Abstract:
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of reducing damage due to drops and external impacts comprises a backlight unit (BLU), an LCD panel disposed opposite the BLU, and an adhesive member interposed between the BLU and the LCD panel. The adhesive member includes a first film bonded to the BLU, a second film bonded to the LCD panel, and a third film interposed between the first film and the second film. The third film includes a first portion bonded to the first film, a second portion bonded to the second film, and a third portion configured so as to connect the first portion and the second portion between the first and second portions.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 13, 2010 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0089459. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and, more particularly, to an LCD device having a high impact resistance. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The liquid crystal display (LCD) device, which is excellent in terms of display properties, such as resolution, color reproduction and picture quality, has popularly been applied to monitors of notebooks or desktop computers. 
     In particular, since the LCD device is frequently used for mobile devices, the LCD device is very vulnerable to physical impacts and drops. Furthermore, when a crack occurs in a panel of the LCD device due to impact, the LCD device may experience a serious operational failure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of reducing damage due to drops and external impacts. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, an LCD device comprises: a backlight unit (BLU); an LCD panel disposed opposite the BLU; and an adhesive member interposed between the BLU and the LCD panel. The adhesive member includes a first film bonded to the BLU, a second film bonded to the LCD panel, and a third film interposed between the first film and the second film. The third film includes a first portion bonded to the first film, a second portion bonded to the second film, and a third portion configured so as to connect the first portion and the second portion at a point between the first and second portions. 
     The first film and the second film may be spaced apart from each other. 
     At least one of the first and second portions may be formed with a predetermined curvature. 
     The third film may be curved in a wave form between the first and second films. 
     The third portion may not be bonded to the first and second films. 
     The LCD device may further include a fourth film interposed between the first and second films. 
     At least the third portion of the third film may be located within the fourth film. 
     The fourth film may be less rigid than the third film. 
     The first film may include a first base and a first adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the first base disposed opposite the BLU. 
     The second film may include a second base and a second adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the second base disposed opposite the LCD panel. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an LCD device comprises: an LCD panel; a BLU disposed opposite the LCD panel; a support member disposed opposite the BLU on a side opposite to the LCD panel; and a tape at least partially interposed between the LCD panel and the BLU, and between the BLU and the support member. The tape has a higher impact absorbing capability in a first direction, parallel to a direction in which the LCD panel and the BLU are stacked, than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
     The tape may include: a first film bonded to the BLU; a second film spaced apart from the first film and bonded to the LCD panel; and a third film interposed between the first film and the second film, and alternately and repeatedly bonded to the first film and the second film. 
     A portion of the third film, which is bonded to at least one of the first and second films, may be formed with a predetermined curvature. 
     The LCD device may further include a fourth film interposed between the first film and the second film. 
     At least a portion of the third film may be located within the fourth film. 
     The fourth film may be less rigid than the third film. 
     The first film may include a first base and a first adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the first base disposed opposite the BLU. 
     The second film may include a second base and a second adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the second base disposed opposite the LCD panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the LCD device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an LCD device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the LCD device of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the LCD device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a backlight unit (BLU)  1  serving as an effective light emission region, an LCD panel  2  disposed opposite the BLU  1 , an adhesive member  3  interposed between the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2 , and a support member  4  configured so as to support and fix the assembly of the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2 . 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the BLU  1  may include a light source (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)), a light guide plate, and an optical sheet. 
     The LCD panel  2  may have a panel surface  2   a  disposed opposite the BLU  1 . The LCD panel  2  may allow light incident from the BLU  1  to pass therethrough so as to create an image on a surface  2   b  of the LCD panel  2  disposed on a side opposite to the panel surface. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2  may be bonded to each other with the adhesive member  3 . 
     The adhesive member  3  may be provided so as to surround an edge of the LCD panel  2 . Although the adhesive member  3  may have a closed-loop shape as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the adhesive member  3  may be partially adhered to at least one edge of the BLU  1  or the LCD panel  2 . 
