Liquid crystal module

A liquid crystal module is disclosed. The liquid crystal module includes a light source, a light guiding device, and a coupling device. The light guiding device is arranged at a light emitting side of the light source and is spaced apart from the light guiding device by a distance. The coupling device is installed between the light source and the light guiding device for controlling a coupling distance therebetween. The coupling device keeps the coupling distance between a light guiding plate and a light source to remain a predetermined value. In this way, the coupling efficiency of the liquid crystal module is not affected by the difference of LEDs or heat inflation so as to enhance the coupling efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to China Patent Application No. 201210573473.1 filed on Dec. 26, 2012 entitled, LIQUID CRYSTAL MODULE, all of the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to liquid crystal display technology, and more particularly to a liquid crystal module.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Liquid crystal devices include display modules for displaying images, and backlight modules are needed to provide light sources. Currently, Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) are adopted as backlight modules. As LEDs have the attributes of high brightness and low power consumption, the LEDs will be adopted more and more in the future.

Light guiding plates are generally adopted as light guiding components for edge type LED liquid crystal module. In product design, the distance between the light guiding plate and LED light source may affect the coupling efficiency of the liquid crystal module. For example, the coupling efficiency may degrade when the distance between the light guiding plate and the LED is huge. On the other hand, a small distance between the light guiding plate and LED may result in light leakage or the light guiding plate may be melt down.

Therefore, it is critical to design the coupling distance between the light guiding plate and the LED light source.

SUMMARY

The object of the claimed invention is to provide a liquid crystal module to keep the coupling distance between a light guiding plate and a light source to remain a predetermined value. In this way, the coupling efficiency of the liquid crystal module is enhanced.

In one aspect, a liquid crystal module include: a light source and a light guiding device, the light guiding device is arranged at a light emitting side of the light source and is spaced apart from the light guiding device by a distance; a coupling device installed between the light source and the light guiding device for controlling a coupling distance between the light source and the light guiding device; and a first side of the coupling device facing toward the light source abuts against the light source, and the coupling device includes a substantially I-shaped, T-shaped, or L-shaped cross section.

Wherein a first groove is formed on the first side of the coupling device, the light source is received in the first groove, and at least one wall of the first groove contacts with the light source.

Wherein a second side of the coupling device facing away the light source abuts against the light guiding device.

Wherein a second groove is formed on the second side to receive an edge portion of the light guiding device, and at least one wall of the second groove contacts with the light guiding device.

In another aspect, a liquid crystal module include: a light source and a light guiding device, the light guiding device is arranged at a light emitting side of the light source and is spaced apart from the light guiding device by a distance; a coupling device installed between the light source and the light guiding device for controlling a coupling distance between the light source and the light guiding device, the first side of the coupling device abuts against the light source; the light source includes at least two sections, a fixing space is arranged between the two sections, and the coupling device is installed between the fixing spaces; and a top of the coupling device is higher than a light emitting surface of the light source.

Wherein an edge portion of the light guiding device contacts with the top of the coupling device.

Wherein: the coupling device includes two blocks at two ends, and the two blocks includes rectangular-shaped cross sections; and the coupling device is made by the same material and the same injection molding processes with the light guiding device.

Wherein the coupling device is substantially U-shaped.

Wherein at least one wall of the coupling device contacts with the light source.

In another aspect, a liquid crystal module include: a light source and a light guiding device, the light guiding device is arranged on a light emitting side of the light source and is spaced apart from the light guiding device by a distance; and a coupling device installed between the light source and the light guiding device for controlling a coupling distance between the light source and the light guiding device.

Wherein a first side of the coupling device facing toward the light source abuts against the light source.

Wherein a first groove is formed on the first side of the coupling device, the light source is received in the first groove, and at least one wall of the first groove contacts with the light source.

Wherein a second side of the coupling device facing away the light source abuts against the light guiding device.

Wherein a second groove is formed on the second side to receive an edge portion of the light guiding device, and at least one wall of the second groove contacts with the light guiding device.

Wherein the coupling device includes a substantially I-shaped, T-shaped, or L-shaped cross section.

Wherein: the light source includes at least two sections, a fixing space is arranged between the two sections, and the coupling device is installed between the fixing spaces; and a top of the coupling device is higher than a light emitting surface of the light source.

Wherein an edge portion of the light guiding device contacts with the top of the coupling device.

Wherein: the coupling device includes two blocks at two ends, and the two blocks includes rectangular-shaped cross sections; and the coupling device is made by the same material and the same injection molding processes with the light guiding device.

Wherein the coupling device is substantially U-shaped, and at least one wall of the coupling device contacts with the light source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown.

FIGS. 1 to 3show the liquid crystal module of the first embodiment.

FIG. 1is a schematic view of the structure of a liquid crystal module in accordance with a first embodiment. The liquid crystal module includes a light source1, a heat dissipation device2, a light guiding device3, a plastic frame4, a liquid crystal glass5, a back plate6, a front frame7, and a coupling device9.

