Abstract:
A backlight assembly which includes a first mold comprising a frame including a plurality of side portions defining an opening; and a light source disposed in the opening, wherein an external surface of the side portions includes a reverse-inclined surface extending downwardly and inwardly from an upper portion of the external surface and a width of the side portions is smaller at the upper portion and becomes larger downwardly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0067490 filed on Jul. 19, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display having the same, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly having an increased receiving space for receiving a printed circuit board, and a liquid crystal display having the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Liquid crystal displays are one of the most commonly used flat panel displays. Liquid crystal displays, which include two panels having a plurality of electrodes arranged thereon and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two panels, control the transmittance of incident light by applying voltages to the electrodes to rearrange liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. 
     A backlight assembly is disposed below a liquid crystal display panel to supply the liquid crystal display panel with light and a printed circuit board (PCB) is attached to one side of the liquid crystal display panel to drive the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel is disposed above the backlight assembly and received in a top chassis. 
     The top chassis covers the edges of the liquid crystal display panel and surrounds lateral surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly. A predetermined gap is created between the backlight assembly and the top chassis and the PCB is accommodated in a space corresponding to the gap. Here, the dimensions of the space accommodating the PCB depend upon the height of a driving chip mounted on the PCB. Accordingly, the gap between the backlight assembly and the top chassis should be greater than the sum of the thickness of the PCB and the height of the driving chip. However, as the gap between the backlight assembly and the top chassis increases, although a display area remains the same size, a liquid crystal display may become unnecessarily bulky. In particular, in a case where one frame image is formed based on, for example, a tiled monitor type liquid crystal display in which a plurality of liquid crystal display panels are arranged adjacent to one another, a view may be dissatisfied with image quality due to a variance in the non-display area of the entire liquid crystal display, which may be caused by a relatively large distance between the displays of liquid crystal display panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a backlight assembly which can reduce the dimension of a non-display area. 
     The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display having a non-display area with reduced dimension. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will be described in or be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backlight assembly including a light source, and a first mold receiving the light source and having the shape of an open window frame, wherein in at least one side portion, an external surface of a side wall of the first mold has at least one reverse-inclined surface extending downwardly at an angle toward the interior side of the side wall. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backlight assembly including a light source, and a first mold receiving the light source and having the shape of an open window frame, wherein in at least one side portion, an external surface of a side wall of the first mold has an undercut surface that is cut inwardly from its outermost surface. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backlight assembly including a light source, a first mold receiving the light source and having the shape of an open window frame, wherein the first mold includes a side wall, an upper surface connected to the side wall, a sloping surface that extends from the upper surface and is inclined downwardly toward the interior side of the side wall, and a bottom surface that is opened in at least one side portion, and a bottom chassis disposed under the light source and receiving a reflection sheet, wherein the reflection sheet extends from the opened bottom surface of the first mold and inserted between the side wall of the first mold and the sloping surface of the first mold. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal display panel assembly including a liquid crystal display panel, a data tape carrier package (TCP) attached to at least one side portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and a printed circuit board (PCB) which is attached to the data TCP and on which at least one driver chip is mounted, a backlight assembly including a light source providing the liquid crystal display panel with light, and a first mold receiving the light source and having the shape of an open window frame, wherein in at least one side portion, an external surface of a side wall of the first mold has at least one reverse-inclined surface extending downwardly at an angle toward interior side of the side wall, and a top chassis covering edges of the liquid crystal display panel and surrounding lateral surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly, wherein the PCB is received in a space defined by a reverse-inclined surface of the first mold in the at least one side portion and the top chassis. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal display panel assembly including a liquid crystal display panel, a data tape carrier package (TCP) attached to at least one side portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and a printed circuit board (PCB) which is attached to the data TCP and on which at least one driver chip is mounted, a backlight assembly including a light source providing the liquid crystal display panel with light, and a first mold receiving the light source and having the shape of an open window frame, wherein in at least one side portion, an external surface of a side wall of the first mold has a first undercut surface that is cut inwardly from its outermost surface, and a top chassis covering edges of the liquid crystal display panel and surrounding lateral surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly, wherein the PCB is received in a space defined by the first undercut surface of the first mold in the at least one side portion and the top chassis. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal display panel assembly including a liquid crystal display panel, a data tape carrier package (TCP) attached to at least one side portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and a printed circuit board (PCB) which is attached to the data TCP and on which at least one driver chip is mounted, a backlight assembly including a light source providing the liquid crystal display panel with light, a first mold including a side wall, an upper surface connected to the side wall, a sloping surface that extends from the upper surface and is inclined downwardly toward the interior side of the side wall, and a bottom surface that is opened in at least one side portion, a bottom chassis disposed under the light source and receiving a reflection sheet, wherein the bottom chassis is inserted between the side wall of the first mold and the sloping surface of the first mold, and a top chassis covering edges of the liquid crystal display panel and surrounding lateral surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a first side portion of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a second side portion of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a third side portion of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second side portion of a liquid crystal display according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third side portion of a liquid crystal display according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third side portion of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. In addition, in the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. 
