Backlight unit, display device having the same and method of controlling a light source

• US 20070047256A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Su-gun, Kang, Jeong-il, Lee, Sang-hoon, Cho, Tae-hee, Seong, Ki-bum
• Application Number:
  US11/512,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/024 Scrolling of light from the illumination source over the display in combination with the scanning of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/342 using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines

Abstract

The present invention provides a backlight unit comprising a light source unit divided into a plurality of divisions which are driven independently each other, a light source driving group supplying electric power to the light source unit and comprising a multi-driving part which is connected to the divisions of at least two, and a light source controller controlling the light source driving group so as to selectively supply electric power to the divisions connected to the multi-driving part. The present invention also provides a method of controlling the backlight unit. Thus, the present invention provides a backlight unit and method for controlling a backlight unit comprising a light source unit which is divided into simple configurations and is efficiently driven.

Claims

1. A backlight unit, comprising:

a light source unit comprising a plurality of divisions;

a light source driving unit comprising at least one multi-driving part which is connected to at least two divisions; and

a light source controller for controlling the light source driving unit to selectively supply the power to the divisions.

2. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the light source unit comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein each of the divisions has a bar shape and the divisions are disposed in parallel with each other.

4. The backlight unit of claim 3, wherein the light source controller controls the light source driving unit so as to supply power to the divisions sequentially and repeatedly.

5. The backlight unit of claim 4, wherein the sequentially supplied power is supplied to adjacent divisions at least during overlapping time periods.

6. The backlight unit of claim 3, wherein the at least two divisions connected to the multi-driving part are separated from each other.

7. A backlight unit, comprising:

a light source unit comprising a plurality of horizontal divisions;

a light source driving unit comprising at least one light source driving part and supplying power to the light source unit wherein the number of light source driving parts is less than the number of horizontal divisions; and

a light source controller controlling the light source driving unit so as to supply power to the horizontal divisions sequentially and repeatedly.

8. A display device, comprising:

a display panel;

a light source unit disposed in back of the display panel and comprising a plurality of divisions;

a light source driving unit supplying power to the light source unit and comprising at least one multi-driving part which is connected to at least two divisions; and

a light source controller for controlling the light source driving unit so as to supply power to divisions corresponding to image scanning of the display panel.

9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the light source controller controls the light source driving unit so as to selectively supply power to the divisions connected to the multi-driving part.

10. The display device of claim 8, wherein the light source unit comprises a light emitting diode.

11. The display device of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of divisions has a bar shape and the divisions are disposed in parallel with each other.

12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the light source controller controls the light source driving unit so as to supply power to the divisions sequentially and repeatedly.

13. The display device of claim 11, wherein the at least two divisions connected to the multi-driving part are separated from each other.

14. The display device of claim 8, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel.

15. A method of controlling a light source, comprising:

providing power to a first division of the light source starting at a first time and for a first duration;

providing power to a second division of the light source starting at a second time and for a second duration;

wherein the first time is different than the second time, the first duration is substantially the same as the second duration, and the first and second durations partially overlap.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power provided to the first division is from a first multi-driving part and the power provided to the second division is from a second multi-driving part.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first division is separate from the second division.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing power to a third division of the light source from the first multi-driving part; and

providing power to a fourth division of the light source from the second multi-driving part.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first multi-driving part supplies power to the first and third divisions of the light source at separate times and the second multi-driving part supplies power to the second and fourth divisions of the light source at separate times.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising supplying power to the first, second, third and fourth divisions of the light source sequentially and repeatedly.

21. A method of controlling a light source, comprising:

providing power to at least a first two of a plurality of divisions of the light source by a first multi-driving part, the power being provided to the at least first two divisions at separate times;

providing power to at least a second two of the plurality of divisions of the light source by a second multi-driving part, the power being provided to the at least second two divisions at separate times;

wherein the first two divisions of the light source are separated from each other and the second two divisions of the light source are separated from each other.