Backlight module and display device

A backlight module and a display device are disclosed. The backlight module includes a ring light-guiding body and a light source, wherein the ring light-guiding body includes a first side close to an axis and a second side away from the axis, light generated by the light source is emitted from the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body. Light emission over 360-degree circumference can be achieved by the backlight module. Display over 360-degree circumference can be achieved by the display device including the backlight module.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a backlight module and a display device.

BACKGROUND

A liquid crystal display (LCD) differs from an organic light emitting displays (OLED) in that, a liquid crystal display does not emit light itself, and a backlight is usually provided by a backlight module to the liquid crystal display, so as to achieve display. The backlight modules are classified into direct-type backlight module and edge-type backlight module according to positions of a light source and a display panel. The light source of the direct-type backlight module is located directly below the display panel, and the light source of the edge-type backlight module is located at one side of the display panel. But no matter for direct-type backlight module or edge-type backlight module, in view of the fact that liquid crystal panel serve for planar displaying, and then all of existing backlight modules are backlight sources with planar luminescence, they cannot satisfy requirements of a special display, such as, ring display.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided a backlight module and a display device, by the backlight module, light emission over 360-degree circumference can be achieved, so as to satisfy requirements of ring display.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a backlight module, which comprises a ring light-guiding body and a light source, the ring light-guiding body comprises a first side close to an axis and a second side away from the axis, and light generated (emitted) by the light source is emitted from the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a display device, which comprises a display panel and any one of the backlight module provided by embodiments of the invention, and the display panel is fixed to the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body of the backlight module.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the invention will be described in a clearly and fully understandable way in connection with the drawings related to the embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are just a part but not all of the embodiments of the invention. Based on the embodiments in the invention, those ordinarily skilled in the art can obtain other embodiment(s), without any inventive work, which should be within the scope sought for protection by the invention.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a backlight module, which comprises a ring light-guiding body and a light source. As shown inFIG. 1, the ring light-guiding body10comprises a first side11close to an axis101and a second side12away from the axis101, and light generated (emitted) by the light source is emitted from the second side12away from the axis101of the ring light-guiding body. Namely, according to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a backlight module, which comprises a ring light-guiding body that comprises a first side11being its inner side and a second side12being its outer side and a light source, light generated by the light source is emitted from the second side12.

It is to be noted that, the cross section of the ring light-guiding body is in an annular shape. For example, it may be in a circularly annular shape, or an elliptical annular shape, and it may also be in other annular shape. The present invention does not set a limit to this. The axis101is such as, the central axis of the ring light-guiding body. The ring light-guiding body has a certain height in a direction perpendicular to its cross section. As the light-guiding body is in an annular shape, light generated by the light source is emitted from the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body, namely, the second side of the ring light-guiding body is a light emitting surface, and light of the light source goes out through the second side of the ring light-guiding body. That is, the backlight module gives out light around its 360-degree circumference.

It is to be noted that, the ring light-guiding body may be formed by one plastic selected from the group consisting of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, PC (polycarbonate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and so on. The ring light-guiding body may be formed in one piece by injection molding, blow molding or other way, and it may also be formed by splicing multiple pieces.

According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a backlight module, which comprises a ring light-guiding body and a light source. The ring light-guiding body comprises a first side close to an axis and a second side away from the axis, and light generated by the light source is emitted from the second side away from the axis of the light-guiding body. Because the light-guiding body is in an annular shape, light of the light source goes out through the second side of the ring light-guiding body. That is, the backlight module gives out light around its 360-degree circumference.

For example, the light source comprises at least one light-emitting member, and the light-emitting member at least gives out light by 360 degrees with the axis of the ring light-guiding body as its center, and is located inside the ring light-guiding body. For example, it may be the case that as shown inFIG. 2, the light source20comprises one light-emitting member, the light-emitting member (i.e. the light source20) shown inFIG. 2has the shape of a sphere, by which, an all-around, 360-degree luminescence can be realized, the light source20is fixed inside the ring light-guiding body10by a light-source supporting structure24, and then light generated by the light source20is emitted from the second side12of the ring light-guiding body10. The ring light-guiding body10annularly sends out light by 360 degrees along a plane perpendicular to the axis101.

