JP5458550B2 - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electro-optical device including an electro-optical panel such as a liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit for irradiating the electro-optical panel with light, and an electronic apparatus using the same.

  Conventionally, for example, an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device has been used as a display device in a computer, a mobile phone, and other various electronic devices. In particular, the liquid crystal device is widely used as a display device for various electronic devices because it is light and thin and consumes less power. It's being used.

  An electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device as described above generally has a light source for illumination on the back side of an electro-optical panel such as a liquid crystal panel, a light guide for guiding light from the light source to the panel, and light diffusion. A backlight unit composed of a plate or the like is disposed, and the backlight unit emits light from the back side to the electro-optical panel to display a desired image or the like in the pixel area on the front side of the panel. Is.

  An electro-optical device including such a backlight unit is generally used in a state where the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit are accommodated in a mounting case or the like. 1 includes a rectangular frame-like frame (frame case) that accommodates an electro-optical panel such as a liquid crystal module and a backlight unit, and the frame has an opening at a position corresponding to the pixel region of the electro-optical panel. There is disclosed a configuration in which a substantially plate-like support portion is provided, and the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit are accommodated in the frames on both sides of the support portion, respectively.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-77557

  As described in Patent Document 1, the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit are accommodated in the frames on both sides of the support portion having openings at positions corresponding to the pixel regions of the electro-optical panel, It is configured so that light from the backlight unit does not enter outside the opening corresponding to the pixel region of the panel, and light from the backlight unit sufficiently enters into the opening. desirable.

  However, since the edge of the opening is formed at a substantially right angle with the surface direction of the support portion in the above-mentioned conventional one, the light from the backlight unit is reflected at the corner on the backlight unit side of the edge of the opening. And a sufficient amount of light cannot enter the opening. For this reason, there are problems such as a lack of light quantity necessary for display and a reduction in light use efficiency of the backlight unit.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and an electro-optical device capable of ensuring a sufficient amount of light necessary for display or efficiently using light from a backlight unit and the same are used. An object is to provide electronic equipment.

An electro-optical device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an electro-optical panel, a backlight unit disposed to face the electro-optical panel, a mounting case that houses the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit, and the electric A light shielding member disposed so as to cover one surface of the optical panel, wherein the mounting case supports the electro-optical panel on a first surface, and faces the backlight unit to the first surface. A support portion supported by the second surface, and a guide protrusion arranged to face the support portion, the support portion being opened corresponding to a pixel region of the electro-optical panel, and the support The edge of the open side of the part is cut off at the side of the backlight unit, and the light shielding member includes a flat part having an opening at a position corresponding to the pixel region of the liquid crystal panel, and the flat part. A curved opposing surface portion, the opposing surface portion has a locking hole, the backlight unit has a protrusion at an end, and the guide protrusion is for guiding the locking hole to the protrusion. The locking hole is engaged with the guide protrusion and the protrusion.
The electro-optical device according to the present invention includes an electro-optical panel, a backlight unit disposed to face the electro-optical panel, a mounting case that houses the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit, A light shielding member arranged to cover one surface of the electro-optical panel, and the mounting case supports the electro-optical panel on a first surface, and the backlight unit is supported on the first surface. A support portion that is supported by a second surface that faces the support portion, and a guide protrusion that is disposed so as to face the support portion, the support portion being opened corresponding to a pixel region of the electro-optical panel, The edge of the opening of the support part is cut off at the backlight unit side, and the light shielding member includes a flat part having an opening at a position corresponding to a pixel region of the liquid crystal panel, and the flat part The opposing surface portion has a locking hole, the backlight unit has a protrusion at an end, and the locking hole engages with the guide protrusion and the protrusion. It is characterized by.
The electro-optical device according to the present invention and the electronic apparatus using the same are configured as follows. That is, the electro-optical device according to the present invention is an electro-optical device including a mounting case that houses an electro-optical panel and a backlight unit that is disposed to face the electro-optical panel, and the mounting case includes: A support portion for supporting the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit on both sides; and the support portion includes an opening portion corresponding to a pixel region of the electro-optical panel. In the edge part by the side of the opening part of a support part, it has the corner cut part by which the corner part by the side of the said backlight unit was cut off.

