Display device

A display device capable of discharging liquid includes a display panel for displaying an image; a panel driver coupled to the display panel configured to drive the display panel; and a guide frame coupled to a rear surface of the display panel and supporting the display panel, wherein the guide frame defines a circuit arrangement space to accommodate the panel driver, and the guide frame has at least one liquid discharging opening through which liquid in the circuit arrangement space is discharged to an outside of the display device.

The present invention claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0154395 filed in Korea on Dec. 12, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a display device for displaying an image, and more particularly, to a display device for discharging liquid that flows into the inside.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), and organic light emitting displays (OLEDs) have been developed to replace cathode ray tubes that are initial display devices.

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a related art display device.

With reference toFIG. 1, the related art display device1includes a display panel2that displays an image, a guide frame3that supports the display panel2, an upper cover4that surrounds a front edge of the display panel2and a side of the guide frame3, and a panel driver5that drives the display panel2. One side of the panel driver5is coupled to the display panel2, and the other side is disposed at a side of the guide frame3.

However, the related art display device brings about a problem in that the panel driver5and the other metal elements are corroded by liquid L that flows into the inside, such as during cleaning of the screen, through a space between a front surface of the display panel2and the upper cover4.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that prevents a panel driver from being corroded by liquid that flows into the inside.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposed of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a display device capable of discharging liquid includes a display panel for displaying an image; a panel driver coupled to the display panel configured to drive the display panel; and a guide frame coupled to a rear surface of the display panel and supporting the display panel, wherein the guide frame defines a circuit arrangement space to accommodate the panel driver, and the guide frame has at least one liquid discharging opening through which liquid in the circuit arrangement space is discharged to an outside of the display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the specification, in adding reference numerals for elements in each drawing, it should be noted that like reference numerals already used to denote like elements in other drawings are used for elements wherever possible.

The terms described in the specification should be understood as follows.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “first” and “second” are for differentiating one element from the other element, and these elements should not be limited by these terms. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a third item” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more of the first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the first item, the second item, or the third item. The term “on” should be construed as including a case where one element is formed at a top of another element and moreover a case where a third element is disposed therebetween.

Hereinafter, a display device according to exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bare perspective and cross-sectional views illustrating a display device according to an example embodiment. With reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B, a display device100includes a display panel10, a guide frame20, a panel driver30, and an upper cover40.

The display panel10displays an image, and may be a liquid crystal display panel, which includes a liquid crystal layer formed between a lower substrate11and an upper substrate12, or an organic light emitting display panel that includes an organic light emitting element.

For example, the display panel10that is the liquid crystal display panel adjusts a transmittance of light irradiated from a backlight unit60that emits light, thereby displaying an image. To this end, the display panel10includes the lower substrate11, the upper substrate12, an upper film member14, and a lower polarizing member13.

The lower substrate11may include a plurality of pixels (not shown) that are respectively formed in intersection areas between a plurality of gate lines (not shown) and a plurality of data lines (not shown). Each of the plurality of pixels may include a thin film transistor (TFT, not shown) connected to a gate line and a data line, a pixel electrode connected to the TFT, and a common electrode that is formed adjacent to the pixel electrode and receives a common voltage. The lower substrate11generates an electric field, corresponding to a difference voltage between a data voltage, which is applied to each pixel, and the common voltage, to adjust a light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer.

The upper substrate12may include a color filter corresponding to each pixel that is formed on the lower substrate11, and is facing-coupled to the lower substrate11with the liquid crystal layer formed therebetween. The common electrode (not shown), which receives the common voltage, may be formed on the upper substrate12depending on a driving mode of the liquid crystal layer. The upper substrate12filters light, which is incident through the liquid crystal layer, to emit color light to the outside, thereby allowing a color image to be displayed by the display panel10.

Detailed configurations of the lower substrate11and the upper substrate12may be provided in various types known to those skilled in the art depending on a driving mode of the liquid crystal layer, for example, a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS) mode, or a fringe field switching (FFS) mode.

The upper film member adheres to a top of the upper substrate12. The upper film member may be configured with an upper polarizing member that polarizes light that passes through the upper substrate12and is emitted to the outside. Alternatively, the upper film member may include the upper polarizing member and an optical member (not shown) for a 3D image that is disposed on the upper polarizing member.

