Liquid crystal display apparatus

• US 9,435,940 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Young-il
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG, DAVID Y
• Application Number:
  US12/105,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,064 Days
• Field of Search: 349 58- 65, 349149-152, 362600-632
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133322 Mechanical guidance or alignment of LCD panel support components
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit

Abstract

Disclosed is an LCD apparatus having a reduced size and weight. The LCD apparatus includes a bottom chassis having a bottom surface and first to fourth sidewalls. The sidewall of the bottom chassis includes a supporting member for preventing a light guiding plate from being moved and a fixing boss for fixing an optical sheet. The bottom chassis includes a lamp insertion portion for receiving a lamp unit, which is disposed on the third and fourth sidewalls of the bottom chassis. The bottom chassis receives a reflecting plate, the light guiding plate and the optical sheet. A mold frame is coupled to the bottom chassis to fix the reflecting plate, the light guiding plate and the optical sheet to the bottom chassis. A display unit disposed on the mold frame is fixed to the mold frame by a top chassis coupled to the mold frame. Accordingly, a bottom mold frame for receiving a backlight assembly is removed, so that it is able to reduce a cost of the LCD apparatus and a weight thereof.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light generating unit generating light;

a light guide plate guiding the light, the light guide plate defining a first guiding portion, the first guiding portion defined by the light guide plate including a recess inwardly protruded with respect to a first side of the light guide plate; and

a receiving container defining a bottom surface thereof which extends to define a plurality of sidewalls thereof, the bottom surface and the sidewalls defining a receiving space,

wherein

a sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface is bent to define a second guiding portion extended from an uppermost end of the sidewall such that a thickness of the sidewall which defines the second guiding portion is substantially the same as a thickness of the second guiding portion defined thereby,

the second guiding portion defined by the extended sidewall is spaced apart from the bottom surface and includes a first protrusion spaced apart from the bottom surface and inwardly protruded toward the receiving space, and

the first protrusion spaced apart from the bottom surface is coupled with the recess of the first guiding portion of the light guide plate and does not overlap the light guide plate at the recess thereof in a plan view.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein

the first guiding portion defined by the light guide plate further comprises a first protrusion outwardly protruded with respect to the first side of the light guide plate, and

the second guiding portion defined by the extended sidewall further comprises a second protrusion outwardly protruded with respect to the sidewall of the receiving container, the first protrusion of the first guiding portion coupled with the second protrusion of the second guiding portion.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mold frame coupled to the receiving container.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein the mold frame includes a first engaging portion, and

the receiving container further includes a second engaging portion coupled to the first engaging portion.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the first engaging portion includes a protrusion,

the second engaging portion includes a hole coupled to the protrusion, and

the hole is formed on the sidewall of the receiving container.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising an optical sheet disposed on the light guide plate.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein the optical sheet includes a first fixing portion, and

the receiving container further includes a second fixing portion coupled to the first fixing portion.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 7, wherein the first fixing portion includes a hole,

the second fixing portion includes a protrusion coupled to the hole, and

the protrusion is formed on an upper surface of the sidewall of the receiving container.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 7, wherein the first fixing portion is outwardly protruded with respect to a side of the light guide plate.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving container comprises at least one of metal or metal alloy.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the second guiding portion is formed by bending a portion of the receiving container.

12. The backlight assembly of claim 11, further comprising a reflecting plate disposed between the light guide plate and the receiving container.

13. The backlight assembly of claim 12, wherein a portion of the second guiding portion has a height identical to a sum of a thickness of each of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate.

14. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate comprises a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and the first guiding portion is formed on the first side.

15. The backlight assembly of claim 14, further comprising another first guiding portion formed on the second side and another second guiding portion coupled with the first guiding portion formed on the second side.

16. The backlight assembly of claim 15, wherein a distance between the first guiding portions is shorter than a distance between the second guiding portions.

17. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second guiding portion extends in an extension direction from the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls extended from the bottom surface,

the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface extends in an extension direction from the bottom surface of the receiving container, and

the thickness of the second guiding portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the sidewall of the receiving container, the thicknesses defined in a direction normal to the extension directions of the second guiding portion and the sidewall, respectively.

18. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second guiding portion extends in an extension direction from the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface,

the bottom surface extends in an extension direction, and

the thickness of the second guiding portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the bottom surface of the receiving container, the thicknesses defined in a direction normal to the extension directions of the second guiding portion and the bottom surface, respectively.

19. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface, the plurality of sidewalls and the second guiding portion of the receiving container each includes a conductive material and collectively form a single, unitary indivisible receiving container.

20. A display apparatus comprising:

a light generating unit generating light;

a light guide plate guiding the light, the light guide plate defining a first guiding portion, the first guiding portion defined by the light guide plate including a recess inwardly protruded with respect to a first side of the light guide plate;

a display unit receiving the light to display an image; and

a receiving container defining a bottom surface thereof which extends to define a plurality of sidewalls thereof, the bottom surface and the sidewalls defining a receiving space,

wherein

a sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface is bent to define a second guiding portion extended from an uppermost end of the sidewall such that a thickness of the sidewall which defines the second guiding portion is substantially the same as a thickness of the second guiding portion defined thereby,

the second guiding portion defined by the extended sidewall is spaced apart from the bottom surface and includes a first protrusion spaced apart from the bottom surface and inwardly protruded toward the receiving space, and

the first protrusion spaced apart from the bottom surface is coupled with the recess of the first guiding portion of the light guide plate and does not overlap the light guide plate at the recess thereof in a plan view.

21. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display unit includes:

a display panel displaying the image; and

a printed circuit board electrically connected to the display panel.

22. The display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiving container further includes a printed circuit board supporter protruded from a rear surface of the receiving container to support the printed circuit board.

23. The display apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a printed circuit board cover disposed under the receiving container to cover the printed circuit board.

24. The display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the printed circuit board is grounded to the receiving container.

25. The display apparatus of claim 24, wherein the printed circuit board is disposed below a rear surface of the bottom chassis.

26. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the receiving container comprises at least one of metal or metal alloy.

27. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second guiding portion is formed by bending a portion of the receiving container.

28. The display apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a reflecting plate disposed between the light guide plate and the receiving container.

29. The display apparatus of claim 28, wherein a portion of the second guiding portion has a height identical to a sum of a thickness of each of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate.

30. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the light guide plate comprises a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and the first guiding portion is formed on the first side.

31. The display apparatus of claim 30, further comprising another first guiding portion formed on the second side and another second guiding portion coupled with the first guiding portion formed on the second side.

32. The display apparatus of claim 31, wherein a distance between the first guiding portions is shorter than a distance between the second guiding portions.

33. The display apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a mold frame coupled to the receiving container.

34. The display apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mold frame is disposed between a side portion of the display panel and the receiving container.

35. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein

the second guiding portion extends in an extension direction from the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface,

the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface extends in an extension direction from the bottom surface of the receiving container, and

the thickness of the second guiding portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the sidewall of the receiving container, the thicknesses defined in a direction normal to the extension directions of the second guiding portion and the sidewall, respectively.

36. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein

the second guiding portion extends in an extension direction from the sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls defined by the extended bottom surface,

the bottom surface extends in an extension direction, and

the thickness of the second guiding portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the bottom surface of the receiving container, the thicknesses defined in a direction normal to the extension directions of the second guiding portion and the bottom surface, respectively.

37. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the bottom surface, the plurality of sidewalls and the second guiding portion of the receiving container each includes a conductive material and collectively form a single, unitary indivisible receiving container.

38. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light generating unit generating light;

a light guide plate guiding the light, the light guide plate including a first guiding portion; and

a receiving container including a bottom surface, a plurality of sidewalls each extended from the bottom surface, and a second guiding portion extended from a first sidewall among the plurality of sidewalls and coupled with the first guiding portion of the light guide plate, the bottom surface and the sidewalls defining a receiving space,

wherein

the first guiding portion comprises a recess inwardly protruded with respect to a first side of the light guide plate, and

the first sidewall defines along a length thereof;

a first portion thereof extended from the bottom surface to a first height to define a first maximum height of the first sidewall, and

a second portion thereof which is adjacent and continuously connected to the first portion, the second portion extended from the bottom surface to a second height which is smaller than the first height to define a second maximum height of the first sidewall,

wherein

the first maximum height and the second maximum height of the first sidewall alternate along the length of the first sidewall, and

the second portion at the second height protrudes inwardly toward the receiving space to define the second guiding portion such than an upper surface of the second guiding portion is lower than the first maximum height of the first sidewall at the first portion thereof.

39. The backlight assembly of claim 38, wherein the second guiding portion does not overlap the light guide plate in a plan view.