Abstract:
A secure frame for light module, which is essentially divided into a secure structure surrounding the light module and many secure protrusions located between the secure structure and light module. Herein, each secure protrusion is connected only with the light module or with the secure structure. The shorter distance between the secure protrusions and the light module (or the secure structure) provides the essential support to the light module. The longer distance between the light module and the secure structure provides the elastic space for the light module to absorb the effects of heat, light, shock, and so on.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the secure frame for light module, and more particularly, to the shape changing of the light module and/or the secure frame of light module for absorbing the variation, such as movement and deformation, of the light module induced by thermal or optical factor(s). 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     From production of the scan head of the scanner to that of the panel of the liquid crystal display in contemporary industry, the application of light module that contains light module has rapidly increased since the light module containing light module provides a plane light source by distributing the light emitted from a point source or a line source on the whole surface of the light module and contains optical films such as color filter and polarizing film for changing the properties of light emitted from the plane light source. And since the function of this kind of light module is to from a plane light source and adjust the properties of light emitted from the plane light source, the key of normal operation of the light module depends strongly on whether there is deformation in the light module, whether there is deformation or crack in each element (light guide plate, polarizing film, and color filter, etc.) of the light module, and whether the relative geometric relation between the light module and other elements in the product is misaligned or changed. 
     In the prior art, as shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C , secure frame  11  is usually used to surround and fix light module (may contain light guide plate  121 , light film  122 , and reflective plate  123 )  12 . Herein, secure frame  11  is not usually right next to (or does not usually directly contact with) the sidewall of light module  12  but supports light module  12  from the side of light module  12  that is not surrounded by secure frame  11 . Moreover, the distance between secure frame  11  and the sidewall of light guide  12  is constant and uniformly distributed. Therefor, when the fabrication of the whole product is completed, as shown in  FIG. 1D , secure frame  11  could effectively fix the relative geometric relation between light guide  12  and corresponding element  13 , such as liquid crystal module of liquid crystal display, and could effectively reduce the risk of both deformation(s) and crack(s). 
     However, while light guide  12  is broadly appreciated in many newly appeared cases, the conventional secure frame  11  is not suitable for all newly appeared cases. For example, during the testing process after the liquid crystal display is made, the liquid crystal display is operated under an extreme condition, such as high voltage and high temperature and extreme change of temperature, to simulate the long operating period. And, as shown in FIG.  1 E and  FIG. 1F , the practical testing result shows that light module  12  usually has crack(s) or is deformed, and usually causes the corresponding element  13  next to light module  12  to deform. 
     Therefore, while the light module is indispensable, it is desired to develop a new secure frame for light module to ensure the light module could be broadly applied in the contemporary industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One purpose of the invention is to provide a secure frame for light module, and more particularly, to provide a secure frame that could absorb the variation, such as movement and inflation, of the light module induced by thermal or optical factor(s). 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a secure frame for light module, and more particularly, to provide a secure frame that could effective prevent deformation(s) and crack(s). 
     Still an purpose of the invention is to provide a secure frame for light module, and more particularly, to provide a secure frame could effectively protect display against damages during testing process. 
     The secure frame for light guide provided by the invention could be divided into two essential parts: secure structure that surrounds the light module, and many secure protrusions that are located between the secure structure and the light module. Herein, each secure protrusion is contacted only with the light module or with the secure structure; when certain secure protrusion is directly connected with secure structure (or light module), the distance between secure protrusion and secure structure (or light module) is shorter than that between secure structure and light module. Moreover, the details of each secure protrusion, such as length, width and location, are adjusted to let the shorter distance between the secure protrusion and the light module (or secure structure) provide essential support to the light module, and to let the longer distance between the secure structure and the light module provide an elastic space to absorb the variation, such as movement and inflation, of the light module induced by thermal or optical factor(s). 
     Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1F  show the essential structure of conventional secure frame for light module and the common defects of conventional secure frame for light module; 
         FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2G  show the essential structure of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  show the essential structure of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     One preferred embodiment of the present invention is a secure frame for light module. The secure frame for light module is used to secure and support a light module. The light module and the secure frame are located on the same side of a light assembly, such as the scan head of the scanner or the liquid module of the liquid crystal display. As shown in  FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2G , the embodiment comprises: first secure structure  21 , second secure structure  22 , third secure structure  23 , and at least one secure protrusion  24  What is emphasized here is that, the focus of the present embodiment is on the supported light module  25 , secure structure  21 / 22 / 23  (around the side of light module  24 ), and secure protrusion  24  in between. The main difference between the embodiment and prior art is way of arrangement of secure protrusion  24  shown in top-view of secure frame. 
