Support unit, backlight unit, display device, and television receiver

A support unit (11) includes a support pin (12) passing through both a sheet opening (21H) and a chassis opening (63H) which are superposed on each other and making contact with a diffusion plate (64), a shield section (13) for covering the sheet opening (21H), and members, such as a latch body (14) and the shield section (13), making the support unit (11) unmovable relative to a backlight chassis (63).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a support unit mounted in a backlight unit that is an illuminator, the backlight unit itself, a display device (such as a liquid crystal display device) that utilizes light from the backlight unit, and a television receiver that is a display device capable of receiving radio waves for television broadcasting.

BACKGROUND ART

As shown inFIG. 14, in a liquid crystal display device189including a non-light-emitting type liquid crystal display panel179, a backlight unit169that is an illuminator further is mounted. In a case where the backlight unit169uses a fluorescent tube161as a light source, a lamp holder191is used to stably fix the fluorescent tube161to a backlight chassis (chassis)163.

As shown inFIG. 15, the lamp holder191includes a clip192for gripping the fluorescent tube161, a support pin112that comes in contact with a diffusion sheet164and thereby supports an optical sheet group166including the diffusion sheet164, a base portion193that supports the clip192and the support pin112, and a hook194that is fitted into a chassis opening163H on a bottom portion163B of the backlight chassis163and thereby fixes the base portion193(and accordingly, the lamp holder191itself) (the lamp holder191is referred to also as a support unit since it supports the optical sheet group166).

To be more specific, the hook194is fitted into the chassis opening163H from the side of a front surface163Bf of the backlight chassis163, which faces the fluorescent tube161, and thus the lamp holder191is fixed to the bottom portion163B (a reflection sheet195also includes an opening195H, and the hook194is fitted also into the opening195H). The lamp holder191grips the fluorescent tube161positioned on the side of the front surface163Bf of the bottom portion163B by the lamp clip192and supports the diffusion sheet164and the like by the support pin112.

LIST OF CITATIONS

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

In the above-described backlight unit169, in many cases, an inverter unit that supplies an electric current to the fluorescent tube161, a power source unit that supplies an electric current to various members, and the like are mounted on the side of a rear surface163Br of the backlight chassis163. In such a case, circuits to which a high voltage is applied (for example, an inverter transformer and a power source circuit) in the inverter unit and the power source unit are brought extremely close to the backlight chassis163made of metal. This makes it likely that leakage occurs between these circuits and the backlight chassis163.

One possible solution to this is, as shown in the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 16, to cover the rear surface163Br of the backlight chassis163with an insulation sheet121(in the figure, the reflection sheet195covering the front surface163Bf of the backlight chassis163is omitted for the sake of convenience). In this case, however, it is required that a sheet opening121H for passing the hook194therethrough be formed through the insulation sheet121. Moreover, the sheet opening121H is set to have an area larger than that of the chassis opening163H in order to prevent the insulation sheet121from overlapping an opening region of the chassis opening163H.

As a consequence of this, an edge region of the chassis opening163H defined by an edge of the chassis opening163H and the vicinity thereof is exposed from the sheet opening121H, which makes it likely that leakage occurs between the exposed region and, for example, a metal terminal138P of an inverter transformer138.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a support unit that, in a case where an insulation sheet including a sheet opening is covering a rear surface of a backlight chassis, covers part of the backlight chassis, which is exposed from the sheet opening, a backlight unit including the support unit, a display device including a backlight, and a television receiver that is a display device capable of receiving radio waves for television broadcasting.

Solution to the Problem

With respect to an insulation sheet and a chassis each including an opening and adhered to each other so that the openings overlap each other, a support unit is mounted to the chassis by being fitted into the two openings. The support unit includes: a support pin whose top end projects from a front surface of the chassis when the support pin is passed through the two openings that are a sheet opening included in the insulation sheet and a chassis opening included in the chassis; a shield portion that is continuous with a bottom end of the support pin and covers over the sheet opening of the insulation sheet adhered to a rear surface of the chassis; and a fixing portion that engages with the chassis so as to immobilize the support unit itself with respect to the chassis.

According to this configuration, in the support unit, the support pin projects from the shield portion. Thus, in order for the support pin to project from the front surface of the chassis via the sheet opening and the chassis opening, the support pin of the support unit is passed through the sheet opening of the insulation sheet covering the rear surface of the chassis and further through the chassis opening. The shield portion at the bottom end of the support pin has an area sufficient to cover over the sheet opening. Moreover, the support unit in a state where the top end of the support pin projects from the front surface of the chassis and the shield portion covers over the rear surface of the chassis is immobilized with respect to the chassis by the fixing portion.

This configuration allows the shield portion to stably cover over the sheet opening and further cover over part of the rear surface of the chassis, which is exposed from the sheet opening. Thus, for example, even in a case where a high-voltage-applied circuit or the like is positioned near the rear surface of the chassis, the occurrence of leakage between the circuit or the like and the chassis made of metal is prevented.

