JP2005134460A - Electro-optical device, electronic equipment, and manufacturing method of electro-optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optical device in which a fault does not occur to a sheet-like optical component such as a substrate for the electro-optical device or a polarizing plate stacked thereon even if the substrate for the electro-optical device made of a hard material is curved, to provide electronic equipment, and to provide a manufacturing method of the electro-optical device. <P>SOLUTION: To manufacture the electro-optical device 1, a 1st polarizing plate 140, a 1st spacer 260, a liquid crystal panel 100, a 2nd spacer 270, and a 2nd polarizing plate 150 are stacked in this order on a base 210 with a curved surface 220, and thereafter, while the 2nd polarizing plate 150 is being curved copying the curved surface 220 of the base 210, the outer circumference side is pressed toward the base 210, and this state is held by fixing the 2nd polarizing plate 150 to the base 210 with a double-coated tape 280. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical material is held on a substrate, an electro-optical device using the same, and a method for manufacturing the electro-optical device.

  In an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device or an organic electroluminescence display device, an electro-optical material is held by a substrate for an electro-optical device, and various images are displayed using an approximately central region of the substrate as an image display region. In the image display area, a large number of pixels including pixel switching elements and pixel electrodes are formed in a matrix in each position corresponding to the intersection of scanning lines and data lines extending vertically and horizontally.

For the electro-optical device, weight reduction is desired, and in order to meet such a demand, it has been proposed to reduce the thickness of the substrate for the electro-optical device made of glass (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-241803 A

  In addition, a display device using an electro-optical device is desired to have a new form in which the display surface of the electro-optical device is curved.

  However, in the case of a liquid crystal device or the like, after the two electro-optical device substrates made of glass are bonded together, liquid crystal is injected between the substrates to form a liquid crystal panel, and then the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel After that, the polarizing plate is attached with an adhesive, and then the liquid crystal panel is bent, so that the stress at that time is concentrated in the center and the polarizing plate is peeled off. This causes problems such as fluctuations in the substrate spacing. In addition, depending on how the stress is applied, there is a problem that the substrate for the electro-optical device constituting the liquid crystal panel is broken.

  In view of the above problems, even if a substrate for an electro-optical device made of a hard material is curved, there is no electrical problem that does not occur in the electro-optical device substrate or a sheet-like optical component such as a polarizing plate stacked thereon. An optical device, an electronic apparatus using the same, and a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the present invention, in an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical material is held by a thin plate-shaped electro-optical device substrate made of a hard material, at least the first member, the electro-optical device substrate. And the second member are stacked in this order, and the electro-optical device substrate is disposed in a curved state between the first member and the second member, and the second member is The electro-optical device substrate is curved while being fixed to the first member on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optical substrate while pressing the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate toward the second member. It is characterized by being restrained.

  In manufacturing the electro-optical device having such a configuration, the electro-optical device substrate is curved between the first member and the second member, and in this state, the outer peripheral side of the electro-optical substrate. The second member is fixed to the first member to restrain the electro-optical device substrate in a curved state.

  In the present invention, the electro-optical device substrate is a glass substrate or a quartz substrate.

  In the present invention, the electro-optical device substrate has a thickness of 250 μm or less, more preferably 50 μm or less.

  In the present invention, at least one sheet-like optical component is disposed so as to overlap the electro-optical device substrate on the side opposite to the first member with respect to the electro-optical device substrate. It is preferable that one of the optical optical components is fixed to the first member as the second member on the outer peripheral side from the electro-optical device substrate.

  In manufacturing the electro-optical device having such a configuration, at least one sheet-like optical component is disposed on the opposite side of the electro-optical device substrate from the first member. And one of the sheet-like optical components is fixed to the first member as the second member on the outer peripheral side from the electro-optical device substrate.

