JP2004086099A - Flexible liquid crystal panel device and electronic watch or mobile electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible liquid crystal panel device the entire region of which can be fixed along the curved surface of a panel frame main body. <P>SOLUTION: A flexible liquid crystal panel device 90 has a liquid crystal panel main body 40 and a panel frame structure body 50 for holding the liquid crystal panel main body 40 in a state curved in a oblique direction. The panel frame structure body 50 has a panel frame main body 60 provided with: a circumferential wall part 62 defining the outer circumference of a recessed part 61 with which the liquid crystal panel main body 40 engages; and a bottom wall part 61 defining the recessed part 61 together with the circumferential wall part 62 and supporting the bottom part of the liquid crystal panel main body 40. The liquid crystal panel main body 40 is provided with a protrusion part 43 protruding along an extended surface of the outer circumferential edge thereof on one end side of the curvature direction. The panel frame main body 60 has, at the circumferential wall part 63, visor-shaped protrusion parts 69 and 70 abutting against the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body 40 on the other end of the curvature direction and a circumferential direction and coming-out direction displacement regulating part 74 engaging with the protrusion part 43 on the other end side of the curvature direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexible liquid crystal panel device and an electronic timepiece or portable electronic device using the same, and more particularly, to a flexible liquid crystal panel device having a curved display surface and a portable electronic device using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Flexible having a flexible liquid crystal panel main body and a panel frame structure for holding the flexible liquid crystal panel main body in a curved state in which a major axis extends in a direction intersecting a cross section where the curvature of the display surface is maximum. A liquid crystal panel device in which a panel frame structure is composed of upper and lower panel frame members sandwiching a panel body therebetween has been proposed, and a substantially elliptical flexible liquid crystal panel body having a long diameter ( It has also been proposed to bend along a part of the cylindrical surface so that the direction inclined with respect to the long axis is the circumferential direction (the cross section where the curvature is maximum and the curvature is constant). . In this type of flexible liquid crystal panel device, an eave-shaped protrusion is formed on the peripheral wall of the lower panel frame member so as to form a guide groove between the lower panel frame member and the bottom wall of the lower panel frame member. When attaching, the flexible liquid crystal panel main body is locked in the guide groove of the lower panel frame member, and the upper panel frame member is placed and engaged with the lower panel frame member, An attempt is being made to hold the liquid crystal panel body in a curved state.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if eaves-like protrusions are formed at a plurality of locations so as to form guide grooves at a plurality of locations, a part of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body locked to the lower panel frame member extends the guide grooves. It is easy to be displaced (rotated in the circumferential direction) at all along the existing direction (to prevent such displacement, the size of the inner periphery of the receiving recess of the lower panel frame member and the size of the outer periphery of the liquid crystal panel) If they are strictly matched with each other, an excessive stress is applied to the outer peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is mounted, so that display unevenness of the liquid crystal panel may easily occur.) Therefore, when the liquid crystal panel is mounted, the upper panel frame member is moved downward while the part of the flexible liquid crystal panel is not sufficiently curved along the lower panel frame member due to misalignment of the liquid crystal panel. In many cases, it is necessary to assemble the panel frame member. As a result, when assembling the upper panel frame member at a predetermined position with respect to the lower panel frame member, the upper panel frame member contacts the lower panel frame member at a predetermined position over the entire area thereof. Before being squeezed, the flexible LCD panel main body, which is locked to the lower panel frame member, comes into contact with a portion of the flexible liquid crystal panel that has protruded due to insufficient bending. When flexing (curving) in accordance with the progress, the liquid crystal panel itself may be further displaced in the circumferential direction, and as a result, the flexible liquid crystal panel body itself is displaced from a predetermined position, and the upper and lower panels are displaced. There is a possibility that it will not be pinched at a predetermined position between the frame members.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a flexible liquid crystal panel device capable of temporarily fixing almost the entire area of a flexible liquid crystal panel along a curved surface of a panel frame body, and a flexible liquid crystal panel device. A portable electronic device using the same is provided.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the flexible liquid crystal panel device of the present invention has a flexible liquid crystal panel main body and a long axis extending in a direction intersecting a cross section where the curvature of the display surface is maximized. A flexible liquid crystal panel device having a panel frame structure that holds the panel frame in such a curved state, wherein the panel frame structure has an outer frame-shaped peripheral wall portion that defines a peripheral surface of a concave portion into which the panel body substantially fits. And a bottom wall portion that cooperates with the peripheral wall portion to define the concave portion and supports a bottom surface of the panel body fitted in the concave portion. The panel frame main body is provided with a projection protruding along its extending surface on one end side in the bending direction, and the liquid crystal panel main body is provided with the concave portion when the liquid crystal panel main body is placed on the bottom wall in the concave portion. Get out of Eaves-like projection that abuts the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body at the other end in the bending direction to prohibit displacement in the opposite direction, and the eaves-like projection that the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body abuts at the other end. In the state, the projection engaged with the projection at the one end in the curved direction to restrict the projection including the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body from being displaced in the circumferential direction of the recess or in the direction of coming out of the recess. Direction and pull-out direction displacement restricting means on the peripheral wall portion.
