JP4218732B2 - Display device and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device including a surface light source unit and an electronic apparatus using the display device.

  Electronic devices, particularly portable electronic devices, tend to be increasingly smaller and thinner. In many cases, a display device is integrally formed as a display unit of an electronic device. As such a display device, a display device formed by combining a display panel and a surface light source unit, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal display device is often used.

  By the way, in a display device formed by using a display panel and a surface light source unit, they are not completely the same shape in a plan view, and an unused space is likely to be generated. Therefore, when a display device that combines a display panel and a surface light source unit is used in an electronic device where downsizing and thinning are important, a specially designed design should be used so that unused space does not occur as much as possible. There is a need to do.

  In addition, one of those generally used as a surface light source unit is formed by arranging a light source along one end surface of a light guide plate. In such a surface light source unit, there is a problem that remarkable luminance unevenness is often seen in light emitted from the region of the light guide plate close to the light source. Further, when a fluorescent tube is used as a light source in such a surface light source unit, the amount of light emission from the position of the light guide plate corresponding to the region is accompanied by the presence of a region that emits little light at both ends of the fluorescent tube. There is also a problem that the brightness becomes less and causes uneven brightness.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a display device having at least one of the following effects and an electronic apparatus using the display device.

  1) In a display device provided with a surface light source unit, the space left unused can be reduced, and the size and thickness can be reduced.

  2) In a display device including a surface light source unit, unevenness in luminance can be reduced.

In order to solve the above problems, a display device of the present invention includes a display area, a first peripheral circuit area formed along each of a first side and a second side facing each other in the display area, and the display A display device comprising: a display panel including a region and the first peripheral circuit region; a light guide plate; and a line light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate includes the display The line light source is formed on the back side of the panel, and the line light source has a non-light-emitting region that does not emit light at both ends, and the non-light-emitting region is at a position extending in the length direction of the first peripheral circuit region in plan view The display panel is formed along a third side different from the first side and the second side of the display region, and a terminal region formed at an end portion of the display panel is provided. The light guide plate further includes the terminal region of the display panel. A stomach region, characterized in that it is formed on the back side of the display panel area including the display area and the first peripheral circuit region.
In order to solve the above problem, the display device of the present invention is characterized in that the line light source is arranged on the back side of the terminal region.
In order to solve the above problem, the display device of the present invention is characterized in that the display panel further includes a second peripheral circuit region formed along the third side.
In order to solve the above problem, the display device of the present invention is characterized in that the line light source is disposed on the back side of the second peripheral circuit region.
In order to solve the above problems, the display device of the present invention is characterized in that the line light source is arranged so as not to protrude from the display panel in a plan view.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, the display panel being along one side of a display unit of the display panel. The surface light source unit includes a light guide plate, and a light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate. The light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion, and the peripheral circuit region is disposed between the terminal and the display unit so as to overlap an end portion of the light guide plate. To do.

  According to the present invention, the light emitted from the light guide plate near the line light source tends to have large luminance unevenness, but the area of the light guide plate closest to the line light source corresponds to the peripheral circuit region of the display panel. Therefore, luminance unevenness can be suppressed in the display area.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, the display panel being along one side of a display unit of the display panel. The surface light source unit includes a light guide plate, and a light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate. The light source is arranged on the rear side of the peripheral circuit region and the terminal portion, and the peripheral circuit region is arranged between the terminal and the display unit so as to overlap the end portion of the light guide plate. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the light emitted from the light guide plate near the line light source tends to have large luminance unevenness, but the area of the light guide plate closest to the line light source corresponds to the peripheral circuit region of the display panel. Therefore, luminance unevenness can be suppressed in the display area.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, and the display panel is formed along one side of the display panel. The surface light source unit includes a light guide plate and a light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate, and the light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, since the light source of the surface light source unit is arranged on the back side of the terminal portion of the display panel, it is possible to use the space on the back side of the terminal portion that tends to be left as a space. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, and the display panel is provided on a display region and one side of the display region. A peripheral circuit region formed along the surface light source unit, and the surface light source unit includes a light guide plate and a light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate. It is arranged on the back side.