  As described above, by having a configuration having a corner cutout at the corner on the backlight unit side of the opening provided in the support portion of the mounting case, light from the backlight unit is transmitted to the opening as in the conventional case. A sufficient amount of light can enter the opening without being blocked by the corner on the backlight unit side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the amount of light necessary for display from being insufficient as in the prior art, and the reduction in the light use efficiency of the backlight unit.

  Although the structure of the corner cutting part provided in the edge part of the said opening part is suitable, for example, an inclined surface is formed in the corner part by the side of the backlight unit of the edge part of the said opening part as said corner cutting part. Alternatively, the corner is formed into a curved surface. Alternatively, other steps such as forming a step at the corner are appropriate. In any of the above cases, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the electro-optical device as described above. By having the electro-optical device as described above, it is possible to obtain an electronic device that is excellent in display performance and the like and has high utilization efficiency of light from the backlight unit, with a simple structure, easily, and inexpensively.

  Hereinafter, an electro-optical device according to the present invention will be specifically described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings, taking the case where the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal device as an example. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a side view thereof, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. It is A and BB sectional drawing.

  A liquid crystal device 1 as an electro-optical device according to this embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 2 as an electro-optical panel as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and a backlight unit 3 disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 2. Is mounted in a mounting case. In this embodiment, the mounting case includes a frame 4 for fitting and holding the liquid crystal panel 2 and the backlight unit 3 facing each other, and the frame. The light shielding member 5 is disposed so as to cover the outer surface side (the side opposite to the backlight unit 3) of the liquid crystal panel 2 fitted and held by 4.

  In the present embodiment, the frame 4 is made of a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate resin, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and has a generally flat rectangular parallelepiped shape. Is formed in a substantially H-shaped cross-section in which a partition plate-like support portion 44 having a light-transmitting opening 44 a in the center is integrally provided, and one concave portion of the H-shaped frame 4. The liquid crystal panel 2 is placed in the recess 40a (in the figure, the recess above the support 44), and the backlight unit 3 is placed in the other recess (in the figure, the recess below the support 44) 40b. Each is fitted and held and accommodated.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 and the backlight unit 3 may be fixed to the frame 4 with an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape as necessary. In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 2 is fixed to the frame 4 with an adhesive. Although not shown in the figure. The backlight unit 3 supports the frame 4 via a substantially rectangular frame-shaped double-sided adhesive tape 31 that also serves as a light-shielding film for preventing the liquid crystal panel 2 from being irradiated with light outside a predetermined region. This is a structure that is fixed to one surface of the portion 44 (the lower surface in the figure).

  In the present embodiment, the corner portion on the backlight unit 3 side at the edge portion of the opening 44a of the support portion 44 configured as described above is provided with a corner cut portion. As shown in FIG. 5 (a) which is a partially enlarged view of FIGS. 2 to 4 and 3, and further, FIG. 5 (b) which is a partially enlarged view thereof, a backlight at the edge of the opening 44a. An inclined surface (C surface) 44b is formed at the corner on the unit 3 side. In the illustrated example, the inclined surface 44b is provided on the entire circumference of the edge of the opening 44a as shown in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, the light shielding member 5 includes a flat portion 51 that covers one surface (upper surface in the case of FIG. 1) of the liquid crystal panel 2 accommodated in the frame 4 by a metal plate such as stainless steel, and the width of the flat portion 51. In the direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4), it is formed in a U-shaped cross section (channel type) composed of opposing surface parts 52 and 52 bent at substantially right angles to the flat part 51 at both ends. 51 is configured to cover the outer surface side of the liquid crystal panel 2 and to cover part of the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 43 and 43 of the frame 4 facing each other with the facing surface portions 52 and 52, respectively. Each of the opposing surface portions 52 and 52 is disposed so as to be in contact with the outer surface of the side wall portions 43 and 43 located on the inner surface side thereof, and corresponds to the pixel region (display region) of the liquid crystal panel 2 in the flat surface portion 51. At the position, a display window 5a formed by opening the portion is provided.