[0006]
In the flexible liquid crystal panel device of the present invention, the outer frame-shaped peripheral wall that defines the peripheral surface of the concave portion into which the panel body substantially fits, and the concave portion is defined in cooperation with the peripheral wall portion and fitted into the concave portion. The panel frame structure has a panel frame main body portion having a bottom wall portion supporting the bottom surface of the panel main body, and the panel main body is placed on the bottom wall portion of the panel frame main body portion of the panel frame structure at the bottom surface. In the state supported and supported, it can be fitted into the concave portion of the panel frame main body. Further, in the flexible liquid crystal panel device of the present invention, "the liquid crystal panel main body is provided at one end in the bending direction with a protruding portion protruding along the extending surface at a part of the outer peripheral edge thereof" and "the panel frame main body is When the liquid crystal panel main body is placed on the bottom wall in the concave portion, the liquid crystal panel main body abuts on the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body at the other end in the bending direction to prevent the liquid crystal panel main body from being displaced in a direction to come out of the concave portion. The eaves-like protrusions and the protrusions including the protrusions of the liquid crystal panel body come off from the circumferential direction of the recesses or from the recesses when the top surface of the liquid crystal panel body is in contact with the eaves-like protrusions on the other end side. The peripheral wall portion has a circumferential direction and a pull-out direction displacement restricting means that is engaged with the protruding portion at the one end side in the bending direction so as to restrict displacement in the direction. Protrusion that protrudes along the surface The liquid crystal panel main body, which is provided on the bottom surface and supported by the bottom wall and fitted into the recess of the panel frame main body, can be removed from the recess of the panel frame main body in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall of the panel frame main body. In addition to being restricted by the displacement direction restricting means and the eave-shaped projections of the panel frame main body, the circumferential displacement of the panel frame main body with respect to the recess is caused by the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall of the panel frame main body and the removal. Since the liquid crystal panel main body is regulated by the direction displacement regulating means, the liquid crystal panel main body can be temporarily fixed to the panel frame main body. Therefore, even when an external force is applied to the liquid crystal panel main body, there is little possibility that the liquid crystal panel main body will be displaced as a whole in the removing direction or rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the panel frame main body.
[0007]
As a result, for example, even when the panel frame structure has a lid-side panel frame member that is put on the peripheral wall of the panel frame main body so as to sandwich the liquid crystal panel main body therebetween in cooperation with the panel frame main body, When assembling the lid-side panel frame member to the panel frame main body portion so that the side panel frame member covers the peripheral wall of the panel frame main body portion, there is a possibility that the displacement of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body locked to the panel frame main body portion may occur. And the flexible liquid crystal panel main body is easy to be surely assembled at a predetermined position.
[0008]
In the flexible liquid crystal panel device of the present invention, since the panel frame main body itself can temporarily fix the flexible liquid crystal panel main body substantially along the curved shape of the concave portion of the concave portion of the panel frame main body portion, the panel frame structure The body may consist only of the panel frame body without separately providing the lid-side panel frame member. However, in order to stably hold the liquid crystal panel main body in the curved state, the panel frame structure preferably sandwiches the liquid crystal panel main body in cooperation with the panel frame main body in addition to the panel frame main body. In order to cover the peripheral wall of the panel frame body, a lid-side panel frame member is provided.
[0009]
The bottom wall portion of the concave portion of the panel frame main body portion is typically convexly curved on the front surface side, and the liquid crystal panel main body is temporarily fixed and held in a state of being convexly curved in the concave portion. . That is, when the display surface of the liquid crystal panel main body has a convexly curved surface, the panel frame main body portion is formed of a panel frame member located below the liquid crystal panel main body. However, even when the display surface of the liquid crystal panel main body has a convexly curved surface, for example, the panel frame member on the front side (upper side) may be the panel frame main body. In this case, the bottom wall of the concave portion of the panel frame main body serving as the upper panel frame member has a concave surface on the front side of the concave portion (actually, the side facing the liquid crystal display surface and the back side), The liquid crystal panel main body is incorporated into the concavely curved concave portion. In this case, although there is little risk of misalignment such as rotation due to the end of the liquid crystal panel body being raised above the peripheral wall of the concave portion, the bottom wall of the concave portion is typically an opening except for the peripheral edge. In view of the fact that the liquid crystal panel main body does not work as a support for the liquid crystal panel so that the liquid crystal panel main body is likely to be twisted at all, there is a possibility that the liquid crystal panel main body may take a position rotated with respect to the panel frame main body, so that the liquid crystal panel main body may be in The positional displacement regulating effect by the direction displacement regulating means is tentative.
[0010]
Further, the display surface of the liquid crystal panel main body may have a concavely curved surface. In that case, for example, by configuring the panel frame member on the upper side, that is, the front side, as the panel frame main body, the lower panel frame member is configured as the panel frame main body in the case of the convex display surface as described above. Work similarly. Even when the lower panel frame member is configured as the panel frame main body with respect to the concave display surface, the upper panel frame member is formed with respect to the convex display surface except that the bottom wall portion can support the panel main body in a wide range. This is the same as the case where it is configured as a frame main body.
[0011]
It is preferable that the bottom wall portion of the concave portion extends so as to support most portions such as the outer peripheral edge portion of the bottom surface of the liquid crystal panel main body. However, since the liquid crystal panel main body has relatively high rigidity, the bottom wall of the concave portion of the panel frame main body does not need to extend over the entire area as long as the panel frame main body can maintain desired rigidity. May have a depression or an opening. Further, in order to prevent the liquid crystal panel main body from maintaining a curved state so as to avoid a supporting surface deviated from the curved surface, a recess or an opening may be provided in some places on the bottom wall.
[0012]
Here, the eave-shaped protrusions cooperate with the surface portion of the bottom wall portion facing the bottom surface of the protrusions to form guide grooves extending in the circumferential direction of the concave portion, The corresponding portion of the outer peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel body fits into the guide groove. Therefore, as long as the eave-shaped protrusion extends inwardly of the recess so that the liquid crystal panel main body having a certain degree of flexibility is slightly curved and can be prevented from coming off the guide groove, It is preferable that the length of the liquid crystal panel is relatively short so that the related portion can be easily attached and detached, a natural curved state of the liquid crystal panel main body is allowed, and the display area of the liquid crystal panel main body can be kept to the maximum.
