Patent Abstract:
A light source system comprises a substrate, a light source mounted on the substrate, a lens formed over the light source, and a plurality of support members supporting the lens. Each supporting member comprises an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a first connection side surface, and a second connection side surface. The distance between the light source and the outer side surface is greater than the distance between the light source and the inner side surface. The first connection side surface and the second connection side surface connect the inner side surface and the outer side surface. The inner side surface and the outer side surface are configured and oriented such that the light emitted by the light source is incident on the inner side surface and the outer side surface at a substantially perpendicular angle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0040046 filed on Apr. 3, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to a light source system and a liquid crystal display device including the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A liquid crystal display device, which is one of widely used display devices, adjusts the amount of transmitted light by applying voltages to two electrodes (pixel electrode and common electrode) facing each other to control the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer interposed between the electrodes. 
         [0006]    The liquid crystal display device requires a backlight unit for supplying light to a liquid crystal panel because the liquid crystal panel is configured as a non-luminescent element which cannot emit light itself. 
         [0007]    Generally, the backlight unit includes a light source package including a light source for generating light, a light guide plate for guiding light from the light source to the liquid crystal panel, one or more optical sheets for enhancing the luminance and uniformity of light emitted from the light guide plate to the liquid crystal panel, and a reflective sheet disposed under the light guide plate. 
         [0008]    Meanwhile, the light source package includes a substrate, a light source mounted on the substrate, and a lens coupled to the substrate to cover the light source. The lens is coupled to the substrate through cylindrical supporting portions formed at positions facing the side surfaces of the light source. 
         [0009]    However, the cylindrical supporting portions may refract light emitted radially from the side surfaces of the light source such that the light travels in a distorted path. This is because light emitted from the side surfaces of the light source is not incident perpendicularly to the tangent of the cylindrical supporting portions when the light is incident on the supporting portions. In this case, the amount of light reaching the reflective sheet from the side surfaces of the light source is reduced. As a result, the amount of light supplied to the liquid crystal panel is reduced, and the luminance of the liquid crystal display device may be reduced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    An aspect of the present disclosure provides a light source package capable of minimizing a phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of a light source is refracted and the traveling direction of the light is distorted. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display device including a light source package capable of minimizing a phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of a light source is refracted and the traveling direction of light is distorted. 
         [0012]    However, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to those set forth herein. The above and other aspects of the present disclosure will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description given below. 
         [0013]    In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a light source package comprising: a substrate; a light source mounted on the substrate; and a lens having a body formed to cover the light source on the substrate, and a plurality of supporting portions formed in a columnar shape on a lower surface of the body to face side surfaces of the light source, wherein each of the supporting portions includes an inner side surface, an outer side surface which is more distant from the light source than the inner side surface and has an area larger than an area of the inner side surface, and a first connection side surface and a second connection side surface connecting the inner side surface to the outer side surface. 
         [0014]    The supporting portions may be arranged on an imaginary circle having the same center as the light source. 
         [0015]    The inner side surface may located on a first circle having a first radius among concentric circles having the same center as the light source, and the outer side surface may be located on a second circle having a second radius larger than the first radius among the concentric circles. 
         [0016]    Each of the inner side surface and the outer side surface may be a flat or curved surface, and the first connection side surface and the second connection side surface may be flat surfaces. 
         [0017]    The curved surface of the inner side surface is a surface on an arc of the first circle, and the curved surface of the outer side surface is a surface on an arc of the second circle. 
         [0018]    A line extending to the light source along the first connection side surface and a line extending to the light source along the second connection side surface may pass through an inside of the light source. 
         [0019]    A line extending to the light source along the first connection side surface and a line extending to the light source along the second connection side surface may pass through a center of the light source. 
