Patent Publication Number: US-9835316-B2

Title: Frame and light source module including the same

Description:
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0013721 filed on Feb. 6, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to a frame and a light source module including the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been of great importance in the field of information display technology. LCDs are display devices which include liquid crystal molecules interposed between a pair of glass substrates, and display information by applying power via a power supply on or below the glass substrates so as for the liquid crystal molecules to emit light. 
     Since LCDs cannot emit light by themselves but modulate light transmittance of light incident thereupon to display an image, an additional device for applying light to a liquid crystal panel, i.e., a backlight unit, is needed. 
     In the meantime, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which emit light in response to a current flowing therethrough, have increasingly become popular as a light source for the backlight unit of an LCD. LEDs have been widely used for applications such as lighting devices, electronic display, and backlight units for display devices due to their long lifetime, low power consumption, rapid response speed, and excellent initial driving properties. The LEDs have been enlarging their application areas due to their excellent properties. 
     When using an LED light source, quantum dot materials may be used to improve the purity of colors. Quantum dot materials emit light when an excited electron relaxes to the ground state and combines with the hole in which the excited electrons make transition from a conduction band to a valence band. The quantum dots have a property to emit light having different wavelengths according to their particle sizes. Since the smaller the quantum dots, the shorter the wavelength of light emitted by the quantum dots, light of a desired wavelength range may be obtained by controlling the size of the quantum dots. 
     A quantum dot material may be hermetically sealed by a sealing member such as glass, but the sealing member may be highly susceptible to external shocks and may thus be broken easily. In addition, some components such as chromium (Cr) contained in the quantum dot material may cause environmental pollution. Therefore, research has been conducted on ways to prevent a sealing member for sealing a quantum dot material from being easily destroyed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide a frame and a light source module which are capable of preventing a quantum dot material from deteriorating due to heat generated by a light-emitting diode (LED) package, and realizing white light with high color reproducibility. 
     Embodiments also provide a frame and a light source module which are capable of preventing the sealing member of a quantum dot disk having a quantum dot material hermetically sealed therein from being destroyed and easily fixing the quantum dot disk. 
     Embodiments also provide a frame and a light source module which are capable of preventing light emitted from an LED from leaking through a portion of the light source module where no quantum dot material is provided. 
     However, embodiments are not restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other embodiments will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the inventive concept pertains by referencing the detailed description of the embodiments given below. 
     According to embodiments, there is provided a frame comprising a plurality of bodies spaced apart from one another in one direction and connected to one another by a supporter. Each of the plurality of bodies may comprise a light emission window formed at an upper part of a body, a light incidence window formed at a bottom part of the body, and a mounting portion formed between the light emission window and the light incidence window, and including a groove that is formed on an inner wall of the body and is recessed horizontally into the body from the light incidence window. 
     The frame may further comprise a plurality of coupling holes formed vertically through the frame and disposed in the supporter. 
     The light emission window may have a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape. 
     The light emission window may have a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the light incidence windows. 
     The plurality of bodies may be formed of an opaque material. 
     The plurality of bodies may be formed of an elastic material. 
     The elastic material may include a silicon-based resin or rubber. 
     The mounting portions may further include a first surface parallel to a horizontal plane of the light emission window, a second surface parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. 
     The first surface and the second surface may extend in the same direction from the third surface. 
     The third surface may extend substantially perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. 
     According to another embodiments there is provided a light source module comprising a plurality of bodies, and a supporter connecting the plurality of bodies. Each of the plurality of bodies may include a light emission window formed at an upper part of a body, a light incidence window formed at a bottom part of the body, a mounting portion formed between the light emission window and the light incidence window, and including a groove that is formed on the inner wall of the body and is recessed horizontally into the body from the light incidence window, a quantum dot disk mounted in the mounting portion and convert the wavelength of light, and a light source disposed below the body. 
     The plurality of bodies may be formed of an elastic material. 