[0013]
The circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means is typically formed in the peripheral wall so as to open on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall at the one end side, and includes a lateral hole into which the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body is fitted. However, when the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body is in a state of abutting the eave-shaped protrusion on the other end side, the protruding portion including the protruding portion of the liquid crystal panel main body is displaced in the circumferential direction of the concave portion or in the direction coming out of the concave portion. Any structure or shape may be used as long as it is engaged with the protruding portion at one end in the bending direction so as to restrict the above. For example, instead of a so-called hole having a wall on the entire periphery, a peripheral wall may be used. A protrusion formed on the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel and an eave-shaped protrusion that can contact the upper surface on both sides in the circumferential direction of the protrusion of the liquid crystal panel main body on both sides of the depression (a structure similar to the above-mentioned eave-shaped protrusion may be used. But avoid misleading May be engaging portion consisting of a called eaves protrusion) is the one that cooperates therewith adjacent the recessed portion in this specification. Here, the eave-shaped protrusions forming the circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means in cooperation with the depressions are located adjacent to or close to the circumferential direction. The eaves-like protrusions positioned so that the liquid crystal panel main body can bend in the middle so as to be able to bend are not considered to form circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means in cooperation with the depressions.
[0014]
Here, with respect to the liquid crystal panel main body, the “projection portion” refers to a portion including the projection portion of the liquid crystal panel main body. In the case where the means for restricting displacement in the circumferential direction and in the pull-out direction comprises a lateral hole, it refers to a portion of the liquid crystal panel main body which is located on both sides of the projection and abuts the opposing surface of the eaves-like projection. .
[0015]
In any case, the projections of the liquid crystal panel main body are fitted into the circumferential and pullout direction displacement restricting means to substantially define the position and orientation of the projections of the liquid crystal panel main body. The position and orientation of the portion near the projection are defined. Here, the position refers to a position in a circumferential direction of the concave portion, a position in a depth direction of the concave portion, and a position in a direction coming out of the concave portion. The direction typically refers to a circumferential direction (a rotational state in a plane substantially along the extending direction of the concave portion). That is, by fitting the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body into the lateral hole or recess of the panel frame main body, the position and orientation of the portion or the portion where the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body is formed are defined.
[0016]
In the above description, the position regulation of the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body does not need to be excessively strict, but rather, in order to facilitate attachment / detachment of the liquid crystal panel main body and to avoid excessive local stress on the liquid crystal panel main body. It is preferable to provide a certain amount of play in the fitting. That is, it is preferable that the width in the circumferential direction of the lateral hole or the recess is slightly larger than the width of the protrusion of the liquid crystal panel main body, and the height of the lateral hole (the concave portion) is larger than the thickness of the protrusion of the liquid crystal panel main body. The length in the depth direction) and the depth of the depression are preferably slightly larger.
[0017]
The number and arrangement of the displacement restricting means in the circumferential and pull-out directions, such as the side holes, and the eave-shaped protrusions are determined according to the shape of the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal panel main body (substantially corresponding to the planar shape) and the curved state (curved shape). Is selected as appropriate.
[0018]
The curved surface defined by the surface of the bottom wall of the recess of the panel frame body may be convex in two directions, if desired, but is typically any arbitrary parallel to one axis. When a straight line intersects with the curved surface, it is curved in one direction so as to include the straight line in the plane. In other words, the liquid crystal panel main body is typically curved in one direction so that, when an arbitrary straight line parallel to one axis intersects the curved surface, the straight line is included in the plane. Also, regardless of whether the display area of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body is oval such as an ellipse, an oval, or a track, or a rectangle or a polygon such as a rectangle, the flexible liquid crystal panel main body has an elongated display area. The one axis extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction (long axis or major axis) of the elongated display area of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body.
[0019]
In the case of such a shape and curvature of the liquid crystal panel main body, if an excessive stress or local stress is applied to the liquid crystal panel main body, there is a high possibility that the display by the liquid crystal panel main body may become uneven. The pull-out direction displacement restricting means and the eave-shaped projections are typically formed in relatively small numbers and at positions separated from each other, and preferably, one circumferential direction and pull-out direction displacement restricting means (typically, a side hole) ) And two eave-shaped protrusions, the liquid crystal panel body is positioned and supported. In that case, typically, the flexible liquid crystal panel main body is configured to be positioned by the eaves-like protrusions or the lateral holes at positions forming the vertices of a triangle including the center of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body. In the case of three-point support, two circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means such as lateral holes may be provided, and one eave-shaped protrusion may be provided. The positioning of the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body is restricted by restricting the position and the orientation thereof, so that the degree of freedom is small. Even if the connection is loose fit, there is a high possibility that local distortion may occur in the liquid crystal panel body in the curved state. It is usually preferable to provide two eaves-shaped protrusions.
[0020]
If desired, one eave-shaped protrusion is provided and one circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means such as a lateral hole is provided, and the liquid crystal panel main body is temporarily fixed in a curved state by these two position restricting means. You may make it hold | maintain. In that case, typically, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the bending axis, both ends of the liquid crystal panel main body or the vicinity thereof are respectively locked by circumferential and pullout direction displacement restricting means such as eave-shaped protrusions and side holes. Next, circumferential and pull-out direction displacement restricting means such as eaves-like protrusions and side holes are arranged near both ends near the ends in the bending direction. In this case, the center (middle) portion of the curved liquid crystal panel main body is curved and easily jumps out, so that an eave-shaped protrusion is provided on one side of the middle portion so as to press the middle portion. Is often preferred. However, in that case, shifting the eaves-like projections and holes at both ends to the side opposite to the side where the eaves-like projections are located at the intermediate portion will be more suitable for uniform support of the whole, and in this way The resulting arrangement will substantially correspond to the triangular arrangement described above.