  In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the liquid crystal panel 2 and the backlight unit 3 are fitted and held on the frame 4, and the outer surface side of the liquid crystal panel 2 is covered with the light shielding member 5. In addition to covering, the light shielding member 5 and the backlight unit 3 are connected to each other so that the four members 2 to 5 are integrated. As a means for connecting the light shielding member 5 and the backlight unit 3, In the case of the figure, a locking hole 5c is formed in each of the opposed surface portions 52, 52, and projections 3c that engage with the locking hole 5c are formed at the left and right ends of the backlight unit 3 in FIG. It is provided integrally.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a protruding portion 43 a that protrudes outward from the facing surface portion 52 is provided integrally with each of the side wall portions 43 on the outer surface side of each of the side wall portions 43. A cutout recess 52a is formed in each of the facing surface portions 52 and 52 so as to avoid interference with the portion 43a. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), downward facing tongue portions 52b and 52b are integrally provided on both sides of the notch recess 52a of each of the opposed surface portions 52 and 52, and the tongue portions 52b are provided with the above-described tongue portions 52b. A locking hole 5c is provided. In the present embodiment, two projections 3c with which the locking holes 5c are engaged are respectively provided at the left and right ends of the backlight unit 3 in FIG. ing. The arrangement positions and the number of the protrusions 3c and the locking holes 5c can be changed as appropriate.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, 4c is a guide projection provided integrally with the outer surface of the side wall 43, 43 of the frame 4 in the vicinity of each projection 3c, and an inclined surface is provided on the upper half of each guide projection 4c. 4c1 is provided, and when the locking holes 5c are engaged with the projections 3c of the backlight unit 3, the guides are pushed while the tongue portions 52b below the locking holes 5c are pushed outward. The locking hole 5c is engaged with the protrusion 3c by getting over the protrusion 4c and the protrusion 3c.

  Further, the side wall portions 43 and 43 facing each other in the direction intersecting the side wall portions 43 and 43 facing each other of the frame 4, that is, the side wall portions 41 and 42 facing in the left-right direction in FIGS. Flange-like protrusions 41a and 42a are formed on the outer periphery of the opposite edge, and the light shielding member 5 is disposed between the protrusions 41a and 42a. Each of the protrusions 41a and 42a protrudes outward (upward in the drawing) from the light shielding member 5 and outward from the backlight unit 3 (see FIG. 1B and FIG. 2). And projecting downward).

  Although the configuration of the liquid crystal panel 2 is appropriate, the present embodiment uses an active matrix type liquid crystal panel using a thin film transistor as a switching element for pixels, and the specific configuration will be described with reference to FIG. . 6A is a plan view of the liquid crystal panel 2, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb in FIG.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 of the present embodiment uses a thin film transistor as a pixel switching element as described above, and the thin film transistor is formed on an element substrate (TFT array substrate) 10 made of quartz, glass, silicon, or the like shown in FIG. The counter substrate 20 made of glass, quartz, or the like is provided to face the element substrate 10. The element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded and fixed to each other by a sealing material 24 provided around the pixel region (image display region) 2A, and the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 inside the sealing material 24 are fixed. A liquid crystal layer 25 in which liquid crystal is injected is provided therebetween. In FIG. 6, 24a is a liquid crystal injection port formed by removing a part of the sealing material 24, and 24b is a sealing material for closing the liquid crystal injection port 24a.

  A data line driving circuit 14 that drives an image signal to a data line (not shown) at a predetermined timing in a region outside the sealant 24, that is, a peripheral region outside the pixel region 2A. The external circuit connection terminal 15 is provided along one side of the element substrate 10. A scanning line driving circuit 16 that drives the scanning line by supplying a scanning signal to a scanning line (not shown) at a predetermined timing is parallel to two sides adjacent to the one side and inside the sealant 24. It is provided on the element substrate 10 at a position facing the light shielding film 26 provided. Further, on the remaining one side of the element substrate 10, a plurality of wirings 17 are provided for connecting the side opposite to the external circuit connection terminal 15 side of the scanning line driving circuit 16 provided in parallel with the two sides.

  Vertical conduction terminals 19 are formed on the element substrate 10 at the four corners of the sealing material 24, and the lower end contacts the vertical conduction terminals 19 between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, and the upper end is the counter electrode. A vertical conductive member 18 is provided in contact with 20, and the vertical conductive member 18 provides electrical continuity between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. Polarizers 11 and 21 are arranged and fixed on the outer surface side (the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer 25) of the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, respectively.

