DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20130155717A1
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: JEONG, Wee Joon, KIM, Byung Jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/602
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13332 Front frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133322 Mechanical guidance or alignment of LCD panel support components
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a display panel, a backlight unit, a mold frame, a bottom bracket, a top mold, and first and second coupling members. The display panel includes a display surface on which an image is displayed. The backlight unit generates and provides a light to the display panel. The mold frame supports the display panel and the backlight unit. The bottom bracket accommodates the display panel, the backlight unit and the mold frame. The top mold faces the bottom bracket and overlaps a portion of the display panel, and the display panel is between the top mold and the bottom bracket. The first coupling member couples the mold frame with the top mold, and the second coupling member couples the top mold with the bottom bracket.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a display panel including a display surface on which an image is displayed;

a backlight unit which generates and provides a light to the display panel;

a mold frame which supports the display panel and the backlight unit;

a bottom bracket which accommodates the display panel, the backlight unit and the mold frame;

a top mold which faces the bottom bracket and overlaps a portion of the display panel, wherein the display panel is between the top mold and the bottom bracket;

a first coupling member which couples the mold frame with the top mold; and

a second coupling member which couples the top mold with the bottom bracket.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first coupling member and the second coupling member has a snap-fit shape.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first coupling member comprises:

a first member directly on one of the mold frame and the top mold; and

a second member directly on a remaining one of the mold frame and the top mold,

wherein the first and second members engage with each other member and couple the mold frame with the top mold.

4. The display apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second coupling member comprises:

a first protrusion directly on one of the top mold and the bottom bracket; and

a first insertion member directly on a remaining one of the top mold and the bottom bracket,

wherein the first protrusion and the first insertion member engage with each other and couple the top mold with the bottom bracket.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the display surface of the display panel comprises a display area in which the image is displayed, and a peripheral area which surrounds the display area in a plan view of the display panel, and

the mold frame overlaps a portion of the peripheral area in the plan view of the display panel.

6. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the top mold comprises:

a cover portion which is substantially parallel to the display surface of the display panel and overlaps the peripheral area of the display surface; and

a sidewall portion which extends substantially perpendicular from the cover portion and toward the bottom bracket,

wherein one of the first member and the second member of the first coupling member, and one of the first protrusion and the first insertion member of the second coupling member are directly on the sidewall portion of the top mold.

7. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bottom bracket comprises:

a bottom portion which is substantially parallel to a rear surface of the display panel and faces the rear surface; and

an extension portion which extends from the bottom portion,

wherein one of the first member of the first coupling member, and one the first insertion member of the second coupling member is directly on the extension portion of the bottom bracket.

8. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first coupling member comprises:

a second protrusion directly on one of the mold frame and the top mold; and

a second insertion member directly on a remaining one of the mold frame and the top mold,

wherein the second protrusion is inserted into the second insertion member and couples the mold frame with the top mold.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second coupling member comprises:

a third member directly on one of the top mold and the bottom bracket; and

a fourth member directly on a remaining one of the top mold and the bottom bracket,

wherein the fourth member and the third member are engaged with each other and couple the top mold with the bottom bracket.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backlight unit comprises:

a light source which generates and provides the light to the display panel;

a light guide plate which guides the light to the display panel;

an optical sheet between the light guide plate and the display panel, wherein the optical sheet controls a direction in which the light travels.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the display panel has a substantially rectangular shape, and

the mold frame corresponds to three sides of the display panel excluding a fourth side of the display panel.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein an inner area of the mold frame is exposed at the fourth side of the display panel such that the light guide plate and the optical sheet are disposed in the inner area of the mold frame from the fourth side of the display panel along a direction substantially parallel to two opposing sides of the mold frame, and are coupled with the mold frame.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light source is adjacent to one of the opposing two sides of the mold frame.

14. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top mold comprises a polymer resin.

15. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom bracket comprises a metal material.

16. A method of forming a display apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a display panel on which an image is displayed;

forming a receiving member which receives the display panel, the receiving member including;

a mold frame including two first portions parallel to each other, one second portion connecting the two first portions to each other and a first coupling member directly thereon, wherein an inner area of the mold frame is exposed at a side which opposes the one second portion, and

a top mold coupled with the mold frame and including a second coupling member directly thereon,

disposing the display panel in the inner area of the mold frame from the side of the mold frame opposing the one second portion; and

engaging the first coupling member with the second coupling member to couple the top mold with the mold frame and to dispose the display panel between the top mold and the mold frame.

17. A receiving member of a display apparatus, comprising:

a frame member which supports a display panel and a backlight unit of the display apparatus, and comprises a first sidewall;

a top member which overlaps a front surface of the display panel, and comprises a second sidewall, and a top portion which overlaps the front surface and extends from the second sidewall;

a bottom member which accommodates the display panel and the backlight unit, and comprises a bottom portion which faces a rear surface of the display panel, and a third sidewall which extends from the bottom portion;

a first coupling member which couples the frame member to the top member, the first coupling member comprising;

a first member directly on one of the first sidewall of the frame member and the second sidewall of the top member; and

a second member directly on a remaining one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the second member is engaged with the first member and couples the frame member to the top member; and

a second coupling member which couples the top member to the bottom member, the second coupling member comprising;

a third member directly on one of the second sidewall of the top member and the third sidewall of the bottom member; and

a fourth member directly on a remaining one of the second sidewall and the third sidewall, wherein the fourth member is engaged with the third member and couples the top member to the bottom member.