The support unit further includes an engaging body having a latch end that is hooked on an edge of the chassis opening, and in the engaging body, the latch end is at a position level with a midpoint between the top end and the bottom end of the support pin. Preferably, the latch end and the shield portion continuous with the bottom end of the support pin sandwich the chassis therebetween and thus constitute the fixing portion that immobilizes the support unit itself with respect to the chassis.

For example, the engaging body is deformed into such a shape as to be able to pass through the sheet opening and the chassis opening and then returns from the deformed shape into its original shape, and thus the latch end is displaced to be hooked on the edge of the chassis opening, so that the support unit is immobilized with respect to the chassis.

Furthermore, for example, in a case where the two openings that are the sheet opening and the chassis opening have a linear shape, the engaging body is continuous with the support pin and has such a linear shape as to be able to pass through the two openings. After being passed through the two openings, the engaging body is rotated around the support pin as an axis so as to intersect with the linear shapes of the two openings, and thus the latch end is hooked on the edge of the chassis opening, so that the support unit is immobilized with respect to the chassis.

Furthermore, for example, the sheet opening is formed by joining a first main portion that has an area sufficient for passage of the engaging body to a first auxiliary portion that does not allow passage therethrough of the engaging body but allows passage therethrough of a portion of the support pin, which extends from the midpoint to the bottom end of the support pin, and the chassis opening is formed by joining a second main portion that has an area sufficient for passage of the engaging body to a second auxiliary portion that does not allow passage therethrough of the engaging body but allows passage therethrough of the portion of the support pin, which extends from the midpoint to the bottom end of the support pin.

In the above-described case, after the engaging body is passed through the first main portion and the second main portion, the support pin is slid toward the first auxiliary portion and the second auxiliary portion, and thus the latch end of the engaging body is hooked on an edge of the second auxiliary portion, so that the support unit is immobilized with respect to the chassis.

Furthermore, preferably, for example, an external thread is formed on an outer circumference of the support pin, while an internal thread to be engaged with the external thread is formed on an inner circumference of the chassis opening, and the external thread and the internal thread are engaged with each other and thus constitute the fixing portion that immobilizes the support unit itself with respect to the chassis.

Preferably, in the support unit configured as above, the shield portion includes a first surface that is in contact with the bottom end of the support pin and a second surface that is a rear side of the first surface, and the second surface includes a protruding portion that protrudes from the second surface.

According to this configuration, a separate member (for example, a board on which a high-voltage-applied circuit or the like is mounted) that otherwise would be brought close to the rear surface of the chassis can be placed away from the rear surface by the length of the protruding portion. This further prevents the occurrence of leakage between the circuit or the like and the chassis made of metal.

A backlight unit including the support unit configured as above and an optical sheet that is supported by the top end of the support pin of the support unit is also encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a display device including the backlight unit and a display panel that receives light from the backlight unit is also encompassed within the scope of the present invention (the display panel may be a liquid crystal panel formed of a pair of substrates between which liquid crystal is sealed). Furthermore, a television receiver including the above-described display device is also encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, even in a case where an opening for fitting a support unit thereinto is formed through each of a metallic chassis and an insulation sheet covering a rear surface of the chassis, a shield portion of the support unit covers the sheet opening and thus can cover over part of the chassis, which is exposed from the sheet opening. Thus, even in a case where, for example, a high-voltage-applied circuit faces the sheet opening, the occurrence of leakage is prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes one embodiment with reference to the appended drawings. In some of the drawings, hatching, reference signs of members, and the like may be omitted for the sake of convenience, in which case reference should be made to the other drawings.

FIG. 11is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display device (display device)89. As shown in this figure, the liquid crystal display device89includes a liquid crystal display panel79, a backlight unit69, and a housing HG (front housing HG1•rear housing HG2) that houses the liquid crystal display panel79and the backlight unit69.

The liquid crystal display panel79is formed by laminating an active matrix substrate71including a switching element such as a TFT (thin film transistor) to an opposed substrate72opposed to the active matrix substrate71by use of a sealing material (not shown). Further, liquid crystal (not shown) is injected into the clearance between these substrates71•72(polarization films73•73are attached so as to sandwich the active matrix substrate71and the opposed substrate72therebeween).

Being a non-light-emitting type display panel, the liquid crystal display panel79receives light (backlight light) from the backlight unit69and thereby fulfills a display function. Thus, allowing the entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel79to be irradiated uniformly with light from the backlight unit69improves display quality of the liquid crystal display panel79.

The backlight unit69includes a fluorescent tube (light source, linear light source)61, a lamp holder62, a backlight chassis (chassis)63, a diffusion sheet64, and lens sheets65(65A•65B).

The fluorescent tube61has a linear shape (rod shape, circular columnar shape, or the like), and a plurality of the fluorescent tubes61are mounted in the backlight unit69(for the sake of convenience, only some of the fluorescent tubes61are shown in the figure). An electrode (not shown) of the fluorescent tube61is held by a socket51, and a harness52for receiving electric current supply extends out from the socket51.

