Flat-type light source apparatus, liquid crystal display apparatus using the same, and method of inspecting the liquid crystal display

• US 7,405,797 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ohta, Hisashi, Teramoto, Kenji, Monden, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koyama; Kumiko C.
• Application Number:
  US10/200,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,198 Days
• Field of Search: 349/33, 349/65, 349/69, 349149-152, 313/506, 362/600, 362630-634
• US Class Current: 349/149
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1309 Repairing; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices

Abstract

A lamp lighting terminal which is a conductive pad connected to a power supply terminal of a lamp is mounted on a surface opposite to a light emitting surface of a flat light source apparatus. Then, a terminal of a inspection device is brought into contact with the lamp lighting terminal to light up a liquid crystal display apparatus, thereby allowing inspection to be carried out. The flat light source apparatus may be provided with a light guide inputting lights from a light source through the side to output the light through one surface. In this configuration, inspection work at the time of lighting inspection of a liquid crystal display is simplified, and a high-quality liquid crystal display can be obtained.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display apparatus with a back-light unit, comprising:

a flat light source apparatus used as the back-light unit, including a light source, a light emitting unit configured to output light from said light source through a front surface, a frame for containing said light source and said light emitting unit, a conductive pad mounted on a back outer surface or a side outer surface of said frame, and a power supply terminal of said light source connected to said conductive pad to light up said light source through said conductive pad;

a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other which is fixed to a viewing side of said flat light source apparatus, and said liquid crystal panel is configured to transmit the light from said flat light source to a display surface; and

an outer housing disposed to form an outer shell of the liquid crystal display apparatus, said outer housing framing said liquid crystal panel and enclosing said flat light source apparatus, wherein said conductive pad is accessible from outside of said outer housing.

2. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light source is tubular.

3. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein back surface of said frame is an opposite surface of said front surface.

4. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plane containing said side surface intersects a plane containing said back surface.

5. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting unit has a light guide which inputs light from said light source through a side to output said light through one surface.

6. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said light source is mounted close to at least one side of said light guide.

7. A method of inspecting a liquid crystal display apparatus with a back-light unit, comprising the steps of:

preparing a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a flat light source apparatus used as the back-light unit, including a light source, a light emitting unit configured to output light from said light source through a front surface, a frame for containing said light source and said light emitting unit, a conductive pad mounted on a back outer surface or a side outer surface of said frame, and a power supply terminal of said light source connected to said conductive pad to light up said light source through said conductive pad;

a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other which is fixed to a viewing side of said flat light source apparatus, and said liquid crystal panel is configured to transmit the light from said flat light source to a display surface; and

an outer housing disposed form an outer shell of the liquid crystal display apparatus, said outer housing framing said liquid crystal panel and enclosing said flat light source apparatus, wherein said conductive pad is accessible from outside said outer housing;

bringing said conductive pad into contact with a power supply terminal of an inspection device placed on a outer surface of said inspection device in a position corresponding to said conductive pad; and

supplying a power from said power supply terminal of said inspection device to a power supply terminal of said light source through said conductive pad to light up said light source.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said conductive pad corresponds to said power supply terminal of said light source, and said conductive pad is brought into contact with said power supply terminal of said inspection device.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said back surface of said frame is an opposite surface of said front surface.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a plane containing said side surface intersects a plane containing said back surface.

11. A liquid crystal display apparatus with a back-light unit, comprising:

a flat light source apparatus used as the back-light unit, including a light source, a light emitting unit configured to output light from said light source through a front surface, a frame for containing said light source and said light emitting unit, a conductive pad mounted on a back outer surface or a side outer surface of said frame, and a power supply terminal of said light source connected to said a conductive pad to light up said light source through said conductive pad;

a conductive wire connected to said power supply terminal of said light source and extended to the outside of said flat light source apparatus;

a connector connected to said conductive wire to light up said light source;

a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal filled between two insulating substrates facing each other which is fixed to a viewing side of said flat light source apparatus, and said liquid crystal panel is configured to transmit the light from said flat light source to a display surface; and

an outer housing disposed to form an outer shell of the liquid crystal display apparatus, said outer housing framing said liquid crystal panel and enclosing said flat light source apparatus, wherein said conductive pad is accessible from outside of said outer housing.