Abstract:
A plurality of flat-type lamp plate structures are separately arranged in one or multi-dimensional array to correspond to single back plate or diffuse plate. Each supporter with stacked inlaid portions is inserted between any two of the flat-type lamp plate structures to not only constrain the flat-type lamp plate structures but also support the back plate, diffuse plate and flat-type lamp plate structures.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a flat-type light source plate, and more especially, to a flat type lamp applied to a backlight and a flat light source of a liquid crystal display (LCD).  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Recently, research of the flat panel display has been actively pursued. For examples, liquid crystal displays (LCD), field emission displays (FED), electro luminescence displays (ELD) and plasma display panel (PDP) have been attracted considerable attention. Among the flat panel displays, LCD is unlike to the other flat panel displays mentioned above because LCD display does not emit light. Thus, a separate light source is assigned as the backlight to the LCD display. For large-scale flat panels, a flat-type light source plate that irradiates uniform light, enhances the performance of the backlight and simplifies the combination of the assembly is a preference rather than the traditional CCFL fluorescent tub.  
         [0005]     Nevertheless, the size of the flat type lamp increases with the development of the large panel display. Thus, the heavy weight and area of the flat-type light source plate raises some issues: (1) it occupies much space and is inconveniently transported; (2) it becomes hard to control inspection; (3) the deformation is formed. Special supporters are designed to prevent the panel from sag. Problems about manufacturing, combination and transportation have been occurring as mentioned above for a larger flat panel. It is important to solve those problems on development of the large-scale panel.  
         [0006]     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]     In order to solve the problems mentioned above, the present invention provides a flat-type lamp plate structure applied to large-scale liquid crystal displays. Multitudes of flat-type light source plate units cooperate to correspond to a large panel display, so that each flat-type light source plate unit is small, easily made and inspected.  
         [0008]     The assembly of display panels with large size is improved by providing a flat-type light source plate with some units arranged in array and fixed by inserting spacer pins to be a lamp device with large size.  
         [0009]     The sag issue on a diffuse plate is resolved by providing a fixing structure applied to flat-type light source plate. Two spacer pins engaged with each other are capable of fixing and positioning the flat-type light source plates, so as to enhance the accuracy of assembly and provide the diffuse plate with supporting.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, a plurality of flat-type light source plate units coplanar and separately arranged in one or two-dimensional array provides a large-scale flat-type light source plate corresponding to a back or diffuse plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. The design of stacked engaged spacer pins to form a supporter is through any two of flat-type light source plates. First spacer pin with an extension portion is extruded out of one side of a flat-type light source plate unit and second spacer pin with a receiving portion is extruded out of another side, wherein the extension portion of the first spacer pin inserts through the interstice of two adjacent flat-type light source plate and inlays to the receiving portion of second spacer pin to constraint, fix and support the assembly of a back plate, diffuse plate and flat-type light source plate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the flat-type light source plate unit of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C,  2 D and  FIG. 2E  are top views of the array of the flat-type light source plate units of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are perspective views of the first and second spacer pins of one supporter of an embodiment of the invention respectively.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, which are composed of a back plate, a flat-type light source plate unit, a supporter and a diffuse plate.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flat-type light source plate unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, the flat-type light source plate unit  10  includes first substrate  12  and second substrate  14  opposing to each other. The cathode and the anode electrodes are set in an enclosed space formed between the first substrate  12  and the second substrate  14  to produce the discharge gas charged between the two substrates. It is appreciated that the flat-type light source plate unit also includes a side-wall around the first substrate  12  and the second substrate  14 . Furthermore, the shapes of the first substrate  12  and the second substrate  14 , not limited, may be curved or flat. Furthermore, the first substrate  12  and the second substrate  14  may be made of transparent material, glass or the heat-resistant material with diffractive characteristic. Moreover, the shape of the flat-type light source plate unit  10 , not limited to, may be a rectangle, a parallelogram, a square or even the other shape enabling to be manufactured and all should not limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2E  are schematically top views illustrating different arrangements of the flat-type light source plate units in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. A flat-type light source plate composed of a plurality of flat-type light source plate units  10  corresponds to a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat-type light source plate units  10  in the same size and shape are coplanar arranged in a rank or an array. A gap  20  is retained between two adjacent flat-type light source plate units  10 , that is, the plurality of flat-type light source plate units  10  is arranged separately. It is understandable that the flat-type light source plate units  10  may have different sizes and shapes in different embodiments according to the invention. It is noted that the gap  20  may have the same or various widths. Furthermore, the width of the gap  20  is not limited as long as it does not influence the performance of the flat-type light source plate and flat panel display.  
