Backlight assembly and display device having the same

A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light guide plate, and a receiving container having a combination guide part. The coupling guide part is inwardly protruded with respect to the sidewalls of the receiving container. The coupling guide part corresponds with a guide recess on the light guide plate to guide the light guide plate to a proper position. The coupling guide part may also include a screw thread to couple the receiving container with an external case. Therefore, the receiving container may be easily coupled with the external case and the light guide plate may be guided to a proper position via the combination guide part to thereby simplify a manufacturing process of the backlight assembly and reduce its size.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-20129 filed on Mar. 10, 2005, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention discloses a backlight assembly and a display device including the backlight assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a backlight assembly capable of simplifying a manufacturing process thereof and reducing the backlight assembly size.

2. Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays an image by using liquid crystals. The LCD device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween. When an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, an arrangement of liquid crystal molecules that comprise the liquid crystal layer is altered to change optical transmissivity so that an image is displayed.

An LCD module includes an LCD panel assembly and a backlight assembly. The LCD panel assembly includes an LCD panel and a printed circuit board for driving the LCD panel. The LCD panel includes the first and second substrates and the liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween.

The backlight assembly includes a bottom chassis corresponding to a receiving container, a lamp, a light guide plate, optical members, a mold frame, and a top chassis. The top chassis and the bottom chassis are coupled with each other.

The LCD module includes a user hole. An external case formed by a customer company is coupled with the LCD module through the user hole. The user hole is formed on an external surface of the bottom chassis or a sidewall of the mold frame according to the needs of the customer company. The bottom chassis further includes a guiding member that guides the light guide plate.

Therefore, a width of the LCD module increases due to the user hole. Furthermore, a process of manufacturing the LCD module becomes complex due to the user hole and the guiding member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a backlight assembly capable of simplifying a manufacturing process thereof as well as reducing a size of the backlight assembly, and the present invention also provides a display device including such a backlight assembly.

The invention discloses a backlight assembly that includes a light source, a light guide plate that adjusts a path of light from the light source, a receiving container receiving the light guide plate, and a coupling guide part guiding the light plate to a proper position and coupling the receiver container with an external case. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and sidewalls upwardly extending from edge portions of the bottom plate to receive the light guide plate. The coupling guide part is inwardly protruding with respect to the sidewalls of the receiving container.

The invention further discloses a display device that includes a display assembly and a backlight assembly. The display assembly includes a display panel that displays an image by using light. The backlight assembly provides the display panel with the light. The backlight assembly includes a light guide plate that adjusts a path of light from a light source, a receiving container receiving the light guide plate, and a coupling guide part guiding the light plate to a proper position and coupling the receiver container with an external case. The receiving container has a bottom plate and sidewalls upwardly extending from edge portions of the bottom plate. The coupling guide part is inwardly protruding with respect to the sidewalls of the receiving container.

Therefore, the receiving container may be easily coupled with the receiving container and the external case due to the coupling guide part. Furthermore, the light guide plate may be guided to a proper position by the coupling guide part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described below may be varied modified in many different ways without departing from the inventive principles disclosed herein, and the scope of the present invention is therefore not limited to these embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by way of illustration and is not meant to be restrictive in nature.

Referring toFIG. 1, a backlight assembly may include a receiving container110, a lamp unit120, a light guide plate130, and a mold frame150.

Receiving container110includes a bottom plate111and sidewalls112. Bottom plate111may be plate shaped, and sidewalls112extend from edge portions of bottom plate111. Bottom plate111and sidewalls112define a receiving space.

Sidewalls112include a coupling guide part115and a fixing portion117. Coupling guide part115can be inwardly protruding and tube-shaped.

Coupling guide part115can be threaded on its inner surface. During assembly process, the coupling guide part115is coupled to an external case by using a screw.

Additionally, coupling guide part115inwardly protrudes from sidewalls112to operate as a guiding member. Coupling guide part115is inserted into a guide recess132aformed at a side face132of light guide plate130to prevent it from drifting along the y-direction. Coupling guide part115may have various shapes such as a circular tube shape or a polygonal tube shape, for example. Here, coupling guide part115has a circular tube shape.

