Electro-optical display module comprising two interconnected elements

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electro-optical display module comprising two interconnected elements and comprising an electro-optical display device.

[0002] Such electro-optical display modules are known, for example, from display devices used in vehicles for displaying information for the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle. US 2020 / 201107 A1 relates to a backlight and a display device comprising the backlight. JP 2014 178552 A relates to a liquid crystal display device provided with an adhesive layer made of an adhesive for adhesively attaching a housing frame and the back of a structure. CN 110 703 481 A relates to the field of display technology, in particular to a display device. EP 1 956 401 A2 relates to a display device with a backlight arrangement. Known electro-optical display modules have a first element connected to a second element by connecting elements.These connecting elements generate a force on the elements that can be transmitted to the electro-optical display device, which may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). Known connecting devices include, for example, EMC gaskets. These EMC gaskets generate pressure on the first element and the second element and affect the uniformity of the black level of the display device when LCD display devices are used. These known EMC gaskets further require the use of additional clips and / or screws before completing the attachment of the display device. The object of the present invention is to provide a display device in which the uniformity of the black level is not affected and the assembly of the display module is improved.

[0003] This object is achieved with an electro-optical display module having the features of claim 1 and a method for producing an electro-optical display device having the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described by the dependent claims.

[0004] The wording: "the first element carrying the electro-optical display device" means that the electro-optical display device is connected directly to the first element or via one or more additional elements in between.

[0005] Since the first element and the second element are connected by at least one silicone body, the connection between the first and second elements itself does not generate any force that affects the electro-optical display device. Furthermore, assembly is simplified because the silicone can be dispensed by dispensing devices or manually using a silicone press, eliminating the need for complex manual assembly that could lead to faulty attachment. The first element can be, for example, a base plate of the electro-optical display module or a frame; the second element can be, for example, the base plate of the electro-optical display module or a carrier of a printed circuit board.

[0006] If the first element and the second element are made of metal, the display module is very stable and can provide good thermal management by dissipating heat to an external environment of the electro-optical display module.

[0007] According to the invention, the at least one silicone body is made of electrically conductive silicone. This allows a good and permanent electrical connection between the first element and the second element to be achieved. This can be useful for electrically grounding the electro-optical display module.

[0008] When the first element is a base plate of the electro-optical display device and the second element is a carrier of a printed circuit board, a good electrical connection can be provided by the silicone if an electrically conductive silicone is used.

[0009] If the carrier and the base plate each have a first sector, and these sectors face each other and provide a gap between them, this gap is the ideal location for filling with silicone, in particular with electrically conductive silicone. This is preferably done by dispensing the silicone onto the first sector of the first element and / or dispensing the silicone onto the first sector of the second element before the first and second elements are brought together into their final position.

[0010] If the first sectors are flat, a good shape for the gap and the resulting silicone body can be achieved.

[0011] When the sectors are parallel to each other, the body made of electrically conductive silicone can create a stable, partially elastic connection between the frame and the support, and thus forces are transmitted between them only in a reduced form, so that the effects on the electro-optical display device are further reduced.

[0012] If the support and the base plate each have a second area and these areas are in direct mechanical contact with each other, the gap between the first sectors is fixed and no further assembly tool is required to adjust the correct distance between the first sectors if the silicone cannot maintain the distance between the parts to be joined before the silicone is solid.

[0013] If the first element is a frame supporting the electro-optical display device and the second element is a base plate of the electro-optical display device, the rubber elements otherwise required between the frame supporting the electro-optical display device and the base plate can be replaced with silicone bodies. These silicone bodies serve two functions: simultaneously bonding the two elements and damping them.

[0014] An ideal shape for the base plate is rectangular, but other shapes are also possible.

[0015] If a silicone body is placed in each of the corners of the base plate, connecting the base plate to the frame, a functional and permanent connection is achieved.

[0016] If the base plate has a channel filled with the silicone, a hermetic seal against dirt and moisture can be achieved if the channel forms a circumferential seal filled with the silicone and the frame contacts the resulting silicone body.

[0017] A silicone body can also fix a light guide.

