Backlight assembly and a display device using the same

• US 9,310,547 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Son, Young-Ran, Park, Young-Min, Lee, Chang-Moo, Ha, Seung-Hwa, Hwang, Seong-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US13/910,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20140185318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/554, 362/555, 362/556, 362/558, 362/560, 362/609, 362/610, 405/46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/05 plane
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes a light guide member extending in a direction and having a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. A light source faces the light guide member and supplies light to the light guide member through the light incident surface. A reflecting member reflects light exiting from the light exiting surface of the light guide member. The reflecting member includes a groove receiving the light guide member. A first reflecting portion is disposed under the light guide member and reflects light refracted by the light guide member in an upward direction. A second reflecting portion is disposed on the light guide member and reflects light refracted by the light guide member in a downward direction.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly, comprising:

a light guide member shaped as a bar, wherein the light guide member has two opposite side surfaces and a light exiting surface;

a light source disposed on at least one of the two opposite side surfaces of the light guide member; and

a light reflecting member including a first reflecting portion, a second reflecting portion, and a groove formed between the first and second reflecting portions, wherein the light guide member is disposed in the groove such that the light exiting surface is exposed to the outside, and wherein light emitted from the light source is reflected in the light guide member and is exited through the light exiting surface,

wherein the light guide member contacts with the light reflecting member,

wherein the first reflecting portion is substantially flat and the second reflecting portion is substantially flat, and

wherein the first and second reflecting portions spread away from each other in a direction away from the light exiting surface.

2. A display device, comprising:

a display panel; and

a backlight assembly supplying light to the display panel,

wherein the backlight assembly comprises;

a light source;

a light guide member facing the light source and refracting light generated from the light source; and

a reflecting member receiving the light guide member and reflecting light refracted from the light guide member,

wherein the light guide member contacts with the reflecting member,

wherein the reflecting member comprises;

a groove receiving the light guide member;

a first reflecting portion disposed at a side of the light guide member and reflecting light refracted by the light guide member in a first direction;

a second reflecting portion disposed at another side of the light guide member and reflecting light refracted by the light guide member in a second direction; and

a third reflecting portion extending from the first reflecting portion,

wherein the third reflecting portion extends in an upwardly inclined direction with respect to a horizontal direction such that a height of the third reflecting portion gradually increases in a direction away from the light source.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the light guide member has a bar shape.

4. A backlight assembly, comprising:

a light guide member having a light incident surface and a light exiting surface;

a light source facing the light guide member and supplying light to the light guide member through the light incident surface; and

a reflecting member reflecting light exiting from the light exiting surface of the light guide member, wherein the light guide member is disposed in the reflecting member such that the light exiting surface is exposed to the outside,

wherein the light guide member contacts with the reflecting member,

wherein the reflecting member comprises;

a groove receiving the light guide member;

a first reflecting portion disposed at a side of the light guide member and reflecting light refracted by the light guide member in a first direction;

a second reflecting portion disposed at another side of the light guide member and reflecting light refracted by the light guide member in a second direction; and

a third reflecting portion extending from the first reflecting portion,

wherein the third reflecting portion extends in an upwardly inclined direction with respect to a horizontal direction such that a height of the third reflecting portion gradually increases in a direction away from the light source.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, further comprising an optical sheet disposed on the second reflecting portion.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light incident surface comprises a first light incident surface and a second light incident surface respectively disposed on first and second sides of the light guide member, and

wherein the light source comprises:

a first light source facing the first light incident surface; and

a second light source facing the second light incident surface.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light guide member has a bar shape.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 8, wherein the light guide member has a cross-sectional shape of a rectangle, a circle, or a semi-circle.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 8, wherein the light guide member has a reflecting pattern provided on at least a portion of an outer surface of the light guide member contacting the reflecting member.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein a vacant space is formed between the light guide member and the third reflecting portion.

12. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light exiting surface of the light guide member has a curved shape.

13. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the light exiting surface of the light guide member has a light exiting pattern.

14. The backlight assembly of claim 13, wherein the light exiting pattern has a triangular cross-sectional shape or a circular cross-sectional shape.