Display apparatus having backlight device and vehicle having same

Abstract

The invention relates to a backlight device (200) for a display device (10) and a vehicle (800) having such a display device (10). The backlight device (200) for a display panel (100) includes a reflector (230) having a plurality of cavities (233) of reflective design and a circuit board (210) having a plurality of light sources (220). The light sources (220) are disposed in respective cavities (233) of the reflector (230), where the reflector (230) includes fasteners (234).

Description

Display devices with backlighting and vehicles having such display devices Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display device having a display panel and a backlighting device for the display panel, and a vehicle having such a display device. Today, such display devices are used in almost every type of vehicle (e.g., motor vehicles). Background Technology

[0002] The number and area of ​​display devices in vehicles are constantly increasing. Various display devices are available on the market, such as driver's dashboards, central displays, and passenger displays. Non-self-emissive transmissive displays require backlighting to display images. The purpose of backlighting is to illuminate the entire effective area of ​​the display panel as evenly as possible, so as to create a uniform display even down to the edges.

[0003] Here, the backlighting device of a display device is typically based on a light guide, in which light from multiple light sources (light-emitting diodes, or LEDs) is coupled in. The light propagates through total internal reflection in the light guide and is coupled out again by the help of microstructures on the light guide, thereby producing a uniform light distribution. This configuration allows for compact and efficient illumination of the display panel.

[0004] Instead of light guide-based backlight devices, so-called matrix backlight devices can be used.

[0005] Matrix backlighting devices utilize a large number of light sources arranged in a matrix to emit light. Here, the light sources are arranged on a circuit board mounted on the backlight device housing. Matrix backlighting devices typically use a metal housing and plastic reflectors. The purpose of the backlight device housing is to provide the structure and hold all backlight device components together in the assembled state, so that the backlight device can be assembled as a single unit within the display device's housing. The backlight device reflectors have a specific geometry and include multiple cavities that guide the light emitted from the light sources toward the display panel. This requires a certain distance between the light sources and the display panel of the display device to ensure uniform light distribution. However, if it is necessary to reduce the structural height of the display device (which is increasingly common in automotive applications), the structural height of the backlight device must also be reduced.

[0006] Those skilled in the art are familiar with display devices having a display panel and a backlighting device for the display panel in various embodiments. For example, patent document US2010 / 141867A1 describes such a display device in which a display panel, etc., is backlit. This device includes a display panel and a backlighting device for the display panel. The backlighting device includes a flat light-emitting element having multiple light sources and a reflector disposed above the element and having multiple reflective cavities. Each cavity is equipped with a light source. The flat light-emitting element serves as a support plate for the backlighting device.

[0007] As display device sizes increase, backlight device sizes also increase. These large backlight devices typically consist of multiple interconnected components. In addition to the display device's housing, the backlight device usually includes a separate housing to house the individual components. A disadvantage is that the backlight device housing leads to additional manufacturing and assembly costs. Another disadvantage is that the additional backlight device housing increases the overall height of the display device, making it difficult to achieve a thinner profile. Therefore, the increased height due to the additional backlight device housing limits the use of display devices or backlight devices in vehicles with low structural heights. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved display device with a backlight and a vehicle having such a display device, wherein a very thin and flat structural height is achieved for both the backlight and the display device, further ensuring sufficient stability of the backlight and uniform illumination of the display device.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a display device having the features of the preamble of independent claim 1 and the feature portion of independent claim 1, and a vehicle according to claim 7. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] The present invention provides a display device including a display panel and a backlight device for the display panel, wherein the backlight device includes a reflector having a plurality of cavities with reflective designs and a circuit board having a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources are arranged in corresponding cavities of the reflector, and wherein the reflector includes fasteners.

[0011] The backlight assembly is positioned between the front glass of the display device and the display panel and housing below it. The backlight assembly mainly includes a circuit board with a light source and a reflector. The reflector directs the light emitted from the light source toward the display panel, thereby achieving uniform illumination of the display panel. The reflector is assembled and held on the surface of the front glass by fastening mechanisms and additional connecting mechanisms constructed on the reflector.