     Therefore, part of secure structure  21 / 22 / 23  on the bottom of light module  25  will not be specially displayed in  FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2G  in order to simplify the drawings and emphasize the focal point; besides, cross-section view of  FIG. 2A  from line AA′ (both sides of which going through secure protrusion  24 ) and line BB′ (both sides of which not going through secure protrusion  24 ) are shown respectively in FIG.  2 F and FIG.  2 G. 
     First secure structure  21  is located on first side of light module  25  and is separated from light module  25 . And, when number of secure protrusion(s)  24  on first side is no smaller than three, the arrangement of the secure protrusion(s)  24  forms a plane. 
     Second secure structure  22  is located on second side of light module  25  and is separated from light module  25 . Herein, first side and second side of light module  25  are two opposite side. And, when number of secure protrusion(s)  24  on second side is no smaller than three, the arrangement of the secure protrusion(s)  24  forms a plane. 
     Third secure structure  23  is located on third side of light module  25  and is separated from light module  25 , third secure structure  23  being connected with first secure structure  21  and second secure structure  22  at the same time. And, when number of secure protrusion(s)  24  on third side is no smaller than three, the arrangement of the secure protrusion(s)  24  forms a plane. 
     In the embodiment, in order to make secure protrusion  24  exert pressure evenly on light module  25  (or secure structure  21 / 22 / 23 ) for reducing the possibility of deformation caused by receiving pressure unevenly, the deployment of secure protrusion  24  on first side and deployment of secure protrusion  24  on second side can be made symmetrical to each other, and the deployment of secure protrusion  24  on third side can also be made symmetrical on both left and right sides. 
     Besides, the embodiment only demands the pressure exerted upon light module  25  (or secure structure  21 / 22 / 23 ) by secure protrusion  24  to be exerted evenly. The shape of any secure protrusion  24 , or whether the shape of all secure protrusions  24  are the same, is not limited in the embodiment. The secure protrusion  24  can be in any possible shape, such as semi-circle, semi-oval-shaped, semi-square, wavy, etc. 
     In the embodiment, each secure protrusion  24  on first side could be connected with first secure structure  21  but separated from light module  25 , or could be separated from first secure structure  21  but connected with light module  25 . These details are not limited in the embodiment, it is only required that these secure protrusions  24  are located between light module  25  and first secure structure  21 . In fact, whether any secure protrusion  24  is connected with anything, or even whether it is protrusion of first secure structure  21  or protrusion of light module  25  is not important in the embodiment. 
     Similarly, each secure protrusion  24  on second side could be connected with second secure structure  22  but be separated from light module  25 , or could be separated from second secure structure  22  but connected with light module  25 . Moreover, each secure protrusion  24  on third side could be connected with third secure structure  23  but separated from light module  25 , or could be separated from third secure structure  23  but connected with light module  25 . Herein, whether any secure protrusion  24  is protrusion of second secure structure  22 , protrusion of third secure structure  23 , or protrusion of light module  25  is not important in the embodiment. 
     Besides, in order to avoid the effect on propagation of light from light module  25  to light assembly caused by secure protrusions  24 , the distance between each secure protrusion  24  and light assembly is usually kept longer than the distance between light module  25  and light assembly. Certainly, the object could also be achieved by forming secure protrusions  24  with transparent material or other possible ways, and these details are not limited in the embodiment. 
     Compare with the prior art, an essential difference is clearly shown in the top-view figure. In the prior art, the distance between the secure frame and the light module is keep a constant, but the present embodiment, the distance between the secure frame and the light module is variable. In the present embodiment, the distance between the secure frame and light module  25  is shorter while there are secure protrusions  24  and is larger while there is not any secure protrusions  24 . Therefore, by adjusting the location/size of each secure protrusions  24  and the distance between light module  25  and secure structures  21 / 22 / 23 , the secure protrusion  24  could provide the essential support to light module  25  and secure structure  21 / 22 / 23  could provide the elastic space to absorb the variation, such as movement and inflation, of the light module induced by thermal or optical factor(s). 