  In the present invention, a spacer is provided between at least one of the first member and the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and between the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and the second member. The electro-optical device substrate is disposed between the first member and the second member without causing the central region of the surface on which the spacer is disposed to be in surface contact with other members. It is preferable to be restrained in a curved state. When the electro-optical device substrate and the polarizing plate are brought into close contact with each other, a phenomenon such as Newton ring (interference fringe) occurs, and the appearance of the image display area deteriorates. If a gap is secured, such a problem can be avoided.

  In the present invention, a first spacer as the spacer is disposed between the first member and an outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate, and the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and the second member A second spacer serving as the spacer is disposed between the first member and the second member without causing the central regions of both surfaces of the substrate to be in surface contact with other members. It is preferable to be constrained in a curved state between the members.

  In the present invention, for example, a base having a curved surface as the first member, a first polarizing plate, the first spacer, the electro-optical device substrate, the second spacer, and the electro-optic A second polarizing plate having a larger area than the device substrate is disposed in this order, the first polarizing plate is disposed in a curved state along the curved surface of the base, and the electro-optical device substrate is The first polarizing plate is disposed in a curved state with the first spacer interposed therebetween, and the second polarizing plate is disposed between the electro-optical device substrate as the second member. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the second spacer is arranged in a curved state with the second spacer interposed therebetween and is fixed to the base on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optical device substrate.

  In the present invention, the base having a curved surface as the first member, the first polarizing plate, the electro-optical device substrate, and the second polarizing plate having a larger area than the electro-optical device substrate are arranged in this order. It is arranged in an overlapping manner, and at least one of the first polarizing plate and the electro-optical device substrate and between the electro-optical device substrate and the second polarizing plate is uneven. The second polarizing plate is fixed to the base on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optical device substrate as the second member, and the first polarizing plate is used for the electro-optical device. It is preferable that the substrate and the sheet having the projections and depressions are constrained to be curved along the curved surface. Here, the uneven sheet is disposed between the first polarizing plate and the electro-optical device substrate and between the electro-optical device substrate and the second polarizing plate. It is preferable. If comprised in this way, since the sheet | seat which has an unevenness | corrugation is arrange | positioned between a polarizing plate and the board | substrate for electro-optical apparatuses, the fall of the appearance resulting from generation | occurrence | production of a Newton ring can be prevented.

  The present invention can be applied when the curved surface is a convex curved surface or a concave curved surface.

  In the present invention, when the electro-optical device is a liquid crystal device, two substrates bonded together while holding the liquid crystal as the electro-optical material are used as the substrate for the electro-optical device.

  In the present invention, when the electro-optic device is an electroluminescence device, the electro-optic device substrate holds an electroluminescence material as the electro-optic material.

  The electro-optical device according to the present invention is used in an electronic apparatus such as a display device.

  In the present invention, the second member is fixed to the first member on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optic substrate while pressing the outer peripheral portion of the curved substrate for the electro-optical device toward the first member. The optical device substrate is restrained in a curved state. For this reason, the electro-optical device substrate does not need to be bonded and fixed to another member such as a polarizing plate. Accordingly, when the electro-optical device substrate is bent, a large stress is not directly transmitted from the electro-optical device substrate to the polarizing plate in the central portion used as the image display region, and also from the polarizing plate to the electro-optical device substrate. Large stress is not transmitted directly. Therefore, problems such as performance degradation and damage of the electro-optical device substrate and the polarizing plate do not occur.

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

[Embodiment 1]
(Basic configuration of electro-optical device)
1A and 1B are a configuration diagram and a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the configuration of the electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied as viewed from the counter substrate side. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of various elements and wirings in a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix in the image display region of the electro-optical device. Note that, in each drawing used in the description of the present embodiment, each layer and each member have different scales so that each layer and each member can be recognized on the drawing.

