Display device

1. A display device comprising:

a display substrate through which light propagates at an inner area thereof, the display substrate comprising:

a lateral surface through which the light is incident,

a first surface through which the propagated light exits from the display substrate,

a second surface opposite the first surface, and

a pad through which a signal is transmitted, disposed on the first surface of the display substrate, the pad of comprising a first pad and a second pad which are each disposed on the first surface of the display substrate at an edge thereof adjacent to the lateral surface;

a display unit which is on the first surface of the display substrate and generates and displays an image with the light propagated through and exited from the display substrate, the display unit being electrically connected to each of the first pad and the second pad of the pad of the display substrate;

a light source which is disposed at the lateral surface of the display substrate and generates and irradiates the light to the display substrate through the lateral surface of the display substrate, the light source comprising a first contact electrode, a second contact electrode, and a p-n diode electrically connected to the first and second contact electrodes;

a first connection line which electrically connects the first contact electrode of the light source to the first pad, and

a second connection line which electrically connects the second contact electrode of the light source to the second pad,

wherein in a thickness direction of the display substrate, a total thickness of the light source is less than a total thickness of the display substrate.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is disposed in plurality along the lateral surface of the display substrate.

3. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing which surrounds the lateral surface of the display substrate, the housing defining a region in which the light source is arranged and a region in which the first and second contact electrodes of the light source are respectively connected to the first and second pads,

wherein the light source arranged in the housing directly irradiates light to the display substrate through the lateral surface of the display substrate.

4. A display device comprising:

a display substrate through which light propagates at an inner area thereof, the display substrate comprising:

a lateral surface through which the light is incident,

a first surface through which the propagated light exits from the display substrate,

and

a pad through which a signal is transmitted, disposed on the first surface of the display substrate;

a resin fixing member connected to the lateral surface of the display substrate;

a display unit which is on the first surface of the display substrate and generates and displays an image with the light propagated through and exited from the display substrate, the display unit being connected to the pad of the display substrate; and

a light source which is disposed at the lateral surface of the display substrate and generates and irradiates the light to the display substrate through the lateral surface of the display substrate,

wherein

the light source is disposed in the resin fixing member to fix a position of the light source relative to the lateral surface of the display substrate, and

in a thickness direction of the display substrate, a total thickness of the light source is less than a total thickness of the display substrate.

5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the display substrate further comprises:

a second surface opposite the first surface, and

a scattering pattern on the second surface thereof, wherein the scattering pattern scatters the propagated light at the inner area of the display substrate.

6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein the display unit comprises a thin film transistor which controls generation of the image and an insulating layer which covers the thin film transistor,

wherein the insulating layer comprises a light scatterer which scatters the exited light from the display substrate.

7. The display device of claim 1 ,

further comprising a scattering pattern which is on the second surface of the display substrate and scatters the propagated light at the inner area of the display substrate.

8. The display device of claim 7 , further comprising a reflective plate which is under the second surface of the display substrate and covers the scattering pattern on the second surface of the display substrate.

9. A display device comprising:

a display substrate through which light propagates at an inner area thereof, the display substrate comprising:

a lateral surface through which the light is incident,

a first surface through which the propagated light exits from the display substrate,

a second surface opposite the first surface,

and

a pad through which a signal is transmitted, disposed on the first surface of the display substrate;

a display unit which is on the first surface of the display substrate and generates and displays an image with the light propagated through and exited from the display substrate, the display unit being connected to the pad of the display substrate;

a scattering pattern which is on the second surface of the display substrate and scatters the propagated light at the inner area of the display substrate;

a reflective plate which is under the second surface of the display substrate and covers the scattering pattern on the second surface of the display substrate, the reflective plate comprising a conductive material and being electrically connected to an external apparatus which controls a function of the display device; and

a light source which is disposed at the lateral surface of the display substrate, generates light and irradiates the light to the display substrate through the lateral surface of the display substrate, the light source comprising:

a first contact electrode electrically connected to the pad disposed on the first surface of the display substrate,

a second contact electrode electrically connected to the reflective plate which is electrically connected to the external apparatus, and

a p-n diode electrically connected to the first and second contact electrodes,

wherein in a thickness direction of the display substrate, a total thickness of the light source is less than a total thickness of the display substrate.

10. The display device of claim 9 , further comprising

a first connection line which extends between and electrically connects the first contact electrode of the light source to the pad disposed on the first surface of the display substrate,

a second connection line which extends between and electrically connects the second contact electrode of the light source to the reflective plate which is under the second surface of the display substrate,

wherein the extended first and second connection lines surround the lateral surface of the display substrate.

11. The display device of claim 1 ,

wherein the lateral surface through which the light is incident to the display substrate connects the first surface to the second surface.

12. The display device of claim 11 , wherein the display substrate further comprises a light-guiding pattern on the second surface of the display substrate, wherein the light-guiding pattern propagates the light within the inner area of the display substrate which is incident to the display substrate via the lateral surface thereof.

13. The display device of claim 12 , further comprising a plate on the second surface of the display substrate and covering the light-guiding pattern, the plate guiding light from the second surface of the display substrate to the first surface thereof.

14. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display unit comprises an optical medium layer which controls transmittance of the propagated light from the display substrate which is incident to the display unit to display the image.