     In the following description, it will be understood that when an element or a layer is referred to as being “on” another element or layer, it can be directly on the other element or layer, or intervening layers or 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. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. The terms “and/or” comprises each and at least one combination of referenced items. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. 
     The present invention will be described with reference to perspective views, cross-sectional views, and/or plan views, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. Thus, the profile of an exemplary view may be modified according to manufacturing techniques and/or allowances. That is, the embodiments of the invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but cover all changes and modifications that can be caused due to a change in manufacturing process. For example, while an etched region is illustrated as a rectangular shape, it may be rounded or have a predetermined curvature. Thus, regions shown in the drawings are illustrated in schematic form and the shapes of the regions are presented simply by way of illustration and not as a limitation. 
     Thin film transistor (TFT) substrates according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display ( 700 ) according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 1  in an assembled condition. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the liquid crystal display according to the current embodiment substantially has the shape of a rectangular block and has four side portions in total. Throughout this specification, for simplicity of explanation, a side portion to which a data tape carrier package (TCP) and a PCB are attached is defined as a first side portion, a side portion facing the first side portion is defined as a second side portion, and side portions adjacent to the first and second side portions are defined as a third side portion and a fourth side portion, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liquid crystal display  700  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel assembly  100 , a backlight assembly  500 , and a top chassis  600 . 
     The LCD panel assembly  100  includes a LCD panel  110  having a first substrate  111 , a second substrate  112 , and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) formed between the first substrate  111  and the second substrate  112 ; a data TCP  130  attached to the first side portion of the LCD panel  110 , and a PCB  140  attached to the data TCP  130 . A data driver integrated circuit (IC)  135  is mounted on the data TCP  130  and at least one driver chip (see  141  of  FIG. 3 ) is mounted on the PCB  140 . The first substrate  111  may be larger than the second substrate  112  so as to provide an attachment surface for the data TCP  130  to attach to. A plurality of gate lines (not shown) and a plurality of data lines (not shown) are formed on the first substrate  111  and the data lines are driven by driving chips (see  141  of  FIG. 3 ) on the PCB  140  and the data driver IC  135 . 
     The backlight assembly  500  includes a light source  210 , a reflection sheet  220  reflecting light emitted from the light source  210 , and an optical plate  230  and an optical sheet layer  240  adjusting optical characteristics of the emitted light. 
     The light source  210  may be, but is not limited to, a linear light source such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), or an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), a point light source such as a light emitting diode (LED), and any other type of light source, so long as it can provide the LCD panel assembly  100  with light. In the following examples, the invention is described with regard to the light source  210  using a linear light source as an example, and a plurality of light sources arranged in parallel with each other are illustrated. 
     The reflection sheet  220  is disposed below the light source  210  and reflects light upward from below the light source  210 . 
