Light emitting diode arrays for direct backlighting of liquid crystal displays

Abstract

A display panel for a flat panel display includes a planar array of LCD devices and a planar array of LED devices that is closely spaced apart from the planar array of LCD devices, at least some of the LED devices being disposed within a periphery of the array of LCD devices such that, in operation, the planar array of LED devices provides backlighting for the planar array of LCD devices. The planar array of LED devices can include at least one solid metal block having first and second opposing metal faces. The first metal face includes therein an array of reflector cavities, and the second metal face includes therein heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display panel for a flat panel display comprising:
 a front face comprising a planar array of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and   a back face comprising at least one solid metal block including first and second opposing metal faces that extend parallel to the array of LCD devices, wherein the first metal face is facing toward the array of LCD devices and the second metal face is facing away from the array of LCD devices, the first metal face including therein an array of reflector cavities and the second metal face including therein a plurality of heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display; and   at least one LED device mounted in a respective reflector cavity such that, in operation, the reflector cavity reflects light that is emitted by the at least one LED device that is mounted therein away from the reflector cavity;   wherein the at least one solid metal block comprises a plurality of solid metal block tiles that are arranged in an array that is congruent to the planar array of LCD devices.   
     
     
       2. A display panel according to  claim 1  in combination with a frame that is configured to surround the front and back faces of the display panel. 
     
     
       3. A display panel according to  claim 2  in further combination with an electronics module that is supported by the frame and that is configured to control the array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device. 
     
     
       4. A display panel according to  claim 1  wherein the planar array of LCD devices is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       5. A display panel according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one LED device is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       6. A display panel according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one LED device that is mounted in a respective reflector cavity and that is configured to emit light that appears as white light consists of:
 a red LED device; 
 a blue LED device; and 
 two green LED devices. 
 
     
     
       7. A display panel according to  claim 6  wherein the two green LED devices emit green light at different frequencies. 
     
     
       8. A display panel according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a planar optical film that is located between the planar array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device such that, in operation, the at least one LED device transmits light through the planar optical film and to the planar array of LCD devices. 
 
     
     
       9. A display panel according to  claim 1  in combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements to provide a computer monitor and/or a television. 
     
     
       10. A display panel for a flat panel display comprising:
 a front face comprising a planar array of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and   a back face comprising at least one solid metal block including first and second opposing metal faces that extend parallel to the array of LCD devices, wherein the first metal face is facing toward the array of LCD devices and the second metal face is facing away from the array of LCD devices, the first metal face including therein an array of reflector cavities and the second metal face including therein a plurality of heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display; and   at least one LED device mounted in a respective reflector cavity such that, in operation, the reflector cavity reflects light that is emitted by the at least one LED device that is mounted therein away from the reflector cavity;   wherein the at least one solid metal block comprises a plurality of solid metal block bars that are arranged face-to-face to be congruent to the planar array of LCD devices.   
     
     
       11. A display panel according to  claim 10  in combination with a frame that is configured to surround the front and back faces of the display panel. 
     
     
       12. A display panel according to  claim 11  in further combination with an electronics module that is supported by the frame and that is configured to control the array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device. 
     
     
       13. A display panel according to  claim 10  wherein the planar array of LCD devices is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       14. A display panel according to  claim 10  wherein the at least one LED device is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       15. A display panel according to  claim 14  wherein the at least one LED device that is mounted in a respective reflector cavity and that is configured to emit light that appears as white light consists of:
 a red LED device; 
 a blue LED device; and 
 two green LED devices. 
 
     
     
       16. A display panel according to  claim 15  wherein the two green LED devices emit green light at different frequencies. 
     
     
       17. A display panel according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 a planar optical film that is located between the planar array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device such that, in operation, the at least one LED device transmits light through the planar optical film and to the planar array of LCD devices. 
 
     
     
       18. A display panel according to  claim 10  in combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements to provide a computer monitor and/or a television. 
     
     
       19. A display panel for a flat panel display comprising:
 a front face comprising a planar array of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and   a back face comprising at least one solid metal block including first and second opposing metal faces that extend parallel to the array of LCD devices, wherein the first metal face is facing toward the array of LCD devices and the second metal face is facing away from the array of LCD devices, the second metal face including therein a plurality of heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display; and   a plurality of LED devices mounted on the first metal face;   wherein the at least one solid metal block comprises a plurality of solid metal block tiles that are arranged in an array that is congruent to the planar array of LCD devices.   
     
     
       20. A display panel according to  claim 19  in combination with a frame that is configured to surround the front and back faces of the display panel. 
     
     
       21. A display panel according to  claim 20  in further combination with an electronics module that is supported by the frame and that is configured to control the array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device. 
     
     
       22. A display panel according to  claim 19  wherein the planar array of LCD devices is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       23. A display panel according to  claim 19  wherein the at least one LED device is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       24. A display panel according to  claim 23  wherein the at least one LED device that is mounted in a respective reflector cavity and that is configured to emit light that appears as white light consists of:
 a red LED device; 
 a blue LED device; and 
 two green LED devices. 
 
     
     
       25. A display panel according to  claim 24  wherein the two green LED devices emit green light at different frequencies. 
     
     
       26. A display panel according to  claim 19  further comprising:
 a planar optical film that is located between the planar array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device such that, in operation, the at least one LED device transmits light through the planar optical film and to the planar array of LCD devices. 
 
     
     
       27. A display panel according to  claim 19  in combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements to provide a computer monitor and/or a television. 
     
     
       28. A display panel for a flat panel display comprising:
 a front face comprising a planar array of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and   a back face comprising at least one solid metal block including first and second opposing metal faces that extend parallel to the array of LCD devices, wherein the first metal face is facing toward the array of LCD devices and the second metal face is facing away from the array of LCD devices, the second metal face including therein a plurality of heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display; and   a plurality of LED devices mounted on the first metal face;   wherein the at least one solid metal block comprises a plurality of solid metal block bars that are arranged face-to-face to be congruent to the planar array of LCD devices.   
     
     
       29. A display panel according to  claim 28  in combination with a frame that is configured to surround the front and back faces of the display panel. 
     
     
       30. A display panel according to  claim 29  in further combination with an electronics module that is supported by the frame and that is configured to control the array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device. 
     
     
       31. A display panel according to  claim 28  wherein the planar array of LCD devices is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       32. A display panel according to  claim 28  wherein the at least one LED device is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       33. A display panel according to  claim 32  wherein the at least one LED device that is mounted in a respective reflector cavity and that is configured to emit light that appears as white light consists of:
 a red LED device; 
 a blue LED device; and 
 two green LED devices. 
 
     
     
       34. A display panel according to  claim 33  wherein the two green LED devices emit green light at different frequencies. 
     
     
       35. A display panel according to  claim 28  further comprising:
 a planar optical film that is located between the planar array of LCD devices and the at least one LED device such that, in operation, the at least one LED device transmits light through the planar optical film and to the planar array of LCD devices. 
 
     
     
       36. A display panel according to  claim 28  in combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements to provide a computer monitor and/or a television. 
     
     
       37. A flat panel comprising:
 a plurality of solid metal block tiles, a respective one of which includes first and second opposing faces and four ends therebetween, the plurality of solid metal block tiles being connected end-to-end in the flat panel, the plurality of solid metal block tiles including mating surfaces therebetween; and   a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a respective one of which is mounted on the first face of a respective solid metal block tile in the flat panel.   
     
     
       38. A flat panel according to claim 37 wherein the plurality of solid metal block tiles are connected end-to-end in the flat panel in a two-dimensional array of solid metal block tiles. 
     
     
       39. A flat panel according to claim 37 in combination with a flat panel frame that is configured to surround the plurality of solid metal block tiles. 
     
     
       40. A flat panel according to claim 39 in further combination with a flat panel electronics module that is supported by the flat panel frame and that is configured to control the at least one of the LEDs. 
     
     
       41. A flat panel according to claim 37 wherein the plurality of solid metal block tiles that are connected end-to-end in the flat panel is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       42. A flat panel according to claim 37 wherein at least one of the LEDs is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       43. A flat panel according to claim 37 wherein a respective first face of a respective solid metal block tile includes a respective reflective cavity therein, and wherein the respective one of the LEDs is mounted in the respective reflective cavity. 
     
     
       44. A flat panel according to claim 37 in further combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements of the flat panel. 
     
     
       45. A flat panel according to claim 37 wherein the second face includes therein a plurality of metal heat sink fins. 
     
     
       46. A flat panel comprising:
 a plurality of solid metal block bars, a respective one of which includes first and second opposing faces and four ends therebetween, the plurality of solid metal block bars being connected end-to-end in the flat panel, the plurality of solid metal block bars including mating surfaces therebetween; and   a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a respective one of which is mounted on the first face of a respective solid metal block bar in the flat panel.   
     
     
       47. A flat panel according to claim 46 wherein the plurality of solid metal block bars are connected end-to-end in the flat panel in a one-dimensional array of bars. 
     
     
       48. A flat panel according to claim 46 in combination with a flat panel frame that is configured to surround the plurality of solid metal block bars. 
     
     
       49. A flat panel according to claim 48 in further combination with a flat panel electronics module that is supported by the flat panel frame and that is configured to control the at least one of the LEDs. 
     
     
       50. A flat panel according to claim 46 wherein the plurality of solid metal block bars that are connected end-to-end in the flat panel is at least 17 inches in size along a diagonal thereof. 
     
     
       51. A flat panel according to claim 46 wherein at least one of the LEDs is configured to emit light that appears as white light. 
     
     
       52. A flat panel according to claim 46 wherein a respective first face of a respective solid metal block bar includes a respective reflective cavity therein, and wherein the respective one of the LEDs is mounted in the respective reflective cavity. 
     
     
       53. A flat panel according to claim 46 in further combination with other electrical and/or mechanical elements of the flat panel. 
     
     
       54. A flat panel according to claim 46 wherein the second face includes therein a plurality of metal heat sink fins.