Fixing portion117receives a protruding portion145of optical members142,143and144to prevent them from drifting along the y-direction. A pair of fixing portions117may be formed at opposing sidewalls112. Fixing portions117are, for example, formed at different positions of sidewalls112so that fixing portions117may not face each other. Therefore, optical members142,143and144are fixed in a correct direction, and prevented from being disposed upside down.

Sidewalls112including coupling guide part115and fixing portion117are not adjacent to a lamp unit120. In other words, coupling guide part115and fixing portion117are not disposed at sidewalls that are adjacent to lamp unit120.

Lamp unit120includes a lamp121that generates light, and a lamp cover122that covers the lamp121.

Lamp121can be disposed at a light incident face131of light guide plate130. Lamp cover122covers lamp121to reflect light generated from the lamp towards light incident face131. A lower portion of lamp cover122is, for example, extended so that it covers a portion of a lower face of light guide plate130. Lamp cover122includes a light-reflecting layer formed on its inner face.

Light guide plate130may include light incident face131that is substantially parallel with an x-z plane, a side face132that is substantially parallel with a y-z plane, and a light-exiting face133that is substantially parallel with an x-y plane. Side face132includes the guide recess132a, which receives coupling guide part115to fix light guide plate130in a proper position.

An optical unit140includes optical members142,143and144and a light-reflecting member141. Light-reflecting member141is disposed under light guide plate130to reflect back light leaked therefrom.

Optical members142,143and144are disposed over the light guide plate130to enhance optical properties of light that exits light guide plate130through light-exiting face133. Optical members142,143and144may include, for example, a light diffusing sheet and at least one prism sheet.

Mold frame150has a rectangular frame shape and includes an opening151formed at a center portion thereof. Mold frame150also includes a supporting portion152formed along its inner edges.

Supporting portion152compresses edge portions of optical members142,143and144disposed under the mold frame150, and supports a display panel (not shown) that is to be disposed on top of the mold frame150. Mold frame150may further include a hole153corresponding to the portion of coupling guide part115. Hole153is formed at side face of the mold frame150.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a coupling guide part115may include a stud101and a fixing end portion102. Stud101has a tube-shape and its inner face includes a screw thread103. A height ‘h’ of stud101is adjusted according to a depth of guide recess132a.

Fixing end portion102has a polygonal shape. A thickness ‘t’ of the fixing end portion102is adjusted according to a thickness of sidewalls112of the receiving container110. Fixing end portion102is fixed at sidewalls112to fix coupling guide part115thereto.

Looking atFIG. 3, the receiving container may include coupling guide part230, and light guide plate240including a guide recess241that corresponds coupling guide part230.

Coupling guide part230is fixed at sidewall210of the receiving container (not shown). Coupling guide part230, which includes inwardly protruding stud231and fixing end portion232, is inserted into guide recess241. Stud231is, for example, a cylindrical shape of a height ‘h’ and includes a screw thread233.

Guide recess241can be formed at a side face245of light guide plate240. The guide recess241has a first face242that is substantially parallel with side face245and two second faces243connecting first face242with the side face245. Each of the second faces243has a width ‘h’ such that a depth of guide recess241is substantially same as the height ‘h’ of the stud231of coupling guide part230.

At least one of the two second faces243makes contact with stud231when it is inserted into the guide recess241to prevent drifting of light guide plate240.

Coupling guide part230helps guide light guide plate240to a proper position. Furthermore, a customer's external case may be easily coupled with the LCD module via coupling guide part230.

Referring toFIG. 4, the receiving container may include a first coupling guide part250and a second coupling guide part260, and light guide plate270including a guide recess271that corresponds to both the first and second coupling guide parts250and260.

