Abstract:
Provided are quantum dot bar container and backlight unit. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a quantum dot bar container comprising a support including a guide groove formed along a major axis thereof; a cover having a major axis, the cover being orientable to align its major axis substantially parallel to the major axis of the support, the cover including a fixing groove formed along the major axis of the cover so as to face the guide groove; and a fixing portion coupling an end of the support to an end of the cover. The cover and the support are positioned so as to form a window therebetween, when the cover is oriented so that its major axis is substantially parallel to the major axis of the support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0013123 filed on Feb. 5, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to flat panel displays. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display including the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    A liquid crystal display is currently one popular information display technology. The liquid crystal display displays information by employing liquid crystals, which are inserted between two glass substrates, and which emit light through application of power to electrodes positioned on upper and lower portions of the glass substrates. 
         [0006]    The liquid crystal display is a light receiving device which is not self-luminous and thus displays an image through adjustment of permeability of light that is input from an external source, and thus requires a separate device for irradiating its liquid crystal panel with light. This is typically a backlight unit. 
         [0007]    Recently, a light emitting diode (LED) array has been employed as a light source for a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display. The LED is a semiconductor light emitting element that emits light when current flows through the LED. Since the LED has the advantages of long lifespan, low power consumption, rapid response speed, and superior initial driving characteristics, it has been widely used as an illumination device, a billboard, and a backlight unit of a display device, and its application fields have been gradually extended. 
         [0008]    In the case of using an LED light source, quantum dots are used to heighten color purity. The quantum dots emit light as unsteady electrons are transited from a conduction band to a valence band, and have the characteristics that wavelengths of emitted light differ depending on the size of particles used, even if those particles are all made of the same material. Since the quantum dots generate light of shorter wavelength as the size of the quantum dots becomes smaller, light of a desired wavelength range can be obtained through adjustment of the size of the quantum dots. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, recent efforts have focused on implementation of white light having wide color gamut from light generated from an LED using quantum dots. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the invention provide a quantum dot bar container which has a superior external appearance and can be more easily assembled. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the invention also provide a quantum dot bar container which can prevent damage of a quantum dot bar due to expansion of a light guide plate. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the invention further provide a quantum dot bar container which can prevent distortion of luminance through the whole surface of a backlight unit and can implement white light having a wider color gamut. 
         [0013]    Additional advantages, subjects, and features of embodiments 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. 
         [0014]    In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a quantum dot bar container, which includes a support including a guide groove formed along a major axis thereof; a cover having a major axis, the cover being orientable to align its major axis substantially parallel to the major axis of the support, the cover including a fixing groove formed along the major axis of the cover so as to face the guide groove; and a fixing portion coupling an end of the support to an end of the cover. The cover and the support are positioned so as to form a window therebetween, when the cover is oriented so that its major axis is substantially parallel to the major axis of the support. The cover is connected to at least one end of the support by a hinge. 
         [0015]    The fixing portion may comprise a band cap having an empty space formed therein. 
         [0016]    The fixing portion may comprise a hook. 
         [0017]    The fixing portion may comprise an elastic projection and a hole positioned and sized to accommodate the elastic projection therein. 
         [0018]    The cover may include a base for separating the support and the cover from each other, and the base may extend from the cover toward the support. 
         [0019]    The base may include a curved surface extending toward the support. 
         [0020]    The quantum dot bar container according to the aspect of the present invention may further include an angle maintenance portion formed between the base and the support and positioned to contact the base so as to maintain an open state of the cover. 
         [0021]    The support may further include a stopper positioned proximate to the guide groove and extending from a surface of the support. 
         [0022]    The support may further include a fixture projecting from a surface that is opposite to the surface from which the guide groove extends. 
         [0023]    In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a quantum dot bar container, which includes a support including a guide groove formed along a major axis thereof; a first cover and a second cover each having a major axis, each cover being orientable to align its major axis substantially parallel to the major axis of the support, each cover including a fixing groove formed along the major axis of its cover so as to face the guide groove; and fixing portions coupling the first and second covers to each other when the first and second covers are oriented so that their major axes are substantially parallel to the major axis of the support. The first and second covers and the support are positioned so as to form a window between the covers and the support, when the covers are oriented so that their major axes are substantially parallel to the major axis of the support. The cover is connected to at least one end of the support by a hinge. 
