Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus

• US 8,194,202 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okuda, Tatsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US12/046,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 349 58- 60
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames

Abstract

The invention relates to an electro-optical device having an electro-optical panel and a supporting frame that supports the electro-optical panel either directly or indirectly. The supporting frame of the electro-optical device according to an aspect of the invention includes: a resin base frame member; and a metal member that has an embedded portion that is covered inside the resin base frame member and an exposed portion that is exposed from the resin base frame member. In the configuration of the electro-optical device of the invention, the exposed portion of the metal member has an inner exposed portion that is exposed at a middle face of the inside of the supporting frame viewed along the thickness direction of the supporting frame. At least one of the electro-optical panel, which is supported inside the supporting frame, and other member is in contact with the inner exposed portion of the metal member.

Claims

1. An electro-optical device comprising:

an electro-optical panel;

a supporting frame of the electro-optical device that supports the electro-optical panel either directly or indirectly;

a resin base frame member that composes the supporting frame; and

a metal member integrally formed with and extending along at least substantial portions of the length and/or width of the resin base frame, the metal member including an embedded portion that is covered inside the resin base frame member and an exposed portion that is exposed from the resin base frame member,

wherein the exposed portion of the metal member has an inner exposed portion that is exposed at a middle face of the inside of the supporting frame viewed along the thickness direction of the supporting frame; and

at least one of the electro-optical panel, which is supported inside the supporting frame, and other member is in contact with the inner exposed portion of the metal member,

wherein the embedded portion of the metal member has a bent cross-sectional shape taken along a section of the supporting frame, and the bend of the metal member occurs in the interior of the resin base frame member.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of the metal member has an outer exposed portion that is exposed at the outside of the supporting frame;

and

the inner exposed portion of the metal member and the outer exposed portion of the metal member are conductively connected with each other.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the inner exposed portion of the metal member constitutes at least a part of a supporting surface of the supporting frame that supports at least one of the electro-optical panel, which is supported inside the supporting frame, and the above-mentioned other member.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, the electro-optical device further having a surface illumination device that overlaps the electro-optical panel in a plan view,

wherein the supporting frame supports members that make up the surface illumination device.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein an external electrode is formed on the outer surface of the electro-optical panel;

and

the external electrode is electrically connected to the exposed portion of the metal member.

6. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is made of a metal plate material.

7. An electronic apparatus that is provided with the electro-optical device according to claim 1 and a control section that controls the electro-optical device.