Liquid crystal display device

A liquid display device includes a cover bottom including a first cover portion of a first direction and a second cover portion of a second direction; a backlight over the cover bottom and including a light source, a diffusion plate, and an optical sheet; a support member maintaining a distance between the light source and the diffusion plate and including a first support portion and a second support portion; and a liquid crystal panel over the backlight and the support member, wherein the support member and the cover bottom are fastened to each other by a plurality of screws, and wherein the first cover portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding outward from an outer surface of the second cover portion and corresponding to the plurality of screws, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0189358 filed on Dec. 28, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device having a narrow bezel.

Description of the Related Art

As the information society is in progress, a demand for display devices that display images increases in various forms, and flat panel display devices (FPD) such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices and organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices have been developed and applied to various fields.

Among the flat panel display devices, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used because of their compact size, light weight, thin thickness, low power driving, and the like.

The liquid crystal display devices use optical anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal and include two substrates, a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates, and a pixel electrode and a common electrode for driving liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display devices control the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules by an electric field generated by applying a voltage to the pixel electrode and the common electrode and display images by the light transmittance changed accordingly. The liquid crystal display devices have been widely applied to portable devices such as cellphones or multimedia devices, monitors for notebooks or computers, and large televisions.

In the liquid crystal display devices, an area other than a display area where an image is displayed becomes a bezel of products using the liquid crystal display devices. Recently, by minimizing a width of the bezel such that the display area is maximized in the display device having the same size, borderless products have been researched and developed with a neat appearance in which mechanical parts such as various cases or covers are not shown.

To do this, structures have been suggested in which an adhesive member is used between components of the liquid crystal display device, and the adhesive member fixes the components by a strong adhesive force.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The inventors have realized that, when adhesion failure occurs or the components need to be repaired, it is difficult to separate the components because of the strong adhesive force of the adhesive member. Accordingly, in the process of separating the components, damage to a liquid crystal panel or optical sheets of a backlight unit is likely, so that repair and reassembly are difficult.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a liquid crystal display device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages described above to a liquid crystal display device with a minimized or reduced bezel.

More specifically, the present disclosure is to provide a liquid crystal display device with a minimized or reduced bezel.

The present disclosure is also to provide a liquid crystal display device that is easy to be repaired and reassembled.

Additional features and aspects will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure provided herein. Other features and aspects of the disclosed concepts may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description, or derivable therefrom, and the claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, a liquid display device includes a cover bottom including a first cover portion that extends in a first direction and a second cover portion that extends in a second direction; a backlight over the cover bottom and including a light source, a diffusion plate, and an optical sheet; a support member that maintains a distance between the light source and the diffusion plate and includes a first support portion and a second support portion; and a liquid crystal panel over the backlight and the support member, wherein the support member and the cover bottom are fastened to each other by a plurality of screws, and wherein the first cover portion includes a plurality of protrusions that protrude outward from an outer surface of the second cover portion and correspond to the plurality of screws, respectively.

In accordance with various embodiments, a display device includes a cover bottom, and a support member on the cover bottom. The support member includes a first support portion that extends in a horizontal direction, and a second support portion that extends in a vertical direction. The display device further includes a backlight including a light source under the first support portion, and a diffusion plate over the first support portion. A display panel is over the backlight and the support member, and a screw fastens the support member to the cover bottom.

In accordance with various embodiments, a display device includes a cover bottom, a backlight, a support member, a display panel and a screw. The cover bottom includes: a first cover portion that extends in a first direction, the first cover portion having a protrusion; a second cover portion that extends in a second direction; and a cover groove that separates the second cover portion from the protrusion. The backlight is over the cover bottom and includes a light source, a diffusion plate, and an optical sheet. The support member maintains a selected distance between the light source and the diffusion plate, and includes a support hole that overlaps the protrusion. The display panel is over the backlight and the support member. The screw extends through the support hole and fastens the support member to the cover bottom.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are example explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosed concepts as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to aspects of the disclosure, an example embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1andFIG.2are schematic cross-sectional views of a display device, which may be a liquid crystal display device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.3is a top perspective view of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.4is a bottom perspective view of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Here,FIGS.1,3, and4show a part with a screw joint structure, andFIG.2shows a part without a screw joint structure.

