Connector for a display apparatus

A connector that is capable of reducing defects in display apparatuses is presented. The connector includes a body, a plurality of terminals and a cover. The body has a base and a sidewall. The terminals are disposed on the body and arranged to make an electrical connection with the electrical circuit when the electrical circuit is received by the body. The cover includes a rotation axis, a fixing portion extending from the rotation axis such that the fixing portion is substantially parallel to the base of the body, and a protrusion portion protruding from the rotation axis substantially perpendicularly to the base of the body. The connector prevents electrical discharge from the flexible printed circuit board to the electrical circuit and prevents physical damage to the electrical circuit. Therefore, defect rate decreases and a yield of a display apparatus increases.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0076217 filed on Aug. 19, 2005, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector, a method of connecting a flexible circuit board to a control board by using the connector and a display apparatus including the connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a connector capable of reducing defect rate, a method of connecting a flexible circuit board to a control board by using the connector and a display apparatus including the connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Today, a flat-type display apparatus is widely employed in various image display apparatuses such as a mobile communication terminal, a digital camera, a notebook computer, a monitor, etc. The reason behind the popularity of flat-typed display apparatuses includes advantageous characteristics such as light weight and thinness. There are different types of flat-typed display apparatuses, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, an organic light emitting display (OLED) apparatus, and a plasma display panel (PDP), among others. Of the different types of flat-type display apparatuses, the liquid crystal display apparatus has particularly desirable characteristics such as a relatively low power-consumption and a relatively small size.

Generally, the display apparatus includes a display panel, a gate driving circuit, a data driving circuit and a control printed circuit board. The display panel includes an array substrate and a counter substrate that can be assembled with the array substrate.

The array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of switching elements. The counter substrate can be combined with the array substrate. The gate driving circuit includes a plurality of thin film transistors, and applies the gate signal to the gate lines. The data driving circuit applies the data signal to the data lines. The control printed circuit board is electrically connected to the data driving circuit board to control the gate driving circuit and the data driving circuit.

The control printed circuit board is electrically connected to the data driving circuit through a flexible circuit board. Upon initially establishing electrical connection between the flexible circuit board and the control printed circuit board, a static charge that was stored in the flexible circuit board causes electrical damage to the control printed circuit board. Further, when the flexible circuit board scratches a surface of the control printed circuit board during the electrical connection process, the surface of the control printed circuit board is physically damaged.

Particularly, the control printed circuit board is easily damaged by electrical and physical impacts when the flexible circuit board is arranged on the control printed circuit board such as to couple the flexible circuit board to the control printed circuit board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connector capable of reducing the defect rate. The present invention also provides a method of connecting the above connector to an electrical circuit. The present invention also provides a display apparatus including the above connector.

In one aspect, the present invention is a connector including a body, a plurality of terminals, and a cover. The body has a base and a sidewall. The terminals are disposed on the body and arranged to make an electrical connection with an electrical circuit. The cover includes a rotation axis that is coupled to the terminals, a fixing portion extending from the rotation axis to hold the electrical circuit in place such that the fixing portion is substantially parallel to the base of the body, and a protrusion portion protruding from the rotation axis.

In another aspect, the present invention is a method of connecting a first electrical circuit having a conductive pattern to a second electrical circuit. The method entails providing a connector that includes a body having a base and a sidewall, a plurality of terminals on the body, and a cover. The cover includes a rotation axis coupled to an upper portion of the body, a fixing portion extending from the rotation axis in a predetermined direction, and a protrusion portion protruding from the rotation axis. The method further entails disposing the first electrical circuit over the cover such that an end portion of the first electrical circuit makes contact with the protrusion portion. The cover is rotated in a first rotational direction around the rotation axis such that the conductive pattern of the first electrical circuit makes contact with the terminals. The cover is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction such that the first electrical circuit is inserted under the cover and the conductive pattern of the first electrical circuit makes contact with the terminals. The second electrical circuit is electrically attached to the body of the connector.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is a display apparatus that includes a backlight assembly, a display panel, a driving part, a printed circuit board and a connecting member. The backlight assembly generates light. The display panel displays an image using the light. The driving part generates a driving signal. The printed circuit board controls the driving signal to apply the driving signal to the display panel. The connecting member electrically connects the driving part to the printed circuit board to transmit the driving signal. The connector includes a body having a base and a sidewall configured to receive the connecting member, a plurality of terminals disposed on the body and electrically connected to the connecting member, and a cover. The cover includes a rotation axis coupled to an upper portion of the body, a fixing portion extending from the rotation axis to hold the fixing member such that the fixing portion is substantially parallel to the base of the body, and a protrusion portion protruding from the rotation axis. The connector is electrically attached to the driving part and electrically connects the driving part to the connecting member.

