Abstract:
A frame structure used in a backlight module is disclosed. The frame structure includes an upper frame and a lower frame. By combining the T-shape hook of the upper frame and the corresponding groove of the lower frame, the components of the backlight module, such as the linear light source, the light source fixer, the light guide, the upper diffusing plate, the reflective plate, the lower diffusing plate, and the prism plate can be well assembled. Therefore, an improved positioning and fixing efficacy is provided.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/841,643, filed May 10, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a frame structure used in a backlight module and, more particularly, to a frame structure for fixing the components of a backlight module for illuminating a liquid crystal panel.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     In recent years, the liquid crystal display device has been commonly applied in the information technologies. In particular, owing to the mature manufacturing technique, the price of the liquid crystal display device has become cheaper, which also further benefits the popularity of the liquid crystal display device.  
         [0006]     Generally speaking, displaying method of the liquid crystal display device is passive, which means that there must be a backlight module to illuminate the liquid crystal panel, and thereby the images displayed on the liquid crystal display device can be seen. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device must be mounted with a backlight module. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid crystal display device is composed of several minute and complex elements. Commonly, a liquid crystal panel  4  as well as the components of a backlight module, e.g. a linear light source  6 , a light source fixer  9 , a light guide  12 , an upper diffusing plate  13 , a prism plate  14 , a reflective plate  15 , and a lower diffusing plate  16 , are assembled between an outer frame  5  and a lower frame  2 . The outer frame  5  is made of metal and optionally combined with a plastic upper frame  1 , and the lower frame  2  is made of metal or plastic. Among those elements, the lower frame  2  is made of metal or plastic. Among those elements, the assembling frames, i.e. the outer frame  5 , the upper frame  1 , and the lower frame  2  must have good fixing ability and assembling characteristics.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,310 disclosed a lighting apparatus, which fixed the upper frame to the lower frame by at least a pair of protrusions produced on one of the upper and lower frames and a recess formed on the other frame to engage with the protrusions. Commonly, the recess for engaging the protrusion has excess space in order to facilitate the engagement. However, the space might lead to a loose engagement between the protrusion and the recess, and make the fixing between the upper and lower frames not firm enough.  
         [0008]     Currently, the backlight module utilizes an upper frame A and a lower frame B to receive the components of a backlight module, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The upper frame A has a plurality of square buckling elements a, which can buckle with the protruding elements b formed at the periphery of the lower frame B for fixing the upper frame A to the lower frame B. Similarly, the upper frame A has to include a gap c for facilitating the buckling between the square buckling elements a-and the protruding elements b, as shown in  FIG. 3 . As a result, the fixing efficiency is compromised.  
         [0009]     Thus, no matter whether the protrusion or the square buckling element is used, it can restrain the relative movement between the upper and lower frames in the upright direction, but it cannot restrain the relative movement between the upper and lower frames in the cross direction effectively. Consequently, the assembling frame of the backlight module currently used cannot provide an effective fixing function.  
         [0010]     Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved frame structure used in a backlight module to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The object of the present invention is to provide a frame structure used in a backlight module so that all the components of the backlight module can be well positioned and fixed, and the fixing efficacy thereof is improved.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame structure used in a backlight module so that the quantity of hooking elements, the weight, and the manufacturing cost of the frame are reduced.  
         [0013]     To achieve the object, the frame structure used in a backlight module of the present invention includes a lower frame for holding components of the backlight module and an upper frame mounted on the lower frame for assembling the components of the backlight module; wherein the upper frame has at least one hooking element, which restrains the movements of the components of the backlight module in both cross and upright directions simultaneously, and the lower frame has at least one corresponding engaging element that can engage with at least one hooking element.  
         [0014]     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the liquid crystal display device of the prior art;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of the prior art;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the upper frame and the lower frame in the prior art;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the components of the backlight module of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the T shape hook and the groove of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the arrowheaded shape hook and the groove of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the Y shape hook and the groove of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     EXAMPLE 1  
       [0025]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of the backlight module according to the present invention. The backlight module  20  is mainly composed of a plastic upper frame  21 , an upper diffusing plate  22 , a prism plate  23 , a lower diffusing plate  24 , a light guide  25 , a light source device, and a lower frame  26  made of metal or plastic. The upper frame  21  and the lower frame  26  are used to assemble all the components into a unity. As for the assembling method, please refer to  FIG. 5  which is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. At the periphery of the upper frame  21 , there is a plurality of T shape hooks  30 , which correspond to the grooves  31  formed at the periphery of the lower frame  26 . Through the engagement between the T shape hooks  30  and the grooves  31 , all the components of the backlight module are well assembled, precisely positioned, and firmly fixed.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the T shape hook  30  and the groove  31  of the present invention. The T shape hook  30  of the upper frame can easily engage with the groove  31  of the lower frame. Moreover, the space between the T shape hook  30  and the groove  31  is narrower than that of prior arts, and thus its fixing efficacy is high. Compared with the traditional protrusion or square buckling element that can only restrain movement in an upright direction, the frame structure of the present invention even restrains movement in the cross direction.  
