Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device is provided. The LCD device includes a top case, an inverter and a bracket. The top case surrounds a periphery of a liquid crystal display panel which displays a picture. The inverter supplies a high voltage AC power to a lamp which projects a light to the liquid crystal display panel. The bracket fastens to the top case and includes at least two fastening parts for insertion of opposite ends of the inverter, thereby reducing fabrication times for devices implementing the present invention and improving productivity.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2003-65166 filed on Sep. 19, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, and more particularly, to a bracket for an LCD device and to a method of assembling a LCD device having the bracket.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) are typically used in measuring instruments, and monitors, such as televisions. However, the weight and size of CRTs do not make them practical for small, light weight devices.  
         [0006]     Therefore, LCD displays having an electro-optical effect applied thereto, Plasma Display Panels (PDP) having a gas discharge applied thereto, and Electro Luminescence Displays (ELD) having an electro luminescence applied thereto have been developed to address the shortcomings of CRTs.  
         [0007]     Of the aforementioned displays, LCDs are the most widely used due to their good visibility, low average power consumption, and low heat generation compared to a same sized CRT.  
         [0008]     However, as the LCD is a non-emissive type display device which does not emit light, a separate external light source is required. In some instances, an ambient natural light may be used. However, the environment in which the LCD operates may impose many limitations on the device, thereby making the use of ambient light impractical. Accordingly, an independent light source is provided.  
         [0009]     Typically, this type of independent light source is called back light unit. Commonly, the back light unit employs an Electro Luminescence (EL) device, Light Emitting Diode (LED), Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL), or the like as the light source.  
         [0010]     However, a voltage higher than  2000 V is required for driving a CCFL. Thus, a device employing a CCFL requires an inverter for converting a DC voltage and boosting the voltage enough to drive the CCFL.  
         [0011]     A related art LCD and a bracket thereof will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a perspective view of a related art LCD.  
         [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a related art LCD is provided with a liquid crystal display panel  10 , a top case  70  on the liquid crystal display panel  10 , and a back light assembly under the liquid crystal display panel  10 . The back light assembly projects light through a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel  10 .  
         [0013]     The liquid crystal display panel  10  has liquid crystals injected between a pair of substrates for displaying a picture. The top case  70  encloses the liquid crystal display panel  10  and the back light assembly.  
         [0014]     The back light assembly includes a support frame  30 , a bottom cover  40 , and a lamp  60  for projecting light through the back of the liquid crystal display panel  10 .  
         [0015]     The support frame  30 , which is located at the under side of the liquid crystal panel  10 , has a space for receiving and holding the liquid crystal panel  10  and the lamp  60 . The bottom cover  40 , located at the bottom of the support frame  30 , protects the lamp  60  and prevents light leakage. In general, the support frame  30  is formed of plastic, and the bottom cover  40  is formed of a metal with a thermal conductivity better than plastic, such as aluminum.  
         [0016]     In addition, the LCD in  FIG. 1  has a light guide plate  52  at a side of the lamp  60  for providing uniform light illumination of the liquid crystal display panel  10 .  
         [0017]     The back light assembly will now be described.  
         [0018]     The light guide plate  52  at the side of the lamp  60  directs light from the lamp  60  toward the LCD display panel  10  uniformly. A reflective plate  50  under the light guide plate  52  reflects light leaking in a direction opposite to the liquid crystal display panel  10  toward the light guide plate  52 .  
         [0019]     Optical sheets  54 , such as a diffuser sheet, a prism sheet, and a protection sheet are disposed on the light guide plate  52  in succession. The diffuser sheet diffuses light from the light guide plate  52  thereby uniformly diffusing light. The prism sheet converges the light diffused at the diffuser sheet. The protection sheet protects the prism sheet, and uniformly diffuses any incident light.  
         [0020]     In general, one lamp  60  is needed with a small sized liquid crystal display device at the side of the light guide plate  52 . However, larger liquid crystal display devices require at least two lamps  60  mounted at the side of the light guide plate for adequate luminance.  
         [0021]     Furthermore, the top case  70  also includes a bracket  80  for fastening an inverter  90  thereto that supplies power to the lamp  60 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a related art bracket.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the related art bracket  80  includes a fourth plate  81  having screw holes  81   a  formed therein, and first and fifth plates  82  and  83 . The fourth and fifth plates  81 ,  83  extend in the same direction from opposite edges of the first plate  82 .  
         [0024]     A width of the ends of the fourth plate  81  are smaller than a width of a middle portion of the fourth plate  81 . The fourth plate  81  also has a plurality of screw holes  81   a  that facilitate fastening with the top case  70 .  
         [0025]     The first plate  82  is bent perpendicular relative to the fourth plate  81  from the middle section of the fourth plate  81 . Additionally, the fifth plate  83  is bent perpendicular relative to the first plate  82  from a middle section of the first plate  82  such that the fourth plate  81  and the fifth plate  83  are parallel to each other.  
         [0026]     In addition, the fourth plate  81  has a fastening part comprising a second plate  84  which extends from one end of the fourth plate  81 . In addition, the fourth plate  81  includes a step  81   b  formed thereon. A width of the fourth plate  81  where the fastening part is formed thereon is smaller than a width of the plate where the step  81   b  is formed. The step  81   b,  which positions the inverter  90 , together with the bracket  80  and the inverter  90 , will be described in more detail below.  
         [0027]     The fastening part comprising the second plate  84  extends from the fourth plate  81  to a height which is lower than the height at which the first plate  82  extends from the fourth plate  81 . In addition, one end  84   b  of the second plate  84  is bent at a right angle in a direction of the first plate  82  thereby creating a ‘         ’ form.  
         [0028]     The second plate  84  of the fastening part also has a fastening hole  84   a  for fastening a screw (not shown). The screw allows for rigid fastening of the inverter  90  to the top case  70 . The first plate  82  includes two face tape  85  on an outside surface of the first plate  82  that also fastens the inverter  90 .  
         [0029]     A process for fastening the inverter  90  to the related art bracket  80  will now be described.  
         [0030]     After inserting the inverter  90  between the fastening part comprising the second plate  84  and the first plate  82  with the inverter  90  slanted, the inverter  90  is pushed to where the step  81   b  is formed. When an end of the inverter  90  is positioned at the step  81   b,  a middle section of the inverter  90  is seated on the first plate  82 . In this instance, a cover paper covering the two face tape  85  adhered to the first plate  82  is peeled off, such that the inverter  90  attaches to the first plate  82  with the two face tape  85 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the inverter  90  fastened to a related art bracket  80 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , once the inverter  90  fastens with the first plate  82  and the two face tape  85 , the plates  81 ,  82 , and  83 , surround upper and lower ends of the inverter  90 , thereby securely holding the inverter  90 .  
         [0033]     A screw is then inserted in the fastening hole  84   a  in the second plate  84  of the fastening part, thereby fastening the inverter  90  with the bracket  80 .  
         [0034]     However, the related art bracket has the following problems.  
         [0035]     First, the use of two face tape for fastening the inverter to the bracket requires the cumbersome task of peeling the cover of the two face tape in order to attach the inverter with the bracket.  
         [0036]     Second, the attachment of the inverter to the bracket with the two face tape makes detachment of the inverter for inspection and the like inconvenient, and is liable to damage the inverter during detachment.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display device and a method of assembling said device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0038]     An advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device in which an inverter may be fastened to a bracket without two face tape, thereby improving workability and productivity, and providing a method of assembling such an LCD device.  
         [0039]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0040]     To achieve these advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a liquid crystal display device includes a top case for surrounding a periphery of a liquid crystal display panel, an inverter for supplying a high voltage AC power to a lamp, and a bracket for fastening the inverter to the top case, wherein the bracket has at least two fastening parts for fastening the inverter.  
         [0041]     The bracket has fastening parts for inserting opposite ends of the inverter, respectively.  
         [0042]     According to an embodiment of the invention, the bracket comprises a first plate, a second plate of a first fastening part below or lower than a first end of said first plate, and a third plate of a second fastening part below or lower than a second end of said first plate opposite said first end, wherein all plates are in parallel.  
         [0043]     According to another embodiment, a gap between the first plate and the second plate along the direction from the third plate to the second plate is provided to facilitate the insertion of the inverter into the first fastening part. To this end, the second plate also has a ramp on a side nearest the third plate. This ramp faces the first plate.  
         [0044]     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the third plate may be formed by bending the second end of the first plate, thereby facilitating production of the second fastening part. The inverter comprises an elongated rectangular thin plate having a length such that both ends thereof are simultaneously positioned on said second plate and said third plate. Moreover, the rectangular plate may have a width which corresponds to a distance between the fourth plate and the fifth plate in order to precisely position the inverter on the bracket.  
         [0045]     A method for assembling a liquid crystal display device having an inverter comprises the following: inserting one end of the inverter plate into a gap from below the first plate while keeping the inverter plate at an acute angle to the first plate; moving the inverter plate against the lower surface of the first plate; and shifting the inverter plate toward the third plate such that the other end of said inverter plate is positioned between the third plate and the first plate. The inverter plate may then be fixed by a screw inserted into the screw hole of the second plate.  
         [0046]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0047]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.  
         [0048]     In the drawings;  
         [0049]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a related art LCD.  
         [0050]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a related art bracket.  
         [0051]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an inverter fastened to a related art bracket.  
         [0052]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a bracket for a liquid crystal display device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate perspective views of an inverter fastened to a bracket. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0054]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a bracket  180  for a liquid crystal display device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the bracket  180  includes two fastening parts for inserting and holding opposite ends of an inverter  190  (see  FIG. 5 ), and is fastened to a top case  70  of an LCD device. In an embodiment of the present invention, the inverter  190  may be a plate-like inverter, an inverter plate, or the like. The first fastening part comprises a second plate  184  and the second fastening part comprises a third plate  185 .  
         [0056]     More specifically, the bracket  180  includes a first plate  182  disposed next to the second plate  184  and the third plate  185 . The bracket  180  also has a fourth plate  181  extending beyond both ends of the first plate  182  with screw holes  181  a and a fifth plate  183 .  
         [0057]     Opposite ends of the fourth plate  181  have a width smaller than a width of a middle section of the fourth plate. Also, the plurality of screw holes  181  a fasten the bracket  180  to the top case  70 . The first plate  182  extends perpendicularly from a middle section of the fourth plate  181 . The fifth plate  183  bends perpendicularly from the first plate  182  and extends in the same direction as the fourth plate  181 .  
         [0058]     1. Additionally, the fourth plate  181  includes a first fastening part comprising the second plate  184  extending from one end of the fourth plate  181 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , the second plate  184  is spaced apart from the first plate  182 . Moreover, the second plate  184  comprises an end  184   b  which extends toward the first plate  182 . The end  184   b  is bent to have a ‘         ’ form, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0059]     The height of the second plate  184  is less than the height of the first plate  182 , as may be seen in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0060]     Furthermore, a section of the fourth plate  181  where the first fastening part having the second plate  184  is located has a step  181   b.  Here, the second plate  184  extends from the fourth plate  181  in a cut-out as shown in  FIG. 4  in order to create the step  181   b  in the fourth plate  181 . In addition, the first fastening part has a fastening hole  184   a  in the second plate  184  for fastening a screw (not shown). The fastening hole  184   a  allows for rigid fastening of the inverter  190 .  
         [0061]     The first plate  182  has a second fastening part comprising the third plate  185  at one end thereof. The second fastening part surrounds and holds an end of the inverter  190 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , the second fastening part extends from the first plate  182  to form a ‘         ’ shape.  
         [0062]     In addition, a gap  186  is disposed between the second plate  184  of the first fastening part and the first plate  182 . The gap  186  facilitates insertion of the inverter  190  into the bracket  180 . The gap  186  allows for insertion of the inverter  190  into the ‘         ’ form of the second fastening part, which will be described in detail in the following description of the fastening process of the inverter  190  with the bracket  180 .  
         [0063]     Initially, the inverter  190  is slanted and inserted between the first fastening part comprising the second plate  184  and the first plate  182 . The inverter  190  is then moved until the inverter  190  reaches a section where the step  181   b  is formed, as shown in  FIG. 5 . If an end of the inverter  190  is positioned at the step  181   b,  a middle of the inverter  190  is seated on the first plate  182 . Here, if there is no gap  186 , the inverter  190  interferes with the third plate  185  and does not contact the first plate  182 .  
         [0064]     If a gap is not formed and a length between the first fastening part and the second fastening part comprising the third plate  185  equals the length of the inverter  190 , the inverter  190  may interfere with a lower surface of the second fastening part during seating on the first plate  182 , thus failing to make close contact with the second plate  184 .  
         [0065]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate perspective views of fastening the inverter to the bracket  180 . As may be seen, the inverter  190  is inserted in the bracket  180  and initially contacts a side of the bracket  180  where the step  181  a is located, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0066]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the inverter  190  moves toward the second fastening part, a right end of the inverter  190  inserts into the second fastening part. In addition, a left end of the inverter  190  becomes positioned opposite the fastening hole  184   a  of the first fastening part comprising the second plate  184 . The right end of the inverter thus becomes positioned on the third plate  185 .  
         [0067]     Accordingly, the left end of the inverter  190  fastens to the first fastening part, and the right end inserts into the second fastening part such that the second fastening part holds the inverter  190 . The inverter  190  comprises an elongated rectangular, thin inverter plate having a width corresponding to the distance between the fourth plate  181  and the fifth plate  183 . The length of the inverter plate is selected such that both ends may be positioned simultaneously on the second plate  184  and the third plate  185 . The thickness of the inverter plate corresponds (equals) to the distance between the first plate  182  and the second plate  184 . Alternatively, the thickness may correspond to the distance between the first plate  182  and the third plate  185 , respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the first plate  182 .  
         [0068]     The inverter plate carries on its surface, which faces away from the first plate  182 , circuit elements or other devices used for operating the LCD device.  
         [0069]     As has been described, a bracket for an LCD of the present invention has the following advantages.  
         [0070]     Because the present invention does not use two face tape to fasten the inverter, the present invention obviates the need to attach two face tape and peel off cover paper, as previously discussed. Accordingly, fabrication times associated with the present invention are shortened, thereby improving productivity. Additionally, the absence of two face tape reduces material costs.  
         [0071]     In addition, the present invention simplifies attachment and detachment of the inverter as this process simply involves the removal of a screw in order to detach the inverter from the bracket for inspection or the like.