JP6625310B1 - Curved liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

A reduction in display quality near the outer periphery of the display area of the curved liquid crystal display device is suppressed. The sealing material, the liquid crystal layer, the sub spacer, and the main spacer are arranged between the driving substrate and the counter substrate, and are arranged in a display area surrounded by the sealing material. The sealing material bonds the opposing substrate to the driving substrate. The sub-spacer has a first height. The main spacer has a second height that is higher than the first height. In the first mode, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers decreases as approaching the outer periphery of the display area. In a second aspect, the driving substrate includes a first layer. The counter substrate includes a second layer. The first layer and the second layer are arranged in a display area. The sealing material includes a spacer inside the seal. At least one of the driving substrate and the opposing substrate includes a third layer. The third layer is disposed so as to overlap with the sealing material.

Description

  The present invention relates to a curved liquid crystal display device.

  In recent years, a curved display having a curved liquid crystal panel, a free-form display having a liquid crystal panel having a non-rectangular planar shape, and a curved free-form display that is both a curved display and a free-form display have been developed from the viewpoint of design and the like. Attention has been paid. A curved display is obtained by bending a flat liquid crystal panel. A free-form display is obtained by cutting a liquid crystal panel having a rectangular planar shape into a non-rectangular planar shape.

  On the other hand, a liquid crystal panel often includes two substrates, a seal, a liquid crystal layer, and a spacer. Each of the two substrates often comprises a glass substrate. A seal, a liquid crystal layer, and a spacer are disposed between the two substrates. The liquid crystal layer and the spacer are arranged in a display area surrounded by the seal. The spacer maintains a liquid crystal cell gap indicating the distance between the two substrates. The spacers often include a main spacer having a relatively high height and a sub-spacer having a relatively low height. The main spacer is always in contact with both of the two substrates and maintains the liquid crystal cell gap. The sub-spacer usually contacts only one of the two substrates, and contacts both of the two substrates or both when a force is applied to one of the substrates.

  However, when the liquid crystal panel is curved, the main spacer is pressed and compressed. Also, the sub-spacer may be pressed and compressed in contact with a substrate that is not normally in contact. When the spacer is pressurized and compressed, the liquid crystal cell gap fluctuates, and stress is generated on the glass substrate. When the liquid crystal cell gap fluctuates, display unevenness occurs on the screen displayed on the curved display. This display unevenness is mainly observed as chromaticity unevenness in the screen when the screen displayed on the curved display is a white screen. Further, when stress occurs in the glass substrate, birefringence is imparted to the glass substrate, a phase difference occurs in light transmitted through the glass substrate, and display unevenness occurs. This display unevenness is mainly observed as light leakage in the screen when the screen displayed on the curved display is a black screen. These display irregularities are particularly remarkably observed in the vicinity of the seal where the deformation amount of the glass substrate largely changes locally, that is, in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the display area.

  As measures against such display unevenness, it has been proposed to control the arrangement density and shape of the spacers, and to add a retardation layer to the liquid crystal panel.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 relates to a curved liquid crystal display device. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of columnar spacers are disposed between an array substrate and a counter substrate. The columnar spacer includes a columnar spacer having a relatively high height and a columnar spacer having a relatively low height. The columnar spacers having a relatively high height are arranged so that the density increases toward the center in the bending direction of the liquid crystal panel. Thereby, unevenness can be suppressed.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 relates to a curved display. In the technique described in Patent Literature 2, a distance between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate is defined by a columnar spacer. The density of the columnar spacers decreases linearly from the center to the periphery of the screen. As a result, the luminance over the entire screen can be made uniform.

JP 2018-097245 A JP 2017-187530 A

  However, in the conventional technologies represented by the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the deterioration of the display quality near the outer periphery of the display region caused by the sub-spacer pressing the two substrates is sufficiently reduced. Cannot be suppressed.

  The present invention has been made in view of this problem. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a curved liquid crystal display capable of suppressing a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display area due to the sub-spacer pressing the drive substrate and / or the opposing substrate. It is to provide a device.

  The present invention relates to a curved liquid crystal display device.

  A curved liquid crystal display device includes a driving substrate, a counter substrate, a sealing material, a liquid crystal layer, a sub spacer, and a main spacer.

  The drive substrate and the counter substrate are curved. The sealing material, the liquid crystal layer, the sub spacer, and the main spacer are disposed between the driving substrate and the counter substrate, and are disposed in a display area surrounded by the sealing material. The sealing material attaches the opposing substrate to the driving substrate. The sub-spacer has a first height. The main spacer has a second height that is higher than the first height.

The arrangement density of the sub-spacers decreases as it approaches the outer periphery of the display area.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the outer periphery has a changing point where the extending direction or the curvature changes. In addition, the arrangement density decreases as approaching the change point. In the second aspect of the present invention, the outer periphery has a first change point and a second change point in which the extending direction or the curvature changes and approach each other. Further, as the arrangement density approaches a point on the section between the first change point and the second change point on the outer periphery, the arrangement density decreases. In the third aspect of the present invention, the driving substrate further includes a first light-transmitting base material and a first layer. The first light-transmitting substrate has a first main surface facing the side on which the counter substrate is arranged. The first layer is arranged on the first main surface and is arranged in the display area. The counter substrate includes a second light-transmitting base material and a second layer. The second light-transmissive substrate has a second main surface facing the side on which the drive substrate is arranged. The second layer is disposed on the second main surface and is disposed in the display area. The seal member includes a seal inner spacer. At least one of the driving substrate and the opposing substrate includes a third layer. The third layer is disposed so as to overlap with the sealing material when viewed in plan from the thickness direction of the driving substrate and the counter substrate.

According to the present invention, the arrangement density of the sub spacers is reduced near the outer periphery of the display area where the sub spacers are likely to press the drive substrate and / or the counter substrate. Therefore, even when the distance between the driving substrate and the opposing substrate is reduced near the outer periphery of the display area due to the curving of the driving substrate and the opposing substrate, the sub spacer does not press the driving substrate and / or the opposing substrate. Can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display region due to the sub-spacer pressing the drive substrate and / or the opposing substrate.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the distance between the driving substrate and the counter substrate is further increased near the outer periphery of the display area. Therefore, even when the distance between the driving substrate and the opposing substrate is reduced near the outer periphery of the display area due to the curving of the driving substrate and the opposing substrate, the sub spacer does not press the driving substrate and / or the opposing substrate. Can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display region due to the sub-spacer pressing the drive substrate and / or the opposing substrate.

  The objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a part forming one pixel of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing a portion constituting one sub-spacer arrangement pixel of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing a portion constituting one main spacer arrangement pixel of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing a portion constituting one periodic unit of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing a portion constituting one periodic unit of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display area of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display area of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an example of a distribution of arrangement density of sub-spacers when a display region of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 1-2 has a non-rectangular planar shape. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment.

1 Embodiment 1
1.1 Liquid Crystal Display FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the liquid crystal display of the first embodiment.

  The liquid crystal display device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a curved liquid crystal display device. A curved liquid crystal display device is also called a curved display or the like.

  The liquid crystal display device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 11 and a protection plate 12, as shown in FIG. In addition, the liquid crystal display device 1 includes assembled components such as a backlight and a bezel (not shown).

  The liquid crystal panel 11 is curved. The protection plate 12 is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 11.

  The liquid crystal panel 11 includes a driving substrate 101 and a counter substrate 102 as shown in FIG. In addition, the liquid crystal panel 11 includes an assembly component such as a polarizing plate (not shown).

  The drive substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 are curved. The counter substrate 102 faces the drive substrate 101.

  The liquid crystal display device 1 is a TFT liquid crystal display device having a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element. Therefore, the driving substrate 101 is a TFT driving substrate including a TFT as a switching element. The TFT functions as a driving element. The liquid crystal display device 1 may be a liquid crystal display device other than the TFT liquid crystal display device, and the driving substrate 101 may be a driving substrate other than the TFT driving substrate.

  The counter substrate 102 is a color filter substrate including a color filter.

1.2 Liquid Crystal Panel FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates the liquid crystal panel before it is curved. The horizontal direction in FIG. 2 is a bending direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 11 includes a driving substrate 101, a counter substrate 102, a sealing material 103, a liquid crystal layer 104, and a spacer 105. The spacer 105 includes a sub-spacer 105s.

  The sealant 103, the liquid crystal layer 104, and the spacer 105 are provided between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102.

