JP2003337322A - Display device capable of being mounted on portable medium and information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device which can be incorporated in a portable medium such as a pocketbook and is not so damaged as to become inoperable, for example, when a user drops it by mistake or rolls up the pocketbook to apply an external force. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid crystal display device 1 has a liquid crystal panel 100 in which a liquid crystal material is charged, a plane type connector 501 which can supply image information to be displayed by the liquid crystal panel and driving electric power, a flexible printed board (FPC) 502 which connects the liquid crystal panel and connector, and a protection sheet 1001 which holds the liquid crystal panel, the FPC and connector in one body by sandwiching. The thickness of a glass substrate used for the liquid crystal panel is less than about 0.15 mm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thin and highly flexible flat display device and information equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Flat panel display devices represented by liquid crystal display devices are used in various fields by taking advantage of their features of light weight, thin shape and low power consumption.

Among them, the liquid crystal display device is widely used for portable information equipment represented by a personal computer.

For this reason, the liquid crystal display device is made thinner, and the liquid crystal display device itself does not operate even if the user accidentally drops the liquid crystal display device when it is incorporated in a portable information device. A structure that is less susceptible to fatal damage such as "cracking" and "leakage of liquid crystal material" is required.

[0005]

Although it is possible to use a thin glass substrate to satisfy such requirements, it is necessary to manufacture a glass substrate having a thickness of less than 0.5 mm because of its own weight. Due to the problem of bending and the like, it becomes difficult to carry it, which causes a reduction in manufacturing yield. Further, in a display device constituted by such a substrate, even if a slight shock is applied, the end portion is not cracked or chipped, and the entire device is damaged.

Further, when a slight stress such as bending is applied, the glass substrate is relatively easily damaged.

There is a proposal that the liquid crystal display device itself has a slight flexibility by reducing the thickness of the substrate, that is, the glass plate, which constitutes the cell of the liquid crystal display device. Even if it is possible to provide the cell portion with flexibility, there is still a problem that the user cannot drop the information device or bend the information device by an unexpected bending amount.

When thinning a glass substrate, it is difficult to completely prevent the glass substrate from cracking during the processing, so that it is difficult to increase the yield.

An object of the present invention is that it can be incorporated in a portable medium such as a notebook, and even if an external force such as a user accidentally dropping it or the notebook being rolled by the user is applied, a liquid crystal display device. It is to provide a display device that is not subject to fatal damage such as “cracking” or “leakage of liquid crystal material” that would render itself inoperable.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a display device having a plurality of display pixel portions, an insulating substrate and a polarizing plate disposed on the insulating substrate and having a thickness thicker than the insulating substrate. , A transparent plate which is provided with an arbitrary number of openings at predetermined positions, can be mounted on a portable medium, and is adhered to each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate, and also hermetically seals each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate. The present invention provides a display device mountable on a portable medium, which is characterized by including a sheet body.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a first insulating substrate, a plurality of display pixel portions provided on one main surface side of the first insulating substrate, a second insulating substrate, and one of the second insulating substrate. A polarizing plate which is disposed on the main surface and has a thickness larger than that of the second insulating substrate, and a liquid crystal material enclosed between the main surface of the first insulating substrate and the other main surface of the second insulating substrate. A wiring member capable of supplying a signal for operating a plurality of display pixel units on the first insulating substrate, and an arbitrary number of openings provided at predetermined positions, which can be mounted on a portable medium. First
While being in close contact with the other main surface of the insulating substrate and each of the polarizing plate and the main portion of the wiring member, while airtightly sealing the first insulating substrate, the polarizing plate, and the enclosed liquid crystal material, A transparent sheet body that deformably supports the wiring member, and a display device mountable on a portable medium.

Further, according to the present invention, the thickness is reduced to 0.
An insulating substrate having a thickness less than 15 mm, a plurality of display pixel portions provided on one main surface side of the insulating substrate, and a light-transmissive insulating substrate having a thickness less than 0.15 mm by polishing. A polarizing plate which is disposed on the other main surface of the light transmissive insulating substrate and has a thickness larger than that of the light transmissive insulating substrate, the main surface of the insulating substrate and the light transmissive insulating substrate. And a wiring member capable of supplying a signal for operating a plurality of display pixel units on the first insulating substrate, the liquid crystal material being encapsulated between the main surfaces opposite to the side where the polarizing plate is arranged. , A transparent sheet which is provided with an arbitrary number of openings at predetermined positions and which can be mounted on a portable medium and which hermetically seals the insulating substrate, the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal material, and deformably supports the wiring member. A portable medium consisting of the body A display device that can be mounted, an interface portion that can come into contact with the wiring member that is deformably supported by the sheet body of the display device, and a drive signal for driving the display device through the interface portion. A signal processing unit capable of supplying information to be displayed on the display device through the interface unit that can be supplied and an external device connectable through the interface unit. A circuit board that holds the interface section, the drive circuit, and the signal processing section, a display device support that supports the opening of the display device, and a display device that holds the circuit board and the display device support. A support holding mechanism and an information device are provided.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 1 includes
A liquid crystal panel 100 in which a liquid crystal material is enclosed, a flat connector 501 capable of supplying image information to be displayed by the liquid crystal panel 100 and a driving power source, and a flexible printed board connecting the liquid crystal panel 100 and the connector 501. 502 (hereinafter referred to as a highly flexible wiring material, abbreviated as FPC), and a protective sheet 1001 that holds the liquid crystal panel 100, the FPC 502, and the connector 501 in an integrated manner. The FPC 502 and the liquid crystal panel 100 are, for example, an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) not shown.
Are electrically connected by. Also, the liquid crystal panel 1
Reference numeral 00 is a reflective liquid crystal panel, as will be described later with reference to FIG. Instead of the liquid crystal panel 100, for example, an EL (electroluminescence) panel can be used.