Moreover, a harness connection connector53connected to the fluorescent tubes61via two harnesses52and two sockets51acts as an electrical connection portion with respect to every two fluorescent tubes61. As shown inFIG. 12described later, the harness connection connector53is routed from a front surface63Bf to a rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63via an aperture63C for a connector, which is formed through the backlight chassis63.

The lamp holder62is a block-shaped member used in a pair to hold the fluorescent tube61. To be more specific, one of the pair of the lamp holders62supports one of both ends of the fluorescent tube61and the other of the pair of the lamp holders62supports the other of the ends of the fluorescent tube61so that the fluorescent tube61is mounted in the backlight unit69.

The type of the fluorescent tube61is not limited, and the fluorescent tube61may be, for example, a cold-cathode tube or a hot-cathode tube. Furthermore, in the following description, a direction in which the fluorescent tubes61are arranged in parallel (direction in which the fluorescent tubes61are arranged in line) is indicated as a P direction, a direction in which the fluorescent tubes61extend is indicated as a Q direction, and a direction perpendicular to both of the P direction and the Q direction is indicated as an R direction.

The backlight chassis63is a box-shaped housing body including a bottom portion63B and a wall portion63W standing up from the bottom portion63B. The backlight chassis63houses various members including the fluorescent tube61and the like (the fluorescent tubes61are laid so as to cover the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63; one surface of the bottom portion63B, which faces the fluorescent tubes61, is referred to as the front surface63Bf, and a rear side of the front surface63Bf is referred to as the rear surface63Br).

Furthermore, the backlight chassis63is made of a metal having a reflection function. The front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63therefore reflects light of the fluorescent tubes61. To be more specific, the bottom portion63B reflects part of radiant light emitted from the fluorescent tubes61(radiant light emitted around each of the fluorescent tubes61) and guides it to the diffusion sheet64.

In a case where, however, the backlight chassis63is made of a material without a reflection function, a reflection sheet may be provided so as to cover the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B in order to reflect light of the fluorescent tubes61and guide it to the diffusion sheet64.

In the backlight chassis63, part of the rear surface63Br of the bottom portion63B is made to protrude and thus forms a boss (not shown). A screw (not shown) is screwed into the boss while interposing between itself and the backlight chassis63, a power source board33and an inverter board37that are described later, and thus the power source board33and the inverter board37are mounted to the backlight chassis63.

The diffusion sheet64is positioned so as to cover the florescent tubes61arranged in parallel (and accordingly, the front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63) and diffuses light from the fluorescent tubes61so that the light is spread over the entire region of the liquid crystal display panel79. The diffusion sheet64and the lens sheets65A•65B are optical sheets that refract light as it travels and thus are referred to also as an optical sheet group66. Furthermore, a support unit11(only some of the support units11are shown in the figure), which is a member that supports the optical sheet group66, is described later.

The lens sheet65A is an optical sheet that has, for example, a prism shape in the plane thereof and narrows the directivity of light, and is positioned so as to cover the diffusion sheet64. The lens sheet65A therefore condenses light traveling from the diffusion sheet64, and thus improved luminance is obtained.

The lens sheet65B is positioned so as to cover the lens sheet65A, and is an optical sheet that transmits therethrough a polarized light component polarized in one direction and reflects a polarized light component polarized orthogonally to the polarized light component that is transmitted. The lens sheet65B also reflects a polarized light component absorbed by the polarization film73thereby to reuse it, and thus luminance on the liquid crystal display panel79is improved.

In the backlight unit69configured as above, light from the fluorescent tubes61arranged in parallel reaches the diffusion sheet64directly or after being reflected by the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63. The light that has reached the diffusion sheet64further passes through the lens sheets65A•65B while being diffused and thus is emitted as backlight light having increased light emission luminance. The backlight light then reaches the liquid crystal display panel79, and thus the liquid crystal display panel79displays an image.

The front housing HG1and the rear housing HG2constituting the housing HG sandwich therebetween, the backlight unit69and the liquid crystal display panel79covering the backlight unit69, which are configured as above, and thus fix them (there is no particular limitation on how they are fixed). That is, the front housing HG1, together with the rear housing HG2, sandwiches the backlight unit69and the liquid crystal display panel79, and thus the liquid crystal display device89is completed.

Referring toFIG. 11along withFIGS. 12 and 13, the following describes in detail various members positioned on the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63.FIG. 12is a perspective view showing the various members positioned on the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63, andFIG. 13is an exploded perspective view in which the various members shown inFIG. 12are shown to be arranged differently fromFIG. 12.

On the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63, for example, a power source unit31, an inverter unit35, an insulation sheet21, and the support unit11are positioned (for the support unit11, seeFIG. 13).