  1A and 1B, an electro-optical device 1 of this embodiment includes a transmissive or transflective active matrix liquid crystal panel 100. The liquid crystal panel 100 has a rectangular frame shape. A liquid crystal 50 as an electro-optical material is held between the TFT array substrate 10 (electro-optical device substrate) and the counter substrate 20 (electro-optical device substrate) bonded together by the sealing material 52 applied to the substrate. Yes. In addition, a peripheral parting 53 made of a light shielding material is formed inside the sealing material 52 along the sealing material 52. In this embodiment, the TFT array substrate 10 is larger than the counter substrate 20, and a large number of terminals 14 are formed along one side of the TFT array substrate 10 in the protruding region 12 from the counter substrate 20. Thus, the flexible substrate 120 on which the driving IC 110 is COF-mounted is connected. A configuration in which a data line driving circuit and a scanning line driving circuit are formed on the TFT array substrate 10 instead of the flexible substrate 120 on which the driving IC 110 is COF-mounted, or the driving IC 110 is mounted on the TFT array substrate 10. In either case, a terminal is formed in the overhang region 12 of the TFT array substrate 10.

  On the TFT array substrate 10, pixel electrodes 9a are formed in a matrix. A light shielding film 23 called a black matrix or a black stripe is formed in a region facing the vertical and horizontal boundary regions of the pixel electrode 9a of the TFT array substrate 10 on the counter substrate 20, and an ITO film is formed on the upper layer side. The counter electrode 21 is formed. In the case where the electro-optical device 1 is configured for color display, an RGB color filter and a surface protective film are provided in a region of the counter substrate 20 facing each pixel electrode (described later) of the TFT array substrate 10. Form.

  In the electro-optical device 1, the phase difference depends on the type of liquid crystal 50 to be used, that is, the operation mode such as TN (twisted nematic) mode, STN (super TN) mode, and normally white mode / normally black mode. Although a film, a polarizing plate, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction, only the first polarizing plate 140 and the second polarizing plate 150 are shown here.

  In the image display area of the electro-optical device 1 having such a structure, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of pixels 100a are configured in a matrix. In each of these pixels 100a, a pixel electrode 9a and a pixel switching TFT 30 (thin film semiconductor element) for driving the pixel electrode 9 are formed, and pixel signals S1, S2,... Sn are supplied. The data line 6a to be connected is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 30. The pixel signals S1, S2,... Sn written to the data lines 6a may be supplied line-sequentially in this order, or may be supplied for each group to a plurality of adjacent data lines 6a. Good. Further, 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 pulse-sequential manner in this order at a predetermined timing. It is configured. The pixel electrode 9a is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 30, and the pixel signal S1, S2,... Sn supplied from the data line 6a is turned on by turning on the TFT 30 as a switching element for a certain period. Are written in each pixel at a predetermined timing. In this way, the pixel signals S1, S2,... Sn at a predetermined level written to the liquid crystal 50 through the pixel electrode 9a are constant between the counter electrode 21 of the counter substrate 20 shown in FIG. Hold for a period.

  Here, the liquid crystal 50 modulates light and enables gradation display by changing the orientation and order of the molecular assembly according to the applied voltage level. In the normally white mode, the amount of incident light passing through the portion of the liquid crystal 50 is reduced according to the applied voltage. In the normally black mode, the incident light is changed according to the applied voltage. The amount of light passing through the portion of the liquid crystal 50 increases. As a result, the electro-optical device 1 as a whole emits light having a contrast corresponding to the pixel signals S1, S2,.

  In order to prevent the retained pixel signals S1, S2,... Sn from leaking, a storage capacitor 60 may be added in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode 21. is there. For example, the voltage of the pixel electrode 9a is held by the storage capacitor 60 (thin film capacitor element) for a time that is three orders of magnitude longer than the time when the source voltage is applied. As a result, the charge retention characteristics are improved, and the electro-optical device 1 with a high contrast ratio can be realized. As a method for forming the storage capacitor 60, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the storage capacitor 60 is formed between the capacitor line 3 b that is a wiring for forming the storage capacitor 60, or with the scanning line 3 a in the previous stage. Any of them may be formed between them.

  In the electro-optical device 1 of this embodiment, both the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are made of a very thin glass substrate or quartz substrate (hard material) having a thickness of 250 μm or less, and further 50 μm or less. In configuring the electro-optical device 1 with such a thin substrate, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a thick TFT array substrate 10 and a counter substrate 20 having a thickness of about 0.5 mm. Then, the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are each thinned to a predetermined thickness, for example, 25 μm, by polishing or etching. When the electro-optical device 1 is manufactured, the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are formed with various wirings and the like by a semiconductor process in the state of a large original substrate from which a large number of them can be obtained. Etching may be performed in a state in which the original substrates are bonded to each other or in a state of the single-size liquid crystal panel 100.

(Detailed configuration of electro-optical device)
In the electro-optical device 1 of the present embodiment, since the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 constituting the liquid crystal panel 100 are both thin, the arrows A1 and A2 and the arrow B1 shown in FIGS. It can be bent in any direction of B2. Therefore, for example, an example in which the liquid crystal panel 100 is bent in the direction indicated by the arrow B1 to form a curved display surface will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a base 210 (first member) having a curved surface 220 formed of a convex curved surface, a first polarizing plate 140 having a thickness of 300 to 400 μm, and a first Spacer 260, liquid crystal panel 100 including TFT array substrate 10 and counter substrate 20, second spacer 270, and second polarizing plate having a larger area than TFT array substrate 10 and a thickness of 300 to 400 μm. 150 (second member / sheet-like optical component) are arranged in this order.

  Here, the first polarizing plate 140 is arranged in a curved state along the curved surface 220 of the base 210. The liquid crystal panel 100 (TFT array substrate 10 and counter substrate 20) is arranged in a curved state with a first spacer 260 between the outer peripheral side and the first polarizing plate 140. The second polarizing plate 150 is disposed in a curved state with the second spacer 270 sandwiched between the second polarizing plate 150 and the outer peripheral side of the liquid crystal panel 100, and a double-sided tape or the like with respect to the base 210 on the outer peripheral side from the liquid crystal panel 100. The adhesive 280 is fixed.

  In manufacturing the electro-optical device 1 having such a configuration, the liquid crystal panel 100 is curved between the base 210 and the second polarizing plate 150, and in this state, the second outer peripheral side than the liquid crystal panel 100 is the second. The polarizing plate 150 is fixed to the base 210 with the double-sided tape 280 to restrain the liquid crystal panel 100 in a curved state.

  That is, after the first polarizing plate 140, the first spacer 260, the liquid crystal panel 100, the second spacer 270, and the second polarizing plate 150 are stacked on the base 210 in this order, While the polarizing plate 150 is curved following the curved surface 220 of the base 210, the outer peripheral side is pressed toward the base 210. As a result, the first polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100 are pressed and bent toward the curved surface 220 of the base 210 via the spacers 260 and 270, and this state is changed to the second polarizing plate. 150 is held by fixing it to the base 210 with a double-sided tape 280.

  Note that the positions of the spacers 260 and 270 and the fixing positions of the second polarizing plate 150 to the base 210 include the entire circumference or one of them if two positions on both sides sandwiching the curved portion of the liquid crystal panel 100 are included. Part.

  The electro-optical device 1 configured as described above displays an image with the side on which the polarizing plate 150 is disposed as a display surface. Here, if the liquid crystal panel 100 is a transmissive type, light from the backlight device indicated by an arrow L2 in FIG. 4 is modulated in the liquid crystal panel 100 and emitted as display light as indicated by an arrow L10. Furthermore, if the liquid crystal panel 100 is a transflective type, external light indicated by an arrow L1 in FIG. 4 and light from the backlight device indicated by an arrow L2 in FIG. As shown, the light is emitted as display light. Therefore, in these cases, a light-transmitting base 210 is used.

  If the liquid crystal panel 100 is a reflection type, external light indicated by an arrow L1 in FIG. 4 is optically modulated in the liquid crystal panel 100 and emitted as display light as indicated by an arrow L10. Therefore, in this case, the first polarizing plate 140 is not necessary. In addition, as the base 210, either a light transmissive material or a light transmissive material may be used.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in configuring the electro-optical device 1 having a curved display surface, the liquid crystal panel 100 is not bonded and fixed to other members such as the polarizing plates 140 and 150. Can be curved. Therefore, when the liquid crystal panel 100 is bent, it escapes between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the polarizing plates 140 and 150, and play is ensured. Therefore, in the central portion used as the image display area, the polarized light is polarized from the liquid crystal panel 100. A large stress is not directly transmitted to the plates 140 and 150, and a large stress is not directly transmitted from the polarizing plates 140 and 150 to the liquid crystal panel 100. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel 100, problems such as fluctuations in the distance between the substrates and breakage of the substrates do not occur, and the polarization characteristics of the polarizing plates 140 and 150 do not fluctuate.

  Further, the liquid crystal panel 100 is curved between the base 210 and the second polarizing plate 150 without the central region being in surface contact with other members (polarizing plates 140 and 150) by the interposition of the spacers 260 and 270. It is restrained in the state. That is, since a gap is secured between the central region of the liquid crystal panel 100 and the polarizing plates 140 and 150, Newton rings can be prevented from being generated.

  In this embodiment, the spacers 260 and 270 are disposed between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the polarizing plates 140 and 150. However, when a sheet having unevenness is disposed between the spacers 260 and 270, the spacers are disposed only on one of them. What is necessary is just to arrange. The uneven sheet serves to diffuse or scatter light.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment and later-described embodiments 3, 4, and 5 are the same as those of embodiment 1, the same reference numerals are given to portions having common functions. The description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 5, the electro-optical device 1 of the present embodiment uses the base 210 side as a display surface, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the electro-optical device 1 configured as described above, if the liquid crystal panel 100 is a transmissive type, light from the backlight device shown in FIG. 5 by the arrow L2 is modulated in the liquid crystal panel 100, and as indicated by the arrow L10. And emitted as display light. If the liquid crystal panel 100 is a transflective type, the external light indicated by the arrow L1 in FIG. 5 and the light from the backlight device indicated by the arrow L2 in FIG. As shown, the light is emitted as display light. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, a light-transmitting base 210 is used.

[Embodiment 3]
In the first embodiment, the spacers 260 and 270 are arranged between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the polarizing plates 140 and 150. However, in this embodiment, as described below, the spacers 260 and 270 are provided with irregularities. The sheet prevents Newton rings from occurring.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an electro-optical device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, in the electro-optical device 1 of this embodiment, the base 210 having the curved surface 220, the first polarizing plate 140, the liquid crystal panel 100, and the second polarizing plate 150 having a larger area than the liquid crystal panel 100 are arranged in this order. They are placed one on top of the other. In addition, a sheet 160 having first unevenness is disposed between the first polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100, and a sheet 170 having second unevenness is provided between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the second polarizing plate 150. Is arranged.

  Here, the second polarizing plate 150 is fixed to the base by an adhesive 280 such as a double-sided tape on the outer peripheral side from the liquid crystal panel 100, and the first polarizing plate 140, the liquid crystal panel 100, and the uneven sheet 160, 170 is constrained to be curved following the curved surface 220.

  Even in such a configuration, the liquid crystal panel 100 can be curved without being bonded and fixed to other members such as the polarizing plates 140 and 150 as in the first embodiment.

  Further, in this embodiment, sheets 160 and 170 having irregularities are arranged between the first polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100 and between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the second polarizing plate 150, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in appearance due to the occurrence of Newton rings.

  In this embodiment, the sheets 160 and 170 having irregularities are arranged between the first polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100 and between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the second polarizing plate 150. Depending on the case, a sheet having irregularities may be disposed only between the one side.

