Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same

• US 20060290840A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Park, Hee-Jeong, Han, Gil-Won, Bang, Ju-Young, Jang, Myung-Gi
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/69
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members

Abstract

A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs and a diverter sheet disposed on the LED array portion and having continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with to the LED array portion.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a backlight unit, the device comprising:

a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs; and

a diverter adjacent to the LED array portion and having a continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with the LED array portion.

2. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the diverter comprises an integral continuous reflection surface in juxtaposition with the plurality of LEDs.

3. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the diverter comprises an integral continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with the LED array portion.

4. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the diverter comprises an elongated reflection surface attached to a light guide plate.

5. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the diverter further comprises a supporter at a side surface thereof.

6. The backlight unit of claim 1 further comprising a partition wall extending from the LED array portion to the diverter.

7. The backlight unit of claim 6, wherein the partition wall comprises an array defining a plurality of cells in which a number of LEDs are positioned in each cell.

8. The backlight unit of claim 6, wherein the diverter is supported by the partition wall.

9. The backlight unit of claim 1 further comprising a diffusion plate and an optical plate overlying the diverter.

10. A backlight unit comprising:

a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs; and

a diverter disposed over the LED array portion and having a continuous reflection surface comprising linearly arranged circular regions, each circular region at a position corresponding to an LED.

11. The backlight unit of claim 10, wherein the diverter is spaced apart from the LED array portion by a separation distance of about 0.01 to about 10 mm.

12. The backlight unit of claim 10, wherein each LED has a light discharging portion, and wherein a diameter of the circular regions is equal to or greater than the light discharging portion of the LEDs.

13. The backlight unit of claim 10, wherein the continuous reflection surface comprises a continuous integral surface of the diverter.

14. The backlight unit of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of pin-shaped supporters extending from the diverter to the LED array portion.

15. The backlight unit of claim 10 further comprising a partition wall extending from the LED array portion to the diverter.

16. The backlight unit of claim 15, wherein the partition wall comprises an array defining a plurality of cells in which a number of LEDs are positioned in each cell.

17. The backlight unit of claim 15, wherein the diverter is supported by the partition wall.

18. A backlight unit comprising:

a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs; and

a diverter disposed over the LED array portion and having a continuous linear reflection surface.

19. The backlight unit of claim 18, wherein the continuous reflection surface comprises a continuous integral surface of the diverter.

20. The backlight unit of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of pin-shaped supporters extending from the diverter to the LED array portion.

21. The backlight unit of claim 18 further comprising a partition wall extending from the LED array portion to the diverter.

22. The backlight unit of claim 21, wherein the partition wall comprises an array defining a plurality of cells in which a number of LEDs are positioned in each cell.

23. The backlight unit of claim 21, wherein the diverter is supported by the partition wall.

24. The backlight unit of claim 18, wherein the diverter is spaced apart from the LED array portion by a separation distance of about 0 to about 10 mm.

25. The backlight unit of claim 18 further comprising a light guide plate overlying the diverter.

26. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a backlight unit, the device comprising:

an LCD panel; and

a backlight unit disposed adjacent to the LCD panel, wherein the backlight unit comprises;

a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs; and

a diverter disposed on the LED array portion and having a continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with the LED array portion.

27. The LCD device of claim 26, wherein the continuous reflection surface comprises an integral surface in juxtaposition with the LEDs.

28. The LCD device of claim 26, wherein the diverter comprises linearly arranged circular regions, each circular region at a position corresponding to an LED.

29. The LCD device of claim 28, wherein the diverter is spaced apart from the LED array portion by a separation distance of about 0 to about 10 mm.

30. The LCD device of claim 28, wherein each LED has a light discharging portion, and wherein a diameter of the circular regions is equal to or greater than the light discharging portion of the LEDs.

31. The LCD device of claim 28 further comprising a partition wall extending from the LED array portion to the diverter.

32. The LCD device of claim 31, wherein the partition wall comprises an array defining a plurality of cells in which a number of LEDs are positioned in each cell.

33. The LCD device of claim 31, wherein the diverter is supported by the partition wall.

34. The LCD device of claim 26, wherein the diverter comprises a continuous linear reflection surface disposed over the LED array portion.

35. The LCD device of claim 34, wherein the diverter is spaced apart from the LED array portion by a separation distance of about 0.01 to about 10 mm.

36. The LCD device of claim 34, wherein the diverter comprises an integral continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with the LED array portion.

37. The LCD device of claim 34 further comprising a partition wall extending from the LED array portion to the diverter.

39. The LCD device of claim 34, wherein the diverter is supported by the partition wall.

38. The LCD device of claim 38, wherein the partition wall comprises an array defining a plurality of cells in which a number of LEDs are positioned in each cell.