[0021]
The flexible liquid crystal panel device of the present invention is typically incorporated in an electronic timepiece in the form of a watch, for example. Of course, the flexible liquid crystal panel device may be incorporated in another wristwatch-type portable electronic device instead of a watch-type electronic clock, or may be incorporated in a portable electronic device other than a wristwatch type. It may be used as a display device of a device other than an electronic device.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0023]
【Example】
FIGS. 1 to 8 show a portable information device 1 as a portable electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The portable information device 1 is a wearable electronic device of a type worn on the wrist W like a wristwatch, and has a time display function as an arm-mounted watch, that is, a wristwatch, and other information processing functions as desired. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the portable information device 1 is regarded as a watch having a timekeeping function and the like, and the information device 1 is also referred to as a clock. However, the information device 1 may have other information processing functions as desired.
[0024]
As shown in an exploded view (exploded view) of FIG. 2, the portable information device 1 includes a case 10, a module fixing plate 20, a circuit block structure 30, a film liquid crystal panel 40 as a flexible liquid crystal panel, and a panel frame. And a flexible liquid crystal panel device 90 including a holding mechanism 50 as a structure. Note that the case 10 is covered with the lid 3 having the glass plate 2.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable information device 1 has a substantially elliptical display area D that extends diagonally with respect to the extending direction L1 of the wrist W of the left hand. The display area D is further obliquely curved. Although this curved shape may be given only to the film liquid crystal panel 40 and its holding mechanism (panel frame structure) 50 and the bottom of the case 10, in this portable information device 1, the film liquid crystal panel 40 and its holding mechanism are provided. In addition to the bottom 50 of the case 10 supporting the holding mechanism 50, the glass plate 2 of the lid 3 of the case 10 also has a curved shape.
[0026]
Therefore, in the following, this curved shape will be described in detail by taking the glass plate 2 as an example, but the description of the curved shape of the glass plate 2 applies to, for example, the film liquid crystal panel 40 substantially as it is. In the following, for simplicity of description, a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system XYZ with the center at the center of the surface of the glass plate 2 as the origin is used. Here, the X axis is the direction toward the hand along the extending direction L1 of the wrist W, the Y axis is the front when the left wrist W is arranged parallel to the front of the body and horizontally, and the Z axis Is assumed to coincide vertically upward when the XY plane is horizontal. It is also assumed that the XY plane is a tangent plane of the glass plate 2 at the origin of the coordinate system.
[0027]
In the illustrated example, the glass plate 2 of the portable information device 1 extends obliquely with respect to both the X axis and the Y axis in a direction connecting the second image limit and the fourth image limit, as can be seen from FIG. It has a major axis R01 and a minor axis R02 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the major axis R01 extends. More specifically, the outer peripheral portion or peripheral edge portion 4 of the glass plate 2 having a substantially oval planar shape has a long diameter end portion whose curvature in the vicinity of the long diameter end portion R01a located at the second image limit is located at the fourth image limit. It is sharpened so as to be larger than the curvature of the vicinity of R01b, and has a contour shape like a distorted spoon as a whole. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1D, when the wrist W is disposed obliquely and horizontally with respect to the front of the body, the long axis R01 extends right and left substantially parallel to the front of the body. The glass plate 2 has a substantially oblong shape elongated obliquely so that the short axis R02 extends in the front-back direction substantially perpendicularly to the front surface of the body.
[0028]
When viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the X-axis, the glass plate 2 has a curved surface with a radius of curvature C1, for example, as shown in FIG. Here, it is considered that the thickness of the timepiece 1 is small compared to the radius of curvature and can be ignored. However, when the curved surfaces of the respective parts of the timepiece 1 are concentric, depending on the position of the timepiece 1 in the thickness direction. The variation in the radius of curvature may be considered. The radius of curvature C1 is constant, for example, without depending on the position on the X-axis. That is, in this example, the glass plate 2 has a shape obtained by obliquely cutting out a part of a cylinder having a radius C1 whose generating line extends in a direction parallel to the X-axis. Therefore, the edge 4 of the glass plate 2 has a complicated shape curved in a three-dimensional space.
[0029]
In addition, the shape of the glass plate 2 illustrated here is an example, and the curvature of the glass plate 2 viewed in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis is, for example, as long as there are advantages such as ease of viewing and a preferable design for the user. The radius may not be constant. For example, the radius of curvature may gradually increase or decrease gradually as approaching both ends in the Y direction from the center, and in the + Y direction (forward). Other shapes such as a gradually increasing radius of curvature or a gradually decreasing radius are also possible. Here, the glass plate 2 refers to a transparent plate, and the material may be glass or ceramic or resin which is not generally called glass.
[0030]
Similarly, the shape in the extending surface of the glass plate 2 may be any other shape such as an elliptical shape or an oval shape instead of the spoon-shaped elliptical shape.
[0031]
In any case, when the bending direction of the film liquid crystal panel 40 (the direction of the cross section where the curvature is maximum (the radius of curvature is minimum)) intersects with an imaginary line extending in the extending direction of the long axis, The warped oval edge of the slab no longer rests on a horizontal plane and may have a complex three-dimensional shape.
[0032]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the case 10 includes a case body 14 having a bottom wall 12 and a peripheral wall 13 that define a housing recess 11, and bands 5 and 6 extending from the case body 14 ((b in FIG. 1)). )). The accommodation recess 11 is also roughly oval, and more specifically, has a shape in which one end 11a of the oval is slightly pointed. The bottom surface 15 of the bottom wall 12 of the housing recess 11 has a curved shape similar to that of the glass plate 2 as shown in FIG. Note that the band portions 5, 6 have respective base ends 5a, 6a at positions shifted in the X direction, and can be engaged with the distal end portions of the other band portions 6, 5 on the side opposite to the wrist W. Thus, they extend slightly inclining in the -X and + X directions, respectively.