     The optical plate  230  and the optical sheet layer  240  are disposed above the light source  210 . The optical plate  230  diffuses the light incident from the light source  210 . The optical sheet layer  240  propagates, polarizes or focuses the incident light. The optical sheet layer  240  may be formed of a combination of two or more optical sheets having the functions stated previously, for example, a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, or the like. If necessary, the optical sheet layer  240  may further include a protective sheet. 
     The backlight assembly  500  includes a bottom chassis  250 , a first mold  300 , and a second mold  400 . The bottom chassis  250  receives or accommodates the light source  210 , the reflection sheet  220 , the optical plate  230  and the optical sheet layer  240 . 
     The reflection sheet  220  is received by the bottom chassis  250  and the light source  210  is disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom chassis  250 . The reflection sheet  220  has a substantially rectangular shape. The optical plate  230  and the optical sheet layer  240  are housed inside an internal space defined by the first mold  300  and the second mold  400 . The LCD panel assembly  100  is disposed over the second mold  400 . 
     The first mold  300  includes a third and a fourth side portion  330  and  340  for receiving the light source  210 , and a first and a second side portion  310  and  320 , which are not associated with receiving of the light source  210 . The first through fourth side portions  310  through  340  are integrally connected to each other. In other words, the first mold  300  is formed as a single piece frame having an open window at the center. Since the first mold  300  is formed as the single piece frame, it can be assembled in a simplified manner and the backlight assembly  500  shows increased resistance against external shock. The first mold  300  may be formed by injection molding a resin or the like. 
     The second mold  400  is disposed above the first mold  300 . Like the first mold  300 , the second mold  400  includes first through fourth side portions  410  through  440 . The second mold  400  is also formed as a single piece frame having an open window at the center. 
     The top chassis  600  covers the edges of the LCD panel  110  and surrounds lateral surfaces of the LCD panel  110  and the backlight assembly  500 . The top chassis  600  may be combined with at least one selected from the bottom chassis  250 , the first mold  300 , and the second mold  400  by, but not limited to, a hook or screw connection method. 
     Next, the liquid crystal display will be described in greater detail with regard to the connecting and receiving relationship of the respective side portions. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a first side portion of the liquid crystal display  700  shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the bottom chassis  250  forms the lowermost surface of the liquid crystal display  700 . The bottom chassis  250  includes a bottom surface and side walls. One end of a side wall of the bottom chassis  250  is inserted between a sloping portion  3102  and a side wall  3103  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold  300  so that it comes into contact with the internal surface of the side wall  3103 . The PCB  140  is inserted into a space beside the exterior surface of the side wall  3103 , which will later be described. Since the side wall of the bottom chassis  250  is positioned inwards with respect to the side wall  3103  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold  300 , which is not involved with the receiving space for receiving the PCB  140 , it is not necessary to increase in the receiving space. Thus, in this case, a dimension d 1  of the top surface of the top chassis  600  is reduced, compared to a case where the side wall of the bottom chassis  250  is on the outside of the side wall  3103  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the backlight assembly  500  can have sufficient resistance against external shock because of the first mold  300  having four side portions shaped as a single-piece frame. Accordingly, the sidewalls of the bottom chassis  250  can be formed in a simple straight arrangement without any particular shock-absorbing member. 
     The reflection sheet  220  is disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom chassis  250 . One end of the reflection sheet  220  extends between the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300 . 
     The first side portion  310  in the first mold  300  includes an upper surface  3101 , the sloping surface  3102  and the side wall  3103 . The upper surface  3101  of the first mold  300  supports the optical plate  230  and the optical sheet layer  240 . The sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300  is inclined downwardly from the upper surface  3101 . The lower end of the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300  presses on reflection sheet  220 , thereby helping to prevent movement of the reflection sheet  220 . The sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300  may serve to reflect light emitted from the light source  210 . To this end, the first mold  300  may be made of a resin having a good reflective property. Alternatively, a reflective material may be applied to the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300 . To provide sufficient reflection efficiency, the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  300  may be inclined at an angle (⊖ 1 ) of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the bottom surface of the bottom chassis  250 . 
