LENS AND BACKLIGHT UNIT, LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080088770A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KANG, Eun Jeong, YOON, Ju Young, HWANG, Seong Yong, KIM, Gi Cherl, KIM, Jin Soo
• Application Number:
  US11/870,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs

Abstract

A lens for a liquid crystal display, and a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display having the same. The lens for a liquid crystal display includes a flat portion, a curved portion connected with the flat portion, facing the flat portion and including a first curved surface having a first curvature, and a groove disposed in the flat portion and including a second curved surface having a second curvature. The lens and the groove are formed to extend longitudinally in a first direction.

Claims

1. A lens for a liquid crystal display, the lens comprising:

a flat portion;

a curved portion extended from the flat portion, facing the flat portion and including a first curved surface having a first curvature; and

a groove disposed in the fiat portion and including a second curved surface having a second curvature,

wherein the lens and the groove extend longitudinally in a first direction.

2. The lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second curvature is larger than the first curvature.

3. The lens as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lens has a tunnel shape.

4. The lens as claimed in claim 3, wherein the groove has an elliptic cross section in a direction taken perpendicular to the first direction.

5. A backlight unit comprising:

a light source unit including;

a lens including a flat portion, a curved portion extended from the flat portion, facing the flat portion and including a first curved surface having a first curvature, and a groove extended from the flat portion, extending towards the curved portion and including a second curved surface having a second curvature; and

a light source arranged in the groove of the lens, wherein the lens and the groove extend longitudinally in a first direction.

6. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second curvature is larger than the first curvature.

7. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lens has a tunnel shape.

8. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the groove has an elliptic cross section in a direction taken perpendicular to the first direction.

9. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a lamp.

11. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of the light source units are arranged in an m×

n matrix form (where, m and n are an integer) and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

12. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a diffusing plate disposed over the light source unit, and a plurality of optical sheets disposed over the diffusing plate.

13. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel displaying images;

a backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal display panel; and

a receiving member receiving the backlight unit,

wherein the backlight unit comprises;

a light source unit including;

a lens including a flat portion, a curved portion connected with the flat portion, facing the flat portion and including a first curved surface having a first curvature, and a groove disposed in the flat portion and including a second curved surface having a second curvature; and

a light source arranged in the groove of the lens,

wherein the lens and the groove extend longitudinally in a first direction.

14. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second curvature is larger than the first curvature.

15. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of the light source units are arranged in the receiving member in an m×

n matrix form (where, m and n are an integer) and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

16. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a lamp.

18. A method of forming a backlight assembly in a liquid crystal, display, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of lenses, each of the lenses including a flat portion, a curved portion connected to the flat portion, facing the flat portion and including a first curved surface having a first curvature, and a groove disposed in the flat portion and including a second curved surface having a second curvature; and

disposing a light source in the groove of each of the plurality of lenses;

wherein the lens covers an entire of the light source; and

wherein the lens and the groove extend longitudinally in a first direction.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along the first direction of the groove.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the disposing a;

light source includes disposing groups of light emitting diodes, the groups being spaced at a first distance from each other along the groove of the lens.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising disposing the plurality of lenses at a second distance from each other in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the disposing groups of light emitting diodes includes adjusting the first distance and the disposing the plurality of lenses includes adjusting the second distance, the adjusting the distances increasing a distribution of light emitting through the lenses from the light sources.