Abstract:
A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight assembly. The display panel displays an image. The backlight assembly emits light onto the display panel. The backlight assembly includes a light source printed circuit board. The light source printed circuit board includes a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal. A plurality of light sources is disposed on the light source printed circuit board and receives power through the first and second contact terminals to generate the light. The driving printed circuit board includes a first power source terminal and a second power source terminal. The driving printed circuit board provides power to the first and second contact terminals through the first and second power source terminals. A socket is disposed on the driving printed circuit board. The socket grips the light source printed circuit board and electrically connects the light source printed circuit board to the driving printed circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0165561, filed on Dec. 27, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly to a display apparatus having a socket. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Flat panel display apparatuses include a liquid crystal display apparatus, a field emission display apparatus, a plasma display panel apparatus, and an organic electroluminescent display apparatus. The liquid crystal display apparatus may include two substrates and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween. Electrodes facing each other may be disposed on the two substrates, respectively. Voltages may be applied to the electrodes to rearrange liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, so that the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer is controlled to display an image. 
         [0004]    Liquid crystal display apparatuses may use a backlight assembly to provide light through the liquid crystal layer. The backlight assembly may include a light source printed circuit board on which light sources are disposed, a driving printed circuit board for driving the light source printed circuit board, various optical sheets, and a receiving container for receiving the boards and the sheets. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a display apparatus including a display panel and a backlight assembly. The display panel displays an image. The backlight assembly emits light onto the display panel. The light source printed circuit board includes a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal. A plurality of light sources is disposed on the light source printed circuit board. The plurality of light sources receives power through the first and second contact terminals to generate light. A driving printed circuit board includes a first power source terminal and a second power source terminal. The driving printed circuit board provides power to the first and second contact terminals through the first and second power source terminals. A socket is disposed on the driving printed circuit board. The socket grips the light source printed circuit board and electrically connects the light source printed circuit board to the driving printed circuit board. 
         [0006]    Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a backlight assembly including a light source printed circuit board, a driving printed circuit board, and a socket. The light source printed circuit board includes a first contact terminal, a second contact terminal and an edge portion. The driving printed circuit board includes a first power source terminal and a second power source terminal. The driving printed circuit board provides power to the first and second contact terminals through the first and second power source terminals. The socket is disposed on the driving printed circuit board. The socket includes a first socket terminal and a second socket terminal. The first and second socket terminals face the edge portion of the light source printed circuit board. The first socket terminal electrically connects the first power source terminal to the first contact terminal, and wherein the second socket terminal electrically connects the second power source terminal to the second contact terminal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and other features of the present inventive concept will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a separated perspective view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a combined perspective view showing a connecting part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of  FIG. 2B ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a separated perspective view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a combined perspective view showing a connecting part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line of  FIG. 5B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The aspects and features of the present inventive concept will be apparent from the following exemplary embodiments that will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the inventive concept is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and may be implemented in various forms. In the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited to the specific examples provided herein. 
         [0017]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the present inventive concept. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. 
         [0018]    It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present. Shapes of the exemplary views may be modified according to manufacturing techniques and/or allowable errors. The exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited to the specific shapes illustrated in the exemplary views, but may include other shapes that may be created according to manufacturing processes. Areas exemplified in the drawings may have general properties, and may be used to illustrate specific shapes of elements. Thus, this should not be construed as limiting to the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0019]    It will be also understood that although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element in exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept may be termed a second element in other embodiments without departing from the teachings of the present inventive concept. Exemplary embodiments of aspects of the present inventive concept explained and illustrated herein may include their complementary counterparts. The same reference numerals or the same reference designators may denote the same elements throughout the specification. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a display apparatus  700  may include a backlight assembly  400  configured to generate light, a display panel  500  configured to receive the light from the backlight assembly  400  and to display an image, a cover member  610 , and a receiving member  620  configured to receive the backlight assembly  400 , the display panel  500  and the cover member  610 . 
         [0022]    The backlight assembly  400  may include a reflective plate  410 , a light source printed circuit board  110  disposed on the reflective plate  410 , a plurality of light sources  440  disposed on the light source printed circuit board  110 , a driving printed circuit board  120  electrically connected to the light source printed circuit board  110 , a first optical member  420 , and a second optical member  430 . The driving printed circuit board  120  may provide power to the light source printed circuit board  110 . In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, a plurality of light source printed circuit boards  110  may be disposed on the reflective plate  410 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The plurality of light source printed circuit boards  110  may be arranged in parallel to each other and may be electrically connected to the driving printed circuit board  120 . 
