Heat dissipating structure for IC chip of plasma display module and plasma display module having the same

A heat dissipating structure for an IC chip of a plasma display module, and a plasma display module having the same with improved heat dissipating performance of the IC chip while preventing the spread of foreign matter emanating from the heat-dissipating sheet. The structure includes a chassis including a chassis bending part and a chassis base, the IC chip contacting the chassis bending part and connected to a signal transmitting member, a cover plate arranged on the chassis bending part and facing the IC chip, a chip heat-dissipating sheet arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the chip-heat dissipating sheet made out of graphite and a thermally conductive member also arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the thermally conductive member adapted to contact and cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from an application for STRUCTURE FOR HEAT DISSIPATION OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIP OF PLASMA DISPLAY MODULE AND PLASMA DISPLAY MODULE COMPRISING THE SAME earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on 2 May 2005 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2005-0036696.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat dissipating structure for an integrated circuit (IC) chip in a plasma display module, where the heat dissipating performance of the IC chip is improved while preventing the spread of foreign material throughout the module from the heat dissipating structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Plasma display devices are widely considered to be the best replacement for conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices. A plasma display device contains a discharge gas sealed between two substrates on which a plurality of electrodes are formed. In a plasma display device, a voltage is applied to the electrodes to generate discharge which excites a phosphor material to generate visible light.

The plasma display device includes a plasma display module, which commonly includes a plasma display panel and a driving device for driving the plasma display panel. The driving device includes circuit elements mounted on a circuit board that are electrically connected to the plasma display panel using a signal transmitting member. The signal transmitting member includes a plurality of conductive lines, and at least a portion of the conductive lines pass through an IC chip.

When the plasma display panel is driven, the IC chip generates a lot of heat. A conventional heat dissipating structure for the IC chip cannot effectively dissipate this heat, leading to a reduction in performance and lifespan of the IC chip. Thus, it has become necessary to develop a heat dissipating structure for an IC chip that can effectively dissipate heat from the IC chip.

Also, the heat dissipating structure includes materials having high thermal conductivity. However, such materials can also be apt to generate foreign material. If this foreign material spreads throughout the plasma display device, many problems can occur, such as short circuiting. Therefore, what is also needed is a heat dissipating structure that prevents against the negative effects of foreign material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved design for a plasma display module.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved heat dissipating structure for a plasma display module.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved heat dissipating structure for an IC chip located on a signal transmitting member that delivers signals that drives a plasma display panel in a plasma display module.

It is still the object of the present invention to provide a heat dissipating structure for a plasma display module that does not produce graphite foreign material.

It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a heat dissipating structure for an integrated circuit (IC) chip of a plasma display module, and a plasma display module having the same, that can improve the heat dissipating performance of the IC chip while preventing contamination by a chip heat-dissipating sheet by installing a thermally conductive member covering the chip heat-dissipating sheet.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat dissipating structure for an integrated circuit (IC) chip of a plasma display module and a plasma display module having the same, the structure including a chassis including a chassis bending part and a chassis base, the chassis bending part being integral with the chassis base, the IC chip contacting the chassis bending part and connected to a signal transmitting member, a cover plate arranged on the chassis bending part and facing the IC chip, a chip heat-dissipating sheet arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the chip-heat dissipating sheet being made of graphite and a thermally conductive member also arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the thermally conductive member adapted to contact and cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet.

The chassis bending part can be arranged at an edge of the chassis. The signal transmitting member can include a tape carrier package (TCP). The chip heat-dissipating sheet can include one adhesive surface. The thermally conductive member can be a foil.

The chip heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the cover plate, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the cover plate and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the IC chip.

The chip heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the IC chip, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the signal transmitting member and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the cover plate.

The heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the IC chip, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the IC chip and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the cover plate.

