Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0067787 filed on Jul. 14, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, and more particularly, an LCD device with thin thickness and enhanced sense of beauty. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     LCD devices are being applied to various fields such as notebook computers, monitors, spacecrafts, and airplanes. In LCD devices, response time and image quality have largely been enhanced technically to date. 
     Recently, research and development are particularly being required on designs of products appealing to consumers. Consequently, efforts for minimizing the thicknesses of LCD devices are continuously being made, and research is being conducted on a design with enhanced sense of beauty that can induce consumers to buy by appealing to consumers&#39; sense of beauty. 
     In efforts for minimizing the thicknesses of LCD devices and design development for enhancing a sense of beauty that have been made to date, however, the existing elements have been applied as is, the structures of the elements have been changed simply, and thus, there are limitations in minimizing the thicknesses of the LCD devices and developing new designs of the LCD devices. 
     In the related art LCD devices, a liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit are placed with an upper case and a lower case, thereby manufacturing a module. Furthermore, a separate lower cover and a separate upper cover are additionally used for manufacturing the module as a complete product such as a notebook computer, a monitor, or a television (TV). 
     In this way, since the related art LCD devices use a case for the manufacturing of a module and a cover for the manufacturing of a complete product, a thickness has inevitably been increased. Particularly, an upper cover is protrusion-molded at the edge of a LCD device in applying the cover for the manufacturing of the complete product, and thus, there are limitations in developing various designs with a sense of beauty. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an LCD device which has a minimized thickness and an enhanced sense of beauty by not applying some of the existing elements. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an LCD device including: a liquid crystal panel including an upper substrate and a lower substrate; a backlight unit supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; a guide frame guiding a location of the liquid crystal panel and a location of the backlight unit; and a rear set cover and front set cover accommodating the liquid crystal panel, the backlight unit, and the guide frame, and serving as a cover of a product, wherein the front set cover comprises an bezel part facing a side of the upper substrate, and being not formed on a top of the upper substrate. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a notebook computer to which an LCD device according to the present invention may be applied; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of an LCD device according to the present invention where a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) is formed; 
         FIG. 7A  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a disassembly sectional view corresponding to a line B-B of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a notebook computer  10  to which an LCD device according to the present invention may be applied.  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A to  3 C,  4 , and  5  are sectional views of respective LCD devices according to embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate a cross-sectional surface taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view schematically illustrating an LCD device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the LCD device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a rear set cover  100 , a guide frame  200 , a front set cover  300 , a liquid crystal panel  400 , a backlight unit  500 , and a coupling member  600 . 
     The rear set cover  100  and the front set cover  300  accommodate the guide frame  200 , the liquid crystal panel  400 , and the backlight unit  500 , and serves as an external cover of a complete product such as a notebook computer. The guide frame  200  guides the location of the liquid crystal panel  400  and the location of the backlight unit  500 . The liquid crystal panel  400  and the backlight unit  500  display an image. Hereinafter, the elements will be described in detail. 
     The rear set cover  100  supports the guide frame  200 , serves as a rear cover of the complete product, and includes a plate part  110  and a bent part  120  extended from one end of the plate part  100 . The plate part  110  supports all elements of the LCD device, and serves the rear cover of the complete product. The bent part  120  may allow the rear set cover  100  to be coupled to the guide frame  200  and the front set cover  300 . 
     The guide frame  200  includes a first guide part  210 , a support part  220 , and a second guide part  230 . The first guide part  210  and the support part  220  guide the location of the liquid crystal panel  400 , and support the liquid crystal panel  400 . The first guide part  210  faces a side of the liquid crystal panel  400 , more specifically, a side of a lower substrate  420  of the liquid crystal panel  400  and guides the location of the liquid crystal panel  400 . The support part  220  is extended from the first guide part  210  to support an edge of a bottom of the liquid crystal panel  400 . The second guide part  230  is extended from the support part  220  to face a side of the backlight unit  500 , and guides the location of the backlight unit  500 . 
     The front set cover  300  includes a side wall part  310  and a bezel part  320  that is bent and extended from one end of the side wall part  310 . The side wall part  310  serves as a side cover of the complete product such as a notebook computer, and the bezel part  320  serves as a front cover of the complete product. 
     The bezel part  320  is not disposed in a top of an upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400  but is disposed to face a side of the upper substrate  410 , and thus, the front set cover  300  does not further protrude than the liquid crystal panel  400 , thereby decreasing the entire thickness of the LCD device. Also, the height of an upper end of the bezel part  320  is formed identically to that of the liquid crystal panel  400 , and thus, the step coverage between the bezel part  320  and the display region displaying an image is removed. Accordingly, an aesthetic design effect can be obtained as if a front of the LCD device is seen as one structure. 
     The bezel part  320  faces the side of the upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400  and is disposed on the top of the lower substrate  420  of the liquid crystal panel  400 , and thus can prevent the separation of the liquid crystal panel  400  and easily serve as a front cover of the complete product. Particularly, the coupling member  600  is formed between the bezel part  320  and the lower substrate  420  of the liquid crystal panel  400 , and thus the front set cover  300  can easily be coupled to the liquid crystal panel  400 . 
     Although not shown, a separate coupling member may be formed between the first guide part  210  of the guide frame  200  and the side wall part  310  of the front set cover  300 , and thus the guide frame  200  and the front set cover  300  can be coupled. Also, a separate coupling member may be formed between the second guide part  230  of the guide frame  200  and the bent part  120  of the rear set cover  100 , and thus the guide frame  200  and the rear set cover  100  can be coupled. Moreover, a separate coupling member may be formed between the bent part  120  of the rear set cover  100  and the side wall part  310  of the front set cover  300 , and thus the rear set cover  100  and the front set cover  300  can be coupled. 
     The liquid crystal panel  400  is disposed over the backlight unit  500  to display an image. The location of the liquid crystal panel  400  is guided by the first guide part  210  of the guide frame  200 , and the liquid crystal panel  400  is supported by the support part  220  of the guide frame  200 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  400  includes the upper substrate  410 , the lower substrate  420 , an upper polarizer  430 , and a lower polarizer  440 . A liquid crystal is formed between the upper substrate  410  and the lower substrate  420 . A detailed structure of the upper substrate  410  and a detailed structure of the lower substrate  420  may be modified and formed in various types known in the art according to a driving mode of the liquid crystal panel  400 , for example, a Twisted Nematic (TN) mode, a Vertical Alignment (VA) mode, an In Plane Switching (IPS) mode, and a Fringe Field Switching (FFS) mode. 
     Since various lines are formed on the lower substrate  420  and are required to be connected to an external driver, and thus, as illustrated, the length of the lower substrate  420  is formed greater than that of the upper substrate  410 , and thus, a periphery region of the liquid crystal panel  400  is formed to be stepped. Accordingly, the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  is disposed in the stepped periphery region of the liquid crystal panel  400 , more specifically, the bezel part  320  is disposed on the top of the lower substrate  420  to face the side of the upper substrate  410 , and thus, an LCD device with thin thickness and enhanced sense of beauty can be obtained. 
     The upper polarizer  430  is attached to the top of the upper substrate  410 , and the lower polarizer  440  is attached to the bottom of the lower substrate  420 . Therefore, light transmittance is controlled by the combination of the upper polarizer  430  and the lower polarizer  440 , thereby realizing black color or white color. 
     The backlight unit  500  is disposed under the liquid crystal panel  400  to supply light to the liquid crystal panel  400 . The location of the backlight unit  500  may be guided by the second guide part  230  of the guide frame  200 , and the backlight unit  500  may be supported by the plate part  100  of the rear set cover  100 . 
     The backlight unit  500  may be categorized into a direct type backlight unit where a light source is disposed over under the liquid crystal panel  400  and light emitted from the light source is directly transferred to the liquid crystal panel  400 , and an edge type backlight unit where a light source is disposed in one side under the liquid crystal panel  400  and light emitted from the light source is transferred to the liquid crystal panel  400  though a light guide plate. The present invention may apply the direct type backlight unit or the edge type backlight unit. To minimize the thickness of the LCD device, however, the edge type is better than the direct type, and thus, the edge type backlight unit  500  is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The backlight unit  500  includes a light guide plate  510 , a plurality of optical sheets  520 , and a reflective sheet  530 . Although not shown, a light source such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a fluorescent lamp is disposed to face a side of the light guide plate  510 . Light emitted from the light source is incident on the light guide plate  510 , and then, a path of the light is switched to the liquid crystal panel  400 . To switch the light path, various patterns may be formed in the light guide plate  510 . The optical sheets  520  are formed over the top of the light guide plate  510  and supply conformal light to the liquid crystal panel  400 , and may be formed by combining a diffusion sheet and a prism sheet. The reflective sheet  530  is formed under the bottom of the light guide plate  510  and reflects light, leaked to the bottom of the light guide plate  510 , to a top of the light guide plate  510 , thereby increasing light efficiency. 
     The coupling member  600 , as described above, couples the front set cover  300  and the liquid crystal panel  400 , and specifically, is formed between the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  and the lower substrate  420  of the liquid crystal panel  400 . The coupling member  600  may be a double side tape or an adhesive. A heat hardening adhesive, an ultraviolet (UV) hardening adhesive and an instant adhesive may be applied as the adhesive. 
       FIG. 3A  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3C  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The respective LCD devices according to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention are the same as the LCD device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, except that a plurality of sealing members  710 ,  720  and  730  are additionally formed between the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  and the upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400 . Therefore, like reference numeral refers to like element throughout, and repetitive description on the same element will not be provided. 
     Considering the occurrence of a process error, a gap may be formed between the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  and the upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400 . In this way, if the gap is formed, foreign substances may be penetrated through the gap, and also, the aesthetic design effect of the LCD device is reduced due to the gap. In the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention, therefore, the first to third sealing members  710 ,  720  and  730  are additionally formed between the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  and the upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400 , thereby preventing the foreign substances from penetrating through gap and preventing an aesthetic design effect from being reduced due to the gap. To prevent the aesthetic design effect from being reduced, the first to third sealing members  710 ,  720  and  730  may be formed in the same color as that of the front set cover  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the first sealing member  710  may include a head part  711  extended from on the bezel part  320  to on the upper substrate  410 , and a head supporter  713  extended from the head part  711  to inside the gap. By applying the first sealing member  710  including the head part  711  and the head supporter  713 , a sealing effect can be obtained, and moreover, a coupling strength between the front set cover  300  and the liquid crystal panel  400  can be increased. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the second sealing member  720  may have a ring structure that seals the gap between the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  and the upper substrate  410  of the liquid crystal panel  400 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the third sealing member  730  may have a film structure that is formed from the top of the liquid crystal panel  400  to on the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300 . By applying the third sealing member  730  including the film structure, a sealing effect can be obtained, and moreover, the coupling strength between the front set cover  300  and the liquid crystal panel  400  can be increased. In the meanwhile, if the film structure is extended to an end of the bezel part  320 , it is possible for the film structure to easily be peeled. Thus, it is preferable that the film structure may not be extended to the end of the bezel part  320 . And, by forming an accommodation groove for accommodating the film structure in the bezel part  320 , the peeling possibility of the film structure can be minimized. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The LCD devices according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is the same as the LCD device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, except for a scheme that couples the rear set cover  100  and the front set cover  300 . Therefore, like reference numeral refers to like element throughout, and repetitive description on the same element will not be provided. 