The power source unit31includes a power source circuit32that supplies an electric current to various circuits and the like in the liquid crystal display device89and the power source board33on which the power source circuit32is mounted (a board surface on which the power source circuit32is mounted is referred to as a front board surface33f).

The power source board33is fastened to the backlight chassis63with the screw (not shown), and a rear board surface33rthereof that is a rear side of the front board surface33ffaces the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63. Furthermore, a metal terminal32P of the power source circuit32is exposed onto the rear board surface33rof the power source board33.

The inverter unit35includes an inverter circuit, an on-board connector36, and the inverter board37that is a board on which various circuits such as the inverter circuit, the on-board connector36, and the like are mounted (a board surface of the inverter board37, on which the inverter circuit and the on-board connector36are mounted, is referred to as a front board surface37f, and a board surface thereof that is a rear side of the front board surface37fis referred to as a rear board surface37r).

The inverter circuit is composed of various circuits such as a booster circuit (inverter transformer)38and is a circuit used to drive the fluorescent tube61(for the sake of convenience,FIGS. 12 and 13mainly show the inverter transformer38in the inverter circuit).

The on-board connector36is installed on the front board surface37fof the inverter board37, on which the inverter transformer38is also mounted, and is connected to the inverter circuit via unshown board wiring (wiring disposed on the inverter board37). That is, the on-board connector36is an electrical connection portion with respect to the inverter circuit.

The on-board connector36is mated with the harness connection connector53to which two harnesses52each extending out from the socket51are connected, and thus an alternating current is supplied to the fluorescent tube61. That is, an electrical connection between the inverter circuit and the fluorescent tube61is established through the mating between the on-board connector36installed on the inverter board37and the harness connection connector53to which two harnesses52each extending out from the socket51are connected.

To be more specific, as shown by a hollow arrow inFIG. 12, the harness connection connector53positioned on the side of the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63is moved toward the on-board connector36on the inverter board37and is mated therewith. Thus, an alternating current from the inverter circuit flows to the fluorescent tube61via the board wiring (not shown), the on-board connector36, the harness connection connector53, the harness52, and the socket51. As a result, the fluorescent tube61is driven using the alternating current.

The inverter board37on which the inverter circuit and the on-board connector36are mounted is fastened to the backlight chassis63with the screw (not shown), and the rear board surface37rthat is the rear side of the front board surface37ffaces the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63. Furthermore, a metal terminal38P of the inverter transformer38is exposed onto the rear board surface37rof the inverter board37.

That is, the metal terminal38P of the inverter transformer38is brought close to the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63. Similarly, the metal terminal32P of the power source circuit32is also brought close to the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63.

Each of the above-described metal terminals32P•38P constitutes part of a component to which a relatively high voltage is applied (power source circuit32•inverter transformer38). The metal terminals32P•38P brought close to the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63made of metal, therefore, leads to the occurrence of leakage and thus is problematic. As a solution to this, the insulation sheet21is attached to the rear surface63Br of the backlight chassis63. That is, the insulation sheet21is a sheet that prevents the entry of an electric current that otherwise would flow into the backlight chassis63.

The support unit11comes in contact with the diffusion sheet64and thereby supports not only the diffusion sheet64but also the lens sheets65A•65B layered on the diffusion sheet64. As shown inFIG. 13, the support unit11is fitted into a sheet opening (opening)21H formed through the insulation sheet21and a chassis opening (opening)63H formed through the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63and thus is mounted to the backlight chassis63.

With regard to the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H that are formed for mounting the support unit11, the sheet opening21H is set to have an area larger than that of the chassis opening63H in order to prevent the insulation sheet21from overlapping an opening region of the chassis opening63H.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2as well asFIGS. 11 to 13, the following describes the support unit11in detail.FIG. 1is a perspective view showing the support unit11, the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63, and the insulation sheet21.FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view showing the liquid crystal display device89(in a cross section taken in the direction of arrows along a line A1-A1′ inFIG. 1).

The support unit11is made of an insulating material and includes a support pin12, a shield portion13, a hook body (engaging body)14, and a protruding portion18.

The support pin12is a shaft-shaped pin including a tapered top end12T that comes in contact with the diffusion sheet64. The support pin12has an outer circumferential area around a pin axis thereof (namely, a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a pin axis direction of the support pin12), which is smaller than an opening area of the sheet opening21H and an opening area of the chassis opening63H. The support pin12is therefore configured so that, as shown inFIG. 2, the top end12T thereof can be passed through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H, which overlap each other, to come in contact with the diffusion sheet64.

The shield portion13is in the form of a disk (circular plate member) and is continuous with a bottom end12B of the support pin12while intersecting with (for example, while being perpendicular to) the pin axis direction of the support pin12. The shield portion13has an area even larger than the opening area of the sheet opening21H, which is larger than the opening area of the chassis opening63H. Thus, when the top end12T of the support pin12is passed through the sheet opening21H and further through the chassis opening63H, the shield portion13positioned at the bottom end12B of the support pin12covers over the sheet opening21H.