         [0024]    The fixing portion may engage the first cover and the second cover are shaped and positioned to engage each other through a concavo-convex engagement. 
         [0025]    The fixing portions may couple the first cover to the second cover according to an engagement of an elastic projection with a hole sized and positioned to accommodate the elastic projection therein. 
         [0026]    The first cover and the second cover may include a first base and a second base for separating the first and second covers from the support, and the first base and the second base may each extend toward the support. 
         [0027]    The quantum dot bar container according to the aspect of the present invention may further include a first angle maintenance portion and a second angle maintenance portion formed between the first and second bases and the support and positioned to contact their respective bases to maintain open states of the first cover and the second cover. 
         [0028]    In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backlight unit, which includes a light source; a light guide plate configured to guide light from the light source to a front liquid crystal panel; a quantum dot bar arranged between the light source and the light guide plate to convert light from the light source into white light; and a quantum dot bar container accommodating the quantum dot bar and supporting a surface of the light guide plate. The quantum dot bar container includes a support and a cover arranged to face each other, and a fixing portion coupling the support to the cover, the support and the cover including grooves shaped to accommodate an outer surface of the quantum dot bar, wherein the cover is connected to at least one end of the support by a hinge. 
         [0029]    The backlight unit according to the aspect of the present invention may further include a lower chassis accommodating the light source, the light guide plate, the quantum dot bar, and the quantum dot bar container, wherein the lower chassis includes a seat portion seating the light guide plate at a height substantially equal to a height of the support. 
         [0030]    The support may include a fixture extending between the support and the lower chassis, wherein the lower chassis includes a fastening hole accommodating and fastening the fixture. 
         [0031]    The lower chassis may include a plurality of fastening holes that are arranged to be spaced apart from each other. 
         [0032]    The backlight unit according to the aspect of the present invention may further include light guide plate guide portions extending from the support, wherein one of the light guide plate guide portions is positioned proximate to a first end of the light guide plate, and the other one of the light guide plate portions is positioned proximate to a second end of the light guide plate, the first end of the light guide plate being opposite to the second end of the light guide plate. 
         [0033]    The light source and the quantum dot bar may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other. 
         [0034]    According to the aspects of the present invention, at least the following effects can be achieved. 
         [0035]    That is, the quantum dot bar container can be provided which has a superior external appearance, is easily assembled, and shows uniform luminance over the whole surface of the backlight unit. 
         [0036]    Further, the quantum dot bar container and the backlight unit can be provided which can prevent the quantum dot bar from being damaged due to the expansion of the light guide plate and which also has superior durability. 
         [0037]    The effects according to the present invention are not limited to the contents as exemplified above, but further various effects are included in the description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a backlight unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a backlight unit according to an embodiment of the present invention before a fixing portion is adopted; 
           [0041]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a backlight unit according to an embodiment of the present invention after a fixing portion is adopted; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a hinge-engaged portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a quantum dot bar container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a backlight unit including the quantum dot bar container of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a hinge engagement portion of a quantum dot bar container according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a support of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a lower chassis according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a lower chassis according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0050]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fixing portion of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of a fixing portion of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view of a fixing portion of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of a backlight unit according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0057]      FIGS. 19 to 25  are cross-sectional views explaining a process of manufacturing a backlight unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0058]    The various figures are not to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0059]    The aspects and features of the present invention and methods for achieving the aspects and features will be apparent by referring to the embodiments to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter, but can be implemented in diverse forms. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is only defined within the scope of the appended claims. In the entire description of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements across various figures. In the drawings, sizes and relative sizes of layers and areas may be exaggerated for clarity in explanation. 
         [0060]    The term “on” that is used to designate that an element is on another element located on a different layer or a layer includes both a case where an element is located directly on another element or a layer and a case where an element is located on another element via another layer or still another element. 
         [0061]    Although the terms “first, second, and so forth” are used to describe diverse constituent elements, such constituent elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only to discriminate a constituent element from another constituent element. Accordingly, in the following description, a first constituent element may be a second constituent element. 
