U.S. patent application number 12/175847 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for backlight assembly, assembling method thereof and liquid crystal display device including the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hyun-Chul Bae, Joo-Woan Cho, Seong-Sik Choi, Du-Hwan Chung, Yong-Woo Lee, Cheol-Yong Noh.
Application Number | 20090027904 12/175847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40268673 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090027904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chung; Du-Hwan ; et
al. |
January 29, 2009 |
BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLING METHOD THEREOF AND LIQUID CRYSTAL
DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME
Abstract
A lamp socket includes a body receiving a lamp, and a power
supplying member disposed inside the body, the power supplying
member comprising an electrical conductive material having
elasticity, wherein the power supplying member electrically
interconnects the lamp and an inverter substrate on which an
inverter is mounted, wherein the power supplying member includes a
lamp connector receiving a lead wire of the lamp, and an inverter
connector formed integrally with the lamp connector, wherein the
inverter connector receives a protrusion of the inverter substrate
to encircle the protrusion.
Inventors: |
Chung; Du-Hwan; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Cho; Joo-Woan; (Asan-si, KR) ; Choi;
Seong-Sik; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Yong-Woo;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; Bae; Hyun-Chul; (Cheonan-si,
KR) ; Noh; Cheol-Yong; (Asan-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
F. CHAU & ASSOCIATES, LLC
130 WOODBURY ROAD
WOODBURY
NY
11797
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40268673 |
Appl. No.: |
12/175847 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/382 ;
439/834 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 33/0809 20130101;
G02F 1/133612 20210101; H01R 4/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/382 ;
439/834 |
International
Class: |
F21V 21/00 20060101
F21V021/00; H01R 4/48 20060101 H01R004/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 20, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0072687 |
Claims
1. A lamp socket comprising: a body; and a power supplying member
disposed inside the body, the power supplying member comprising an
electrical conductive material electrode having elasticity, wherein
the electrical conductive material electrode comprises a top
electrode to supply a power and another electrode to be supplied
the power by a power supplier.
2. The lamp socket according to claim 1, wherein electrical
conductive material electrode comprises an elastomer including a
silicon compound and a carbon material.
3. A backlight assembly comprising: a lamp; an inverter mounted on
an inverter substrate, wherein the inverter supplies power to the
lamp; a lamp socket including a body receiving the lamp and a power
supplying member disposed inside the body, wherein the power
supplying member comprises a conductive material having elasticity
to electrically interconnect the lamp and the inverter substrate;
and a bottom chassis including a mounting recess for receiving the
lamp socket.
4. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the power
supplying member comprises: a pair of coupling projections coupled
to the body; and a lamp connector connected with a lead wire of the
lamp.
5. The backlight assembly according to claim 4, wherein the lamp
connector comprises: a fitting portion allowing the lamp lead wire
to be fit therein; a fixing groove receiving the lamp lead wire;
and a connection passageway positioned between the fitting portion
and the fixing groove to guide the lamp lead wire from the fitting
portion into the fixing groove.
6. The backlight assembly according to claim 5, wherein the width
of the connection passageway is smaller than that of the fixing
groove.
7. The backlight assembly according to claim 6, wherein the width
of the connection passageway is smaller than that of the lamp lead
wire by about 0.25 mm to about 0.35 mm, and the width of the fixing
groove is smaller than that of the lamp lead wire by about 0.1 mm
to about 0.2 mm.
8. The backlight assembly according to claim 4, wherein the
inverter substrate comprises a protrusion, the power supplying
member further comprises an inverter connector formed integrally
with the lamp connector and connected to the protrusion of the
inverter substrate.
9. The backlight assembly according to claim 8, wherein the
inverter connector fixes the protrusion of the inverter substrate
by encircling the protrusion.
10. The backlight assembly according to claim 9, wherein the
inverter connector comprises: an entrance portion receiving the
protrusion of the inverter substrate; and a concave groove formed
inside the inverter connector having a spring therein for holding
the inverter substrate.
11. The backlight assembly according to claim 4, wherein the power
supplying member comprises a chassis connector connected to the
lamp connector and the bottom chassis.
12. The backlight assembly according to claim 5, wherein the body
comprises: a pair of coupling indents coupled to the pair of
coupling projections of the power supplying member; a lamp support
portion having a holding groove formed therein for mounting a part
of the lamp; and a protective portion connected to the lamp support
portion encircling the lamp connector.