The thermally conductive member can be copper. The thermally conductive member can be aluminum. The thermally conductive member can have one adhesive surface. The heat dissipating structure can further include a thermal grease arranged between the IC chip and the chassis bending part of the chassis.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat dissipating structure for an integrated circuit (IC) chip of a plasma display module and a plasma display module having the same, the structure including a chassis including a reinforcing member and a chassis base, the reinforcing member being separate from and attached to the chassis base, the IC chip contacting the reinforcing member and connected to a signal transmitting member, a cover plate arranged on the reinforcing member and facing the IC chip, a chip heat-dissipating sheet arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the chip-heat dissipating sheet being made of graphite and a thermally conductive member also arranged between the IC chip and the cover plate, the thermally conductive member adapted to contact and cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet.

The reinforcing member can be made out of a material different from that of the chassis base. The reinforcing member can be arranged at an edge of the chassis. The signal transmitting member can include a tape carrier package (TCP). The chip heat-dissipating sheet can include one adhesive surface. The thermally conductive member can be a foil.

The chip heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the cover plate, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the cover plate and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the IC chip.

The chip heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the IC chip, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the signal transmitting member and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the cover plate.

The heat-dissipating sheet can be arranged to contact the IC chip, the thermally conductive member can be adapted to form a space with the IC chip and can be adapted to accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet, and at least a portion of the thermally conductive member can contact the cover plate.

The thermally conductive member can be copper. The thermally conductive member can be aluminum. The thermally conductive member can have one adhesive surface. The heat dissipating structure can further include a thermal grease arranged between the IC chip and the reinforcing member of the chassis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now toFIGS. 1 through 3,FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display module100having a heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to a first embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the chassis bending part122of the plasma display module100ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 3is a magnified cross-sectional view of the chassis bending part122ofFIG. 2taken along line III-III. As shown inFIG. 1, the plasma display module100includes a plasma display panel110, a chassis120, circuit boards130, a signal transmitting member140, an integrated circuit (IC) chip150, a cover plate160, a chip heat-dissipating sheet170, and a thermally conductive member180.

The plasma display panel110is mounted on the front surface of the chassis120, using a double-sided adhesive means123such as double sided tape attached to the rear surface of the plasma display panel110. A panel heat-dissipating sheet124made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, is installed between the plasma display panel110and the chassis120and serves to dissipate heat generated during the operation of the plasma display panel110. The chassis120is made of aluminum and includes a chassis base121and a chassis bending part122. The chassis base121is located on the center of the chassis120and has a boss125formed thereon. The chassis bending part122is located at an edge of the chassis120and is formed by being bent to a level of the circuit boards130.

The circuit boards130are composed of address electrode buffer circuit boards131, an X electrode driving circuit board132, a Y electrode driving circuit board133, a power supply board134, and a logic control board135, each of boards131,132,133,134and135having a plurality of circuit elements136. The circuit boards130are installed on the chassis base121using the boss125and a bolt126. A connector137is disposed on the circuit boards130and electrically connects the circuit boards130to the signal transmitting member140. The signal transmitting member140transfers an address signal and passes over the chassis bending part122. One end of the signal transmitting member140is connected to a connector137on the address electrode buffer circuit board131, and the other end is connected to the plasma display panel110. The signal transmitting member140electrically connects the plasma display panel110to the address electrode buffer circuit boards131, and the signal transmitting member140can be a tape carrier package (TCP).

The IC chip150is mounted on the chassis bending part122and controls electrical signals on the signal transmitting member140by being connected to the signal transmitting member140. Thermal grease190is arranged between the IC chip150and the chassis bending part122.

While the first embodiment includes thermal grease190being arranged between the IC chip150and the chassis bending part122, the present invention is in no way limited to this. That is, the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip can have the IC chip150directly contacting the chassis bending part122without thermal grease.

