BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of at least one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views and all the views are schematic.
FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal display including a bottom tray, two light source assemblies, and a plastic frame.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the bottom tray of the liquid crystal display of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one of the light source assemblies of the liquid crystal display of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the plastic frame of the liquid crystal display of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing a corresponding view in the case of a bottom tray of a liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing a corresponding view in the case of a bottom tray of a liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing a corresponding view in the case of a bottom tray of a liquid crystal display according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional liquid crystal display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred embodiments in detail.
Referring to FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The liquid crystal display 2 includes a liquid crystal panel 21 and a backlight module 20 for illuminating the liquid crystal panel 21. The backlight module 20 includes a plastic frame 210, an upper BEF 220, a lower BEF 230, a diffusing film 240, a light guide plate 250, a reflective plate 260, two light source assemblies 270, and a bottom tray 280. The plastic frame 210 cooperates with the bottom tray 280 to accommodate the upper BEF 220, the lower BEF 230, the diffusing film 240, the light guide plate 250, the reflective plate 260, and the light source assemblies 270.
Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom tray 280 includes a rectangular bottom plate 281. The bottom plate 281 includes two symmetrically opposite first edges 2812 and two symmetrically opposite second edges 2814. Each of the second edges 2814 of the bottom plate 281 has two holding arms 282 upwardly extending therefrom, and a first sidewall 285 upwardly extending therefrom. The two holding arms 282 are located at two ends of each second edge 2814, respectively. A holding member 2822 is recessed at each holding arm 282. The first sidewall 285 is located between the two holding arms 282, and includes a plurality of recesses 2851.
The light guide plate 250 includes a light emitting surface 251, two opposite light incident surfaces 252 both adjacent the light emitting surface 251, and a bottom surface 253 opposite to the light emitting surface 251. The light guide plate 250 is located on the bottom plate 281 of the bottom tray 280. The diffusing film 240, the lower BEF 230 and the upper BEF 220 are disposed adjacent the light emitting surface 251 of the light guide plate 250 in that order, from bottom to top. The reflective plate 260 is disposed adjacent the bottom surface 253 of the light guide plate 250.
Referring also to FIG. 3, each of the light source assemblies 270 includes a light source 271 and a reflective shell 272. The light source 271 is generally a linear light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). The reflective shell 272 includes a reflective body 273 and two fixing arms 275. The reflective body 273 has a generally U-shaped form, thereby defining an opening 2721 adjacent the respective light incident surface 252 of the light guide plate 250. The reflective body 273 has a same length as that of the light source 271, and accommodates the light source 271 therein. The fixing arms 275 are located at two opposite ends of the respective reflective body 273. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the fixing arms 275 is an elastic strip, and includes a fixing member 2752 outwardly protruding therefrom.
Referring also to FIG. 4 the plastic frame 210 has a generally rectangular form. The plastic frame 210 includes two pairs of symmetrically opposite second sidewalls 211. A plurality of protrusions 2111 extend from two opposite second sidewalls 211, which second sidewalls 211 correspond to the two first sidewalls 285 of the bottom tray 280, respectively. Locations and sizes of the protrusions 2111 correspond to those of the recesses 2851, respectively. Thus, the plastic frame 210 and the bottom tray 280 are assembled by engagement of the protrusions 2111 and the recesses 2851. In the illustrated embodiment, the plastic frame 210 is made from polycarbonate.
The liquid crystal display 2 further includes a top bezel 22. The top bezel 22 cooperates with the bottom tray 280 to accommodate and fix the liquid crystal panel 21 and the backlight module 20.
The liquid crystal display 2 can be assembled as followings. First, the light source assemblies 270 are respectively placed at the two opposite first edges 2812, with the holding members 2822 holding the fixing members 2752. Second, the reflective plate 260, the light guide plate 250, the diffusing film 240, the lower BEF 230, and the upper BEF 220 are placed on the bottom plate 281 of the bottom tray 280 in that order from bottom to top, the two incident surfaces 252 facing the two light source assemblies 270 respectively. Third, the plastic frame 210 is fixed to the bottom tray 280 by engagement of the protrusions 2111 and the recesses 2851, thereby cooperatively fixing the above optical members of the backlight module 20. Fourth, the liquid crystal panel 21 is placed on the plastic frame 210, and the top bezel 22 is fixed to the bottom tray 280, thereby cooperatively fixing and accommodating the liquid crystal panel 21 and the backlight module 20.
With the above-described configurations, when the liquid crystal display 2 is assembled, the light source assemblies 270 are fixed to the bottom tray 280 by the fixing arms 275 cooperating with the holding arms 282. This means that the reflective plate, 260 can be prevented from being damaged by the light source assemblies 270 even when the liquid crystal display 2 is subjected to vibration or shock during operation or transportation. Thus, reliability of the liquid crystal display 2 is improved, and optical performance of the liquid crystal display 2 is both improved and maintained. In addition, because the light source assemblies 270 are elastically held, they can be easily taken out of the liquid crystal display 2 if necessary. This makes the liquid crystal display 2 easy to be maintained. Furthermore, the reflective shells 272 are fixed to the bottom tray 280, thus being connected to ground.
Referring to FIG. 5, a liquid crystal display 3 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the liquid crystal display 2. However, the liquid crystal display 3 includes a light source assembly 370 and a bottom tray 380. The bottom tray 380 includes a rectangular bottom plate 381. The bottom plate 381 includes a first edge 3812 and three second edges 3814. A holding arm 382 and a sidewall 385 extend from each of the second edges 3814, respectively. The holding arms 382 are located adjacent the first edge 3812, and are symmetrically opposite to each other. The light source assembly 370 is disposed at the first edge 3812 of the bottom plate 381, and is held between the two holding arms 382. The liquid crystal display 3 can achieve advantages similar to those described above in relation to the liquid crystal display 2.
Referring to FIG. 6, a liquid crystal display 4 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the liquid crystal display 2. However, the liquid crystal display 4 includes two light source assemblies (not shown) and a bottom tray 480. The bottom tray 480 includes a rectangular bottom plate 481. The bottom plate 481 includes two adjacent first edges 4812 and two adjacent second edges 4814. Two opposite holding arms 482 are formed at two ends of each first edge 4812. Each of the light source assemblies is disposed at the respective first edges 4812 of the bottom plate 481, and is held between the respective pair of holding arms 482. The liquid crystal display 4 can achieve advantages similar to those described above in relation to the liquid crystal display 2.
Referring to FIG. 7, a liquid crystal display 5 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the liquid crystal display 2. However, the liquid crystal display 5 includes a bottom tray 580, and the bottom tray 580 includes a semi-circular bottom plate 581. The bottom plate 581 includes a straight first edge 5812 and a curved second edge 5814. Two holding arms 582 and a curved sidewall 585 extend from the second edge 5814, respectively. The holding arms 582 are located adjacent the first edge 5812, and are symmetrically opposite to each other. A light source assembly (not shown) is disposed at the first edge 5812 of the bottom plate 581, and is held between the two holding arms 582. The liquid crystal display can achieve advantages similar to those described above in relation to the liquid crystal display 2.
Further or alternative embodiments may include the followings. In one example, the holding members 2822 outwardly protrude. In such case, the fixing members 2752 are recessed.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Patent Application
20070253186