         [0062]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a backlight unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a backlight unit may include a lower chassis  100 , a light source  200 , a quantum dot bar  300 , a light guide plate  900 , and a quantum dot bar container having a support  400  and a cover  500 . The lower chassis  100  may further include a bottom portion  140 , a plurality of side wall portions  110  and  120  that surround the bottom portion  140 , and a seat portion  130  seating the light guide plate  900  thereon. 
         [0065]    The light source  200  may be arranged between one side wall portion  110  of the lower chassis  100  and the light guide plate  900 . The light source  200  may include one or more LEDs  210  that are mounted on a printed circuit board  220 , and may be attached to one side wall portion  110  of the lower chassis  100  and a rear surface of the printed circuit board  220  of the light source  200  using heat-resistant tape, resin, or urethane. 
         [0066]    Each LED  210  may be, as nonlimiting examples, a blue LED or a UV LED. The LEDs  210  may be mounted on the printed circuit board  220  and may emit light through reception of a driving signal input thereto. A plurality of LEDs  210  may be arranged along the side wall portion  110 . 
         [0067]    The quantum dot bar  300  may convert the wavelength of light that is incident from the light source and may emit white light. The quantum dot bar  300  may include a quantum dot accommodation tube  310  that is made of glass or transparent polymer materials and a mixture of a polymer material, and may also include a quantum dot material  320  which fills and seals the quantum dot accommodation tube  310 . 
         [0068]    The quantum dot material  320  emits light as unsteady electrons transition from a conduction band to a valence band, and have the characteristics that wavelengths of the emitted light differ depending on the size of particles, even if the particles are of the same material. Since the quantum dot material generates light of shorter wavelength as the size of the quantum dot becomes smaller, light of a desired wavelength range can be obtained through adjustment of the size of the quantum dot. 
         [0069]    The quantum dot material  320  has a particle size that is equal to or smaller than 10 nm. For example, if the particle size of the quantum dot material  320  is 55 to 65 Å, the quantum dot material may emit red-series light, and if the particle size is 40 to 50 Å, the quantum dot material may emit green-series light. If the particle size is 20 to 35 Å, the quantum dot material may emit blue-series material. The quantum dot material that emits yellow light may have a particle size that is in the middle between the particle sizes of the quantum dot materials that respectively emit red light and green light. 
         [0070]    In order to form a quantum dot bar that emits white light in the case where the light source is a UV LED, three kinds of quantum dots, which receive light of a UV wavelength and emit red light, blue light, and green light, respectively, may be mixed. If the light source is a blue LED, two kinds of quantum dots, which receive light of a blue color wavelength and emit red light and blue light, respectively, may be mixed. 
         [0071]    The quantum dot material  320  may include any one of Si nanocrystal, II-IV group compound semiconductor nanocrystal, III-V group compound semiconductor nanocrystal, IV-VI group compound nanocrystal, and any mixture or other combination thereof. 
         [0072]    The II-VI group compound semiconductor nanocrystal may be any one selected from the group including CdS, CdSe, CdTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, CdSeS, CdSeTe, CdSTe, ZnSeS, ZnSeTe, ZnSTe, HgSeS, HgSeTe, HgSTe, CdZnS, Cd 7 nSe, CdZnTe, CdHgS, CdHgSe, CdHgTe, HgZnS, HgZnSe, HggZnTe, CdZnSeS, CdZnSeTe, CdZnSTe, CdHgSeS, CdHgSeTe, CdHgSTe, HgZnSeS, HgZnSeTe, and HgZnSTe. 
         [0073]    Further, the III-V group compound semiconductor nanocrystal may be any one selected from the group including GaPAs, AlNP, AlNAs, AlPAs, InNP, InNAs, InPAs, GaAlNP, GaAlNAs, GaAlPAs, GaInNP, GaInNAs, GaInPAs, InAlNP, InAlNAs, and InAlPAs. 
         [0074]    The IV-VI group compound semiconductor nanocrystal may be SbTe. 
