Backlight assembly

• US 7,325,941 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Jung Soo, Min, Eun Seong
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US11/253,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 362/97, 362/330, 362221-225, 362/362, 362/607, 362630-634, 362/559, 349/70
• US Class Current: 362/225
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details

Abstract

A backlight assembly having protrusions in a side surface between a side supporter and a cover shield is provided. The protrusions prevent the cover shield from being deformed by an external force and prevent disconnection of a wire between the side supporter and the cover shield. The backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources; a side supporter having a plurality of U-shaped curved portions which align with and support the light sources; a PCB having a plurality of inverters mounted thereon; a plurality of wires which connect the inverter and an electrode of each light source; a cover shield with an edge for protecting end portions of the light sources and a second edge for protecting the PCB; and an extension formed on one surface of the side supporter opposite to the cover shield edge.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly, comprising:

a plurality of light sources arranged at fixed intervals inside an outer case;

a first side supporter that includes a plurality of U-shaped curved portions substantially aligned with respective first ends of the plurality of light sources, the first side supporter at one side of the outer case thereby supporting the plurality of light sources;

a second side supporter that includes a plurality of U-shaped curved portions substantially aligned with respective second ends of the plurality of light sources, the second side supporter at a second side of the outer case thereby supporting the plurality of light sources;

a first printed circuit board (PCB) on which a plurality of first inverters are mounted;

a second printed circuit board(PCB) on which a plurality of second inverters are mounted;

a plurality of wires for electrically connecting a first electrode of each respective light source of the plurality of light sources with a respective first inverter of the plurality of first inverters and electrically connecting a second electrode of each respective light source of the plurality of light source with a respective second inverter of the plurality of second inverters;

a first cover shield including a first side for covering the first ends of the plurality of light sources, the first cover shield having a second side for covering a first rear side of the outer case;

a second cover shield including a first side for covering the second ends of the plurality of light sources, the second cover shield having a second side for covering a second rear side of the outer case;

a plurality of first extensions extending from the first side supporter toward the first side of the first cover shield, thereby preventing contact between the first cover shield and the first side supporter; and

a plurality of second extensions extending from the second side supporter toward the first side of the second cover shield, thereby preventing contact between the second cover shield and the second side supporter.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a first protection cap between inner walls of the U-shaped curved portions in the first side supporter and each light source of the plurality of light sources, the first protection cap protecting electrodes of the plurality of light sources; and

a second protection cap between inner walls of the U-shaped curved portions in the second side supporter and each light source of the plurality of light sources, the second protection cap protecting electrodes of the plurality of light sources.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a first supporter including a via-hole and protruding from the first protection cap toward the first side of the first cover shield;

a second supporter including a via-hole and protruding from the first protection cap toward the first side of the first cover shield;

a third supporter including a via-hole and protruding from the second protection cap toward the first side of the second cover shield; and

a fourth supporter including a via-hole and protruding from the second protection cap toward the second side of the second cover shield.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of wires electrically connect the first electrode of each respective light source of the plurality of light sources with each respective first inverter of the plurality of first inverters through the via-holes of the first, and second supporter electrically connects the second electrode of each respective light source with each respective second inverter of the plurality of second inverters through the via-holes of the third and fourth supporters.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second extensions extend closer to the first and second cover shields than the first, second, third, and fourth supporters.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second supporters are unitary with the first protection cap, and the third and fourth supporters are unitary with the second protection cap.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth supporters are formed of rubber.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising;

a polarizing film; and

a light diffusion sheet.