JP2002148637A - Electrooptical device and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrooptical device improving display quality with a type of enlarging a display screen. SOLUTION: The electrooptical device is provided with a pair of substrates 1, 2, a sealant layer 91 which surrounds the outside of the display region 60 and which is arranged between a pair of the substrates 1, 2, joining them to each other and a spacer layer 92 which is formed out of the same material as the sealant layer 91 and which is formed inside the sealant layer 91 as a layer identical to the sealant layer. The display of the electrooptical device is viewed through an optical system to enlarge the display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electro-optical device having a seal layer formed to surround the outside of a display area and joining a pair of substrates to each other, and particularly to an electro-optical device suitable for mounting on a camera finder or the like. The present invention relates to an optical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a case where a liquid crystal device is incorporated in a viewfinder in order to perform a predetermined display in a viewfinder of a camera. In this case, the viewfinder of the camera has been made as small as possible due to the demand for downsizing the camera.
The photographer of the camera is designed to magnify the display image of the liquid crystal device incorporated in the viewfinder through a lens. Therefore, the liquid crystal device incorporated in the viewfinder is configured to be smaller and have higher definition compared to a liquid crystal device used in a form of direct visual recognition, such as a display device of a computer or a portable device. .

[0003]

In a conventional liquid crystal device, in order to make the distance between a pair of substrates constituting the liquid crystal device (hereinafter, referred to as a cell gap) substantially uniform, a shape surrounding the liquid crystal layer is employed. The substrates are held at predetermined intervals by a gap material included in the disposed seal layer and a particulate spacer dispersed and interposed between the substrates.
However, in the area surrounded by the sealing layer,
In the peripheral region near the seal layer, the pair of substrates is firmly held by the gap material in the seal material, so the cell gap can be said to be substantially uniform, but near the center of the region surrounded by the seal layer. Since the substrate is supported only by the spacers in the located display area, the cell gap tends to be smaller than that in the peripheral area. However, when observing the display of the liquid crystal device with the naked eye, the change in the cell gap in the region surrounded by the seal layer is
It has a negligible effect on the display.

On the other hand, when the liquid crystal device is miniaturized and the displayed image is enlarged and viewed through a lens as in the case where the liquid crystal device is incorporated in a viewfinder, each component constituting the liquid crystal device, that is, a pair of components is formed. The thickness of the substrate, the liquid crystal layer between the substrates, and the polarizing plate must be relatively large. In particular,
When the thickness of the liquid crystal layer becomes relatively large, that is, when the cell gap becomes relatively large, a slight change in the cell gap in a region surrounded by the seal layer also becomes relatively large. Then, there is a problem that color unevenness occurs in a display image observed by a viewer and display quality is impaired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-optical device that can improve display quality in a usage mode in which a display is enlarged and viewed.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates; and a sealing layer disposed between the pair of substrates in a shape surrounding the outside of a display area and joining the pair of substrates to each other. And a spacer layer disposed between the pair of substrates in a region inside the seal layer,
And the display of the electro-optical device is visually recognized through an optical system that enlarges the display.

According to this electro-optical device, since the change in the cell gap in the display area is suppressed by the spacer layer, the change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the display area can be suppressed, and the display quality can be improved. Can be. The spacer layer can be formed by using, for example, various printing methods. Examples of the electro-optical device include a liquid crystal device and a plasma display device. The position of the spacer layer may be any position provided that the spacer layer is covered with a light-shielding layer provided on the substrate on the display surface side and a viewer cannot observe the spacer layer. For example,
The position of the spacer layer can be provided between the seal layer and the display region within a range covered by the light-shielding layer, and is preferably provided near the display region in order to solve the above-described problem. The thickness of the spacer layer may be the same as that of the seal layer, or may be different from that of the seal layer. It is desirable that the thickness of the spacer layer be such that the change in the cell gap of the substrate is finally small.

[0007] The spacer layer may be formed inside the seal layer with the same material as the seal layer and as the same layer as the seal layer.

In this case, the spacer layer and the seal layer can be formed at the same time. For example, by forming the spacer layer and the seal at the same time using a printing technique such as screen printing, the thickness of both layers can be reduced. Since they can be easily matched, it is suitable when the thickness of both layers is desired to be uniform. Further, since there is no need to separately add an alignment step for forming the spacer layer or a forming step such as printing, manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0009] The electro-optical device may be mounted on a camera finder. Camera viewfinders include cameras that expose silver halide films, digital still cameras, and video camera viewfinders.

A liquid crystal may be sealed in a region between the pair of substrates and surrounded by the seal layer.
In a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates, it is necessary to secure a gap between the substrates to seal the liquid crystal.
The cell gap is likely to change. However, since the spacer layer is provided in the electro-optical device of the present invention, a change in the cell gap is effectively suppressed.