The protective sheet 1001 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 9, but between the first sheet 1001A and the second sheet 1001B, the liquid crystal panel 1 as an object to be protected.
00, the FPC 502 and the connector 501 are intervened so that a predetermined pressure and temperature are applied to bring the sheet into close contact with the object to be protected, and the peripheral portions of both sheets are brought into close contact with each other, so that the object to be protected is airtight. It is possible. The first and second sheets 1001A and 1001B are resin sheets to which a predetermined transmittance (transparency) is applied, and one surface of the resin sheet is preliminarily coated with a heat-melting adhesive.
It is generally called a laminated sheet.

Liquid crystal panel 100 in an intermediate product state
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the first and second glass substrates 10 and 12 is made of an alkali-free glass plate having a thickness of about 0.7 mm. The first and second glass substrates 10 and 12 have a rectangular shape having a size in which, for example, four liquid crystal panels 100 are arranged.

On the first glass substrate 10, a display element circuit section 14 including a TFT array using low temperature polysilicon as an active layer, a pixel electrode, a peripheral driver circuit and the like is provided.
For example, it is formed in each of the four display areas 15.
Further, the connection electrode portion 16 used for wiring connection between the inside of the liquid crystal panel 100 and the outside of the panel 100 is formed in the peripheral region of each display region 14. The connection electrode portion 16
Have been extended to reach the outside of the seal 106 described below.

Subsequently, a seal 106 is formed in a frame shape so as to surround each display area 15. Next, the dummy seal 107 is applied along the entire circumference of the first glass substrate 10. The seals 106 and 107 can use various adhesives such as thermosetting type and light (UV) curing type.
Here, for example, an epoxy adhesive is used. The seals 106 and 107 are supplied by a dispenser (not shown).

On the second glass substrate 12, by a well-known process, a color filter layer (not shown) and a counter electrode 403 made of ITO, etc. are provided at four locations corresponding to the display region on the first glass substrate 10 side. Formed respectively.

Next, each seal 1 on the first glass substrate 10
A predetermined amount of the liquid crystal material 18 is dropped in the area surrounded by 06.

Then, both glass base materials 10 and 12 are so arranged that the display region 15 provided on the first glass base material 10 and the counter electrode 403 provided on the second glass base material 12 face each other. After being positioned, as shown in FIG. 4A, the glass substrates 10 and 12 are pressed against each other at a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the two glass substrates 10 and 12 have the seal 1
06 and 107 are adhered to each other. Below, seal 1
By curing 06 and 107, four liquid crystal panels 1
A panel assembly (unsigned) of 00 is formed.

Next, the thickness of both glass substrates 10 and 12 is
For example, it is polished (thinned) to a predetermined thickness by polishing.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the first glass substrate 10 provided with the display element circuit portion 14 and the like.
Is polished to a predetermined thickness by, for example, chemical etching using a hydrofluoric acid type etchant. While the first glass base material 10 is being polished, the second glass base material 12 side is protected by a chemical resistant sheet or the like (not shown). Note that mechanical polishing such as sandblasting or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) can also be used for polishing.

The polished first glass substrate 10 is the array substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 100 which will be described later with reference to FIG.
The glass substrate 201 on the 00 side has a thickness of about 0.1.
It is 5 mm, preferably about 0.1 mm, and is 0.1 mm in this embodiment. When the thickness of the glass substrate 201 is thicker than about 0.15 mm, the flexibility with respect to bending is deteriorated due to conditions such as flexibility, polishing accuracy, mechanical strength, and internal stress in forming a display element circuit. It becomes easy to crack. The thickness of the glass substrate 201 is about 0.01 m.
If the thickness is less than m, there is a risk that moisture or the like may enter, so that the reliability of the liquid crystal panel 100 deteriorates. Therefore, the thickness of the glass substrate 201 is preferably about 0.01 mm or more.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the outer surface of the glass substrate 201 polished to a thickness of about 0.1 mm is
The reinforcing layer 240 having a thickness of about 0.1 mm is bonded by the bonding layer 221 having a predetermined thickness. As the reinforcing plate 240, for example, polyether sulfone (PES), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC),
Acrylic resin, reinforced plastic, polyimide or the like can be used.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, the second
The glass substrate 12 is polished to a thickness of about 0.1 mm by the same method as described with reference to FIG.
That is, the liquid crystal panel 10 described later with reference to FIG.
A glass substrate 401 on the side of the counter substrate 400 of 0 is obtained.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5B, a reinforcing plate 205 having a thickness of about 0.1 mm is adhered to the outer surface of the glass substrate 401 via an adhesive layer 223. For the reinforcing plate 205, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), acrylic resin, reinforced plastic, polyimide or the like can be used.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, both glass substrates 201 and 401 and the reinforcing plate 2 are provided.
By cutting 40 and 205 at a predetermined position, a panel base material divided into four becomes four liquid crystal panels (no reference numeral)
Is obtained. The panel base material is cut by the laser beam, for example, into two glass substrates and two reinforcing plates at the same time. Further, by using CO ₂ or a second to fourth harmonic UV-YAG laser as the laser source, it is possible to obtain a cut surface that is smooth and is unlikely to cause cracks. Of course, a mechanical cutting method can be used for cutting the panel base material.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the glass substrate 4 is cut out from the cut-out portions of the four liquid crystal panels.
The reinforcing plate 205 and the adhesive layer 223, which have been attached on 01, are removed by, for example, etching or the like.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6B, a polarizing plate 407 having a thickness of about 0.35 mm is adhered to the outer surface of the glass substrate 401 by an adhesive layer 406, whereby the liquid crystal panel 100 is completed. can get.