     The quantum dot disk may be further configured to be spaced from the LED chip. 
     The quantum dot disk may include a quantum dot material, and a sealing material hermetically sealing the quantum dot material and surround the quantum dot material, wherein the light emission window having an inner diameter smaller than that of the quantum dot material included in the quantum dot disk. 
     The quantum dot disk may be further configured to be crammed into, and thus, mounted into, the mounting portion. 
     The quantum dot disk may further include a sealing member and a quantum dot material hermitically sealed at the center of the sealing member, and the light emission window has an inner diameter smaller than that of the quantum dot material. 
     According to another embodiments there is provided a light source module comprising a circuit board, a plurality of light sources arranged on the circuit board and spaced apart from one another, a frame coupled onto the circuit board; and a plurality of quantum dot disks configured to convert the wavelength of light. The frame may include a plurality of bodies spaced apart from one another in a direction in which the light sources are arranged and having a cavity formed in a center portion of each of the plurality of bodies. Each of the plurality of bodies may comprise a light emission window formed at an upper part of a body, a light incidence window formed at a bottom part of the body, and a mounting portion formed between the light emission window and the light incidence window, and including a groove that is formed on inner wall of the body and is recessed horizontally into the body from the light incidence window. The light sources may be disposed below the cavity and each of the plurality of quantum dot disks is inserted into the mounting portion. 
     The frame may be coupled to the circuit board by a screw. 
     The plurality of bodies may be connected by a supporter, and the supporter includes coupling holes. 
     The circuit board and the frame may be coupled by an adhesive layer. 
     According to embodiments, it is possible to prevent light emitted from an LED from leaking through a portion of the light source module where no quantum dot material is provided. 
     In addition, it is possible to easily couple a quantum dot disk to a light source module while preventing a sealing member for hermetically sealing a quantum dot material from being destroyed. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source module according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the frame of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIGS. 8 to 10  are diagrams illustrating processes for fabricating a quantum dot disk according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a quantum dot disk fabricated by the processes of  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a process for fabricating a quantum dot disk according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating a quantum dot disk fabricated by the process of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the light source module of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating a circuit board according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process for fabricating the light source module of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a circuit board according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source module using the circuit board of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIGS. 21 to 23  are cross-sectional views illustrating processes for mounting a quantum dot disk on a frame according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 24 and 25  are perspective views illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the light source module of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The aspects and features of the inventive concept and methods for achieving the aspects and features will be apparent by referring to the embodiments to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter, but can be implemented in diverse forms. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the inventive concept is only defined within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The term “on” that is used to designate relative location of an element to another element may include both a case where an element is located directly on another element or a case where an element is located on another element via another layer or another element. In the entire description of the present invention, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements across various figures. 
     Although the terms “first, second, and so forth” are used to describe diverse constituent elements, such constituent elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only to discriminate a constituent element from other constituent elements. Accordingly, in the following description, a first constituent element may be a second constituent element. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the inventive concept will be described with reference to the attached drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a frame according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a frame may include a plurality of bodies  300  which are spaced apart from one another in one direction and are connected to one another through a supporter  500  formed therebetween, a plurality of cavities  350  which are formed in the bodies  300  and are open at the top and the bottom thereof, a plurality of light emission windows  310  which are formed at the top of the cavities  350 , a light incidence windows  320  which are formed at the bottom of the cavities  350 , and a plurality of mounting portions  330 , which are grooves formed on the upper inner walls of the bodies  300  and recessed horizontally into the bodies  300 . 
     More specifically, the frame may include the bodies  300 , which are arranged in one direction. The bodies  300  may be formed as pillars that protrude upwardly from the supporter  500  and extend in one direction. In an example, the bodies  300  may be formed as cylinders protruding upwardly from the supporter  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Empty spaces, i.e., the cavities  350 , may be formed in the bodies  300 . The cavities  350  may have opening at the top and the bottom thereof and provide spaces to accommodate an LED and a quantum dot disk. The light emission windows  310  may be a top opening of the cavities  350 , and the light incidence windows  320  may be a bottom opening of the cavities  350 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a frame according to another embodiment may include a plurality of bodies  301  which are formed as rectangular pillars protruding upwardly from a supporter  500  that extends in one direction and a plurality of light emission windows  311  which are formed in the bodies  301 . The light emission windows  311  may have a rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the light emission windows  311  may have a circular shape even when the bodies  300  may have a rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the frame may also include a plurality of coupling holes  510  which are disposed among the bodies  300  and are formed vertically through the frame. More specifically, the coupling holes  510  may be formed on the supporter  500  between the bodies  300 , i.e. The coupling holes  510  may be provided in such a manner that one coupling hole  510  may be disposed between a pair of adjacent bodies  300  or at every two adjacent bodies  300 , or at an interval of more than two bodies  300 . The coupling holes  510  may be provided for fixing the frame to a circuit board by using a coupling means such as a screw, and bolt and nuts. The coupling holes  510  may be formed on, but are not limited to, either end of the supporter  500  of the frame. That is, the coupling holes  510  may be formed at various locations on the frame as long as the frame and the circuit board can be properly coupled. 
     Alternatively to the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , no coupling holes  510  may be formed on the frame, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this case, the frame may be coupled to a circuit board by using a resin, an adhesive or a double-sided tape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the light emission windows  310  may have a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape. A plurality of quantum dot disks (not illustrated) may be mounted in the mounting portions  330 . White light may be emitted from the light emission windows  310  through the quantum dot disks. In response to the light emission windows  310  having a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape, circular white light may be emitted from the light emission window  301 , conforming to the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the light emission windows  310 . 
     A plurality of LED chips (not illustrated) may be disposed in the light incidence windows  320 . Light emitted from the LED chips may be emitted from the light emission windows  310  to the outside of the bodies  300  via the quantum dot disks mounted in the mounting portions  330 . Each of the quantum dot disks includes a quantum dot material provided at the center thereof. The quantum dot materials of the quantum dot disks transform light incident thereupon from the LED chips into white light through wavelength conversion, and emit the white light toward the light emission windows  310 . If there are areas in the light emission windows  310  where no quantum dot materials are provided, light emitted from the LED chips may directly transmit through the light emission windows  310  without being subject to wavelength conversion, and as a result, a light leakage phenomenon may occur. 
     To prevent this, the light emission windows  310  may be configured to have a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the light incidence windows  320 . In this example, since all parts of the quantum dot disks within the horizontal cross-sectional areas of the light emission windows  310  are covered by quantum dot materials, light emitted from the LED chips may all be transformed into, and emitted as, white light through wavelength conversion. 
     The bodies  300  may be formed of an opaque material or a reflective material. By forming the bodies  300  of an opaque material or a reflective material, any light not traveling directly toward the light emission windows  310  within the cavities  350  may be reflected within the cavities  350  and may be redirected toward the light emission windows  310 , thus enhance the efficiency of light. 
     The inside of the cavities  350  may be coated with a reflective material so as to allow light emitted from the LED chips to be emitted toward the light emission windows  310  through wavelength conversion performed by the quantum dot disks. 
     The bodies  300  may be formed of an elastic material such as, for example, a silicon-based resin or rubber. Not only the bodies  300 , but also the rest of the frame, may also be formed of a silicon-based resin or rubber. 
     The quantum dot disks may be mounted on molding frames which are formed of a rigid material and the molding frames are disposed above the LED chips. In this example, an adhesive may be applied onto bottom surfaces of the quantum dot disks or upper surfaces of the molding frame so as to fix the quantum dot disks onto the molding frames. However, the use of an adhesive to mount the quantum dot disks on the frame may complicate the fabrication process of the light source module, and may lower the optical performance of the light source module due to the refraction through the adhesive. In addition, because the sealing members of the quantum dot disks maybe formed of a rigid material such as glass, the quantum dot disks may be easily damaged or destroyed by external shocks during or after the mounting of the quantum dot disks on the molding frames, which are also formed of a rigid material. Moreover, light may be pass through the sealing members of the quantum dot disks, thus unwanted light leakage may be occurred. 
