Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel firmly fixed to a support main. The liquid crystal display device includes a support main receiving a back light assembly, a liquid crystal panel positioned in the support main and located on the back light assembly, and a fixation member engaged with the support main and fixing the liquid crystal panel with respect to the support main.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0060069, filed on Jun. 30, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device including a support main to which a liquid crystal panel is fixed. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     A CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) is a general display device that is often used as a monitor for devices such as a measuring device, an information terminal device, and a TV. CRTs are generally relatively bulky and heavy, which eliminates the ability to make electronic devices that use CRTs with relatively small dimensions and light weight. 
     Liquid crystal display devices are normally smaller and weigh less than CRT devices with the same display size. LCDs also normally consume relatively little electrical power during operation. Liquid crystal display devices use thin film transistors that provide a high definition picture and the color quality displayed on LCDs are as good, if not better than CRTs. Additionally, liquid crystal display devices may be used with as large sized display devices. Liquid crystal display devices are often used as display devices for machines such as notebook computers, desk-top computers, and televisions. 
     Liquid crystal display devices include a liquid crystal panel displaying an image, a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel, and a back light assembly providing light required for operation of the liquid crystal panel. The components of the liquid crystal display devices are stacked into a support main housing. A driving circuit is attached to the rear surface of the back light assembly. The structure of the liquid crystal display device is shown in  FIGS. 1-2  that depict a conventional small-sized liquid crystal display device. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional small-sized liquid crystal display device and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 . The conventional small-sized liquid crystal display device includes an FPC (flexible printed circuit) with a driving circuit for driving a liquid crystal panel  10  and a back light assembly  20  providing a flat surface light to the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The back light assembly  20  includes a support main  70  receiving a light emitting diode  60 , a printed circuit board  61 , optical sheets  40 , a light guide plate  50 , and a reflection plate  80 . A bottom cover  90  is combined with the support main  20  to enclose the above components. A light shielding tape  30  is attached to the support main  70  to fix the light emitting diode  60 , the printed circuit board  61 , the optical sheets  40 , the light guide plate  50 , and the reflection plate  80 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  may be mounted to the light shielding tape  30  is fixed to the back light assembly  20  with an adhesive coated on the light shielding tape  30 . The FPC  11  connected to the liquid crystal panel  10  is bent by approximately 180 degrees and aligned with a hole  91  formed on the rear surface of the bottom cover  90 . Since the FPC  11  is formed at least partially from an aluminum wire, the FPC  11  has a predetermined resilient force. The resilient force generates a repulsive force by which the FPC  11  is urged to return to its original planar state. The repulsive force generated by the biasing force of the FPC  11  may be applied to the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     However, in the conventional small-sized liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal panel  10  that is fixed to the liquid crystal panel  10  only by the bonding force of the light shielding tape  30  may cause a connection portion of the FPC  11  to protrude outward from the device due to a repulsive force on the FPC  11  in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 2 . The protruding liquid crystal panel  10  may be damaged during an impact inspecting process or when roughly handled, thereby increasing the defect rate. Further, the protruding liquid crystal panel  10  allows light to leak from the panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A representative embodiment of a liquid crystal display device includes a support main receiving a back light assembly, a liquid crystal panel positioned in the support main and located on the back light assembly, and a fixation member engaged with the support main and urging and fixing the liquid crystal panel. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the disclosure. The objectives and other advantages of the disclosed embodiments may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory, and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional small-sized liquid crystal display device. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a representative liquid crystal display device. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of part A of  FIG. 3 , showing a support main and a clip. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view depicting an engaging process of a liquid crystal display device. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view depicting another representative liquid crystal display device. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view depicting another representative a liquid crystal display device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel  100  for displaying an image, an FPC  110  with a circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel mounted thereon, a back light assembly  120  that provides a flat surface light to illuminate the liquid crystal panel  100 , and a light shielding tape  130  located between the liquid crystal panel  110  and the back light assembly  120 . The liquid crystal panel  100  includes a thin film transistor array substrate and a color filter substrate that are adhered to each other. The thin film transistor array and the color filter substrate are arranged oppositely to each other to maintain a uniform cell gap. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between a thin film transistor array substrate and a color filter substrate. 