  According to the present invention, the light source of the surface light source unit is arranged using the space on the back side of the peripheral circuit region formed along one side of the display region of the display panel. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, and the display panel is provided on a display region and one side of the display region. A peripheral circuit region formed along the peripheral circuit region, and a terminal portion formed along the peripheral circuit region, wherein the surface light source unit includes a light guide plate and a light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate. The light source is arranged on the back side of the terminal portion.

  According to the present invention, since the light source of the surface light source unit is arranged on the back side of the terminal portion of the display panel, it is possible to use the space on the back side of the terminal portion that tends to be left as a space. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  In addition, the light emitted from the light guide plate near the light source tends to have large luminance unevenness, but the peripheral circuit region of the display panel corresponds to the region of the light guide plate closest to the light source. In the display area, luminance unevenness can be reduced.

  A display device according to the present invention is a display device including a display panel and a surface light source unit that emits light toward the display panel, and the display panel is opposed to the display region. A first peripheral circuit region formed along each of two sides, and the surface light source unit includes a light guide plate and a line light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate, The line light source has a non-light emitting area that hardly emits light at both ends, a position that intersects the two sides of the display area and extends the first peripheral circuit area in the length direction in a plan view. It is arranged so that the non-light-emitting area is located in the area.

  According to the present invention, in the display panel, the first peripheral circuit region is formed along two opposite sides of the display region, and the surface light source unit is located at a position where the first peripheral circuit region is extended in the length direction. The line light source unit is arranged so that the non-light emitting region of the line light source is located. Therefore, in order to correspond to the non-light-emitting region of the line light source, the region of the light guide plate that emits less light is a region that emits light to the first peripheral circuit region. Therefore, the amount of light emitted from the region of the light guide plate corresponding to the display region is hardly affected due to the presence of the non-light emitting region in the line light source. As a result, a display device with little luminance unevenness can be formed.

  The display panel of the display device according to the present invention includes a second peripheral circuit region that is formed along the other side of the display region and intersects the first peripheral circuit region. It is arranged on the back side of the second peripheral circuit region.

  According to the present invention, the line light source of the surface light source unit is arranged using the space on the back side of the second peripheral circuit area formed along the other side of the display area of the display panel. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  The display panel of the display device according to the present invention includes a terminal portion that is formed along the other side of the display region and intersects the first peripheral circuit region, and the line light source is a back surface of the terminal portion. It is arranged on the side.

  According to the present invention, since the line light source of the surface light source unit is arranged on the back side of the terminal portion of the display panel, it is possible to use the space on the back side of the terminal portion that tends to be left as a space. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  The display panel of the display device according to the present invention includes a second peripheral circuit region that is formed along the other side of the display region and is substantially orthogonal to the first peripheral circuit region, and the second peripheral circuit. A terminal portion formed along the region, wherein the line light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion.

  According to the present invention, since the line light source of the surface light source unit is arranged on the back side of the terminal portion of the display panel, it is possible to use the space on the back side of the terminal portion that tends to be left as a space. Therefore, in the display device including the surface light source unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

  The light emitted from the light guide plate near the line light source tends to have large luminance unevenness, but the area of the light guide plate closest to the line light source corresponds to the peripheral circuit area of the display panel. In the region, the luminance unevenness can be reduced.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the display devices as a display unit.

  According to the present invention, an electronic device that is reduced in size and thickness by using space effectively can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.

1. <First Embodiment>
1.1 Display Device FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a liquid crystal display device 10 as a display device of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the liquid crystal display device 10 of this embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 14 as a display panel, and a backlight unit 40 as a surface light source unit disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 14. .

  Further, the liquid crystal display device 10 includes a panel fixing frame 12 disposed on the front side of the liquid crystal panel 14, a liquid crystal panel 14 and a backlight unit 40 ( And a backlight fixing frame 56 disposed on the back side of the light guide plate 44 that is a part of the backlight unit 40. The backlight fixing frame 56 is integrally formed with a reflector 66 that covers the fluorescent tube 50 as a light source of the backlight unit 40.