With the presence of the protrusion portion, physical and electrical damages of the driving part are reduced. Further, flow of foreign substances between the connector and the body is decreased. Therefore, defect rate is decreased and the yield of the display apparatus is increased.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described below may be 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 particular flowing embodiments. 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 example and not of limitation.

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a plan view illustrating a rear side of the liquid crystal display apparatus inFIG. 1. As shown in the exploded perspective view, the upper portion is the “front” of the apparatus and the bottom portion is the “rear” of the apparatus.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel200, an integral printed circuit board120, a flexible circuit board400, a backlight assembly70, a top chassis60, a lower mold frame78, a bottom chassis79, an inverter500, a control board300and a connector310.

The liquid crystal display panel200includes an array substrate51, a color filter substrate53, a liquid crystal layer (not shown), a gate tape carrier package (TCP)43and a data tape carrier package140.

The array substrate51includes a thin film transistor (not shown), a gate line (not shown) electrically connected to the gate TCP43and a gate electrode of the thin film transistor, a data line (not shown) electrically connected to the data TCP140and a source electrode of the thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode (not shown) electrically connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor.

The color filter substrate53includes a color filter (not shown), a common electrode (not shown), etc. The color filter transmits only light having a particular wavelength.

The liquid crystal layer is between the array substrate51and the color filter substrate53. When a data voltage and a common voltage are respectively applied to the pixel electrode of the array substrate51and the common electrode of the color filter substrate53, an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to change an alignment of liquid crystal molecules. When the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is changed, light transmittance through the liquid crystal layer is changed to display a desired image.

The gate TCP43is electrically connected to an end of the gate line. A gate-driving chip is disposed on an upper portion of the gate TCP43to apply a gate signal to the gate line. Here, the gate-driving chip may be directly mounted on the array substrate51by a chip on glass (COG) process. Alternatively, a gate driving circuit may be directly formed on the array substrate51to omit the gate-driving chip.

The data TCP140is disposed between an end of the data line and the integral printed circuit board, and electrically connected to both the end of the data line and the integral printed circuit board. A data-driving chip is disposed on an upper portion of the data TCP43to apply a data signal to the gate line. The data-driving chip may be directly mounted on the array substrate51through a chip on glass (COG) process.

The integral printed circuit board120controls a driving signal applied to the integral printed circuit board120through the control board300to apply the driving signal to the data TCP140and the gate TCP43. When the apparatus is assembled, the data TCP140bends toward the rear side of the bottom chassis79to wrap around several layers of the components shown inFIG. 1, so that the integral printed circuit board120is placed at the rear side of the bottom chassis79(seeFIG. 2). The flexible circuit board400is received by the connector310.

The flexible circuit board400is between the integral printed circuit board120and the control board300to connect the integral printed circuit board120to the control board300. The flexible circuit board400includes a flexible film (410inFIG. 9) including an insulating material and a conductive pattern (420inFIG. 9) attached to the flexible film. The conductive pattern includes a metal having an excellent conductivity such as copper, chromium, etc. One end of the flexible circuit board400is attached to the integral printed circuit board120through an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The other end of the flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the connector310.

FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a connector inFIG. 2.FIG. 4is a perspective view illustrating a cover inFIG. 3.FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I′ inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIGS. 2 to 5, a connector310includes a body320, a plurality of terminals330and a cover360.

The body320includes a base322, and first to third sidewalls324,326and328extending from the base322so as to receive the flexible circuit board400that is inserted into the body320. The first and second sidewalls324and326are opposite to each other, and the third sidewall328is disposed between the first and second sidewalls324and326. Hinges326aare formed on the first and second sidewalls324and326. The hinge326aformed on the first sidewall324corresponds to the hinge326aformed on the second sidewall326. Although the connector310generally has a rectangular cube shape, two surfaces of the cube are open to facilitate the placement of the flexible circuit board400in the connector310(seeFIG. 2). In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the surfaces that are open are one of the side faces parallel to the third sidewall328and an upper face parallel to the base322.

The terminals330are disposed in the body320to couple to a plurality of the conductive patterns (420inFIG. 9) formed on the flexible circuit board400. The terminals330are fixed to the third sidewall328of the body320and the base322, and electrically connected to a plurality of signal lines (not shown) formed on the control board330. Therefore, the terminals330electrically connect the conductive patterns of the flexible circuit board400to the signal lines of the control board300, respectively.

The cover360is coupled to an upper portion of the body320through the hinges326a. The cover360includes a rotation axis345, a protrusion portion350and a fixing portion340.

The rotation axis345is pivoted to the hinges326ato rotate the cover360.

