JP3613067B2 - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical fields of electro-optical devices and electronic devices, and particularly to the technical fields of electro-optical devices and electronic devices such as liquid crystal devices with high reliability and display quality.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device, a display region is formed by pixels arranged in a matrix array. For example, in the case of an active matrix liquid crystal device having a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) as a switching element, an electro-optical material such as a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a TFT array substrate and a counter substrate, so that the display of the gap between the substrates is displayed. A sealing material is provided so as to surround the region. The sealing material seals the liquid crystal layer and bonds the TFT array substrate and the counter substrate. For example, a TFT array substrate on which an alignment film is formed and a counter substrate on which the alignment film is formed are arranged to face each other via a sealing material, and the TFT array substrate and the liquid crystal sealing hole (part where the sealing material is not previously formed) are arranged. The liquid crystal layer is sealed in the substrate gap by injecting an electro-optical material such as a liquid crystal composition into the gap with the counter substrate and sealing the sealing port.
[0003]
In addition, a drive circuit, a drive circuit connection terminal, and the like are provided in a region outside the sealing material on the TFT array substrate. Further, an alignment film made of an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film subjected to a predetermined alignment process such as a rubbing process for holding liquid crystal molecules is provided on the surface of the TFT array substrate and the surface of the counter substrate, respectively. Yes. In the TFT array substrate, TFTs, pixel electrodes, and various wirings are formed in the display region, and a drive circuit, a drive circuit connection terminal, and the like are formed in the outer region.
[0004]
Further, in order to improve the efficiency of collecting incident light, a microlens array in which one or a plurality of microlenses are arranged to correspond to each pixel may be used for one of the pair of substrates. is there. In addition, since the unevenness of the lens affects the alignment of the liquid crystal, the light incident side substrate is generally bonded and integrated with a microlens array substrate on the liquid crystal layer side.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the electro-optical device having such a configuration, when used as a light bulb of a projection display device, with the recent increase in the brightness of the light source lamp, if it is used for a long time, the portion close to the outer periphery of the region There is a problem that boundary-line unevenness may occur. According to the inventor's consideration, the modification of the adhesive resin layer that joins and integrates the microlens array substrate and the planar substrate acts on the planar substrate that is thinned in order to improve the light collection rate. The adhesive resin layer is adjusted so that the refractive index of the optical characteristics is about 1.4 or less in order to improve the condensing rate of the lens. Naturally, since the adhesive resin layer is designed while suppressing the π-electron conjugated system, it becomes a material mainly composed of a straight-chain system with few double bonds. When a photocurable material is used as the adhesive resin layer, it is difficult to complete photopolymerization by light irradiation, so it is difficult to completely complete the polymerization reaction. The polymerization reaction further proceeds, resulting in a volume change and density change in the adhesive layer, and this causes stress deformation in the substrate, resulting in a boundary line near the outer periphery of the display area.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus that can prevent display quality from being deteriorated due to a boundary line generated in a portion near the outer periphery of a display region. Is an issue.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, an electro-optical device according to the present invention includes an electro-optical material in a region surrounded by a sealant between a pair of substrates facing each other, and the micro-optical device disposed on one of the pair of substrates. lens array is an electro-optical device which is integrated by planar substrate and the bonding material, the distance from the inner portion of the sealing material to an effective display region inside the region surrounded by the sealing material and L _1, the L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.1 when the width of the region surrounded by the sealant is L ₂ .
[0008]
According to such a configuration of the present invention, the distance from the inner portion of the sealing member to the effective display region inside the region surrounded by the sealing material and L _1, the width of the region surrounded by the sealing material was set to L ₂ Since L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.1, the boundary generated in the portion near the outer periphery of the display area is outside the effective display area, that is, the area surrounded by the seal material from the inner side of the seal material. It can be located between the effective display area inside. As a result, even when boundary-line unevenness occurs, the display is not displayed, and deterioration of display quality can be prevented. As a result, the product life can be improved. In the present invention, it is more preferable that L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.15, so that no boundary line is displayed.
[0009]
One aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a drive circuit and a wiring pattern are formed in a region from an inner portion of the sealing material to an effective display region inside the region surrounded by the sealing material.