  The seal member 103 is arranged in a seal member arrangement region R1 along the outer periphery of the liquid crystal panel 11. The sealant 103 bonds the opposing substrate 102 to the driving substrate 101 and attaches the opposing substrate 102 to the driving substrate 101. The sealing material 103 is made of a resin.

  The liquid crystal layer 104 is disposed in the display region R2 surrounded by the sealing material 103 when viewed in plan from the thickness direction of the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. Thus, the liquid crystal layer 104 is sealed between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 by the sealant 103. The liquid crystal constituting the liquid crystal layer 104 may be either a positive liquid crystal or a negative liquid crystal.

  The spacer 105 is arranged in the display region R2. The arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases as approaching the outer periphery of the display region R2. For this reason, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105 s is high at the center of the display region R <b> 2 and low near the outer periphery of the display region R <b> 2 along the seal member 103. The spacer 105 is made of a resin.

  The liquid crystal cell gap indicating the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 is, for example, 2 μm or more and 5 μm or less. The liquid crystal layer 104 is formed by filling liquid crystal between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. Therefore, the liquid crystal layer 104 has, for example, a thickness of 2 μm or more and 5 μm or less that matches the liquid crystal cell gap.

  The liquid crystal panel 11 has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. However, in FIG. 2, illustration of repetition of pixels is omitted.

1.3 Driving Substrate and Counter Substrate FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a portion forming one pixel of the liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

  The drive substrate 101 includes a first light-transmissive substrate 111 and a first layer 112 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the structure of the first layer 112 is simplified.

  The first light-transmissive substrate 111 has a first main surface 111a facing the side on which the counter substrate 102 is arranged. The first layer 112 is arranged on the first main surface 111a, and is arranged in the display region R2.

  The first light-transmissive substrate 111 is a glass substrate or the like.

  The first layer 112 includes a TFT layer 121 and the like. The TFT layer 121 includes a TFT, a protective insulating film, a transparent electrode, and the like. The first layer 112 may include an alignment film that is arranged on the TFT layer 121 and aligns liquid crystal included in the liquid crystal layer 104.

  The counter substrate 102 includes a second light-transmissive substrate 131 and a second layer 132 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the structure of the second layer 132 is simplified.

  The second translucent substrate 131 has a second main surface 131a facing the side on which the drive substrate 101 is arranged. The second layer 132 is arranged on the second main surface 131a and is arranged in the display region R2.

  The second translucent substrate 131 is a glass substrate or the like.

  The second layer 132 includes a black matrix 141, a color material 142, and an overcoat material 143. The color material 142 includes a red material 142r, a green material 142g, and a blue material 142b. The overcoat material 143 is disposed on the black matrix 141 and the color material 142. The black matrix 141 functions as a light shielding layer. The overcoat material 143 functions as a protective layer. The second layer 132 may include an alignment film that is arranged on the overcoat material 143 and aligns the liquid crystal included in the liquid crystal layer 104. When the spacer 105 is disposed on the counter substrate 102, the alignment film is disposed on the overcoat material 143 so as to overlap the spacer 105.

1.4 Spacer The liquid crystal panel 11 includes a spacer 105 as shown in FIG. The spacer 105 is disposed on the driving substrate 101 or the opposing substrate 102. FIG. 3 shows a state where the spacer 105 is disposed on the counter substrate 102.

  The spacer 105 includes a sub spacer 105s and a main spacer 105m. The sub spacer 105s and the main spacer 105m are disposed between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. The sub spacer 105s and the main spacer 105m are arranged in the display region R2.

  The sub spacer 105s has a first height in the thickness direction of the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. The main spacer 105m has a second height higher than the first height in the thickness direction. Therefore, the sub spacer 105s has a relatively low height. The main spacer 105m has a relatively high height. The spacer 105 has a height determined in accordance with a liquid crystal cell gap that affects display characteristics of the liquid crystal display device 1, and generally has a height of several μm. The difference between the height of the sub spacer 105s and the height of the main spacer 105m is generally 0.1 μm or more and several μm or less.

  The main spacer 105m is always in contact with both the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, and maintains the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102. In a normal case, the sub-spacer 105 s contacts only one of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, an external force is applied to the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102, and the main spacer 105 m is elastically deformed. When the opposing substrate 102 and the opposing substrate 102 approach each other, they may come into contact with both the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102. Thus, when an external force is applied to the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102, the sub-spacer 105s maintains the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102. The external force applied to the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102 is the external force applied to the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 when the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are curved when the liquid crystal display device 1 is manufactured. Including.