         [0020]    The supporting portions may include a first supporting portion to a fourth supporting portion, wherein the first supporting portion and the third supporting portion may be symmetric to each other with respect to a center of the light source, and the second supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion may be symmetric to each other with respect to the light source, and wherein a distance between the first supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion in a width direction of the substrate may be smaller than a distance between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a light source system comprises a substrate, a light source mounted on the substrate, a lens formed over the light source, and a plurality of support members supporting the lens. Each supporting member comprises an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a first connection side surface, and a second connection side surface. The distance between the light source and the outer side surface is greater than the distance between the light source and the inner side surface. The first connection side surface and the second connection side surface connect the inner side surface and the outer side surface. The inner side surface and the outer side surface are facing the light source. 
         [0022]    The support members may comprise first, second, third, and fourth support members. The first support member and the third support member may be symmetrically located with respect to a center of the light source, and the second support member and the fourth support member may be symmetrically located with respect to the light source. The distance between the first support member and the fourth support member in a width direction of the substrate may be smaller than a distance between the first support member and the second support members in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. 
         [0023]    The area of the outer side surface is larger than the area of the inner side surface. 
         [0024]    The light emitted by the light source that enters the inner side surface of a support member generally exits the support member via the outer side surface thereof. 
         [0025]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a light source package comprising: a substrate; a light source mounted on the substrate; and a lens having a body formed to cover the light source on the substrate, and a plurality of supporting portions formed in a columnar shape on a lower surface of the body to face side surfaces of the light source, wherein each of the supporting portions includes an outer side surface, and a first inner side surface and a second inner side surface connected to the outer side surface to form an acute angle between the first and second inner side surfaces. 
         [0026]    The outer side surface may be located on a circle having the same center as the light source. 
         [0027]    The outer side surface may be a flat or curved surface, and the first inner side surface and the second inner side surface may be flat surfaces. 
         [0028]    The curved surface of the outer side surface may be a surface on an arc of the circle. 
         [0029]    A line extending to the light source along the inner side surface and a line extending to the light source along the second inner side surface may pass through an inside of the light source. 
         [0030]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a light source system comprises a substrate, a light source mounted on the substrate, a lens formed over the light source, and a plurality of support members supporting the lens, each support member comprising an outer side surface, a first connection side surface, and a second connection side surface. The first inner side surface and the second inner side surface are connected to the outer side surface and form an acute angle therebetween. 
         [0031]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal panel; and a light source package installed below the liquid crystal panel, wherein the light source package comprises: a substrate; a light source mounted on the substrate; and a lens having a body formed to cover the light source on the substrate, and a plurality of supporting portions formed in a columnar shape on a lower surface of the body to face side surfaces of the light source, wherein each of the supporting portions includes an inner side surface, an outer side surface which is more distant from the light source than the inner side surface and has an area larger than an area of the inner side surface, and a first connection side surface and a second connection side surface connecting the inner side surface to the outer side surface. 
         [0032]    The supporting portions may be arranged on an imaginary circle having the same center as the light source. 
         [0033]    The inner side surface may be located on a first circle having a first radius among concentric circles having the same center as the light source, and the outer side surface may be located on a second circle having a second radius larger than the first radius among the concentric circles. 
         [0034]    Each of the inner side surface and the outer side surface may be a flat or curved surface, and the first connection side surface and the second connection side surface may be flat surfaces. 
         [0035]    A line extending to the light source along the first connection side surface and a line extending to the light source along the second connection side surface may pass through an inside of the light source. 
         [0036]    The supporting portions may include a first supporting portion to a fourth supporting portion, wherein the first supporting portion and the third supporting portion may be symmetric to each other with respect to a center of the light source, and the second supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion may be symmetric to each other with respect to the light source, and wherein a distance between the first supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion in a width direction of the substrate may be smaller than a distance between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. 
         [0037]    The liquid crystal display device may further comprise: a bottom chassis accommodating the light source package; and a reflective sheet disposed on the bottom chassis to surround the lens. 