  A pixel electrode 12 or the like constituting a pixel is provided on the inner surface side (liquid crystal layer 25 side) of the element substrate 10, and an alignment film 13 is provided on the inner side. A counter electrode 22 is provided on the counter substrate 20 over substantially the entire surface, and an alignment film 23 is also provided on the inner surface thereof. Each of the alignment films 13 and 23 is made of, for example, a transparent organic film such as a polyimide film, and the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 25 are supplied to the liquid crystal layer 25 by performing a rubbing process or the like on the surface thereof. This is a configuration in which it is oriented in a predetermined direction according to the voltage to be applied.

  When assembling the liquid crystal panel 2 configured as described above in the mounting case including the frame 4 and the light shielding member 5 as in the embodiment of FIGS. First, the liquid crystal panel 2 configured as shown in FIG. 6 is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 2, and one of the frames 4 having an approximately H-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. The backlight unit 3 is inserted and held in the recess 40b on the other side (lower side in the figure) of the frame 4 while being inserted and held in the recess 40a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the light shielding member 5 is covered from the outside (upper side in the figure) of the liquid crystal panel 2 fitted and held in the frame 4, and the opposing surface portions 52 and 52 of the light shielding member 5 are framed. 4 is moved downward along the outer surface of the side wall portions 43. Then, the tongue-like portion 52b below the locking hole 5c provided in each of the opposed surface portions 52 and 52 is pushed and opened outward along the inclined surface 4c1 of the guide projection 4c while the guide projection 4c and the projection By getting over 3c, the protrusion 3c is engaged with each of the locking holes 5c. Accordingly, the light shielding member 5 is connected to the backlight unit 3, and the four members 2 are held in a state where the liquid crystal panel 2 and the frame 4 are sandwiched between the light shielding member 5 and the backlight unit 3. ˜5 are integrally connected and held.

  The orientation of the liquid crystal panel 2 when fitted to the frame 4 and the fitting structure with respect to the frame 4 can be appropriately changed. The backlight unit 3 used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is configured to irradiate light from a light source such as an LED to the back side of the liquid crystal panel 2 through a light guide or a light diffusion plate. These constituent members are covered with a casing or the like to form a unit. The constituent members, the internal structure, and the like of the backlight unit 3 can be changed as appropriate. In the illustrated example, the constituent members, the internal structure, and the like are omitted, and only the overall appearance is shown.

  2 and 3, reference numerals 29 and 30 respectively denote flexible printed wiring boards (also serving as conductive connection members for electrically connecting the liquid crystal panel 2 and the backlight unit 3 to an external power source and signal input source, respectively) FPC), the wiring boards 29 and 30 are formed on the front wall 41 of the frame 4 as shown in FIG. 2 in a state where the liquid crystal panel 2 and the backlight unit 3 are fitted and held on the frame 4. It is comprised so that it may be located in the notch recessed part 41b and 41c which were made.

  As described above, the liquid crystal device as the electro-optical device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 at the corner on the backlight unit 3 side of the edge of the opening 44a provided in the support portion 44 of the frame 4 as the mounting case. By providing such a corner cut portion made of the inclined surface 44b or the like, it is possible to reduce as much as possible that the light from the backlight unit 3 is blocked by the corner portion. In particular, when an inclined surface 44b as shown in FIG. 5 is provided at the corner as in the illustrated example, the light from the backlight unit 3, for example, as shown in FIG. Light rays L1 and L2 are sufficiently blocked from the opening 44a into the liquid crystal panel 2 without being blocked by a corner 44e as shown by a chain line in the figure formed on the backlight unit side at the edge of the opening 44a. It is possible to allow a large amount of light to enter. As a result, it is possible to prevent the amount of light necessary for display from being insufficient and the light utilization efficiency of the backlight unit from being lowered as in the conventional case.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 44b is formed at the corner on the backlight unit 3 side of the edge of the opening 44a as the corner cutting portion. However, the configuration of the corner cutting portion is appropriate, for example, FIG. The corner may be formed on a curved surface (R surface) 44c, or a step 44d may be provided at the corner as shown in FIG. In any of the above cases, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In each of the above embodiments, the edge of the opening 44a provided in the support portion 44 of the frame 4 and the surface of the support portion 44 on the backlight unit 3 side have a light reflectance such as white as necessary. A high color or a surface treatment or coating layer with good light reflectivity such as a mirror surface or a metallic gloss surface may be formed. By doing so, the utilization efficiency of light from the backlight unit 3 can be further improved.

