Display module having support structure for display panel

• US 9,063,256 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Liao, Chien-Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US13/955,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 362/632, 362/633, 362/634
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1335 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors

Abstract

A display module includes a display panel and a backlight module. The display panel has overlapped first and second substrates, wherein the first substrate extends beyond the second substrate at a first side. The backlight module is disposed on one side of the display module opposite to the display surface and includes a support unit disposed along the first side. The support unit has a first tier portion and a second tier portion, which is lifted toward the display panel with respect to the first tier portion and supports the display panel. A projection region of the display panel supported by the second tier portion on the first substrate covers or overlaps the edge of the second substrate at the first side and extends to an overlapping area of the first substrate and the second substrate.

Claims

1. A display module, comprising:

a display panel, including;

a first substrate; and

a second substrate overlapping the first substrate, wherein the first substrate extends beyond the second substrate at a first side; and

a backlight module disposed under the display panel, the backlight module including a light guide plate and having a support unit disposed along the first side, an end portion of the light guide plate parallel to the first side being clamped by the support unit;

wherein the support unit has a first tier portion and a second tier portion, the second tier portion is lifted from the first tier portion toward the display panel and supports the display panel, a projection region of a portion of the display panel substantially supported by the second tier portion on the first substrate covers an edge of the second substrate at the first side and extends to an overlapping area of the first substrate and the second substrate;

wherein the backlight module includes a connection piece disposed between the second tier portion and the display panel.

2. The display module of claim 1, wherein the second tier portion is formed as a free end of the support unit and is closer to a center of the display panel than the first tier portion.

3. The display module of claim 1, wherein the support unit includes a base plate disposed on one side of the first tier portion opposite to the light guide plate;

an accommodation space is formed between the base plate and the first tier portion;

the base plate and the first tier portion together clamp the end portion of the light guide plate.

4. The display module of claim 3, wherein the backlight module includes at least one optical film disposed on the light guide plate;

a gap exists between the second tier portion and the light guide plate;

an end of the optical film extends into the gap.

5. The display module of claim 1, wherein the second tier portion supports the display panel by supporting the first substrate.

6. The display module of claim 1, wherein the second tier portion supports the display panel by supporting the second substrate.

7. The display module of claim 1, wherein the display panel includes a driving circuit disposed on one side of the first substrate facing the second substrate and located on a portion exposed by the second substrate;

the projection region of the portion of the display panel supported by the second tier portion on the first substrate covers an area of the first substrate between the driving circuit and the edge of the second substrate at the first side.

8. The display module of claim 1, wherein one side of the first tier portion facing the display panel is bent to form a connection portion;

another side of the connection portion is bent to form the second tier portion.

9. A display module, comprising:

a display panel, including;

a first substrate; and

a second substrate overlapping the first substrate, wherein the first substrate extends beyond the second substrate at a first side; and

a backlight module disposed under the display panel, the backlight module having a support unit disposed along the first side;

wherein the support unit has a first tier portion and a second tier portion, the second tier portion is lifted from the first tier portion toward the display panel and supports the display panel, a projection region of a portion of the display panel substantially supported by the second tier portion on the first substrate covers an edge of the second substrate at the first side and extends to an overlapping area of the first substrate and the second substrate;

wherein the backlight module includes a pad block disposed on the first tier portion facing the display panel;

the pad block and the second tier portion together support the display panel on a same side.

10. The display module of claim 9, wherein the backlight module includes a connection piece extending between the pad block and the display panel to a location between the second tier portion and the display panel;

one side of the connection piece is attached to the display panel;

another side of the connection piece is attached to the pad block and the second tier portion.

11. The display module of claim 9, wherein the second tier portion supports the display panel by supporting the first substrate.

12. The display module of claim 10, wherein the second tier portion supports the display panel by supporting the first substrate.

13. The display module of claim 9, wherein the second tier portion supports the display panel by supporting the second substrate.