JP2007035531A - Optical unit, backlight unit, electro-optic device and electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing optical unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical unit, a backlight unit, an electro-optic device and an electronic apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an optical unit capable of providing high luminance and reducing nonuniformity of luminance. <P>SOLUTION: The optical unit 1 includes a plurality of optical sheets 2a and 2b each having a microlens array 6 formed by arranging a plurality of microlenses 5a and 5b on a sheet 3. The plurality of optical sheets 2a and 2b are stacked such that, in a plan view seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the optical sheets 2a and 2b, the microlenses 5a of the optical sheet 2a that is to be located upper are disposed in gap parts 8 between adjacent ones of the microlenses 5b of the optical sheet 2b that is to be located lower. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical unit, a backlight unit, an electro-optical device, an electronic apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical unit.

  The backlight unit is used as a light source for a liquid crystal display device such as a notebook personal computer or a portable terminal, and is required to have high luminance and uniform luminance because of its function.

  A conventional backlight unit includes a light source, a light guide plate that guides light from the light source to the entire surface, an optical sheet (diffusion plate) that diffuses light emitted from the light guide plate, and the like. The optical sheet has a plurality of microlenses formed on the sheet (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an optical unit having a configuration in which a plurality of optical sheets having microlenses formed in a regular triangular lattice pattern or the like are stacked. In this optical unit, an attempt is made to achieve good light collecting properties by stacking optical sheets.

JP-A-6-27454 JP 2004-126376 A (FIGS. 1 to 3)

  However, in the above optical unit, when the arrangement pattern of the microlenses is a regular triangular or tetragonal lattice pattern, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of Patent Document 2, the positions of the microlenses are vertically aligned. Since they were the same, there was a tendency for light rays to pass through the gap between the lower microlenses and the gap between the upper microlenses. For this reason, it was hard to condense and high brightness could not be obtained. In addition, an array pattern in which microlenses are randomly arranged is also described in Patent Document 2. In this case, the microlens positions are the same in the upper and lower positions, and the microlens positions are overlapped in the upper and lower positions. Even in this case, although the number of light rays passing through only the gap is reduced as described above, it still exists, so that it is difficult to collect light and sufficient brightness cannot be obtained.

  An object of the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and can provide high luminance and reduce luminance unevenness, an optical unit, a backlight unit, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus. And an optical unit manufacturing method.

  In order to solve the above problems, the optical unit of the present invention includes a plurality of optical sheets having a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses formed on the sheet are arranged, and is perpendicular to the surface of the optical sheet. In a plan view seen from the direction, among the plurality of optical sheets, the plurality of optical sheets are stacked so that the micro lens of the upper optical sheet is disposed in the gap between the micro lenses of the lower optical sheet. This is the summary.

  According to this, a plurality of optical sheets having a microlens array are provided, and the optical sheets are stacked such that the microlenses of the upper optical sheet are arranged in a gap between the microlenses of the lower optical sheet in plan view. . Accordingly, the gaps between the lower microlenses are almost uniformly covered by the upper microlenses. That is, the gap between the upper microlenses is covered from below by the lower microlenses. Therefore, since the light beam passing through the gap between the lower microlenses passes through the upper microlens, for example, when the optical sheet is used as a diffusion plate of the backlight unit, high luminance can be brought about, and luminance unevenness is reduced. be able to.

  In the optical unit of the present invention, a plurality of optical sheets may be stacked with the surfaces on which the microlenses are formed facing each other.

  According to this, since the optical sheets are stacked with the surfaces on which the microlenses are formed facing each other, the facing microlenses fit into each other's gap, and the optical unit can be thinned. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the stacked optical sheets from being displaced.

  In the optical unit of the present invention, the curvature of the microlens may be different for each optical sheet.

  According to this, when the optical sheets are stacked, the distance to the display device differs depending on the upper and lower optical sheets, but by combining optical sheets with different curvatures of the microlenses, for example, the focal point according to the distance to the display device The distance can be adjusted.