     On the other hand, when using an elastic material as the bodies  300 , the quantum dot disks may be fixed into the mounting portions  330  without the aid of an adhesive, and may be prevented from being destroyed by external shocks. In addition, because the light emission windows  310  are configured to have a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the light incidence windows  320 , a light leakage phenomenon may be prevented. Moreover, because to the bodies  300  are formed of an elastic material, the quantum dot disks may be inserted into the mounting portions  330  even when the light emission windows  310  are smaller in size than the quantum dot disks by bending the light emission windows  310  or applying force to the light emission windows  310  so as to enlarge the light emission windows  310 . Accordingly, the quantum dot disks may be mounted in the frame without the aid of an adhesive. 
     A method to mount the quantum dot disks in the mounting portions  330  of the frame will be described later in further detail. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , each of the mounting portions  330  may include a first surface A which extends in parallel to the horizontal plane of the light emission windows  310 , a second surface B which is a predetermined distance apart from the first surface A, and a third surface C which connects the first surface A and the second surface B. The mounting portions  330 , into which quantum dot disks are inserted, may include a plurality of grooves, which are formed on the upper inner walls of the bodies  300  where the cavities  350  are recessed horizontally into the bodies  300 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the bodies  300  may be formed as a pillar that protrudes upwardly from the supporter, and may include a groove which is formed on the upper inner wall of a corresponding body  300  and is recessed horizontally into the corresponding body  300 . Accordingly, the first surface A may extend into the cavities  350  in parallel to the horizontal plane of the light emission windows  310 , the second surface B may extend into the cavities  350  in parallel to the first surface A, and the third surface C may connect the first surface A and the second surface B. 
     The first surface A and the second surface B may be formed to extend in the same direction from the third surface C. In other words, the first surface A and the second surface B extend in the same direction from the third surface C. The third surface C may extend substantially perpendicular to the first surface A and the second surface B. That is, the first surface A and the second surface B may extend in parallel to each other with respect to the third surface C, and may be connected by the third surface C. 
     More specifically, the mounting portions  330  may be formed to extend into the bodies  300  from the cavities  350 , and to have a vertical cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the quantum dot disks. In an example, the quantum dot disks may have a rectangular vertical cross-sectional shape or may be formed in the shape of plates with rounded corners. In this example, the mounting portions  330  may be formed in the shape illustrated in  FIG. 2  to each include the first surface A, the second surface B and the third surface C and thus to be able to hold the outer circumferential portions of the quantum dot disks therein. That is, the mounting portions  330  may have a ⊂-shaped or a ⊃-shaped vertical cross-section. 
     A light source module according to an embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a light source module according to an embodiment may include a body  302 , a cavity  350  which is formed in the body  302  and is open at the top and the bottom thereof, a light emission window  310  which is formed at the top of the body  302 , a light incidence window  320  which is formed at the bottom of the body  302 , a mounting portion  330  which includes a groove that is formed on the upper inner wall of the body  302  and is recessed horizontally into the body  302 , a quantum dot disk  400  which is mounted in the mounting portion  330  and converts the wavelength of light into white, and a light source  100  which is disposed at a lower portion of the body  302 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source module according to an embodiment,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a frame applied to the light source module of  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the frame of  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a frame applied to the light source module of  FIG. 5  may include a single body  302  and a cavity  350  which is formed in the body  302  and is open at the top and the bottom thereof. A light emission window  310  may be formed at the top of the cavity  350 , i.e., at the center of the top of the body  302 , and a light incidence window  320  may be formed at the bottom of the cavity  350 , i.e., at the center of the bottom of the body  302 . 