  The liquid crystal panel 14 is disposed between the panel fixing frame 12 and the spacer 30 as shown in FIG. In the liquid crystal panel 14, liquid crystal is sealed between the active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate 24, and a polarizing plate 33 (the polarizing plate 32 on the back side is not shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the outer surface side of the substrates 15 and 24. Affixed and formed. The liquid crystal panel 14 includes a terminal portion 23 along one side thereof, and a wiring substrate 34 (see FIG. 2), for example, a flexible wiring substrate (FPC) is connected to the terminal portion 23.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight 40, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view at a position along the line LM drawn in FIG. is there. As shown in FIG. 2A, the liquid crystal panel 14 includes a display area 130 and a peripheral circuit area 170 formed around the display area 130. In the peripheral circuit region 170, for example, a driving circuit that drives each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 14 on a polysilicon layer formed on the active matrix substrate 15, a signal circuit that generates image information to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14, and an inspection At least one of a circuit or the like is formed.

  The backlight unit 40 as a surface light source unit is disposed between the spacer 30 and the backlight fixing frame 56 as shown in FIG. The backlight unit 40 includes a fluorescent tube 50 as a light source, a light guide plate 44, a lens sheet 42, a backlight fixing frame 56, and a reflector 66. An output of an inverter (not shown) is connected to the fluorescent tube 50 via a connection portion 51 for connecting a power source having a predetermined voltage. The light guide plate 44 is provided with a fluorescent tube 50 as a light source in a state of being substantially in contact with the end face 45, and guides light from the fluorescent tube 50 toward the entire display region of the liquid crystal panel 14. In FIG. 2A, for the sake of clarity, the light guide plate 44 is depicted as being separated from the fluorescent tube 50 for the sake of convenience. The light guide plate 44 has a planar shape substantially corresponding to the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel excluding the terminal portion 23. The light guide plate 44 is formed in a wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape that is thick on the fluorescent tube 50 side, for example. By providing the light guide plate 44 with such a shape, the amount of light emitted from the light guide plate 44 toward the liquid crystal panel 14 is made uniform between the vicinity of the fluorescent tube 50 and the position away from the fluorescent tube 50. The lens sheet 42 is disposed on the front side of the light guide plate 44 to improve light use efficiency. The reflector 66 covers the periphery of the fluorescent tube 50 except for the light guide plate 44 side, and reflects the light from the fluorescent tube 50 toward the light guide plate 44. The inverter is disposed on the back side of the backlight fixing frame 56 and supplies power to the fluorescent tube 50 of the backlight unit 40. The inverter outputs, for example, an input 5 V DC voltage as an AC voltage of 250 V, 100 kHz, and supplies it to the fluorescent tube 50.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the fluorescent tube 50 as a light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion 23 of the liquid crystal panel 14. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device 10, the back side of the terminal portion 23 does not remain as an unused space. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness. Further, if the fluorescent tube 50 is arranged without protruding from the display panel 14 in plan view, the vicinity of the fluorescent tube 50 does not remain as a space that is not used.

  In the liquid crystal panel 14, a peripheral circuit region 170 is formed between the display region 130 and the terminal portion 23. The light guide plate 44 is disposed over the entire back side of the area including the display area 130 and the peripheral circuit area 170. That is, the light guide plate 44 in the region closest to the fluorescent tube 50 is located on the back side of the peripheral circuit region 170. Therefore, the light emitted from the light guide plate 44 in the region close to the fluorescent tube 50 and having a tendency of large luminance unevenness is emitted to the peripheral circuit region 170 and is not emitted to the display region 130. As a result, the luminance unevenness in the display area 130 can be reduced.

  The panel fixing frame 12 includes a frame portion 12a and a display window 13 having a size corresponding to the display area of the liquid crystal panel 14, and the liquid crystal panel 14 is fixed from the front side and physically protected.

