Flat-type light source apparatus, liquid crystal display apparatus using the same, and method of inspecting the liquid crystal display

A lamp lighting terminal which is a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of a lamp is mounted on a surface opposite to a light emitting surface of a flat light source apparatus. Then, a terminal of a inspection device is brought into contact with the lamp lighting terminal to light up a liquid crystal display apparatus, thereby allowing inspection to be carried out. The flat light source apparatus may be provided with a light guide inputting lights from a light source through the side to output the light through one surface. In this configuration, inspection work at the time of lighting inspection of a liquid crystal display is simplified, and a high-quality liquid crystal display can be obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flat-type light source apparatus and its inspection method which are especially suitable for application to liquid crystal display apparatus.

2. Related Background Art

FIG. 7shows an exploded perspective view of a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus. The liquid crystal display apparatus shown inFIG. 7is provided with a liquid crystal panel1, a frame2, a flat-type light source apparatus (backlight)3, a connector5, a conductive wire6, and a circuit substrate7. The conventional liquid crystal display apparatus has structure that the liquid crystal panel1is sandwiched between the frame2which is a box of metal, for example, and the flat-type light source apparatus3. In the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus, the flat-type light source apparatus3arranged in the opposite of a display surface of the liquid crystal panel1emits lights, and then the circuit substrate7outputs signals to change transmissivity of each pixel in the liquid crystal panel1, thereby displaying images on the liquid crystal panel1. Therefore, in transimissive liquid crystal display apparatus, it is necessary to arrange flat-type light source apparatus in the opposite of a display surface of the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 8shows a schematic wiring diagram of a light source, such as lamp, used in a flat-type light source apparatus of a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus. The light source shown inFIG. 8is provided with a connector5, a conductive wire6, a lamp12which is constituted of a fluorescence luminescence tube and the like, and a power supply terminal of the lamp13. The lamp12, which is a light source, is electrically connected to an inverter and he like via the connector5through the conductive wire6connected to the power supply13at its both ends by soldering for example, thereby receiving electric current to emit lights.

Also, another conventional liquid crystal display apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-305101, for example.FIG. 9shows an exploded perspective view of the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus having a liquid crystal panel1, a backlight (flat-type light source apparatus)3, a circuit substrate7, a glass plate17aand17b, an electrode terminal18of a panel drive, an electrode terminal19aand19bof the backlight, an electrode terminal21aand21b, a top face22of the backlight (flat-type light source apparatus), a signal wire23of the panel drive, a signal wire24aand24bof a backlight lighting control, and an alignment mark25aand25b. InFIG. 9, the electrode terminal19aand19bof the backlight are located on the edge of one side of the glass plate17aof the liquid crystal panel1, the signal wire24aand24bof the backlight lighting control which control the lighting of the backlight are on the circuit substrate7, and the electrode terminal21aand21bon the backlight3and the signal wire24aand24bof the backlight lighting control on the circuit substrate7are electrically connected to the electrode terminal19aand19bof the backlight located on the glass plate17a.

In this configuration, at the same time that the electrode terminal of the panel drive on the edge of one side of the glass plate of the liquid crystal panel is connected to the signal wire of the panel drive on the circuit substrate, the electrode terminal of a backlight can be connected to the signal wire of the backlight lighting control, thereby improving operativity.

However, the above mentioned conventional liquid crystal display apparatus have the following problems. First, in the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus shown inFIG. 7, when carrying out inspections such as lighting inspection for testing display performance after the flat-type light source apparatus has been incorporated to the liquid crystal display apparatus, a connector to input signals of inspection display and the connector5to supply the flat-type light source apparatus with electric current are to be connected to the liquid crystal display apparatus. Recently, however, in order to meet the needs of the market for a higher quality and brightness, liquid crystal display apparatus have pixels of finer pitch in a liquid crystal panel which brings a higher resolution, more complicated signal control of a liquid crystal panel, and/or more lamps used in a flat-type light source apparatus. As a result, the number of connecting sections or the connector5increases as signal input cables increase, and therefore, connecting work necessary for lighting up a liquid crystal display apparatus when inspecting liquid crystal display apparatus at the production stage become complicated. Consequently, the conventional crystal display has the problem that inspection itself becomes heavy load or can cause to deterioration of products since connecting error in inspection may damage a connector.

