Backlight device and display apparatus

• US 7,724,316 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Naoki, Shibata, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Tina M
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US11/903,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 349/58, 349/65, 349/60
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133322 Mechanical guidance or alignment of LCD panel support components
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/54 Arrangements for reducing warping-twist

Abstract

A backlight device includes a light source; supporting means having four edges arranged in a frame-like manner; at least one optical sheet supported by the supporting means and allowing light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough and be incident on a back surface of a liquid crystal panel, the optical sheet having an opening in a position substantially dividing a length of a bottom edge thereof into halves; and a vibration-proof member extending through the opening and fixed to the supporting means.

Claims

1. A backlight device comprising:

a light source;

supporting means having four edges arranged in a frame-like manner;

at least one optical sheet shiftably supported by the supporting means and allowing light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough and be incident on a back surface of a liquid crystal panel, the optical sheet having an opening in a position substantially dividing a length of a bottom edge thereof into halves, the bottom edge being in contact with the supporting means, and the opening having a first diameter; and

a vibration-proof member extending through the opening and fixed to the supporting means, the vibration-proof member including a pin having a second diameter, substantially smaller than the first diameter,

wherein;

the at least one optical sheet is shiftable within a range corresponding to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

when the at least one optical sheet is not subjected to vibrations and is positioned to stand upright, substantially no force is applied to the opening.

2. The backlight device according to claim 1, wherein a position and the first diameter of the opening provided in the optical sheet are determined so that a distance between the bottom edge of the optical sheet and the opening is set so as to provide a predetermined strength, and so that the opening is positioned behind the supporting means.

3. The backlight device according to claim 2, wherein the pin is a removable pin that is fitted through a pin-fixing opening provided in the supporting means and fixed thereto.

4. The backlight device according to claim 2, wherein the pin is formed integrally with the supporting means in a projecting manner.

5. The backlight device according to claim 1, further comprising a diffusing member disposed so as to be stacked on a back surface of the optical sheet with bottom edges of the diffusing member and the optical sheet being aligned with each other, the diffusing member having a notch in a position corresponding to the opening in the optical sheet.

6. A display apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

at least one optical sheet, the optical sheet having an opening in a position substantially dividing a length of a bottom edge thereof into halves, the opening having a first diameter;

frame-like supporting means for supporting four edges of the optical sheet; and

a vibration-proof member extending through the opening and fixed to the supporting means, the vibration-proof member including a pin having a second diameter, substantially smaller than the first diameter,

wherein the at least one optical sheet is shiftable within a range corresponding to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter, and wherein the bottom edge of the optical sheet is in contact with the supporting means such that when the at least one optical sheet is not subjected to vibrations and is positioned to stand upright, substantially no force is applied to the opening.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a position and the first diameter of the opening provided in the optical sheet are determined so that a distance between the bottom edge of the optical sheet and the opening is set so as to provide a predetermined strength, and so that the opening is positioned behind the supporting means.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pin is a removable pin that is fitted through a pin-fixing opening provided in the supporting means and fixed thereto.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pin is formed integrally with the supporting means in a projecting manner.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a diffusing member disposed so as to be stacked on a back surface of the optical sheet with bottom edges of the diffusing member and the optical sheet being aligned with each other, the diffusing member having a notch in a position corresponding to the opening in the optical sheet.

11. A backlight device comprising:

a light source;

a supporting member having four edges arranged in a frame-like manner;

at least one optical sheet shiftably supported by the supporting member and allowing light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough and be incident on a back surface of a liquid crystal panel, the optical sheet having an opening in a position substantially dividing a length of a bottom edge thereof into halves, the bottom edge being in contact with the supporting member, and the opening having a first diameter; and

a vibration-proof member passing through the opening and fixed to the supporting member, the vibration-proof member including a pin having a second diameter, substantially smaller than the first diameter,

wherein;

the at least one optical sheet is shiftable within a range corresponding to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

when the at least one optical sheet is not subjected to vibrations and is positioned to stand upright, substantially no force is applied to the opening.

12. The backlight device according to claim 11, wherein a position and the first diameter of the opening provided in the optical sheet are determined so that a distance between the bottom edge of the optical sheet and the opening is set so as to provide a predetermined strength, and so that the opening is positioned behind the supporting member.

13. The backlight device according to claim 12, wherein the pin is a removable pin that is fitted through a pin-fixing opening provided in the supporting member and fixed thereto.

14. The backlight device according to claim 12, wherein the pin is formed integrally with the supporting member in a projecting manner.

15. The backlight device according to claim 11, further comprising a diffusing member disposed so as to be stacked on a back surface of the optical sheet with bottom edges of the diffusing member and the optical sheet being aligned with each other, the diffusing member having a notch in a position corresponding to the opening in the optical sheet.

16. A display apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

at least one optical sheet, the optical sheet having an opening in a position substantially dividing a length of a bottom edge thereof into halves, the opening having a first diameter;

a frame-like supporting member for supporting four edges of the optical sheet; and

a vibration-proof member extending through the opening and fixed to the supporting member, the vibration-proof member including a pin having a second diameter, substantially smaller than the first diameter,

wherein the at least one optical sheet is shiftable within a range corresponding to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter, and wherein the bottom edge of the at least one optical sheet is in contact with the supporting member such that when the at least one optical sheet is not subjected to vibrations and is positioned to stand upright, substantially no force is applied to the opening.

17. The display apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a position and the first diameter of the opening provided in the optical sheet are determined so that a distance between the bottom edge of the optical sheet and the opening is set so as to provide a predetermined strength, and so that the opening is positioned behind the supporting member.

18. The display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pin is a removable pin that is fitted through a pin-fixing opening provided in the supporting member and fixed thereto.

19. The display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pin is formed integrally with the supporting member in a projecting manner.

20. The display apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a diffusing member disposed so as to be stacked on a back surface of the optical sheet with bottom edges of the diffusing member and the optical sheet being aligned with each other, the diffusing member having a notch in a position corresponding to the opening in the optical sheet.