The protrusion portion350extends from the rotation axis345in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base322, and includes a plurality of projections352at an upper portion of the protrusion portion350. When the flexible circuit board400is disposed on the protrusion portion350during an assembling process, the flexible circuit board400is spaced apart from the terminals330and the control board300, so that the flexible circuit board400may be protected from damages due to external impacts such as an electric impact, a physical impact, etc. Further, the protrusion portion350prevents foreign substances from flowing in between the cover360and the body320. InFIG. 3, the projections352increase a frictional force between the protrusion portion350and the flexible circuit board400(shown inFIG. 2). Thus, the projection projections352restrict horizontal movement of the flexible circuit board400to prevent the flexible circuit board400from contracting the terminals330and the control board300.

The fixing portion340extends from the rotation axis345in a plane substantially parallel to the base322, and has a plate shape. The base322compresses the flexible circuit board400to hold the flexible circuit board400. In the present embodiment, a side face342of the fixing portion340is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an upper face of the fixing portion340. Since the side face of the fixing portion340is inclined, the cover360is easy to be rotated to reduce processing time and damage of the cover360during the assembling process.

In the connector that is shown, the rotation axis345is positioned adjacent to the terminals330to prevent the foreign substances from flowing in between the cover360and the body320. The rotation axis345may be spaced apart from the terminals330in other embodiments.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the control board300converts an image signal received from an external device into a driving signal to apply the driving signal to the integral printed circuit board120through the flexible circuit board400. The control board300is electrically connected to the inverter500through a cable510.

The inverter500applies a power signal to the control board300.

The backlight assembly70includes a light source76, a light source cover75, a light guide plate74, a reflecting plate77and an optical sheet72. The backlight assembly40provides a planar light to the liquid crystal display panel200.

The light source cover75protects the light source76, and reflects a linear light generated from the light source toward the light guide plate74.

The light guide plate74is disposed adjacent to the light source76to convert the linear light emission into planar light, and guides the planer light toward the optical sheet72.

The reflecting plate77is disposed under the light guide plate74, and reflects light that leaked from the light guide plate74toward the optical sheet72.

The optical sheet72improves the property of light exiting from the light guide plate74and provides light to the liquid crystal display panel200. The optical sheet72may include a diffusion plate uniformizing the brightness of light, a prism sheet enhancing the front-brightness, and a protection film, among others.

The lower mold frame78is disposed under the backlight assembly70to prevent the backlight assembly70from moving horizontally. The lower mold frame78has a frame-shape i.e., a base portion of the lower mold frame78has an opening. A step portion (not shown) may be formed in the lower mold frame78to support the optical sheet, etc.

The upper mold frame71is placed between the liquid crystal display panel200and the backlight assembly70to hold the backlight assembly70and support the liquid crystal display panel200. The upper mold frame71has a frame-shape, i.e. a base portion of the upper mold frame71has an opening.

The bottom chassis79is disposed under the lower mold frame78, and includes a bottom plate and sidewalls extending from an edge portion of the bottom plate. The bottom chassis79receives the liquid crystal display panel200, the upper mold frame71, the backlight assembly70and the lower mold frame78.

The top chassis60is coupled to the bottom chassis79to hold the liquid crystal display panel200. The top chassis60includes an upper plate with an opening and sidewalls extending from the upper plate.

FIGS. 6 to 9are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of connecting a flexible printed circuit board to a connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 6, the flexible circuit board400is arranged on the protrusion portion350. The conductive pattern420of the flexible circuit board400is disposed under the flexible film410. The integral printed circuit board120is electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel200through the flexible circuit board400. The flexible circuit board400is spaced apart from the terminals330and the control board300by a predetermined distance due to an interruption of the protrusion portion350. The connector310may be formed through various methods. For example, an insulating material such as a synthetic resin may be molded to form the body320, and a plurality of metal lines may be mounted on the body320to form the terminals330. In addition, an insulating material such as a synthetic resin may be molded to form the cover360, and the rotation axis345of the cover360may be inserted into a recess formed on an inner surface of the side face342of the body320.

Therefore, the protrusion portion350prevents the flexible circuit board400from sagging during an assembling process, to thereby prevent the flexible circuit board400from making contact with the terminals330and the control board300.

Referring toFIG. 7, the flexible circuit board400is lifted to form a space for movement of the cover360. The cover360is rotated in a first rotational direction of the rotation axis345. The first rotational direction is a counter clockwise direction inFIG. 7. Therefore, the fixing portion340of the cover360is lifted.

Referring toFIG. 8, when the cover360is rotated in the first rotational direction, the flexible circuit board400is inserted into the opened portion of the body320to electrically connect the conductive pattern420of the flexible circuit board400to the terminals330.

Referring toFIG. 9, the cover360is rotated in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction such that the fixing portion340is disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the body320. This way, the flexible circuit board400is fixed to the body320of the connector310. That is, the fixing portion340of the cover360fastens the flexible circuit board400to the body320of the connector310.

According to the above, since the connector310includes the protrusion portion350, physical and electrical damages to driving parts are reduced. Further, flow of foreign substances into a gap between the connector and the body is decreased. Therefore, defect rate is decreased, and thus a yield of the display apparatus is increased.