Abstract:
Provided is a display device capable of reducing a bezel space. The display device includes: a display panel; a lower chassis receiving the display panel; and a metal line fixed to one edge of the display panel and the lower chassis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/271,725 filed on May 7, 2014, which claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0145938 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 28, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    (a) Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present application relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device capable of reducing a bezel space. 
         [0004]    (b) Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Display devices are required for computer monitors, televisions, mobile phones, and the like which are widely used these days. The display devices include a cathode ray tube display device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display device, and the like. 
         [0006]    The liquid crystal display which is one of the most common types of flat panel displays currently in use, includes two sheets of display panels with field generating electrodes such as a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and the like, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The liquid crystal display generates an electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the field generating electrodes to determine alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer through the generated electric field and control polarization of incident light, thereby displaying images. 
         [0007]    Since the liquid crystal display does not self-emit light, the liquid crystal display requires a light source. In this case, the light source may be an artificial light source which is separately provided or natural light. The artificial light source used in the liquid crystal display includes a light emitting diode (LED), a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), and the like. 
         [0008]    A light guide plate (LGP) is required so that light emitted from the artificial light source has uniform luminance on the entire display panel. 
         [0009]    The liquid crystal display includes a lower chassis receiving constituent elements such as a display panel, a light source, and a light guide plate. In manufacturing and transporting processes of the liquid crystal display, the constituent elements need to be fixed to the lower chassis in order to prevent the constituent elements from being separated or damaged. Accordingly, an upper chassis fixed to the lower chassis while covering the edge of the upper surface of the display panel is further formed. In this case, the upper chassis covers an edge of the upper surface of the display panel, and as a result, there is a problem in that a bezel space is increased. 
         [0010]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Embodiments have been made in an effort to provide a display device having advantages of reducing a bezel space which is a non-display area of a screen. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment provides a display device, including: a display panel; a lower chassis receiving the display panel; and a metal line fixed to one edge of the display panel and the lower chassis. 
         [0013]    The display device may further include a first fixing member covering the metal line positioned at the one edge of the display panel. 
         [0014]    The first fixing member may be made of an adhesive material. 
         [0015]    The first fixing member may be made of black silicon. 
         [0016]    The display device may further include a second fixing member connected with an end of the metal line. 
         [0017]    The second fixing member may comprise a screw. 
         [0018]    The second fixing member may include a screw body having threads, a screw head having a larger radius than the screw body, and a hole passing through the screw body. 
         [0019]    The metal line may be in the hole of the second fixing member. 
         [0020]    The display device may further include a fastening member extending from the metal line at the end of the metal line. 
         [0021]    The fastening member may have a larger radius than the hole. 
         [0022]    The second fixing member may be fixed to a lower surface of the lower chassis. 
         [0023]    The metal line may be wound on the screw body. 
         [0024]    The display panel may include a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, and the second substrate may have a larger width than the first substrate. 
         [0025]    The first fixing member may cover a lower surface of the second substrate and a side of the first substrate. 
         [0026]    A plurality of the metal lines may be fixed to both edges of the display panel facing each other. 
         [0027]    The display device may further include a plurality of second fixing members connected to both ends of the metal line, respectively. 
         [0028]    The display device may further include a mold frame covering the side of the lower chassis and supporting the display panel, in which the metal line may pass through the side of the mold frame. 
         [0029]    The display device may further include a third fixing member having an end of the metal line therein. 
         [0030]    The third fixing member may comprise an L-lettered bracket. 
         [0031]    The display device may further include a fourth fixing member fixing the third fixing member to the lower chassis, in which the fourth fixing member may comprise a screw. 
         [0032]    As described above, the display device according to the exemplary embodiments have the following effects. 
         [0033]    In the display device, according to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to reduce a bezel space by fixing a display panel and a lower chassis by using a metal line. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display device according to the exemplary embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a metal line and a second fixing member of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are diagrams enlarging a part of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating a display panel and a metal line of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel and a metal line of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a metal line and a third fixing member of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    The inventive concept will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept. 
         [0044]    In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0045]    First, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display device according to the exemplary embodiment. 