  The spacer 105 is formed by forming a resin film on the driving substrate 101 or the counter substrate 102 and patterning the formed film into a columnar shape.

1.5 Main Spacer / Sub Spacer Arranged Pixels, Sub Spacer Arranged Pixels, and Main Spacer Arranged Pixels FIG. 4 shows a portion of a counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment which constitutes one sub spacer arranged pixel. It is a top view which shows typically. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a portion constituting one main spacer arrangement pixel of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

  Each pixel included in the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal panel 11 may be a sub spacer / main spacer arranged pixel, but may be a sub spacer arranged pixel 151 illustrated in FIG. 4 or illustrated in FIG. May be the main spacer arrangement pixel 152. The sub spacer / main spacer 105s and the main spacer 105m are disposed in the sub spacer / main spacer arrangement pixel. In the sub-spacer arrangement pixel 151, only the sub-spacer 105s is arranged. In the main spacer arrangement pixel 152, only the main spacer 105m is arranged.

1.6 Arrangement Density of Sub-Spacers FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views schematically showing a portion constituting one periodic unit of the counter substrate provided in the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates a portion constituting one periodic unit having a relatively high arrangement density of sub-spacers. FIG. 7 illustrates portions constituting one periodic unit having a relatively low arrangement density of sub-spacers.

  The liquid crystal panel 11 has a cycle unit 161 shown in FIG. The cycle unit 161 includes a plurality of pixels. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the cycle unit 161 includes 5 pixels in the horizontal direction × 5 in the vertical direction = 25 pixels. The sub-spacer 105s and the main spacer 105m are arranged in the periodic unit 161. The cycle unit 161 appears periodically in the display area R2. The periodic unit 161 appears periodically in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 11 has a periodic structure in which a plurality of periodic units 161 are arranged in a matrix.

  The arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105 s in the periodic unit 161 indicates the area occupied by the sub-spacers 105 s in the periodic unit 161 when viewed in plan from the thickness direction of the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. In this case, it can be defined as the arrangement density obtained by dividing by the area occupied by the periodic unit 161.

  The arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s in the periodic unit 161 includes the size of the liquid crystal panel 11, the shape of the liquid crystal panel 11, the liquid crystal cell gap, the height of the sub-spacer 105s, the arrangement density of the main spacer 105m, the height of the main spacer 105m, and the like. It is determined according to the external dimensions of the liquid crystal panel 11 and values that affect the display quality. When the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s in the periodic unit 161 is defined as described above, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s in the periodic unit 161 is desirably 0.01% or more over the entire display region R2. 5.00% or less.

  The main spacer 105m is arranged at the pixel 171 arranged at the center of the periodic unit 161. The sub-spacer 105 s is arranged at the pixel 172 arranged around the pixel 171 arranged at the center of the periodic unit 161. Generally, in order to maintain the liquid crystal cell gap, the sub spacers 105s and / or the main spacers 105m are arranged in all of the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal panel 11.

  In the periodic unit 161 having a relatively high arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 6, only the main spacer 105m is arranged only on the green material 142g forming the pixel 171. Further, only the sub-spacer 105s is disposed only on the red material 142r and the blue material 142b constituting the pixel 172.

  In the periodic unit 162 having a relatively low arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s shown in FIG. 7, only the main spacer 105m is disposed only on the green material 142g forming the pixel 171 similarly to the periodic unit 161. Is done. In addition, only the sub-spacer 105s is disposed only on the red material 142r and the blue material 142b that constitute the 20 pixels 172a included in the pixel 172. However, unlike the cycle unit 161, the sub-spacer 105s is not disposed on the red material 142r and the blue material 142b included in the four pixels 172b included in the pixel 172.

  In the periodic unit 162 shown in FIG. 7, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s is reduced by reducing the number of the arranged sub-spacers 105s. Thus, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s can be reduced without significantly complicating the procedure of forming the spacers 105. However, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s may be reduced by reducing the size of the sub-spacers 105s.

