Abstract:
A backlight assembly and the liquid crystal display having the same are provided. The backlight assembly includes: a plurality of lamps spaced apart from one another and each having external electrodes bent at both sides; an electrode plate having an electrode fixing part and a support part supporting the electrode fixing part, which are bent to be connected with the bent external electrode of the lamp; upper and lower structures for fixing the electrode plate; and a diffuser unit for diffusing light generated from the lamp.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-71145 filed in Korea on Sep. 7, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a backlight assembly, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly for realizing a liquid crystal display with a slim design, that is lightweight, and with increased simplicity by modifying an external electrode structure of a lamp and an electrode plate structure connected with the external electrode structure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     In general, among display devices, a cathode ray tube (CRT) is the most popular technology for a monitor of a television set (TV), a measurement instrument, an information terminal instrument and the like, but does not lend itself toward the trend of increased miniaturization and the decreased weight of electronics due to CRT&#39;s inherent weight and size. 
     Accordingly, in the trend of miniaturization and decreased weight of various electronics, the CRT has an inherent limitation in both weight and size. The CRT is expected to be substituted with a liquid crystal display (LCD) using an electro-optic effect, a plasma display panel (PDP) using gas discharge, and an electro luminescence display (ELD) using an electro-luminescence effect. Among them, the LCD is being actively developed. 
     Specifically, the LCD is used not only for the monitor of a laptop computer, but also for the monitor of a desktop computer and for a large-sized information display device. 
     Most of the LCDs are light receiving devices for controlling an amount of external light to display an image. Therefore, the LCDs essentially require a separate light source, that is, a backlight for irradiating light to the LCD panel. 
     In general, the backlight serves as the light source of the LCD, has a cylindrical light-emitting lamp, and is classified as either an edge type backlight or a direct type backlight. 
     In the edge type backlight, a lamp unit is installed at the lateral surface of a light guide plate for guiding the light. The lamp unit includes a lamp for radiating light; a lamp holder inserted at both ends of the lamp, which protects the lamp; and a lamp reflective plate surrounding the lamp and fitted into the lateral surface of the light guide plate to reflect light radiated from the lamp, toward the light guide plate. 
     The above-described edge type backlight is mainly applied to smaller sized LCDs such as the monitors of either a laptop computer or a desktop computer, and is advantageous for good uniformity of light, a long durable lifetime, and the slimness of the LCD. 
     The direct type backlight is being actively developed as the LCD is being used in larger applications with a size of more than 20 inches. In the direct type backlight, a plurality of lamps is arranged in a row on a bottom surface of a diffuser plate to directly irradiate the light to the front surface of the LCD panel. 
     Since the direct type backlight has an efficiency of light larger than the edge type backlight, it is primarily used for a large screen LCD requiring a high luminance. 
     The direct type LCD is employed for large-sized monitors or televisions, and thereby requires a longer use time and the use of more lamps than is needed for the laptop computer. Therefore, the direct type LCD has a higher possibility of failing to light the lamp due to the decreased lifetime of the lamp from longer use time and from the use of more lamps. 
     In the edge type backlight where the lamp unit is installed at both lateral surfaces of the light guide plate, when for example, one lamp is not lighted due to its lifetime expiring or other failure of the lamp, there is not a significant loss of performance except for a reduction of the luminance of an image. 
     However, in the direct type backlight, a plurality of the lamps is installed at the bottom of the screen. Accordingly, when one lamp is not lighted due to its lifetime expiring or other failure of the lamp, the non-lit portion gets noticeably darker than the lit portions and appears on the screen instantly. 
     Therefore, since the direct type LCD often replaces the lamps with new ones, it is necessary to have a structure for facilitating the disassembly and reassembly of the lamp. 
     Hereinafter, a conventional direct type liquid crystal display will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a disassembled perspective view illustrating the conventional direct type liquid crystal display. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the direct type liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel assembly  105  having a lower substrate with a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode installed thereon; an upper substrate having a color filter layer and adhered to the lower substrate; a source printed circuit board (PCB) and a gate PCB attached to the source PCB; a guide panel  103  for fixing the liquid crystal panel assembly  105 ; and a top cover  101  and a bottom cover  120  respectively assembled with upper and lower sides of the guide panel  103 . 
