Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular excitation of liquid crystal – Electrical excitation of liquid crystal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-20
2003-04-15
Dudek, James (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular excitation of liquid crystal
Electrical excitation of liquid crystal
Reexamination Certificate
active
06549263
ABSTRACT:
This aplication claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-40355, filed on Sep. 20, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display module.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) module has upper and lower frames to support an LCD panel which includes upper and lower substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. Such upper and lower frames further give durability to the LCD module. The LCD module has high-integrated components and thus requires high reliability and high stability.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view illustrating a conventional liquid crystal display module, and
FIG. 2
is a cross sectional view taken along line II—II of FIG.
1
. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the LCD module includes an LCD panel
100
, a backlight unit
200
, and upper and lower frames
12
and
16
. The LCD panel
100
includes upper and lower substrates
22
and
24
. An upper polarizer
23
a
is arranged on the upper substrate
22
, and a lower polarizer
23
b
is arranged on the bottom surface of the lower substrate
24
. The backlight unit
200
includes various kinds of sheets
20
, for example, a protecting sheet, a diffusing sheet, and a prism sheet, which are stacked in the above described order. A light waveguide plate
18
directing light toward the LCD panel is arranged under the sheets. A light source is arranged under the light waveguide plate
18
. The upper frame
12
is made of a metal and has a C-shaped cross section including a vertical portion
12
a
and a horizontal portion
12
b
. The vertical portion
12
a
has a plurality of coupling members (not shown) for coupling with the lower frame
16
. The horizontal portion
12
b
presses an edge of the LCD panel
100
. The lower frame
16
includes a side wall portion
16
a
and a bottom portion
16
b
and is made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The side wall portion
16
a
of the lower frame
16
has a plurality of coupling members (not shown) coupled to the vertical portion
12
a
of the upper frame
12
. The bottom portion
16
b
of the lower frame
16
supports the backlight unit
200
. When the vertical portion
12
a
of the upper frame
12
is assembled to the side wall portion
16
a
of the lower frame
16
, the LCD panel
100
and the backlight unit
200
are reliably supported.
Further, a cover shield
14
made of an adhesive material is arranged between the side wall portion
16
a
of the lower frame
16
and the vertical portion
12
a
of the upper frame
12
, so that the horizontal portion
12
b
of the upper frame
12
may not separate from the LCD panel
100
due to an external impact, for example, generated during an impact test. Further the cover shield
14
is arranged on a bottom surface of the lower frame
16
, covering the bottom surface of the lower frame
16
on which circuit elements (not shown) are located so that the circuit elements may be protected. In other words, a portion of the cover shield
14
arranged between the vertical portion
12
a
of the upper frame
12
and the side wall portion
16
a
of the lower frame
16
contains an adhesive material on both side surfaces, and a portion of the cover shield
14
arranged on the bottom surface of the lower frame
16
contains an adhesive material on only its inner surface. The cover shield
14
has a thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and is usually made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
However, as is well-known, since the LCD module is usually applied to portable electronic instruments, durability is one of the most important requirements. When an external impact is applied to the LCD module (such as when the impact test is performed or when it is dropped on the ground), since the upper frame
12
is made of a metal, which quickly transfers a vibration or an impact, the load of such an impact or vibration becomes concentrated at end portions of the upper frame
12
. The impact or vibration occurring in an instant is transferred to the LCD panel
100
, especially to the end portions of the upper substrate
22
. Accordingly, the end portions of the LCD panel
100
may be damaged.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 3
, because of an external impact, such as during the impact test, when the upper frame
12
becomes separated from its location and then is returned to the former location, the upper substrate
22
made of glass or other components such as an upper polarizer or wire lines, may be damaged.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a liquid crystal display module having a durable structure sufficient to endure a sudden external impact or vibration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display module that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display module with a high durable structure.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display module, including: a liquid crystal display panel having upper and lower substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a backlight unit arranged under the liquid crystal display panel; an upper frame having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion pressurizing or pressing an edge of the liquid crystal display panel and having at least one fixing hole; and a lower frame having a side wall portion and a bottom portion and accommodating the liquid crystal display panel, the bottom portion supporting the backlight unit, the side wall portion having at least one protruding portion at a location corresponding to the fixing hole of the upper frame.
The horizontal portion of the upper frame has a bent portion, the bent portion having the fixing hole. The fixing hole of the upper frame and the protruding portion of the lower frame have a substantially rectangular shape. The upper frame may be made of a metal. The upper frame may also be made of a stainless steel. The lower frame is made of polyethylene terephthalate.
By forming the fixing hole on the upper frame and the corresponding protruding portion on the lower frame, even though the external impact is applied to the LCD module, since the upper frame is not separated from its position and is firmly fixed or supported, the LCD module is reliably supported, thereby preventing a damage to the LCD module.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5929950 (1999-07-01), Matsuda
patent: 6002582 (1999-12-01), Yeager et al.
patent: 6064453 (2000-05-01), Inubushi et al.
patent: 6295103 (2001-09-01), Yamatani et al.
Dudek James
LG. Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
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