1.7 Distribution of Arrangement Density of Sub-Spacers FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate examples of the distribution of arrangement density of the sub-spacers when the display area of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment has a rectangular planar shape. It is a top view. FIGS. 10 to 15 are plan views illustrating examples of distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers when the display area of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment has a non-rectangular planar shape. 8 to 15, a low arrangement density of the sub-spacers is represented by a high concentration, and a high arrangement density of the sub-spacers is represented by a low concentration.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 8 has a rectangular planar shape. The outer periphery of the display area R2 illustrated in FIG. 8 has four straight lines 181a. Each of the four straight lines 181a forms four sides.

  The distribution of the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 8 is a distribution parallel to each straight line 181a. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 8, the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s decreases as approaching each straight line 181a. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  According to the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 8, the sub-spacers 105s are located near the outer periphery of the display region R2 where the sub-spacers 105s are likely to press the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102. Is reduced in arrangement density. Therefore, even when the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 is reduced near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the curving of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, the sub-spacer 105s is formed by the driving substrate 101 and / or Pressing of the counter substrate 102 can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the sub-spacer 105s pressing the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 9 has a rectangular planar shape. The outer periphery of the display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 9 has four straight lines 181a and four change points 181b at which two adjacent straight lines intersect and the extending direction changes. Each of the four straight lines 181a forms four sides. Each of the four change points 181b forms four vertices.

  The distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 9 is a concentric distribution centered on each change point 181b. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 9, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases as approaching each change point 181b, and becomes minimum at each change point 181b. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 10 has a non-rectangular planar shape. The non-rectangular planar shape illustrated in FIG. 10 is a hexagonal planar shape. However, the non-rectangular planar shape may be a polygonal planar shape other than the hexagonal planar shape. For example, the non-rectangular planar shape may be an octagonal planar shape. The outer periphery of the non-rectangular planar shape shown in FIG. 10 has only sides formed by straight lines. However, the outer periphery of the non-rectangular planar shape may have sides formed by straight lines and sides formed by curves. The outer periphery of the display area R2 illustrated in FIG. 10 has six straight lines 182a and six change points 182b where two adjacent straight lines 182a intersect and change in the extending direction. Each of the six straight lines 182a forms six sides. Each of the six change points 182b constitutes six vertices.

  The distribution of the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 10 is a concentric distribution centered on each change point 182b. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 10, the arrangement density of the sub spacers 105s decreases as approaching each change point 182b, and becomes minimum at each change point 182b. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 11 has a non-rectangular planar shape. The non-rectangular planar shape illustrated in FIG. 11 is a planar shape obtained by removing the depression 183g from the rectangular planar shape before removal. However, the planar shape before removal may be a polygonal planar shape other than the rectangular planar shape. For example, the planar shape before removal may be a hexagonal planar shape, an octagonal planar shape, or the like. The outer periphery of the planar shape before removal illustrated in FIG. 11 has only sides formed by straight lines. However, the outer periphery of the planar shape before removal may have sides formed by straight lines and sides formed by curves. The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 11 has a recess 183g called a notch for removing a planar shape before removal into a rectangular shape. Therefore, the notch has a rectangular planar shape. However, the notch may have a planar shape different from the rectangular planar shape shown in FIG. The notch may have a non-rectangular planar shape. The outer periphery of the display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes six straight lines 183a, two curves 183b, four changing points 183c where two adjacent straight lines intersect and the extending direction changes, an adjacent straight line, There are four change points 183d where the curves intersect and the curvature changes, and two change points 183e where two adjacent straight lines intersect and the extending direction changes. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s shown in FIG. 11, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases as approaching each of the change points 183c, 183d, or 183e, and reaches a minimum at each of the change points 183c, 183d, or 183e. Become. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 12 has a non-rectangular planar shape. The outer periphery of the display area R2 illustrated in FIG. 12 has one straight line 184a and one curve 184b, and two changing points 184c where the adjacent straight lines and curves intersect and the extending direction and the curvature change. Have. One curve 184b is an arc having a constant curvature. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 12, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases as approaching each change point 184c and becomes minimum at each change point 184c. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  The display region R2 illustrated in FIG. 13 has a non-rectangular planar shape. The outer periphery of the display region R2 shown in FIG. 13 has one straight line 185a and three curves 185b, and two change points 185c where the adjacent straight lines and curves intersect and the extending direction and the curvature change. In addition, it has two changing points 185d where two adjacent curves intersect and the extending direction and the curvature change. Two adjacent curves have different curvatures from each other. In the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s illustrated in FIG. 13, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases as approaching each of the change points 185c or 185d, and becomes minimum at each of the change points 185c or 185d. Thereby, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases on the way from the center of the display region R2 to the outer periphery of the display region R2 as it approaches the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  According to the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105 s illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13, the sub-spacers 105 s form the outer periphery of the display region R <b> 2 in which the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102 are particularly likely to be pressed. In the vicinity of the changing points 181b, 182b, 183c, 183d, 183e, 184c, 185c and 185d, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s decreases. Therefore, even when the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 is reduced near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the curving of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, the sub-spacer 105s is formed by the driving substrate 101 and / or Pressing of the counter substrate 102 can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the sub-spacer 105s pressing the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102.

  When the first change point and the second change point are close to each other, for example, when the distance from the first change point to the second change point is 100 mm or less, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s is It may have a concentric distribution centered on the first change point and / or the second change point, or may have a distribution between the first change point and the second change point on the outer periphery of the display region R2. It may have a concentric distribution centered on an arbitrary point on the section. This is because when the first change point and the second change point are close to each other, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105 s is concentric distribution centered on the first change point and / or the second change point, And any of the concentric distributions centered on an arbitrary point on the section between the first change point and the second change point, the distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s is substantially the same. This is because The section between the first change point and the second change point may be constituted by a straight line or may be constituted by a curve.

  For example, in a display region R2 shown in FIG. 14 which is a modification of the display region R2 shown in FIG. 10, two change points 182b existing at both ends of a straight line 182a forming the hypotenuse are close to each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s is centered on a point 182c on a section between two change points 182b existing at both ends of a straight line 182a forming the hypotenuse. It may have a concentric distribution.

  In a display region R2 shown in FIG. 15 which is a modification of the display region R2 shown in FIG. 11, two change points 183d located at both ends of the curve 183b are close to each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s has a concentric distribution centered on a point 183f on a section between two change points 183b existing at both ends of the curve 183b. May be provided.

  A similar distribution of the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s may be adopted when the display region R2 has another planar shape.

1.8 State around Sealing Material FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of the sealing material of the liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1-2. FIG. 16 shows the deformation of the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 in an exaggerated manner.

  The sealing material 103 is formed by curing the resin fluid. When the liquid crystal panel 11 is bent, the sealing material 103 has already been cured. Therefore, when the liquid crystal panel 11 is curved, the position of the seal material arrangement region R1 and the shape of the seal material 103 do not change. For this reason, after the liquid crystal panel 11 is curved, the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 is reduced near the center of the liquid crystal panel 11. As a result, the stress generated in the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 is released in the vicinity of the sealing member 103, and the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 are deformed in the vicinity of the sealing member 103 as shown in FIG. When the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are deformed as shown in FIG. 16, when the liquid crystal panel 11 is not curved, the sub-spacer 105s that contacts only one of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 is formed. Then, both the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 come into contact with each other in the vicinity of the sealing material 103, and display unevenness occurs on a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel 11. In addition, as the contact area between the sub-spacer 105s and the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 increases, the sub-spacer 105s presses the first light-transmitting substrate 111 and / or the second light-transmitting substrate 131. The pressure increases, and display unevenness is emphasized. Reducing the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s near the outer periphery of the display region R2 contributes to suppressing such display unevenness.

1.9 Prototype Examples Ten liquid crystal display devices 1 having a display area R2 having a rectangular planar shape shown in FIG. 9 and having a distribution of arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s shown in FIG. 9 are prototyped. did. The arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s is 1.5% at the center of the display region R2, 1.0% at each change point 181b, and between the center of the display region R2 and each change point 181b. , And an arrangement density having a set gradient. The gradient was set in consideration of display quality such as chromaticity distribution in the entire display region R2, heat resistance, external force resistance, and the like. In the ten prototype liquid crystal display devices 1, the brightness of black in the vicinity of each change point 181b decreased from 10% to 20%, and it was confirmed that display unevenness was suppressed.

2 Embodiment 2
Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 mainly in the points described below. Except for the points described below, the same configuration as that employed in the first embodiment is employed in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically showing a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment.

