JP2000338893A - Production of electrooptical device and electrooptical device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease deterioration in the picture quality with time caused near the frame region of an image display region due to the deformation of an adhesive with time in an electrooptical device in which various kinds of planer members such as a microlens array plate are adhered to substrates such as a cover glass, counter substrate and device substrate. SOLUTION: An electrooptical device equipped with a cover glass 200, a counter substrate 20 having a microlens array adhered with a photosetting adhesive 210 to the cover glass in the image display region and the frame region which regulates the edge of the display region, and a light-shielding case 300 to cut the display light in the frame region. In the production of the aforementioned device, the adhesive after hardened is subjected to ageing treatment by irradiation of specified quantity of light or heat, and then the counter substrate is laminated with a device substrate 10 and housed in a case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device, an EL (E
Electro-Luminescence) and the like, and belong to the technical field of electro-optical devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electro-optical device of this kind is generally manufactured by, for example, T
An electro-optical material such as liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates such as an element substrate such as an FT array substrate and a cover glass (or a counter substrate). On the outside of the substrate (that is, on the surface opposite to the side facing the liquid crystal), there is provided a microlens array plate for improving light use efficiency and displaying a bright image, and for protecting the substrate from dust and dirt. A dust-proof glass plate, a heat-dissipating glass plate for suppressing a temperature rise of the electro-optical device,
Various plate-like members such as a defocusing glass plate for reducing adverse effects on display images due to dust or dust shadows on the substrate surface are attached.

[0003] For example, JP-A-60-165621-16
JP-A-5624 and JP-A-5-196926 disclose a liquid crystal device in which a microlens for improving the efficiency of using incident light is provided on a counter substrate. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-113906 discloses a liquid crystal device in which a transparent glass plate having a heat dissipation function and a defocusing function is arranged on one or both outer surfaces of a transparent substrate of the liquid crystal device.

The main body of the electro-optical device to which various plate members such as the microlens array plate are attached as described above is housed in a light-shielding case made of plastic or the like, and transmits and reflects display light. A frame area that defines the edge of the image display area is defined by the edge of the window of the case. Alternatively, a frame-shaped light-shielding film slightly smaller than the window of such a case is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates, and the frame region is defined.

In a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device having such various plate-like members, a microlens array plate or the like is formed on the outside of an element substrate or a cover glass by using a photo-curing adhesive or a thermosetting adhesive. After attaching the plate-like member, the main body of the electro-optical device including the substrate to which the plate-like member and other members are attached is put in a light-shielding case to complete the electro-optical device. If the electro-optical device manufactured in this way is, for example, a liquid crystal device for a light valve of a projector, display light (projection light) is transmitted through an image display area viewed from a window of a case, and is formed for each pixel according to an image signal. The image is displayed with the contrast modulated.

[0006]

However, in the case of an electro-optical device manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method, while the device is used for a light valve of a projector, etc.
There is a problem that a contrast abnormality occurs with time in the image display area near the frame area along the frame area. More specifically, for example, when displaying black, a whitish area is generated along the frame, and a discontinuous surface with abnormal contrast becomes visible. In particular, in the case of a device that transmits relatively strong light, such as a liquid crystal device for a light valve of a projector, such deterioration over time is remarkable. In the case of a liquid crystal device for a light valve of a projector,
Among the three liquid crystal devices for R (red), G (green), and B (blue), it has been found that such deterioration with time is most remarkable in the device for B. For example, since such a contrast abnormality appears after several hundred hours of use, this problem is extremely serious in practical use in a projector that requires a lifetime of at least several thousand hours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an electro-optical structure in which various plate members such as a microlens array plate are adhered to a substrate such as an element substrate or a cover glass (or a counter substrate). A method of manufacturing an apparatus, comprising: a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device capable of reducing temporal deterioration of image quality occurring near a frame region of an image display area; and an electro-optical device manufactured by the manufacturing method and capable of displaying high-quality images. The task is to provide

[0008]

According to a first method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, a substrate and a substrate are provided.
A plate member adhered to the substrate by a photocurable adhesive in both an image display area where an image is displayed by display light and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area; and the display light in the frame area. A light-shielding means for shielding light from the substrate, comprising: a bonding step of bonding the plate-like member to the substrate with a photocurable adhesive before photocuring; and the substrate and the plate-like member. A curing step of curing the photocurable adhesive by irradiating light to the photocurable adhesive before the photocuring via at least one of the above, and a predetermined amount of the photocurable adhesive after the curing. An aging step of irradiating at least one of light and heat through at least one of the substrate and the plate member to perform an aging treatment on the cured photocurable adhesive; And a step of after the grayed step providing the shielding means.

According to the first method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, first, in a bonding step, a plate-like member is bonded to a substrate such as a cover glass or a counter substrate with a photo-curable adhesive before photo-curing. Is done. Next, in a curing step, light is irradiated to the photocurable adhesive before photocuring via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, the photocurable adhesive is cured. Next, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is applied to the cured photocurable adhesive via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, an aging treatment is performed on the cured photocurable adhesive. Then, after the aging step, a light shielding means for shielding the display light in the frame area is provided.

According to the study of the present inventor, when a plate-like member such as a microlens array plate is bonded to a substrate (for example, a cover glass) with a photocurable adhesive, it is particularly strong as in a light valve application of a projector. It has been found that when the display light passes through the image display area, the photocurable adhesive causes temporal deformation such as sink marks (thinning). Here, normally, display light such as projection light is applied in the form of a finished product provided with light shielding means, so that image display is not light-shielded by light shielding means and is largely deformed by light containing ultraviolet light or the like by that much. Between the photo-curable adhesive portion in the area and the photo-curable adhesive portion in the frame area which is shielded from light by the light shielding means and is less deformed by light including ultraviolet rays and the like. A difference occurs in the amount of deformation of the adhesive. As a result, the substrate to which the plate member is adhered by the photocurable adhesive is deformed temporally due to structural stress concentration near the boundary between these two portions, and finally, in the vicinity of this boundary. It is considered that this leads to deterioration of image quality with time (contrast abnormal increase with time).

However, in the first method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention, as described above, before the light-shielding means is provided, the light-curing adhesive portion and the light-shielding portion in the frame area to be light-shielded by the light-shielding means are provided. By irradiating light or heat to the photocurable adhesive portion in the image display area which is not to be shielded by the means in a state where the light shielding means is not yet provided, these two portions are The aging process is performed substantially equally. For this reason, stress concentration and deformation of the substrate near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area due to the difference in the amount of deformation of the photocurable adhesive based on the difference in the degree of aging,
Little or no need to happen. Finally, it is possible to reduce temporal deterioration of image quality locally occurring near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area due to the difference in the degree of aging.