Guide recess271may be formed at a side face275of light guide plate270such that the guide recess271is adapted to receive both the first and second coupling guide parts250and260. Guide recess271includes a first face272that is substantially parallel with the side face275, and two second faces273and274connecting the first face272with the side face275. Each of the second faces273and274has a width ‘h’. Second face273makes contact with first coupling guide part250, and second face274makes contact with second coupling guide part260.

First coupling guide part250can be fixed at sidewall210of the receiving container. First coupling guide part250, which includes inwardly protruding first stud251and first fixing end portion252, is inserted into the guide recess271. First stud251has, for example, a cylindrical shape of a height ‘h’ and includes a first screw thread253. In other words, first stud251is substantially the same height as the width of the second face273, and thus is substantially the same as a depth of guide recess271.

Second coupling guide part260can be fixed at sidewall210of the receiving container. Second coupling guide part260, which includes inwardly protruding second stud261and second fixing end portion262, is inserted into the guide recess271. Second stud261has, for example, a cylindrical shape of a height ‘h’ and includes a second screw thread263. Like first stud251, the height of second stud261is substantially the same as a depth of guide recess271.

First and second studs251and261are inserted into guide recess271. First stud251makes contact with second face273, and second stud261makes contact with second face274to prevent drifting of light guide plate270.

First and second coupling guide parts250and260guide the light guide plate270to a proper position. As previously described, a customer's external case may be easily coupled with the LCD module via first and second coupling guide parts250and260.

Looking atFIG. 5, the receiving container may include coupling guide part280, and light guide plate290including a guide recess291corresponding to the coupling guide part280.

Coupling guide part280, which also includes inwardly protruding stud281and fixing end portion282, is inserted into guide recess291. Stud281has, for example, a cylindrical shape of a height ‘h’ and a diameter ‘w’ and includes a screw thread283disposed on an inner surface thereof.

Guide recess291is formed at a side face295of light guide plate290. Guide recess291has a first face292that is substantially parallel with side face295and two second faces293connecting first face292and side face295. First face292has a width ‘w” that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter ‘w’ of stud281. Each of the second faces293has a width ‘h’ so that a depth of guide recess241is substantially the same as the height ‘h’ of the stud231of coupling guide part280.

Therefore, when stud281is inserted into guide recess291, drifting of the light guide plate290is prevented.

Such an arrangement of coupling guide part280allows customers to easily couple an external case with the LCD module.

Now looking atFIG. 6, a backlight assembly may include a receiving container310, a lamp unit120, a light guide plate330and a mold frame150.

Receiving container310may include a bottom plate311and sidewalls312and be arranged similar to receiving container110.

Here, coupling guide part315has an inwardly protruding first stud315aand an outwardly protruding second stud315b. First and second studs315aand315bboth include a screw thread formed on inner surface, which allows coupling guide part315to be coupled with an external case by using a screw. Additionally, the coupling guide part315inwardly protrudes from the sidewalls112to operate as a guiding member. First stud315ais inserted into a guide recess331formed at a side face335of light guide plate330to prevent drifting of the light guide plate330. As noted above, coupling guide part315may have various shapes such as a circular tube shape or a polygonal tube shape for example, but here a circular tube shape is shown.

Fixing portion317receives a protruding portion145of optical members142,143and144to prevent drifting thereof. Therefore, optical members142,143and144are fixed in a correct direction and prevented from being disposed upside down in a similar manner as the previously described backlight assembly.

Lamp unit120, the optical unit140, and the mold frame150are similar to those illustrated inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 7, first stud315ahas a height ‘h’ that is substantially the same as a depth of guide recess331formed at side face335of the light guide plate330. First stud315ais used as a guiding member that guides the light guide plate330to a proper position. The screw thread can be omitted from first stud315a.

Second stud315bincludes a screw thread315dformed at its inner face and can be used as a combining member.

Fixing end portion315ccan have a polygonal shape and is formed at a boundary of the first and second studs315aand315b. Fixing end portion315chas a thickness ‘t’ that is substantially the same as a thickness of the sidewall312and is fastened thereto. Fixing portion315cis disposed such that the first stud315ais disposed inside the receiving container310and the second stud315bis disposed outside the receiving container310.

