Patent Publication Number: US-11640077-B2

Title: Display device having reduced bezel size

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/078,766, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, which is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0134021 filed on Oct. 25, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device with a reduced bezel size to enhance the aesthetic impression. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A display device is an output device for visually presenting data information and images, such as text or figures. Types of display devices include a television, various kinds of monitors, many different kinds of portable terminals (e.g., notebooks, tablet personal computers (PCs), and smart phones), etc. 
     A display device may include a display panel for presenting a screen and a bezel provided on edges of the display panel. 
     Recently, display devices with a slim bezel or no bezel are being developed to enhance the aesthetic appearance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Provided is a display device with a reduced bezel size. 
     Also provided is a display device with reduced thickness from front to back to enhance the aesthetics of the display. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a display device includes a rear chassis; a light source module installed on the rear chassis, the light source module being configured to emit light; a diffuser plate provided in front of the light source module, the diffuser plate being configured to diffuse the light emitted by the light source module; a liquid crystal panel provided in front of the diffuser plate, the liquid crystal panel being configured to display an image; a front chassis covering a side surface of the liquid crystal panel and a side surface of the diffuser plate; a middle mold provided between the front chassis and the rear chassis, the middle mold being coupled to the rear chassis and the diffuser plate; and a first adhesive provided between the diffuser plate and the middle mold, the first adhesive bonding the diffuser plate to the middle mold. 
     An outermost surface of the middle mold may be coplanar with the side surface of the liquid crystal panel, or may be located within a perimeter defined by the side surface of the liquid crystal panel. 
     The front chassis may include an inner side surface facing the side surface of the liquid crystal panel, the side surface of the diffuser plate, and a side surface of the middle mold. The front chassis may further include an outer side surface opposite to the inner side surface, and the inner side surface may extend parallel to the outer side surface. 
     A second adhesive may be provided between the middle mold and the liquid crystal panel, the second adhesive bonding the middle mold to the liquid crystal panel. 
     The middle mold may include a first adhesion surface on which the first adhesive is disposed, and a supporting projection protruding further toward the liquid crystal panel than the first adhesion surface and including a second adhesion surface on which the second adhesive is disposed. 
     The second adhesive may include and ultraviolet (UV) resin applied in a liquid state and hardened by a UV ray. 
     The side surface of the diffuser plate may be located within a perimeter defined by the side surface of the liquid crystal panel, and the supporting projection may be provided next to the side surface of the diffuser plate and the supporting projection is bonded directly to the liquid crystal panel by the second adhesive. 
     The supporting projection may include a light reflecting surface within a recess provided in a side of the supporting projection facing the side surface of the diffuser plate, and 
     wherein the light reflecting surface is configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source module towards a back of the display device. 
     The first adhesive includes a transparent substance with 90% or more of light transmittance so that light is transmitted between the diffuser plate and the middle mold through the first adhesive. 
     The middle mold may further include a light guide surface providing a path for light emitted from the light source module to pass through the first adhesive and enter into the diffuser plate, and the light guide surface may inclined backwards from an adhesion surface of the middle mold on which the first adhesive is disposed. 
     A third adhesive may bond the side surface of the diffuser plate to the middle mold, and a rear surface of the diffuser plate may be bonded to the first adhesion surface by the first adhesive. 
     The liquid crystal panel may be bonded to the diffuser plate by the second adhesive, and the diffuser plate may be bonded to the middle mold by the first adhesive. 
     The light source module may include a plurality of light sources configured to emit light toward the diffuser plate, a substrate on which the plurality of light sources are mounted, the light sources facing the diffuser plate, and a reflecting sheet provided on the substrate, the reflecting sheet being configured to reflect light emitted from the plurality of light sources and light reflected from the diffuser plate back toward the diffuser plate. 
     The light source module may further include a plurality of lenses mounted on the substrate and individually covering the plurality of light sources, the plurality of lenses may be configured to diffuse light emitted from the plurality of light sources. 
     A chassis adhesive may bond the front chassis to a side surface of the middle mold. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a display device includes a rear chassis; a light source module provided on the rear chassis, the light source module being configured to emit light; a liquid crystal panel provided in front of the light source module, the liquid crystal panel comprising a front surface configured to display an image; a front chassis covering a side surface of the liquid crystal panel; and a middle mold coupled to the rear chassis for supporting the liquid crystal panel, the middle mold having an outermost surface positioned coplanar with the side surface of the liquid crystal panel or positioned within a perimeter defined by the side surface of the liquid crystal panel. 
     A diffuser plate may be provided in front of the light source module, the diffuser plate being configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source module; and a first adhesive may be provided between the diffuser plate and the middle mold. The first adhesive bonding diffuser plate to the middle mold. 