         [0038]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid crystal displace device comprises a liquid crystal panel and a light source system disposed below the liquid crystal panel. The light source system comprises a substrate, a light source mounted on the substrate, a lens formed over the light source, a plurality of support members supporting the lens, each support member comprising an outer side surface, a first connection side surface, and a second connection side surface. The distance between the light source and the outer side surface is greater than the distance between the light source and the inner side surface. The first connection side surface and the second connection side surface connect the inner side surface and the outer side surface. The inner side surface and the outer side surface are oriented such that the light emitted by the light source is incident on the inner side surface and the outer side surface at a substantially perpendicular angle. 
         [0039]    The support members may comprise first, second, third, and fourth support members. The first support member and the third support member may be symmetrically located with respect to a center of the light source, and the second support member and the fourth support member may be symmetrically located with respect to the light source. The distance between the first support member and the fourth support member in a width direction of the substrate may be smaller than a distance between the first support member and the second support members in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. 
         [0040]    Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or more of the following effects. 
         [0041]    A light source package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes columnar supporting portions, each supporting portion having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a first connection side surface, and a second connection side surface. Thus, it is possible to cause the light emitted from the side surface of a light source to be incident on the supporting portion at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the plane that is tangent to the supporting portion. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of the light source is refracted to travel in a distorted path. In a liquid crystal display device including the light source package described above, it is possible to minimize the reduction in the amount of light emitted from the side surface of the light source when the light is incident on a reflective sheet. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the phenomenon in which the amount of light incident on the reflective sheet from the side surface of the light source decreases, thereby causing the amount of light provided to the liquid crystal panel to be reduced. Accordingly, the reduction in the luminance of the liquid crystal display device can be minimized. 
         [0042]    The effects of the various embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects and other effects which are not described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0043]    The above and other aspects and features of the present inventive concept will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0044]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a light source package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0045]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a supporting portion of a lens shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a substrate and a light source and supporting portions of the lens of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a traveling path of light emitted from the side surface of a light source to supporting portions in a light source package according to another example; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a traveling path of light emitted from the side surface of the light source to the supporting portions in the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0050]      FIGS. 7 to 15  are perspective views and plan views showing various embodiments of the supporting portions of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a liquid crystal display device including the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0052]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 18  is a spectrum showing the amount of light reaching a reflective sheet from a light source package according to another example; and 
           [0054]      FIG. 19  is a spectrum showing the amount of light reaching the reflective sheet from the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0055]    Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. 
         [0056]    It will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. The same reference numbers indicate the same components throughout the specification. 
         [0057]    It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         [0058]    Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0059]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a light source package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a light source package  100  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a substrate  110 , a light source  120 , a lens  130  and an adhesive layer  140 . 
         [0061]    The substrate  110  may be formed as a printed circuit board (PCB). A circuit pattern (not shown) for driving the light source  120  is formed on the substrate  110 , and the circuit pattern is electrically connected to the light source  120 . The substrate  110  may have a rectangular bar shape having a length L and a width W 1 . 
         [0062]    The light source  120  is mounted on the substrate  110 , and may be a light emitting diode (LED). The light source  120  may emit light laterally as well as upwardly. The light source  120  may comprise a plurality of light sources installed on the substrate  110  in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0063]    The lens  130  uniformly spreads the light emitted from the light source  120 , and may include a body  131  and a plurality of supporting portions  135 . 
         [0064]    The body  131  covers the light source  120  disposed on the substrate  110 , and may be separated or spaced apart from the substrate  110  by the plurality of supporting portions  135 . The body  131  may have a columnar shape. A first recess  132  may be formed in an upper portion of the body  131 , and a second recess  133  may be formed in a lower portion of the body  131 . The body  131  may uniformly spread the light emitted from the light source  120  in a lateral direction (e.g., left or right direction in  FIG. 2 ) as well as a forward direction (e.g., upward direction in  FIG. 2 ) of the lens  130 . 