         [0075]    The quantum dot bar  300  may be accommodated in a quantum dot bar container, and the quantum dot bar container may have a structure in which the support  400  (including a guide groove  430 ) and the cover  500  (including a fixing groove  530 ) are hinge-engaged with each other via a hinge  600 . The quantum dot bar  300  may be seated in the guide groove  430  and may be fixed by the fixing groove  530  of the cover  500 . When the cover  500  is closed, the quantum dot bar  300  may be interposed between, and thus securably affixed by, the support  400  and the cover  500 . 
         [0076]    The quantum dot bar container may include a fixing portion  800  fixing the support  400  and the cover  500 , and the fixing portion  800  may be formed on a surface that is opposite to the hinge engagement  600  based on a long axis of the support  400 . The fixing portion  800  may have a band-shaped band cap  810  in which an empty space  820  that corresponds to sectional shapes of an end  420  of the support and an end  520  of the cover is formed. The fixing portion  800  thus slides over the ends  420  and  500  and contains them within the empty space  820  so as to secure the two ends  420 ,  520  together. 
         [0077]    The quantum dot bar  300  is shaped generally as a long tube in which the quantum dot material  320  fills the inside of the glass tube  310 , and thus it may be easily broken. In particular, the quantum dot material may include a pollutant material, such as Cd, and if the quantum dot bar is broken, it may cause a problem to occur in the product or may pollute the environment. Accordingly, the quantum dot bar  300  can be prevented from being broken by simply seating the quantum dot bar  300  in the guide groove  430  of the support  400  and closing the cover  500  to accommodate the quantum dot bar  300  therein. The quantum dot bar container will be described in more detail later. 
         [0078]    The light guide plate  900  may be arranged on the bottom surface  140  of the lower chassis  100  and may be placed on the support  400  of the quantum dot bar container. Accordingly, light that is emitted from the light source  200  may pass through the quantum dot bar  300  that is placed in the quantum dot bar container, and the resultant white light that is emitted by the quantum dot bar  300  may be incident to the side surface of the light guide plate  900  that is placed on the support  400 , so as to be directed to the liquid crystal panel that is positioned on the upper surface of the light guide plate  900 . 
         [0079]    The light guide plate  900  may direct the incident light toward the liquid crystal panel through reflection, refraction, and scattering of the incident light, and may be made of polymethylmethacrylate resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer resin, polystyrene resin, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin, polyolefin resin, or polymethacrylstyrene resin in which polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene are mixed. Any other material or combination of materials is also contemplated. According to circumstances, the light guide plate may have a wedge shape in which the thickness of the light guide plate decreases as the distance from the light source increases, or have in a platelike shape in which upper and lower surfaces thereof are substantially parallel to each other. The shape of the light guide plate can be appropriately modified by those of ordinary skill in the art according to circumstances. 
         [0080]    The bottom surface  140  of the lower chassis  100  may include the seat portion  130  for seating the light guide plate  900  thereon, and the seat portion  130  may include a convex shape that projects from the bottom surface  140  toward the lower surface of the light guide plate. The height of the projection of the seat portion  130  may be at least approximately equal to the height of the upper surface of the support  400 , so that the light guide plate  900  can be positioned at least approximately along the same parallel line as the light source  200  and the quantum dot bar  300 , and the light guide plate  900  can be stably placed on the seat portion  130  and the support  400 . 
         [0081]    The support  400  may include a stopper  700  that prevents the light guide plate  900  from coming in contact with the quantum dot bar  300  and damaging the quantum dot bar  300 . The stopper  700  may be formed to project from the side surface on which the light guide plate  900  is placed based on the guide groove  430 . The light guide plate  900  and the quantum dot bar  300  can thus be prevented from coming in physical contact with each other via the stopper  700 . 
         [0082]    The support  400  may include a fixture  450  that is provided on the opposite surface on which the stopper  700  is formed, that is, between the support  400  and the bottom surface  140  of the lower chassis  100 , to fix the support  400 . The fixture  450  may be engaged with and fixed to a hole or groove that is formed on the lower chassis. The fixture  450  may have a protrusion shape that projects to extend in the length direction of the long axis of the support  400 . 
         [0083]    In order to fix the support  400 , a double-side tape  20  may be adhered to the side surface of the support  400  and the portion of the printed circuit board where the LED is not formed. 
