Abstract:
An LCD device for stably fixing a light-guiding plate is disclosed. The LCD includes a support main; a lamp provided along one side of the support main; a light-guiding plate provided in the support main opposite to the lamp; and at least one fixing device provided on an inner surface of the support main, to prevent the light-guiding plate from being moved. The fixing device contains multiple plates arranged in a C shape. Slits are formed in the center plate. An elastic plate is disposed between the slits and a projection is disposed on the elastic plate. The projection contacts the light-guiding plate. The support main contains a recess into which the projection moves when the light-guiding plate expands and the elastic plate deforms.

Description:
The present invention claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2003-95421 filed on Dec. 23, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to an LCD device in which the light-guiding plate is prevented from moving to one side. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     In general, an LCD device includes an LCD panel having lower and upper glass substrates, and liquid crystal injected between the upper and lower substrates; a polarizing plate for polarizing light to lower and upper surfaces of the LCD panel; and a light source and a light-guiding plate for uniformly providing light to the LCD panel. At this time, the LCD panel displays a desired image by switching liquid crystal cells according to a video signal inputted from the external. The LCD device has the advantageous characteristics such as lightness in weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an LCD device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , unlike a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), the LCD device  10  does not emit light in itself. Thus, the LCD device  10  requires an additional light source. The LCD device  10  includes an LCD panel  11  for displaying an image, and a backlight  12  for providing light to the LCD panel  11 . Herein, the LCD panel  11  and the backlight  12  are supported with a support frame like a support main  13  and a top case  20 . The top case  20  of a metal material is covered along an upper edge of the LCD panel  11 , and lower and side parts of the LCD panel  11  are supported by the support main  13 . Also, the support main  13  is formed of a plastic material, and the backlight  12  and the LCD panel  11  are received into the inside of the support main  13 . 
     At this time, the backlight  12  is comprised of a reflective plate  12   a , a light-guiding plate  12   b , a diffusion sheet  12   c , a first prism sheet  12   d , a second prism sheet  12   e , and a protective sheet  12   f , to be sequentially received into the inside of the support main  13 . Also, a lamp  25  of emitting light is provided in shape of a linear type or “L” along the side of the support main  13 . 
     The lamp  25  is provided along the side of the support main  13  by a lamp housing (not shown), and the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is opposite to the lamp  25 . At this time, the lamp housing protects the lamp  25 , and concentrates the light emitted from the lamp  25  into the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b.    
     The light emitted from the lamp  25  is incident on the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b , and is uniformly emitted to the upper surface of the light-guiding plate  12   b  toward the LCD panel  11 . Accordingly, the LCD panel  11  controls the light being uniformly guided from the light-guiding plate  12   b  according to unit pixel regions, and displays the desired image. 
     The LCD panel  11  is comprised of a lower substrate having a thin film transistor array and an upper substrate having a color filter array, the lower and upper substrates being bonded to each other at a predetermined interval therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer formed in a space between the bonded two substrates. Then, lower and upper polarizing plates  11   b  and  11   a  are respectively formed on lower and upper surfaces of the LCD panel  11 . In addition, TCPs  31  (Tape Carrier Package) are provided on the lower substrate, and are electrically connected with a PCB (Printed Circuit Board, not shown) having a driving circuit for driving the LCD panel  11 . 
       FIG. 2  is a plane view for explaining the light-guiding plate provided on the support main according to the related art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the light-guiding plate  12   b  is provided on the support main  13 , and the lamp  25  is provided on the support main  13  along one side of the light-guiding plate  12   b . As the power is supplied to the lamp  25 , the lamp  25  emits light and heat. Also, the heat generated from the lamp  25  effects the light-guiding plate  12   b , so that the light-guiding plate  12   b  may expand due to the heat of the lamp  25 . 
     Accordingly, the light-guiding plate  12   b  may expand due to the heat generated from the lamp  25 , whereby the light-guiding plate  12   b  of the support main  13  may bend. As a result, it is impossible to provide the uniform light to the LCD panel  11 . 
     To solve this problem, the size of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is controlled to have a minute space  5  between the light-guiding plate  12   b  and the support main  13  at all directions. At this time, the minute space  5  has a width of approx. 0.3 mm. Thus, even though the light-guiding plate  12   b  expands, it is possible to prevent the damage of the light-guiding plate  12   b.    
     However, the related art LCD device has the following disadvantages. 
     First, since the LCD device is generally used for a monitor and a television, the LCD device displays the image in the standing state. As a result, the light-guiding plate may move to one side. If the light-guiding plate is moved toward the lamp, and then is adjacent to or in contact with the lamp, the light-guiding plate may be overheated and damaged. 
