LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING A FLEXIBLE SEAL MEMBER

Abstract

A LCD device includes a backlight unit, a shield front, and a display panel disposed between the backlight unit and the display panel. A flexible seal member is provided on the mounting surface of the backlight unit. After attachment of the shield front onto the mounting surface, the flexible seal member is deformed to press the edge surface of the display panel in the in-plane direction of the display panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a LCD device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the detail of the flexible seal member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the shield front is to be attached onto the light source unit;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III shown in FIG. 1 in the state where the shield front is attached onto the light source unit;

FIG. 5A is a sectional view showing a LCD device according to a comparative example of the first embodiment in the state where the panel assembly and the shield front are removed, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view showing the disadvantage of the LCD device of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing the configuration of the flexible seal member used in a LCD device according to a first modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view showing the flexible seal member of FIG. 6A in the state where the shield front is attached;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the flexible seal member used in a LCD device according to a second modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing a LCD device according to a second embodiment of the present invention in the state where the shield front is removed from the light source unit, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing the configuration of the stripe member shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the LCD device of FIG. 8A in the state where the shield front is attached onto the light source unit;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a LCD device according to a first modification of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a LCD device according to a second modification of the second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a LCD device according to a third modification of the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional LCD device;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the LCD device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the disadvantage of a conventional LCD device; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional LCD device which has a countermeasure against the disadvantage of the LCD device shown in FIG. 15.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising: a display panel including a liquid crystal (LC) layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates;a backlight unit for supplying backlight to said LC layer; and a shield front for sandwiching said display panel between said shield front and said backlight unit; anda flexible shield member fixed onto one of said backlight unit and said shield front for pressing an edge surface of said display panel in an in-plane direction of said display panel.

2. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member is pressed by at least one of said backlight unit and said shield front to expand in said in-plane direction of said display panel and press said edge surface.

3. The LCD device according to claim 2, wherein one of said backlight unit and said shield front includes a press member for pressing said flexible seal member toward said edge surface.

4. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member is fixed by adhesion.

5. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member includes urethane, silicone, and/or rubber.

6. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member has therein a hollow space.

7. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member includes a flexible material member and a tubular member encapsulating therein said flexible material member.

8. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible seal member is configured by a stripe member having a first edge portion fixed onto said one of said backlight unit and said shield front, and a second edge portion pressed toward said edge surface of said display panel due to a force applied at a central portion of said flexible seal member between said first edge portion and said second edge portion by a press member formed on the other of said backlight unit and said shield front.

9. The LCD device according to claim 8, wherein said stripe member has a fold line extending along an extending direction of said stripe member.

10. The LCD device according to claim 9, wherein said stripe member has a curved portion between said first edge portion and said second edge.

11. The LCD device according to claim 9, wherein said stripe member has a planar portion between said first edge portion and said second edge portion.