As described above, FIG. 4 (b) and FIG.
5C, FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C, and FIG.
From each step described with reference to (a) and FIG. 6 (b),
Each of the two glass substrates has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm, and a polarizing plate having a thickness of approximately 0.35 mm is provided on the counter substrate 400 side.
A liquid crystal panel 100 in which a reinforcing plate having a thickness of about 0.1 mm is provided on the array substrate 200 side is obtained.

In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel described above, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing time by forming a liquid crystal layer 410 by dropping a liquid crystal material on one of the substrates before bonding. The liquid crystal material may be vacuum-injected after forming the empty cell.

That is, the first glass substrate 10 and the second glass substrate 10
After forming the necessary constituent elements on the glass base material 20 in the same manner as in the above-described steps, the sealing material 106 and the dummy seal 107 are applied, and the first glass base material 10 and the second glass base material 12 are attached. To match. Note that when the sealing material 106 is applied, an injection port for allowing the liquid crystal material to be injected later is formed.

Subsequently, after polishing the outer surfaces of the first glass substrate 10 and the second glass substrate 12 to make them thin, the adhesive layer 241 is formed on the outer surfaces of the glass substrates 201 and 401, respectively.
The reinforcing plates 240 and 205 are adhered to each other via 223 and 223. Then, the glass substrates 201, 401 and the reinforcing plates 240, 205 are cut along a predetermined position to be cut into four parts each constituting a liquid crystal panel.

Then, in each of the cut out liquid crystal panels, the reinforcing plate 240 attached on the glass substrate 201.
And the adhesive layer 241 is removed by etching or the like. In addition, the reinforcing plate 205 attached on the glass substrate 401.
And the adhesive layer 223 is removed by etching or the like.

Subsequently, the polarizing plate 220 is adhered to the outer surface of the glass substrate 201 via the adhesive layer 221. In addition, a polarizing plate 407 is provided on the outer surface of the glass substrate 401 via an adhesive layer 406.
Glue.

Subsequently, a liquid crystal material is vacuum-injected into each liquid crystal panel through an injection port. After that, the injection port is sealed with an ultraviolet curable resin or the like.

A transmissive liquid crystal panel may be manufactured by the above steps.

Further, in the above-described manufacturing method, the so-called multi-face cutting, in which a plurality of liquid crystal panels are cut out from a large-sized base material having a large area, has been described, but a single liquid crystal panel may be manufactured individually.

Further, in the above-mentioned manufacturing method, the reinforcing plate is adhered to the outer surface of the polished substrate during the manufacturing, but it is not essential. In the manufacturing process, if no stress is applied to break the substrate, it is not necessary to bond the reinforcing plate and the process of removing the reinforcing plate is not necessary, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing plate 240 and the glass substrate 40 attached to the glass substrate 201.
On the outer side of each of the polarizing plates 407 attached to 1.
As will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, the transparent resin sheets 1001A and 1001B are pressure-bonded by being heated by a laminator (laminating device) not shown and at the same time being supplied with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 100 is hermetically sealed in the laminate 1001.

FIG. 8 shows the liquid crystal panel 100 shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), and FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining a structure.

As is clear from FIG. 8, the liquid crystal panel 10
0 is the effective display area 102, the drive circuit section 110, the array substrate 200, the counter substrate 400, and the array substrate 200.
TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal layer 410 held between the counter substrate 400 and the counter substrate 400 via an alignment film.
including.

The array substrate 200 is formed by the steps shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), 5 (a) to 5 (c) and 6 (a) and 6 (b) described above. A transparent insulating substrate 201 made of glass having a thickness of 0.15 mm or less (a thickness of 0.1 mm in this embodiment).
A plurality of signal lines X and a plurality of scanning lines Y arranged in a matrix on one main surface (front surface), and thin film transistors or TFTs arranged near the intersections of the signal lines X and the scanning lines Y. It has a switch element 211 and a pixel electrode 213 connected to the switch element 211.