The cover plate160is mounted on the chassis bending part122to protect the signal transmitting member140and the IC chip150and to draw away heat generated by the IC chip150. A chip heat-dissipating sheet170is installed between the IC chip150and the cover plate160to transfer heat from the IC chip150to the cover plate160. The chip heat-dissipating sheet170is made out of graphite which has a superior thermal conductivity. The chip heat dissipating sheet170can also have one adhesive surface. The chip heat-dissipating sheet170is manufactured in a tape form by forming a shape of a chip heat-dissipating sheet with graphite and spreading a strong adhesive on one surface of the chip heat-dissipating sheet170. The chip heat-dissipating sheet170can then be easily attached without a separate adhesive agent.

While the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the first embodiment is made out of graphite, the present invention is in no way limited to this. That is, the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the present invention can be formed by mixing graphite and different materials having excellent thermal conductivity.

While one surface of the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the first embodiment has an adhesive surface, the present invention is in no way limited to this. That is, the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the present invention can be attached by spreading an adhesive agent on all or a portion of each chip heat-dissipating sheet170whenever attachment is necessary, instead of pre-spreading adhesive on the chip heat-dissipating sheet170.

The thermally conductive member180is located between the IC chip150and the chip heat-dissipating sheet170. The thermally conductive member180is made out of aluminum and can take the form of a foil. The thermally conductive member180forms a sealed space with the cover plate160that accommodates the chip heat-dissipating sheet170. That is, since the thermally conductive member180has an area that is wider than the chip heat-dissipating sheet170, the chip heat-dissipating sheet170is isolated from the outside of the thermally conductive member180and the cover plate160. With such a design, foreign material of graphite powder generated by the chip heat-dissipating sheet170cannot move to the outside of the thermally conductive member180and the cover plate160.

While the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the first embodiment is installed to contact the cover plate160, and the thermally conductive member180forms the space with the cover plate160for accommodating the chip heat-dissipating sheet170, the present invention is not limited to this exact design. For example, the chip heat-dissipating sheet170of the present invention can instead be installed to contact the IC chip150, and the thermally conductive member180can form a space with the signal transmitting member140or the IC chip150instead of the cover plate for accommodating the chip heat-dissipating sheet170.

While the material of the thermally conductive member180of the first embodiment is preferably aluminum, the present invention is in no way so limited. For example, the thermally conductive member180of the present invention can be made of a different thermally conductive metal, or even a synthetic resin having excellent thermal conductivity.

While the thermally conductive member180of the first embodiment is preferably a foil, the present invention is in no way so limited. For example, the thermally conductive member180of the first embodiment of the present invention can have other various other designs that can efficiently transfer heat to or from the chip heat-dissipating sheet170.

A discussion of the assembly process of the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The installer installs the signal transmitting member140and the IC chip150on the chassis bending part122, attaches the chip heat-dissipating sheet170to the rear surface of the cover plate160, and fixes the thermally conductive member180to the cover plate160to cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet170. The installer assembles the cover plate160to the chassis bending part122by passing a fixing bolt161through a fixing hole162and combining the fixing bolt161with a female nut122aof the chassis bending part122.

A process of operating the plasma display module100having the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a transfer path of heat generated by the IC chip150will now be described. When plasma display module100operates, the circuit boards130are driven, and a voltage is applied to the plasma display panel110. When the voltage is applied to the plasma display panel110, address discharge and sustain discharge occur, and the energy level of discharge gas excited during the sustain discharge drops, thus emitting ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet rays excite a phosphor layer in discharge cells, and when the energy level of the excited phosphor layer drops, visible light is emitted to form an image.

During this light producing process, a lot of heat is generated by the IC chip150mounted on the chassis bending part122. Part of the heat generated by the IC chip is transferred to the chassis bending part122via the thermal grease190, and the rest of the heat is transferred to the cover plate160via the thermally conductive member180and the chip heat-dissipating sheet170. Because the chip heat-dissipating sheet170is made out of graphite, heat generated by the IC chip150effectively transfers to the cover plate160. The heat generated by the IC chip150and transferred to the cover plate160is directly transferred to ambient air surrounding the cover plate160via convective heat transfer.

The graphite in the chip heat-dissipating sheet170is both electrically conductive and thermally conductive, but can cause short circuits or other problems if foreign material released therefrom is allowed to contaminate the circuit boards130. However, as described above, the thermally conductive member180of the first embodiment prevents these problems by forming the sealed space with the cover plate160for accommodating the chip heat-dissipating sheet170.

The plasma display module100having the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the first embodiment can improve the heat dissipating performance of the IC chip150while simultaneously solving the problem of graphite contamination, by using the chip heat-dissipating sheet170made of highly conductive graphite, and installing the thermally conductive member180to fully cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet170.

Turning now toFIGS. 4 through 6,FIGS. 4 through 6illustrate a plasma display module200according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically,FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display module200having a heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to a second embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 5is an exploded perspective view of a portion of reinforcing member222of the plasma display module200ofFIG. 4, andFIG. 6is a magnified cross-sectional view ofFIG. 5taken along VI-VI.

As shown inFIG. 4, the plasma display module200includes a plasma display panel210, a chassis220, circuit boards230, a signal transmitting member240, an IC chip250, a cover plate260, a chip heat-dissipating sheet270, and a thermally conductive member280. The plasma display panel210is mounted on the front surface of the chassis220using a double-sided adhesive means223such as double-sided tape attached to the rear surface of the plasma display panel210.

A panel heat-dissipating sheet224having a superior thermal conductivity is installed between the plasma display panel210and the chassis220to dissipate heat generated during the operation of the plasma display panel210. The chassis220is made out of aluminum and includes a chassis base221and a reinforcing member222.

The chassis base221is located at the center of the chassis220, and has a boss225formed on the chassis base221. The reinforcing member222is located at the edge of the chassis220, and is formed to the level of the circuit boards230mounted on the chassis base221. The reinforcing member222of this second embodiment differs from the chassis bending part122of the first embodiment for the following reasons.

The reinforcing member222is different from the chassis bending part122in part due to the process used to make the chassis. The chassis bending part122is formed by bending the edge of the chassis120while the reinforcing member222is formed separately from the chassis base221and is later mounted on the chassis base221. This is especially significant when the chassis220is made out of a material that can not be bent. For example, chassis220can be made out of plastic, which is a material that cannot be bent by external force. Such a plastic chassis220is lighter than a chassis made out of metal. A separate plastic reinforcing member222can be attached to a plastic chassis base221to complete the lightweight chassis220.

Alternatively, the chassis base221and the reinforcing member222can be made out of different materials respectively for the chassis' rigidity. In these cases, it is preferable that the reinforcing member222, which is made out of a different material than that of the chassis base221, is substituted for the chassis bending part122. Thus, the second embodiment can provide the above advantages over that of the first embodiment

In the second embodiment, the circuit boards230include address electrode buffer circuit boards231, an X electrode driving circuit board232, a Y electrode driving circuit board233, a power supply board234, and a logic control board235. Each of the circuit boards230include a plurality of circuit elements236. The circuit boards231,232,233,234and235are installed on the chassis base221using the boss225and a bolt226, and are electrically connected to the signal transmitting member240by a connector237.

The signal transmitting member240transfers an address signal and passes over the reinforcing member222. One end of the signal transmitting member240is connected to the connector237on the address electrode buffer circuit board231, and the other end is connected to the plasma display panel210. The signal transmitting member240can be a tape carrier package (TCP).

The IC chip250is mounted on the reinforcing member222and controls electrical signals by being connected to the signal transmitting member240. The cover plate260is mounted on the reinforcing member222, to protect the signal transmitting member240and the IC chip250and emit heat generated by the IC chip250. The chip heat-dissipating sheet270is installed between the IC chip250and the cover plate260and transfers heat from the IC chip250to the cover plate260. The chip heat-dissipating sheet270is made out of graphite and has one adhesive surface as in the first embodiment. Thus, an installer can easily attach the chip heat-dissipating sheet270to the upper surface of the IC chip250using the adhesive surface.