[Embodiment 4]
From the viewpoint of bending the liquid crystal panel 100 without bonding and fixing to other members such as the polarizing plates 140 and 150, the liquid crystal panel 100 may be configured as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, in the electro-optical device 1 of this embodiment, the base 210 having the curved surface 220, the first polarizing plate 140, the liquid crystal panel 100, and the second polarizing plate 150 having a larger area than the liquid crystal panel 100 are arranged in this order. They are placed one on top of the other. Further, the second polarizing plate 150 is fixed to the base by an adhesive 280 such as a double-sided tape on the outer peripheral side from the liquid crystal panel 100, and the first polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100 are curved along the curved surface 220. It is restrained to the state.

[Embodiment 5]
In the above-described embodiment, the base 210 including the curved surface 220 including the convex curved surface is used. However, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the base 210 including the curved surface 230 including the concave curved surface may be used.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 8, in the electro-optical device 1 of this embodiment, a base 210 (first member) having a curved surface 230 formed of a concave curved surface, a first polarizing plate 140, a first spacer 260, and a TFT array. The liquid crystal panel 100 including the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, the second spacer 270, and the second polarizing plate 150 (second member / sheet-like optical component) having a larger area than the TFT array substrate 10 are stacked in this order. Are arranged.

  Here, the first polarizing plate 140 is arranged in a curved state along the curved surface 230 of the base 210. The liquid crystal panel 100 (TFT array substrate 10 and counter substrate 20) is arranged in a curved state with a first spacer 260 between the outer peripheral side and the first polarizing plate 140. The second polarizing plate 150 is disposed in a curved state with the second spacer 270 sandwiched between the second polarizing plate 150 and the outer peripheral side of the liquid crystal panel 100, and a double-sided tape or the like with respect to the base 210 on the outer peripheral side from the liquid crystal panel 100. The adhesive 280 is fixed. Thereby, the 1st polarizing plate 140 and the liquid crystal panel 100 are restrained in the curved state.

  Even in such a configuration, when the electro-optical device 1 having a curved display surface is configured, the liquid crystal panel 100 is curved without being bonded and fixed to other members such as the polarizing plates 140 and 150. be able to. Therefore, when the liquid crystal panel 100 is bent, a large stress is not directly transmitted from the liquid crystal panel 100 to the polarizing plates 140 and 150 in the central portion used as the image display region, and the polarizing plate 140 and 150 is not connected to the liquid crystal panel. Large stress is not directly transmitted to 100. Therefore, no unnecessary gap is generated between the liquid crystal panel 100 and the polarizing plates 140 and 150. In addition, the liquid crystal panel 100 has the same effects as those of the first embodiment, such as the occurrence of problems such as fluctuations in the distance between the substrates and breakage of the substrates, and the polarization characteristics of the polarizing plates 140 and 150 do not change. Play.

  Although the present embodiment is an example in which the curved surface of the base 210 is a concave curved surface in the first embodiment, the base 210 including the curved surface 230 having a concave curved surface is used in the second to fourth embodiments. May be.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the double-sided tape is exemplified as the adhesive 280 for fixing the second polarizing plate 150 to the base 210 on the outer peripheral side from the liquid crystal panel 100, but the upper surface of the second polarizing plate 150 is a single-sided tape. A structure fixed to the base 210 or a structure in which the upper surface of the second polarizing plate 150 is mechanically fixed to the base 210 with a clip or a frame may be employed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where it bent in the direction shown by arrow B1 among arrow A1, A2 and arrow B1, B2 shown to FIG. 1 (A), (B) was demonstrated, other directions The present invention can also be applied to the case of bending.

  The present invention is not limited to an active matrix type liquid crystal panel using TFT as a pixel switching element as a liquid crystal panel, but an active matrix type liquid crystal panel using TFD as a pixel switching element or a passive matrix type liquid crystal. A panel may be used.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal device, and may be applied to an organic electroluminescence type display device shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an active matrix type electro-optical device using a charge injection type organic thin film electroluminescence element.

  The electro-optical device 1p shown in FIG. 9 is an active matrix type that drives and controls a light emitting element such as an EL (electroluminescence) element or an LED (light emitting diode) element that emits light when a driving current flows through an organic semiconductor film. Since all of the light-emitting elements that are display devices and are used in this type of electro-optical device self-emit, there is an advantage that a backlight is not required and that the viewing angle dependency is small.

  In the electro-optical device 1p shown here, on the TFT array substrate 10p, a plurality of scanning lines 103p, a plurality of data lines 106p extending in a direction crossing the extending direction of the scanning lines 103p, and these A plurality of common power supply lines 23p parallel to the data line 106p and a pixel region 15p corresponding to the intersection of the data line 106p and the scanning line 103p are configured. For the data line 106p, a data side driving circuit 101p including a shift register, a level shifter, a video line, and an analog switch is configured. A scanning side drive circuit 104p having a shift register and a level shifter is configured for the scanning line 103p.

  Each pixel region 15p holds a first TFT 31p to which a scanning signal is supplied to the gate electrode via the scanning line 103p, and an image signal supplied from the data line 106p via the first TFT 31p. A storage capacitor 33p to be connected, a second TFT 32p (thin film semiconductor element) to which an image signal held by the storage capacitor 33p is supplied to the gate electrode, and a common power supply line 23p through the second TFT 32p. Thus, a light emitting element 40p into which a driving current flows from the common power supply line 23p is configured. Therefore, since the storage capacitor 33p holds the image signal supplied from the data line 106p via the first TFT 31p, even if the first TFT 31p is turned off, the gate electrode 31p of the second TFT 32p is not connected to the image signal. Is held at a potential corresponding to. Therefore, since the drive current continues to flow from the common power supply line 23p to the light emitting element 40p, the light emitting element 40p continues to emit light and displays an image.

  Also in such an electro-optical device 1p, since the light emitting element 40p, the TFT 31p, the data line 106p, and the like are formed on the TFT array substrate 10p using a semiconductor process, a hard substrate such as a glass substrate is used as the TFT array substrate 10p. Is used. Even in such a case, the present invention may be applied when the substrate is thinned and curved by polishing or the like.

[Application to electronic devices]
As an example of an electronic apparatus using the electro-optical device according to the present invention, although not shown, the electronic apparatus can be used as a display unit of a portable electronic apparatus such as a mobile phone or a mobile computer, or can be displayed on a street or in a storefront. It can be used for an electronic device such as a large display device that performs the above.

  In the present invention, the second member is fixed to the first member on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optic substrate while pressing the outer peripheral portion of the curved substrate for the electro-optical device toward the first member. The optical device substrate is restrained in a curved state. For this reason, the electro-optical device substrate does not need to be bonded and fixed to another member such as a polarizing plate. Accordingly, when the electro-optical device substrate is bent, a large stress is not directly transmitted from the electro-optical device substrate to the polarizing plate in the central portion used as the image display region, and also from the polarizing plate to the electro-optical device substrate. Large stress is not transmitted directly. Therefore, an unnecessary gap is not generated between the substrate for the electro-optical device and the polarizing plate, and problems such as performance deterioration and damage of the electro-optical device substrate and the polarizing plate do not occur. Therefore, the electro-optical device according to the present invention can be used as a new type display unit in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or a mobile computer, or in an electronic device such as a large display device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a configuration diagram and a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the configuration of the electro-optical device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the counter substrate side. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of various elements and wirings in a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix in the image display region of the electro-optical device shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the electro-optical device shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram of an active matrix type electro-optical device using a charge injection type organic thin film electroluminescence element.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electro-optical device, 10 TFT array substrate, 20 Opposite substrate, 100 Liquid crystal panel, 100 'Liquid crystal panel in process of manufacture, 140 1st polarizing plate, 150 2nd polarizing plate (2nd member / sheet-like optical component ), 160 sheet sheet having first unevenness, 170 sheet sheet having second unevenness, 210 base (first member), 220, 230 curved surface, 260 first spacer, 270 second spacer, 280 Adhesive