     The internal surface of the side wall  3103  of the first mold  300  is formed in a vertical position. The external surface of the side wall  3103  of the first mold  300  consists of a horizontal base plane  3103   a  that protrudes from the external surface in a horizontal direction, and a reverse-inclined surface  3103   b  extending downwardly from the upper surface  3101  at an angle toward the interior side of the first mold  300 . The horizontal base plane  3103   a  protrudes outwards past the external surface of the upper surface  3101 . The bottom side of the first mold  310  is opened and an empty space is formed in an area defined by the sloping surface  3102 , the upper surface  3101  and the side wall  3103 . 
     The first side portion  410  in the second mold  400  is placed on the horizontal base plane  3103   a  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold. The first side portion  410  in the second mold  400  includes a supporting portion  4101  protruding inwards to cover the optical plate  230  and/or the optical sheet layer  240  and supporting the LCD panel  110 . The outermost surface of the first side portion  410  protrudes past the outermost surface of the side wall  3103  of the first mold, for example, past an end of the horizontal base plane  3103   a . In addition, the external surface of the first side portion  410  in the second mold  400  has an undercut surface  4102 , which is indented with respect to the outermost surface of the second mold  400 . That is, the external surface of the first side portion  410  has an indented step. 
     The top chassis  600  covers the edges of the LCD panel  110  and surrounds lateral surfaces of the respective first side portions  310  and  410  of the first and second molds  300  and  400 , respectively. The side wall of the top chassis  600  is disposed in close proximity to the outermost surface of the first side portion  410  in the second mold  400  and is separated from the outermost surface of the first side portion  410  by a space through which the data TCP  130  can pass. Accordingly, a space is created between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the undercut surface  4102  formed on the first side portion  410  of the second mold  400 . This space corresponds to a receiving space for receiving the data driver IC  135 . A space created between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the reverse-inclined surface  3103   b  corresponds to a receiving space for receiving the PCB  140 . 
     In more detail, the data TCP  130  and the PCB  140  attached to the first side portion of the LCD panel  110  are bent to the first side portions  310  and  410  of the first and second molds  300  and  400 , respectively, and then combined with the top chassis  600 , thereby forming the receiving space for receiving the data driver IC  135  between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the undercut surface  4102  formed on the first side portion  410  of the second mold  400 , and the receiving space for receiving the PCB  140  between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the reverse-inclined surface  3103   b . Here, the vertical cross section of the receiving space between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the reverse-inclined surface  3103   b  of the side wall  3103  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold, has the shape of a trapezoid having a width increasing in the downward direction. Meanwhile, connection wires (not shown) are primarily arranged on an interface area between the PCB  140  and the data TCP  130  and driver chips  141  are mounted on an area far from the interface area between the PCB  140  and the data TCP  130  and driver chips  141 . Accordingly, the driver chips  141  of the PCB  140  would be positioned on the relatively wide end of the trapezoidal area while the connection wires would be positioned on the narrow end of the trapezoidal area. In such a manner, utilization of the receiving space can be maximized. 
     That is to say, the bottom surface of the PCB  140  is disposed on the reverse-inclined surface  3103   b  of the side wall  3103  of the first side portion  310  in the first mold  300  while the driver chips  141  are positioned on the relatively wide area. In this case, the upper surface of each of the driver chips  141  contributes less to the width of the side wall of the top chassis  600  than in the case where the PCB  140  is disposed in a vertical position. As such, the side wall of the top chassis  600  can be made narrower. As a result, the dimension d 1  of the top surface of the top chassis  600 , which is not associated with displaying an image, is reduced. In addition, since the data driver IC  135  protruding from the data TCP  130  is accommodated in the space between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the undercut surface  4102  formed on the first side portion  410  of the second mold  400 , the dimension d 1  of the top surface of the top chassis  600  is further reduced or can be maintained at the same level. 