         [0084]    The light source  200  and the quantum dot bar  300  may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to prevent the quantum dot bar  300  from being deteriorated and damaged due to heat generated by the light source  200 . 
         [0085]    The support  400  may be made of polycarbonate (PC) resin, a mixture of polycarbonate resin and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, or a mixture of polycarbonate resin and glass fiber (GIF). Any other suitable materials are also contemplated. Further, the cover  500  and the stopper  700  may be made of the same material as the support  400 , and may have elasticity to pressably fix the light guide plate  900  and the quantum dot bar  300  with a predetermined pressure. 
         [0086]    If the support  400 , the cover  500 , and the stopper  700  are made of the same material, the light that is reflected by the support  400 , the cover  500 , and the stopper  700  in the quantum dot bar container may have the same reflection rate, and thus light may be substantially uniformly reflected toward the light guide plate  900 . Accordingly, light distortion can be prevented from occurring. For example, if the stopper  700  were formed of a metal material, the stopper  700  would have reflection rate that is different from the reflection rate of the support  400  and the cover  500 , causing luminance to be concentrated in a specific region and a dark space to occur in another specific region. Accordingly, if the support  400 , the cover  500 , and the stopper  700  are made of the same material, light distortion can be prevented or reduced. 
         [0087]    A reflection sheet  30  may be further provided on the rear surface of the light guide plate  900 , that is, between the light guide plate  900  and the bottom surface  140  of the lower chassis  100 . The reflection sheet  30  may reflect light which is emitted to the rear surface of the light guide plate  900  back toward the front surface of the light guide plate  900 , so as to heighten light efficiency. 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the quantum dot bar container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be further described. The quantum dot bar container may include a support  400  including a guide groove  430  formed along a long axis of the support  400 , and a cover  500  having a long axis that is arranged to face the support  400 , to extend along the same direction, and to include a fixing groove  530  formed thereon to face the guide groove  430  and to extend along the long axis. Thus, the quantum dot bar container may have a light incident window (not illustrated) and a light emission window  1100  formed between the support  400  and the cover  500 . A fixing portion  800  fixes the support  400  and the cover  500  together at any one end thereof in the long axis direction of the support  400  and the cover  500 , wherein the cover  500  may be hinge-engaged at an end thereof that is opposite to the end at which the fixing portion  800  is formed. 
         [0089]    The support  400  and the cover  500  may include the long axis and a short axis, and may be, for example, form a long bar shape when the cover  3  is closed. The support  400  and the cover  500  may be arranged to face each other so that the long axis direction and the short axis direction are respectively the same. The support  400  may include the guide groove  430  that is formed along the long axis so as to accommodate and support the quantum dot bar, and the guide groove  430  may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of (i.e. conforms to the outer surface of) the quantum dot bar. For example, if the sectional shape of the quantum dot bar is a circular shape, the sectional shape of the guide groove  430  is also a circular intaglio shape. If the sectional shape of the quantum dot bar is a rectangular shape, the sectional shape of the guide groove is also a rectangular intaglio shape. 
         [0090]    The cover  500  may include a fixing groove  530  formed along the same direction as the guide groove  430  so as to fix and cover the quantum dot bar when the quantum dot bar is accommodated in the support  400 . The sectional shape of the fixing groove  530  may is be an intaglio shape that corresponds to (i.e. conforms to the outer surface of) the shape of the quantum dot bar, similar to the guide groove. Accordingly, an upper portion of the quantum dot bar can be covered by the cover  500  when the quantum dot bar is seated in the guide groove  430  of the support, and since the guide groove  430  and the fixing groove  530  are shaped to correspond to the shape of the quantum dot bar, the quantum dot bar can be stably held within and secured by the quantum dot bar container. 
         [0091]    The support  400  and the cover  500  are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and the light incident window (not illustrated) and the light emission window  1100  may be formed between the long axis of the support  400  and the long axis of the cover  500  to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the light source  200  may be arranged to face the light incident window, and the light guide plate  900  may be placed facing the light emission window  1100 . Accordingly, the light that is emitted from the light source is directed to the quantum dot bar  300  through the light incident window, and the white light that is generated by the quantum dot bar  300  is incident to the light guide plate  900  through the light emission window  1100 . 