     The FPC  110  includes a flexible insulation film in which a conductive wire pattern for a complex circuit wire is provided and to which drive circuit chips are mounted thereto. The flexible insulation film may be made from heat resistant plastic films such as PET (polyester) or PI (polyimide). Because the flexible FPC  110  provides space for three-dimensional wiring, flexible FPCs  110  are widely used in many small-sized liquid crystal display devices. 
     The back light assembly  120  includes a plurality of light emitting diodes  160  that emit light disposed on one side of a light guide plate  150 , a printed circuit board  161  that provides and applies the voltage required to drive the light emitting diode  160 , and a plurality of optical sheets  140  that are disposed on the light guide plate  150  and collect and diffuse the light. A reflection plate  180  is disposed on the rear surface of the light guide plate  150  and reflects the light from the rear surface of the light guide plate  150  to the front surface of the light guide plate  150 . The light guide plate  150  converts the light from the plurality of light emitting diodes  160  to the form the flat surface light that is directed toward the optical sheets  140 . 
     A small-sized liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a support main  170  that receives a plurality of light emitting diodes  160 , a printed circuit board  161 , a light guide plate  150 , and a plurality of optical sheets  140  provided in a back light assembly  120 . A bottom cover  190  is provided that may be formed with a box-like shape with an open upper surface. The support main  170  is fixed with a plurality of fasteners, such as screws, that penetrates the bottom cover  190 . The support main  170  is received in the bottom cover  190 . 
     A light shielding tape  130  is attached to the support main  170 . The light shielding tape  130  substantially prevents light leakage from the liquid crystal display device by restricting the area irradiated through from a plurality of optical sheets toward a liquid crystal panel  100 . The light shielding tape  130  may be dyed or coated with a black dye to effectively prevent light leakage from the device. In addition, the light shielding tape  130  fixes the plurality of light emitting diodes  160 , the printed circuit board  161 , the light guide plate  150 , and the plurality of optical sheets  140  that are each disposed in the support main  170  to constrain and prevent movement of these components within the support main  170 . Further, the light shielding tape  130  fixes the liquid crystal panel  100  in an upper portion thereof. The light shielding tape  130  may include adhesive layers provided on both surfaces thereof. Accordingly, the shielding tape  130  not only prevents light leakage from the LCD panel but also fixes the back light assembly  120  received in the support main  170  and the liquid crystal panel  100  to their respective components. 
     The small-sized liquid crystal display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of clips  200  that are used to fix the components of the liquid crystal panel  100 . The clips  200  are engaged with an edge of the side of the support main  170  in which an FPC  110  is located. Each of the clips  200  has a            -shaped or similarly shaped cross-section suitable for surrounding a portion of the edge of the support main  170 . In other words, the clips  200  are shaped with three legs that are provided at substantially perpendicular angles to their neighboring legs and with the two opposite legs oriented substantially in parallel to each other. Each clip  200  has at least one rectangular surface. In some embodiments, all three legs of the clip  200  are rectangular.
     One surface of each clip  200  surrounds a portion of the front surface of the support main  170  and has an extending end portion that covers the edge of the liquid crystal panel  100 . Each of the clips  200  urge and fix the lower surface of the support main  170  and a surface of the liquid crystal panel  100  that surrounds an edge of the support main  170  together, such that the support main  170  covers the edge (i.e. the non-display area) of the liquid crystal panel  100 . In order to sufficiently maintain the urging force between the support main  170  and the liquid crystal panel  100 , each of the clips  200  can be formed from metal, and specifically a metal with a high elasticity and a high strength. Alternatively, the clips  200  may be formed from synthesized materials or the like. 
     A guide groove  201  is formed at an edge of the support main  170  and guides the engagement of the clip  200  and the support main  170 . The guide groove  201  also prevents the clip  200  that is engaged with the support main  170  from being separated form the engagement position. The depth of the guide groove  201  corresponds to the thickness of the clip  200  and the shape of the guide groove  201  is similar to the            -shape of the clip  200 . Accordingly, the outer surfaces of the clip  200  and the support main  170  are substantially planar when the clip  200  is installed. The guide groove  201  is formed by decreasing the circumference or the outer surfaces of a partial edge of the support main  170  by the thickness of the clip  200 . Further, the guide groove  201  prevents outer dimensions of the liquid crystal display device from increasing by the thickness of the legs of the clip  200 . The guide groove  201  can be simultaneously formed when the support main  170  is manufactured.
     Although not shown in the figures, an adhesive layer may be provided on the inner wall surface of the clip  200  or a surface of the guide groove  201  to provide a strong and reliable joint between the clip  200  and the support main  170 . 
     The assembling process of the liquid crystal display device is completed by firmly fixing the liquid crystal panel  100  and the support main  170  with the clip  200  and then engaging the bottom cover  190  and the support main  180 . The number and size of the clip  200  can be changed according to the kind and size of the liquid crystal display device. 
     The liquid crystal panel  100  may be urged by and supported to the support main  170  by the            -shaped or similarly shaped clip  200  that is engaged along the guide groove  201  formed at the edge of the support main  170 . The liquid crystal panel  100  receives a repulsive force by the FPC  110  is prevented from being raised or bent from the support main  170 , which prevents light leakage from the liquid crystal display device. Further, since the clip  200  firmly fixes the liquid crystal panel  100  to the support main  170 , damage to the device, such as a crack, is not generated in the liquid crystal panel  100  and the back light assembly  120  even when the liquid crystal panel  100  receives an external impact, such as during an impact test. Accordingly, the defect rate of the liquid crystal display device is reduced.
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view depicting a liquid crystal display device according to another representative embodiment. The liquid crystal display device shown in  FIG. 7  has the same structure as the liquid crystal display device shown in  FIG. 6 , except that a support main  270  has guide grooves  301  formed on the edges that are perpendicular to an edge on the support main  270  at which the FPC  110  is located. Clips  300  have a            -shaped or a similarly shaped cross-section and are engaged with the guide grooves  301 . The clips  300  in  FIG. 7  are engaged along the guide grooves  301  that are on edge areas of the support main and urges an edge (i.e. a non-display area) of the liquid crystal panel  100  toward the support main  170 .
     When the clip  300  is provided on respective guide grooves  301  defined on the support main  270 , the liquid crystal panel  100  is firmly fixed to the support main  270 . Accordingly, when the liquid crystal panel  100  receives a repulsive force, the FPC  110  is prevented from being raised or otherwise deflected by the support main  270 , preventing light leakage from the liquid crystal display device because the FPC  110  is stably provided on the support main  270 . Further, cracks and other types of damage are not generated in the liquid crystal panel  100  and the back light assembly  120  even in cases of external impacts on the LCD, such as during an impact test. As a result, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention minimizes the defect rate. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view for explaining a liquid crystal display device according to another preferred embodiment. The liquid crystal display device shown in  FIG. 8  has the same structure as the liquid crystal display device shown in  FIG. 6 , except that a support main  370  has guide grooves  401  formed at the corners on both ends of the side upon which the FPC  110  is located. The clips  400  have a            -shaped or similarly shaped cross-section, are formed with a triangular outer shape, and are engaged with the guide grooves  401 . The clips  400  in  FIG. 8  are engaged along the guide grooves  401  that are formed at corner areas of the support main  370 . The clips  400  align the corner portion (i.e. the non-display area) of the liquid crystal panel  100  and the support main  370 .
     The liquid crystal panel  100  is firmly fixed to the support main  370  on the triangular clip  400 . Accordingly, if the liquid crystal panel  100  receives a repulsive force on the FPC  110 , the FPC  110  is prevented from being raised by the support main  370 , which prevents light leakage from the liquid crystal display panel. Further, cracks and other types of damage are not formed in the liquid crystal panel  100  and the back light assembly  120  even when presented with impacts such as during an impact test. As a result, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention minimizes the defect rate. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described by the three preferred embodiments shown in the figures, it would be appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing the sprit of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is not limited by the description in the specification but is defined by the claims.