Technical Field

[1] This disclosure relates to a back plate of a plasma display device, more particularly to a back plate of a plasma display device with increased surface area, capable of enhancing heat dissipation effect and improving mechanical strength.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In general, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a plasma display device 200 consists of a plasma display panel (PDP) 210, a back plate 220 provided on the rear surface of the PDP 210, and a printed circuit board 230 equipped on the rear surface of the back plate 220 which controls operation of the PDP 210. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 231 is a support.

[4] In such a configuration, the back plate serves to protect the PDP 210, support the printed circuit board 230 and dissipate heat generated from the PDP 210 to outside. When the PDP 210 is operated, a considerable amount of light and heat are generated due to a plasma discharge. Unless the heat is adequately dissipated to outside, a circuitry inside the panel may be damaged and a malfunction may occur.

[5] On the printed circuit board 230, a variety of electronic components including field- effect transistors (FETs) and integrated circuits (ICs) for controlling the operation of the PDP 210 is provided. These electronic components produce a lot of heat when the PDP 210 is operated. The heat is dissipated to the outside. High heat produced locally is dissipated through the back plate 220 by means of, for example, a thermal pad. Accordingly, the back plate 220 needs to have good heat dissipation efficiency.

[6] An existing back plate 220 is commonly made of a 2-5 mm thick aluminum plate.

Although aluminum has good thermal conductivity, it has weak mechanical strength. Therefore, the PDP 210 may be damaged by a physical force from outside.

[7]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] This disclosure is directed to providing a back plate of a plasma display device capable of enhancing heat dissipation effect and improving mechanical strength, by increasing surface area of the back plate.

[9]

Solution to Problem

[10] A back plate of a plasma display device according to an embodiment is formed of a plate having a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side has prominence and depression.

[11] The prominence and depression may be formed by repeating prominences and depressions with given areas. The prominence and the depression may be arranged sequentially in a length direction or a width direction of the plate, or both in the length direction and the width direction.

[12] The prominence and the depression may be formed by any one selected from a group consisting of a press molding method of applying pressure using a plate mold having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence, a rolling method of passing through a rotating roller having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence, and an injection molding method of passing through a mold having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence.

[13] A projecting member may be provided at least one of the first side and the second side of the plate. The portion where the projecting member is provided may form the prominence and the portion where the projecting member is not provided may form the depression. The projecting member may be welded or adhered to the plate.

[14] The projecting member may be formed of a metal selected from a group consisting of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) or an alloy of two or more of them.

[15] The length of the depression and the prominence may correspond to the length or width of the plate.

[16] And, the prominence may be not formed on a portion where a plasma display panel

(PDP) or a printed circuit board is to be attached.

[17]

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[18] With prominence and depression formed on the surface of a back plate, the back plate of a plasma display device disclosed herein has increased surface area and, therefore, has improved heat dissipation efficiency. Further, the back plate has enhanced mechanical strength since the prominence and depression can absorb external physical impact.

[19]

Brief Description of Drawings

[20] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the disclosed exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[21] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plasma display device according to a prior art;

[22] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a back plate of a plasma display device according to an embodiment of a present disclosure; [23] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 2;

[24] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a back plate according to another embodiment of a present disclosure;

[25] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 4;

[26] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a back plate according to another embodiment of a present disclosure;

[27] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line C-C of Fig. 6;

[28] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a back plate according to another embodiment of a present disclosure; and

[29] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line D-D of Fig. 8.

[30]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[31] Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.

[32] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a , an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms first , second , and the like does not imply any particular order, but they are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising , or includes and/or including when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[33] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[34] In the drawings, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. The shape, size and regions, and the like, of the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity.

[35] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a back plate of a plasma display device according to an embodiment of a present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a back plate according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a back plate according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. And, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line C-C of Fig. 6.

[36] As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7, a back plate of a plasma display device according to an embodiment is formed of a plate 110 having a first side 111 and a second side 112. The first side 111 and the second side 112 are opposed to each other. A printed circuit board (not shown) which controls operation of a PDP is mounted on one of the first side 111 and the second side 112.

[37] Further, prominence and depression 120 is provided on at least one of the first side

111 and the second side 112. The prominence and depression 120 may be formed on the whole surface of the first side 111 or the second side 112. However, the prominence and depression 120 may not be provided on a portion where a PDP is to be attached or where a printed circuit board is mounted. In Figs. 2 to 7, the prominence and depression 120 is provided on both the first side 111 and the second side 112.

[38] The prominence and depression 120 may be formed with various shapes. For example, embossed patterns 121 may be formed with regular intervals (see Fig. 2), or depressions 122 and prominences 123 with given areas may be repeatedly arranged (see Fig. 4). Also, depressions 124 and prominences 125 in linear shape may be repeatedly arranged (see Fig. 6). The embossed patterns 121, the depressions 122, 124, and the prominences 123, 125 may have various shapes, including circular, polygonal, or the like. Further, the embodiment of Fig. 6 may be modified to form a matrix wherein prominences and depressions in linear shape are arranged both horizontally and vertically. The embossed patterns 121, the depressions 122, 124, and the prominences 123, 125 may be formed by a press molding method of applying pressure using a plate mold having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence, a rolling method of passing through a rotating roller having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence, an injection molding method of passing through a mold having a shape corresponding to the depression and the prominence, or the like.

[39] As the prominence and depression 120 is provided on at least one side of the plate

110, the back plate has an increased surface area, which results in increased area for heat dissipation, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. Further, when an external physical impact is applied to the back plate, which may be a thin plate, the prominence and depression 120 serves as a reinforcing member. As a result, the back plate has an improved mechanical strength, especially against bending.

[40] The prominence and depression 120 may also be formed as in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, an additional projecting member 126 is provided on the plate 110 to form prominence and depression. That is to say, the prominence and depression of the back plate may be formed by arranging projecting members 126 having a length corresponding to the length or width of a flat plate 110 with regular intervals on the first side 111 and the second side 112 (or on either the first side 111 or the second side 112) of the plate 110. The projecting member 126 may be joined to the back plate 110 by means of welding or adhesion. The projecting member 126 may be made of the same or different material as that of the back plate 110. For example, the back plate 110 may be made of aluminum, and the projecting member 126 may be made of one or more of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn), or an alloy of two or more of them.

[41] Like the configurations of Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the configuration of Fig. 8 provides increased surface area of the back plate and, therefore, improved heat dissipation efficiency. Especially, since the projecting members are arranged with regular intervals in the length direction or width direction of the back plate, mechanical strength may be enhanced.

[42] Because one of the first side 111 and the second side 112 of the back plate 110 is attached to a PDP 100 and the other is attached to a printed circuit board 130, the prominence 123, 125 or the projecting member 126 may not be formed on a portion where the PDP or the printed circuit board is attached. In case a support 131 is provided on the first side 111 of the back plate 110 for attachment of the printed circuit board, the prominence 123, 125 or the projecting member 126 may not be formed on a portion where the support 131 is to be adhered. And, in case the PDP 100 is attached on the second side 112 of the back plate 110, the prominence 123, 125 or the projecting member 126 may not be formed on a portion where an adhesive is applied for attachment of the PDP 100.

[43] While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[44] In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure not be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that this disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.