The pixel electrode 213 is formed of a light-reflective conductive member such as aluminum.
The pixel electrode 213 is disposed on the interlayer insulating film 217 and the resin layer 218, which are sequentially stacked on the TFT 211.

The pixel electrode 213 has irregularities on its surface, that is, the surface facing the counter substrate 400. That is, the resin layer 218, which is the base of the pixel electrode 213, has an uneven pattern on its surface. The pixel electrode 213 is
By being arranged on this resin layer 218, the resin layer 2
It is formed so as to have unevenness that follows the uneven pattern of 18. Accordingly, the light incident from the counter substrate 400 side can be scattered and reflected, and the viewing angle can be expanded.

The counter substrate 400 has a color filter layer CF arranged on one main surface (front surface) of the insulating substrate 401. The color filter layer CF is, for example, red,
It is formed by resin layers colored green and blue respectively. The color filter layer of each color is arranged for each display pixel unit PX of the corresponding color.

The counter electrode 403 is arranged on the color filter layer CF so as to face the pixel electrode 213. The counter electrode 403 is formed of a transparent conductive member such as ITO. The alignment film 405 is arranged on the entire surface of the effective display region 102 so as to cover the entire counter electrode 403.

In this liquid crystal panel 100, a polarizing plate 407 whose polarization direction is set according to the characteristics of the liquid crystal layer 410 is provided on the outer surface of the counter substrate 400. That is, the polarizing plate 407 bonded by the adhesive 406 is arranged on the other main surface (back surface) of the insulating substrate 401 forming the counter substrate 400.

On the other hand, a reinforcing plate 240 is provided on the outer surface of the array substrate 200. That is, the array substrate 20
On the other main surface (rear surface) of the insulating substrate 201 forming 0, the reinforcing plate 240 bonded by the adhesive 221 is arranged. The reinforcing plate 240 is made of resin, for example, polyether sulfone (PES).

The reinforcing plate 240 and the polarizing plate 407 are formed of a flexible resin and have a thickness larger than the thickness of the insulating substrates 201 and 401, for example, 0.3 mm. . Therefore, in order to achieve the thinning of the liquid crystal panel 100, the reinforcing plate 240 and the polarizing plate 407 even when the insulating substrates 201 and 401 have an extremely thin thickness, for example, about 0.1 mm.
It becomes possible to reinforce each insulating substrate 201 and 401 by providing. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 1
Even when a stress such as bending is applied to 00, the insulating substrates 201 and 401 can be prevented from cracking, and a liquid crystal display device having flexibility can be provided.

The reflective display panel 100 as described above.
In the liquid crystal display device 1 equipped with, light incident on the liquid crystal panel 100 from the counter substrate 200 side through the polarizing plate 407 is
The pixel electrode 213 reflects again toward the counter substrate 200 side. At this time, incident light and reflected light are modulated by the liquid crystal layer 410 controlled by the electric field between the pixel electrode 213 and the counter electrode 403, and selectively pass through the polarizing plate 407 for each display pixel unit PX. As a result, a display image is formed.

According to the liquid crystal display device 1, since the insulating substrates constituting the array substrate and the counter substrate can be made extremely thin, the liquid crystal panel can be made thin. Even when each insulating substrate is extremely thin as described above, each insulating substrate can be reinforced by providing a polarizing plate that is thicker than each insulating substrate. As a result, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device having flexibility that is not damaged even when bent.

Further, since a part of the drive circuit is integrally formed on the array substrate, the connection point with the external circuit is the number of signal lines, for example, 1024 when the drive circuit is not arranged.
In contrast to the case where 3 connection points are required, only 48 are required in this embodiment. Moreover, in the conventional case, the connection points are provided on at least two sides that are orthogonal to each other.
The connection points are arranged only on a part of one side of the liquid crystal panel.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the connection area of the flexible wiring board connecting the liquid crystal panel and the drive circuit board, and peeling off or disconnection of the flexible wiring board even when the liquid crystal display device is bent. Can be prevented.

Further, the gap between the array substrate and the counter substrate is formed by the columnar spacer integrated with the array substrate. This makes it possible to prevent movement of the spacer even when the liquid crystal display device is bent,
It is possible to prevent a display defect from occurring due to the movement of the spacer. Further, the columnar spacers can be arranged at a desired density according to the design value, so that the gap does not largely change even when bent, and uniform display quality can be secured.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly versatile and highly reliable display device such as a curved display device.

FIG. 9 shows the above-mentioned FIG. 4 (b) and FIG.
(C), FIG. 5 (a) to FIG. 5 (c) and FIG.
By the process shown in (a) and FIG. 6 (b), the thickness is set to about 0.15 mm or less and 2 or less.
An example of a process of laminating a liquid crystal panel formed of a single glass substrate with a protective sheet is described.