  In the optical unit of the present invention, the size of the micro lens may be different for each optical sheet.

  According to this, when the optical sheets are stacked, the distance to the display device differs depending on the upper and lower optical sheets, but by combining optical sheets having different microlens sizes, for example, according to the distance to the display device The focal length can be adjusted.

  In the optical unit of the present invention, the material of the microlens may be different for each optical sheet.

  According to this, when the optical sheets are overlapped, the distance to the display device differs depending on the upper and lower optical sheets, but by combining optical sheets with different microlens materials, for example, the focal point according to the distance to the display device The distance can be adjusted.

  The optical unit of the present invention may apply diffusing fine particles to the microlens.

  According to this, the diffusibility can be further improved by applying the diffusing fine particles to the microlens.

  The gist of the present invention is a backlight unit including a light source and a diffusion plate that diffuses light emitted from the light source, and includes the optical unit described above as the diffusion plate.

  According to this, since a plurality of optical sheets are stacked and an optical unit in which gaps between microlenses are substantially covered with microlenses is provided, it is possible to provide a backlight capable of providing high luminance and reducing luminance unevenness. it can.

  The gist of the electro-optical device of the present invention is that it includes the backlight unit described above.

  According to this, it is possible to provide an electro-optical device that can provide high luminance and reduce luminance unevenness.

  The gist of an electronic apparatus of the present invention is that the above-described electro-optical device is mounted.

  According to this, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can provide high luminance and reduce luminance unevenness.

  The optical unit manufacturing method of the present invention includes an optical sheet forming step of forming a plurality of microlenses constituting a microlens array on a sheet to form a plurality of optical sheets, and a direction perpendicular to the surface of the optical sheet. In the plan view seen from above, a plurality of optical sheets are stacked so that the microlenses of the upper optical sheet are arranged in the gaps between the microlenses of the lower optical sheet among the plurality of optical sheets. And having a process.

  According to this, a microlens is formed on a sheet, and a plurality of optical sheets having a microlens array are formed. The formed optical sheet has a plurality of optical sheets so that the microlenses of the upper optical sheet are arranged in the gaps between the microlenses of the lower optical sheet among the plurality of optical sheets in plan view. Stack up. Therefore, the gaps between the microlenses are almost covered with the microlenses, so that high luminance can be achieved and luminance unevenness can be reduced.

  In the optical sheet forming step of the manufacturing method of the optical unit of the present invention, microlenses may be formed by an ink jet method.

  According to this, since the microlens is formed by the ink jet method, the desired size and curvature of the microlens can be easily formed.

  The optical sheet forming step by the ink jet method of the optical unit manufacturing method of the present invention includes a liquid repellent treatment step for applying a liquid repellent treatment on the sheet, and a lens material for discharging a liquid lens material that becomes a microlens material on the sheet. You may have a discharge process and the lens material hardening process which hardens the droplet of the lens material discharged and arranged on the sheet | seat.

  According to this, when the lens material is ejected by the ink jet method, the lens material droplet group disposed on the sheet becomes a lens material droplet on the sheet due to the liquid repellent effect applied on the sheet. This increases the contact angle of the sheet, and the spread area of the sheet relative to the amount of droplets can be kept relatively small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce problems caused by the connection with the adjacent lens material. Then, by hardening the droplet group of the lens material, microlenses having a uniform shape can be formed with high density on the sheet.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of optical unit]
First, the configuration of the optical unit according to the present invention will be described. 1A and 1B are configuration diagrams schematically showing an optical unit, in which FIG. 1A shows a sectional view and FIG. 1B shows a plan view.

  In FIG. 1A, an optical unit 1 is configured by stacking two optical sheets 2a and 2b.

  The optical sheet 2a includes a light-transmitting sheet 3 and a microlens array 6 in which a plurality of microlenses 5a formed on the sheet 3 are arranged. Similarly, the optical sheet 2b includes a light-transmitting sheet 3 and a microlens array 6 in which a plurality of microlenses 5b having substantially the same size as the plurality of microlenses 5a formed on the sheet 3 are arranged. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the upper optical sheet 2a is stacked such that the surface of the sheet 3 of the optical sheet 2a is in contact with the microlens 5b of the lower optical sheet 2b. The micro lens 5a of the upper optical sheet 2a is disposed in the gap 8 between the micro lenses 5b of the lower optical sheet 2b, and is stacked so that the gap 8 is covered with the micro lens 5a in plan view. Yes.

  The sheet 3 is light transmissive, and for example, a transparent resin material such as acrylic resin, glass, quartz, polycarbonate, polyester is used.

  The microlenses 5a and 5b have a substantially hemispherical shape and are formed on the sheet 3 so as to be arranged in a square lattice shape.

  For the microlenses 5a and 5b, for example, an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin or an ultraviolet curable epoxy resin is used, and examples of the precursor include a polyimide precursor.

  The ultraviolet curable resin comprises at least one of a prepolymer, an oligomer and a monomer and a photopolymerization initiator.

  In the ultraviolet curable acrylic resin, as prepolymer or oligomer, for example, acrylates such as epoxy acrylates, urethane acrylates, polyester acrylates, polyether acrylates, spiroacetal acrylates, epoxy methacrylates, urethane methacrylates Further, methacrylates such as polyester methacrylates and polyether methacrylates can be used.

  Examples of the monomer include 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, carbitol acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, and isobornyl acrylate. Monofunctional monomers such as zinc pentenyl acrylate, 1,3-butanediol acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol methacrylate, neopentyl glycol acrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate Bifunctional monomers such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, penta Risuri tall triacrylate, include polyfunctional monomers such as dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate.

  Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include acetophenones such as 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, butylphenones such as α-hydroxyisobutylphenone and p-isopropyl-α-hydroxyisobutylphenone, and p-tert-butyl. Halogenated acetophenones such as dichloroacetophenone and α, α-diclo-4-phenoxyacetophenone, benzophenones such as benzophenone and N, N-tetraethyl-4,4-diaminobenzophenone, benzyls such as benzyl and benzyldimethyl ketal, benzoin Benzoins such as benzoin alkyl ether, oximes such as 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2- (o-ethoxycarbonyl) oxime, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, etc. Sandton include benzoin ethers, benzoin ethers such as isobutyl benzoin ether, and radical generating compounds of Michler's ketones. The resin after curing the ultraviolet curable acrylic resin has an advantage of high transparency.

  Examples of the polyimide precursor include polyamic acid, polyamic acid long-chain alkyl ester, and the like. A polyimide resin obtained by thermosetting a polyimide precursor has a transmittance of 80% or more in the visible light region and a high refractive index of 1.7 to 1.9, so that a large lens effect is obtained. .

[Configuration of backlight unit]
Next, the configuration of the backlight unit according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the backlight unit.

  In FIG. 2, the backlight unit 40 includes a light guide plate 41 arranged in the immediate vicinity of the light source 42, a reflection plate 43 arranged facing the light guide plate 41, and a surface of the light guide plate 41 on which the reflection plate 43 is arranged. It is comprised with the optical unit 1 arrange | positioned on the opposite surface. The light source 42 is a lighting device, and for example, a cold cathode fluorescent tube or the like is used. The light emitted from the light source 42 is spread over the entire surface of the light guide plate 41 and is applied to the optical unit 1. The irradiated light is diffused through the microlenses 5 a and 5 b of the optical unit 1. The reflection plate 43 reflects the light emitted from the light source 42 so that the light is emitted from the entire surface of the light guide plate 41.

  The light guide plate 41 is formed with reflective dots (not shown). As the light from the light source 42 travels while being totally reflected in the light guide plate 41, it strikes the reflecting dots and changes its direction so that light of a component smaller than the total reflection angle is irradiated from the light guide plate 41. It has become. The arrangement of the reflective dots is arranged so as to become denser as the distance from the light source 42 increases so that the reflection of light is uniform. The optical unit 1 also has a function of making the reflective dots difficult to see by diffusion when viewed from the front of the light guide plate 41.

