Patent ID: 12197077

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, a support frame, a manufacturing method of a support frame, a backlight assembly, and a display device provided by the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In a design of a spliced product having a 1 mm-level seam in the related art, a width of an edge BM (in a non-display region beyond a display region) of a typical LCD panel is only from 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm, while a width limit of a support surface, which is configured to support the LCD panel, of a support frame is generally 1 mm due to limitation of a formation process of the support frame, so that the support surface configured to support the display panel extends into the display region of the display panel, thereby blocking edge pixels in the display region. In such case, a size of an image actually displayed by the LCD panel is smaller than an actual size of the display region of the LCD panel, resulting in an increase of a visual seam between images displayed by any two adjacent display panels in the spliced product, which degrades user experience.

In addition, the blocking of the display region of the LCD panel by the support surface may have local differences. For example, when the support surface blocks two pixels in the first row, three pixels in the second row, and two and a half pixels in the third row, a colored line (also called a rainbow pattern) having a changed color may appear at edges of an image displayed by the LCD panel, which may degrade the user experience to a certain extent.

In view of at least one of the technical problems in the related art, the present disclosure provides corresponding technical solutions, which can overcome the technical problem of abnormal display of the conventional LCD panel due to the blocking of the edge pixels in the display region of the conventional LCD panel, and allow the edge pixels in the display region to perform display normally. In a spliced display process, the edge pixels in the display region can perform display normally, so that a visual seam between the images displayed by any two adjacent LCD panels are reduced, and no rainbow patterns appear at the edges of the displayed images, thereby effectively improving the user experience. A detailed description is given below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

FIG.1is a schematic structural diagram of a display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, the display device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure is an LCD device, including: a display panel1and a support frame2configured to support the display panel1. It should be noted that a case where the display device includes one display panel1and one support frame2is merely illustrated byFIG.1as an example, and is only for illustration. In some embodiments, the display device may include a plurality of display panels1and a plurality of support frames2, so as to perform spliced display.

FIG.2is a sectional view taken along a line A-A′ shown inFIG.1, andFIG.3is an enlarged view of a region P shown inFIG.2. As shown inFIG.2andFIG.3, the support frame2provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a first support structure3and a light-transmitting structure4. The first support structure3has a first support surface provided with a concave groove301; and the light-transmitting structure4is located on the first support surface, and includes: an engaging portion401and a light-transmitting portion402, which are connected to each other. The engaging portion401is located in the groove301and is fixed with the groove301by engagement. The light-transmitting portion402is located outside the groove301, and has a second support surface on a side of the light-transmitting portion402opposite to the engaging portion401. The second support surface is configured to support the display panel1.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light provided by a backlight assembly can reach edge pixels in a display region of the display panel1through the light-transmitting portion402of the light-transmitting structure4, so that the edge pixels in the display region of the display panel1can perform display normally. Meanwhile, the engaging portion401connected to the light-transmitting portion402can be fixed with the first support structure3by engagement, so as to effectively prevent the light-transmitting portion402from being stripped from the first support structure3, thereby improving product reliability.

In some embodiments, the first support structure3and the light-transmitting structure4are arranged along a first direction (the vertical directions inFIG.2andFIG.3), an orthogonal projection of a top opening of the groove301on a plane perpendicular to the first direction has a first area, and an orthogonal projection of the whole groove301on the plane perpendicular to the first direction has a second area which is larger than the first area. With the above design, the engaging portion401can be effectively fixed along the first direction after engaging with the groove301.

In some embodiments, an area of a cross section of the groove301gradually decreases along the first direction and a direction from a bottom of the groove301to a top of the groove301, and the cross section is perpendicular to the first direction.

FIG.4is a sectional view of the first support structure and the light-transmitting structure according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.4, in some embodiments, a longitudinal section of the groove301is trapezoidal (i.e., is a trapezoid), and is parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to an extending direction of the groove301.

FIG.5shows sectional views of a plurality of different grooves according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.5, a shape of the longitudinal section of the groove301shown in (a) is similar to a trapezoid and has two curved lateral sides, and the area of the cross section of the groove301gradually decreases along the first direction and the direction from the bottom of the groove301to the top of the groove301. A shape of the longitudinal section of the groove301shown in (b) is a zigzag line having a certain width, and the area of the cross section of the groove301is kept unchanged along the first direction and the direction from the bottom of the groove301to the top of the groove301. A shape of the longitudinal section of the groove301shown in (c) includes a longitudinally extending first portion, and a transversely extending second portion on both sides of the first portion.

Apparently, the structure of the groove301in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the structures shown inFIG.4andFIG.5, and the groove301may adopt other structures, which will not be listed here one by one.

FIG.6is a top view of the first support surface and the groove according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.6, the first support surface is in a shape of ring (FIG.6illustrates a case of a ring whose center line forms a square). In some embodiments, the groove301is also in a shape of ring.

FIG.7is another top view of the first support surface and the grooves according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.7, unlike the case illustrated byFIG.6, a plurality of grooves301are provided and are arranged in a shape of ring inFIG.7.

Apparently, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the groove(s)301may also be arranged on the first support surface in other forms, which will not be listed here one by one.

Still with reference toFIG.4, the first support surface is a plane in some embodiments. In some embodiments, a material of the engaging portion401is the same as that of the light-transmitting portion402, and the engaging portion401and the light-transmitting portion402have a one-piece structure (e.g., are integrally molded). More specifically, the material of the engaging portion401and the light-transmitting portion402includes plastic, and the light-transmitting structure4may be formed on the first support surface by an injection molding process or a dispensing and curing process. A liquid plastic is easy to be accumulated in the middle in a process of forming the light-transmitting structure4, resulting in a convex cambered second support surface, which is unfavorable for subsequent fixation of the display panel1on the second support surface.

FIG.8is another sectional view of the first support structure and the light-transmitting structure according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.8, unlike the case illustrated byFIG.4where the first support surface is the plane, the first support surface shown inFIG.8is a concave cambered surface (or concave curved surface), by which the second support surface formed in the process of forming the light-transmitting structure4may be a plane, which is favorable for the subsequent fixation of the display panel1on the second support surface.

Apparently, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a case where part of the first support surface is set to be a concave cambered surface also falls within the scope of the present disclosure, and a figure corresponding to such case is not provided herein.

Still with reference toFIG.3, in order to ensure that the light provided by the backlight assembly can reach the edge pixels in the display region of the display panel1through the light-transmitting portion402of the light-transmitting structure4, a thickness of a part of the light-transmitting portion402beyond the first support surface needs to meet a certain requirement.

For a certain side of the display panel1, an edge area of the display region on such side covered by an orthogonal projection of the first support surface on the display panel1has a width d; in order to ensure that the light provided by the backlight assembly can reach the edge pixels covered by the orthogonal projection of the first support surface through the light-transmitting portion402of the light-transmitting structure4, a minimum distance h between the second support surface and the first support surface along the first direction is set to satisfy h≥2d in the embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, in order to avoid a fact that a final product is too thick due to a too thick light-transmitting portion402, h≤3d is preferred. That is, when 2d≤h≤3d is satisfied, lightening and thinning of the whole product may be ensured while the edge pixels are irradiated with the light.

The width d of the edge area of the display region covered by the support surface is generally about 5 mm in a conventional product. In view of the above, the minimum distance h between the second support surface and the first support surface along the first direction is greater than or equal to 1 mm in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, in order to ensure the lightening and thinning of the whole product, the minimum distance h is also less than or equal to 1.5 mm at the same time.

Still with reference toFIG.2, in some embodiments, the support frame2further includes a second support structure11having a third support surface, the first support structure3is on part of the third support surface, and the third support surface of the second support structure11is configured to fix optical components5, which generally include: a light guide plate, a diffuser plate, and an optical film (e.g., a prism sheet, or a diffuser sheet). The light guide plate is generally fixed on the third support surface with a double-sided adhesive tape6.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a backlight assembly, including a support frame2which adopts the support frame2provided by the above embodiments. Reference may be made to the contents of the above embodiments for a specific structure of the support frame2, and thus the specific structure of the support frame2will not be repeated here.

The backlight assembly may further include a backplane7, a light source9on the backplane7(a case where the light source9is a direct-type light source is illustrated inFIG.2as an example), and an optical film on a light-emitting side of the light source9. The other structures of the support frame2may be specifically set as required. For example, the support frame2further includes a sidewall fixed with the backplane7, and the sidewall of the support frame2is fixed with a sidewall of the backplane7with a screw8(as shown inFIG.2) or by means of engagement.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display device, including: a backlight assembly, and a display panel fixed on the second support surface with a fixing glue10. The backlight assembly adopts the backlight assembly provided by the above embodiments, reference may be made to the above embodiments for a specific structure of the backlight assembly, and thus the specific structure of the backlight assembly will not be repeated here.

The display device in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be any product or component with a display function, such as an LCD television, an LCD monitor, a digital photo frame, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or the like.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a manufacturing method of a support frame, which may be used to manufacture the support frame provided by the above embodiments.FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method of a support frame according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.9, the manufacturing method includes the following steps S1and S2.

In step S1, a first support structure is formed.

The first support structure has a first support surface provided with a concave groove.

In some embodiments, the first support structure is made of a metal material; further, the first support structure is made of aluminum; and in the step S1, the first support structure may be formed by an extrusion molding process. Apparently, the second support structure, the side walls and other structures described in the above embodiments may also be formed by the extrusion molding process while forming the first support structure by the extrusion molding process.

In step S2, a light-transmitting structure is formed on the first support surface.

The light-transmitting structure includes: an engaging portion and a light-transmitting portion, which are connected to each other, the engaging portion is located in the groove and is fixed with the groove by engagement, the light-transmitting portion is located outside the groove, and has a second support surface on a side of the light-transmitting portion opposite to the engaging portion, and the second support surface is configured to support a display panel.

In some embodiments, the engaging portion and the light-transmitting portion are made of the same material including plastic.

In some embodiments, the light-transmitting structure may be formed on the first support surface by an injection molding process. Specifically, the first support structure formed in the step S1is placed and fixed in a cavity of an injection mold, and then the molten transparent plastic is injected into the cavity through an inlet of the mold to form an integral body together with the first support structure. In the injection molding process, the molten transparent plastic automatically fills the groove in the first support surface and is accumulated to a certain thickness, and then the engaging portion and the light-transmitting portion are formed after the plastic is cured.

In some embodiments, the light-transmitting structure may be formed on the first support surface by a dispensing and curing process. Specifically, the transparent liquid plastic is dispensed onto the first support surface through dispensing equipment, automatically fills the groove in the first support surface and is accumulated to a certain thickness, and then the engaging portion and the light-transmitting portion are formed after the plastic is cured.

The support frame provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure may be formed after the steps S1and S2, a backplane (including a light source), optical components, a display panel, and the support frame may be assembled in subsequent processes, with the display panel fixed on the second support surface of the light-transmitting portion with a fixing glue.

The technical solutions of the present disclosure can overcome the technical problem of the abnormal display of the conventional LCD panel due to the blocking of the edge pixels in the display region of the conventional LCD panel, and allow the edge pixels in the display region to perform display normally. In the spliced display process, the edge pixels in the display region can perform display normally, so that a visual seam between the images displayed by any two adjacent LCD panels are reduced, and no rainbow patterns appear at the edges of the displayed images, thereby effectively improving the user experience.

It should be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments adopted to illustrate the principle of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements can be made by one of ordinary sill in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the present disclosure, and these modifications and improvements are considered to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.