     If the dimension d 1  of the top surface of the top chassis  600  is reduced, a ratio of the display area to the overall screen display area of the liquid crystal display  700  increases, thereby realizing a relatively large-screen display image in a liquid crystal display of the same dimensions. In a case where a plurality of LCD panels are arranged adjacent to each other to construct a tiled monitor liquid crystal display, a variance in the non-display area between each of the respective LCD panels is reduced, thereby achieving a further enhanced image quality. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a second side portion of the liquid crystal display ( 700 ) shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , unlike the first side portion  310  of the liquid crystal display  700  shown in  FIG. 1 , to which the data TCP  130  and the PCB  140  are attached, the second side portion  320  of the liquid crystal display  700  shown in  FIG. 1  has neither a data TCP nor a PCB attached thereto. Accordingly, it is not necessary to form a receiving space, unlike in the first side portion  310 . In other words, a sloping portion  3202  and an upper surface  3201  of the second side portion  320  are substantially the same as the sloping portion  3102  and an upper surface  3101  of the first side portion  310 . However, a reverse-inclined surface is not necessarily provided in a side wall  3203  of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300 . A second side portion  420  in the second mold  400  includes a supporting portion  4201  at the interior side of its side wall. However, unlike the first side portion  410 , an external surface of the second side portion  420  has no cutout surface. That is, the external surface extends downwardly from a horizontal base plane on which the second mold  400  is placed. The external surface of the side wall  3203  of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300  and the external surface of the second side portion  420  in the second mold  400  are substantially aligned with each other. In the second side portion  420 , the side wall of the bottom chassis  250  is inserted from an opened bottom surface of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300  between a sloping portion  3202  and a side wall  3203  of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300 . No receiving space is necessary at the exterior side of the side wall  3203  of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300 . Further, the external surface of the side wall  3203  of the second side portion  320  in the first mold  300  and the external surface of the second side portion  420  in the second mold  400  are disposed in close proximity to the side wall of the top chassis  600 . Accordingly, a dimension d 2  of a top surface of the top chassis  600  can be further reduced. As a modified example of the present embodiment, the second side portions  320  and  420  of the first mold  300  and the second mold  400  may be configured to have substantially the same width as the first side portions  310  and  410  of the first mold  300  and the second mold  400 , respectively, from the viewpoint of simplicity of the manufacturing process. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a third side portion of the liquid crystal display ( 700 ) shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , the light source  210  is received in the third side portion of the liquid crystal display  700 . That is to say, the internal configuration of the third side portion  330  in the first mold  300  is different from that of the first or second side portion  310  or  320 . The third side portion  330  in the first mold  300  is similar to the second side portion  320  in that neither a data TCP nor a PCB is attached thereto. That is, the external configuration of the third side portion  330  in the first mold  300  is substantially the same as that of the second side portion  320 . 
     In more detail, the third side portion  330  in the first mold  300  includes an upper surface  3301 , a sloping surface  3302  inclined downwardly from the upper surface  3301 , and a side wall  3303 . Since the light source  210  is received in the third side portion  330 , it is not necessary to separately provide a reflection plane in an area where the light source  210  is received. Thus, a vertical plane  3307  is disposed in the area where the light source  210  is received. The sloping surface  3302  extends upwardly from the vertical plane  3307 . In addition, the sloping surface  3302  is vertical to the long axis of the light source  210 , which means that an amount of light directly incident from the light source  210  is small. Thus, a downward inclination angle (⊖ 2 ) of the sloping portion  3302  does not need to be gentle, unlike in the first side portion  310 . Meanwhile, the greater the downward inclination angle ⊖ 2  of the sloping portion  3302  with respect to the bottom chassis  250 , the narrower the distance between the side wall of the bottom chassis  250  and the vertical plane  3307 . This is advantageous in acquiring an exposure area of the light source  210 . Therefore, the sloping portion  3302  is preferably inclined with respect to the bottom chassis  250  at a relatively large downward inclination angle ⊖ 2  within a range in which reflection efficiency is not unduly declined, for example, in a range of about 60 degrees to about 80 degrees. 
