Backlight module having device for fastening lighting units

• US 7,374,306 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AUO Corp.
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Pang-Hsuan
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US11/182,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/249, 362/225, 362/612, 362/613, 362/27, 362/97
• US Class Current: 362/27
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs

Abstract

A device for fastening the lighting units in a backlight module is provided. A rigid board partially laps over the adjacent lighting unit or units. The rigid board and the backboard have holes respectively such that a bolt is passed through the holes and locked on a nut. Accordingly the rigid board exerts a compressing strength to fasten the adjacent lighting unit or units onto the backboard.

Claims

1. A backlight module, comprising:

a backboard;

a plurality of lighting units disposed on the backboard; and

at least one rigid board, disposed between two adjacent lighting units, having two sides lapping over the two adjacent lighting units, respectively.

2. The backlight module of claim 1, wherein each of said lighting units comprises a plurality of lighting elements, and a carrying board for carrying said plurality of lighting elements.

3. The backlight module of claim 2, wherein said rigid board partially laps over the carrying board.

4. The backlight module of claim 1, wherein said rigid board is a tinned steel board.

5. The backlight module of claim 1, wherein said rigid board is a stainless steel board.

6. The backlight module of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to fasten the rigid board on the backboard.

7. The backlight module of claim 6, wherein said rigid board comprises a concave portion with a bottom of the concave portion attached to the backboard.

8. The backlight module of claim 7, wherein said rigid board and said backboard have a first hole and a second hole, respectively, and wherein the first hole is positioned on the concave portion, and the second hole is positioned corresponding to the first hole.

9. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein said fastener comprises a screw, and the second hole is a threaded hole.

10. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein said fastener comprises a bolt and a nut, said bolt being passed through the first hole and the second hole and locked on the nut, thereby fastening the rigid board on the backboard.

11. The backlight module of claim 2, further comprising a thermal conductive pad located between the carrying board and the backboard.

12. The backlight module of claim 2, further comprising a reflective board covering the rigid board.

13. The backlight module of claim 12, wherein said reflective board has a hole such that the lighting element protrudes from the hole.

14. The backlight module of claim 1, wherein said backboard comprises a heat dissipating portion.

15. A backlight module, comprising:

a backboard;

a plurality of lighting units disposed on the backboard; and

at least one rigid board, disposed adjacent the lighting unit, having at least one side lapping over a side portion of the lighting unit.

16. The backlight module of claim 15, wherein each of said lighting units comprises a plurality of lighting elements, and a carrying board for carrying said plurality of lighting elements.

17. The backlight module of claim 15, wherein said rigid board comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion, said first portion being attached to the backboard.

18. The backlight module of claim 16, further comprising a thermal conductive pad located between the carrying board and the backboard.

19. The backlight module of claim 16, further comprising a reflective board covering the rigid board, wherein said reflective board has a hole such that the lighting element protrudes from the hole.

20. The backlight module of claim 15, wherein said backboard comprises a heat dissipating portion.