[0033]
Therefore, for example, when the wrist W is attached to the left hand, as shown in FIG. 1D, when the wrist W is inclined, the long axis of the ellipse of the concave portion 11 extends left and right, and the short axis becomes Take a position that extends from the front to the back. Here, the directions of the long axis and the short axis of the recess 11 substantially match the directions of the long axis R01 and the short axis R02 of the glass plate 2. That is, the display of the portable information device 1 is performed in the direction shown in FIG.
[0034]
A receiving base 16 is formed at a corner where the peripheral wall 13 and the bottom wall 12 of the housing recess 11 of the case body 14 intersect. The pedestal 16 is engaged with an uneven portion on the bottom surface of the holding mechanism 50 of the film liquid crystal panel 40 to engage with an engaging portion (not shown) or a module formed on the upper surface to support the holding mechanism 50 as a panel frame structure. An engagement recess (not shown) into which the engagement protrusion of the fixing plate 20 is fitted is included.
[0035]
The module fixing plate 20 is made of a bent thin metal plate, and is bent upward with respect to the main body 21 at a plurality of flat bottoms forming the fixing plate main body 21 and at a plurality of edges of the main body 21. .. Are composed of protruding locking edges 22, 22,. Each of the locking edges 22, 22,..., As described later, has an engaging hole that engages with a locked projection of a lower panel frame member or a locked portion 78 of the holding member 60 as a panel frame body. , 23, 23,...
[0036]
The module fixing plate 20 is placed in the recess 11 of the case 10 so that the locking edges 22, 22,... Are accommodated in the corresponding cutouts or recesses of the pedestal 16 of the recess 11 of the case 10. You. The module fixing plate 20 has a thin plate-shaped main body 21 and an engagement along the inner surface of the recess 11 so as to secure as large a storage space as possible in the housing recess 11 having the bottom wall 12 having the curved back surface 15. Although having the edge portion 22, the circuit block structure 30 for various processes of the electronic device 1 including the film liquid crystal panel 40 and its driving and control can be stably supported while securing as large a space as possible in the housing recess 11. As long as the shape and the structure are different, they may be different, and in some cases, may be omitted. The bottom surface portion of the concave portion 11 on which the main body portion 21 of the module fixing plate 20 is placed is typically a flat surface. However, in some cases, even if there is unevenness, for example, a curved surface having a curvature radius of approximately C1 is used. There may be.
[0037]
The module fixing plate 20 further has a shielding terminal 24 protruding from the surface of the planar main body 21 and extending obliquely upward. An opening 25 is formed in the main body 21 of the module fixing plate 20 as desired. In the illustrated example, the module fixing plate 20 is formed by stamping a sheet metal.
[0038]
The circuit block structure 30 includes a circuit board 32 formed of a flat circuit board or a printed wiring board 31 and a number of circuit elements (not shown) mounted on the board 31, and a substantially flat board holding the circuit block 32. Circuit holding frame 33. The circuit board 31 of the circuit block 32 has a plurality of concave and convex portions on the periphery thereof, and the concave and convex portions are engaged with corresponding convex and concave portions of a complementary shape of the circuit holding frame 33 and fixed to the circuit holding frame 33. Is done.
[0039]
The circuit block structure 30 also has grooves 34, 34,... Which are locked to the locking edges 22, 22,. . The circuit holding frame 33 may have any shape and structure as long as it can be stably placed in the housing recess 11 in a state where the circuit block 32 is held. It has a substantially complementary shape to and lies along the inner edge of the cradle 26 of the section.
[0040]
The circuit board 31 of the circuit block 32 may be a flexible board instead of a rigid board. In this case, the circuit holding frame 33 has a shape and structure suitable for stably supporting the flexible board in the accommodation recess 11 while holding the flexible board. Will be. Of course, as long as the circuit block 32 having the rigid or flexible substrate 31 can be stably supported in the accommodation recess 11, the circuit holding frame 33 for supporting the substrate 31 may not be provided.
[0041]
A film liquid crystal panel 40 as a flexible liquid crystal panel is typically a transparent set of electrode carrying films such as a polycarbonate film having a liquid crystal layer and electrodes on both sides (up and down) of the liquid crystal layer. It has an integrated laminate comprising a layer 40a and polarizing plate layers 40b, 40c arranged on both sides of the film layer 40a (FIG. 7) and can be bent under the action of an external force. Note that an EL panel is typically disposed as a backlight on the back side of the lower polarizing plate. Therefore, here, it is assumed that the film liquid crystal panel 40 also includes the EL panel. However, in some cases, the EL panel may not be provided, and in this case, the lower surface (back surface) of the lower polarizing plate 40c is a reflection surface.
[0042]
Each polarizing plate layer of the film liquid crystal panel 40 includes a polarizing filter layer such as a stretched film of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and a protective layer for protecting the polarizing filter layer from both sides. When the polarizing filter layer is formed of a stretched film having a thickness of about 25 μm, the protective layer is formed of a relatively hard film such as a TAC (triacetyl cellulose) film which is thicker than the polarizing filter layer (for example, about 80 μm). As a result, the bending rigidity of the film liquid crystal panel 40 becomes relatively high, and when the film liquid crystal panel 40 is deformed along the curved surface defined by the holding mechanism 50 as the panel frame structure, it tends to return to the original planar shape. It is difficult to disregard the properties, and it is necessary to maintain the curved state relatively firmly.
[0043]
As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the film liquid crystal panel 40 has an almost elliptical shape similar to the glass plate 2 and the like, and has a protruding portion 43 on one side 42 of the outer peripheral edge 41. The protrusion 43 may have any shape as long as the width of the tip 44 is equal to or smaller than the width of the base 45 so that the insertion can be easily performed. In this example, the film liquid crystal panel 40 further has a similar protrusion 46 along the side portion 42 in addition to the protrusion 43.