It is considered that the same problem as described above can be solved by using a photo-curable adhesive which is hardly changed in quality or hardly changed in time with respect to light. The photo-curable adhesive for bonding to the substrate must have a low refractive index and a low stress from the viewpoint of functioning a microlens or the like as a lens or suppressing the occurrence of stress or deformation during curing inside the device. Is required. At present, it is difficult to obtain a photo-curable adhesive having such a property that it is hardly deformed by light irradiation. Therefore, the present invention has a great advantage in practice that the material itself of the photocurable adhesive used for bonding the plate-shaped member may be the same as the conventional one.

According to a second method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electro-optical material is sandwiched between a pair of substrates to form an image display area in which an image is displayed by display light. A sealing material that bonds the pair of substrates around, and a frame region that defines an edge of the image display region and the image display region are bonded to one of the pair of substrates by a photocurable adhesive. A plate-shaped member, and a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a light-blocking unit that shields the display light in the frame region. A bonding step of bonding to the substrate, and curing the photocurable adhesive by irradiating light to the photocurable adhesive before the photocuring through at least one of the one substrate and the plate-shaped member. Curing process By irradiating at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat to the cured photocurable adhesive through at least one of the substrate and the plate-like member, the cured photocurable adhesive is An aging step of performing an aging process; a laminating step of laminating the pair of substrates with the sealant after the curing step; and a step of providing the light shielding unit after the aging step.

According to the second manufacturing method of the electro-optical device of the present invention, first, in the bonding step, the plate-like member is made of one substrate (for example, a cover glass, a counter substrate, etc.) by a photo-curable adhesive before photo-curing. ). Next, by the curing process,
Light is applied to the photocurable adhesive before photocuring via at least one of the substrate and the plate-like member. Thereby, the photocurable adhesive is cured. Next, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is applied to the cured photocurable adhesive via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, an aging treatment is performed on the cured photocurable adhesive. Before or after this aging step, a pair of substrates are bonded together by a sealing material along a frame region in a bonding step. Further, after the aging step, a light shielding means for shielding the display light in the frame area is provided.

As described above, in the second method of manufacturing the electro-optical device, before the light-shielding means is provided, the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the frame area to be shielded by the light-shielding means and the light-shielding means are not to be shielded. By irradiating light or heat to the photocurable adhesive portion in the image display area of the image display area in a state where the light shielding means is not yet provided, these two portions are substantially equal to each other. Aging treatment is performed. For this reason,
Little or no stress concentration or substrate deformation near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area due to the difference in the amount of deformation of the photocurable adhesive due to the difference in the degree of aging. Finally, it is possible to reduce temporal deterioration of image quality locally occurring near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area.

In one aspect of the second method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention, the laminating step is performed after the aging step, and the step of providing the light blocking means is performed after the laminating step.

According to this aspect, before the pair of substrates are bonded to each other with the sealing material, the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the frame area to be shielded from light by the light shielding means and the image display not to be shielded from light by the light shielding means. The aging treatment is applied equally to the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the region. For this reason, at the time of the aging process, it is also possible to suppress the stress generated when the photocurable adhesive deprived of the degree of freedom by the sealing material in the frame region attempts to deform, and as a result, the frame region and the image display region Local deformation of a substrate (for example, a cover glass, a counter substrate, or the like) near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area. Deterioration over time can be further reduced.

In another aspect of the first or second method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention, the light-shielding means comprises a light-shielding case in which the substrate and the plate-like member are accommodated.

According to this aspect, the substrate and the plate-like member
It is housed in a case made of light-shielding plastic or the like as an example of light-shielding means. Before the main body of the electro-optical device is accommodated in such a case, the photocurable adhesive portion in the frame region that is to be shielded from light by the case and the photocurable adhesive in the image display region that is not to be shielded from light by the light blocking means. By irradiating light or heat to the part of the agent without being contained in the case,
The aging process is performed substantially equally. For this reason, eventually, the temporal deterioration of the image quality locally occurring near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area can be reduced.

In another aspect of the first or second method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention, a step of forming a light-shielding film for shielding the display light in the frame region on the substrate before the aging step. In the aging step, at least one of the predetermined amount of light and heat is irradiated from a side of the plate-shaped member where the light-shielding film is not formed.

According to this aspect, before the aging step, the light shielding film for shielding the display light in the frame region is formed on the substrate. Therefore, for example, the frame can be accurately and reliably defined by the light-shielding film formed on the front surface or the back surface of one substrate or the front surface or the back surface of the other substrate. In the aging step, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is irradiated from the side of the plate-shaped member where the light-shielding film is not formed, and thus the light-shielding film formed before the aging step exists. It is possible to make little or no difference in the degree of aging between the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the frame region and the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the image display region where the light shielding film does not exist.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a third method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention includes a substrate, an image display area in which an image is displayed by display light, and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area. A method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a plate-like member bonded to the substrate by a photocurable adhesive in both of the above; and a light-shielding film that shields the display light in the frame region. Bonding to the substrate with a light-curable adhesive before light curing, and irradiating the light-curable adhesive before light curing with light through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. A curing step of curing the photocurable adhesive, and irradiating the cured photocurable adhesive with at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. By doing An aging step of performing an aging treatment on the photocurable adhesive after the curing, and a step of providing the light-shielding film on a substrate before the aging step, wherein the aging step includes the steps of: At least one of the predetermined amount of light and heat is irradiated from the side where the light-shielding film is not formed.

According to the third method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, first, in a bonding step, a plate-like member is bonded to a substrate such as a cover glass with a photo-curable adhesive before photo-curing. Next, in a curing step, light is irradiated to the photocurable adhesive before photocuring via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, the photocurable adhesive is cured.
Next, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is applied to the cured photocurable adhesive via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, an aging treatment is performed on the cured photocurable adhesive. Then, a light-shielding film is provided on the substrate before the aging step. Therefore, for example, the frame can be accurately and reliably defined by the light-shielding film formed on the front surface or the back surface of one substrate or the front surface or the back surface of the other substrate. In the aging step, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is irradiated from the side of the plate-shaped member where the light-shielding film is not formed, and thus the light-shielding film formed before the aging step exists. It is possible to make little or no difference in the degree of aging between the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the frame region and the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the image display region where the light shielding film does not exist. As a result, it is possible to reduce the temporal deterioration of the image quality that locally occurs near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a substrate; an image display area in which an image is displayed by display light; and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area. A manufacturing method of an electro-optical device, comprising: a plate-shaped member bonded to the substrate by a photocurable adhesive in both of the above; and a light blocking unit for blocking the display light in the frame region. Bonding to the substrate with a light-curable adhesive before light curing, and irradiating the light-curable adhesive before light curing with light through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. A curing step of curing the photocurable adhesive, and after the curing, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat to the photocurable adhesive via at least one of the substrate and the plate member. Irradiate Comprising a degree, and the step of providing the shielding member after the step of the irradiation.

