IP Library Granted Patent US 7,926,965
Granted Patent B2
US 7,926,965 · App. 12/137,033 · Granted Apr 19, 2011

Lamp socket, backlight assembly and display device having the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,926,965
App. No.
12/137,033
Granted
Apr 19, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lamp socket that can reduce the thickness of both sides of a display device includes a socket main body having a contact hole formed therein, and a power-applying member coupled to the socket main body through the contact hole, and provided with a lamp connection terminal, an inverter connection terminal, and a terminal connection part connected with the lamp connection terminal in a bent form so as to connect the lamp connection terminal with the inverter connection terminal. Accordingly, the thickness of both sides of the display device including the lamp sockets is reduced, and the compatibility of the product is extended.

Claims (41)

1. A lamp socket comprising:

a socket main body comprising a contact hole formed therein; and

a power-applying member coupled to the socket main body through the contact hole, and provided with a lamp connection terminal, an inverter connection terminal, and a terminal connection part connected with the lamp connection terminal in a bent form so as to connect the lamp connection terminal with the inverter connection terminal,

wherein the lamp connection terminal includes a first plate having a first guide groove into which a lamp is inserted, and

wherein the first guide groove includes an insertion into which a lamp is inserted and a fixing portion extending from the insertion portion to fix the lamp, and one side surface of the fixing portion protrudes laterally from one side surface of the insertion portion such that a width of the fixing portion is larger than a width of the insertion portion.

2. The lamp socket of claim 1 , wherein the terminal connection part is composed of at least one horizontal portion and at least one vertical portion.

3. The lamp socket of claim 1 , wherein the terminal connection part that is in a bent form is connected to the inverter connection terminal.

4. The lamp socket of claim 3 , further comprising an inverter insertion hole formed in the socket main body and connected to the contact hole.

5. The lamp socket of claim 4 , wherein the inverter insertion hole extends in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to an extending direction of the contact hole.

6. The lamp socket of claim 4 , wherein the lamp connection terminal, the terminal connection part, and the inverter connection terminal are integrally formed in a body.

7. The lamp socket of claim 6 , wherein the power-applying member is composed of a conductive material.

8. The lamp socket of claim 7 , wherein the lamp connection terminal comprises a plate spring arranged on one side of the first plate to pressingly fix the lamp inserted into the first guide groove.

9. A backlight assembly comprising:

a receptacle comprising a bottom plate on which openings are formed and side walls arranged around the bottom plate;

a plurality of lamps comprising lamp main bodies and electrode parts formed at edges of the lamp main bodies, respectively, and arranged on the bottom plate;

a plurality of lamp sockets each comprising a socket main body comprising a contact hole formed therein and a power-applying member coupled to the socket main body through the contact hole, the power-applying member including a lamp connection terminal, an inverter connection terminal, and a terminal connection part connected with the lamp connection terminal in a bent form so as to connect the lamp connection terminal with the inverter connection terminal; and

a power supply board arranged on a rear surface of the bottom plate and outputting a lamp driving voltage to the power-applying member,

wherein the lamp connection terminal includes a first plate having a first guide groove into which a lamp is inserted, and

wherein the first guide groove includes an insertion into which a lamp is inserted and a fixing portion extending from the insertion portion to fix the lamp, and one side surface of the fixing portion protrudes laterally from one side surface of the insertion portion such that a width of the fixing portion is larger than a width of the insertion portion.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the terminal connection part is composed of at least one horizontal portion and at least one vertical portion.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the terminal connection part that is in a bent form is connected to the inverter connection terminal.

12. The backlight assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an inverter insertion hole formed in the socket main body and connected to the contact hole.

13. The backlight assembly of claim 12 , wherein the lamp connection terminal, the terminal connection part, and the inverter connection terminal are integrally formed in a body.

14. The backlight assembly of claim 13 , wherein the power-applying member is composed of a conductive material.

15. The backlight assembly of claim 14 , wherein the lamp connection terminal comprises a plate spring arranged on one side of the first plate to pressingly fix the lamp inserted into the first guide groove.

16. The backlight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the power supply board includes projections inserted into an inverter insertion hole in the socket main body of each lamp socket, the projection contacting the inverter connection terminal exposed through the inverter insertion hole in each lamp socket.

17. The backlight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lamp sockets are partially inserted into the openings formed in the bottom plate, such that the lamp connection terminal of each lamp socket is disposed above an upper surface of the bottom plate and the inverter connection terminal is disposed below the rear surface of the bottom plate.

18. The backlight assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a connection plate, the lamp sockets connected to the connection plate and spaced apart from each other to correspond to the openings in the bottom plate, the connection plate disposed on the bottom plate.

19. A display device comprising:

a receptacle comprising a bottom plate on which openings are formed and side walls;

a plurality of lamps comprising lamp main bodies and electrode parts formed at edges of the lamp main bodies, respectively, and arranged on the bottom plate;

a plurality of lamp sockets each comprising a socket main body comprising a contact hole formed therein and a power-applying member coupled to the socket main body through the contact hole, the power-applying member including a lamp connection terminal, an inverter connection terminal, and a terminal connection part connected with the lamp connection terminal in a bent form so as to connect the lamp connection terminal with the inverter connection terminal;

a power supply board comprising one side edge inserted into an inverter insertion hole and applying a lamp-driving voltage to the inverter connection terminal;

a side cover covering the socket main bodies;

optical sheets supported by the side cover; and

a display panel arranged on the optical sheets,

wherein the lamp connection terminal includes a first plate having a first guide groove into which a lamp is inserted, and

wherein the first guide groove includes an insertion into which a lamp is inserted and a fixing portion extending from the insertion portion to fix the lamp, and one side surface of the fixing portion protrudes laterally from one side surface of the insertion portion such that a width of the fixing portion is larger than a width of the insertion portion.

20. The display device of claim 19 , wherein the terminal connection part is composed of at least one horizontal portion and at least one vertical portion.

21. The display device of claim 19 , further comprising an inverter insertion hole formed in the socket main body and connected to the contact hole;

wherein the lamp connection terminal, the terminal connection part, and the inverter connection terminal are integrally formed in a body.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029093/0177 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2008
From: CHO, JOO-WOAN; CHOI, SEONG-SIK; LEE, YONG-WOO; BAE, HYUN-CHUL; CHUNG, DU-HWAN; NOH, CHEOL-YONG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 021080/0547 →