  The light guide plate 41 has a substantially flat surface and transparency to transmit light. For example, a transparent resin material such as acrylic resin, glass, quartz, polycarbonate, or polyester is used.

[Configuration of electro-optical device]
Next, the configuration of the electro-optical device according to the invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a liquid crystal display device as an electro-optical device.

  In FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device 50 includes a backlight unit 40 that emits light and a liquid crystal display unit 51 that receives and displays light emitted from the backlight unit 40.

  The liquid crystal display unit 51 includes an upper substrate unit 70 such that the lower substrate unit 60 is installed in the vicinity of the optical unit 1 of the backlight unit 40 and faces the lower substrate unit 60. The lower substrate portion 60 and the upper substrate portion 70 are maintained at an interval defined by the sealing material 52, and a liquid crystal material 53 is sealed in the interval.

  The lower substrate portion 60 includes a lower transparent substrate 61, a display electrode 62 formed on the upper surface of the lower transparent substrate 61, and a light distribution film 63 formed on the upper surface of the display electrode 62. A polarizing plate 64 is disposed on the opposite surface of the display electrode 62 with respect to the lower transparent substrate 61.

  The upper substrate portion 70 is in a direction facing the upper transparent substrate 71 and the lower transparent substrate 61, and in a region partitioned by the black matrix 72 formed on the surface of the upper transparent substrate 71 and the black matrix 72. Color filters 73 (R, G, B) as color elements are formed. Furthermore, a protective film 74 formed on the upper surfaces of the black matrix 72 and the color filter 73, a common electrode 75 formed on the upper surface of the protective film 74, and a light distribution film 76 formed on the upper surface of the common electrode 75. ing. A polarizing plate 77 is disposed on the surface of the upper transparent substrate 71 opposite to the color filter 73.

  The lower substrate portion 60 and the upper substrate portion 70 are bonded by the adhesive force of the sealing material 52, and the liquid crystal material 53 is sealed between the both substrate portions 60 and 70 defined by the height of the sealing material 52. .

[Configuration of electronic equipment]
Next, the configuration of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a personal computer as an electronic device. In FIG. 4, a liquid crystal display device 50 as an electro-optical device is mounted on the display unit of the personal computer 80.

[Method of manufacturing optical unit]
Next, a method for manufacturing the optical unit according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a process diagram showing a method for manufacturing an optical unit.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 110 denotes an ejection head, FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the ejection head,
FIG. 5A is a partially broken perspective view, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the main part.

  In FIG. 5A, the ejection head 110 includes a vibration plate 114 and a nozzle plate 115. A liquid reservoir 116 is disposed between the vibration plate 114 and the nozzle plate 115 so that the functional liquid supplied through the holes 118 is always filled. In addition, a plurality of partition walls 112 are located between the diaphragm 114 and the nozzle plate 115. A portion surrounded by the diaphragm 114, the nozzle plate 115, and the pair of partition walls 112 is a cavity 111. Since the cavities 111 are provided corresponding to the nozzles 120, the number of the cavities 111 and the number of the nozzles 120 are the same. The functional liquid is supplied to the cavity 111 from the liquid reservoir 116 through the supply port 117 positioned between the pair of partition walls 112.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, vibrators 113 are attached on the diaphragm 114 so as to correspond to the respective cavities 111. The vibrator 113 includes a piezo element 113c and a pair of electrodes 113a and 113b that sandwich the piezo element 113c. By applying a driving voltage to the pair of electrodes 113a and 113b, the functional liquid is discharged as droplets 121 from the corresponding nozzle 120. A functional repellent liquid layer 119 made of, for example, a Ni-tetrafluoroethylene eutectoid plating layer is provided on the periphery of the nozzle 120 in order to prevent flying of the droplets 121 and clogging of the nozzle 120. In order to discharge the functional liquid, an electrothermal conversion element may be used instead of the vibrator 113, and the material liquid can be discharged using thermal expansion of the material liquid by the electrothermal conversion element.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the optical unit will be described.