Referring toFIG. 8, coupling guide part315is disposed at a portion of sidewall312corresponding to guide recess331of light guide plate330.

Guide recess331is formed at a side face335of light guide plate330. Guide recess331is arranged similar to the guide recess ofFIG. 3and includes a first face332, and two second faces333connecting the side face335with first face332. Second face333has a width ‘h’ so that guide recess331has a depth that is substantially the same as a height of first stud315a.

First stud315amakes contact with at least one second face333when inserted into the guide recess331, thus preventing drifting of light guide plate330.

Looking toFIG. 9, a backlight assembly similar to the one illustrated inFIG. 1may include a receiving container410, a lamp unit120, a light guide plate430and a mold frame150.

Receiving container410may include a bottom plate411and sidewalls412. Sidewalls412include an outwardly protruding coupling portion415, an inwardly protruding guide portion416, and a fixing portion417. Coupling portion415has a tube-shape and includes a screw thread disposed on its inner face. An external case (not shown) is coupled with receiving container410through coupling portion415.

Guide portion416may also have a tube-shape and prevents drifting of the light guide plate430coupled to the receiving container410.

The fixing portion417receives a protruding portion145of optical members142,143and144to prevent drifting thereof. Fixing portions417are disposed in a similar manner or the fixing portions illustrated inFIG. 1, for example.

Lamp unit120, optical unit140, and mold frame150are also substantially similar to those illustrated inFIG. 1.

Looking atFIG. 9, coupling portion415and guide portion416are disposed at different positions of sidewall412of receiving container410.

Coupling portion415includes first stud415aand first fixing end portion415b. First stud415acan be a circular tube that includes a screw thread415cdisposed on its inner face. First fixing end portion415bhas a thickness ‘t’ that is substantially the same as a thickness of sidewall412.

Guide portion416includes a second stud416aand the second fixing end portion416b. Second stud416acan be circular tube having a height ‘h’. Second fixing end portion416bcan have a polygonal shape and a thickness ‘t’ that is substantially same as a thickness of sidewall412.

Referring toFIG. 10, guide recess431corresponding to the guide portion416is formed at a side face435of light guide plate430. Guide recess431includes a first face432and two second faces433much like the previously described guide recesses. Each of the second faces433includes a width ‘h’ that is substantially the same as the height of second stud416ato provide a guide recess431depth substantially the same as the height ‘h’ of second stud416a.

When second stud416ais inserted into guide recess431, at least one of the second faces433of guide recess431makes contact with second stud416ato prevent drifting of the light guide plate430.

Referring toFIG. 11, a display module includes a backlight assembly BL and a display assembly DP. The backlight assembly BL provides the display assembly DP with light, and the display assembly displays an image by using the light.

The backlight assembly BL may include a first receiving container110, a lamp unit120, a light guide plate130, an optical unit140and a mold frame150similar to the backlight assembly illustrated inFIG. 1.

The display assembly DP may include a display panel160, a driving circuit part170, and a second receiving container180.

Display panel160may include a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates. Display panel160is disposed on supporting portion152of mold frame150. Display panel160displays an image by using light generated from the backlight assembly BL.

Driving circuit part170may include a gate driving section171and a data driving section173. Gate driving section171provides a plurality of gate lines formed on the first substrate, and data driving section173provides a plurality of data lines formed on the first substrate.

Second receiving container180can have a frame shape and includes a coupling hole183corresponding to coupling guide part115. Coupling hole183is formed at sidewalls182of second receiving container180, which is coupled with first receiving container110using a fastener, like a screw, inserted through coupling hole183and coupling guide part115.

According to the present invention, the receiving container that receives the light guide plate includes the coupling guide part inwardly protruding with respect to the sidewalls of the receiving container. Therefore, the display assembly receiving container may be easily coupled with the backlight assembly receiving container as well as the external case due to the provision of a coupling guide part. Furthermore, the light guide plate may be fixed in a proper position using such arrangement.

Having described embodiments of the present invention and their advantages, it is noted that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.