Abstract:
A backlight module ( 200 ) typically used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) ( 20 ) includes at least one light emitting unit ( 250 ), and a frame ( 260 ) receiving the at least one light emitting unit therein. The frame includes a main body ( 261 ), and at least one elastic member provided at an outer side surface of the main body. The LCD employing the backlight module can be prevented from being damaged if the LCD falls to the ground or is bumped.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to backlight modules such as those used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs); and more particularly to a backlight module with an elastic member provided at an outer side thereof, and an LCD using the backlight module. 
     GENERAL BACKGROUND 
     Liquid crystal of an LCD does no itself emit light. Therefore it is common for a backlight module to be installed in an LCD device together with the LCD. The backlight module provides a uniform flat light source to enable the LCD to display images. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , this is an exploded, isometric view of a typical liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display  10  includes a liquid crystal panel  190 , and a backlight module  100  adjacent to an underside of the liquid crystal panel  190 . 
     The backlight module  100  includes a first brightness enhancement film  110 , a second brightness enhancement film  120 , a diffusion film  130 , a light guide plate (LGP)  140 , a plurality of light emitting units  150 , a reflector  170 , and a frame  160 . The first and second brightness enhancement films  110 ,  120 , and the diffusion film  130  are arranged from top to bottom in that order. The frame  160  receives the three films  110 ,  120 ,  130 , the LGP  140 , the light emitting units  150 , and the reflector  170 . The frame  160  may be made of metal, plastic, or another suitable material. The light emitting units  150  are typically light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     The LGP  140  includes a light incident surface  141 , a light emission surface  142  substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface  141 , and a bottom surface  143  opposite to the light emission surface  142 . The light emitting units  150  are arranged adjacent to the light incident surface  141  of the LGP  140 . The reflector  170  is located adjacent to the bottom surface  143  of the LGP  140 . The diffusion film  130  is disposed adjacent to the light emission surface  142  of the LGP  140 . 
     The liquid crystal display  10  is assembled by the following steps: firstly, the LGP  140  and the reflector  170  are received in the frame  160 ; subsequently, the light emitting units  150  are arranged in the frame  160  adjacent to the light incident surface  141  of the LGP  140 ; finally, the diffusion film  130 , the second and first brightness enhancement films  120 ,  110 , and the liquid crystal panel  190  are disposed in that order from bottom to top on the light emission surface  142  of the LGP  140 . 
     The frame  160  is made of metal, plastic or another suitable material, and includes four enlarged corner portions for added strength (see  FIG. 9 ). However, the liquid crystal display  10  may sustain great shock when it falls to the ground or is bumped. As a result, components of the liquid crystal display  10  are liable to be damaged. In particular, the liquid crystal panel  190  and the LGP  140  are liable to sustain damage. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a backlight module and a liquid crystal display employing the backlight module that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY 
     A backlight module for a liquid crystal display includes at least one light emitting unit, and a frame receiving the at least one light emitting unit therein. The frame includes a main body, and at least one elastic member provided at an outer side surface of the main body. 
     A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, and a backlight module adjacent to the liquid crystal panel. The backlight module includes a frame, which includes a main body and at least one elastic member. The at least one elastic member is provided at an outer side surface of the main body. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, are the views are schematic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an LCD according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of  FIG. 1 , showing an elastic member and part of a frame of the LCD. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing a top plan view of the elastic member and the part of the frame. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a frame of a backlight module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a frame of a backlight module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged, top plan view of an elastic member and part of a frame of a backlight module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, top plan view of an elastic member and part of a frame of a backlight module according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional liquid crystal display. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IX of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred embodiments in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a backlight module of an LCD according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The LCD  20  mainly includes a liquid crystal panel  290  for displaying images, and a backlight module  200  adjacent to an underside of the liquid crystal panel  290  for illuminating the liquid crystal panel  290 . 
     The backlight module  200  includes a first brightness enhancement film  210 , a second brightness enhancement film  220 , a diffusion film  230 , an LGP  240 , a plurality of light emitting units  250 , a reflector  270 , and a frame  260 . The first and second brightness enhancement films  210 ,  220 , and the diffusion film  230  are arranged from top to bottom in that order. The frame  260  receives the three films  210 ,  220 ,  230 , the LGP  240 , the light emitting units  250 , and the reflector  270 . The light emitting units  250  may be light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the frame  260  may be made of plastic, metal or another suitable material. 
     The LGP  240  includes a light incident surface  241 , a light emission surface  242  substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface  241 , and a bottom surface  243  opposite to the light emission surface  242 . The light emitting units  250  are arranged adjacent to the light incident surface  241  of the LGP  240 . The reflector  270  is located adjacent to the bottom surface  243  of the LGP  240 . The diffusion film  230  is disposed adjacent to the light emission surface  242  of the LGP  240 . 
     The frame  260  includes a main body  261 , and four elastic members  263  integrally formed with the main body  261 . The main body  261  includes a first side wall  264 , a second side wall  265 , a third side wall  266  opposite to the first side wall  264 , and a fourth side wall  267  opposite to the second side wall  265 . The first, second, third, and fourth side walls  264 ,  265 ,  266 ,  267  are arranged end-to-end and cooperatively define a four-sided closed space (not labeled) therebetween. Four corners (not labeled) of the main body  261  are defined at four junctions where each two respective adjacent of the first, second, third, and fourth side walls  264 ,  265 ,  266 ,  267  meet each other. The four elastic members  263  extend out from the four corners of the main body  261 , respectively. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the elastic members  263  includes two curved lugs  268 ,  269  that are oriented symmetrically opposite each other. Base portions of the lugs  268 ,  269  are close to each other at an outer corner portion of the corner. Each lug  268 ,  269  progressively bends from the base portion toward the corresponding nearest first, second, third, or fourth side wall  264 ,  265 ,  266 ,  267 . In one embodiment, each lug  268 ,  269  can be substantially in the shape of an arc. 
     The liquid crystal display  20  is assembled by the following steps: firstly, the LGP  240  and the reflector  270  are received in the frame  260 , with the four elastic members  263  extending out of the main body  261 ; subsequently, the light emitting units  250  are arranged in the frame  260  adjacent to the light incident surface  241  of the LGP  240 ; finally, the diffusion film  230 , the second and first brightness enhancement films  220 ,  210 , and the liquid crystal panel  290  are disposed in that order from bottom to top on the light emission surface  242  of the LGP  240 . 
     In operation, light beams emitted by the light emitting units  250  enter the LGP  240  via the light incident surface  241 . Most of the light beams transmit to the light emission surface  242  of the LGP  240  without involvement of the reflector  270 . Some of the light beams transmit through the bottom surface  243  of the LGP  240  to the reflector  270 , are reflected back into the LGP  240  through the bottom surface  243 , and transmit to the light emission surface  242 . All the light beams transmit through the light emission surface  242  of the LGP  240 , transmit through the diffusion film  230 , the second and first brightness enhancement films  220 ,  210  in turn, and finally illuminate the liquid crystal display panel  290 . 
     If the liquid crystal display  20  falls to the ground or is bumped, the four elastic members  263  arranged on the main body  261  and extending out therefrom can absorb much of the shock. Therefore, components of the liquid crystal display  20  are protected from being damaged. In particular, the liquid crystal panel  290  and the LGP  240  are protected from being damaged. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a frame of a backlight module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The backlight module (not labeled) has a structure similar to that of the backlight module  200 . However, the frame  360  includes a main body  361 , and two elastic members  363  arranged at two diagonal corners (not labeled) of the main body  361 . The elastic members  363  have a configuration similar to the elastic members  263 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a frame of a backlight module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The backlight module (not labeled) has a structure similar to that of the backlight module  200 . However, the frame  460  includes a main body  461 , four elastic members  463  arranged at four corners (not labeled) of the main body  461  respectively, and another four elastic members  463  arranged on outer sides of four side walls (not labeled) of the main body  461  respectively. The elastic members  463  have a configuration similar to the elastic members  263 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an elastic member and part of a frame of a backlight module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The backlight module (not labeled) has a structure similar to that of the backlight module  200 . However, each elastic member  563  includes two hook-shaped lugs  568 ,  569  that are oriented symmetrically opposite each other. Base portions of the lugs  568 ,  569  are close to each other at an outer corner portion of a respective corner (not labeled) of a main body  561  of the frame (not labeled). Each lug  568 ,  569  has a curved hook portion at a distal end thereof. The hook portion progressively bends more directly toward a corresponding side wall (not labeled) of the frame. In one embodiment, each lug  568 ,  569  can be substantially in the shape of an arc. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of an elastic member and part of a frame of a backlight module according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The backlight module (not labeled) has a structure similar to that of the backlight module  200 . However, each elastic member  763  includes two coil springs  768 ,  769  arranged at a corner (not labeled) of a main body  761  of the frame (not labeled). The coil springs  768 ,  769  extend or protrude directly out from adjacent sides of the corner respectively, and are oriented perpendicular to each other. The coil springs  768 ,  769  can be made of metal or plastic. In one example, the coil springs  768 ,  769  are interferingly fixed in the corner. In another example, the coil springs  768 ,  769  are adhered to the corner. In a further example, the coil springs  768 ,  769  are both interferingly fixed in and adhered to the corner. 
     Various modifications and alterations are possible within the ambit of the invention herein. For example, each of the elastic members may be in the form of a separate body. In such case, each elastic member can be fixed to the main body of the frame by suitable means such as adhesion or interferential engagement. 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.