According to the fourth method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, first, in a bonding step, a plate-like member is bonded to a substrate such as a cover glass with a photo-curable adhesive before photo-curing. Next, in a curing step, light is irradiated to the photocurable adhesive before photocuring via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. Thereby, the photocurable adhesive is cured.
Next, after the curing, at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is applied to the photocurable adhesive via at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. After this irradiation, a light shielding means is provided. Therefore, the aging treatment is performed by the irradiation of light or heat after curing, as in the case of the above-described method for manufacturing the first electro-optical device of the present invention. It is possible to make little or no difference in the degree of aging between the portion of the agent and the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the image display area where the light-shielding film is not subsequently shielded by the light-shielding means.

In one embodiment of the method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the plate member includes a microlens array plate.

According to this aspect, the microlens array plate is adhered to the substrate such as the cover glass by the photocurable adhesive. Therefore, the light incident from one of the substrates is condensed by the plurality of microlenses of the microlens array plate so as to enter the aperture region of each pixel. As a result, while suppressing the temporal deterioration of the image quality near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area, even if the pixel aperture ratio is the same, the intensity of light passing through each aperture is increased to display the image by the electro-optical device. The resulting image can be made brighter.

In another aspect of the method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the plate member includes a dust-proof glass plate.

According to this aspect, the dust-proof glass plate is bonded to the substrate with the photo-curable adhesive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent image quality deterioration due to scratches, dust, and the like by the dust-proof glass plate while suppressing temporal deterioration of image quality near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area.

[0030] In any one of the first to fourth methods of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention, the plate member includes a heat radiation glass plate.

According to this aspect, the heat radiation glass plate is bonded to the substrate with the photo-curable adhesive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality from deteriorating with time near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area, and at the same time, to prevent the temperature of the electro-optical device from rising. In particular, when the electro-optical device is used as a light valve in a projector, in order to perform enlarged projection on a screen, the electro-optical device is incident on the electro-optical device in a state where strong light from a light source such as a metal halide lamp is collected. However, the heat dissipation glass can effectively suppress the temperature rise.

In another aspect of the method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the plate member includes a defocus glass plate.

According to this aspect, the defocusing glass plate is bonded to the substrate with the photocurable adhesive. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality over time near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area, and at the same time, to make the image display due to dust or dust less noticeable by defocusing. In particular,
When small dust or dust is enlarged and projected as in a projector, it is very effective to use a defocus glass plate to perform defocusing.

In another aspect of the method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the photo-curable adhesive is made of an ultraviolet-curable resin, and in the curing step and the aging step, Irradiate with ultraviolet light.

According to this aspect, in the curing step, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the photocurable adhesive before photocuring via at least one of the substrate and the plate-like member. Thereby, the photocurable adhesive is cured. Next, in the aging step, ultraviolet rays are applied to the cured photocurable adhesive.
Thereby, an aging treatment is performed on the cured photocurable adhesive.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first electro-optical device according to the present invention includes a substrate, an image display area where an image is displayed by display light, and a frame area which defines an edge of the image display area. A plate-like member adhered to the substrate by a photo-curable adhesive, and a light-shielding unit that shields the display light in the frame region, and a predetermined amount of the photo-curable adhesive after being cured. An aging process by irradiation of at least one of light and heat is performed before providing the light shielding means.

According to the first electro-optical device of the present invention, the plate member is a plate member having various functions such as a microlens array plate, a dustproof glass plate, a heat radiation glass plate, and a defocusing glass plate. The substrate (for example, a cover glass,
(A counter substrate, an element substrate, etc.). Here, since the aging treatment is performed on the photo-curable adhesive before providing the light-shielding means, the light-curable adhesive is not shielded by the light-curable adhesive in the frame area shielded by the light-shielding means and the light-shielding means. There is little or no difference in the amount of deformation due to the difference in the degree of aging between the photocurable adhesive portion in the image display area and the stress concentration near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area. And little or no deformation of the substrate. As a result, high-quality image display can be performed for a long time in accordance with various functions of the plate-shaped member.

According to a second electro-optical device of the present invention, an electro-optical material is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and the electro-optical device is provided around an image display area where an image is displayed by display light. A plate that is bonded to one of the pair of substrates with a light-curing adhesive in both a sealing material that bonds the pair of substrates and a frame region that defines an edge of the image display region and the image display region. A member, and a light-shielding unit that shields the display light in the frame region. The photo-curable adhesive is subjected to an aging process by irradiation of at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat after curing. This is performed before providing the light shielding means.

According to the second electro-optical device of the present invention, the plate member is a plate member having various functions such as a microlens array plate, a dustproof glass plate, a heat radiation glass plate, and a defocusing glass plate. In both the image display region and the frame region, the photo-curable adhesive is used to adhere to one substrate (for example, a cover glass, a counter substrate, an element substrate, or the like). Here, since the aging treatment is performed on the photo-curable adhesive before providing the light-shielding means, the light-curable adhesive is not shielded by the light-curable adhesive in the frame area shielded by the light-shielding means and the light-shielding means. There is little or no difference in the amount of deformation due to the difference in the degree of aging between the photocurable adhesive portion in the image display area and the stress concentration near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area. Little or no deformation of one of the substrates has occurred. As a result, high-quality image display can be performed for a long time in accordance with various functions of the plate-shaped member.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a third electro-optical device according to the present invention includes a substrate, an image display area where an image is displayed by display light, and a frame area which defines an edge of the image display area. A plate-like member bonded to the substrate with a photo-curable adhesive, and a light-shielding film that shields the display light in the frame region, and the light-curable adhesive includes a plate-shaped member. An aging process is performed by irradiating at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat from the side where the light shielding film is not formed.

According to the third electro-optical device of the present invention, the plate member is a plate member having various functions such as a microlens array plate, a dustproof glass plate, a heat radiation glass plate, and a defocusing glass plate. The substrate (for example, a cover glass,
(A counter substrate, an element substrate, etc.). Here, the photocurable adhesive is subjected to an aging treatment by irradiation of at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat from the side of the plate member on which the light-shielding film is not formed. For this reason, the amount of deformation based on the difference in the degree of aging between the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the frame area shielded by the light shielding unit and the portion of the photocurable adhesive in the image display area not shielded by the light shielding unit Little or no difference occurs between them, so that stress concentration near the boundary between the image display area and the frame area and deformation of one substrate hardly occur at all. As a result, high-quality image display can be performed for a long time in accordance with various functions of the plate-shaped member.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments explained below.

