U.S. patent application number 12/584097 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same.
Invention is credited to Jae-Sang Lee.
Application Number | 20090322984 12/584097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36093298 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090322984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jae-Sang |
December 31, 2009 |
Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the
same
Abstract
In a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display apparatus,
the backlight assembly has lamps parallel to each other to emit a
light, a receiving container having a bottom portion and a side
portion to receive the lamps, and a mold member coupled to the
receiving container to cover the ends of the lamps. The mold member
has a reflecting face having a diffusion pattern that reflects the
light from the lamps and an upper face extending from the
reflecting face in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom
portion. Thus, a shadow portion of the backlight assembly may be
removed, to thereby enhance image display quality of the liquid
crystal display apparatus.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jae-Sang; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Innovation Counsel LLP
21771 Stevens Creek Blvd, Ste. 200A
Cupertino
CA
95014
US
|
Family ID: |
36093298 |
Appl. No.: |
12/584097 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11197570 |
Aug 3, 2005 |
7581845 |
|
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12584097 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/61 ;
362/97.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133607 20210101;
G02F 1/133608 20130101; G02F 2201/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/61 ;
362/97.1 |
International
Class: |
G02F 1/1335 20060101
G02F001/1335; G02F 1/13357 20060101 G02F001/13357 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2004 |
KR |
2004-68226 |
Claims
1. A backlight assembly comprising: a plurality of lamps to
generate light; a receiving container to receive the lamps, the
receiving container having a bottom portion and a side portion; and
a mold member coupled to the side portion of the receiving
container while covering ends of the lamps, the mold member fixing
the lamps to the side portion of the receiving container, the mold
member having a reflecting face and an upper face extending from
the reflecting face, the reflecting face having a diffusion pattern
formed thereon so as to diffuse and reflect light from the
lamps.
2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the diffusion pattern
comprises protrusions on a surface of the reflecting face.
3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the
protrusions has a circular cone shape.
4. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the
protrusions has a hemispherical shape.
5. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the diffusion pattern
comprises recesses on a surface of the reflecting face.
6. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflecting face
is downwardly inclined toward the lamps from the upper face.
7. The backlight assembly of claim 6, wherein the reflecting face
comprises openings formed at positions corresponding to the lamps,
respectively.
8. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lamp
holder combined with ends of the lamps so as to hold the lamps, the
lamp holder being covered by the mold member.
9. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
diffusion plate disposed on the lamps to diffuse the light
generated from the lamps.
10. The backlight assembly of claim 9, wherein the mold member
comprises a stepped portion formed on the upper face thereof to
guide the diffusion plate.
11. The backlight assembly of claim 9, wherein the mold member
comprises a fixing portion formed on the upper face thereof to fix
the diffusion plate, the fixing portion protruding from the upper
face.
12. The backlight assembly of claim 11, wherein the diffusion plate
comprises a fixing recess to be coupled to the fixing portion of
the mold member.
13. The backlight assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a
reflecting plate disposed under the lamps to reflect the light from
the lamps; and an optical sheet disposed on the diffusion
plate.
14. The backlight assembly of claim 13, wherein the mold member
comprises a sheet-fixing portion formed on the upper face thereof
to fix the optical sheet.
15. The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein the sheet-fixing
portion protrudes from the upper face.
16. The backlight assembly of claim 13, wherein the optical sheet
comprises a condensing sheet to condense the light diffused by the
diffusion sheet.
17. The backlight assembly of claim 13, wherein the optical sheet
comprises a so diffusion sheet to diffuse the light diffused by the
diffusion sheet.
18. The backlight assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a mold
frame coupled to the receiving container to hold the diffusion
plate and the optical sheet; and an inverter disposed on a rear
face of the receiving container to generate a driving voltage for
the lamps.
19. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: a backlight
assembly comprising: a plurality of lamps to generate a light; a
receiving container to receive the lamps, the receiving container
having a bottom portion and a side portion; and a mold member
coupled to the side portion of the receiving container while
covering ends of the lamps, the mold member fixing the lamps to the
side portion of the receiving container, the mold member having a
reflecting face and an upper face extending from the reflecting
face, the reflecting face having a diffusion pattern formed thereon
so as to diffuse and reflect the light from the lamps, a liquid
crystal display panel to display an image using the light supplied
from the backlight assembly; and a top chassis to fix the liquid
crystal display panel to the backlight assembly.
20. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
diffusion pattern comprises protrusions on a surface of the
reflecting face.
21. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
diffusion pattern comprises recesses on a surface of the reflecting
face.
22. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
reflecting face is downwardly inclined toward the lamps from the
upper face.
23. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the
reflecting face comprises openings formed at positions
corresponding to the lamps, respectively.
24. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
backlight assembly further comprises: a reflecting plate disposed
under the lamps to reflect the light from the lamps; a diffusion
plate disposed on the lamps to diffuse the light from the lamps;
and an optical sheet disposed on the diffusion plate.
25. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
backlight assembly further comprises: a mold frame coupled to the
receiving container so as to hold the diffusion plate and the
optical sheet; and an inverter disposed on a rear face to generate
a driving voltage for the lamps.
26. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
backlight assembly further comprises a lamp holder combined with
ends of the lamps so as to hold the lamps, the lamp holder being
covered by the mold member.
27. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper face of
the mold member extending substantially parallel to the bottom
portion of the receiving container so as to cover the side portion
of the receiving container upon assembly.
28. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
upper face of the mold member extending substantially parallel to
the bottom portion of the receiving container so as to cover the
side portion of the receiving container upon assembly.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/197,570 filed on Aug. 3, 2005, which relies
for priority upon Korean Patent Application No. 2004-68226 filed on
Aug. 28, 2004, the contents of which are herein incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a
liquid crystal display apparatus having the backlight assembly.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a liquid crystal display apparatus is a flat
panel display device that uses liquid crystal in order to display
an image. Such liquid crystal display apparatuses have various
characteristics such as a thinness, light weight, low driving
voltage, low power consumption, etc., and therefore have been
widely used in various industries relating to display
technology.
[0006] In the above liquid crystal display apparatus, the liquid
crystal panel is not a self-emissive light element that generates
light. Therefore, a backlight assembly is often used in order to
supply light to the liquid crystal panel.
[0007] The backlight assembly includes a lamp for generating light.
Often, the lamp employs a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)
having a thin and elongated tubular shape. The backlight assembly
is classified generally into an edge illumination type and a direct
illumination type, depending on the lamp position. In the edge
illumination type backlight assembly, one or two lamps are
positioned adjacent to a lateral side of a transparent light guide
plate, and the light from the lamp is multiple-reflected from the
light guide plate and then applied to the liquid crystal display
panel. In the direct illumination type backlight assembly, a
plurality of lamps are disposed under the liquid crystal display
panel, a diffusing plate is disposed between the lamps and the
liquid crystal display panel, and a reflecting plate is disposed
under the lamps. The light from the lamps is reflected from the
reflecting plate and diffused by the diffusing plate, and the
diffused light is applied to the liquid crystal display panel.
Thus, the edge illumination type backlight assembly is applied
generally to a small-scale liquid crystal display apparatus, and
the direct illumination type backlight assembly is applied to a
large-scale liquid crystal display apparatus requiring a high
brightness.
[0008] However, in case of the direct illumination type backlight
assembly, the peripheral region of the backlight assembly appears
relatively dark compared to the central region of the backlight
assembly. Uniformity of light from the backlight assembly is
deteriorated, thereby degrading image display quality thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a backlight assembly capable
of improving brightness uniformity.
[0010] The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display
apparatus having the above backlight assembly.
[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, a backlight assembly
includes lamps, a receiving container and a mold member. The lamps,
which are substantially parallel to each other, generate light. The
receiving container having a bottom portion and a side portion
receives the lamps. The mold member is coupled to the receiving
container to cover ends of the lamps. The mold member includes a
reflecting face on which a diffusion pattern reflecting the light
from the lamps is formed and an upper face extending from the
reflecting face so as to diffuse and reflect the light from the
lamps.
[0012] The diffusion pattern includes protrusions protruded from a
surface of the reflecting face. The protrusions have a circular
cone shape or a hemispherical shape. The diffusion pattern has
recesses formed at a surface of the reflecting face.
[0013] The reflecting face is downwardly inclined towards the lamps
from the upper face. The reflecting face has openings corresponding
to the lamps, respectively.
[0014] The backlight assembly may further include a lamp holder
combined with ends of the lamps to hold the lamps, and the lamp
holder is covered by the mold member.