[0010]
In the present invention, since L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.1, the effective display area is narrowed. However, the area other than the effective display area (effective inside the area surrounded by the seal material from the inner side of the seal material). By forming the drive circuit and wiring pattern in the area up to the display area), the area where the drive circuit and wiring pattern outside the sealing material on the board was formed becomes unnecessary, and the area surrounded by the sealing material can be expanded. Thus, the effective display area is not substantially narrowed.
[0011]
One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the bonding material is a photocurable resin.
[0012]
One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a refractive index of the bonding material is 1.4 or less.
[0013]
Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the configuration in which the plate thickness of the planar substrate is 40 μm to 100 μm, the boundary line is particularly likely to be generated. It is effective.
[0014]
The electronic device of the present invention is interposed between a light source, an optical system for projecting incident light, and the light source and the optical system, and modulates light from the light source and guides it to the optical system. A light valve having the electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.
[0015]
For example, in the case of a projection-type liquid crystal device called a projector, the light source light intensity is large, and therefore, by adopting the electro-optical device of the present invention in which the influence of the volume change of the adhesive layer due to photopolymerization is more noticeable, display of electronic equipment The quality can be greatly improved. In particular, in the case of a so-called three-plate projector that modulates RGB light, the above-described problem is noticeable in the electro-optical device that constitutes a light valve for modulating B light (blue light) having a shorter wavelength. Therefore, the electro-optical device of the present invention may be selectively applied to an electro-optical device that constitutes a light valve for modulating B light (blue light).
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
(Configuration and operation of one embodiment of electro-optical device)
The configuration and operation of an embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a transmission circuit diagram of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH ′ of the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the substrate in the cross-sectional view of FIG.
[0018]
A plurality of pixels formed in a matrix that constitutes an image display area of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment includes a pixel electrode 11 and a TFT 30 for controlling the pixel electrode 11, and a data line to which an image signal is supplied. 35 is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 30. Image signals S1, S2,..., Sn to be written to the data line 35 are supplied line-sequentially in this order.
[0019]
The scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm are applied to the gate electrode of the TFT 30 in a line-sequential order in this order. The pixel electrode 11 is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 30, and the image signal S 1, S 2,... Sn supplied from the data line 35 is written at a predetermined timing by closing the switch of the TFT 30 for a certain period. . Image signals S1, S2,..., Sn written to the liquid crystal via the pixel electrode 11 are held for a certain period with a counter electrode (described later) formed on the counter substrate (described later). . The liquid crystal modulates light by changing the orientation and order of the molecular assembly according to the applied voltage level, thereby enabling gradation display. Here, in order to prevent the held image signal from leaking, a storage capacitor 70 is added in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 9 and the counter electrode. The capacitor line 34 may be provided, or the previous scanning line 31 may be used instead of the capacitor line.
[0020]
2 is a plan view of the electro-optical device having the transmission circuit of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, an effective display area 201a and an effective display area 201a are formed on the light-transmissive TFT array substrate 10. As shown in FIG. A sealing material 52 is provided so as to surround the non-display area 201b and these areas 201a and 201b, and the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded together by the sealing material.
[0021]
A liquid crystal injection port 203 formed by a discontinuous portion of the sealing material 52 is provided. The liquid crystal injection port 203 is closed by a sealing member 204 made of the same or different material as the sealing material 52, for example.
[0022]
In the effective display area 201a, as shown in FIG. 1, the data lines 35 and the scanning lines 31 are arranged so as to intersect vertically and horizontally, and a plurality of matrixes are formed in each area surrounded by these wirings. For example, a pixel electrode 11 made of a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film and a TFT 30 for controlling the pixel electrode are arranged. An alignment film 15 is formed on the TFT 30 and these electrodes.
[0023]
A drive circuit connection terminal 102 is provided along one side of the TFT array substrate 10 in a region outside the sealing material 52. On the other hand, in the non-display area 201b, the data line driving circuit 101 is provided along one side of the TFT array substrate 10 so as to be parallel to the driving circuit connection terminal 102, and the scanning line driving circuit 104 is adjacent to the one side, for example, 2 A plurality of wirings 105 are provided along the side, and the remaining side is connected to the scanning line driving circuits 104 provided on both sides of the non-display area 201b. Further, at least one corner portion of the counter substrate 20 is provided with a conductive material 106 for establishing electrical continuity between the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, on the TFT array substrate 10, a counter substrate 20 which is a transparent substrate having substantially the same contour as the sealing material 52 shown in FIG. Liquid crystal is sealed in a space surrounded by a sealing material 52 between the two and a liquid crystal layer 50 is formed. The liquid crystal layer 50 adopts a predetermined alignment state by the alignment film in a state where an electric field from the pixel electrode is not applied. The liquid crystal layer 50 is made of, for example, a liquid crystal in which one kind or several kinds of nematic liquid crystals are mixed. The sealing material 52 is an adhesive made of, for example, a photocurable resin or a thermosetting resin for bonding the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 around them, and the distance between the two substrates is set to a predetermined value. Spacers such as glass fiber or glass beads are mixed.
[0025]
The TFT array substrate 10 is made of, for example, a quartz substrate, and the counter substrate 20 is made of, for example, a glass substrate or a quartz substrate. The counter substrate 20 has a light-shielding film 24, and a counter electrode (common electrode) 23 is provided on the entire surface of the light-shielding film 24, and a predetermined alignment process such as a rubbing process is performed on the counter electrode. An applied alignment film 16 is provided. The counter electrode 23 is made of a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film. The alignment film 16 is made of an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the counter substrate 20 is formed by bonding and integrating a microlens array 21 and a planar substrate 25 corresponding to each pixel electrode through an adhesive resin layer 22 made of an acrylic resin or the like. Yes. A bright liquid crystal device can be realized by improving the collection efficiency of incident light by the microlens array 21. Further, a transparent substrate 205 having substantially the same shape as the counter substrate 20 is attached to the surface opposite to the surface facing the TFT array substrate 10 of the microlens array 21 via a silicon-based adhesive. A transparent substrate 206 having substantially the same shape as that of the TFT array substrate may be attached to the (opposite surface opposite to the surface facing the counter substrate 20) via an adhesive made of silicon or another member. These transparent substrates 205 and 206 protect the surface of the counter substrate 20 and the surface of the TFT array substrate 10 from scratches and the like, and, for example, remove dust attached to the surface when the liquid crystal device is used in a liquid crystal projector or the like. By shifting as much as possible from the focal point on the road, it is possible to prevent these from being clearly displayed on the display image.
[0027]
Here, the distance to the effective display area 201a from the inner portion 52a of the sealing member 52 and _{L 1,} the width of the region surrounded by the sealing member 52 (the effective display region 201a and the non-display region 201b and the region together) L ₂ , L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.1, more preferably L ₁ / L ₂ ≧ 0.15. In addition, it is such a value about both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the rectangular area | region enclosed by the sealing material 52. FIG.
[0028]
As described above, in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, since the ratio of L ₁ / L ₂ is defined as described above, the boundary line 208 generated in the portion near the outer periphery of the display area is outside the effective display area 201a. It can be located in the non-display area 201b. As a result, the boundary line-shaped unevenness 208 is not displayed, and display quality deterioration can be prevented.
[0029]
Further, in this embodiment, since the data line driving circuit 101, the scanning line driving circuit 104, and the wiring 105 are arranged in the non-display area 201b, the driving circuit outside the sealing material 52 on the TFT array substrate 10 is provided. The area where the wiring pattern is formed becomes unnecessary, and the area surrounded by the sealing material 52 (the area including the effective display area 201a and the non-display area 201b) can be expanded, and the effective display area 201a is substantially narrow. Never become.
[0030]
Note that the data line driving circuit 101, the scanning line driving circuit 104, and the wiring 105 are not arranged in the non-display area 201 b, and the data line driving circuit 101, the scanning line driving circuit 104, and the wiring 105 are arranged outside the seal material 52. You may arrange in. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the liquid crystal device in that case, and FIG. 6 is an HH ′ cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. That is, the data line drive circuit 101 and the drive circuit connection terminal 102 are provided along one side of the TFT array substrate 10 in the region outside the sealing material 52, and the scanning line drive circuit 104 is adjacent to this one side, for example. It is provided along two sides. A plurality of wirings 105 for connecting the scanning line driving circuits 104 provided on both sides of the display area 204 are provided on the remaining side of the TFT array substrate 10.
[0031]
Further, on the TFT array substrate 10 of the liquid crystal device in the above embodiment, an inspection circuit or the like for inspecting the quality, defects, etc. of the liquid crystal device during manufacturing or at the time of shipment may be further formed. Further, instead of providing the data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 on the TFT array substrate 10, for example, a driving LSI mounted on a TAB (tape automated bonding substrate) is connected to the periphery of the TFT array substrate 10. You may make it connect electrically and mechanically via the anisotropic conductive film provided in the part. Further, for example, the TN (twisted nematic) mode, the STN (super TN) mode, and the D-STN (double- A polarizing film, a retardation film, a polarizing unit, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction according to an operation mode such as an STN mode or a normally white mode / normally black mode.
[0032]
In addition, since the liquid crystal device in the above embodiment is applied to, for example, a color liquid crystal projector (projection display device), three liquid crystal devices are used as RGB light valves, and each panel has an RGB color. The light of each color decomposed through the decomposition dichroic mirror is incident as projection light. Therefore, in this embodiment, the counter substrate 20 is not provided with a color filter. However, an RGB color filter may be formed on the counter substrate 20 together with its protective film in a predetermined area. In this way, the liquid crystal device according to each embodiment can be applied to a color liquid crystal device such as a direct-view type or a reflective type color liquid crystal television other than the liquid crystal projector. Furthermore, a dichroic filter that creates RGB colors using light interference may be formed by depositing multiple layers of interference layers having different refractive indexes on the counter substrate 20. According to this counter substrate with a dichroic filter, a brighter color liquid crystal device can be realized.
[0033]
(Electronics)
As an example of an electronic apparatus using the above liquid crystal device, a configuration of a projection display device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, a projection type display device 1100 is provided with three liquid crystal devices as described above, and shows a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of the projection type liquid crystal device used as RGB liquid crystal devices 962R, 962G and 962B.
[0034]
The light source device 920 and the uniform illumination optical system 923 described above are employed in the optical system of the projection display device of this example. The projection display device includes a color separation optical system 924 as color separation means for separating the light beam W emitted from the uniform illumination optical system 923 into red (R), green (G), and blue (B); The three light valves 925R, 925G, and 925B as modulation means for modulating the color light beams R, G, and B, and the color synthesis prism 910 as color synthesis means for recombining the modulated color light beams are combined. A projection lens unit 906 is provided as projection means for enlarging and projecting the light beam onto the surface of the projection surface 100. Further, a light guide system 927 for guiding the blue light beam B to the corresponding light valve 925B is also provided. Note that, as described above, the present invention may be selectively applied to the liquid crystal device constituting the light valve 925B corresponding to the blue light beam B.
[0035]
The uniform illumination optical system 923 includes two lens plates 921 and 922 and a reflection mirror 931, and the two lens plates 921 and 922 are arranged to be orthogonal to each other with the reflection mirror 931 interposed therebetween. The two lens plates 921 and 922 of the uniform illumination optical system 923 each include a plurality of rectangular lenses arranged in a matrix. The light beam emitted from the light source device 920 is divided into a plurality of partial light beams by the rectangular lens of the first lens plate 921. These partial light beams are superimposed in the vicinity of the three light valves 925R, 925G, and 925B by the rectangular lens of the second lens plate 922. Therefore, by using the uniform illumination optical system 923, even when the light source device 920 has a non-uniform illuminance distribution within the cross section of the emitted light beam, the three light valves 925R, 925G, and 925B can be uniformly illuminated. It can be illuminated.
[0036]
Each color separation optical system 924 includes a blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 941, a green reflecting dichroic mirror 942, and a reflecting mirror 943. First, in the blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 941, the blue light beam B and the green light beam G included in the light beam W are reflected at right angles and travel toward the green reflecting dichroic mirror 942. The red light beam R passes through the mirror 941, is reflected at a right angle by the rear reflecting mirror 943, and is emitted from the emission unit 944 of the red light beam R to the prism unit 910 side.
[0037]
Next, in the green reflection dichroic mirror 942, only the green light beam G out of the blue and green light beams B and G reflected by the blue-green reflection dichroic mirror 941 is reflected at right angles, and the green light beam G is emitted from the emitting portion 945. The light is emitted to the side of the combining optical system. The blue light beam B that has passed through the green reflecting dichroic mirror 942 is emitted from the emission part 946 of the blue light beam B to the light guide system 927 side. In this example, the distances from the light beam W emission part of the uniform illumination optical element to the color light emission parts 944, 945, and 946 in the color separation optical system 924 are set to be substantially equal.