In the liquid repellent treatment step of FIG. 6A, the surface of the sheet 3 is subjected to liquid repellent treatment. The liquid repellent process is performed with CF ₄ plasma or the like.

  6B, droplets 121 of the liquid lens material 4 serving as a microlens material are discharged from the discharge head 110 toward the sheet 3, and the liquid lens material 4 is applied onto the sheet 3. To attach. When ejecting, the liquid lens material 4 is ejected by controlling the ejection amount and the ejection speed so as not to contact the adjacent lens material 4 after landing on the sheet 3.

  In the lens material curing step of FIG. 6C, the lens material 4 is cured by irradiating the lens material 4 with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device 160, thereby forming the microlenses 5.

  The optical sheet 2 is formed through the above steps.

  In the stacking step of FIG. 6D, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of optical sheets 2a and 2b formed by the above steps are stacked. At this time, the microlens 5a of the upper optical sheet 2a is disposed in the gap 8 between the microlenses 5b of the lower optical sheet 2b, and in a plan view viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet 3. The optical unit 1 is configured by stacking the gap portions 8 so as to be covered with the microlenses 5a.

  Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) In the optical unit 1, the gap 8 between the microlenses 5b of the lower optical sheet 2b is covered with the microlenses 5a of the upper optical sheet 2a in plan view. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 42 increases the amount of light passing through either of the microlenses 5a and 5b, so that the light is easily collected. When the liquid crystal display unit 51 is irradiated with the light, high brightness and uneven brightness are obtained. Can be reduced.

  (2) Since the microlenses 5a and 5b are formed by an ink jet method, they can be easily formed as compared with a photolithography method or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications are given.

  (Modification 1) In this embodiment, the optical sheets 2a and 2b are stacked so that the tops of the upper and lower microlenses 5a and 5b are in the same direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the microlenses 5a and 5b may be stacked to face each other. In this way, the opposing microlenses 5a and 5b fit into the gap 8 between each other, and the optical unit can be made thinner. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the stacked optical sheets from being displaced.

  (Modification 2) In this embodiment, a plurality of optical sheets are stacked so as to cover the gaps between the microlenses, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, as an optical sheet 2c in which a microlens 5c is formed on one side of one sheet 3 and a microlens 5d is formed on the other side of the microlens 5c. Also good. In this way, the gap is reliably covered with the microlenses 5c and 5d, so that high luminance can be achieved and the optical unit can be made thinner.

  (Modification 3) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the optical sheet 2c and the optical sheet 2a of Modification 2 may be stacked. In this way, the light condensing property is further improved, and high luminance can be brought about. In addition, since the microlenses 5a and 5d are fitted in the gap portion 8, the optical sheets can be prevented from being displaced.

  (Modification 4) In the present embodiment, the curvatures of the microlenses 5a and 5b of the upper and lower optical sheets 2a and 2b are formed to be substantially equal and stacked, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, optical sheets 2a and 2b having micro lenses 5a and 5b having different curvatures may be stacked. In this way, for example, the lower microlens 5b has a smaller curvature than the upper microlens 5a, so that the focal length with respect to the liquid crystal display unit 51 can be made substantially equal.

  (Modification 5) In this embodiment, the microlenses 5a and 5b of the upper and lower optical sheets 2a and 2b are formed to have substantially the same size and stacked, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, optical sheets 2a and 2b having microlenses 5a and 5b having different sizes may be stacked. In this way, for example, the lower microlens 5b is formed larger in size than the upper microlens 5a, so that the focal length with respect to the liquid crystal display unit 51 can be made substantially equal.

  (Modification 6) In this embodiment, the materials of the microlenses 5a and 5b of the upper and lower optical sheets 2a and 2b are the same. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the microlenses 5a and 5b formed of different materials are used. The optical sheets 2a and 2b having the above may be stacked. For example, a material that is larger than the refractive index of the material of the lower microlens 5b may be used for the upper microlens 5a. In this way, the focal length can be adjusted according to the distance to the liquid crystal display unit 51 by combining the optical sheets 2a and 2b made of different materials for the micro lenses 5a and 5b.