[0043]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration of Electro-Optical Device) First, the overall configuration of the electro-optical device according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a liquid crystal device of a TFT active matrix drive system with a built-in drive circuit is taken as an example.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the TFT array substrate together with the components formed thereon viewed from the counter substrate side, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH 'of FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal device has a TF
The T array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 are arranged to face each other, and a large number of microlenses are formed on the lower surface of the opposing substrate 20, and the opposing substrate 20 is configured as a microlens array plate. An adhesive 21 is provided on the lower surface of the counter substrate 20 on which the microlenses are formed as described above.
0, the cover glass 20 as an example of one of the substrates
0 is adhered. The liquid crystal layer 50 is sealed between the TFT array substrate 10 and the cover glass 200, and the TFT array substrate 10 and the cover glass 200
They are adhered to each other by a seal material 52 provided in a seal area located around the image display area 10a.

The sealing material 52 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, a thermosetting resin, or the like for bonding both substrates.
After being applied on the TFT array substrate 10 in a manufacturing process to be described later, it is cured by ultraviolet irradiation, heating, or the like. If the liquid crystal device is a small-sized liquid crystal device such as a projector, which performs enlarged display, a glass fiber or a glass fiber for setting a distance between the two substrates (a gap between the substrates) to a predetermined value is included in the sealing material 52. A gap material (spacer) such as glass beads may be sprayed. Alternatively, such a gap material may be included in the liquid crystal layer 50 if the liquid crystal device is a large-sized liquid crystal device such as a liquid crystal display or a liquid crystal television that displays images at the same magnification.

A light-shielding frame 53 for defining the image display area 10a is provided on the counter substrate 20 side in parallel with the inside of the seal area in which the seal material 52 is arranged.

A data line driving circuit 101 and an external circuit connection terminal 102 are provided along a side of the TFT array substrate 10 in a peripheral region outside the sealing region where the sealing material 52 is disposed. 104 are provided along two sides adjacent to this one side. Further, on the remaining one side of the TFT array substrate 10, a plurality of wirings 105 for connecting between the scanning line driving circuits 104 provided on both sides of the image display area are provided. Further, at least one corner portion of the opposite substrate 20 is provided with an upper / lower conductive material 106 for establishing electrical conduction between the TFT array substrate 10 and the opposite substrate 20.

In FIG. 2, an alignment film made of a polyimide-based material is formed on a pixel array TFT on which pixel switching TFTs 30 and wirings such as scanning lines, data lines, and capacitance lines are formed. Is formed. On the other hand, on the cover glass 200 (the lower surface in FIG. 2), in addition to the counter electrode, a light-shielding film 23 generally called a black mask or a black matrix for defining a non-opening area for each pixel, a color filter, and the like. An alignment film made of a polyimide-based material is formed on the uppermost layer portion where is formed. Each of the pair of alignment films is coated with a polyimide material and baked, and then subjected to an alignment process to align the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 50 in a predetermined direction and to give the liquid crystal a predetermined pretilt angle. I have. The light-shielding film 23 has a function of improving contrast in a display image, preventing color mixture of a color material when a color filter is formed, and the like. Such a light-shielding film 23 is formed on the TF
It may be formed on the T array substrate 10.

The liquid crystal layer 50 is made of, for example, a liquid crystal in which one or several kinds of nematic liquid crystals are mixed, and takes a predetermined alignment state between a pair of alignment films.

In FIG. 2, as shown by the broken line, the main body of the liquid crystal device having the above-described configuration is housed in a light-shielding case 300 made of plastic or the like as an example of light-shielding means. A window is provided at the center of the case 300 corresponding to the image display area 10a, and an edge portion defining the window of the case 300 is provided corresponding to the frame area. The opposing substrate 20 on which the microlens array is formed and the cover glass 200 are bonded to the adhesive 21 in both the image display region 10a and the frame region extending around the image display region 10a.
At 0, it is completely adhered. As described later, the adhesive 210 is subjected to an aging process before being bonded by the sealant 52 in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device.

(First Embodiment) Next, a first embodiment of a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal device having the entire structure as shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. .

First, as shown in step (1) of FIG. 3, a microlens array is formed on the cover glass 200 before or after the frame 53 (not shown), the light-shielding film 23, the counter electrode, the alignment film, etc. are formed. Opposing substrate 20 on which is formed
Are bonded by a photocurable adhesive 210a before photocuring. Subsequently, UV (Ultra-Violet) light is applied to the photocurable adhesive 210a before photocuring via at least one of the counter substrate 20 and the cover glass 200, and the adhesive 210 after curing is exposed to light. Become.

Next, as shown in step (2) of FIG. 3, a predetermined amount of UV light is applied to the cured adhesive 210 via at least one of the counter substrate 20 and the cover glass 200. Thereby, an aging process is performed on the cured adhesive 210.

Next, as shown in step (3) of FIG. 3, the opposing substrate 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered, and the TFT array substrate 10 on which various elements, wirings, etc. are formed, are sealed with a sealing material 52. Paste. In this example, an optical plate 10 'such as a polarizing plate or a retardation plate is also attached outside the TFT array substrate 10.

Next, as shown in step (4) of FIG. 3, the liquid crystal device main body completed in step (3) is housed in case 300.

As described above, in step (2), the portion of the adhesive 210 in the frame area 300a that is to be shielded from light by the edge of the case 300 and the adhesive 210 in the image display area 10a that is not to be shielded from light by the case 300
By irradiating the two parts with UV light in a state where the case 300 is not yet provided, the two parts are substantially equally aged. Therefore, stress concentration does not occur at the boundary between the image display region 10a and the frame region due to the aging process, and the light L incident upon use (see step (4))
The time-dependent change of the adhesive 210 due to this can be very small even in the image display area 10a. Therefore, the adhesive 21 based on the difference in the degree of aging of the adhesive 210 during use is determined.
Little or no stress concentration or substrate deformation near the boundary between the image display area 10a and the frame area 300a due to the difference in the amount of deformation of zero occurs. Finally, the temporal deterioration of the image quality locally occurring near the boundary between the image display area 10a and the frame area 300a due to the difference in the degree of aging as in the conventional example can be efficiently reduced.

In the step (2), the adhesive 210 may be irradiated with heat instead of or in addition to the UV light to perform an aging treatment on the adhesive 210. Further, in step (3), the sealing material 5
After the two substrates are bonded to each other by 2, the aging treatment may be performed on the adhesive 210 by irradiating UV light or heat. In any case, it is possible to reduce the influence of aging due to the light L incident upon using the liquid crystal device.

In this embodiment, particularly, both substrates are sealed with the sealing material 5.
Since the aging process is performed before bonding by the adhesive 2, the adhesive 210 deprived of the degree of freedom by the sealing material 52 in the frame region at the time of the aging process.
Can be suppressed. As a result, local deformation of one of the substrates near the boundary between the frame region and the image display region 10a due to the temporal deformation of the adhesive 210 can be further suppressed.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device having the entire structure as shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. .

