Abstract:
A liquid crystal display module displays an image on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a reflecting sheet having a raised portion that receives a light source and supports a diffusing sheet and/or optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the light source.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0024217, filed Mar. 16, 2006, which is incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present application relates to a liquid crystal display module. 
     2. Related Art 
     Some display devices use cathode-ray tubes (CRT). Other display devices may be flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panels (PDP), field emission displays, and electro-luminescence displays (ELD). LCD devices have advantages over some of the other flat panel displays. Some of these advantages may include higher resolution, lighter weight, thinner profile, a more compact size, and/or lower power supply requirements. 
     A LCD device includes two substrates that are spaced apart and face each other with a liquid crystal material interposed between the two substrates. The two substrates include electrodes that face each other. A voltage applied between the electrodes induces an electric field across the liquid crystal material. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material changes in accordance with the intensity of the induced electric field, thereby changing the light transmissivity of the LCD device. Thus, the LCD device displays images by varying the intensity of the induced electric field. 
     The LCD device includes a light source to display images and may be categorized according to the arrangement of the light sources. When the light source is positioned at a side of the LCD device, the LCD may be categorized as an edge type LCD device. Alternatively, when the light source is positioned below (or behind) the liquid crystal panel, the LCD device may be categorized as a direct type LCD device. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a direct type LCD module according to the related art. In  FIG. 1 , the LCD module includes a liquid crystal panel  10 , a backlight assembly  20 , a main supporter  30 , a top case  40  and a bottom case  50 . The main supporter  30  has a rectangular frame shape and supports the backlight assembly  20  and the liquid crystal panel  10 . The backlight assembly  20  includes at least one lamp  24 , a reflecting sheet  22 , a diffusing sheet  18 , and a plurality of optical sheets  26 . The plurality of optical sheets  26  may include a prism sheet. The one or more lamps  24  are arranged below and parallel to the liquid crystal panel  10 . A pair of side supporters  28  fixes the ends of the lamp(s)  24 . The side supporters  28  are coupled with the bottom case  50 . 
     The top case  40  is disposed on top of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The top case  40  may be pressed against and affixed to a peripheral portion of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The bottom case  50  is coupled with the top case  40 . A printed circuit board (PCB)  19  having driving circuits is connected to the liquid crystal panel  10  through a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  16 . 
     When assembled, the diffusing sheet  18  is spaced apart from the one or more lamps  24 . As the size of the LCD device increases, a size and a weight of the diffusing sheet  18  and the optical sheets  26  also increases. Accordingly, a center of the diffusing sheet  18  can sag due to the increased weight. A plurality of separate lamp guiders  60  hold up the diffusing sheet  18  and maintain a distance between the diffusing sheet  18  and the lamp(s)  24 . Additionally, the lamp guiders  60  can prevent the lamp(s)  24  from swaying or may reduce the lamp(s)  24  from being broken due to an exterior impact. 
     However, the lamp guiders  60  surround more than half of a circumference of the lamp(s)  24  and can reduce emission efficiency of the lamp(s)  24 . Accordingly, a user may notice poor system performance, which can include reduced brightness where the lamp guiders  60  are located and/or spots on the liquid crystal panel. Furthermore, because the lamp(s)  24  are fitted in the plurality of lamp guiders  60 , assembling the LCD module can be complicated and can result in increased production costs. Therefore, a need exists for an improved liquid crystal display module. 
     SUMMARY 
     A liquid crystal display module displays an image on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a reflecting sheet having a raised portion that receives a light source and supports a diffusing sheet and/or optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the light source. 
     Other apparatuses, methods, features and advantages will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The discussion below may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numeral designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a direct type LCD module according to the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a LCD module; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a reflecting sheet of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a lamp guiding portion that may be used in the LCD module of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a second lamp guiding portion that may be used in the LCD module of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  are perspective views of various hole configurations that may be used in a lamp guiding portion of the LCD module of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a LCD module. In  FIG. 2 , the LCD module includes a liquid crystal panel  110 , a backlight assembly  120 , a main supporter  130 , a top case  140  and a bottom case  150 . The main supporter  130  may have a polygon shaped frame. In  FIG. 2 , the main supporter  130  is rectangular shaped. The main supporter  130  may support the backlight assembly  120  and the liquid crystal panel  110 . Additionally, the main supporter  130  may be coupled with the top case  140 . 
     The backlight assembly  120  may include at least one lamp  124 , a reflecting sheet  122 , a diffusing sheet  118 , and/or a plurality of optical sheets  126 . The plurality of optical sheets may include a prism sheet. In  FIG. 2 , the lamp(s)  124  are arranged below the liquid crystal panel  110  to supply light to the liquid crystal panel  110 . The lamp(s)  24  may be arranged generally parallel to the liquid crystal panel  110 , and if more than one lamp  124  is used the lamps  124  may be generally parallel to one another. In other LCD modules, the lamp(s)  124  may be arranged in different positions, such as at an edge of the LCD module, or in a generally parallel configuration that is generally perpendicular to the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . A pair of side supporters  128  fixes the ends of the lamp(s)  124 . The side supporters  128  may be coupled with the bottom case  150 . 
     The top case  140  is disposed on top of the liquid crystal panel  110 . The top case  140  may be pressed against and affixed to a peripheral portion of the liquid crystal panel  110 . The bottom case  150  is disposed at a bottom of the LCD module. The bottom case  150  may be coupled with the top case  140 . A printed circuit board (PCB)  119  which may include driving circuits may be connected to the liquid crystal panel  110  through a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  116 . 
     The reflecting sheet  122  may include side portions with an edge that extends along a direction that is generally parallel to the direction of the lamp(s)  124 . The side portions may include one or more bends, such that the side portion may be bent upward from the reflecting sheet  122  at a predetermined height. The side portion may include a first bent part substantially inclined to a base portion of the reflecting sheet  122 , and a second bent part that is generally parallel to the base portion. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the reflecting sheet  122  further includes a lamp guiding portion  132  which may protrude from the base portion. The lamp guiding portion  132  may guide the placement of the lamp(s)  124  and support the diffusing sheet  118  and/or the optical sheets  126 . The lamp guiding portion  132  may extend along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of the lamp(s)  124 . The lamp guiding portion  132  may include at least one hole  134  that may receive a corresponding lamp(s)  124 . The hole  134  may not be completely enclosed, such that a lamp(s)  124  may be inserted through the top portion of the light guiding portion  132 . The one or more holes  134  may be arranged substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other and configured to receive the lamp(s)  124 . 
     A top of the lamp guiding portion  132  and the bent side portions support the diffusing sheet  118  and/or the optical sheets  126 . The top of the lamp guiding portion  132  supports a center portion of the diffusing sheet  118  and/or the optical sheets  126 , while the bent side portions support the side portions of the diffusing sheet  118  and/or the optical sheets. To support the diffusing and/or optical sheets  118  and  126 , in a substantially uniform manner, the lamp guiding portion  132  may be substantially the same height as the bent side portions. The holes  134  may be configured with a depth such that a lamp  124  received in a hole  134  is appropriately spaced from the diffusing sheet  118 . 
     The lamp guiding portion  132  may be fabricated in a variety of manners. For example, one or more folding lines may be made along a portion of a reflecting sheet  122  along in a direction that may be generally perpendicular to the direction of the lamp(s)  124 . For some lamp guiding portions  132 , a folding line may be made along a center of the reflecting sheet  122 . Additionally, side portions may be bent prior to or after a folding line is marked on the reflecting sheet  122 . 
     If the side portions have been bent prior to forming the lamp guiding portion  132 , parts of the bent side portions near a folding line may be cut or notched. A portion of the reflecting sheet  122  near the one or more folding lines may then be raised. In some fabrications of the light guiding portion this portion of the reflecting sheet  122  may be raised by pushing one or more sides of the reflecting sheet  122  that are generally parallel to the one or more folding lines. Alternatively, tools or other forces may be used to raise a portion of the reflecting sheet  122 . A lamp guiding portion  132  may be made with side surfaces substantially inclined to a flat base portion. Alternatively, a lamp guiding portion  132  may be made with side surfaces that are generally perpendicular to a flat base portion. One or more holes  134  may be formed in the lamp guiding portion  132 . The one or more holes  134  may be formed through cutting, drilling, notching, or other processes that may remove a portion of the material on the lamp guiding portion  132 . 
     The lamp guiding portion  132  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  has a triangular cross sectional profile. Alternatively, the light guiding portion  132  may have a cross sectional profile including two generally non-parallel sides connected by a third side (e.g., generally bi-lateral symmetrical trapezoid shaped), as shown in  FIG. 4A , or a semi-circular cross sectional profile, as shown in  FIG. 4B . The lamp guiding portion  132  may also have any other appropriate polynomial shaped cross sectional profile. These other cross sectional profiles may include rectangular, square, or other shapes. 
     In the embodiment, the reflecting sheet is made of plastic. The holes  134  may have a predetermined width such that a lamp  124  may be substantially secured within a corresponding hole  134 . For example, the hole  134  may have a width is about 1 mm to about 2 mm smaller than the diameter of a lamp  124 . One or more holes  134  of a light guiding portion  132  may have varying widths. Additionally, the holes  134  may have varying shapes. In some LCD modules, one or more holes  134  of a light guiding portion  132  may have the same shape while in other LCD modules, one or more holes  134  of a light guiding portion  132  may have different shapes. 
     In  FIGS. 5A and 5B  a light guiding portion  132  has different types of holes  134 . In  FIG. 5A , the holes  134  include two generally parallel sides connected by a semi-circular end. The distance between the two generally parallel sides may be about 1 mm to about 2 mm smaller than the diameter of a lamp  124 . In  FIG. 5B , the holes  134  have a triangular shape. The distance between the generally V-shaped portions of the holes  134  may be about 1 mm to about 2 mm smaller than the diameter of a lamp  124 . When a hole  134  is not completely enclosed, as shown for example in  FIG. 5A  or  5 B, a lamp  124  may be inserted into the hole  134  in a downward vertical manner. Holes  134  that are not completely enclosed may increase the emission efficiency of a lamp  124 . 
     In  FIG. 5C , the hole  134  has a substantially circular shape. A diameter of the hole  134  may be approximately the same as the diameter of a lamp  124 . Alternatively, the diameter of the hole  134  of  FIG. 5C  may be slightly larger than the diameter of a lamp  124 . As shown in  FIG. 5C , the hole  134  may be complete (e.g., it may be spaced apart a distance from the top of the lamp guiding portion  132 ). When a hole  134  is spaced apart a distance from the top of the lamp guiding portion  132 , a lamp  124  may be inserted into the hole  134  from one side of the hole  134  to the other side (e.g., in a horizontal manner). 
     The lamp guiding portion  132  may receive a lamp  124  and/or may support a diffusing sheet  118  and/or a plurality of optical sheets  126 . The lamp guiding portion  132  is formed from the reflecting sheet  122  and can reduce the swaying of a lamp  124  and/or the possibility of a lamp  124  being broken from an external impact. Additionally, the use of the lamp guiding portion  132  can result in a less complex assembly of a LCD module which can reduce production costs. Further, when a hole opens towards the top of the light guiding portion  132 , emission efficiency can increase resulting in better system performance. 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claim and their equivalents.