  The spacer 30 includes a frame portion 30a, is disposed between the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight unit 40, fixes the liquid crystal panel 14 from the back side, and fixes the backlight unit 40 from the front side. Thus, by arranging the spacer 30 between the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight unit 40, a predetermined gap is formed between the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight unit 40, and interference fringes are generated. In addition, the occurrence of moire caused by optical interference between the pixels of the liquid crystal panel 14 and the stripes of the lens sheet 42 of the backlight unit 40 is prevented. Further, by arranging the spacer 30 between the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight unit 40, a gap is formed between the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight unit 40, and the liquid crystal panel 14 and the lens sheet 42 are in contact with each other. Without damage, the lens sheet 42 can be prevented from being damaged or damaged.

  The backlight fixing frame 56 includes a bottom surface portion 57 and fixes the backlight unit 40 from the back side. Further, the backlight fixing frame 56 includes a plurality of positioning portions 58 erected from the bottom surface portion 57. The plurality of positioning portions 58 have shapes that match the shapes of the corresponding end surfaces 46 and 47 of the light guide plate 44, and are formed so as to contact the end surfaces 47 and 46 of the light guide plate 44, thereby forming the light guide plate 44. Is positioned at a predetermined position in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom surface portion 57. Therefore, the light guide plate 44 and the backlight fixing frame 56 can be aligned with high accuracy with a short man-hour. Further, since the positioning of the light guide plate 44 and the backlight fixing frame 56 can be performed without using a double-sided tape or the like, the frame region that cannot be used as a light emitting surface due to the application of a double-sided tape or the like, and the outer shape increase. The weight and thickness are not increased by double-sided tape.

  In addition, the plurality of positioning portions 58 are formed in a planar shape so as to cover the end surfaces 47 and 46 where the fluorescent tube 50 is not disposed among the end surfaces of the light guide plate 44. Moreover, since the side which faces the light-guide plate 44 of these positioning part 58 and the bottom face part 57 is formed with sufficient light reflectivity, the light from the fluorescent tube 50 can be utilized with high efficiency.

1.2 Display Panel FIG. 3 is a plan view of a liquid crystal panel 14 as a display panel of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing details in the vicinity of the end of the liquid crystal panel 14 (position along the line HI shown in FIG. 3).

  As shown in these figures, the liquid crystal panel 14 is an active matrix substrate in which pixel electrodes 17 made of an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film are formed in a matrix on the surface of a substrate 16 formed of quartz glass or heat-resistant glass. 15, a counter substrate 24 in which a counter electrode 26 is formed on the surface of a substrate 25 also made of quartz glass or heat-resistant glass, and a liquid crystal 35 enclosed and sandwiched between these substrates. ing. Here, in the active matrix substrate 15, a light shielding film 19 is formed in advance on the lower side of the region where the TFT 18 for pixel switching is formed on the surface of the substrate 16. Then, after the protective film 20 is formed on the surface, the TFT 18 and the pixel electrode 17 are formed, and these surfaces are covered with the alignment film 21. When color display is performed using the liquid crystal panel 14, a color filter is formed in a region of the counter substrate 24 facing each pixel.

  The active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate 24 are kept at a predetermined interval by a gap material (not shown) distributed between them, and pasted by a seal material 36 disposed along the outer peripheral edge of the counter substrate 24. Are combined. In this way, the liquid crystal 35 as the electro-optical material is sealed in the region defined by the active matrix substrate 15, the counter substrate 24, and the sealing material 36. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the sealing material 36 is partially interrupted, and the interrupted portion serves as a liquid crystal injection port 37. For this reason, after the counter substrate 24 and the active matrix substrate 15 are bonded together, the liquid crystal 35 can be injected under reduced pressure from the liquid crystal injection port 37 by bringing the inner region of the sealing material 36 into a reduced pressure state. The liquid crystal injection port 37 is sealed by a sealing portion 38 made of resin after the liquid crystal 35 is injected.

  In the active matrix substrate 15, a region located around the display region is a peripheral circuit region, and a driving circuit TFT (not shown) formed simultaneously with the pixel switching TFT 18 is formed in this region. The scanning line driving circuit 171 and the data line driving circuit 174 thus formed are formed. Further, the terminal portion 23 formed at the end of the active matrix substrate 15 is located in a region protruding from the counter substrate 24.

On the counter substrate 24, a light shielding film 27 that shields a region that is inside the formation region of the sealing material 36 and that is not a display region, and a light shielding film that shields a region corresponding to the boundary region of each pixel electrode 17 of the active matrix substrate 15 28 is formed. A counter electrode 26 is formed on the surface side of the light shielding films 27 and 28, and an alignment film 29 is formed to cover the counter electrode 26.
Further, the liquid crystal panel 14 is a polarization formed by using a plastic sheet on the light incident side and light emission side surfaces of the active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate 24 according to the normally white mode / normally black mode. Plates (polarizing sheets) 32 and 33 are arranged in a predetermined direction.

  In the present embodiment, light is incident from the active matrix substrate 15 and emitted from the counter substrate 24. Conversely, light is incident from the counter substrate 24. Thus, the light may be emitted from the active matrix substrate 15.

  In the liquid crystal panel 14 configured as described above, the active matrix substrate 15 has a liquid crystal between the pixel electrode 17 and the counter electrode 26 by a data line (not shown) and an image signal applied to the pixel electrode 17 via the TFT 18. The orientation state of 35 is controlled for each pixel, and a predetermined image corresponding to the image signal is displayed. For example, when the liquid crystal panel 14 is configured in the TN mode, the rubbing direction is changed when the rubbing process is performed on the alignment films 21 and 29 formed between the pair of substrates (the active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate 24). When set in directions orthogonal to each other, the liquid crystal 35 is twisted and oriented at an angle of 90 ° between the substrates. Such a twisted orientation is released by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal 35 between the substrates. Therefore, the alignment state of the liquid crystal 35 can be controlled for each region where the pixel electrode 17 is formed (for each pixel) depending on whether or not an electric field is applied between the substrates. Therefore, in the case of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 14, the light from the light source, that is, the backlight unit 40, is aligned with predetermined linearly polarized light by the incident-side polarizing plate 32, and then enters the liquid crystal 35 layer. The linearly polarized light passing through the light is rotated and the polarization plane is twisted and emitted, while the linearly polarized light that has passed through the other region is emitted without being rotated and the polarization plane being twisted. Therefore, if the incident-side polarizing plate 32 and the outgoing-side polarizing plate 33 are arranged so that their transmission axes are orthogonal to each other (normally white), the polarizing plate 33 arranged on the outgoing side of the liquid crystal panel 14. Only the linearly polarized light whose polarization plane is twisted by the liquid crystal 35 passes through. On the other hand, if the exit-side polarizer 33 is arranged so that the transmission axis is parallel to the entrance-side polarizer 32 (normally black), the polarizer disposed on the exit side of the liquid crystal panel 14 Only the linearly polarized light whose polarization plane is not twisted by the liquid crystal 35 passes through 33. Therefore, arbitrary information can be displayed by controlling the alignment state of the liquid crystal 35 for each pixel.

  Therefore, it is necessary to supply an image signal to the pixel electrode 17 via the data line and the pixel switching TFT 18 in the active matrix substrate 15 and to apply a predetermined potential to the counter electrode 26. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel 14, portions of the surface of the active matrix substrate 15 facing each corner portion of the counter substrate 24 are vertically formed of an aluminum film (light-shielding material) using a process such as a data line. A first conduction electrode 22 for conduction is formed. On the other hand, at each corner portion of the counter substrate 24, a second conductive electrode 30 for vertical conduction made of an ITO film (light transmissive material) is formed with the aid of the process of forming the counter electrode 26. Furthermore, the first conductive electrode 22 and the second conductive electrode 30 for vertical conduction are electrically connected by a conductive material 39 in which conductive particles such as silver powder and gold-plated fiber are mixed with an epoxy resin adhesive component. Conducted. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel 14, the active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate can be connected only to the active matrix substrate 15 without connecting the wiring substrate or the like to the active matrix substrate 15 and the counter substrate 24. A predetermined signal can be input to both of 24.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the liquid crystal panel 14 having the above-described structure. As shown in this figure, the liquid crystal panel 14 is provided with a display area 130 and a peripheral circuit area 170.