13. The backlight assembly according to claim 12, wherein the body
further comprises an inverter support portion extending integrally
downwardly from the protective portion, the inverter support
portion encircling the inverter connector.
14. The backlight assembly according to claim 12, wherein the body
comprises silicon rubber or polycarbonate.
15. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the lamp
is formed in a `U` shape, and comprises a lamp lead wire connected
at one side to the power supplying member of the lamp socket and a
bent portion formed at the other side of the lamp lead wire in a
round shape.
16. The backlight assembly according to claim 15, further
comprising a movement-preventing member including a fitting hole
formed at an upper portion and a support stand formed at a lower
portion thereof.
17. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the lamp
is formed in a linear shape, and comprises a first lamp lead wire
connected to the inverter and a second lamp lead wire connected to
the bottom chassis, the second lamp lead wire being disposed
opposite to the first lamp lead wire.
18. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, further comprising
side molds including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner wall
thereof to fix the lamp.
19. A method of assembling a backlight light assembly, comprising:
providing a bottom chassis, an inverter substrate, a lamp, a lamp
socket and an optical sheet element; mounting the lamp socket to a
mounting recess formed at a side of a bottom portion of the bottom
chassis; inserting the lamp into a body of the lamp socket and
inserting a lamp lead wire of the lamp into a lamp connector of the
lamp socket; inserting the inverter substrate into an inverter
connector of the lamp socket connected to the lamp connector of the
lamp socket; coupling a side member to the lamp socket to encircle
the lamp socket; and mounting the optical sheet element on the side
member.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of inserting
the lamp lead wire of the lamp into the lamp connector further
comprises the steps of: widening a width of a connection passageway
and a fixing groove of the lamp connector using a tool disposed at
a fitting portion of the lamp connector; coupling the lamp lead
wire to the fixing groove; and removing the tool from the fitting
portion.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the inverter
substrate comprises a protrusion inserted into the inverter
connector of the lamp socket, the side member comprises a mold.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0072687, filed on Jul. 20, 2007, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (a) Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a backlight assembly, an
assembling method thereof and a liquid crystal display device
including the backlight assembly, and more particularly, to a
backlight assembly, an assembling method thereof and a liquid
crystal display device including the backlight assembly, wherein
the backlight assembly includes a lamp socket for use in a direct
type lamp.
[0004] (b) Discussion of Related Art
[0005] Various electronic devices including, for example, mobile
communication terminals, digital cameras, notebook computers, and
monitors comprise a display device for displaying images. A liquid
crystal display (LCD) device displays images using the electric and
optical characteristics of liquid crystal. The LCD device is
thinner and lighter as compared to other display devices, and is
operated with lower driving voltages. The LCD device consumes less
power as compared to other display devices.
[0006] The LCD device includes an LCD panel for displaying images,
a driving circuit for driving the LCD panel, a backlight assembly
for supplying light to the LCD panel. A lamp for a direct type
backlight assembly is fixedly mounted to a lamp socket. A lamp lead
wire to which a wire is soldered is coupled to the lamp socket, and
then the lamp lead wire is connected to an inverter using an
inverter connector. The lamp lead wire and the wire are manually
soldered to each other. A process including, for example, fastening
of the lamp lead wire to the lamp socket and the coupling of the
connectors is also performed. Fixing the lamp to the lamp socket
manually is an inefficient and time consuming process that
increases manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a lamp socket comprises a body receiving a lamp, and a
power supplying member disposed inside the body, the power
supplying member comprising an electrical conductive material
having elasticity, wherein the power supplying member electrically
interconnects the lamp and an inverter substrate on which an
inverter is mounted, wherein the power supplying member includes a
lamp connector receiving a lead wire of the lamp and an inverter
connector formed integrally with the lamp connector, wherein the
inverter connector receives a protrusion of the inverter substrate
to encircle the protrusion.
[0008] The power supplying member may comprise an elastomer
including a silicon compound and a carbon material.
[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a backlight assembly comprises a lamp, an inverter
mounted on an inverter substrate, wherein the inverter has a
protrusion and the inverter supplies power to the lamp, a lamp
socket including a body receiving the lamp and a power supplying
member disposed inside the body, wherein the power supplying member
comprises a conductive material having elasticity to electrically
interconnect the lamp and the inverter substrate, and a bottom
chassis including a mounting recess for receiving the lamp
socket.
[0010] The power supplying member may comprise a pair of coupling
projections coupled to the body, and a lamp connector connected
with a lead wire of the lamp.
[0011] The lamp connector may comprise a fitting portion allowing
the lamp lead wire to be fit therein, a fixing groove receiving the
lamp lead wire, and a connection passageway positioned between the
fitting portion and the fixing groove to guide the lamp lead wire
from the fitting portion into the fixing groove.
[0012] The width of the connection passageway can be smaller than
that of the fixing groove.
[0013] The width of the connection passageway can be smaller than
that of the lamp lead wire by about 0.25 mm to about 0.35 mm, and
the width of the fixing groove can be smaller than that of the lamp
lead wire by about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.
[0014] The power supplying member may further comprise an inverter
connector formed integrally with the lamp connector and connected
to the protrusion of the inverter substrate.
[0015] The inverter connector may fix the protrusion of the
inverter substrate by encircling the protrusion.
[0016] The inverter connector may comprise an entrance portion
receiving the protrusion of the inverter substrate, and a concave
groove formed inside the inverter connector having a spring therein
for holding the inverter substrate.
[0017] The power supplying member may comprise a chassis connector
connected to the lamp connector and the bottom chassis.
[0018] The body may comprise a pair of coupling indents coupled to
the pair of coupling projections of the power supplying member, a
lamp support portion having a holding groove formed therein for
mounting a part of the lamp, and a protective portion connected to
the lamp support portion encircling the lamp connector.
[0019] The body may further comprise an inverter support portion
extending integrally downwardly from the protective portion, the
inverter support portion encircling the inverter connector.
[0020] The body may comprise silicon rubber or polycarbonate.
[0021] The lamp can be formed in a `U` shape, and may comprise a
lamp lead wire connected at one side to the power supplying member
of the lamp socket and a bent portion formed at the other side of
the lamp lead wire in a round shape.
[0022] The backlight assembly may further comprise a
movement-preventing member including a fitting hole formed at an
upper portion and a support stand formed at a lower portion
thereof.
[0023] The lamp can be formed in a linear shape, and may comprise a
first lamp lead wire connected to the inverter and a second lamp
lead wire connected to the bottom chassis, the second lamp lead
wire being disposed opposite to the first lamp lead wire.
[0024] The backlight assembly may further comprise side molds
including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner wall thereof to
fix the lamp.
[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a method of assembling a backlight light assembly
comprises providing a bottom chassis, an inverter substrate, a
lamp, a lamp socket and an optical sheet element, mounting the lamp
socket to a mounting recess formed at a side of a bottom portion of
the bottom chassis, inserting the lamp into a body of the lamp
socket and inserting a lamp lead wire of the lamp into a lamp
connector of the lamp socket, inserting a protrusion of the
inverter substrate into an inverter connector of the lamp socket
connected to the lamp connector of the lamp socket, coupling a side
mold to the lamp socket to encircle the lamp socket, and mounting
the optical sheet element on the side mold.
[0026] The step of inserting the lamp lead wire of the lamp into
the lamp connector may further comprise the steps of widening a
width of a connection passageway and a fixing groove of the lamp
connector using a tool disposed at a fitting portion of the lamp
connector, coupling the lamp lead wire to the fixing groove, and
removing the tool from the fitting portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be
understood in more detail from the following descriptions taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a backlight
assembly and an inverter substrate taken along the line I-I' shown
in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a lamp, a first lamp
socket and an inverter substrate according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view showing the lamp and
the first lamp socket shown in FIG. 3A according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a lamp, a second lamp
socket and a bottom chassis according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a lamp, first and
second lamp sockets, a bottom chassis and an inverter substrate
taken along the line II-II' shown in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a movement-preventing
member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0036] FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a lamp and a lamp
socket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIG. 8B is an exploded perspective view showing the lamp and
the lamp socket shown in FIG. 8A according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a power
supplying member and a lamp lead wire according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a power supplying
member and an inverter substrate according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a coupling state
between a lamp socket and a side mold according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0041] FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views showing a process
where a lamp is coupled to a lamp socket according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The present invention is described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
[0043] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display (LCD) device according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view
showing a backlight assembly and an inverter substrate taken along
the line I-II' shown in FIG. 1.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the LCD device 300 includes a
top chassis 10, an LCD panel 20, a driving circuit, a backlight
assembly and an inverter 175.
[0045] The top chassis 10 is disposed on the top surface of the LCD
panel 20, and protects the LCD panel 20 and the backlight assembly
from an external impact. The top chassis 10 has an opening formed
at the center thereof to expose a display region of the LCD panel
20 therethrough.
