Display apparatus including touch panel fixing a display panel to a backlight unit

A display apparatus includes a display panel, a backlight unit and a touch panel. The backlight unit generates and provides light and is disposed below the display panel to provide the light to the display panel. The touch panel includes a base film attached to a top surface of the display panel. The base film defines a base portion thereof which is overlapped with the display panel. The base portion which is overlapped with the display panel is extended to define a dummy wing portion of the base film. The dummy wing portion is bent from the display panel to a side surface of the backlight unit to be fixed to the side surface of the backlight unit.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0040974, filed on Mar. 24, 2015, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention herein relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus for which a top chassis is omitted.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Flat panel display devices such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) device, a plasma display panel (“PDP”), a field emission display (“FED”) device, a light emitting diode (“LED” display device, and an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) display device have been developed.

Among these flat panel display devices, LCD devices have advantages such as a technological advance in mass production, relative ease of driving thereof, relatively low power consumption, relatively small thickness, and realization of a relatively high-quality image displayed on a relatively large screen, and therefore secure a firm consumer market and expand fields to which they are applied.

Typically, the LCD device requires a planar area for supporting a weight of a liquid crystal panel, which limits reduction of a planar area of a bezel of the LCD device. Accordingly, in the LCD device, a case top covers an edge of an outer portion of a display screen of the LCD device and resultantly lowers a satisfaction level of a consumer regarding an exterior design of the LCD device.

Consistent with an increase in research and development for improving technologies for flat panel display devices, demands for improving design of the flat panel display devices to satisfy consumers has also become important.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a display apparatus in which a separate top chassis is omitted to reduce an overall cross-sectional thickness and planar size of the a bezel and also to reduce manufacturing costs.

One or more exemplary embodiment of the invention also provides a display apparatus in which a separate flexible printed circuit board connected to a touch panel is omitted to reduce manufacturing costs and simplify a manufacturing process.

One or more exemplary embodiment of the invention provides display apparatuses including a display panel, a backlight unit and a touch panel.

The display panel displays an image. The backlight unit generates and provides light and is disposed below the display panel to provide the light to the display panel. The touch panel detects a touch input to the display apparatus.

The touch panel includes a base film attached to a top surface of the display panel. The base film defines a base portion thereof which is overlapped with the display panel. The base portion which is overlapped with the display panel is extended to define a dummy wing portion of the base film. The dummy wing portion is bent from the display panel to a side surface of the backlight unit to be fixed to the side surface of the backlight unit.

In some embodiments, the base portion which is overlapped with the display panel may be further extended to define a touch wing portion. The touch wing portion may be spaced apart from the dummy wing portion. The touch panel may further include a touch electrode disposed on the base portion which is overlapped with the display panel and a touch pad disposed on the touch wing portion and connected to the touch electrode.

In other embodiments, the display apparatus may include a printed circuit board disposed under the backlight unit. The touch wing portion may be bent from the display panel to be attached to the printed circuit board disposed under the backlight unit.

In still other embodiments, the base portion, the touch wing portion and the dummy wing portion may be integral with each other.

The touch wing portion and the dummy wing portion may each be extended from a same side of the base portion of the base film. The touch wing portion may have a first length in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the same side of the base portion. The dummy wing portion may have a second length less than the first length in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the same side of the base portion.

In yet other embodiments, the backlight unit may further include a bottom chassis, a middle mold, a light guide plate and a light source unit. The bottom chassis may include a bottom surface, and a sidewall extending from an edge of the bottom surface. The middle mold may be connected to an outer portion of the bottom chassis to support the display panel thereon. The light guide plate may be accommodated in the bottom chassis and guide incident light to emit the incident light toward the display panel. The light source unit may provide light to the light guide plate.

In further embodiments, the dummy wing portion which is bent from the display panel to the side surface of the backlight unit may be fixed to the middle mold of the backlight unit.

In still further embodiments, the display apparatus may further include an adhesive part disposed between the dummy wing portion and the middle mold to fix the dummy wing portion to the middle mold. In even further embodiments, the adhesive part may be optical clear adhesive (“OCA”) or optical clear resin (“OCR”).

