Abstract:
An impact-resistant structure for a light source of a flat panel display device is disclosed. The impact-resistant structure for protecting a light source mainly includes a reflector having an accommodating space and at least a protrusion located at the two ends of the reflector. The two protrusions can effectively absorb or buffer off the impact caused from the movement of a light guide plate without blocking light from the light source. A similar protective structure of a light cover having stoppers and an accommodating space for locating reflector is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a backlight module and more particularly, to a light source protective structure of a backlight module for flat panel display to protect the light source and resist impact from a light guide plate.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     A Liquid Crystal display (LCD) is a sort of display panel, which can&#39;t be provided with spontaneous glowing, and must be applied with an additional light source to achieve the designed display function. Therefore, the backlight module comprises light source is one of the key component on LCD.  
         [0005]     Further, a delicate electronic apparatus must pass a standard test before they are available in the market, assuring the approval quality of the products in order to protect consumers. The manufacturers of backlight modules execute strict quality control and service system to make sure the quality of their products. Most manufacturers are trying to apply for high standard in order to obtain the acceptance of customer from the competitive market, for example, to execute the reliability test on their products.  
         [0006]     To take reference with  FIG. 1  of an exploded view, and  FIG. 2  of sectional view of said backlight module in prior art. Wherein the backlight module  9  comprises a bottom shell  91 , a light guide plate  92 , a lens  93 , and a diffuser  94 , those apparatuses above are arranged in order. The backlight module  9  further comprises a reflector  95  and a lamp cover  96  arranged at lateral side  911  of bottom shell  91 . Reflector  95  further comprises a light source  97 , which is a lamp.  
         [0007]     During the reliability test of said backlight module  9 , the backlight module  9  is arranged to suffer an impact in the direction of a predetermined angle, for example, Y-direction, and at the same time the backlight module  9  is also examined for checking the broken status in predetermined spot. In the meantime, light guide plate  92  of backlight module  9  will occur a sliding motion, therefore, light guide plate  92  may strike light source  97 . As a result of causing damage on light source  97  and further affect the luminance of backlight module  9 .  
         [0008]     In order to avoid light source  97  to be hit by light guide plate  92 , the two ends of reflector  95  is bended downward to form with a bending strip  951 , The strips extend and locate at the non-luminous electrode portions  971  and these two protrusions can buffer off the impact caused from the movement of lighting guide  92  without shielding the light source  97 .  
         [0009]     However, reflector  95  is usually made of a thin metal sheet member, the two bending strips  951  are insufficient to stop the light guide plate  92  from displacement during the impact. The formation of the two bending strips  951  will cause a concentration of stress, thereby affecting the strength of the reflector  95 . Further, the light of the light source  97  will be diffused through the cut area of the reflector  95 , thereby resulting in an optical abnormality.  
         [0010]     Further, bending the reflector  95  for forming the two bending strips  951  produces rough edges, and the procedure is also complicated for practicing.  
         [0011]     Except the aforesaid method, there is also a known method as taping the light guide plate to prevent displacement of the light guide plate relative to the light source. However, the adhesive tape is insufficient to handle the so-called reliability tests.  
         [0012]     More addition to a known method, which the two ends of the reflector are properly cut into two cavities. The bottom shell can be used for stopping the displacement of light guide plate. According to this method, the shape of the light guide plate must be specially designed. Further, it also tends to cause an optical abnormality.  
         [0013]     Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved method to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     A light source protective structure of a backlight module of the present invention includes: a reflector, and said reflector further comprises an accommodating space, an opening, and at least one protrusion; wherein said light source is accommodated inside the accommodating space and radiated to a opening, said light guide plate is adjacent to said opening, said at least one protrusion is adjacent to said opening and protrudes toward said accommodating spaceto prohibit displacement of said light guide plate toward said light source upon shock of said backlight module.  
         [0015]     The light source mentioned above is preferred to be a lamp having non-luminous electrode portions at two distal ends thereof; said at least one protrusion of said reflector is disposed corresponding to said non-luminous electrode portions of said light source. The at least one protrusion of said reflector can be formed through any conventional method. Preferably, the at least one protrusion of said reflector is formed of a part of said reflector by stamping and has either an oval, round or square shape. The reflector of said reflector can be formed in any form. Preferably, the reflector is formed of a reflective sheet member. More preferably, the reflective sheet member is an aluminum sheet. In addition, the backlight module can further comprise a lens and a diffuser arranged in a stack over the light guide plate, and the backlight module is also provided with glasses in order.  
         [0016]     Another light source protective structure of a backlight module of the present invention comprises a lamp cover, and a reflector. The backlight module here comprises a light source and a light guide plate. The lamp cover is placed round said light source and has at least one lug formed on said lamp cover. The reflector is mounted in said lamp cover and has a accommodating space and an opening;  
         [0017]     On the other hand, the light source is accommodated inside said accommodating space and radiated to said opening, said light guide plate is adjacent to said opening, said lug protruding between said light source and said light guide plate, and adapted to prohibit displacement of said light guide plate toward said light source upon shock of said backlight module.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the reflector is also provided with at least one through hole and the at least one lug of said lamp cover is inserted through said through hole of said reflector into said accommodating space between said light source and said light guide plate. Moreover, the reflector can selectively further comprise an extension board overlapped on said lamp cover; said through hole of said reflector is formed in said extension board. In addition, the lamp cover preferably has a semicircular, triangular, square, trapezoid or any other shape. The lug of said lamp cover has a cross section of any conventional shape. Preferably, the at least one lug of said lamp cover has an angled cross section in either L-shaped, oblique semicircular, triangular or any other shaped. The reflector mentioned above can be formed of any form. Preferably, the reflector mentioned above is formed of a reflective sheet member. More preferably, reflective sheet member is an aluminum sheet.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, the backlight module is preferred to be a module further comprising a lens and a diffuser arranged in a stack over said light guide plate and the backlight module is also provided with glasses in order.  
         [0020]     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a backlight module according to the prior art.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the light source protective structure of the backlight module according to the prior art.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a backlight module with a light source protective structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a sectional assembly view of a part of the light source protective structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a part of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a part of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a light source protective structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a sectional assembly view of a part of the light source protective structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a part of a light source protective structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of a part of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a part of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of a part of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view in section of a part of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged view in section of a part of a tenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view in section of a part of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0038]     Referring to FIGS.  3 ˜ 5 , a backlight module  1  is shown comprising a bottom shell  11 , a light guide plate  12 , a reflector  13 , a light source  14 , a lens  15 , and a diffuser  16 . The light guide plate  12 , the lens  15  and the diffuser  16  are arranged in a stack over the top of the bottom shell  11 . The reflector  13  is located at one lateral side of the bottom shell  11 . The backlight module  1  is further mounted with glasses and other devices (not shown).  
         [0039]     The reflector  13  surrounds an accommodating space  131  and an opening  132 . The opening  132  faces downward to the bottom shell  11 . According to this embodiment, the reflector  13  is formed by bending an aluminum reflecting sheet member. The light source  14  is mounted in the accommodating space  131 , having non-luminous electrode portions  141  at two distal ends thereof for connection to power source. According to this embodiment, the light source  14  is a lamp.  
         [0040]     Further, the light guide plate  12  is set adjacent to the opening  132  of the reflector  13  and the light source  14  in the accommodating space  131 . The reflector  13  further has two protrusions  133  respectively disposed at two ends of a longitudinal axis thereof. According to this embodiment, the protrusions  133  are respectively formed of a part of the body of the reflector  13  by stamping, having an oval shape. These two protrusions  133  are disposed adjacent to the opening  132  corresponding to the non-luminous electrode portions  141  at the two ends of the light source  14  and respectively projecting into the accommodating space  131  of the reflector  13 .  
         [0041]     As stated above, the two protrusions  133  are respectively projecting into the accommodating space  131  corresponding to the non-luminous electrode portions  141  at the two ends of the light source  14 , therefore, the protrusions  133  do not block the light of the light source  14 , i.e., the radiation function of the light source  14  works well, maintaining the luminance of the backlight module  1 . Further, during the so-called reliability test, i.e., impact test of the backlight module  1 , the two protrusions  133  of the reflector  13  effectively prohibit displacement of the light guide plate  12 , preventing impact of the light guide plate  12  against the light source  14 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a part of the second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each protrusion  134  has a circular shape.  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a part of the second embodiment of present invention. According to this embodiment, each protrusion  134  has a rectangular shape. As indicated, the protrusions of the reflector can be made having any of a variety of shapes.  
         [0043]     FIGS.  8 ˜ 10  show a backlight module  2  constructed according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the backlight module  2  comprises a bottom shell  21 , a light guide plate  22 , a reflector  23 , a light source  24 , lamp cover  25 , a lens  26 , and a diffuser  27 . The light guide plate  22 , the lens  26  and the diffuser  27  are arranged in a stack over the top side of the bottom shell  21 . The lamp cover  25  is provided at one lateral side  211  of the bottom shell  21 . The backlight module  2  is further mounted with a glass and other devices (not shown).  
         [0044]     Further, the reflector  23  is mounted on the lamp cover  25 , defining an accommodating space  231  and an opening  232 . The opening  232  faces the bottom shell  21 . According to this embodiment, bending an aluminum reflecting sheet member into shape makes the reflector  23 . The reflector  23  has an extension board  234  overlapped on the lamp cover  25 . The extension board  234  has two through holes  233  bilaterally disposed adjacent to the opening  232 .  
         [0045]     Further, the light source  24  is mounted in the accommodating space  231 , having non-luminous electrode portions  241  at the two distal ends thereof for connection to power source. According to this embodiment, the light source  24  is a lamp. The light guide plate  22  is set adjacent to the opening  232  of the reflector  23  and the light source  24  in the accommodating space  231 .  
         [0046]     It should be noted that the lamp cover  25  has two upward lugs  251  respectively inserted through the through holes  233  of the extension board  234  and protruding in between the opening  232  of the reflector  23  and the light guide plate  22  corresponding to the non-luminous electrode portions  241  at the two ends of the light source  24 . According to this embodiment, the cross section of lugs  251  are L-shaped angled lugs and provided with semicircular shape.  
         [0047]     As indicated above, the two upward lugs  251  of the lamp cover  25  are respectively inserted through the through holes  233  of the extension board  234  and protruding in between the opening  232  of the reflector  23  and the light guide plate  22  corresponding to the non-luminous electrode portions  241  at the two ends of the light source  24 , they do not block the light of the light source  24 , i.e., the luminance of the backlight module  2  is well maintained. Further, during the so-called reliability test, i.e., impact test of the backlight module  2 , the two upward lugs  251  of the lamp cover  25  effectively prohibit displacement of the light guide plate  22 , preventing impact of the light guide plate  22  against the light source  24 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a part of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each lug  252  has a triangular shape.  FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of a part of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each lug  253  has a rectangular shape.  FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a part of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each lug  254  has a semi-oval shape.  FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of a part of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each lug  255  has a stepped shape. As indicated, the protrusions of the reflector can be made having any of a variety of shapes.  
         [0049]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view in section of a part of a ninth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the vertical cross section of each lug  256  extends obliquely upwards.  FIG. 16  is an enlarged view in section of a part of a tenth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the vertical cross section of each lug  257  curves smoothly upwards, showing a semicircular configuration.  FIG. 17  is an enlarged view in section of a part of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the cross section of each lug  258  extends obliquely upwards and then vertically upwards, showing a triangular configuration.  
         [0050]     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.