  In the display area 130, the data line 131 and the scanning line 132, the pixel switching TFT 18 connected to the data line 131 and the scanning line 132, and a liquid crystal cell to which an image signal is input from the data line 131 via the TFT 18. 135 exists. Each pixel formed including the TFT 18 and the liquid crystal cell 135 includes a capacitor element 136 between the capacitor line 133 and the capacitor element 136. The capacitor element 136 has a function of improving the charge retention characteristics of the liquid crystal cell 135. Yes.

  The peripheral circuit region 170 includes a scanning line driving circuit 171 and a data line driving circuit 174. The scanning line driving circuit 171 is connected to the scanning line 132 and includes a shift register 172 and a level shifter 173. The data line driving circuit 174 is connected to the data line 131 and includes a shift register 175, a level shifter 176, a video line 177, and a switch 178.

1.3 Electronic Device Provided with Display Device FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show examples of electronic devices that use the liquid crystal display device 10 that is the display device of this embodiment as a display unit. It is an external view. FIG. 6A shows a mobile phone 88 that includes the liquid crystal display device 10 above the front surface thereof. FIG. 6B shows a wristwatch 92 in which a display unit using the liquid crystal display device 10 is provided in the center of the front surface of the main body. FIG. 6C illustrates a portable information device 96 that includes a display unit including the liquid crystal display device 10 and an input unit 98. In addition to the liquid crystal display device 10, these electronic devices include various circuits such as a display information output source, a display information processing circuit, a clock generation circuit, and a power supply circuit that supplies power to these circuits, although not shown. The display signal generation unit is configured. For example, in the case of a portable information device, a display image is formed by supplying a display signal generated by a display signal generation unit based on information input from the input unit 98 to the display unit.

  Note that the electronic device in which the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment is incorporated is not limited to a mobile phone, a wristwatch, and a portable information device, but a notebook personal computer, electronic notebook, pager, calculator, POS terminal, IC card, mini-disc Various electronic devices such as players can be considered.

2. Second Embodiment
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that there is no peripheral circuit region between the display region and the terminal portion. Other than that, the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. In the drawings, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

  7A is a schematic plan view showing the liquid crystal panel 110 and the backlight 40, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view at a position along the line JK drawn in FIG. 7A. is there. As shown in FIG. 7A, the liquid crystal panel 110 includes a terminal portion 23 provided along one side of the liquid crystal panel 110 and a display region 130 adjacent to the terminal portion 23. Also in this embodiment, the fluorescent tube 50 as a light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion 23 of the liquid crystal panel 110 without protruding from the liquid crystal panel 110 in plan view. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device, the back surface of the terminal portion 23 does not remain as a space that is not used, or the vicinity of the fluorescent tube 50 does not remain as a space that is not used. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

3. <Third Embodiment>
In the liquid crystal panel, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a terminal portion is provided along a side different from the side along which the fluorescent tube is located, and the fluorescent tube is disposed on the back surface of the peripheral circuit region. Different. Other than that, the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. In the drawings, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view showing the liquid crystal panel 116 and the backlight 40, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view at a position along the line R-S drawn in FIG. 8A. is there. As shown in FIG. 8A, the liquid crystal panel 116 includes a terminal portion 117 formed along one side thereof, a display region 130, and a peripheral circuit region provided along each of the three sides of the display region 130. 170. In the present embodiment, the fluorescent tube 50 as a light source is disposed on the back side of the peripheral circuit region 170 without protruding from the liquid crystal panel 116 in plan view. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device, the space on the back side of the peripheral circuit region 170 is used. In addition, the vicinity of the fluorescent tube 50 does not remain as an unused space. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

4). <Fourth embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, the fluorescent tube is arranged so that the non-light-emitting region of the fluorescent tube as the line light source is located in a region obtained by extending the peripheral circuit region formed along each of the two opposite sides of the display region. This is different from the first embodiment in that the fluorescent tube and the terminal portion are disposed along the short side of the liquid crystal panel. Other than that, the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. In the drawings, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