[0018] In a method for producing an electro-optical display module with the features described above, the silicone is first dispensed onto the first element and / or the second element, and then the first element and the second element are brought together so that the silicone bonds the first element to the second element. The process then continues until the silicone solidifies and forms the at least one silicone body. The at least one silicone body is made of electrically conductive silicone. If the silicone is an electrically conductive silicone, an electrical connection is also provided between the first element and the second element.

[0019] The electrically conductive silicone can be dispensed onto the first sectors of the first element, e.g. the base plate, and / or the first sectors of the second element, e.g. the carrier, then the first element and the second element are positioned such that the first sectors of the first element and the first sectors of the second element form a gap between them, so that this gap is filled with the silicone, e.g. the electrically conductive silicone, which was previously dispensed onto the first sectors of the first element and / or the first sectors of the second element.

[0020] Depending on the viscosity of the silicone, in particular the electrically conductive silicone, and the weight of one element, e.g. the second element, placed on the other element, e.g. the first element, no additional tools or second sectors are required to hold the two elements at a desired distance from each other if the viscosity of the silicone is sufficiently high so that the silicone does not flow away before solidifying.

[0021] When bonding a base plate to a frame, silicone is dispensed onto the base plate in an amount that extends beyond the edge of the base plate. The frame is then placed on the silicone, bonding the base plate to the frame. A narrow gap between the frame and the edge of the base plate prevents direct force transmission from the base plate to the frame, thereby improving the black level uniformity of an electro-optical display device attached to the frame.

[0022] If the frame fits between the edges of the base plate, the silicone does not need to extend beyond the edge.

[0023] By placing the frame on the silicone dispensed onto the base plate and pressing the frame in the direction of the base plate, in particular in a minor way, the silicone can be squeezed around the edge of a light guide positioned in the base plate and located next to the dispensed silicone. This also ensures the fixation of this light guide.

[0024] The silicone, and especially the electrically conductive silicone, is preferably dispensed by a dispensing device, but it is also possible to dispense the silicone manually, for example, using a silicone press or other functional tools. Even this manual dispensing is simpler and less problematic in terms of faulty assembly than the use of rubber damping elements that are installed manually or mechanically on the electro-optical display module.

[0025] For mechanical connection, it is advantageous if the support and the frame each have a plurality of first sectors or if the first sectors each extend over the frame and the support.

[0026] As far as the carrier and the base plate have a second region and the respective second region of the base plate and the carrier are in direct mechanical contact with each other, an easy assembly of the module can be realized since no additional tools are required to bring the first sectors of the carrier and the frame into the correct position relative to each other when the electrically conductive silicone is dispensed onto the first sector or sectors, even if the viscosity of the silicone is not sufficiently high to hold the two parts in their positions before the silicone solidifies.

[0027] Even if the carrier and the base plate do not have second sectors, the assembly of the electro-optical display module is simplified by securing the base plate in a first holding tool and securing the carrier in a second holding tool and positioning the base plate and the carrier relative to each other such that respective gaps are formed between the respective first sectors of the frame and the respective first sectors of the carrier.

[0028] The second sectors are chosen so that when the second sectors of the carrier are in contact with the second sectors of the frame, the respective first sectors of the carrier point towards the respective first sectors of the frame. An optimal number of second sectors for both the base plate and the carrier is three, as this allows an optimal position of the carrier and the base plate relative to one another. If the number of second sectors is fewer than three, an additional adjustment tool may be required to ensure the correct position between the frame and the carrier. If the number is more than three, the position of the frame relative to the carrier may be over-determined, and due to tolerances, only three of the second sectors of the frame may be in direct contact with the respective second sectors of the carrier.

[0029] The invention will now be described by way of example with the aid of the figures. Fig. 1 shows as a first example the partial view of a back side of a possible electro-optical display module according to an example of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the section AA of Fig. 1 . Fig. 3 shows a second example of a partial view of a base plate. Fig. 4 shows the cut BB of Fig. 3 . Fig. 5 shows the view of Fig. 4 additionally with a frame and a display device.