         [0023]    The light sources  440  may be disposed on the light source printed circuit board  110  at predetermined intervals. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, each of the light sources  440  may include a light emitting diode (LED). In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, each of the light sources  440  may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a laser diode (LD), for example. 
         [0024]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the backlight assembly  400  may be a direct-type backlight assembly configured to directly provide light to a bottom surface of the display panel  500 . However, the present inventive concept is not limited thereto. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the backlight assembly  400  may be an edge-type backlight assembly. For example, the backlight assembly  400  may include a light guide plate (not shown) disposed between the reflective plate  410  and the first optical member  420 . Light sources (not shown) may provide light to a sidewall of the light guide plate (not shown). Light provided to the sidewall of the light guide plate (not shown) may be guided to the display panel  500  by the light guide plate (not shown). 
         [0025]    The light source printed circuit board  110  may be electrically connected to the driving printed circuit board  120 . The light source printed circuit hoard  110  may be gripped by a socket  160  fixed to the driving printed circuit board  120 . The socket  160  may include a first socket terminal  130  and a second socket terminal  140  spaced apart from the first socket terminal  130 . The first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  may grip the light source printed circuit board  110 . 
         [0026]    The light source printed circuit board  110  may be fixed to the receiving member  620  by a combination member. The combination member may be a tape or a screw. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the combination member may be a screw  411  and the light source printed circuit board  110  may have a screw-hole  412  combined with the screw  411 . Thus, the light source printed circuit board  110  might not be dislodged by an external impact such that reliability of the display apparatus  700  may be increased. 
         [0027]    The reflective plate  410  may include a material capable of reflecting light. For example, the reflective plate  410  may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or aluminum. The reflective plate  410  may be disposed on a bottom portion of the receiving member  620 . The reflective plate  410  may reflect light generated from the light sources  440  to increase the amount of light used for displaying an image. 
         [0028]    The first optical member  420  may be disposed between the display panel  500  and the light sources  440 , so as to diffuse the light generated from the light sources  440 . The second optical member  430  may be disposed between the display panel  500  and the first optical member  420 . The second optical member  430  may include a plurality of optical films. For example, the second optical member  430  may include a prism film configured to condense light to increase front brightness, and a diffusion film configured to diffuse light outputted from the prism film. 
         [0029]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the display panel  500  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. When the display panel  500  is an LCD panel, the display panel  500  may include a first substrate  520 , a second substrate  510  facing the first substrate  520 , and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) disposed between the first and second substrates  520  and  510 . The first substrate  520  may include a plurality of pixels (not shown), and each of the pixels may include a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode (not shown) electrically connected to the thin film transistor. 
         [0030]    The second substrate  510  may include color filters (not shown) disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of pixels. When the display panel  500  is the LCD panel, the second substrate  510  may include a common electrode (not shown). The common electrode and the pixel electrode may generate an electric field. 
         [0031]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the color filters may be disposed on the first substrate  520 , rather than the second substrate  510 . The common electrode may be disposed on the first substrate  520 , rather than the second substrate  510 . When the common electrode is formed on the first substrate  520 , the common electrode may be spaced apart from the pixel electrode and may generate a horizontal electric field along with the pixel electrode, and the liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer may be directed by the horizontal electric field. 
         [0032]    A source printed circuit board  530  may be electrically connected to the display panel  500  through a flexible circuit film  540 . The source printed circuit board  530  may include a driving circuit (not shown) configured to drive the display panel  500 . In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the source printed circuit board  530  may be separated from the driving printed circuit board  120  configured to drive the light source printed circuit board  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, a driving circuit (no shown) configured to drive the light source printed circuit board  110  may be included in the source printed circuit board  530 . The first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  may be fixed to the source printed circuit board  530 . 
         [0033]    The receiving member  620  may include a bottom portion and sidewalls extending from the bottom portion. The receiving member  620  may provide a receiving space surrounded by the bottom portion and the sidewall. The reflective plate  410 , the light source printed circuit board  110 , the driving printed circuit board  120 , the first socket terminal  130 , the second socket terminal  140 , the first optical member  420 , and the second optical member  430  may be received in the receiving space. The display panel  500  may be disposed on the second optical member  430 . The cover member  610  may cover an edge of the display panel  500  and may be combined with the receiving member  620 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2A  is a separated perspective view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, and  FIG. 2B  is a combined perspective view showing a connecting part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  may be fixed to the driving printed circuit board  120 . The first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  may be fixed to the driving printed circuit board  120  by a surface mounting technique (SMT). The first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  may be spaced apart from each other and grip the light source printed circuit board  110  therebetween. 
