Backlight module and display device

A backlight module includes: a first frame having a first portion parallel to the display substrate; and a first light shielding structure provided between the first portion and the display substrate, wherein a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on a plane in which the display substrate is located at least partially overlaps with at least one substrate light shielding structure adjacent to an edge of the display substrate. An embodiment of the present invention further provides a display device including the backlight module described above.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/CN2015/080271, filed on 29 May 2015 and entitled with “Backlight Module and Display Device”, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201410820310.8, filed on 24 Dec. 2014 and entitled with “A Backlight Module and Display Device”, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a field of display technology, and particularly to a backlight module and a display device.

Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1shows a display device in prior art. The display device includes a backlight module1′, a color filter substrate2′ and an array substrate3′. In particular, a black matrix21′ is provided within a non-display area of the color filter substrate2′; a binding area31′ is provided within a non-display area of the array substrate3′, the binding area31′ being covered with a UV-curable adhesive32′ to protect binding wires in the binding area31′. The backlight module1′ includes an adhesive frame11′ for supporting the color filter substrate2′ and the array substrate3′. The adhesive frame11′ includes a first portion111′ parallel to the array substrate3′. A rubber strip12′ is provided between the first portion111′ and the non-display area of the array substrate3′.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a backlight module for a display substrate, including:

a first frame having a first portion parallel to the display substrate; and

a first light shielding structure provided between the first portion and the display substrate,

wherein a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on a plane in which the display substrate is located at least partially overlaps with at least one substrate light shielding structure adjacent to an edge of the display substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical solutions according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described clearly and completely in connection with the accompanying drawings in embodiments of the present invention. It is apparent that the described embodiments are merely part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments that can be obtained by those with ordinary skills in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The inventor has found that for the display device having the above structure a peripheral light leakage phenomenon occurs in the display process. Specifically, the reasons for the peripheral light leakage mainly relates to three following aspects: 1) the black matrix21′ does not extend to the edge of the color filter substrate2′ and the lights pass through the area of the color filter substrate2′ that is not covered by the black matrix; 2) the UV-curable adhesive32′ is usually white or blue and thus transparent more or less, so that the lights can pass through this area; and 3) due to the production process, surface of the first portion111′ of the adhesive frame11′ next to the array substrate3′ is uneven such that there is a gap between the rubber strip12′ and the array substrate3′, and the gap makes it possible for the lights to pass through.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a backlight and a display device which are capable of suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device.

According to an embodiment of one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a backlight module for a display substrate, including:

a first frame having a first portion parallel to the display substrate; and

a first light shielding structure provided between the first portion and the display substrate,

wherein a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on a plane in which the display substrate is located at least partially overlaps with at least one substrate light shielding structure adjacent to an edge of the display substrate.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a material for forming the first light shielding structure includes rubber.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the substrate light shielding structure includes a black matrix on the display substrate.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a width of the overlapped area is greater than or equal to 1 mm.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, an edge of the first light shielding structure on its side away from center of the backlight module is aligned with an edge of the display substrate or extends beyond the edge of the display substrate.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first frame is an adhesive frame; an attaching reference is disposed on a side of the first portion adjacent to the display substrate; and the first light shielding structure extends from the attaching reference in a direction toward vicinity of the center of the backlight module.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the attaching reference is a strip-like protrusion.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the backlight module further includes a light guide plate, and the first frame further includes a second portion that vertically extends from an end of the first portion in a direction toward vicinity of the light guide plate and that is connected to the light guide plate by a connecting structure.

In a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on the plane in which the substrate light shielding structure is located at least partially overlaps with the substrate light shielding structure adjacent to the edge of the display substrate, such that the first light shielding structure can shield an area adjacent to the edge of the display substrate that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structure, and such that length of the gap between the first light shielding structure and the display substrate increases, thereby suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device.

According to an embodiment of another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device including a display substrate and a backlight module according to any of the embodiments described above.

The display device according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes an array substrate provided opposite to the display substrate, wherein a peripheral area of the array substrate is provided with a binding area that is covered with a second light shielding structure.

In a display device according to an embodiment of the invention, the second light shielding structure includes a black UV-curable adhesive.

In a display device according to an embodiment of the invention, the second light shielding structure adjoins an edge of the display substrate.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a flexible circuit board that is electrically connected to the binding wires in the binding area, the second light shielding structure covering an edge of the flexible circuit board.

