Abstract:
A liquid crystal display module and a fabricating method thereof utilizes a reverse direction assembly of the liquid crystal display module to prevent light leakage caused by the movement of a reflector. The liquid crystal display module for the notebook computer includes a liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal is injected between two substrates, a light guide panel converting incident light from a light source to a flat type light and directing the light toward the liquid crystal display panel, a reflector wrapping the bottom surface of the light guide panel, a main support containing the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide panel, and a clamping member disposed in the reflector and the main support for fixing the reflector and the main support.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. P2000-79990 filed on Dec. 22, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to a liquid crystal display module for notebook computers, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display module and a fabricating method thereof which is capable of assembling a liquid crystal display module in a reverse direction and preventing light leakage caused by the movement of a reflector.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, a notebook computer (hereafter NTPC) is manufactured in the size of a notebook for a user to use information while traveling. A liquid crystal display module (hereafter LCM) is used as a display device to display the information in the NTPC.  
         [0006]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  2 , a LCM for a NTPC includes a liquid crystal display panel  20 , a light guide panel  4  converting light incident from a light source so that the light is directed toward the liquid crystal display panel  20 ; a reflector  8  for preventing a light leakage through a rear surface of the light guide panel  4 ; a main support  6  for fixing the light guide panel  4 ; a bottom cover  2  wrapping a side surface and a bottom surface of the main support  6 ; and a top case  10  wrapping a side surface of the bottom cover  2  and the main support  6  and wrapping an edge of the liquid crystal display panel  20 .  
         [0007]     The liquid crystal display panel  20  includes an active area where liquid crystal cells are arranged in an active matrix configuration, and driving circuits  14  for driving the liquid crystal cells in the active area.  
         [0008]     More particularly, the liquid crystal display panel  20  includes a thin film transistor for switching liquid crystal cells; a driving circuit  14  for driving the thin film transistor; a lower plate  18  where signal lines  16  connected between a driving circuit  14  and the thin film transistor are mounted on a lower substrate; an upper plate  17  having color filters (not shown) divided by cell areas and spread by means of a black matrix band corresponding to a matrix liquid cells on an upper substrate, and a transparent electrode (not shown) on the surface of the color filters. Liquid crystal (not shown) fills the space between the upper plate  17  and the lower plate  18 , which is provided by a spacer (not shown) for maintaining a fixed cell gap.  
         [0009]     The light guide panel  4  directs the light incident from a light source (not shown) toward the liquid crystal display panel  20 . The reflector  8  reflects the light which is directed toward the main support  6  of the light guide panel  4  back again toward the light guide panel  4  so as to prevent the light leakage.  
         [0010]     The main support  6  is molded. An inner side wall of the main support is molded to have a stepped face. The reflector  8 , the light guide panel  4 , an optical sheet  22  and a back light unit, which includes a lamp housing (not shown), are mounted in the lowest layer of the inside of this main support  6 . The liquid crystal display panel  20 , to which a upper and a lower polarizers  26  and  24  are attached respectively, is placed on the back light unit.  
         [0011]     The optical sheet  22  includes a diffusion sheet for diffusing the light that passes through the light guide panel  4  and a prism sheet for adjusting the direction of the light that passes through the diffusion sheet.  
         [0012]     The bottom cover  2  includes a planar bottom surface part and a side surface part which are substantially perpendicular to each other for substantially surrounding the bottom surface and side surface of the main support  6 .  
         [0013]     The top case  10  generally has the shape of a square band having a planar surface part and a side surface part substantially perpendicular to each other. This top case  10  wraps the edge of the liquid crystal panel  20  and the main support  6 .  
         [0014]     A description of the conventional assembly order of the LCM for NTPC by steps is as follows.  
         [0015]     The order in which the LCM is assembled includes providing the bottom cover  2 , the main support  6 , the reflector  8 , the light guide panel  4 , the optical sheet  22 , the liquid crystal display panel  20  to which the upper and the lower polarizers  26  and  24  are attached, and finally the top case  10 .  
         [0016]     Due to the nature of the previously mentioned assembly order, the light guide panel  4  is assembled after assembling the reflector  8 , such that the light guide panel  4  is affixed to the top of the reflector  8 . Accordingly, the reflector  8  wraps the bottom surface of the light guide panel  4  to prevent the light leakage of the light guide panel  4 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a part projecting from the side surface of the reflector  8  is inserted into the groove  28  formed in the support main  6 .  
         [0017]     However, there is a need to make the previously described LCM of the NTPC slim to reduce its thickness and weight. To make the LCM slim, it is conventionally assembled in reverse direction of the previously described assembly order which includes providing the main support  6 , the optical sheet  22 , the light guide panel  4 , the reflector  8 , the bottom cover  2  and the top case  10 .  
