Backboard of the Backlight Module

Abstract

A backboard adapted on the backside of a backlight module is provided. The backlight module comprises a backboard, a front frame, a light source structure and a group of optical films. The backboard comprises a frame means having an empty central part and a light-shield plate covering the empty central part. The frame means further comprises at least one support means. The front frame is connected to the backboard to form an inner space. The light source structure is placed on the backboard in the inner space. And the group of optical films is placed on the light source structure and in the inner space.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 97136493, filed Sep. 23, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a backboard. More particularly, the present invention relates to a backboard adapted on the backside of a backlight module.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Display technology becomes one of the most important technologies in the world now. Besides the visual part of the display technology, the weight of the display is also an important concern. A more light-weighted device is desirable. However, the backboard of the display is often made by a piece of thick metal board connecting to the front frame. The thick metal board is heavy and costly.

[0006] Accordingly, what is needed is a backboard structure that results in lower weight and lower cost without affecting the supporting mechanism to overcome the above issues. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY

[0007] A backboard is provided. The backboard comprises a frame means and a light-shield plate. The frame means has an empty central part, wherein the frame means further comprises at least one support means; the light-shield plate covers the empty central part.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a backlight module. The backlight module comprises a backboard, a front frame, a light source structure and a group of optical films. The backboard comprises a frame means having an empty central part and a light-shield plate covering the empty central part. The frame means further comprises at least one support means. The front frame is connected to the backboard to form an inner space. The light source structure is placed on the backboard in the inner space. And the group of optical films is placed on the light source structure and in the inner space.

[0009] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a backlight module of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2A is a diagram of the frame means of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2B is a top view of the frame means of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the support means along the A direction in FIG. 2B of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of the support means along the A direction in FIG. 2B of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C are cross-sectional views of the backlight module of an embodiment of the present invention respectively;

[0017] FIG. 4A is a diagram of the frame means of another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018] FIG. 4B is a top view of the frame means of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0020] Please refer to FIG. 1, a backlight module 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention. The backlight module 1 comprises a front frame 10, a group of optical films 11, a light source structure 12 and a backboard 13. The front frame 10 is placed on a front side of the backlight module 1 and is connected to the backboard 13. The light source structure 12 substantially comprises a light source (not shown), a light guide plate 12a and a reflector 12b, etc. The group of optical films 11 is placed on the light source structure 12, wherein the group of optical films 11 and the light source structure 12 are both fixed in an inner space (not shown) formed between the front frame 10 and the backboard 13.

[0021] The backboard 13 comprises a frame means 2. FIG. 2A is a diagram of the frame means 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the frame means 2 comprises 2 L-shaped frame members 20 and 21 adapted to each other. Therefore, an empty central part 22 is formed between the frame members 20 and 21. The frame members 20 and 21 are made of metal material in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2B, a top view of the frame means 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention, the support means 200, 201 and 202 are further formed on the frame means 2, wherein the support means 200 is formed on the L-shaped frame member 20, and the support means 201, 202 are formed on the L-shaped frame member 21. The two L-shaped frame member 20 and 21 may be welded together to form the frame means 2, thus two welding lines 203 and 204 are formed between the frame members 20 and 21. The structure of the support means 200, 201 and 202 is as depicted in FIG. 2C, which is a cross-sectional view of the support means 200 along the A direction in FIG. 2B. The structure of the support means 200 in FIG. 2C is a trench 205. In another embodiment, the support means is a bulge 206 as depicted in FIG. 2D. Both of the structures reinforce the supporting mechanism of the frame means. The number of support means can be different in other embodiments.

[0022] The backboard 13 further comprises a light-shield plate 3 covering the empty central part 22 of the frame means 2. The light-shield plate 3 can be a plastic film or metal foil in different embodiments. The backboard 13 comprising the light-weighted light-shield plate 3 and the frame means 2 with empty central part 22 is far lighter than a backboard made by a thick heavy metal board. Further, the light-shield plate 3 costs less as compared to the metal board. The metal foil type of the light-shield plate 3 with high thermal conductivity not only blocks the light from the light source structure 12 but also provides a great heat-dissipating mechanism. The position of the light-shield plate 3 can vary in different embodiments. In FIG. 3A, a cross-sectional view of the backlight module 1, the light-shield plate 3 is connected to an inner side of the light source structure 12. In another embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3B, the light-shield plate 3 is connected between an outer side of the light source structure 12 and an inner side of the frame means 2. In yet another embodiment, the light-shield plate is connected to an outer side of the frame means 2. No matter in which embodiment described above, the light shield plate 3 can cover the empty central part 22 of the frame means 2 to block the light from the light source structure 12.

[0023] In another embodiment, the frame means 2 comprises four bar-shaped frame members 40-43 adapted to each other as depicted in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. Also, the frame members 40-43 can be welded together to form the frame means 2, thus there are four welding lines 400-403 between each two neighboring frame members, and an empty central part 42 is formed in the center of the four frame members 40-43. Support means 404, 405, 406 are formed on the frame members 41, 42 and 43 respectively to provide a supporting mechanism. Yet in another embodiment, the frame means 2 can be one-piece formed.

[0024] The backboard of the present invention comprises a frame means and a light-shield plate that lower the weight and the cost. The support means on the frame means further reinforce the supporting mechanism of the frame means, and the light-shield plate provides the light-shielding and heat-dissipating mechanism.

[0025] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A backboard adapted on the backside of a backlight module, wherein the backboard comprises: a frame means having an empty central part, wherein the frame means further comprises at least one support means; and a light-shield plate covering the empty central part.

2. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the frame means comprises two L-shaped frame members adapted to each other.

3. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the frame means comprises four bar-shaped frame members adapted to each other.

4. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the frame means is made of metal material.

5. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the support means is a trench.

6. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the support means is a bulge.

7. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the light-shield plate is connected to an inner side of the frame means.

8. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the light-shield plate is connected to an outer side of the frame means.

9. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the light-shield plate is a plastic film.

10. The backboard of claim 1, wherein the light-shield plate is a metal foil.

11. A backlight module comprises: a backboard comprising a frame means and a light-shield plate, wherein the frame means has an empty central part and the light-shield plate covers the empty central part; a front frame placed on the backboard in the inner space; a light source structure formed on the backboard in the inner space; and a group of optical films placed on the light source structure in the inner space.

12. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the frame means further comprises at least one support means on a surface of the frame means.

13. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the frame means comprises two L-shaped frame members adapted to each other.

14. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the frame means comprises four bar-shaped frame members adapted to each other.

15. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the frame means is made of metal material.

16. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the support means is a trench.

17. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the support means is a bulge.

18. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the light-shield plate is connected to an inner side of the light source structure.

19. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the light-shield plate is connected between an outer side of the light source structure and an inner side of the frame means.

20. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the light-shield plate is connected to an outer side of the frame means.