     Furthermore, in case the light-guiding plate leans to one side due to external force, one side of the light-guiding plate is slantingly received into the support main. In this state, if the light-guiding plate expands due to the heat of the lamp, the light-guiding plate may not be received into the minute space. 
     SUMMARY 
     By way of introduction only, in one embodiment, a display device includes a support main, a lamp that supplies light to the display device, a light-guiding plate provided in a space formed by the support main; and a fixing device that contacts a side of the light-guiding plate and inhibits movement of the light-guiding plate toward the support main. 
     In another embodiment, the display device includes a support main, a lamp that supplies light to the display device, a light-guiding plate provided in a space formed by the support main; and means for inhibiting movement of the light-guiding plate toward the support main. 
     In another embodiment, a method includes providing a display device with a support main containing a space formed therein and inserting a light-guiding plate into the space formed in the support main such that movement of the light-guiding plate toward an inner wall of the support main defining the space is restrained by a resilient portion containing a projection that contacts a side of the light-guiding plate. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display module (LCM) according to the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a plane view of an LCD device having a light-guiding plate according to the related art; 
         FIG. 3  is a plane view of an LCD device having a light-guiding plate and a fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along I-I′ of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view along II-II′ of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a fixing device along I-I′ of  FIG. 4  according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a fixing device along II-II′ of  FIG. 4  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Hereinafter, an LCD device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 3  shows a plane view of an LCD device having a light-guiding plate and a fixing device provided in a support main. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an LCD device according to the present invention includes a support main  13 , a lamp  25 , a light-guiding plate  12   b , and a fixing device  40  for preventing the light-guiding plate  12   b  from being moved. 
     On the support main  13 , a reflective plate (‘ 12   a ’ of  FIG. 1 ), the light-guiding plate  12   b , a diffusion sheet (‘ 12   c ’ of  FIG. 1 ), a first prism sheet (‘ 12   d ’ of  FIG. 1 ), a second prism sheet (‘ 12   e ’ of  FIG. 1 ), a protective sheet (‘ 12   f ’ of  FIG. 1 ), and an LCD panel (‘ 11 ’ of  FIG. 1 ) are provided in sequence, and a lamp  25  for emitting light is provided along the side of the support main  13  in shape of a linear type or “L”-type.  FIG. 3  shows the only light-guiding plate  12   b  among the aforementioned components for convenience. 
     The light emitted from the lamp  25  is incident on the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b , and the incident light is uniformly emitted to an upper side of the light-guiding plate  12   b . The stable fixation of the light-guiding plate  12   b  permits uniform light to be provided to the LCD panel. The fixing device  40  is provided in a space between the light-guiding plate  12   b  and the support main  13 , thereby preventing the movement of the light-guiding plate  12   b.    
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along I-I′ of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view along II-II′ of  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , a fixing device  40  according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first plate  41 , second and third plates  42  and  43 , first and second slits  44   a  and  44   b , an elastic plate  45 , and a projection  46 . The second and third plates  42  and  43  are formed at both sides of the first plate  41  perpendicular to the first plate  41 . Also, the first and second slits  44   a  and  44   b  are formed in parallel along a longitudinal direction of the first plate  41 . The elastic plate  45  is formed between the first and second slits  44   a  and  44   b , and the projection  46  is formed in the center of the elastic plate  45 . 
     Herein, the first, second, and third plates  41 ,  42 ,  43  are integrally formed. The three plates are formed in a ‘           ’ shape so that one side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is inserted thereto. That is, the second and third plates  42  and  43  are formed in parallel, and the space between the second and third plates  42  and  43  has an interval more than the thickness of the light-guiding plate  12   b . Accordingly, the first, second, and third plates  41 ,  42 ,  43  are integrally formed and may be referred to as a base.
     The projection  46  is projected from the elastic plate  45  such that the projection  46  is in contact with the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  when the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is inserted into the fixing device  40 . Accordingly, when the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is inserted into the fixing device  40 , it is assembled such that the projection  46  is in contact with the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b . The end of the projection  46  tapers. As a result, when the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is inserted into the fixing device  40 , the contact area between the end of the projection  46  and the side of the light-guiding plate  12   b  is small. 
     The elastic plate  45  is formed to have a predetermined interval between the first and second slits  44   a ,  44   b  formed in parallel with the first plate  41 . That is, the elastic plate  45  is formed as one with the first plate  41 . Thus, when the elastic plate  45  is positioned between the first and second slits  44   a ,  44   b , the elastic plate  45  is elastically deformed dependent on the force supplied thereto. 
     That is, the elastic plate  45 , formed between the first and second slits  44   a ,  44   b , is formed in a rectangular shape having a greater length than a width. Thus, when the force is supplied to the elastic plate  45 , the elastic plate  45  is deformed. Accordingly, since the elastic plate  45  elastically supports the projection  46 , an additional component for supporting the projection  46  is optional. 