     Additionally, since the shape of the third side portion  430  in the second mold  400  including a supporting portion  4301 , and the shapes of the external surface of a side wall  3303  of the third side portions  330  in the first mold  330  are substantially the same as those of the second side portion, explanations thereof will not be given. Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawings, a fourth side portion may also be formed to be symmetrical with the third side portion. 
     Next, liquid crystal displays according to other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following, the invention will be described with regard to cross sections of characteristic side portions of the liquid crystal displays. The side portions which are not specifically discussed in the following exemplified embodiments are substantially the same as those shown in the first embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to the illustrated example and it is to be understood that a combination of the illustrated side portions can be applied to the invention. In the following embodiments, in each case where structures the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, overlapping descriptions will be omitted or simplified. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 701 ) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the first side portion of the liquid crystal display  701  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  except for the shape of a side wall  3113  formed in a first mold  311 . In detail, the upper surface  3101 , the sloping surface  3102  and the internal surface of the side wall  3113  are substantially the same as those of the first mold  311 . However, the current embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a protrusion  3113   a  is formed on the external surface of the side wall  3103 . In more detail, the external surface of the side wall  3103  has the protrusion  3113   a  that horizontally protrudes from an external vertical plane extending vertically from the upper surface  3101 , and an undercut surface  3113   b , which is cut from the lower portion of the protrusion  3113   a  to be formed in a vertical position. The external vertical plane and the undercut surface  3113   b  may be aligned on the same line. Alternatively, any one of the two may be disposed much exterior to the other, if needed. The positional relationship between the external vertical plane and the undercut surface  3113   b  is determined by the strength of the first mold  311 , the dimension of driver chips  141  mounted on a PCB  140 , and so on. The lower end of a second mold  410  may overlie the upper surface of the protrusion  3113   a . The shape of the second mold  410  is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     A space created between the side wall of the top chassis  600  and the undercut surface  4102  formed on the second mold  410  corresponds to a receiving space for receiving a data driver IC  135 . A space created between the undercut surface  3113   b  of the first mold  311  and the side wall of the top chassis  600  corresponds to a receiving space for receiving the PCB  140 . The lower end of the PCB  140  is disposed on the undercut surface  3113   b  of the first mold  311 . Accordingly, the current embodiment provides a wider receiving space to the PCB  140  than the first embodiment. In particular, even when the driver chips  141  are mounted on an interface area between the PCB  140  and the data TCP  130 , the invention can be advantageously applied because the dimension of the receiving space is the same irrespective of the position, at either the upper end or the lower end of the receiving space. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 702 ) according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the first side portion of the liquid crystal display  702  according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different from that of the first embodiment in that an empty space is not formed in the lower portion of a first mold  312  and the inside of the first mold  312  is fully packed. In detail, an upper surface  3121 , a sloping surface  3122  and external surfaces  3123   a  and  3123   b  of a side wall  3123  are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. However, unlike in the first embodiment in which the bottom side of the first mold is opened, the current embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the empty space is filled with a solid medium, e.g., a resin material forming the first mold  312 . In this case, since the bottom surface of the first mold  312  is entirely brought into contact with a reflection sheet  220  and/or a bottom chassis  250 , movement of the reflection sheet  220  can be more effectively prevented. In addition, since the inside of the first mold  312  is filled with resin, the overall strength of the first mold  312  and resistance against external shock can be increased. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 703 ) according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the first side portion of the liquid crystal display  703  according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is different from that of the third embodiment in that a locking slot  3136  is formed on a bottom surface of a first mold  313 . Further, a locking groove passing through the locking slot  3136  is formed on the bottom surface of a bottom chassis  250 , thereby facilitating connection between the bottom chassis  250  and the first mold  313  by means of a connection member  255 , such as a nail, a thread, a screw, or the like. In some of the illustrated embodiments, the invention has been described with regard to hook connection between the first mold and the bottom chassis, specifically between the side wall of the first mold and the side wall of the bottom chassis. However, by connecting the first mold  313  with the bottom surface of the bottom chassis  250  using, e.g., a screw, like in the current embodiment, the first mold  313  can be more easily disassembled from the bottom chassis  250 . For example, when replacement or repair of the reflection sheet  220  or the light source  210  is needed, the reflection sheet  220  and the light source  210  can be simply replaced or repaired by removing a screw to remove the connection between the first mold  313  and the bottom chassis  250 . Upon disconnecting the first mold  313  from the bottom chassis  250 , the reflection sheet  220  and the light source  210  are exposed to be readily replaced or repaired. In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, since the first mold is formed as a single piece frame by first through fourth side portions and the first mold is combined with the second mold and/or the top chassis, other components, that is, an optical plate and/or optical sheets disposed at the upper portion of the liquid crystal display, are received in normal positions even when the first mold and the bottom chassis are disassembled from each other. 
     As a modified example of the present embodiment, unlike in the first through third embodiments of the present invention in each of which the lower space of the first mold is not filled with a resin material, a locking slot may be formed at a lower end of the side wall, thereby enabling the first mold to be locked from the bottom surface of the bottom chassis by means of, e.g., a screw. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 704 ) according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the first side portion of the liquid crystal display  704  according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is different from that of the first embodiment in that a support rib  3146  is formed in an opened empty space of a first mold  314 . In detail, at least one support rib  3146  extends from the side opposite to a sloping surface  3142  and/or an upper surface  3141  to a reflection sheet  220  and/or the bottom surface of a bottom chassis  250 . The lower end of the support rib  3146  pressurizes the reflection sheet  220  together with the lower end of the sloping surface  3142 , thereby more efficiently preventing movement of the reflection sheet  220 . In addition, the support rib  3146  further increases the strength of the first mold  314 , thereby further increasing resistance of a backlight assembly against external shock. Further, although not shown in the drawings, as a modified example of the present embodiment, at least one support rib may be provided in at least one among first through fourth side portions of a liquid crystal display of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 705 ) according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating one or more possible combinations of the previous embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a first mold  315  of the liquid crystal display  705  according to the current embodiment of the present invention has a side wall having the same external shape as that of the first mold according to the second embodiment (see  311  of  FIG. 6 ). In addition, the current embodiment is similar to the third embodiment in that the inside of the first mold  315  is filled with a resin material, like the first mold according third embodiment (see  312  of  FIG. 7 ). By doing so, the respective merits or effects obtained in the second and third embodiments can both be achieved by the current embodiment. 