The light source1may be LEDs or a LED light bar. The LEDs or the LED light bar is arranged in an internal side of the heat dissipation device2. In one embodiment, the heat dissipation device2may be a bent aluminum extrusion.

The heat dissipation device2connects to the back plate6.

The plastic frame4is fixed on the heat dissipation device2and on optical components including the light guiding device3. The optical components may be a diffusion plate, a prism, and so on.

The liquid crystal glass5is fixed by the plastic frame4and the front frame7.

In one embodiment, the light guiding device3may be a light guiding plate fixed on one side facing toward the light source1. In addition, the light guiding device3is spaced apart from the light source1by a certain distance. The light guiding may be an acrylic body made by an injection molding process.

In the embodiment, the coupling device9is installed between the light source1and the light guiding device3. The coupling device9may be a bar-shaped structure with an I-shaped cross section. The coupling device9may be made by the same material and same process with the light guiding plate. As such, the light emission of the light source1is not affected by the coupling device9during the assembly process. In addition, the coupling device9and the light guiding plate may be manufactured in the same process so that the manufacturing cost is reduced.

In the embodiment, a first lateral side of the coupling device9facing toward the light source1abuts against the light source1.

FIGS. 2 and 3are perspective view and cross section view of the coupling device in accordance with the first embodiment. A first groove92is formed on a first side91of the coupling device9. The first groove92faces toward the LED light bar. The width and the height of the first groove92are substantially the same with that of the LED light bar such that the LED light bar may be received in the first groove92. In addition, a second side93of coupling device9faces toward the light guiding plate. During the assembly process, the second side93may contact with the light guiding plate or may be spaced apart from the light guiding plate by a certain distance.

The second side93has three walls92a,92b, and92c. In the embodiment, at least one wall92a,92b, or92ccontacts with the LED light bar, and the rest of the walls are spaced apart from the LED light bar by a certain distance. In this way, the coupling efficiency of the liquid crystal module is not affected by the heat inflation of the coupling device9. In other embodiments, the three walls92a,92b, and92cmay be configured to contact with the LED light bar while the heat inflation of the coupling device9is controllable.

In addition, the assembly between the coupling device9and the three walls92a,92b, and92cmay be welding or pasting.

In the embodiment, a second side93of the coupling device9facing away the light source1abuts against the light guiding device3.

In addition, a second groove94is formed on the second side93of the coupling device9. The second groove94is symmetrical to the first groove92. The second groove94may receive an edge portion of the light guiding plate and may preserve the space for the heat inflation of the coupling device9.

Specifically, the second groove94includes three walls94a,94b, and94c. In one embodiment, at least one wall contacts with the edge portion of the light guiding plate, and the other walls are spaced apart from the edge portion31by a certain distance.

In view of the above, the coupling device9may keep the coupling distance between the light guiding plate and the light source to remain a predetermined value when the dimensions of the light guiding plate or the LED light source are different or when the coupling distance changes due to heat inflation of the light guiding plate, the coupling device9.

FIG. 4is a cross sectional view of the coupling device in accordance with a second embodiment. As shown, only the first groove92is formed on the first side91of the coupling device9. That is, the second side93is a planar surface without a groove formed thereon. In the assembly process, the second side93abuts against the light guiding plate.

FIG. 5is a cross sectional view of the coupling device in accordance with a third embodiment. In the embodiment, the coupling device9includes an L-shaped cross section. The first side91having a bent portion abuts against the LEDs, and the second side93is a planar surface abutting against the light guiding plate.

FIG. 6is a cross sectional view of the coupling device in accordance with a fourth embodiment. In the embodiment, the coupling device9includes a T-shaped cross section. The two sides of the coupling device9both include bent portions. Two walls91,93of the coupling device9abut against the LEDs and the light guiding plate.

FIG. 7is a schematic view of the LED light bar assembled with the coupling device in accordance with a fifth embodiment. In the embodiment, the LED light bar includes three sections. One fixing space11is arranged between two LED sections. The coupling device9is installed between the fixing spaces11.

As shown inFIG. 8, the coupling device9is substantially a U-shaped structure. The coupling device9includes two blocks95,96at two ends, and the two blocks95,96have rectangular-shaped cross sections. The thickness of the blocks95,96are larger than the height of the LEDs. When the blocks95,96are installed within the fixing space11, a top97of the coupling device9is higher than the light emitting surface of the LED, and the top97of the coupling device9abuts against the edge portion of the light guiding plate.

As the top97of the coupling device9is higher than the light emitting surface of the LED, the heat inflation of the light guiding device3will only affect the second side of the coupling device9. That is, the heat inflation of the light guiding device3will not affect the coupling distance between the LED and the light guiding plate.

In the embodiment, at least one wall of the coupling device9contacts with the light source. The coupling device9may be made by the same material and process with the light guiding plate. The LEDs may be assembled by welding or pasting.

In view of the above, the coupling device9is capable of keep the coupling distance between a light guiding plate and a light source to remain a predetermined value. In this way, the coupling efficiency of the liquid crystal module is enhanced.