As for the hook body14, a plurality of the hook bodies14are provided so as to surround the support pin12. Each of the hook bodies14extends out from the shield portion13so as to be positioned adjacently to the support pin12to its tip at which it includes a latch end14L. To be more specific, the hook body14includes the latch end14L and a support piece14S that supports the latch end14L.

The support piece14S is an elastic member extending out from the shield portion13and has a length somewhat longer than a length as the sum of the thickness of the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63and the thickness of the insulation sheet21and a shape that fits within a gap between the chassis opening63H and the support pin12. Thus, when the shield portion13is covering over the sheet opening21H, as a result of the support piece14S being passed through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H, the tip of the support piece14S is exposed from the chassis opening63H onto the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B.

The latch end14L is positioned at the tip of the support piece14S and has a shape that fits within the gap between the chassis opening63H and the support pin12. The shape of the latch end14L, however, is also such that the latch end14L extends out so as to be away from the support pin12by an increasing distance as it reaches an edge of the chassis opening63H on the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B (that is, in the hook body14, the latch end14L to be hooked on the edge of the chassis opening63H is at a position level with a midpoint12M between the top end12T and the bottom end12M of the support pin12).

Thus, when the latch end14L, together with the support piece14S, is made to enter the gap between the chassis opening63H and the support pin12, the latch end14L is pressed against the inner wall of the chassis opening63H. At this time, under the pressing force, the support piece14S is bent to such an extent that the latch end14L fits within the gap between the chassis opening63H and the support pin12.

After the latch end14L has been passed through the chassis opening63H, the support piece14S that has been bent returns into its original shape. The latch end14L thus is hooked on the edge of the chassis opening63H on the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B. The bottom line is that the hook body14is deformed into such a shape as to be able to pass through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H and then returns from the deformed shape into its original shape, and thus the latch end14L is displaced to be hooked on the edge of the chassis opening63H.

When the latch end14L is hooked on the edge of the chassis opening63H in this manner, the latch end14L (and accordingly, the hook body14), together with the shield portion13, sandwiches the backlight chassis63. As a result, the support unit11is immobilized with respect to the backlight chassis63[it can be said that the latch end14L (and accordingly, the hook body14) and the shield portion13constitute a fixing portion19that immobilizes the support unit11with respect to the backlight chassis63].

Furthermore, when the support pin12is immobilized with respect to the backlight chassis63, the shield portion13securely covers the sheet opening21H. In this case, the chassis opening63H that has an area smaller than the opening area of the sheet opening21H and overlaps the sheet opening21H is also covered securely by the shield portion13.

Thus, an edge region of the chassis opening63H defined by an edge of the chassis opening63H and the vicinity thereof (part of the bottom portion63B), which is exposed from the sheet opening21H, is not directly brought close to the metal terminal32P of the power source circuit32and the metal terminal38P of the inverter transformer38. As a result, an electric current does not flow from the metal terminals32P•38P to the edge region of the chassis opening63H, and thus the occurrence of leakage is prevented.

Based on the above, the backlight unit69includes the support unit11that supports the diffusion sheet64so that the diffusion sheet64is placed away from the front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63. Further, the support unit11includes the support pin12that is passed through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H, which overlap each other, to come in contact with the diffusion sheet64and further includes the shield portion13that covers over the sheet opening21H.

The support unit11also includes a member that immobilizes the support unit11itself with respect to the backlight chassis63, such as, for example, the hook body14and the shield portion13. To be more specific, the support unit11sandwiches the backlight chassis63between the latch end14L of the hook body14and the shield portion13continuous with the bottom end12B of the support pin12so as to immobilize (fix) itself with respect to the backlight chassis63.

According to this configuration, using the support pin12, the support unit11places the diffusion sheet64away from the front surface63Br of the backlight chassis63(and accordingly, the fluorescent tube61). This prevents the diffusion sheet64from coming in contact with the fluorescent tube61and from being bent excessively.

Moreover, the edge region of the chassis opening63H that fits within an opening region of the sheet opening21H formed for mounting the support unit11(namely, part of the backlight chassis63, which is exposed from the sheet opening21H) is covered by the shield portion13. Thus, even in a case where the metal terminal32P of the power source circuit32, the metal terminal38P of the inverter transformer38, and the like are present near the edge region of the chassis opening63H, the occurrence of leakage is prevented reliably.

Furthermore, the support unit11configured as above further includes the protruding portion18. With respect to a first surface13A of the shield portion13, which is in contact with the bottom end12B of the support pin12, the protruding portion18is formed on a second surface13B that is a rear side of the first surface13A. That is, the protruding portion18is a member protruding from the second surface13B.

The protruding portion18places the shield portion13(and accordingly, the vicinity of the sheet opening21H, which is covered by the shield portion13) away from the metal terminals32P•38P by a distance defined by its own length. This further ensures that the edge region of the chassis opening63H is not brought close to the metal terminals32P•38P, and thus the occurrence of leakage is prevented reliably.

Furthermore, even if the power source board33and the inverter board37are bent, a fixed distance or a distance longer than that is secured between these substrates33•37and the backlight chassis63. This even further ensures that the edge region of the chassis opening63H is not brought close to the metal terminals32P•38P, and thus the occurrence of leakage is prevented reliably.

In the foregoing description, the hook body14projects from the first surface13A of the shield portion13, but the configuration thereof is not limited thereto. For example, the hook body14may be continuous with the outer circumference of the support pin12. The bottom line is that it is only required that, using the latch end14L, the hook body14press down the edge of the chassis opening63H so that the latch end14L and the shield portion13can sandwich the backlight chassis63therebetween, and there is no particular limitation on the position and shape of the hook body14.

The description is directed to Embodiment 2. In the following description, the same reference signs are used to denote members having similar functions to the members used in Embodiment 1, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, Embodiment 2 describes a backlight unit69having similar effects to those provided by Embodiment 1.

Similarly toFIG. 1,FIG. 3is a perspective view showing a support unit11, a bottom portion63B of a backlight chassis63, and an insulation sheet21.FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device89(in a cross section taken in the direction of arrows along a line A2-A2′ inFIG. 3).

The support unit11in Embodiment 2 includes, similarly to Embodiment 1, a support pin12, a shield portion13, and a protruding portion18and newly includes an intersecting body (engaging body, latch end)15.

The intersecting body15extends out at a midpoint12M between a top end12T and a bottom end12B of the support pin12so as to intersect with a pin axis direction of the support pin12. For example, the intersecting body15extends orthogonally to the pin axis direction of the support pin12so as to form a linear shape. (The length from the intersecting body15to the shield portion13is somewhat longer than a length as the sum of the thickness of the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63and the thickness of the insulation sheet21.)

A sheet opening21H of the insulation sheet21and a chassis opening63H of the backlight chassis63are also formed in a linear shape so as to conform to the linear intersecting body15. In particular, each of the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H is set to have a linear shape larger than the linear shape of the intersecting body15.

Thus, when the orientation of the linear intersecting body15coincides with the orientation of the two openings21H•63H, in the process in which the support pin12is passed through the sheet opening21H and further through the chassis opening63H, the intersecting body15is also passed through the two openings21H•63H. The intersecting body15thus reaches a front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63.

Then, in a state where the intersecting body15is positioned on the front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63, the support pin12is rotated around the pin axis direction so that the intersecting body15intersects with the two linear openings21H•63H and thus is hooked on the front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63(for example, on an edge of the chassis opening63H).

When hooked on the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B such as on the edge of the chassis opening63H in this manner, the intersecting body15, together with the shield portion13, sandwiches the backlight chassis63. As a result, the support unit11is immobilized with respect to the backlight chassis63. It may therefore be said that the intersecting body15and the shield portion13constitute a fixing portion19that immobilizes the support unit11with respect to the backlight chassis63(since the intersecting body15substantially as a whole is hooked on the edge of the chassis opening63H, it may be said that the intersecting body15constitutes a latch end).

When the support unit11is immobilized with respect to the backlight chassis63, similarly to the case of the backlight unit69in Embodiment 1, the shield portion13securely covers the sheet opening21H. In this case, the chassis opening63H that has an area smaller than an opening area of the sheet opening21H and overlaps the sheet opening21H is also covered securely by the shield portion13.

As a result, an edge region of the chassis opening63H defined by an edge of the chassis opening63H and the vicinity thereof, which is exposed from the sheet opening21H, is not directly brought close to a metal terminal32P of a power source circuit32and a metal terminal38P of an inverter transformer38, so that an electric current does not flow from the metal terminals32P•38P to the edge region of the chassis opening63H.

In order to maintain the state where the intersecting body15is hooked on the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B such as on the edge of the chassis opening63H, a mechanism may be included that fixes the support pin12in this state so as to prevent it from being rotated.

Furthermore, in view of the possibility that the support pin12might be accidentally moved along the linear sheet opening21H•chassis opening63H, the shield portion13may be formed in a shape elongated in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the intersecting body15(for example, in the same direction as the direction of the linear shapes of the sheet opening21H•chassis opening63H), such as, for example, an ellipsoidal shape.

The description is directed to Embodiment 3. In the following description, the same reference signs are used to denote members having similar functions to the members used in Embodiments 1•2, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted. Referring toFIGS. 5 to 7, Embodiment 3 describes a backlight unit69having similar effects to those provided by Embodiments 1•2.

Similarly toFIG. 1,FIG. 5is a perspective view showing a support unit11, a bottom portion63B of a backlight chassis63, and an insulation sheet21.FIGS. 6 and 7are cross-sectional views showing a liquid crystal display device89, whereFIG. 6shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows along a line A3-A3′ inFIG. 5, andFIG. 7shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows along a line B3-B3′ inFIG. 5.