     The assembly of the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2  may be supported and fixed by the support member  4 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2  may be stacked along a first direction X 1 , and a second direction X 2  may be a direction of a plane perpendicular to the first direction X 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the adhesive member  3  may include a first film  31  bonded to the BLU  1 , a second film  32  bonded to the LCD panel  2 , and a third film  33  interposed between the first film  31  and the second film  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the adhesive member  3  may be configured such that the third film  33  is interposed between the first film  31  and the second film  32 , which are spaced apart from and parallel to each other. 
     The third film  33  may include a first portion  331  bonded to the first film  31 , a second portion  332  bonded to the second film  32 , and a third portion  333  configured so as to connect the first portion  331  and the second portion  332 . 
     At least one of the first and second portions  331  and  332 , respectively, of the third film  33  may be formed with a predetermined curvature. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the third film  33  may have a curved wave structure. 
     The third film  33  may have impact absorbing characteristics along the first direction X 1  because the first portion  331  and the second portion  332  are bonded to the first film  31  and the second film  32 , respectively, and the third portion  333  is not bonded to the first and second films  31  and  32 . That is, the third film  33  may be alternately and repetitively bonded to the first film  31  and the second film  32 . 
     Due to the above-described structure, the adhesive member  3  may have better impact absorbing characteristics when compressed in the first direction X 1  than when compressed in the second direction X 2 . 
     Therefore, when the BLU  1  and the LCD panel  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are bonded to each other by the adhesive member  3 , the impact absorbing characteristics of the adhesive member  3  may be further enhanced along the first direction X 1 . 
     The third film  33  of  FIG. 3  may be formed of a highly elastic material. For example, a polyurethane material, such as PORON, or super clean foam (SCF) may be used. Each of the first film  31  and the second film  32  may be formed of a silicon-based adhesive layer. When each of the first and second films  31  and  32 , respectively, is formed of silicon-based adhesive layer, the impact absorbing characteristics of the adhesive member  3  may be further enhanced along the first direction X 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the adhesive member  3 ′ may include a first film  31 ′ and a second film  32 ′. The first film  31 ′ may include a first base  311  and a first adhesive layer  312  located on an outer surface of the first base  311  disposed opposite the BLU  1 . The second film  32 ′ may include a second base  321  and a second adhesive layer  322  located on an outer surface of the second base  321  disposed opposite the LCD panel  2 . 
     Each of the first and second bases  311  and  321 , respectively, may include a film material, such as polyester (PE) or polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). Each of the first and second adhesive layers  312  and  322 , respectively, which are disposed on the first and second bases  311  and  321 , respectively, may include a silicon-based adhesive layer. Since each of the first and second adhesive layers  312  and  322 , respectively, includes the silicon-based adhesive layer, the impact absorbing characteristics of the adhesive member  3 ′ may be further enhanced along the first direction X 1 . 
     Since the third film  33  is the same as in the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 3 , a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the adhesive member of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the adhesive member  3 ″ may further include a fourth film  34  interposed between the first film  31  and the second film  32 , unlike in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Since the fourth film  34  is interposed between the first and second films  31  and  32 , respectively, and bonded to the first and second films  31  and  32 , respectively, at least a portion of a third film  33  (for example, a third portion  333 ) may be located within the fourth film  34 . 
     The fourth film  34  may be formed of a material which may be less rigid than the third film  33  formed of PET so as not to affect the impact absorbing characteristics of the third film  33  along a first direction X 1 . The fourth film  34  may be formed of a silicon-based material so as to further improve the impact absorbing characteristics of the adhesive member  3 ″. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the first film  31  and the second film  32  may be formed in the same manner as the first film  31 ′ and the second film  32 ′ in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an LCD device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the adhesive member  3  may be interposed not only between an LCD panel  2  and the BLU  1 , but also between the BLU  1  and the support member  4 . 
     In this case, since impact absorbing characteristics between the BLU  1  and the support member  4  may also be improved, the impact resistance of the LCD device according to this embodiment of the present invention can be further improved. 
     According to the present invention as described above, an LCD device having a high impact resistance can be provided. 
     In particular, the impact absorbing capability of the LCD device can be further improved along a direction in which the LCD panel and the BLU are stacked, thereby preventing glass constituting the LCD device from being damaged or broken. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.