Abstract:
A flat panel display module is introduced herein, which principally includes an upper bezel, a liquid crystal panel, a frame, an optical film set and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), wherein various types electrical components mounted on the PCBA are capable of being completely or mostly accommodated within a caved structure constructed within the inside of the flat panel display module so as to reduce a thickness of the whole flat panel display module. Simultaneously, a better structural strength for the whole flat panel display module can be achieved therefore by closely stacking up the above-mentioned elements of the whole flat panel display module.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098125073 filed on Jul. 24, 2009. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a flat panel display module, and more particularly relates to a flat panel display module having the features of slimness and better structural strength. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Flat panel display module is widely used in electrical products, e.g. notebook computer, with slimness size and the whole size of the flat panel display module should be meet the requirement of the specifications of the electrical products. Thus, the aspect of the flat panel display module should be made of a slim and thin structure. For an example of liquid crystal display (LCD), it is composed of LCD panel, backlight unit, and a variety of electrical components on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and flexible printed circuits (FPC). Based on the flexible printed circuits (FPC), LCD panel and printed circuit board for the classification of the aspect of the LCD module, the aspect of the LCD module includes a bending type module and a plate type module. As shown in  FIG. 1 , it is a conventional schematic cross-sectional view of bending type display module  1 . The LCD panel  10 , the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  12 , and the electrical components  16  mounted on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  12  of the bending type display module  1  are stacked at a perpendicular direction (all or portions) to form a stacked thickness “h 1 ”. Two opposite end portions of a flexible printed circuit (FPC)  14  having a bending U-shape are electrically connected to the top surface of LCD panel  10  and the bottom surface of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  12 , respectively. 
         [0004]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , it is a conventional schematic cross-sectional view of plate type display module  2 , which is different from the display module in  FIG. 1 . The LCD panel  20  and the electrical components  26  mounted on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  22  of the assembled plate type display module  2  are arranged in a side-by-side status. In another conventional case, there is a step height difference between the LCD panel  20  and the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  22  of the assembled plate type display module  2 . A flexible printed circuit (FPC)  24  is disposed between the LCD panel  20  and the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  22 . Two opposite end portions of a flexible printed circuit (FPC)  24  are electrically connected to the top surface of LCD panel  20  and the top surface of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  22  respectively to form a thickness “h 2 ” of the plate type display module  2 . In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the LCD panel  10 , the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  12 , and the electrical components  16  of the bending type display module  1  are stacked so that the whole thickness “h 1 ” of the bending type display module  1  is greater than the thickness of the whole thickness “h 2 ” of the plate type display module  2 , which cannot meet the requirement of the specifications of the electrical products. In addition, although the whole thickness and weight of the plate type display module  2  is better than the bending type display module  1 , the LCD panel  20  and the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  22  is arranged in a side-by-side status, resulting in unreliable protection for the elements. Therefore, the whole structural strength and yield rate of the assembled plate type display module  2  are inferior to these of the bending type display module  1 . Furthermore, the structure of the plate type display module  2  considerably occupies the space along the horizontal direction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One objective of the present invention is to provide a flat panel display module having the features of slimness and thinness of the plate type display module and the better structural strength and yield rate of the bending type display module. 
         [0006]    According to the above objective, the present invention sets forth a flat panel display module. The flat panel display module includes an upper bezel, a liquid crystal panel, a frame, an optical film set, and a printed circuit board assembly. 
         [0007]    The upper bezel has a first plate surface and a second plate surface positioned in a non-coplanar status with the first plate surface, and the second plate surface forms an opening. The liquid crystal panel disposed under the first plate surface of the upper bezel. The optical film set disposed under the liquid crystal panel wherein a portion of the optical film set, the first plate surface of the upper bezel, the second plate surface of the upper bezel, and a portion of the liquid crystal panel construct a caved structure having an accommodated space. The caved structure further includes a first caved structure and a second caved structure. The printed circuit board assembly has at least one electrical component which is contained within the accommodated space of the caved structure. In one case, the electrical component includes an electrical connector, a flexible printed circuit, an active component, and/or passive component. The port unit of the electrical connector corresponds to or extends outside an opening of the second plate surface. The flexible printed circuit has a first end portion of the flexible printed circuit which is contained within the accommodated space of the first caved structure and electrically connected to the printed circuit board assembly, and the flexible printed circuit has a second end portion which is contained within the accommodated space of the second caved structure and electrically connected to the end portion of the liquid crystal panel. The frame has a first supporting portion which is contained within the first caved structure for supporting one portion of the liquid crystal panel, a second supporting portion for supporting the end portion of the optical film set, and a third supporting portion which is contained within the first caved structure for supporting the other portion of the optical film set. 