Claims (16)

In an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical material is held by a thin plate-shaped electro-optical device substrate made of a hard material,
At least the first member, the electro-optical device substrate, and the second member are arranged to overlap in this order,
The electro-optical device substrate is disposed in a curved state between the first member and the second member,
The second member is fixed to the first member on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optic substrate while pressing the outer peripheral portion of the substrate for the electro-optical device toward the first member. An electro-optical device characterized in that the substrate is constrained in a curved state.   2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device substrate is a glass substrate or a quartz substrate.   3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device substrate has a thickness of 250 μm or less. 4. The electro-optical device substrate according to claim 1, wherein at least one sheet-like optical component is superimposed on the electro-optical device substrate on a side opposite to the first member with respect to the electro-optical device substrate. Arranged,
One of the sheet-like optical components is fixed to the first member as the second member on the outer peripheral side from the substrate for the electro-optical device. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gap between the first member and the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and between the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and the second member. A spacer is disposed on at least one of
In the electro-optical device substrate, the central region of the surface on which the spacer is disposed is curved between the first member and the second member without being in surface contact with other members. An electro-optical device that is constrained by The first spacer as the spacer is disposed between the first member and an outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate, and the outer peripheral portion of the electro-optical device substrate and the second A second spacer as the spacer is disposed between the member and the member;
The electro-optical device substrate is constrained in a curved state between the first member and the second member, with the central regions of both surfaces thereof not in surface contact with other members. An electro-optical device. 7. The base having a curved surface as the first member, the first polarizing plate, the first spacer, the electro-optical device substrate, the second spacer, and the electro-optical device. A second polarizing plate with a larger area than the substrate is placed in this order,
The first polarizing plate is disposed in a curved state along the curved surface of the base,
The electro-optical device substrate is disposed in a curved state with the first spacer between the first polarizing plate,
The second polarizing plate is arranged as a second member in a curved state with the second spacer between the electro-optical device substrate and the outer periphery of the electro-optical device substrate. An electro-optical device fixed to the base on the side. 5. The base having a curved surface as the first member, the first polarizing plate, the electro-optical device substrate, and the second substrate having a larger area than the electro-optical device substrate according to claim 1. Of the first and second polarizing plates and the electro-optical device substrate, and between the electro-optical device substrate and the second polarizing plate. At least one is provided with a sheet having irregularities,
The second polarizing plate, as the second member, is fixed to the base on the outer peripheral side from the electro-optical device substrate, and the first polarizing plate, the electro-optical device substrate, and the unevenness An electro-optical device, characterized in that a sheet having a curved shape is constrained to be curved following the curved surface.   9. The sheet having the unevenness is disposed between the first polarizing plate and the electro-optical device substrate and between the electro-optical device substrate and the second polarizing plate. An electro-optical device.   The electro-optical device according to claim 7, wherein the curved surface is a convex curved surface.   10. The electro-optical device according to claim 7, wherein the curved surface is a concave curved surface.   13. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device substrate includes two substrates bonded together with a liquid crystal serving as the electro-optical material interposed therebetween.   5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device substrate holds an electroluminescence material as the electro-optical material.   An electronic apparatus using the electro-optical device defined in any one of claims 1 to 13. In a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical material is held by a thin plate-shaped electro-optical device substrate made of a hard material,
The electro-optical device substrate is curved between the first member and the second member, and in this state, the second member is fixed to the first member on the outer peripheral side of the electro-optical substrate. Then, the electro-optic device substrate is constrained in a curved state. In Claim 15, on the side opposite to the first member with respect to the electro-optical device substrate, at least one sheet-like optical component is disposed so as to overlap the electro-optical device substrate,
One of the sheet-like optical components is fixed to the first member as the second member on the outer peripheral side from the electro-optical device substrate.

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