Liquid crystal display panel having an insulating member to protect lead electrodes

• US 7,019,809 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Sekiguchi, Kanetaka
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUYEN LE
• Application Number:
  US10/450,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 349/149, 349/147, 349/152, 349/138, 257/737, 345/104, 361/720
• US Class Current: 349/149
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels

Abstract

A liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate and a second substrate that are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap provided therebetween. A liquid crystal layer is sealed in the gap with a sealant, and pixel portions are formed by electrodes, the electrodes being provided on the first substrate and on the second substrate to oppose to each other via the liquid crystal layer. Lead electrodes for applying electric signals to the electrodes forming the pixel portions are provided on at least the first substrate. An insulating covering member is provided to cover at least portions of the lead electrodes outside the sealant and to overlap with at least a portion of a surface of the second substrate opposite to the liquid crystal layer side. An insulating resin is provided on the insulating covering member or between the insulating covering member and the first substrate.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display panel, comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap provided therebetween, a liquid crystal layer is sealed in the gap with a sealant, pixel portions are formed by electrodes, said electrodes being provided on said first substrate and on said second substrate to oppose to each other via said liquid crystal layer, and lead electrodes for applying electric signals to said electrodes forming said pixel portions are provided on said first substrate,

wherein a covering member is provided to cover at least portions of said lead electrodes outside said sealant and overlap with at least a portion of a surface of said second substrate opposite to said liquid crystal layer, and

an insulating resin is provided on said covering member or between said covering member and said first substrate.

2. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein an integrated circuit element is mounted on said lead electrodes, and said covering member is provided also on said integrated circuit element.

3. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2,

wherein a flexible connecting board is connected to said integrated circuit element, and said covering member is provided also at least on a portion of said flexible connecting board.

4. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 3,

wherein said covering member has portions overlapping with said insulating resin, said second substrate, and said flexible connecting board, respectively as seen from said first substrate side.

5. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 3,

wherein said covering member has portions overlapping with said insulating resin, said integrated circuit element, said second substrate, and said flexible connecting board, respectively as seen from said first substrate side.

6. A liquid display panel as recited in claim 1,

wherein said covering member is an insulating covering member.

7. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a flexible connecting board connected to said lead electrodes is provided, and said insulating covering member is provided also at least on a portion of said flexible connecting board.

8. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a flexible connecting board for connecting said liquid crystal display panel to an external circuit is provided, and said insulating covering member is provided on both faces of said flexible connecting board.

9. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is provided also on a side face of said second substrate.

10. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 9,

wherein a reflecting layer is provided on one of said first substrate and said second substrate.

11. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is provided also on a side face of said first substrate or on a face of said first substrate opposite to a face provided with said lead electrodes.

12. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 11,

wherein a reflecting layer is provided on one of said first substrate and said second substrate.

13. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a polarizing film is provided on at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate, and said insulating covering member is provided also on said polarizing film.

14. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a polarizing film is provided on at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate, and wherein said insulating covering member is provided also between said polarizing film and said substrate provided with said polarizing film.

15. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a second insulating covering member is provided on said insulating resin.

16. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is an insulating layer formed in a vacuum condition.

17. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 16,

wherein said insulating covering member is an insulating layer containing silicon.

18. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 16,

wherein said insulating covering member is an insulating layer which is made of metal oxide.

19. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is smaller in thickness than said liquid crystal layer.

20. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member has a structure in which two or more different kinds of insulating films are laminated.

21. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is 200 nm to 500 nm in thickness.

22. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member has a thermal expansion coefficient equal to that of said first substrate or said second substrate.

23. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a polarizing film is provided, said polarizing film being used as said insulating covering member.

24. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is formed of glass.

25. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is formed of plastic.

26. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 25,

wherein said insulating covering member has a gas barrier layer or a moisture blocking layer.

27. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein said insulating covering member is formed of ceramics.

28. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a flexible connecting board for connecting said liquid crystal display panel to an external circuit is provided, and

a portion of said flexible connecting board is used as said insulating covering member.

29. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6,

wherein a second insulating covering member is provided on said insulating covering member.

30. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member is a plate-shaped member.

31. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein a portion where said first substrate, said insulating resin, said second substrate, and said covering member overlap one another as seen from said first substrate side, is provided.

32. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said first substrate and said covering member are bonded together with said insulating resin.

33. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member is bonded to both said first substrate and said second substrate with said insulating resin.

34. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein an integrated circuit element is mounted on said lead electrodes, and said insulating resin is provided between said integrated circuit element and said sealant.

35. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 34,

wherein said covering member has portions overlapping with said insulating resin, said integrated circuit element, and said second substrate, respectively as seen from said first substrate side.

36. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 34,

wherein said covering member is an insulating covering member and is in contact with both said integrated circuit element and said second substrate.

37. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein a flexible connecting board directly connected to said lead electrodes is provided, and

said covering member has portions overlapping with said insulating resin, said second substrate, and said flexible connecting board, respectively as seen from said first substrate side.

38. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin is composed of at least two kinds of resins.

39. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein a polarizing film is provided, and said covering member is provided to be in contact with said polarizing film.

40. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein a polarizing film is provided, and

said covering member is provided to have a predetermined gap with said polarizing film.

41. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member is formed of metallic material.

42. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 41,

wherein a second covering member is provided on said covering member.

43. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 42,

wherein said second covering member is an anodic oxide layer of said metallic material.

44. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin is constituted of an epoxy resin.

45. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin is constituted of an ultraviolet curing resin.

46. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin is constituted of a silicon resin.

47. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin has a light absorption material.

48. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said insulating resin is constituted of a first insulating resin for covering at least portions of said lead electrodes and a second insulating resin for sealing a space formed by said first insulating resin, said first substrate, and said second substrate.

49. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member has a face in contact with said insulating resin and in a direction perpendicular to said first substrate.

50. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member has an opening.

51. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 50,

wherein said opening is provided at a portion not overlapping with said lead electrodes.

52. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 50,

wherein said opening is an opening for introducing said insulating resin, and said insulating resin has a swollen structure in said opening.

53. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member has a U-shaped cross section and is provided such that said first substrate is in contact with the inside of the letter U.

54. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 53,

wherein said covering member is in contact with at least two faces out of six faces being top and bottom, right and left, and front and back faces of said first substrate.

55. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 53,

wherein said covering member has a substrate groove for fitting said first substrate therein.

56. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 53,

wherein a flexible connecting board for connecting said liquid crystal display panel to an external circuit is provided, and

wherein said covering member is provided with an opening for passing said flexible connecting board therethrough.

57. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein a flexible connecting board for connecting said liquid crystal display panel to an external circuit is provided, and

wherein said insulating resin is provided also at least on respective portions of both faces of said flexible connecting board.

58. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member comprises a black member and is used as a panel cover to be provided on an outer periphery of a display region constituted of said pixel portions.

59. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein an outer shape of said second substrate aligns with an outer shape of said sealant at least on a side where said lead electrodes are led out to the outside of said sealant.

60. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein an integrated circuit element mounted on said lead electrodes is provided, and said covering member is provided also on said integrated circuit element and is colored in black on said integrated circuit element.

61. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein an outer peripheral wall for preventing said insulating resin from flowing out is provided on at least a portion of an outer periphery of a region where said insulating resin is to be provided.

62. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member is provided in a plurality of divided parts.

63. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1,

wherein said covering member is 80 μ

m to 150 μ

m in thickness.