Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display module using the same

• US 8,967,822 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Hee-Jung, Oh, Eui-Yeol
• Primary Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/511,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20070153515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,108 Days
• Field of Search: 362/237, 362/27, 362 971- 974, 362/241
• US Class Current: 362/97.3
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes at least one backlight sub-unit, the backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes at least one LED that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising at least one backlight sub-unit, the at least one backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes a plurality of LEDs that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit, wherein the at least one backlight sub-unit includes a transparent window above the LED unit;

and a plurality of diverters to reflect or diffuse a light from the plurality of LEDs under the transparent window facing the plurality of LEDs, wherein each of the plurality of diverters directly faces a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of diverters are spaced apart from each other under the transparent window, wherein the plurality of diverters are circular shape, and wherein an irradiation light of the plurality of LEDs is directly emitted to the plurality of diverters.

2. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall defines an emitting region by surrounding the LED unit.

3. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one backlight sub-unit further include at least one optical sheet.

4. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical sheet is disposed over the plurality of LED units.

5. The backlight assembly according to claim 4, wherein the transparent window is interposed between the LED unit and the at least one optical sheet.

6. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical sheet has a non-planar shape with respect to the LED unit.

7. The backlight assembly according to claim 6, wherein the non-planar shape is a dome shape.

8. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical sheet includes a diffusion sheet.

9. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one backlight sub-unit includes:

a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted; and

a reflective sheet covering the PCB and having a plurality of through-holes that expose the plurality of LEDs.

10. The backlight assembly according to claim 9, wherein the PCB includes:

a plug connector at a first side of the PCB; and

a socket connector disposed at a second side of the PCB, wherein at least two of the backlight sub-units are connected via the plug and the socket connectors.

11. The backlight assembly according to claim 9, wherein a connector terminal is formed on a back surface of the PCB wherein the connector terminal is connected to a backlight driving circuit.

12. The backlight assembly according to claim 9, wherein the PCB includes metal core PCB.

13. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall is selected from one of a transparent material, an opaque reflective material, and a half-transparent diffusion material.

14. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes a lattice shape.

15. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined color is a white (W) color.

16. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit includes at least one white (W) LED.

17. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit includes at least one red (R) LED, at least one green (G) LED, and at least one blue (B) LED.

18. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes one of a line shape, a triangular shape, and a square shape.

19. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes at least three LEDs arranged in a shape and at least one LED disposed at a central position of the shape.

20. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit is independently detachable for replacement.

21. A backlight assembly, comprising:

a plurality of backlight sub-units, each of the plurality of backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit, the LED unit including a plurality of LEDs emitting a predetermined color and a connector unit, wherein each of the plurality of backlight sub-units includes a transparent window above the LED unit; and

a plurality of diverters to reflect or diffuse a light from the plurality of LEDs under the transparent window facing the plurality of LEDs, wherein each of the plurality of diverter directly faces a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of diverters are spaced apart from each other under the transparent window, wherein the plurality of diverters are circular shape, and wherein an irradiation light of the plurality of LEDs is directly emitted to the plurality of diverters; and

a backlight driving circuit connected to at least one of the plurality of backlight sub-unit.

22. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the connector unit includes at least one plug connector and at least one socket connector.

23. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein at least two of the plurality of backlight sub-units are connected via the connector units.

24. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the connector unit includes a connector terminal to connect directly to the backlight driving circuit, wherein the connector unit is formed on a back surface of the LED unit.

25. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of backlight sub-units are arranged in a matrix.

26. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of the backlight sub-units are divided into at least two groups and each group is driven by a common signal.

27. A liquid crystal display module, comprising:

a top frame;

a bottom frame;

a backlight assembly including a plurality of backlight sub-units arranged in a matrix shape, each of the plurality of backlight sub-units including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes a plurality of LEDs that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern, and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit, wherein each of the backlight sub-unit includes a transparent window above the LED unit; and

a plurality of diverters to reflect or diffuse a light from the plurality of LEDs under the transparent window facing the plurality of LEDs, wherein each of the plurality of diverter directly faces a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of diverters are spaced apart from each other under the transparent window, wherein the plurality of diverters are circular shape, and wherein an irradiation light of the plurality of LEDs is directly emitted to the plurality of diverters;

a liquid crystal panel for displaying images;

a main frame interposed between the backlight assembly and the liquid crystal panel; and

a backlight driving circuit electrically connected to the plurality of the LED units.

28. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein the LED unit is directly connected the backlight driving circuit.

29. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein each of the backlight sub-unit includes:

a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted; and

a reflective sheet covering the PCB and having a plurality of through-holes exposing the plurality of LEDs.

30. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes:

a plug connector at a first side of the PCB; and

a socket connector at a second side of the PCB, wherein at least two of the backlight sub-units are connected via the plug and the socket connectors.

31. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes at least one connector terminal, the at least one connector terminal being formed on a back surface of the PCB.

32. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 31, wherein the backlight driving circuit is electrically connected to one of the plurality of backlight sub-units via the at least one connector terminal.

33. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 31, wherein the bottom frame has at least one opening to expose the at least one connector terminal configured to connect to the backlight driving circuit through the at least one opening.

34. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes metal core PCB.

35. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of the backlight sub-units are divided into at least two groups and each group is driven by a common signal.