Backlight assembly and display device having the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes a lamp unit, a covering member, a panel guiding member and a lamp supporting member. The lamp unit has a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side. The covering member covers at least one of a first region corresponding to the first and second electrodes and a second region corresponding to the curved portion. The panel guiding member is configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit. The lamp supporting member is configured to retain the lamp unit. Therefore, a number of inverters may be reduced, thereby lowering cost and time of manufacturing the backlight assembly. Furthermore, reliability of the backlight assembly may be enhanced.

1 . A backlight assembly comprising: 
 a lamp unit having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side;    a covering member covering at least one of a first region corresponding to the first and second electrodes and a second region corresponding to the curved portion;    a panel guiding member configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit; and    a lamp supporting member configured to retain the lamp unit.    
   
   
       2 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp supporting member supports the curved portion of the lamp unit.  
   
   
       3 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp unit includes a plurality of lamps.  
   
   
       4 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of the lamps has one of a general U-shape and a general C-shape.  
   
   
       5 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a receiving container including a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, and the receiving container being disposed under the plurality of lamps and receiving each of the lamps.  
   
   
       6 . The backlight assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the covering member comprises: 
 a first covering part adjacent to the first side of the receiving container, the first covering part including a first aperture group which receives a portion of each of the lamps; and    a second covering part adjacent to the second side of the receiving container, the second covering part including a second aperture group which receives a portion of each of the lamps.    
   
   
       7 . The backlight assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second sides are longer than the third and fourth sides.  
   
   
       8 . The backlight assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second sides are shorter than the third and fourth sides.  
   
   
       9 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a height of the lamp supporting member is greater than an external diameter of each of the lamps.  
   
   
       10 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the covering member includes a aperture group which receives the lamp unit.  
   
   
       11 . The backlight assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a reflection plate disposed under the lamp unit to reflect light generated by the lamp unit, 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body that receives a portion of the lamp unit;    a first fixing unit connected to the supporting body and coupled to the receiving container; and    a second fixing unit protruded from the first fixing unit and coupled to the receiving container to attach the first fixing unit to the receiving container.    
   
   
       12 . The backlight assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the supporting body includes an aperture having a predetermined diameter, and a channel that opens the aperture.  
   
   
       13 . The backlight assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of each one of the lamps.  
   
   
       14 . The backlight assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the reflection plate comprises a first orifice into which the second fixing unit is inserted to attach the first fixing unit to the reflection plate.  
   
   
       15 . The backlight assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the receiving container includes a second orifice and the second fixing unit is inserted into the first and second orifices.  
   
   
       16 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflection plate disposed under the lamp unit to reflect the light generated from the lamp unit, and 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body that attaches the lamp unit to the reflection plate;    a lamp holder disposed at an upper surface of the supporting body and supporting the lamp unit; and    a fixing unit disposed at a lower surface of the supporting body to attach the supporting body to the reflection plate.    
   
   
       17 . The backlight assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the lamp supporting member further comprises a supporting horn disposed at the upper surface of the supporting body, the supporting horn supporting the covering member to prevent contact between the lamp unit and the covering member.  
   
   
       18 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a diffusion member disposed over the lamp unit to diffuse the light generated from the lamp unit, 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body disposed at a surface of the reflection plate;    a lamp holder disposed at an upper surface of the supporting body and supporting the lamp unit;    a supporting horn disposed at the upper surface of the supporting body, the supporting horn supporting the diffusion member to prevent contact between the lamp unit and the diffusion member; and    a fixing unit disposed at a lower surface of the supporting body to attach the supporting body to the reflection plate.    
   
   
       19 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp supporting member comprises a flexible material.  
   
   
       20 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the covering member is integrally formed with the panel guiding member.  
   
   
       21 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a positive voltage and a negative voltage are applied to the first and second electrodes, respectively.  
   
   
       22 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a positive voltage and a ground potential are applied to the first and second electrodes, respectively.  
   
   
       23 . A backlight assembly comprising: 
 a lamp unit having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side;    a first covering member having a first aperture which receives the lamp unit;    a second covering member having a second aperture which receives the lamp unit;    a panel guiding member configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit; and    a lamp supporting member configured to retain the lamp unit.    
   
   
       24 . The backlight assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a receiving container that receives the lamp unit, the first and second covering members and the lamp supporting member, 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body that receives a portion of the lamp unit;    a first fixing unit connected to the supporting body and coupled to the receiving container; and    a second fixing unit protruded from the first fixing unit and combined with the receiving container to attach the first fixing unit to the receiving container.    
   
   
       25 . The backlight assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the supporting body includes an aperture having a predetermined diameter, and a channel that opens the aperture.  
   
   
       26 . A backlight assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of lamps, each of the lamps including a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the plurality of lamps and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the plurality of lamps that is opposite to the first side;    a receiving container having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the receiving container receiving the plurality of lamps;    a first covering member disposed adjacent to the first side and having a first insertion aperture in which the first and second electrodes of a portion of the plurality of lamps are inserted;    a second covering member disposed adjacent to the second side and having a second insertion aperture in which the first and second electrodes of a remaining portion of the plurality of lamps are inserted;    a panel guiding member configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit; and    a lamp supporting member configured to retain the lamps.    
   
   
       27 . The backlight assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second sides are longer than the third and fourth sides.  
   
   
       28 . The backlight assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second sides are shorter than the third and fourth sides.  
   
   
       29 . The backlight assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising a reflection plate disposed under the plurality of lamps to reflect light generated by the plurality of lamps, 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body that receives a portion of each of the lamps;    a first fixing unit connected to the supporting body and in contact with the receiving container; and    a second fixing unit protruded from the first fixing unit and combined with the receiving container to attach the first fixing unit to the receiving container.    
   
   
       30 . The backlight assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the supporting body includes an aperture having a predetermined diameter, and a channel that opens the aperture.  
   
   
       31 . A display apparatus comprising: 
 a backlight assembly including: 
 a lamp unit having a first electrode and a second electrode adjacently disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side;  
 a covering member covering at least one of a first portion of the lamp unit corresponding to the first and second electrodes and a second portion of the lamp unit corresponding to the curved portion;  
 a lamp supporting member configured to retain the lamp unit;  
 a diffusion plate configured to diffuse light generated by the lamp unit; and  
 a panel guiding member configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit; and  
   a display unit that displays images by using light generated by the backlight assembly, the display unit having a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region.    
   
   
       32 . The display apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the supporting member supports the curved portion of the lamp unit.  
   
   
       33 . The display apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the lamp unit comprises a plurality of lamps, each of the lamps having one of a general U-shape and a general C-shape.  
   
   
       34 . The display apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the covering member comprises an aperture group which receives the lamp unit .  
   
   
       35 . The display apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the covering member is disposed at the peripheral region of the display unit.  
   
   
       36 . The display apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a reflection plate disposed under the lamp unit to reflect light generated by the lamp unit, 
 wherein the lamp supporting member comprises:    a supporting body that receives a portion of the lamp unit;    a first fixing unit connected to the supporting body and coupled to the receiving container; and    a second fixing unit protruded from the first fixing unit and combined with the receiving container to couple the first fixing unit to the receiving container.    
   
   
       37 . The display apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the supporting body includes an aperture having a predetermined diameter, and a channel that opens the aperture.  
   
   
       38 . The display apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the reflection plate comprises a first orifice, and the second fixing unit acts as a fixing rod that is inserted into the first orifice to attach the first fixing unit to the reflection plate.  
   
   
       39 . The display apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the receiving container includes a second aperture and the second fixing unit is inserted into the first and second apertures.  
   
   
       40 . A backlight assembly comprising: 
 a lamp unit having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side;    a receiving container having a bottom surface and a plurality of side walls to receive the lamps;    a panel guiding member that supports a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit; and    a lamp supporting member including:    a supporting body;    a first fixing unit extended from the supporting body to retain the curved portion of the lamp unit; and    a second fixing unit extended from the supporting body to be coupled with the bottom surface of the receiving container.