Of course, arrangements of the light source and the ring light-guiding body are not limited to the mode shown inFIG. 2.

For example, as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the light source20comprises one columnar light-emitting member, and the columnar light-emitting member is located at the axis101of the ring light-guiding body10.

For example, the columnar light-emitting member may be a lamp tube or the like. 360-degree, circular luminescence can be achieved by the lamp tube along its axis, and then, the lamp tube is located at the axis of the ring light-guiding body, and the ring light-guiding body annularly sends out light by 360 degrees along a plane perpendicular to the axis.

For example, as shown inFIG. 5, the light source comprises three columnar light-emitting members (i.e. a first columnar light-emitting member21, a second columnar light-emitting member22, a third columnar light-emitting member23), and the three columnar light-emitting members (i.e. the first columnar light-emitting member21, the second columnar light-emitting member22, the third columnar light-emitting member23) are arranged in the form of an array along the circular periphery of the axis101of the ring light-guiding body10.

Certainly, the light source may also comprise any other number of light-emitting members, and with respect to a backlight module, luminous intensity of the backlight module can be adjusted by means of controlling the number of columnar light-emitting members. Embodiments of the invention have been described merely with reference to examples in which the light source comprises one columnar light-emitting member or three columnar light-emitting members.

For example, a length of the columnar light-emitting member is not less than a light emitting length of the ring light-guiding body. For example, if the length of the columnar light-emitting member is less than the light emitting length of the ring light-guiding body, then the light emitting intensity of a portion of the columnar light-emitting member corresponding to the ring light-guiding body is larger than the light emitting intensity of that not corresponding to the ring light-guiding body. While in embodiments of the invention, length of the columnar light-emitting member being not less than the light emitting length of the ring light-guiding body can serve to guarantee uniformity of light emission of the ring light-guiding body. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, length of the columnar light-emitting member is equal to the light emitting length of the ring light-guiding body, so as to utilize the light source reasonably, save energy and avoid waste.

For example, as shown inFIG. 6, the ring light-guiding body10further comprises a third side13and a fourth side14opposite to each other, which are annularly sectional sides, respectively, the light source(s)20is/are provided on the third side13and/or the fourth side14, and the light source20is a ring-like light source and corresponds to an annularly sectional side. For example, a light reflecting structure30is provided on a side of the ring light-guiding body10close to the axis101. The light reflecting structure is beneficial to emit light generated by the light source from the second side of the ring light-guiding body, so as to avoid light generated by the light source from being refracted many times within the light-guiding body.

For example, as shown inFIG. 6, the light reflecting structure30is mainly configured to reflect light generated by the light source20on the third side13and/or the fourth side14, so as to make light being emitted from the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body10.

For example, inFIG. 6, with reference to an example in which light source20is disposed on the third side13and the fourth side14, respectively, light generated by the light source20is emitted from the second side12of the ring light-guiding body10after reflected by the light reflecting structure30, and this configuration is beneficial to enhance the uniformity of light emission. Of course, it may also be the case that the light source20is disposed merely on the third side13or the fourth side14.

For example, a light homogenized structure15is provided on the first side11of the ring light-guiding body10close to an axis101and/or on its second side12away from the axis101. As shown inFIG. 6, a light homogenized structure15is disposed on the second side12away from the axis101of the ring light-guiding body10. The light homogenized structure may be an optical thin film with a uniform and tiny mesh structure or the like, and light diffusion is achieved by the light homogenized structure, thereby playing a role of solving a problem of glare that results from the concentration of light source, and improving uniformity of light emission.