First, as shown in step (1) of FIG. 4, the counter substrate 20 on which the microlens array has been formed is not cured with respect to the cover glass 200 after at least the frame 53 made of the light shielding film is formed. Are bonded by the photocurable adhesive 210a. Subsequently, UV light is applied through the opposing substrate 20 to the photocurable adhesive 210a before photocuring.
To form the adhesive 210 after curing.

Next, as shown in step (2) of FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of UV light is applied to the cured adhesive 210 via the counter substrate 20 (ie, from the top to the bottom in the figure). Irradiated.
Thereby, an aging process is performed on the cured adhesive 210.

Next, as shown in step (3) of FIG. 4, the opposing substrate 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered and the TFT array substrate 10 on which various elements, wirings, etc. are formed are sealed with a sealing material 52. Paste.

Next, as shown in step (4) of FIG. 4, the liquid crystal device body completed in step (3) is housed in case 300.

As described above, in step (2), the portion of the adhesive 210 in the frame area 300a that is to be shielded from light by the edge of the case 300 and the adhesive 210 in the image display area 10a that is not to be shielded from light by the case 300
By irradiating UV light from the side of the counter substrate 20 in such a state that the case 300 is not provided yet and the presence or absence of the frame 53 made of a light shielding film is The two parts are substantially equally aged. For this reason, stress concentration does not occur at the boundary between the image display area 10a and the frame area due to the aging process, and the adhesive 2 due to the light L (see step (4)) incident upon use is used.
The temporal deformation of 10 is basically very small.

Further, according to the manufacturing method of the second embodiment,
As shown in the step (4 ′), the image display area 10a is not defined by the frame of the case 300,
3 ′ may be provided on the cover glass 200. Even if the wide frame 53 'is provided at the stage of the step (2), since the UV light is irradiated from the side of the counter substrate 20, the image display area 10a and the frame are subjected to the aging process in the same manner as described above. There is no stress concentration at the boundary with the region, and the light L incident upon use (step (4))
(See FIG. 3), the deformation of the adhesive 210 with time is very small.

In the second embodiment also, in the step (2), the adhesive 210 may be irradiated with heat instead of or in addition to the UV light to perform an aging process on the adhesive 210. Further, in step (3), as shown by the dotted arrows, after the two substrates are bonded with the sealing material 52,
By irradiating UV light or heat through the counter substrate 20, the adhesive 2
10 may be subjected to an aging process.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device having the overall structure as shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, focusing on the aging step for the adhesive 210. .

First, as shown in steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 5, the bonding step with the adhesive 210, the curing step, and the aging step are performed as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. .

Next, as shown in step (3) of FIG. 5, the opposing substrate 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered and the TFT array substrate 10 on which the frame 153 made of a light-shielding film is formed are sealed by the sealing material 52. Paste.

Next, as shown in step (4) of FIG. 5, the liquid crystal device main body completed in step (3) is housed in case 300.

As described above, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, in the step (2), no stress concentration occurs at the boundary between the image display region 10a and the frame region due to the aging process. The temporal deformation of the adhesive 210 due to the applied light L (see step (4)) can be very small.

In addition, according to the manufacturing method of the third embodiment,
As shown in the step (4 ′), the image display area 10a is not defined by the frame of the case 300, but the wide frame 15 is formed.
3 ′ may be provided on the TFT array substrate 10. Even if the wide frame 153 'is provided at the stage of the step (2), it is possible to irradiate the UV light without any problem because it is before the TFT array substrate 10 is bonded.

In the third embodiment, in the step (2), the adhesive 210 may be irradiated with heat in place of or in addition to the UV light to perform an aging process on the adhesive 210.

In particular, in the step (3), after bonding both substrates with the sealing material 52 as shown by the dotted arrow, aging treatment is performed on the adhesive 210 by irradiating UV light or heat through the counter substrate 20. (That is, in this case, UV light may be irradiated from both sides in the curing step, and UV light may be irradiated from one side in the aging step).

(Pixel Section of Electro-Optical Device) The pixel section of the electro-optical device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit of various elements, wirings, and the like in a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix forming an image display area of the electro-optical device. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a plurality of pixel groups adjacent to each other on a TFT array substrate on which data lines, scanning lines, pixel electrodes, light-shielding films and the like are formed, and light-shielding films and microlenses formed on a counter substrate. FIG.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode that incident light is condensed by the micro lens formed in the opposing board | substrate in a pseudo cross section. In FIG. 8, in order to make each layer and each member have a size recognizable on the drawing, the scale is different for each layer and each member. ,
The arrangement of the microlenses and the TFT is different from the actual arrangement. That is, actually, as shown in FIG. 7, the microlenses are arranged so that the lens centers thereof coincide with the centers of the respective pixels, and the TFTs are arranged so as to substantially correspond to the intersections of the light-shielding regions. I have.

In FIG. 6, a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix forming an image display area of the electro-optical device according to the present embodiment are provided with a TF for controlling a pixel electrode 9a.
A plurality of T30s are formed in a matrix, and a data line 6a to which an image signal is supplied is electrically connected to a source of the TFT 30. The image signals S1, S2,..., Sn to be written to the data lines 6a may be supplied line-sequentially in this order, or may be supplied to a plurality of adjacent data lines 6a for each group. good. Also, the scanning line 3a is electrically connected to the gate of the TFT 30, and the scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm are applied to the scanning line 3a in a pulsed manner in this order at a predetermined timing. It is configured. The pixel electrode 9a has a TF
Image signals S1, S2,..., And Sn supplied from the data line 6a are written at a predetermined timing by closing the switch of the TFT 30, which is a switching element, for a predetermined period. . The image signals S1, S2,..., Sn of a predetermined level written in the liquid crystal via the pixel electrodes 9a are held for a certain period between the counter electrodes formed on the counter substrate. The liquid crystal is
By changing the orientation and order of the molecular assembly according to the applied voltage level, the light is modulated to enable a gray scale display. In the case of the normally white mode, incident light cannot pass through this liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage,
In the case of the normally black mode, incident light can pass through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage, and light having a contrast corresponding to an image signal is emitted from the electro-optical device as a whole. Here, in order to prevent the held image signal from leaking, a storage capacitor 70 is added in parallel with a liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode.

In FIG. 7, a plurality of transparent pixel electrodes 9 are arranged in a matrix on the TFT array substrate of the electro-optical device.
a (indicated by a dotted line) are provided along the data lines 6 along the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the pixel electrode 9a.
a, a scanning line 3a, and a capacitance line 3b. Further, a TFT 30 is provided substantially corresponding to each intersection of these wirings. In the figure, each data line 6a, which is indicated by a dashed line and extends in the vertical direction, is a TF of the semiconductor layer 1a made of a polysilicon film or the like via the contact hole 5.
It is electrically connected to the source region of T30. The pixel electrode 9a is electrically connected to the drain region of the TFT 30 in the semiconductor layer 1a via the contact hole 8.
Further, each scanning line 3a extending in the left-right direction in the figure is arranged so as to face a channel region 1a ′ (a hatched region in the right-down direction in the figure) of the semiconductor layer 1a.
It functions as the gate electrode of FT30.

