Display device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display device, which includes: a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks, driven for each of the divided blocks, and includes at least one optical assembly; a display panel that is disposed above the backlight unit; a controller that outputs local dimming values for each block corresponding to the brightness of the blocks in the backlight unit, in accordance with an image displayed on the display panel; and a BLU driver that controls the brightness of the blocks in the backlight unit, using the local dimming values for each block; in which the optical assembly includes: a first layer; a plurality of light sources formed on the first layer and emitting light; a second layer disposed above the first layer to cover the light sources; and a reflective layer that is disposed between the first and second layers, and the BLU driver outputs a plurality of driving signals in response to the input local dimming values for each block, and the driving signals each control the brightness of two or more blocks in the blocks of the backlight units.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A display device comprising:
 a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks and is driven by the divided blocks, and includes at least one optical assembly;   a display panel positioned over the backlight unit;   a controller that outputs local dimming values corresponding to brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit, in accordance with an image displayed in the display panel; and   a BLU driver that controls brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit using the local dimming values,   wherein the optical assembly includes:   a first layer;   a plurality of light sources that is are formed on the first layer and emit light, and a light emitting surface of the light source being formed in the direction crossing the first layer;   a second layer disposed above the first layer to cover the light sources; and   a reflective layer that is disposed between the first and second layers, and   wherein the BLU driver receives the local dimming values and outputs a plurality of driving signals, and the driving signals control the brightness of two or more blocks among the blocks of the backlight unit respectively.   
     
     
         21 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the display panel is divided into a plurality of regions and he controller adjusts the brightness of the blocks in the backlight unit which correspond to the regions, in accordance with the luminance of the regions of the display panel. 
     
     
         22 . The display device according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller includes:
 an image analyzing unit that measures the average picture level of an image; and   a brightness determining unit that determines the local dimming values for each block of the backlight unit, using the measured average picture level of the image.   
     
     
         23 . The display device according to  claim 22 , wherein the brightness determining unit determines that brightness of light source included in the blocks of the backlight unit which correspond to a first region, using the average picture level of the image and the average picture level of the first region in the display panel. 
     
     
         24 . The display device according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a pixel compensator that adjust the gate of an input image signal, using the measured average picture level of the image; and   a panel driver that drives the display panel in response to the image signal outputted from the pixel compensator.   
     
     
         25 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the BLU driver receives the local dimming values for each block from the controller, using SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication. 
     
     
         26 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the first layer is a substrate with the light sources mounted thereon. 
     
     
         27 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the second layer includes silicon-based or acryl-based resin. 
     
     
         28 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the second layer includes a plurality of dispersed particles. 
     
     
         29 . The display device according to  claim 20 , further comprising: light-shielding patterns that are formed on the second layer to correspond to the positions of the light sources. 
     
     
         30 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the backlight unit includes a plurality of the optical assemblies. 
     
     
         31 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the second layer is 0.1 to 4.5 mm thick. 
     
     
         32 . The display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the light sources included in the optical assembly are driven in two or more divided blocks. 
     
     
         33 . A display device, comprising:
 a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks and is driven by the divided blocks, and includes at least one optical assembly;   a display panel positioned over the backlight unit;   a controller that outputs local dimming values corresponding to brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit, in accordance with an image displayed in the display panel; and   a BLU driver that controls brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit using the local dimming values,   wherein the optical assembly includes:   a first layer;   a plurality of light sources that is are formed on the first layer and emit light, and a light emitting surface of the light source being formed in the direction crossing the first layer;   a second layer disposed above the first layer to cover the light sources; and   a reflective layer that is disposed between the first and second layers, and   wherein the BLU driver includes an driving unit, and   the driving unit includes a controller that receives local dimming values from the controller and a plurality of driver ICs outputting driving signals for controlling the brightness of the two or more blocks respectively.   
     
     
         34 . The display device according to  claim 33 , wherein the controller outputs the local dimming values inputted in parallel, and then transmits the local dimming values for each block to the driver ICs. 
     
     
         35 . The display device according to  claim 33 , wherein the driver ICs transmit driving signal to the light sources included in n blocks, using n channels. 
     
     
         36 . The display device according to  claim 33 , wherein the BLU driver includes a plurality of the driving units. 
     
     
         37 . The display device according to  claim 33 , wherein the light sources included in the optical assembly are driven in two or more divided blocks. 
     
     
         38 . The display device according to  claim 33 , wherein the backlight unit includes a plurality of the optical assemblies.