WO2013080971A1 - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Liquid crystal display device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013080971A1
WO2013080971A1 PCT/JP2012/080622 JP2012080622W WO2013080971A1 WO 2013080971 A1 WO2013080971 A1 WO 2013080971A1 JP 2012080622 W JP2012080622 W JP 2012080622W WO 2013080971 A1 WO2013080971 A1 WO 2013080971A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid crystal
crystal display
display panel
display device
bezel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/080622
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
畠雅幸
野間幹弘
薮田浩志
永田幸輔
Original Assignee
シャープ株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
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Application filed by シャープ株式会社 filed Critical シャープ株式会社
Publication of WO2013080971A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013080971A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/133308—Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/133308—Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
    • G02F1/133314—Back frames
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
    • G02F2201/50—Protective arrangements
    • G02F2201/503—Arrangements improving the resistance to shock

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel.
  • liquid crystal display panels have been used in portable devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable game devices, and digital cameras, as well as stationary devices such as desktop computers.
  • a display device with a touch panel that allows an input operation from a touch panel using a display image by superimposing a touch panel as an input unit on a display panel such as an EL display or the like is widely used.
  • a transparent touch panel is disposed so as to overlap the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel, and an image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel can be visually recognized through the touch panel.
  • the position can be detected, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel.
  • a liquid crystal display panel used for a liquid crystal display device with a touch panel and displaying an image has a front panel and a rear panel made of thin glass plates arranged with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and is formed on the inner surfaces of two glass panels.
  • the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are rotated, and the transmittance of the portion corresponding to each pixel is changed to display an image.
  • the glass panel bends and when stress concentrates on a specific part, the thickness and orientation of the liquid crystal layer change at that part and the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is disturbed.
  • a phenomenon called “pooling” occurs in which a pattern such as a striped shading is generated on the screen.
  • FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional configuration of a conventional liquid crystal display device with a touch panel function that prevents pooling that occurs on the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel when such a touch panel is used.
  • a conventional liquid crystal display device 100 with a touch panel function has a touch panel function including a pair of polarizing plates 103a and 103 on the inner surface of a cover substrate 101 fixed to a display window portion of an electronic device on the front side and the rear side.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 102 is fixed by a transparent adhesive layer 104.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 102 is placed on a backlight (not shown) and fixed by an upper bezel 105.
  • a polarizing plate 103a disposed on the front side and an adhesive layer 104 for fixing the liquid crystal display panel 102 to the cover substrate 101 are formed on the front surface of the image display unit of the liquid crystal display panel 102 with a predetermined thickness. Is formed. Therefore, the upper bezel 105 formed so as to be flush with the so-called frame portion other than the image display portion of the liquid crystal display panel 102 is between the cover substrate 101 and the polarizing plate 103a and the adhesive layer 104. It will oppose through the gap for thickness.
  • the spacer 106 is disposed on the upper surface of the bezel 105 to fill the gap between the cover substrate 101 and the liquid crystal display device when the user presses particularly near the end of the cover substrate 101.
  • the display panel 102 is prevented from being undesirably deformed (see Patent Document 1).
  • a spacer 106 is provided, whereby a cover substrate 101 for fixing a liquid crystal display device having a touch panel function to a housing of an electronic device, and a liquid crystal display panel 102 are provided.
  • the gap with the upper surface of the bezel 105 disposed in the peripheral portion can be eliminated, and even when the user presses the end of the cover substrate 101, the liquid crystal display panel 102 is prevented from being deformed and the display image is prevented from being pooled. can do.
  • the frame area which is a non-display area located around the image display area, is reduced. It will be necessary.
  • the cover substrate and the glass substrate of the liquid crystal display panel are made thinner, or a protective sheet is used instead of the cover substrate.
  • the liquid crystal display panel is not limited to the frame portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display panel is deformed even if there is a very small gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight arranged on the back side. Pooling appears on the display screen.
  • the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can effectively prevent pooling from occurring in a display image of a liquid crystal display panel when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. With the goal.
  • a liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight that is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and that irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with irradiation light for image display. And a bending support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while bending following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. .
  • the liquid crystal display panel can be smoothly deformed because the liquid crystal display panel is supported by the curved support member that curves when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed and curved from the front side. As a result, the occurrence of pooling on the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel can be effectively avoided.
  • the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight that is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with irradiation light for image display.
  • a bending support member is provided that supports the liquid crystal display panel while bending following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel.
  • the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while being curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side.
  • the panel can be smoothly curved and deformed. For this reason, it can avoid applying a local stress to a liquid-crystal layer, and can avoid effectively that pooling arises in a display image.
  • the curved support member is a bottomed frame-shaped bezel that constitutes the outer shell of the backlight, and the bezel follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel on the side wall of the bezel. It is preferable that a rigidity reducing means for bending is formed. By doing in this way, the bezel which comprises the outer shell of a backlight can be used as the curved support member which supports a liquid crystal display panel, curving following the curve.
  • the rigidity reducing means is a slit formed in the side wall so that an end on a side where the liquid crystal display panel is disposed is opened.
  • the liquid crystal display device disclosed in the present application is fixed to the housing of the electronic device via a buffer member disposed in contact with the back surface of the backlight. By doing in this way, a backlight can be curved more easily and smoothly.
  • the buffer member may be composed of a plurality of protrusions formed from the bottom surface toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight.
  • liquid crystal display device disclosed in the present application may be attached to a protective plate disposed on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel and fixed to a housing of an electronic device via the protective plate.
  • the curved support member is a transparent buffer material that is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight and that transmits the light emitted from the backlight. It is preferable. By doing in this way, the transparent buffer member which can be deform
  • a smartphone is exemplified as an electronic device
  • a liquid crystal display panel having a touch panel function used as a display unit of the smartphone is illustrated as a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.
  • the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to the one having a touch panel function on the front surface, and electronic devices using the liquid crystal display device of the present invention as a display unit include a tablet type, a notebook type, a desktop, as well as a smartphone.
  • each drawing referred to below shows only the main members necessary for explaining the present invention in a simplified manner among the constituent members of the embodiment of the present invention for convenience of explanation.
  • the liquid crystal display device concerning this invention can be equipped with the arbitrary structural members which are not shown by each figure to refer.
  • the dimensions of the members in the drawings attached to the present application including the drawings schematically illustrating the configuration, do not necessarily faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the structural members, the dimensional ratios of the respective members, and the like.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a smartphone as an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as a display unit.
  • the liquid crystal display device 10 of this embodiment includes a liquid crystal display panel 11 and a backlight 12 that irradiates irradiation light for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display panel 11 from the back side.
  • the viewer side viewing the image on the liquid crystal display panel is referred to as the front surface
  • the surface opposite to the front surface (back surface) is referred to as the back surface.
  • the liquid crystal display device 10 is accommodated in a display portion accommodating portion 21 provided in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 in a state where the buffer member 16 is disposed in contact with the backlight on the back side of the backlight 12. .
  • liquid crystal display panel 11 As the liquid crystal display panel 11, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel used conventionally can be used as it is. For this reason, in the present specification, description and illustration of the detailed configuration of the liquid crystal display panel 11 are omitted, but the irradiation light from the backlight 12 disposed on the back side is transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel as transmitted light.
  • a predetermined voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer disposed between the glass front panel and the rear panel to change the orientation direction of the liquid crystal particles, and a pair disposed on the front surface of the front panel and the rear surface of the rear panel. An image is displayed by adjusting the amount of transmitted light using the polarizing plate.
  • color display can be performed by forming a color filter on any glass panel, how to arrange and form electrodes, and in which direction voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer using the electrodes.
  • an operation mode such as a vertical alignment method or an IPS method (lateral electric field method) can be employed.
  • an active method using a switching element such as a TFT and a simple matrix method can be selected.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment has a touch panel function, and when the user touches the front side of the liquid crystal display panel 11, the position is detected and the electronic device is used as an electronic device.
  • the operation of the smartphone 1 can be controlled.
  • a glass substrate (touch panel) provided with a transparent electrode formed in a predetermined surface shape may be laminated on the liquid crystal display panel, or the substrate constituting the touch panel and the front panel of the liquid crystal display panel are combined. May be.
  • a light receiving element may be provided in the liquid crystal display panel, and the touch position may be optically detected.
  • the backlight 12 used in the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display panel in which radiated light from a light source (not shown) is converted into planar light through a light guide plate 14 and an optical sheet 13 accommodated in a bezel 15.
  • 11 is a so-called edge light type backlight (also referred to as a side light type).
  • the optical sheet 13 is illustrated as a single sheet in FIG. 1, it can be arranged on the light guide plate 14 as a laminated body of one or more optical sheets.
  • a well-known diffusion sheet, a condensing sheet having a lens function, or the like can be used, and irradiation is performed by laminating a plurality of these sheets in an appropriate order as necessary.
  • the emitted light becomes planar light with little deviation in luminance distribution over the entire image display area of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • the light guide plate 14 is a resin-made plate-like object, and radiated light from a light source (not shown) such as an LED or a fluorescent tube is incident on the side surface, and is reflected and scattered inside the light guide plate 14, which is the upper surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 side. To release.
  • a light source such as an LED or a fluorescent tube
  • the thickness of the light guide plate 14 is shown to be constant. However, in order to ensure the brightness of the irradiated light from the upper surface near the side opposite to the side where the light source is arranged, the light guide plate 14 is guided.
  • the thickness of the light plate 14 can be formed so that the light source side is thick and the opposite side is thin.
  • a particulate member that scatters light inside the light guide plate 14 so that the light from the light source can be irradiated on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 more efficiently and as uniform planar light.
  • the reflection sheet can be mixed or placed in close contact with the side or back surface of the light guide plate 14 other than the surface facing the light source.
  • the bezel 15 has a shape and size of the liquid crystal display panel 11 when viewed from above so that a light source, an optical sheet 13 and a light guide plate 14 (not shown) can be accommodated therein and the liquid crystal display panel 11 can be placed on the top.
  • the bottomed frame-like body made of metal or resin having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. That is, the bezel 15 constitutes the outer shell of the backlight 12 on the bottom surface and side surfaces other than the radiation surface that emits irradiation light to the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • the outer shape of the bezel 15 is shown as a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
  • the light source, the light guide plate 14, and the optical sheet 13 accommodated therein are positioned and held, and the housing of the smartphone 1 that is an electronic device
  • a protrusion, a recess, a notch, or the like may be formed as necessary.
  • the bezel 15 includes a pair of side walls 15a corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11, another pair of side walls 15b corresponding to the short side, and a bottom surface 15c surrounded by these four side walls.
  • the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment is used as a display unit of the smartphone 1, the area ratio of the display area capable of displaying an image in an area when viewed in plan is large, along with reduction in weight and thickness. That is, a framed frame is required.
  • the bezel 15 according to the present embodiment is made of resin to reduce the weight, and the upper portion of the side wall 15a, 15b of the bezel 15 has a flange that protrudes inward to mount the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • the frame is formed as a configuration in which the liquid crystal display panel 11 is directly placed on the upper surfaces 15e of the side walls 15a and 15b.
  • the side wall 15a of the bezel 15 corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is formed so that the upper surface 15e side on which the liquid crystal display panel 11 is disposed is an open end as rigidity reducing means for reducing the rigidity of the bezel 15.
  • a plurality of slits 15d are formed.
  • eight slits 15d are formed so as to divide the partition wall 15a corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 into equal widths (about 1 cm as an example).
  • the depth of the slit 15d is the same as the height of the side wall 15a from the bottom surface 15c, and the portion where the slit 15d is formed is substantially in the same state as the side wall 15a does not exist. Yes.
  • the bezel 15 of the liquid crystal display device 10 has the side wall 15a formed with the slit 15d as the rigidity reducing means, so that the liquid crystal display panel 11 protrudes from the front side due to the force pressed from the front.
