Display device

A display device includes: a display panel; a light source configured to supply light to the display panel; a mold frame on which the display panel is disposed; and a bottom chassis on which the light source is disposed, and which is coupled to the mold frame. The mold frame includes: a base unit disposed between the display panel and the light source, and having a panel form; and a side wall portion which is bent and which extends from the base unit.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0088230, filed on Jul. 14, 2014, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device that includes a mold frame disposed between a display panel and a light source and including a base unit provided in a panel form.

Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a type of flat panel display (FPD), which is the most widely used these days. The LCD includes two substrates, including electrodes formed thereon and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. Upon applying voltage to the electrodes, liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are rearranged, thereby adjusting the amount of transmitted light.

A liquid crystal display (LCD), which is a passive light emitting device, includes a display panel configured to display an image and a backlight assembly configured to provide light to the display panel. The backlight assembly is classified into three types depending on the position of a light source: a direct type, an edge type, and a corner type.

Meanwhile, in order to realize a slim bezel, the bezel of the display device is becoming reduced. As a size of the bezel becomes reduced, the rigidity of the display device deteriorates. Furthermore, the display device is supported at edge portions by a structure, such as a chassis, and thus a partly inclined area may appear due to an empty space, thereby producing a non-uniform luminance.

It is to be understood that this background of the technology section is intended to provide useful background for understanding the technology and, as such disclosed herein, the technology background section may include ideas, concepts or recognitions that were not part of what was known or appreciated by those skilled in the pertinent art prior to a corresponding effective filing date of the subject matter disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a display device including a mold frame that is capable of stably supporting a display panel and realizing a narrow bezel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display device may include: a display panel; a light source configured to supply light to the display panel; a mold frame on which the display panel is disposed; and a bottom chassis on which the light source is disposed and which is coupled to the mold frame. The mold frame may include: a base unit disposed between the display panel and the light source and having a panel form; and a side wall portion which is bent and which extends from the base unit.

The mold frame may be formed of transparent polymers.

The display panel may be disposed on the base unit.

The side wall portion may be coupled to the bottom chassis.

The display device may further include a reflective sheet disposed on the side wall portion.

The bottom chassis may have a bottom portion and a protrusion which is bent and which extends from the bottom portion.

The protrusion may be coupled to the side wall portion.

The display device may further include a reflective sheet disposed on the protrusion.

The display device may further include an optical sheet and a diffusion plate disposed between the mold frame and the light source.

At least one of the optical sheet and the diffusion plate may be mounted on the protrusion.

The display device may further include an optical sheet and a diffusion plate disposed between the mold frame and the light source.

At least one of the optical sheet and the diffusion plate may be mounted on the bottom chassis.

The mold frame may further include a supporting protrusion configured to support at least one of the optical sheet and the diffusion plate.

The display device may further include an adhesive member interposed between the mold frame and the display panel.

The adhesive member may be disposed between the base unit of the mold frame and the display panel.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a display device is capable of stably fixing a display panel, thereby exhibiting uniform luminance, and is also capable of realizing a narrow bezel that corresponds to a non-display area of a display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be made clear from embodiments described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The present invention is merely defined by the scope of the claims. Therefore, well-known constituent elements, operations and techniques are not described in detail in the embodiments in order to prevent the present invention from being obscurely interpreted. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, the element is “directly connected” to the other element, or “electrically connected” to the other element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display device ofFIG. 1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the display device includes a display panel200including a display area and a non-display area, a backlight assembly400configured to supply light to the display panel200, and a mold frame100configured to accommodate the display panel200mounted thereon.

The display panel200is configured to display an image. The display panel200is a light-receiving type display panel and may be categorized into a liquid crystal display panel, an electrowetting display panel, an electrophoretic display panel, a microelectromechanical system display panel, and the like. It is assumed that the liquid display panel is used as an embodiment of the present invention.

The display panel200may be provided in a quadrilateral panel form having two pairs of sides in parallel with each other. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display panel200may have a quadrilateral form having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. The display panel200includes a first substrate210, a second substrate220disposed to face the first substrate210, and a liquid crystal layer (not illustrated) interposed between the first and the second substrates210and220, respectively. When viewed in a plan view, the display panel200has a display area on which an image is displayed and a non-display area230which surrounds the display area and does not display an image.

The first substrate210may include a plurality of pixel electrodes (not illustrated) and a plurality of thin film transistors (not illustrated) electrically connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes in one-to-one correspondence. The respective thin film transistors function as switches of driving signals supplied to the corresponding pixel electrodes. Furthermore, the second substrate220may include a common electrode (not illustrated) that forms an electric field controlling an arrangement of the liquid crystal with the pixel electrodes. The display panel200plays a role in driving the liquid crystal layer and displaying an image to the front.