         [0027]     The T shape hook of the upper frame combined with the groove of the lower frame can provide not only upright direction fixing, but also cross direction fixing, and thereby can precisely position all the components of the backlight module. Furthermore, owing to the highly precise positioning capability, fewer hooking elements are required in the present invention than in the prior arts. Therefore, the weight of the frames of the present invention is decreased due to fewer hooking elements mounted thereon. Also, the structures of the molds that produce the frames are simpler than before, and the cost for making the molds is thus reduced. Moreover, the temperature and speed of injection molding for manufacturing the frames can be controlled with ease in the practical production. As a result, the yield of the frame processing is increased, and the manufacturing cost thereof is reduced.  
       EXAMPLE 2  
       [0028]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. At the periphery of the upper frame  21 , there is a plurality of arrowheaded shape hooks  40 , which correspond to the grooves  41  formed at the periphery of the lower frame  26 . Through the engagement between the arrowheaded shape hooks  40  and the grooves  41 , all the components of the backlight module are well assembled, precisely positioned, and firmly fixed.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the arrowheaded shape hook  40  and the groove  41  of the present invention. The arrowheaded shape hook  40  of the upper frame can easily engage with the groove  41  of the lower frame. Moreover, the space between the arrowheaded shape hook  40  and the groove  41  is narrower than that of prior arts, and thus its fixing efficacy is high. Compared with the traditional protrusion or square buckling element that can only restrain movement in an upright direction, the frame structure of the present invention even restrains movement in the cross direction.  
         [0030]     The arrowheaded shape hook of the upper frame combined with the groove of the lower frame can provide not only upright direction fixing, but also cross direction fixing, and thereby can precisely position all the components of the backlight module. Furthermore, owing to the highly precise positioning capability, fewer hooking elements are required in the present invention than in the prior arts. Therefore, the weight of the frames of the present invention is decreased due to fewer hooking elements mounted thereon. Also, the structures of the molds that produce the frames are simpler than before, and the cost for making the molds is thus reduced. Moreover, the temperature and speed of injection molding for manufacturing the frames can be controlled with ease in the practical production. As a result, the yield of the frame processing is increased, and the manufacturing cost thereof is reduced.  
       EXAMPLE 3  
       [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the upper frame and the lower frame of still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. At the periphery of the upper frame  21 , there is a plurality of Y shape hooks  50 , which correspond to the grooves  51  formed at the periphery of the lower frame  26 . Through the engagement between the Y shape hooks  50  and the grooves  51 , all the components of the backlight module are well assembled, precisely positioned, and firmly fixed.  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the engagement between the Y shape hook  50  and the groove  51  of the present invention. The Y shape hook  50  of the upper frame can easily engage with the groove  51  of the lower frame. Moreover, the space between the Y shape hook  50  and the groove  51  is narrower than that of prior arts, and thus its fixing efficacy is high. Compared with the traditional protrusion or square buckling element that can only restrain movement in an upright direction, the frame structure of the present invention even restrains movement in the cross direction.  
         [0033]     The Y shape hook of the upper frame combined with the groove of the lower frame can provide not only upright direction fixing, but also cross direction fixing, and thereby can precisely position all the components of the backlight module. Furthermore, owing to the highly precise positioning capability, fewer hooking elements are required in the present invention than in the prior arts. Therefore, the weight of the frames of the present invention is decreased due to fewer hooking elements mounted thereon. Also, the structures of the molds that produce the frames are simpler than before, and the cost for making the molds is thus reduced. Moreover, the temperature and speed of injection molding for manufacturing the frames can be controlled with ease in the practical production. As a result, the yield of the frame processing is increased, and the manufacturing cost thereof is reduced.  
         [0034]     In summary, the frame structure used in a backlight module of the present invention has at least the advantages described below:  
         [0035]     1. The present invention has a better fixing efficacy than the prior arts, and thus can fix all the components of the backlight module firmly; and  
         [0036]     2. The manufacturing cost of the frames of the present invention is less than that of the prior arts.  
         [0037]     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.