In-vehicle display device using semiconductor light-emitting device

The present invention provides a display device, including a display unit having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices and outputting light to an upper surface thereof, a transparent substrate located on an upper side of the display unit and having a fixing portion protruding from one surface thereof to surround a side surface of the display unit, an elastic portion located to cover a lower surface of the display unit and made of an elastic member, a first back cover coupled to a part of the transparent substrate not overlapping the display unit in an injection manner, and a second back cover located to overlap the display unit and fixed to the first back cover, wherein the elastic portion presses the display unit toward the transparent substrate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle display device, and more particularly, a display device using a semiconductor light emitting device.

BACKGROUND ART

Various components for vehicle control may be arranged inside the vehicle. For example, a button for controlling a side window of the vehicle, a button for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle door, and the like may be disposed inside the vehicle. The components may be disposed on a frame formed inside the vehicle.

The frame formed inside the vehicle is mainly made of a plastic material to reduce a weight of the vehicle. The plastic material is manufactured into a specific shape by injection molding and assembled inside the vehicle. During plastic injection, a raw material is exposed to high temperature, and thereby heat-sensitive components should not be injected together with plastic.

On the other hand, as functions of the vehicle become more diverse, the number of components arranged in the vehicle is increasing. Specifically, a plurality of display devices for controlling the vehicle and providing various information may be located in the vehicle.

However, since an inner space of the vehicle has a limited size, the arrangement of those display devices is limited. Attempts have been made to place displays in the existing frame inside the vehicle to efficiently utilize the inner space of the vehicle.

In order to mount a display inside the plastic frame, a method of injecting the plastic frame together with the display or a method of injecting the plastic frame and assembling the display inside the frame may be utilized. Among the above two methods, if the display is assembled inside the plastic frame, there is a problem that the display is not fixed properly inside the frame or the display is broken during assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a structure for preventing a separation of a display and breakage of the display during assembly, in assembling the display inside a plastic frame.

To achieve the aspect and other advantages of the present invention, there is provided a display device, including a display unit having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices and outputting light to an upper surface thereof, a transparent substrate located on an upper side of the display unit and having a fixing portion protruding from one surface thereof to surround a side surface of the display unit, an elastic portion located to cover a lower surface of the display unit and made of an elastic member, a first back cover coupled to a part of the transparent substrate not overlapping the display unit in an injection manner, and a second back cover located to overlap the display unit and fixed to the first back cover, wherein the elastic portion presses the display unit toward the transparent substrate.

In one embodiment, the display device may further include a filter layer located on another surface of the transparent substrate and having a semi-transmissive region for transmitting a part of incident light therethrough, and a non-transmissive region made of an opaque material, and the display unit may be located to overlap the semi-transmissive region of the filter layer.

In one embodiment, the fixing portion may be formed on an edge of the semi-transmissive region so that the display unit overlaps the semi-transmissive region.

In one embodiment, the second back cover may be located to press the elastic portion.

In one embodiment, a height of the fixing portion may be greater than a thickness of the display unit.

In one embodiment, a part of the elastic portion may be surrounded by the fixing portion.

In one embodiment, a part of the elastic portion may be located between the fixing portion and the second back cover, and a part of the elastic portion may press the fixing portion.

In one embodiment, the fixing portion may be provided with a concave-convex structure located on one surface thereof pressed by the elastic portion.

In one embodiment, the second back cover may be provided with a second fixing portion protruding to surround a side surface of the elastic portion.

In one embodiment, the second fixing portion may be located to be in contact with the transparent substrate.

In one embodiment, the display device may further include a circuit board located on one surface of the transparent substrate to apply a voltage to the display unit, and a connection electrode electrically connecting the circuit board and the display unit to each other, and a part of the connection electrode may be located on the fixing portion.

In one embodiment, the first back cover may be coupled to another region, except for a region connected to the connection electrode, of an entire region of the circuit board, in an injection manner.

In one embodiment, the second back cover may be located to overlap the region connected to the connection electrode of the entire region of the circuit board.