The protective sheet 1001 is the first sheet 10
01A and the second sheet 1001B. Each sheet is a glass substrate 201 of the array substrate 200.
Further, the liquid crystal panel 100 can be hermetically housed by providing a peripheral portion defined to be larger than each area of the polarizing plate 407 of the counter substrate 400 and adhering to each other at the peripheral portion. In detail, each sheet is coated with an adhesive that melts when heated, and a predetermined pressure is applied in the molten state, so that the glass substrate 201 of the array substrate 200 Reinforcing plate 240 provided outside and polarizing plate 40 of counter substrate 400
Each of 7 is closely adhered and is also adhered to the adhesive applied to the other one.

Note that, for example, the protective sheet 1001 is the first
Sheet 1001A and the second sheet 1001B are pre-bonded to each other at one end, or one sheet is folded back so that the surface coated with the adhesive is on the inside. Part and the second sheet 100
In the case where the portion 1B is defined, the liquid crystal panel 100 is set at a predetermined position between both sheets, and a laminator (not shown) is passed through the protective sheet 1001.
The liquid crystal panel 100 that is hermetically sealed inside is obtained.

When the protective sheet 1001 is set on the laminator, the protective sheet 1001 is conveyed to the laminator from the side of the liquid crystal panel 100 facing the connector 501, thereby exposing the terminals (contacts) of the connector 501 not described in detail. The process is simplified.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows an example of using a protective sheet 1001 which can be attached to a hook or the like (not shown), for example, holes 1002 which are prepared in a blank portion at a predetermined interval. Needless to say, the layers may be provided in an arbitrary number and at intervals after the lamination.

Further, in the protective sheet 1001, the liquid crystal panel 100 is conveyed between the rollers holding the non-solid fluid resin having a predetermined viscosity, and a resin film having a predetermined thickness is formed. , Then may be dried and cured.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an embodiment in which an image can be displayed by incorporating the liquid crystal panel hermetically sealed by the above-mentioned protective sheet into a portable notebook, a small notebook, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 10, for example, a notebook 1000 in which an arbitrary number of pads (sheets) can be inserted or removed one by one or a plurality of sheets can be used as a cover 1110 and a cover 11.
Of the 10, a hinge portion 1112 that connects a portion located on the front side with a portion located on the back side in a closed state, a ring 1111 integrally provided on the hinge portion 1112 and capable of holding an arbitrary number of pads, It has a plate 1113 for supporting the ring 1111 and fixing it to the hinge portion 1112.

The liquid crystal panel 100, which is hermetically sealed by the protective sheet 1001, is attached to the notebook 1000 like the pad by setting the holes 1002 provided in the protective sheet 1001 in the ring 1111.

In the space between the plate 1113 and the hinge portion 1112, for example, as shown in FIG.
Connector 5 of liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by 001
Circuit board 1501 provided with a connection part to which 01 can be mounted
Is attached.

The circuit board 1501 is, for example, the protective sheet 1.
A drive circuit 1502 for operating the liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by 001, a memory unit and a control circuit for storing image information or a font of characters to be displayed, and a signal processing unit 1503 including an extended interface (not described in detail) are included. Have When the connector 501 of the liquid crystal panel 100 is attached to the circuit board 1501, signals can be transferred to and from the signal processing unit 1503, and any input device or external device can be connected. An interface unit 1130 is provided.

The circuit board 1501 is formed independently of the notebook 1000, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the plate 11 of the notebook 1000
It is formed so that it can be inserted into the space between 13 and the hinge portion 1112. Further, the liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by the protective sheet 1001 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (c), the connector 501 of itself can be connected to the interface section 1130 through a large opening through which the interface section 1130 provided at a predetermined position of the plate 1113 can penetrate. Therefore, for example, by removing the plate 1113, the interface unit 113
If it is possible to prepare an opening through which 0 can pass, or if it is a notebook to which a plate 1113 having an opening of a predetermined size is attached in advance, the circuit board 1
The liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by the protective sheet 1001 and the protective sheet 1001 can be mounted later.

In the interface unit 1130, for example, when an arbitrary input device or operation panel unit 1131 is set at a predetermined position on the cover 1110, the information indicated by the operation panel unit 1131 or the numerical value entered is signal processed. It can be input to the unit 1503. Note that, as an example, the operation panel unit 1131 is a keyboard type provided with a plurality of keys 1132 through which a telephone number, date, address, name, etc. can be input, for example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the protective sheet 100 is used.
The liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by 1 is connected to the circuit board 1501 through the interface 1130 and the connector 501, and the operation panel unit 1130 is connected through the interface 1130, so that, for example, a pad is used for writing with a writing instrument. The stored information can be stored in a memory (not shown) of the signal processing unit 1503, or the already stored information can be reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 100 as needed. When the interface 1130 can be connected to a communication device typified by a mobile phone and a mobile phone or the like that can be connected to the Internet network is connected instead of the operation panel unit 1131, for example, communication of the mobile phone is performed. By using the function, image information can be obtained and displayed from the Internet network, or the display on the display unit of the mobile phone can be enlarged and displayed.