     One elastic plate  45  may be formed in the first plate  41 . Alternatively, if three or more slits  44   a ,  44   b  are formed, an elastic plate  45  is formed between the adjacent two slits. Also, each elastic plate  45  has the projection, so as to fix the light-guiding plate  12   b  stably. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of fixing devices  40  are formed in the space  5  at the left and right sides of the light-guiding plate  12   b . For stable fixation of the light-guiding plate  12   b , it is preferable to form one or more fixing device  40  in lower and upper portions at the left and right sides of the light-guiding plate  12   b . Though not shown, the fixing devices  40  may be provided at all sides of the light-guiding plate  12   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the elastic plate  45  for supporting the projection  46  is not in contact with the side of the support main  13 . Accordingly, the support main has a groove  13   a  in correspondence with the elastic plate  45  of the fixing device  40 . The groove  13   a  receives the elastic plate  45  therein when the elastic plate  45  moves backward. 
     In the LCD device having the fixing device  40 , when the light-guiding plate  12   b  expands due to heat, the function of the fixing device  40  will be described as follows. 
     In the initial state, the projection  46  fixes the light-guiding plate  12  by clamping the both sides of the light-guiding plate  12   b  with a restoring force dependent on the elastic deformation of the elastic plate  45 . Thus, the fixing device  40  prevents the light-guiding plate  12   b  from being positioned slantingly on the assembling process. After that, when the light-guiding plate  12   b  expands due to the heat generated from the lamp  25 , the elastic plate  45  is deformed outwardly. At this time, the projection  46  of the fixing device  40  stably fixes both sides of the light-guiding plate  12   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the groove  13   a  is formed in the side of the support main  13 , being in contact with the fixing device  40 , wherein the groove  13   a  receives the elastic plate  45  if the elastic plate  45  deforms. Thus, as the light-guiding plate  12   b  is heated, the light-guiding plate  12   b  expands and pushes the projection  46  of the fixing device  40  backward. 
     As described above, since the. elastic plate  45  is formed of an elastic material, preferably, the first plate  41  of the fixing device  40  is formed of a metal material that is relatively thin. The elastic plate  45  is a divided part by the slits  44   a ,  44   b  in one side of the first plate  41 . The elastic plate  45  is formed of a metal material and is integrally formed with the first plate  41 . 
     The fixing device may be integrally formed with the support main in another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a fixing device along I-I′ of  FIG. 4  according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a fixing device along II-II′ of  FIG. 4  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     That is, a fixing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is integrally formed with a support main  113 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , an elastic plate  145  is formed in a predetermined portion of the support main  113 , and a projection  146  is formed in the elastic plate  145 . Also, the support main  113  corresponding to the elastic plate  145  has room for the movement of the elastic plate  145 , and a hole  113   a  is formed by a metal mold to smoothly form the support main  113 . 
     At this time, the projection  146  is formed at one side of the support main  113 , wherein the projection  146  is projected to be in contact with the side of a light-guiding plate  12   b . Also, the elastic plate  145  is formed as one with one side of the support main  113 , to support the projection  146 . 
     That is, one side of the support main  113 , serving as the fixing device, is formed of a relatively thin material, and the projection  146  is in contact with the light-guiding plate  12   b . The projection  146  is formed in the center of one side of the support main  113 . The slits  144   a ,  144   b  (for reference, ‘ 44   a ’, ‘ 44   b ’ of  FIG. 4 ) are formed in parallel around the projection  146 . The slits  114   a ,  114   b , the elastic plate  145 , and the projection  146  have the same front shape as those shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Accordingly, as the light-guiding plate  12   b  expands due to the heat, the light-guiding plate  12   b  pushes the projection  146 . The hole  113   a  is formed in the support main  113  in correspondence with the elastic plate  145 . Thus, the elastic plate  145  for supporting the projection  45  moves backward, and is received into the hole  113   a.    
     In the LCD device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of fixing devices may be provided. These fixing devices are integrally formed with the support main along the both sides of the light-guiding plate. The fixing devices have the same function as that of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As mentioned above, the LCD device according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages. The fixing device stably fixes the light-guiding plate on assembling the LCD device, so that it is possible to prevent the light-guiding plate from being slantingly positioned in the space. Also, it is possible to prevent one side of the light-guiding plate from being adjacent to the electrode of the lamp, thereby preventing the light-guiding plate from being damaged. Furthermore, the fixing device fixes the light-guiding plate with a restoring force by the elastic deformation, whereby it is possible to stably fix the light-guiding plate before and after the light-guiding plate expands due to heat generated by the lamp. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.