         [0065]    The supporting portions  135  may be formed on a lower surface of the body  131 , and may be arranged such that one or more side surfaces thereof are facing the side surfaces of the light source  120 . The plurality of supporting portions  135  may stably support the body  131 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , the plurality of supporting portions  135  are integrally formed with the body  131 . For example, the lens  130  including the body  131  and the plurality of supporting portions  135  is formed as a single unit. However, the lens  130  is not limited to such a configuration. In another embodiment, the body  131  and the plurality of supporting portions  135  are separately formed and attached together to form the lens  130 . 
         [0066]    The adhesive layer  140  may be formed by interposing an adhesive between the lower surfaces of the supporting portions  135  and the upper surface of the substrate  110  in order to fix the lens  130  to the substrate  110 . 
         [0067]    The light source package  100  configured as described above may be installed under a display device, e.g., a liquid crystal panel of a liquid crystal display device, for displaying an image using light supplied from a separate source. 
         [0068]    Hereinafter, the supporting portions  135  of the lens  130  will be described in detail. 
         [0069]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the supporting portion of the lens shown in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the spatial relationship among the substrate, the light source, and the supporting portions of the lens of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the supporting portions  135  may be spaced apart from each other such that each of the supporting portions  135  is disposed on an imaginary circle C centered at a center O of the light source  120  when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate  110 . Each of the supporting portions  135  has a columnar shape, and may include an inner side surface  136 , an outer side surface  137 , a first connection side surface  138 , and a second connection side surface  139 . In one embodiment, each of the side surfaces  136 - 139  is perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate  110 . 
         [0071]    The inner side surface  136  is a side surface facing the side surface of the light source  120 , and is located on a first circle C 1  having a first radius r 1  among concentric circles C 1  and C 2  centered at the center O of the light source  120 . The shape of the inner side surface  136  causes the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  to be incident on the inner side surface  136  at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the plane that is tangential to the inner side surface  136 , thereby minimizing the refraction of the light at the inner side surface  136 , which may cause the light to travel along a distorted path. The inner side surface  136  may be a curved surface (e.g., concave if viewed from a direction extending from the light source  120  to the supporting portion  135 ), and may coincide with a portion of an arc of the first circle C 1 . 
         [0072]    In one example, the phrase “substantially perpendicular” as used herein may mean, in addition to its ordinary meaning, that the light emitted from the center of the light source is incident on the surface of the supporting portion at a perpendicular angle. In another example, the phrase “substantially perpendicular” may mean, in addition to its ordinary meaning, that a threshold percentage of the light emitted from the light source that enters the surface of the supporting portion does so perpendicularly with respect to the surface. In one embodiment, the threshold percentage is one of 99%, 95%, 90%, 75%, and 50%. The threshold percentage is not limited to those numbers listed herein, and can be any other arbitrary number. 
         [0073]    In another embodiment, the light emitted from the light source that enters the inner side surface  136  of the supporting portion  135  generally exits the supporting portion  135  via the outer side surface  137 . In one example, the phrase “generally exits” may mean, in addition to its ordinary meaning, that a threshold percentage of the light entering the inner side surface  136  exits the supporting portion  135  via the outer side surface  137 . In one embodiment, the threshold percentage is one of 99%, 95%, 90%, 75%, and 50%. The threshold percentage is not limited to those numbers listed herein, and can be any other arbitrary number. 
         [0074]    The outer side surface  137  is more distant from the light source  120  than the inner side surface  136 , and is located on a second circle C 2  having a second radius r 2  among the concentric circles C 1  and C 2 . The outer side surface  137  causes the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  to be incident on the outer side surface  137  at an angle that is perpendicular to the plane that is tangential to the outer side surface  137 , thereby minimizing the refraction of the light at the outer side surface  137 , which may cause the light to travel along a distorted path. The outer side surface  137  may have an area larger than an area of the inner side surface  136 . The outer side surface  137  may be a curved surface (e.g., concave if viewed from a direction extending from the light source  120  to the supporting portion  135 ), and may coincide with a portion of an arc of the second circle C 2 . 