The capacitance line 3b has a main line portion extending substantially linearly along the scanning line 3a, and a protruding portion projecting upward in the drawing along the data line 6a from a position intersecting the data line 6a. The semiconductor layer 1a extends as a storage capacitor electrode 1f from the TFT 30 along the capacitor line 3b, and the storage capacitor electrode 1f and the capacitor line 3b are interposed via an insulating film (gate insulating film) as a dielectric. The storage capacitors are formed by being opposed to each other.

In the drawing, the scanning line 3a is shown by a one-dot chain line.
A first light-shielding film 11a composed of a plurality of striped portions is provided in a region extending in the left-right direction along the capacitor line 3b. Thus, the TFT 30 including the channel region 1a 'of the semiconductor layer 1a is configured to be covered from the TFT array substrate side. If a light-shielding film is also provided below the TFT as described above, one optical system is configured by combining the back surface reflection (return light) from the TFT array substrate 10 side and a plurality of liquid crystal devices via a prism or the like. In this case, it is possible to prevent a projection light portion or the like that penetrates through a prism or the like from another liquid crystal device from entering the TFT of the liquid crystal device.

FIG. 7 further shows that each pixel electrode 1
Micro-lens ends 500a of a plurality of micro-lenses formed so as to face each other, and a mesh-shaped light-shielding film 23 (a hatched line rising to the right in FIG. Area).

As shown in FIG. 8, the TFT array substrate 10
And the opposing substrate 20 (cover glass 200) are arranged to face each other, and the liquid crystal layer 50 is sandwiched between the two substrates. The TFT array substrate 10 is made of, for example, a quartz substrate, and has a counter substrate 20.
Is made of, for example, a glass substrate or a quartz substrate.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of the upper half of the schematic diagram of FIG.
A plurality of microlenses 500 arranged in a matrix for condensing incident light incident from the 0 side on a plurality of pixel electrodes 9a, respectively, and formed at positions facing the mutual boundaries of the plurality of microlenses 500, respectively. And a second light shielding film 23. A cover glass 200 is adhered to the entire surface of the microlens 500 with an adhesive 210, on which a second light-shielding film 23 and a counter electrode 21 are further formed (on the lower side in the figure). Micro lens 500
Is made of a photosensitive resin and has an adhesive 210
Is made of an acrylic adhesive having a refractive index close to that of air.
00 functions as a condenser lens.

In the lower half section of the schematic diagram of FIG. 8, a pixel electrode 9a is provided on the TFT array substrate 10, and a predetermined alignment process such as a rubbing process is performed on the upper side. An alignment film 16 is provided. The pixel electrode 9a is made of, for example, a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film (indium tin oxide film). Also, alignment film 1
6 is made of, for example, an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film.

On the other hand, as shown in the upper half cross-sectional view of the schematic diagram of FIG. 8, a counter electrode (common electrode) 21 is provided on the cover glass 200 over the entire surface thereof. Is provided with an alignment film 22 that has been subjected to a predetermined alignment process such as a rubbing process. The counter electrode 21 is made of, for example, a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film. The alignment film 22 is made of an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film.

With the above configuration, according to the electro-optical device of the present embodiment, the plurality of microlenses 500 provided between the opposing substrate 20 and the cover glass 200 allow the opposing substrate 20 Incident on the plurality of pixel electrodes 9a. Therefore, the effective aperture ratio in each pixel is increased as compared with the case where the micro lens 500 is not provided.

Then, the incident light from the counter substrate 20 side is respectively condensed on the condensing area 500b on the pixel electrode 9a by the microlens 500 (see FIG. 7), so that the utilization efficiency of the incident light is improved. At the same time, due to the presence of the second light-shielding film 23, the mechanical strength and the heat-shielding performance of the opposing substrate 20 are each significantly improved as compared with the case where the second light-shielding film 23 is not provided.

(Method of Manufacturing Microlens) Next, three methods of manufacturing the microlens 500 used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the first manufacturing method will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, on the substrate 20,
A photosensitive and heat-deformable resist layer 711 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, a mask layer 610 having a region to be etched as a positive image on the substrate 20 is positioned so as to overlap the resist layer 711, and ultraviolet rays are passed through the mask layer 610. To expose the resist layer 711. Next, FIG.
As shown in (c), the exposed mask layer 610 is developed to remove the exposed portions. As a result, the resist layer 711 remains in the portion where the microlens is formed, and FIG.
The heating step is performed in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the resist layer 711 is softened, and the corners of the resist layer 711 are rounded as shown in FIG. Next, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, dry etching is performed from the surface where the resist layer 711 is arranged in a matrix as a convex surface,
The micro lens 500 is formed on the surface of the zero. Next, as shown in FIG.
A photo-curable adhesive 210 is applied to the surface of No. 0, and a cover glass 200 made of neoceram or the like is pressed and bonded.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 9 (g), a second light-shielding film 23, a counter electrode 21 and an alignment film 22 are formed in this order by sputtering, coating or the like, and a micro lens 500 as shown in FIG. Then, the opposing substrate 20 including the second light shielding film 23 is completed.

Next, another method of manufacturing a microlens will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a mask layer 611 is formed on the surface of the glass substrate 1 which will be a forming die. Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, openings 611a are formed in the mask layer 611 in a predetermined planar arrangement by a patterning process using a photolithography method. Next, as shown in FIG. 10C, the surface covered with the mask layer 611 is put in a hydrofluoric acid-based etchant to perform wet etching. Next, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1D, the mask layer 611 is removed, the surface on which the concave portion 3 is formed is wet-etched again, and then a release agent layer made of a hydrofluoric acid-based or silicon-based material is formed on the surface of the glass substrate 1. 4 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 10E, a photocurable or thermosetting high refractive index resin material 5 is applied to the surface on which the release agent layer 4 is formed.
As shown in (f), the substrate 20 is pressed from above the high refractive index resin material 5, and the high refractive index resin material 5 is developed.
With the substrate 20 superimposed on the high-refractive-index resin material 5, the high-refractive-index resin material 5 is cured by irradiating or heating with ultraviolet rays, and as shown in FIG. The convex microlens 500 made of the refractive index resin material 5 is separated from the glass substrate 1. Next, as shown in FIG. 10H, an adhesive 210 made of a photocurable low-refractive-index resin material is applied on the convex microlens 500. Next, the cover glass 200 is pressed from above the adhesive 210 on the microlens 500 and cured.

Next, still another method of manufacturing a microlens will be described with reference to FIG. Although the above-described two microlens manufacturing methods form a convex lens, the microlens shown in FIG. 11 shows a method of forming a concave lens.