[0044]
The film liquid crystal panel holding mechanism 50 as a panel frame structure includes a receiving recess 61 for accommodating the film liquid crystal panel 40 and a lower panel as a panel frame body for temporarily fixing and substantially holding the film liquid crystal panel 40. A frame member or holding member 60 and an upper side as a lid-side panel frame member which is placed on the lower holding member 60 and securely holds the film liquid crystal panel 40 in a curved state along the lower holding member 60. A holding member or a lid member 80.
[0045]
The panel frame main body, that is, the lower holding member 60 is made of, for example, an integrally molded product of a thermoplastic resin, and has an approximately elliptical outer shape as seen from FIGS. 2, 3, and 8. It has a curved surface shape that is almost the same as the lower surface 15. That is, the panel frame main body 60 has a constant curvature when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis that extends obliquely to both the major axis R21 and the minor axis R22 of the ellipse. And has a shape that extends along a curved surface that is curved. That is, the curved surface defined as a whole by the surface of the bottom wall 63 of the panel frame main body 60 is such that, when an arbitrary straight line parallel to one axis X intersects with the curved surface, the straight line is included in the plane. It is curved in one direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the panel frame main body 60 has a thick peripheral wall 62 extending along the peripheral edge of the panel frame main body 60 and cooperates with the peripheral wall 62. A bottom wall 63 defining a receiving recess 61 is provided on the upper surface side.
[0046]
Although the peripheral wall portion 62 may be formed over the entire periphery of the bottom wall portion 63, in this example, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 8, the peripheral wall portion 62 has three continuously extending peripheral walls. Notches or recesses 67a, 67b defined between the adjacent peripheral wall portions 64, 65 or 65, 66 or 66, 64 and having a bottom surface flush with the bottom wall portion 63. , 67c (denoted by reference numeral 67 when collectively referred to or not distinguished from each other). In the example described below, the notch 67a between the peripheral wall portions 64 and 65 and the notch 67c between the peripheral wall portions 66 and 64 may not be provided.
[0047]
In FIG. 3, the peripheral wall portion 64 extends over substantially the entire range from the first quadrant to the second quadrant, including the vertex R21a located at one end of the long diameter R21, and stands upright from the top surface near the vertex R21a. It has a columnar engaging projection 68 and a hook-shaped or eave-shaped projection 69, and, in other words, a portion near the one end R22a of the shorter diameter R22 of the ellipse, in other words, a pair of opposing substantially straight elliptical ellipses. An eave-shaped protruding portion 70 similar to the protruding portion 69 is provided substantially in the middle of one of the long sides S1 of the sides S1 and S2. Therefore, guide grooves or gaps 71, 71 corresponding to the height of the peripheral wall portion 64 are formed between the respective lower surfaces of the eave-shaped protrusions 69, 70 and the facing surface portion of the bottom wall 63. The width (height) of the guide grooves, that is, the gaps 71, 71 is slightly larger than the thickness of the film liquid crystal panel 40.
[0048]
In FIG. 3, the peripheral wall portion 66 extends over substantially the entire region from the third quadrant to the fourth quadrant, including the vertex R21b located at the other end of the long diameter R21, and stands upright from the top surface near the vertex R22a. And the other long side S2 of the pair of opposing long sides S1 and S2 of the ellipse, in other words, a portion near the other end R22b of the short diameter R22 of the ellipse. Has a small eave-shaped protrusion 73 similar to the protrusions 69 and 70 at a substantially middle portion of. A gap 71 corresponding to the height of the peripheral wall portion 64 is also formed between the lower surface of the eave-shaped projection 73 and the facing surface portion of the bottom wall 63. However, in this example, the projection 73 may not be provided. The peripheral wall portion 66 further has a slot or a tunnel-like horizontal hole 74 penetrating the peripheral wall portion 66 in the lateral direction at a portion of the long side S2 near the end portion R21b. This lateral hole 74 as a lateral hole cooperates with the two eave-shaped projections 69, 70 so as to form a triangle T including the center O of the recess 61 of the panel frame body 60, that is, such a triangle T Is formed at the position of the vertex of. Here, the center O typically corresponds to the intersection of the X axis and the Y axis in FIG. When the shape of the ellipse is relatively regular, the center of gravity of the figure having an outer shape corresponding to the intersection of the major axis R21 and the minor axis R22 and substantially matching the external shape of the recess 61 is used. Corresponds to position. However, strictly speaking, the shape of the ellipse can be considerably distorted, and therefore, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, the intersection of the X axis and the Y axis is the intersection of the major axis R21 and the minor axis R22. They may not coincide, and in such a case, the center O refers to a position substantially corresponding to the center of gravity and does not have to be exact.
[0049]
The bottom wall 63 has large openings 76 on both sides of a central portion 75 along the X axis. The openings 76 are used as a passage for passing wiring such as a flexible cable and a passage for passing related components during assembly. The bottom wall 63 further has a cylindrical projection 77 in a notch 67 between the peripheral wall portions 65 and 66. The cylindrical projection 77 guides a coil spring serving as a current supply terminal to an EL panel that functions as a backlight of the main body of the liquid crystal panel 40.
[0050]
An engaged portion 78 including a concave portion and a convex portion is formed on the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion 62, and the engaged portion 78 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 22 of the module fixing plate 20, and the panel frame body is formed. 60 is supported by the module fixing plate 20.
[0051]
The inner surfaces or inner peripheral surfaces 79 of the peripheral wall portions 64, 65, 66 constituting the peripheral wall portion 62 define the peripheral surface of the concave portion 61, and are defined as a whole (the skipped portions of the surface 79 are imagined to form an envelope surface as a whole). The liquid crystal panel 40 has substantially the same outline shape as the outer peripheral edge 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40. The liquid crystal panel 40 is assembled in the concave portion 61 defined by the peripheral wall portion 62 and the bottom wall portion 63.
[0052]
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the liquid crystal panel 40 has a groove portion 71 defined by the lower surface of the projection 69 of the panel frame main body 60 and the surface of the bottom wall 63, and the projection 70. A lateral portion in which the corresponding peripheral edge portions 47 and 48 are sandwiched by the groove portion 71 defined by the lower surface and the surface of the bottom wall 63 in the concave portion 61, and the projecting portion 43 is opened on the inner peripheral surface 79. It is attached to the panel frame main body 60 so as to be inserted into the hole 74 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) and the projection 46 fits into the notch between the peripheral walls 65 and 66. Here, the insertion of the peripheral portions 47 and 48 into the groove or the gap 71 and the insertion of the protrusion 43 into the lateral hole 74 may be performed first. In the mounted state, the liquid crystal panel 40 that is to be arranged in a curved manner along the direction parallel to the X axis rises from the panel frame main body 60 (displaces in a direction to come out of the concave portion 61), and the eaves-like projections 69, The lower surface 70 presses the surfaces of the corresponding portions 47 and 48 with the lower surfaces thereof and the upper wall surface of the horizontal hole 74 presses the upper surface of the protrusion 43, thereby restricting and actually prohibiting. Further, the projection 43 of the liquid crystal panel 40 is inserted into the horizontal hole 74 of the panel frame main body 60, so that the eave-shaped projection 69, of the panel frame main body 60, of the liquid crystal panel 40 in the bending direction Y of the liquid crystal panel 40. The position of the portion 49 (distant) away from 70 in the direction along the surface of the liquid crystal panel 40 is regulated by the side surfaces 74a and 74b of the horizontal hole 74, so that the liquid crystal panel 40 rotates in the circumferential direction in the surface. As a result, there is practically no risk of misalignment. As a result, the liquid crystal panel 40 can be temporarily fixed and held in a curved state along the panel frame main body 60 as shown in FIG.
[0053]
Therefore, in order to completely fix the liquid crystal panel 40 mounted along the curved shape to the lower panel frame member, that is, the panel frame main body 60 as shown in FIGS. It is sufficient to simply cover the panel frame member 80 on the upper side, that is, the lid side, having a complementary shape to the panel frame main body 60 holding the liquid crystal panel 40. That is, the lids are formed so that the projections 68, 72 and the eaves-like projections 69, 73 of the panel frame main body 60 fit into the holes 81, 82 and 83, 84, and the eaves-like projections 70 fit into the recess 85. What is necessary is just to overlap the side panel frame member 80 on the panel frame main body 60. At the time of disposing the lid-side panel frame member 80, since the liquid crystal panel 40 held in a curved state by the panel frame main body 60 does not actually interfere with the lid-side panel frame member 80, the liquid crystal panel 40 is It can be securely held at a predetermined position between the upper and lower panel frame members 80 and 60, and there is practically no risk of the position being shifted. Further, since the liquid crystal panel 40 can be held at a predetermined position, there is little possibility that the liquid crystal panel 40 is damaged.
[0054]
If the panel frame main body lacks the horizontal hole 74 for regulating the fitting / position of the protrusion 43, that is, the horizontal hole 74 as the position regulating means in the circumferential direction and the pull-out direction (such a panel frame main body and a liquid crystal panel are not provided). Here, the portions 49A of the liquid crystal panel 40A that are far from the eave-shaped protrusions 69 and 70 of the panel frame main body 60A may have insufficient curvature, as shown in FIG. In addition to this, the liquid crystal panel 40A is rotated clockwise in FIG. 9 (displaced) due to the fact that the portion 49A attempts to return to the original flat state, and as shown in FIG. In addition, there is a possibility that the peripheral edge of the portion 49A may be shifted in the circumferential direction beyond the peripheral surface 79 on the side S2 side of the peripheral wall portion 66 of the panel frame main body 60A.
[0055]
As described above, when the positional shift as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 occurs in the liquid crystal panel 40, there is a possibility that the liquid crystal panel 40 becomes difficult to be assembled at a predetermined position. In other words, the fitting of the lateral hole 74 and the protruding portion 43 prohibits such misalignment and enables the liquid crystal panel 40 to be assembled at a predetermined position.
[0056]
When the liquid crystal panel 40A is locked to the lower panel frame member 60A in the state shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in particular, the upper panel frame member curved similarly to the lower panel frame member 60A is connected to the liquid crystal panel 40A. To be placed on the lower panel frame member 60 </ b> A in which the upper panel frame member 60 </ b> A is locked, the central portion of the upper panel frame member in the curved state (the vertical central portion in FIG. 9 or the horizontal central portion in FIG. 10) is lowered. Before overlapping with the center of the side panel frame member 60A, the corresponding end portion of the curved upper panel frame member abuts on the end portion 49A of the liquid crystal panel 40A that protrudes in a non-curved state or a less curved state. Therefore, as the upper panel frame member is further pushed down, the end portion 49A of the liquid crystal panel 40A and the portion on the center side thereof are curved. However, since the deformation of the liquid crystal panel 40A due to the bending is not strictly regulated by the upper panel frame member, the liquid crystal panel 40A turns in the circumferential direction in the concave portion 61A, and the position of the liquid crystal panel 40A further shifts. There is a risk that various misalignments may occur, such as the central portion or the like being displaced in the circumferential direction and coming off from the eave-shaped projection 73 or the like, and the lid-side panel frame member can be attached to the lower panel frame member 60A. Also, there is a possibility that the liquid crystal panel 40A may be pinched while being displaced.
