JP5159485B2 - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device suitable for displaying various information.

  In general, a liquid crystal display device which is one of electro-optical devices mainly functions as a display panel, a liquid crystal display panel in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between two substrates, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the like. And a lighting device configured by a light guide plate having an end surface of the light source.

  In such a liquid crystal display device, the lighting device is housed in a frame-shaped panel holder, and the liquid crystal display panel is bonded to the panel holder with a frame-shaped double-sided tape. Here, the driver IC that drives the liquid crystal panel is installed on the substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and is connected to an external electronic device via a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The panel holder and the FPC are housed in a box-shaped metal frame.

  Then, the FPC may be folded at an acute angle toward the lighting device side in designing an electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal display device is applied. In the above case, the end of the frame on the lighting device side and the FPC come into contact with each other, and the FPC may be disconnected or damaged.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a method for preventing the FPC from being damaged when the light source of the backlight unit is replaced by folding the end of the side plate portion of the liquid crystal display device.

JP-A-11-95214

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an electro-optical device that can prevent disconnection or breakage of an FPC even when the FPC is bent at an acute angle with an outer frame. The issue is to provide.

In one aspect of the present invention, an electro-optical device includes a display panel, a flexible substrate connected to the display panel, a panel holder that holds the display panel, a frame on which the panel holder is placed, wherein the flexible substrate has a bent portion which is bent so as to cover at least one side of the panel holding member and said frame at an end of the frame, the frame, said end portion is pre-Symbol panel holder side is bent in multiple stages by hemming a folded molded by Rutoki to.

The electro-optical device includes a display panel, a flexible substrate, a panel holder, and a frame. The flexible substrate is bent so as to cover at least one side of the panel holding body and the frame at an end of the frame. The frame, Ru bent in multiple stages by hemming when said end portion is formed by folding back to the panel holder side. Thereby, since the edge which contacts the said flexible substrate becomes a rounded shape, the said flame | frame can prevent generation | occurrence | production of the damage of the said flexible substrate by the said contact, or a disconnection.

  In one aspect of the electro-optical device, the end of the panel holder is in a state of protruding outward from the end of the frame. As a result, even when a member such as a cover, casing, or touch panel of the electro-optical device is stacked on the display panel, the concentration of stress applied to the electro-optical panel is alleviated by the panel holder protruding from the end portion. Stress can be released to prevent cracking, chipping, abnormal display, etc. of the display panel. Further, the FPC is not bent at an acute angle at the end of the frame, and the FPC can be prevented from being damaged or disconnected by the concentration of bending stress.

In another aspect of the electro-optical device, the panel holding body has a convex portion at an end portion of the panel holding body, and the frame has the end portion of the frame folded back toward the panel holding body side. It is bent so as to keep a certain space with the frame when being molded, and is fitted into the panel holding body so as to cover the convex portion. In this aspect, the frame can be fitted and fixed to the panel holding body, and the strength of the electro-optical device can be further increased.

In another aspect of the present invention, an electro-optical device includes a display panel, a flexible substrate connected to the display panel, a panel holder that holds the display panel, a frame on which the panel holder is placed, wherein the flexible substrate has a contact portion in contact with the panel holder and the frame side end portion of the frame, the frame, said end portion is folded Previous Symbol panel holder side molding It is bent in multiple stages by hemming to by Rutoki.

  The electro-optical device includes a display panel, a flexible substrate, a panel holder, and a frame. The flexible substrate is in contact with the panel holding body and the frame at a side surface of an end portion of the frame. The frame has its end folded back to the panel holder side. As a result, the frame has a rounded end that comes into contact with the flexible substrate, so that even when the end is lifted, the flexible substrate is prevented from being damaged or disconnected. Can do.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, an electro-optical device includes a display panel, a first flexible board connected to the display panel, a second flexible board connected to the display panel, the display panel includes a panel holder for holding a first frame portion and second frame portion for mounting said panel holder, wherein the first flexible substrate, wherein an end portion of the first frame portion bent on the display surface side of the display panel, the second flexible board is bent to the display surface and the opposite side of the display panel at the end of the second frame portion, the end portion of the first frame portion and said second frame portion of the end portion is bent in multiple stages by hemming to be molded is folded into each said panel holder side Rutoki.

  The electro-optical device includes a display panel, a first flexible substrate, a second flexible substrate, a panel holder, and a frame. The first flexible substrate is bent at an end of the first frame portion. The second flexible substrate is bent at an end of the second frame portion. End portions of the first frame portion and the second frame portion are folded back toward the panel holder. As a result, the first frame part and the second frame part have rounded ends that come into contact with the first flexible board and the second flexible board. It is possible to prevent substrate breakage and disconnection.

  In still another aspect of the invention, an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device as a display unit can be configured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal display device as an example of an electro-optical device.

[Configuration of liquid crystal display device]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a section AA ′ of the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display device 100 mainly includes a lighting device 9 and a liquid crystal panel 20. The liquid crystal panel 20 is disposed to face the lower surface of the light guide plate 11.

  The illumination device 9 includes a light guide plate 11, a reflection sheet 14, and a light source unit 15. The reflection sheet 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the light guide plate 11. The light source unit 15 is disposed on the end face of the light guide plate 11 and includes a plurality of LEDs 16 that are point light sources. The light L emitted from each LED 16 enters the light guide plate 11, changes its direction by repeating reflection on the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide plate 11, and is emitted to the outside from the lower surface. The emitted light L travels toward the liquid crystal panel 20.

  The liquid crystal panel 20 has a display area substantially the same as the light emission area of the light guide plate 11. The liquid crystal display panel 20 is configured by bonding substrates 1 and 2 made of glass or the like through a sealing material 3 to form a cell structure and enclosing a liquid crystal 4 therein. The liquid crystal panel 20 includes a polarizing plate 5 on the outer surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2.

  For example, a diffusion sheet 12 and a prism sheet 13 are provided as optical sheets between the illumination device 9 and the liquid crystal panel 20. The diffusion sheet 12 has a role of diffusing the light L emitted from the light guide plate 11 in all directions. The prism sheet 13 has a role of condensing the light L onto the liquid crystal panel 20 and has a shape in which a prism shape having a substantially triangular cross section is extended in one side direction (direction of a side perpendicular to the cross section). The light L emitted from the light guide plate 11 passes through these optical sheets and then illuminates by passing through the liquid crystal panel 20.

  A driver IC 40 that is a liquid crystal driving IC (driver) is directly mounted on the liquid crystal panel 20 by COG (Chip On Glass) technology. An FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 51 is connected to the end of the liquid crystal panel 20, and some terminals of the driver IC 40 are connected to the FPC 51 through wiring formed on the surface of the liquid crystal panel 20. A connector 51 a is provided at the other end of the FPC 51. An external electronic device is electrically connected to the connector 51a. The driver IC 40 drives the drive circuit of the liquid crystal panel 20 based on a control signal from an external electronic device supplied via the FPC 51. Thereby, the alignment state of the liquid crystal 4 is controlled.

  The lighting device 9, that is, the light guide plate 11, the reflection sheet 14, and the light source unit 15 are fitted into an opening of a frame-shaped panel holding body 61 formed of resin or the like. Further, on the panel holder 61, optical sheets such as the diffusion sheet 12 and the prism sheet 13 are arranged on the lower surface of the light guide plate 11. The liquid crystal panel 20 is attached to the panel holding body 61 so as to cover the opening of the panel holding body 61 with a frame-shaped double-sided tape 21 having a light shielding property, for example.

The panel holding body 61 in which the lighting device 9 is fitted and the liquid crystal panel 20 is attached is housed in a frame 62 formed of sheet metal or the like.
(Frame shape)
Next, the shape of the frame 62 will be described in detail. The FPC 51 mounted on the liquid crystal display panel 20 is used in a form in which one end is bent in the direction of an arrow 90 when the liquid crystal display device 100 is applied to an electronic product.

  However, for example, in the form of the liquid crystal display device 100a shown in FIG. 3, since the end 62a of the frame 62 located within the broken line frame has an angular shape, the FPC 51 is in contact with the end 62a. In the part 51b, disconnection or damage may occur.

  Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the frame 62 is formed by folding an end 62 a located in the broken line frame toward the panel holding body 61. The end 62a is formed by, for example, hemming. As a result, the end 62a has a rounded shape at the portion in contact with the FPC 51, and the FPC 51 can prevent disconnection or breakage due to contact with the end 62a. Depending on the shape of the end 62a, the corner 61a of the panel holder 61 and the FPC 51 may come into contact with each other. In such a case, the corner 61a of the panel holder 61 is preferably rounded as shown in FIG. By doing in this way, disconnection and damage of FPC51 by contact with FPC51 and corner 61a of panel holder 61 can also be prevented.

  Further, the end of the panel holder 61 is arranged in a state of protruding from the end 62 a of the frame 62, and the end 62 a of the frame 62 is folded back and embedded in the panel holder 61. As a result, the FPC 51 is bent along the protruding panel holder 61, so that the FPC 51 is not bent at an acute angle at the end 62a of the frame 62, and damage or disconnection of the FPC 51 can be prevented by bending stress concentration. .

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device 100b according to another embodiment. The end 62a can be formed in a multi-stage folded shape like the liquid crystal display device 100b shown in FIG. Due to the above shape, the end 62a of the frame 62 has a rounded shape at the portion in contact with the FPC 51, so that disconnection or breakage of the FPC 51 due to contact between the FPC 51 and the frame 62 can be prevented. Moreover, the strength against an impact or the like on the liquid crystal display device 100c can be increased by forming the folded shape in multiple stages.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device 100c according to yet another embodiment. As shown in the liquid crystal display device 100c of FIG. 6, the end of the frame 62 may be bent so as to face the frame 62 so as to maintain a certain space 81. In this case, it is preferable that the panel holder 61 is formed in accordance with the space 81. That is, the convex portion 61x is formed at the end portion of the panel holding body 61, and the end portion of the frame 62 is bent so as to cover the convex portion 61x. In other words, the groove 61y is provided in the panel holder 61, and the tip of the frame 62 is fitted into the groove 61y. By doing so, the frame 62 can be fitted into the panel holder 61, the panel holder 61 and the frame 62 are fixed, and the strength of the liquid crystal display device 100c can be increased.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device 100d according to yet another embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in the liquid crystal display device 100d of FIG. 7, two FPCs 51c and 51d are mounted on the liquid crystal display panel 20, respectively. The first frame portion 62x is disposed on the display surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 20, and the second frame portion 62y is disposed on the opposite side of the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The second frame portion 62y is provided with an opening 62z for preventing the liquid crystal display panel 20 from being hidden. The first frame portion 62x and the second frame portion 62y may be formed by one frame. That is, it may be a single connected frame. The first frame portion 62x and the second frame portion 62y may be two physically separated frames, that is, separate frames.

  The FPC 51 c is folded back on the side opposite to the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The FPC 51d is folded back to the display surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 20. The end portion 62xa of the first frame portion 62x in contact with the FPC 51c and the end portion 62ya of the second frame portion 62y in contact with the FPC 51d are respectively folded back to the panel holding body 61 side. By doing so, even when two FPCs are mounted on the liquid crystal display panel 20 and folded as described above, the end portions 62xa and 62yb of the frame 60 are rounded at the portions in contact with the FPCs 51c and 51d. It has a tangled shape and can prevent disconnection or breakage of the FPC 51c due to contact with the first frame portion 62x and disconnection or breakage of the FPC 51d due to contact with the second frame portion 62y.

[Modification]
Next, a modified example of the present invention will be described. In the liquid crystal display devices 100 and 100b to 100d according to the above-described embodiments, the end portion of the frame 62 is folded back to the panel holder 61 in order to prevent disconnection or breakage at the bent portion of the FPC 51. However, the liquid crystal display device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this. In the liquid crystal display device 100e of FIG. 8, the frame 62 is formed in an L shape. The FPC 51 is in contact with the side surface of the bent portion 62 d of the frame 62. However, the stress 91 acts on the bent portion 62d of the L-shaped frame, and there is a case where the bent portion 62d of the frame is floated because it is not completely L-shaped, that is, right-angled. In such a case, the bent portion 62d of the frame has an angular shape at the portion that contacts the FPC 51. Therefore, the FPC 51 may be disconnected or damaged by the contact of the bent portion 62d of the frame.

  Therefore, in the modified example of the present invention, as shown in the cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device 100f in FIG. By doing so, even when the bent portion 62d of the frame is lifted by the stress 91, it is possible to prevent the FPC 51 from being disconnected or broken due to contact with the frame portion 62d. The folding of the frame 61 is formed by, for example, hemming.

  Note that the frame 61 may be folded back in multiple stages by hemming as in the liquid crystal display device 100b. Thereby, the intensity | strength with respect to the impact etc. of the liquid crystal display device 100f can be raised.

  Further, the end of the frame 62 may be bent so that the end of the frame 62 faces the frame 62 so as to maintain a certain space 81, as in the liquid crystal display device 100c. In this case, it is preferable that a convex portion is formed at the end portion of the panel holding body 61 in accordance with the space 81. By doing so, the frame 62 can be fitted into the panel holder 61, the panel holder 61 and the frame 62 are fixed, and the strength of the liquid crystal display device 100f can be increased.

[Electronics]
Next, specific examples of electronic devices to which the liquid crystal display devices 100, 100b to 100d, or 100f according to the above-described embodiments can be applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, an example in which the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the above-described nuclear embodiment is applied to a display unit of a portable personal computer (so-called notebook personal computer) will be described. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the configuration of this personal computer. As shown in the figure, a personal computer 710 includes a main body 712 having a keyboard 711 and a display 713 to which the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present invention is applied.

  Subsequently, an example in which the liquid crystal display device 100, 100b to 100d, or 100f according to the above-described embodiment is applied to a display unit of a mobile phone will be described. FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the configuration of this mobile phone. As shown in the figure, the cellular phone 720 includes a display unit 724 as well as a plurality of operation buttons 721, as well as an earpiece 722 and a mouthpiece 723.

  Note that examples of electronic devices to which the liquid crystal display devices 100, 100b to 100d, or 100f according to the present invention can be applied include a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type, and a monitor direct type in addition to the personal computer and the mobile phone shown in FIG. Video tape recorders, car navigation devices, pagers, electronic notebooks, calculators, word processors, workstations, videophones, POS terminals, digital still cameras, and the like.

1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment before bending a flexible substrate. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on the conventional embodiment. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment in the state which bent the flexible substrate. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment at the time of bend | folding and shape | molding a flame | frame in multistage. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment when the frame is folded back with a certain space. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment when two flexible substrates exist. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on the conventional embodiment. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on a modification. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Illuminating device, 11 Light guide plate, 15 Light source part, 16 LED, 20 Liquid crystal display panel, 40 Driver IC, 51 FPC, 61 Panel holding body, 62 Frame, 100, 100a-100f Liquid crystal display device

Claims (8)

A display panel;
A flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
A panel holder for holding the display panel;
A frame on which the panel holder is placed;
The flexible substrate has a bent portion which is bent so as to cover at least one side of the panel holding member and said frame at an end of said frame,
The frame, said end portion prior SL are molded with folded back panel holder side Tei Ru electrical-optical device is bent in multiple stages by hemming to Rutoki. A display panel;
A flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
A panel holder for holding the display panel;
A frame on which the panel holder is placed;
The flexible substrate has a contact portion that contacts the panel holding body and the frame on a side surface of an end portion of the frame;
The frame, said end portion prior SL are molded with folded back panel holder side Tei Ru electrical-optical device is bent in multiple stages by hemming to Rutoki. A display panel;
A first flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
A second flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
A panel holder for holding the display panel;
A first frame portion and a second frame portion on which the panel holder is placed;
Said first flexible substrate and bent on a display side of the display panel at the end of the first frame portion,
It said second flexible substrate is bent on the opposite side to the display surface of the display panel at the end of the second frame portion,
The first and the end portion of the frame portion and the front Stories second frame portion of the end portion is bent in multiple stages by hemming to be molded is folded into each said panel holder side Rutoki Tei Ru electric optical apparatus .   A display panel;
  A flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
  A panel holder for holding the display panel;
  A frame on which the panel holder is placed;
  The flexible substrate has a bent portion that is bent so as to cover at least one side of the panel holding body and the frame at an end of the frame;
  The panel holder has a convex portion at the end of the panel holder,
  The frame is bent and molded so as to keep a certain space with the frame when an end portion of the frame is folded back to the panel holding body side, and the frame is covered with the projection. An electro-optical device fitted in a panel holder.   A display panel;
  A flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
  A panel holder for holding the display panel;
  A frame on which the panel holder is placed;
  The flexible substrate has a contact portion that contacts the panel holding body and the frame on a side surface of an end portion of the frame;
  The panel holder has a convex portion at the end of the panel holder,
  The frame is bent and molded so as to keep a certain space with the frame when an end portion of the frame is folded back to the panel holding body side, and the frame is covered with the projection. An electro-optical device fitted in a panel holder.   A display panel;
  A first flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
  A second flexible substrate connected to the display panel;
  A panel holder for holding the display panel;
  A first frame portion and a second frame portion on which the panel holder is placed;
  The first flexible substrate is bent toward the display surface of the display panel at an end of the first frame portion,
  The second flexible substrate is bent at the end of the second frame portion on the side opposite to the display surface of the display panel,
  The panel holder has a convex portion at the end of the panel holder,
  The end of the first frame and the end of the second frame are each folded back toward the panel holding body to form a fixed space with the first and second frames. The electro-optical device is bent and molded so as to be opposed to the panel holding body so as to cover the convex portion.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the panel holding body is in a state of protruding outward from an end portion of the frame. Claims 1 to 7 or electro-optical Ru electronic device comprising a device according to one of.

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