         [0075]    The first connection side surface  138  and the second connection side surface  139  are side surfaces connecting the inner side surface  136  to the outer side surface  137 . A line L 1  extending from the first connection side surface  138  to the light source  120  and a line L 2  extending from the second connection side surface  139  to the light source  120  may pass through the inside, e.g., the center O, of the light source  120 . Since the first connection side surface  138  and the second connection side surface  139  are parallel with a normal path of light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120 , they may not cause any refraction of the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120 . For example, the normal path of light may refer to a path in which light travels in a straight direction without refraction. 
         [0076]    The supporting portions  135  having the above-described structure minimize the phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  is refracted to travel along a distorted path, which can be seen from  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a traveling path of light emitted from the side surface of a light source to supporting portions in a light source package according to another example.  FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a traveling path of light emitted from the side surface of the light source to the supporting portions in the light source package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the light source package according to the example of  FIG. 5  includes cylindrical supporting portions  35  facing the side surfaces of a light source  20  on a substrate  10 . In this case, it can be seen that when the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  20  enters the supporting portion  35 , the light does not enter the surface thereof at an angle that is perpendicular to the tangential plane at the point of entry, and the light traveling path is changed due to refraction. 
         [0079]    On the other hand, the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the supporting portions  135 , each having the inner side surface  136  facing the side surface of the light source  120  on the substrate  110 , the outer side surface  137 , the first connection side surface  138 , and the second connection side surface  139 . In this case, it can be seen that when the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  enters the supporting portion  135 , the light enters the supporting portion  135  at an angle that is perpendicular to the tangential plane at the point of entry, (e.g., the tangential plane at the inner side surface  136  and the tangential plane at the outer side surface  137 ), and the light traveling path is not changed. 
         [0080]    Hereinafter, various shapes that supporting portions of the lens of the above-described light source package can have will be described. 
         [0081]      FIGS. 7 to 15  are perspective views and plan views showing various embodiments of the supporting portions of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0082]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate that each of supporting portions  235  includes an inner side surface  236 , the outer side surface  137 , the first connection side surface  138 , and the second connection side surface  139 . The supporting portions  235  are different from the supporting portions  135  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  only in that the inner side surface  236  is a flat surface. The supporting portions  235  provide an effect similar to that of the supporting portions  135  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . However, since the inner side surface  236  of the supporting portion  235  is flat, the lens can be manufactured more easily (e.g., in the case that the lens having supporting portions is manufactured by cutting a raw material). 
         [0083]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate that each of supporting portions  335  includes an inner side surface  336 , an outer side surface  337 , the first connection side surface  138  and the second connection side surface  139 . The supporting portions  335  are different from the supporting portions  135  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  only in that the inner side surface  336  and the outer side surface  337  are flat surfaces. The supporting portions  335  provide an effect similar to that of the supporting portions  135  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . However, as discussed above, since the inner side surface  336  and the outer side surface  337  of the supporting portion  335  are flat, the lens can be manufactured more easily. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate that a plurality of supporting portions  435  are spaced apart from each other such that each of the supporting portions  435  is disposed on the imaginary circle C centered at the center O of the light source  120  when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate  110 , and each of the supporting portions  435  includes three side surfaces. For example, each of the supporting portions  435  may include an outer side surface  436 , a first inner side surface  437 , and a second inner side surface  438 . 
         [0085]    The outer side surface  436  is located on a circle C 12  centered at the center O of the light source  120 . The outer side surface  436  causes the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  to be incident on the outer side surface  436  at an angle that is perpendicular to the plane that is tangential to the outer side surface  436 , thereby minimizing the refraction of the light at the outer side surface  436 , which may cause the light is refracted to travel along a distorted path. The outer side surface  436  may be a curved surface (e.g., concave if viewed from a direction extending from the light source  120  to the supporting portion  435 ), and may coincide with a portion of an arc of the circle C 12 . 