     The middle mold may include a supporting projection provided next to a side surface of the diffuser plate, and the supporting projection may be bonded directly to the liquid crystal panel by a second adhesive provided between the supporting projection and a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel. 
     A second adhesive may be provided between the diffuser plate and the liquid crystal panel, the diffuser plate being bonded to the liquid crystal panel by the second adhesive, the second adhesive bonding the diffuser plate to the middle mold. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a display device includes a rear chassis; a light source module provided on the rear chassis, the light source module being configured to emit light; a diffuser plate arranged in front of the light source module, the diffuser plate being configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source module; a liquid crystal panel arranged in front of the diffuser plate, the liquid crystal panel being configured to display an image; a front chassis covering a side surface of the liquid crystal panel and a side surface of the diffuser plate; a middle mold provided between the front chassis and the rear chassis, the middle mold being coupled to the rear chassis and the diffuser plate; a first adhesive provided between the diffuser plate and the middle mold, the first adhesive bonding the diffuser plate to the middle mold; and a second adhesive bonding the liquid crystal panel to the diffuser plate or bonding the liquid crystal panel to the middle mold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a display device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of major structures of a display device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of a display device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a side cross-sectional view of the display device of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG.  11    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments and features as described and illustrated in the disclosure are merely examples, and there may be various modifications replacing the embodiments and drawings at the time of filing this application. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The terms including ordinal numbers like “first” and “second” may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or chamber discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. 
     Directions “front”, “back (or rear)”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, and “right” will be defined throughout the specification with respect to the directions shown in  FIG.  1   . In  FIG.  1   , X-, Y-, and Z-axes perpendicular to one another are shown, where the X-axis represents a left-to-right direction, the Y-axis represents a vertical direction, and the Z-axis represents a front-to-back direction. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The relative size and depiction of these elements are not necessarily to scale and may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
       FIG.  1    shows a display device, according to an embodiment.  FIG.  2    is an exploded view of a major structure of a display device, according to an embodiment.  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of a display device, according to an embodiment.  FIG.  4    is a side cross-sectional view of the display device shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , a display device according to an embodiment will now be described. 
     A display device  1  may include a liquid crystal panel  10  for displaying an image, a backlight unit provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to provide light to the liquid crystal panel  10 , a rear chassis  30  for supporting the backlight unit, a front chassis  20  for covering edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and a middle mold  40  coupled between the front chassis  20  and the rear chassis  30 . 
     The display panel  10  may include a thin-film transistor substrate with thin-film transistors provided thereon in the form of a matrix, a color-filter substrate coupled in parallel with the thin-film transistor substrate, and liquid crystal injected between the thin-film transistor substrate and the color-filter substrate and having optical properties that vary by changes in voltage or temperature. 
     The backlight unit may be provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to illuminate the liquid crystal panel  10 . The backlight unit may include at least one light source module  50  including at least one light source  51  and at least one substrate  52  on which the at least one light source  51  is mounted, and an optical member provided in a traveling path of the light emitted from the at least one light source  51 . 
     In an embodiment, a plurality of substrates  52  may be provided in the form of plates. The disclosure is not, however, limited thereto, but the substrates  52  may have the form of bars. 
     The size and/or number of light source modules  50  may depend on the size of the display device  1 . In an embodiment, there may be eight light source modules  50 , and the eight light source modules  50  may be combined to have a size equal to a size of the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     A driving power line may be provided on the substrate  52  to supply driving power to the light source  51 , and may be connected to a signal cable and a backlight driving circuit. 
     A plurality of light sources  51  may be mounted on each of the plurality of substrates  52  with gaps therebetween. The light source  51  may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). Alternatively, the light source  51  may include a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL). 
     A plurality of lenses  53  may be mounted on the substrate  52  to cover the respective light sources  51 . The lens  53  may cover the light source  51  to diffuse light emitted from the light source  51 . 
     A reflector sheet  54  may be provided for each of the plurality of substrates  52 . The reflector sheet  54  may have the size corresponding to the substrate  52 . The reflector sheet  54  may stick to a mounting surface of the substrate  52  on which the light source  51  is mounted. In other words, the reflector sheet  54  may be placed on the front surface of the substrate  52 . The reflector sheet  54  may have a through hole  55  formed therein for the light source  51  and the lens  53  to pass through. 
     The reflector sheet  54  may reflect light to prevent losses of light. Specifically, the reflector sheet  54  may reflect light emitted from the light source  51  or light reflecting backward from a diffuser plate  63  to the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The reflector sheet  54  may prevent losses of light emitted from the light source  51  by reflecting the light emitted from the light source  51  that is traveling towards the back of the display device  1 . 
