U.S. patent application number 11/651664 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for display device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Min-gwan Hyun, Jeoung-gwen Lee, Jin-soo Shin, Jun-hee Son.
Application Number | 20070157487 11/651664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38231372 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070157487 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hyun; Min-gwan ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
Display device
Abstract
An LCD includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, a rear
cover, a mold frame and a front cover that slides down over and
couples with the rear cover to form a space within which the liquid
crystal panel, mold frame and backlight unit are protectively
enclosed. The front cover has a lateral part with a first coupling
part and a feature for receiving a lateral projection on the mold
frame. The rear cover has a mold frame lateral wall with a second
coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the first
coupling part when the front cover is slid down on the rear cover,
and the mold frame has a lateral projection that is received in the
front cover receiving feature when the front and rear covers are
fully assembled together. The foregoing features enable deformation
of the lower cover to be minimized during assembly of the
device.
Inventors: |
Hyun; Min-gwan;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Lee; Jeoung-gwen;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Son; Jun-hee; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Shin; Jin-soo; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MACPHERSON KWOK CHEN & HEID LLP
2033 GATEWAY PLACE
SUITE 400
SAN JOSE
CA
95110
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
38231372 |
Appl. No.: |
11/651664 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/118.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133308 20130101;
G02F 1/133608 20130101; G02F 1/133317 20210101; G02F 1/133322
20210101; G02F 2201/465 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/118.9 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/04 20060101
A43B005/04; A43B 5/16 20060101 A43B005/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 9, 2006 |
KR |
2006-0002433 |
Claims
1. A display device, comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a
backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal panel; a rear
cover, comprising a bottom plate disposed in parallel with the
liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wall extending
perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space
within which the backlight unit is received; a mold frame
positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit
and comprising a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the
liquid crystal panel and a mold frame lateral wall extending
perpendicularly from the frame; and, a front cover adapted to slide
down over and couple with the rear cover so as to form an
accommodating space within which the liquid crystal panel, the mold
frame and the backlight unit are protectively enclosed, and
comprising a front frame part having a display opening exposing a
part of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough,
and a front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward
from the front frame part, and wherein: the front cover lateral
part includes a front cover coupling part and a lateral projection
receiving feature disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling
part, the rear cover lateral wall includes a rear cover coupling
part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover
coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear
cover, and the mold frame lateral wall of the mold frame includes a
lateral projection that spaces the front and rear cover coupling
parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance when the
front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent
sliding engagement therewith, and which is received in the lateral
projection receiving feature of the front cover lateral part when
the front and rear covers are fully engaged with each other.
2. The display device of claim 1, wherein an elongated inward
protrusion is formed adjacent to the front cover coupling part of
the front cover lateral part, and the lateral projection receiving
feature is formed between the elongated inward protrusion and the
front cover frame part.
3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the lateral height of the
elongated protrusion from the front cover lateral part toward the
mold frame lateral wall is larger than that of the front cover
coupling part.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the elongated protrusion
comprises an inclined ramp face on a rear end thereof that contacts
the lateral projection of the mold frame lateral wall for sliding
movement relative thereto when the front cover is initially
disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement
therewith.
5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the lateral projection of
the mold frame lateral wall comprises an inclined ramp face on a
front edge thereof that contacts the inclined ramp face on the rear
end of the elongated protrusion for sliding movement relative
thereto when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear
cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith.
6. The display device of claim 3, wherein the distance from a lower
end of the elongated protrusion to the rear cover bottom plate is
less than a distance from a lower end of the front cover coupling
part to the rear cover bottom plate.
7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover coupling
part comprises an inclined ramp face which protrudes laterally from
the front cover lateral part for sliding engagement with the rear
cover coupling part.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the rear cover coupling
part comprises an inclined ramp face disposed in opposition to the
inclined ramp face of the front cover coupling part for sliding
movement relative thereto when the front cover is slid down over
the rear cover.
9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover coupling
part protrudes laterally outward from the front cover lateral part
and the rear cover coupling part protrudes laterally outward from
the rear cover lateral wall and is at least partially received
within an opening of the front cover coupling part when the front
cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.
10. The display device of claim 6, wherein the rear cover coupling
part is pressed inwardly toward the rear cover lateral wall and the
front cover coupling part protrudes inwardly from the front cover
lateral wall and has an upper end in disposed in abutment with a
lower end of the rear cover coupling part when the front cover is
fully engaged with the rear cover.
11. The display device of claim 6, wherein the mold frame lateral
wall includes an opening through which the rear cover coupling part
is exposed and a lateral seating recess adapted to receive and
stably seat the elongated protrusion of the front cover lateral
part when the front cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.
12. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover lateral
part further comprises a front cover coupling opening disposed
adjacent to the front cover coupling part, and a rear end of the
rear cover coupling part is at least partially disposed in the
front cover coupling opening when the font cover is fully engaged
with the rear cover.
13. A display device, comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a
backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal panel; a rear
cover comprising a bottom plate disposed parallel to the liquid
crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wall extending
perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space
within which the backlight unit is received; a mold frame
positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit
and comprising a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the
liquid crystal panel and supported by the rear cover lateral wall,
and a mold frame lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the
frame; and, a front cover adapted to slide down over and couple
with the rear cover and thereby form an accommodating space within
which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight
unit are protectively enclosed, and comprising a front frame part
having a display opening exposing a part of a front surface of the
liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral part
extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part, and
wherein the front cover lateral part includes a front cover
coupling part and a lateral projection receiving opening disposed
forward of the front coupling part, the rear cover lateral wall
includes a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage and
couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is
slid down over the rear cover, and the mold frame lateral wall of
the mold frame includes a lateral projection that spaces the front
and rear cover coupling parts apart from each other at a selected
lateral distance when the front cover is initially disposed on the
rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith, and which
is received in the lateral projection receiving opening of the
front cover lateral part when the front and rear covers are fully
engaged with each other.
14. The display device of claim 13, wherein the lateral height of
the lateral projection from the mold frame lateral wall of the mold
frame is larger than the sum of the lateral height of the front
cover coupling part from the front cover lateral wall and the
lateral height of the rear cover coupling part from the rear cover
lateral wall.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Korean Patent
Application No. 2006-0002433, filed Jan. 9, 2006, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to display devices, such as
liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and more particularly, to display
devices in which the deformation of a rear cover of the display is
minimized during the assembly thereof.
[0003] Increasingly, flat panel display devices, such as liquid
crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs) and organic
light emitting diode (OLED) displays, are being adopted to replace
larger, heavier and bulkier cathode ray tube (CRT) display
devices.
[0004] LCDs comprise a thin film transistor substrate, a color
filter substrate and a layer of a liquid crystal material
interposed between the two substrates to form a liquid crystal
panel. Additionally, as the LCD does not itself emit light, it is
typically provided with a "backlight" unit that is positioned
behind the thin film transistor substrate to serve as a source of
light for the liquid crystal panel.
[0005] The liquid crystal panel and backlight unit are typically
mounted between and supported by a front cover and a rear cover of
the display's housing. The rear cover and the front cover must
necessarily be thin and light in weight, yet must be strong enough
to protect the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit against
external shocks. Coupling parts are typically provided in the front
and rear covers, which enable the two parts to be slidably coupled
with each other.
[0006] However, the rear cover may easily become deformed by
pressure when the coupling parts are slidably engaged with each
other. When the rear cover becomes deformed, the LCD device cannot
be assembled properly.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] In accordance with the exemplary embodiments thereof
disclosed herein, the present invention provides a display device
in which the deformation of the rear cover of the device during
assembly is minimized.
[0008] In one exemplary embodiment thereof, a display device
comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit for providing
light to the liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises
a bottom plate disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel,
and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward
from the bottom plate and forming a space within which the
backlight unit is received.
[0009] A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel
and the backlight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around the
peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel, and a mold frame
lateral wall that extends perpendicularly from the frame. A front
cover is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover to define a
space in which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the
backlight unit are enclosed, and comprises a front frame part
having a display opening that exposes a part of the front surface
of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral
part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame
part.
[0010] The front cover lateral part comprises a front cover
coupling part and a projection receiving feature, e.g., a recess or
an opening, disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part. The
rear cover lateral wall comprises a rear cover coupling part that
is adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover
coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear
cover. The mold frame lateral wall includes a lateral projection
that serves to space the front cover coupling part from the rear
cover coupling part laterally when the front cover is initially
disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement
thereon, and is received in the projection receiving feature of the
front cover when the front cover is fully assembled on the rear
cover.
[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, an elongated inward
protrusion is formed adjacent to the front cover coupling part on
the lateral part of the front cover, and the projection receiving
feature is formed between the elongated protrusion and the front
cover frame part. In another aspect, the lateral distance of the
elongated protrusion from the front cover lateral part toward the
the mold frame lateral wall is larger than the lateral distance of
the front cover coupling part to the lateral wall of the mold
frame.
[0012] In another aspect, the elongated protrusion comprises an
inclined plane face on a rear end thereof that slidably contacts
the lateral projection of the mold frame. In another aspect, the
lateral projection includes an inclined plane face on a front edge
thereof that slidably contacts the rear end of the elongated
protrusion.
[0013] In another aspect, the distance from a lower end of the
elongated protrusion to the bottom plate of the rear cover is less
than the distance from a lower end of the front cover coupling part
to the rear cover bottom plate.
[0014] In another aspect, the front cover coupling part comprises
an inclined ramp face which protrudes from the front cover lateral
part and slidably contacts the rear cover coupling part. In another
aspect, the rear cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp
face which protrudes from the rear cover lateral wall and slidably
contacts the front cover coupling part.
[0015] In another aspect, the front cover coupling part protrudes
outward from the front cover lateral part and the rear cover
coupling part protrudes outward from the rear cover lateral wall
and is partially received in an opening of the front cover coupling
part when the two covers are fully engaged with each other.
[0016] In another aspect, the rear cover coupling part is pressed
toward the rear cover lateral wall and the front coupling part
protrudes inwardly from the front cover lateral wall, and has an
forward end disposed in abutment with a rear end of the rear cover
coupling part when the two covers are fully engaged with each
other.
[0017] In another aspect, the lateral wall of the mold frame
comprises a seating recess in which the elongated protrusion is
stably received, and further includes an opening through which the
rear cover coupling part is exposed.
[0018] In another aspect, the front cover lateral part comprises a
front cover coupling opening disposed adjacent to the front cover
coupling part and adapted to couple with the rear cover coupling
part.
[0019] In another exemplary embodiment, a display device comprises
a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit that provides light to the
liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises a bottom
plate disposed parallel to the liquid crystal panel and a rear
cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward from the
bottom plate and forming a space in which the backlight unit is
received.
[0020] A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel
and the backlight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around a
peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel and supported by the
rear cover lateral wall, and a lateral wall extending
perpendicularly from the frame.
[0021] A front cover is slid down over and coupled with the rear
cover to form an accommodation space in which the liquid crystal
panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are enclosed. The
front cover comprises a front frame part having a display opening
exposing a part of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel
therethrough, and a front cover lateral part extending
perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part. The front cover
lateral part comprises a front cover coupling part and a lateral
projection receiving opening disposed adjacent to the front
coupling part.
[0022] The rear cover lateral wall comprises a rear cover coupling
part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover
coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear
cover.
[0023] The lateral wall of the mold frame includes a lateral
projection that spaces the front and rear cover coupling parts
apart from each other at a selected lateral distance when the front
cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for sliding
engagement therewith, and the lateral projection is received in the
lateral projection receiving opening of the front cover lateral
part when the front and rear covers are subsequently fully engaged
with each other.
[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
lateral height of the lateral projection from the lateral wall is
larger than the sum of the lateral height of the front cover
coupling part from the front cover lateral wall and the lateral
height of the rear cover coupling part from the rear cover lateral
wall.
[0025] A better understanding of the above and many other features
and advantages of the LCD devices of the present invention may be
obtained from a consideration of the detailed description of some
exemplary embodiments thereof below, particularly if such
consideration is made in conjunction with the appended drawings,
wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like elements
illustrated in one or more of the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary
embodiment of an LCD in accordance with the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is partial upper perspective view a front cover of
the exemplary LCD of FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the LCD front cover
of FIG. 2 being slidably engaged with a rear cover and mold frame
of the exemplary LCD;
[0029] FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional views of the
front cover, mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section
lines IV-IV taken in FIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts
before and after their engagement with each other during
assembly;
[0030] FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views of the
front cover, mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section
lines V-V taken in FIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts
before and after their engagement with each other during
assembly;
[0031] FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views of a front
cover, mold frame and rear cover of a second exemplary embodiment
of an LCD in accordance with the present invention, respectively
illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each
other during assembly;
[0032] FIGS. 6C and 6D are partial cross-sectional views of the
front cover, mold frame and rear cover of the second exemplary LCD
embodiment, respectively illustrating the parts before and after
their engagement with each other during assembly;
[0033] FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial cross-sectional views of a front
cover, mold frame and rear cover of a third exemplary embodiment of
an LCD in accordance with the present invention, respectively
illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each
other during assembly; and,
[0034] FIGS. 7C and 7D are partial cross-sectional views of the
front cover, mold frame and rear cover of the third exemplary LCD
embodiment, respectively illustrating the parts before and after
their engagement with each other during assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] In the following description, exemplary embodiments of a
"direct" type of LCD device are described. However, it should be
understood that the present invention is not limited to such
display types, but is also applicable to other types of display
devices, such as edge type LCD devices.
[0036] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary
embodiment of an LCD 1 in accordance with the present invention. As
illustrated in FIG. 1, the LCD 1 comprises a liquid crystal panel
10 that displays an image thereon, a driver 20 that drives the
liquid crystal panel 10, a mold frame 25 that supports a peripheral
edge of the liquid crystal panel 10, a backlight unit 30 that
provides light to the liquid crystal panel 10, a rear cover 80 that
supports the mold frame 25 and within which the backlight unit 30
is disposed, and a front cover 90 that slides down over and is
coupled with the rear cover 80 and covers a front peripheral edge
portion of the liquid crystal panel 10.
[0037] The liquid crystal panel 10 comprises a thin film transistor
(TFT) substrate 11, a color filter substrate 12 that faces the TFT
substrate 11, and a layer of a liquid crystal material (not
illustrated) that is interposed between the TFT substrate 11 and
the color filter substrate 12. The liquid crystal panel 10 further
comprises polarizing plates 13 and 14 that are respectively
disposed ahead of the color filter substrate 12 and behind the TFT
substrate 11 to polarize light passing through the liquid crystal
panel 10. Cells of the liquid crystal material are arranged in a
matrix form in the liquid crystal panel 10. The liquid crystal
panel 10 displays an image by adjusting the amount of light
transmitted through each of the liquid crystal cells in accordance
with image signal information supplied thereto from the driver
20.
[0038] A grid of mutually orthogonal gate wires and data wires are
formed on the TFT substrate 11 to define a rectangular matrix of
pixels thereon. A TFT is formed at an intersection of each of the
gate wires and the data wires. A signal voltage transmitted from
the driver 20 is supplied to a pixel electrode and a common
electrode of the color filter substrate 12 (described below)
through the TFT. The molecules of the liquid crystal material
disposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode are
arranged in accordance with the signal voltage applied to the
electrodes to determine the amount of light transmitted through
each pixel.
[0039] The color filter substrate 12 comprises the common electrode
described above, along with red, green and blue color filters, or
alternatively, cyan, magenta and yellow color filters, which are
formed on the substrate in repetitive patterns. The common
electrode comprises a transparent conductive material, such as
indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). The color filter
substrate 12 is typically smaller in area than the thin film
transistor substrate 11.
[0040] The front polarizing plate 13 and the rear polarizing plate
14 function to polarize light passing therethrough. The rear
polarizing plate 14 polarizes light incident on the rear surface of
the liquid crystal panel 10, and the front polarizing plate 13
serves as an analyzer of the light passing through the front
surface thereof.
[0041] The driver 20 is provided at a lateral side of the TFT
substrate 11 to supply a driving signal. The driver 20 comprises a
flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 21, a driving chip 22 provided
on the FPC 21, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 23, which is
connected with a lateral side of the FPC 21. The driver 20 in the
particular exemplary embodiment illustrated employs a chip on film
(COF) method, but is not limited thereto. The driver 20 may
alternatively employ other known methods, including a tape carrier
package (TCP) and a chip on glass (COG), and the like. The driver
20 may be formed on the thin film transistor substrate 21 during a
wire-forming process. The driver 20 comprises a terminal for making
an electrical connection. The terminal of the driver 20 is mounted
on the thin film transistor substrate 11 for connection with an end
part of the gate wires and the data wires of the TFT substrate 11,
which extend from a display region to a non-display region
thereof.
[0042] In the particular first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the
mold frame 25 is disposed at the peripheral edge of the liquid
crystal panel 10 and is generally rectangular in shape, and the
liquid crystal panel 10 is spaced forward of the backlight unit 30
by the mold frame 25. As illustrated in the detail breakout view of
FIG. 1 and the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3-4A, the mold frame
25 comprises a frame part 26 that is disposed around the peripheral
edge of the liquid crystal panel 10 and is supported by a U-shaped
lateral wall 83 of the rear cover 80 (described in more detail
below), a lateral wall 27 that extends perpendicularly downward
from the frame 26, and a lateral projection 24 that protrudes
laterally outward from the frame 26.
[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the upper surface of
the frame 26 of the mold frame defines a surface for supporting a
peripheral edge of the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10.
The rear surface of the supporting surface is in turn supported by
the U-shaped rear cover lateral wall 83. As illustrated in the
detail breakout view of FIG. 1 and the cross-sectional view of FIG.
4A, the external peripheral surface of the mold frame lateral wall
27A defines a lateral seating recess 28 and a opening 29 through
which a rear cover coupling part 84 (described below) is exposed.
An elongated protrusion 95 (described below) is formed on the inner
walls of the front cover 90 and is arranged to be stably seated
within the seating recess 28 (see FIGS. 3 and 4B) when the front
cover 90 is slid down over and fully engaged with the rear cover
80, in the manner described below.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the lateral projection
24 protrudes outward from an end part of the frame part 26 of the
mold frame 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, SA and 5B, a front cover
coupling part 93 is spaced apart laterally from the rear cover
coupling part 84 by the projection 24 before the two coupling parts
engage each other during assembly. When the front cover 90 and the
rear cover 80 have been assembled together, as illustrated in FIGS.
4B and 5B, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 is received
in a projection receiving recess 98 of the front cover 90, as
illustrated in FIG. 4B. In a preferred embodiment, the sum of the
lateral distance "d4" (see FIGS. 6A and 7A) from the rear cover
lateral wall 83 to the outer end the lateral projection 24 and the
lateral height "d2" (see FIG. 2) of the elongated front cover
protrusion 95, is greater than the sum of the lateral height "dl"
(see FIG. 3) of the front cover coupling part 93 and the height
"d6" (see FIG. 7C) of the rear cover coupling part 84.
Additionally, an inclined contact surface "a" (see FIGS. 4A and 5A)
is preferably provided at a front edge of the lateral projection 24
end part to slidably contact the rear end of the elongated
protrusion 95 of the front cover in a cam-like engagement when the
latter is slid down over the mold frame 25.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backlight unit 30 comprises an
optical sheet 40 that is disposed in parallel with the liquid
crystal panel 10, a light source unit 50 that provides light to the
liquid crystal panel 10 through the optical sheet 40, a light
source supporting member 60 that is attached to the rear cover 80
to support the light source unit 50, and a reflector sheet 70 that
is disposed between the light source unit 50 and the rear cover 80,
and which serves to reflect light from the light source unit 50
toward the liquid crystal panel 10.
[0046] The optical sheet 40 comprises a protection sheet 41, a
prism sheet 43 and a diffusion sheet 45 that are disposed behind
the liquid crystal panel 10. The diffusion sheet 45 comprises a
base plate and a coating layer containing bead-like shapes that is
formed on the base plate. The diffusion sheet 45 serves to diffuse
light from a light source main body 51 and radiates it onto the
rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The diffusion sheet 45
may be provided in two or three folds. The prism sheet 43 comprises
triangular prisms that are disposed at selected intervals thereon.
The prism sheet 43 serves to collect the light diffused by the
diffusion sheet 45 and direct it in a perpendicular direction
toward the liquid crystal panel 10. The prism sheet 43 is typically
provided in two sheets. Micro prisms having a selected angle
therebetween are formed on each of the prism sheets 43. Light from
the prism sheet 43 radiates in a direction perpendicular to the
sheet to provide light of a uniform brightness to the liquid
crystal panel 10. The protection sheet 41 is provided on the prism
sheet 43 to protect it from being scratched.
[0047] The light source unit 50 comprises the light source main
body 51 that emits light and a light source electrode 53 that is
formed on an end part of the light source main body 51. The light
source unit 50 receives electrical power from an inverter (not
illustrated). The plurality of light source units 50 are arranged
in parallel below the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 10.
The light source unit 50 may comprise a cold cathode fluorescent
lamp (CCFL), or alternatively, an external electrode fluorescent
lamp (EEFL) that provides light of a high brightness, and which is
reasonably priced, consumes less power and drives the plurality of
light source units 50 through a single inverter (not illustrated).
The light source units 50 may also comprise a flat fluorescent lamp
(FFL) (not illustrated) that can provide light of a uniform
brightness in a flat panel shape, and which therefore generates
light without an increased thickness. The FFL provides highly
uniform brightness, consumes less power and has a longer lifespan,
than other conventional light sources.
[0048] The light source supporting member 60 comprises a main
support body 61 having a platelike shape, a light holder 62 that
protrudes upward from the main support body 61 and supports the
light source main body 51 of the light source unit 50, and a
plurality of hooks (not illustrated) that protrude from the main
support body 61 and are respectively received in a corresponding
coupling holes 81 in the rear cover 80, as described below. The
light source supporting member 60 is thereby coupled to the rear
cover 80 and serves to support the light source unit 50 and protect
it from external shock.
[0049] The reflector sheet 70 is provided between the light source
unit 50 and the rear cover 80 and serves to reflect light from the
light source unit 50 to the diffusion sheet 45. The reflector sheet
70 may comprise a plastic material, such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate (PC). The reflector sheet 70
is attached to a bottom surface of the rear cover 80. A plurality
of holes 71 are formed in the reflection sheet 70 in positions
corresponding to those of the coupling holes 81 in the rear cover
80. The hooks of the light source supporting member 60 pass through
respective ones of the holes 71 in the reflection sheet. With
reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4A and 4B, the rear cover 80 comprises a
bottom plate 82 that is disposed parallel to the liquid crystal
panel 10, and the rear cover lateral wall 83, which is extends
forwardly from the bottom plate 82 and forms a space within which
the backlight unit 30 is accommodated. That is, the space for the
backlight unit is defined by the upper surface of the bottom plate
82 and the inner wall surfaces of the rear cover lateral wall 83,
and is of an appropriate size and shape to accommodate the
backlight unit 30 therein. As described above, the plurality of
coupling holes 81 are provided in the bottom plate 82 for
engagement with respective ones of the hooks of the light source
supporting member 60. The backlight unit 30 is thus stably seated
on the upper surface of the bottom plate 82.
[0050] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rear cover coupling
part 84 protrudes laterally outward from the rear cover 80 and is
disposed on the outer wall of the U-shaped rear cover lateral wall
83. An inclined ramp face "d" (see FIG. 5B) is formed on the rear
cover coupling part 84 to slidably contact the front cover coupling
part 93 during assembly of the front cover to the rear cover such
the two coupling parts 84 and 93 engage each other in a resilient,
sliding, over-center, snap-in engagement during the assembly
thereof, as illustrated in the before- and after-engagement
cross-sectional views of FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively.
[0051] Returning to FIG. 2, the front cover 90 comprises a front
frame part 91 having an opening therein in which a display part of
the front surface of the liquid crystal panel 10 is framed, and a
front cover lateral part 92 that extends perpendicularly rearward
from the front frame part 91. The front cover 90 is slid down over
and coupled with the rear cover 80 so as to cover and enclose the
liquid crystal panel 10 and the mold frame 25 protectively
therein.
[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5A and 5B, the front cover
lateral part 92 comprises the front cover coupling part 93, which,
in the particular embodiment illustrated, protrudes laterally
inward, a front cover coupling opening 94, which is formed forward
of the front cover coupling part 93, and a pair of the elongated
protrusions 95, which are disposed on opposite ends of the front
cover coupling part 93 and protrude laterally inward from the inner
surface of the front cover lateral part 92. The front cover
coupling part 93 couples with the rear cover coupling part 84 as
described above, and their respective positions before and after
the coupling together of the front and rear covers are respectively
illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, an
inclined ramp face "c" is provided on the front cover coupling part
93 to slidably engage the corresponding inclined ramp face "d" of
the rear coupling part 84 during assembly, and as illustrated in
FIG. 5B, after assembly, a front end of the front cover coupling
part 93 is disposed in opposing abutment with a rear end of the
rear cover coupling part 84, and at least a part of the rear cover
coupling part 84 is engaged in the front cover coupling opening 94,
thereby ensuring that the front and rear covers 92 and 80 are
stably coupled with each other after assembly.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the front-to-rear
distance from the lower end of the elongated protrusion 95 on the
front cover 90 to the rear surface of the rear cover bottom plate
82 is less than that from the front end of the front cover coupling
part 93 to the rear surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82. The
front-to-rear height of the elongated protrusion 95 is larger than
that of the front cover coupling part 93, and the protrusion is
disposed further forward on the front cover lateral part 92 than
the front cover coupling part 93. An inclined ramp face "b" (see
FIG. 4A) is formed on the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95
to slidably contact the lateral projection 24 of the front cover
during assembly. The projection receiving recess 98 of the front
cover 90 is located forward of the elongated protrusion 95 and
below the front cover frame part 91, and serves to receive the
projection 24 therein when the front cover is pressed down onto the
mold frame 25 and bottom cover 80, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.
[0054] With the foregoing configuration in mind, a method for
assembling the display device 1 according to the first embodiment
of the present invention of FIG. 1 is described below in
conjunction with FIGS. 3 to 5B.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front cover 90 is pressed down
over the mold frame 25 and rear cover 80. As discussed above, the
distance from the rear ends of the elongated protrusions 95 to the
bottom surface of the bottom plate 82 of the rear cover 80 is less
than that from the front end of the front cover coupling part 93 to
the bottom surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82. Thus, the
rear ends of the elongated protrusions 95 contact the front cover
lateral projection 24 first during the assembly of the front cover
90 onto the rear cover.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the inclined ramp face contacting
surface "b" on the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 slidably
contacts the inclined ramp face contact surface "a" of the front
edge of the lateral projection 24. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the
protrusion 95 is disposed further forward on the front cover
lateral part 92 than the front cover coupling part 93. Thus, the
lateral projection 24 serves to space the front cover coupling part
93 apart laterally from the rear cover coupling part 84 at a
selected distance d3. That is, the front and rear cover coupling
parts 93 and 84 are disposed concentrically with respect to each
other and spaced laterally apart from each other by the protrusions
95 and the lateral projection 24 at the beginning of the assembly
procedure. This advantageously results in less pressure being
applied to the rear cover 80 while being coupled with the front
cover 90, thereby minimizing deformation of the rear cover during
assembly. Indeed, the pressure generated when the front cover 90
and the rear cover 80 are coupled with each other is instead
applied to the mold frame 25, which is supported by the rear cover
80, thereby minimizing the deformation of the rear cover 80 due to
the pressure.
[0057] When the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled
together, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 of the mold
frame 25 is disposed within the projection receiving recess 98 of
the front cover 90, and the elongated protrusions 95 are stably
seated in the lateral seating recess 28 of the mold frame lateral
wall 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B. The front end of the
front cover coupling part 93 abuts against and is fully engaged
with the rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84, and at least
a part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engaged within the
front cover coupling opening 94.
[0058] Display devices according to second and third exemplary
embodiments of the present invention are described below with
reference to FIGS. 6A to 7D. FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate a display
device in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, and
FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate a display device in accordance with the
third exemplary embodiment.
[0059] As may be seen in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 6A-6D,
a front cover 90 of the second embodiment of display device does
not include the elongated protrusions 95 of the first embodiment.
Instead, the front cover 90 of the second embodiment includes a
mold frame lateral protrusion receiving opening 99, as illustrated
in FIGS. 6A and 6B. A corresponding lateral projection 24 protrudes
laterally outward from the mold frame 25 to dispose front cover
coupling parts 93 and rear cover coupling parts 84 concentrically
with respect to each other and space them apart laterally from each
other when the front cover 90 is initially disposed on the rear
cover 80 for subsequent engagement therewith, as illustrated in
FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the lateral distance d4
of the end of the lateral projection 24 from the rear cover lateral
wall 83 is larger than the sum "d5" of the lateral distances from a
front cover lateral part 92 and from the rear cover lateral wall 83
to the rear cover coupling part 84.
[0060] Following is a detailed description of the assembly of the
second embodiment of display device. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the
front cover 90 is initially pressed down onto the rear cover 80,
the front cover lateral part 92 slidably contacts the mold frame
lateral projection 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the
lateral distance d4 from the rear cover lateral wall 83 to the
outer end of the projection 24 is larger than the lateral distance
d5 (FIG. 6C), and accordingly, the front cover coupling parts 93
are disposed concentrically with respect to the rear cover coupling
parts 84 and spaced laterally apart from them at a selected
distance d3, as illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 6C.
That is, the front cover coupling parts 93 are disposed
concentrically about and spaced apart from the rear cover coupling
parts 84 by the mold frame lateral projection 24 during the
assembly of the front cover to the rear cover. Thus, the rear cover
80 receives less pressure while being coupled with the front cover
90, thereby minimizing the deformation of the rear cover. The
pressure generated while coupling the front cover 90 to the rear
cover 80 is instead applied to the mold frame 25, and as the mold
frame 25 is supported by the rear cover 80 during assembly, the
deformation of the rear cover 80 due to the assembly pressure is
thereby eliminated.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the front and rear covers 90
and 80 are assembled together completely, at least a part of the
lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the
projection receiving opening 99 of the front cover 90, and a part
of the front cover lateral part 92 is stably seated within the
lateral seating recess 28 (see FIG. 6A) of the mold frame lateral
wall 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6A. When the front and rear
cover coupling parts 93 and 84 are coupled with each other, the
front end of the front cover coupling part 93 is disposed in facing
abutment with the rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84, and
at least a portion of the rear cover coupling part 84 is disposed
within a front cover coupling opening 94, as illustrated in FIG.
6D.
[0062] FIGS. 7A to 7D respectively illustrate a third exemplary
embodiment of a display device in accordance with the present
invention. With reference to these figures, a front cover coupling
part 93 of the third embodiment protrudes laterally outward from a
front cover lateral part 92. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the
sum of the lateral height d2 of an elongated inward protrusion 95
on an inner surface of the lateral part 92 of the front cover 90
and a lateral height d4 of a lateral projection 24 on the mold
frame 25 from an outer surface of the lateral wall 83 of the rear
cover 80 is greater than the lateral height d6 of a rear cover
coupling part 84.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 7A, when the front cover 90 is
pressed down over the mold frame 25 and rear cover 80, the
protrusion 95 on the front cover slidably contacts the projection
24 first. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, as the sum of the lateral
height d2 of the inward protrusion 95 and the lateral height d4 of
the lateral projection 24 is greater than the lateral height d6 of
the rear cover coupling part 84, and the front cover coupling parts
93 are therefore disposed concentrically about and spaced apart
laterally apart from corresponding ones of the rear coupling parts
84 at a selected radial distance d3. That is, respective ones of
the front cover coupling parts 93 are spaced apart from the rear
cover coupling parts 84 by the projection 24 while the front cover
90 is being assembled onto the rear cover 80. Therefore, less
pressure is applied to the rear cover 80 while the front cover 90
is being coupled with it, thereby minimizing deformation of the
rear cover 80. The pressure generated while the front and rear
covers 90 and 80 are being assembled together is instead applied to
the mold frame 25, and as the mold frame 25 is supported by the
rear cover 80 during assembly, the deformation of the rear cover 80
due to the pressure is thereby minimized.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the front and rear covers 90
and 80 are completely assembled together, at least a part of the
lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the
lateral projection receiving opening 99, and the inward protrusion
95 of the front cover is stably seated within the lateral seating
recess 28 of the mold frame lateral wall. Additionally, as
illustrated in FIG. 7D, when the front and rear cover coupling
parts 93 and 84 are fully engaged with each other, at least a rear
end part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engaged within the
front cover coupling opening 94.
[0065] A fourth exemplary embodiment of a display device in
accordance with the present invention is now described with
reference to FIG. 5A. In this embodiment, the rear cover coupling
part 84 is resiliently deflected into the rear cover lateral wall
83 during assembly. Except for this difference, the configurations
of the other components are the same as in the first embodiment
described above. With the foregoing configuration, as the front and
rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled together, at least a part of a
front cover coupling part 93 is accommodated and coupled with
respect to the rear coupling part 84 in the fully assembled
condition.
[0066] By now, those of skill in this art will appreciate that many
modifications, substitutions and variations can be made in and to
the LCD devices of the present invention without departing from its
spirit and scope. In light of this, the scope of the present
invention should not be limited to that of the particular
embodiments illustrated and described herein, as they are only
exemplary in nature, but instead, should be fully commensurate with
that of the claims appended hereafter and their functional
equivalents.
* * * * *