[0012] Its advantage lies in the fact that, thanks to the fasteners built into the reflector, the backlight unit can be assembled into the display device particularly easily and quickly, and can be replaced if defects occur without complex disassembly, such as loosening multiple individual components. Because the reflector has fasteners that connect it to the fasteners, slippage of the reflector is prevented. This eliminates the need for subsequent alignment and adjustment of the reflector, thus saving time-consuming adjustment costs after reflector assembly.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the reflector and the fastener are integrally constructed.

[0014] Its advantages lie in the fact that the integrated construction of the reflector and fasteners allows for the manufacture of geometrically complex thin-walled reflectors with extremely high quality, without compromising reflector stability due to additional connection points between the reflector and fasteners. No additional assembly mechanisms with poor mechanical stability are required. Reflectors with fasteners can be manufactured easily and quickly, for example, through injection molding, thus eliminating additional manufacturing steps and tooling costs. The integrated construction also reduces the number of parts to be assembled and the necessary assembly mechanisms, thereby simplifying the assembly process.

[0015] Furthermore, compared to other solutions, the integrated reflector and fasteners are extremely lightweight yet robust enough to ensure sufficient stability, such as for housing the circuit board and heat sink. This eliminates the need for additional components, such as a separate backlight housing to house the various parts and ensures sufficient stability of the backlight unit in the assembled state.

[0016] Another advantage is that by combining the reflector and the assembly mechanism into a single component, the structural height of the reflector can be reduced, thereby reducing the structural height of the backlight device.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the fastener and the housing can be connected by force locking and / or material locking and / or form locking.

[0018] Force-locking connections are mechanical connections that hold two or more components together by force. A typical application of force-locking connections is, for example, using screws to fasten a housing to a reflector. Its advantages include the particularly simple and quick establishment of screw connections, and the ability for the connected components to disengage without damage.

[0019] Material-locking (MLC) connections are a type of connection that holds two or more components together using atomic or molecular forces. Typical applications of MLC connections include, for example, bonding or laser welding, for fasteners connecting housings to reflectors. Its advantage lies in establishing a particularly robust and stable material-locking connection between the components, resisting both forces and vibrations. This type of connection is durable. Its advantage is that no additional connecting elements or mechanisms are required to connect the components.

[0020] In cases where a material-locking connection is established, for example, via laser welding, the housing of the display device, or the reflector or reflector fastener connected to it, can be made of, for example, a laser-transmitting material. For the housing and fastener to be joined during laser welding, one of the two components to be joined needs to be made of a laser-transmitting material, while the other is made of a laser-absorbing material. The advantage of laser-transmitting materials is that laser welding can create very precise, fast, flexible, and clean connections that meet the highest quality standards.

[0021] A form-locking connection is a connection in which two or more components are interlocked or fitted together due to their geometry. Typical applications of form-locking connections include hook-and-loop connections or riveted connections. Form-locking connections are established by rivets made of plastic, using cold-forged rivets. Here, the fasteners of the reflector may include, for example, one or more rivets, wherein the fasteners and rivets are integrally constructed and made of a single material, preferably plastic. Its advantage lies in the ability to establish form-locking connections between the components to be connected, the fasteners, and the housing particularly easily and quickly. Furthermore, the form-locking connection can be easily and quickly disengaged while the main components remain undamaged and reusable.

[0022] In addition to the force-locking, form-locking, and material-locking connection technologies mentioned above for the assembly mechanism of the housing and reflector, other unmentioned connection technologies or combinations of connection technologies may also be used.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the reflector includes an assembly mechanism for holding the circuit board.

[0024] Here, the circuit board is held by an assembly mechanism constructed on the bottom side of the reflector. The assembly mechanism can be, for example, one or more clamps arranged on the bottom side of the reflector to receive and hold the circuit board. Preferably, the clamps are manufactured and constructed integrally with the reflector. Here, the reflector with clamps can be made, for example, of plastic. The advantage is that an integrally constructed reflector with clamps can be manufactured at low cost using injection molding processes.

[0025] In alternative implementations, the circuit board is glued, screwed, or riveted to the bottom side of the reflector. For example, double-sided tape can be used to glue and connect the circuit board to the bottom side of the reflector. Depending on the specific project and backlight application requirements, the circuit board may also be screwed or riveted to the bottom side of the reflector.