  The liquid crystal panel 11 illustrated in FIG. 17 has a non-rectangular planar shape. The non-rectangular planar shape illustrated in FIG. 17 is a hexagonal planar shape. However, the non-rectangular planar shape may be a polygonal planar shape other than the hexagonal planar shape. For example, the non-rectangular planar shape may be an octagonal planar shape. The outer periphery of the non-rectangular planar shape shown in FIG. 17 has only sides formed by straight lines. However, the outer periphery of the non-rectangular planar shape may have sides formed by straight lines and sides formed by curves. The technology described below may be employed when the liquid crystal panel 11 has a rectangular planar shape. When the sealant 103 is formed, a resin fluid of the sealant is applied to the sealant disposition region R1 along the outer periphery of the liquid crystal panel 11 to form a coating film, and the formed coating film is cured. The sealing material 103 is formed.

  FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 are enlarged cross-sectional views schematically illustrating the vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment.

  The sealing material 103 includes a cured adhesive 201 and a spacer 202 inside the seal, as shown in FIGS.

  The in-seal spacer 202 is embedded in the cured adhesive 201.

  The cured adhesive 201 is a cured resin adhesive. The size of the in-seal spacer 202 is selected so that the liquid crystal cell gap does not become smaller than the set gap near the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  At least one of the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 includes a holding layer 205.

  The holding layer 205 is arranged in the sealant arrangement region R1 and overlaps the sealant 103 when viewed in plan from the thickness direction of the drive substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. The holding layer 205 holds the spacer 202 inside the seal.

  The holding layer 205 illustrated in FIG. 18 includes a driving substrate side layer 211 provided on the driving substrate 101 and disposed on the first main surface 111a of the first light-transmitting base material 111, and a counter substrate 102. An opposing substrate-side layer 212 is provided and provided on the second main surface 131a of the second light-transmitting base material 131.

  The holding layer 205 illustrated in FIG. 19 is a drive substrate side layer provided on the drive substrate 101 and disposed on the first main surface 111a of the first light-transmitting base material 111.

  The holding layer 205 illustrated in FIG. 20 is a counter-substrate-side layer provided on the counter substrate 102 and disposed on the second main surface 131a of the second translucent base 131.

  The drive substrate side layer 211 shown in FIG. 18 and the holding layer 205 shown in FIG. 19 are made of metal wiring, an interlayer insulating film, a resin flattening film, and the like. The interlayer insulating film is made of SiN or the like.

  The opposing substrate side layer 212 illustrated in FIG. 18 and the holding layer 205 illustrated in FIG. 20 are made of a black matrix, an overcoat material, a coloring material, and the like.

  The holding layer 205 is a third layer.

  The in-seal spacer 202 is sandwiched between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102. For this reason, the distance between the drive substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 in the sealant arrangement region R1 depends on the sum of the diameter of the spacer 202 in the seal and the height of the holding layer 205.

  Therefore, the provision of the holding layer 205 increases the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 near the outer periphery of the display region R2. Therefore, even when the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 is reduced near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the curving of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, the sub-spacer 105s is formed by the driving substrate 101 and / or Pressing of the counter substrate 102 can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality near the outer periphery of the display region R2 due to the sub-spacer 105s pressing the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102.

  When the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are bonded to each other in the vacuum chamber, when the driving chamber 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are bonded to each other and then the inside of the vacuum chamber is opened to the atmosphere, the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are bonded to each other. The substrate 102 is pressed under atmospheric pressure to strongly compress the spacer 202 in the seal, and as a result, the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 may be smaller than the set distance. Providing the holding layer 205 is also effective for this problem.

  The provision of the holding layer 205 may or may not be performed together with decreasing the arrangement density of the sub-spacers 105s toward the outer periphery of the display region R2.

  The holding layer 205 may be disposed over the entirety of the sealant arrangement region R1, or may be disposed only near the changing points 181b, 182b, 183c, 183d, 183e, 184c, 185c, and 185d.

  FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the vicinity of a sealing material of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment.

  21, the height h1 of the spacer 202 in the seal in the thickness direction of the drive substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102, the height h of the holding layer 205 in the thickness direction, h = h2 + h3, and the thickness direction. The liquid crystal cell gap d indicating the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 satisfies the relational expression h1 ≧ dh. The liquid crystal cell gap d corresponds to the distance between the first layer 112 and the second layer 132. Thereby, the distance h1 + h between the opposing substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 becomes equal to or larger than the liquid crystal cell gap d, and the driving region 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are curved, so that the display region R2 When the distance between the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 becomes narrow near the outer periphery of the sub-spacer 105, the sub spacer 105s can suppress the pressing of the driving substrate 101 and / or the opposing substrate 102. As a result, display unevenness can be suppressed, and the adjustment range of the liquid crystal cell gap d can be expanded.