[0046] The LCD panel 20 includes a color filter substrate 21, a
thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 23 and a liquid crystal layer
interposed between the color filter substrate 21 and the TFT
substrate 23.
[0047] The color filter substrate 21 includes a black matrix formed
on an upper substrate comprising glass or plastic to shield light,
and an array of red, green and blue color filters formed in regions
partitioned by the black matrix to implement a desired color. The
color filter substrate 21 includes a common electrode for applying
a common voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and an upper
alignment film coated on the common electrode to align liquid
crystal molecules.
[0048] The TFT substrate 23 includes a number of data lines and a
number of gate lines formed between a lower substrate and a gate
insulating film to intersect each other, and a number of TFTs
connected to the data lines and gate lines. The lower substrate can
comprise glass or plastic. The TFT substrate 23 includes a pixel
electrode for applying a pixel voltage to the liquid crystal layer
and a lower alignment film coated on the pixel electrode to align
liquid crystal molecules.
[0049] The driving circuit includes a gate driver integrated
circuit (IC) 43 for driving the gate lines of the LCD panel 20 and
a data driver integrated circuit (IC) 53 for driving the data
lines. The driving circuit includes a timing controller, a power
supply unit and various circuit devices, and generates signals used
for displaying images. The timing controller, the power supply unit
and the various circuit devices are attached to printed circuit
boards (PCBs) 45 and 55.
[0050] Various signal circuits formed on the gate integrated
circuit 45 and the data integrated circuit 55 are electrically
connected to the gate lines and the data lines using, for example,
a gate tape carrier package (TCP) 41 and a data tape carrier
package 51.
[0051] The backlight assembly includes a mold frame 60, an optical
sheet element 70, lamps 80, first and second lamp sockets 90 and
120, side molds 163, a reflective sheet 150 and a bottom chassis
160.
[0052] The mold frame 60 protects the optical sheet element 70, the
lamps 80, the first and second lamp sockets 90 and 120 and the
reflective sheet 150 from an external impact, and comprises a mold
material.
[0053] The optical sheet element 70 is disposed behind the LCD
panel 20, and improves the luminance of light emitted from the
lamps 80 which is incident to the LCD panel 20. The optical sheet
element 70 includes a diffusion sheet 71, a prism sheet 73 and a
protective sheet 75.
[0054] The lamp 80 emits light. In an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, a plurality of the lamps 80 are disposed behind
the optical sheet element 70. In an exemplary embodiment, the
plurality of lamps 80 can be disposed parallel with the LCD panel
20 to directly transfer the light to the LCD panel 20.
[0055] The lamp 80 may be a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or
an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL).
[0056] The first and second lamp sockets 90 and 120 are fixedly
mounted with the lamps 80. An identical number of the first and
second lamp sockets 90 and 120, and the lamps 80 can be used. Each
of the plurality first and second lamp sockets 90 and 120 is
connected to a connection portion 143. The first lamp socket 90 and
the second lamp socket 120 are formed in pairs and positioned
opposite to each other. The first lamp socket 90 electrically
interconnects the lamp 80 and the inverter 175. The second lamp
socket 120 is formed at the other side of the lamp 80 coupled to
the first lamp socket 90 to interconnect the lamp 80 and the bottom
chassis 160.
[0057] Each side mold 163 includes a plurality of grooves 169
formed on one side wall thereof to encircle the outer periphery of
the lamp 80. Thus, the lamp 80 is securely fixed using the grooves
169 of the side mold 163 to prevent the escape of the lamp 80. The
side mold 163 is fastened to the bottom chassis 160 so that the
lamp 80 and the optical sheet element 70 are spaced apart from each
other by a predetermined interval. The side mold 163 may have a
stepped portion formed on the top surface thereof to allow the
optical sheet element 70 to be received on the stepped portion.
[0058] The reflective sheet 150 employs a plate having a high
optical reflectivity. The reflective sheet 150 allows light emitted
in an opposite direction to that of light emitted to the LCD panel
20 from the lamp 80 to be re-reflected to the LCD panel 20 to
reduce a loss of light. The reflective sheet 150 has a
high-reflectivity reflective member coated on a base material.
[0059] The bottom chassis 160 internally accommodates the optical
sheet element 70, the lamps 80, the lamp sockets 90 and 120 and the
reflective sheet 150 to protect them from an external impact. The
bottom chassis 160 includes a plurality of mounting recesses 167 at
one side of the bottom portion thereof to mount the lamp sockets 90
therein. A same number of the mounting recesses 167 and the lamp
sockets 90 can be used.
[0060] The inverter 175 provides power to the lamps 80 to emit
light, and is mounted on the inverter substrate 170. The inverter
substrate 170 is disposed below the bottom portion 165 of the
bottom chassis 160. The inverter substrate 170 has a plurality of
protrusions 173 contacting the lamp socket 90. The protrusions 173
are electrically connected to the inverter 175 using wirings formed
in the inverter substrate 170. A protective cover 180 encircles the
inverter substrate 170 and protects the inverter 175 from, for
example, external dust or impact. The protective cover 180 may
comprise a plastic material.
[0061] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a lamp, a first lamp
socket and an inverter substrate according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is an exploded
perspective view showing a lamp and the first lamp socket shown in
FIG. 3A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first lamp socket 90
includes a power supplying member 110 and a body 99.
[0063] The power supplying member 110 is disposed inside the body
99. The power supplying member 110 comprises an electrical
conductive material having elasticity and electrically
interconnects the lamp 80 and an inverter substrate 170 on which an
inverter is mounted.
[0064] Since the lamp 80 and the inverter mounted on the inverter
substrate 170 are electrically interconnected using the power
supplying member 110, the lamp 80 and the inverter does not need to
be manually interconnected. Thus, the time spent for assembling the
lamp 80 and the inverter substrate 170 can be shortened. In an
exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material can be an
elastomer comprising a silicon compound and a carbon material.
[0065] The power supplying member 110 includes a lamp connector
111, a pair of coupling projections 113 and an inverter connector
115. The power supplying member 110 can be formed in a `T`
shape.
[0066] The lamp connector 111 is formed at one side of the power
supplying member 110, and allows a lead wire 85 of the lamp 80 to
be fixedly inserted thereto. The elastomer of which the lamp
connector 111 is made is similar in hardness and specific gravity
to rubber and thus has good flexibility. When the lamp lead wire 85
is inserted into the lamp connector 111, the lead wire 85 can be
caught by the lamp connector 111 using the elasticity of the rubber
itself and can be protected from an external impact.
[0067] The lamp connector 111 is formed of an elongated slit
opening, and includes a fitting portion 103, a connection
passageway 105 and a fixing groove 107.
[0068] The first lamp lead wire 85 is inserted into the fitting
portion 103. The first lamp lead wire 85 is fixedly received into
the fixing groove 107 to be electrically connected to the inverter
175. In an exemplary embodiment, the fixing groove 107 may be
formed in a `U` shape so that the first lamp lead wire 85 can be
easily received therein. The connection passageway 105 is formed
between the fitting portion 103 and the fixing groove 107 to guide
the first lamp lead wire 85 received into the fitting portion 103
to the fixing groove 107.
[0069] The coupling projection 113 is formed at both ends of the
lamp connector 111 and is coupled to a corresponding coupling
indent 95 of the body 99 to enable the power supplying member 110
to be securely fixed to the body 99.
[0070] The inverter connector 115 is formed at the other side of
the power supplying member 110 and is formed integrally with the
lamp connector 111. The inverter connector 115 is connected to the
protrusion 173 of the inverter substrate 170 mounted with the
inverter.
[0071] The body 99 is adapted to fix the lamp 80 and to encircle
the outer periphery of the power supplying member 110. The body 99
comprises an insulating material such as a silicon material or a
plastic material. In an exemplary embodiment, the silicon material
is silicon rubber and the plastic material is polycarbonate.
[0072] The body 99 includes a lamp support portion 91, a protective
portion and a pair of coupling indents 95.
[0073] The lamp support portion 91 has a lamp support groove 101
for receiving a part of the lamp 80 thereon. The lamp support
groove 101 may be formed in a `U` shape to allow the lamp 80 having
a circular cross-section to be easily received thereon.
[0074] The protective portion 93 is formed integrally with the lamp
support portion 91 and encircles the outer periphery of the lamp
connector 111.
[0075] The pair of coupling indents 95 are formed on the opposing
inner walls of protective portion 93 to correspond to the pair of
coupling projections 113 of the power supplying member 110. As
such, the coupling projections 113 are coupled to the coupling
indents 95 to prevent any movement of the power supplying member
110.
[0076] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a lamp, a second lamp
socket and a bottom chassis according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 4, the second lamp socket 120 includes a
body 129 for fixing the lamp 80, and a power supplying member 130
disposed inside the body 129. The power supplying member 130
comprises an elastomer as an electrical conductive material having
elasticity.
[0078] The power supplying member 130 includes a pair of coupling
projections 135, a lamp connector 133, and a chassis connector
137.
[0079] The coupling projections 135 are formed at both sides of the
lamp connector 133 to allow the power supplying member 130 to be
securely fixed to the body 129. The lamp connector 133 is formed at
one side of the power supplying member 130, and the second lamp
lead wire is placed in the lamp connector 133 so that it can be
electrically connected to the bottom chassis 160. The chassis
connector 137 is formed at the other side of the power supplying
member 130 to allow the second lamp lead wire to be electrically
connected to the bottom chassis 160.
[0080] The body 129 includes a lamp support portion 121, a
protective portion 123 and a pair of coupling indents.
[0081] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a lamp, first and
second lamp sockets, a bottom chassis and an inverter substrate
taken along the line II-II' shown in FIG. 1 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 5, the inverter connector 115 of the first
lamp socket 90 is connected to the protrusion 173 of the inverter
substrate 170 disposed behind the bottom chassis 160 to supply a
lamp driving power. The lamp driving power is generated from the
inverter 175 to the lamp 80 through the first lamp lead wire 85.
The lamp 80 emits light by using the supplied lamp driving power.
In an exemplary embodiment, the chassis connector 137 of the second
lamp socket 120 is connected to the bottom chassis 160 to serve as
a ground.
[0083] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an LCD device
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 6, the LCD device 300 includes a top
chassis 10, an LCD panel 20, a driving circuit, a backlight
assembly and an inverter.
[0085] The backlight assembly includes a lamp 80, a
movement-preventing member 190, a lamp socket 90, side molds 163, a
mold frame 60, an optical sheet element 70, a reflective sheet 150
and a bottom chassis 160.
[0086] The lamp 80 emits light and can be formed in a `U`
shape.
[0087] The lamp 80 includes a lamp lead wire mounted at the lamp
socket 90 and a bent portion 89 formed at the other side of the
lamp lead wire in a round shape. The bent portion 89 is mounted
with a movement-preventing member 190 for preventing any movement
of the lamp 80 and fastening the lamp 80 to the bottom chassis 160.
In an exemplary embodiment, a `U` shaped lamp 80 is described by
way of an example, but a linear lamp may be used.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 7, the movement-preventing member 190
includes a fitting hole 191 formed at an upper portion thereof and
a support stand 193 formed at a lower portion thereof. The fitting
hole 191 receives the bent portion 89 of the lamp 80 and the
support stand 193 is fastened to the bottom chassis 160. The
movement-preventing member 190 can prevent the lamp 80 and the lamp
lead wire from escaping from the lamp socket 90 due to the movement
of the lamp 80. The movement-preventing member 190 may comprise an
insulating material. For example, the movement-preventing member
190 may comprise silicon rubber or polycarbonate. Thus, heat
generated from the lamp 80 can be transferred to the bottom chassis
160 to prevent the generation of a short circuit.
[0089] The lamp socket 90 is fixedly mounted with the lamp 80. The
power supplying member 110 of the lamp socket 90 may comprise an
elastomer to electrically interconnect the lamp 80 and the
inverter. The side mold 163 includes a side wall having a plurality
of grooves 169 to encircle the outer periphery of the lamp socket
90.
[0090] The mold frame 60 is disposed on the optical sheet element
70 and protects the optical sheet element 70, the lamp 80, the lamp
socket 90 and the reflective sheet 140 from an external impact.
[0091] The optical sheet element 70 and the reflective sheet 140
change the physical properties of light emitted from the lamp 80
and transfer the light to the LCD panel 20.
[0092] The bottom chassis 160 includes a plurality of mounting
recesses 167 formed therein to allow the lamp sockets 90 to be
mounted therein. The bottom chassis 160 protects the lamp 80, the
lamp socket 90, the optical sheet element 70 and the reflective
sheet 150 from the external impact.
[0093] The top chassis 10 internally accommodates the LCD panel 20,
the driving circuit and the backlight assembly and protects them
from the external impact.
[0094] The LCD panel 20 includes a color filter substrate 21, a TFT
substrate 23, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the
color filter substrate 21 and the TFT substrate 23.
[0095] The driving circuit drives the LCD panel 20.
[0096] The inverter is connected to the lamp socket 90 to provide
power to the lamps 80 to emit light, and is mounted on the inverter
substrate 170. A protective cover 180 may be provided to prevent
the inverter and the inverter substrate 170 from an external
impact.
[0097] FIG. 8A is an assembled perspective view showing a lamp and
a lamp socket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 8B is an exploded perspective view showing the lamp
and the lamp socket shown in FIG. 8A according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0098] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the lamp socket 90 securely
fixes the lamp 80, and electrically interconnects the lamp 80 and
the inverter. The lamp socket 90 includes a body 99 for securely
fixing the lamp 80 and a power supplying member 110 disposed inside
the body 99. The power supplying member 110 comprises an elastomer
as an electrical conductive material.
[0099] The power supplying member 110 includes a lamp connector
111, a pair of coupling projections 113 and an inverter connector
117.
[0100] The lamp connector 111 is formed at one side of the power
supplying member 110 and allows the lamp lead wire 85 to be fixedly
received therein. The lamp connector 111 can be formed in a `Y`
shape, and includes a fitting portion 103, a connection passageway
105 and a fixing groove 107.
[0101] The fitting portion 103 receives a lamp lead wire 85, and
may be formed, for example, in an inverted triangular shape (i.e.,
``). A force is applied to an inclined surface of the fitting
portion 103 using a tool so that the fitting portion 103 can be
widened to insert the lamp lead wire 85 therein without applying
any force to the lamp lead wire 85. The lamp lead wire 85 is
fixedly received into the fixing groove 107 to allow the lamp to be
electrically connected to the inverter 175 using an elastomer as an
electrical conductive material. The connection passageway 105 is
formed between the fitting portion 103 and the fixing groove 107 to
guide the lamp lead wire 85 fit into the fitting portion 103 to the
fixing groove 107.
[0102] The coupling projection 113 is connected to the lamp
connector 111, and is coupled to the body 99 to securely fix the
power supplying member 110 to the body 99.
[0103] The inverter connector 117 is formed at the other side of
the power supplying member 110 to be integrally extended from the
lamp connector 111. The inverter connector 117 includes an entrance
portion 108 and concave groove 109. The entrance portion 108 allows
the protrusion of the inverter substrate 170 to be inserted
thereto, and the concave groove 109 is formed integrally with the
entrance portion 108.
[0104] The body 99 includes a lamp support portion 91, a protective
portion 93, a pair of opposing coupling indents 95 and an inverter
support portion 97.
[0105] The lamp support portion 91 securely fixes the lamp 80, and
includes a holding groove 101 for allowing a part of the lamp 80 to
be mounted therein. The protective portion 93 is connected to the
lamp support portion 91 and encircles the lamp connector 111. The
coupling indents 95 are formed at positions corresponding to those
of the coupling projections 113 of the lamp connector 111 to couple
the coupling projections 113 to the coupling indents 95. The
inverter support portion 97 extends integrally downwardly from the
protective portion 93 to encircle the inverter connector 117.
[0106] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a power
supplying member and a lamp lead wire according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0107] Referring to FIG. 9, the width (w1) of the connection
passageway 105 can be smaller than the width (W) of the lamp lead
wire 85 by about 0.25 mm to about 0.35 mm. When the width (w1) of
the connection passageway 105 is smaller than the width (W) of the
lamp lead wire 85 by less than about 0.25 mm, the lamp lead wire 85
may escape from the lamp connector. When the width (w1) of the
connection passageway 105 is smaller than the width (W) of the lamp
lead wire 85 by more than about 0.35 mm, it is difficult to insert
the lamp lead wire 85 into the fitting portion 103.
[0108] The width (w2) of the fixing groove 107 can be smaller than
the width (W) of the lamp lead wire 85 by about 0.1 mm to about 0.2
mm. When the width (w2) of the fixing groove 107 is smaller than
the width (W) of the lamp lead wire 85 by less than about 0.1 mm,
the lamp lead wire 85 may escape from the lamp connector. When the
width (w2) of the fixing groove 107 is smaller than the width (W)
of the lamp lead wire 85 by more than about 0.2 mm, the lamp lead
wire 85 cannot be mounted in the fixing groove 107.
[0109] The width (w1) of the connection passageway 105 and the
width (w2) of the fixing groove 107 are smaller than the width (W)
of the lamp lead wire 85 for fitting the lamp to the lamp connector
without applying a force to the lamp. For example, if a force is
exerted to the lamp 80 or the lamp lead wire 85 during the fitting
of the lamp 80, a micro-crack may occur in the lamp 80, which
results in a leakage of a filling material inside the lamp 80 to
the outside. The width (w1) of the connection passageway 105 can be
smaller than the width (w2) of the fixing groove 107 for securely
fixing the lamp lead wire 85 to prevent the lamp lead wire 85 from
escaping from the lamp connector.
[0110] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a power supplying
member and an inverter substrate according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0111] Referring to FIG. 10, the inverter connector 117 securely
fixes the protrusion 173 of the inverter substrate 170 to encircle
the protrusion 173. For example, the cross-section of the inverter
connector 117 can be formed in a `C` shape. The concave groove 109
is formed inside the inverter connector 117 and a circular spring
structure (not shown) is disposed at the concave groove 109. The
spring disposed at the concave groove 109 holds the protrusion 173
of the inverter substrate 170 to prevent the escape of the inverter
substrate 170 from the inverter connector.
[0112] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a coupling state
between a lamp socket and a side mold according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0113] Referring to FIG. 11, the side mold 163 includes a plurality
of grooves 169 formed at one side wall thereof to encircle the
outer periphery of the lamp support portion 91. Since the side mold
163 securely fixes the lamp support portion 91, the lamp cannot
escape from the support groove to prevent separation of the lamp
from the lamp socket. Since each groove 169 encircles the outer
periphery of the lamp support portion 91, a gap between the groove
169 and the lamp support portion 91 is minimized. As such,
introduction of foreign substances into the side mold 163 can be
blocked.
[0114] An assembling process of the backlight assembly is described
hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 6, 12A and 12B according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 6, the backlight assembly is closed at a
lower surface thereof and is opened at an upper surface thereof.
Then, the reflective sheet 150 is mounted on the bottom chassis 160
having the mounting recesses 167. The lamp socket 90 having the
power supplying member 110 is mounted to the mounting recess 167 of
the bottom chassis 160. Thereafter, the lamp 80 is inserted into
the lamp socket 90. In an exemplary embodiment, when a force is
exerted to the lamp support portion 91 and the lamp connector 111
of the power supplying member 110 in an arrow direction as shown in
FIG. 12A by using a tool, the lamp support portion 91 and the lamp
connector 111 are widened laterally at both sides thereof,
respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the lamp 80 and lamp lead
wire 85 are fittingly received in the holding groove of the lamp
support portion 91 and the fixing groove of the lamp connector 111,
respectively. When the tool disposed at the lamp support portion 91
and the lamp connector 111 is removed, the power supplying member
110 having elasticity returns to its original state. The protrusion
173 of the inverter substrate 170 is coupled to the inverter
connector 117 of the power supplying member 110 in a slidable
coupling manner. In an exemplary embodiment, the slidable coupling
manner refers to a method in which the protrusion of the inverter
substrate is fittingly coupled to the inverter connector while
passing through the entrance of portion of the inverter connector
to be encircled by the inverter connector. Then, the inverter
substrate 170 is securely fixed to the inverter connector 117 using
the spring installed at the concave groove 109. Thus, the lamp 80
and the inverter substrate 170 are electrically interconnected
without soldering, which leads to simplicity of the coupling
between the lamp 80 and the lamp socket.
[0116] The movement-preventing member 190 disposed at the bent
portion 89 of the lamp 80 for preventing any movement of the lamp
is fastened to the bottom chassis 160. The movement-preventing
member 190 securely fixes the lamp 80 to prevent the lamp 80 from
escaping from the lamp socket 90. The escape may result in
interruption of the supply of power to the lamp 80. The side mold
163 having the grooves 169 is mounted on the lamp support portion
91 of the power supplying member 110 to encircle the outer
periphery of the lamp support portion 91. The optical sheet element
70 is mounted on the side mold 163 and the bottom chassis 160 and
then the mold frame 60 is covered on the optical sheet element
70.
[0117] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a lamp and an inverter are directly interconnected
through a power supplying member comprising an elastomer mounted in
a lamp socket, thereby simplifying a process of fixing the lamp to
the lamp socket, reducing an assembling time of the lamp and the
lamp socket and saving labor cost.
[0118] Since the power supplying member comprises an elastomer, the
manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device can be
reduced. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the width of fixing groove and a connection passageway
of the power supplying member can be smaller than the diameter of a
lamp lead wire to prevent the lamp lead wire from being escaped
from the lamp socket.
[0119] Although the illustrative embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present
invention should not be limited to those precise embodiments and
that various other changes and modifications may be affected
therein by one of ordinary skill in the related art without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such
changes and modifications are intended to be included within the
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *