Backlight assembly and display device including the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly and a display device including the backlight assembly include a light source which emits light, a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source and which receives the light emitted from the light source, a light source supporter including a bottom plane including a first region and a second region, and a first receiving unit including a bottom surface and a side wall. The light source and the light guide plate are disposed on the first region of the bottom plane, the second region extends from a portion of the first region on which the light source is disposed, the bottom surface is disposed opposite the light guide plate, and the side wall is disposed at an end portion of the bottom surface along a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the bottom surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A backlight assembly comprising:
 a light source which emits light, wherein the light source comprises a printed circuit board and a light emitting diode; 
 a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source and which receives the light emitted from the light source; 
 a light source supporter comprising a bottom plane first supporting portion and a lateral plane second supporting portion which is extended vertically from the bottom plane first supporting portion and integrated with the bottom plane first supporting portion, the first supporting portion comprising a supporting surface, the second supporting portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; and 
 a first receiving unit comprising a bottom plane portion and a lateral plane portion which is extended vertically from the bottom plane portion and integrated with the bottom plane portion and accommodating the light guide plate and the light source, 
 wherein the light source and the light guide plate are disposed on the bottom plane supporting surface of the first supporting portion of the light source supporter, and 
 wherein the lateral plane second surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter is in direct contact with the lateral plane portion of the first receiving unit, 
 wherein the first supporting portion of the light source supporter is disposed directly on the bottom portion of the first receiving unit, and 
 wherein a height of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter is less than or equal to a height of the lateral portion of the first receiving unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a middle frame, which is coupled to the first receiving unit, wherein at least a portion of the middle frame is in direct contact with the light source supporter. 
     
     
       3. The backlight assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the middle frame comprises a U-shaped portion, and at least a portion of the U-shaped portion of the middle frame is disposed in the inner space. 
     
     
       4. The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the middle frame further comprises a bent portion connected to the U-shaped portion and disposed on an optical sheet disposed on the light source and the light guide plate. 
     
     
       5. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the light source supporter includes a metal plate. 
     
     
       6. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a hole is formed in a the bottom surface portion of the first receiving unit, and
 the light source supporter further comprises a protrusion disposed in the hole. 
 
     
     
       7. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is in direct contact with the lateral plane first surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
     
     
       8. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflective sheet interposed between the light guide plate and the bottom plane supporting surface of the first supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
     
     
       9. A backlight assembly comprising:
 a light source which emits light; 
 a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source and which receives the light emitted from the light source; 
 a light source supporter disposed under the light source and the light guide plate; an optical sheet disposed on the light guide plate; 
 a first receiving unit accommodating the light guide plate and the light source, and 
 a middle frame which is coupled to the first receiving unit, wherein a portion of the middle frame is disposed between the light source and a lateral portion of the first receiving unit, 
 wherein the light source supporter comprises a bottom plane first supporting portion and a lateral plane second supporting portion which is extended vertically from the bottom plane first supporting portion and integrated with the bottom plane first supporting portion, the first supporting portion comprising a supporting surface, the second supporting portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, and 
 wherein at least a portion of the middle frame is in direct contact with more than a substantial portion of a major surface plane defining the lateral plane the second surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
 
     
     
       10. The backlight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is in direct contact with both the bottom plane and the lateral plane of the first surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
     
     
       11. The backlight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the middle frame comprises a U-shaped portion, and at least a portion of the U-shaped portion of the middle frame is disposed in the inner space. 
     
     
       12. The backlight assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the middle frame further comprises a bent portion connected to the U-shaped portion and disposed on an optical sheet disposed on the light source and the light guide plate. 
     
     
       13. The backlight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the light source supporter includes a metal plate. 
     
     
       14. The backlight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a hole is formed in a bottom surface of the first receiving unit, and the light source supporter further comprises a protrusion disposed in the hole. 
     
     
       15. A liquid crystal display, comprising:
 a liquid crystal panel which displays an image; and 
 a backlight assembly comprising:
 a light source disposed adjacent to an edge portion of the liquid crystal panel, wherein the light source comprises a printed circuit board and a light emitting diode; 
 a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source and which emits light to the liquid crystal panel; 
 an optical sheet disposed between the light guide plate and the liquid crystal panel; 
 a first receiving unit including a bottom plane portion and a lateral plane portion which is extended vertically from the bottom plane portion and integrated with the bottom plane portion and accommodating the light source, the light guide plate and the optical sheet; and 
 a light source supporter which supports the light source and the light guide plate, the light source supporter comprising a bottom plane and a lateral plane first supporting portion and a second supporting portion which is extended vertically from the bottom plane first supporting portion and integrated with the bottom plane first supporting portion, the first supporting portion comprising a supporting surface, the second supporting portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; and 
 a second receiving unit covering at least a portion of the edge portion of the liquid crystal panel and the side wall of the first receiving unit, 
 wherein the light source and the light guide plate are disposed on the first region of the bottom plane supporting surface of the first supporting portion of the light source supporter, and 
 wherein the lateral plane of second surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter is in direct contact with the lateral plane portion of the first receiving unit, 
 wherein the first supporting portion of the light source supporter is disposed directly on the bottom portion of the first receiving unit, and 
 wherein a height of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter is less than or equal to a height of the lateral portion of the first receiving unit. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The liquid crystal display of  claim 15 , wherein the light source is in direct contact with the lateral plane first surface of the second supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
     
     
       17. The liquid crystal display of  claim 15 , further comprising a reflective sheet interposed between the light guide plate and the bottom plane supporting surface of the first supporting portion of the light source supporter. 
     
     
       18. The liquid crystal display of  claim 15 , further comprising a middle frame, which is coupled to the first receiving unit, wherein at least a portion of the middle frame is in direct contact with the light source supporter. 
     
     
       19. The liquid crystal display of  claim 15 , wherein the light source supporter includes metallic material.