         [0092]    The cover  500  is hinge-engaged with the support  400  at any one end of the support  400 , and thus the quantum dot bar can be stably accommodated and fixed. More specifically, this is done by placing the quantum dot bar in the guide groove  430  of the support  400  when the cover  500  is open, closing the cover  500 , and then fastening and fixing the support  400  and the cover  500  to each other via the fixing portion  800 . 
         [0093]    The light incident window and the light emission window  1100  may be formed as the support  400  and the cover  500  become spaced apart from each other by the determined distance. The cover  500  may further include a base  620  for maintaining a predetermined space or distance between the support  400  and the cover  500 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a hinge engagement portion of a quantum dot bar container according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cover  500  further includes the base  620  to space the support  400  and the cover  500  apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The base  620  may include a shape that is curved and extends from the cover  500  toward the support  400 , with a curved surface facing the hinge-engaged portion  600  to space the cover  500  and the support  400  apart from each other when the cover  500  is closed. 
         [0095]    Since the base  620  has a curved outer surface that is bent from the cover  500  toward the support  400 , the light incident window and the light emission window  1100  can be formed by spacing the cover  500  and the support  400  apart from each other by the predetermined distance when the cover  500  is fixedly closed. Further, since the surface of base  620  which comes in contact with the support  400  is curved or rounded, the cover  500  can be smoothly rotated by the hinge  600  while maintaining a constant gap. 
         [0096]    The quantum dot bar container may further include an angle maintenance portion  610  formed to project upward from the support  400  so as to maintain the cover  500  in an open state at a predetermined angle between the base  620  and the support  400 . If the cover  500  is opened to accommodate the quantum dot bar, the cover  500  is frictionally maintained at the predetermined angle by the angle maintenance portion  610 , and thus the quantum dot bar can be more easily accommodated therein. The angle maintenance portion  610  may have elasticity. Accordingly, if a force is applied to the cover  500  and pressure that is higher than the elastic force of the angle maintenance portion  610  is applied, the base  620  of the cover  500  receives the force that exceeds the elastic force of the angle maintenance portion  610 , and thus the cover  500  may be closed over the angle maintenance portion  610 . 
         [0097]    The support  400  may further include a stopper  700  formed on the upper surface of the support  400  which forms the light emission window along with the lower surface of cover  500 , and prevents the quantum dot bar from coming in contact with the light guide plate and from being broken when the light guide plate is seated on the support or the light guide plate is expanded by heat during driving. The stopper  700  is formed near the guide groove  430 , although embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. 
         [0098]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view illustrating a hinge-engaged portion of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of stoppers  701 ,  702 , and  703  may be formed to be spaced apart from each other, and although not illustrated in the drawing, the stoppers may be shaped in the form of a cylinder, a rectangular prism, or a triangular prism. The shape of the stopper is not specially limited, though, and may take on any suitable shape. 
         [0099]    Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the support  400  may further include the fixture  450  that projects from the surface that is opposite to the surface on which the guide groove  430  is formed. The fixture  450  may be fastened to a fastening hole that can accommodate and fasten the fixture, so as to be fixed to the lower chassis. 
         [0100]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a lower chassis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the light source  200  may be arranged on the side wall portion  110  of the lower chassis  100 , and a fastening hole  750  may be formed on the bottom surface of the lower chassis  100 . The fastening hole  750  is located to correspond to a projection from the support  400 , e.g. the fixture  450 . 
         [0101]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a lower chassis according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a plurality of fastening holes  751 ,  752 , and  753  may be formed on the lower chassis  100  to be spaced apart from each other, and the quantum dot bar container can be fixed to the lower chassis  100  more stably by the plurality of fixtures (such as fixture  450 ) and fastening holes  751 ,  752 , and  753 . 