FIG. 12 illustrates another example of the embodiment of the portable notebook or the like capable of displaying an image by incorporating the liquid crystal panel hermetically sealed by the protective sheet shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. ing. Note that the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is an example in which the liquid crystal panel of the liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by the protective sheet 1001 described above with reference to FIG.
Since the configuration for attaching 00 is the same, detailed description will be omitted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, if the liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by the protective sheet 1001 is a transmissive type, external light of a predetermined level is made incident from the back side of the liquid crystal panel 100 to serve as illumination light. By using it, the angle of the liquid crystal panel 100 can be set to a predetermined angle desired by the user.

FIG. 13 shows the protective sheet 10 shown in FIG.
The configuration of the transmission type liquid crystal panel 100 hermetically sealed by 01 is described.

The liquid crystal panel 100 has an effective display area 10 including a plurality of display pixel portions PX arranged in a matrix.
Have two. The liquid crystal panel 100 includes an array substrate 200, a counter substrate 400, and a liquid crystal layer 410 held between the array substrate 200 and the counter substrate 400 via alignment films, respectively.

The array substrate 200 is made of glass and has a thickness of 0.15 mm or less (in this embodiment, it has a thickness of 0.1 mm) in order to achieve further thinning.
On one main surface (front surface) of the light-transmissive insulating substrate 201,
A switch element 211 composed of a plurality of signal lines X and a plurality of scanning lines Y arranged in a matrix, and thin film transistors or TFTs arranged in the vicinity of the intersections of the signal lines X and the scanning lines Y, and a switch element 211. And the connected pixel electrode 213.

The switch element 211 includes a channel region 212c, and a source region 212s and a drain region 212 which are arranged with the channel region 212c interposed therebetween.
A polycrystalline silicon film having d, that is, a p-Si film is provided as an active layer. The gate electrode 215 of the switch element 211 is formed of, for example, a MoW alloy film integrally with the scanning line Y, and is TEO on the channel region 212c of the p-Si film.
It is arranged via a gate insulating film 214 made of an S film or the like and connected to the scanning line Y. The source electrode 216s of the switch element 211 is made of, for example, an AlNd alloy film, and is connected to the source region 212s and the pixel electrode 213. The drain electrode 216d of the switch element 211 is, for example, integrally formed with the signal line X by Al.
It is composed of an Nd alloy film, and is connected to the drain region 212d and the signal line X.

The pixel electrode 213 is formed of a light-transmissive conductive member such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide).

The pixel electrode 213 is a color filter layer formed by exposing and developing an interlayer insulating film 217 and a color resist layer which are sequentially laminated on the TFT 211 and are made of an oxide film such as SiO ₂ or a nitride film such as SiNx. CF
Placed on top. In this embodiment, the interlayer insulating film 217
Are formed of, for example, silicon nitride.

The color filter layer CF is, for example, red,
It is formed of a negative type color resist layer colored green and blue respectively. The color filter layer of each color is arranged for each display pixel unit PX of the corresponding color.
The alignment film 219 is arranged on the entire surface of the effective display region 102 so as to cover all the pixel electrodes 213.

The counter substrate 400 is made of glass 0.1.
It has a thickness of 5 mm or less (0.1 mm in this embodiment).
A counter electrode 403 is provided on one main surface (front surface) of a light-transmissive insulating substrate 401 (having a thickness of mm) so as to face the pixel electrode 213. This counter electrode 403
Are formed of a light-transmissive conductive member such as ITO. The alignment film 405 is arranged on the entire surface of the effective display region 102 so as to cover the entire counter electrode 403.

In the effective display area 102, the array substrate 2 is
00 and the counter substrate 400, a columnar spacer 104 for forming a predetermined gap is arranged. The columnar spacer 104 is formed of, for example, black resin on the array substrate.

On the outside of the effective display area 102, the light shielding layer 2
50 are arranged in a frame shape. The light shielding layer 250 is formed of a resin having a light shielding property, and is formed of, for example, a black resin similar to the columnar spacer 104.

Array substrate 200 and counter substrate 400
Is the sealing material 106 with a predetermined gap formed by the columnar spacer 104, for example, a gap of 4 μm.
Pasted together by. In the peripheral area of the effective display area 102, the drive circuit section 110 configured integrally is arranged. That is, the scanning line driving circuit 251 for supplying the scanning pulse is arranged on one end side of the scanning line Y. In addition, the signal line drive circuit unit 2 is provided on one end side of the signal line X.
61 are arranged. These scanning line drive circuit units 251
The signal line driver circuit portion 261 is formed of a thin film transistor including a polycrystalline silicon film, like the switch element in the display area.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel 100, a pair of polarizing plates 220 and 407 whose polarization directions are set in accordance with the characteristics of the liquid crystal layer 410 are provided on the outer surface of the array substrate 200 and the outer surface of the counter substrate 400, respectively. .
That is, the insulating substrate 201 that constitutes the array substrate 200.
A polarizing plate 220 attached by an adhesive 221 is disposed on the other main surface (back surface) of the. Further, on the other main surface (back surface) of the insulating substrate 401 which constitutes the counter substrate 400, a polarizing plate 407 attached by an adhesive 406 is arranged.