  Further, each of the above embodiments is applied to a mounting case made up of the frame 4 and the light shielding member 5. However, the mounting case may be made up of only the frame 4 or a mounting case other than the frame, and has at least the opening as described above. As long as the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the supporting portion, the present invention can be applied to mounting cases having various configurations.

  In the above embodiment, the electro-optical device is applied to a liquid crystal device, and an active matrix type liquid crystal panel is used as an electro-optical panel. However, a passive matrix type liquid crystal panel may be used. Further, not only the liquid crystal panel but also other various electro-optical panels can be used to obtain an electro-optical device having the same configuration as the liquid crystal device.

  Furthermore, the electro-optical device configured as described above can be used as a display unit, a display device, or the like of various electric apparatuses. FIG. 10 shows an example thereof, in which the liquid crystal device 1 is used as an electroview device (EVF) in a digital camera 70 as an electronic apparatus 7 as an electro-optical device configured as described above. In the figure, 71 is an image display monitor, 72 is a shutter button, 73 is a dial switch, and 74 is a power button.

  The electro-optical device according to the present invention can be applied not only to the digital camera as described above but also to various other electric devices. For example, portable information devices called PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), portable personal devices, and the like. Computer, personal computer, workstation, digital still camera, in-vehicle monitor, digital video camera, LCD TV, viewfinder type, monitor direct view type video tape recorder, car navigation device, pager, electronic notebook, calculator, word processor, workstation It can also be widely used for electronic devices such as videophones and POS terminals.

(A) is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device by this invention, (b) is the side view. AA sectional drawing in FIG. BB sectional drawing in FIG. CC sectional drawing in FIG. (A) is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3, and (b) is an enlarged view of a part thereof. (A) is a top view which shows an example of the specific structure of the liquid crystal panel as an electro-optical panel, (b) is bb sectional drawing in (a). (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the process which accommodates the liquid crystal panel as an electro-optical panel, and a backlight unit in a mounting case. FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the invention. FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the invention. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera as an electronic apparatus using a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal device (electro-optical device), 2 ... Liquid crystal panel (electro-optical panel), 10 ... Element substrate, 20 ... Counter substrate, 11, 21 ... Polarizing plate, 12 ... Pixel electrode, 22 ... Counter electrode, 13, 23 ... Alignment film, 24 ... Sealing material, 25 ... Liquid crystal layer, 3 ... Backlight unit, 3c ... Projection, 31 ... Double-sided adhesive tape, 4 ... Frame, 4a ... Panel side part, 4b ... Backlight side part, 4c ... Projection 40a, 40b ... concave portion, 41 ... side wall portion (front wall portion), 42 ... side wall portion (rear wall portion), 41a, 42a ... projecting portion, 43 ... side wall portion, 43a ... overhang portion, 44 ... support portion, 44a. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Opening part, 5 ... Shading member, 5a ... Display window, 5c ... Locking hole, 51 ... Planar part, 52 ... Opposite surface part, 7 ... Electronic device, 70 ... Digital camera.

Claims (6)

An electro-optic panel;
A backlight unit disposed to face the electro-optical panel;
A mounting case for housing the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit;
A light shielding member arranged to cover one surface of the electro-optic panel;
Including
The mounting case supports the electro-optical panel on a first surface, supports a backlight unit on a second surface facing the first surface, and faces the support portion. A guide protrusion arranged, and the support portion is opened corresponding to a pixel region of the electro-optical panel, and the opening side edge of the support portion is cut off at the backlight unit side.
The light shielding member includes a flat portion having an opening at a position corresponding to a pixel region of the liquid crystal panel;
An opposed surface portion bent from the flat surface portion, and the opposed surface portion has a locking hole,
The backlight unit has a protrusion at an end,
The guide protrusion is for guiding the locking hole to the protrusion,
The locking hole is an electro-optical device, characterized by engaging said guide projection and said projection.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the corner-cut surface of the mounting case is an inclined surface.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the corner-cut surface of the mounting case is a curved surface.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the mounting case includes a step.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the facing surface portion includes a tongue-shaped portion that is provided integrally with the facing surface portion and has the locking hole.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

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