a predetermined pattern, so that a desired image may be displayed. The PDP  20  will be described in greater detail later with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0045]    The PDP  20  may be supported by the chassis base  40  located at the rear of the PDP  20 . The PDP  20  and the chassis base  40  may be coupled together by double-sided tape  35 . The PDP  20  may generate a lot of heat due to the discharge phenomenon described above, so a thermal sheet  30  formed of a thermally conductive material may be interposed between the chassis base  40  and the PDP  20  to conduct heat from the PDP  20  to the chassis base  40 . 
         [0046]    Circuit units  50  may be connected to the electrodes of the PDP  20 , and may be installed on the back of the chassis base  40 . The electrodes of the PDP  20  may be connected to the circuit units  50  by a signal transmission member  60 , e.g., a tape carrier package (TCP). The circuit units  50  may also be connected to each other by the signal transmission members  60 . 
         [0047]    The signal transmission member  60  and the circuit units  50  may be connected to each other by a coupling member  310 , e.g., a connector. A foreign material blocking member  330  may be arranged on the circuit units  50  to prevent external foreign materials from entering into the coupling member  310 . The combined coupling member  310  and foreign material blocking member  330  are indicated as element  70 , which will be described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 through 7 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a 3-electrode surface discharge PDP as an exemplary embodiment of the PDP  20 . The 3-electrode surface discharge PDP  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may be a component of the plasma display device  10  according to  FIG. 1 . Of course, other types of PDPs may be used, e.g., an opposite discharge PDP, a PDP including electrodes formed within a barrier structure, a PDP having a delta type electrode structure, or a PDP having no indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes. Accordingly, the PDP  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is simply one possible component that may be included in a plasma display device  10  according to an embodiment, and does not restrict the scope of the present invention. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the PDP  20  may be manufactured by combining a front panel  21  and a rear panel  22 . 
         [0050]    The front panel  21  may include a front substrate  220  with pairs of sustain discharge electrodes  222 ,  223  arranged on the lower surface of the front substrate  220 . A first dielectric layer  225  may cover the sustain discharge electrodes  222 ,  223 , and a protection film  227  may cover the first dielectric layer  225 . Each pair of the sustain discharge electrodes may include an X electrode  222  and a Y electrode  223 . The X electrode  222  may include a transparent electrode  222   a  and a bus electrode  222   b , and the Y electrode  223  may include a transparent electrode  223   a  and a bus electrode  223   b.    
         [0051]    The rear panel  22  may include a rear substrate  230 , address electrodes  231  arranged parallel to each other on the upper surface of the rear substrate  230 , a second dielectric layer  235  covering the address electrodes  231 , a barrier structure  237  formed on the second dielectric layer  235 , and phosphor layers  238  formed on exposed portions of the upper surface of the second dielectric layer  235  and sidewalls of the barrier structure  237 . 
         [0052]    The front and rear substrates  220  and  230  may be formed of soda-lime glass having good visible light transmissivity and may also be colored or tinted in order to improve bright room contrast. Alternatively, the front and rear substrates  220  and  230  may be formed of plastic so as to be flexible. 
         [0053]    The X and Y electrodes  222  and  223  formed on one surface of the front substrate  220  may include transparent electrodes  222   a  and  223   a , respectively, and bus electrodes  222   b  and  223   b , respectively. The transparent electrodes  222   a  and  223   a  may be formed of a material that may be electrically conductive to generate discharge, but transparent so as not to disturb the propagation of light emitted from the phosphor layers  238  toward the front substrate  220 . Transparent conductive materials include, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO). 
         [0054]    The transparent conductive material, e.g., ITO, may have great resistance, so that if a sustain discharge electrode includes only a transparent electrode  222   a ,  223   a , there may be a large voltage drop in the direction of the sustain discharge electrode. Thus, a lot of driving power may be consumed, and the response speed may be decreased. To overcome these problems, the sustain discharge electrodes may include bus electrodes  222   b ,  223   b  arranged on the transparent electrodes  222   a ,  223   a . The bus electrodes  222   b ,  223   b  may be formed of a metal and may be relatively narrow as compared to the transparent electrodes  222   a ,  223   a.    
         [0055]    The first dielectric layer  225  may be formed on the front substrate  220  so as to envelope the X electrodes  222  and the Y electrodes  223  in the first dielectric layer  225 . The first dielectric layer  225  may be formed of a dielectric material, e.g., PbO, B 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , capable of inducing charges and accumulating wall charges, in order to prevent electricity from directly flowing between adjacent X electrodes  222  and Y electrodes  223  during discharge, and to prevent the X electrodes  222  and Y electrodes  223  from being damaged due to direct collisions with positive ions or electrons. 
         [0056]    The first dielectric layer  225  may be protected by the protection film  227 . 
         [0057]    The protection film  227 , e.g., magnesium oxide (MgO) or magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ), may protect the first dielectric layer  225  by preventing the dielectric material from being sputtered due to ion bombardment. 
         [0058]    The address electrodes  231  may be arranged on the rear substrate  230  so as to intersect the sustain discharge electrodes  222  and  223 . The address electrodes  231  may provoke address discharge to facilitate sustained discharge between the X and Y electrodes  222  and  223 . More specifically, the address electrodes  231  may lower the voltage used to provoke sustained discharge. The address electrodes  231  may be arranged in a stripe pattern to intersect the sustain discharge electrodes. 
         [0059]    The address electrodes  231  may be covered with the second dielectric layer  235 . The second dielectric layer  235 , e.g., PbO, B 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , may prevent the address electrodes  231  from being damaged due to direct collisions with positive ions or electrons during discharge. The second dielectric layer  235  may include, or be integrally formed with, a reflection film to prevent visible light generated within the discharge cells from exiting the rear of the PDP  20 . 
         [0060]    The barrier structure  237  may define the discharge cells and may be installed on the second dielectric layer  235 . Although the barrier structure  237  illustrated in  FIG. 2  defines rectangular discharge cells arranged in a matrix, the present invention is not limited to this structure of the discharge cells. The discharge cells may have the other shapes, e.g., a stripe shape, a circular shape, or a delta shape. Adjacent discharge cells may be separated by the barrier structure  237 . The barrier structure  237  may define unit pixels that form an image. The barrier structure  237  may prevent color mixture between pixels by preventing crosstalk where discharge may be mixed on an interface between discharge cells. The barrier structure  237  may define the spaces, which may be coated with phosphor  238 , and therefore where discharge occurs. The size of such each discharge space may be determined by the size and configuration of the ribs of the barrier  237 . The size of a discharge space may depend on the width of an upper surface of a barrier rib or the distance between adjacent barrier ribs. 
         [0061]    Red, green, and blue phosphor layers  238  may be formed on exposed portions of the upper surface of the second dielectric layer  235  and sidewalls of the barrier structure  237 . The phosphor layers  238  may include a component that generates visible light in response to UV light. The red phosphor layers  238 , e.g., Y(V,P)0 4 :Eu, may be formed in red discharge cells, the green phosphor layers  238 , e.g. Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn, may be formed in green discharge cells, and the blue phosphor layers  238 , e.g., BaM:Eu, may be formed in blue discharge cells. 
         [0062]    The discharge cells may be filled with a discharge gas that may be excited or provoke discharge when a voltage may be applied to the electrodes  222 ,  223 , and  231  within the discharge cells. The discharge gas, e.g., at least one of argon (Ar), xenon (Xe), nitrogen (N 2 ), heavy hydrogen (D 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrogen (H 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), krypton (Kr) or air, may be excited by external energy, e.g., electron beams, to generate UV light, or serve as a discharge gas. 
         [0063]    The foreign material blocking member and surrounding structure, corresponding to an exemplary embodiment of a plasma display device according to the present invention, will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 through 7 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 3 through 7  illustrate magnified views of the foreign material blocking member and coupling member  70  and the surrounding structure.  FIG. 3  illustrates the signal transmission member and the coupling member in an uncoupled state.  FIG. 4  illustrates the coupled signal transmission member and the coupling member.  FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of a coupling member without a foreign material blocking member.  FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of the coupling member of  FIG. 5  with a foreign material blocking member coupled.  FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an interface between the coupling member and the foreign material blocking member. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a coupling member  310  and a foreign material blocking member  330  may be arranged on a circuit board  305 . The circuit board  305  may be one of the circuit units  50  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0066]    A signal transmission member  320  may include a flexible cable  323 , a conductive pin set  321  which may be coupled to the coupling member  310 , and a coupling array  322  between the cable part  323  and the pin set  321 . The signal transmission member  320  may be a TCP or a flexible flat cable (FFC). Hence, an integrated circuit (not shown) may be mounted on the flexible cable  323 . 
         [0067]    The conductive pin set  321  may be connected to the coupling member  310 , which may mate with the pin set  321  to receive an electric signal.  FIG. 3  illustrates the signal transmission member  320  in a position where it is not coupled to the coupling member  310 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the signal transmission member  320  coupled to the coupling member  310 . In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , like reference numerals indicate like members. 