For example, the ring-like light source is an annular light-emitting member, or, the ring-like light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting members, and the plurality of light-emitting members are arranged around the periphery of an annular cross section of the ring light-guiding body10on the third side13and/or the fourth side14. The light source is an annular light-emitting member, such as, an annular lamp tube, or the like, and then the annular lamp tube is disposed on a section of the ring light-guiding body on one side, and light to be emitted from the ring light-guiding body enters through the section of the ring light-guiding body. Or, as shown inFIG. 7, the light source20comprises a plurality of light-emitting members, and for example, it may be a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes). The plurality of LEDs may be arranged around the periphery of an annular cross section of the ring light-guiding body10, so as to form annular luminescence, and light enters the light-guiding body through the section of the ring light-guiding body.

For example, as shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9, the backlight module further comprises a fixing holder40, which is configured to fix the ring light-guiding body10and the light source20.

For example, with respect to the backlight module shown inFIG. 8, the fixing holder40may be disposed merely on one side of the backlight module, so as to fix the ring light-guiding body10and the light source20. For example, the fixing holder40has a ring-like recess401, and the ring light-guiding body10is fixed within the recess. It is also possible that an electrical signal is provided to the light source by means of setting up a power supply socket within the recess.

With respect to the backlight module shown inFIG. 9, light source20is disposed on two opposite sides of the annular cross sections of the ring light-guiding body10, respectively, and then at either of two opposite sides of the backlight module, there may also be comprised one fixing holder40, so as to fix the light-guiding body10and the light source20. For example, the fixing holder40has a ring-like recess401, and each of the ring light-guiding body10and the light source20may be fixed within the ring-like recess. Then, it may also be possible that electrical signals are provided to light source at two sides of the light-guiding body by means of setting up power supply sockets within recesses at two sides, respectively. Certainly, the light source may be fixed in other manners as well, and for example, it is also possible that the light source is fixed on a substrate, and then the substrate is fixed to the ring light-guiding body. There are many kinds of fixing manners of the ring light-guiding body and the light source, and embodiments of the invention have been described only taking those stated above as examples.

According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a backlight module, which comprises a transparent, ring light-guiding body comprising a first side close to an axis and a second side away from the axis and a light source, wherein light generated by the light source is emitted from the second side away from the axis of the light-guiding body. Because the light-guiding body is in an annular shape, light generated by the light source goes out through the second side of the ring light-guiding body. That is, the backlight module gives out light around its 360-degree circumference.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a display device. As shown inFIG. 10, the display device comprises a display panel50and any one of the backlight module provided by embodiments of the invention, and the display panel50is fixed to the second side12of the ring light-guiding body10of the backlight module away from an axis10. Namely, the display panel50is fixed to a light emitting side of the backlight module, and backlight is provided to the display panel by the backlight module, so as to achieve display. The display panel may be attached to the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body by glue or the like, may also be fixed to the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body by other means, and so on.

For example, the display panel is formed by splicing a plurality of spliced screens. As shown inFIG. 11, the display panel comprises a first spliced screen51, a second spliced screen52, a third spliced screen53and a fourth spliced screen54, wherein the first spliced screen51, the second spliced screen52, the third spliced screen53and the fourth spliced screen54are spliced annularly. Of course, the splicing manner of multiple spliced screens is not limited to this, either, and embodiments of the invention have been described only taking those stated above as examples. Where, the display screen may be a flexible display panel, and then the display screen may be a whole piece to encircle a ring light-guiding body10.

With respect to the display device provided by embodiments of the invention, the ring light-guiding body of its backlight module annularly sends out light from a second side away from the axis, namely, the backlight module gives out light around its 360-degree circumference. The display panel is fixed to the second side away from the axis of the ring light-guiding body of the backlight module, and so, display over 360-degree circumference can be achieved by the display device.

It is to be noted that, embodiments of the invention and its drawings are merely used to illustratively describe parts relevant to the present application, and as for other parts that are not involved, they may make reference to common designs.

Descriptions made above are merely specific embodiments of the invention, but the protection scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Changes or replacements, as easily conceivable by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the invention, shall be encompassed within the protection scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention shall be determined by the protection scope of attached claims.

This patent application claims the benefit of priority from Chinese patent application No. 201410727368.8, filed on Dec. 3, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference as a part of the present application.