Patent Publication Number: US-2007096141-A1

Title: Light source structure

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Technical Field  
      The present invention relates to a light source structure and, particularly, to a light source structure having a nano-metallic compound (NMC) layer for enhancing a light emitting efficiency of an LCD device.  
      2. RELATED ARTS  
      Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) themselves do not emit lights. In order to display images, an LCD panel usually needs a backlight module. A backlight module generally includes a light source and a light guide plate. Conventional light sources for LCDs are often cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
      However, CCFLs are vulnerable and have shorter operating lifetimes. As such, LEDs using CCFLs usually have unsatisfactory light emitting efficiencies. Therefore, new light sources are highly demanded for LCD panels.  
     SUMMARY  
      According to the present light source, a light source structure is provided. The light source structure is adapted for providing backlights to an LCD panel. The light source structure includes a cathode layer, a semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer, a nano-metallic compound (NMC) layer, and an anode layer. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the cathode layer, for emitting electrons when excited by an electric field. The dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor layer. The nano-metallic compound (NMC) layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. The NMC layer includes a plurality of NMC atom groups and is adapted for emitting lights when bombarded by electrons. The anode layer is disposed on the NMC layer, for providing an electric field, functionally associating with the cathode layer. The light source structure may further include a fluorescent layer disposed between the NMC layer and the anode layer, and/or a protection layer disposed on the anode layer for protecting the light source structure from being damaged and/or contaminated.  
      An advantage of the light source structure is that the light source structure is solid and not easy to be broken, and has a relatively long operating lifetime.  
      Another advantage of the light source structure is that the light source structure has higher light emitting efficiency. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present light source structure will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of its embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a light source structure, according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram for illustrating a typical structure of an atom group of the NMC;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a backlight module having a light source configured with a light source structure of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of an LCD device having a backlight module configured with a light source structure of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
      Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred embodiments of the present light source structure in detail.  
      Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a light source structure  100 . The light source structure  100  includes a cathode layer  10 , a semiconductor layer  20 , a dielectric layer  30 , a nano-metallic compound (NMC) layer  40  including a plurality of NMC atom groups, and an anode layer  60 , all of the layers being stacked one on another in sequence from bottom to top. The cathode layer  10  is made of Cu, Ag, or Au. The semiconductor layer  20  is adapted for emitting electrons when applied with an electric field. The dielectric layer  30  is preferably a SiN x  ceramic layer. The metallic compound layer  40  is composed of NMC particles being adapted for emitting lights of the range from 400 nm to 700 nm.  
      In operation, an electric field is applied between the cathode layer  10  and the anode layer  60 . The applied electric field excites the semiconductor layer  20  to emit electrons. Being accelerated by the electric field, the emitted electrons pass through the dielectric layer  30  and bombard the NMC layer  40 . The NMC layer  40  then emit lights of at least one certain wavelength or at least one certain wavelength band.  
      Further, according to another aspect of the embodiment of the light source, the light source structure  100  further include a fluorescent layer  50 . The fluorescent layer  50  is disposed on the NMC layer  40 . In operation, the lights emitted from the NMC layer  40  illuminate the fluorescent layer  50  and excite the fluorescent layer  50  to emit lights of at least one certain wavelength or at least one certain wavelength band.  
      Furthermore, according to another aspect of the embodiment of the light source, the light source structure  100  also include a protection layer  70  disposed on the anode layer  60  for protecting the light source structure  100  from being damaged or contaminated. The protection layer  70  is made of transparent material, such as SiO 2  or SiO x  glass.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , it schematically illustrates a typical structure of the atom group of the NMC. An atom group of the NMC includes a metallic complex and a plurality of nano-particles dispersed around the metallic complex. The metallic complex includes a metal atom distributed in a center and at least one double-ring phenyl having nitrogen and oxygen complexing with the metal atom.  
      The nano-particles of the metallic complex can be selected from a group consisting of: ZnS, ZnTe, ZnSe, CdSe, CdTe, GaN or a combination among the group. The sizes of the atom group structures are in the range of 1 nm to 50 nm, and preferably 2 nm to 20 nm. The atom group structures are adapted for emitting lights of at least one certain wavelength or at least one certain wavelength band in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm when being bombarded by electrons.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a backlight module  300  having a light source  310  configured with a light source structure of  FIG. 1 . According to an embodiment of the light source, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the light source structure can be configured as a light source  310  for providing lights to a light guide plate  320 , thus composing a backlight module  300  for providing backlights for display.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of an LCD device  400  having a backlight module configured with a light source structure of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the LCD device  400  includes a backlight module  410  and a display panel  420 . According to another embodiment of the light source, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the light source structure can itself be configured as a backlight module  410  without a light guide plate. The backlight module  410  is laid parallel with a display panel  420  and provides backlights directly to the liquid crystal layer of the display panel for display.  
      While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.