         [0068]    The coupling member  310  may include a fixed coupler  312  and an actuator  311 . The fixed coupler  312  may be a stationary part attached to the circuit board  305 . The fixed coupler  312  may be electrically connected to the pin set  321  of the signal transmission member  320  to receive a signal through the signal transmission member  320 . The fixed coupler  312  may be formed of a conductive material, e.g., silver, copper, and may be electrically connected to the pin set  321  at the pin coupling. The pin coupling may enable electrical communication through the circuit board  305  to various circuit elements (not shown) mounted on the circuit board  305 . To achieve this electrical connection, the pin coupling may extend into the coupling member  310  that may be surrounded by the foreign material blocking member  330 . When the foreign material blocking member  330  is not installed, the pin coupling may be entirely or partially exposed to the outside. 
         [0069]    The actuator  311  may be hingedly attached to the coupling member  310  and the fixed coupler  312  to releasably attach the signal transmission member  320  to the coupling member  310 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the actuator  311  in an open position.  FIG. 4  illustrates the signal transmission member  320  coupled to the coupling member  310  with the actuator  311  in a closed position. When the actuator  311  is closed, the signal transmission member  320  and the coupling member  310  may be firmly engaged with each other. The actuator  311  may be opened to separate the signal transmission member  320  from the coupling member  310 . If the actuator  311  is rotated beyond a predetermined limit, the coupling member  310  may be damaged. To prevent this damage, the foreign material blocking member  330  may include an actuator limiter  335  that prevents excessive rotation of the actuator  311 . 
         [0070]    In an exemplary embodiment, the foreign material blocking member  330  may have a           shape to surround the coupling member  310 . Of course, the present invention is not limited to this shape. The foreign material blocking member  330  may have about any other shape that may be capable of protecting the pin coupling between the signal transmission member  320  and the coupling member  310 . The foreign material blocking member  330  may include a shield  331  large enough to cover the pin coupling portion, to protect the exposed pin coupling portion of the coupling member  310 . The shield  331  may have the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3  or any other configuration that may protect at least the pin coupling and prevent the intrusion of a foreign material. The foreign material blocking member  330  may be coupled to the circuit board  305  by four bosses  332 . 
         [0071]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate plan views of a coupling member without a foreign material blocking member, and a coupling member with a foreign material blocking member, respectively.  FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of a coupling member  510  when an actuator  511  is closed. The actuator  511  may be hingedly attached to the coupling member  510 , in a manner similar to actuator  311  in  FIGS. 3-4 . The actuator  522  may removably fix a signal transmission member to the fixed coupler  512  on the coupling member  510 . Regardless of whether the signal transmission member is coupled to the coupling member  510 , a pin coupling portion  513  of the coupling member  510  may be partially exposed. 
         [0072]    In a conventional plasma display device, silicone or the like may be coated on a predetermined portion, i.e., sealant area  520 , of the coupling member  510  in order to prevent contamination by a foreign material. However, this practice produces some problems, e.g., an increase of production lead time, a destruction of an actuator due to the use of excessive silicone, and inconvenience of silicone removal for reapplication of silicone coating. 
         [0073]      FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of the coupling member  510  having a foreign material blocking member  530  attached thereto. The foreign material blocking member  530  may eliminate the need to coat a portion of the coupling member  510  with silicone. A shield  531  for the foreign material blocking member  530  may be equal to or larger than the pin coupling portion  513  of the coupling member  510  to prevent the intrusion of foreign material into the coupling member  510 . The foreign material blocking member  530  may be made of a plastic, but the present invention is not limited to this material.  FIG. 6  shows that predetermined portions of the foreign material blocking member  530  near the bosses may be removed to reduce material cost. However, the present invention is not limited to this removal. Further, the foreign material blocking member  530  is not limited to the           shape as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , but may be any shape necessary to prevent the intrusion of foreign material into the coupling member  510 . 
         [0074]    An actuator limiter  532  may be included in the foreign material blocking member  530  to prevent excessive rotation of the actuator  511 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an interface between the coupling member and a block member  730 . An actuator limiter  712  may be formed from the inside surface of a shield  731  of the foreign material blocking member  730 . The actuator  705  may be thin to conform closely to the foreign material blocking member  730  and may enable the actuator  705  to rotate open a desired amount. Between a horizontal, closed position and a maximally opened position, the actuator  705  may rotate about 105 degrees, in an exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, a length “d” of the actuator limiter  712  may be just large enough to prevent the actuator  705  from being opened beyond the desired angle. 