In a display device according to an embodiment of the invention, a width of the second light shielding structure is 1.0 mm-1.5 mm.

In a display device according to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one substrate light shielding structure extends to the edge of the display substrate.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a display device described above. Since the display device employs a backlight module according to the embodiments described above, in this display device, a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on the plane in which the substrate light shielding structure is located at least partially overlaps with the substrate light shielding structure adjacent to the edge of the display substrate, such that the first light shielding structure can shield an area adjacent to the edge of the display substrate that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structure, and such that length of the gap between the first light shielding structure and the display substrate increases, thereby suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device.

As shown inFIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a backlight module1for a display substrate2, including: a first frame11for fixing an optical film14, the first frame11having a first portion111parallel to the display substrate2; and a first light shielding structure12provided between the first portion111and the display substrate2, wherein a plurality of substrate light shielding structures21are within a non-display area of the display substrate2and a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure12on the plane in which the display substrate2is located at least partially overlaps with at least one substrate light shielding structure of the plurality of substrate light shielding structures21that adjoins an edge of the display substrate.

It should be noted that, in the backlight module according to the various embodiments of the present invention, although the concepts of display substrate, array substrate or color filter substrate, etc., are mentioned herein, it does not mean that the backlight module includes these devices or structures, but mean that the backlight module is necessary to be matched to a display substrate, an array substrate or a color filter substrate etc., when used.

In addition, in the following detailed description, for purpose of explanation, many specific details are described so as to provide a thorough understanding on the disclosed embodiments. Obviously, however, one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are illustrated in a schematic manner in order to simplify the drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a backlight module described above. In the above-described backlight module, the vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on the plane in which the display substrate is located overlaps with the substrate light shielding structures adjacent to an edge of the display substrate, such that the first light shielding structure can shield an area adjacent to the edge of the display substrate that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structures, and such that length of the gap between the first light shielding structure and the display substrate increases, thereby suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device.

In particular, the first light shielding structure12in an embodiment of the present invention is elastic, and for example, material of the first light shielding structure12includes rubber, so that while the first light shielding structure12shields the lights, the first light shielding structure12can also be used as a damping pad between the first frame11and the display substrate2. Further, when an edge of the first light shielding structure12on its side adjacent to a center of the backlight module1extends beyond an edge of the first portion111on its side adjacent to the center of the backlight module1, the first light shielding structure12made of rubber material is stiff so as not to tend to bend or sag, thereby preventing a portion of the first light shielding structure12that extends beyond the first portion111from bending or sagging, and thus suppress a phenomenon that the gap between the first light shielding structure12and the display substrate2increases.

In one embodiment, the substrate light shielding structure21includes a black matrix on the display substrate2. As an example, when the display substrate2is a color filter substrate, sub-pixels and a black matrix are provided on the color filter substrate. The black matrix is disposed in the gaps between the adjacent sub-pixels on the display substrate2and corresponds to the position of the gate lines, data lines, and thin film transistors in the array substrate to shield the gate lines, data lines and thin film transistors.

In order to improve the effect of preventing light leakage, a width of the overlapped area22between the vertical projection of the first light shielding structure12on a plane in which the display substrate2is located and the substrate light shielding structure21is greater than or equal to 1 mm.

Further, an edge of the first light shielding structure12on its side away from the center of the backlight module1is aligned with an edge of the display substrate2or extends beyond the edge of the display substrate2, which may result in that length of the gap between the first light shielding structure and the display substrate2increases, thereby further suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device. It should be noted that, the edge of the first light shielding structure12on its side away from the center of the backlight module1extending beyond the edge of the display substrate2particularly means that the edge of the first light shielding structure12on its side away from the center of the backlight module1extending beyond the edge of the display substrate2in a direction away from the center of a backlight module1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first frame11is an adhesive frame. Then, the first light shielding structure12is secured to the first portion111by an attaching manner. Therefore, in order to reduce the attaching difficulty of the first light shielding structure12and to ensure a precise attaching position, an attaching reference111acan be disposed on a surface of the first portion111adjacent to the display substrate2, and the first light shielding structure12is attached based on the attaching reference111a. The first light shielding structure12extends from the attaching reference111ain a direction toward vicinity of the center of the backlight module1.

In one embodiment, the attaching reference111ais a strip-like protrusion integrally formed on the first portion111. The strip-like protrusion is not only used as an attaching reference of the first light shielding structure12, bust also may prevent the first light shielding structure12from moving in a direction away from the center of the backlight module1.