         [0017]     As mentioned above, the flat-type light source plate corresponding to a flat panel display is composed of a plurality of flat-type light source plate units according to an embodiment of the invention. One of features of the present invention is to simplify the manufacturing process, to easily control the qualities and to enhance the yield rate. Another feature is the gap  20  between two flat-type light source plate units  10  and a specific supporter designed for supporting the light diffuse plate.  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic diagrams illustrating a supporter according to the present invention. In the embodiment, a supporter includes a first spacer pin  32  in  FIG. 3B  and second spacer pin  34  in  FIG. 3A  stacked each other. Referring to the  FIG. 3A , the second spacer pin  34  includes a base  40  and a receiving portion  42  fixed on the base  40 . The receiving portion  42  includes a space (not shown) configured to contain and engage the portion of the extension portion  38 . Refer to the  FIG. 3B , the first spacer pin  32  includes a base  36  and an extension portion  38  fixed on the base  36 . In one embodiment, the shape and size of the extension portion  38  is designated for and dependent on the gap width. The extension portion  38  may be insert into the gap between two flat-type light source plate units. The junction area of the extension portion  38  and the base  36  is smaller than the surface of the base  36 . In this embodiment, the engagement of the first spacer pin  32  and the second spacer pin  34  is capable of fixing and supporting the flat-type light source plate units and the diffuse plate. Furthermore, the first spacer pin  32  and the spacer pin  34  may be made of a transparent material, glass or heat-resistant material with diffractive characteristic.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the assembly of a back plate, flat-type light source plate units, supporter and light-diffuse plate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As the drawing shown, flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b , separated by the combination of first spacer pin  32  and second spacer pin  34 , are coplanar arranged between the back plate  50  and the diffuse plate  52 . Moreover, the flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b  are smaller than either the back plate  50  or diffuse plate  52 . The first spacer pin  32  and second spacer pin  34  are stacked and engaged each other by inserting the extension portion  38  of the first spacer pin  32  into the receiving portion  42  of the second spacer pin  34  to fix the flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b . That is, the first spacer pin  32  with the base  36  stands on one side of the flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b  and with the extension portion  38  inserts between the flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b  to fix them. It is understandable that the first spacer pin  32  is positioned between the flat-type light source plate units  10   a ,  10   b  and the diffuse plate  52  as well, and the second spacer pin  34  is between the flat-type light source plate units  10   a ,  10   b  and the back plate  50 . That is, the width of the gap between the flat-type light source plate units  10   a  and  10   b  is provided for setting or holding a spacer bin. Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are achieved by the stacked combination of the first spacer pin  32  and the second spacer pin  34 .  
         [0019]     Accordingly, one of features is the combination of flat-type light source plate units with suitable sizes cooperated with supporters by suitable amount to enhance the assembly and efficient inspection. Furthermore, another feature of the present invention is to fix and support the flat-type light source plate units with the supporters inserted therebetween. It is noted that the amount of the gap increases with one of the flat-type light source plate units. Thus, a reflective or diffractive film may be applied to the inner surface of the diffuse plate and/or back plate corresponding to the gaps to enhance diffractive light. It is appreciated that the reflective or diffractive film may be applied to the whole surface of the diffuse plate and/or back plate.  
         [0020]     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that other modifications and variation can be made without departing the spirit and scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.