     The backlight assembly is located between the bottom cover  120  and the liquid crystal panel assembly  105 . 
     The backlight assembly includes: a plurality of lamps  113 ; an optic sheet  107 ; a diffuser plate  108 ; first and second electrode plates  114   a  and  114   b  connected with and supplying power to the plurality of lamps; and first and second upper structures  110   a  and  110   b  and first and second lower structures  115   a  and  115   b  for fixing the first and second electrode plates  114   a  and  114   b.    
     The lamps  113 , which serve as the light source are spaced apart from one another and arranged in a row, with external electrodes  113   a  at both ends. The external electrodes  113   a  are connected with and receive power from the first and second electrode plates  114   a  and  114   b.    
     The power is applied to the first and second electrode plates  114   a  and  114   b  through a wire from an inverter  123  located outside of the bottom cover  120 . The inverter can turn the lamps  113  on or off. 
     A reflective film  117  is coated on an internal surface of the bottom cover  120  to allow light emitted from the lamps  113  to travel toward the liquid crystal panel assembly  105 . 
     The emitted light travels toward the liquid crystal panel assembly  105  fixed to the guide panel  103 , and is used as the light source for displaying an image. 
     Though illustrated in the drawings, non-described reference numerals  133 ,  134  and  124  respectively denote a control PCB, a PCB cover shield for shielding the control PCB from an external electric field, and an inverter cover shield for shielding the inverter  123  from the external electric field. 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled plan view and sectional view illustrating a conventional direct type liquid crystal display. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the direct type liquid crystal display, the guide panel  103  is assembled with the bottom cover  120  while fixing the liquid crystal panel assembly  105 . 
     Since the guide panel  103  is opened at its central region, the liquid crystal panel assembly  105  is exposed at its active region to the exterior. 
     The plurality of lamps  113  are spaced apart from one another between the liquid crystal panel assembly  105  and the bottom cover  120 . 
     The lamps  113  employ either an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) having an external electrode, or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the region “A” of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the guide panel  103  fixes the liquid crystal panel assembly  105  while assembled with the bottom cover  120 . The diffuser plate  108  and the optic sheets  107  are located between the bottom cover  120  and the liquid crystal panel assembly  105 . 
     The second lower structure  115   b  is positioned between both the side and edge regions and the internal surface of the bottom cover  120 , and the second electrode plate  114   b  is located on the second lower structure  115   b.    
     The second external electrode  113   b  of the EEFL  113  is connected to the second electrode plate  114   b.    
     Though not in detail illustrated in the drawings, the plurality of EEFLs  113  are spaced apart from one another on the second electrode plate  114   b.    
     In an enlarged view illustrating the region “B” where the second external electrode  113   b  of the EEFL  113  is connected with, and on the second electrode plate  114   b . The second electrode plate  114   b  includes an electrode fixing part  114   b   2  for fixing the second external electrode  113   b  of the EEFL  113 ; and a support part  114   b   1  for supporting the electrode fixing part  114   b   2 . 
     As such, the second electrode plate  114   b  is connected to the EEFL  113  in a position where it is also connected with the second lower structure  115   b . The upper structure  110   b  is connected with the external electrode  113   b  of the EEFL  113 . 
     The non-described symbol “W” denotes a width of the upper structure  110   b  and a non-luminous region being an external electrode  113   b  region of the EEFL  113 . 
     The conventional liquid crystal display has a disadvantage in that due to an increase of size, the EEFL increases in length, and the external electrode increases in length for a higher voltage, thereby causing the extension of the non-luminous region. 
     As described above, after the EEFL is connected to the electrode plate, it is assembled with and protected by the upper and lower structures. As the external electrode of the EEFL is increased in length, the upper structure is also increased in size. Therefore, the conventional liquid crystal display has a limitation of its slimness. 
