Patent Description:
In general, a display apparatus is a device for displaying an image, such as a monitor or a television. A self-light emitting display panel, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or a light-receiving/emitting display panel, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, is used in a display apparatus.

The present disclosure relates to a display module and display apparatus to which a light-receiving/emitting display panel is applied. The display apparatus to which a light-receiving/emitting display panel is applied includes a display panel consisting of a liquid crystal panel and displaying an image, and a backlight unit supplying light to the display panel, and the backlight unit includes a light source module having a light source package, a light guide panel receiving light from the light source package and emitting the light to the display panel, and a plurality of optical sheets through which light passed through the light guide plate passes. The optical sheet may be composed of a reflective sheet, a light guide plate or a diffusion sheet and a prism sheet, a diffusion sheet, a polarizing sheet, and the like.

As described above, light generated from the light source package directs to the display panel through the light guide plate. A lot of heat is generated in the light source package by the light generated from light sources. The generated heat affects the light source package, such as shape deformation of some components. Deformation or damage of the light source package may reduce light source efficiency and life time of the light source package.

<CIT> relates to a display device including a light emitting diode package having a light guide panel and a wavelength converting member to convert a wavelength of light output from a light emitting diode; <CIT> relates to a light emitting device including a first covering member surrounding a side surface of a light transmissive member and a second covering member covering the first covering member; <CIT> relates to a light emitting device including a light diffuser that is provided between a light emitting element and a wavelength conversion unit.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a display apparatus with improved heat resistance.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a display apparatus with improved light efficiency.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a display apparatus with improved color reproducibility.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a display apparatus as defined in claim <NUM>. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a light guide plate disposed in the rear of the display panel, and at least one light source package disposed on one side of the light guide plate to supply light, wherein the light source package includes a light source generating light, a package housing disposed to be spaced apart from a circumference of the light source, an encapsulation member disposed between the light source and the package housing and having an accommodation space on one side thereof, and a cover glass disposed in the accommodation space to face a light exit surface of the light source and configured to be equal to or larger than an area of the light exit surface.

The cover glass may cover the light exit surface to allow light emitted from the light exit surface to be transmitted.

The light source package further includes an expansion encapsulation member disposed in the accommodation space and formed in an outward direction thereof from a circumference of the cover glass.

The cover glass may be formed of a material having greater heat resistance than the encapsulation member and the expansion encapsulation member.

The expansion encapsulation member may be configured to cover the light source and the encapsulation member together with the cover glass.

The light source package may further include an adhesive member disposed between the cover glass and the light source such that the cover glass and the light source are to be in contact with each other.

The adhesive member and the expansion encapsulation member may be formed of the same material.

One surface of the cover glass may be connected to the light source by the adhesive member, and the circumference of the cover glass may be connected to the package housing by the expansion encapsulation member.

The cover glass may be configured such that the other surface opposite to the one surface facing the light exit surface faces one side of the light guide plate.

The cover glass may be formed smaller than a width of the package housing.

The encapsulation member includes a partition surface partitioning the accommodation space, and the partition surface is configured to be inclined to be closer to the light guide plate as the partition surface is further away from the light source so that totally reflected light toward the partition surface in light emitted from the light source is reflected back toward the light guide plate.

The cover glass may be formed of a heat-resistant glass material.

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

The embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Like reference numbers or signs in the various drawings of the application represent parts or components that perform substantially the same functions.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to restrict and/or to limit the present disclosure. For example, the singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the terms "comprises" and "has" are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. The term "and/or" includes any combination of a plurality of related items or any one of a plurality of related items.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure illustrates a flat display apparatus <NUM> as an example, but may be implemented as a curved display apparatus including a screen having a fixed curvature and a variable display apparatus capable of changing the curvature of a screen as well as the flat display apparatus <NUM>, and it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The display apparatus <NUM> includes a display module therein to display an image. The display apparatus <NUM> may include a support <NUM> for supporting the display module on a bottom surface. The present embodiment illustrates that the display apparatus <NUM> of a stand type is supported on the bottom surface by the support <NUM>, but is not limited thereto. As an example, the present embodiment may be applied to the display apparatus <NUM> of a wall-mounted type to be mounted on a wall surface.

The display module includes a display panel <NUM> on which an image is displayed, and a backlight unit <NUM> configured to supply light to the display panel <NUM>. The backlight unit <NUM> may be configured to transmit light in a surface direction to the display panel <NUM>. The backlight unit <NUM> includes a light source module <NUM>, a light guide plate <NUM>, and optionally an optical sheet <NUM>. That is the backlight unit <NUM> may include the light source module <NUM> disposed in the rear of the display panel <NUM>, the light guide panel <NUM> disposed in a space between the display panel <NUM> and the light source module <NUM> such that light supplied from the light source module <NUM> is diffused and transmitted to the display panel <NUM> positioned at a front side thereof, and the optical sheet <NUM> disposed between the display panel <NUM> and the light source module <NUM> to change optical properties. The display apparatus <NUM> may include a middle mold <NUM> configured to support the display panel <NUM>, and a display chassis <NUM> forming an outer appearance. The display chassis <NUM> includes a top chassis <NUM> coupled to a front side of the middle mold <NUM> to maintain a state in which the display panel <NUM> is installed on the middle mold <NUM>, and a bottom chassis <NUM> coupled to a rear side of the middle mold <NUM> and in which the light source module <NUM> is disposed on inner opposite sides thereof.

The light source module <NUM> may be disposed in the front of the bottom chassis <NUM> to emit light toward the display panel <NUM>. The light source module <NUM> may include a light emitting device emitting blue light. The blue light may be converted into at least one of red light, green light, and blue light by a light conversion material, which will be described later. The present disclosure describes an embodiment applied to an edge display manner, but is not limited thereto and may be applied to a direct display manner.

The display panel <NUM> and the top chassis <NUM> are sequentially installed on the front side of the middle mold <NUM>, and the bottom chassis <NUM> is installed on the rear side of the middle mold <NUM>, so that the respective components are not only supported by the middle mold <NUM>, but also the display panel <NUM> and the bottom chassis <NUM> are maintained in a state of being spaced apart from each other.

The top chassis <NUM> includes a bezel portion <NUM> covering a front outer edge of the display panel <NUM>, and a top side portion <NUM> bent backward from an end of the bezel portion <NUM> to cover a side surface of the middle mold <NUM>.

The bottom chassis <NUM> includes a rear side portion <NUM> forming a rear surface of the display module, and a bottom side portion <NUM> extending forward from an edge of the rear side portion <NUM> and coupled to the inside of the middle mold <NUM>. The bottom chassis <NUM> is formed in a high strength polygonal plate shape and may include a metal material (for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy, etc.) with less thermal deformation due to heat generated by a light source <NUM> received therein and/or the display panel <NUM>. The bottom chassis <NUM> may be formed of plastic (for example, polycarbonate (PC)) or plastic material to which glass fiber is added.

A reflective sheet <NUM> reflects light emitted from the light source module <NUM> toward the display panel <NUM>, or reflects light reflected back by the optical sheet <NUM> or the display panel <NUM> toward the display panel <NUM> again. The reflective sheet <NUM> is disposed on a front surface of a printed circuit board <NUM> and reflects leaked light in a display panel <NUM> direction to improve light efficiency. The reflective sheet <NUM> may be disposed between the light guide plate <NUM> and the bottom chassis <NUM>. The reflective sheet <NUM> may be coated with a white or silver high-reflective coating agent (e.g., silver, TiO2). The reflective sheet <NUM> may include a reflective plate.

The optical sheet <NUM> may allow light emitted from the light source module <NUM> toward the display panel <NUM> to have a uniform luminance. Light of uniform luminance passed through the optical sheet <NUM> is incident on the display panel <NUM>. The optical sheet <NUM> may include a protective sheet, a prism sheet, or a diffuser sheet. The optical sheet may include at least one sheet.

A light conversion sheet <NUM> may be configured such that light passed through the light guide plate <NUM> is emitted through the light conversion sheet <NUM>. The light conversion sheet <NUM> may be disposed in close contact with the light guide plate <NUM> on a front surface of the light guide plate <NUM>. The light conversion sheet <NUM> is in close contact with the front surface of the light guide plate <NUM> such that light emitted from the light guide plate <NUM> passes therethrough.

Because the light of the LED reaches the light conversion sheet <NUM> through the light guide plate <NUM>, the light conversion sheet <NUM> has little influence of heat from the LED and may easily secure reliability.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a light source module of the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The light source module <NUM> includes a light source package <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>.

A plurality of the light source packages <NUM> may be mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM>. A size of the printed circuit board <NUM> may correspond to a vertical length of the display panel <NUM>. The present embodiment illustrates that the plurality of light source packages <NUM> are arranged to correspond to a vertical height of the display apparatus <NUM>, but the arrangement of the plurality of light source packages <NUM> is not limited thereto.

The plurality of light source packages <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other on the printed circuit board <NUM>.

The light source package <NUM> includes a package housing <NUM>. The light source <NUM> and a cover glass <NUM>, which will be described later, may be disposed inside the package housing <NUM>. The package housing <NUM> may be configured such that one side thereof is opened toward the light guide plate <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> may be disposed inside the package housing <NUM>. The package housing <NUM> may be disposed on the printed circuit board <NUM>. The package housing <NUM> may be disposed around the light source <NUM> to reflect light. A reflective layer reflecting light may be formed on an inner surface of the package housing <NUM>. The reflective layer may be formed to reflect light on an optical path of the light source <NUM>.

The package housing <NUM> may be formed by selecting one or more of epoxy resin composition, silicone resin composition, modified epoxy resin composition, modified silicone resin composition, polyimide resin composition, modified polyimide resin composition, polyphthalamide (PPA), polycarbonate resin, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), ABS resin, phenol resin, acrylic resin, PBT resin, a Bragg reflective layer, an air gap, a total reflection layer, a metal layer, and combinations thereof. Also, the package housing <NUM> may be formed by selecting one or more of EMC in which at least reflective material is included, white silicon in which reflective material is included, PSR (Photoimageable Solder Resist), and combinations thereof.

The light source package <NUM> includes the light source <NUM> generating light. The light source <NUM> may be disposed at the center of the light source package <NUM> and is disposed to be spaced apart from the package housing <NUM> by a predetermined distance. The light source <NUM> may include a light emitting device (LED). A plurality of the light sources <NUM> may be provided, and the plurality of light sources <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The light source <NUM> may include a blue light emitting device. The blue light emitted from the light source <NUM> may be converted into white light by the light conversion material, which will be described later.

As light generated from the light source <NUM> passes through a light conversion unit or a light conversion film, the properties of the light change. In detail, the light conversion unit or the light conversion film is configured to change the wavelength of light. The light conversion material may be configured together in the light source package <NUM> or may be disposed on the optical path in the form of a sheet. The present embodiment illustrates and explains that the light conversion sheet <NUM>, which is formed in a sheet shape as a light conversion material, is disposed on an exit surface of the light guide plate <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and it is sufficient as long as the light conversion material is disposed on an optical path through which light is emitted from the light source <NUM> and emitted to the outside of the display apparatus <NUM>.

The light conversion material may include a quantum dot (QD). Normally, when an electron receives energy, the electron in a valence band is excited to a conduction band. After that, the electron loses energy again and falls to the valence band, which has the property of emitting energy as light. The quantum dot generates strong fluorescence in a narrow wavelength band. Depending on a size of the quantum dot, all colors of visible light may be generated. Also, because the quantum dot itself generates natural color, it is a material that does not lose color and has high color reproducibility. The quantum dot generates light of a shorter wavelength as a particle thereof is smaller and generates light of a longer wavelength as the particle thereof is larger. The light conversion material may be a compound of quantum dot cadmium selenide (Cdse), cadmium sulfide (Cds), cadmium telluride (Cdte), zinc selenide (ZnSe), zinc tellenide (ZnTe), zinc sulfide (ZnS), and the like.

The light source package <NUM> includes the cover glass <NUM> disposed on one side of the light source <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> is is disposed to cover one side surface of the light source <NUM>. The light source <NUM> emits light through a light exit surface <NUM>, and the cover glass <NUM> is configured to cover the light exit surface <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may be provided to be larger than the light source <NUM>. In detail, a surface <NUM> of the cover glass <NUM> facing the light source <NUM> is formed to be equal to or larger than an area of the light exit surface <NUM> of the light source <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may have a width smaller than a width formed by the package housing <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may be formed such that one surface thereof faces one side of the light guide plate <NUM> and the other surface <NUM> thereof faces the light exit surface <NUM>.

In a process of emitting light from the light source <NUM>, heat is accumulated in the light source package <NUM> to increase a temperature therein. When the light source package <NUM> maintains a high temperature, the material or shape of components therein is deformed, resulting in poor durability.

The cover glass <NUM> is configured to cover the light exit surface <NUM> of the light source <NUM> to allow heat generated from the light exit surface to be transferred. Because the cover glass <NUM> is configured to have higher heat resistance than an encapsulation member <NUM> and/or an expansion encapsulation member <NUM>, the light source package <NUM> may improve durability compared to a case where the cover glass <NUM> is not adopted.

The light source package <NUM> includes the encapsulation member <NUM> disposed between the light source <NUM> and the package housing <NUM>. The encapsulation member <NUM> is disposed between the light source <NUM> and the package housing <NUM> to prevent damage to internal components by absorbing external impacts. The encapsulation member <NUM> may be formed of a permeable material. The encapsulation member <NUM> may be filled between the light source <NUM> and the package housing <NUM> in a fluid state and may be cured. The encapsulation member <NUM> forms an accommodation space <NUM> on one side thereof. In the accommodation space <NUM> formed by the encapsulation member <NUM>, the cover glass <NUM> and the expansion encapsulation member <NUM>, which will be described later, are disposed. The encapsulation member <NUM> includes a partition surface <NUM> partitioning the accommodation space <NUM> on one side surface thereof.

The partition surface <NUM> is inclined to be closer to the light guide plate <NUM> as it is further away from the light source <NUM>. That is, referring to <FIG>, the partition surface <NUM> is configured to be inclined toward an upper side as it is further away from the light source <NUM>. Through this configuration, light totally reflected toward the partition surface <NUM> in light emitted from the light source <NUM> is reflected back toward the light guide plate <NUM>.

The light source package <NUM> includes the expansion encapsulation member <NUM>.

The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is formed in a direction extending from a circumference of the cover glass <NUM>. The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is disposed in the accommodation space. The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is formed in an outward direction thereof from a circumference <NUM> of the cover glass <NUM>. The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may be disposed to connect the circumference <NUM> of the cover glass <NUM> and an inner side surface <NUM> of the package housing <NUM>. The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is disposed in the accommodation space <NUM> together with the cover glass <NUM> and may be in contact with the partition surface <NUM>. That is, the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may be configured to cover the light source <NUM> and the encapsulation member <NUM> together with the cover glass <NUM>.

Light totally reflected from the front surface of the cover glass <NUM> in light generated from the light source <NUM> may pass through the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> and be reflected by the partition surface <NUM>, and then proceed toward the light guide plate <NUM>. The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may be configured such that a light path through which light passes through the cover glass <NUM> is expanded.

The expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is configured together with the cover glass <NUM> such that light generated from the light source <NUM> may be transmitted and reflected, and then proceed toward the light guide plate <NUM>. To this end, the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may be formed of a light transmissive material. The material of the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> is not limited. As an example, the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may include a silicon material.

The light source package <NUM> may include an adhesive member <NUM>.

The adhesive member <NUM> may be disposed between the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM> to allow the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM> to be in contact with each other. As the adhesive member <NUM> is disposed between the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM>, the adhesive member <NUM> may maintain a stable shape without deformation of the shape even when hot heat is transferred by the light source <NUM>.

The adhesive member <NUM> and the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> may be formed of the same material. The adhesive member <NUM> may have a thickness of <NUM> or less. However, the material and thickness of the adhesive member <NUM> are not limited.

The adhesive member may improve adhesion by being in close contact with both the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM>. Also, the adhesive member may widen a surface area in contact between both the components, so that heat generated from the light source <NUM> may be easily transferred to the cover glass <NUM>. The adhesive member <NUM> may be formed of the same material as the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> described above.

The one surface <NUM> of the cover glass <NUM> may be connected to the light source <NUM> by the adhesive member <NUM>, the circumference <NUM> thereof may be connected to the package housing <NUM> by the expansion encapsulation member <NUM>. Through this arrangement, the light generated from the light source <NUM> may pass only the cover glass <NUM> (A in <FIG>) or pass through the cover glass <NUM> and the expansion encapsulation member <NUM> (B in <FIG>), and then proceed toward the light guide plate <NUM>. That is, all light generated by the light source <NUM> passes through the cover glass <NUM>. In this process, because the cover glass <NUM> is formed of a heat-resistant glass material that does not undergo material or shape deformation at a temperature below a certain temperature, even when hot heat is generated from the light source <NUM> by continuous use, malfunction of the light source package <NUM> may be prevented. That is, the durability of the light source package <NUM> may be improved.

Hereinafter, a display apparatus not according to the claimed invention will be described. Descriptions of components overlapping with those described above will be omitted.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a light source module of a display apparatus according to another example, outside the scope of the claims.

The light source module <NUM> may include a light source package <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>.

The light source package <NUM> may include a light source <NUM> generating light and a cover glass <NUM> disposed on one side of the light source <NUM>.

The cover glass <NUM> may be disposed to cover one side surface of the light source <NUM>. An adhesive member <NUM> may be disposed between the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM> to allow the cover glass <NUM> and the light source <NUM> to be in contact with each other.

The light source <NUM> emits light through a light exit surface <NUM>, and the cover glass <NUM> may be configured to cover the light exit surface <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may be provided to be larger than the light source <NUM>. In detail, a surface <NUM> of the cover glass <NUM> facing the light source <NUM> may be formed to be equal to or larger than an area of the light exit surface <NUM> of the light source <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may have a width smaller than a width formed by a package housing <NUM>. The cover glass <NUM> may be formed such that one surface thereof faces one side of the light guide plate <NUM> and the other surface <NUM> thereof faces the light exit surface <NUM>.

The cover glass <NUM> may be configured to cover the light exit surface <NUM> of the light source <NUM> to allow heat generated from the light exit surface to be transferred. Because the cover glass <NUM> is configured to have higher heat resistance than an encapsulation member <NUM>, the light source package <NUM> may improve durability compared to a case where the cover glass <NUM> is not adopted.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, heat resistance of a light source module can be improved through a cover glass.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, long-term quality identity can be provided by extending the life time of the light source module.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, brighter light can be supplied to a display apparatus by improving the heat resistance of the light source module.

Claim 1:
A display apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a display panel (<NUM>);
a light guide plate (<NUM>) disposed in the rear of the display panel; and
at least one light source package (<NUM>) disposed on one side of the light guide plate (<NUM>) to supply light,
wherein the light source package (<NUM>) comprises:
a light source (<NUM>) generating light;
a package housing (<NUM>) disposed to be spaced apart from a circumference of the light source (<NUM>);
an encapsulation member (<NUM>) disposed between the light source (<NUM>) and the package housing (<NUM>) and having an accommodation space (<NUM>) on one side thereof; and
a cover glass (<NUM>) disposed in the accommodation space (<NUM>) to face a light exit surface (<NUM>) of the light source (<NUM>) and configured to be equal to or larger than an area of the light exit surface (<NUM>),
characterized in that the light source package (<NUM>) further comprises an expansion encapsulation member (<NUM>) disposed in the accommodation space (<NUM>) and formed in an outward direction thereof from a circumference (<NUM>) of the cover glass (<NUM>), andwherein the encapsulation member (<NUM>) comprises a partition surface (<NUM>) partitioning the accommodation space (<NUM>), and the partition surface (<NUM>) is configured to be inclined to be closer to the light guide plate (<NUM>) as it is further away from the light source (<NUM>) so that totally reflected light toward the partition surface (<NUM>) in light emitted from the light source (<NUM>) is reflected back toward the light guide plate (<NUM>).