[0057]
Therefore, the horizontal hole 74 of the embodiment of the present invention is used to avoid the occurrence of the positional deviation as described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, in other words, the lower panel frame is insufficiently curved like the portion 49A. The eaves-like projections 69, 70 cooperate with the eaves-like projections 69, 70 forming guide grooves for the liquid crystal panel so as to avoid the occurrence of end portions that float from the members. The end portion (corresponding to the portion 49A) on the side away from 70 or a portion in the vicinity thereof functions to regulate not only the removal direction but also the circumferential position. When the position of the projection 43 of the liquid crystal panel 40 is regulated by the horizontal hole 74 of the lower panel frame member 60, the end of the concave portion 61 of the lower panel frame member 60 in the −Y direction of the liquid crystal panel 40 is formed. Even if a part that is not completely curved remains in the vicinity, the part 43 is held at a predetermined position in a state where positional deviation in the circumferential direction is prohibited by the horizontal hole 74, so that the arrangement of the upper panel frame member 80 is prevented. Since the end can be curved along the curved surfaces of the upper and lower panel frame members 80 and 60 with the installation, the horizontal hole 74 does not need to be located at the end in the −Y direction. It may be formed at a position that is not excessively separated from the end portion according to the degree of play in the circumferential rotation of the liquid crystal panel 40 caused by loose fit between the projection 43 and the projection 43.
[0058]
Returning to the description of the embodiment from FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, when the liquid crystal panel 40 is held by the panel frame structure 50 including the upper and lower frame members 80 and 60 to form the liquid crystal panel device 90, The device 90 is engaged with and fixed to the module fixing plate 20 on the circuit block structure 30, and is further covered with the lid 3 to complete the assembly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show a portable electronic device provided with a flexible liquid crystal panel device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. (b) is a top explanatory view of the outline of the electronic device of (a), and (c) is a side explanatory view showing a curved state of the flexible liquid crystal panel device in a state where the device is incorporated (not only a glass plate but also a bottom wall of a case, etc.). (D) is an explanatory diagram for explaining a normal visual recognition state of the display of the electronic device in (a).
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a lower panel frame member as a panel frame body of the liquid crystal panel device of the electronic apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing a state in which a flexible liquid crystal panel is mounted on a lower panel frame member of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a state in which the protrusion of the flexible liquid crystal panel is loosely fitted in the horizontal hole in the mounting state of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the protrusion of the flexible liquid crystal panel is loosely fitted in the horizontal hole in the mounting state of FIG. 4, as in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the mounted state in FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state before the lid (upper) panel frame member is further covered in the mounted state of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is an illustration for comparison similar to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the liquid crystal panel main body is mounted on the lower panel frame member when the liquid crystal panel main body lacks a projection and the lower panel frame member lacks a lateral hole. FIG.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory sectional view taken along line XX of the mounted state in FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Portable information devices (portable electronic devices)
2 Glass plate
3 lid
5,6 band
10 cases
20 Module fixing plate
30 Circuit block structure
40 Flexible LCD Panel
43 Projection
50 Panel holding mechanism (panel frame structure)
60 Lower panel frame member (panel frame body)
62 Perimeter wall
63 Bottom wall
69, 70, 73 Eaves-like protrusion
74 Side hole (side hole)
80 Upper panel frame member (lid member)
90 Flexible liquid crystal panel device
C1 radius of curvature
D Display area
L1 Wrist extension direction
O center
R01, R21 Long diameter (long axis)
R02, R22 minor axis (minor axis)
W Wrist (arm)
YZ plane Section with maximum curvature or plane parallel to it

Claims (8)

Flexible LCD panel body,
A flexible liquid crystal panel device having a panel frame structure that holds the flexible liquid crystal panel body in a curved state in which a major axis extends in a direction intersecting a cross section where the curvature of the display surface is maximized. ,
The panel frame structure includes an outer frame-shaped peripheral wall defining a peripheral surface of a concave portion into which the panel body is substantially fitted, and the concave portion defining the concave portion in cooperation with the peripheral wall portion and being fitted into the concave portion. A panel frame main body having a bottom wall supporting a bottom surface of the panel main body,
The liquid crystal panel main body is provided with a protruding portion protruding along a part of its outer peripheral edge along an extending surface on one end side in a bending direction,
The panel frame body is
When the liquid crystal panel main body is placed on the bottom wall in the concave portion, the liquid crystal panel main body is placed on the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body at the other end in the bending direction to prohibit the liquid crystal panel main body from being displaced in a direction to come out of the concave portion. An eaves-like projection that abuts,
When the top surface of the liquid crystal panel main body is in contact with the eave-shaped protrusion on the other end side, the projection portion including the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body is displaced in a circumferential direction of the concave portion or in a direction to come out of the concave portion. A flexible liquid crystal panel device having, on a peripheral wall portion, a circumferential direction and a pull-out direction displacement restricting means that is engaged with the protruding portion on the one end side in the bending direction to restrict the movement. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential direction and the pull-out direction displacement restricting means are formed in the peripheral wall so as to open on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall on the one end side, and comprise a lateral hole into which the projection of the liquid crystal panel main body is fitted. The flexible liquid crystal panel device as described in the above. The curved surface defined as a whole by the surface of the bottom wall of the panel frame main body is curved in one direction so that, when an arbitrary straight line parallel to one axis intersects the curved surface, the straight line is included in the plane. The flexible liquid crystal panel main body has an elongated display area, and the one axis extends obliquely to a longitudinal direction of the elongated display area of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body,
The flexible liquid crystal panel device according to claim 2, wherein the flexible liquid crystal panel main body is configured to be positioned by the eave-shaped protrusion or the lateral hole at a position forming a vertex of a triangle including the center of the flexible liquid crystal panel main body. . The flexible liquid crystal panel device according to claim 1, wherein the panel frame body has the eave-shaped protrusions at at least two places. The flexible liquid crystal panel device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of a bottom wall of the concave portion of the panel frame body is convex. The panel frame structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the panel frame structure includes a lid-side panel frame member that is put on a peripheral wall of the panel frame main body so as to sandwich the liquid crystal panel main body therebetween in cooperation with the panel frame main body. A flexible liquid crystal panel device according to any one of the above items. An electronic timepiece comprising the flexible liquid crystal panel device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A portable electronic device comprising the flexible liquid crystal panel device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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