In one embodiment, the display device may further include a first adhesive layer located between the transparent substrate and the display unit to adhere the transparent substrate and the display unit to each other.

In one embodiment, the display device may further include a second adhesive layer located between the display unit and the elastic portion to adhere the display unit and the elastic portion to each other, and the second adhesive layer may have adhesive strength stronger than that of the first adhesive layer.

Effects of the Disclosure

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a display unit from being damaged during assembly of a back cover because an elastic portion prevents excessive pressure from being applied to the display unit while assembling the back cover.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the display unit from being separated from a designated position due to external pressure while assembling the back cover.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with the same or similar reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. In general, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer to elements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. In describing the present disclosure, if a detailed explanation for a related known function or construction is considered to unnecessarily divert the gist of the present disclosure, such explanation has been omitted but would be understood by those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand the technical idea of the present disclosure and it should be understood that the idea of the present invention is not limited by the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, area or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present.

The present invention provides a structure for preventing breakage of a display device which may occur while a plastic frame and the display device are injected together. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a conceptual view of an in-vehicle display device according to the present invention, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a display device according to the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a display device according to the present invention includes an area101in which screen information is displayed by a display unit and an area102in which light is emitted by a light source.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the display device according to the present invention may include a filter layer110, a transparent substrate120, an adhesive layer130, a circuit board140, a diffuser150, a reflective sheet160, a display unit170, a protective layer180, and back cover190. However, the display device according to the present invention may include more or fewer components than the above-described components. Hereinafter, the aforementioned components will be described in detail.

The filter layer110allows a part of incident light to be transmitted therethrough. Transmittance may vary depending on a material forming the filter layer110. In one embodiment, the filter layer110may be made of a mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

On the other hand, only a part of the filter layer110may be semi-transmissive. Specifically, the filter layer110may have a semi-transmissive region which overlaps the display unit170, which will be described later, and the remaining region may be a region through which light is not transmitted (hereinafter, referred to as a non-transmissive region). When the display unit is turned off, the semi-transmissive region may be viewed the same as the non-transmissive region. When the display unit170is turned on, part of light output from the display unit170is emitted to the outside.

The filter layer110is located on one surface of the transparent substrate120. The transparent substrate120may be formed of a material having very high light transmittance. In one embodiment, the transparent substrate120may be made of PC.

Since the transparent substrate120is not injected together with the display unit170to be explained later, the adhesive layer130may be located between the transparent substrate120and the display unit170. The adhesive layer130is located to overlap the display unit170. The adhesive layer130is located between the circuit board140to be explained later and the transparent substrate120.

A material forming the adhesive layer130should be a light-transmissive material that does not absorb light as much as possible.

The adhesive layer130adheres the circuit board140and the display unit170to the transparent substrate120. The circuit board140is a printed circuit board for controlling the display unit170. The circuit board140may be located on the same plane as the display unit170or on a different plane from the display unit170.

On the other hand, a light source (220ofFIG. 4) different from the display unit170may be located on the circuit board140. The light source220is utilized as a component for supplying light to the inside of the vehicle. The light source is not an essential configuration for the display device according to the present invention.

When the light source is included in the display device according to the present invention, a diffuser150may be provided on the circuit board140to guide light emitted from the light source. The diffuser150totally reflects light emitted from the light source to be discharged in a desired direction. In one embodiment, the diffuser150may be made of PC.

Light not totally reflected by the diffuser150is lost. To reduce the loss, a reflective sheet160may be located on a surface of the diffuser150. The reflective sheet160reflects light which has not been totally reflected by the diffuser150, such that the light is discharged to outside. In one embodiment, the reflective sheet160may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The display unit170may be provided with a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices. Each of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices forms a unit pixel of the display unit170. The display unit170is assembled inside the plastic frame. At this time, the display unit170may not be located at a designated position, or may be damaged due to pressure applied during assembly. Specifically, the display device according to the present invention may be assembled in a manner of placing the display unit170at a designated position of the transparent substrate120and then covering the back cover190. In this process, the display unit170may be separated (moved away, displaced) from the designated position or may be damaged by pressure applied from the back cover190.

Meanwhile, a part of the back cover190is formed by being injected together with the transparent substrate120, and the remaining part is separately manufactured and assembled. All the components of the display device according to the present invention are located on one surface of the back cover190. The present invention is to prevent the display unit170from being changed in position or damaged when the back cover190is assembled on the display unit170placed on the transparent substrate120.

Hereinafter, each component included in the display device according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3is a sectional view taken along the line A-A ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 4is a sectional view taken along the line B-B ofFIG. 1.

The transparent substrate120includes a fixing portion121located on an upper side of the display unit170and protruding from one surface of the transparent substrate120so as to surround a side surface of the display unit170. On the other hand, an elastic portion210is located on a lower surface of the display unit170.

Specifically, the fixing portion121prevents the display unit170from being separated from the designated position. Since the display unit170must maintain an overlapped state with the semi-transmissive region of the filter layer110, the fixing portion121must be formed on an edge of the semi-transmissive region. The fixing portion121prevents the display unit170from moving out of the designated position during use of the display device.

A height of the fixing portion121may be greater than or equal to a thickness of the display unit170. The thickness of the display unit170may be about 0.3 mm. In this case, the height of the fixing portion121may be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

Meanwhile, at least part of one surface of the transparent substrate120, which is in contact with the display unit170, may be curved. In this case, the display unit170may be made flexible so as to be completely in contact with the curved surface area.

Meanwhile, the elastic portion210is located to cover the lower surface of the display unit170. The elastic portion210presses the display unit170to prevent the display unit170from being spaced apart from the transparent substrate120.

The elastic portion210plays a role of preventing excessive pressure from being applied to the display unit170by buffering pressure due to the back cover190when the back cover190is assembled. The back cover190may include a second fixing portion191protruding therefrom. The second fixing portion191prevents the back cover190from being separated from the transparent substrate120. The second fixing portion191may be located to surround the fixing portion121.

Referring toFIG. 4, an empty space may exist between the back cover190and the circuit board140. Due to the empty space, the back cover190may not press the circuit board140. The transparent substrate120may further include the fixing portion121surrounding the circuit board140so that the position of the circuit board140is not changed.

Meanwhile, the back cover included in the display device according to the present invention may include a first back cover injected together with the transparent substrate, and a second back cover fixed to the first back cover.

FIG. 5is a sectional view of a display device including first and second back covers.

Referring toFIG. 5, a first back cover190bmay be formed together with the transparent substrate120in an injection manner. Specifically, the first back cover190bmay be formed only on an edge of the display device. The first back cover190bmay be formed in a remaining space except for an assembly space for the display unit170because the display unit170is in a state before being assembled when the first back cover190bis formed in an injection molding manner.

Since the display unit170is in the state before being assembled when the first back cover290bis formed, there is no possibility that the display unit170is broken due to the injection molding. The first back cover may be formed so as not to overlap the semi-transmissive region111of the filter layer110.

The display unit170may be assembled into a space not covered by the first back cover. The second back cover190amay be located to overlap the display unit170and may be fixed to the first back cover190b. At least one recess may be formed in the first back cover190bto fix the second back cover190a. A fixing member for fixing the second back cover190ais not particularly limited.

Meanwhile, the elastic portion210may be located between the second back cover190aand the display unit170. The second back cover190amay be located to press the elastic portion210. Accordingly, when the second back cover190ais assembled, a thickness of the elastic portion210decreases.

As described above, the present invention prevents the display unit170from being changed in position or from being damaged during assembly of the back cover by virtue of the fixing portion121and the elastic portion210.

Hereinafter, various types of fixing portions and elastic portions will be described.

FIGS. 6 to 9are sectional views illustrating modified embodiments of a fixing portion and an elastic portion.

Referring toFIG. 6, a height of the fixing portion121may be greater than or equal to a thickness of the display unit170. Further, a part of the elastic portion210may be surrounded by the fixing portion121. The elastic portion210may be located in a space surrounded by the fixing portion121. Accordingly, the fixing portion121prevents the elastic portion210from being separated from a designated position.