     Further, the above limitation causes the increase of a width of a bezel connected to prevent the leakage of light and accordingly, the conventional liquid crystal display has a drawback in that it is difficult to realize a narrow bezel type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display using the same that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the above described related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight assembly for reducing the width of a non-luminous region and reducing the width of a bezel by modifying the external electrode structure of an External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp (EEFL) and the electrode plate structure connected with the external electrode structure, and the corresponding liquid crystal display. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention that may be realized and attained by the structure are particularly pointed out in the description and the appended drawings. The claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and described herein, there is provided a backlight assembly including: a plurality of lamps spaced apart from one another, each having external electrodes bent at both sides; an electrode plate having an electrode fixing part bent to be connected with the bent external electrode of the lamp and a support part supporting the electrode fixing part; upper and lower structures for fixing the electrode plate; and a diffuser unit for diffusing light generated from the lamp. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal panel having a color filter substrate and an array substrate attached to one another, and having a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a plurality of lamps spaced apart from one another to supply a light source to the liquid crystal panel, and each having external electrodes bent at both sides; an electrode plate having an electrode fixing part bent to be connected with the bent external electrode of the lamp and a support part supporting the electrode fixing part; upper and lower structures for fixing the electrode plate; and a diffuser unit for diffusing light generated from the lamp. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention. The drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a conventional direct type liquid crystal display as in the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is assembled plan view and sectional view illustrating a conventional direct type liquid crystal display as in the related art; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating an “A” region of  FIG. 2  as in the related art; 
         FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating an electrode plate structure for connecting a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is an assembled sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal display having an electrode plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically in  FIGS. 4A-5B . Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating an electrode plate structure for connecting a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , an electrode plate  250  includes a plurality of electrode fixing parts  250   b  connected with an external electrode of an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), and a support part  250   a  for supporting the plurality of electrode fixing parts  250   b . The electrode plate  250  is connected with and supplies power to the external electrode of the EEFL. 
     Since the electrode plate  250  is connected with and receives power from an inverter and a wire, the electrode plate  250  is made from a conductive metal plate. 
     The electrode plate  250  is mounted within a bottom cover of a direct type liquid crystal display using the EEFL, and is connected with the EEFL to turn on/off the EEFL using power applied from the inverter. 
     The electrode plate  250  is manufactured through a press process of cutting, punching, bending, and seamlessly drawing a thin conductive metal plate. 
     The inventive electrode plate  250  is cut and punched to provide the support part  250   a  and the electrode fixing part  250   b , and is bent vertically at the electrode fixing part  250   b  to create a bent structure. 
     Since the inventive electrode plate  250  is vertically bent at the electrode fixing part  250   b , it has half or less of the horizontal width than the conventional art. 
     In detail, the electrode plate  250  is bent vertically with a horizontal surface on which the EEFLs are spaced apart from one another and connected to the electrode plate  250 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the electrode fixing parts  250   b  are spaced apart from one another along the support part  250   a , and fixed to the support part  250   a.    
     Specifically, in the support part  250   a , two bar type structures are positioned to be in parallel with each other, and slits are spaced apart from one another with the electrode fixing part  250   b  between the bar type structures. 
     The electrode fixing parts  250   b  are positioned such that one or more electrode fixing parts  250   b  are located on the slits between two bar type structures. 
     Since the support part  250   a  is vertically bent, the electrode fixing parts  250   b  are vertically disposed. 
       FIG. 4B  is an assembled sectional view illustrating the liquid crystal display having the electrode plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , a guide panel  203  fixing a liquid crystal panel assembly  205  is positioned opposite a bottom cover  220 . A diffuser plate  208  and optic sheets  207  are located between the bottom cover  220  and the liquid crystal panel assembly  205 . 
     A lower structure  215   b  is located at an internal and edge region of the bottom cover  220 , and the electrode plate  250  having a vertically bent structure is located on the lower structure  215   b.    
     In detail, a plurality of EEFLs  213  is spaced apart from one another and is connected to the electrode plate  250 . The electrode plate  250  is bent vertically to a horizontal surface on which the EEFLs  213  are spaced apart from one another. 
     An external electrode  213   b  of the EEFL  213  is vertically bent at its edge region correspondingly to the bent electrode plate  250 . 
     The bent external electrode  213   b  of the EEFL  213  is connected to the electrode fixing part  250   b  of the bent electrode plate  250 . 