[0030] In Fig. 1a base plate 200 of an electro-optical display device 100 and a carrier 300 carrying a printed circuit board 303 can be seen. The light guide 700 is arranged between the base plate 200 of the electro-optical display device and the electro-optical display device 100. The base plate 200 has a first sector 201, and the carrier 300 has a first sector 301. The first sectors 301, 201 of the carrier 300 and the base plate 200, respectively, correspond in terms of their positions and, due to the distance from one another, ensure a gap between them. The base plate 200 can be connected to an electro-optical display device 100 and the electro-optical display device 100 in the manner described later in the second example with reference to Fig. 3-5 described, or in any other way.

[0031] In Fig. 2Additionally, a second sector 202 of the base plate 200, a second sector 302 of the carrier 300, an electrically conductive silicone body 400, a light guide 700, and an electro-optical display device 100 can be seen. The first sectors 201, 301 are parallel to each other. By means of the second sectors 202, 302, the distance between the first sectors 201, 301 can be adjusted before the electrically conductive silicone solidifies. Thus, the electrically conductive silicone can be applied to one or both of the first sectors 201, 301 during assembly of the display module before the carrier 300 and the base plate 200 are moved into a position as shown in Fig. 1Without the second sectors 202, 302, the position of the base plate 200 and the carrier 300 relative to each other can be adjusted by tools that ensure the correct positions of these two parts, for example, by keeping them at the correct distance from each other. Depending on the viscosity of the silicone, in particular the electrically conductive silicone, and the weight of the carrier 300, including the circuit board 303, no additional tools or second sectors 202, 301 are required to hold the two elements at a desired distance from each other if the viscosity of the silicone is sufficiently high so that the silicone does not flow away before solidifying.

[0032] In Fig. 3 an edge 211 of a side wall not otherwise shown (No. 210 in Fig. 4 and 5 ) and base plate (No. 200 in Fig. 4 and 5 ), silicone 411, a light guide 700 and a foil stack 701 are shown.

[0033] The silicone 411 has been dispensed and is not yet solid.

[0034] In Fig. 4 are added to the parts of Fig. 3 the base plate 299 with a first sector 201, a side wall 210 and the edge 211, the silicone 411, the light guide 700 with an edge 700, the foil stack 701 and a reflector foil 702 are shown. The silicone 411 is dispensed onto the second sector 201 and extends beyond the edge 211 of the side wall 210. The silicone 411 further preferably contacts the side wall 210 of the base plate 200 and the edge 710 of the light guide 710, as shown. The features described in the previous sentence are not necessarily required; these features depend on the actual construction of the base plate and the light guide 700.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows in addition to the Fig. 4shown parts a frame 600 with a bottom 610, wherein the bottom 610 has a first sector 601, an electro-optical display device 100 and a silicone body 410. The electro-optical display device 100 is connected to the frame 600.

[0036] The silicone body 410 is formed by placing the bottom 610 of the frame 600 on the silicone 411 (see Fig. 4 ) and pressing the frame 600 and the base plate 200 together so that the bottom 610 of the frame 600 touches the silicone 411 ( Fig. 4) is generated, and the shape of the shown silicone body 410 is achieved. Finally, the silicone body 410 is achieved after the silicone 411 has solidified. The silicone body 410 surrounds the edge 710 of the light guide 700 with an upper edge 4101 and a lower edge 4102, thus fixing the light guide 700. By using less silicone 411, the silicone 411 can be avoided from surrounding the edge if desired. Furthermore, the silicone body 410 is connected to the side wall 210 of the base plate 200. In this way, the stability of the connection between the base plate 200 and the frame 600 is further improved. A gap can be seen between the edge 211 of the side wall 210. In this way, distortions of the base plate 200 are transmitted to the frame 600 and the electro-optical display device 100 to a lesser extent than if the base plate 200 and the frame 600 were in direct contact. Reference symbol

[0037] 100 Display device 200 Base plate (first element in the first example, second element in the second example) 201 First sector 202 Second sector 210 Side wall 211 Edge 300 Carrier (second element in the first example) 301 First sector 302 Second sector 303 Printed circuit board 400 Electrically conductive silicone body 410 Silicone body 411 Silicone 4101 Upper edge of the silicone body 4102 Lower edge of the silicone body 600 Mounting frame (first element in the second example) 601 First sector 610 Underside of the mounting frame 700 Light guide 701 Foil stack 702 Reflector foil 710 Edge of the light guide