In yet further embodiments, the display apparatus may further include a coupling member passing through the dummy wing portion and inserted into the middle mold to fix the dummy wing portion to the middle mold. In much further embodiment, the coupling member may be a rivet or a screw.

In other embodiments of the invention, the display apparatuses include a display panel, a backlight unit and a touch panel. The display panel displays an image. The backlight unit generates and provides light and is disposed below the display panel to provide light to the display panel. The touch panel senses a touch input to the display apparatus and is attached to the display panel. Portions of the touch panel attached to the display panel are bent in a thickness direction of the display panel to be fixed to a side surface of the backlight unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the invention should be understood to be intended to include the structural and functional equivalents of the matter. In the following description of the invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted to avoid making the subject matter of the invention unclear and, in every possible case, like reference numerals are used for referring to the same or similar elements in the description and drawings.

Efforts to reduce an overall thickness (e.g., to make slimmer) a flat panel display device are continuously progressing. Also, research and development on a relatively narrow bezel type liquid crystal display device having a decreased a planar area of an edge of an outer portion of the liquid crystal display device (e.g., the bezel) is in progress such that a borderless type liquid crystal display device for which there is essentially no outer edge is being developed.

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a display apparatus according to the invention,FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, a display apparatus1000may include a display panel100, a backlight unit200and a touch panel300.

The display panel100displays an image. The display panel100may include a non-emitting type display panel instead of a self-emitting type display panel such as an organic light emitting display panel. Although the display panel100may include various non-emitting type display panels, description will be given below by exemplifying the display panel100as a liquid crystal display panel which is a non-emitting type display panel.

The display panel100may include a first display substrate110, a second display substrate120facing the first display substrate110, and an optical medium such as a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween.

The first display substrate110may include gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors and a pixel electrodes on a first base substrate. The gate lines and the data lines may be insulated from and crossed with each other. A thin film transistor, which may be a three-terminal device, is connected to a gate line, a data line and a pixel electrode among the pluralities thereof. According to a signal applied to the gate line, a data voltage applied to the data line may be applied to the pixel electrode by the thin film transistor connected to the gate line, the data line and the pixel electrode.

The second display substrate120may be disposed between the first display substrate110and the touch panel300. The second display substrate120may face the first display substrate110with the liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween. Although the second display substrate120may include a color filter and a common electrode on a second base substrate, the invention is not limited thereto. In an another exemplary embodiment, for example, the first display substrate110may include the color filter and the common electrode instead of the second display substrate120.

In the planar or plan view, the second display substrate120may have an overall size less than that of the first display substrate110. A portion of the larger-size first display substrate110may be exposed by the smaller-size second display substrate120.

The liquid crystal layer may include a plurality of liquid crystal molecules for which orientation states thereof are changed according to an electric field formed between the first display substrate110and the second display substrate120.

The display apparatus1000may further include a driving circuit film130and a printed circuit board PB.

The driving circuit film130is bent in a length direction thereof to electrically connect the display panel100to the printed circuit board PB. The driving circuit film130may include a first end connected to a surface of the first display substrate110exposed by the second display substrate120and an opposing second end connected to the printed circuit board PB.

The printed circuit board PB may be disposed under the backlight unit200. The printed circuit board PB may output a signal to the display panel100through the driving circuit film130and/or receive a signal from the display panel100.

The display apparatus1000may further include a pair of polarizing plates PL1and PL2disposed over and below the display panel100.

The backlight unit200is disposed below the display panel100to generate light and provide the generated light to the display panel100.

The backlight unit200may include a bottom chassis210, a middle mold220, a light guide plate230, a light source unit240, a heat extrusion bar (or heat extrusion chassis)250and one or more optical sheets260.

The bottom chassis210includes a bottom surface210aand a sidewall210bwhich extends from an edge of the bottom surface210a. The bottom chassis210may define an accommodation (e.g., receiving) space defined by the bottom surface210aand the sidewall210b, and may accommodate the light guide plate230, the light source unit240, the heat extrusion bar250and the optical sheets260in the accommodation space thereof.

