Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly is provided. The backlight assembly includes at least one lamp that generates a first light and a light diffusion member that is disposed over the lamp and diffuses the first light to generate a second light having a uniform brightness distribution. The light diffusion member includes a diffusion layer that diffuses the first light and a light path modulation member protruded from the diffusion layer to modulate a path of the first light. The light path modulation member is integrally formed with the diffusion layer.

1 . A backlight assembly comprising: 
 at least one lamp that generates a first light; and    a light diffusion member that is disposed over the lamp and diffuses the first light to generate a second light having a uniform brightness distribution, the light diffusion member comprising: 
 a diffusion layer that diffuses the first light; and  
 a light path modulation member protruded from the diffusion layer to modulate a path of the first light, the light path modulation member being integrally formed with the diffusion layer.  
   
   
   
       2 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light path modulation member comprises at least one protruding portion, the protruding portion comprising: 
 a first light path modulation surface inclined at a first angle with respect to a surface of the diffusion layer where the second light is emitted; and    a second light path modulation surface inclined at a second angle with respect to the surface of the diffusion layer.    
   
   
       3 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protruding portion comprises a plurality of protruding portions disposed across the entire surface of the diffusion layer, the plurality of protruding portions having a same shape.  
   
   
       4 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the protruding portion has a prism shape prolonged in a direction corresponding to a length of the lamp.  
   
   
       5 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein an internal angle between the first and second light path modulation surfaces is more than about 80° and less than about 120°.  
   
   
       6 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the internal angle between the first and second light path modulation surfaces is approximately 900.  
   
   
       7 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein a width of the protruding portion is less than about 0.635 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the protruding portion comprises an edge defined by the first and second light path modulation surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the edge is rounded.  
   
   
       10 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protruding portion comprises a plurality of protruding portions, and each width of the plurality of protruding portions increases in proportion to a distance between a center of the first region and each of the plurality of protruding portions.  
   
   
       11 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protruding portion comprises a plurality of protruding portions, and an internal angle between the first and second light path modulation surfaces increases in proportion to a distance between a center of the first region and the protruding portion.  
   
   
       12 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light path modulation member is protruded from the diffusion layer toward the lamp and faces the lamp.  
   
   
       13 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light path modulation member is protruded from the diffusion layer against the lamp such that the diffusion layer is positioned between the light path modulation member and the lamp.  
   
   
       14 . The backlight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffusion layer includes a first region from which the light path modulation member is protruded and a second region having a flat surface, the at least one lamp corresponding to the first region.