         [0008]    The electrical components on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) can be accommodated within the caved structure. Therefore, the whole thickness of the assembled the flat panel display module is reduced. Moreover, the components within the flat panel display module are closely stacked and the printed circuit board assembly and electrical elements of flat panel display module are protected by the frame and upper bezel for forming a better structural strength. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a conventional schematic cross-sectional view of bending type display module; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a conventional schematic cross-sectional view of plate type display module; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic exploded view of the components of a flat panel display module according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic top view of the flat panel display module after assembling the components shown in  FIG. 3A  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module along line B-B′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module along line C-C′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a flat panel display module according to another embodiment of the present invention, which shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3A  is a schematic exploded view of the components of a flat panel display module  3  according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3B  is a schematic top view of the flat panel display module  3  after assembling the components shown in  FIG. 3A  according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, the flat panel display module  3  is liquid crystal display (LCD) module. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the flat panel display module  3  includes an upper bezel  29 , liquid crystal panel  30 , a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 , and a backlight unit  36  having a frame  35 . The frame is a component of the backlight unit  36 . The upper bezel  29  has a hollow structure which is composed of four sidewalls. For example, the upper bezel  29  is made of metal material, e.g. steel, which is named front metal frame of front frame. Each of the sidewall of the upper bezel  29  has a first plate surface  292  and a second plate surface  294 . The first plate surface  292  is connected to the second plate surface  294  and the first plate surface  292  and the second plate surface  294  are positioned in a non-coplanar status. In one case, the first plate surface  292  and the second plate surface  294  are positioned in an inverse L-shape, and an opening  296  is formed in the second plate surface  294 . 
         [0019]    The printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  has a variety of electronic components thereon, such as a plurality of flexible printed circuits (FPC)  34 , tape carrier package, and/or chip-on-film (COF), an electrical connector  37 , active components or passive components (not shown). In one embodiment, the electrical connector  37  is a connector having a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) or display port connector and has a port unit  372  corresponding to the opening  296  of the upper bezel  29  for transmitting the predetermined signal to the electrical devices outside the flat panel display module  3 . In one case, the electrical connector  37  is a connector with surface mount technique (SMT) type or dual-in-line plug (DIP) type to be positioned on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . The active component includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), timing controller (T-CON) and/or various driving chips. The passive component includes resistor, capacitor, or inductor. The backlight unit  36  includes an optical film set  38  and light source (not shown). 
         [0020]    Please further refer to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4A  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module  3  along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The line A-A′ is along the electrical connector  37  of the flat panel display module  3  to clearly show the arrangement and cross-sectional structure of the electrical connector  37 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the liquid crystal panel  30  is positioned under the first plate surface  292  of the upper bezel  29  and the end portion of the liquid crystal panel  30  is covered with the first plate surface  292  and the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29 . The frame  35  and the optical film set  38  are positioned under the liquid crystal panel  30  wherein the optical film set  38  has a plurality of optical films  382  and a light-guide plate (LGP)  384  under the optical films  382 . In one case, the optical films  382  is a diffusion plate and/or brightness enhanced film (or named prism film). The frame  35  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . The frame  35  has a first supporting portion  352  for supporting one portion of the liquid crystal panel  30 , a second supporting portion  354  for supporting the end portion of the light-guide plate (LGP)  384  of the optical film set  38 , and a third supporting portion  356  for supporting the other portion of the optical film  382  of the optical film set  38 . In one embodiment, the first double-sided tape  312  is used to adhere the second supporting portion  354  of the frame  35  to the under end portion of the light-guide plate (LGP)  384 . It should be noted that different fasten mode in the prior art for adhesion can be used. Since the above-mentioned components are closely stacked together, the flat panel display module  3  has better structural strength in comparison with conventional bending type display module. In another case, the frame  35  can be replaced with a shading component which is positioned to the light-guide plate (LGP)  384 . 
         [0021]    The printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  under the frame  35  has a first edge  326 , a second edge  328 , a first surface  322 , and a second surface  324 . The first edge  326  is adjacent to the opening  296  of the second plate surface  294  in the upper bezel  29 . The second edge  328  is opposite to the first edge  326  and adjacent to the light-guide plate (LGP)  384  of the optical film set  38  and the second supporting portion  354  of the frame  35 . The first surface  322  is disposed between the first edge  326  and the second edge  328  for supporting electrical components, e.g. the electrical connector  37 , to correspond to the end portion of the optical film set  38 . In one preferred embodiment, the electrical connector  37  is disposed to the end portion of the light-guide plate (LGP)  384 . 
         [0022]    A portion of optical film set  38 , the first plate surface  292  and/or the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29 , and a portion of liquid crystal panel  30  construct a caved structure with an accommodated space. The caved structure further is composed of the portion of optical film set  38 , the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29 , and a portion of liquid crystal panel  30  to construct a first caved structure  302  for containing the first supporting portion  352  and the third supporting portion  356  of the frame  35  and the first caved structure  302  links to the opening  296  of the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29 . The first plate surface  292  and the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29  and the portion of liquid crystal panel  30  construct a second caved structure  304 . A channel  306  is formed by the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29  and the end portion of liquid crystal panel  30  for linking the second caved structure  304  to the accommodated space of the first caved structure  302  so that the end portion of the frame  35  is extended from the first caved structure  302  to the second caved structure  304 . In other words, the portion of optical film set  38 , the first plate surface  292  of the upper bezel  29 , the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29 , and the portion of liquid crystal panel  30  construct a caved structure with the accommodated space. As shown in  FIG. 4A , a variety of electrical components, e.g. electrical connectors  37 , on the first surface  322  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  can be accommodated within the first caved structure  304  formed by the optical film set  38  and the first caved structure  302  of the second plate surface  294 . Thus, the port unit  372  of the electrical connectors  37  corresponds to the opening  296  of the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29  for electrically connecting the electrical devices outside the flat panel display module  3 . The opposite side of the electrical  37  and the opening  296  of the second panel plate  294  corresponds to the end portion of the optical film set  38 . Therefore, such a structure is capable of protecting the electrical connector  37  from external interference and reducing the whole thickness of the assembled flat panel display module  3 . 
         [0023]    Please further refer to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4B .  FIG. 4B  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module  3  along line B-B′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement and cross-sectional structure of the frame  35  on the flat panel display module  3  are shown clearly. In comparison with  FIG. 4A , the difference is: as shown in  FIG. 4B , the first caved structure  302  contains the first supporting portion  352  and the third supporting portion  356  to exclude the electrical components and the second plate surface  294  has no opening. Further, besides the first double-sided tape  312  is used to adhere the second supporting portion  354  of the frame  35  to the under end portion of the light-guide plate (LGP)  384 , the cross-sectional bottom area of the first supporting  352  in the frame  35  is greater than that shown in  FIG. 4A  so that the second double-sided tape  314  stably adheres the frame  35  to the first surface  322  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . In another cases, the frame  35  can be fastened on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  by screws and/or hook units. The rest arrangement of components in  FIG. 4B  is the same as the arrangement in  FIG. 4A  and thus omitted herein. 
         [0024]    Please further refer to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4C .  FIG. 4C  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module  3  along line C-C′ shown in  FIG. 3B  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The line C-C′ is along the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  on the flat panel display module  3  to clearly show the arrangement and cross-sectional structure of the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34 . In comparison with  FIG. 4A , the difference is: as shown in  FIG. 4C , the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  is arranged in form of U-shape and has a first end portion  342  and a second end portion  344 . The first end portion  342  of the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  is contained within the accommodated space of the first caved structure  302  and electrically connected to the first surface  322  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . The second end portion  344  of the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  is contained within the accommodated space of the second caved structure  304  and electrically connected onto the end portion of the liquid crystal panel  30 . The flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  is extended through the channel  306  to the first caved structure  302  and the second caved structure  304 . In addition, the second plate surface  294  of the upper bezel  29  has no opening and the second plate surface  294  covers the end portion of liquid crystal panel  30 , the end portion of frame  35  and the first edge  326  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  so that flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  is contained within the end portion of liquid crystal panel  30 , the end portion of frame  35 , the first caved structure  302  and the second caved structure  304  formed by the optical film set  38  and the second plate surface  294 , and the channel  306 . Therefore, such a structure is capable of protecting the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  from external interference and reducing the whole thickness of the assembled flat panel display module  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , besides the first double-sided tape  312  is used to adhere the second supporting portion  354  of the frame  35  to the under end portion of the light-guide plate (LGP)  384 , the cross-sectional bottom area of the third supporting  356  in the frame  35  is greater than that shown in  FIG. 4A  so that the third double-sided tape  316  stably adheres the frame  35  to the first surface  322  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . In another cases, the frame  35  can be fastened on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  by screws and/or hook units. The rest arrangement of components in  FIG. 4C  is the same as the arrangement in  FIG. 4A  and thus omitted herein. 
         [0025]    Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a flat panel display module  3 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention, which shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the flat panel display module  3 ′ along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3B . In comparison with  FIG. 4A , the difference is: as shown in  FIG. 5 , the electrical connector  37  is positioned in the end portion of the first edge  326  of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32 . The port unit  372  extends outside the opening  296  of the second plate surface  294  in the upper bezel  29  but the greater portion of the electrical connector  37  is contained within the accommodated space of the first caved structure  302 . The rest arrangement of components in  FIG. 5  is the same as the arrangement in  FIG. 4A  and thus omitted herein. 
         [0026]    It should be noted that a portion or the greater portion of the electrical connector  37 , frame  35  and the flexible printed circuit (FPC)  34  are accommodated within the caved structure including first and second caved structures  302 ,  304  and/or channel  306 . However, a variety of electrical components, e.g. active components and/or passive components, on the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  32  can be accommodated within the caved structure, including first and second caved structures  302 ,  304  and/or channel  306 , of the flat panel display module  3 ,  3 ′. Therefore, the whole thickness of the assembled the flat panel display module  3 ,  3 ′ is reduced so that thickness is the same as the thickness of the conventional plate type module for the purpose of thinness. Moreover, the components within the flat panel display module  3 ,  3 ′ are closely stacked and the printed circuit board assembly and electrical elements of flat panel display module are protected by the frame  35  and upper bezel  29  for forming a better structural strength. 
         [0027]    As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that they cover various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.