         [0076]    In  FIG. 7 , bosses  711  for fixing the foreign material blocking member  730  to a circuit board (not shown) are illustrated. The bosses  711  may be mounted through holes in the circuit board on which there may be no copper layers. Of course, the holes in the circuit board may be surrounded with a copper layer. However, the copper layers may be omitted when the foreign material blocking member  730  may be formed of plastic or when the foreign material blocking member  730  does not need to be grounded. The bosses  711  may be shaped so that center portions thereof may be partially removed and the outer circumferences of ends thereof increase inward, so that the bosses  711  may be easily detachable from or attachable to the circuit unit. In other words, a vertical cross-section of each of the bosses  711  may have the shape of an arrowhead whose outer circumference increases from the bottom end towards the top end of the arrowhead. Since the centers of the ends of the bosses  711  may be partially removed, the ends of the bosses  711  may compress radially to easily pass through the holes of the circuit board and couple the bosses  711  to the circuit board. After the arrowhead-shaped ends of the bosses  711  pass through the holes, the arrowhead-shaped ends may catch on the circuit board, so that the bosses  711  may be fixed in position. 
         [0077]    For convenience of processing, the bosses  711  may be formed of plastic. However, the present invention is not limited to this material. The bosses  711  may be formed of any of the other suitable material, e.g., metal. The shape of the bosses  711  is not limited to the shape illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The bosses  711  may have another suitable shape so that the bosses  711  may be coupled to a circuit board, e.g., screwing, riveting, or other coupling method. 
         [0078]    A method of coupling a foreign material blocking member and a coupling member to each other will now be described in greater detail.  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a method for coupling a foreign material blocking member to a coupling member so that the two members adhere closely to each other. 
         [0079]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an interface between a coupling member  805  and a foreign material blocking member  830  of a plasma display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , some bosses are cut away in order to facilitate understanding of the coupling method. 
         [0080]    A foreign material blocking member  830  may include a shield  820 , as described above. A coupling member  805  may attach into and engage the block  830 . A protruding tab  831  may be formed on one end of a fixed part  810  of the coupling member  805 . A groove  832  may be formed in the foreign material blocking member  830  so to provide an engagement position for the protruding tab  831 . A first slanting surface  833  and a second slanting surface  834  may be formed on the fixed part  810  and the foreign material blocking member  830 , respectively, opposite the coupling surface. The first slanting surface  833  and the second slanting surface  834  may be used as ramps to couple the foreign material blocking member  830  to the coupling member  805 . The block  830  and the coupling member  805  may be snapped together using the first and second slanting surfaces  833  and  834 . 
         [0081]    The coupling relationship between the coupling member  805  and the foreign material blocking member  830  may be established at any interface between the block  830  and coupling member  805 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of an interface between a coupling member  905  and a foreign material blocking member  930  of a plasma display device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , some bosses are cut away in order to facilitate understanding of the coupling method. 
         [0083]    As described above, a foreign material blocking member  930  may include a shield  920 . A coupling member  905  may attach into and engage the block  930 . A protruding tab  931  may be formed on one end of a fixed part  910  of the coupling member  905 . A groove  932  may be formed in the foreign material blocking member  930  so as to provide an engagement position for the protruding tab  931 . However, in contrast with the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a coupling surface where the protruding tab  931  and the groove  932  meet may be vertically oriented. A first slanting surface  933  and a second slanting surface  934  may be formed on the fixed part  910  and the foreign material blocking member  930 , respectively. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the foreign material blocking member  930  may be coupled to the coupling member  905  by sliding them together in a parallel and planar relationship so that the slanting surfaces  933  and  934  may engage each other. Of course, the foreign material blocking member  930  may also be coupled to the coupling member  905  by pressing the coupling member  905  down into the block  930 . The coupling relationship between the coupling member  905  and the foreign material blocking member  930  may be established at any interface between the coupling member  905  the block  930 . 
         [0084]    A plasma display device according to the present invention may include a foreign material blocking member which may prevent foreign material from penetrating into a coupling member between a signal transmission member and a circuit unit. Thus, production lead time may be reduced as compared to when silicone may be used as a block against foreign material. The device may also reduce the risk of damage to the coupling member during the manufacture of the plasma display device. In addition, the foreign material blocking member may be easily removed from the circuit unit when a coupling member needs to be remounted. 
         [0085]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.