         [0036]    The light source printed circuit board  110  may include a first contact terminal  111  and a second contact terminal  112 . Interconnections  441  and a plurality of light sources  440  may be disposed on the light source printed circuit board  110 . The interconnections  441  may be electrically connected to the first and second contact terminals  111  and  112  in one-to-one correspondence. The light sources  440  may be electrically connected to the interconnections  441 . Thus, the plurality of light sources  440  may generate light by power provided from a power source through the first and second contact terminals  111  and  112 . 
         [0037]    The driving printed circuit board  120  may include a first power source terminal  121  and a second power source terminal  122 . The first contact terminal  111  may be electrically connected to the first power source terminal  121 , and the second contact terminal  112  may be electrically connected to the second power source terminal  122 . The power source may provide power to the first and second contact terminals  111  and  112  through the first and second power source terminals  121  and  122 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , for example, the light source printed circuit board  110  may be inserted between the first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  in a direction of an arrow illustrated in  FIG. 2A . When each of the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  has elasticity, the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  may grip the light source printed circuit board  110  using the elasticity. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  may include a conductive material. For example, the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  may include iron, aluminum, and/or copper. 
         [0039]    The structure of the socket  160  may be applied to connections between various types of printed circuit boards. According to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the light source printed circuit board  110  may be gripped using the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  fixed to the driving printed circuit board  120 , so that the light source printed circuit board  110  is connected to the driving printed circuit board  120 . Thus, an additional component (e.g., a connector) other than the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140  might not be used to connect the light source printed circuit board  110  to the driving printed circuit board  120 . As a result, the number of components of the display apparatus  700  may be reduced and a manufacturing method of the display apparatus  700  may be simplified. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of  FIG. 2B . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first socket terminal  130  may include a first combining portion  131 , a first curved portion  132 , and a first contact portion  133 . The first combining portion  131  may be combined with the first power source terminal  121 . The first contact portion  133  may be in contact with the first contact terminal  111 . A contact area of the first contact portion  133  and the first contact terminal  111  may be equal to an area of the first contact terminal  111  in order to reduce a contact resistance between the first contact portion  133  and the first contact terminal  111 . An area of a combined surface between the first combining portion  131  and the first power source terminal  121  may be equal to an area of the first power source terminal  121 . The first curved portion  132  may extend from the first combining portion  131  and may be curved toward the first contact portion  133 . 
         [0042]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the first socket terminal  130  may include an assistant bent portion  150 . The assistant bent portion  150  may be disposed between the first combining portion  131  and the first curved portion  132 . The assistant bent portion  150  may increase the strength of the first socket terminal  130 . Thus, the first socket terminal  130  may be prevented from being broken or transformed when the light source printed circuit board  110  is combined with the driving printed circuit board  120 . 
         [0043]    The first socket terminal  130  may receive an electrical current through the first curved portion  132 . When the light source printed circuit board  110  is inserted between the first and second socket terminals  130  and  140 , the first contact portion  133  may be moved toward the first combining portion  131  and may then return to its initial position by elasticity. The first contact portion  133  may grip the first contact portion  111 , so as to be in contact with the first contact portion  111 . 
         [0044]    The second socket terminal  140  and the first socket terminal  130  may be symmetrical with respect to the light source printed circuit board  110 . Thus, the second socket terminal  140  may have a similar structure to the first socket terminal  130 . The structure of the second socket terminal  140  will be described in more detail below. 
         [0045]    The second socket terminal  140  may include a second combining portion  141 , a second curved portion  142 , and a second contact portion  143 . The second combining portion  141  may be combined with the second power source terminal  122 . The second contact portion  143  may be in contact with the second contact terminal  112 . The second curved portion  142  may extend from the second combining portion  141  and may be curved toward the second contact portion  143 . 
         [0046]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, when the first socket terminal  130  includes a conductive material, the first power source terminal  121  may be electrically connected to the first contact terminal  111  through the first socket terminal  130 . When the second socket terminal  140  includes the conductive material, the second power source terminal  122  may be electrically connected to the second contact terminal  112  through the second socket terminal  140 . 