  • the bezel 15 bends following the curve.
  • the function and effect of the bezel 15 as a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel 11 while curving following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11 will be described later with reference to FIG.
  • the buffer member 16 is disposed in contact with the back surface 15f of the bezel 15. That is, the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed between the bottom surface of the display unit housing portion 21 formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 via the buffer member 16.
  • the shock-absorbing member 16 is a flexible and deformable resin-made bag-like material in which a liquid or gel-like substance is enclosed, and can retain its original shape, and at the same time, changes in shape within a predetermined range. It can be realized as a silicone resin that is a possible member.
  • the buffer member 16 is mounted with the backlight 12 in which the bezel 15 forms an outer shell and the liquid crystal display panel 14 disposed on the front surface thereof, and without being affected by the shape of the housing 20.
  • the bezel 15 follows the liquid crystal display panel 11 and helps to bend and deform.
  • the buffer member 16 is used to make the bezel 15 easier to bend, and is not essential.
  • the bezel 16 serves as the curved support member. If the function can be achieved, the cushioning member 16 may not be required.
  • the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 accommodates various electronic circuit members for fulfilling the function as the smartphone 1 and a battery for driving.
  • a display portion accommodating portion 21 is formed as a recess having a predetermined area and depth, and the liquid crystal display device 10 is accommodated in the display portion accommodating portion 21. It has become.
  • the display unit accommodating unit 21 is provided with connection wiring and connection terminals for exchanging information and supplying necessary power between the electronic circuit configuration (not shown) in the housing 20 and the liquid crystal display device 10.
  • the illustration is omitted in FIG.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a state of each member when the center of the image display unit is pressed from the front side in order to operate the touch panel in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment.
  • 2 and subsequent drawings for explaining the deformation of the liquid crystal display device are schematic diagrams for clearly showing the curved state of the liquid crystal display panel. In particular, the dimension in the thickness direction in the drawing is not accurate. Absent.
  • the tapping test member 30 hits the center portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment from the front and a pressing force 31 is applied, and the center portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is on the back side, that is, In addition, a state in which the backlight 12 is curved is shown.
  • the bezel 15 constituting the outer shell of the side surface and the bottom surface of the backlight 12 has a plurality of cuts as rigidity reducing means on its side wall 15a as shown in a side view in FIG.
  • a notch 15d is provided.
  • the depth of the notch 15d is the same as the height from the bottom surface 15c of the side wall 15a. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
  • the bezel 15 can be smoothly curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11. For this reason, it can avoid applying a partial stress to the liquid crystal display panel 11, and can suppress generation
  • FIG. 4 is a comparative example for explaining the effects of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, and is a liquid crystal display device 40 having a bottomed frame-like bezel 41 that is not provided with a rigidity reducing means, which is conventionally used. 2 shows a state where the pressing force 31 is applied to the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 as in FIG.
  • FIG. 4 showing the liquid crystal display device 40 which is a comparative example, the only difference from the liquid crystal display device 10 of this embodiment is that the side wall of the bezel 41 is not provided with a slit which is a rigidity reducing means. Therefore, the members other than the bezel 41 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the comparative example, since the deformation of the bezel 41 is not assumed, no buffer member is disposed between the liquid crystal display device 40 and the housing 20.
  • the tapping test member 30 is in contact with the central portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 and pressed to the back side. Even when 31 is added, the highly rigid bezel 41 that supports the liquid crystal display panel 11 is not deformed. As a result, the surface of the laminated body of the light guide plate 14 and the optical sheet 13 disposed in the bezel 41 and the liquid crystal display panel are provided for the purpose of avoiding the influence of thermal expansion caused by the heat generation of the light source. 11 is deformed so that the back surface of the central portion of the pressed liquid crystal display panel 11 falls into the gap portion 42 with the back surface of the liquid crystal display 11.
  • the inner end portion of the upper surface 41a of the side wall of the bezel 41 supports the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 with a line with respect to the liquid crystal display panel 11 that is generally curved, and the upper surface 41a of the bezel 41 Stress is concentrated and applied to the portion indicated by the arrow 43 in FIG.
  • FIG. 5 shows a state of the image display surface when the center portion of the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel is inspected when the effect of the curved support member in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment is confirmed.
  • FIG. 5A shows a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 10 including the bezel 15 as the curved support member whose cross-sectional configuration is shown in FIG. 2 as the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 5B shows a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 40 of the comparative example whose sectional structure is shown in FIG.
  • the tip part 33 of the tapping test member is made of a hemispherical rubber member having a diameter of 1 cm.
  • the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. Since the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel is not absorbed, the liquid crystal display panel cannot be smoothly deformed, and pooling tends to occur around the pressed portion. Further, it can be seen that the stress is concentrated on the peripheral portion of the image display portion that is in contact with the end portion of the portion that supports the liquid crystal display panel, that is, the portion indicated by the arrow 43 in FIG. .
  • liquid crystal display device when the liquid crystal display panel is curved, a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while curving following the liquid crystal display panel is provided, whereby pooling occurs in the display image. It can be effectively avoided.
  • FIG. 6 shows that when the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment is used as a display unit of a smartphone, the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side in a state where the back surface of the backlight is provided with the buffer member of the modification.
  • It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the mode at the time typically.
  • the only difference from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is the shape of the buffer member disposed between the backlight and the casing. Detailed description will be omitted.
  • the buffer member 56 is configured by a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, that is, toward the surface side of the buffer member 56.
  • the buffer member 56 is configured by a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, so that a predetermined gap 57 is generated between the protrusions. .
  • the contact surface of the buffer member 56 that is in contact with the back surface of the bezel 15 is more easily deformed.
  • the bezel 15 constituting the outer shell of the backlight 12 can be more easily curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • the buffer member 56 of the modified example composed of a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, which is the front surface side, encloses a liquid or gel-like substance inside.
  • the shape of the resin bag-like member can be realized by making a shape in which a plurality of protrusions are arranged. Further, when the buffer member 56 is formed of silicone resin, a portion where the back surface of the backlight 12 abuts, for example, by intermittently supplying the silicone resin supply nozzle while moving the silicone resin coating.
  • the predetermined gap 57 can be formed in the shape.
  • the backlight bezel on which the liquid crystal display panel is placed has a slit as a rigidity reducing means formed on the wall surface.
  • a slit as a rigidity reducing means formed on the wall surface.
  • the partition corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel is divided into 8 equal widths.
  • the bezel must be soft enough to bend following the liquid crystal display panel, but it must also be strong enough to contain a light source, light guide plate, optical sheet, etc. It is.
  • the bezel is required to have a certain sealing property.
  • the number of slits, the position of the slits, and the slits are adjusted according to the degree of ease of bending of the liquid crystal display panel and the bezel, such as the size and material of the bezel, the size of the liquid crystal display panel, and the thickness of the glass panel.
  • Specific means for reducing rigidity such as width and depth should be designed.
  • the slits can be arranged not to be equally spaced but to be biased toward the central portion or the peripheral portion.
  • the number of slits can be appropriately selected according to the size of the bezel. Further, the depth of the slit does not reach the bottom surface of the bezel, but depends on the strength of the side wall forming the slit, for example, the depth from the mounting surface of the liquid crystal display panel to about half the height of the side wall. It is also conceivable to form a slit.
  • the rigidity reducing means in addition to the slits formed in the depth direction of the bezel as illustrated, it is conceivable to form a slit in the middle portion in the height direction of the side wall in parallel with the bottom surface of the bezel. Moreover, as a means for reducing rigidity other than the slit, the thickness of the side wall of the bezel corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel is made thinner than the thickness of the side wall corresponding to the bottom surface or the short side, or the long side of the liquid crystal display panel.
  • Rigidity of the bezel that has high rigidity because the basic shape is a bottomed frame body, such as forming the side wall of the corresponding bezel with a member with lower rigidity so that it follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel.
  • Various means capable of reducing the above can be used.
  • liquid crystal display device (Second Embodiment) Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described by exemplifying what is used as a display unit of a smartphone as an electronic device, like the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows a configuration in a state in which it is pressed from the front side.
  • the liquid crystal display device 60 described as the second embodiment is the first embodiment whose configuration is described in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 61 and the backlight 62 disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 61 are housed in a display portion housing portion 21 formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone.
  • liquid crystal display device 60 of the present embodiment the same liquid crystal display panel 61 as that of the liquid crystal display panel 11 described as the first embodiment can be used.
  • a light source (not shown) and radiated light emitted from the light source are planarized in a bezel 65 that forms an outer shell of at least a side surface and a lower surface of the backlight 62.
  • a light guide plate 64 and an optical sheet 63 stacked on the light guide plate 64 are housed.
  • a transparent buffer member 66 that transmits the light emitted from the backlight 62 is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 61 and the backlight 62, and the upper end surface of the transparent buffer member 66 contacts the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 61. It has a configuration.
  • the transparent cushioning member 66 can be deformed following the liquid crystal display panel 61 when it is pressed from the front side and deforms.
  • the transparent cushioning member 66 is liquid or gel. This can be realized by using a flexible and deformable resin-made bag-like material encapsulated in a granular material, a silicone resin that can maintain the original shape and can change the shape within a predetermined range.
  • the transparent buffer member 66 of this embodiment needs to transmit the irradiation light from the backlight 62 with a high transmittance, the transparency is high, and it becomes a factor that scatters transmitted light such as bubbles and foreign matters. It is preferable to use a material that does not contain as much as possible. From this point of view, the transparent cushioning member 66 is made of a single material such as a silicone resin having a higher degree of transparency than the case of using a plurality of members such as a bag and contents such as enclosed water. It is preferable that the structure is configured so that the irradiation light is not refracted at the interface between different members.
  • a transparent buffer member 66 whose shape changes following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 61 is provided between the backlight 62 on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 61 as a curved support member. ing. For this reason, even if the bezel 65 having high rigidity is housed in the display section housing section in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 that is an electronic device and is not easily deformed, local stress is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 61. You can avoid joining. As a result, local deformation around the pressing portion and further around the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel can be avoided, and pooling can be effectively prevented.
  • the bezel 65 and the liquid crystal display panel 61 do not have to be in direct contact with each other.
  • the entire liquid crystal display panel 11 is pressed against the bezel backlight 62 using a frame-like body that suppresses a so-called frame portion other than the image display portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 by arranging a protective plate on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 11 can be held by utilizing the flexibility of the deformable transparent holding member 66.
  • the four corners of the liquid crystal display panel 61 are connected to the upper surface of the bezel 65 via a rod-shaped support.
  • liquid crystal display device by forming and arranging an appropriate transparent support member, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of pooling by using the conventional liquid crystal display panel and the backlight as they are. A liquid crystal display device can be realized. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device that does not deteriorate the image quality even when the panel surface is pressed can be realized at a lower cost.
  • FIG. 8 schematically shows a configuration in a state in which it is pressed from the front side, and the liquid crystal display device 70 described as the third embodiment is the first embodiment whose configuration is described in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the liquid crystal display panel 71 and a backlight 72 arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 71 are provided, and in a recess as a display unit housing portion formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone. Stored.
  • the configurations of the liquid crystal display panel 71 and the backlight 72 in the liquid crystal display device 70 of the present embodiment are the same as the configurations of the liquid crystal display panel 11 and the backlight 12 of the first embodiment.
  • the liquid crystal display device 70 of the present embodiment includes a protective plate 76 on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel 71 to which the entire liquid crystal display device 70 including the liquid crystal display panel 71 and the backlight 72 is attached.
  • the protective plate 76 is a highly transparent resin or glass plate such as an acrylic plate, and the peripheral portion of the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 70 or the entire front surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
  • a liquid crystal display device 70 is attached by an adhesive layer 77 formed or laminated on the substrate.
