Backlight unit and the display device having the same

• US 8,582,051 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Kum Tae, Kim, Moon Jeong, Yun, Duk Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Phu
• Application Number:
  US13/159,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 349 58- 60
• US Class Current: 349/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs

Abstract

Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit configured to emit light onto a liquid crystal panel in which one screen is defined into a plurality of display areas includes a bottom frame having a bottom surface and a sidewall, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom frame, the plurality of LEDs defining a plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to the display areas of the liquid crystal panel, at least one module board supporting the plurality of LEDs, an integrated light guide plate covering the plurality of LEDs, the integrated light guide plate being disposed on the plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to one screen, and an alignment unit for aligning the integrated light guide plate with the plurality of LEDs.

Claims

1. A backlight unit configured to emit light onto a panel in which one screen is defined into a plurality of display areas, the backlight unit comprising:

a bottom frame having a bottom surface and a sidewall;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom frame, the plurality of LEDs defining a plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to the display areas of the panel;

an integrated light guide plate disposing the plurality of LEDs, the integrated light guide plate being disposed on the plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to one screen; and

a coupling part coupling the integrated light guide plate to the bottom frame,

wherein, the coupling part, each of the two sidewalls adjacent to each other of the bottom frame has a stepped portion, and a guide mold covering an edge of the integrated light guide plate above the stepped portion.

2. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of recess parts are provided in a bottom surface of the light guide plate, and the LEDs are received in the recess parts so that light is incident into a side surface of the recess parts.

3. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the coupling part has a square shape and is disposed on at least two or more edges.

4. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide mold comprises:

a top surface covering the edge of the integrated light guide plate; and

two side surfaces vertically bent and extending from the top surface, the two side surfaces being aligned with the stepped sidewalls of the bottom frame.

5. The backlight unit according to claim 1, wherein the coupling part has a coupling hole aligned with the top surface of the guide mold and the bottom surface of the bottom frame.

6. A display device comprising:

the backlight unit according to claim 1; and

a display panel disposed on the backlight unit, the display panel defining one screen into a plurality of display areas to receive light from the backlight unit.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of recess parts are provided in a bottom surface of the integrated light guide plate, and the LEDs are received in the recess parts so that light is incident into a side surface of the recess parts.

8. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the coupling part has a square shape and is disposed on at least two or more edges.

9. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the guide mold comprises:

a top surface covering the edge of the integrated light guide plate; and

two side surfaces vertically bent and extending from the top surface, the two side surfaces being aligned with the stepped sidewalls of the bottom frame.

10. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the coupling part has a coupling hole aligned with the top surface of the guide mold and the bottom surface of the bottom frame.

11. A backlight unit configured to emit light onto a panel in which one screen is defined into a plurality of display areas, the backlight unit comprising:

a bottom frame having a bottom surface and a sidewall;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom frame, the plurality of LEDs defining a plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to the display areas of the panel;

an integrated light guide plate disposing the plurality of LEDs, the integrated light guide plate being disposed on the plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to one screen; and

a coupling part coupling the integrated light guide plate to the bottom frame,

wherein the coupling part comprises;

a protrusion neck in which two sides adjacent to each other are vertically converged at an edge of the integrated light guide plate; and

a guide protrusion extending from the protrusion neck, the guide protrusion having a width greater than that of the protrusion neck.

12. The backlight unit according to claim 11, wherein each of the sidewalls of the bottom frame comprises an opening exposing the guide protrusion of the integrated light guide plate at the edge thereof.

13. The backlight unit according to claim 11, further comprising a guide member extending from the sidewall and bent along one surface of the guide protrusion.

14. The backlight unit according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of recess parts are provided in a bottom surface of the light guide plate, and the LEDs are received in the recess parts so that light is incident into a side surface of the recess parts.

15. A display device comprising:

the backlight unit according to claim 11; and

a display panel disposed on the backlight unit, the display panel defining one screen into a plurality of display areas to receive light from the backlight unit.

16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein each of the sidewalls of the bottom frame comprises an opening exposing the guide protrusion of the integrated light guide plate at the edge thereof.

17. The display device according to claim 15, further comprising a guide member extending from the sidewall and bent along one surface of the guide protrusion.

18. The display device according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of recess parts are provided in a bottom surface of the light guide plate, and the LEDs are received in the recess parts so that light is incident into a side surface of the recess parts.