In one embodiment, referring toFIG. 1, the first frame11includes: a first portion, a second portion that vertically extends from an end of the first portion in a direction toward vicinity of the light guide plate, and a third portion extending to a space between the light guide plate and the optical film from the second portion. Providing the third portion can shield a part of the lights that are emitted toward an area of the display substrate that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structure. A rubber strip for preventing the movement of the light guide plate may be provided between the third portion and the light guide plate.

In one alternative embodiment of the present invention, since the first light shielding structure12can shield the area of the display substrate2that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structure21, the first frame11may not include the third portion. As shown inFIG. 2, the first frame11includes a first portion111, a second portion112that vertically extends from an end of the first portion111in a direction toward vicinity of the light guide plate13in the backlight module1. The second portion112is connected to the light guide plate13by a connecting structure15. The connecting structure15may be a rubber strip. Since the first frame11does not include the third portion between the light guide plate13and the optical film14, the structure of the first frame11is simple and the mounting of the first frame11is also simplified.

According to an embodiment of another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device, as shown inFIG. 2, which includes a display substrate2and a backlight module1according to any of the embodiments described above.

With the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, since a backlight module described above is employed, in this display device, a vertical projection of the first light shielding structure on the plane in which the substrate light shielding structure is located at least partially overlaps with the substrate light shielding structure adjacent to the edge of the display substrate, such that the first light shielding structure can shield an area adjacent to the edge of the display substrate that is not covered by the substrate light shielding structure, and such that length of the gap between the first light shielding structure and the display substrate increases, thereby suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon in the display device.

In particular, the display device described above further includes an array substrate3provided opposite to the display substrate2, wherein a peripheral area of the array substrate3is provided with a binding area31that is covered with a second light shielding structure32, thereby further preventing lights from passing through the binding area31of the array substrate3.

In one embodiment, the second light shielding structure32includes a black UV-curable adhesive such that the second light shielding structure32does not only shield the lights but also protects the binding wires in the binding area31. It should be noted that, although the black UV-curable adhesive has excellent light shielding effect, the curing time thereof is correspondingly long due to its light shielding property, which result in a long assembly time of the display device. The curing time of the black UV-curable adhesive may be shortened by increasing the illumination intensity of UV light or changing the curing mechanism so that the assembly time of the display device may be shortened.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second light shielding structure32adjoins the edge of the display substrate2. The second light shielding structure32can be formed by coating a viscous raw material, such as black UV-curable adhesive, along the edge of the display substrate2. Since the black UV-curable adhesive has a certain degree of flowing property, it is possible for the black UV-curable adhesive to flow in a direction away from the edge of the display substrate2. In the case that the display device further includes a flexible circuit board4disposed on the array substrate3and electrically connected to the binding wires in the binding area31, the black UV-curable adhesive can flow toward the edge of the flexible circuit board4. The resulting second light shielding structure32may cover the edge of the flexible circuit board4, thereby further suppressing the peripheral light leakage phenomenon. Further, the width of the second light shielding structure32in the embodiment of the present invention is 1.0 mm-1.5 mm so as to ensure that it can cover the edge of the flexible circuit board4.

To further prevent the lights from passing through the non-display area adjacent to the edge of the display substrate2, at least one substrate light shielding structure21that is located at the edge of the display substrate2extends to the edge of the display substrate2. The at least one substrate light shielding structure21at least partially overlaps with the first light shielding structure12such that they cooperate with each other together, thereby improving the effect of preventing light leakage. In particular, in the cutting process to form the display substrate2, the cutting may be performed along the edge of some substrate light shielding structures21, such that the edge of the display substrate2is aligned with the edge of the substrate light shielding structures21, that is, the substrate light shielding structure21extends to the edge of the display substrate2. Debris generated in the above-described cutting process may contaminate a polarizer (not shown) located on a side of the display substrate2away from the array substrate2such that foreign matters are present on the polarizer. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present invention, a stiff cleaning hair brush or gridding strap is employed to clear up the foreign matters on the polarizer to ensure that the display effect of the display device is not affected.

Further, the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be: a liquid crystal panel, an electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a monitor, a notebook computer, a digital picture frame, a navigator, or any other product or component having a display function.

The contents described above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variations of alternations that can be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by this disclosure will fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the protection scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims.