Direct Backlight Module

• US 20070230206A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Shen-Hong, Hsiao, Meng-Jia
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/560
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors

Abstract

A plurality of reflecting structures are provided at the corner portions of a backlight module, so that the dark areas occurring at the corner portions or edges of the backlight module are prevented from forming, thereby uniforming the luminance performed by the display.

Claims

1. A backlight module comprising:

a bezel having four adjacent edge portions;

a frame, disposed on the bezel along the four edge portions, comprising two opposite first frame portions and two opposite second frame portions, wherein the two opposite first frame portions are formed by extending integrally from the bezel and wherein the frame and the bezel form four corner portions;

at least one light source disposed on the bezel; and

at least one reflector disposed on at least one of the four corner portions.

2. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector is made by material comprising silver, barium sulfate, polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin), or combinations thereof.

3. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector is pyramid-shaped.

4. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector comprises:

a body having a reflective surface; and

a reflective film adhered onto the reflective surface.

5. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector includes a reflective surface having a reflective element coated thereon.

6. The backlight module according to claim 5, wherein the reflective element is comprised of silver.

7. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector has a curved surface projecting convexly out of the corner portion.

8. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector has a curved surface projecting concavely into the corner portion.

9. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector has a reflective surface.

10. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector has an irregularly curved reflective surface.

11. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the first frame portion is longer than the second frame portion.

12. The backlight module according to claim 11, wherein the two opposite second frame portions are formed by extending integrally from the bezel.

13. The backlight module according to claim 11, wherein each of the fist frame portions has two opposite end portions and each of the second frame portions has two opposite end portions, in which one of the end portions of the first frame portion is affixed to one of the end portions of the second frame portion.

14. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the second frame portion is longer than the first frame portion.

15. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the two opposite second frame portions are formed by extending integrally from the bezel.

16. The backlight module according to claim 15, wherein the at least one reflector is formed by extending integrally from the bezel.

17. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector is formed by extending integrally from the frame.

18. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode array, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) or combinations thereof.

19. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frame portions and the second frame portions includes at least one inner wall having a reflective element disposed thereon.

20. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes:

at least one inner wall; and

a reflective film adhered onto the at least one inner wall.

21. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the reflectors and the bezel define a contact area which ranges from about 2% to about 10% of a planar area of the bezel.

22. The backlight module according to claim 1, wherein the reflectors and the bezel define a contact area which ranges from about 4% to about 8% of a planar area of the bezel.

23. A liquid crystal display comprising the backlight module according to claim 1.