[0038]
Condensing lenses 951 and 952 are disposed on the emission side of the emission portions 944 and 945 for the red and green light beams R and G of the color separation optical system 924, respectively. Therefore, the red and green light beams R and G emitted from the respective emission portions are incident on these condenser lenses 951 and 952 and are collimated.
[0039]
The collimated red and green light beams R and G are incident on the light valves 925R and 925G and modulated, and image information corresponding to each color light is added. That is, these liquid crystal devices are subjected to switching control according to image information by a driving unit (not shown), and thereby each color light passing therethrough is modulated. On the other hand, the blue light beam B is guided to the corresponding light valve 925B via the light guide system 927, where it is similarly modulated according to the image information. The light valves 925R, 925G, and 925B in this example further include incident-side polarization means 960R, 960G, and 960B, emission-side polarization means 961R, 961G, and 961B, and liquid crystal devices 962R and 962G disposed therebetween. , 962B.
[0040]
The light guide system 927 includes a condensing lens 954 arranged on the emission side of the emission part 946 of the blue light beam B, an incident-side reflection mirror 971, an emission-side reflection mirror 972, and an intermediate lens arranged between these reflection mirrors. 973 and a condenser lens 953 disposed on the front side of the light valve 925B. The blue light beam B emitted from the condenser lens 946 is guided to the liquid crystal device 962B via the light guide system 927 and modulated. The optical path length of each color beam, that is, the distance from the emitting part of the beam W to each of the liquid crystal devices 962R, 962G, 962B is the longest for the blue beam B, and therefore the most light loss of the blue beam. However, the light loss can be suppressed by interposing the light guide system 927.
[0041]
The color light beams R, G, and B modulated through the light valves 925R, 925G, and 925B are incident on the color synthesis prism 910 and synthesized there. Then, the light synthesized by the color synthesis prism 910 is enlarged and projected onto the surface of the projection surface 100 at a predetermined position via the projection lens unit 906.
[0042]
In the liquid crystal projector having such a configuration, each light valve having the configuration of the present invention can prevent deterioration of reliability and display quality due to a volume change generated in the adhesive layer 22 by light irradiation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a transmission circuit diagram of a liquid crystal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a TFT array substrate of a liquid crystal device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side of a counter substrate together with each component formed thereon.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH ′ in the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view around the sealing material of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a TFT array substrate of a liquid crystal device according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the counter substrate side, together with the components formed thereon.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH ′ in the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a projection type display device which is an example of an electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... TFT array substrate 20 ... Counter substrate 21 ... Micro lens array 22 ... Adhesive resin layer 24 ... Light shielding film 23 ... Counter electrode 25 ... Planar substrate 50 ... Liquid layer layer 52 ... Sealing material 52a ... Inside part 101 of sealing material ... Data Line drive circuit 104 ... Scanning line drive circuit 105 ... Wiring 201a ... Effective display area 201b ... Non-display area 208 ... Boundary line

Claims (7)

An electro-optical material having an electro-optical material in a region surrounded by a sealant between a pair of substrates facing each other, and the microlens array disposed on one of the pair of substrates is integrated with a planar substrate by a bonding material A device,
When the distance from the inner part of the sealing material to the effective display area inside the area surrounded by the sealing material is L ₁ and the width of the area surrounded by the sealing material is L ₂ , L ₁ / L ₂ An electro-optical device, wherein ≧ 0.1. 2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a drive circuit is formed in a region from an inner portion of the sealing material to an effective display region inside the region surrounded by the sealing material. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a wiring pattern is formed in a region from an inner portion of the sealing material to an effective display region inside the region surrounded by the sealing material. . The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the bonding material is a photocurable resin. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a refractive index of the bonding material is 1.4 or less. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the planar substrate is 40 μm to 100 μm. A light source;
An optical system for projecting incident light;
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical device is interposed between the light source and the optical system, and modulates light from the light source and guides the light to the optical system. An electronic device comprising a light valve.

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