Further,FIG.5andFIG.6are a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view schematically showing a configuration between a cover bottom and a support main of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively, and show the part with the screw joint structure.

As shown inFIGS.1to6, the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a display panel100, which may be a liquid crystal panel100, and a backlight unit or structure200, an adhesive member300, a guide panel400, a support main500, and a cover bottom600. The support main500and the cover bottom600are combined with each other by a screw800that fastens the support main500to the cover bottom600. The support main500is a structural member that provides support to the cover bottom and the display device. It can also be referred to as a support member, which has the same meaning.

The liquid crystal panel100includes a first substrate110in a lower position and a second substrate120in an upper position, and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) is interposed between the first and second substrates110and120. As shown inFIG.1, the lower position is more proximal the cover bottom600than the upper position.

Although not shown in the figures, the first substrate110includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on an inner surface thereof, and the gate lines and the data lines cross each other at a plurality of pixel regions. In each pixel region, a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode are provided. The thin film transistor is connected to the corresponding gate line and the corresponding data line, and the pixel electrode is connected to the thin film transistor. The pixel electrode and the common electrode generate an electric field to drive liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. This first substrate110may be referred to as an array substrate.

In addition, although not shown in the figures, the second substrate120includes a black matrix, a color filter layer, and an overcoat layer on an inner surface thereof. The color filter layer includes red, green, and blue color filters, and the black matrix has openings corresponding to respective pixel regions. The red, green, and blue color filters of the color filter layer are disposed to correspond to the opening, respectively. This second substrate120may be referred to as a color filter substrate.

A side sealing member150is provided at side surfaces of the first and second substrates110and120. The side sealing member150may be formed of a material that absorbs light.

The side sealing member150can prevent or reduce light leakage occurring at side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel100. More specifically, some of light outputted from the liquid crystal panel100travels toward the side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel100, and the side sealing member150is provided at the side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel100, thereby blocking the light leakage due to the light traveling toward the side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel100.

In addition, the side sealing member150protects the side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel100from external impacts.

The liquid crystal panel100further includes a first polarizer130and a second polarizer140. The first polarizer130is attached to an outer surface of the first substrate110, that is, a lower surface of the first substrate110, and the second polarizer140is attached to an outer surface of the second substrate120, that is, an upper surface of the second substrate120in the context of the figures. In the figures, the first polarizer130is disposed under the first substrate110, and the second polarizer140is disposed over the second substrate120. The first polarizer130and the second polarizer140transmit linearly-polarized light only parallel to respective transmission axes. The transmission axis of the first polarizer130is perpendicular to the transmission axis of the second polarizer140.

Here, a size of the second polarizer140is larger than a size of the first polarizer130. Accordingly, the first polarizer130may be spaced apart from the side sealing member150, and the second polarizer140may be in contact with the side sealing member150.

Further, the size of the first polarizer130is smaller than a size of the first substrate110, and the outer surface of the first substrate110is partially exposed. More specifically, the outer surface of the first substrate110is exposed between an edge of the first polarizer130and an edge of the first substrate110.

The backlight unit200is disposed under the liquid crystal panel100to provide light to the liquid crystal panel100. The backlight unit200includes a light emitting diode (LED) array210, a reflection plate220, a diffusion plate230, and an optical sheet240.

The backlight unit200is a direct type in which the LED array210of a light source is disposed directly under the liquid crystal panel100.

The LED array210may include a plurality of LEDs212(seeFIG.5) provided on a printed circuit board (PCB). Here, each LED212may be a mini LED having a size of 100 to 200 μm. Accordingly, by implementing local dimming in which light is selectively provided to the liquid crystal panel100by zones, the black luminance is improved, so that the contrast ratio can be increased and the power consumption can be decreased. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various sizes and types of LEDs can be applied.

The reflection plate220is provided on the LED array210. The reflection plate220has openings corresponding to the LEDs212, and the LEDs212are arranged in the respective openings. For example, as shown inFIG.5, the LED212may be positioned such that the LED212extends through and protrudes above an opening in the reflection plate220. Accordingly, light from the LEDs212travels toward the liquid crystal panel100, and light reflected by the liquid crystal panel100or other components over the LEDs212and traveling toward the reflection plate220is reflected by the reflection plate220again and then is sent back to the liquid crystal panel100, thereby increasing the light efficiency.

