Backlight assembly for liquid crystal display device

• US 6,545,732 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Display Technologies
• Inventors: Nakano, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDEK, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/759,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 349/58, 349/60, 349/61, 349/62, 349/65, 362/31
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device comprising lamp units each including a lamp reflector, a lamp portion attached within the lamp reflector and lamp rubbers provided on both ends of the lamp portion, and a frame for holding the lamp units. The lamp units are arranged to include means for maintaining a predetermined clearance between at least end portions of the lamp units and the frame. It is possible to easily perform assembly and exchange of lamp units and to further achieve improvements in reliability.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device comprising lamp units each including a lamp reflector, a lamp portion attached within the lamp reflector and lamp rubbers provided on both ends of the lamp portion, and a frame for holding the lamp units, wherein the lamp units are arranged to include means for maintaining a predetermined clearance between at least end portions of the lamp units and the frame.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined clearance is approximately 0.1 to 10 mm.

3. The backlight assembly of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a part of the lamp rubbers of the lamp units projects outward from the end portions of the lamp reflector along axial directions of the lamp reflector and a part of the projecting portions projects out from an outer peripheral surface of the lamp reflector.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one projection is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lamp reflector.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein at least a tip end of the projection is formed in a rounded manner.

6. The backlight assembly of any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the projection is formed by drawing the lamp reflector.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein portions which project in the axial direction of the lamp reflector and of which tip ends are folded back inward of the lamp reflector are formed at end portions of the lamp reflector.