Backlight assembly and display device having the same

• US 8,162,674 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Joo-Woan, Choi, Seong-Sik, Lee, Yong-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/618,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 439/56, 439/74, 439/76.1, 439/857, 439/953, 362/600, 362/612, 362/613, 362/800
• US Class Current: 439/74
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133611 including means for improving the brightness uniformity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/46 Fixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/54 Arrangements for reducing warping-twist
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes a first substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a connector. The connector is disposed on the second substrate and includes a second electrode connected to the first electrode, and an elastic member which applies a force to the second electrode. The connector increases a contact force between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying the force to the second electrode.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

a first electrode extending from a first major surface plane defining the first substrate;

a second substrate defined by a second major surface plane disposed opposite to the first major surface plane defining the first substrate; and

a connector disposed on the second substrate and intermediate the first and second major surface planes, the connector comprising;

a second electrode connected to the first electrode; and

an elastic member which applies a force to the second electrode,

wherein the connector increases a contact force between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying the force to the second electrode.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a conductive elastic material.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises:

a cylinder accommodating the second electrode and the elastic member therein; and

a hole formed in the connector between the cylinder and the first electrode,

wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is disposed in the hole.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein a diameter of the hole is less than a diameter of the cylinder.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein

a diameter of a first end part of the second electrode which is disposed in the hole and contacts the first electrode is less than the diameter of the hole,

a diameter of a second end part of the second electrode, opposite the first end part thereof, is greater than the diameter of the hole, and

the second end part of the second electrode contacts the elastic member.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein

a diameter of the second electrode is greater than the diameter of the hole, and

an end part of the first electrode is disposed in the hole and contacts the second electrode.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein

the connector comprises a body part, and

the second electrode and the elastic member are disposed in the body part.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 7, wherein

the first electrode extends from the first substrate toward the second substrate, and

the second electrode contacts at least two sides of the first electrode.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode contacts only one surface of the first substrate.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is disposed on the second substrate by surface mount technology.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein

the first substrate comprises a fixing hole, and

the connector further comprises a fixing projection disposed in the fixing hole.

12. The backlight assembly of claim 11, wherein

the fixing hole is formed in the first substrate, and

the fixing projection is hook-engaged with the fixing hole.

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

a light source disposed on the first substrate; and

a power supply part disposed on the second substrate and configured to supply power to the light source.

14. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle which accommodates the first substrate, the connector and the second substrate therein, wherein the receptacle comprises:

a bottom part disposed adjacent to the first substrate; and

an embayment part extending from the bottom part to accommodate the connector and the second substrate therein.

15. The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein a shape of the embayment part on the bottom part of the receptacle is defined by peripheries of two rectangles having equal first lengths and disposed apart from each other and longitudinally aligned parallel to each other along a first direction, connected by two additional rectangles having equal second lengths, shorter than the first lengths, and disposed apart from each other and longitudinally aligned parallel to each other along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

16. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising fixing members which fix the first substrate to the receptacle.

17. A display device comprising:

a display panel which displays an image;

a first substrate disposed on a lower portion of the display panel;

a first electrode extending from a first major surface plane defining the first substrate;

a second substrate defined by a second major surface plane disposed opposite to the first major surface plane defining the first substrate;

a connector disposed on the second substrate and intermediate the first and second major surface planes, the connector comprising;

a second electrode connected to the first electrode; and

an elastic member which applies a force to the second electrode; and

a receptacle which receives the first substrate, the connector and the second substrate therein,

wherein the connector increases a contact force between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying the force to the second electrode.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the connector further comprises:

a cylinders accommodating the second electrode and the elastic member therein; and

a hole formed in the connector between the cylinder and the first electrode, wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrodes is disposed in the hole.

19. The display device of claim 17, further comprising:

a light source disposed on the first substrate; and

a power supply part disposed on the second substrate and configured to supply power to the light source.

20. The display device of claim 17, wherein the receptacle includes a bottom part adjacent to the first substrate, and an embayment part embayed from the bottom part to accommodate the connector and the second substrate therein.