[0011] The spacer layer may be formed by being divided into a plurality of regions. In this case, the liquid crystal flows between the respective regions, so that the liquid crystal can be smoothly filled. Further, by arranging the regions so that the regions of the divided spacers are evenly distributed around the display region, the change in the cell gap in the display region can be effectively suppressed. You may arrange | position the area | region of the divided spacer in a display area. In addition, each area of the divided spacer may be arranged so as to surround the display area.

[0012] The spacer layer may be formed in a shape surrounding a periphery of a display area. In this case, since the spacer layer can be formed near the display region and the spacers can be evenly distributed around the display region, the change in the cell gap over the entire display region can be effectively suppressed.

A light-shielding layer may be provided at a position where the spacer is shielded so that the spacer cannot be seen. In this case, since the spacer is covered by the light shielding layer, the spacer does not affect the display of the liquid crystal device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: a pair of substrates; and a seal layer disposed between the pair of substrates and joining the pair of substrates to each other. In the method of manufacturing an electro-optical device in which a display is enlarged and visually recognized via a substrate, a seal layer having a shape surrounding the outside of a display region and a spacer layer in a region inside the seal layer are formed on one of the substrates. And a step of performing The method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention includes:
With such a configuration, a change in the cell gap in the display region is suppressed by the spacer layer,
A change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the display region can be suppressed, and therefore, an electro-optical device with improved display quality can be provided.

In the method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, the spacer layer may be formed inside the seal layer with the same material as the seal layer and as the same layer as the seal layer. .

In this case, the spacer layer and the seal layer can be formed simultaneously. For example, by forming the spacer layer and the seal simultaneously by using a printing technique such as screen printing, the thickness of both layers can be reduced. Since they can be easily matched, it is suitable when the thickness of both layers is desired to be uniform. Further, since there is no need to separately add an alignment step for forming the spacer layer or a forming step such as printing, manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electro-optical device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, taking a liquid crystal device mounted on a finder of a camera as an example.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a sealing layer and a spacer layer, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the liquid crystal device. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of a finder on which the liquid crystal device 100 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Includes a glass substrate 1 and a glass substrate 2 bonded to each other, and a backlight 3 arranged outside (the lower side in FIG. 3) of the glass substrate 2. The glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 are bonded to each other by a seal layer 91 (FIGS. 1 to 3). Liquid crystal is sealed between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 in a region surrounded by the seal layer 91, and the liquid crystal layer 4 is formed as shown in FIG. The glass substrate 2 is provided with an overhang region 2A that extends from the glass substrate 1 (FIGS. 1 to 3). As shown in FIG. 1, a display region 60 is provided in a region where the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 overlap. In the display area 60, an image projected on the viewfinder is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 3, an electrode 11 such as ITO formed in a predetermined pattern on the inner surface (lower side in FIG. 3) of the glass substrate 1 On the surface (upper side in FIG. 3), electrodes 21 such as ITO formed in a predetermined pattern are provided. These electrodes 11 and 21 are connected to terminals 22 (FIG. 1) formed in the overhanging area 2A of the glass substrate 2.
Connected to. On the outer surface (upper side in FIG. 3) of the glass substrate 1, a light shielding layer 5a is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the light-shielding layer 5 a is formed up to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the glass substrate 1 so as to surround the display area 60.

On the other hand, on the outer surface (lower side in FIG. 3) of the glass substrate 2, a light shielding layer 5b is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the light-shielding layer 5b is formed near the outer periphery of a region of the glass substrate 2 overlapping with the glass substrate 1.

In the liquid crystal device 100, by selectively applying a voltage between the electrode 11 and the electrode 21, a region 61 where the electrode 11 and the electrode 21 are formed at positions facing each other (FIG. 3). ), The transmission / non-transmission state of the liquid crystal layer 4 is switched. On the other hand, a rectangular transmissive region 51 (FIGS. 1 and 3) corresponding to the region 61 is formed in the light shielding portion 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission region 51 is formed to face each corresponding region 61. When the liquid crystal layer of the predetermined display area 61 is set in the transmission state, the light emitted from the backlight 3 is directed upward in FIG. 3 via the liquid crystal layer 4 in the display area 61 and the transmission area 51 opposed thereto. The photographer of the camera that is ejected and looks through the viewfinder can visually recognize the display of the predetermined shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 in a region sandwiched between the seal layer 91 and the display region 60, an arrangement 8 is provided so as to surround the display region 60. A spacer layer 92 composed of two regions is provided. The spacer layer 92 is made of the same material as the seal layer 91 and is formed simultaneously with the seal layer 91 as the same layer. After that, the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 are bonded via the spacer layer 92 and the seal layer 91. The spacer layer 92 has a function of bonding the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 together with the sealing layer 91, and keeps the distance between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 constant. Thereby, a change in the distance (cell gap) between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 in the display region 60 is effectively suppressed.