The lower polarizing member adheres to a bottom of the lower substrate11. The lower polarizing member polarizes light that is incident from the backlight unit60, and irradiates the polarized light onto the lower substrate11.

The guide frame20supports the display panel10, and may include a panel supporting part21coupled to a rear surface of the display panel10and a guide side wall22coupled to the panel supporting part21. The panel supporting part21is formed in a hollow ring shape so as to support a rear edge of the display panel10. The guide side wall22is formed in a hollow ring shape, and is coupled to the panel supporting part21in a shape that is bent vertically from the panel supporting part21. That is, the guide frame20may have a-shaped cross-sectional surface, or have a ├-shaped cross-sectional surface depending on the kind of the display device100. In the guide frame20, the guide side wall22surrounds a side of the display panel10, a side of the backlight unit60, or a side of the lower cover70, and the panel supporting part21may be formed to protrude from an inner surface of the guide side wall22.

As shown inFIG. 3, the guide frame20may further include an interval maintaining part23that protrudes from the guide side wall22to the upper cover40. The interval maintaining part23has a shape that is bent from one end of the guide side wall22to an outer side, and a circuit arrangement space S in which the panel driver30is accommodated is provided between the guide side wall22and the upper cover40.

As shown inFIG. 2B, the panel driver30drives the display panel10, and may include a driving circuit film31and a printed circuit board (PCB)32.

The driving circuit film31may use a chip-on film (COF), and include a driving integrated circuit (IC) that generates data signals and a gate signal for driving the pixels of the display panel10, respectively supplies the data signals to the data lines, and sequentially supplies the gate signal to the gate lines.

The PCB32may be configured with a source PCB and a gate PCB, and may use a flexible PCB (FPCB). The PCB32may include a plurality of driving elements, which supply image data and a timing sync signal to the driving IC, and a protective cap (not shown) that covers the driving elements.

The protective cap covers the driving elements disposed on the PCB32, thereby protecting the driving elements, supporting the display panel10, and preventing an electrical connection between the driving elements.

The driving IC is mounted on the driving circuit film31by a chip bonding process or a surface mounting process, and is bonded to a plurality of signal supply terminals and a plurality of signal input terminals (not shown). The driving IC generates data signals and the gate signal on the basis of video data and the timing sync signal that are supplied from the outside through the plurality of signal input terminals (not shown), and respectively supplies the generated data signals and gate signal to corresponding signal supply terminals to drive the pixels of the display panel10, thereby displaying an image corresponding to the video data.

Since the driving element is disposed at the driving circuit film31, the panel driver30may be configured with only the driving circuit film31, or may be configured in another type.

The driving circuit film31is coupled to the display panel10, namely, a pad part that is provided at an edge of the lower substrate11, and is bent toward a side of the guide frame20. The PCB32is coupled to the driving circuit film31, and is disposed at the side of the guide frame20.

The upper cover40is bent to surround a front edge of the display panel10and the panel driver30. The upper cover40may include a front cover part41, which is opposite to a front surface of the display panel10and surrounds the frond edge of the display panel10, and a side cover42that is bent from the front cover part41and surrounds the guide side wall22and the panel driver30. The front cover part41is formed in a hollow ring shape, and supports only an edge of the display panel10. The side cover42is formed in a hollow ring shape, and is coupled to the front cover part41in a bent shape. That is, the upper cover40may have a-shaped cross-sectional surface. Here, one end of the side cover42is connected (or coupled) to the interval maintaining part23of the guide frame20, and the circuit arrangement space S is formed by the guide side wall22, the interval maintaining part23, and the side cover42.

The upper cover40may further include a fixing projection43that protrudes the panel driver30to adhere to the guide frame20, thereby fixing the panel driver30. The fixing projection43is formed to protrude from the side cover42toward the guide side wall22. The PCB32may be disposed higher in position than the side cover42by the fixing projection43so that the PCB32does not contact the side cover42.

FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a liquid discharging part according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the guide frame20may further include a liquid discharging part24.

The liquid discharging part24discharges liquid L, which flows into the circuit arrangement space S, to the outside, and is provided at the interval maintaining part23. The liquid discharging part24is formed to pass through the interval maintaining part23, and allows the circuit arrangement space S to communicate with the outside of the display device100.