[0026] Its advantage lies in the improved mechanical stability achieved by directly assembling the circuit board onto the bottom side of the reflector and holding it in place by an assembly mechanism. The circuit board and reflector plane are bonded together and interconnected, ensuring mutual stability.

[0027] Another advantage is that it eliminates the need for additional components, such as a separate backlight housing to house and stabilize the components to be connected, resulting in a thinner and more streamlined backlight structure. Furthermore, it allows for easy and quick assembly and disassembly of the components to be connected.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the circuit board includes a heat-conducting plate.

[0029] In its assembled state, the backlight assembly consists of a circuit board positioned above a heat-conducting plate, a light source positioned on the circuit board, and a reflector positioned above the circuit board and the light source. To ensure the lifespan of the light source and the display device, the heat generated by the light source is dissipated from each individual light source via the heat-conducting plate. The dissipated heat is released, for example, via thermal radiation from the back of the heat-conducting plate. Furthermore, the heat-conducting plate further ensures the stability of the backlight assembly (especially the reflector).

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, a pressing member for an illumination film is provided.

[0031] The retainer is a frame used to hold and position the illumination film, which is arranged and assembled above the reflector. This allows the backlight unit to be pre-assembled with all components and placed into the display device as a whole, eliminating additional time-consuming assembly steps. Thus, there is no need to adjust individual components during display device assembly. This also applies to situations where a backlight unit is disassembled and replaced, for example, due to defects.

[0032] Preferably, the display device according to the invention can be used in vehicles in the automotive field. The vehicle can be, for example, a motor vehicle, a passenger car, or a truck, or it can also be an air vehicle, a rail vehicle, or a water vehicle.

[0033] Other features of the invention can be found in the detailed description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Advantageous improvements of the invention are also embodied in the features described in the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings.

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the principles of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or equivalent elements, and it is unnecessary to describe each drawing in detail. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and the features may be combined or modified without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The attached diagram is shown in schematic simplified form:

[0036] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the reflector of the display device and its backlight device;

[0037] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the reflector of the display device and its backlight device;

[0038] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of the reflector of the display device and its backlight device;

[0039] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of the reflector of the display device and its backlight assembly; and

[0040] Figure 5 shows a vehicle using a display device according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0041] This specification sets forth the principles of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can design various arrangements that, while not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of this disclosure.

[0042] All examples and conditional statements cited in this disclosure are for educational purposes and are intended to help the reader understand the principles of this disclosure and the inventors’ contributing ideas for advancing the technology. They should not be construed as being limited to the specific examples and conditions cited.

[0043] Furthermore, all statements in this disclosure concerning the principles, ideas, and implementation methods of this disclosure and their specific examples should include their structural and functional equivalents. Moreover, such equivalents should include both currently known equivalents and future-developed equivalents, i.e., all development elements that perform the same function regardless of their structure.

[0044] Figure 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view of the display device 10. Figure 1 also shows a detailed view of an embodiment of the reflector 230 of the backlight device 200 of the display device 10 and its fastener 234.

[0045] The display device 10 includes a display panel 100 bonded to a front glass 300 (also known as a cover glass). The front glass 300 isolates the housing 800 of the display device 10 from the surrounding environment. The front glass 300 is bonded to the housing 800. In this way, the backlight device 200 arranged in the display device 10 is enclosed and protected.

[0046] The backlight device 200 for backlighting the display panel 100 includes a plurality of stacked components that are interconnected in an assembled state. The stacked and interconnected components of the backlight device 200 are pre-assembled into a component and then installed into the housing 800 of the display device 10 and sealed by the front glass 300 and the display panel 100 mounted to the front glass.

[0047] In an alternative implementation, the components of the backlight device 200 may also be directly connected to the front glass 300 and the display panel 100 mounted on the front glass, and then installed in the housing 800 of the display device 10.