     The body  302  may also include a mounting portion  330  which includes a groove that is formed on the upper inner wall of the body  302  and is recessed horizontally into the body  302 . The mounting portion  330  may include a first surface A and a second surface B which are parallel to each other and a third surface C which extends perpendicular to the first surface A and the second surface B and connects the first surface A and the second surface B. As already mentioned above, the third surface C may have a curved shape, and the first surface A and the second surface B may be formed to extend in the same direction in parallel to each other with respect to the third surface C. 
     A light source  100  may be disposed at a lower portion of the body  302  where the light incidence surface  320  is formed. The light source  100  may include a molding frame  110  and an LED chip  120  which is disposed in the molding frame  110 . The light source  100  may be mounted on, and thus coupled to, a circuit board  200 . 
     The light source  100  may emit light in response to receipt of an electrical signal from the circuit board  200 . The circuit board  200  may include a circuit pattern (not illustrated) for applying electrical signals to the LED chip  120  of the light source  200 , and the circuit pattern may be formed of a metallic material with excellent electric and thermal conductivities, for example, gold (Au), silver (Ag) or copper (Cu). 
     The circuit board  200  may be a printed circuit board (PCB), and may be formed of an organic resin material including epoxy, triazine, silicone and polyimide, or another organic resin material. The circuit board  100  may be a flexible PCB (FPCB) or a metal core PCB (MCPCB). 
     The LED chip  120  may be a blue LED chip or an ultraviolet (UV) LED chip. Light generated by the LED chip  120  may be emitted as white light with high purity by being passed through the quantum dot disk  400 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the quantum dot disk  400 , which converts the wavelength of light, may be mounted in the mounting portion  330 , which is formed on the upper inner wall of the body  302 . The quantum dot disk  400  may include a sealing member  420  such as glass and a quantum dot material  410  which is hermetically sealed in the middle of the sealing member  420 . The sealing member  420  may surround the quantum dot material  410 . The quantum dot material  410  may be mixed with a polymer material, may fill the inside of the sealing member  420 , and may be hermetically sealed in the sealing member  420 . 
     The horizontal cross-sectional area of the light emission window  310  may the light emission window may have an inner diameter smaller than that of the quantum dot material  310  included in the quantum dot disk  400 . As a result, when viewed from outside the light emission window  310 , only the quantum dot material  410 , among other parts of the quantum dot disk  400 , may be seen through the light emission window  310 . Accordingly, light emitted from the light source  100  may all be transformed into white light by being passed through the quantum dot material  410 , and may then be emitted out of the body  302  through the light emission window  310 . 
     The quantum dot material  410  emits light Quantum dot materials emit light when an excited electron relaxes to the ground state and combines with the hole in which the excited electrons make transition from a conduction band to a valence band. Quantum dots that are formed of the same material may have different wavelengths according to their particle sizes. Since the smaller the quantum dots, the shorter the wavelength of light emitted from the quantum dots, light of a desired wavelength range may be obtained by controlling the size of the quantum dots. 
     The quantum dot material  410  may have a particle size of 10 nm or less. Quantum dots with a size of 55-65 Å emit red light, quantum dots with a size of 40-50 Å emit green light, and quantum dots with a size of 20-35 Å emit blue light. Yellow light may be emitted by quantum dots with a size between the sizes of the red light-emitting quantum dots and the green light-emitting quantum dots. 
     In a case in which the LED chip  120  is a UV LED chip, three quantum dots that emit red light, blue light and green light, respectively, in response to receipt of UV light may be mixed together to form a white light-emitting quantum dot disk  400 . Alternatively, in a case in which the LED chip  120  is a blue LED chip, two quantum dots that emit red light and blue light, respectively, in response to the receipt of blue light may be mixed together to form the white light-emitting quantum dot material  310 . 