When the front cover part41pressurizes the display panel10due to an external force, a leakage of light occurs in the display panel10. To prevent the light leakage, the front cover part41is disposed to be separated by a certain distance from a front surface of the display panel100. Unlike the related art, where liquid L flows into the inside through a space between the display panel10and the upper cover40, and corrodes the panel driver30that is accommodated in the circuit arrangement space S, in the display device100according to an example embodiment, the liquid discharging part24discharges the liquid L, thereby preventing the panel driver30from being continuously exposed to a humid environment and from being corroded. Also, the display device100according to the example embodiment can prevent other metal elements from being corroded.

In detail, the liquid discharging part24may include at least one discharging hole24athat is formed to pass through the interval maintaining part23. When the interval maintaining part23is provided with a plurality of discharging holes24a, the plurality of discharging holes24amay be arranged along a long-direction length of the interval maintaining part23and are separated from each other.

FIG. 4is a perspective view illustrating the upper cover according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

With reference toFIG. 4, the display device100according to the example embodiment may further include a protrusion part44.

The protrusion part44is high formed in a direction from an inner surface of the side cover42to the guide side wall22so that liquid L flows to detour the driving circuit film31. The protrusion part44may be formed in each arrangement area of the driving circuit film31. Therefore, the liquid L is guided and moved to an outer surface of the protrusion part44, and thus moves to avoid the arrangement area of the driving circuit film31. Accordingly, the protrusion part44prevents the liquid L from approaching the arrangement area of the driving circuit film31, and thus can better prevent the driving circuit film31and the PCB32from being corroded.

In detail, the protrusion part44may include an opposite portion441, which is opposite to the panel driver30, and an induction portion442that allows the opposite portion441to be disposed higher than the side cover42so as to prevent the liquid L from flowing to the opposite portion441.

The opposite portion441may be formed to have the same or corresponding width “a” as a width W1of the driving circuit film31. Also, the opposite portion441is disposed at a higher position H than that of the side cover42by the induction portion442.

The induction portion442induces a flow path F of the liquid L, and denotes an outer surface of the protrusion part44. The induction portion442prevents the liquid L from upward flowing to the opposite portion441due to gravity, and blocks the flow path F of the liquid L in order for the liquid L to flow to a periphery thereof. The induction portion442allows the opposite portion441to be disposed at the higher position H than that of the side cover42, and thus, the opposite portion441may be formed like a slope. Accordingly, the liquid L cannot approach the driving circuit film31that is disposed above the opposite portion441.

The protrusion part44may be used for dissipating heat, which is generated in driving the panel driver30, to the outside. To this end, the protrusion part44may be formed of a metal material having high thermal conductivity. Alternatively, an entirety of the upper cover40may be formed of a metal material identically to the protrusion part44. The protrusion part44is adjacent to (or contacts) the panel driver30. Therefore, heat is conducted from the panel driver30to the protrusion part44, and the conducted heat is dissipated from the entirety of the upper cover40to the outside.

The protrusion part44may further include first and second extension portions443and444, and first and second connection portions445and446that are respectively connected to the first and second extension portions443and444.

The first and second extension portions443and444may respectively extend from both sides of the opposite portion441. Therefore, a top of the protrusion part44corresponds to the sum of an area of the opposite portion441and areas of the first and second extension portions443and444, and is thus formed to have a greater width b than the width W1of the driving circuit film31.

The first and second connection portions445and446allow the first and second extension portions443and444to be disposed at a higher position than that of the side cover42, and may be respectively connected to both sides of the induction portion442. Thus, a detour radius of the liquid L is increased by such an enlarged protrusion part44, and the liquid L is guided farther away from the driving circuit film31. Accordingly, the protrusion part44can more effectively prevent the driving circuit film31from being corroded by the liquid L.

As described above, the protrusion part44may be formed to have a width equal to or greater than the width W1of the driving circuit film31.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view illustrating that a moisture absorbing member is included in the display device100according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference toFIG. 5, the display device100according to an example embodiment of the present invention may further include a moisture absorbing member50coupled to an inner surface of the upper cover40.

The moisture absorbing member50absorbs liquid L that flows into the inside through a space between the display panel10and the upper cover40. The moisture absorbing member50may be disposed between the guide frame20and the upper cover40, and for example, may be disposed under the panel driver30.

