Segmented Backlight Cover Bottom for Thermal Deformation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Large liquid crystal display devices face mechanical issues due to thermal deformation caused by heat from light sources, leading to increased manufacturing costs and difficulty in producing cover bottoms that correspond to the rapidly increasing size of panels, which also require multiple reinforcing bars.

Innovation Solution

A backlight unit design where the cover bottom is divided into multiple sub-cover bottoms with a coupling unit that fixes and couples them, allowing for thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining structural integrity and replacing the need for multiple reinforcing bars, thus reducing manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the cover bottom is made as a single sheet metal to correspond to large panel sizes, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but thermal deformation occurs due to heat from the light source

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover bottom structureVSAvoidthermal deformation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover bottom is divided into a first cover bottom and a second cover bottom that are coupled together. This segmentation allows each portion to independently expand and contract thermally, preventing overall thermal deformation while maintaining structural integrity. The coupling unit joins the two segments while permitting relative movement between them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple reinforcing bars are added to the cover bottom to prevent thermal deformation, then the thermal stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding multiple reinforcing bars to a single cover bottom, the invention segments the cover bottom itself into two coupled portions. This approach achieves thermal stability through the segmented structure's ability to independently expand, eliminating the need for additional reinforcing bars and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the cover bottom size is increased to match larger liquid crystal panels, then the display device size is accommodated, but the cover bottom becomes more difficult to manufacture and mold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover bottom areaVSAvoidmolding difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The large cover bottom is divided into two smaller, more manageable cover bottoms that can be easily manufactured and molded separately. These segmented portions are then coupled together to form the complete large-area cover bottom, solving the molding difficulty while accommodating larger display device sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the cover bottom is segmented into multiple parts to prevent thermal deformation, then the thermal expansion resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion resistanceVSAvoidcover bottom structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover bottom is divided into two segments coupled together, providing thermal expansion resistance while maintaining relatively simple structure. The coupling unit connects the segments in a straightforward manner that allows independent thermal movement without requiring complex mechanisms or additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively prevents thermal deformation and enhances the mechanical life of the display device by allowing individual thermal expansion and contraction of sub-cover bottoms, improving hardness and reducing manufacturing costs while accommodating larger panel sizes.

Implementation Method 1

the divided cover bottoms may individually enable thermal expansion and thermal contraction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

a coupling unit for mutually fixing and coupling the divided sub-cover bottoms is formed at ends of each of the cover bottoms facing each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10324252B2Backlight unit

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light source, and a cover bottom internally accommodating the light source. Here, the cover bottom is divided into n-numbered (n>1) sub-cover bottoms, and a coupling unit for mutually fixing and coupling the divided cover bottoms is formed at ends of each of the cover bottoms facing each other.