On the other hand, as illustrated inFIG. 6, a first adhesive layer130may be separately located between the transparent substrate120and the display unit170. The first adhesive layer130prevents the display unit170from being separated from the transparent substrate120.

Also, the first adhesive layer130completely adheres the transparent substrate120to the display unit170. The display unit170may have a touch-sensing function. Touch sensitivity of the display unit170may be improved by completely adhering the display unit170to the transparent substrate120.

On the other hand, referring toFIG. 7, a height of the fixing portion121may be the same as a thickness of the display unit170or may be the same as the sum of the thickness of the display unit170and a thickness of the adhesive layer130. In this case, there is no difference in height between the display unit170and the fixing portion. Here, an elastic portion210bmay be formed to have an area larger than that of the display unit170, and may be arranged to overlap at least part of the fixing portion121. In this case, a part of the elastic portion210is located between the fixing portion121and the second back cover190a. Accordingly, at least one surface of the fixing portion121is pressed by the elastic portion210b.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, a concave-convex structure122may be formed on one surface of the fixing portion121, which is pressed by the elastic portion210. The concave-convex structure122increases a frictional force between the fixing portion121and the elastic portion210, so as to prevent the elastic portion210from being separated from a designated position.

As described above, the fixing portion121prevents the elastic portion210, as well as the display unit170, from being separated from the designated position due to external pressure.

Meanwhile, the display device according to the present invention may further include a separate structure for fixing the elastic portion.

FIG. 9is a sectional view of a display device including a second fixing portion.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the second back cover190amay include a second fixing portion191protruding to surround a side surface of the elastic portion210. The second fixing portion191surrounds the elastic portion210so that the elastic portion210is fixed to a preset position.

Here, the second fixing portion191may be arranged to be in contact with the transparent substrate120. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the second fixing portion191may be arranged to be in contact with the fixing portion121. The display unit170and the elastic portion210are located in a space surrounded by the first and second fixing portions.

The second fixing portion191may maintain a predetermined distance between the second back cover190aand the transparent substrate120to prevent excessive pressure from being applied to the elastic portion210. The second fixing portion191transfers an external impact to the transparent substrate120other than the display unit when the external impact is applied to the second back cover190a, thereby preventing the display unit170from being damaged.

As described above, the display device according to the present invention prevents excessive pressure from being applied to the display unit and prevents the display unit from being damaged due to an external impact, by virtue of the fixing portion formed on the back cover.

Meanwhile, the display device according to the present invention includes a structure for recovering the display unit located therein.

FIG. 10is a sectional view of a display device including first and second adhesive layers.

Referring toFIG. 10, the display device according to the present invention may further include a first adhesive layer130alocated between the transparent substrate120and the display unit170to adhere the transparent substrate120and the display unit170to each other, and a second adhesive layer130blocated between the display unit170and the elastic portion210to adhere the display unit170and the elastic portion210to each other.

The first adhesive layer130aclosely adheres the display unit170to the transparent substrate120. This improves touch sensitivity of the display unit170but makes it difficult to recover the display unit170later.

In order to facilitate the recovery of the display unit170, the present invention ensures that adhesive strength of the second adhesive layer130bis stronger than that of the first adhesive layer130a. Accordingly, when the elastic portion210is separated from the transparent substrate120, the display unit170is separated together with the elastic portion210. Thus, the present invention facilitates the recovery of the display unit170.

On the other hand, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 to 10, the display device according to the present invention may include a circuit board140located on one surface of the transparent substrate120to apply a voltage to the display unit170. The fixing portion121is located between the circuit board140and the display unit170. The display device according to the present invention may further include a connection electrode240electrically connecting the circuit board140and the display unit170to each other. A part of the connection electrode240is located on the fixing portion121.

The connection electrode240is formed after the display unit170and the circuit board140are located on the transparent substrate120. Therefore, a position where the connection electrode240is located should be exposed to the outside until before assembling the second back cover190a. Therefore, the first back cover190ais not located at the position where the connection electrode240is formed. In addition, a region connected with the connection electrode240of an entire region of the circuit board is located to overlap the second back cover190a.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.