As shown inFIG. 6, in the display device100according to an example embodiment, the upper cover40may be formed to surround only a lower side among an upper side, both sides, and a lower side of the display panel10. Accordingly, in such a display device100, the upper cover40effectively supports a weight of the display panel10that is given in a gravity direction, and a bezel width W2can be reduced.

As described above, when the display panel10is a liquid crystal display panel, the display device100according to an example embodiment is a non-emissive type that is supplied with light by a separate element, and thus may further include the backlight unit60and the lower cover70.

The backlight unit60irradiates light onto the display panel10, and may include a light source module (not shown) and a diffusive plate61(or a light guide frame).

The lower cover70includes a supporting plate71and a supporting side wall72, so as to accommodate the backlight unit60. The supporting plate71is formed in a plate shape. The supporting side wall72is coupled to an outer portion of the supporting plate71so as to be bent. The lower cover70may be formed of a material having high durability and heat resistance. The lower cover70may support the guide frame20.

The lower cover70may be formed in another structure depending on the kind of the display device100. To provide a description on a direct type LCD device as an example, the supporting plate71supports the light source module, and may further include a reflective sheet (not shown) that reflects light irradiated from the light source module. The supporting side wall72may support the diffusive plate61.

The light source module is disposed at a bottom of the lower cover70to irradiate light, and may include a light source circuit unit and a light emitting diode (LED) array.

The light source circuit unit is disposed at the bottom of the supporting plate71. The light source circuit unit includes a driving power line through which a driving power is supplied from the outside, and supplies a power, supplied from the outside, to the LED array through the driving power line.

The LED array is configured by coupling a plurality of LED packages to a board, and each of the LED packages includes an LED chip, which emits light with power, and a lens that diffuses the light, emitted from the LED chip, to the outside.

Therefore, the light source module may be disposed to be opposite to a lower side of the diffusive plate61, and may directly irradiate the light onto a bottom of the diffusive plate61.

The diffusive plate61is supported by the lower cover70, namely, the supporting side wall72, and diffuses the light incident from the light source module to output the diffused light to the outside. The diffusive plate61may include a plurality of beads (a diffusive bead and a haze bead) for diffusing the light. The diffusive plate61may be disposed to be opposite to the supporting plate71, the light source module, and the reflective sheet, and in particular, may be disposed in parallel with the light source module so as to maintain a distance between the diffusive plate61and the light source module. Therefore, an optical gap between the light source module and the diffusive plate61is maintained without any change, thereby maintaining a light uniformity of the backlight unit60.

A plurality of optical sheets62, which enhance a luminance characteristic of the light passing through the diffusive plate61, may be disposed at a top of the diffusive plate61. The plurality of optical sheets62may be sheets having a prism shape, a lenticular lens shape, or a micro-lens shape. Each of the optical sheets62may include a sub-material such as a bead, for enhancing an optical effect.

To provide a description on an edge type LCD device as an example, although not shown, a supporting plate supports the reflective sheet and a light guide frame, and a light source module may be disposed at a side of a supporting side wall. The light source module irradiates light onto a side of the light guide frame, which refracts the light incident through the side to guide the refracted light to the display panel10. A plurality of optical sheets62, which enhance a luminance characteristic of the light, may be disposed at a top of the light guide frame.

The LCD device has been described above as an example of the display device100according to the example embodiments, but the display device100according to the example embodiments is not limited to the LCD device. For example, various flat panel display devices such as an organic light emitting display (OLED) device may be used as the display device100, as shown inFIG. 7. For example, the display panel10may be an organic light emitting display panel including an organic light emitting element12. In the display device100including the organic light emitting display panel, the organic light emitting element12is provided on the lower substrate11, and the panel driver30connected to the lower substrate11drives the organic light emitting element, thereby displaying an image by using light that is output to the outside through the lower substrate11or the upper substrate12. In this case, a backlight unit may be omitted, and thus, the lower cover70supports the guide frame20, and surrounds a rear surface of the display panel10.

As described above, the present invention can effectively discharge liquid which flows into the inside, thereby preventing the panel driver and the other metal elements from becoming corroded. As a result, a durability of a display device is enhanced.