Display devices having rounded corner backlight unit

Abstract

A backlight unit for a display device includes a mold frame and a light guide panel. The mold frame includes a groove having at least one rounded corner. The light guide panel is on the mold frame and includes a light guide projection in the groove, having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A mold frame for a display device comprising:
 means for receiving a display device light source; 
 means for receiving a display device light guide panel such that the light guide panel is disposed adjacent and spaced apart from the light source; and 
 means for fixing the light guide panel in spaced apart relation to the light source, the fixing means including at least one rounded corner, the at least one rounded corner operative to reduce non-uniform concentration of light from the light source in the light guide panel. 
 
     
     
       2. A The mold frame according to  claim 1  wherein the fixing means comprises a groove including another at least one rounded corner. 
     
     
       3. A The mold frame according to  claim 2  wherein the groove is entirely rounded. 
     
     
       4. A The mold frame according to  claim 1 :
 wherein the fixing means includes a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the means for receiving a display device light source than the first corner is spaced from the means for receiving a display device light source; and 
 wherein the first corner is angled and the second corner is rounded. 
 
     
     
       5. A backlight unit for a display device comprising:
 a mold frame which includes a groove having at least one rounded corner; 
 a light source on the mold frame, said light source being operative to provide light; and 
 a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove, the at least one rounded corners corner of the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection. 
 
     
     
       6. A The backlight unit according to  claim 5 :
 wherein the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide panel both include a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source; 
 wherein the first corners are angled and the second corners are rounded; and 
 wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove. 
 
     
     
       7. A The backlight unit according to  claim 5  wherein the groove and light guide projection are both entirely rounded. 
     
     
       8. The backlight unit according to  claim 5  wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection. 
     
     
       9. A flat panel display device comprising:
 a mold frame which includes a groove having at least one rounded corner; 
 a light source mounted on the mold frame and operative to provide light; 
 a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection mounted in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove, the at least one rounded corners corner of the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection; 
 a display panel disposed on the light guide panel and positioned such that the light guide panel is interposed between the mold frame and the display panel. 
 
     
     
       10. A The flat panel display device according to  claim 9  further comprising a diffuser between the light guide panel and the display panel. 
     
     
       11. A The flat panel display device according to  claim 10  further comprising a printed circuit board on the mold frame, the printed circuit board being electrically connected to the display panel. 
     
     
       12. A The flat panel display device according to  claim 9 :
 wherein the at least one rounded corner of the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide panel both include a first corner, and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source; 
 wherein the first corners are angled and the second corners are rounded; and 
 wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove. 
 
     
     
       13. A The flat panel display device according to  claim 9  wherein the groove and light guide projection are both arcuate. 
     
     
       14. The flat panel display device according to  claim 9  wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection. 
     
     
       15. The backlight unit according to claim 5, further comprising:
 diffuser sheets mounted on the light guide panel.   
     
     
       16. The flat panel display according to claim 9, further comprising:
 a top chassis provided with the mold frame to enclose the light source; the light guide panel, and the display panel.   
     
     
       17. The flat panel display device according to claim 9, further comprising:
 diffuser sheets mounted over the light guide panel.   
     
     
       18. The flat panel display device according to claim 9, further comprising:
 a printed circuit board connected to the display panel.   
     
     
       19. A mold frame for a display device comprising:
 a first frame portion configured for receiving a display device light source;   a second frame portion configured for receiving a display device light guide panel such that the light guide panel is disposed adjacent and spaced apart from the light source; and   a third frame portion comprising at least one rounded corner, the third frame portion being configured for fixing the light guide panel in spaced apart relation to the light source, the at least one rounded corner operative to reduce non-uniform concentration of light from the light source in the light guide panel.   
     
     
       20. The mold frame according to claim 19 wherein the third frame portion comprises a groove including another at least one rounded corner. 
     
     
       21. The mold frame according to claim 20 wherein the groove is entirely rounded. 
     
     
       22. A backlight unit for a display device comprising:
 a mold frame which includes a groove;   a light source on the mold frame, said light source being operative to provide light; and   a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner, the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection.   
     
     
       23. The backlight unit according to claim 22:
 wherein the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide panel both include a first corner and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source; and   wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove.   
     
     
       24. The backlight unit according to claim 22 wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection. 
     
     
       25. A flat panel display device comprising:
 a mold frame which includes a groove;   a light source mounted on the mold frame and operative to provide light;   a light guide panel on the mold frame in spaced apart relation from the light source, including a light guide projection mounted in the groove, the light guide projection having at least one rounded corner corresponding to the mold frame groove, the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being cooperative to maintain the light guide panel and the light source in spaced relation, the at least one rounded corner of the light guide projection being operative to reduce concentration of the light in the light guide projection;   a display panel disposed on the light guide panel and positioned such that the light guide panel is interposed between the mold frame and the display panel.   
     
     
       26. The flat panel display device according to claim 25 further comprising a diffuser between the light guide panel and the display panel. 
     
     
       27. The flat panel display device according to claim 26 further comprising, a printed circuit board on the mold frame the printed circuit board being electrically connected to the display panel. 
     
     
       28. The flat panel display according to claim 25:
 where the mold frame groove and the at least one rounded corner of the light guide panel both include a first corner and a second corner which is spaced farther from the light source than the first corner is spaced from the light source; and   wherein the first corner of the light guide panel is disposed adjacent the first corner of the mold frame groove and the second corner of the light aide panel is disposed adjacent the second corner of the mold frame groove.   
     
     
       29. The flat panel display device according to claim 25 wherein the groove and light guide projection are both arcuate. 
     
     
       30. The flat panel display device according to claim 25 wherein the light guide panel defines a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge being formed in part by the light guide projection.