Claims

1. Electro-optic display module comprising an electro-optic display device (100), a first element (200, 600) and a second element (300, 200), wherein the first element (200, 600) and the second element (300, 200) are connected to each other, and the first element (200, 600) carries the electro-optic display device (100), and the first element (200, 600) and the second element (300, 600) are connected by at least one silicone body (410, 400), wherein the silicone body (410, 400) is made of silicone (411), characterized in that the at least one silicone body (400) is made of electrically conductive silicone.

2. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first element (200, 600) and the second element (300, 200) are made of metal.

3. Electro-optic display module according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first element is a backplate (200) of the electro-optic display device (100), and the second element is a carrier (300) of a printed circuit board (303).

4. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 3, characterized in that the carrier (300) and the backplate (200) each have a first sector (301, 201), wherein the first sectors (301, 201) of the carrier (300) and of the backplate (200) face each other and provide an intermediate space between them, wherein the intermediate space is filled with the electrically conductive silicone, whereby an electrically conductive silicone body (400) is formed.

5. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 4, characterized in that the first sectors (301, 201) are planar.

6. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 5, characterized in that the first sectors (301, 201) are parallel to each other.

7. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the carrier (300) and the backplate (200) each have a second section (302, 202), wherein the second section (302) of the carrier (300) and the second section (202) of the backplate (200) are in direct mechanical contact with each other.

8. Electro-optic display module according to either of preceding Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first element is a frame (600) which carries the electro-optic display device (100), and the second element is a backplate (200) of the electro-optic display module.

9. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 8, characterized in that the backplate (200) has a rectangular shape.

10. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 9, characterized in that a silicone body (410) which connects the backplate (200) to the frame (600) is arranged in each of the corners of the backplate (200).

11. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 9, characterized in that the backplate (200) comprises a channel filled with the silicone (411).

12. Electro-optic display module according to Claim 11, characterized in that the channel forms a closed loop filled with the silicone (411).

13. Electro-optic display module according to any of preceding Claims 8-12, characterized in that the silicone body (410) additionally fixes a light guide (700).

14. Method for producing an electro-optic display module, wherein the electro-optic display module has the features of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further provides the following: dispensing the silicone (411) on the first element (200, 600) and / or the second element (200, 300) and bringing the first element (200, 600) and the second element (200, 300) together so that the silicone (411) connects the first element to the second element, and waiting until the silicone is set such that the at least one silicone body (410, 400) is formed, characterized in that the at least one silicone body (400) is made of electrically conductive silicone.

15. Method for producing an electro-optic display module according to Claim 14, wherein the electro-optic display module has the features of any of preceding Claims 4-7, characterized in that the silicone (411) is dispensed on the first sectors (201) of the backplate (200) and / or the first sectors (301) of the carrier (300), the backplate (200) and the carrier (300) are positioned such that the first sectors (201) of the backplate (200) and the first sectors (301) of the carrier (300) form an intermediate space between them such that the intermediate space is filled with the electrically conductive silicone (411) which has been previously dispensed on the first sectors (201) of the backplate (200) and / or the first sectors (301) of the carrier (300), and there is a wait for the electrically conductive silicone (411) to set such that the electrically conductive silicone body (400) is formed.

16. Method for producing an electro-optic display module according to Claim 14, wherein the electro-optic display module has the features of any of preceding Claims 8-13, characterized in that the silicone (411) is dispensed on the backplate (200) in an amount going beyond a rim (211) of the sidewall (210) of the backplate (200), and the frame (600) is placed on the silicone (411) such that the silicone (411) connects the backplate (200) to the frame (600), and the silicone body (410) is formed.

17. Method according to Claim 16, wherein the electro-optic display module has the features of Claim 13, characterized in that the silicone (411) is squeezed around a rim (710) of the light guide (700) by placing the frame (600) on the silicone (411).