Optical sheet and display device having the same

Discussed herein is an optical sheet and a display device having the same. In the display device, a fixing portion for fixing optical sheets is provided in the active area of a liquid-crystal panel, and the fixing portion is fixed to a buffer region for evacuation of the panel corner provided in the guide panel, thereby reducing the number of processing steps, and addressing the limitation that components are visible at some viewing angles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0186630 filed on Dec. 24, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an optical sheet and a display device having the same, and more particularly, to an optical sheet that can simplify the manufacturing process and prevent a component from being reflected at a viewing angle, and a display device having the optical sheet.

Description of the Related Art

Typically, a liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a type of flat panel display that displays images by utilizing electrical and optical characteristics of liquid-crystal molecules having intermediate properties between liquid and solid.

Such an LCD device is thinner and lighter than other displays, and has been used in various applications throughout the industry due to low power consumption and driving voltage.

Since such an LCD is not a self-luminous device, it requires a backlight assembly having a fluorescent lamp on its back side. The backlight assembly irradiates light toward the front surface of the LCD, and the light is diffused while passing through a plurality of optical sheets. Then, the diffused light is condensed by a liquid-crystal panel so that an identifiable image is realized.

The optical sheet is mainly made of resin. It is a major component that determines optical characteristics of an LCD and is used in different kinds of backlight assemblies.

The optical sheet has a structure in which a lower light diffusing sheet (diffuser down), a prism sheet and an upper light diffusing sheet (diffuser up) are stacked in this order.

FIG. 1is a plan view of a general display device.FIG. 2is a view showing a general optical sheet.FIG. 3is a view showing portion A ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view of portion A′ inFIG. 1.FIG. 5is a perspective view of a general sheet fixing pad.

Referring toFIG. 1, the general display device includes a guide panel10on which the above-described optical sheets20are placed, and a liquid-crystal panel (not shown) disposed on the optical sheets20.

Referring toFIG. 2, the general optical sheets20form a square plate. Fixing portions21protruding outward are provided on the left and right sides of the optical sheets20, respectively. The optical sheets20thus configured are seated on the guide panel10.

As shown inFIG. 3which shows portion A ofFIG. 1, an adhesive tape40for fixing the liquid-crystal panel disposed on the optical sheets20is attached on the area of the guide panel10along the periphery of the optical sheets20.

The guide panel10is provided with a panel seating part (not shown) on which the liquid-crystal panel is mounted. The panel seating part has a stepped shape upward so as to guide the four sides of the optical sheets20.

Therefore, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the fixing portion21provided at the uppermost one of the optical sheets20and the upper end of the panel seating part. That is, the gap is generated between the guide panel10and the panel seating part due to the above-described step difference.

In the related art, a sheet fixing pad30shown inFIG. 5is used to compensate for the gap generated as described above.

In this regard, referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the sheet fixing pad30has a thickness equal to the above-described gap. The sheet fixing pad30is interposed between the upper surface of the fixing portion21of the uppermost one of the optical sheets20and the upper surface of the panel seating part. Accordingly, the gap due to the above-described step difference can be compensated by using the seat fixing pad30.

FIG. 6is a view showing portion B ofFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 6, a shelter11having a predetermined depth is provided at a corner of the guide panel10to prevent damage to the corner of the liquid-crystal panel.

The shelter11is used as a space for preventing damage to the four corners of the liquid-crystal panel when a physical impact such as twisting of the liquid crystal panel is exerted thereon.

According to this structure, the sheet fixing pad30is required to compensate for the gap formed between the fixing portion21of the optical sheets20and the upper end of the panel seating part, and thus there is a problem in the related art in that the numbers of the manufacturing processes and processing components increase.

Also, in the related art, as the thickness of the bezel of the display device becomes slimmer, there is a problem in that the fixing portion21of the optical sheets20is exposed to the outside of the liquid-crystal panel at some viewing angles such that it is visible.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an optical sheet capable of reducing the number of processing steps for fixing optical sheets by fixing the optical sheets to the guide panel using one corner of the optical sheets, and to provide a display device having the optical sheet.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an optical sheet capable of preventing a component from being visible from the outside by disposing a fixing portion for fixing optical sheets outside the active area of a liquid-crystal panel, and to provide a display device having the optical sheet.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an optical sheet includes a plate-shaped optical sheet body having an active area and a non-active area; and a fixing portion disposed in each of two corners of the optical sheet body in the non-active area.

The fixing portion may protrude from the respective corners of the optical sheet body. The fixing portion may be extended in different directions sequentially. The fixing portion may be provided at two corners along one surface of the optical sheet body.