     The backlight unit may include optical members  61 ,  62 , and  63  provided along the traveling path of light emitted from the light source  51 . 
     The optical members  61 ,  62 , and  63  may include a diffuser plate  63  for uniformly diffusing uneven light emitted from the light source  51 , and first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  for enhancing properties of light. 
     The diffuser plate  63  may uniformly diffuse the uneven light generated from the light sources  51 . The diffuser plate  63  may uniformly diffuse the light incident on the rear surface  63   a  to be output to its front surface  63   b.    
     The first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  may be provided in front of the diffuser plate  63  to enhance optical properties of the light output from the diffuser plate  63 . Although the first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  are shown in the drawings, the number of optical sheets may be more or less than 2. 
     The first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  may include a diffuser sheet for offsetting a pattern of the diffuser plate  63 , a prism sheet for concentrating the light to enhance brightness, a protection sheet for protecting the other optical sheets against an external shock or inflow of foreign materials, a reflective polarizing sheet (e.g., dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF)) for transmitting polarized light while reflecting differently polarized light to enhance brightness, a complex sheet for uniformly diffusing light, a quantum dot sheet for changing wavelengths of light to improve color reproductivity, etc. Quantum dots, which are illuminant semiconductor crystals in a few nanometers, may be distributed inside the quantum dot sheet. The quantum dot may receive blue light to produce any colors of visible light depending on the size of the quantum dot. The smaller the quantum dot is, the shorter wavelength of light may be produced, and the larger the quantum dot is, the longer wavelength of light may be produced. 
     The first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  and the diffuser plate  63  may be provided in one body. Adhesives may be provided between the first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  and between the second optical sheet  62  and the diffuser plate  63 , bonding the first and second optical sheets  61  and  62  and the diffuser plate  63  into one body like a single sheet. 
     The rear chassis  30  may be provided behind the backlight unit. In an embodiment, the rear chassis  30  may be generally shaped like a plate with the edges bending forward. The backlight unit may be accommodated between the rear chassis  30  and the combination of the liquid crystal panel  10  and front chassis  20 . 
     The rear chassis  30  may include a base  31  on which the light source module  50  is installed, and a bent portion  32  provided on the top, bottom, left and right edges of the rear chassis  30  to be coupled with the middle mold  40 . 
     The base  31  may contact the substrate  52  to radiate heat generated from a heating element such as the light source  51  mounted on the substrate  52 . For this, the rear chassis  30  including the base  31  may include various metal substances such as aluminum, steel use stainless (SUS), etc., with high heat transfer efficiency. The rear chassis  30  may include a plastic material such as ABS. 
     The bent portion  32  may be inserted into an insertion groove  41  provided in the middle mold  40 . When the bent portion  32  is inserted to the insertion groove  41 , the rear chassis  30  and the middle mold  40  may be coupled to each other. 
     The rear chassis  30  may further include a middle mold supporter  33  for supporting the middle mold  40 , and a link  34  connecting the middle mold supporter  33  to the base  31 . 
     The middle mold supporter  33  may be provided between the bent portion  32  and the base  31  to support the middle mold  40 . The link  34  may be provided to connect the middle mold supporter  33  and the base  31 . The link  34  may slantingly extend backward from an end of the base  31  to connect to an end of the middle mold supporter  33 . The bent portion  32  may be provided at the other end of the middle mold supporter  33 . 
     The light source module  50  may be placed between the base  31  and the diffuser plate  63 , and the middle mold  40  may be placed between the middle mold supporter  33  and the diffuser plate  63  and liquid crystal panel  10 . A distance between the base  31  and the liquid crystal panel  10  may be shorter than a distance between the middle mold supporter  33  and the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The front chassis  20  may be shaped like a frame with an opening  21  for the light from the backlight unit to be provided to the liquid crystal panel  10 . The front chassis  20  may cover a side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and a side surface of the middle mold  40 . 
     For related art display devices, the front chassis supports the liquid crystal panel by covering the front edges of the liquid crystal panel. Edges around the liquid crystal panel defined by the front chassis are called a bezel, and the bezel causes the size of a screen display area of the liquid crystal panel to be reduced. Furthermore, a thick bezel may negatively affect an aesthetic appearance of the display device. 
     In this regard, the front chassis  20  may cover the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  but may not cover the front of the liquid crystal panel  10 . When the front chassis  20  does not cover the screen display area of the liquid crystal panel  10 , the size of the screen display area of the liquid crystal panel  10  does not shrink from the front chassis  20 . Accordingly, the size of the screen display area of the liquid crystal panel  10  of the display device  1  may be enlarged. 
