BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME

• US 20110085107A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: NOH, Cheol-Yong, Choi, Seong-Sik, Choi, Jae-Chang
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/61
• 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: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames

Abstract

A backlight assembly of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is provided with improved heat dissipation capabilities. The improved dissipation capabilities come from one or more light-sourcing unit fixing frames that have extensions which protrude to outside a housing that houses light sourcing units of the LCD. The light-sourcing unit fixing frames mechanically interlock with the housing.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light sourcing unit which is configured to receive electrical power and produce light;

a light-sourcing unit fixing frame to which the light sourcing unit is fixed and thermally coupled; and

a housing which accommodates the light-sourcing unit fixing frame within an inside portion of the housing and has one or more openings communicating between the inside portion and an outside portion of the housing,

wherein one or more portions of the light-sourcing unit fixing frame extend through the openings from the inside portion to the outside portion of the housing.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom plate portion and sidewall portions extending from the bottom portion.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein one of said openings is formed immediately adjacent to one of the sidewall portions of the housing.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises a lateral extension portion which is exposed through one of said openings, where the lateral extension portion overlaps at least a part of the bottom portion.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame further comprises a fixing protrusion which mates with a groove or bend or counter-extending portion of the housing to thereby interlock the light-sourcing unit fixing frame in place relative to the housing.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 5, wherein the fixing protrusion of the light-sourcing unit fixing frame extends parallel to the lateral extension portion of the light-sourcing unit fixing frame, and wherein at least part of the bottom portion of the housing is inserted between the fixing protrusion and the lateral extension portion.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a first bent portion which is inserted between the fixing protrusion and the lateral extension portion of the light-sourcing unit fixing frame.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame further comprises a first fixing groove into which at least one protrusion of the housing is inserted.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises a second bent portion which is formed as a bent extension of a side of one of the housing openings and the second bent portion defines said at least one protrusion of the housing which is inserted into the first fixing groove.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate frame which is disposed over and coupled to the housing.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 10, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame further comprises a second fixing groove into which part of the intermediate frame is inserted.

12. The backlight assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion, and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises a horizontal portion which extends parallel to the bottom portion and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises a vertical portion which extends perpendicular to the horizontal portion.

13. The backlight assembly of claim 12, wherein the vertical portion is exposed outside the housing.

14. The backlight assembly of claim 12, wherein the intermediate frame further comprises an insertion groove into which at least part of the vertical portion is inserted.

15. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame are fastened to each other by at least one of welding, screws, and caulking.

16. The backlight assembly of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion, and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises an extension portion which is exposed through one of the openings of the housing and overlaps at least part of the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion and the extension portion are fastened to each other by a screw.

17. The backlight assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises a protrusion portion formed by protruding a portion of the bottom portion, wherein the protrusion portion and the extension portion are coupled to each other by a screw.

18. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame further comprises a wring insertion groove within which wiring connected to the light sourcing unit passes.

19. The backlight assembly of claim 18, wherein the wiring insertion groove is exposed outside the housing.

20. A display device comprising:

a display panel which displays an image;

a light sourcing unit which provides light to the display panel;

an light-sourcing unit fixing frame to which the light sourcing unit is fixed; and

a housing having a interior portion and an exterior portion, the interior portion being configured to accommodate the light-sourcing unit fixing frame therein, where the housing has an aperture portion communicating being the interior and exterior portions,

wherein part of the light-sourcing unit fixing frame is exposed to the exterior portion of the housing by way of the aperture portion.

21. The display device of claim 20, wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion and sidewall portions which surround the bottom portion, the aperture portion is formed in the bottom portion, and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises an extension portion which is exposed through the aperture portion and overlaps the bottom portion.

22. The display device of claim 21, wherein the light-sourcing unit fixing frame further comprises a fixing protrusion which fixes at least one of sides of the aperture portion.

23. The display device of claim 20, wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion, and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises a horizontal portion which extends substantially parallel to the bottom portion and a vertical portion which extends substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion.

24. The display device of claim 23, wherein the vertical portion is exposed outside the housing.

25. The display device of claim 20, wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion, and the light-sourcing unit fixing frame comprises an extension portion which is exposed through the aperture portion and overlaps at least part of the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion and the extension portion are coupled to each other by at least one of welding, screws, and caulking.