Patent Description:
With the development of the information society, the demand for a display device is increased in various forms. Accordingly, various display devices, such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electro luminescent display (ELD), and a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), are recently researched and used.

From among them, the liquid crystal panel of the LCD includes a liquid crystal layer, and a TFT substrate and a color filter substrate that face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and may display an image using light provided by a backlight unit. <CIT> relates to an LCD device and a direct-in and side-integrated hybrid backlight module. <CIT> relates to a backlight module and an LCD comprising the same. <CIT> relates to a backlight module and an LCD employing the backlight module. <CIT> relates to a backlight unit and a display device having an optical assembly. <CIT>relates to an electronic book. <CIT> relates to a structural improvement of a backlight unit for irradiating light.

Dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments.

The disclosure has been intended to solve the aforementioned problems and other problems. The disclosure is to improve the contrast ratio of a display device and also reduce consumption power of the display device.

The disclosure is to improve a light characteristic or light distribution of a display device.

The disclosure is to implement the slim structure of a display device.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a display panel, a frame positioned at the back of the display panel, a main light assembly positioned on the frame between the display panel and the frame, and a side light assembly positioned on the frame between the display panel and the frame and positioned to be adjacent to the main light assembly. The frame includes a bottom forming a lower surface and a side support extended from the bottom to one side of the display panel, the side support is closer to the display panel than the bottom, the main light assembly is positioned at the bottom, and he side light assembly is positioned at the side support.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the main light assembly may include a substrate positioned on the bottom, a plurality of light sources sequentially mounted on the substrate, and a plurality of lenses mounted on the substrate and corresponding to the plurality of light sources, respectively.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the side light assembly may include a light guide panel positioned between the display panel and the side support, a light source positioned adjacent to one side surface of the light guide panel, and a reflection plate positioned at the bottom of the light guide panel.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the light guide panel may include a light incidence portion positioned to neighbor the light source, a light output portion forming the top of the light guide panel, and a slope portion forming the bottom of the light guide panel and having a distance closer to the light output portion as the slope portion becomes distant from the light source.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the reflection plate may be bonded to the slope portion.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the display device may further include a substrate on which the light source is mounted, a lower cover positioned on the lower side of the substrate, and an upper cover positioned on an upper side of the light source and coupled to the lower cover. The lower cover may include a base supporting the substrate and an extension portion extended from the base to the light guide panel and supporting the light guide panel.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the upper cover may include a light hole formed at the top of the light source, and the light source may provide light toward at least the upper cover.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the display device may further include a reflection sheet positioned between the main light assembly and the display panel. The reflection sheet may include a first part positioned on the bottom or the substrate, a second part extended from the first part to the side light assembly, and a third part elongated from the second part and covering a part of the side light assembly.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the frame may further include a stepped portion formed between the bottom and the side support.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the side support may include a first side support positioned on one side of the bottom and a second side support positioned on the other side of the bottom. The side light assembly may include a first side light assembly positioned on the first side support and a second side light assembly positioned on the second side support.

Effects of the display device according to the disclosure are as follows.

According to at least one of embodiments of the disclosure, the contrast ratio of the display device can be improved, and consumption power of the display device can also be improved.

According to at least one of embodiments of the disclosure, a light characteristic or light distribution of the display device can be improved.

According to at least one of embodiments of the disclosure, the slim structure of the display device can be implemented.

An additional scope of the applicability of the disclosure will become evident from the following detailed description. However, various changes and modifications may be evidently understood by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the detailed description and a specific embodiment, such as a specific embodiment of the disclosure, are merely given as examples.

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar element is assigned the same reference numeral regardless of its reference numeral, and a redundant description thereof is omitted.

It is to be noted that the suffixes of elements used in the following description, such as a "module" and a "unit", are assigned or interchangeable with each other by taking into consideration only the ease of writing this specification, but in themselves are not particularly given distinct meanings and roles. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description of a related known technology will be omitted if it is deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are merely intended to make easily understood the exemplary embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical spirit disclosed in this specification is not restricted by the accompanying drawings and includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions which fall within the spirit and technological scope of the disclosure.

Hereinafter, a display panel is described by taking a liquid crystal display device (LCD) as an example, but the display panel capable of being applied to the disclosure is not limited to the LCD and may be applied to a plasma display panel (PDP), a field emission display (FED), and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of a display device related to the disclosure.

Hereinafter, the display device <NUM> may include a first long side LS1, a second long side LS2 opposite the first long side LS1, a first short side SS1 neighboring the first long side LS1 and the second long side LS2, and a second short side SS2 opposite the first short side SS1.

In this case, the area of the first short side SS1 may be called a first side area. The area of the second short side SS2 may be called a second side area opposite the first side area. The area of the first long side LS1 may be called a third side area neighboring the first side area and the second side area and positioned between the first side area and the second side area. The area of the second long side LS2 may be called a fourth side area neighboring the first side area and the second side area, positioned between the first side area and the second side area, and opposite the third side area.

Furthermore, for convenience of description, the length of the first or second long side LS1, LS2 has been illustrated as being longer than the length of the first, second short side SS1, SS2, but the length of the first, second long side LS1, LS2 may be approximately the same as that of the first, second short side SS1, SS2.

Furthermore, hereinafter, a first direction DR1 may be a direction parallel to the long side LS1, LS2 of the display device <NUM>. A second direction DR2 may be a direction parallel to the short side SS1, SS2 of the display device <NUM>. A third direction DR3 may be a direction perpendicular to the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2.

The first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 may be collectively called a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the third direction DR3 may be called a vertical direction.

From a different viewpoint, the side on which the display device <NUM> displays an image may be called a front or front surface. When the display device <NUM> displays an image, the side on which the image cannot be viewed may be called a rear or rear surface. When the display device <NUM> is viewed from the front or front surface, the side of the first long side LS1 may be called a top or top surface. Likewise, the side of the second long side LS2 may be called a bottom or bottom surface. Likewise, the side of the second short side SS2 may be called the left side or a left surface, and the first short side SS1 may be called the right side or a right surface.

Furthermore, the first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second short side SS2 may be called the edges of the display device <NUM>. Furthermore, points where the first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second short side SS2 meet may be called corners. For example, the point where the first long side LS1 and the first short side SS1 meet may be called a first corner C<NUM>, the point where the first long side LS1 and the second short side SS2 meet may be called a second corner C<NUM>, the point where the second short side SS2 and the second long side LS2 meet may be called a third corner C<NUM>, and the point where the second long side LS2 and the first short side SS1 meet may be called a fourth corner C<NUM>.

In this case, a direction from the first short side SS1 to the second short side SS1 or a direction from the second short side SS2 to the first short side SS1 may be called a left and right LR. A direction from the first long side LS1 to the second long side LS2 or a direction from the second long side LS2 to the first long side LS1 may be called an up and down UD.

A front cover <NUM> may cover at least some of the front and side of the display panel <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> may have a quadrangular frame shape having an empty center.

The front cover <NUM> may include a front surface cover and a side cover. That is, the front cover may be divided into the front surface cover positioned on the front side of the display panel <NUM> and the side cover positioned on the side of the display panel <NUM>. The front surface cover and the side cover may be separately configured. Any one of the front surface cover and the side cover may be omitted.

A display panel <NUM> is provided at the front of the display device <NUM>, and an image may be displayed on the display panel. The display panel <NUM> may divide an image into a plurality of pixels and output the image in accordance with a color, brightness, and chroma per pixel. The display panel <NUM> may be divided into an active area in which an image is displayed and an inactive area in which an image is not displayed. The display panel <NUM> may include a front substrate and a rear substrate opposite each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.

The front substrate may include a plurality of pixels configured with red (R), green (G) and blue (B) subpixels. The rear substrate may include switching elements. The rear substrate may switch a pixel electrode. For example, the pixel electrode may change the array of the molecules of the liquid crystal layer in response to an external control signal. The liquid crystal layer may include a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The array of the liquid crystal molecules may be changed in accordance with a voltage difference generated between the pixel electrode and a common electrode. The liquid crystal layer may block or transmit, toward the front substrate, light provided by a backlight unit <NUM>.

The backlight unit <NUM> may be positioned at the back of the display panel <NUM>. The backlight unit <NUM> may include a plurality of light sources. The light sources of the backlight unit <NUM> may have a direct type or an edge type. The edge type backlight unit <NUM> may further include a light guide panel.

The backlight unit <NUM> may be driven using a full driving method or a partial driving method, such as local dimming or impulsive. The backlight unit <NUM> may include an optical sheet <NUM> and an optical layer <NUM>.

The optical sheet <NUM> may uniformly transmit, to the display panel <NUM>, light provided by a light source. The optical sheet <NUM> may be configured with a plurality of layers. For example, the optical sheet <NUM> may include at least one prism sheet and/or at least one diffusion sheet.

The optical sheet <NUM> may include at least one coupling part 125d. The coupling part 125d may be coupled to the front cover <NUM> and/or a back cover <NUM>. Alternatively, the coupling part 125d may be coupled to a structure mounted on the front cover <NUM> and/or the back cover <NUM>.

The optical layer <NUM> may include the light source, etc. A detailed element of the optical layer <NUM> is described in a corresponding part.

A frame <NUM> may function to support the elements of the display device <NUM>. For example, an element, such as the backlight unit <NUM>, may be coupled to the frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> may be made of a metal material, such as an aluminum alloy, and may provide stiffness to the display device <NUM>.

The back cover <NUM> may be positioned at the back of the frame <NUM>. The back cover <NUM> can protect internal elements against the outside. At least some of the back cover <NUM> may be coupled to the frame <NUM> and/or the front cover <NUM>. The back cover <NUM> may be an injected matter of a resin material.

Referring to <FIG>, the frame <NUM> may include a bottom 130B and side supports 130S1 and 130S2. The bottom 130B may be a flat plate. The side supports 130S1 and 130S2 may be positioned on one side or both sides of the bottom 130B, and may be positioned over the bottom 130B. For example, the bottom 130B and the side supports 130S1 and 130S2 may form a step. The frame <NUM> may have stepped portions 130I<NUM> and 130I<NUM>. The stepped portions 130I<NUM> and 130I<NUM> may be extended from the bottom 130B to the side supports 130S1 and 130S2. For example, each of the stepped portions 130I<NUM> and 130I<NUM> may have a slope.

A distance D1 from the display panel <NUM> to the bottom 130B may be greater than a distance DS1 or DS2 from the display panel <NUM> to the side support 130S1 or 130S2. The distance DS1 from the display panel <NUM> to the first side support 130S1 may be the same as the distance DS2 from the display panel <NUM> to the second side support 130S2. The distances D1, DS2, and DS3 may be called optical distances.

Referring to <FIG>, a main light assembly LA may be positioned on the bottom 130B. A first light assembly LA1 may be positioned on the first side support 130S1. A second light assembly LA2 may be positioned on the second side support 130S2. The first light assembly LA1 and/or the second light assembly LA2 may be different from the main light assembly LA. The first light assembly LA1 may be the same as the second light assembly LA2.

The main light assembly LA may include a substrate <NUM> and a plurality of lenses <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> may be lengthily elongated to the left and right of the bottom 130B. A plurality of light sources LS may be sequentially mounted on the substrate <NUM>. The plurality of lenses <NUM> may be mounted on the substrate <NUM> in accordance with the plurality of light sources LS, respectively. A plurality of the substrates <NUM> may be sequentially arranged in the up and down direction of the bottom 130B.

Referring to <FIG>, a housing <NUM> may be mounted on a substrate <NUM>. A light source <NUM> may be received in or mounted on the housing <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may provide light from the housing <NUM> to the lateral direction of the housing <NUM>. A reflection sheet <NUM> may be positioned on the substrate <NUM>. A reflection pattern <NUM> may be formed on the reflection sheet <NUM>.

A resin layer <NUM> may be formed over the substrate <NUM> in such a way as to cover the reflection sheet <NUM> and/or the reflection pattern <NUM> and/or the housing <NUM>. The resin layer <NUM> may be a transparent substance. The resin layer <NUM> may fully cover the housing <NUM>. The reflection pattern <NUM> may be formed on the top or top surface of the resin layer <NUM>. Accordingly, light LP provided from the light source <NUM> to the side of the housing <NUM> may be reflected and/or scattered and uniformly spread to the entire resin layer <NUM>. The aforementioned contents may be an example of a first light assembly or a second light assembly.

Referring to <FIG>, a light source <NUM> may be mounted on a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be mounted on the substrate <NUM>. A reflection sheet <NUM> may be positioned on the substrate <NUM>. The reflection sheet <NUM> may partially overlap the substrate <NUM> in order to be adjacent to the light source <NUM> or the housing <NUM>. An optical sheet <NUM> may be positioned over the reflection sheet <NUM> and/or the light source <NUM> and/or the substrate <NUM>, and may be spaced apart therefrom. That is, an empty space AG may be formed between the optical sheet <NUM> and the reflection sheet <NUM>. The optical sheet <NUM> may be spaced apart from the reflection sheet <NUM> by a support <NUM>.

The optical sheet <NUM> may include a plurality of holes h. The plurality of holes h may be formed to penetrate the optical sheet <NUM>. The size of a second hole h12 may be greater than the size of a first hole h11. The size of a third hole h13 may be greater than the size of the second hole h12. That is, the sizes of the plurality of holes h may be greater as the plurality of holes becomes distant in a horizontal direction from the light source <NUM>. Accordingly, a light distribution may be uniform regardless of the light source <NUM>.

The optical sheet <NUM> may include a reflection surface RF. The reflection surface RF may be formed on the bottom of the optical sheet <NUM>. Accordingly, light may be reflected and/or scattered between the reflection sheet <NUM> and the optical sheet <NUM>. The reflected and/or scattered light may be externally output through the plurality of holes h. The aforementioned contents may be an example of the first light assembly LA1 or a second light assembly LA2.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a light source <NUM> may be mounted on a substrate <NUM>. For example, the substrate <NUM> may be a PCB. The light source <NUM> may be electrically connected to the substrate <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may provide light in the lateral direction of the substrate <NUM>. This may be called a side view type. A light guide panel <NUM> may be positioned over the substrate <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may be positioned on one side of the light guide panel <NUM>.

The light guide panel <NUM> may include an introduction part <NUM>, a slope portion <NUM>, and a light output portion <NUM>. The introduction part <NUM> may form one side of the light guide panel <NUM>. The introduction part <NUM> may neighbor the light source <NUM> or come into contact with the light source <NUM>. The slope portion <NUM> may form the lower surface of the light guide panel <NUM>. The slope portion <NUM> may have a positive slope with respect to the center of the light source <NUM>. This may mean that the slope portion <NUM> may have an ascent slope as it becomes distant from the light source <NUM>. The light output portion <NUM> may form the upper surface of the light guide panel <NUM>. The light output portion <NUM> may face the slope portion <NUM>. A stepped portion <NUM> may be formed between the introduction part <NUM> and the light output portion <NUM>. The introduction part <NUM> may be called a light incidence portion <NUM>.

A lower cover <NUM> may be positioned on the lower side of the substrate <NUM> and/or under the light guide panel <NUM>. The lower cover <NUM> may receive the substrate <NUM> and the light source <NUM> and support the light guide panel <NUM>. The lower cover <NUM> may include a base <NUM>. The base <NUM> may be a lengthily elongated flat panel. The lower cover <NUM> may include an extension portion <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> may be extended from the light source <NUM> to a direction toward the light guide panel <NUM>. The base <NUM> and the extension portion <NUM> may form a step <NUM>. An upper cover <NUM> may be coupled to the lower cover <NUM>. The upper cover <NUM> may press the light guide panel <NUM> from the upper side. The upper cover <NUM> may cover the top of the light source <NUM>. For example, the upper cover <NUM> and the lower cover <NUM> may be metal.

A reflection plate <NUM> may be positioned at the bottom of the light guide panel <NUM> or may come into contact with the bottom of the light guide panel <NUM> or may be formed on the bottom of the light guide panel <NUM>. For example, the reflection plate <NUM> may be a reflection sheet or may be a coated reflection material.

The aforementioned contents may be an example of the first light assembly LA1 or the second light assembly LA2.

Referring to <FIG>, the light guide panel <NUM> may be a plural number. The plurality of light guide panels <NUM> may be sequentially arranged. For example, a first light guide panel U1 may be positioned on one side, a second light guide panel U2 may neighbor the first light guide panel U1, a third light guide panel U3 may neighbor the second light guide panel U2, a fourth light guide panel U4 may neighbor the third light guide panel U3, a fifth light guide panel U5 may neighbor the fourth light guide panel U4, and a sixth light guide panel U6 may neighbor the fifth light guide panel U5. A single or a plurality of the light sources <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) may be arranged in accordance with the light guide panels U1~U6. Accordingly, the amount of light can be locally adjusted.

The aforementioned contents may be an example of the first light assembly LA1 or the second light assembly LA2. The first light assembly LA1 and/or the second light assembly LA2 may be called a side light assembly.

Referring to <FIG>, the main light assembly LA may be positioned on the bottom 130B of the frame <NUM>. The side light assemblies LA1 and LA2 may include an eleventh light assembly LA11, a twelfth light assembly LA12, a twenty-first light assembly LA21, and a twenty-second light assembly LA22. The eleventh light assembly LA11 and/or the twelfth light assembly LA12 may be positioned on the first side support 130S1. The twenty-first light assembly LA21 and/or the twenty-second light assembly LA22 may be positioned on the second side support 130S2.

A connector CN may be electrically connected to a plurality of the substrates <NUM>. Externally supplied power may be provided to the light sources LS provided in the main light assembly LA through the plurality of substrates <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the frame <NUM> may include a flange 130P. The flange 130P may be formed at one end of the side support 130S1. The flange 130P may support a side frame SF. The optical sheet <NUM> may be supported by the flange 130P, and may be positioned under the display panel <NUM>.

The side frame SF may include a horizontal portion SF1 and a vertical portion SF2. The vertical portion SF2 may form an external appearance of the display device. An adhesion member AD may be fixed on the horizontal portion SF1, and the display panel <NUM> may be fixed to the adhesion member AD. For example, the adhesion member AD may be a double-sided tape.

A reflection sheet <NUM> may include a first part <NUM>, a second part <NUM>, and a third part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> may be positioned on the bottom 130B of the frame <NUM>. The first part <NUM> may include a hole (not illustrated) through which the lens <NUM> passes. The second part <NUM> may be extended from the first part <NUM> to the side light assembly LA1. The second part <NUM> may face the stepped portion <NUM>.

The third part <NUM> may be positioned on the side light assembly LA1. The third part <NUM> may be fixed on the upper cover <NUM> of the side light assembly LA1. One end of the third part <NUM> may be adjacent to the side of the stepped portion <NUM> of the light guide panel <NUM> or may come into contact with the side of the stepped portion <NUM> of the light guide panel <NUM>. The third part <NUM> may be coupled to the second part <NUM>. Accordingly, a dark area which may be formed between the main light assembly LA and the side light assembly LA1 can be improved, and a light distribution provided to the display panel <NUM> can be uniform.

Referring to <FIG>, the side support 130S1 may be extended from the bottom 130B to the flange 130P. The side support 130S1 may have a gentle slope from the bottom 130B to the flange 130P. The side light assembly LA1 may be positioned over the side support 130S1. Accordingly, a dark area which may be formed between the main light assembly LA and the side light assembly LA1 can be improved, and a light distribution provided to the display panel <NUM> can become more uniform.

Referring to <FIG>, the light source <NUM> may have many-sided light. Referring to <FIG>, the light source <NUM> may be an LED capable of <NUM>-sided light emission. Referring to <FIG>, the light source <NUM> may be an LED capable of <NUM>-sided light emission. A wall LW may cover one side of the light source <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper cover <NUM> may be a plate lengthily elongated in the length direction of one side of the light guide panel <NUM>. The upper cover <NUM> may be coupled to the lower cover <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) by a fastening member f. The upper cover <NUM> may include a light hole LH. A plurality of the light holes LH may be formed in the upper cover <NUM>. The light hole LH may be positioned at the top of the light source <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The number of light holes LH may correspond to the number of light sources <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, light emitted from the light source <NUM> to the light guide panel <NUM> may pass through the introduction part <NUM>, may be reflected within the light guide panel <NUM>, and may be spread to the entire light guide panel <NUM>. Accordingly, the light guide panel <NUM> can uniformly provide light to the display panel <NUM>. Light provided from the light source <NUM> to the upper side of the light source <NUM> may be provided to the display panel <NUM> through the light hole LH of the upper cover <NUM>. Accordingly, light having a distribution identical with or similar to that of the main light assembly LA and the side light assembly LA1 can be provided between the main light assembly LA and the side light assembly LA1.

Claim 1:
A display device, comprising:
a display panel (<NUM>);
a frame (<NUM>) positioned at a back of the display panel (<NUM>);
a main light assembly (LA) positioned on the frame (<NUM>) between the display panel (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>); and
a side light assembly (LA1, LA2) positioned on the frame (<NUM>) between the display panel (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>) and positioned to be adjacent to the main light assembly (LA),
wherein the frame (<NUM>) comprises a bottom (130B) forming a lower surface and a side support (130S1, 130S2) extended from the bottom (130B) to one side of the display panel (<NUM>),
wherein the side support (130S1, 130S2) is closer to the display panel (<NUM>) than the bottom (130B),
wherein the main light assembly (LA) is positioned at the bottom (130B), and
wherein the side light assembly (LA1, LA2) is positioned at the side support (130S1, 130S2),
a reflection sheet (<NUM>) positioned between the main light assembly (LA) and the display panel (<NUM>),
wherein the reflection sheet (<NUM>) comprises:
a first part (<NUM>) positioned on the bottom (130B) or a substrate (<NUM>) positioned on the bottom (130B);
a second part (<NUM>) extended from the first part (<NUM>) to the side light assembly (LA <NUM>, LA2) and positioned space apart from the side support (130S1, 130S2); and
a third part (<NUM>) elongated from the second part (<NUM>) and covering a part of the side light assembly (LA1, LA2).