         [0102]    Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the fixing portion  800  may be shaped as a bandlike cap that outlines an empty space that corresponds to the cross-sectional shapes of the support  400  and cover  500 . More specifically, the band cap may be shaped and sized to accommodate ends of the support  400  and cover  500  within. In  FIG. 5 , the band cap has a structure like a “         ”-shaped band, and the empty space for accommodating the support  400  and the cover  500  is formed within the band. Accordingly, the support and the cover may be inserted into the empty space to be thereby affixed to each other. In order to fix the support  400  and the cover  500  using the band cap, the support  400  and the cover  500  may have different sectional shapes in addition to the above-described sectional shape. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the cross section of the empty space in a band cap  801  may have a circular shape, and the portions of the support and the cover that are fixed by the band cap may be formed to match the shape of the empty space of the band cap  801 . 
         [0103]      FIG. 12  illustrates a fixing portion of a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the fixing portion may be hook-engaged by engaging a hook  580  formed on a cover  505  with a hook hole  830  that is formed on the support  400 . For the hook-engagement, the hook  580  may be composed of an elastic member.  FIG. 12  illustrates that the hook  580  is formed on the cover  500 . However, the arrangement of the hook  580  and the hook hole  830  may be modified so that the hook  580  is formed on the support  400  and the hook hole  830  is formed on the cover  500 . 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a quantum dot bar container according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. A quantum dot bar container according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a support  400  including a guide groove  430  formed along a long or major axis thereof; a first cover  501  and a second cover  502  coupled to the support in hinged manner and including fixing grooves (not illustrated) formed thereon which face the guide groove  430  when the covers  501 ,  502  are pivoted parallel to the support  400 ; an open window formed between the support  400  and the first cover  501  and the second cover  502 ; and fixing portions  540  and  550  fixing the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  to each other when the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  come in contact with each other, wherein the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  are hinge-engaged  601  and  602  at opposite ends of the support  400 . 
         [0105]    That is, the first cover  501  may be hinge-engaged  601  with any one end in the long axis direction of the support  400 , and the second cover  502  may be hinge-engaged  602  with the opposite end from which the first cover is hinge-engaged. Accordingly, the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  may move from both ends of the support  400  toward the center portion, and in a state where the covers  501 ,  502  are closed, the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  may come in contact with each other near the center portion of the support  400 . The first cover  501  and the second cover  502  may have equal lengths, and if desired, the lengths thereof may be extended or shortened. That is, it is enough if the sum of the lengths of the first cover and the second cover becomes equal to the length of the quantum dot bar to cover the whole quantum dot bar when the cover is closed, and according to circumstances, the lengths can be appropriately modified. 
         [0106]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of the fixing portion of  FIG. 13 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the fixing portions  540  and  550  may be concavo-convex engaged by concavo-convex portions  540  and  550  formed on the first cover  501  and the second cover  502 . The positions of the concavo-convex portions  540  and  550  formed on the first cover  501  and the second cover  502  may be changed (e.g., may be reversed), and are not limited to the configuration shown. 
         [0107]    As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the fixing portions may be engaged with each other by a fixing projection  560  and a fixing recess or groove  570  formed on the first cover  503  and the second cover  504 , and the fixing projection  560  may be composed of an elastic member. Accordingly, if a force is applied to the first cover  503  and the second cover  504 , the fixing projection  560  is inserted into the fixing groove  570  to affix the covers  503  and  504  together.  FIG. 15  illustrates that the fixing projection  560  is formed on the second cover  504 . However, the fixing projection may be formed on the first cover  503  instead, and is not limited to the configuration shown. 
         [0108]    Although not illustrated in the drawing, the first cover  503  and the second cover  504  may include a first base and a second base for separating the support  400  from the first and second covers  503 ,  504 , and the first base and the second base may include shapes that have bent or curved surfaces facing the support  400 . That is, the first base and the second base have the same or similar structures and functions as the base  620  of the quantum dot bar container as described above with reference to  FIG. 5 , except that the bases are formed on both covers  503 ,  504 , and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0109]    A first angle maintenance portion and a second angle maintenance portion (which each can be similar to angle maintenance portion  610  described above) may be further formed between the first and second bases and the support, to maintain the open states of the first cover  503  and the second cover  504 . The first angle maintenance portion and the second angle maintenance portion may be composed of elastic members. 
