Abstract:
An exemplary liquid crystal display (LCD) ( 200 ) includes an LCD panel ( 210 ) including a first glass substrate ( 212 ) and a second glass substrate ( 214 ) parallel to the first glass substrate; a backlight module ( 220 ) includes a frame ( 222 ) accommodating the LCD panel; and a fixing member ( 240 ) attached to the frame of the backlight module and resiliently holding an end portion of the LCD panel in position in the frame.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of a related Taiwan application no. 095141779 filed in Taiwan on Nov. 10, 2006. The contents of the Taiwan application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to backlight modules of liquid crystal displays (LCDs); and more particularly to an LCD including a backlight module with a fixing member. 
     GENERAL BACKGROUND 
     LCDs are commonly used as displays for compact electronic apparatuses. This is because they not only provide good quality images with little power consumption, but also they are very thin. The liquid crystal in an LCD does not emit any light itself. The liquid crystal has to be lit by a light source so as to clearly and sharply display text and images. Thus, a backlight module is generally needed for an LCD. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a typical LCD  100  includes an LCD panel  110 , a backlight module  120  opposite to the LCD panel  110 , and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  130 . The LCD panel  110  includes a first glass substrate  112 , and a second glass substrate  114  parallel to the first glass substrate  112 . 
     The backlight module  120  includes a first diffusing sheet  121 , a prism sheet  123 , a second diffusing sheet  125 , a light guide plate  127 , a frame  122 , and a reflective sheet  129 , arranged generally in that order from top to bottom. The backlight module  120  further includes four light sources  190  disposed adjacent to an end edge of the light guide plate  127 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when the LCD  100  is assembled, the LCD panel  110 , the first diffusing sheet  121 , the prism sheet  123 , the second diffusing sheet  125 , the light guide plate  127 , and the reflective sheet  129  are accommodated in the frame  122 . A terminal (not labeled) of the FPCB  130  is electrically connected to an exposed side portion of the second glass substrate  114 . A main printed circuit board (PCB)  151  is positioned at a side of the backlight module  120  far away from the LCD panel  110 . The FPCB  130  is bent down and around, and other terminal (not labeled) of the FPCB  130  is connected to the PCB)  151 . When the LCD  100  has been assembled, a second position of the FPCB  130  is that as shown in  FIG. 8  in phantom with the reference numeral  131 . 
     When the FPCB  131  is bent down and around, it exerts a pulling force on the side portion of the second glass substrate  114 . Therefore that side of the LCD panel  110  is pulled up slightly away from the backlight module  120 . As a result, the side of the LCD panel  110  connected to the FPCB  130  is elevated at an angle, and is higher than corresponding opposite side walls  124  of the frame  122 . Because the LCD panel  110  is obliquely raised, subsequent further assembly of the LCD  100  may be faulty. Furthermore, the elastic force generated by the bent FPCB make the LCD  100  has no reliability. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an LCD that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one preferred embodiment, an LCD includes an LCD panel including a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate parallel to the first glass substrate; a backlight module includes a frame accommodating the LCD panel; and a fixing member attached to the frame of the backlight module and resiliently holding an end portion of the LCD panel in position in the frame. 
     Other aspects, novel features, and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the described embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an LCD according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the LCD including a fixing bar. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged, inverted view of the fixing bar of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the LCD of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view take along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a corresponding view in the case of an LCD according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional LCD. 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the LCD of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view take along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an LCD  200  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The LCD  200  includes an LCD panel  210 , a backlight module  220 , an FPCB  230 , and a fixing bar  240 . 
     The LCD panel  210  includes a first glass substrate  212  and a second glass substrate  214  parallel to the first substrate  212 . The second glass substrate  214  includes an end portion  216 . A driving integrated circuit (not shown) is disposed on the end portion  216 , and a terminal of the FPCB  230  is connected to the end portion  216 . 
     The backlight module  220  includes a first diffusing sheet  221 , a prism sheet  223 , a second diffusing sheet  225 , a light guide plate  227 , a frame  222 , and a reflective sheet  229 , arranged generally in that order from top to bottom. The backlight module  120  further includes at least a light source  290  disposed adjacent to an end edge of the light guide plate  227 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are four light sources  290 . 
     The frame  222  includes two side walls  224  opposite to each other. Each side wall  224  includes a generally L-shaped notch  226  at an end thereof near the light sources  290 . A hook member  228  extends from a recessed outer portion of each side wall  224  at the notch  226  into the notch  226 . The two hook members  228  are oriented symmetrically opposite to each other. The frame  222  can be made of plastic material. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the fixing bar  240  includes a main body  241  and two clasping flanges  242  perpendicular to the main body  241 . The two clasping flanges  242  extend vertically down from two opposite ends of the main body  241 , and are parallel to each other. Each clasping flange  242  has a square opening  244  defined therein, corresponding to the hook member  228  of the respective side wall  224 . A distance between the two clasping flanges  242  is slightly less than a total distance spanned by the two hook members  228 . The fixing bar  240  can be made of elastic material such as metal or plastic. In alternative embodiments, the square openings  244  can have any other suitable shape. 
     The main body  241  includes a first surface  246  and a second surface  248  at opposite sides thereof, and an elongate pressing protrusion  245  formed along a middle portion of the second surface  248 . The main body  241  further includes a buffer layer  247  attached on a peripheral portion of the second surface  248 . The buffer layer  247  defines a window (not labeled) therein, into which the pressing protrusion  245  extends. The pressing protrusion  245  is formed by denting the first surface  246  toward the second surface  248 . Thereby, an indentation is formed in the first surface  246  corresponding to the pressing protrusion  245  at the second surface  248 . Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the pressing protrusion  245  has a generally curved transverse cross-section. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-section has a central flat area configured for pressing on the end portion  216 . A height of the pressing protrusion  245  is slightly less than a thickness of the buffer layer  247  when the fixing bar  240  is in a normal state. The buffer layer  247  can be made of elastic material such as foamed plastic or another kind of foam material. The pressing protrusion  245  is elastically deformable. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , when the LCD  200  is assembled, the light guide plate  227 , the second diffusing sheet  225 , the prism sheet  223 , the first diffusing sheet  221  and the LCD panel  210  are accommodated in the frame  222 , in that order from bottom to top. The reflective sheet  229  is attached to the frame  222  adjacent to a bottom of the light guide plate  227 , for reflecting light escaping from the bottom of the light guide plate  227  back into the light guide plate  227 . One terminal of the FPCB  230  is connected to the end portion  216  of the second glass substrate  214 . 
     The fixing bar  240  is disposed above the end portion  216  of the second glass substrate  214 , such that the buffer layer  247  is positioned between the main body  241  and the second glass substrate  214 . When the main body  241  is pressed by an external force (e.g. a person&#39;s fingers) towards the LCD panel  210 , the buffer layer  247  between the main body  241  and the second glass substrate  214  is compressed, and the pressing protrusion  245  of the fixing bar  240  contacts the end portion  216  and deforms slightly. At the same time, the clasping flanges  242  respectively move along the notches  226  of the frame  222  until the hook members  228  are respectively received in the square openings  244  of the clasping flanges  242 . Thus the LCD panel  210  is clamped in position by the fixing bar  240 . The first surface  246  of the main body  241  of the fixing bar  240  is substantially coplanar with top surfaces (not labeled) of the two side walls  224  of the frame  222 . The clasping flanges  242  are firmly held in the notches  226  of the frame  222 . 
     A main PCB  251  is disposed at a side of the backlight module  220  distant from the LCD panel  210 . The FPCB  230  is bent down and around, and other terminal of the FPCB  230  is connected to an edge portion of the main PCB  251 . 
     Even though the bent FPCB  230  generates an elastic force pulling on the end portion  216  of the second glass substrate  214 , the end portion  216  is restricted by the fixing bar  240 . Thus the LCD panel  210  is properly received in position in the frame  222 . As a result, further assembly of the LCD  200  can be performed correctly and easily. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an LCD  300  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the LCD  200 . However, the LCD  300  includes an LCD panel  310 , and a fixing bar  340  having a pressing protrusion  345 . The LCD panel  310  includes a second glass substrate  314  having an end portion  316 . The LCD  300  further includes a protection layer  347  disposed at the end portion  316  of the second glass substrate  314  for protecting a plurality of conducting lines (not shown) on the end portion  316 . The fixing bar  340  has no buffer layer attached thereon. The protection layer  347  is made of silica gel. Alternatively, the protection layer  347  can be made of another suitable protecting material. 
     When the main body  341  is pressed by an external force (e.g. a person&#39;s fingers) towards the LCD panel  310 , the protection layer  347  between the main body  341  and the second glass substrate  314  is compressed. Then the LCD panel  310  is received in the frame  322  and clamped by the fixing bar  340 . The LCD  300  can achieve advantages similar to those of the LCD  200 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.