The thermally conductive member280is located between the cover plate260and the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. The thermally conductive member280is preferably made out of copper and preferably is in the form of a foil. The thermally conductive member280has one adhesive surface. Therefore, like the chip heat-dissipating sheet270, an installer can easily install the thermally conductive member280using its adhesive surface.

The thermally conductive member280forms a sealed space with the signal transmitting member240that accommodate the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. That is, since the thermally conductive member280has an area wider than the chip heat-dissipating sheet270, the chip heat-dissipating sheet270is isolated from an outside of the thermally conductive member280because the thermally conductive member280covers the entire chip heat-dissipating sheet270and the thermally conductive member280is attached to the signal transmitting member240. Therefore, while foreign material of graphite powder is still generated by the chip heat-dissipating sheet270, the foreign material cannot move outside the thermally conductive member280and the signal transmitting member240.

InFIGS. 4 through 6, the IC chip250is shown to be smaller than the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. In this scenario, the chip heat-dissipating sheet270entirely covers the IC chip250. As a result, the thermally conductive member280is attached only to the signal transmitting member240and not to the IC chip250when the thermally conductive member280entirely covers the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. It is to be appreciated that the second embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this scenario. That is, the chip heat-dissipating sheet270of the present invention can instead be made to be smaller than the IC chip250. In this new scenario, the thermally conductive member280can be adequately attached to the IC chip250even if the thermally conductive member280entirely covers the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. Also it is to be understood that the thermally conductive member280may have other orientations than that illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. For example, a variation of the second embodiment within the scope of the present invention is to have the thermally conductive member280lie between the IC chip250and the chip heat-dissipating sheet270instead of being between the chip heat-dissipating sheet270and the cover plate260.

Thus, an installer can form the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the second embodiment using the method described below. The installer installs the signal transmitting member240and the IC chip250on the reinforcing member222, attaches the chip heat-dissipating sheet270to the IC chip250, and fixes the thermally conductive member280to the signal transmitting member240to cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet270. The installer then assembles the cover plate260to the reinforcing member222by passing a fixing bolt261through a fixing hole262and combining the fixing bolt261with a female nut222aof the reinforcing member222.

Since the process of operating the plasma display module200having the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the second embodiment is the same as the case of the first embodiment described above, the description will not be repeated.

A transfer path of heat generated by the IC chip250of the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the second embodiment will now be described. When the plasma display panel210is driven, a lot of heat is generated by the IC chip250. Part of this heat is transferred to the reinforcing member222attached to the IC chip250, and the rest is of this heat is transferred to the cover plate260via the chip heat-dissipating sheet270and the thermally conductive member280. In this case, since the chip heat-dissipating sheet270is made of graphite, the heat generated by the IC chip250is effectively transferred to the cover plate260. The heat generated by the IC chip250and transferred to the cover plate260is directly transferred to ambient air surrounding the cover plate260by convective heat transfer.

The graphite of the chip heat-dissipating sheet270has superior electrical conductivity and superior thermal conductivity, but could cause short circuits or other problems if allowed to contaminate the circuit boards230. However, as described above, the thermally conductive member280of the second embodiment prevents foreign material from the chip heat-dissipating sheet270from escaping because a sealed space between the signal transmitting member240and the thermally conductive member280accommodates the chip heat-dissipating sheet270.

The plasma display module200having the heat dissipating structure for an IC chip according to the second embodiment can improve the heat dissipating performance of the IC chip250while solving the problem of graphite contamination by using the chip heat-dissipating sheet270made of highly conductive graphite, and installing the thermally conductive member280to fully cover the chip heat-dissipating sheet270.

As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, by installing a chip heat-dissipating sheet including graphite, whose thermal conductivity is excellent, and installing a thermally conductive member covering the chip heat-dissipating sheet, the heat dissipating performance of an IC chip can be improved, and contamination by foreign material emanating from the chip heat-dissipating sheet can be prevented. In addition, by improving the heat dissipating performance of the IC chip, the performance and life span of the IC chip can be increased, and a plasma display module can be stably driven.