     In a structure where the bent external electrode  213   b  is connected with and on the electrode plate  250 , a vertically bent portion of the external electrode  213   b  is connected with the electrode fixing part  250   b  provided at a vertical region of the electrode plate  250 . 
     A remaining non-bent portion of the bent external electrode  213   b  is connected with the electrode fixing part  250   b  provided at a horizontal region of the electrode plate  250 . 
     In the present invention, the external electrode  213   b  and the electrode plate  250  are bent, thereby reducing the width (W) of the non-luminous region. 
     If the external electrode  213   b  and the electrode plate  250  are narrowed in width, the lower structure  215   b  and the upper structure  210   b  can be also reduced in width. 
     As described above, if the non-luminous region is narrowed, the width of a bezel region is narrowed in assembling the liquid crystal display, thereby providing a narrow bezel type. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , an electrode plate  350  includes a plurality of electrode fixing parts  350   b  connected with an external electrode of an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) and a support part  350   a  for supporting the plurality of electrode fixing parts  350   b . The electrode plate  350  is connected with the external electrode of the EEFL, and supplies power to the external electrode of the EEFL. 
     The electrode plate  350  is connected with an inverter and a wire to receive power from the inverter and the wire. Therefore, the electrode plate  350  is made from a conductive metal plate. 
     The electrode plate  350  is mounted within a bottom cover of a direct type liquid crystal display using the EEFL. The electrode plate  350  supplies power to the EEFL, and turns the EEFL on/off. 
     The electrode plate  350  is manufactured through a press process of cutting, punching, bending, and seamlessly drawing a thin conductive metal plate. 
     The electrode plate  350  is cut in the press process to provide an electrode fixing part  350   b  which is “           ”-shaped with respect to a horizontal surface.
     In other words, in the electrode plate  350 , a support part  350   a  is reduced in its horizontal width, and one of the electrode fixing parts  350   b  is located on the support part  350   a  unlike the conventional art where the electrode fixing part is located between the support parts. 
     Accordingly, unlike the electrode plate  250  of  FIG. 4A  which is vertically bent and is reduced in horizontal width, in the inventive electrode plate  350 , an interval of the support parts  350   a  is narrowed to be a half or less than the conventional art. 
     Unlike the conventional art where the electrode fixing part is provided between the support parts, the electrode fixing part  350   b  is provided on the support part  350   a  such that the external electrode of the EEFL can be bent in a horizontal direction and connected with the electrode fixing part  350   b.    
     The horizontal direction refers to the direction parallel to the horizontal surface on which the EEFLs are arranged. 
     In the electrode plate  350 , the electrode fixing part  350   b  is positioned on the support part  350   a , and one or more can be positioned between the support parts  350   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , a lower structure  215  is located on an internal surface of the bottom cover  220 , and the electrode plate  350  is disposed on the lower structure  215 . 
     In the electrode plate  350 , the electrode fixing part  350   b  is disposed vertically with the support part  350   a , and the external electrode  213   b  of the EEFLs  213  is bent vertically with respect to the horizontal surface to be connected to the electrode fixing part  350   b.    
     Unlike the external electrode  213   b  of  FIG. 4B , the external electrode  213   b  of  FIG. 5B  is bent at 90° in a horizontal direction of the internal surface with respect to the bottom cover  220 . 
     Accordingly, the external electrode  213   b  can be maintained to have an appropriate length as required for the liquid crystal display while the connection width is reduced to a half or less than the conventional art. 
     Accordingly, the present invention results in the electrode plate  350  and the external electrode  213   b  connected with the electrode fixing part  350   b  being reduced in width, which thereby reduces the widths of an upper structure (not shown) and the lower structure  215  respectively connected to upper and lower portions of the electrode plate  350 . 
     If the upper and lower structures are narrowed to thereby narrow the non-luminous region, the width of a bezel region can be narrowed in assembling the liquid crystal display to thereby provide a narrow bezel type. 
     As described above, in the direct type liquid crystal display, the external electrode of the EEFL is bent, and the electrode plate connected with the external electrode is modified, thereby extending the luminous region and reducing the width of the bezel. 
     The present invention has an advantage over the prior art in that the bezel region can be reduced in width, thereby enhancing one&#39;s freedom in designing liquid crystal displays. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and other variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.