These polarizing plates 220 and 407 are made of a flexible resin, and the polarizing plate 220 has a size equal to or larger than that of the array substrate 200, and the polarizing plates 407 face each other. It has dimensions equal to or greater than 400, each well extending to the edge of the substrate. In this embodiment, the edge of the substrate and the edge of the polarizing plate are aligned with each other, but the edge of the polarizing plate may extend beyond the edge of the substrate and may cover the corner portion of the substrate. The polarizing plates 220 and 407 are thicker than the insulating substrates 201 and 401, for example, 0.3 m.
It has a thickness of m.

These polarizing plates 220 and 407 have a very thin thickness, for example, 0.1 m, on each of the insulating substrates 201 and 401 in order to achieve a thin liquid crystal panel 100.
Even when the thickness is about m, the polarizing plates 220 and 40
7 by providing 7
It is possible to reinforce. This makes it possible to prevent the insulating substrates 201 and 401 from cracking even when a stress such as bending is applied to the liquid crystal panel 100, and it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device that is not easily damaged and has flexibility. . Further, in particular, by sufficiently extending the polarizing plate to the edge of the substrate, it is possible to extremely reduce cracks and chips of the substrate.

As described above, in the above-mentioned liquid crystal display device, the thickness of the glass substrate holding the liquid crystal material can be reduced. As a result, the liquid crystal display device can be provided with flexibility. Further, the yield at the time of processing for reducing the thickness of the glass substrate is improved. In addition, even if the user accidentally drops the information device or is accidentally bent by an unexpected bending amount, the liquid crystal display device itself will not operate, such as “crack” or “leak of liquid crystal material”. Prevents fatal damage.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the reinforcing plate, the polarizing plate and the protective film to be laminated are arranged in this order on the liquid crystal panel. However, for example, the reinforcing plate is peeled off before the polarizing plate is attached, and finally the liquid crystal panel is formed. The polarizing plate and the protective film may be laminated on top. Further, the polarizing plate may be arranged after the protective film to be laminated is arranged on the liquid crystal panel. However, from the viewpoint of protecting the polarizing plate, it is desirable to dispose a protective film laminated on the polarizing plate.

In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which a liquid crystal display device is used as a display medium has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to another display device, for example, an organic electroluminescence (OLED) display device. is there.

In the case of an OLED display device, for example, if light is emitted from the rear surface side of the array substrate, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and a cathode electrode are sequentially laminated on the pixel electrode which constitutes the anode of the array substrate. Further, a cap for nitrogen sealing is provided on this. And, for example, the glass thickness of the array substrate is 0.1 m.
It is set to m, and a polarizing plate having a thickness of 0.3 mm, for example, may be provided on the layer. By using a polarizing plate here, unwanted reflection can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made at the stage of carrying out the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Also,
The respective embodiments may be combined as appropriate as much as possible, and in that case, the effect of the combination can be obtained.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The display device itself is made flexible while reducing the thickness of the substrate that holds the display medium, and the drive circuit section and the operation panel section are incorporated into a medium such as a notebook that allows the user to record by handwriting. Due to this, even if the user accidentally drops it or external force is applied by the user such as when the notebook is rolled up, a fatal phenomenon such as “cracking” or “leakage of liquid crystal material” that would prevent the liquid crystal display device itself from operating. Is prevented from being damaged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a liquid crystal display device provided with a protective sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel used in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

3A to 3C are schematic views illustrating steps of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel used in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a step of reducing the thickness of the glass substrate of the liquid crystal panel obtained by the steps shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a step of reducing the thickness of the glass substrate of the liquid crystal panel subsequent to the step shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a step of reducing the thickness of the glass substrate of the liquid crystal panel, which is subsequent to the step shown in FIG.

7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a step of providing a protective sheet on each liquid crystal panel obtained by the step shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a liquid crystal panel obtained by the steps shown in FIGS.

9 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a step of providing a protective sheet on the liquid crystal panel obtained by the steps shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG.

10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of mounting a liquid crystal panel hermetically sealed by the protective sheet shown in FIG. 1 on a portable notebook.

11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a process of mounting the liquid crystal panel hermetically sealed by the protective sheet shown in FIG. 1 on the portable notebook shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating an example of another embodiment of the portable notebook shown in FIG.

13 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a transmissive liquid crystal panel that can be used in the portable notebook shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 ... Liquid crystal module, 100 ... Liquid crystal panel, 200 ... Array substrate, 201 ... glass substrate, 400 ... Counter substrate, 401 ... a glass substrate, 501 ... connector, 502 ... Flexible circuit board (FPC), 1000 ... Notebook (supporting medium), 1001 ... Protective sheet, 1001A ... Protection sheet, 1001B..Protection sheet, 1002 ... hole (in margin), 1110 ... cover, 1111 ... Ring (display device support), 1112 ... Hinge part (circuit board holder), 1113 ... Plate (display device support mechanism), 1130 ... Interface unit, 1131 ... Operation panel unit (input mechanism), 1501 ... Circuit board, 1502 ... Driving circuit, 1503 ... Signal processing unit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09F 9/30 310 G09F 9/30 310 5C094 9/40 9/40 Z 5G435 H05B 33/02 H05B 33/02 33/04 33/04 33/06 33/06 33/14 33/14 AF term (reference) 2H089 HA17 HA40 KA17 QA03 TA01 TA03 TA06 TA15 UA09 2H090 JA09 JB02 JC01 JD11 JD12 JD14 LA01 LA09 2H091 FA08X FA08Z FD15 GA01 GA02 GA17 LA02 MA10 2H092 GA50 GA55 GA58 MA31 NA25 PA01 PA06 PA11 RA10 3K007 AB11 BB01 BB06 CC00 DB03 FA02 5C094 AA36 BA43 CA19 DA06 DA12 DA20 EB02 EC03 ED14 HA08 HA10 JA08 5G435 AA07 BB43EE05 EE01 FF05EE35EE43 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE46 EE35EE43 EE35EE46