     The quantum dot material  410  may include one of Si-based nano crystals, group II-VI compound semiconductor nano crystals, group III-V compound semiconductor nano crystals, group IV-VI compound nano crystals and a mixture thereof. 
     The group II-VI compound semiconductor nano crystals may include one selected from a group consisting of CdS, CdSe, CdTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, CdSeS, CdSeTe, CdSTe, ZnSeS, ZnSeTe, ZnSTe, HgSeS, HgSeTe, HgSTe, CdZnS, CdZnSe, CdZnTe, CdHgS, CdHgSe, CdHgTe, HgZnS, HgZnSe, HgZnTe, CdZnSeS, CdZnSeTe, CdZnSTe, CdHgSeS, CdHgSeTe, CdHgSTe, HgZnSeS, HgZnSeTe and HgZnSTe. 
     The group III-V compound semiconductor nano crystals may include one selected from a group consisting of GaPAs, AlNP, AlNAs, AlPAs, InNP, InNAs, InPAs, GaAlNP, GaAlNAs, GaAlPAs, GaInNP, GaInNAs, GaInPAs, InAlNP, InAlNAs, and InAlPAs. 
     The IV-VI compound semiconductor nano crystals may be SbTe. 
     The fabrication of quantum dot disks will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , the quantum dot material  410  may be implanted on a lower substrate  420   a . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the upper substrate  420   b  and the lower substrate  420   a  may be bonded together by using laser, and as a result, the quantum dot material  410  may be hermetically sealed between the upper substrate  420   b  and the lower substrate  420   a . Referring to  FIG. 10 , a cutting operation may be performed by using, for example, laser, and as a result, a plurality of quantum dot disks with a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape may be obtained. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a quantum dot disk  400  obtained by the processes of  FIGS. 8 to 10 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , a quantum disk  400  may include a sealing member  420  and a quantum dot material  410  which is included in the sealing member  420  and has a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape. 
     The quantum dot disk  400  may be formed to have various horizontal cross-sectional shapes other than a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape. That is, referring to  FIG. 13 , a quantum dot disk  401  may be formed to have a rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape. The quantum dot disk  401  may be fabricated by performing a cutting operation as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     However, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the quantum dot disk  400  is not limited to those set forth herein. That is, the quantum dot disk  400  may be formed to have a polygonal cross-sectional shape (such as a pentagonal or hexagonal cross-sectional shape) or to include one or more curved surfaces, and the shape of the quantum dot disk  400  may be modified appropriately, if necessary. In response to the shape of the quantum dot disk  400  being modified, the shape of the body  302  may be modified accordingly. 
     Also, in response to the shape of the quantum dot disk  400  being modified, the shape of a corresponding light emission window  310  may be modified accordingly, and as a result, the shape of light emitted from the corresponding light emission window  310  may be changed. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the LED chip  120 , which is mounted on the circuit board  200 , may be disposed in the light incidence window  320 . That is, the LED chip  120  may be inserted into the lower portion of the cavity  350 , which is formed at the center of the body  302 . Accordingly, in response to the LED chip  120  receiving an electrical signal from the circuit board  200  and emitting light, the light pass through the quantum dot material  410  of the quantum dot disk  400  in the cavity  350  may be changed into white light. 
     The body  302  and the circuit board  200  may be coupled to each other. In an example, the body  302  may be attached onto the circuit board  200  by using the frame of  FIG. 6  and an adhesive (not illustrated). Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a frame may be formed to include a bent surface  340  extending from a body  300  in parallel to a circuit board  200 , and a plurality of coupling hole  510  may be formed on the bent surface  340 . In the example of  FIG. 14 , the body  300  and the circuit board  200  may be coupled to each other by using coupling means such as a screw, and bolt and nuts. 
     The quantum dot disk  400  may be crammed into the mounting portion  330 . The mounting of the quantum dot disk  400  into the mounting portion  330  will be described later in further detail. 
     The LED chip  120  and the quantum dot disk  400  may be spaced apart from each other. More specifically, the quantum dot material  410 , which is included in the quantum dot disk  400 , may deteriorate at high temperature, and may thus lower the efficiency of transforming incident light into white light. In a case in which the LED chip  120  and the quantum dot disk  400  are too close to each other, the quantum dot material  410  may easily deteriorate so as to lower the efficiency of wavelength conversion. For this, the mounting portion  330  may be configured to allow the quantum dot disk  400  to be a predetermined distance apart from the LED chip  120 . 
     The quantum dot disk  400  and the LED chip  120  may be disposed in parallel to each other such that light emitted from the surface of the LED chip  120  may travel straight toward the quantum dot disk  400 . For this, the mounting portion  330  may extend in parallel to the LED chip  120  such that the quantum dot disk  400 , which is mounted in the mounting portion  330 , may be parallel to the LED chip  120 . 
     A light source module according to another embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 18 .  FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating a light source module according to another embodiment, and  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the light source module of  FIG. 15 . Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a light source module according to another embodiment includes a circuit board  200 , a plurality of light sources  100  arranged on the circuit board  200  to be spaced apart from one another in one direction, a frame coupled onto the circuit board  200 , and a plurality of quantum dot disks  400  which convert the wavelength of light. The frame includes a plurality of bodies  300  which are spaced from one another in a direction in which the light sources  100  are arranged and are connected to one another through supporter  500 , a plurality of cavities  350  which are formed in the bodies  300  and are open at the top and the bottom thereof, and a plurality of mounting portions  330  which are formed on the inner walls of the bodies  300  and are recessed horizontally into the bodies  300 . A plurality of LED chips  120  may be disposed below the cavities  350  and the quantum dot disks  400  may be inserted into the mounting portions  330 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates the circuit board  200 , which is included in the light source module of  FIG. 15  and the light sources  100 , which are mounted on the circuit board  200 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , each of the light sources  100  may include an LED chip  120  and a molding frame  110 . The light sources  100  may be arranged on the circuit board  200  to be spaced apart from one another. A plurality of holes  210  for coupling the circuit board  200  to a frame (not illustrated) with the use of coupling means such as a screw, and bolt and nuts may be formed on the circuit board  200 . In a non-limiting example, the holes  210  may be arranged in such a manner that one hole  210  may be disposed between a pair of adjacent light sources  100  or at every two adjacent light sources  100 . In another non-limiting example, the holes  210  may be formed only at either end of the circuit board  200  where the light sources  100  are arranged. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , a frame may be coupled onto the circuit board  200  of  FIG. 17 . More specifically, the frame may be coupled to the circuit board  200  by using a plurality of coupling means such as a screw  520  fixed into a plurality of coupling holes  510  which are formed between a plurality of bodies  300 . More specifically, the bodies  300  may be connected to one another by a supporter  500  extends in parallel to the circuit board  200 , and the supporter  500  may include the coupling holes  510 . Accordingly, the frame and the circuit board  200  may be coupled to each other by screwing the screw  520  into the coupling holes  510 . 
     The frame may include the bodies  300 , which are spaced apart from one another in a direction in which a plurality of light sources  100  are arranged. The bodies  300  may include a plurality of cavities  350  which are open at the top and the bottom thereof, and a plurality of mounting portions  330  which are formed on the upper inner walls of the bodies  300  and are horizontally recessed into the bodies  300 . The light sources  100  may be disposed below the cavities  350 . A plurality of quantum dot disks  400  may be inserted into the respective mounting portions  330 . 
     In a non-limiting example, the circuit board  200  may be provided with no holes for bolts to pass through, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . In this example, the circuit board  200  and the frame may be coupled together by applying an adhesive or an adhesive tape  550  onto the contact surfaces between the circuit board  200  and the frame, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
     The circuit board  200  and the frame may be coupled together in various manners, other than those set forth herein, for example, using hooks. 