  When the holding layer 205 includes the driving substrate side layer 211 and the opposing substrate side layer 212 described above, the height h1 of the driving substrate side layer 211 in the thickness direction of the driving substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 and the opposing substrate side layer 212 Using the height h2, the above relational expression can be rewritten as a relational expression h1 ≧ d−h2−h3.

  In the present invention, each embodiment can be freely combined, or each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted within the scope of the invention.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all aspects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that innumerable modifications that are not illustrated can be assumed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 liquid crystal display device, 11 liquid crystal panel, 101 driving substrate, 102 opposing substrate, 103 sealing material, 104 liquid crystal layer, 105 spacer, 105 s sub-spacer, 105 m main spacer, 111 first translucent base material, 112 first Layer, 131 second translucent base material, 132 second layer, 161, 162 cycle units, 181b, 182b, 183c, 183d, 183e, 184c, 185c, 185d Change point, 202 spacer in seal, 205 protective layer (Third layer), R1 seal material arrangement area, R2 display area.

Claims (10)

A driving substrate that is curved;
A curved opposite substrate;
A sealing material disposed between the driving substrate and the counter substrate, bonding the counter substrate to the driving substrate, and surrounding a display area;
A liquid crystal layer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, and disposed in the display area;
A sub-spacer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, disposed in the display region, having a first height, and having a placement density that decreases as approaching the outer periphery of the display region;
A main spacer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, disposed in the display area, and having a second height higher than the first height;
Equipped with a,
The outer circumference has a changing point where the extending direction or the curvature changes,
The curved liquid crystal display device , wherein the arrangement density decreases as approaching the change point . The arrangement density is curved liquid crystal display device of <br/> claim 1 having a concentric distribution centered the change point. A driving substrate that is curved;
A curved opposite substrate;
A sealing material disposed between the driving substrate and the counter substrate, bonding the counter substrate to the driving substrate, and surrounding a display area;
A liquid crystal layer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, and disposed in the display area;
A sub-spacer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, disposed in the display region, having a first height, and having a placement density that decreases as approaching the outer periphery of the display region;
A main spacer disposed between the drive substrate and the counter substrate, disposed in the display area, and having a second height higher than the first height;
Equipped with a,
The outer circumference has a first change point and a second change point in which the extending direction or curvature changes and approaches each other,
The curved liquid crystal display device , wherein the arrangement density decreases as approaching a point on a section between the first change point and the second change point on the outer periphery . The arrangement density has a point concentric distribution about the on interval between said second change point and the first change point on the outer periphery
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 . Including a plurality of pixels, the sub-spacer and the main spacer are arranged, having a periodic unit that periodically appears in the display area,
When the arrangement density of the sub-spacers in the periodic unit is defined as the arrangement density obtained by dividing the area occupied by the sub-spacer in the periodic unit by the area occupied by the periodic unit, the display area The arrangement density of the sub-spacers in the periodic unit is 0.01% or more and 5.00% or less over the whole
A curved liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 . The display area has a non-rectangular planar shape.
A curved liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 . The drive board,
A first light-transmissive substrate having a first main surface facing the side on which the counter substrate is arranged;
A first layer disposed on the first main surface and disposed in the display area;
With
The counter substrate,
A second light-transmissive substrate having a second main surface facing the side on which the drive substrate is arranged;
A second layer disposed on the second main surface and disposed in the display area;
With
The sealing material,
Equipped with a spacer inside the seal,
At least one substrate of the drive substrate and the counter substrate,
A third layer disposed so as to overlap with the sealing material when viewed in plan from the thickness direction of the driving substrate and the counter substrate.
A curved liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The third layer comprises:
A drive substrate-side layer provided on the drive substrate and arranged on the first main surface;
An opposing substrate-side layer provided on the opposing substrate and disposed on the second main surface;
Have
A curved liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 . The third layer is a drive-substrate-side layer provided on the drive substrate and arranged on the first main surface.
A curved liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 . The third layer is a counter substrate side layer provided on the counter substrate and disposed on the second main surface.
A curved liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 .