         [0110]    Referring again to  FIG. 13 , the support  400  may further include a stopper  700  that is formed to project from the upper surface of the support  400 , near a side of the guide groove  430 . Also present may be a fixture (not illustrated) that projects from the surface opposite to the surface on which the guide groove  430  is formed. The stopper  700  and the fixture have the same functions as the stopper  700  and the fixture  450  of the quantum dot bar container as described above with reference to  FIG. 5 , and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0111]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , the quantum dot bar container according to the present invention may further include light guide plate guide portions  1200  formed at both ends of the support  400 , and the light guide plate guide portions  1200  may be formed to be spaced apart from each other at a distance approximately equal to the length of the side surface of the light guide plate.  FIG. 16  illustrates that the light guide plate guide portion  1200  is formed at only one side surface of the support  400 . However, the remaining light guide plate guide portion  1200  may be formed at the opposite end of support  400 , such as near hinge  600 , to maintain the light guide plate in an accurate position. 
         [0112]    Alternatively, multiple quantum dot bar containers may be employed within a single backlight unit. For example, one quantum dot bar container may be arranged on one side wall portion of the lower chassis  100  while others may be located along both side surfaces of the lower chassis  100  to face each other.  FIG. 17  illustrates one such configuration. 
         [0113]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention. A liquid crystal display may include a backlight unit such as any of those described above. 
         [0114]    As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the liquid crystal display may include optical sheets  50 , such as a diffusion film  53 , a prism film  52 , and a protection film  51 , which are stacked on the upper portion or surface of the light guide plate  900  to improve the optical performance of the liquid crystal display. The diffusion film  53  diffuses the light that comes out from the light guide plate  900  and supplies the diffused light to a liquid crystal panel  60 . The prism film  52  operates to collect the light that is diffused by the diffusion film in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the liquid crystal panel  60 . On the other hand, in addition to the diffusion film  53  and the prism film  52 , a micro lens array film (not illustrated) may be used. Any other configurations are also contemplated. For example, two diffusion films or two prism films may be used. Further, if needed, the arrangement of the optical films can be appropriately modified by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0115]    An intermediate frame  1000  may be stacked to cover the side wall portions  110  of the lower chassis  100 , the light source  200 , and the quantum dot bar container, and the liquid crystal panel  60  may be seated on the intermediate frame  1000 . A top chassis  1250 , which covers a part of the liquid crystal panel  60  and includes a window  1300 , may be stacked on the upper portion of the liquid crystal panel  60 . Although not illustrated, the liquid crystal panel  60  may include a liquid crystal layer interposed between TFT substrates, a color filter substrate, a polarizing filter, and a driving IC, and may function to display an image through adjustment of the strength of light that is incident from the liquid crystal panel. Since the details of such a liquid crystal panel are well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0116]    Hereinafter, referring to  FIGS. 19 to 25 , a process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display according to the present invention will be described. 
         [0117]    A light source  200  including an LED  210  mounted on a printed circuit board  220  may be attached to one side wall portion of a lower chassis  100 , which includes a fixing hole  750  that corresponds to a fixture of a quantum dot bar container, using a heat-resistant tape. Next, the quantum dot bar container, in which a support  400  and a cover  500  are hinge-engaged (not illustrated), is fixedly engaged with the fixing hole  750  that is formed on the bottom surface of the lower chassis  100 , and contact surfaces of the printed circuit board  220  and the support  400  may be attached to each other using a double-sided tape  20 . Next, a quantum dot bar  300  is seated on a guide groove  430  of the support  400 , and then a reflection sheet  30  and a light guide plate  900  may be seated on a seat portion  130  of the lower chassis  100  and the support  400 . Next, the quantum dot bar container is covered by the cover  500 , and then the support  400 , the cover  500 , and the light guide plate  900  are fixed to each other by a fixing portion  800 . 
         [0118]    Although not illustrated in the drawing, other optical sheets may be put on the light guide plate, and an intermediate frame, the liquid crystal panel, and the top chassis are successively arranged to manufacture the liquid crystal display. 
         [0119]    However, the effects of the present invention are not restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other effects of the present invention will become more apparent to one of daily skill in the art to which the present invention pertains by referencing the claims. 
         [0120]    While the present invention 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 invention as defined by the following claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The various features of the embodiments can be mixed and matched in any combination, so as to produce further embodiments contemplated by the invention.