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A display device having a plurality of display pixel portions, an insulating substrate, a polarizing plate disposed on the insulating substrate and having a thickness thicker than the insulating substrate, and an arbitrary number of openings at predetermined positions. And a transparent sheet body that can be mounted on a portable medium and that is adhered to each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate and that hermetically seals each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate. A display device that can be mounted on a portable medium. 2. The transparent sheet body sandwiches the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate from the insulating substrate side and the polarizing plate side, respectively, and has a larger area than each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate. The display device mountable on a portable medium according to claim 1, wherein the display device is adhered to each other at a defined peripheral edge. 3. The transparent sheet body is the insulating material in a contact portion capable of connecting a wiring material for supplying a drive signal to each display pixel portion provided on the insulating substrate to an external device. The display device mountable on a portable medium according to claim 1, wherein each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate is hermetically sealed including a main portion on a substrate side. 4. The transparent sheet body comprises a resin sheet having a predetermined thickness and one surface of which is coated with an adhesive that melts when heated. The display mountable on a portable medium according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, by being provided, it is brought into close contact with each of the insulating substrate and the polarizing plate and is also adhered to another adhesive. apparatus. 5. The display device mountable on a portable medium according to claim 1, wherein the insulating substrate is transparent glass having a thickness of less than 0.15 mm. . 6. A first insulating substrate, a plurality of display pixel portions provided on one main surface side of the first insulating substrate, a second insulating substrate, and one main surface of the second insulating substrate. A polarizing plate having a thickness larger than that of the second insulating substrate, and a liquid crystal material sealed between the main surface of the first insulating substrate and the other main surface of the second insulating substrate. A wiring member capable of supplying a signal for operating a plurality of display pixel portions on a first insulating substrate, and an arbitrary number of openings provided at predetermined positions, which can be mounted on a portable medium, The first insulating substrate, the polarizing plate, and the enclosed liquid crystal material are airtightly adhered to the other main surface of the substrate, the polarizing plate, and the main part of the wiring member. A transparent sheet that supports the wiring members in a deformable manner. Mountable display device in a portable medium, characterized in that it comprises a preparative body. 7. The mobile phone according to claim 6, wherein the transparent sheet bodies are adhered to each other at a peripheral edge portion defined to be larger than the area of each of the first insulating substrate and the polarizing plate. Display device that can be mounted on a compatible medium. 8. The transparent sheet body is included in a contact portion for connecting a wiring material for supplying a drive signal to each display pixel portion provided on the first insulating substrate to an external device. 7. The display device mountable on a portable medium according to claim 6, wherein a main part on the side of the first insulating substrate is hermetically sealed. 9. The transparent sheet body comprises a resin sheet having a predetermined thickness and one surface thereof coated with an adhesive that melts when heated. 9. The portable medium according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by being provided so as to be brought into close contact with each of the insulating first substrate and the polarizing plate and also to be adhered to the other adhesive. Display device. 10. The portable medium according to claim 7, wherein the first and second insulating substrates are transparent glass having a thickness of less than 0.15 mm. Display device that can be installed. 11. An insulating substrate whose thickness is set to be less than 0.15 mm by polishing, a plurality of display pixel portions provided on one main surface side of the insulating substrate, and a thickness of 0.1. A light-transmissive insulating substrate set to be thinner than 15 mm; a polarizing plate disposed on the other main surface of the light-transmissive insulating substrate and having a thickness thicker than the light-transmissive insulating substrate; A liquid crystal material enclosed between the main surface of the substrate and a main surface of the light transmissive insulating substrate opposite to the side where the polarizing plate is arranged; and a plurality of display pixel portions on the first insulating substrate. A wiring member capable of supplying a signal for operating and an arbitrary number of openings are provided at predetermined positions, can be mounted on a portable medium, and hermetically seals the insulating substrate, the polarizing plate, and the liquid crystal material, A transparent support that deformably supports the wiring member. A display device that can be mounted on a portable medium, and an interface unit that can come into contact with the wiring member that is deformably supported by the sheet body of the display device; And a drive circuit capable of supplying a drive signal for driving the display device, and an external device which supplies information to be displayed on the display device via the interface unit and is connectable via the interface unit. A signal processing unit capable of passing signals between the circuit unit, a circuit board that holds the interface unit, the drive circuit, and the signal processing unit, a display device support that supports the opening of the display device, and the circuit An information device, comprising: a substrate; and a display device support holding mechanism that holds the display device support.