         [0047]    According to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the first socket terminal  130  and the second socket terminal  140  may face each other with the light source printed circuit board  110  disposed therebetween. The first and second contact portions  133  and  143  may overlap with the light source printed circuit board  110 , so as to grip the light source printed circuit board  110 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a socket  161  may include a first socket terminal  230  and a second socket terminal  240 . The first socket terminal  230  may include a first combining portion  231 , a first curved portion  232 , and a first contact portion  233 . The second socket terminal  240  may include a second combining portion  241 , a second curved portion  242 , and a second contact portion  243 . Each of the first and second socket terminals  230  and  240  may include a conductive material and/or a non-conductive material. 
         [0050]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a first power source terminal  221  and a second power source terminal  222  of a driving printed circuit board  220  may be disposed between the first combining portion  231  and the second combining portion  241 . A light source printed circuit board  210  may have a first surface S 1  and a second surface S 2  opposite to each other. A first contact terminal  211  and a second contact terminal  212  may be disposed on the first surface S 1  of the light source printed circuit hoard  210 . The first contact portion  233  and the second contact portion  243  may be in contact with the second surface S 2  of the light source printed circuit board  210 , which is opposite to the first surface S 1  on which the first and second contact terminals  211  and  212  are disposed. The first and second socket terminals  230  and  240  may grip the second surface S 2  of the light source printed circuit board  210 . The first power source terminal  221  and the second power source terminal  222  may be in contact with the first contact terminal  211  and the second contact terminal  212 , respectively. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5A  is a separated perspective view showing a connection part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, and  FIG. 5B  is a combined perspective view showing a connecting part of a light source printed circuit board and a driving printed circuit board in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
         [0052]    In the exemplary embodiment discussed with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the same elements as described above may be indicated by the same reference numerals and descriptions of the same elements may be omitted. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a socket  162  may be fixed to a driving printed circuit board  320 . The socket  162  may include a first socket terminal  330  and a second socket terminal  340 . The first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  may face an edge portion  113  of the light source printed circuit board  110 . The first socket terminal  330  and the second socket terminal  340  may be arranged along an edge portion  113  of a light source printed circuit board  110 . The first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  may be arranged along a sidewall of the edge portion  113 , which is perpendicular to an inserting direction of the light source printed circuit board  110 . 
         [0054]    According to the configuration shown in  FIG. 5A , the light source printed circuit board  110  may be inserted into the first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  in a direction of an arrow illustrated in  FIG. 5A . When each of the first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  has elasticity, the first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  may grip the light source printed circuit board  110  using the elasticity. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the light source printed circuit board  110  may be combined with the driving printed circuit board  320  by a sliding method. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ of  FIG. 5B . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a first socket terminal  330  may include a first combining portion  331 , a first curved portion  332 , and a first contact portion  333 . The first combining portion  331  may be combined with a first power source terminal  321 . The first contact portion  333  may be in contact with a first contact terminal  111 . The first curved portion  332  may be curved from the first combining portion  331  toward the first contact portion  333 . The second socket terminal  340  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  may include a second combining portion, a second curved portion, and a second contact portion. The second combining portion may be combined with a second power source terminal  322  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and the second contact portion may be in contact with the second contact terminal  112  of  FIG. 5A . The second curved portion may be curved from the second combining portion toward the second contact portion. 
         [0057]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the first socket terminal  330  may include a conductive material. The first power source terminal  321  may be electrically connected to the first contact terminal  111  through the first socket terminal  330 . 
         [0058]    In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, a first power source terminal (not shown) may be disposed at a position corresponding to the first contact portion  333  on the driving printed circuit board  320 , and a second power source terminal (not shown) may be disposed at a position corresponding to the second contact portion on the driving printed circuit board  320 . The first contact portion  333  and the second contact portion may be in contact with an opposite surface to a surface of the light source printed circuit board  110  on which the first and second contact terminals  111  and  112  of  FIG. 5A  are disposed. Thus, the first contact portion  333  and the second contact portion may grip the light source printed circuit board  110 . The first power source terminal may be in contact with the first contact terminal  111  of  FIG. 5A , and the second power source terminal may be in contact with the second contact terminal  112  of  FIG. 5A . The first and second socket terminals  330  and  340  may include a conductive material and/or a non-conductive material. 
         [0059]    In the display apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the light source printed circuit board may be gripped by the first and second socket terminals fixed on the driving printed circuit board, so that the terminals of the light source printed circuit board are combined with the terminals of the driving printed circuit board. The display apparatus might not have an additional component (e.g., a connector) other than the first and second socket terminals. The number of components of the display apparatus may be reduced. The manufacturing method of the display apparatus may be simplified. 
         [0060]    While the present inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept.