Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display module using the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes at least one backlight sub-unit, the backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes at least one LED that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an LCD module using a backlight assembly according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line “II-II” of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an LCD module using a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of a light emitting diode (LED) unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic perspective views of a backlight sub-unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6H are schematic plan views of various arrangement structures of an LED unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a plurality of backlight sub-units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a connection structure between a backlight sub-unit and a backlight driving circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views of a backlight sub-unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising at least one backlight sub-unit, the backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes at least one LED that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit.

2. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall defines an emitting region by surrounding the LED unit.

3. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of backlight sub-units further include at least one optical sheet.

4. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the optical sheet is disposed over the LED unit.

5. The backlight assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the backlight sub-unit includes: a transparent window interposed between the LED unit and the optical sheet; andat least one diverter under the transparent window facing at least one LED.

6. The backlight assembly according to claim 3, wherein the optical sheet has a non-planar shape with respect to the LED unit.

7. The backlight assembly according to claim 5, wherein the non-planar shape is a dome shape.

8. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the backlight sub-unit includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the at least one LED is mounted; anda reflective sheet covering the PCB and having at least one through-hole that exposes the at least one LED.

9. The backlight assembly according to claim 8, wherein the PCB includes: a plug connector at a first side of the PCB; anda socket connector disposed at a second side of the PCB, wherein at least two of the backlight sub-units are connected via the plug and the socket connectors.

10. The backlight assembly according to claim 8, wherein the PCB includes a connector terminal.

11. The backlight assembly according to claim 8, wherein the PCB includes metal core PCB.

12. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical sheet includes a diffusion sheet.

13. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall is selected from one of a transparent material, an opaque reflective material, and a half-transparent diffusion material.

14. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes a lattice shape.

15. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined color is a white (W) color.

16. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit includes at least one white (W) LED.

17. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the LED unit includes at least one red (R) LED, at least one green (G) LED, and at least one blue (B) LED.

18. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pattern includes one of a line shape, a triangular shape, and a square shape.

19. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pattern includes at least three LEDs arranged in a shape and at least one LED disposed at a central position of the shape.

20. The backlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the LED units is independently detachable for replacement.

21. A backlight assembly, comprising: a plurality of backlight sub-units, each backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit, the LED unit including at least one LED emitting a predetermined color and a connector unit; anda backlight driving circuit connected to at least one of the backlight sub-unit.

22. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the connector unit includes at least one plug connector and at least one socket connector.

23. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein at least two of the backlight sub-units are connected via the connector units.

24. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the connector unit includes a connector terminal to connect directly to the backlight driving circuit.

25. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of backlight sub-units are arranged in a matrix.

26. The backlight assembly according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of the backlight sub-units are divided into at least two groups and each group is driven by a common signal.

27. A liquid crystal display module, comprising: a top frame;a bottom frame;a backlight assembly including a plurality of backlight sub-units arranged in a matrix shape, each of the plurality of backlight sub-units including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes at least one LED that emits a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern, and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit;a liquid crystal panel;a main frame interposed between the backlight assembly and the liquid crystal panel; anda backlight driving circuit electrically connected to the plurality of the LED units.

28. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein at least one LED unit is directly connected the backlight driving circuit.

29. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein each of the backlight sub-unit includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) on which at least one LED is mounted; anda reflective sheet covering the PCB and having at least one through-hole exposing at least one LED.

30. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes: a plug connector at a first side of the PCB; anda socket connector at a second side of the PCB, wherein at least two of the backlight sub-units are connected via the plug and the socket connectors.

31. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes at least one connector terminal.

32. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 31, wherein the backlight driving circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of backlight sub-units via the connector terminal.

33. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 31, wherein the bottom frame has at least one opening to expose the connector terminal configured to connect to the backlight driving circuit through the opening.

34. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 29, wherein the PCB includes metal core PCB.

35. The liquid crystal display module according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of the backlight sub-units are divided into at least two groups and each group is driven by a common signal.