         [0018]     Unfortunately, if the conventional LCM is assembled in the reverse direction, movement of the reflector  8  occurs, causing poor assembly yields. Also, due to such the movement of the reflector  8 , light leakage occurs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display module and a fabricating method thereof that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0020]     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display module and a fabricating method thereof for using a reversed direction assembly order of the liquid crystal display module and preventing light leakage caused by the movement of a reflector.  
         [0021]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0022]     In order to achieve these and other advantages of the invention, a liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal is injected between two substrates; a light guide panel having incident light from a light source converted to a flat type light wherein the converted light progresses toward the liquid crystal display panel; a reflector wrapping a bottom surface of the light guide panel; a main support containing the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide panel; and a clamping member disposed in the reflector and adjacent the main support for fixing them.  
         [0023]     The clamping member includes a protrusion projected to a fixed height from a surface of the main support; and a hole which is formed in the reflector and through which the protrusion of the main support penetrates.  
         [0024]     The liquid crystal display module further includes an optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide panel for diffusing the light that passes through the light guide panel and/or adjusting the direction of the light; a bottom cover wrapping the rear surface of the reflector as well as the side surface and the bottom surface of the main support; and a top case wrapping the side surface of the main support and the bottom cover, and wrapping the upper edge of the main support.  
         [0025]     The bottom cover includes a hole through which the protrusion of the main support penetrates.  
         [0026]     A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer includes assembling a liquid crystal display panel, a light source, a light guide panel, a reflector and an optical sheet into a main support. Another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of turning the main support over so that a receiving space of a back light unit and the liquid crystal display panel faces upward; depositing at least one optical sheet in the receiving space of the main support; putting the light guide panel on the optical sheet; and putting the reflector on the light guide panel.  
         [0027]     The method further includes the steps of mounting onto the main support, a bottom cover wrapping the rear surface of the reflector and a side surface and the bottom surface of the main support; turning the main support over again; putting the liquid crystal display panel on the twice turned-over main support; and mounting a top case to wrap the edge of the liquid crystal display panel and the side surface of the main support.  
         [0028]     In the method, a protrusion is formed from the main support for fixing the reflector.  
         [0029]     A first hole is formed in the reflector allowing the protrusion of the main support penetrate through it.  
         [0030]     A second hole is formed in the bottom cover allowing the protrusion of the main support penetrate through it.  
         [0031]     In the method, the protrusion of the main support is inserted into the first hole when the reflector is put on the light guide panel so that the main support and the reflector are fixed as soon as the reflector is mounted on the main support.  
         [0032]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0034]     In the drawings:  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective showing a conventional liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view representing a liquid crystal display module taken along the line I-I shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the magnification of the B part shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer according to the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the magnification of the C part shown in  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart representing the assembly sequence of a liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0041]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a liquid crystal display module for a notebook computer according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel  50 , a light guide panel  34  having light incident from a light source directed toward the liquid crystal display panel  50 , a reflector  38  for preventing light leakage through a rear surface of the light guide panel  34 , a main support  36  for fixing the light guide panel  34 , a bottom cover  32  wrapping a side surface and a bottom surface of the main support  36 , and a top case  40  wrapping a side surface of the bottom cover  32  and the main support  36  and wrapping the edge of the liquid crystal display panel  50 .  
         [0043]     The liquid crystal display panel  50  includes an active area where liquid crystal cells are arranged in an active matrix configuration, and driving circuits  44  for driving the liquid crystal cells in the active area.  
         [0044]     The liquid crystal display panel  50  includes a thin film transistor for switching liquid crystal cells; a driving circuit  44  for driving the thin film transistor; a lower plate  48  where signal lines  46  connected between a driving circuit  44  and the thin film transistor are mounted on a lower substrate; a upper plate  47  consisting of color filters (not shown) divided by cell areas and spread by means of a black matrix band corresponding to the matrix liquid cells on an upper substrate, and a transparent electrode (not shown) on the surface of the color filters; and liquid crystal (not shown) formed to fill in the space between the upper plate  47  and the lower plate  48 , which is provided by a spacer (not shown) securing a fixed cell gap.  
         [0045]     The light guide panel  34  directs the light incident from a light source (not shown) toward the liquid crystal display panel  20 .  
         [0046]     Between the liquid crystal display panel  50  and light guide panel  34 , there is deposited an optical sheet  52  consisting of a diffusion sheet for diffusing the light that passes through the light guide panel  34  and a prism sheet for adjusting the direction of the light that passes through the diffusion sheet.  
         [0047]     The reflector  38  reflects the light which progresses toward the main support  36  from the light guide panel  34 , back again toward the light guide panel  34  so as to prevent the light leakage. Also, the reflector  38  is extended toward the main support  36  thereby preventing the movement of the reflector upon assembly. In the extended reflector  38 , a first hole  60  is formed.  
         [0048]     The main support  36  is molded such that an inner side wall of the main support has a stepped surface. These stepped surface has a structure different from the conventional structure and includes a stepped face for supporting the optical sheet  52  and a stepped face for supporting the light guide panel  34 .  
         [0049]     Also, a clamping member including a guide surface  58  of a protrusion  30 , e.g., a boss, of the main support  36  engages a hole  60  in the reflector  38  and which fixes the reflector  38  in the horizontal direction. Thereby, reverse direction assembly becomes possible for making the LCM slim.  
         [0050]     The protrusion  30  of the main support  36  with a fixed height is projected on a corresponding location to the first hole  60  formed in the reflector  38 . The protrusion  30  is projected in the manner such that its height is not greater than the sum of a thickness of the reflector  38  and a thickness of the bottom cover  32 . The shape of the protrusion  30  is not limited to a boss, but may be of any shape including a cross section that is substantially rectangular, triangular, oval, etc.  
         [0051]     The bottom cover  32  includes a substantially planar surface part  32   a  and a side surface part  32   b  which are substantially perpendicular to each other for wrapping the bottom surface and side surface of the main support  36 . Also, in the bottom cover  32 , there is formed a second hole  42  through which the protrusion  30  formed in the main support  36  penetrates.  
         [0052]     The main support  36 , the reflector  38 , the light guide panel  34 , the optical sheet  52  and a back light unit, which includes a lamp housing (not shown) are mounted on this bottom cover  32 , and the liquid crystal display panel  50 , to which a upper and a lower polarizers  56 ,  54  are attached, respectively, are deposited thereon.  
         [0053]     The top case  40  is substantially in the shape of a square or rectangular band having a substantially planar surface part  40   a  and a side surface part  40   b  substantially perpendicular to each other. This top case  40  wraps the edge of the liquid crystal display panel  50 , and a side surface of the main support  36  and the bottom cover  32 .  
         [0054]     Likewise, an explanation of the assembly sequence of the LCM for the NTPC according to the present invention with the reference to  FIG. 4  is as follows.  
         [0055]     The LCM is completed by assembling, in order, the main support  36 , the optical sheet  52 , the light guide panel  34 , the reflector  38 , the bottom cover  32 , the liquid crystal display panel  50  and the top case  40 .  
         [0056]     More particularly, the main support  36  is configured to have a receiving space facing upward. Then, the optical sheet  52  is put on the main support  36 . (S 1 ).  
         [0057]     Next, the light guide panel  34  is put on the optical sheet  52  and the reflector  38  is put on the optical sheet  52 . (S 2 , S 3 ) At this moment, the protrusion  30  formed in the main support  36  penetrates the first hole  60  formed in the reflector  38 .  
         [0058]     Consequently, there is no movement in the reflector  38  due to the presence of the protrusion  30  of the main support  36 .  
         [0059]     Consequently, the reflector  38  wraps the bottom surface of the light guide panel  34 .  
         [0060]     Subsequently, the bottom cover  32  is mounted on the main support  36  in the manner of wrapping the rear surface of the reflector  38 , and the rear surface and the side surface of the main support  36 . (S 4 ) At this moment, the protrusion  30  of the main support  36  penetrates the second hole  42  formed in the bottom cover  32 . The protrusion  30  penetrating the second hole  42  is less than the sum of the thickness of the bottom cover  32  and the reflector  38 , so that it does not extend beyond the rear surface of the bottom cover  32 .  
         [0061]     Then, the main support  36  with its bottom and side surfaces wrapped by the bottom cover  32 , is turned over to put the liquid crystal display panel  50  thereon. (S 5 )  
         [0062]     Subsequently, the LCM is completed by assembling the top case  40  wrapping the side surface of the bottom cover  32  and the edge of the liquid crystal display panel  50 . (S 6 )  
         [0063]     Thus, in the LCM according to the embodiment of the present invention, the left side and the right side of the reflector  38  are fixed by projecting the protrusion  30  with a fixed height from the main support  36  so that the protrusion  30  penetrates the first hole  60  formed in the reflector  38  and the second hole  42  formed in the bottom cover  32 . Thereby, the movement of the reflector  38  is prevented upon the LCM assembly.  
         [0064]     Also, the protrusion  30  of the main support  36  comes up as much as the thickness of the bottom cover  32  to prevent leakage of light, which occurs in conventional LCMs because of the movement of the reflector  38  caused by vibration and shock.  
         [0065]     As described above, the protrusion  30  is formed in the main support  36 . The reflector  38  and the bottom cover  32  have holes formed therein for receiving the protrusion. Movement of the reflector is prevented, thereby preventing light leakage while attending to the demand for its slimness.  
         [0066]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.