The support unit11in Embodiment 3 includes, similarly to Embodiments 1•2, a support pin12, a shield portion, and a protruding portion18and newly includes an umbrella-shaped body (engaging body)16.

The umbrella-shaped body16is a member formed of a portion of the support pin12, which extends from a top end12T to about a midpoint12M of the support pin12and bulges from the outer circumference of the support pin12into an umbrella shape. A skirt portion (latch end)16B of the umbrella-shaped body16therefore has an outer circumference larger than the outer circumference of the support pin12. Furthermore, the length from the skirt portion16B to the shield portion13is somewhat longer than a length as the sum of the thickness of the bottom portion63B of the backlight chassis63and the thickness of the insulation sheet21.

A sheet opening21H of the insulation sheet21and a chassis opening63H of the backlight chassis63are formed in such a shape as to be able to accommodate the outer circumference of the skirt portion16B, such as, for example, a circular shape. In particular, each of the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H includes a circular portion larger than a circular shape defined by the outer circumference of the skirt portion16B (the circular portion of the sheet opening21H is referred to as a first circular portion21HM, and the circular portion of the chassis opening63H is referred to as a second circular portion63HM).

Moreover, the sheet opening21H includes a first linear extension portion (first auxiliary portion)21HS continuous with the first circular portion (first main portion)21HM, and the chassis opening63H includes a second linear extension portion (second auxiliary portion)63HS continuous with the second circular portion (second main portion)63HM. To be more specific, each of the first linear extension portion21HS and the second linear extension portion63HS is a linear portion having a width insufficient for the passage of the umbrella-shaped body16(specifically, the skirt portion16B) but sufficient for the passage of a portion of the support pin12, which extends from the midpoint12M to a bottom end12B of the support pin12.

The first circular portion21HM of the sheet opening21H has an area larger than the area of the second circular portion63HM of the chassis opening63H, and the first linear extension portion21HS of the sheet opening21H has an area larger than the area of the second linear extension portion63HS of the chassis opening63H (the area of the sheet opening21H as a whole is also larger than the area of the chassis opening63H as a whole).

Furthermore, the shield portion13is formed in such a shape as to be able to cover the sheet opening21H, such as, for example, an ellipsoidal shape and is continuous with the support pin12not at the center of the ellipsoidal shape but at an end thereof in the vicinity of its major axis.

In order for the support pin12, which carries the umbrella-shaped body16, of the support unit11to be passed through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H configured as above, the support pin12is aligned with the first circular portion21HM and the second circular portion63HM. When the top end12T of the support pin12is made to enter the first circular portion21HM and further enter the second circular portion63HM, the umbrella-shaped body16formed around the outer circumference of the support pin12is passed through both the circular portions21HM•63HM without being obstructed by the inner walls of the circular portions21HM•63HM. Moreover, the shield portion13positioned at the bottom end12B of the support pin12covers over the first circular portion21HM.

Then, in a state where the skirt portion16B of the umbrella-shaped body16is positioned on a front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63, the support pin12is moved (slid) along the first linear extension portion21HS and the second linear extension portion63HS, so that the skirt portion16B overlaps the second linear extension portion63HS in the backlight chassis63and thus is hooked on the front surface63Bf of the backlight chassis63(for example, on an edge of the second linear extension portion63HS).

When the umbrella-shaped body16is hooked on the front surface63Bf of the bottom portion63B such as on the edge of the second linear extension portion63HS in this manner, the skirt portion16B of the umbrella-shaped body16, together with the shield portion13, sandwiches the backlight chassis63, so that the support unit11is immobilized with respect to the backlight chassis63. It can therefore be said that the skirt portion16B and the shield portion13constitute a fixing portion19that immobilizes the support unit11with respect to the backlight chassis63.

The support pin12is continuous with the ellipsoidal shield portion13not at the center of the shield portion13but at the end thereof in the vicinity of its major axis. Thus, even if the support pin12is slid along the first linear extension portion21HS and the second linear extension portion63HS and thus is placed away from the first circular portion21HM and the second circular portion63HM, similarly to the case of the backlight unit69in each of Embodiments 1•2, the shield portion13securely covers the sheet opening21H. In this case, the chassis opening63H that has an area smaller than an opening area of the sheet opening21H and overlaps the sheet opening21H is also covered securely by the shield portion13.

As a result, an edge region of the chassis opening63H defined by an edge of the chassis opening63H and the vicinity thereof, which is exposed from the sheet opening21H, is not directly brought close to a metal terminal32P of a power source circuit32and a metal terminal38P of an inverter transformer38, so that an electric current does not flow from the metal terminals32P•38P to the edge region of the chassis opening63H.

The outer circumferential shape of the support pin12is not particularly limited. It is, however, preferable that the outer circumferential shape of the support pin12is such a shape as to allow close contact with opposed inner walls in the second linear extension portion63HS of the chassis opening63H (for example, a quadrangular shape) since this makes it unlikely that the support pin12is displaced in the second linear extension portion63HS (for example, it becomes unlikely that, in the second linear extension portion63HS, the support pin12is rotated or slid backward to the second circular portion63HM).

