Light generating device, backlight assembly having the same, and display apparatus having the backlight assembly

• US 7,566,160 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Ju-Young, Kim, Gi-Cherl, Lee, Sang-Yu, Song, Chun-Ho, Lee, Sang-Gil, Kang, Seock-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y
• Application Number:
  US11/228,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 362/601, 362/612, 362/611, 362/613, 362/630, 362/631, 362/632, 362/633, 362/634, 362/555, 362/559, 362/561, 349/58, 349/60, 349/65, 349/67, 349/70
• US Class Current: 362/613
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133613 characterized by the sequence of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133628 with cooling means

Abstract

A light-generating device includes a driving substrate and a plurality of light source arrays. The driving substrate has a rectangular planar shape. The plurality of light source arrays is formed on the driving substrate. The light source arrays include at least one light emitting diode to generate light in response to power being applied through the substrate, and the light source arrays are spaced apart from each other. Thus, heat generated from the light-generating device is rapidly dissipated from the light-generating device, improving brightness of the light, brightness uniformity of the light and color reproducibility of the light.

Claims

1. A light generating device comprising:

a driving substrate having a rectangular planar shape with two first sides and two second sides, wherein the first sides have a first length and the second sides have a second length that is shorter than the first length; and

a plurality of light source arrays formed on the driving substrate, each of the light source arrays including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a first direction spaced apart from each other, each of the light emitting diodes generating light when electric power is applied thereto through the driving substrate, wherein

the light emitting diodes are spaced apart from each other by a first distance extending in a direction parallel to first sides of the driving substrate, and

the light source arrays are arranged along the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate, the light source arrays being spaced apart from each other by a second distance extending in the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate,

the second distance between the light source arrays is longer than the first distance between the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays,

the second distance is substantially equal to a length of each light source array in the direction of the first sides of the driving substrate, and

all the light emitting diodes in each light source array are arranged in a single line that extends along the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate.

2. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the light source arrays are disposed along a first line and a second line that is substantially parallel to the first line, and wherein each of the light source arrays in the first line is aligned with a space between the light source arrays in the second line, so that the light source arrays in the first and second lines are arranged in a staggered configuration.

3. The light generating device of claim 2, wherein a distance between neighboring light source arrays in the second line is substantially equal to a length of each of the light source arrays in the first line.

4. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting diodes corresponds to one of a red LED that generates red light, a green LED that generates green light, and a blue LED that generates blue light.

5. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the number of the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays is about 2 to about 4.

6. A backlight assembly, comprising:

a light generating device including a driving substrate and a plurality of light source arrays formed on the driving substrate, each of the light source arrays including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a first direction spaced apart from each other, each of the light emitting diodes generating light when electric power is applied thereto through the driving substrate; and

a receiving container having a bottom plate and sidewalls formed at edge portions of the bottom plate, the driving substrate being disposed on the bottom plate,

wherein the driving substrate has a rectangular planar shape with two first sides and two second sides, wherein the first sides have a first length and the second sides have a second length that is shorter than the first length,

the light emitting diodes are spaced apart from each other by a first distance extending in a direction parallel to first sides of the driving substrate, and

the light source arrays are arranged along the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate, the light source arrays being spaced apart from each other by a second distance extending in the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate,

the second distance between the light source arrays is longer than the first distance between the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays,

the second distance is substantially equal to a length of each light source array in the direction of the first sides of the driving substrate, all the light emitting diodes in each light source array are arranged in a single line that extends along the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein the light source arrays are disposed along a first line and a second line that is substantially parallel to the first line, and wherein each of the light source arrays in the first line is aligned with a space between the light source arrays in the second line, so that the light source arrays in the first line and the second line are arranged in a staggered configuration.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 7, wherein a distance between the neighboring light source arrays in the second line is substantially equal to a length of each of the light source array in the first line.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the light emitting diodes corresponds to one of a red LED that generates red light, a green LED that generates green light, and a blue LED that generates blue light.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein the number of the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays is about 2 to about 4.

11. The backlight assembly of the claim 6, further comprising a light mixing member that is coupled to the sidewalls to mix the light generating from the light generating device.

12. A display apparatus comprising:

a light generating device generating light, the light generating device including a plurality of driving substrates, each of the driving substrates including a plurality of light source arrays formed thereon, each of the light source arrays including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a first direction spaced apart from each other, each of the light emitting diodes generating light when electric power is applied thereto through the substrate;

a receiving container having a bottom plate and sidewalls formed at edge portions of the bottom plate, the driving substrate being disposed on the bottom plate; and

a display panel displaying an image by using the light generated by the light generating device,

wherein the driving substrate has a rectangular planar shape with two first sides and two second sides, wherein the first sides have a first length and the second sides have a second length that is shorter than the first length,

the light emitting diodes are spaced apart from each other by a first distance extending in a direction parallel to first sides of the driving substrate, and

the light source arrays are arranged along the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate, the light source arrays being spaced apart from each other by a second distance extending in the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate,

the second distance between the light source arrays is longer than the first distance between the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays,

the second distance is substantially equal to a length of each light source array in the direction of the first sides of the driving substrate,

all the light emitting diodes in each light source array are arranged in a single line that extends alone the direction parallel to the first sides of the driving substrate.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light source arrays are disposed in a line on each of the driving substrates, and the driving substrates are arranged such that each of the light source arrays formed on a first driving substrate is aligned with a space between the light source arrays on a second driving substrate, where the second driving substrate is adjacent to the first driving substrate, so that the light source arrays formed on the first and second driving substrates are arranged in a staggered configuration.

14. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light source arrays formed on each of the driving substrates are disposed along a first line and a second line that is substantially parallel to the first line, and each of the light source arrays in the first line is aligned with a space between the light source arrays in the second line, so that the light source arrays on each of the driving substrates are arranged in a staggered configuration.

15. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light emitting diodes in each of the light source arrays formed on each of driving substrate are arranged on the driving substrate in a matrix, and the driving substrates are disposed such that each of the light source arrays formed on a first driving substrate is aligned with a space between the light source arrays that are formed on a second driving substrate, wherein the second driving substrate is adjacent to the first driving substrate.