The diffusion plate230is disposed over the reflection plate220. The diffusion plate230is spaced apart from the LED array210and the reflection plate220with a predetermined or selected distance and uniformly diffuses light from the LEDs212.

The optical sheet240is disposed over the diffusion plate230. The optical sheet240may include at least one diffusion sheet and at least one light-concentrating sheet such that a more uniform surface light source can be incident on the liquid crystal panel100by diffusion or concentrating light passing through the diffusion plate230.

For example, the optical sheet240may include two light-concentrating sheets and one diffusion sheet sequentially disposed over the diffusion plate230. The light-concentrating sheets may include prism patterns or lenticular patterns. In this case, one of the light-concentrating sheets may include lenticular patterns, and the other may include prism patterns.

Meanwhile, the optical sheet240may further include a brightness enhancement film in which layers having different refractive indexes are alternately stacked or may be the brightness enhancement film instead of the diffusion sheet.

The liquid crystal panel100and the backlight unit200are fastened and supported by the guide panel400, the support main500, and the cover bottom600.

First, the liquid crystal panel100is fastened on the guide panel400. The guide panel400may be formed along edges of the liquid crystal panel100, thereby having a plane structure of a substantially square or rectangular frame shape.

The guide panel400includes a first guide portion410and a second guide portion420. The first guide portion410may be a horizontal portion extending in an X direction, and the second guide portion420may be a vertical portion extending in a Z direction. One side end of the first guide portion410may be connected to an upper end of the second guide portion420, and the guide panel400may have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. Meanwhile, the other side end of the first guide portion410may protrude toward the Z direction. That is, the first guide portion410may have a protrusion at the other side end. It should be understood that “connected to” includes the meaning of being integrally formed with, without requiring a connector or interface therebetween. For example, as shown inFIG.1, the first guide portion410and the second guide portion420are an integrally-formed, continuous structure without a visible interface therebetween.

The adhesive member300is provided between the first guide portion410of the guide panel400and the liquid crystal panel100, so that the liquid crystal panel100may be fixed to the first guide portion410by the adhesive member300.

In this case, the adhesive member300overlaps and contacts the exposed lower surface of the first substrate110and also overlaps and contacts the first polarizer130. The adhesive member300may be a foam pad having a cushioned property, and thus, the adhesive member300may act as a buffer absorbing external impacts. The adhesive member300may be formed of an elastic material and for example, may be formed of polyethylene, polyacryl, or polyurethane. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The support main500is disposed under the guide panel400. The support main500may be formed along the edges of the liquid crystal panel100, thereby having a plane structure (i.e., a cross-sectional profile in the X-Y plane) of a substantially square or rectangular frame shape. The support main500includes a first support portion510and a second support portion520. It should be understood that “formed along the edges” includes the meaning that the support main500is a separate structure from the liquid crystal panel100, and is positioned underlying edge regions, namely at the outer perimeter, of the liquid crystal panel100(seeFIG.1, for example).

The first support portion510is disposed between the reflection plate220and the diffusion plate230. The second support portion520extends from an upper surface of an edge of the first support portion510toward the Z direction and is adjacent to the side surfaces of the diffusion plate230and the optical sheet240. The second support portion520is disposed between the side surfaces of the diffusion plate230and the optical sheet240and the second guide portion420of the guide panel400.

The first support portion510maintains a certain or selected distance between the LED array210and the diffusion plate230so that light from the LEDs212may be mixed to implement uniform surface light source.

The diffusion plate230is disposed on the first support portion510. Accordingly, the diffusion plate230and the optical sheet240are disposed between the first support portion510and the first guide portion410, and the upper surface of the first support portion510is in contact with a lower surface of the diffusion plate230, thereby supporting the diffusion plate230and the optical sheet240.

An outer surface of the first support portion510is adjacent to the second guide portion420of the guide panel400and is surrounded by the second guide portion420on at least four sides. An inner surface of the first support portion510has an inclination. That is, the first support portion510has an inclined surface510aon the inner side. The inclined surface510areflects light from the LEDs212and sends the reflected light to the diffusion plate230.