First, as shown in FIG. 11A, a mask layer 612 is formed on a substrate 20 made of neoceram or the like. Next, as shown in FIG. 11B, openings 612a are formed in the mask layer 612 in a predetermined planar arrangement by a patterning process using a photolithography method. At this time, it is desirable that the diameter of the opening 612a be smaller than the diameter of the concave curved surface portion to be actually formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the surface of the counter substrate 20 is isotropically etched from the opening 612a of the mask layer 612 to form the concave curved surface portion 6.
00 is formed. This etching is performed by wet etching using an etching solution mainly containing hydrofluoric acid.
Next, as shown in FIG. 11D, the mask layer 612 is removed by an etching process.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11E, a thermosetting adhesive 210 is applied to the surface of the microlens 500, and a cover glass 200g made of neoceram or the like is pressed and cured.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11F, 200 g of the cover glass is polished to obtain a cover glass 200 having a predetermined thickness as shown in FIG.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 11 (g), a second light-shielding film 23, a counter electrode 21 and an alignment film 22 are formed in this order by sputtering, coating or the like, and a micro lens 500 as shown in FIG. Then, the opposing substrate 20 including the second light shielding film 23 is completed.

When the aging treatment described in the first to third embodiments is performed on the adhesive of the microlens formed by the above-described method for manufacturing a microlens, the temporal deformation of the adhesive 210 is suppressed to be small. be able to.

(Modification of Electro-Optical Device) Next, a modification of the above-described electro-optical device will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the micro lens 50 shown in FIG.
For 0, it may be configured as shown in FIG.
That is, a transparent plate (microlens array) on which the convex surface of each lens is formed in advance is placed on the surface of the counter substrate 20 (the upper surface in the figure).
Counter substrate 2 with microlens 500 '
0 may be configured. In this case, the microlens array is covered with a cover glass 200 'with a photocurable adhesive 210'. In such a configuration, if the aging treatment is performed on the adhesive 210 'in the same manner as in each of the above-described embodiments, the same effect can be expected because the temporal deformation of the adhesive 210' is reduced. Further, such a microlens array may be attached on the surface of the opposite substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 50.

Second, the micro lens 50 shown in FIG.
Instead of 0, as another example of the plate-like member, the dust-proof glass 202 may be adhered to the surface (the upper surface in the figure) of the counter substrate 20 by a photo-curable adhesive 212 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a heat dissipation glass, a defocusing glass plate, or the like may be bonded to the surface of the counter substrate 20 with a photocurable adhesive 212. In any configuration, if the adhesive 212 is subjected to an aging treatment in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments, the same effect can be expected because the temporal deformation of the adhesive 212 is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 14, the occurrence of an image defect at the boundary between the image display area and the frame area in the case where the aging process is performed according to the embodiment of the present invention and in the case where the aging process is not performed will be described more specifically. Verification is added.

First, as a comparative example, when an aging treatment is not performed as in the present embodiment, an image defect (discontinuity in contrast) that can be visually recognized in about 200 hours by an accelerated test by irradiation with UV light is reduced. It occurs at the boundary between the region and the frame region. This is because, as shown in FIG. 14, the portion of the adhesive 210 covered by the light-shielding case 300 is not deformed by ultraviolet rays in an acceleration test (in actual use, for example, light from a light source such as a metal halide lamp). On the other hand, the portion of the adhesive 210, which is located in the window of the case 300 and in which the ultraviolet rays enter the image display area 10a, is greatly deformed by the ultraviolet rays.
It is considered that structural stress concentration occurs at the boundary between the two portions, and as a result, deformation of the counter substrate or the cover glass occurs near this boundary.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even the portion of the adhesive 210
Deformation has been completed to near saturation by light irradiation. Therefore, there is almost no deformation due to UV light in the accelerated test,
The image display area 10a is located in the window of the case 300.
Also in the part of the adhesive 210 where the ultraviolet rays enter, there is almost no deformation due to the ultraviolet rays.
Little structural stress concentration occurs at the boundary between the two parts. As a result, an image defect due to deformation of the counter substrate or the cover glass does not occur near the boundary. That is, deterioration with time due to long-term use hardly progresses. For example, the irradiation of UV light in the aging process is 2000 J
(Joule) energy, the life is extended about 20 times as compared with the comparative example described above (that is, the period in which no contrast abnormality occurs at the boundary is extended about 20 times), and the energy is 200 J. When this is performed, the life is extended about 10 times as compared with the above-described comparative example, and when the energy is 100 J, the life is extended about 7 times as compared with the above-described comparative example.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the case of an electro-optical device through which strong projection light is transmitted, such as a light valve for a projector, and particularly a light valve for B (blue), a micro lens array is used. This is very advantageous because it is possible to suppress a situation in which the adhesive bonding the plate or the like is deteriorated with time due to the projection light and adversely affects the adhesive. Further, the thinner the layer thickness of the adhesive 210 is, as far as good bonding can be performed, the more advantageously the time-dependent deformation can be reduced.

It should be noted that, even if the present invention is applied to any type of liquid crystal device other than the TFT active matrix driving method, such as the TFD active matrix driving method and the passive matrix driving method, the aging process is performed as in the above-described embodiment. Thus, a similar effect can be expected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the substrate 20 having the microlenses 500 and the like are bonded to the cover glass 200 via the adhesive 210 for each electro-optical device has been described. A plurality of opposing substrates 20 may be collectively formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, a large substrate (mother substrate) 20 'having a plurality of microlenses for an electro-optical device and a large cover glass 200' are bonded and pressed with an adhesive 210a. Next, UV light is irradiated to the photocurable adhesive 210a before photocuring via at least one of the large substrate 20 'and the large cover glass 200',
The cured adhesive 210 is obtained. Next, a predetermined amount of UV light is applied to the cured adhesive 210 via at least one of the large substrate 20 'and the large cover glass 200'. Thereby, an aging process is performed on the cured adhesive 210. Then, the dicing line 80
The opposing substrate 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered for each electro-optical device is obtained by dicing along. Thereafter, the opposing substrate 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered and the TFT array substrate 10 on which various elements, wirings, and the like are formed are bonded with a sealant 52.
By using such a manufacturing method, a plurality of opposing substrates 20 to which the cover glass 200 is adhered can be collectively subjected to the aging treatment, so that the process time and the number of processes can be reduced.