     As described above, the rear set cover  100  and the front set cover  300  may be coupled with a double side tape, but in which case a process is complicated and the material cost is increased. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, therefore, a protrusion  122  is formed in the rear set cover  100 , specifically, the bent part  120  of the rear set cover  100 , and a coupling groove  312  is formed in the front set cover  300 , specifically, the side wall part  310  of the front set cover  300 , thereby coupling the rear set cover  100  and the front set cover  300  without using a separate adhesive such as the double side tape. The protrusion  122  and the coupling groove  312  may be variously modified. 
     Although not shown, a coupling groove may be formed in the rear set cover  100 , and a protrusion may be formed in the front set cover  300 . Also, although not shown, the rear set cover  100  and the guide frame  200  may be coupled with the protrusion and the coupling groove, or the guide frame  200  and the front set cover  300  may be coupled with the protrusion and the coupling groove. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an LCD device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment of the present invention is implemented by adding a cover bottom  800  to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The cover bottom  800  is disposed between the backlight unit  500  and the rear set cover  100 , supports a bottom of the backlight unit  500 , and faces a side of the backlight unit  500 . The cover bottom  800  may dissipate heat produced by the backlight unit  500 . That is, when the size of the LCD device is increased, heat produced by the backlight unit  500  may be increased, in which case a heat dissipation device is required for dissipating the heat produced by the backlight unit  500 . Therefore, when the cover bottom  800  is formed with a metal material enabling thermal conduction, the heat produced by the backlight unit  500  may be transferred through the cover bottom  800  and thus dissipated to the outside. As a result, when applying the cover bottom  800 , a material of the rear set cover  100  may be selected with no consideration of thermal conductivity, and the external appearance of the LCD device may be various modified. 
     Although not shown, the coupling relationship using the first to third sealing members  710 ,  720  and  730  of respective  FIGS. 3A to 3C  and the protrusion  122  and coupling groove  312  of  FIG. 4  may be identically applied even to the LCD device of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view schematically illustrating a coupling type between a lower substrate of a liquid crystal panel and a bezel part of a front set cover, in an LCD device according to the present invention where a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) is formed.  FIG. 7A  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7B  is a disassembly sectional view corresponding to a line B-B of  FIG. 6 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in the liquid crystal panel  400 , the length of the lower substrate  420  is formed greater than that of the upper substrate  410 , and thus, the periphery region of the lower substrate  420  is exposed to the outside. In this way, a circuit board such as an FPC  450  is formed in a portion of the periphery region of the exposed lower substrate  420 , and thus, various signals may be respectively applied from an external driver to the lines of the lower substrate  420  through the FPC  450 . 
     The coupling member  600  such as a double side tape and the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  are sequentially formed in the periphery region of the exposed lower substrate  420 . In the case that the coupling member  600  and the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300  are formed even in a region where the FPC  450  is formed, load may be applied to the FPC  450 . Therefore, it is required to differently form the coupling member  600  and the bezel part  320  of the front set cover  300 , in the region where the FPC  450  is formed. This will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the coupling member  600  is formed on the lower substrate  420 , but not formed in the region where the FPC  450  is formed. 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the accommodation groove  322  for accommodating the FPC  450  is formed in the bezel part  320  corresponding to the region where the FPC  450  is formed, thereby preventing load from being applied to the FPC  450  due to the bezel part  320 . 
     The present invention removes the existing upper case that was used for modularization, and thus can decrease the thickness of the LCD device. Particularly, according to the present invention, the bezel of the front set cover is not formed on the top of the upper substrate of the liquid crystal panel but formed on the top of the lower substrate of the liquid crystal panel and faces the side of the upper substrate, thereby minimizing the entire thickness of the LCD device. 
     Moreover, the present invention forms the bezel of the front set cover to have the same height of upper end as that of the liquid crystal panel, and thus removes the step coverage between the bezel and the display region displaying an image. Accordingly, an aesthetic design effect can be obtained as if the front of the LCD device is seen as one structure. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 3