In addition, the first support portion510has a support hole512, a first support groove514, and a second support groove516.

The support hole512is provided to correspond to the screw800. The support hole512includes a first hole part512ain which a screw head810is disposed and a second hole part512bin which a screw body820is disposed. An area of the first hole part512ais larger than an area of the second hole part512bon a planar view. At this time, the first hole part512ais extended into the inclined surface510aand its inner side is opened, as shown inFIG.3. The support hole512is substantially provided in the inner surface and the upper surface of the first support portion510. It should be understood that “opened” or “open” includes the meaning that a hole in a structure extends through, and forms an opening in, at least one wall or surface of the structure. For example, as shown inFIG.3, the first hole part512aextends through, and forms an opening in, the inclined surface510aof the first support portion510.

The first support groove514(seeFIG.2) is provided in the outer surface of the first support portion510and is disposed under the second support portion520. The first support groove514is provided in a portion where the screw800is not disposed. That is, the first support groove514is spaced apart from the support hole512and is provided in the first support portion510. A second cover portion620of the cover bottom600is disposed in the first support groove514.

The second support groove516is provided on a lower side of the inclined surface510aof the first support portion510. Edges of the LED array210and the reflection plate220are disposed in the second support groove516, and the first support portion510presses and fastens the edges of the LED array210and the reflection plate220, thereby preventing them from being separated. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide an additional structure for preventing the separation of the reflection plate220from the LED array210.

The support main500may be formed of plastic and may be molded. For example, the support main500may be formed of white polycarbonate (PC), but is not limited thereto.

The cover bottom600is provided under the support main500. The cover bottom600includes a first cover portion610and the second cover portion620. The first cover portion610is a horizontal plane and extends substantially in the X direction in the view shown inFIG.1. At sides of the display device that are perpendicular to that shown inFIG.1, the first cover portion610may extend substantially in the Y direction. The first cover portionn610may have at least one bent part to accommodate various components beneficial for driving the liquid crystal panel100.

The second cover portion620is a vertical plane and extends in the Z direction. The second cover portion620is bended from the first cover portion610. The second cover portion620is disposed in the first support groove514of the support main500. Accordingly, the second cover portion620is disposed between the second guide portion420of the guide panel400and the first support portion510of the support main500to thereby prevent the support main500from being pushed outward. As described above, the cover bottom600is combined with the support main500through the screw800. To do this, the first cover portion610of the cover bottom600has a cover hole612. The cover hole612is disposed under the support hole512.

Meanwhile, the cover bottom600has a protrusion614to correspond to the cover hole612, and a cover groove616is provided between the protrusion614and the second cover portion620. This will be described in detail later.

A press-fit nut700, which is commonly referred to as a PEM nut, is provided in the cover hole612. The press-fit nut700is also disposed in the second hole portion512bof the support hole512. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, a screw thread may be formed in the cover hole612by a tapping method instead of the press-fit nut700.

The press-fit nut700is engaged with the screw800, so that the cover bottom600is combined with the support main500. In this case, the screw body820is disposed inside the press-fit nut700.

Meanwhile, an adhesive tape900is attached to an outer surface of the second guide portion420of the guide panel400and a lower surface of the first cover portion610of the cover bottom600to fix the guide panel400and the cover bottom600.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the width of the bezel can be reduced. This will be described with reference toFIG.1.

InFIG.1, when an embedded screw is applied, a first distance d1corresponding to the width of the bezel depends on a second distance d2from the outer surface of the guide panel400to a bottom end of the inclined surface510aof the support main500. At this time, the second distance d2is determined according to the type of screw800and a location of the cover hole612corresponding thereto. Further, in order to prevent separation of the reflection plate220, it is additionally beneficial to maintain a certain distance between the reflection plate220and the support main500. Accordingly, when the embedded screw is applied, the second distance d2is increased.

On the other hand, when an opened screw is applied, the second distance d2can be decreased as compared to the embedded screw because a wall enclosing the screw is not needed.

Meanwhile, the second distance d2can be reduced, as the location of the cover hole612corresponding to the screw800is closer to the outer surface of the guide panel400. In this case, in order to apply the press-fit nut700or form the screw thread by the tapping method, a third distance d3that is a minimum or selected interval from the edge of the first cover portion610is beneficial. For example, the third distance d3may be 1.5 mm, but is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, in the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion614is provided in the first cover portion610to correspond to the cover hole612so that the location of the cover hole612is close to the outer surface of the guide panel400.