The middle mold220may be coupled to an outer portion of the bottom chassis210to be disposed outside the bottom chassis210. In detail, the middle mold220may include a first portion elongated to extend along and face the sidewall210bof the bottom chassis210and a second portion extended from the first portion to be bent over an upper portion of the sidewall210btoward the accommodation space. The middle mold220may support the display panel100thereon. The middle mold220may have a frame shape in the plan view, for which an open portion is defined by the second portion thereof to expose underlying elements of the display apparatus1000.

Although the bottom chassis210and the middle mold220are shown as separate elements in the exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the bottom chassis210and the middle mold220may be integral with each other, that is, not being separate elements from each other.

The light guide plate230may be disposed in the accommodation space. The light guide plate230may be disposed above the bottom surface210a. The light guide plate230may include an incident surface230aand an emission surface230b. The incident surface230ais a surface into which light emitted from the light source unit240is incident, and the emission surface230bis a surface from which the light passing through the incident surface230ais guided and emitted toward the display panel100.

The light source unit240includes a light source241and a light source PCB242. At least one light source241is provided and mounted on the light source PCB242to receive a power from the light source PCB242and thereby emit light. The light source241may be a light emitting diode (“LED”). The light source PCB242receives a power for driving the light source241from the outside thereof and transfers the power to the light source241.

Although the light source241is shown as a LED in the exemplary embodiment, the light source241may be a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (“CCFL”) or a flat fluorescent lamp (“FEL”).

Although only one light source unit240is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1 to 3, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, at least two light source units240may be provided. InFIGS. 1 to 3, although the light source unit240has an edge type structure and is thus disposed to correspond to a side surface of the light guide plate230, the invention is not limited thereto.

The heat extrusion bar (which may be otherwise referred to as a heat extrusion chassis)250fixes the light source unit240with respect to other elements of the display apparatus1000and discharges heat generated from the light source unit240.

The heat extrusion bar250may include a heat extrusion bottom portion251and a heat extrusion sidewall portion252. The heat extrusion bottom portion251may be disposed under the light guide plate230and have a shape corresponding to the shape of the light guide plate230when viewed from the top (e.g., in the top plan view). The heat extrusion sidewall portion252extends from the heat extrusion bottom portion251. The light source unit240may be coupled to an inner surface of the heat extrusion sidewall portion252. Although the heat extrusion bar250may include or be made of metal having excellent heat conductivity such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, and may formed through various manufacturing methods such as pressing, plating and casting, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the heat extrusion bar250may have shapes.

The optical sheets260are disposed on the light guide plate230so as to increase the efficiency of light emitted from the emission surface230bof the light guide plate230. In detail, the optical sheets260may be disposed on the middle mold220. The optical sheets260may include at least one of a diffusion sheet, a light collection sheet and a protection sheet. The diffusion sheet may diffuse incident light. The light collection sheet may increase the luminance of light diffused from the diffusion sheet. The protection sheet may protect the light collection sheet and secure a viewing angle from a viewing side of the display apparatus1000.

Although not shown, the backlight unit200may further include a reflection sheet disposed below the light guide plate230. The reflection sheet (not shown) may re-reflect incident light transmitted through a bottom surface of the light guide plate230opposite to the emission surface230band toward the light guide plate230.

The touch panel300is disposed on the display panel100. The touch panel300may sense a touch input to the display apparatus1000. Although the touch panel300may operate in capacitive type, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the touch panel300may operate in resistive film type.

The touch panel300may be attached to a top surface of the display panel100and fixed to a side surface of the backlight unit200. An adhesive layer may be disposed between a portion of the touch panel300and the display panel100to attach the touch panel300to the top surface of the display panel100. The adhesive layer may be optical clear adhesive (“OCA”) or optical clear resin (“OCR”).

FIG. 4is a plan view of a touch panel300inFIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 4illustrates an unbent state of the touch panel300.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, the touch panel300may include a base portion310in the form of a film, a touch wing portion320, a dummy wing portion330, a touch electrode TE and a touch pad TP.