     While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated with regard to a reflection sheet having a flat surface without a refractive plane, the reflection sheet being inserted into a lower portion of a sloping surface of the first mold and pressurized by the sloping surface of the first mold, the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. A reflection sheet  221  may be bent along the sloping surface  3102  and the reflection sheet  221  may cover the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  310 . An example of is illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 706 ) according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the shape of the first mold  310  is substantially the same as that according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The reflection sheet  221  is refracted along the sloping surface  3102  and extends up to an upper surface  3101  of the first mold  310 . Preferably, the reflection sheet  221  is attached to the upper surface  3101  of the first mold  310  by an adhesive, etc. In this case, since the reflection sheet  221  completely covers the sloping surface  3102  of the first mold  310 , reflection efficiency may be increased. In addition, the first mold  310  is not necessarily made of a highly reflective material so long as it is made of a resin material having a commonly acceptable strength. Further, since the reflection sheet  221  is attached to the upper surface  3101  of the first mold  310 , movement of the reflection sheet  221  can be more efficiently prevented. Although not shown in the drawings, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the shapes and attachment methods of the reflection sheets which have been described in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also be applied to other embodiments. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 707 ) according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the liquid crystal display  707  according to the current embodiment of the present invention is different from the liquid crystal display ( 700  of  FIG. 4 ) according to the first embodiment in that a first mold  327  is disposed at the interior side with respect to a side wall of a bottom chassis  250 . That is to say, the first mold  327 , the bottom chassis  250  and a top chassis  600  are sequentially disposed to be close to each other. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a horizontal base plane on the external surface of a side wall  3273  of the first mold  327 . Rather, the external surface of the side wall  3273  may be formed as a vertical plane. According to the current embodiment, since the bottom chassis  250  and the top chassis  600  are disposed to be close to each other, the connection between the bottom chassis  250  and the top chassis  600 , which are external surface components of the liquid crystal display  707 , can be strengthened. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third side portion of a liquid crystal display ( 708 ) according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the liquid crystal display  708  according to the current embodiment of the present invention is different from the liquid crystal display ( 700  of  FIG. 5 ) according to the first embodiment in that a first mold  338  is disposed at the interior side with respect to a side wall of a bottom chassis  250 . In this case, the lower end of a second mold  430  overlies the side wall of the bottom chassis  250 , and the external surface of a side wall  3383  of the first mold  338  may be formed as a vertical plane. 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display ( 709 ) according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third side portion of the liquid crystal display shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the liquid crystal display  709  according to the current embodiment of the present invention further includes a gate TCP  150  and a gate driver IC  155  in a third side portion, compared to the liquid crystal display ( 700  of  FIG. 5 ) according to the first embodiment. Thus, in the third side portion, a first substrate  111 ′ of an LCD panel  110 ′ may be larger than a second substrate  112  in size. In addition, unlike in the first embodiment in which a gate line driver is formed, it is not necessary to separately provide a gate driver on the first substrate  111 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the liquid crystal display  710  according to the current embodiment of the present invention further includes a gate TCP  150  and a receiving space for receiving a gate driver IC  155 , compared to the liquid crystal display(s) according to the previous embodiment(s). In detail, the gate TCP  150  and the gate driver IC  155  are to be bent and then received within a top chassis  600 . To this end, a receiving space for receiving the gate driver IC  155  is provided between the top chassis  600  and a second mold  439 , which is similar to the receiving space for accommodating the data driver IC  135  provided at the first side portion in the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 . However, unlike in the previous embodiment, since a space for accommodating a PCB is not required, it is not necessary to provide a reverse-inclined surface at the external surface of a side wall  3393  of a first mold  339 . That is to say, the external surface of the side wall  3393  of the first mold  339  has a first external vertical surface extending vertically from an upper surface  3301 , a horizontal base plane  3393   a  that protrudes from the first external surface in a horizontal direction, and a second external surface extending vertically from the horizontal base plane  3393   a . In addition, the external surface of the second mold  439  has an undercut surface  4392  that is cut from the outermost surface of the external surface of the second mold  439 . The gate driver IC  155  is received in a space defined by the undercut surface  4392 , the horizontal base plane  3393   a  of the first mold  339 , and the top chassis  600 . Meanwhile, in the current embodiment, a fourth side portion does not have a gate TCP and a gate driver IC, so that it may be formed to be symmetrical with the third side portion shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As described above, according to the present invention, since the dimensions of a top surface of a top chassis, which is not associated with displaying of an image, are reduced, receiving spaces of a data driver IC and a PCB can be maximized. Accordingly, a ratio of the display area to the overall screen display area of a liquid crystal display increases, and the dimensions of a non-display area are reduced. Thus, although a display area has the same dimensions, a relatively large-screen display image can be obtained. In addition, since the invention can be applied to a case where a plurality of LCD panels are arranged adjacent to each other to construct a tiled monitor liquid crystal display, a variance in the non-display area between each of the respective LCD panels is reduced, thereby achieving satisfactory image quality. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.