An edge of the protrusion614is disposed outside outer surfaces of the second cover portion620and the support main500, and the protrusion614overlaps the second guide portion420of the guide panel400along the Z direction. At this time, the edge of the protrusion614is disposed inside the outer surface of the second guide portion420.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the support main500and the cover bottom600are engaged by the screw800, so that repair and rework can be facilitated when defects or problems occur.

In addition, since the opened screw is applied and the protrusion614is provided in the second cover portion620of the cover bottom600, the tightening position of the screw800can be moved as much as possible toward the guide panel400, so that the second distance d2can be decreased and the width d1of the bezel can be minimized or reduced. For example, the width d1of the bezel may be 4 mm or less, or beneficially, 3 mm or less.

In this case, a white screw may be used or white paint may be applied to the screw head810so that the opened screw800is not visibly recognized to the outside.

A detailed structure of the cover bottom and the support main of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.7to11.

FIG.7is a plan view schematically illustrating a combined structure of the cover bottom and the support main of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.8is an enlarged plan view of the area A1ofFIG.7,FIG.9is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the area A1ofFIG.7,FIG.10is an enlarged plan view of the cover bottom according to the embodiment of the resent disclosure, andFIG.11is an enlarged plan view of the support main according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.7, the areas indicated by the dotted lines and including the area A1represent screw-tightening parts.

InFIGS.7to11, the support main500is disposed over the cover bottom600. At this time, the support main500is disposed along the edges of the cover bottom600.

The support main500and the cover bottom600are combined with (e.g., fastened to) each other by a plurality of screws800. The number and position of the plurality of screws800are not limited as illustrated and may vary.

The cover bottom600includes the first cover portion610and the second cover portion620, and the first cover portion610has the cover hole612with the press-fit nut700for tightening the screw800and the protrusion614corresponding to the cover hole612.

Here, the cover hole612may not be provided in advance and may be formed in the process of applying the press-fit nut700.

The protrusion614protrudes outward from the outer surface of the second cover portion620(seeFIG.10). In addition, the protrusion614also protrudes outward from the outer surface of the support main500. In this case, the distance d3from the cover hole612to the edge of the protrusion614in the X direction is greater than the X direction length d4of the second cover portion620.

The protrusion614is disposed between the adjacent second cover portions620in the Y direction. Accordingly, each second cover portion620is disposed between the adjacent protrusions614in the Y direction.

The protrusion614and the second cover portion620are spaced apart from each other, and the cover groove616is provided between the protrusion614and the second cover portion620. The cover groove616may facilitate bending of the second cover portion620.

Meanwhile, the support main500includes the first support portion510and the second support portion520, the first support portion510has the support hole512for tightening the screw800, and the support hole512has the first hole portion512aand the second hole portion512b.

The screw head810is disposed in the first hole portion512a, and the screw body820is disposed in the second hole portion512b. The screw body820is also disposed in the cover hole612.

In addition, the first support portion510has the first support groove514(seeFIG.11) in the outer surface thereof under the second support portion520, and the second cover portion620is disposed in the first support groove514. The X direction length d5of the first support groove514may be equal to or greater than the X direction length d4of the second cover portion620.

As described above, since the second cover portion620is disposed in the first support groove514, the protrusion614is disposed between the adjacent first support grooves514in the Y direction. Accordingly, the first support groove514is disposed between the adjacent protrusions614in the Y direction.

The embodiments are described with reference to a liquid crystal panel100. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the display device includes a display panel100of a different type than the liquid crystal panel100described, and also includes one or more of the cover bottom600, support member500, and the guide member400.

In the present disclosure, since the support main and the cover bottom are combined with each other by the screws, the repair and reassembly can be facilitated when defects occur or problems occur.

Additionally, in the present disclosure, by providing the protrusion, the screw-tightening position is moved as much as possible toward the outside, so that the width of the bezel can be minimized or reduced.

Further, since it is not necessary to provide an additional structure for preventing the separation of the reflection plate, costs can be reduced.