As the material of the seal layer 91 and the spacer layer 92, a thermosetting epoxy resin or an ultraviolet curable resin may be used, as well as a filler for preventing flow, or a gap material for keeping the thickness of the layer constant. And the like can be used. The seal layer 91 and the spacer layer 92 can be formed on the glass substrate 1 or the glass substrate 2 by using a printing technique such as screen printing.

In the liquid crystal device 100, by providing the spacer layer 92 between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2, a change in the interval (cell gap) between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 can be suppressed. In particular, the display region 60 is formed so that the spacer layer 92 surrounds the display region 60.
, And eight regions are arranged substantially evenly around the display region 60, so that the change in the distance (cell gap) between the glass substrates 1 and 2 in the entire display region 60 can be effectively prevented. Can be suppressed.
Further, since the spacer layer 92 is formed by being decomposed into eight regions, the liquid crystal can flow between the respective regions, and when the liquid crystal is injected from the injection port 91 a formed in the seal layer 91, There is no possibility that the flow of the liquid crystal is obstructed by the spacer layer 92.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of a finder on which the liquid crystal device 100 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 4, the light emitted from the backlight 3 was transmitted through the polarizing plate 6b, the glass substrate 1, the liquid crystal layer 4 (not shown), the glass substrate 2, the transmission region 51 (not shown), and the polarizing plate 6a. The light is reflected and reflected by a reflection means 8 (here, a reflection plate is shown as an example) such as a prism or a reflection plate, and is visually recognized as an LED image via an eyepiece 9. Light from the subject enters through the eyepiece 9 and is visually recognized as a subject image. Thus, the subject image and the LED image are combined and visually recognized as a finder image by the photographer. In the present embodiment, the display region 60 is formed by the spacer layer 92.
Since the change in the distance (cell gap) between the glass substrate 1 and the glass substrate 2 is suppressed, the photographer of the camera can visually recognize a display with less color unevenness.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the liquid crystal device 1
In the case of 00, the spacer layer 92 is covered two-dimensionally by the light-shielding layer 5a formed on the glass substrate 1, and the spacer layer 92 is not visible when looking through the finder. Therefore, even if the spacer layer 92 is provided near the display region 60 in order to reduce the change in the cell gap of the display region, the display of the finder is not affected.

Further, in the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment, the transmission region 5 defined by the light shielding layer 5a is formed in the region 61 where the electrode 11 and the electrode 21 are formed at positions facing each other.
1, the display is performed in a predetermined shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied as long as the display area is located at least near the center of the area surrounded by the seal layer.

In the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment, the light shielding layer 5a
Defines a display pattern, and usually a negative display (black background display) is performed. Here, the negative display means performing a bright display against a dark background. However,
The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a liquid crystal device that performs a positive display (white background display). Here, the positive display means performing dark display on a light background, contrary to the negative display.

In the above embodiment, a liquid crystal device has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a self-luminous display device such as an EL (electroluminescence) device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a seal layer and a spacer layer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of a finder on which the liquid crystal device 100 is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glass substrate (substrate) 2 Glass substrate (substrate) 60 Display area 91 Seal layer 92 Spacer layer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H089 MA04X MA04Y NA41 QA11 QA12 QA14 TA13 TA16 UA09 2H091 FA26X FD07 FD12 GA08 GA09 LA11 LA16 MA10 2H102 BB06 BB08 CA11

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A pair of substrates, a seal layer arranged between the pair of substrates in a shape surrounding the outside of a display area and joining the pair of substrates to each other, and the pair of substrates in a region inside the seal layer. And a spacer layer disposed between the substrates of the electro-optical device, wherein a display of the electro-optical device is visually recognized through an optical system that enlarges the display. 2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer layer is formed inside the seal layer with the same material as the seal layer and as the same layer as the seal layer. . 3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device is mounted on a camera finder. 4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a liquid crystal is sealed in a region between the pair of substrates and surrounded by the seal layer. 5. The electro-optical device according to claim 4, wherein the spacer layer is formed by being divided into a plurality of regions. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer layer is formed in a shape surrounding a display area.
The electro-optical device according to any one of the above. 7. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a light shielding layer is provided at a position where the spacer is shielded so that the spacer cannot be visually recognized. 8. A display device comprising: a pair of substrates; and a seal layer disposed between the pair of substrates and bonding the pair of substrates to each other. The display is enlarged and visually recognized through an optical system. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, comprising: forming, on one of the substrates, a seal layer having a shape surrounding a display region and a spacer layer in a region inside the seal layer. A method for manufacturing an optical device. 9. The electro-optical device according to claim 8, wherein the spacer layer is formed inside the seal layer with the same material as the seal layer and as the same layer as the seal layer. Manufacturing method.