         [0086]    The first inner side surface  437  and the second inner side surface  438  are surfaces connected to the outer side surface  436  to form an acute angle between them. A width between the first inner side surface  437  and the second inner side surface  438  may be relatively smaller than a width between the first connection side surface  138  and the second connection side surface  139  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . By providing the first inner side surface  437  and the second inner side surface  438 , it is possible to minimize the extent to which the supporting portion  435  serves as a barrier to the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120 , and increase the discharge of heat generated from the substrate  110 . 
         [0087]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate that each of supporting portions  535  includes an outer side surface  536 , a first inner side surface  437 , and a second inner side surface  438 . The supporting portions  535  are different from the supporting portions  435  of  FIGS. 11 and 12  only in that the outer side surface  536  is a flat surface. The supporting portions  535  provide an effect similar to that of the supporting portions  435  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . However, as discussed above, since the outer side surface  536  of the supporting portion  535  is flat, the lens can be manufactured more easily. 
         [0088]      FIG. 15  illustrates four supporting portions  635  installed on a substrate  110   a.  In the example of  FIG. 15 , the supporting portions  635  include a first supporting portion  635   a,  a second supporting portion  635   b,  a third supporting portion  635   c,  and a fourth supporting portion  635   d.  The first supporting portion  635   a  and the third supporting portion  635   c  may be symmetric to each other with respect to the center O of the light source  120 . Further, the second supporting portion  635   b  and the fourth supporting portion  635   d  may be symmetric to each other with respect to the center O of the light source  120 . In this case, a distance D 2  between the first supporting portion  635   a  and the fourth supporting portion  635   d  in the width direction of the substrate  110   a  may be smaller than a distance D 1  between the first supporting portion  635   a  and the second supporting portion  635   b  in the longitudinal direction of the substrate  110   a.  In one embodiment, the distance D 2  between the first supporting portion  635   a  and the fourth supporting portion  635   d  is shorter than a threshold percentage of the distance D 1  between the first supporting portion  635   a  and the second supporting portion  635   b.  In one embodiment, the threshold percentage is one of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50%. The threshold percentage is not limited to those numbers listed herein, and can be any other arbitrary number. By providing the supporting portions  635 , it is possible to stably couple the lens to the substrate  110   a,  and the width of the substrate necessary to dispose the lens can be reduced to a width W 2  smaller than a width W 1  of the substrate  110  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0089]    As described above, the light source package  100  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the columnar supporting portions  135 , each having the inner side surface  136 , the outer side surface  137 , the first connection side surface  138 , and the second connection side surface  139 . Thus, it is possible to cause the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  to be incident on the supporting portion  135  at an angle that is perpendicular to the plane that is tangential to the surface of the supporting portion  135 . 
         [0090]    Therefore, in the light source package  100  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to minimize a phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  is refracted to travel along a distorted path. 
         [0091]    Next, a liquid crystal display device including a light source package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
         [0092]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a liquid crystal display device including the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 16 . 
         [0093]    As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the liquid crystal display device may include the light source package  100 , a liquid crystal panel  200 , a driving circuit unit  300 , a reflective sheet  400 , a plurality of optical sheets  500 , a bottom chassis  600 , a mold frame  700 , and a top chassis  800 . 
         [0094]    The light source package  100  is installed below the liquid crystal panel  200 , and provides light to the liquid crystal panel  200  to display an image on the liquid crystal panel  200 . Since the light source package  100  has been fully described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0095]    The liquid crystal panel  200  may include a color filter substrate  210  and a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate  220 . A liquid crystal layer (not shown) containing liquid crystal molecules is included between the color filter substrate  210  and the TFT substrate  220 . The arrangement of liquid crystal molecules may be controlled according to the application of a driving signal to display an image on the liquid crystal panel. 
         [0096]    The driving circuit unit  300  is connected to one side of the liquid crystal panel  200  to apply a driving signal to the liquid crystal panel  200 . The driving circuit unit  300  may include a printed circuit board  310  that receives and provides an external data signal and a power supply signal, and a flexible printed circuit board  320  that connects between the printed circuit board  310  and the liquid crystal panel  200 . A control IC  311  may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board  320 . 
         [0097]    The reflective sheet  400  is formed on the bottom chassis  600  to surround the light source  120  of the light source package  100 . The reflective sheet  400  reflects the light emitted from the light source  120  toward the liquid crystal panel  200 . In this case, the supporting portions  135  of the lens  130  may minimize the phenomenon in which the light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  is refracted and the amount of light incident on the reflective sheet  400  is thereby reduced. 
         [0098]    The plurality of optical sheets  500  may include a diffusion sheet  510 , a polarization sheet  520 , and a luminance enhancing sheet  530 . The diffusion sheet  510  orients the light emitted from the light source package  100  toward the front surface of the liquid crystal panel  200 , and diffuses the light to have a uniform distribution in a wide range to illuminate the liquid crystal panel  200 . The polarization sheet  520  serves to change the light incident obliquely, as a part of the light incident on the polarization sheet  520 , to be emitted perpendicularly. For example, at least one polarization sheet  520  may be disposed below the liquid crystal panel  200  in order to convert the light from the diffusion sheet  510  into a light of a particular polarization. The luminance enhancing sheet  530  transmits light parallel to a transmission axis and reflects light perpendicular to the transmission axis. Although not shown, a light guide plate may be further disposed below the plurality of optical sheets  500  to guide light from the light source package  100  toward the liquid crystal panel  200 . 
         [0099]    The bottom chassis  600  accommodates the light source package  100 , the reflective sheet  400 , and the optical sheets  500 . The mold frame  700  fixedly supports the light source package  100 , the reflective sheet  400 , and the optical sheets  500 . The top chassis  800  prevents the liquid crystal panel  200  from being separated. 
         [0100]    As described above, the liquid crystal display device includes the light source package  100  including the columnar supporting portions  135 , each having the inner side surface  136  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), the outer side surface  137  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), the first connection side surface  138  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), and the second connection side surface  139  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ). Thus, it is possible to minimize the reduction in the amount of light emitted from the side surface of the light source  120  when the light is incident on the reflective sheet  400 . 
         [0101]    Therefore, the liquid crystal display device can minimize the phenomenon in which the amount of light incident on the reflective sheet  400  from the side surface of the light source  120  decreases, thereby causing the amount of light provided to the liquid crystal panel  200  to be reduced. Accordingly, the reduction in the luminance of the liquid crystal display device can be minimized 
         [0102]    Next, the results of a simulation for demonstrating an effect of minimizing a reduction in the amount of light incident on the reflective sheet  400  from the side surface of the light source  120  in the light source package  100  will be described. 
         [0103]      FIG. 18  is a spectrum showing the amount of light reaching a reflective sheet from side surfaces of a light source in a light source package according to another example.  FIG. 19  is a spectrum showing the amount of light reaching the reflective sheet from the side surfaces of the light source in the light source package according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0104]    The light source package according to the example of  FIG. 18  has a structure including a lens having cylindrical supporting portions. In this case, it can be seen that the amount of light is reduced in some portions LQ 1 , LQ 2 , and LQ 3  of  FIG. 18 . On the other hand, the light source package  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ) according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has a structure including the lens  130  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ) having the columnar supporting portions  135  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ), each having the inner side surface  136  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ), the outer side surface  137  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ), the first connection side surface  138  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ) and the second connection side surface  139  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ). In this case, it can be seen that a reduction in the amount of light in portions LQ 11 , LQ 12 , and LQ 13  of  FIG. 19  corresponding to the portions LQ 1 , LQ 2 , and LQ 3  of  FIG. 18  is smaller than that in the portions LQ 1 , LQ 2 , and LQ 3  of  FIG. 18 . 
         [0105]    In concluding the detailed description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without substantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6