         [0047]    The display device according to the exemplary embodiment is largely configured by a display panel  100  displaying an image, and a backlight assembly  200  supplying light to the display panel  100 . Further, a lower chassis  320  for receiving the display panel  100  and the backlight assembly  200  is formed, and a metal line  410  is fixed to one edge of the display panel  100  and the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0048]    The display panel  100  may be configured by a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), and is not limited thereto, and may use various display panels such as an electrophoretic display panel (EDP). 
         [0049]    When the liquid crystal display panel is used as the display panel  100 , the display panel  100  is formed by facing and bonding a first substrate  110  and a second substrate  120 , and a liquid crystal layer (not illustrated) is formed between the first substrate  110  and the second substrate  120 . Although not illustrated, a plurality of gate lines and data lines, and thin film transistors connected thereto are formed on the first substrate  110 . Further, when the thin film transistor is turned on by a signal applied from the gate line, a pixel electrode to which the signal is applied from the data line is formed. A common electrode may be formed on the first substrate  110  or the second substrate  120 , and an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to control alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. Accordingly, light input from the backlight assembly  200  is controlled to display the image. 
         [0050]    The backlight assembly  200  includes a light source unit  210  supplying light, a light guide plate  230  guiding the light emitted from the light source unit  210  to the display panel  100 , and an optical sheet  220  disposed on the light guide plate  230 . 
         [0051]    The light source unit  210  is disposed below one edge of the display panel  100 , and includes a light source  211  generating light, and a circuit board  212  on which the light source  211  is mounted. 
         [0052]    The light source  211  may be configured by a plurality of emission members, and the emission member may be configured by, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) and the like. 
         [0053]    The circuit board  212  is electrically connected with the light source  211  to supply a signal driving the light source  211  to the light source  211 . 
         [0054]    The light source unit  210  generates heat when generating light, and an extrusion bar  240  adjacent to the light source unit  210  for heat dissipation may be formed. The extrusion bar  240  may be made of a material having high heat dissipation performance, such as aluminum. 
         [0055]    The light guide plate  230  is disposed to be adjacent to the light source unit  210 . The light emitted from the light source unit  210  is incident to the side of the light guide plate  230  to be emitted to the upper surface. In this case, the light guide plate  230  may allow the incident light to be uniformly emitted entirely to the upper surface. 
         [0056]    The optical sheet  220  increases collection efficiency of the light emitted from the light source unit  210  and allows the light to have an entirely uniform distribution. The optical sheet  220  may be configured by a plurality of various sheets, and for example, includes a diffuser sheet  222 , a prism sheet  224 , and a protecting sheet  226  which are sequentially laminated. 
         [0057]    The diffuser sheet  222  diffuses the light emitted from the light source unit  210 . The prism sheet  224  collects the light diffused from the diffuser sheet  222  in a direction vertical to the plane of the display panel  100 . The light passing through the prism sheet  224  is almost vertically incident to the display panel  100 . Further, the protecting sheet  226  may be disposed on the prism sheet  224  and protects the prism sheet  224  from external impact. 
         [0058]    Hereinabove, the optical sheet  220  in which the diffuser sheet  222 , the prism sheet  224 , and the protecting sheet  226  are included one by one is exemplified, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. As the optical sheet  220 , at least one of the diffuser sheet  222 , the prism sheet  224 , and the protecting sheet  226  may be used while a plurality of sheets is stacked, and if necessary, any one sheet may be omitted. 
         [0059]    The lower chassis  320  may be configured by a bottom and sides which are extended from the bottom and curved. The display panel  100  and the backlight assembly  200  may be received inside the lower chassis  320 . The lower chassis  320  may be made of a material having high stiffness so as to protect the display panel  100  and the backlight assembly  200  from external impact. 
         [0060]    A mold frame  315  for fixing the display panel  100  and the backlight assembly  200  may be further formed. The mold frame  315  is formed to cover the side of the lower chassis  320 , and extended and curved from the side to cover the upper surface of the backlight assembly  200 . The display panel  100  is positioned on the mold frame  315 . 
         [0061]    A part of the metal line  410  is fixed to the display panel  100 , and the other part is fixed to the lower chassis  320 . Accordingly, the display panel  100  is fixed to the lower chassis  320  by the metal line  410 . In the related art, a separate upper chassis is used in order to fix a display panel to a lower chassis, and as a result, there is a limit in reducing a bezel area as the edge of the upper surface of the display panel is covered. In the exemplary embodiment, the display panel  100  is fixed to the lower chassis  320  without the upper chassis, thereby reducing the bezel area. 
         [0062]    A first fixing member  420  is formed so that a part of the metal line  410  may be fixed to one edge of the display panel  100 . The first fixing member  420  is formed to cover the metal line  410  positioned at one edge of the display panel  100 . The first fixing member  420  is made of an adhesive material so that the metal line  410  may be fixed to the display panel  100 . For example, the first fixing member  420  may be made of silicon, and particularly, black silicon. The light supplied from the backlight assembly  200  passes through the edge of the display panel  100  to be recognized as light leakage. In this case, the first fixing member  420  is black to prevent the light leakage from being recognized. 
         [0063]    A second fixing member  430  is formed so that the other part of the metal line  410  may be fixed to the lower chassis  320 . The second fixing member  430  is connected with an end of the metal line  410 . The second fixing member  430  may be formed by a screw, and the second fixing member  430  may be inserted and fixed in the lower chassis  320 . That is, the metal line  410  is fixed to the second fixing member  430 , and the second fixing member  430  is fixed to the lower chassis  320 . In this case, the second fixing member  430  may be fixed to the lower surface of the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0064]    The metal line  410  between a portion fixed to the display panel  100  and a portion fixed to the lower chassis  320  is disposed along the side of the mold frame  315 . Although not illustrated, a groove corresponding to a portion through which the metal line  410  passes may be formed in the mold frame  315 . In this case, the metal line  410  may be positioned in the groove of the mold frame  315 , thereby improving fixing force of the metal line  410  and reducing an area where the metal line  410  contacts the outside to reduce impact from the outside. 
         [0065]    Next, a method of fixing the metal line to the display panel and the lower chassis in the display device according to the exemplary embodiment will be further described below with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a metal line and a second fixing member of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment, and  FIGS. 4 and 5  are diagrams enlarging a part of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram enlarging a connection portion of the metal line and the second fixing member, and  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a form where the metal line is wound on the second fixing member in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating a display panel and a metal line of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel and a metal line of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0067]    The metal line  410  is configured by a line made of a metal material having a predetermined radius, and made of a material which is bent well and has high stiffness. The metal line  410  includes a first portion w 1  fixed to the display panel  100 , a second portion w 2  extended from the first portion w 1 , and a third portion w 3  extended from the second portion w 2  to be connected with the second fixing member  430 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0068]    The first portion w 1  of the metal line  410  has substantially the same length as the length of one edge of the display panel  100 . A color of the first portion w 1  is different from colors of the other portions w 2  and w 3 , and as a result, when the metal line  401  is fixed to the display panel  100 , arrangement may be facilitated. For example, the first portion w 1  is black, and the second portion w 2  and the third portion w 3  may be blue. 
         [0069]    The second portion w 2  of the metal line  410  has substantially the same length as the height of the side of the mold frame  315 . The second portion w 2  may be curved from the first portion w 1 . In this case, the first portion w 1  and the second portion w 2  may form an angle of about 90°. The second portion w 2  may be formed to be extended from both ends of the first portion w 1 . 
         [0070]    The third portion w 3  of the metal line  410  is inserted into the second fixing member  430 . The third portion w 3  may be curved from the second portion w 2 . In this case, the second portion w 2  and the third portion w 3  may form an angle of about 90°. The third portion w 3  may be formed to be extended from the two second portions w 2  which are extended from both ends of the first portion w 1 , respectively. Accordingly, two second fixing members  430  may be connected to one metal line  410 . That is, the two second fixing members  430  may be connected to both ends of the metal line  410 , respectively. Further, the embodiments are not limited thereto, and three or more second fixing members  430  may be connected to the metal line  410 . For example, two second fixing members  430  may be connected to one end of the metal line  410 , and two second fixing members  430  may be connected to the other end of the metal line  410 . 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the second fixing member  430  includes a screw body  434  and a screw head  436 . The screw body  434  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and threads are formed at the outer side thereof. The screw head  436  has a larger radius than the screw body  434 . The screw head  436  is illustrated as a cut spherical shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes such as a cylindrical shape. 
         [0072]    The second fixing member  430  further includes a hole  432  passing through the screw body  434 . A radius of the hole  432  is larger than a radius of the metal line  410 . The metal line  410  is inserted into the hole  432 . A fastening member  412  extended from the metal line is further formed at the end of the metal line  410 . 
         [0073]    The fastening member  412  may be made of the same material as the metal line  410 . The fastening member  412  may be formed by heat-fusing the end of the metal line  410  after inserting the metal line  410  into the hole  432  of the second fixing member  430 . The fastening member  412  is formed to have a radius larger than the radius of the hole  432  so as not to get out the hole  432 . The fastening member  412  is formed to be fastened to the hole  432 , and as a result, the metal line  410  may be fixed to the second fixing member  430 . Stated another way, the radius of the fastening member  412  is larger than the radius of the hole  432  such that the fastening member  412  abuts and is fixed in place by the screw body  434  instead of passing through the hole  432  of the screw body  434 . 
         [0074]    In order to fix the second fixing member  430  to the lower chassis  320 , the second fixing member  430  is turned to be inserted into the lower chassis  320  along the threads. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the metal line  410  is wound around the screw body  434  of the second fixing member  430  by turning the second fixing member  430 . As the metal line  410  is wound on the second fixing member  430 , tension of the metal line  410  occurs, and as a result, the display panel  100  is fixed to the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the display panel  100  includes the first substrate  110  and the second substrate  120 , and the first substrate  110  and the second substrate  120  have different widths. In this case, the second substrate  120  positioned above may have a larger width than the first substrate  110  positioned below. An edge of the lower surface of the second substrate  120  is exposed due to a difference in width. The metal line  410  is positioned at a portion where the exposed lower surface of the second substrate  120  and the side of the first substrate  110  contact each other. Further, the first fixing member  420  is formed to cover the metal line  410 , and the first fixing member  420  is formed to cover the lower surface of the second substrate  120  and the side of the first substrate  110 . 
         [0076]    The display panel  100  may have a quadrangular shape, and two metal lines  410  may be fixed to both edges of the display panel  100  facing each other. The metal line  410  is positioned at a short side of a long side and the short side of the display panel  100 , but the embodiments are not limited thereto, and the metal line  410  may be positioned at the long side of the display panel  100 . Further, three or more metal lines  410  may be fixed to the display panel  100 . For example, all four metal lines  410  may be fixed to four edges of the display panel  100 . 
         [0077]    Next, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 11 . 
         [0078]    Since a display device according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 11  is almost the same as the display device according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the description thereof is omitted. The exemplary embodiment is different from the above exemplary embodiment in a method of fixing the metal line to the lower chassis, and hereinafter, the method will be described in more detail. 
         [0079]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment,  FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a metal line and a third fixing member of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 9  is cross-sectional view illustrating a portion where the metal line and the third fixing member are connected to each other, and  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion where the third fixing member is fixed to the lower chassis by a fourth fixing member. 
         [0080]    The display device according to the exemplary embodiment is configured by a display panel  100  displaying an image, and a backlight assembly  200  supplying light to the display panel  100 . Further, a lower chassis  320  for receiving the display panel  100  and the backlight assembly  200  is formed, and a metal line  410  is fixed to one edge of the display panel  100  and the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0081]    The first fixing member  420  is formed so that a part of the metal line  410  may be fixed to one edge of the display panel  100 , and a third fixing member  440  is formed so that the other part of the metal line  410  may be fixed to the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0082]    The third fixing member  440  is connected with an end of the metal line  410 . The third fixing member  440  may be formed in an L-lettered bracket, and the third fixing member  440  may be fixed to the lower chassis  320  by the fourth fixing member  450 . That is, the metal line  410  is fixed to the third fixing member  440 , and the third fixing member  440  is fixed to the lower chassis  320 . In this case, the third fixing member  440  may be fixed to the side of the lower chassis  320 . 
         [0083]    The end of the metal line  410  is inserted into the third fixing member  440 . The third fixing member  440  may be formed by an injection molding method, and the end of the metal line  410  may be inserted into the third fixing member  440  in advance when performing the injection molding. Accordingly, the metal line  410  may be fixed to the third fixing member  440  after the injection molding. 
         [0084]    The third fixing member  440  is curved in an L-lettered shape, and coupled with a curved portion of the side of the lower chassis  320 . In this case, a mold frame  315  may exist between the lower chassis  320  and the third fixing member  440 . The mold frame  315  is formed to cover the side of the lower chassis  320 , and the third fixing member  440  is formed to cover the side of the mold frame  315 . 
         [0085]    A hole  442  is formed in the third fixing member  440 . Further, the fourth fixing member  450  passing through the hole  442  of the third fixing member  440  and fixed to the mold frame  315  and the lower chassis  320  is formed. The fourth fixing member  450  is formed by a screw. The third fixing member  440  is curved in an L-lettered shape to have two sides. The holes  442  are formed in the two sides, respectively, and the third fixing member  440  may be fixed to the lower chassis  320  by two fourth fixing members  450 . The embodiments are not limited thereto, and the third fixing member  440  may be fixed to the lower chassis  320  by three or more fourth fixing members  450 . 
         [0086]    The display panel  100  may have a quadrangular shape, and two metal lines  410  may be fixed to both edges of the display panel  100  facing each other. The third fixing member  440  is connected to both ends of each metal line  410  to form four third fixing members  440 . Four third fixing members  440  may be connected to edge portions to which four sides of the lower chassis  320  are connected, respectively. 
         [0087]    While the inventive concept has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 &lt;Description of symbols&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 100: Display panel 
                 110: First substrate 
               
               
                   
                 120: Second substrate 
                 200: Backlight assembly 
               
               
                   
                 210: Light source unit 
                 211: Light source 
               
               
                   
                 212: Circuit board 
                 220: Optical sheet 
               
               
                   
                 222: Diffuser sheet 
                 224: Prism sheet 
               
               
                   
                 226: Protecting sheet 
                 230: Light guide plate 
               
               
                   
                 240: Extrusion bar 
                 315: Mold frame 
               
               
                   
                 320: Lower chassis 
                 410: Metal line 
               
               
                   
                 412: Fastening member 
                 420: First fixing member 
               
               
                   
                 430: Second fixing member 
                 432: Hole of second fixing member 
               
               
                   
                 434: Screw body 
                 436: Screw head 
               
               
                   
                 440: Third fixing member 
                 442: Hole of third fixing member 
               
               
                   
                 450: Fourth fixing member