Also, the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus shown inFIG. 9has the same problem. Though the liquid crystal display apparatus inFIG. 9is provided with the electrode terminal21aand21bon the backlight (flat-type light source apparatus)3, they are located on a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus, and therefore it is difficult to bring terminals of an inspection device into contact with the above electrode terminals at the time of, for example, lighting inspection after the flat-type light source apparatus has been incorporated to the liquid crystal display apparatus. Accordingly, the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus shown inFIG. 9also has the problem that connecting work in lighting inspection is complicated, thus making inspection itself be a severe burden or cause to deterioration of products in the event of connecting error causing damage to a connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is thus to provide high-quality flat-type light source apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus by simplifying inspection work.

A first flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is a flat board light source apparatus having light emitting means for outputting lights from a light source through one surface and housing means for containing the light source, wherein a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of the light source is mounted on a surface other than the above mentioned surface.

A second flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the first flat-type light source apparatus wherein the conductive pad is mounted on a surface opposite to the above mentioned light emitting surface.

A third flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the first or second flat-type light source apparatus, wherein the light emitting means has a light guide which inputs lights from the light source through the side and then outputs the lights through one surface.

A fourth flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the third flat-type light source apparatus, wherein the light source is positioned close to at least one side of the light guide.

A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display apparatus having one of the first to forth flat-type light source apparatus, and a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other which is located on one surface of the flat-type light source apparatus.

A method of inspecting a liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention is a inspection method, wherein the light source is lit up by bringing a power supply terminal of an inspection device into contact with the conductive pad mounted on a surface other than the above mentioned surface of the flat-type light source apparatus in above-mentioned liquid crystal display apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4.FIG. 1is a perspective view of a flat-type light source apparatus and a liquid crystal display apparatus,FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the flat-type light source apparatus,FIG. 3is a schematic wiring diagram of a lamp of the flat-type light source apparatus,FIG. 4Ais a schematic perspective view of the liquid crystal display apparatus at time of lighting inspection (not lighting-up), andFIG. 4Bis a schematic perspective view of the liquid crystal display apparatus at time of lighting inspection (lighting-up), all of which are according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

InFIGS. 1 to 4, a reference symbol2denotes a box-frame,3denotes a flat board light source apparatus (backlight),4denotes a lamp lighting terminal,5denotes a connector,6denotes a conductive wire,7denotes a circuit substrate,8denotes an optical sheet,9denotes a light guide,10denotes a reflective sheet,11denotes a mold frame,12denotes a lamp comprised of a fluorescence luminescence tube and the like,13denotes a power supply terminal of the lamp,14denotes a liquid crystal display apparatus,15denotes an inspection device, and16denotes a terminal of the inspection device.

As shown in theFIG. 1, the lamp lighting terminal4which is a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of the lamp is mounted on a surface opposite to a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus3. InFIG. 1, the conductive pad is mounted on the back side of the mold flame which will be detailed later.FIG. 2shows an exploded perspective view of the flat-type light source apparatus3which is comprised of the reflective sheet arranged on the mold frame11being housing means for containing the lamp12, the light guide9being light emitting means for outputting lights from a light source through one surface arranged above, and the optical sheet arranged further above as needed.

InFIG. 2, single lamp12is located close to one side of the light guide9.FIG. 1andFIG. 2shows an edge light type liquid crystal display apparatus inputting lights from a lamp through the side of a light guide and outputting the lights through one surface.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus14, a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other is fixed to a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus3with a box-frame made of metal, for example. InFIG. 2, the lamp lighting terminal4is mounted on the back side of the mold frame11which is the side where the reflective sheet, light guide, and optical sheet are not located, while not shown.FIG. 3is a wiring diagram schematically showing a lamp of the flat-type light source apparatus3. InFIG. 3, the power supply terminal of the lamp13is connected via the conductive wire6to the connector5which extends to the outside of the flat-type light source apparatus3. Also, the terminal13is connected to the lamp lighting terminal4which is located on the back side of a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus3.

FIG. 4illustrates a method of inspecting the liquid crystal display apparatus, and as shown in FIG.4A, the inspection device15is provided with the terminal of the inspection device16in a position corresponding to the lamp lighting terminal4mounted on the back side of the liquid crystal display apparatus14. As shown inFIG. 4B, the liquid crystal display apparatus14lights up by bringing the terminal of the inspection device16into contact with the lamp lighting terminal4of the liquid crystal display apparatus14, allowing to carry out inspection.

In this configuration where there is no need for pushing into or pulling out the connector at the time of lighting inspection of the liquid crystal display apparatus and thus simplifying the inspection work, it is feasible to increase efficiency of the work and also to prevent damage to the connector, thereby producing high-quality liquid crystal display apparatus.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 5is a perspective view of the flat-type light source apparatus and the liquid crystal display apparatus, andFIG. 6is a schematic wiring diagram of a lamp of the flat-type light source apparatus, both according to the second embodiment of the present invention. InFIGS. 5 and 6, the same component as inFIGS. 1 to 4are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the difference will be described hereinbelow. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in which, as shown inFIG. 5, while the lamp lighting terminal4which is a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of the lamp is mounted on a surface opposite to a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus3, the conductive wire6and the connector5do not extend to the outside of the flat-type light source apparatus3. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 6, the power supply terminal of the lamp13is connected only to the lamp lighting terminal4which is located on the back side of a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus3as inFIG. 5.

As explained in the foregoing, the configuration according to the second embodiment brings effects of increasing efficiency of the inspection work and preventing damage to the connector like the first embodiment. Moreover, the configuration also has an effect of ensuring the safe connection because the conductive wire6and the connector5are not provided, and thus electric power is supplied through the lamp lighting terminal when the liquid crystal display apparatus is brought to be incorporated into displaying means such as a monitor; therefore the conductive wire need not be extended from the flat-type light source apparatus into the liquid crystal display apparatus, which eliminates the possibility of breaking the conductive wire.

The above-mentioned first and second embodiments describe a case where the lamp lighting terminals4are mounted in two spots on a surface opposite to a light emitting surface of the flat-type light source apparatus; however, it is not restricted thereto. For example, the surface on which the lamp lighting terminals4are mounted may be a side surface as long as the lamp lighting terminal is easily brought into contact with the terminal of the inspection device. Also, though the first and second embodiments describe a case where the flat board light source apparatus3is provided with single lamp12, the lamp may be plural, for example, two lamps can be located across the light guide from each other, and in this case, the lamp lighting terminal should be arranged so as to correspond with the power source terminal of each lamp, on a surface other than a light emitting surface. Further, in a case where several lamps are arranged, the same pole of electrode terminals of different lamps can be common lamp lighting terminal. Though the above-mentioned first and second embodiments show the lamp lighting terminal4of nearly square, it may be shaped for corresponding to various shapes of sections connected to the lamp lighting terminal4, such as the terminal of the inspection device16and the power source terminal of the lamp to the side of the displaying means. For example, one terminal may have a shape of concavity and the other may have convexity to fit to each other. Also, in a case where electric power from displaying means is supplied by the lamp lighting terminal as in the second embodiment, the lamp lighting terminal of the liquid crystal display apparatus may have thread cutting in a part corresponding to a screw for incorporating the liquid crystal display apparatus into displaying means in order that electric power can be supplied with the lamp through the screw, thereby allowing more positive connection.

As in the foregoing, while the above-mentioned first and second embodiments explain a case where the flat-type light source apparatus with a conductive pad on a surface other than a light emitting surface is provided for an edge backlight type liquid crystal display apparatus, it is not restricted thereto. For example, the flat-type light source apparatus may also be provided for a backlight type liquid crystal display apparatus. Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained when the flat-type light source apparatus is provided for any display apparatus using a flat-type light source apparatus.

As explained in the foregoing, the first flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is a flat board light source apparatus having light emitting means for outputting lights from a light source through one surface and housing means for containing the light source, wherein a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of the light source is mounted on a surface other than the above mentioned surface, thereby simplifying inspection work.

The second flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the first flat-type light source apparatus wherein the conductive pad is mounted on a surface opposite to the light emitting surface, thereby simplifying inspection work.

The third flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the first or second flat-type light source apparatus, wherein the light emitting means has a light guide which inputs lights from the light source through the side and then outputes the lights through one surface, thereby simplifying inspection work.

The fourth flat-type light source apparatus according to the present invention is the third flat-type light source apparatus, wherein the light source is positioned close to at least one side of the light guide, thereby simplifying inspection work.

The liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display apparatus having one of the first to forth flat-type light source apparatus, and a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other which is located on one surface of the flat-type light source apparatus, thereby simplifying inspection work and also improving the quality.

The method of inspecting a liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention is a inspection method, wherein the light source is lit up by bringing a power supply terminal of an inspection device into contact with the conductive pad mounted on a surface other than the above mentioned surface of the flat-type light source apparatus in the liquid crystal display apparatus, thereby simplifying inspection work and also obtaining high-quality liquid crystal display apparatus.