Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-24
2003-10-21
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C349S153000, C349S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06636192
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-optical panel in which an electro-optical material, such as liquid crystal, is sealed between a pair of substrates, to a projection display apparatus using the electro-optical panel, and to an electro-optical panel production method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for ensuring a predetermined gap between a pair of substrates.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in FIG.
19
and
FIG. 20
, an electro-optical panel, in which an electro-optical material, such as liquid crystal, is sealed between a pair of substrates, generally comprises a thin-film transistor (hereinafter referred to as “TFT”) array substrate (transistor array substrate)
2
in which pixel electrodes
8
and TFTs
10
for pixel switching are formed on the surface of a tansparent substrate made of silica glass or the like, a counter substrate
3
in which counter electrodes
32
are formed on the surface of a glass substrate having high heat resistance, such as Neoceram, and an electro-optical material
39
, such as liquid crystal, sealed and held between the substrates as shown in FIG.
19
and FIG.
20
. The TFT array substrate
2
and the counter substrate
3
are bonded with a predetermined gap therebetween by a sealing material
200
′ containing a gapping material, and an image display region
37
having the electro-optical material
39
sealed therein is divided in the gap by the sealing material
200
′. Conventionally, an epoxy resin or acrylic resin adhesive component, with which glass beads or the like are mixed as a gapping material, is used as such a sealing material
200
′ containing a gapping material.
In the electro-optical panel
1
′ thus configured, the alignment state of the electro-optical material
39
is controlled pixel-by-pixel between the pixel electrodes
8
and the counter electrodes
32
according to image signals applied to the pixel electrodes
8
via data lines (not shown) and the TFTs
10
on the TFT array substrate
2
, thereby displaying a predetermined image corresponding to the image signals. Therefore, in the TFT array substrate
2
, it is necessary to supply image signals to the pixel electrodes
8
via the data lines and the TFTs
10
, and to also apply a predetermined potential to the counter electrodes
32
.
Accordingly, in the electro-optical panel
1
′, a first electrode
47
for continuity between the substrates is formed on the TFT array substrate
2
by using a process for forming data lines, a second electrode
48
for continuity between the substrates is formed on the counter substrate
3
by using a process for forming the counter electrodes
32
, and the first electrode
47
and the second electrode
48
for continuity between the substrates are electrically conducted by a conducting member
56
obtained by mixing an epoxy resin or acrylic resin adhesive component with conductive particles such as silver powders and gold-plated fibers. For this reason, in the electro-optical panel
1
′, predetermined signals can be input to both the TFT array substrate
2
and the counter substrate
3
by connecting a flexible wiring board
99
or the like only to input and output terminals
45
of the TFT array substrate
2
, instead of connecting a flexible wiring board to both the TFT array substrate
2
and the counter substrate
3
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Although attempts have been made to improve display quality by reducing the gap (cell gap) between the TFT array substrate
2
and the counter substrate
3
to approximately 2 &mgr;m in the electro-optical panel
1
′, if such a small cell gap is ensured only by the gapping material contained in the peripheral sealing material
200
′, it varies substantially because it is small. As a result, the layer of the electro-optical material
39
significantly varies in thickness, and therefore, the display screen becomes unnaturally bright and dark and the response speed of the electro-optical material
39
varies. This deteriorates display quality on the contrary.
Accordingly, a structure may be conceived in which the cell gap is controlled by scattering spacers in the image display region
37
. However, when the electro-optical panel
1
′, in which the spacers are scattered throughout the image display region
37
, is used in a projection display apparatus, since light transmittance is reduced at the portions where the scattered spacers are dense, such defects are magnified and projected onto a screen.
In consideration of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical panel in which the gap is precise and is uniform over the entire image display region, a projection display apparatus using the electro-optical panel, and an electro-optical panel production method.
In order to overcome the above problems, the present invention provides an electro-optical panel wherein an electro-optical material is held between a pair of substrates, the pair of substrates are fixedly bonded by a sealing material, and an image display region composed of a plurality of pixels is formed inside an area where the sealing material is formed, and wherein one of the pair of substrates has a protrusion projecting into contact with the other substrate, and the protrusion is formed in an area surrounding the pixel region.
In this invention, since the gap (cell gap) between the substrates is controlled by contacting the protrusion formed on one of the substrates with the other substrate, it is possible to control the gap more precisely than in a structure in which the gap is controlled by a gapping material contained in the sealing material. Since the protrusion is formed to surround the image display region, it is possible to avoid variations in the gap between the substrates over the entire image display region. For this reason, it is possible to achieve an electro-optical panel in which the gap is precise, even if the gap is small, and is uniform over the entire image display region. Since it is unnecessary for the sealing material to contain the gapping material, even when wires are disposed on the lower side of the sealing material, they can be prevented from being crushed and broken by the gapping material.
In this invention, for example, the protrusion may be formed along one of an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge of the sealing material formation area
In this invention, it is preferable that the protrusion include a first protrusion formed along the inner peripheral edge of the sealing material formation area, and a second protrusion formed along the outer peripheral edge, and that the sealing material be formed in an area disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. Since the sealing material is blocked by the first protrusion and the second protrusion in such a structure, even when unset sealing material is applied or when the sealing material is heated, it does not extrude into an undesirable area. For this reason, a thermosetting sealing material can be used.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides an electro-optical panel wherein an electro-optical material is held between a pair of substrates, the pair of substrates are fixedly bonded by a sealing material, and an image display region composed of a plurality of pixels is formed inside a region where the sealing material is formed, and wherein one of the pair of substrates has a protrusion projecting into contact with the other substrate, and the protrusion is formed around a formation region of a conducting members for electrically connecting conductive layers respectively formed on the pair of substrates.
For example, it is preferable that the protrusion be formed to surround the conducting member. In such a structure, since the conducting member is blocked by the protrusion, when an unset conducting member is applied or when the conducting member is heated, it does not extrude into an undesirable area. For this rea
Bell Paul
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Seiko Epson Corporation
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