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 8illustrating another example of the configuration shown inFIG. 6, a configuration is also possible in which openings21J•63J different from the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H are formed through the insulation sheet21and through the backlight chassis63, respectively, and a stopper SP that is fitted into the openings21J•63J projects from a first surface13A of the shield portion13. This configuration prevents the support pin12from being rotated in the second linear extension portion63HS.

The opening21J has an opening area larger than an opening area of the opening63J. With respect thereto, the shield portion13has an area sufficient even to cover over the opening21J in addition to the sheet opening21H. This prevents leakage from occurring due to the openings21J•63H.

The description is directed to Embodiment 4. In the following description, the same reference signs are used to denote members having similar functions to the members used in Embodiments 1 to 3, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted. Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, Embodiment 4 describes a backlight unit69having similar effects to those provided by Embodiments 1 to 3.

Similarly toFIG. 1,FIG. 9is a perspective view showing a support unit11, a bottom portion63B of a backlight chassis63, and an insulation sheet21.FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device89(in a cross section taken in the direction of arrows along a line A4-A4′ inFIG. 9).

The support unit11in Embodiment 4 includes, similarly to Embodiments 1 to 3, a support pin12, a shield portion13, and a protruding portion18and newly includes an external thread17A formed on the outer circumference of the support pin12. This embodiment further includes an internal thread17B to be engaged with the external thread17A, which is formed on the inner wall of a chassis opening63H. The support pin12is mounted to the backlight chassis63through the engagement between the external thread17A and the internal thread17B (it can therefore be said that the external thread17A and the internal thread17B constitute a fixing portion19that immobilizes the support unit11with respect to the backlight chassis63).

To be more specific, the external thread17A is formed on the outer circumference of a portion of the support pin12, which extends from a midpoint12M to a bottom end12B of the support pin12. Thus, as the support pin12is passed through a sheet opening21H and advanced further through the engagement of the external thread17A with the internal thread17B of the chassis opening63H, the shield portion13positioned at the bottom end12B of the support pin12is brought close to the sheet opening21H and then covers the sheet opening21H.

Similarly to the case of the backlight unit69in each of Embodiments 1 to 3, when the shield portion13is securely covering the sheet opening21H, the chassis opening63H that has an area smaller than an opening area of the sheet opening21H and overlaps the sheet opening21H is also covered securely by the shield portion13.

As a result, an edge region of the chassis opening63H defined by an edge of the chassis opening63H and the vicinity thereof, which is exposed from the sheet opening21H, is not directly brought close to a metal terminal32P of a power source circuit32and a metal terminal38P of an inverter transformer38, so that an electric current does not flow from the metal terminals32P•38P to the edge region of the chassis opening63H.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and may be modified variously without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the shape of the shield portion13is not limited to a circular shape or an ellipsoidal shape and may be a polygonal shape such as a quadrangular shape. The bottom line is that the shape of the shield portion13is not particularly limited as long as the shield portion13has an area sufficient to cover the sheet opening21H.

Furthermore, the shape of the support pin12is not limited to a circular columnar shape and may be a polygonal columnar shape. The bottom line is that the shape of the support pin12is not particularly limited as long as the support pin12can be passed through the sheet opening21H and the chassis opening63H.

In the foregoing description, a liquid crystal display device that is a display device is used as one example of an electronic apparatus. An electronic apparatus adoptable herein, however, is not limited to a liquid crystal display device (a display device of a type that receives radio waves required for television broadcasting is referred to as a television receiver).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

11Support unit12Support pin12T Top end of support pin12B Bottom end of support pin12M Midpoint of support pin13Shield portion13A First surface that is one surface of shield portion13B Second surface that is rear side of first surface of shield portion14Hook body (Engaging body)14L Latch end14S Support piece15Intersecting body (Engaging body, Latch end)16Umbrella-shaped body (Engaging body)16B Skirt portion (Latch end)17A External thread (Fixing portion)17B Internal thread (Fixing portion)18Protruding portion19Fixing portion21Insulation sheet21H Sheet opening (Opening)31Power source unit32Power source circuit (Circuit)32P Metal terminal of power source circuit33Power source board33fFront board surface of power source board33rRear board surface of power source board35Inverter unit37Inverter board37fFront board surface of inverter board37bRear board surface of inverter board38Inverter transformer (Circuit)38P Metal terminal of inverter transformer61Fluorescent tube62Lamp holder63Backlight chassis (Chassis)63H Chassis opening (Opening)63B Bottom portion of backlight chassis63Bf Front surface of bottom portion63Br Rear surface of bottom portion64Diffusion sheet65Lens sheet66Optical sheet group69Backlight unit79Liquid crystal display panel89Liquid crystal display device (Display device)