  • the peripheral part of the protection board 76 is mounted in the notch part 20b formed in the housing
  • FIGS. 8 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 7 and the like, the central portion of the image display surface of the liquid crystal display device 70 according to the third embodiment is pressed by the tapping test member 30 from the front side, and the pressing force 31 is applied. It shows the state of joining.
  • the bezel 75 of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment has a notch as a rigidity reducing means on the side wall corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 71. Is formed. For this reason, even when the liquid crystal display panel 71 is pressed and curved from the front side, the bezel 75 can be curved following the curve. As a result, it is possible to prevent a change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer by preventing a local stress from being applied to the liquid crystal display panel 71 in a state in which a pressing force is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 71. Can be effectively avoided.
  • the liquid crystal display device 70 of this embodiment is affixed to the protective plate 76 arrange
  • a predetermined interval 78 can be formed between the back surface of the bezel 75 and the bezel 75.
  • the liquid crystal display device 10 as shown in the first embodiment is not disposed on the back surface of the bezel 75 because it is not arranged on the back surface of the bezel 75 so as to prevent the shape change that follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel 71 of the bezel 75. It is not necessary to arrange the cushioning member 16 arranged between the smartphone and the case 20 of the smartphone for assisting the deformation of the bezel 15.
  • the liquid crystal display device of the present invention when the liquid crystal display panel is bent by being pressed from the front side, the liquid crystal display device includes the bending support member that supports the bending while following the bending. As a result, it is possible to effectively avoid applying local stress to the liquid crystal display panel in a state where the liquid crystal display panel is curved. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display panel, to avoid the occurrence of pooling in the display image, and to obtain a liquid crystal display device with high image quality of the displayed image. Can do.
  • the present invention is effectively applied to a liquid crystal display device having a touch panel function in which a user operates an electronic device by pressing an image display surface of a liquid crystal display panel.
  • the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to the one having the touch panel function, and the user has an opportunity to press the image display surface because the user holds the image display surface by touching the fingertip or the vicinity thereof. It can be effectively used for display units of various electronic devices capable of displaying information such as images and characters, including an increasing number of portable electronic devices.
  • the present invention can be industrially used as a display device for various electronic devices including a touch panel function as a liquid crystal display device in which the quality of a display image does not deteriorate even when the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel is pressed. .

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Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device in which pooling in a display image on a liquid crystal panel can be effectively prevented when the liquid crystal panel is pressed from the front-surface side thereof. This liquid crystal display device is provided with a liquid crystal display panel (11), and a backlight (12) for emitting illuminating light for image display to the liquid crystal display panel (11), the backlight being disposed on the back-surface side of the liquid crystal display panel (11), and a bending support member (15) is provided for supporting the liquid crystal display panel (12) while curving to follow the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel (11) when the liquid crystal display panel (11) is pressed from the front-surface side thereof.

Description

液晶表示装置Liquid crystal display
　本発明は、液晶表示パネルを備えた液晶表示装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel.
　近年、スマートフォン、タブレット型パソコンやノートパソコン、パーソナル・デジタル・アシスタント（ＰＤＡ）、携帯用ゲーム機器、デジタルカメラなどの携帯型の機器をはじめ、デスクトップパソコンなどの据え置き型の機器においても、液晶表示パネルやＥＬディスプレイなどの表示パネル上に入力部としてのタッチパネルを重ね合わせることによって、表示画像を用いたタッチパネルからの入力操作が可能なタッチパネル付きの表示装置が広く使用されるようになっている。 In recent years, liquid crystal display panels have been used in portable devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable game devices, and digital cameras, as well as stationary devices such as desktop computers. A display device with a touch panel that allows an input operation from a touch panel using a display image by superimposing a touch panel as an input unit on a display panel such as an EL display or the like is widely used.
　このタッチパネル付き表示装置としてのタッチパネル付き液晶表示装置では、透明なタッチパネルが液晶表示パネルの画像表示領域に重ねて配置されていて、タッチパネルを通して液晶表示パネルに表示される画像を視認することができる。そして、タッチパネルの外面、すなわち、液晶表示パネルの表示画像を観察する側の表面を、使用者が指やタッチペンなどにより押圧するとその位置を検出することができ、液晶表示パネルに表示されている画像情報とタッチ位置情報とから使用者の入力した指示の内容を判断して、使用している電子機器の制御に反映させることができる。 In this liquid crystal display device with a touch panel as a display device with a touch panel, a transparent touch panel is disposed so as to overlap the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel, and an image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel can be visually recognized through the touch panel. When the user presses the outer surface of the touch panel, that is, the surface on the side where the display image of the liquid crystal display panel is observed with a finger or a touch pen, the position can be detected, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel The contents of the instruction input by the user can be determined from the information and the touch position information, and can be reflected in the control of the electronic device being used.
　タッチパネル付き液晶表示装置に用いられ、画像表示を行う液晶表示パネルは、液晶層を挟んで配置される薄いガラス板からなる前面パネルと背面パネルとを有し、２枚のガラスパネルの内面に形成された電極に所定の電圧を印加することで液晶層の液晶分子を回転させ、各画素に対応する部分の透過率を変化させて画像表示を行っている。このような液晶表示パネルは、タッチパネルが押圧された時にガラスパネルが湾曲変形し、特定の部分に応力が集中すると、その部分で液晶層の厚さや配向が変化して液晶層の透過率が乱れ、画面に縞状の濃淡などの模様が生じる「プーリング」と呼ばれる現象が生じてしまうという問題があった。 A liquid crystal display panel used for a liquid crystal display device with a touch panel and displaying an image has a front panel and a rear panel made of thin glass plates arranged with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and is formed on the inner surfaces of two glass panels. By applying a predetermined voltage to the formed electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are rotated, and the transmittance of the portion corresponding to each pixel is changed to display an image. In such a liquid crystal display panel, when the touch panel is pressed, the glass panel bends and when stress concentrates on a specific part, the thickness and orientation of the liquid crystal layer change at that part and the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is disturbed. However, there is a problem that a phenomenon called “pooling” occurs in which a pattern such as a striped shading is generated on the screen.
　図９は、このようなタッチパネルを使用したときに液晶表示パネルの表示画面に生じるプーリングを防止する、従来のタッチパネル機能付き液晶表示装置の断面構成を示している。 FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional configuration of a conventional liquid crystal display device with a touch panel function that prevents pooling that occurs on the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel when such a touch panel is used.
　従来のタッチパネル機能付きの液晶表示装置１００は、電子機器の表示窓部分に固着されるカバー基板１０１の内側表面に、前面側と背面側に一対の偏光板１０３ａ、１０３を備えたタッチパネル機能を備えた液晶表示パネル１０２が、透明な接着剤層１０４によって固着されている。 A conventional liquid crystal display device 100 with a touch panel function has a touch panel function including a pair of polarizing plates 103a and 103 on the inner surface of a cover substrate 101 fixed to a display window portion of an electronic device on the front side and the rear side. The liquid crystal display panel 102 is fixed by a transparent adhesive layer 104.
　液晶表示パネル１０２は、図示しないバックライトに載置されて、上ベゼル１０５によって固着される。このとき、液晶表示パネル１０２の画像表示部の前面には、前面側に配置された偏光板１０３ａと、液晶表示パネル１０２をカバー基板１０１に固着するための接着剤層１０４が所定の厚さで形成されている。このため、液晶表示パネル１０２の画像表示部以外のいわゆる額縁部分と同一平面となるように形成された上ベゼル１０５の上面は、カバー基板１０１との間に偏光板１０３ａと接着剤層１０４との厚さ分の間隙を介して対向することとなる。 The liquid crystal display panel 102 is placed on a backlight (not shown) and fixed by an upper bezel 105. At this time, a polarizing plate 103a disposed on the front side and an adhesive layer 104 for fixing the liquid crystal display panel 102 to the cover substrate 101 are formed on the front surface of the image display unit of the liquid crystal display panel 102 with a predetermined thickness. Is formed. Therefore, the upper bezel 105 formed so as to be flush with the so-called frame portion other than the image display portion of the liquid crystal display panel 102 is between the cover substrate 101 and the polarizing plate 103a and the adhesive layer 104. It will oppose through the gap for thickness.
　従来の液晶表示装置１００では、ベゼル１０５の上面にスペーサ１０６を配置してカバー基板１０１との間の隙間を埋めることで、使用者がカバー基板１０１の特に端部近傍を押圧した場合に、液晶表示パネル１０２が不所望に変形してしまうことを防止する（特許文献１参照）。 In the conventional liquid crystal display device 100, the spacer 106 is disposed on the upper surface of the bezel 105 to fill the gap between the cover substrate 101 and the liquid crystal display device when the user presses particularly near the end of the cover substrate 101. The display panel 102 is prevented from being undesirably deformed (see Patent Document 1).
特開２０１０－９１９６６号公報JP 2010-91966 A
　上記特許文献１に記載の従来の液晶表示装置１００では、スペーサ１０６を配置することで、タッチパネル機能を備えた液晶表示装置を電子機器の筐体に固着するカバー基板１０１と、液晶表示パネル１０２の周囲部分に配置されたベゼル１０５上面との間隙をなくすことができ、使用者がカバー基板１０１の端部を押圧した場合でも液晶表示パネル１０２の変形を防ぎ、表示画像にプーリングが生じることを防止することができる。 In the conventional liquid crystal display device 100 described in Patent Document 1, a spacer 106 is provided, whereby a cover substrate 101 for fixing a liquid crystal display device having a touch panel function to a housing of an electronic device, and a liquid crystal display panel 102 are provided. The gap with the upper surface of the bezel 105 disposed in the peripheral portion can be eliminated, and even when the user presses the end of the cover substrate 101, the liquid crystal display panel 102 is prevented from being deformed and the display image is prevented from being pooled. can do.
　しかし、スマートフォンなどでは、小型な筐体により大きな画面の画像表示を行うことが求められ、タッチパネル機能付きの液晶表示パネルにおいても画像表示領域の周囲に位置する非表示領域である額縁面積を小さくすることが必要となる。また、電子機器全体の軽量化を図るとともに、より高感度でタッチ位置を検出するために、カバー基板や液晶表示パネルのガラス基板を薄くすることや、カバー基板に代えて保護シートを用いることなどが行われている。このような場合には、液晶表示パネルの額縁部分に限らず、液晶表示パネルとその背面側に配置されたバックライトとの間にごくわずかな隙間があっても、液晶表示パネルが変形して、表示画面にプーリングが現れてしまう。 However, in smartphones and the like, it is required to display a large screen image with a small casing, and even in a liquid crystal display panel with a touch panel function, the frame area, which is a non-display area located around the image display area, is reduced. It will be necessary. Moreover, in order to reduce the weight of the entire electronic device and detect the touch position with higher sensitivity, the cover substrate and the glass substrate of the liquid crystal display panel are made thinner, or a protective sheet is used instead of the cover substrate. Has been done. In such a case, the liquid crystal display panel is not limited to the frame portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display panel is deformed even if there is a very small gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight arranged on the back side. Pooling appears on the display screen.
　本発明は、上記の課題を鑑み、液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧された際に、液晶表示パネルの表示画像にプーリングが生じることを効果的に防止することができる液晶表示装置を提供することを目的とする。 In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can effectively prevent pooling from occurring in a display image of a liquid crystal display panel when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. With the goal.
　上記の課題を解決するために、本発明の液晶表示装置は、液晶表示パネルと、前記液晶表示パネルの背面側に配置され、前記液晶表示パネルに画像表示のための照射光を照射するバックライトとを備え、前記液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたときに、前記液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら前記液晶表示パネルを支持する湾曲支持部材を備えていることを特徴とする。 In order to solve the above problems, a liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight that is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and that irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with irradiation light for image display. And a bending support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while bending following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. .
　本発明によれば、液晶表示パネルが、前面側から押圧されて湾曲したときに追従して湾曲する湾曲支持部材によって支持されているため、液晶表示パネルが滑らかに変形することができる。この結果、液晶表示パネルの表示画面にプーリングが発生することを効果的に回避することができる。 According to the present invention, the liquid crystal display panel can be smoothly deformed because the liquid crystal display panel is supported by the curved support member that curves when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed and curved from the front side. As a result, the occurrence of pooling on the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel can be effectively avoided.
第１の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置を表示部として備えた、スマートフォンの構成を示す分解斜視図である。It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the smart phone provided with the liquid crystal display device concerning 1st Embodiment as a display part. 第１の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置が、前面側から押圧された状態を模式的に示す断面構成図である。It is a section lineblock diagram showing typically the state where the liquid crystal display concerning a 1st embodiment was pressed from the front side. ベゼルの側壁の構成を説明する側面図である。It is a side view explaining the structure of the side wall of a bezel. 比較例としての液晶表示装置が、前面側から押圧された状態を模式的に示す断面構成図である。It is a section lineblock diagram showing typically the state where the liquid crystal display as a comparative example was pressed from the front side. 液晶表示装置のプーリング防止効果を説明する図である。It is a figure explaining the pooling prevention effect of a liquid crystal display device. 変形例の緩衝部材が用いられた場合における、液晶表示装置が前面側から押圧された状態を模式的に示す断面構成図である。It is a section lineblock diagram showing typically the state where the liquid crystal display device was pressed from the front side at the time of using the buffer member of a modification. 第２の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置が、前面側から押圧された状態を模式的に示す断面構成図である。It is a section lineblock diagram showing typically the state where the liquid crystal display concerning a 2nd embodiment was pressed from the front side. 第３の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置が、前面側から押圧された状態を模式的に示す断面構成図である。It is a section lineblock diagram showing typically the state where the liquid crystal display concerning a 3rd embodiment was pressed from the front side. プーリングを防止する従来の液晶表示装置の構成を示す断面図である。It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional liquid crystal display device which prevents pooling.
　本発明にかかる液晶表示装置は、液晶表示パネルと、前記液晶表示パネルの背面側に配置され、前記液晶表示パネルに画像表示のための照射光を照射するバックライトとを備え、前記液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたときに、前記液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら前記液晶表示パネルを支持する湾曲支持部材を備えている。 The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight that is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with irradiation light for image display. When the is pressed from the front side, a bending support member is provided that supports the liquid crystal display panel while bending following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel.
　本発明の液晶表示装置では、液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら液晶表示パネルを支持する湾曲支持部材を備えているため、液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたときに、液晶表示パネルを滑らかに湾曲変形させることができる。このため、液晶層に局所的な応力が加わることを回避することができ、表示画像にプーリングが生じることを効果的に回避することができる。 Since the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while being curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. The panel can be smoothly curved and deformed. For this reason, it can avoid applying a local stress to a liquid-crystal layer, and can avoid effectively that pooling arises in a display image.
　上記液晶表示装置の構成において、前記湾曲支持部材が、前記バックライトの外殻を構成する有底枠状のベゼルであり、前記ベゼルの側壁に、前記液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して前記ベゼルを湾曲させる剛性低減手段が形成されていることが好ましい。このようにすることで、バックライトの外殻を構成するベゼルを、液晶表示パネルをその湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら支持する湾曲支持部材とすることができる。 In the configuration of the liquid crystal display device, the curved support member is a bottomed frame-shaped bezel that constitutes the outer shell of the backlight, and the bezel follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel on the side wall of the bezel. It is preferable that a rigidity reducing means for bending is formed. By doing in this way, the bezel which comprises the outer shell of a backlight can be used as the curved support member which supports a liquid crystal display panel, curving following the curve.
　この場合において、前記剛性低減手段が、前記液晶表示パネルが配置される側の端部が開口するように前記側壁に形成されたスリットであることが好ましい。このようにすることで、有底枠状の構成を備えるために剛性が高いベゼルを、液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して変形しやすくすることができる。 In this case, it is preferable that the rigidity reducing means is a slit formed in the side wall so that an end on a side where the liquid crystal display panel is disposed is opened. By doing in this way, since a bottomed frame-like structure is provided, a bezel having high rigidity can be easily deformed following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel.
　さらに、本願で開示する液晶表示装置は、前記バックライトの背面に当接して配置された緩衝部材を介して電子機器の筐体に固着されることが好ましい。このようにすることで、バックライトをより容易に滑らかに湾曲させることができる。 Furthermore, it is preferable that the liquid crystal display device disclosed in the present application is fixed to the housing of the electronic device via a buffer member disposed in contact with the back surface of the backlight. By doing in this way, a backlight can be curved more easily and smoothly.
　この場合において、前記緩衝部材が、底面から前記バックライトの背面との当接面側に向かって形成された複数の突起状物で構成されているようにすることができる。 In this case, the buffer member may be composed of a plurality of protrusions formed from the bottom surface toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight.
　また、本願で開示する液晶表示装置は、前記液晶表示パネルの前面側に配置された保護板に貼着され、前記保護板を介して電子機器の筐体に固着される構成とすることができる。 Further, the liquid crystal display device disclosed in the present application may be attached to a protective plate disposed on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel and fixed to a housing of an electronic device via the protective plate. .
　さらに、上記本発明の液晶表示装置の構成において、前記湾曲支持部材が、前記液晶表示パネルと前記バックライトとの間に配置された、前記バックライトからの照射光を透過する透明緩衝材であることが好ましい。このようにすることで、容易に変形することができる透明緩衝部材が、液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながらこれを支持することができる。 Furthermore, in the configuration of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the curved support member is a transparent buffer material that is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight and that transmits the light emitted from the backlight. It is preferable. By doing in this way, the transparent buffer member which can be deform | transformed easily can support this, following the curve of a liquid crystal display panel, and curving.
　以下、本発明の実施形態について、図面を参照しながら説明する。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
　なお、以下本発明の実施形態の説明では、電子機器としてスマートフォンを例示するとともに、本発明に係る液晶表示装置として、スマートフォンの表示部として用いられるタッチパネル機能を備えた液晶表示パネルを例示する。しかし、以下の説明は、本発明にかかる液晶表示装置の構成や用途を限定するものではない。本発明の液晶表示装置は、前面にタッチパネル機能を備えたものに限られず、また、本発明の液晶表示装置を表示部として用いる電子機器としては、スマートフォン以外にも、タブレット型、ノート型、デスクトップ型の各種パソコンや、ＰＤＡ、携帯用ゲーム機器などのモバイル機器、デジタルカメラやデジタルビデオカメラの画像モニタ、さらには、キャッシュディスペンサーや博物館での画像説明システムの表示端末、テレビジョン受像器、カーナビゲーションもしくはポータブル型ナビゲーションシステムなどのナビゲーションシステムの表示部など、各種電子機器を想定することができる。 In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, a smartphone is exemplified as an electronic device, and a liquid crystal display panel having a touch panel function used as a display unit of the smartphone is illustrated as a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. However, the following description does not limit the configuration and application of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to the one having a touch panel function on the front surface, and electronic devices using the liquid crystal display device of the present invention as a display unit include a tablet type, a notebook type, a desktop, as well as a smartphone. Various types of personal computers, PDAs, mobile devices such as portable game machines, image monitors of digital cameras and digital video cameras, cash dispensers and display terminals for image explanation systems in museums, television receivers, car navigation systems Alternatively, various electronic devices such as a display unit of a navigation system such as a portable navigation system can be assumed.
　また、以下で参照する各図は、説明の便宜上、本発明の実施形態の構成部材のうち、本発明を説明するために必要な主要部材のみを簡略化して示したものである。このため、本発明にかかる液晶表示装置は、参照する各図に示されていない任意の構成部材を備えることができる。さらに、模式的に構成を説明する図面をはじめとして、本願に添付する各図における部材の寸法は、実際の構成部材の寸法および各部材の寸法比率等を必ずしも忠実に表したものではない。 In addition, each drawing referred to below shows only the main members necessary for explaining the present invention in a simplified manner among the constituent members of the embodiment of the present invention for convenience of explanation. For this reason, the liquid crystal display device concerning this invention can be equipped with the arbitrary structural members which are not shown by each figure to refer. Furthermore, the dimensions of the members in the drawings attached to the present application, including the drawings schematically illustrating the configuration, do not necessarily faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the structural members, the dimensional ratios of the respective members, and the like.
　（第１の実施形態）
　図１は、本発明の第１の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置を表示部として備えた、電子機器としてのスマートフォンの構成を示す分解斜視図である。 (First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a smartphone as an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as a display unit.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０は、液晶表示パネル１１と、液晶表示パネル１１で画像表示を行うための照射光を背面から照射するバックライト１２を備えている。なお、本明細書において、液晶表示パネルの画像を観視する観視者側を前面、前面の反対側の面（裏面）を背面と称することとする。 The liquid crystal display device 10 of this embodiment includes a liquid crystal display panel 11 and a backlight 12 that irradiates irradiation light for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display panel 11 from the back side. In this specification, the viewer side viewing the image on the liquid crystal display panel is referred to as the front surface, and the surface opposite to the front surface (back surface) is referred to as the back surface.
　液晶表示装置１０は、バックライト１２の背面側に、バックライトに当接して緩衝部材１６が配置された状態で、スマートフォン１の筐体２０に設けられた表示部収容部２１に収容されている。 The liquid crystal display device 10 is accommodated in a display portion accommodating portion 21 provided in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 in a state where the buffer member 16 is disposed in contact with the backlight on the back side of the backlight 12. .
　液晶表示パネル１１は、従来用いられている透過型の液晶表示パネルをそのまま用いることができる。このため、本明細書では液晶表示パネル１１の詳細な構成についての説明と図示とを省略するが、背面側に配置されたバックライト１２からの照射光が透過光として液晶表示パネルを透過する際に、ガラス製の前面パネルと背面パネルとの間に配置された液晶層に所定の電圧を印加して液晶粒子の配向方向を変化させ、前面パネルの前面と背面パネルの背面に配置された一対の偏光板を用いて透過光量を調整して画像を表示する。なお、いずれかのガラス製パネルにカラーフィルタを形成することでカラー表示を行うことができ、電極をどのように配置形成するか、電極を用いて液晶層に対してどの方向に電圧を印加するかによって、垂直配向方式やＩＰＳ方式（横電界方式）などの動作モードを採用することができる。さらに、それぞれの画素の液晶層への電圧印加方法としても、ＴＦＴなどのスイッチング素子を用いるアクティブ方式と単純マトリクス方式とを選択することができる。 As the liquid crystal display panel 11, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel used conventionally can be used as it is. For this reason, in the present specification, description and illustration of the detailed configuration of the liquid crystal display panel 11 are omitted, but the irradiation light from the backlight 12 disposed on the back side is transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel as transmitted light. In addition, a predetermined voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer disposed between the glass front panel and the rear panel to change the orientation direction of the liquid crystal particles, and a pair disposed on the front surface of the front panel and the rear surface of the rear panel. An image is displayed by adjusting the amount of transmitted light using the polarizing plate. In addition, color display can be performed by forming a color filter on any glass panel, how to arrange and form electrodes, and in which direction voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer using the electrodes. Depending on the operation mode, an operation mode such as a vertical alignment method or an IPS method (lateral electric field method) can be employed. Further, as a method of applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer of each pixel, an active method using a switching element such as a TFT and a simple matrix method can be selected.
　また、本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０の液晶表示パネル１１は、タッチパネル機能を備えていて、液晶表示パネル１１の前面側を使用者が触った際に、その位置を検出して電子機器としてのスマートフォン１の動作を制御することができる。タッチパネル機能は、所定の面形状に形成された透明電極を備えるガラス基板（タッチパネル）が、液晶表示パネルに積層されていてもよいし、タッチパネルを構成する基板と液晶表示パネルの前面パネルとが兼用されていてもよい。また、液晶表示パネル内に受光素子を備え、タッチ位置を光学的に検出する方式とすることもできる。 In addition, the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment has a touch panel function, and when the user touches the front side of the liquid crystal display panel 11, the position is detected and the electronic device is used as an electronic device. The operation of the smartphone 1 can be controlled. For the touch panel function, a glass substrate (touch panel) provided with a transparent electrode formed in a predetermined surface shape may be laminated on the liquid crystal display panel, or the substrate constituting the touch panel and the front panel of the liquid crystal display panel are combined. May be. Further, a light receiving element may be provided in the liquid crystal display panel, and the touch position may be optically detected.
　液晶表示パネル１１を駆動するための各種電圧や、液晶表示パネルで表示される画像信号を供給する接続配線、タッチ位置を信号として出力する出力配線、必要に応じて液晶表示パネルの前面側に配置される樹脂製もしくはガラス製の保護板などについても、従来周知の構成を使用できるため、図１においては図示を省略する。 Various voltages for driving the liquid crystal display panel 11, connection wiring for supplying an image signal displayed on the liquid crystal display panel, output wiring for outputting the touch position as a signal, arranged on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel as necessary Since a conventionally well-known structure can be used for the protective plate made of resin or glass, the illustration is omitted in FIG.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０に用いられるバックライト１２は、図示しない光源からの放射光を、ベゼル１５内に収容された導光板１４と光学シート１３とを介して面状光として液晶表示パネル１１の背面に照射する、いわゆるエッジライト方式（サイドライト方式とも称する）のバックライトである。 The backlight 12 used in the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display panel in which radiated light from a light source (not shown) is converted into planar light through a light guide plate 14 and an optical sheet 13 accommodated in a bezel 15. 11 is a so-called edge light type backlight (also referred to as a side light type).
　光学シート１３は、図１では一枚のものとして図示しているが、導光板１４上に一枚もしくは二枚以上の光学シートの積層体として配置することができる。なお、光学シート１３としては、周知の拡散シート、レンズ作用を持たせた集光シートなどを用いることができ、これらを複数枚必要に応じて、かつ、適切な順序で積層することで、照射される光が液晶表示パネル１１の画像表示領域全域にわたって輝度分布の偏りが少ない面状光となるようにしている。 Although the optical sheet 13 is illustrated as a single sheet in FIG. 1, it can be arranged on the light guide plate 14 as a laminated body of one or more optical sheets. In addition, as the optical sheet 13, a well-known diffusion sheet, a condensing sheet having a lens function, or the like can be used, and irradiation is performed by laminating a plurality of these sheets in an appropriate order as necessary. The emitted light becomes planar light with little deviation in luminance distribution over the entire image display area of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
　導光板１４は、樹脂製の板状物であり、図示しないＬＥＤもしくは蛍光管である光源からの放射光が側面に入射され、導光板１４内部で反射散乱されて上面である液晶表示パネル１１側に放出する。なお、図１では、導光板１４の厚みは一定であるように図示しているが、光源が配置されている側とは反対側近傍の上面からの照射光の輝度を確保するために、導光板１４の厚さを、光源側が厚く反対側が薄くなるように形成することができる。また、光源からの光をより効率よく、かつ、均一な面状光として液晶表示パネル１１の背面に照射することが可能となるように、導光板１４の内部に光を散乱させる粒子状部材を混入したり、導光板１４の光源に対向する面以外の側面や背面に反射シートを密着配置させたりすることができる。 The light guide plate 14 is a resin-made plate-like object, and radiated light from a light source (not shown) such as an LED or a fluorescent tube is incident on the side surface, and is reflected and scattered inside the light guide plate 14, which is the upper surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 side. To release. In FIG. 1, the thickness of the light guide plate 14 is shown to be constant. However, in order to ensure the brightness of the irradiated light from the upper surface near the side opposite to the side where the light source is arranged, the light guide plate 14 is guided. The thickness of the light plate 14 can be formed so that the light source side is thick and the opposite side is thin. Further, a particulate member that scatters light inside the light guide plate 14 so that the light from the light source can be irradiated on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 more efficiently and as uniform planar light. The reflection sheet can be mixed or placed in close contact with the side or back surface of the light guide plate 14 other than the surface facing the light source.
　ベゼル１５は、図示しない光源や光学シート１３、導光板１４を内部に収容でき、上部に液晶表示パネル１１を載置できるように、平面視したときに、液晶表示パネル１１の形状と大きさに合わせた平面視略矩形状の、金属または樹脂製の有底枠状体となっている。すなわち、ベゼル１５は、液晶表示パネル１１の背面に照射光を放射する放射面以外の、底面と側面とにおけるバックライト１２の外殻を構成している。なお、図１では、ベゼル１５の外形を直方体状として表したが、内部に収容される光源や導光板１４，光学シート１３を位置決めしながら保持し、かつ、電子機器であるスマートフォン１の筐体内部に収容固定されるために、必要に応じて突出部や凹部、切り欠き部などが形成される場合がある。 The bezel 15 has a shape and size of the liquid crystal display panel 11 when viewed from above so that a light source, an optical sheet 13 and a light guide plate 14 (not shown) can be accommodated therein and the liquid crystal display panel 11 can be placed on the top. The bottomed frame-like body made of metal or resin having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. That is, the bezel 15 constitutes the outer shell of the backlight 12 on the bottom surface and side surfaces other than the radiation surface that emits irradiation light to the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11. In FIG. 1, the outer shape of the bezel 15 is shown as a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, the light source, the light guide plate 14, and the optical sheet 13 accommodated therein are positioned and held, and the housing of the smartphone 1 that is an electronic device In order to be housed and fixed inside, a protrusion, a recess, a notch, or the like may be formed as necessary.
　より具体的に、ベゼル１５は、液晶表示パネル１１の長辺に対応する一対の側壁１５ａと短辺に対応する他の一対の側壁１５ｂ、さらに、これら４つの側壁で囲まれた底面１５ｃから構成されている。本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０は、スマートフォン１の表示部として用いられるため、軽量化や薄型化とともに、平面視した場合の面積における画像を表示することができる表示領域の面積の比が大きいこと、すなわち挟額縁化が求められる。このため、本実施形態にかかるベゼル１５は、樹脂製として軽量化が図られるとともに、ベゼル１５の側壁１５ａ、１５ｂの上部には、液晶表示パネル１１を搭載するために内側方向に張り出した鍔部を有さず、側壁１５ａ、１５ｂの上面１５ｅに直接液晶表示パネル１１を載置する構成として挟額縁化を図っている。 More specifically, the bezel 15 includes a pair of side walls 15a corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11, another pair of side walls 15b corresponding to the short side, and a bottom surface 15c surrounded by these four side walls. Has been. Since the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment is used as a display unit of the smartphone 1, the area ratio of the display area capable of displaying an image in an area when viewed in plan is large, along with reduction in weight and thickness. That is, a framed frame is required. For this reason, the bezel 15 according to the present embodiment is made of resin to reduce the weight, and the upper portion of the side wall 15a, 15b of the bezel 15 has a flange that protrudes inward to mount the liquid crystal display panel 11. The frame is formed as a configuration in which the liquid crystal display panel 11 is directly placed on the upper surfaces 15e of the side walls 15a and 15b.
　液晶表示パネル１１の長辺に対応するベゼル１５の側壁１５ａには、ベゼル１５の剛性を低減する剛性低減手段として、液晶表示パネル１１が配置される上面１５ｅ側が開口端となるように形成された複数のスリット１５ｄが形成されている。本実施形態におけるベゼル１５では、スリット１５ｄは、液晶表示パネル１１の長辺に対応する隔壁１５ａを均等の幅（一例として約１ｃｍ）毎に分割するように８本が形成されている。また、スリット１５ｄの深さは、底面１５ｃからの側壁１５ａの高さと同じとなっていて、スリット１５ｄが形成されている部分では、事実上側壁１５ａが存在しないのと同じ状態となるようにしている。 The side wall 15a of the bezel 15 corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is formed so that the upper surface 15e side on which the liquid crystal display panel 11 is disposed is an open end as rigidity reducing means for reducing the rigidity of the bezel 15. A plurality of slits 15d are formed. In the bezel 15 in the present embodiment, eight slits 15d are formed so as to divide the partition wall 15a corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 into equal widths (about 1 cm as an example). Further, the depth of the slit 15d is the same as the height of the side wall 15a from the bottom surface 15c, and the portion where the slit 15d is formed is substantially in the same state as the side wall 15a does not exist. Yes.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０のベゼル１５は、このように、側壁１５ａに剛性低減手段としてのスリット１５ｄが形成されていることにより、液晶表示パネル１１が前方から押圧する力によってベゼル１５側が凸となるように湾曲した際に、その湾曲に追従してベゼル１５が湾曲する。なお、このベゼル１５の、液晶表示パネル１１の湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら液晶表示パネル１１を支持する湾曲支持部材としての作用効果については、図２以下を用いて後述する。 As described above, the bezel 15 of the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment has the side wall 15a formed with the slit 15d as the rigidity reducing means, so that the liquid crystal display panel 11 protrudes from the front side due to the force pressed from the front. The bezel 15 bends following the curve. The function and effect of the bezel 15 as a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel 11 while curving following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11 will be described later with reference to FIG.
　ベゼル１５の背面１５ｆに当接して、緩衝部材１６が配置されている。すなわち、本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０は、スマートフォン１の筐体２０に形成された表示部収容部２１の底面との間に、緩衝部材１６を介して配置されている。 The buffer member 16 is disposed in contact with the back surface 15f of the bezel 15. That is, the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed between the bottom surface of the display unit housing portion 21 formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 via the buffer member 16.
　緩衝部材１６は、内部に液体またはゲル状物質が封入された、柔軟で変形可能な樹脂製の袋状物として、また、当初の形状を保つことができると同時に、所定範囲での形状変化が可能である部材であるシリコーン樹脂などとして実現できる。緩衝部材１６は、ベゼル１５が外殻を構成しているバックライト１２と、その前面に配置された液晶表示パネル１４とが載置されるとともに、筐体２０の形状に影響されることなく、ベゼル１５が液晶表示パネル１１に追従して湾曲変形することを助けている。なお、この緩衝部材１６は、ベゼル１５の湾曲をより容易にするために用いられるものであり、必須のものではない。すなわち、ベゼル１５の大きさや材質、液晶表示装置１０が収容される筐体２０の表示部収容部２１との間に形成される隙間の大きさとの関係などから、ベゼル１６が湾曲支持部材としての機能を果たすことができる場合には、緩衝部材１６を必要としない場合もあり得る。 The shock-absorbing member 16 is a flexible and deformable resin-made bag-like material in which a liquid or gel-like substance is enclosed, and can retain its original shape, and at the same time, changes in shape within a predetermined range. It can be realized as a silicone resin that is a possible member. The buffer member 16 is mounted with the backlight 12 in which the bezel 15 forms an outer shell and the liquid crystal display panel 14 disposed on the front surface thereof, and without being affected by the shape of the housing 20. The bezel 15 follows the liquid crystal display panel 11 and helps to bend and deform. The buffer member 16 is used to make the bezel 15 easier to bend, and is not essential. That is, because of the relationship between the size and material of the bezel 15 and the size of the gap formed between the display unit housing portion 21 of the housing 20 in which the liquid crystal display device 10 is housed, the bezel 16 serves as the curved support member. If the function can be achieved, the cushioning member 16 may not be required.
　スマートフォン１の筐体２０は、内部にスマートフォン１としての機能を果たすための各種の電子回路部材や、駆動のためのバッテリなどが収容されている。筐体２０の前面側には、所定の面積と深さとを備えた凹部としての表示部収容部２１が形成されていて、この表示部収容部２１内に、液晶表示装置１０が収納されるようになっている。なお、表示部収容部２１には、筐体２０内の図示しない電子回路構成と液晶表示装置１０との間で、情報のやりとりや必要な電源を供給するための接続配線や接続端子が配置されているが、図１では図示を省略する。 The housing 20 of the smartphone 1 accommodates various electronic circuit members for fulfilling the function as the smartphone 1 and a battery for driving. On the front side of the housing 20, a display portion accommodating portion 21 is formed as a recess having a predetermined area and depth, and the liquid crystal display device 10 is accommodated in the display portion accommodating portion 21. It has become. Note that the display unit accommodating unit 21 is provided with connection wiring and connection terminals for exchanging information and supplying necessary power between the electronic circuit configuration (not shown) in the housing 20 and the liquid crystal display device 10. However, the illustration is omitted in FIG.
　図２は、本実施形態の液晶表示装置において、タッチパネルを操作するために、画像表示部の中心部が前面側から押圧された際の、各部材の状態を示す断面構成図である。なお、図２を含め、液晶表示装置の変形を説明する以降の各図面は、液晶表示パネルの湾曲状態を明瞭に示すための模式図であり、特に、図中の厚み方向の寸法は正確ではない。 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a state of each member when the center of the image display unit is pressed from the front side in order to operate the touch panel in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment. 2 and subsequent drawings for explaining the deformation of the liquid crystal display device are schematic diagrams for clearly showing the curved state of the liquid crystal display panel. In particular, the dimension in the thickness direction in the drawing is not accurate. Absent.
　図２は、本実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置１０の液晶表示パネル１１の中央部分に、前方からタッピング試験部材３０が当たって押圧力３１が加わり、液晶表示パネル１１の中央部分が背面側、すなわち、バックライト１２側に湾曲した状態を示している。 2 shows that the tapping test member 30 hits the center portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment from the front and a pressing force 31 is applied, and the center portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is on the back side, that is, In addition, a state in which the backlight 12 is curved is shown.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０では、バックライト１２の側面と底面との外殻を構成するベゼル１５が、図３に側面図を示すように、その側壁１５ａに剛性低減手段としての複数の切り欠き１５ｄを備えている。特に、本実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置１０のベゼル１５では、切り欠き１５ｄの深さを側壁１５ａの底面１５ｃからの高さと同じとしているため、図３（ｂ）に示すように、ベゼル１５の側壁１５ａの上面１５ｅに載置された液晶表示パネル１１を背面側に湾曲させるような押圧力３１が加わると、ベゼル１５を液晶表示パネル１１の湾曲に追従して滑らかに湾曲させることができる。このため、液晶表示パネル１１に部分的な応力が加わることを回避でき、プーリングの発生を効果的に抑制することができる。 In the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment, the bezel 15 constituting the outer shell of the side surface and the bottom surface of the backlight 12 has a plurality of cuts as rigidity reducing means on its side wall 15a as shown in a side view in FIG. A notch 15d is provided. In particular, in the bezel 15 of the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment, the depth of the notch 15d is the same as the height from the bottom surface 15c of the side wall 15a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When a pressing force 31 that causes the liquid crystal display panel 11 placed on the upper surface 15e of the side wall 15a to bend to the back side is applied, the bezel 15 can be smoothly curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11. For this reason, it can avoid applying a partial stress to the liquid crystal display panel 11, and can suppress generation | occurrence | production of pooling effectively.
　図４は、本実施形態の液晶表示装置における効果を説明するための比較例であり、従来用いられている、剛性低減手段を備えていない有底枠状のベゼル４１を備えた液晶表示装置４０において、図２と同じように液晶表示パネル１１の前面に押圧力３１が加わって変形している状態を示す。なお、比較例である液晶表示装置４０を示す図４において、本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０と異なっている点は、ベゼル４１の側壁に剛性低減手段であるスリットが形成されていない点のみであるので、ベゼル４１以外の部材には図２と同じ符号を付してその説明を省略する。また、図４に示すように、比較例ではベゼル４１の変形が想定されていないため、液晶表示装置４０と筐体２０との間に緩衝部材は配置されていない。 FIG. 4 is a comparative example for explaining the effects of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, and is a liquid crystal display device 40 having a bottomed frame-like bezel 41 that is not provided with a rigidity reducing means, which is conventionally used. 2 shows a state where the pressing force 31 is applied to the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11 as in FIG. In FIG. 4 showing the liquid crystal display device 40 which is a comparative example, the only difference from the liquid crystal display device 10 of this embodiment is that the side wall of the bezel 41 is not provided with a slit which is a rigidity reducing means. Therefore, the members other than the bezel 41 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the comparative example, since the deformation of the bezel 41 is not assumed, no buffer member is disposed between the liquid crystal display device 40 and the housing 20.
　図４に示すように、ベゼル４１に剛性低減手段が形成されていない比較例の液晶表示装置４０では、液晶表示パネル１１の中央部にタッピング試験部材３０が当接して背面側に押圧する押圧力３１が加わった場合でも、液晶表示パネル１１を支持する剛性の高いベゼル４１は変形しない。この結果、光源の発熱などに起因する熱膨張の影響を回避する目的などのために設けられている、ベゼル４１内に配置された導光板１４および光学シート１３の積層体の表面と液晶表示パネル１１の背面との間隙部分４２に、押圧された液晶表示パネル１１の中央部の背面が落ち込むように変形する。 As shown in FIG. 4, in the liquid crystal display device 40 of the comparative example in which the bezel 41 has no rigidity reducing means, the tapping test member 30 is in contact with the central portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 and pressed to the back side. Even when 31 is added, the highly rigid bezel 41 that supports the liquid crystal display panel 11 is not deformed. As a result, the surface of the laminated body of the light guide plate 14 and the optical sheet 13 disposed in the bezel 41 and the liquid crystal display panel are provided for the purpose of avoiding the influence of thermal expansion caused by the heat generation of the light source. 11 is deformed so that the back surface of the central portion of the pressed liquid crystal display panel 11 falls into the gap portion 42 with the back surface of the liquid crystal display 11.
　この場合、全体的に湾曲しようとする液晶表示パネル１１に対して、ベゼル４１の側壁の上面４１ａの内側端部部分が液晶表示パネル１１の背面側を線で支えることとなり、ベゼル４１の上面４１ａの端部が当接する液晶表示パネル１１の図４中矢印４３で示す部分に、応力が集中して加わることになる。 In this case, the inner end portion of the upper surface 41a of the side wall of the bezel 41 supports the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 11 with a line with respect to the liquid crystal display panel 11 that is generally curved, and the upper surface 41a of the bezel 41 Stress is concentrated and applied to the portion indicated by the arrow 43 in FIG.
　図５は、本実施形態の液晶表示装置における湾曲支持部材の効果を確認した際の、液晶表示パネルの表示画面の中央部分をタッピング検査した際の画像表示面の状態を示すものである。図５（ａ）が、本実施形態に係る液晶表示装置として、図２に断面構成を示した湾曲支持部材としてのベゼル１５を備えた液晶表示装置１０の表示画面を示す。また、図５（ｂ）が、図４に断面構成を示した比較例の液晶表示装置４０の表示画面を示す。 FIG. 5 shows a state of the image display surface when the center portion of the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel is inspected when the effect of the curved support member in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment is confirmed. FIG. 5A shows a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 10 including the bezel 15 as the curved support member whose cross-sectional configuration is shown in FIG. 2 as the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5B shows a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 40 of the comparative example whose sectional structure is shown in FIG.
　タッピング検査では、画像表示面が対角４．１インチの液晶表示パネルの中央部分を、加重２００ｇ、周波数５Ｈｚの条件で打診した。タッピング試験部材の先端部３３は、直径が１ｃｍの半球状のゴム製部材から成っている。 In the tapping inspection, the center portion of the liquid crystal display panel having a diagonal of 4.1 inches on the image display surface was examined under conditions of a weight of 200 g and a frequency of 5 Hz. The tip part 33 of the tapping test member is made of a hemispherical rubber member having a diameter of 1 cm.
　図５（ａ）に示すように、液晶表示パネル１１が湾曲支持部材で支持された本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０では、表示画面上に顕著なプーリングが発生していないことが確認できた。一方、図５（ｂ）に示す比較例の液晶表示装置４０では、タッピング検査子３３の周囲に波状のプーリングが見受けられるとともに、図５（ｂ）における下側に位置する画像表示面の端部近傍に、その周囲が円弧状となっているプーリング３４が生じていることが確認できる。 As shown in FIG. 5A, in the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment in which the liquid crystal display panel 11 is supported by the curved support member, it was confirmed that no significant pooling occurred on the display screen. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal display device 40 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 5B, wave-like pooling is seen around the tapping checker 33, and the end of the image display surface located on the lower side in FIG. It can be confirmed that a pooling 34 having a circular arc around it is generated in the vicinity.
　このように、液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら液晶表示パネルを支持する、湾曲支持部材を備えていない比較例の液晶表示装置では、液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたときに、液晶表示パネルの湾曲が吸収されないため滑らかに変形できず、押圧部分の周囲にプーリングが生じやすくなる。また、液晶表示パネルを支持する部分の端部に当接する画像表示部分の周辺部、すなわち、図４における矢印４３で示した部分に応力が集中して、この部分でもプーリングが生じやすいことがわかる。これに対して本願発明の液晶表示装置では、液晶表示パネルが湾曲した場合にこれに追従して湾曲しながら液晶表示パネルを支持する湾曲支持部材を備えることで、表示画像にプーリングが生じることを効果的に回避することができる。 As described above, in the liquid crystal display device of the comparative example that does not include the bending support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side. Since the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel is not absorbed, the liquid crystal display panel cannot be smoothly deformed, and pooling tends to occur around the pressed portion. Further, it can be seen that the stress is concentrated on the peripheral portion of the image display portion that is in contact with the end portion of the portion that supports the liquid crystal display panel, that is, the portion indicated by the arrow 43 in FIG. . On the other hand, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, when the liquid crystal display panel is curved, a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while curving following the liquid crystal display panel is provided, whereby pooling occurs in the display image. It can be effectively avoided.
　次に、図６は、本実施形態に係る液晶表示装置をスマートフォンの表示部として用いる場合に、バックライトの背面に変形例の緩衝部材が備えられた状態で液晶表示パネルが前面から押圧された際の様子を模式的に示す断面構成図である。なお、図６において、図２に示した構成と異なるのはバックライトと筐体との間に配置された緩衝部材の形状のみであるため、緩衝部材以外の部材には図２と同じ符号を付し詳細な説明を省略する。 Next, FIG. 6 shows that when the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment is used as a display unit of a smartphone, the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side in a state where the back surface of the backlight is provided with the buffer member of the modification. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the mode at the time typically. In FIG. 6, the only difference from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is the shape of the buffer member disposed between the backlight and the casing. Detailed description will be omitted.
　図６に示す変形例の緩衝部材５６は、バックライト１２の背面との当接面側、すなわち、緩衝部材５６の表面側に向かって形成された複数の突起状物によって構成されている。このように、緩衝部材５６が、バックライト１２の背面との当接面側に向って形成された複数の突起状物で構成されることで、突起状物の間に所定の隙間５７が生じる。このため、バックライト１２が液晶表示パネル１１の変形に追従して変形する際に、ベゼル１５の背面に当接している緩衝部材５６の当接面がより容易に変形しやすくなる。この結果、バックライト１２の外殻を構成するベゼル１５が、より容易に、液晶表示パネル１１の湾曲に追従して湾曲することができる。 6 is configured by a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, that is, toward the surface side of the buffer member 56. As described above, the buffer member 56 is configured by a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, so that a predetermined gap 57 is generated between the protrusions. . For this reason, when the backlight 12 is deformed following the deformation of the liquid crystal display panel 11, the contact surface of the buffer member 56 that is in contact with the back surface of the bezel 15 is more easily deformed. As a result, the bezel 15 constituting the outer shell of the backlight 12 can be more easily curved following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 11.
　なお、表面側であるバックライト１２の背面との当接面側に向かって形成された複数の突起状物で構成される変形例の緩衝部材５６は、内部に液体やゲル状物質が封入される樹脂製の袋状部材の形状を、突起状物が複数配置された形状とすることで実現できる。また、シリコーン樹脂で緩衝部材５６を形成する場合には、シリコーン樹脂の塗布形成時に、シリコーン樹脂を供給するノズルを移動させながら間欠的に供給するなどして、バックライト１２の背面が当接する部分に所定の隙間５７が形成される形状とすることができる。 It should be noted that the buffer member 56 of the modified example composed of a plurality of protrusions formed toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight 12, which is the front surface side, encloses a liquid or gel-like substance inside. The shape of the resin bag-like member can be realized by making a shape in which a plurality of protrusions are arranged. Further, when the buffer member 56 is formed of silicone resin, a portion where the back surface of the backlight 12 abuts, for example, by intermittently supplying the silicone resin supply nozzle while moving the silicone resin coating. The predetermined gap 57 can be formed in the shape.
　以上説明したように、本実施形態の液晶表示装置では、液晶表示パネルが載置されるバックライトのベゼルが、壁面に形成された剛性低減手段としてのスリットを備えているため、液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧された際に液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従しながら支持する、湾曲支持部材としての機能を果たすことができる。この結果、液晶表示パネルに部分的な応力が加わらないため滑らかに湾曲変形することができ、前面側から押圧されて湾曲した場合でもプーリングの発生を効果的に回避することができる。 As described above, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the backlight bezel on which the liquid crystal display panel is placed has a slit as a rigidity reducing means formed on the wall surface. When pressed from the front side, it can serve as a curved support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel. As a result, since partial stress is not applied to the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel can be smoothly curved and deformed, and the occurrence of pooling can be effectively avoided even when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed and curved.
　なお、上記第１の実施形態において、ベゼルを液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲させるための剛性低減手段として、液晶表示パネルの長辺に対応する隔壁を均等の幅で分割するように８本のスリットが形成され、スリットの深さが、底面からの側壁の高さと同じとなっている構成を例示して説明した。ベゼルの剛性については、プーリングを防止する観点からは液晶表示パネルに追従して湾曲し得る柔らかさが必要である一方、内部に光源、導光板、光学シートなどを内蔵する容器としての強度も必要である。また、ベゼル内部にゴミなどの異物が入り込むと、光源から照射される照射光を遮ってしまい、表示画像の品位を低下させる原因ともなりかねず、ベゼルには一定の密閉性も求められる。このため、ベゼルの大きさや材質、液晶表示パネルの大きさやガラスパネルの厚みなど、液晶表示パネルとベゼルとのそれぞれの湾曲しやすさの度合いの条件に合わせて、スリットの本数や配置位置、スリット幅、深さなどの具体的な剛性低減手段を設計すべきである。例えばスリットを等間隔ではなく、中央部部分、もしくは、周辺部分に偏らせて配置することができる。また、スリットの本数もベゼルの大きさなどに応じて適宜選択することができる。さらに、スリットの深さについて、ベゼルの底面にまで到達するものではなく、スリットを形成する側壁の強度に応じて、例えば、液晶表示パネルの載置面から側壁の高さの半分程度までの深さのスリットを形成することも考えられる。 In the first embodiment, as the rigidity reducing means for bending the bezel following the curve of the liquid crystal display panel, the partition corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel is divided into 8 equal widths. A description has been given by exemplifying the configuration in which a slit is formed and the depth of the slit is the same as the height of the side wall from the bottom surface. From the viewpoint of preventing pooling, the bezel must be soft enough to bend following the liquid crystal display panel, but it must also be strong enough to contain a light source, light guide plate, optical sheet, etc. It is. In addition, if foreign matter such as dust enters the bezel, the irradiation light emitted from the light source may be blocked and the quality of the display image may be deteriorated, and the bezel is required to have a certain sealing property. For this reason, the number of slits, the position of the slits, and the slits are adjusted according to the degree of ease of bending of the liquid crystal display panel and the bezel, such as the size and material of the bezel, the size of the liquid crystal display panel, and the thickness of the glass panel. Specific means for reducing rigidity such as width and depth should be designed. For example, the slits can be arranged not to be equally spaced but to be biased toward the central portion or the peripheral portion. Also, the number of slits can be appropriately selected according to the size of the bezel. Further, the depth of the slit does not reach the bottom surface of the bezel, but depends on the strength of the side wall forming the slit, for example, the depth from the mounting surface of the liquid crystal display panel to about half the height of the side wall. It is also conceivable to form a slit.
　さらに、剛性低減手段としては、例示したようなベゼルの深さ方向に形成されたスリット以外にも、側壁の高さ方向の中間部分に、ベゼルの底面に平行にスリットを形成することも考えられる。また、スリット以外の剛性低減手段として、液晶表示パネルの長辺に対応するベゼルの側壁の厚みを、底面や短辺に相当する側壁の厚みよりも薄くすることや、液晶表示パネルの長辺に対応するベゼルの側壁をより剛性の低い部材で形成することなど、基本形状が有底枠状体であるために剛性が高いベゼルを、液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲するようにその剛性を低減させることが可能な各種の手段を用いることができる。 Further, as the rigidity reducing means, in addition to the slits formed in the depth direction of the bezel as illustrated, it is conceivable to form a slit in the middle portion in the height direction of the side wall in parallel with the bottom surface of the bezel. . Moreover, as a means for reducing rigidity other than the slit, the thickness of the side wall of the bezel corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel is made thinner than the thickness of the side wall corresponding to the bottom surface or the short side, or the long side of the liquid crystal display panel. Rigidity of the bezel that has high rigidity because the basic shape is a bottomed frame body, such as forming the side wall of the corresponding bezel with a member with lower rigidity so that it follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel. Various means capable of reducing the above can be used.
　（第２の実施形態）
　次に、本発明の液晶表示装置の第２の実施形態について、第１の実施形態の液晶表示装置と同じく、電子機器としてのスマートフォンの表示部として用いられるものを例示して説明する。 (Second Embodiment)
Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described by exemplifying what is used as a display unit of a smartphone as an electronic device, like the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment.
　図７に、前面側から押圧された状態での構成を模式的に示す、第２の実施形態として説明する液晶表示装置６０は、図１および図２でその構成を説明した第１の実施形態の液晶表示装置１０と同様に、液晶表示パネル６１と、液晶表示パネル６１の背面側に配置されたバックライト６２とを備え、スマートフォンの筐体２０に形成された表示部収容部２１に収納される。 FIG. 7 schematically shows a configuration in a state in which it is pressed from the front side. The liquid crystal display device 60 described as the second embodiment is the first embodiment whose configuration is described in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly to the liquid crystal display device 10, the liquid crystal display panel 61 and the backlight 62 disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 61 are housed in a display portion housing portion 21 formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone. The
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置６０では、液晶表示パネル６１は、第１の実施形態として説明した液晶表示パネル１１と同じものを使用することができる。 In the liquid crystal display device 60 of the present embodiment, the same liquid crystal display panel 61 as that of the liquid crystal display panel 11 described as the first embodiment can be used.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置６０のバックライト６２においても、バックライト６２の少なくとも側面と下面との外殻を構成するベゼル６５内に、図示しない光源と、光源から放出された放射光を面状の光源とするための導光板６４および導光板６４に積層された光学シート６３とが収容されている。 Also in the backlight 62 of the liquid crystal display device 60 of the present embodiment, a light source (not shown) and radiated light emitted from the light source are planarized in a bezel 65 that forms an outer shell of at least a side surface and a lower surface of the backlight 62. A light guide plate 64 and an optical sheet 63 stacked on the light guide plate 64 are housed.
　そして、液晶表示パネル６１とバックライト６２との間には、バックライト６２からの照射光を透過する透明緩衝部材６６が配置され、透明緩衝部材６６上端面が液晶表示パネル６１の背面に当接する構成となっている。 A transparent buffer member 66 that transmits the light emitted from the backlight 62 is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 61 and the backlight 62, and the upper end surface of the transparent buffer member 66 contacts the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 61. It has a configuration.
　透明緩衝部材６６は、液晶表示パネル６１が前面側から押圧されて変形する際に、追従して変形することができるものであり、第１の実施形態における緩衝部材１６と同様に、液体またはゲル状物質が封入された柔軟で変形可能な樹脂製の袋状物や、当初の形状を保つことができると同時に、所定範囲での形状変化が可能であるシリコーン樹脂などを用いて実現できる。 The transparent cushioning member 66 can be deformed following the liquid crystal display panel 61 when it is pressed from the front side and deforms. Like the cushioning member 16 in the first embodiment, the transparent cushioning member 66 is liquid or gel. This can be realized by using a flexible and deformable resin-made bag-like material encapsulated in a granular material, a silicone resin that can maintain the original shape and can change the shape within a predetermined range.
　なお、本実施形態の透明緩衝部材６６は、バックライト６２からの照射光を高い透過率で透過させる必要があるため、透明度が高く、かつ、気泡や異物などの透過光を散乱させる要因となるものをなるべく含まない材料で構成することが好ましい。このような観点から、透明緩衝部材６６としては、袋状物と封入された水などの内容物というように複数の部材を用いた場合よりも、透明度の高いシリコーン樹脂のように一つの材料で構成される方が、異なる部材の境界面で照射光の屈折が生じることがなく好ましい。 In addition, since the transparent buffer member 66 of this embodiment needs to transmit the irradiation light from the backlight 62 with a high transmittance, the transparency is high, and it becomes a factor that scatters transmitted light such as bubbles and foreign matters. It is preferable to use a material that does not contain as much as possible. From this point of view, the transparent cushioning member 66 is made of a single material such as a silicone resin having a higher degree of transparency than the case of using a plurality of members such as a bag and contents such as enclosed water. It is preferable that the structure is configured so that the irradiation light is not refracted at the interface between different members.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置６０では、液晶表示パネル６１の湾曲に追従してその形状が変形する透明緩衝部材６６を湾曲支持部材として液晶表示パネル６１の背面側のバックライト６２との間に備えている。このため、剛性が高いベゼル６５が、電子機器であるスマートフォン１の筐体２０内の表示部収容部内に収容されて変形しにくい状態となっていても、液晶表示パネル６１に局所的な応力が加わることを回避できる。この結果、押圧部分の周囲、さらには、液晶表示パネルの画像表示領域の周辺部における局所的な変形が回避され、プーリングが生じることを効果的に防止することができる。 In the liquid crystal display device 60 of the present embodiment, a transparent buffer member 66 whose shape changes following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 61 is provided between the backlight 62 on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 61 as a curved support member. ing. For this reason, even if the bezel 65 having high rigidity is housed in the display section housing section in the housing 20 of the smartphone 1 that is an electronic device and is not easily deformed, local stress is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 61. You can avoid joining. As a result, local deformation around the pressing portion and further around the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel can be avoided, and pooling can be effectively prevented.
　なお、第２の実施形態の液晶表示装置６０において、ベゼル６５と液晶表示パネル６１とは直接接している部分を有する必要はない。液晶表示パネル１１の上面に保護板を配置することや、液晶表示パネル１１の画像表示部分以外のいわゆる額縁部分を抑える枠状体を用いて、液晶表示パネル１１全体をベゼルバックライト６２側に押さえつけることにより、変形可能な透明保持部材６６の柔軟性を利用して液晶表示パネル１１を保持することができる。ただし、透明保持部材６６が液晶表示パネル１１の変形に追従して変形することが可能な範囲において、例えば、液晶表示パネル６１の４箇所の隅部を棒状の支持体を介してベゼル６５の上面に支える構成とするなど、液晶表示パネル６１をベゼル６５で支持する構成を採用することができることは言うまでもない。 In the liquid crystal display device 60 of the second embodiment, the bezel 65 and the liquid crystal display panel 61 do not have to be in direct contact with each other. The entire liquid crystal display panel 11 is pressed against the bezel backlight 62 using a frame-like body that suppresses a so-called frame portion other than the image display portion of the liquid crystal display panel 11 by arranging a protective plate on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display panel 11. Thus, the liquid crystal display panel 11 can be held by utilizing the flexibility of the deformable transparent holding member 66. However, within a range in which the transparent holding member 66 can be deformed following the deformation of the liquid crystal display panel 11, for example, the four corners of the liquid crystal display panel 61 are connected to the upper surface of the bezel 65 via a rod-shaped support. Needless to say, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the liquid crystal display panel 61 is supported by the bezel 65, such as a configuration supported by the bezel 65.
　なお、この第２の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置では、適切な透明支持部材を構成、配置することにより、従来用いられてきた液晶表示パネルとバックライトとをそのまま用いて、プーリングの発生を低減させた液晶表示装置を実現することができる。このため、パネル表面が押圧された場合でも画像品位が低下しない液晶表示装置を、より低コストで実現することができる。 In the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment, by forming and arranging an appropriate transparent support member, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of pooling by using the conventional liquid crystal display panel and the backlight as they are. A liquid crystal display device can be realized. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device that does not deteriorate the image quality even when the panel surface is pressed can be realized at a lower cost.
　（第３の実施形態）
　次に、本発明の液晶表示装置の第３の実施形態について、第１および第２の実施形態の液晶表示装置と同じく、電子機器としてのスマートフォンの表示部として用いられるものを例示して説明する。 (Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described by exemplifying what is used as a display unit of a smartphone as an electronic device, like the liquid crystal display devices of the first and second embodiments. .
　図８に、前面側から押圧された状態での構成を模式的に示す、第３の実施形態として説明する液晶表示装置７０は、図１および図２でその構成を説明した第１の実施形態の液晶表示装置１０と同様に、液晶表示パネル７１と、液晶表示パネル７１の背面側に配置されたバックライト７２とを備え、スマートフォンの筐体２０に形成された表示部収容部としての凹部に収納される。 FIG. 8 schematically shows a configuration in a state in which it is pressed from the front side, and the liquid crystal display device 70 described as the third embodiment is the first embodiment whose configuration is described in FIGS. 1 and 2. As in the liquid crystal display device 10, the liquid crystal display panel 71 and a backlight 72 arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 71 are provided, and in a recess as a display unit housing portion formed in the housing 20 of the smartphone. Stored.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置７０における液晶表示パネル７１とバックライト７２それぞれの構成は、第１の実施形態の液晶表示パネル１１とバックライト１２の構成と同じである。本実施形態の液晶表示装置７０では、液晶表示パネル７１の前面側に、液晶表示パネル７１とバックライト７２とを備える液晶表示装置７０全体が貼着される、保護板７６を備えている。 The configurations of the liquid crystal display panel 71 and the backlight 72 in the liquid crystal display device 70 of the present embodiment are the same as the configurations of the liquid crystal display panel 11 and the backlight 12 of the first embodiment. The liquid crystal display device 70 of the present embodiment includes a protective plate 76 on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel 71 to which the entire liquid crystal display device 70 including the liquid crystal display panel 71 and the backlight 72 is attached.
　保護板７６は、アクリル板などの透明度の高い樹脂製またはガラス製の板であり、液晶表示装置７０の液晶表示パネル１１の画像表示領域の周囲部分、もしくは、液晶表示パネル１１の前面側の全面に塗布形成または積層された接着剤層７７によって、液晶表示装置７０が貼着されている。そして、保護板７６の周辺部分が、電子機器であるスマートフォン１の表示部周辺の筐体２０ａに形成された切り欠き部２０ｂに載置されて筐体２０に固着される。 The protective plate 76 is a highly transparent resin or glass plate such as an acrylic plate, and the peripheral portion of the image display area of the liquid crystal display panel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 70 or the entire front surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 11. A liquid crystal display device 70 is attached by an adhesive layer 77 formed or laminated on the substrate. And the peripheral part of the protection board 76 is mounted in the notch part 20b formed in the housing | casing 20a around the display part of the smart phone 1 which is an electronic device, and is fixed to the housing | casing 20. As shown in FIG.
　図８は、図２，および図７などと同様に、第３の実施形態にかかる液晶表示装置７０の画像表示面の中央部が、前面側からタッピング試験部材３０に押圧されて押圧力３１が加わっている状態を示している。 8 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 7 and the like, the central portion of the image display surface of the liquid crystal display device 70 according to the third embodiment is pressed by the tapping test member 30 from the front side, and the pressing force 31 is applied. It shows the state of joining.
　本実施形態の液晶表示装置のベゼル７５は、第１の実施形態の液晶表示装置１０のベゼル１５と同様に、液晶表示パネル７１の長辺に対応する側壁に、剛性低減手段としての切り欠きが形成されている。このため、液晶表示パネル７１が前面側から押圧されて湾曲した場合でも、ベゼル７５がその湾曲に追従して湾曲することができる。この結果、液晶表示パネル７１に押圧力が加わった状態で、液晶表示パネル７１に局所的な応力が加わることを回避して液晶層の厚みの変化を防止することができるので、表示画面にプーリングが生じることを効果的に回避することができる。 As with the bezel 15 of the liquid crystal display device 10 of the first embodiment, the bezel 75 of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment has a notch as a rigidity reducing means on the side wall corresponding to the long side of the liquid crystal display panel 71. Is formed. For this reason, even when the liquid crystal display panel 71 is pressed and curved from the front side, the bezel 75 can be curved following the curve. As a result, it is possible to prevent a change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer by preventing a local stress from being applied to the liquid crystal display panel 71 in a state in which a pressing force is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 71. Can be effectively avoided.
　なお、本実施形態の液晶表示装置７０は、前面側に配置された保護板７６に貼着されて筐体２０に支持されるため、筐体２０の表示部収容部の底面と液晶表示装置７０のベゼル７５の裏面との間に所定の間隔７８を形成しておくことができる。この結果、ベゼル７５の液晶表示パネル７１の湾曲に追従して湾曲する形状変化を妨げるものがベゼル７５の背面に配置されていないため、第１の実施形態で示したような、液晶表示装置１０とスマートフォンの筐体２０との間に配置された、ベゼル１５の変形を助けるための緩衝部材１６を配置する必要はない。 In addition, since the liquid crystal display device 70 of this embodiment is affixed to the protective plate 76 arrange | positioned at the front side, and is supported by the housing | casing 20, the bottom face of the display part accommodating part of the housing | casing 20 and the liquid crystal display device 70 are included. A predetermined interval 78 can be formed between the back surface of the bezel 75 and the bezel 75. As a result, the liquid crystal display device 10 as shown in the first embodiment is not disposed on the back surface of the bezel 75 because it is not arranged on the back surface of the bezel 75 so as to prevent the shape change that follows the curve of the liquid crystal display panel 71 of the bezel 75. It is not necessary to arrange the cushioning member 16 arranged between the smartphone and the case 20 of the smartphone for assisting the deformation of the bezel 15.
　以上述べたように、本発明の液晶表示装置では、液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたことにより湾曲した場合に、その湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら支持する湾曲支持部材を備えている。この結果、液晶表示パネルが湾曲した状態で、液晶表示パネルに局所的な応力が加わることを効果的に回避することができる。このため、液晶表示パネルの液晶層の厚さが変化することを防止して、表示画像にプーリングが生じることを回避することができ、表示される画像の画像品位の高い液晶表示装置を得ることができる。 As described above, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, when the liquid crystal display panel is bent by being pressed from the front side, the liquid crystal display device includes the bending support member that supports the bending while following the bending. As a result, it is possible to effectively avoid applying local stress to the liquid crystal display panel in a state where the liquid crystal display panel is curved. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a change in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display panel, to avoid the occurrence of pooling in the display image, and to obtain a liquid crystal display device with high image quality of the displayed image. Can do.
　本発明は、上記実施の形態で示したとおり、使用者が液晶表示パネルの画像表示面を押圧して電子機器の操作を行うタッチパネル機能を備えた液晶表示装置に適用することが効果的である。しかし、本発明の液晶表示装置は、タッチパネル機能を備えたものに限られず、使用者が画像表示面もしくはその近傍に指先を当てるなどして所持するために、画像表示面が押圧される機会が多くなる携帯型の電子機器をはじめとして、画像や文字などの情報を表示することができる各種電子機器の表示部に有効に用いることができる。 As described in the above embodiment, the present invention is effectively applied to a liquid crystal display device having a touch panel function in which a user operates an electronic device by pressing an image display surface of a liquid crystal display panel. . However, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to the one having the touch panel function, and the user has an opportunity to press the image display surface because the user holds the image display surface by touching the fingertip or the vicinity thereof. It can be effectively used for display units of various electronic devices capable of displaying information such as images and characters, including an increasing number of portable electronic devices.
　本発明は、液晶表示パネルの前面が押圧された場合でも、表示画像の品位が低下しない液晶表示装置として、タッチパネル機能を備えたものを含め、各種電子機器の表示装置として産業上利用可能である。
  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be industrially used as a display device for various electronic devices including a touch panel function as a liquid crystal display device in which the quality of a display image does not deteriorate even when the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel is pressed. .

Claims (7)

  1. 　液晶表示パネルと、
    　前記液晶表示パネルの背面側に配置され、前記液晶表示パネルに画像表示のための照射光を照射するバックライトとを備え、
    　前記液晶表示パネルが前面側から押圧されたときに、前記液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して湾曲しながら前記液晶表示パネルを支持する湾曲支持部材を備えていることを特徴とする液晶表示装置。     A liquid crystal display panel;
    A backlight disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel and irradiating the liquid crystal display panel with irradiation light for image display;
    A liquid crystal display device comprising: a bending support member that supports the liquid crystal display panel while bending following the bending of the liquid crystal display panel when the liquid crystal display panel is pressed from the front side.
  2. 　前記湾曲支持部材が、前記バックライトの外殻を構成する有底枠状のベゼルであり、前記ベゼルの側壁に、前記液晶表示パネルの湾曲に追従して前記ベゼルを湾曲させる剛性低減手段が形成されている請求項１に記載の液晶表示装置。 The curved support member is a bottomed frame-shaped bezel that constitutes the outer shell of the backlight, and a rigidity reduction means is formed on the side wall of the bezel to bend the bezel following the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.
  3. 　前記剛性低減手段が、前記液晶表示パネルが配置される側の端部が開口するように前記側壁に形成されたスリットである請求項２に記載の液晶表示装置。 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the rigidity reducing means is a slit formed in the side wall so as to open an end portion on a side where the liquid crystal display panel is disposed.
  4. 　前記バックライトの背面に当接して配置された緩衝部材を介して電子機器の筐体に固着される請求項２または３に記載の液晶表示装置。 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal display device is fixed to a housing of an electronic device through a buffer member disposed in contact with the back surface of the backlight.
  5. 　前記緩衝部材が、底面から前記バックライトの背面との当接面側に向かって形成された複数の突起状物で構成されている請求項４記載の液晶表示装置。 The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the buffer member is composed of a plurality of protrusions formed from the bottom surface toward the contact surface side with the back surface of the backlight.
  6. 　前記液晶表示パネルの前面側に配置された保護板に貼着され、前記保護板を介して電子機器の筐体に固着される請求項２または３に記載の液晶表示装置。 The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the liquid crystal display device is attached to a protective plate disposed on a front side of the liquid crystal display panel and fixed to a housing of an electronic device via the protective plate.
  7. 　前記湾曲支持部材が、前記液晶表示パネルと前記バックライトとの間に配置された、前記バックライトからの照射光を透過する透明緩衝材である請求項１に記載の液晶表示装置。
          The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the curved supporting member is a transparent buffer material that is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight and transmits light emitted from the backlight.
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