Backlight Unit and Liquid Crystal Display Employing the Same

• US 20080088762A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Takashi, Sawada, Shuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit

Abstract

A backlight unit (2) comprising a shallow box type case (3) having low profile sidewalls and opening upward, a light guide plate (7) in the box type case (3), and a supporting frame (11) containing optical members such as a linear light source (8) and an optical sheet (10) and securing the optical members in place by being fitted in the opening. A first engaging portion (4) is provided on the inside of the sidewall of the box type case (3) and second engaging portions (12₁-12₄) are provided on the outer surface of the sidewall of the supporting frame (11) being fitted in the upper opening of the box type case (3). A locking means (14) is attached to the second engaging portion such that the locking means (14) engages with and locks the first engaging portion when the first and second engaging portions engage with each other, thus preventing unfastening of the supporting frame. A liquid crystal display employing the backlight unit is also provided.

Claims

1. A backlight unit, comprising:

a box type case having a sidewall and an upper opening;

an optical member such as a light source and an optical sheet contained in the box type case; and

a supporting frame in a frame shape securing the optical member in place by being fitted in the opening of the box type case and supporting a liquid crystal display panel;

a first engaging portion being provided to an inside of the sidewall of the box type case, and a second engaging portion being provided to an outer surface of the sidewall of the supporting frame being fitted in the upper opening of the box type case, the second engaging portion being a U-shaped groove with a predetermined depth and having an opening at an upper portion of the supporting frame and

locking means being attached to a bottom wall surface of the U-shaped groove, the locking means being engaged with and locked by the first engaging portion as the first and second engaging portions engage each other.

3. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein

the bottom wall surface of the U-shaped groove has a protruding portion protruding by a predetermined length from an outer surface of the sidewall, and

the locking means is formed by a projection raised upward from a top edge of the protruding portion of the bottom wall surface.

4. The backlight unit according to claim 3, wherein the locking means is a linear projection having a predetermined length.

5. The backlight unit according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion has a length protruding from the outer surface of the sidewall that is one of approximately the same and smaller than the thickness of the sidewall of the box type case.

6. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein

the first engaging portion has a groove that is large enough to contain the protruding portion provided to the sidewall of the supporting frame to the sidewall of the box type case,

an upper portion of the sidewall of the groove has an inward recess, and

the locking means is engaged with the recess.

7. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

the backlight unit according to claim 1;

and

a liquid crystal display panel mounted on the supporting frame and secured by a front surface frame.

2. (canceled)

8. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

a box type case in a rectangular shape having a sidewall and an upper opening;

an optical member such as a light source and an optical sheet contained in the box type case; and

a supporting frame in a frame shape securing the optical member in place by being fitted in the opening of the box type case;

a liquid crystal display panel mounted on the supporting frame;

a flexible circuit board being connected to one side of the liquid crystal display panel; and

a front surface frame securing the liquid crystal display panel;

an engaging portion being provided to the sidewall at a long side of the box type case,

an engaging portion that is a U-shaped groove with a predetermined depth and having an opening at an upper portion of the supporting frame being provided to an outer surface of the sidewall at one long side of the supporting frame, and locking means being attached to a bottom wall surface of the U-shaped groove,

an engaging portion being provided to an inner surface of the sidewall at the other long side of the supporting frame,

the locking means being engaged with and locked by the engaging portion as the engaging portion of the box type case and the engaging portion of the supporting frame engage each other, and

the flexible circuit board being placed at the other long side of the supporting frame.