[0015] The backlight assembly further includes a diffusion plate
disposed on the lamps to diffuse the light generated from the
lamps. The mold member has a stepped portion formed on the upper
face so as to guide the diffusion plate.
[0016] The backlight assembly may further include a reflecting
plate disposed under the lamps to reflect the light from the lamps,
an optical sheet disposed on the diffusion plate, and a mold frame
coupled to the receiving container so as to hold the diffusion
plate and the optical sheet.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal
display apparatus includes a backlight assembly, a liquid crystal
display panel and a top chassis.
[0018] The backlight assembly has lamps to generate light, a
receiving container having a bottom portion and a side portion to
receive the lamps, and a mold member having a reflecting face on
which a diffusion pattern reflecting the light from the lamps is
formed and an upper face extended from the reflecting face so as to
diffuse and reflect the light from the lamps. The liquid crystal
display panel receives the light from the backlight assembly to
display an image. The top chassis fixes the liquid crystal display
panel to the backlight assembly.
[0019] The invention removes a shadow portion of the backlight
assembly and thereby enhances the image display quality of the
liquid crystal display apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detailed
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight
assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the
backlight assembly of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the mold
member of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the portion A in the
diffusion pattern of FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view illustrating another
exemplary embodiment of the diffusion pattern of FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view illustrating another
exemplary embodiment of the diffusion pattern of FIG. 3;
[0027] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight
assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight assembly
of FIG. 7;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the mold member, the diffusion plate and the optical sheet of FIG.
7;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing in detail the mold
member of FIG. 9; and
[0031] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanied
drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight
assembly 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the
backlight assembly of FIG. 1.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the backlight assembly 100
includes a plurality of lamps 200, a receiving container 300, and a
mold member 400. The lamps 200, such as an external electrode
fluorescent lamp (EEFL), are arranged in parallel to each other and
emit light. The receiving container 300 has a bottom portion 310
and a side portion 320 so as to provide a receiving space into
which the lamps 200 are received. The mold member 400 is coupled to
the receiving container 300 while covering the end portions of the
lamps 200. The mold member 400 has a reflecting face 410 and an
upper face 420 extending from the reflecting face 410 in a
direction substantially parallel to the bottom portion 310. The
reflecting face 410 has a diffusion pattern 412 so as to diffuse
the light from the lamps 200.
[0035] The lamps 200 emit light in response to a driving voltage
from an external source. Each of the lamps 200 has, for example, a
cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) having a thin and elongated
tubular shape. The lamps 200 are arranged in regular intervals for
uniformity of brightness. The number of the lamps 200 depends on
the required brightness.
[0036] In the present embodiment, the backlight assembly 100 may
further include lamp holders 210 in order to fix the lamps 200 to
the receiving container 300. The end portions of the lamps 200 are
inserted into the lamp holders 210, and the lamp holders 210 are
coupled to the receiving container 300. For example, two lamps
adjacent to each other may be coupled to a single lamp holder. The
lamp holders 210 are covered by the mold member 400.
[0037] The receiving container 300 is composed of the bottom
portion 310 and the side portion 320 extending from and along the
edge of the bottom portion 310. In order to provide a coupling
space and enhance a coupling strength, the side portion 320 has an
upside down U-shape. The receiving container 300 is formed of a
metallic material having a good strength and rigidity. The lamps
200 coupled to the lamp holders 210 and the mold member 400 are
sequentially received into the receiving space of the receiving
container 300.
[0038] In the present embodiment, the backlight assembly 100 has
two mold members 400 to cover both end portions of the lamps 200.
The two mold members 400 are coupled to two facing side portions
320 of the receiving container 300, respectively. The two mold
members have the same structure and function, and thus the
description of one mold member applies to both. The mold member 400
fixes the lamp holders 210 to the receiving container 300 while
covering the lamp holders 210 so they are not exposed to the
environment. The mold member 400 includes the reflecting face 410
that reflects the light from the lamps 200 and the upper face 420
extending from the reflecting face 410 in the direction
substantially parallel to the bottom portion 310 of the receiving
container 300. In the present embodiment, the reflecting face 410
has the diffusion pattern 412 formed therein to diffuse the light
such that a larger amount of light can be directed upwards.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the mold
member of FIG. 1.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mold member 400 has the
reflecting face 410 that reflects the light from the lamps 200 and
the upper face 420 extending from the reflecting face 410 in the
direction substantially parallel to the bottom portion 310 of the
receiving container 300.
[0041] The reflecting face 410 is downwardly inclined toward the
lamps 200 from an extended line EL of the upper face 420 in order
to reflect the light from the lamps 200 upwardly. The reflecting
face 410 has an incline angle .theta. in the range of 45 to
90.degree. with respect to the extended line EL. The reflecting
face 410 is provided with openings 414 formed at the positions
corresponding to the lamps 200, respectively. Thus, the lamps 200
are inserted into the openings 414 when the mold member 400 is
coupled to the receiving container 300.
[0042] The reflecting face 410 has the diffusion pattern 412 formed
therein so as to diffuse a larger amount of the light from the
lamps 200 upward. The diffusion pattern 412 is formed of a fine
embossment or intaglio pattern. For example, the diffusion pattern
412 may be formed simultaneously when the mold member 400 is formed
by an injection molding process. In the present invention, the
diffusion pattern 412 is formed in a regular arrangement. However,
this is not a limitation of the invention and the diffusion pattern
412 may be irregular in some cases.
[0043] The upper face 420 extends from the reflecting face 410 in a
plane that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion 310. The
upper face 420 extends to the side portion 320 of the receiving
container 300 while covering the lamp holders 210. The upper face
420 may have a coupling hole 424 formed therethrough, so that the
upper face 420 can be coupled to the side portion 320 of the
receiving container 300 with a screw passing through the coupling
hole 424. Further, the upper face 420 may have a stepped portion
422 guiding and placing a diffusion plate (not shown) to be
disposed above the lamps 200.
[0044] The mold member 400 may further include a first supporter
430 and a second supporter 440, which are downwardly extended from
the upper face 420. When the mold member 400 is received into the
receiving container 300, the first supporter 430 makes contact with
the side portion 320 of the receiving container 300, thereby
guiding the mold member 400 properly into a right place. The first
supporter 430 is partially opened at positions corresponding to the
lamp holders 210. The second supporter 440 has an extended length
shorter than that of the first supporter 430, and is positioned
between the first supporter 430 and the reflecting face 410. The
second supporter 440 pressurizes the lamp holders 210 to thereby
prevent the movement of the lamp holders 210.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the portion A in the
diffusion pattern 412 of FIG. 3 in order to illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the diffusion pattern.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mold member 400 has the
diffusion pattern 412 formed in the reflecting face 410 thereof.
For example, the diffusion pattern 412 is formed of protrusions 415
protruding from the reflecting face 410. In the present embodiment,
each of the protrusions 415 has a circular cone shape. In other
words, each of the protrusions 415 has a circular cross section
when the protrusions 415 are cut in a direction substantially
parallel to the reflecting face 410, and each of the protrusions
415 has a triangular cross section when the protrusions 415 are cut
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reflecting face
410. In an alternative embodiment, the protrusions 415 may be
configured to have a rectangular cross section when is the
protrusions 415 are cut in the direction substantially
perpendicular to the reflecting face 410. The protrusions 415 may
be arranged in regular intervals with a constant spacing between
them, but this is not a limitation of the invention. The
protrusions 415 function to diffuse and reflect the light from the
lamps 200 so as to direct a larger amount of light upward, toward
the liquid crystal panel.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the
diffusion pattern of FIG. 3.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the diffusion pattern 412
includes protrusions 416 protruding from the reflecting face 410.
In the present embodiment, each of the protrusions 416 has a
hemispherical shape. In other words, each of the protrusions 416
has a circular cross section when the protrusions 416 are cut in a
direction substantially parallel to the reflecting face 410, and a
semi-circular cross section when cut in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the reflecting face 410. In the present
embodiment, the protrusions 416 are arranged in regular intervals
so as to have a constant spacing between them, but may be arranged
irregularly. The protrusions 416 function to diffuse and reflect
the light from the lamps 200 so as to direct an increased amount of
light upward.
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the
diffusion pattern of FIG. 3.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the diffusion pattern 412 has
recesses 417 formed as depressions or indentations on the
reflecting face 410. The recesses 417 have predetermined depth. In
the present embodiment, each of the recesses 417 may have various
shapes such as a circular cone shape, a polypyramid shape, a
hemispherical shape and so on. The recesses 417 may be arranged in
regular intervals with a constant spacing between them, but may
also be arranged irregularly. The recesses 417 function to diffuse
and reflect the light from the lamps 200 so as to direct an
increased amount of light upward.
[0051] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight
assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the backlight
assembly of FIG. 7. In the present embodiment, the lamps, the
receiving container, and the mold member have the same structure as
in FIGS. 1 to 6, and thus any further detailed descriptions thereof
will be omitted.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, a backlight assembly 500 of this
embodiment includes a plurality of lamps 200, a receiving container
300, and a mold member 400. The lamps 200 are arranged in parallel
to each other and emit light. The receiving container 300 has a
bottom portion 310 and a side portion 320 to provide a receiving
space into which the lamps 200 are received. The mold member 400 is
coupled to the receiving container 300 while covering the end
portions of the lamps 200. The mold member 400 has a reflecting
face 410 and an upper face 420 extending from the reflecting face
410 in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom portion 310
of the receiving container 300. The reflecting face 410 is provided
with a diffusion pattern 412 formed therein in order to diffuse the
light from the lamps 200.
[0053] The backlight assembly 500 further includes a diffusion
plate 510 disposed above the lamps 200 to diffuse the light
generated from the lamps 200. The diffusion plate 510 has a
rectangular plate-like shape having a predetermined thickness. The
diffusion plate 510 diffuses the light generated from the lamps 200
to thereby enhance the uniformity of brightness of the light. The
diffusion plate 510 is disposed spaced apart from the lamps 200 by
a predetermined distance, and supported by the upper face 420 (see
FIG. 3) of the mold member 400 and the side portion 320 of the
receiving container 300.
[0054] The backlight assembly 500 further includes a reflecting
plate 520 disposed under the lamps 200 to reflect the light from
the lamps 200. The reflecting plate 520 is formed in regions, which
correspond to the bottom portion 310 and two side portions 320
substantially parallel to the lamp 200. The reflecting plate 520
functions to reflect the light directed from the lamps 200 upward,
thereby enhancing light efficiency.
[0055] The backlight assembly 500 may further include at least one
optical sheet 530 disposed on the diffusion plate 510. The optical
sheet 530 functions to convert a path of the light from the
diffusion plate 510 such that the brightness and the uniformity
thereof can be enhanced. Thus, the optical sheet 530 includes a
condensing sheet that condenses the light from the diffusion plate
510 or a diffusion sheet that diffuses again the light diffused
through the diffusion plate 510. The number of the optical sheet
530 may vary, depending on a desired brightness characteristic of
the backlight assembly 500.
[0056] The backlight assembly 500 may further include a mold frame
540. The mold frame 540 is coupled to the receiving container 300
to fix the diffusion plate 510 and the optical sheet 530 to the
receiving container 300. That is, the mold frame 540 fixes the ends
of the diffusion plate 510 and the optical sheet 530 when coupled
to the receiving container 300. The mold frame 540 may be formed in
two or four pieces, in case where a size thereof is so large that
it cannot be easily fabricated in the form of a single piece.
[0057] The backlight assembly 500 may further include an inverter
550 disposed at a rear face of the receiving container 300. The
inverter 550 generates a driving voltage for driving the lamps 200.
The inverter 550 functions to transform a low-voltage alternating
current into a high-voltage alternating current, which is output to
the lamps 200 as the driving voltage. The driving voltage from the
inverter 550 is applied to each of the lamps 200 through first and
second lamp wires 552 and 554. That is, one end of each lamp 200 is
electrically connected to the inverter 550 through the first lamp
wire 552 and the other end is electrically connected to the
inverter 550 through the second lamp wire 554.
[0058] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the mold member, diffusion plate and optical sheet of FIG. 7. FIG.
10 is an enlarged perspective view of the mold member in FIG.
9.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a mold member 600 includes a
reflecting face 610 and an upper face 620. A diffusion pattern 612
is formed on the reflecting face 610 so as to direct the light
upward toward the liquid crystal panel. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the
diffusion pattern 612 has the same structure and function as those
of the diffusion pattern of FIGS. 4 to 6, and thus any further
detailed description thereof will not be repeated. The mold member
600 has a fixing portion 622 protruding from the upper face 620,
wherein the fixing portion 622 is designed for fixing the diffusion
plate 640. The diffusion plate 640 is provided with a fixing recess
642 formed therein so as to be coupled to the fixing portion 622.
When the fixing portion 622 is coupled to the fixing recess 642,
the diffusion plate 640 is fixed to the upper face 620 of the mold
member 600.
[0060] The mold member 600 includes a sheet-fixing portion 624
formed on the fixing portion 622 so as to fix the optical sheet
650. The sheet-fixing portion 624 has the form of a protrusion on
the fixing portion 622. Although the sheet-fixing portion 624 may
be formed on the upper face 620, it is preferably formed on the
fixing portion 622. The optical sheet 650 has a fixing hole 652
into which the sheet-fixing portion 624 is to be inserted. When the
sheet-fixing portion 624 is inserted into the fixing hole 652, the
optical sheet 650 is fixed to the mold member 600.
[0061] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. In FIG. 11, the liquid crystal display
apparatus is denoted generally at 900. In the present embodiment,
the backlight assembly is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 10, and thus
details thereof will not be repeated here.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 11, the liquid crystal display apparatus
900 of this embodiment includes a backlight assembly 500 supplying
the light, a display unit 700 displaying an image and a top chassis
800 fixing the display unit 700.
[0063] The display unit 700 includes a liquid crystal display panel
710 displaying an image, and data and gate printed circuit boards
720 and 730 providing driving signals for the liquid crystal
display panel 710. The driving signals from the data and gate
printed circuit boards 720 and 730 are applied to the liquid
crystal display panel 710 through data and gate flexible printed
circuit films 740 and 750, respectively. For example, each of the
data and gate flexible printed circuit films 740 and 750 may be
formed of a tape carrier package (TCP) or a chip on film (COF). The
data flexible printed circuit film 740 further includes a data
driving chip 742 and a gate driving chip 752 so as to control the
driving signal such that the driving signals from the date and gate
printed circuit boards can be timely applied to the liquid crystal
display panel 710. The data printed circuit board 720 is disposed
at the rear face of the receiving container 300 by bending the data
flexible printed circuit film 740. The gate printed circuit board
730 is disposed at the rear face or a side face of the receiving
container 300 by bending the gate flexible printed circuit film
750. On the other hand, the gate printed circuit board 730 and the
date printed circuit board 720 may be integrated into a single
printed circuit board.
[0064] The liquid crystal display panel 710 includes a thin film
transistor (TFT) substrate 712, a color filter substrate 714 facing
the TFT substrate 712, and liquid crystal 716 interposed between
the TFT substrate 712 and the color filter substrate 714.
[0065] The TFT substrate 712 is a transparent glass substrate with
TFTs (switching elements) formed therein in a matrix configuration.
Each of the TFTs has a source terminal connected to a data line, a
gate terminal connected to a gate line, and a drain terminal
connected to a pixel electrode (not shown), which is made of a
transparent conductive material.
[0066] The color filter substrate 714 is a substrate on which RGB
color pixels (not shown) are formed by a thin film process. The
color filter substrate 714 has a common electrode (not shown)
formed thereon. The common electrode is formed of a transparent
conductive material.
[0067] When a power voltage is applied to the gate terminals of the
TFTs and the TFTs are turned on, an electric field is generated
between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The
arrangement of the liquid crystal 716 between the TFT substrate 712
and the color filter substrate 714 is varied due to the electric
field applied thereto, and thus a light transmittance of the liquid
crystal 716 varies with the arrangement thereof, thereby enabling
to display the image of a desired gradation.
[0068] The top chassis 800 is coupled to the receiving container
300, while wrapping around an edge area of the liquid crystal
display panel 710 so as to fix the liquid crystal display panel 710
to the backlight assembly 500. Thus, the top chassis 710 prevents
damage to the liquid crystal display panel 710 from an external
impact and separation of the liquid crystal display panel 710 from
the backlight assembly 500.
[0069] According to the backlight assembly and the liquid crystal
display apparatus of the invention, the mold member covering the
ends of the lamps is provided with the diffusion pattern formed in
the reflecting face thereof to diffuse and reflect the light. The
presence of the diffusion pattern eliminates a shadow portion in
the peripheral area of the backlight assembly and thereby enhances
the image display quality of the liquid crystal display
apparatus.
[0070] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
have been described, it is understood that the present invention
should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various
changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in
the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as
hereinafter claimed.
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