     Furthermore, thickness of the front chassis  20  in the left-right direction may be reduced. The thickness of the front chassis  20  in the left-right direction may indicate the size of the bezel. The front chassis  20  is provided to cover the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the side surface of the middle mold  40 , which may be achieved without having a thick front chassis  20 . Accordingly, the display device  1  may have a bezel with a reduced size, and thus have an enhanced aesthetic appearance. 
     Similar to the front chassis  20 , the middle mold  40  may be shaped like a frame with an opening  40   a  for the light from the backlight unit to be provided to the liquid crystal panel  10 . The middle mold  40  may be coupled to the rear chassis  30  and the front chassis  20 . The middle mold  40  may be affixed to the diffuser plate  63 , the first optical sheet  61 , and the second optical sheet  62 . Furthermore, the middle mold  40  may be affixed to the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The middle mold  40  may be placed on the middle mold supporter  33  of the rear chassis  30 . The middle mold  40  may include the insertion groove  41  for receiving the bent portion  32  of the rear chassis  30 . As described above, as the bent portion  32  may be inserted to the insertion groove  41 , and the middle mold  40  and the rear chassis  30  may be coupled to each other. 
     The middle mold  40  may be affixed to the diffuser plate  63 . The middle mold  40  may include a sheet adhesion surface  42 . The sheet adhesion surface  42  may be a surface of the middle mold  40  facing the diffuser plate  63  at a distance removed from the diffuser plate  63 . 
     A first adhesive  71  may be provided between the sheet adhesion surface  42  and the diffuser plate  63 . The first adhesive  71  may be made with a transparent substance. For example, the first adhesive  71  may include a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) having more than 90% of light transmittance. With the first adhesive  71  made with a material having high light transmittance, light emitted from the light source module  50  may pass through the first adhesive  71  and enter into the diffuser plate  63  to minimize loss of light. 
     The first adhesive  71  may bond the sheet adhesion surface  42  of the middle mold  40  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The optical members  61 ,  62 , and  63 , which may be coupled to each other, may be coupled to the middle mold  40  by the first adhesive  71  without extra structures. 
     In related art display devices, an extra structure is provided to support the optical sheets. The structure clamps the optical sheets together to prevent them from being separated, but adds thickness to the display device and the bezel. 
     An alternative design is provided in an embodiment where the optical members  61 ,  62 , and  63  may be coupled to the middle mold  40  by the first adhesive  71  without such an extra structure. Accordingly, the thickness of the display device and the bezel size may be reduced. 
     In an embodiment, the middle mold  40  may be coupled to the liquid crystal panel  10  to prevent the liquid crystal panel  10  from falling forward out of the display device  1 . The middle mold  40  may include a supporting projection  43  protruding toward the liquid crystal panel  10 . The supporting projection  43  may include a panel adhesion surface  43   a  facing the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . A second adhesive  72  may be provided between the panel adhesion surface  43   a  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may bond the panel adhesion surface  43   a  of the middle mold  40  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the middle mold  40  by the second adhesive  72 . 
     As described above, the liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixed to the middle mold  40  by adhesion strength of the second adhesive  72 . The liquid crystal panel  10  may be separated from the middle mold  40  when the adhesion strength of the second adhesive  72  becomes weak, so strong adhesion strength of the second adhesive may be required to support the liquid crystal panel  10 . To meet this requirement, the second adhesive  72  may include ultraviolet (UV) resin. When the second adhesive  72  is the UV resin, the second adhesive  72  may be applied in a liquid state on the panel adhesion surface  43   a  and hardened by UV rays, thereby bonding the panel adhesion surface  43   a  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The middle mold  40  may also include a sheet supporting surface  44  provided between the supporting projection  43  and the sheet adhesion surface  42 . The sheet supporting surface  44  may protrude almost as much as the thickness of the first adhesive  71  from the sheet adhesion surface  42  to the diffuser plate  63 . The sheet supporting surface  44  may contact and support the diffuser plate  63 . The supporting projection  43  may protrude toward the liquid crystal panel  10  from the sheet supporting surface  44 . Alternatively, the sheet supporting surface  44  may not contact the diffuser  63  or may be omitted. When the sheet supporting surface  44  is omitted, the supporting projection  43  may protrude from the sheet adhesion surface  42 . 
     The middle mold  40  may include a light guide plane  45 . The light guide plane  45  may guide light generated from the light source  51  towards the diffuser plate  63 . Specifically, the light guide plane  45  may guide the light generated from the light source  51  to enter into the first adhesive  71  or to a surface of the diffuser plate  63  that comes into contact with the first adhesive  71 . The light guide plane  45  may be inclined to not interfere with the traveling path of the light generated from the light source  51 . The light guide plane  45  may prevent the middle mold  40  from interfering with the traveling path of light generated from the light source  51  when the light passes through the lens  53  and enters into the diffuser plate  63 . The inclination angle of the light guide plane  45  may be determined by taking into account properties of the light. The inclination angle of the light guide plane  45  may be determined by taking into account a profile of the light. 
     Otherwise, when the light guide plane  45  is not provided or the sheet adhesion surface  42  extends up to the substrate  52 , light generated from the light source  51  and traveling toward the first adhesive  71  may be blocked by the middle mold  40  being in the traveling path. When the light is blocked in the traveling path and fails to reach a portion of the diffuser  63  where the first adhesive  71  is placed, brightness of the liquid crystal panel  10  in the portion where the first adhesive  71  is placed may be degraded or uneven. The light guide plane  45  may provide an unobstructed traveling path to allow the light emitted from the light source  51  to reach a location where the first adhesive  71  is placed. Accordingly, the display device  1  may minimize degradation or unevenness of brightness of the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The middle mold  40  may not protrude sideways from the liquid crystal panel  10 . In other words, an outermost surface  40   b  of the middle mold  40  may be coplanar with a side surface  10   a  of the liquid crystal panel  10 , or may be located farther inside than the side surface  10   a  of the liquid crystal panel  10 . Although the side surface  40   b  of the middle mold  40  is shown as being coplanar with the side surface  10   a  of the liquid crystal panel  10 , it may be located farther inside than the side surface  10   a  of the liquid crystal panel  40 . 
     A side wall  22  of the front chassis  20  may be provided to cover a side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and a side surface of the middle mold  40 . The side wall  22  of the front chassis  20  may include an inner side surface  22   b  facing the outer surface  40   b  of the middle mold  40  and an outer side surface  22   a  opposite to the inner side surface  22   b . The inner side surface  22   b  and the outer side surface  22   a  may be provided side by side and may extend in a substantially straight line along the front-back direction. A distance between the inner and outer side surfaces  22   b  and  22   a  of the front chassis  20  corresponds to the size of the bezel of the display device. The inner and outer side surfaces  22   b  and  22   a  of the front chassis  20  may extend in an almost straight line along the front-back direction, so the size of the bezel may be only a thickness of the side wall  22 . 
     In related art displays, the middle mold protrudes outwards from the liquid crystal panel, and the front chassis covers the middle mold by protruding sideways from the liquid crystal panel. When the front chassis extends sideways to cover the middle mold, the size of the bezel defined by the front chassis is larger than the portion of the middle mold protruding outwards from the liquid crystal panel. That is, the related art display have a limitation on reducing the size of the bezel because the middle mold protrudes outwards from the liquid crystal panel. 
     An alternative design is provided by an embodiment where the middle mold  40  may not include such a portion that protrudes outwards from the liquid crystal panel  10 . The front chassis  20  may then be positioned very close to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  because there is no portion protruding outwards from the liquid crystal panel  10 . Furthermore, the front chassis  20  may cover the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the side surface of the middle mold  40 , and the front chassis  20  may perform the function of covering the side surface without difficulty even with a thin thickness. Accordingly, the thickness of the side wall  22  of the front chassis  20  may be very thin. As the size of the bezel is proportional to the thickness of the side wall  22  of the front chassis  20 , the size of the bezel of the display device  1  may be reduced by minimizing the thickness of the side wall  22  of the front chassis  20 . With the reduce size of the bezel, the aesthetics of the display device  1  may be enhanced. 
     The front chassis  20 , the rear chassis  30 , and the middle mold  40  may be combined by a fastening member  99  that is provided separately. The middle mold  40  may include a fastening groove  46  into which the fastening member  99  is inserted and coupled. The rear chassis  30  may include a first fastening hole  35  configured to correspond to the fastening groove  46  and for the fastening member  99  to pass through. The front chassis  20  may include a second fastening hole  23  configured to correspond to the fastening groove  46  and the first fastening hole  35  and for the fastening member  99  to pass through. 
     The fastening member  99  may pass through the first and second fastening holes  35  and  23  and may be fastened into the fastening groove  46 . In an embodiment of the disclosure, the fastening member  99  may be screwed into the fastening groove  46 . When the fastening member  99  is fastened into the fastening groove  46 , the front chassis  20  may be fixedly coupled to the rear chassis  30 . Furthermore, when the fastening member  99  is fastened into the fastening groove  46 , the rear chassis  30  and the middle mold  40  may be secondarily coupled to each other. 
       FIG.  5    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The display device  101  may include a liquid crystal panel  10 , a backlight unit provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to provide light to the liquid crystal panel  10 , a rear chassis  30  for supporting the backlight unit, a front chassis  20  for covering edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and a middle mold  140  coupled between the front chassis  20  and the rear chassis  30 . 
     The structure except for the middle mold  140  is equivalent to that of the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4   , so the overlapping description will not be repeated. 
     The middle mold  140  may include a supporting projection  143 . The supporting projection  143  may include a panel adhesion surface  143   a  facing the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . A second adhesive  72  may be provided between the panel adhesion surface  143   a  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     The supporting projection  143  may further include a light reflecting surface  143   b . The light reflecting surface  143   b  may be provided to reflect the light emitted from the light source  51 . The light reflecting surface  143   b  may be sunken into the supporting projection  143 . Specifically, the light reflecting surface  143   b  may be recessed from a surface of the supporting projection  143  facing the side surface of the diffuser plate  63 . The light reflecting surface  143   b  may be a curved plane to uniformly reflect light. The light reflecting surface  143   b  may be a smoothly curved plane without angulations. The light reflecting surface  143   b  may be sunken away from the side surface of the diffuser plate  63 . 
     The light reflecting surface  143   b  may prevent portions of the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10  from having excessively high brightness. The light reflecting surface  143   b  may reduce an amount of light emitted through the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10  by reflecting the light backward. This may prevent a relative increase of brightness in the portions of the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and accordingly, the liquid crystal panel  10  may have more uniform brightness across its entire area. 
       FIG.  6    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The display device  201  may include a liquid crystal panel  10 , a backlight unit provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to provide light to the liquid crystal panel  10 , a rear chassis  230  for supporting the backlight unit, a front chassis  20  for covering edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and a middle mold  240  coupled between the front chassis  20  and the rear chassis  230 . 
     The backlight unit may be provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to illuminate the liquid crystal panel  10 . The backlight unit may include a light source module  250  including a light source  251  and a substrate  252  with the light source  251  mounted thereon, and an optical member provided in a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source  251 . 
     The light source module  250  may include a plurality of substrates  252  in the form of plates. It is not, however, limited thereto, the substrates  252  may have other forms such as bars. 
     The size and/or number of light source modules  250  may depend on the size of the display device. In an embodiment, there may be eight light source modules  250 , and the size of the eight light source modules  250  combined may be equal to the size of the liquid crystal panel  10 . 
     A plurality of light sources  251  may be mounted on each of the plurality of substrates  252  with gaps therebetween. The light source  251  may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). A reflector sheet  253  may be placed on the substrate  252 . The reflector sheet  253  may reflect light to prevent losses of light. The reflector sheet  253  may include a plurality of through holes  253   a  for the plurality of light sources  251  to pass through. A light guide film  254  may be placed on the reflector sheet  253 . The light guide film  254  may diffuse and guide light generated from the light source  251  to the front. The light guide film  254  may change the light sources  251  from point light sources to a surface light source. Similar to the reflector sheet  253 , the light guide film  254  may also include a plurality of through holes  254   a.    
     The light source module  250  may not include a lens. Accordingly, a minimum distance required between the light source and the diffuser plate may be reduced as compared with an embodiment where the lens is provided. Furthermore, a distance between a base  231  of the rear chassis  230  and the liquid crystal panel  10  may be reduced. With the reduced distance between the base  231  and the liquid crystal panel  10 , which is thickness of the display device  201  from front to back, may be reduced. With the reduced thickness of the display device  201 , the aesthetics of the display device  201  may be enhanced. 
     A link  234  of the rear chassis may be generally perpendicular to the base  231  and a middle mold supporter  233 . A bent portion  232  may be inserted to an insertion groove  241  of the middle mold  240 . 
     The middle mold  240  may include a sheet adhesion surface  242 . No projection may be provided on the sheet adhesion surface  242 . That is, the sheet adhesion surface  242  may be planar. The first adhesive  71  may be provided between the sheet adhesion surface  242  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The first adhesive  71  may couple the middle mold  240  to the diffuser plate  63  by bonding the sheet adhesion surface  242  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The first adhesive  71  may include a PSA or an optical clear adhesive (OCA). 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the diffuser plate  63 . The second adhesive  72  may be provided between the liquid crystal panel  10  and the diffuser plate  63  to bond the liquid crystal panel  10  and the diffuser plate  63 . Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the diffuser plate  63 . The second adhesive  72  may include UV resin. 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  may be coupled to the first optical sheet  61 . In this case, the second adhesive  72  may be provided between the liquid crystal panel  10  and the first optical sheet  61 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  and the diffuser plate  63  may be coupled by the second adhesive  72  without an extra structure. 
     In related art displays, an adhesive may be provided on a structure positioned at, e.g., the front chassis, to couple the liquid crystal panel to the front chassis. In such a method, it is difficult to form a liquid crystal panel supporting structure corresponding to the size of a black material (BM) of the ever decreasing liquid crystal panel. 
