Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Holder – support – frame – or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2003-07-01
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Holder, support, frame, or housing
C349S149000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587166
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, and more particularly, to a slimmer display module and a method for assembling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, notebook computers having LCDs as display devices are gaining in popularity. Such notebook computers are small in size and thus easy to carry. Notebook computers are operated by internal batteries, and can be used for a certain period of time without additional power.
Notebook computers are designed to have a peripheral equipment, for example, a CD-ROM, a modem, a speaker, and so on, like a common desktop computer. The screen of the notebook computer becomes larger as LCD manufacturing techniques develop. Recently, an LCD panel of 13 inch diagonal size is being used for a notebook computer.
As the screen size increases, an overall size of the notebook computer increases, too. Accordingly, notebook computers weigh more, hindering the carriability. A common notebook computer has a thickness of 40 mm, and a weight of 2 to 3 Kg. The larger screen may increase the weight.
A display module with an LCD panel weighs from 500 g to 700 g, which is a significant portion for an overall weight.
According to the conventional method, a backlight assembly is mounted to a rear case, and an LCD panel, a source and a gate PCBs are attached to a front case via an epoxy or a double-sided tape and are assembled into the rear case.
Here, the source and gate PCBs are electrically connected using a connector member like a flexible printed circuit (FPC) which is also used for applying an electric signal to an inverter.
Accordingly, an overall structure of the display module becomes complicated, and the assembly process also becomes complicated due to various connecting members.
In addition, a reliability against a shock or a vibration for the finished product is degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to achieve a slimmed display module by simplifying the structure of the display module.
It is another object of the present invention to assemble a display module more efficiently.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display module including a rear case shaped as a four-cornered container having sidewalls at each of four edges, a backlight assembly formed by depositing and fixing a reflector plate, a light guide plate, and a series of sheets onto a mold frame that integrally has a lamp assembly receiving portion, a gate PCB receiving portion, and a source PCB receiving portion, an LCD panel module having an upper panel, a lower panel coupled to the upper panel with a liquid crystal layer inserted therebetween, a gate PCB electrically connected to an end portion of the lower panel, and a source PCB electrically connected to another end portion of the lower panel and having a conductive pattern for an electric signal to be applied to an inverter, a main chassis that defines an active screen area of the LCD panel module and couples the mold frame and the LCD panel module to the rear case, and a front case coupled to the main chassis and covering the whole surface of the LCD panel module except for the active screen area.
According to the present invention, the source and gate PCBs of the LCD panel module are directly and electrically connected by a board-to-board method. A first connector that connects the gate PCB and the source PCB is formed on the gate PCB, while a second connector that connects the gate PCB and the source PCB is formed on the source PCB. The first and second connectors are coupled in such a manner that the second connector is located under the first connector.
According to the present invention, the source PCB and the inverter are directly and electrically connected by a board-to-board method. The inverter has at one of its end portion a first connector that connects the source PCB and the inverter, and the source PCB has at one of its end portion a second connector that connects the source PCB and the inverter. The first and second connectors are coupled in such a manner that the second connector is located under the first connector.
According to the present invention, the source PCB is electrically connected to the lower panel through an FPC, which has a driving IC mounted onto its rear surface. The gate PCB is electrically connected to the lower panel through an FPC, which has a driving IC mounted on its front surface.
In addition, a coupling hole for grounding as well as fixing the source PCB to the rear surface of the mold frame is formed on the source PCB.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display module including a rear case shaped as a four-cornered container having sidewalls on each of four edges, a backlight assembly formed by depositing and fixing a reflector plate, a light guide plate, and a series of sheets onto a mold frame that integrally has a lamp assembly receiving portion, an inverter supporting bar, a gate PCB receiving portion and a source PCB receiving portion at its right, left, upper and left edges, an LCD panel module having an upper panel, a lower panel coupled to the upper panel with a liquid crystal layer inserted therebetween, a gate PCB electrically connected to an end portion of the lower panel, and a source PCB electrically connected to another end portion of the lower panel which is adjacent to the one end portion of the lower panel, a main chassis that defines an active screen area of the LCD panel module and couples the mold frame and the LCD panel module to the rear case, and a front case coupled to the main chassis and covering the whole surface of the LCD panel module except for the active screen area.
According to the present invention, a protrusion is formed on the upper surface of the inverter supporting bar, and an aperture for the insertion of the protrusion is formed in the corresponding position of the inverter. Preferably, a guide groove is formed in widthwise direction in the inverter corresponding to the inverter supporting bar.
According to the present invention, the inverter is supported by the inverter supporting bar, so that components mounted to the inverter can face the rear case.
The gate PCB receiving portion of the mold frame has a plurality of windows for accommodating components mounted to the gate PCB and are surrounded by sidewalls and separated by separating walls.
In addition, the FPC that electrically connects the lower panel and the source PCB is bent by 180 degree so that the source PCB is fixed onto the rear surface of the mold frame. Preferably, a driving IC insertion groove for accommodating the driving IC mounted to the FPC is formed on the lower edge of the rear surface of the mold frame.
In addition, the mold frame has a supporting plate, and the portion corresponding to the source PCB is removed from the supporting plate.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display module including, a rear case shaped as a four-cornered container having sidewalls at each of four edges, a backlight assembly formed by depositing and fixing a reflector plate, a light guide plate, and a series of sheets onto a mold frame that integrally has a lamp assembly receiving portion, an inverter supporting bar, a gate PCB receiving portion and a source PCB receiving portion, an LCD panel module having an upper panel, a lower panel coupled to the upper panel using a liquid crystal layer inserted therebetween, a gate PCB electrically connected to an end portion of the lower panel, and a source PCB electrically connected to another end portion of the lower panel and having a conductive pattern for an electrical signal to be applied to an inverter; a main chassis that defines an active screen area of the LCD panel module and couples the mold frame and the LCD panel module to the rear case; and a front case to be coupled to the main chassis and which covers the whole surface of the LCD panel module excluding the active screen area.
Hin
Lee Sang-Duk
Ok Min-Ho
Kim Robert H.
McGuireWoods LLP
Park Hae-Chan
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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