  (Modification 7) A light diffusing material may be applied to the microlenses 5a and 5b after the lens material curing step of FIG. According to this, the diffusibility can be further improved.

  (Modification 8) In the present embodiment, the optical unit 1 is configured by stacking the two optical sheets 2a and 2b. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three or more optical sheets having the microlens 5 may be stacked. In this way, it is possible to provide higher luminance and reduce luminance unevenness.

  (Modification 9) In the present embodiment, the optical sheet 2 is formed using the ink jet method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a photolithography method, an injection molding method, a transfer method using a mold, or the like may be used. Furthermore, the optical unit may be formed by stacking the optical sheets. Even in this manner, the optical sheet and the optical unit can be formed.

The structure which modeled the optical unit in this embodiment is shown, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a top view. Sectional drawing which modeled the backlight unit. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a liquid crystal display device as an electro-optical device. The perspective view which modeled the portable terminal as an electric equipment. The structure of a discharge head is shown, (a) is the perspective view which fractured | ruptured partially, (b) is principal part sectional drawing. Process drawing which shows the manufacturing method of an optical unit. Sectional drawing which modeled the optical unit in the modification 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which modeled the optical unit in the modification 2. FIG. Sectional drawing which modeled the optical unit in the modification 3. FIG. Sectional drawing which modeled the optical unit in the modification 4. FIG. Sectional drawing which modeled the optical unit in the modification 5. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical unit 2, 2a, 2b, 2c ... Optical sheet, 3 ... Sheet, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d ... Micro lens, 6 ... Micro lens array, 8 ... Gap part, 40 ... Back light unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Light guide plate, 42 ... Light source, 43 ... Reflector plate, 50 ... Liquid crystal display device as an electro-optical device, 51 ... Liquid crystal display part, 80 ... Personal computer as an electronic device, 110 ... Discharge head, 121 ... Droplet, 160: UV irradiation device.

Claims (12)

A plurality of optical sheets having a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses formed on the sheet are arranged;
In a plan view as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the optical sheet, among the plurality of optical sheets, the gap between the microlenses of the optical sheet that is the lower stage is the upper part of the optical sheet that is the upper stage. An optical unit in which the plurality of optical sheets are stacked so that microlenses are arranged. The optical unit according to claim 1,
An optical unit, wherein the plurality of optical sheets are stacked with the surfaces on which the microlenses are formed facing each other. The optical unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical unit, wherein a curvature of the micro lens is different for each optical sheet. The optical unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical unit, wherein the size of the micro lens is different for each optical sheet. In the optical unit as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The optical unit is characterized in that the material of the microlens is different for each optical sheet. In the optical unit as described in any one of Claims 1-5,
An optical unit, wherein diffusion microparticles are applied to the microlens. A backlight unit comprising a light source and a diffusion plate for diffusing light emitted from the light source,
A backlight unit comprising the optical unit according to claim 1 as the diffusing plate.   An electro-optical device comprising the backlight unit according to claim 7.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 8. An optical sheet forming step of forming a plurality of optical sheets by forming a plurality of microlenses constituting a microlens array on the sheet;
In a plan view as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the optical sheet, among the plurality of optical sheets, the gap between the microlenses of the optical sheet that is the lower stage is the upper part of the optical sheet that is the upper stage. And a stacking step of stacking the plurality of optical sheets so that the microlenses are arranged. In the manufacturing method of the optical unit according to claim 10,
In the optical sheet forming step, the microlens is formed by an inkjet method. In the manufacturing method of the optical unit according to claim 11,
The optical sheet forming step by the ink jet method includes:
A liquid repellent treatment step for performing a liquid repellent treatment on the sheet;
A lens material discharging step of discharging a liquid lens material which is a material of the microlens on the sheet;
And a lens material curing step for curing the droplets of the lens material that are ejected and arranged on the sheet.

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