[0048] The backlight device includes a heat-conducting plate 240, which is arranged and mounted on the bottom side 212 of a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat-conducting plate 240 is bonded to the bottom side of the PCB 212. The PCB 210 serves as a carrier for the heat-conducting plate 240. Multiple light sources 220, typically light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are arranged on the top side 211 of the PCB 210. The light sources 220 are arranged in a matrix structure. Furthermore, a reflector 230 having multiple cavities 233 is arranged and mounted on the top side of the PCB 211. Here, the cavities 230 are arranged in a matrix structure. In the assembled state of the reflector 230 and the PCB 210, each cavity 233 of the reflector 230 accommodates at least one light source 220 and laterally encloses the light source 220. Accordingly, the individual light sources 220 are spatially separated from each other. The reflector 230 includes an assembly mechanism 235 on its bottom side 232, thereby connecting the circuit board 210 to the reflector 230. Here, the reflector 230 serves as a support for the circuit board 210 and the heat-conducting plate 240 mounted on the circuit board.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, reflector 230 includes fasteners 234 arranged laterally on the reflector, wherein reflector 230 may include a plurality of fasteners 234 (not shown in this figure). Here, each fastener 234 is arranged on opposite sides of reflector 210 along the direction of housing 800 of display device 10. In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figure, depending on the design of housing 800, the plurality of fasteners 234 may also be arranged around reflector 230 opposite or staggered to each other.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 is located in the edge region of the circuit board 210, surrounding the area where the cavity 233 of the reflector 230 is located. Here, the fastener 234 preferably protrudes beyond the area defined by the circuit board 210.

[0051] Fastener 234 is constructed on the top side of reflector 231 and integrally formed with reflector 231, and includes a step 236 carrying illumination film 500 in the direction toward the front glass 300 having display panel 100. Illumination film 500 is an optical film stack. The task of each film in the optical film stack is to scatter, collect, or guide light from reflector 230, thereby meeting the light distribution requirements of backlight device 200 to achieve uniform backlight illumination of display panel 100. Typical films used for light control are brightness enhancement film (BEF) and light control film (LCF).

[0052] In the assembled state with the backlight device 200, the illumination film 500 is held in position by the clamping member 400. The clamping member 400, which is frame-like in structure, is connected to the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 by a connecting mechanism 410 (e.g., adhesive).

[0053] The front glass 300 with the display panel 100 is connected to the retainer 400 and the backlight device 200 via a connecting mechanism 600 (e.g., adhesive).

[0054] In the assembled state, there is a gap between the housing 800 and the backlight device 200, thereby achieving a more uniform heat distribution in the display device 10.

[0055] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the display device 10. Figure 2 also shows a detailed view of a second embodiment of the reflector 230 of the backlight device 200 of the display device 10 and its fastener 234.

[0056] The figure shows a display device 10 including a display panel 100 bonded to a front glass 300. The front glass 300 isolates the housing 800 of the display device 10 from the surrounding environment. This encloses and protects the backlight device 200 assembled in the display device 10.

[0057] This second embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 is configured such that the fastener 234 includes an additional connecting mechanism 700 and is directly connected to the housing 800 of the display device 10. For this purpose, the housing 800 includes a step 810, on which the fastener 234 abuts in the assembled state. The fastener 234 is securely connected to the step of the housing 810 by the connecting mechanism 700 (e.g., adhesive).

[0058] Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the display device 10. Figure 3 also shows a detailed view of a third embodiment of the reflector 230 of the backlight device 200 of the display device 10 and its fastener 234.

[0059] The figure shows a display device 10 including a display panel 100 bonded to a front glass 300. The front glass 300 isolates the housing 800 of the display device 10 from the surrounding environment. This encloses and protects the backlight device 200 assembled in the display device 10.

[0060] This third embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG1. ​​However, the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 is configured such that the fastener 234 is directly connected to the housing 800 of the display device 10. For this purpose, the wall thickness of the fastener 234 is thicker than that shown in FIG1. ​​A notch 237 is formed in the fastener 234, preferably a blind hole. Here, the notch 237 may further include an internal thread (not shown in the figure).

[0061] A recess 820 is formed in the housing 800. The housing 800 is fixedly connected to the fastener 234 by a connecting mechanism 710 (e.g., a screw) inserted into the recess 820. In the assembled state, the fastener 234 lies flat on the housing 800.

[0062] Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the display device 10. Figure 4 also shows a detailed view of a fourth embodiment of the reflector 230 of the backlight device 200 of the display device 10 and its fastener 234.

[0063] The figure shows a display device 10 including a display panel 100 bonded to a front glass 300. The front glass 300 isolates the housing 800 of the display device 10 from the surrounding environment. This encloses and protects the backlight device 200 assembled in the display device 10.

[0064] This fourth embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 1. However, the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 is configured to have a larger surface area on which the retainer 400 and the connecting mechanism 600 are placed side by side with the display panel 100 along the direction of the front glass 300, rather than stacked vertically as shown in Figure 1, thus reducing the structural height.

[0065] Here, the retainer 400 is attached to the fastener 234 of the reflector 230 by adhesive and holds the lighting film 500 in the step 236 to prevent the lighting film 500 from slipping off its position.

[0066] The front glass 300 with display panel 100 is directly connected to the fastener 234 of reflector 230 via a connecting mechanism 600 (in a preferred embodiment, via adhesive). The advantage is that when, for example, the front glass 300 with display panel 100 is replaced, only the connecting point 600 needs to be disconnected, without damaging or readjusting other connecting points or components of the display device 200.

[0067] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a vehicle 900 using a display device 10 according to the invention. In this example, the vehicle 900 is a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes the display device 10 according to the invention, which is arranged in the dashboard. Data about the vehicle's surrounding environment can be collected using a sensing mechanism 910. The sensing mechanism 910 may include, in particular, sensors for environmental identification, such as ultrasonic sensors, laser scanners, radar sensors, lidar sensors, or cameras. The information collected by the sensing mechanism 910 can be used to generate content to be displayed on the display device 10. In this example, other components of the motor vehicle are a navigation system 920 (which can be used to provide location information) and a data transmission unit 930. The data transmission unit 930 can, for example, establish a connection to a backend to obtain, for example, updated software for motor vehicle components. A memory 940 can be used to store data. Data exchange between the various components of the motor vehicle is performed via a network 950.

[0068] In summary, this embodiment demonstrates how the present invention can easily design an improved display device with a backlight and a vehicle having such a display device, wherein a flat and thin structure of the backlight and uniform illumination of the display device are achieved.

[0069] List of reference numerals

[0070] 10 Display devices

[0071] 100 Display Panel

[0072] 200 Backlight Devices

[0073] 210 circuit board

[0074] 211 Top side

[0075] 212 Bottom side

[0076] 220 light source

[0077] 230 reflector

[0078] 231 Top side

[0079] 232 Bottom side

[0080] 233 cavity

[0081] 234 Fasteners

[0082] 235 Assembly Mechanism

[0083] 236 steps

[0084] 237 Notch

[0085] 240 heat-conducting plate

[0086] 300 front glass

[0087] 400 clamping component

[0088] 410 Connecting Mechanism

[0089] 500 lighting film

[0090] 600 connecting mechanism

[0091] 700 connecting mechanism

[0092] 710 Connecting Mechanism

[0093] 800 housing

[0094] 810th step

[0095] 820 notch

[0096] 900 vehicles

[0097] 910 sensor mechanism

[0098] 920 Navigation System

[0099] 930 Data Transmission Unit

[0100] 940 memory

[0101] 950 Network

Claims

1. A display device (10) comprising a display panel (100) and a backlight device (200) for said display panel (100), wherein, The backlight device (200) includes a reflector (230) having multiple cavities (233) with reflective designs and a circuit board (210) having multiple light sources (220), wherein the light sources (220) are arranged in the respective cavities (233) of the reflector (230), characterized in that the reflector (230) includes fasteners (234).

2. The display device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflector (230) and the fastener (234) are integrally constructed.

3. The display device (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, The fastener (234) can be connected to the housing (800) by force locking and / or material locking and / or form locking.

4. The display device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The reflector (230) includes an assembly mechanism (235) for holding the circuit board (210).

5. The display device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The circuit board (210) includes a heat-conducting plate (240).

6. The display device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It is provided with a holder (400) for the lighting film (500).

7. A vehicle (900) having a display device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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