The display panel200includes a driving chip (not illustrated) configured to supply a driving signal, a tape carrier package (TCP) on which the driving chip is mounted, and a printed circuit board (not illustrated) electrically connected to the display panel200through the TCP. The driving chip generates a driving signal to drive the display panel200in response to an external signal. The external signal refers to signals supplied from the printed circuit board and may include image signals, a variety of control signals, driving voltages, and the like.

The backlight assembly400includes an optical sheet410, a diffusion plate420, a reflective sheet430, a bottom chassis440, and a light source unit450.

The light source unit450includes a light source451and a circuit substrate452on which the light source451is disposed. The light source unit450may be disposed under the display panel200. For example, the light source unit450may be disposed on a bottom surface of the reflective sheet430or on a bottom surface of the bottom chassis440.

The circuit substrate452has a quadrilateral form and may have reflective surfaces. For example, surfaces of the circuit substrate452may be coated with a material having reflectance properties. Furthermore, the circuit substrate452may be manufactured with a metal material to perform functions of heat dissipation and accommodation. In this case, any metal material can be used without limitation, and thus a variety of metal materials having high thermal conductivity can be used.

The light source451may include a light emitting diode (LED) and the like. The plurality of light sources451provide light for display devices to display image information. The light emitted from the light source451is guided toward the display panel200through the diffusion plate420and the optical sheet410. The light sources451may be spaced apart from each other and have a predetermined gap in order to achieve luminance uniformity of the light source unit450. In some embodiments, the plurality of light sources451may be spaced apart from each other and have a uniform gap in width and length directions in a matrix form. In some embodiments, the light sources451may be disposed in a row in a length direction but may be disposed in zigzag in a width direction. In some embodiments, the light sources451may be disposed in a row in a width direction but disposed in zigzag in a length direction. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and thus the light sources451may be disposed on the circuit substrate452in a variety of ways in order to achieve the luminance uniformity. Furthermore, a coupling hole (not illustrated) may be formed on the circuit substrate452so as to allow a coupling member (not illustrated) to be inserted and fixed thereto.

The diffusion plate420is disposed on the light source unit450. The diffusion plate420is configured to receive light emitted from the light source unit450and to diffuse the light. That is, the diffusion plate420plays a role in improving luminance uniformity of light emitted from the light source unit450. In more detail, the diffusion plate420allows a bright spot, appearing dependent on the arrangement of the light sources451, to be invisible from the front side of the display device. Furthermore, the diffusion plate420may be spaced apart from the light source unit450and have a predetermined gap with an air layer formed therebetween.

The diffusion plate420is fixed to the mold frame100or to the bottom chassis440. The diffusion plate420may be provided in a quadrilateral-plate form like the display panel200. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and thus in a case where an LED is used as the light source451, the diffusion plate420may be provided in many different forms and may include predetermined grooves, protrusions, or the like depending on the position of the light source451.

The diffusion plate420is described as a plate for ease of description, but it may be provided in the form of a sheet or a film to achieve slimness of the display device. That is, the diffusion plate420is to be understood as having a concept that includes not only a plate but also a film for guiding light.

The diffusion plate420may be formed of a light-transmissive material including, for example, acrylic resins, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or polycarbonate (PC), so as to guide light efficiently.

The optical sheet410is disposed on the diffusion plate420and is configured to diffuse and/or collect light transmitted from the diffusion plate420. The optical sheet410may include a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and a protective sheet. The diffusion sheet is configured to disperse light incident from the diffusion plate420so as to prevent the light from being partly concentrated. The prism sheet may include prisms having a triangular cross-section and formed in a predetermined array on one surface thereof. The prism sheet is disposed on the diffusion sheet and may collect light diffused from the diffusion sheet in a direction perpendicular to the display panel200. The protective sheet may be formed on the prism sheet and may serve to protect a surface of the prism sheet and to diffuse light to achieve a uniform light distribution.

The reflective sheet430is disposed between the light source unit450and the bottom chassis440, and is configured to reflect light emitted downward from the diffusion plate420to the display panel200, such that light efficiency is improved.

The reflective sheet430may be formed of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) so as to possess reflectance properties. One surface of the reflective sheet430may be coated with a diffusion layer containing, for example, titanium dioxide.

In some embodiments, the reflective sheet430may be formed of a material containing a metal, such as silver (Ag).

The bottom chassis440accommodates the reflective sheet430, the diffusion plate420, and the optical sheet410. A bottom surface of the bottom chassis440is formed in parallel with the diffusion plate420.

The bottom chassis440may be formed of a metal material having rigidity, such as stainless steel, or a material having good heat dissipation properties, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The bottom chassis440according to an embodiment of the present invention is responsible for maintaining a framework of the display device and protecting a variety of elements accommodated therein.

With the above-described structure of the display device, it will be described that the mold frame100composed of transparent polymers stably fixes the display panel200.

The mold frame100is coupled to the bottom chassis440and accommodates the display panel200, the optical sheet410, and the diffusion plate420. The display panel200is disposed on the mold frame100, and the mold frame100is disposed between the display panel200and the light source451.

The mold frame100includes a base unit110disposed between the display panel200and the light source451and having a panel form, and a side wall portion120which is bent and which extends from the base unit110.

The bottom chassis440has a bottom portion442and a protrusion441which is bent and which extends from the bottom portion442.

The base unit110is provided in a panel form in order to stably support the display panel200. An area of the base unit110is the same as or larger than an area of the display panel200.

A rear surface of the display panel200is mounted on a top surface of the base unit110having a panel form. The base unit110is disposed in parallel with the bottom portion442of the bottom chassis440. The base unit110is capable of stably supporting the display panel200so as to prevent the display panel200from being inclined in a predetermined direction.

The side wall portion120is coupled to the bottom chassis440. For example, the side wall portion120is coupled to the protrusion441of the bottom chassis440. The side wall portion120and the protrusion441of the bottom chassis440may be disposed in parallel with or coupled to each other in accordance with a variety of coupling structure using screws and the like.

The bottom chassis442accommodates the reflective sheet430and the light source451.

The protrusion441supports the diffusion plate420and the optical sheet410disposed on the top surface thereof.

In order to realize a narrow bezel, a total thickness of the side wall portion120and the protrusion441is the same as a thickness of the non-display area230of the display panel200. That is, in the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a length of the bezel corresponds to the non-display area230of the display panel200. Unlike a conventional display device, in the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a bezel area is not increased due to structures such as a mold frame, a bottom chassis, and the like. Furthermore, in the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the bezel is realized having the same thickness as the non-display area230of the display panel200, and is still capable of stably supporting the display panel200.

Meanwhile, the mold frame100is disposed between the light source451and the display panel200, and thus the mold frame100is made of a polymer material having transparent properties, such as plastics. Because the mold frame100is composed of transparent polymers, light emitted from the light source451can propagate toward the display panel200.

Meanwhile, as the mold frame100is made of a transparent material, a first reflective sheet460is disposed at the mold frame100in order to prevent a light leakage of the light source. The first reflective sheet460is disposed on an inner side surface of the side wall portion120. That is, the first reflective sheet460is configured to reflect light emitted from side surfaces of the diffusion plate420and the optical sheet410so as to avoid a light leakage from the side surfaces.

Meanwhile, a second reflective sheet470is disposed on the protrusion441of the bottom chassis440in order to improve light extraction efficiency.

The first reflective sheet460disposed on the side wall portion120of the mold frame100and the second reflective sheet470disposed on the protrusion441of the bottom chassis440are made of the same material as the reflective sheet430described above.

Meanwhile, the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes an adhesive member300interposed between the mold frame100and the display panel200in order to bond the mold frame100and the display panel200.

The adhesive member300includes a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The PSA is a substance to bond two surfaces by physical force, molecular, atomic, ionic attraction, adsorption, and the like. The PSA is a transparent adhesive member having low elasticity and excellent bonding properties.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 3. This embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the previously described embodiment of the present invention except for structures of mold frame100and bottom chassis440. Therefore, repeated description will not be provided for ease of description.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the mold frame100further includes a supporting protrusion121on which a diffusion plate420and an optical sheet410are mounted. The supporting protrusion121protrudes from a side wall portion120of the mold frame100in a direction in parallel with the diffusion plate420. The supporting protrusion121may be manufactured in a variety of forms that can stably fix the diffusion plate420and the optical sheet410, other than the form disclosed inFIG. 3.

The mold frame100is made of a transparent polymer material, and thus a first reflective sheet460and a second reflective sheet470are disposed on the side wall portion120and the supporting protrusion121. The first and the second reflective sheets460and470, respectively, are configured to prevent a light leakage from side surfaces and to improve light extraction efficiency.

The bottom chassis440may be manufactured in a quadrilateral panel form as is the diffusion plate420, and may be coupled to the side wall portion120of the mold frame100.

Hereinafter, yet another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 4. This embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the previously described embodiment of the present invention except for structures of mold frame100and bottom chassis440. Therefore, repeated description will not be provided for ease of description.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, a diffusion plate420is mounted on a protrusion441of the bottom chassis440and an optical sheet410is mounted on a supporting protrusion121of the mold frame100.

A first reflective sheet460is disposed on a side wall portion120to prevent light leakage from side surfaces. A second reflective sheet470is disposed on the protrusion441of the bottom chassis440to improve light extraction efficiency.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting with respect to the true scope and spirit of the present invention.