Display devices having rounded corner backlight unit

• US 5,988,827 A
• Filed: 05/01/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Ik-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ciric, Ljiljana V.
• Application Number:
  US08/847,017
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/23, 362/26, 362/29, 362/330, 362/812, 385/901, 353/122, 349/56, 349/58, 349/61, 349/62, 349/64, 349/65, 349/67
• US Class Current: 362/633
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A backlight unit for a display device includes a mold frame and a light guide panel. The mold frame includes a groove having at least one rounded corner. The light guide panel is on the mold frame and includes a light guide projection in the groove, having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove.

Claims

1. A mold frame for a display device comprising:

means for receiving a display device light source;

means for receiving a display device light guide panel such that the light guide panel is disposed adjacent and spaced apart from the light source; and

means for fixing the light guide panel in spaced apart relation to the light source, the fixing means including at least one rounded corner, the rounded corner operative to reduce non-uniform concentration of light from the light source in the light guide panel.

2. A mold frame according to claim 1 wherein the fixing means comprises a groove including at least one rounded corner.

3. A mold frame according to claim 2 wherein the groove is entirely rounded.

4. A mold frame according to claim 1:

wherein the fixing means includes a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the means for receiving a display device light source than the first corner is spaced from the means for receiving a display device light source; and

wherein the first corner is angled and the second corner is rounded.

5. A backlight unit for a display device comprising:

a mold frame which includes a groove having at least one rounded corner;

a light source on the mold frame, said light source being operative to provide light; and

a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove, the rounded corners of the mold frame groove and the light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection.

6. A backlight unit according to claim 5:

wherein the mold frame groove and the light guide panel both include a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source;

wherein the first corners are angled and the second corners are rounded; and

wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove.

7. A backlight unit according to claim 5 wherein the groove and light guide projection are both entirely rounded.

8. The backlight unit according to claim 5 wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection.

9. A flat panel display device comprising:

a mold frame which includes a groove having at least one rounded corner;

a light source mounted on the mold frame and operative to provide light;

a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection mounted in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove, the rounded corners of the mold frame groove and the light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection;

a display panel disposed on the light guide panel and positioned such that the light guide panel is interposed between the mold frame and the display panel.

10. A flat panel display device according to claim 9 further comprising a diffuser between the light guide panel and the display panel.

11. A flat panel display device according to claim 10 further comprising a printed circuit board on the mold frame, the printed circuit board being electrically connected to the display panel.

12. A flat panel display device according to claim 9:

wherein the mold frame groove and light guide panel both include a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source;

wherein the first corners are angled and the second corners are rounded; and

wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove.

13. A flat panel display device according to claim 9 wherein the groove and light guide projection are both arcuate.

14. The flat panel display device according to claim 9 wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection.