Patent Document

CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on 9 Nov. 2010 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0111563. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a flat panel display device, and more particularly to a flat panel display device in which a coupled structure of a panel and a monitor frame is improved. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, research into flat panel display devices, such as an organic light emitting display device, is actively being performed since they can be manufactured as thin or flexible devices with respect to driving characteristics. 
     Conventionally, a flat panel display device is manufactured by the following method. An emission unit is formed on a first substrate and a second substrate is formed to seal the emission unit, thereby manufacturing a panel. A fixing frame is coupled to the panel, and then the fixing frame is coupled to a monitor frame which forms an outer appearance of the flat panel display. 
     Accordingly, since in this structure, the fixing frame is necessarily used as an intermediate medium for coupling the panel to the monitor frame, the number of components is high and the manufacturing process is complicated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a flat panel display device in which a coupled structure of a panel and a monitor frame is improved so as not to use a fixing frame. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a flat panel display device comprises: a panel including a first substrate, an emission unit formed on the first substrate, and a second substrate which is coupled to the first substrate to seal the emission unit and which includes a flange portion having a first coupling hole; a monitor frame having a second coupling hole corresponding to the first coupling hole; and a fastener for coupling the panel and the monitor frame by being inserted into the first coupling hole and the second coupling hole. 
     The first substrate includes glass. 
     The second substrate includes metal, such as carbon alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum. 
     The flange portion is formed at an edge of the second substrate. 
     The flat panel display device may further include a guide member which is coupled to the flange portion so as to prevent misalignment of the panel and the monitor frame. The guide member may be coupled to the flange portion by welding. 
     The guide member may have a third coupling hole which overlaps the first coupling hole, and the fastener fits into the first coupling hole, the second coupling hole, and the third coupling hole. 
     The guide member includes metal, such as carbon alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a major part of a flat panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second substrate of the flat panel display device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a major part of a flat panel display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a major part of a flat panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second substrate of the flat panel display device of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the flat panel display device according to the present embodiment includes a panel  100  for forming an image and a monitor frame  140  which is coupled to the panel  100 . 
     The panel  100  includes a first substrate  110 , an emission unit  130  formed on the first substrate  110 , and a second substrate  120  which is coupled to the first substrate  110  so as to cover the emission unit  130 . 
     The emission unit  130  may be an organic emission unit which includes electrodes facing each other and an organic layer interposed between the electrodes. 
     The first substrate  110  may be formed of a glass material. 
     The second substrate  120  covers the emission unit  130  so as to prevent permeation of water molecules into the emission unit  130 , and may be formed of metal, such as carbon alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum. 
     A sealant  131  couples the first substrate  110  to the second substrate  120  and seals the first and second substrates  110  and  120 , respectively. The sealant  131  may be, for example, a frit, which is a source material for glass. In general, a frit hardens by laser exposure. Accordingly, when the sealant  131  is placed between the first substrate  110  and the second substrate  120  and laser is irradiated onto the sealant  131 , the sealant  131  hardens, thereby rigidly coupling and sealing the first and second substrates  110  and  120 , respectively. 
     In this regard, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a flange portion  121  having a first coupling hole  121   a  is formed at an edge of the second substrate  120  as one body with the second substrate  120 . 
     The flange portion  121  acts as a conventional fixing frame. That is, a separate fixing frame is not used, and the flange portion  121  is formed as one body with the second substrate  120  so as to function as a fixing frame. 
     The monitor frame  140  includes a second coupling hole  140   a  corresponding to the first coupling hole  121   a  of the flange portion  121 . Accordingly, the panel  100  is coupled to the monitor frame  140  by inserting a fastener  150 , for example, a screw or a bolt, into the first and second holes  121   a  and  140   a , respectively. 
     The flat panel display device described above may be assembled by the following method. 
     First, the panel  100  is prepared. 
     In the panel  100 , as described above, the first and second substrates  110  and  120 , respectively, are coupled to each other and are sealed with the sealant  131 , for example, a frit, and the emission unit  130  is placed in the sealed space. 
     Also, the second substrate  120  and the flange portion  121  are formed as one body, thereby enabling the second substrate  120  and the monitor frame  140  to be coupled without use of a separate medium. 
     Subsequently, the monitor frame  140  is prepared, and the panel  100  and the monitor frame  140  are arranged such that the first coupling hole  121   a  of the flange portion  121  and the second coupling hole  140   a  of the monitor frame  140  overlap. 
     Then, the fastener  150  is inserted into the aligned first and second coupling holes  121   a  and  140   a , respectively. 
     Therefore, the panel  100  is coupled to the monitor frame  140  via the fastener  150  so as to maintain the panel  100  rigidly fixed to the monitor frame  140 . 
     Accordingly, since in the flat panel display device described above, the monitor frame  140  is coupled to the panel  100  using the flange portion  121  of the second substrate  120  as an encapsulation substrate, a separate fixing frame is not needed. The lack of need for a fixing frame leads to fewer numbers of components and assembling processes. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a major part of a flat panel display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , like the flat panel display device according to the previous embodiment, the flat panel display device according to the present embodiment includes a panel  200  for forming an image and a monitor frame  240  which is coupled to the panel  200 . 
     The panel  200  includes a first substrate  210 , an emission unit  230  formed on the first substrate  210 , and a second substrate  220  which is coupled to the first substrate  210  so as to cover the emission unit  230 . 
     The emission unit  230  may be an organic emission unit which includes electrodes facing each other and an organic layer interposed between the electrodes. 
     The first substrate  210  may be formed of a glass material. 
     The second substrate  220  covers the emission unit  230  so as to prevent permeation of water molecules into the emission unit  230 , and may be formed of metal, such as carbon alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum. 
     A sealant  231  couples the first substrate  210  to the second substrate  220  and seals the first and second substrates  210  and  220 , respectively. The sealant  231  may be, for example, a frit, which is a source material for glass. In general, a frit hardens by laser exposure. Accordingly, when the sealant  231  is placed between the first substrate  210  and the second substrate  220  and laser is irradiated onto the sealant  231 , the sealant  231  hardens, thereby rigidly coupling and sealing the first and second substrates  210  and  220 , respectively. 
     In this regard, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a flange portion  221  having a first coupling hole  221   a  is formed at an edge of the second substrate  220  as one body with the second substrate  220 . 
     The flange portion  221  acts as a conventional fixing frame. That is, a separate fixing frame is not used, and the flange portion  221  is formed as one body with the second substrate  220  so as to function as a fixing frame. 
     The monitor frame  240  includes a second coupling hole  240   a  corresponding to the first coupling hole  221   a . Accordingly, when a fastener  250 , for example, a screw or a bolt, is inserted into the first and second holes  221   a  and  240   a , respectively, the panel  200  is coupled to the monitor frame  240 . 
     Also, the flat panel display device according to the present embodiment may further include a guide member  260  which is coupled to the second substrate  220  so as to prevent misalignment of the panel  200 . The guide member  260  may have a third coupling hole  260   a . Like the second substrate  220 , the guide member  260  may be formed of metal, such as carbon alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum. Although the guide member  260  is coupled to the second substrate  220  via the fastener  250 , more rigid coupling is needed to ensure the prevention of misalignment of the panel  200 . Thus, the guide member  260  may be coupled to the second substrate  220  by welding before the guide member  260  is coupled to the second substrate  220  via the fastener  250 . 
     The flat panel display device described above may be assembled by the following method. 
     First, the panel  200  is prepared. 
     Regarding the panel  200 , as described above, the first and second substrates  210  and  220 , respectively, are coupled to each other and are sealed with the sealant  231 , for example, a frit, and the emission unit  230  is placed in the sealed space. 
     Also, the second substrate  220  and the flange portion  221  are formed as one body, thereby enabling the second substrate  220  and the monitor frame  240  to be coupled without use of a separate medium. 
     Then, the guide member  260  is fixed to the flange portion  221  of the second substrate  220  by welding. The guide member  260  and the panel  200  are arranged so that the third coupling hole  260   a  and the first coupling hole  221   a  overlap and, in this arrangement state, the welding process is performed thereon. 
     Then, the monitor frame  240  is prepared and arranged so that the first coupling hole  221   a  of the flange portion  221 , the third coupling hole  260   a  of the guide member  260 , and the second coupling hole  240   a  of the monitor frame  240  overlap. 
     Then, the fastener  250  is inserted into the first, second and third holes  221   a ,  240   a , and  260   a , respectively. 
     Therefore, the panel  200  is coupled to the monitor frame  240  via the fastener  250  so as to maintain the panel  200  rigidly fixed to the monitor frame  240 . 
     Accordingly, since in the flat panel display device described above, the panel  200  is coupled to the monitor frame  240  using the flange portion  221  of the second substrate  220  as an encapsulation substrate, a separate fixing frame is not needed. The lack of need for a fixing frame leads to a fewer number of components and assembling processes. 
     Also, since a side of the guide member  260 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , prevents misalignment of the panel  200 , the coupling between the monitor frame  240  and the panel  200  may be further stabilized. 
     The flat panel display device according to the above embodiments of the present invention does not need a separate fixing frame. The lack of need for the fixing frame leads to a fewer number of components and assembling processes. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 5