A tape attaching area may be provided on the surface of the optical sheet body between the two corners.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a display device includes a guide panel; optical sheets seated on the guide panel, wherein corners of the optical sheets positioned in a non-active area provided outside the active area are fixed to the guide panel; and a liquid-crystal panel seated on the guide panel such that it is positioned on the optical sheets.

The optical sheets may include a plate-shaped optical sheet body having the active area and the non-active area, and a fixing portion provided on the optical sheet body in the non-active area.

A buffer region having a predetermined depth may be formed at each of the corners of the guide panel. The fixing portion may be disposed in the buffer region. The side walls of the buffer region may have a shape conforming to a periphery of the fixing portion.

A tape attached to the periphery of the liquid crystal panel may be disposed on one side of the guide panel corresponding to one side of the optical sheet body. The tape may be extended on the surface of the optical sheet body.

The fixing portions may protrude from the two corners on the surface of the optical sheet body. The fixing portion may be extended in different directions sequentially.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of processing steps for fixing optical sheets can be reduced by fixing the optical sheets to the guide panel using one corner of the optical sheets.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing portions for fixing the optical sheets are be disposed outside the active area of a liquid-crystal panel, thereby preventing that components are visible at some viewing angles.

These and other objects of the present application will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the claimed subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter.

The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Elements well known in the art may have been omitted in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

As used herein, when an element such as a layer, region, substrate, or panel is referred to as being “on” or “under” another element, it can be directly on or under one or more other elements.

In addition, it does not exclude that an intervening elements may also be present between the two elements.

Hereinafter, an optical sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there are provided an optical sheet capable of reducing the number of processing steps for fixing the optical sheets by fixing the optical sheets to the guide panel using one corner of the optical sheets, and a display device having the optical sheet. All the components of the optical sheets and the display device according to all embodiments of the present disclosure are operatively coupled and configured.

FIG. 7is a plan view of a display device having an optical sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 8is a plan view of an optical sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7, an optical sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is included in a display device. Various types of display device are possible, such as an LCD device or other flat-panel display devices.

In the following description, the structure of the optical sheet will be described, and a display device employing the optical sheet will be described.

Referring toFIG. 7, the optical sheet200according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is guided by a guide panel100.

Referring toFIG. 8, the optical sheet200according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of optical sheets stacked one on another. The optical sheets include sheets such as a reflective sheet, a diffusion sheet, etc.

The optical sheet200includes an optical sheet body210having a rectangular plate shape, and fixing portions220provided on the optical sheet body210. The optical sheet body210includes an active area. The active area is exposed in the display area of the liquid-crystal panel such that images are actually displayed.

In addition, the optical sheet body210includes a non-active area. The non-active area refers to the outer area of the active area. The non-active area may be substantially screened by a structure such as the guide panel100.

Therefore, the active area is provided in the central portion of the optical sheet body210, and the non-active area is provided in the periphery portion thereof.

In this exemplary embodiment, the fixing portions220may be disposed in the non-active area.

The configuration of the fixing portions220will be described.

In this exemplary embodiment, the fixing portions are formed on two corners on one surface of the optical sheet body, respectively, as shown inFIG. 8.

Accordingly, a pair of the fixing portions220are formed, and the pair of fixing portions220are disposed so as to be symmetrical with each other at the two corners of the optical sheet body210

Although it is preferable that the pair of fixing portions220have the same shape and are symmetrical with respect to the center of the optical sheet body part210, it is not limited thereto.

In the following description, one of the pair of the fixing portions220will be described as a representative example.

The fixing portion220protrudes from the periphery of the optical sheet body210. The fixing portion220is included in the non-active area. Each of the fixing portions220may have a shape bent several times in different directions.

Preferably, the fixing portion220may include a first body221and a second body222. The first body221extends along the x-axis such that it protrudes from one side of the optical sheet body210. The second body222extends along the y-axis such that it protrudes from the end of the first body221. Accordingly, the first and second bodies221and222extend sequentially in different directions such that they are mutually orthogonal.

Accordingly, when the fixing portion220is fixed to a part of the guide panel100, which is a fixed object, fixing force is formed along different directions to improve fixing force of the sheet itself.

On the contrary, the optical sheet body210is fixed along the different directions by the fixing portion220, thereby solving the problem that the device deviates from the installation position due to fluctuation or vibration.

A pair of the fixing portions220each thus configured is formed on two corners of the surface of the optical sheet body210.

The one surface of the optical sheet body210positioned between the pair of fixing portions220may be a stepped surface that forms a step toward the optical sheet body210.

In addition, the fixing portion220may be implemented in various shapes other than the shape through the above-described configuration. That is, the fixing portion220may be manufactured to have a shape conforming to the shape of the fixing area formed in the fixed object, such as the guide panel100.

The fixing structure of the fixing portion220will be described along with the guide panel100.

Next, the optical sheet200thus configured is employed by the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9is a plan view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 10shows a corner of the display device shown inFIG. 9.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a guide panel100, an optical sheet200and a backlight unit.

More specifically, a reflective sheet, a light guide plate, and a plurality of optical sheets (hereinafter referred to as optical sheets) are sequentially stacked on the guide panel100.

In addition, a liquid-crystal panel500is disposed on the optical sheet200. The optical sheet and the liquid-crystal panel are supported by the guide panel.

Referring toFIG. 10, a buffer region120having a predetermined depth is provided at a corner of the guide panel100. The buffer region120is formed to have such a depth that it conforms to the shape of the fixing portion220of the optical sheet200. The buffer region120is provided at the corner of the guide panel100to provide a shelter to prevent damage when the corner of the liquid-crystal panel fluctuates.

As shown inFIG. 11, the buffer region120provides a gap G in the vertical direction.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing portion220protrudes from each of the both corners of one surface of the optical sheet body210. That is, a pair of the fixing portions220is provided.

The pair of fixing portions220are disposed in two buffer regions120provided at corresponding positions among the four buffer regions120provided in the guide panel100.

Thus, the pair of fixing portions220are disposed and fixed in the pair of buffer regions120, respectively. The pair of fixing portions220are disposed in the non-active area, and the pair of buffer areas120are also located in the non-active area.

Accordingly, the pair of fixing portions220may be located in the non-active region and may be located and fixed in the above-described pair of buffer regions120, respectively.

In addition, the fixing portion220includes the first and second bodies221and222and extends in different directions.

According to this configuration, since the fixing portions220of the optical sheet body210are positioned in the buffer regions120provided in the guide panel100and form fixing forces along different directions, it can be stably fixed against an external impact.

In addition, the width of the first body221of the fixing portion220may be larger than the width of the second body221.

Since the first body221is formed in a line shape included in the optical sheet body210, it has larger width than the width of the second body222located in a region deviating from the optical sheet body210, so that a stable fixing force of the optical sheet body210can be ensured.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D inFIG. 10.FIG. 12is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D inFIG. 9.FIG. 13is a view showing an attached tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 11 to 13, a tape attaching area F (seeFIG. 13) is provided on one surface of the optical sheet body210according to the present disclosure.

A liquid-crystal panel500is disposed on the optical sheet200, and a tape300is disposed on the guide panel100to fix the liquid-crystal panel500. The tape300attached to the bottom surface of the liquid-crystal panel500extends a predetermined length so as to cover one surface of the optical sheet body210. The length of the tape500may be equal to the distance between the pair of fixing portions220described above. The tape attaching area F is provided on one surface of the optical sheet body210with a length equal to the length of the tape300. Therefore, the extended tape300may be attached to the tape attaching area F provided on one surface of the uppermost one of the optical sheets200.

Accordingly, the bottom surface of the tape300may fix the optical sheet200while the top surface may fix the liquid-crystal panel500.

That is, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that the optical sheet200as well as the liquid-crystal panel500can be fixed by using one tape300.FIG. 14shows an optical sheet according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 14, a fixing portion230may be formed at one end of one surface of the optical sheet200according to this exemplary embodiment.

The fixing portion230may have the same shape as the fixing portion220described above. However, it is preferable that the shape of the fixing portion230is determined according to the shape of a buffer region120provided in the guide panel100described above.

It is to be understood that when the optical sheet200is fixed by using a single fixing portion230, it is preferable that the fixing portion230has a wider area than the above-described exemplary embodiment. By doing so, it is possible to fix the optical sheet sufficiently stably when the single fixing unit230is used.

That is, as shown inFIG. 14, the area of the fixing portion230according to this exemplary embodiment may be larger than the area of the fixing portion220according to the above-described embodiment.

In addition, the fixing portion230may extend in two or more directions in a plane, thereby ensuring a sufficient fixing force in multiple of directions.

FIG. 15shows a fixing portion220according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 15, the fixing unit220according to this embodiment includes first and second bodies221and222. The first body221and the second body222may be connected to each other such that they have a curvature R.

It is to be understood that the shape of a buffer region120of the guide panel100supported by the fixing portion220may also have a shape conforming to the shape of the fixing portion.

As described above, as the first and second bodies221and222are connected to each other such that they have the curvature R, when the impact is exerted from the outside, the impact can be absorbed sufficiently in the portion where the curvature R is formed.

According to the structure and function as described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the optical sheets can be fixed to the guide panel by using one corner of the optical sheets, thereby reducing the number of processing steps required for fixing the optical sheets.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the fixing portions for fixing the optical sheets are be disposed outside the active area of the liquid-crystal panel, thereby preventing that components are visible at some viewing angles.