Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0057170, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 16, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The described technology relates generally to a liquid crystal display (LCD). More particularly, the described technology relates generally to an LCD that can be formed to have a reduced thickness. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As compared to a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD) has a reduced size, weight, and power consumption. As such, LCDs are widely used in small-sized devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and portable multimedia players (PMPs). In addition, LCDs are also applicable to medium and large-sized devices, such as computer monitors and televisions, due to the above characteristics. 
         [0006]    In general, an LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel that forms an image by altering the optical properties of liquid crystal included therein, according to image data; a flexible printed circuit (FPC) including a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel; a backlight unit that provides light to the display panel; and a frame that houses the backlight unit and display panel. 
         [0007]    Currently, thin display devices are in high demand. Thus, thinner frames for liquid crystal display panels are needed. However, when the thickness of a frame is reduced, the overall strength of an LCD may also be reduced. 
         [0008]    Further, when a frame of an LCD is formed of a high-strength metal such as steel use stainless (SUS), a burr may occur when a liquid crystal display panel is inserted into such a frame. Since the liquid crystal display panel directly contacts the frame, the liquid crystal display panel may be weakened or damaged by such a burr. 
         [0009]    In general, when assembling a liquid crystal display panel, a jig is used in order to prevent the liquid crystal display panel from leaning in one direction. As such, the entire assembly process may become complicated and time consuming, due to use of the jig. 
         [0010]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology, and therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The described technology has been made in an effort to provide an LCD having a slim profile and high structural stability. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) including: a LCD panel; a backlight unit that includes a light source and a light guide plate that applies and diffuses light that is emitted from the light source; and a frame that houses the LCD panel and the backlight unit. The frame includes first support members that are formed along opposing sides of the frame, and a first guide unit to separate the LCD panel from the first support members. 
         [0013]    According to various embodiments, a molding is not disposed between the LCD panel and the first support members. 
         [0014]    According to various embodiments, the first guide unit may include projections that extend inside the frame and are disposed at opposing ends the first support members. 
         [0015]    According to various embodiments, the first guide unit may have planar inward facing surfaces that extend parallel to the inwardly facing surfaces of the first support members. 
         [0016]    According to various embodiments, the frame may further include: second support members disposed perpendicular to the first support members; and a second guide unit that covers inward facing surfaces of the second support members. The LCD panel may be housed in the frame, in contact with the second guide unit. 
         [0017]    According to various embodiments, the second guide unit may form steps that extend in a direction parallel to the opposing surfaces of the second support members. 
         [0018]    According to various embodiments, the second guide unit may be formed flat in a direction parallel to the opposing surfaces of the second support members. 
         [0019]    According to various embodiments, a separation distance between the first support members and the LCD panel may be from about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. 
         [0020]    According to various embodiments, the first support members may include one of steel use stainless (SUS), steel, chromium, and nickel, and the first guide unit may include a polycarbonate (PC). 
         [0021]    According to various embodiments, the second support members may include one of SUS, steel, chromium, and nickel, and the second guide unit may include a PC. 
         [0022]    According to various embodiments, the LCD may further include an optical sheet disposed between the LCD panel and the backlight unit. 
         [0023]    According to various embodiments, the LCD may further include a reflection sheet disposed on the backlight unit. 
         [0024]    According to an exemplary embodiment, an LCD can be formed to be slim. 
         [0025]    Further, by suppressing strength deterioration of the LCD, structural stability can be secured. 
         [0026]    Further, an assembly process of the LCD can be simplified, and a processing time can be shortened. 
         [0027]    Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded perspective view illustrating an LCD, according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view illustrating a frame of the LCD of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating the LCD of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view illustrating an LCD, according to another exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating an LCD, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below, in order to explain the aspects of the present disclosure, by referring to the figures. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded perspective view illustrating an LCD  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The LCD  100  includes a liquid crystal display panel  20 , a backlight unit, and a frame  10 . 
         [0036]    The liquid crystal display panel  20  includes a thin film transistor (TFT) panel  21  and a color filter panel  22  that are disposed opposite to each other. Liquid crystal (not shown) is injected between the panels  21  and  22 . In this case, the TFT panel  21  and the color filter panel  22  are made of a material such as glass. 
         [0037]    TFTs, capacitors, and pixel electrodes are formed in the TFT panel  21 . A gate line and a data line are respectively connected to a gate electrode and a source electrode, and a pixel electrode is connected to a drain electrode, of each of the TFTs. The gate lines and the data lines are connected to a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown), to input electrical signals to the FPC, whereby an electrical signal is input to the gate electrode and the source electrode of each TFT. The TFTs are turned on or turned off, according to the input electrical signal, and thus, an electrical driving signal is output to the drain electrodes. 
         [0038]    A transparent common electrode, which is formed of a conductive transparent material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), and a color filter having RGB pixels, are formed in the color filter panel  22 . Power is applied to the gate electrodes and the source electrodes of the TFTs, and if one of the TFTs is turned on, an electrical field is formed between a pixel electrode of the TFT panel  21  and the common electrode of the color filter panel  22 . An alignment angle of liquid crystal is changed by the electric field, and light transmittance is changed according to the changed alignment angle. Thus, light emission from a desired pixel can be controlled. 
         [0039]    An integrated circuit chip  23  is mounted on the TFT panel  21  to control the liquid crystal display panel  20 . The integrated circuit chip  23  generates a plurality of timing signals, for applying a gate driving signal and a data driving signal at appropriate times. The integrated circuit chip  23  applies the timing signals to the gate lines and the data lines of the liquid crystal display panel  20 . 
         [0040]    In order to polarize light passing through the liquid crystal display panel  20 , polarizing plates (not shown) may be attached to opposing surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel  20 . 
         [0041]    The liquid crystal display panel  20  includes a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light source (not shown) and a light guide plate  40  that diffuses light that is emitted from the light source. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used as the light source, and may be mounted on a printing circuit film (not shown) disposed at a side surface of the light guide plate  40 . Light sources of various intensities can be used, according to the size and use of the LCD  100 . The light source may be disposed behind the light guide plate  40 . Light that is emitted from the light source is applied to the light guide plate  40 , and the light guide plate  40  diffuses the light, such that the light is uniformly emitted from the entire surface of the light guide plate  40 . 
         [0042]    An optical sheet  30  can be formed between the liquid crystal display panel  20  and the backlight unit. The optical sheet  30  may include a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, a protective sheet, etc., and it allows light passing through the light guide plate  40  to be applied to the liquid crystal display panel  20 , in a direction perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel  20 . Further, a reflection sheet (not shown) may be further formed behind the backlight unit. When a reflection sheet is formed, light that is emitted to a lower surface of the light guide plate  40  is reflected by the reflection sheet to be advanced, toward the optical sheet  30 , thereby minimizing the loss of light. 
         [0043]    The configuration of the liquid crystal display panel  20  and the backlight unit is not limited to the above-described configuration. In particular, various configurations that are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art may be employed. 
         [0044]    The liquid crystal display panel  20 , the backlight unit, etc., are housed in the frame  10 . The frame  10  includes a bottom portion and a circumferential edge portion, and the liquid crystal display panel  20  is guided by the circumferential edge portion of the frame  10  to be received on the bottom portion of the frame  10 . 
         [0045]    In the present exemplary embodiment, in order to form the LCD  100  to be slim, the frame  10  is formed by integrally forming a mold and support members, and hereinafter, the structure of the frame  10  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view illustrating the frame  10 , and  FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating a state where the LCD display panel  20  is inserted into the frame  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the frame  10  includes a molding  13  and support members  11  disposed in the molding  13 . The support members  11  are formed with a metal such as steel use stainless (SUS), steel, chromium, and nickel, to support the molding  13  and strengthen the frame  10 , thereby protecting a liquid crystal display panel. Further, the support members  11  are integrated into the molding  13 , which is formed by an injection molding process. The molding  13  is made of, for example, a shock-absorbing material such as polycarbonate (PC), having a relatively lighter weight and greater elasticity than the support members  11 . 
         [0047]    The support members  11  include opposing first support members  11   a , and opposing second support members  11   b , which extend along respective sides of the frame  10 . In the present exemplary embodiment, in order to reduce the thickness of the LCD  100 , the molding  13  does not extend lengthwise along the inner and outer surfaces of the first support members  11   a . That is, the first support members  11   a  have exposed inward and outward facing surfaces that are not covered by the molding  13 . However, according to some embodiments, the molding  13  may extend lengthwise along edges of the support members  11   a , or in some cases, may not extend lengthwise along the first support members  11   a , in other aspects. 
         [0048]    If the liquid crystal display panel  20  directly contacts the first support members  11   a , during in an insertion process of the liquid crystal display panel  20 , a burr may occur. Even after the liquid crystal display panel  20  is inserted, as the liquid crystal display panel  20  contacts the first support members  11   a , the liquid crystal display panel  20  may be weakened or damaged. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the molding  13  includes a first guide unit  13   a  and a second guide unit  13   b , which separate the liquid crystal display panel  20  from the support members  11 . Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel  20  contacts the molding  13 , which is formed of a material having greater elasticity than the support members  11 . 
         [0049]    The first guide unit  13   a  is formed at opposing ends of the first support members  11   a  and extends inwardly from the frame  10 . The first guide unit  13   a  is formed to protrude inwardly further than the first support members  11   a . Further, the second guide unit  13   b  is formed to cover inward facing surfaces of the second support members  11   b.    
         [0050]    In the present exemplary embodiment, the first guide unit  13   a  includes inwardly protruding portions of the molding  13 . Innermost surfaces of the first guide unit  13   a  (protrusions) are disposed further inside the frame  10  than the first support members  11   a . Thus, when the liquid crystal display panel  20  is inserted into the frame  10 , the liquid crystal display panel  20  contacts the first guide unit  13   a  rather than the support members  11   a . Further, the second guide unit  13   b  includes stepped portions of the molding  13  that cover inwardly facing surfaces of the second support members  11   b . Thus, when the liquid crystal display panel  20  is inserted into the frame  10 , the liquid crystal display panel  20  contacts the second guide unit  13   b  rather than the second support members  11   b.    
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the liquid crystal display panel  20  is disposed inside the frame  10 , so as to contact the first guide unit  13   a  and the second guide unit  13   b . As described above, because the first guide unit  13   a  and the second guide unit  13   b  are made of the same material as the rest of the molding  13 , which is a shock-absorbing material having a high elasticity, such as a polycarbonate, the portions of the liquid crystal display panel  20  contacting the guide units  13   a ,  13   b  are protected from being damaged. 
         [0052]    The corners of the liquid crystal display panel  20  are relatively weak, and can be easily broken by contact with the frame  10 , such as when external impacts/vibrations are applied to the frame  10 . However, in the present exemplary embodiment, recesses are formed between adjacent portions of the first guide unit  13   a  and the second guide unit  13   b , to house the corners, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Accordingly, the corners of the liquid crystal display panel  20  do not contact the frame  10 , thereby protecting the corners from being broken. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the liquid crystal display panel  20  is separated from the first support members  11   a  by a gap G. In this case, the gap G may be from about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm. If the gap G is smaller than about 0.1 mm, the liquid crystal display panel  20  may contact the first support members  11   a  due to assembly errors. If the gap G is larger than about 0.3 mm, the size of the frame  10  may be increased unnecessarily. In the present exemplary embodiment, the range of the gap G is set according to the first support members  11   a  having a thickness of about 0.15 mm. However, the thickness of the first support members  11   a  and the size of the gap G can be modified according to a particular use purpose of the LCD  100 . 
         [0054]    In this way, the liquid crystal display panel  20  is separated from the first support members  11   a  by the gap G. Thus, the liquid crystal display panel  20  is not damaged by contact with the first support members  11   a . Further, as the molding  13  is not formed on the inner surfaces of the first support members  11   a , the thickness the frame  10  can be reduced, and thus, the LCD  100  can slim. Because the LCD  100  is assembled by insertion through the first guide unit  13   a  and the second guide unit  13   b , it is unnecessary to use a separate jig. Thus, an assembly process of the LCD  100  is simple and fast. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view illustrating an LCD  101 , according to a second exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the LCD  101  includes a liquid crystal display panel  20 , a backlight unit, and a frame  110 , as in the first exemplary embodiment. The frame  110  includes support members  111  and a molding  113 , and the support members  111  includes opposing first support members  111   a  and opposing second support members  111   b , which extend along corresponding sides of the frame  110 . Further, the molding  113  includes a first guide unit  113   a  and a second guide unit  113   b , to guide the insertion of the liquid crystal display panel  20  into the frame  110 . 
         [0056]    In this case, inward and outward facing surfaces of the first support members  111   a  are not covered by the molding  113 . The first guide unit  113   a  includes projections of the molding  113  extending inwardly from opposing ends of the first support members  111   a . The second guide unit  113   b  covers inwardly facing surfaces of the second support members  111   b  and projects toward the inside of the frame  110 . 
         [0057]    The innermost surfaces of the first guide unit  113   a  are disposed further inside of the frame  110  than the first support members  111   a  and are parallel to the innermost surfaces of the first support members  111   a . Further, the innermost surfaces of the second guide unit  113   b  are dispose further inside of the frame  110  than, and extend parallel to, the second support members  111   b.    
         [0058]    As such, the flat inwardly facing surfaces of the first guide unit  113   a  provide a large contact surface for the liquid crystal display panel  20 . Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel  20  can be stably guided into the frame  110 , and the frame  110  has a rigid structure that minimizes vibration, external impacts, etc. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating an LCD  102 , according to a third exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the LCD  102  includes a liquid crystal display panel  20 , a backlight unit, and a frame  210 , as in the first exemplary embodiment. The frame  210  includes support members  211  and a molding  213 , and the support members  211  include first support members  211   a  that is formed opposite at both side surfaces of the frame  210 , and second support members  211   b  that extend generally orthogonally to the first support members  211   a . Further, the molding  213  includes a first guide unit  213   a  and a second guide unit  213   b  that guide the insertion of the liquid crystal display panel  20  into the frame  210 . 
         [0060]    In this case, the first support members  211   a  have inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces that are not covered by the molding  213 . The first guide unit  213   a  includes protrusions that extend toward the inside of the frame  210  and are disposed at opposing ends of the first support members  211   a . The second guide unit  213   b  covers inwardly facing surfaces of the second support members  211   b.    
         [0061]    The first guide unit  213   a  includes planar surfaces that are disposed further inside the frame  210  than the first support members  211   a . The planar surfaces extend parallel to the inwardly facing surfaces of the first support members  211   a . The second guide unit  213   b  includes stepped portions the molding  213  that cover, and are parallel to, the inwardly facing surfaces of the second support members  211   b.    
         [0062]    Accordingly, when the liquid crystal display panel  20  is inserted into the frame  210 , opposing edges of the liquid crystal display panel  20  and the second guide unit  213   b  have large contact areas. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel  20  can be stably guided by the frame  210 , and the frame  210  has a rigid structure with regard to vibration, external impacts, etc. 
         [0063]    Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments, without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: g