Backlight unit, liquid crystal display device using the same, and method of fabricating the same

• US 7,093,970 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jang, Myong-Gi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/742,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/600, 362/632, 362/633, 362/634, 362/614, 362/613, 349 58- 71
• US Class Current: 362/632
• 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 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/46 Fixing elements

Abstract

A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a bottom cover having a first plane portion and a first side portion combined by a first coupling system, a reflector over the bottom cover and having a second plane portion and a second side portion corresponding to the first plane portion and the first side portion, respectively, at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp over the second plane portion, an optical sheet over the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and a guide panel overlapping a rim portion of the optical sheet, wherein the guide panel and the bottom cover are combined using a second coupling system.

Claims

1. A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a bottom cover having a first plane portion and opposing first side portions combined by a first coupling system;

a reflector over the bottom cover and having a second plane portion and second side portions corresponding to the first plane portion and the opposing first side portions, respectively;

at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp over the second plane portion and between the opposing first side portions;

an optical sheet over the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp; and

a guide panel overlapping a rim portion of the optical sheet,

wherein the guide panel and the bottom cover are combined using a second coupling system.

2. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling system includes a plurality of first bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the first plane portion.

3. The backlight unit according to claim 2, further comprising a first combination part extending from the first plane portion beyond the opposing first side portions and a second combination part bent outward from the opposing first side portions and overlapping the first combination part.

4. The backlight unit according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of first bolts are fixed to the second combination part through the first combination part.

5. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the second coupling system includes a plurality of second bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the guide panel and the second side portions.

6. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp includes a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps disposed parallel to each other.

7. The backlight unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of side supporters crossing the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

8. The backlight unit according to claim 7, wherein the pair of side supporters and the second plane portion are combined using a third coupling system.

9. The backlight unit according to claim 8, wherein the third coupling system includes a plurality of third bolts fixed to the first plane portion through the pair of side supporters and the second plane portion.

10. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical sheet includes a plurality of diffusing sheets covering the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

23. The method according to claim 2, wherein the fourth coupling system includes a plurality of fourth bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the top cover.

11. A liquid crystal display module, comprising:

a bottom cover having a first plane portion and opposing first side portions combined by a first coupling system;

a reflector over the bottom cover and having a second plane portion and second side portions corresponding to the first plane portion and the opposing first side portions, respectively;

at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp over the second plane portion and between the opposing first side portions;

an optical sheet over the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp;

a guide panel overlapping a rim of the optical sheet, the guide panel and the bottom cover being combined by a second coupling system;

a liquid crystal display panel over the guide panel; and

a top cover overlapping a rim portion of the liquid crystal display panel,

wherein the top cover and the bottom cover are combined by a third coupling system.

12. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 11, wherein the third coupling system includes a plurality of bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the top cover.

13. A method of fabricating a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

combining a bottom cover having a first plane portion and opposing first side portions of a bottom cover using a first coupling system;

providing a reflector over the bottom cover and having a second plane portion and second side portions corresponding to the first plane portion and the opposing first side portions, respectively;

providing at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp over the second plane portion and between the opposing first side portions;

providing an optical sheet over the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp;

providing a guide panel overlapping a rim portion of the optical sheet; and

combining the guide panel and the bottom cover using a second coupling system.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first coupling system includes a plurality of first bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the first plane portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a first combination part extending from the first plane portion beyond the opposing first side portions and a second combination part bent outward from the opposing first side portions and overlapping the first combination part.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of first bolts are fixed to the second combination part through the first combination part.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second coupling system includes a plurality of second bolts fixed to the opposing first side portions through the guide panel and the second side portions.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp includes a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps disposed parallel to each other.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising providing a pair of side supporters to cross the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp and combining the pair of side supporters and the second plane portion using a third coupling system.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the third coupling system includes a plurality of third bolts fixed to the opposing first plane portions through the pair of side supporters and the second plane portions.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the optical sheet includes a plurality of diffusing sheets covering the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

22. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display module, comprising:

combining a first plane portion and opposing first side portions of a bottom cover using a first coupling system;

providing a reflector over the bottom cover, the reflector having a second plane portion and second side portions corresponding to the first plane portion and the opposing first side portions, respectively;

providing at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp over the second plane portion and between the opposing first side portions;

providing an optical sheet over the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp;

providing a guide panel to overlap a rim portion of the optical sheet;

coupling the guide panel and the bottom cover using a second coupling system;

providing a liquid crystal display panel over the guide panel;

providing a top cover to overlap a rim portion of the liquid crystal display panel; and

coupling the top cover and the bottom cover using a fourth coupling system.