In the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment described above, for example, a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertically Aligned) mode, and a PDLC (Polym) are provided on the outer surface of the counter substrate 20 and the outer surface of the TFT array substrate 10, respectively.
A polarizing film, a retardation film, a polarizing plate, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction according to an operation mode such as an (er Dispersed Liquid Crystal) mode or a normally white mode / normally black mode. In addition, the counter substrate 2
A dichroic filter that produces RGB colors using light interference may be formed by depositing a number of interference layers having different refractive indexes on the zero. According to the counter substrate with the dichroic filter, a brighter color liquid crystal device can be realized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit and spirit of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification. Such a liquid crystal device or its manufacturing method is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0111]

As described in detail above, according to the method of manufacturing an electro-optical device of the present invention, various plate members such as a microlens array plate are bonded to a substrate such as a cover glass, a counter substrate, and an element substrate. In particular, it is possible to reduce deterioration over time of the image quality that occurs particularly near the frame area of the image display area. Thus, an electro-optical device capable of displaying high-quality images for a long time can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an overall configuration of a liquid crystal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line H-H 'of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a process chart showing a manufacturing method in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a process chart showing a manufacturing method in a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a process chart showing a manufacturing method in a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit such as various elements and wiring provided in a plurality of pixels in a matrix forming an image display area of a liquid crystal device manufactured by the manufacturing method of each embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the TFT array substrate in the liquid crystal device manufactured by the manufacturing method of each embodiment together with the components formed thereon as viewed from the counter substrate side.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which incident light is collected by a microlens provided on a counter substrate in a liquid crystal device manufactured by the manufacturing method of each embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a process chart sequentially showing a method of manufacturing the microlens shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a process chart sequentially showing another method of manufacturing a microlens.

FIG. 11 is a process chart sequentially showing another method for manufacturing a microlens.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a counter substrate in a pixel portion where another example of a microlens according to the embodiment is formed.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a counter substrate in a pixel portion to which a dust-proof glass plate is adhered according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device in the vicinity of a boundary between an image display area and a frame area, schematically illustrating a state of deformation of the counter substrate caused by deterioration with time in a comparative example.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of bonding an opposing substrate and a cover glass according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3a scanning line 3b capacitance line 6a data line 9a pixel electrode 10 TFT array substrate 20 counter substrate 23 second light shielding film 30 pixel switching TFT 50 liquid crystal layer 52 sealing material 101 data line driving Circuit 104: Scan line drive circuit 200: Cover glass 210: Photo-curable adhesive 300: Light-shielding case 500: Microlens

Claims (15)

[Claims] And a plate-like member bonded to the substrate by a photo-curable adhesive in both an image display area in which an image is displayed by display light and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area. A method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a light-shielding unit that shields the display light in the frame area; a bonding step of bonding the plate-shaped member to the substrate with a photocurable adhesive before photocuring. A curing step of irradiating the light-curable adhesive before light curing with light through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member to cure the light-curable adhesive; An aging process is performed on the cured photocurable adhesive by irradiating the curable adhesive with at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a aging step; and a step of providing the light shielding means after the aging step. 2. An electro-optical material sandwiched between a pair of substrates, a sealing material for bonding the pair of substrates around an image display region in which an image is displayed by display light, the image display region and the sealant. A plate-like member bonded to one of the pair of substrates by a photo-curable adhesive in both a frame region that defines an edge of the image display region, and a light blocking unit that blocks the display light in the frame region. A bonding method of bonding the plate-shaped member to the one substrate with a light-curable adhesive before light-curing, wherein the one-substrate and the plate-shaped member A curing step of curing the light-curable adhesive by irradiating light to the light-curable adhesive before the light-curing via at least one of the light-curable adhesive, and a predetermined amount of light and At least out of heat An aging step of irradiating one through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member to perform an aging treatment on the cured photocurable adhesive; and after the curing step, the pair of substrates is sealed with the sealing material. And a step of providing the light-shielding means after the aging step. 3. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 2, wherein the laminating step is performed after the aging step, and a step of providing the light shielding unit is performed after the laminating step. . 4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding unit comprises a light-shielding case in which the substrate and the plate-like member are accommodated. Method. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, before the aging step, a step of forming a light-shielding film for shielding the display light in the frame region on the substrate. 5. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined amount of light and heat is irradiated from a side on which no is formed. 6. 6. A substrate and a plate-like member bonded to the substrate by a photo-curable adhesive in both an image display area where an image is displayed by display light and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area. A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a light-shielding film that shields the display light in the frame region; and a bonding step of bonding the plate member to the substrate with a photocurable adhesive before photocuring. A curing step of irradiating the light-curable adhesive before light curing with light through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member to cure the light-curable adhesive; An age for performing an aging treatment on the cured photocurable adhesive by irradiating the curable adhesive with at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member. And a step of providing the light-shielding film on a substrate before the aging step. In the aging step, the predetermined amount of light from the side of the plate member where the light-shielding film is not formed is provided. And irradiating at least one of heat and heat. 7. A substrate, and a plate-like member bonded to the substrate by a photocurable adhesive in both an image display area where an image is displayed by display light and a frame area that defines an edge of the image display area. A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a light shielding unit that shields the display light in the frame region; and a bonding step of bonding the plate member to the substrate with a photocurable adhesive before photocuring. A curing step of curing the photocurable adhesive by irradiating light to the photocurable adhesive before the photocuring through at least one of the substrate and the plate-shaped member, and after the curing, Irradiating at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat to the photocurable adhesive through at least one of the substrate and the plate-like member; and providing the light-shielding means after the irradiating step. Preparation Method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, characterized in that. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plate member includes a microlens array plate. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member includes a dust-proof glass plate. 10. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the plate member includes a heat radiation glass plate. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plate member includes a defocus glass plate. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable adhesive is made of an ultraviolet curable resin, and the curing step and the aging step respectively irradiate ultraviolet rays.
2. The method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 1. 13. A substrate and a plate-like member bonded to said substrate by a photocurable adhesive in both an image display area where an image is displayed by display light and a frame area defining an edge of said image display area. Light shielding means for shielding the display light in the frame area, and after the curing of the photocurable adhesive, aging treatment by irradiation of at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat is performed by the light shielding means. An electro-optical device, which is provided before providing. 14. A sealing material in which an electro-optical substance is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and a sealing material for bonding the pair of substrates around an image display area where an image is displayed by display light, the image display area and the sealant. A plate-like member bonded to one of the pair of substrates by a photo-curable adhesive in both a frame region that defines an edge of the image display region, and a light blocking unit that blocks the display light in the frame region. Wherein the photocurable adhesive is subjected to an aging treatment by irradiation of at least one of a predetermined amount of light and heat after the photocurable adhesive is provided before the light-shielding means is provided. Optical device. 15. A substrate and a plate-like member bonded to the substrate by a photo-curable adhesive in both an image display area where an image is displayed by display light and a frame area defining an edge of the image display area. A light-shielding film that shields the display light in the frame area, and a predetermined amount of light and heat from the side of the plate-shaped member where the light-shielding film is not formed, with respect to the photocurable adhesive. An electro-optical device which has been subjected to aging treatment by at least one of irradiation.