     The coupling relationships between the bodies  300  and the light sources  100  extending along a first direction have already been described with reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , and thus, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     The bodies  300  may be connected to one another by the supporter  500 . The supporter  500  may be formed of the same material as the bodies  300 , for example, an elastic material such as a silicon-based resin or rubber. Because the supporter  500  is formed of an elastic material, the quantum dot disks  400  may be easily mounted in the mounting portions  330 , respectively, without the aid of additional coupling members. 
     It will hereinafter be described how to insert a quantum dot disk  400  into a mounting portion  330  with reference to  FIGS. 21 to 23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , a quantum dot disk  400  may be coupled into a mounting portion  330 . More specifically, because the bodies  300  are formed of an elastic material such as rubber or a silicon-based resin, the bodies  300  may be easily bent. Accordingly, a first side of a quantum dot disk  400  may be inserted into a mounting portion  330  by bending an upper portion of the body  300  so as for the cavity  350  to be enlarged enough to let the first side of the quantum dot disk  400  into the mounting portion  330 . Once the insertion of the first side of the quantum dot disk  400  into the mounting portions  330  is complete, the cavity  350  may return to its original size due to the elasticity of the body  300 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , a second side of the quantum dot disk  400  may be inserted into the mounting portion  330  by bending the supporter  500  so as for the cavity  350  to be enlarged enough to let the second side of the quantum dot disk  400  in to the mounting portion  330 . Once the insertion of the second side of the quantum dot disk  400  into the mounting portions  330  is complete, the supporter  500  may return to its original state, and the quantum dot disk  400  may be completely coupled into the mounting portion  330 , as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 24 and 25 , a plurality of bodies  300  may be attached onto the circuit board  200  by using an adhesive  10  so as to correspond to the light sources  100  which are formed on the circuit board  200 , are arranged in one direction and are spaced apart from one another. Still alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 26 and 27 , a frame including a plurality of cavities  350  formed on a supporter  501 , instead of a plurality of bodies that protrude from the supporter  501 , may be used. 
     Even though not specifically illustrated, the present inventive concept may provide not only a light source module, but also a backlight unit including the light source module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the backlight unit. 
     The backlight unit may be classified into a direct type or an edge type. In a direct type backlight unit, the light source module may be disposed below a display panel, and optical sheets such as a diffusion plate, a diffusion sheet or a prism sheet may be disposed on the light source module. In an edge type backlight unit, the light source module may be disposed on one side of a light guide plate, and the light guide plate may guide light emitted from the light source module to travel toward a display panel, which is disposed above the light guide plate. A reflective sheet or a reflective pattern may be formed at the bottom of the light guide plate so that light that arrives at the bottom of the light guide plate may be reflected and may thus travel toward the display panel. 
     The LCD including the backlight unit may include a display panel which is disposed above the backlight unit and displays images. 
     The LCD may also include a diffusion sheet and a diffusion plate which diffuses light emitted from the light source module or the light guide plate and thus supplies the light to the display panel, and a prism sheet which allows the light diffused by the diffusion sheet or the diffusion plate to be collected in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the display panel. The LCD may use various optical sheets, other than the diffusion sheet, the diffusion plate and the prism sheet, such as a micro lens array sheet and a lenticular lens sheet. The LCD may use two diffusion sheets or two prism sheets, and the arrangement of the optical sheets of the LCD may be adjusted appropriately, if necessary. 
     The display panel may include a liquid crystal layer interposed between a pair of thin film transistor (TFT) substrates, a color filter substrate, a polarizing filter and a driving integrated circuit (IC). The display panel may display an image to a viewer by adjusting the intensity of light incident thereupon from the backlight unit in response to power being applied thereto by the driving IC. The display panel may be a typical display panel that is well known in the field to which the present inventive concept pertains, and thus, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     A top chassis including a display window may be deposited on the display panel to cover the display panel. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.