The base portion310may be attached to a top surface of the second display substrate120. The base portion310may include a transparent or translucent flexible film. The base portion310may have the same shape as the top surface of the second display substrate120. InFIG. 4, it is illustrated that the base portion310has a rectangular shape from the plan view. The base portion310may have first to fourth sides310ato310dwhich define the rectangular shape.

The touch electrode TE may be disposed on the base portion310as a collection of individual touch electrodes. The collection of touch electrode TE may include first touch electrodes TE1and second touch electrodes TE2. The first touch electrodes TE1and the second touch electrodes TE2may be insulated from and crossed with each other on the base portion310. Although each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1and TE2is provided in a rectangular shape as illustrated inFIG. 4, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1and TE2may have a shape in which diamond shaped patterns are connected in one direction or a shape in which patterns having a mesh shape in a diamond are connected in one direction.

A touch signal may be applied to the first and second touch electrodes TE1and TE2, and a touch pressure may be detected on the basis of variations of the applied touch signals.

The touch wing portion320may extend from the base portion310. The touch wing portion320and the base portion310may be integral with each and each are in a film form. As being integral, portions of the same touch panel300define the base portion310and the touch wing portion320which extends from the base portion310.

The touch wing portion320may have a length extended in a direction perpendicular to each of the first to fourth sides310ato310dfrom at least one of the first to fourth sides310ato310dof the base film310. Although only one touch wing portion320is illustrated and extends from the first side310ainFIG. 4, the invention is not limited thereto.

In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the touch wing portion320may be provided in plurality by extending from at least two of the first to fourth sides310ato310d. Alternatively, a single one of the touch wing portion320may be extended from one of the second to fourth sides310bto310dinstead of the first side310a.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, the touch wing portion320may be bent in a length direction thereof toward a lower side of the display panel100and attached to the printed circuit board PB.

The touch pad TP may be provided in plural and disposed on the touch wing portion320. The touch pads TP may be respectively connected to the first touch electrodes TE1and the second touch electrodes TE2. The touch pads TP may be attached to the printed circuit board PB where the touch wing portion320is in a bent state. The touch panel300may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board PB through attachment of the touch pads TP to the printed circuit board PB.

Although not shown, the display apparatus1000may further include an integrated touch circuit chip. Although the integrated touch circuit chip may be mounted on the printed circuit board PB to apply touch signals to the touch electrodes TE through the touch pads TP, the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the integrated touch circuit chip may be mounted on the touch wing portion320to provide touch signals to the touch electrodes TE, and electrically connected to the printed circuit board PB through the touch pads TP.

The touch wing portion320of the touch panel300according to one or more exemplary embodiment of the invention functions as a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board which is used in a conventional display device may be omitted in one or more exemplary embodiment of the invention since the touch pads TP are provided on the touch wing portion320and connecting the touch pads TP to the printed circuit board PB. Since the touch wing portion320and the base portion310are integral with each other as being defined by portions of the touch panel300, additional manufacturing cost is not required.

For a conventional display apparatus, when a touch panel and a printed circuit board are electrically connected to each other by using a flexible printed circuit board, an additional process of bonding the flexible printed circuit board to the touch panel is performed in manufacturing the display apparatus. In contrast, the touch panel300according to one or more exemplary embodiment of the invention, however, the base portion310and touch wing portion320are integral with each other as being defined by portions of the touch panel300, thereby reducing the number of bonding processes. Accordingly, in the display apparatus1000including the touch panel300according to one or more exemplary embodiment of the invention, manufacturing costs may be reduced and a manufacturing process may be simplified.

The dummy wing portion330may extend from the base portion310and be spaced from the touch wing portion320along a respective side of the base portion310. The dummy wing portion330and the base portion310may be integral with each and each are in a film form. As being integral, portions of the same touch panel300define the base portion310, the touch wing portion320which extends from the base portion310and the dummy wing portion320which extends from the base portion310.

The dummy wing portion330may have a length extended in a direction perpendicular to each of the first to fourth sides310ato310dfrom at least one of the first to fourth sides310ato310dof the base film310. The dummy wing portion330may be provided in plurality.FIG. 4illustrates a structure in which two dummy wing portions330extend from the first side310a, and three dummy wing portion330extend from each of the second to fourth sides310bto310d.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the dummy wing portion330may be bent in a length direction thereof toward a lower side of the display panel100and fixed to a side surface of the backlight unit200. The dummy wing portion330may be fixed to the middle mold220, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the display apparatus1000may further include an adhesion part AD disposed between the dummy wing portion330and the middle mold220, and the dummy wing portion330and the middle mold220may be attached to each other through the adhesion part AD. The adhesion part AD may be OCA or OCR.

The touch wing portion320may have a first length W1, and the dummy wing portion330may have a second length W2less than the first length W1. The first length W1and the second length W2may be measured in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of a side of the base portion310from which each of the touch wing portion320and the dummy wing portion330is extended. Since the touch wing portion320may be attached to the printed circuit board PB disposed below the backlight unit200and the dummy wing portion330is connected to a side surface of the backlight unit200, the touch wing portion320may have a length greater than that of the dummy wing portion330.

In the display apparatus1000according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the touch panel300may be firmly fixed to the display panel100via the base portion310and firmly fixed to the backlight unit200via the dummy wing portion330. That is, in one or more exemplary embodiment of the display apparatus1000of the invention, a separate conventional top chassis for fixing the display panel100and the backlight unit200to each other is omitted. Accordingly, with a separate top chassis omitted, an overall cross-sectional thickness and a planar size of a bezel of the display apparatus1000may decrease and the manufacturing costs may be reduced.

Although not shown, the display apparatus1000may further include a side cover. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the side cover may be provided in a shape such that a side surface of the backlight unit200, the touch wing portion320and the dummy wing portion330are surrounded thereby. The side cover may protect the backlight unit200, the touch wing portion320and the dummy wing portion330against external shock thereto.

FIG. 5is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a touch panel according to the invention.

The touch panel301inFIG. 5has a different shaped dummy wing portion331in comparison to the touch panel300inFIG. 4. InFIG. 5, dummy wing portions331may extend in a perpendicular direction from each of the second to fourth sides310bto310dof the base portion310and have the same length as each of the second to fourth sides310bto310d. A dummy wing portion similar to that of330inFIG. 4may be provided at the first side310a, but the invention is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the dummy wing portion330may be omitted at the first side310ain favor of the touch panel301including only the touch wing portion320at the first side310a, while the dummy wing portions331are disposed at the second to fourth sides310bto310d.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a flexible display apparatus according to the invention.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ ofFIG. 1.

The display apparatus1001illustrated inFIG. 6is different in from the display apparatus1000described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3relating to a display panel101. Locations of first display substrate111and second display substrate121of the display panel101inFIG. 6may be exchanged as compared to locations of first display substrate110and second display substrate120of the display panel100inFIGS. 1 and 3.

The first display substrate111may be disposed between the second display substrate121and the touch panel300. That is, elements of the display apparatus1001may be disposed in order of the backlight unit200, the second display substrate121, the first display substrate111and the touch panel300taken in a direction from a rear of the display apparatus1001to the front of the display apparatus1001.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view of still another exemplary embodiment of a display apparatus according to the invention.FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ ofFIG. 1.

The display apparatus1002inFIG. 7is different from the display apparatus1000described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3in that the display apparatus1002has a modified structure which attaches a dummy wing portion330to a middle mold220.

The display apparatus1002may further include a coupling member SC. The coupling member SC may fix the dummy wing portion330to the middle mold220. The coupling member SC may pass through a via hole VH defined in the dummy wing portion330to be inserted into the middle mold220. The coupling member SC may be a rivet or a screw, but the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

According to one or more exemplary embodiment of the invention, a separate top chassis may be omitted from the display apparatus, thereby reducing the overall cross-sectional thickness and planar size of the bezel of the display apparatus and also reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the flexible printed circuit board connected to the touch panel may be omitted to further reduce manufacturing costs and simplify manufacturing processes.

The scope of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above but is defined by the appended claims. It is evident, however, that many alternative modifications and variations will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure embraces all such alternative modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.