     The second adhesive  72  may be provided in a portion corresponding to the BM of the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, even when the BM of the liquid crystal panel becomes smaller, the liquid crystal panel  10  may be stably coupled to the diffuser plate  63  or the first optical sheet  61 . 
       FIG.  7    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  of the display device  301  may be fixedly coupled to a middle mold  340 . 
     The middle mold  340  may include a supporting projection  343  protruding toward the liquid crystal panel  10 . The supporting projection  343  may include a panel adhesion surface  343   a  facing the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may be provided between the panel adhesion surface  343   a  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may bond the panel adhesion surface  343   a  of the middle mold  340  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may fixedly couple the liquid crystal panel  10  to the middle mold  340 . The second adhesive  72  may include UV resin. 
     The middle mold  340  may include a first sheet adhesion surface  342   a  and a second sheet adhesion surface  342   b.    
     The first adhesion surface  342   a  may face the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 , and a first portion of the first adhesive  71   a  may be placed between the first sheet adhesion surface  342   a  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . 
     The second sheet adhesion surface  342   b  may face the side surface of the diffuser plate  63 . A second portion of the first adhesive  71   b  may be provided between the second sheet adhesion surface  342   b  and the side surface of the diffuser plate  63 . 
     The first portion of the first adhesive  71   a  and the second portion of the first adhesive  71   b  may include a PSA and an OCA. 
     The sheet adhesion surfaces  342   a  and  342   b  may be double-sided to relatively strengthen adhesion power between the diffuser plate  63  and the middle mold  340 . Accordingly, the diffuser plate  63  and the middle mold  340  may be more stably coupled. Since it is attached by the first adhesive member  71   a  and the second adhesive member  71   b , the adhesive strength is enhanced compared to the case where only the first adhesive member  71   a  is adhered. 
       FIG.  8    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The display device  401  may include a liquid crystal panel  10  for displaying an image, a backlight unit provided behind the liquid crystal panel  10  to provide light to the liquid crystal panel  10 , a rear chassis  30  for supporting the backlight unit, a front chassis  420  for covering edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and a middle mold  40  coupled between the front chassis  420  and the rear chassis  30 . 
     All the components but the front chassis  420  are the same as those shown in  FIG.  4   , so the overlapping description will not be repeated. 
     The front chassis  420  may cover the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the middle mold  40 . 
     The front chassis  420  may be fixedly coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . Furthermore, the front chassis  420  may be fixedly coupled to the side surface of the middle mold  40 . 
     A gap may be formed between the front chassis  420  and the liquid crystal panel  10 , and similarly, there may be a gap formed between the front chassis  420  and the middle mold  40 . A third adhesive  73  may be provided in the gap. 
     The third adhesive  73  may bond the front chassis  420  to the liquid crystal panel  10 . Furthermore, the third adhesive  73  may bond the middle mold  40  to the front chassis  420 . 
     The third adhesive  73  may fixedly couple the front chassis  420  to the middle mold  40 , and further to the liquid crystal panel  10 . The front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the side surface of the middle mold  40  to prevent external foreign materials from being brought into the liquid crystal panel  10  or the middle mold  40 . 
     The front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the side surface of the middle mold  40  by the third adhesive  73  without an extra fastening member. Accordingly, the front chassis  420  may not include the extra fastening member, and may thus have slim thickness as compared to a case of having a fastening member. 
     The front chassis  420  and the middle mold  40  may be coupled by the fastening member  99 . The fastening member  99  may pass through the first fastening hole  35  of the rear chassis  30  to be coupled to the fastening groove  46  of the middle mold  40 . 
       FIG.  9    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The middle mold  140  of the display device  501  may include the supporting projection  143 , which may include the light reflecting surface  143   b.    
     The light reflecting surface  143   b  may prevent portions of the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10  from having excessively high brightness. The light reflecting surface  143   b  may reduce an amount of light emitted through the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10  by reflecting the light backward. This may prevent a relative increase of brightness in the portions of the edges of the liquid crystal panel  10 , and accordingly, the liquid crystal panel  10  may have a more uniform brightness across its entire area. 
     Furthermore, the front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  and the side surface of the middle mold  140  by the third adhesive  73  without an extra fastening member. Accordingly, the front chassis  420  may not include the extra fastening member, and may thus have slim thickness as compared to a case of having a fastening member. 
     The front chassis  420  and the middle mold  140  may be coupled by the fastening member  99 . The fastening member  99  may pass through the first fastening hole  35  of the rear chassis  30  to be coupled to the fastening groove  141  of the middle mold  240 . 
       FIG.  10    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The light source module  250  of the display device  601  may not include a lens. Accordingly, a minimum distance required between the light source and the diffuser plate may be reduced as compared with an embodiment where the lens is provided. Furthermore, a distance between a base  231  of the rear chassis  230  and the liquid crystal panel  10  may be reduced. With the reduced distance between the base  231  and the liquid crystal panel  10 , thickness of the display device  601  from front to back may be reduced. With the reduced thickness of the display device  601 , the aesthetics of the display device  601  may be enhanced. 
     The middle mold  240  may include the sheet adhesion surface  242 . No projection may be provided on the sheet adhesion surface  242 . The first adhesive  71  may be provided between the sheet adhesion surface  242  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The first adhesive  71  may couple the middle mold  240  to the diffuser plate  63  by bonding the sheet adhesion surface  242  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . The first adhesive  71  may include a PSA or an OCA. 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the diffuser plate  63 . The second adhesive  72  may be provided between the liquid crystal panel  10  and the diffuser plate  63  to bond the liquid crystal panel  10  to the diffuser plate  63 . Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the diffuser plate  63 . The second adhesive  72  may include UV resin. 
     In an embodiment, the liquid crystal panel  10  may be coupled to the first optical sheet  61 . In this case, the second adhesive  72  may be provided between the liquid crystal panel  10  and the first optical sheet  61 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  and the diffuser plate  63  may be coupled by the second adhesive  72  without an extra structure. 
     The front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  by the third adhesive  73 . Furthermore, the front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the diffuser plate  63  by the third adhesive  73 . Furthermore, the front chassis  420  may be coupled to the middle mold  240  by the third adhesive  73 . Accordingly, the front chassis  420  may be coupled to the liquid crystal panel  10 , the diffuser plate  63 , and the middle mold  240  without an extra fastening member. The front chassis  420  may not include the extra fastening member, and may thus have slim thickness as compared to a case of having a fastening member. 
     The front chassis  420  and the middle mold  240  may be coupled by the fastening member  99 . The fastening member  99  may pass through the first fastening hole  235  of the rear chassis  230  to be coupled to the fastening groove  243  of the middle mold  240 . 
       FIG.  11    is a side cross-sectional view of a display device, according to another embodiment. 
     The liquid crystal panel  10  of the display device  701  may be fixedly coupled to a middle mold  340 . 
     The middle mold  340  may include the supporting projection  343  protruding toward the liquid crystal panel  10 . The supporting projection  343  may include a panel adhesion surface  343   a  facing the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may be provided between the panel adhesion surface  343   a  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . The second adhesive  72  may be provided to bond the panel adhesion surface  343   a  of the middle mold  340  and the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel  10 . With the second adhesive  72 , the liquid crystal panel  10  may be fixedly coupled to the middle mold  340 . The second adhesive  72  may include UV resin. 
     The middle mold  340  may include the first sheet adhesion surface  342   a  and the second sheet adhesion surface  342   b.    
     The first sheet adhesion surface  342   a  may be oriented to face the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 , and the first portion of the first adhesive  71   a  may be placed between the first sheet adhesion surface  342   a  and the rear surface  63   a  of the diffuser plate  63 . 
     The second sheet adhesion surface  342   b  may be oriented to face side surface  63   c  of the diffuser plate  63 . The second portion of the first adhesive  71   b  may be provided between the second sheet adhesion surface  342  and the side surface  63   c  of the diffuser plate  63 . 
     The first portion of the first adhesive  71   a  and the second portion of the first adhesive  71   b  may include an PSA and an OCA. 
     The sheet adhesion surfaces  342   a  and  342   b  may be double-sided to relatively strengthen adhesion power between the diffuser plate  63  and the middle mold  340 . Accordingly, the diffuser plate  63  and the middle mold  340  may be more stably coupled. 
     The front chassis  420  may be coupled to the side surface of the liquid crystal panel  10  by the third adhesive  73 . Furthermore, the front chassis  420  may be coupled to the middle mold  340  by the third adhesive  73 . The front chassis  420  may be coupled to the liquid crystal panel  63  and the middle mold  340  without an extra fastening member. The front chassis  420  may not include the extra fastening member, and may thus have slim thickness as compared to a case of having a fastening member. 
     The front chassis  240  and the middle mold  340  may be coupled by the fastening member  99 . The fastening member  99  may pass through the first fastening hole  235  of the rear chassis  230  to be coupled to the fastening groove  344  of the middle mold  340 . 
     According to one or more embodiments, a size of a bezel on a display device may be reduced to enhance aesthetics of the display device. 
     According to one or more embodiments, a thickness from a front to a back of a display device may be reduced to enhance aesthetics of the display device. 
     Certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing the scope of the disclosure. Thus, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the true scope of technical protection is only defined by the following claims.