4.1 Liquid Crystal Display Device FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the liquid crystal panel 14 and the backlight 40, and FIG. 9B is along the line PQ drawn in FIG. 9A. FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the liquid crystal panel 122 includes a terminal portion 117 formed along the short side 127 of the display region 130, the display region 130, and a length direction of the terminal portion 117. Two peripheral circuit regions 123 provided along two sides 126 of the display region 130, that is, a first peripheral circuit region, and peripheral circuit regions 124 provided along the terminal portion 117, that is, a second peripheral circuit region. It is formed with. The fluorescent tube 50 as a line light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion 117 without protruding from the liquid crystal panel 122 in plan view. Therefore, the fluorescent tube 50 is substantially orthogonal to the length direction of the peripheral circuit region 123 in plan view. In addition, the fluorescent tube 50 has a non-light emitting region 125 that hardly emits light at both ends thereof, and the non-light emitting region 125 is disposed at a position extending from the peripheral circuit region 123 in the length direction. The light guide plate 44 is disposed so as to be substantially in contact with the fluorescent tube 50 and has a planar shape substantially corresponding to the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel 122 excluding the terminal portion 23.

  According to the present embodiment, the peripheral circuit region 123 is formed along two opposing sides of the display region 130 in the liquid crystal panel 122, and the fluorescent tube 50 is located at a position where the peripheral circuit region 123 is extended in the length direction. The fluorescent tube 50 is arranged so that the non-light emitting region 125 is located. Therefore, in order to correspond to the non-light emitting region 125 of the fluorescent tube 50, the region of the light guide plate 44 with a small amount of light emission emits light to the peripheral circuit region 123 along the two opposite sides of the display region 130. It becomes an area. Therefore, light from the region of the light guide plate 44 corresponding to the display region 130 is hardly affected by the non-light emitting region 125 of the fluorescent tube 50. As a result, the liquid crystal display device 10 with less luminance unevenness can be formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the fluorescent tube 50 as a line light source is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion 23 of the liquid crystal panel 122. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device 10, the back side of the terminal portion 23 does not remain as an unused space. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness. Furthermore, if the fluorescent tube 50 is arranged without protruding from the liquid crystal panel 122 in plan view, the vicinity of the fluorescent tube 50 does not remain as an unused space.

  Further, in the liquid crystal panel 122, a peripheral circuit region 124 is formed between the display region 130 and the terminal portion 23. The light guide plate 44 is disposed on the entire back side of the area including the display area 130 and the peripheral circuit areas 123 and 124. That is, the light guide plate 44 in the region closest to the fluorescent tube 50 is located on the back side of the peripheral circuit region 124. Therefore, the light emitted from the light guide plate 44 in the region close to the fluorescent tube 50 and having a tendency to have large luminance unevenness is emitted to the peripheral circuit region 124 and is not emitted to the display region 130. As a result, the luminance unevenness in the display area 130 can be reduced.

4.2 Modification of Fourth Embodiment 4.2.1 In the above, peripheral circuit region 124 (second peripheral circuit region) in which the liquid crystal panel is substantially orthogonal to peripheral circuit region 123 (first peripheral circuit region) The example in which the terminal portion 23 is provided along the peripheral circuit region 124 is shown. However, the peripheral circuit region 124 (second peripheral circuit region) is not provided, the terminal portion 23 is provided along the side of the display region 130 substantially orthogonal to the peripheral circuit region 123, and the fluorescent tube 50 is connected to the back surface of the terminal portion 23. It may be provided on the side. Even in this case, the light from the region of the light guide plate 44 corresponding to the display region 130 is hardly affected by the non-light emitting region 125 of the fluorescent tube 50. As a result, a liquid crystal display device with little luminance unevenness can be formed.

  4.2.2 In the above example, the terminal portion 23 is provided at a position substantially orthogonal to the peripheral circuit region 123, that is, the first peripheral circuit region, and the fluorescent tube 50 is disposed on the back side of the terminal portion 23. Indicated. However, the terminal portion 23 may be provided at a position along the peripheral circuit region 123, and the fluorescent tube 50 may be provided on the back side of the peripheral circuit region 124, that is, the second peripheral circuit region. This also makes it possible to dispose the fluorescent tube 50 without protruding from the liquid crystal panel 122 in plan view. Therefore, in a display device including a backlight unit, it is possible to reduce the space left unused and reduce the size and thickness.

5. <Other variations>
Here, modified examples applicable to the above-described embodiments will be described. In the following modifications, only different points from the above-described embodiments will be described and described.

  5.1 In each of the embodiments described above, an example in which a fluorescent tube such as a cold cathode lamp is used as a light source has been shown. However, in the first to third embodiments, a light emitting diode (LED) or the like may be used as a light source. Good.

  5.2 In each of the embodiments described above, an active matrix type liquid crystal panel using a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) which is a three-terminal switching element is shown as the liquid crystal panel. However, the liquid crystal panel is not limited to this, and in terms of the driving method, a simple matrix type liquid crystal panel or a static drive type liquid crystal panel that does not use a switching element in the panel itself, other three-terminal type switching elements or Active matrix type liquid crystal panel using two-terminal switching elements such as TFD (Thin Film Diode) and MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal), TN type, STN type, guest host type, phase transition Various types of liquid crystal panels such as a type and a ferroelectric type can be used.

  5.3 The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various types are further included within the scope of the gist of the present invention or the equivalent scope of the claims. Can be implemented.

1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a liquid crystal display device of a first embodiment. (A) is a typical top view which shows the liquid crystal panel and backlight unit in the liquid crystal display device of 1st Embodiment, (B) is the position along line LM drawn to (A). FIG. The top view which shows the liquid crystal panel of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view at a position along line HI shown in FIG. 3. The block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the liquid crystal panel of 1st Embodiment. It is an external view which shows the electronic device using the liquid crystal display device of 1st Embodiment, (A) is a mobile telephone, (B) is a wristwatch, (C) is a portable information device. (A) is a schematic top view which shows the liquid crystal panel and backlight unit in the liquid crystal display device of 2nd Embodiment, (B) is the position along line JK drawn to (A). FIG. (A) is a schematic top view which shows the liquid crystal panel and backlight unit in the liquid crystal display device of 3rd Embodiment, (B) is the position along line RS drawn to (A). FIG. (A) is a schematic top view which shows the liquid crystal panel and backlight unit in the liquid crystal display device of 4th Embodiment, (B) is the position along line PQ drawn to (A). FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid crystal display device 14,110,116,122 ... Liquid crystal panel, 23,117 ... Terminal part, 40 ... Backlight unit, 44 ... Light guide plate, 50 ... Fluorescent tube (light source), 88 ... Cell-phone (electronic device) ), 92 ... Wristwatch (electronic device), 96 ... Portable information device (electronic device), 123 ... Peripheral circuit region (first peripheral circuit region), 124 ... Peripheral circuit region (second peripheral circuit region), 125 ... Non-light emitting area, 126 ... side (two sides), 127 ... side (other side), 130 ... display area, 170 ... peripheral circuit area.

Claims (6)

A display area;
A first peripheral circuit region formed along each of the opposing first side and second side of the display region;
A display panel including the display area and the first peripheral circuit area;
A light guide plate;
A linear light source disposed along one end surface of the light guide plate;
A display device comprising:
The light guide plate is formed on the back side of the display panel,
The linear light source has a non-light emitting area that does not emit light at both ends,
In plan view, the first peripheral circuit region is disposed so that the non-light-emitting region is located at a position extending in the length direction ,
The display panel further includes a terminal region formed along a third side different from the first side and the second side of the display region, and formed at an end of the display panel,
The light guide plate is an area excluding the terminal area of the display panel, and is formed on the back side of the display panel in an area including the display area and the first peripheral circuit area. Display device. The display device according to claim 1 ,
The line light source is arranged on the back side of the terminal area. The display device according to any one of claims 1 and 2 ,
The display panel display device and further comprising a pre-Symbol second peripheral circuit region formed along a third side. The display device according to claim 3 ,
The display device, wherein the line light source is arranged on a back side of the second peripheral circuit region. In the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The display device, wherein the line light source is arranged so as not to protrude from the display panel in a plan view. An electronic apparatus, comprising a display means display device according to any one of claims 1-5.

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