     In general, for the same light module  25 , the distance between light module  25 , any secure protrusion  24 , and secure structure  21 / 22 / 23  in the embodiment is usually kept approximately equal to the distance between light module and secure frame in the prior art. And, the distance between light module  25  and secure structure  21 / 22 / 23 , without any secure protrusion  24  in-between, is longer than the distance between light module and secure frame in the prior art. 
     For example, each secure protrusion  24  in the embodiment can be adjusted according to the following conditions. Surely, each following condition could be independently used without combining other condition(s):
         (1) The projection of some secure protrusions  24  deployed along the first side on first secure structure  21  is no larger than one third of the length of first secure structure  21 . And the projection of some secure protrusions  24  deployed along the second side on second secure structure  22  is no larger than one third of the length of second secure structure  22 . Such conditions are offered to make sure that the light module  25  is not supported only by secure protrusions  24  but by both secure protrusions  24  and secure structure  21 / 22 / 23 , which is the featuring function of the invention.   (2) The projection of some secure protrusions  24  deployed along the third side on third secure structure  23  is no larger than one third of the length of third secure structure  23 . Such conditions are offered to make sure that the light module  25  is not supported only by secure protrusions  24  but by both secure protrusions  24  and secure structure  21 / 22 / 23 , which is the featuring function of the invention.   (3) The length of secure protrusion  24  deployed in the direction of third side along the first side is about three fifths of the distance between first secure structure  21  and light module  25 . And the length of secure protrusion  24  deployed in the direction of third side along the second side is about three fifths of the distance between second secure structure  22  and light module  25 . The condition is acquired by experiments and is good for both effectively supporting light module  25  and preventing from deformation/crack.   (4) The length of secure protrusion  24  deployed in the direction of first side along the third side is about three fifths of the distance between third secure structure  23  and light module  25 . The condition is acquired by experiments and is good for both effectively supporting light module  25  and preventing from deformation/crack.   (5) The length of secure protrusion  24  deployed in the direction of first side along the first side is about one twentieth of the distance between third secure structure  23  and light module  25 . And the length of secure protrusion  24  deployed in the direction of second side along the second side is about one twentieth of the distance between third secure structure  23  and light module  25 . The condition is to ensure secure protrusions  24  on first and second side are strong enough to support light module  25 .   (6) The length of secure protrusion  24  on third side along the third side is no shorter than one twentieth of the distance between first secure structure  21  and light module  25 . The condition is to ensure secure protrusions  24  next to third side are strong enough to support light module  25 .       

     Another preferred embodiment of the invention is a liquid crystal display, shown in  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C , comprising: liquid crystal module  31 , light guide  32 , light source  33  and secure frame  34 . 
     Liquid crystal module  31  comprises a plurality of liquid crystal cells. Light guide  32  is located closed to one side of liquid crystal module  31  and may contain light module such as light module and polarizing film. Light source  33  is located closed to one side of light module  32  that does not face liquid crystal module  31 . Secure frame  34  surrounds light guide  32 . 
     Obviously, secure frame  34  is the main characteristic(s) of the embodiment. Secure frame  34  could be divided into secure structure  341  and some secure protrusions  342 . Secure structure  341  surrounds light module  32  but is separated from light module  32 . Secure protrusions  342  are located between secure structure  341  and light module  32 , but each secure protrusions  342  is only connected with one of the following: secure structure  341  or light module  32 . 
     To avoid effect on normal operation of liquid crystal display, and more particularly, to avoid effect on normal propagation of light, generally specking, secure structure  341  is not located between light module  32  and liquid crystal module  31 , or between light source  33  and light module  32 . Moreover, the distance between each secure protrusions  342  and liquid crystal module  31  is larger than the distance between light module  32  and liquid crystal module  31 . 
     Furthermore, as is discussed above, along any side of light module  32 , the total length of projection of some secure protrusions  342  on light module  32  is no larger than one third of the length of secure structure  341  on that side. Moreover, along any side of light module  32 , the width of each secure protrusions  342  located on this side between secure structure  341  and light module  32  is about two fifths of the distance between secure structure  341  and light module  32 . Further, along any side of light module  32 , the width of each secure protrusions  342  located on this side along the side is no shorter than one twentieth of the width of the side of light module  32 . 
     Of course, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to these disclosed embodiments. Various modification and similar changes are still possible within the spirit of this invention. In this way, the scope of this invention should be defined by the appended claims.