Display device and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

To provide a display device that has a rear support body and a plurality of display panels and has a structure in which dimensional accuracy can be raised and external impact can be easily absorbed, and a manufacturing method of the display device.SOLUTION: A plurality of metallic rear support bodies 10A and 10B are connected by a resin connection part 21. Backlight units 35A and 35B are stored in a storage concave part 11 of the rear support bodies 10A and 10B. A cover plate 30 that covers a front side of all rear support bodies 10A and 10B is provided, and a plurality of display panels 31A and 31B are bonded to a rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30. The cover plate 30 is bonded to a front surface 14 of each of rear support bodies 10A and 10B by an adhesion layer 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device having a plurality of display panels and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an invention related to an in-vehicle display device. As shown in FIG. 1, in this in-vehicle display device, a display unit is installed inside a vehicle. The display unit has a plurality of display panels and a holder that holds the plurality of display panels. Paragraph

[0024] describes that the holder has a plurality of holding parts, the display panels are fixed to the respective holding parts with an adhesive or screws, and the holder is made of a resin material. FIGS. 3 and 11 describe a display unit in which the holder has a curved shape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The in-vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. (1) Since a plurality of display panels are held side by side in the horizontal direction on the holder, as shown in FIG. 1, the holder has a very large length dimension in the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain high dimensional accuracy when manufacturing the holder, and it is particularly difficult to ensure high flatness of the surface on which the display panels appear. (2) In Patent Document 1, since the holding body that holds a plurality of display panels and has a large horizontal dimension is formed of a resin material, distortion and warping during molding are likely to remain in the holding body, making it difficult to achieve product uniformity, and when fixing it in a vehicle, phenomena such as a part lifting from the fixing part are likely to occur. To solve this problem, it is preferable to form the holding body of a metal material. However, when a plurality of display panels are held by a holding body integrally formed of metal, if display noise or the like occurs on a certain display panel due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) when operating the display panel with a finger, the static electricity is likely to be transmitted through the metal holding body and affect other display panels. (3) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11 of Patent Document 1, when a holding body having a curved shape is used, when attaching a cover plate such as a glass plate to the front surface thereof, it is necessary to previously curve the cover plate according to the curvature of the holding body, etc., and the assembly work becomes very complicated.

[0005] The present invention solves the above conventional problems, and even in a structure including a plurality of display panels, can maintain high overall dimensional accuracy, and aims to provide a display device capable of preventing the influence due to electrostatic discharge from propagating between the plurality of display panels.

[0006] Also, the present invention aims to provide a manufacturing method of a display device that can manufacture a structure in which a plurality of display panels are covered with a common cover plate with high dimensional accuracy, and can be manufactured relatively easily even in a structure in which adjacent display panels are arranged at an angle other than 180 degrees.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In a display device having a rear support, a light-transmissive cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate, a plurality of the rear supports are provided, and the plurality of the rear supports are connected via a resin connecting portion, The front of the plurality of the rear supports is covered by the cover plate, and the cover plate is fixed to each of the rear supports. An individual display panel is provided for each of the rear supports, which is a feature of this invention.

[0008] The display device of the present invention is preferably provided with a resin frame continuous along the outer periphery of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion, and the resin frame is integrally formed with the resin connecting portion.

[0009] In the display device of the present invention, it is preferable that at least two of the rear supports have the same shape and the same dimensions.

[0010] The display device of the present invention may be one in which a recess that depresses forward or backward is formed in the resin connecting portion.

[0011] The display device of the present invention is preferably provided with a connecting support member fixed to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connecting portion. By the connecting support member, it is possible to position the adjacent rear supports in the front-rear direction with respect to each other.

[0012] The display device of the present invention may be one in which a recess that depresses forward or backward is formed in the connecting support member.

[0013] In the display device of the present invention, it is also possible to set the angle between the front surfaces of the adjacent rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion to an angle other than 180 degrees.

[0014] For example, in the display device of the present invention, the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight unit is supported in each of the rear supports.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a display device having a rear support, a translucent cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate. (a) A step of using a plurality of rear supports and connecting the rear supports to each other with a resin connecting portion; (b) A step of covering the front of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion with the cover plate and fixing the cover plate to each of the rear supports, characterized in that each of the rear supports is provided with an individual display panel.

[0016] The method for manufacturing a display device according to the present invention preferably includes a step of integrally forming a continuous resin frame along the outer periphery of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion with the resin connecting portion.

[0017] The method for manufacturing a display device according to the present invention, for example, integrally forms the resin connecting portion and the resin frame by an insert molding method.

[0018] The method for manufacturing a display device according to the present invention preferably includes a step of fixing a connection support member to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connecting portion, and positioning the adjacent rear supports in the front-rear direction with respect to each other by the connection support member.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a display device having a rear support, a translucent cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate. (a) A step of using a plurality of rear supports and connecting the rear supports to each other with a resin connecting portion; (b) A step of covering the front of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion with the cover plate and fixing the cover plate to each of the rear supports, (c) After the step of (b), a step of deforming the resin connecting portion and the cover plate so that the front surfaces of the adjacent rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion form an angle other than 180 degrees; (d) A step of fixing a connection support member to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connecting portion to fix the relative positions of the adjacent rear supports; It is characterized by having the following.

[0020] In the manufacturing method of the display device, it is preferable to include a step of integrally forming a resin frame continuous along the outer periphery of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion with the resin connecting portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] In the display device of the present invention, since the dimensions of each rear support are smaller than the dimensions of the entire display device, the dimensional accuracy of each rear support can be increased, particularly the flatness can be increased, and large warping and the like are less likely to occur. Therefore, the overall warping of the display device in which a plurality of rear supports are connected by a resin connecting portion is also reduced, and phenomena such as a part of the rear support lifting from the attachment portion are less likely to occur when attaching to a vehicle or the like. Further, even if electrostatic discharge is applied to any one of the display panels when the rear support is made of metal, since the resin connecting portion exists between the adjacent rear supports, it is easy to prevent the propagation of static electricity to other rear supports.

[0022] In the manufacturing method of the display device of the present invention, by forming a resin connecting portion for connecting adjacent rear supports and a frame portion surrounding the outer periphery of the rear supports by an insert molding method or the like, a support connecting body in which a plurality of rear supports are connected can be manufactured with high precision in a relatively easy process. In addition, a structure in which adjacent rear supports are arranged at an angle other than 180 degrees, that is, an angle less than 180 degrees or an angle exceeding 180 degrees, can also be easily realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

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Figure 20

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] <The display device 1 of the first embodiment> The overall structure of the display device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the display device 1, the Y1-Y2 direction is the front-rear direction, the Y1 direction is the front in the display direction, and the Y2 direction is the rear. The X1-X2 direction is the lateral direction, the X1 direction is the left direction, and the X2 direction is the right direction. The Z1-Z2 direction is the vertical direction, the Z1 direction is the upward direction, and the Z2 direction is the downward direction. The display device 1 is for in-vehicle use and is installed on the instrument panel or dashboard in the front of the vehicle interior, with the front (Y1 direction) facing the vehicle interior so that the occupant can visually observe the display content. However, the display device 1 may be used for household or office use, or may be used in a game center or the like.

[0025] As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the display device 1 is composed of a support connection body 2 and a cover assembly 3 that covers the front (Y1 direction) thereof. The support connection body 2 has two rear support bodies 10A and 10B, and a resin molded body 20 fixed to the two rear support bodies 10A and 10B. As shown in FIG. 4, the two rear support bodies 10A and 10B maintain independent forms, but the rear support body 10A and the rear support body 10B have the same shape and the same dimensions. The rear support bodies 10A and 10B are formed of a metal material, and are die-cast, for example, using a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, or a zinc alloy. Alternatively, the rear support bodies 10A and 10B may be press-formed of a zinc-plated steel sheet or the like.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two rear supports 10A and 10B are rectangular in shape with a square or rectangular shape when viewed from the front. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B are cases and have a storage recess 11 that is open in the front (Y1 direction). The storage recess 11 is rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, fixing protrusions 13 are integrally formed at a plurality of locations on the rear surface 12 of the rear supports 10A and 10B that faces the rear (Y2 direction), and female screw holes 13a are formed in the fixing protrusions 13. When the display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is installed in the vehicle interior, the fixing protrusions 13 are screwed and fixed to a fixing plate provided inside the dashboard or the instrument panel.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the support connecting body 2 is formed by integrally molding two rear supports 10A and 10B and a resin molded body 20 by an insert molding method. In the insert molding method, the two rear supports 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the cavity of the mold, and molten resin is injected into the cavity. Then, the resin molded body 20 is molded, and the two rear supports 10A and 10B and the resin molded body 20 are bonded and integrated. The resin molded body 20 is formed of a thermoplastic resin such as PC (polycarbonate) resin or ABS resin, and is preferably formed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) such as a polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPC). Since the rear supports 10A and 10B are made of metal, the resin molded body 20 has a lower elastic modulus (tensile elastic modulus, shear elastic modulus, or bulk elastic modulus) than the individual rear supports 10A and 10B. If the elastic modulus of the rear supports 10A and 10B is higher than that of the resin molded body 20, the rear supports 10A and 10B may be injection molded from a hard resin material. However, in order to maintain high dimensional accuracy such as flatness, it is preferable that the rear supports 10A and 10B are made of metal.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the resin molded body 20 has a resin connecting portion 21 that adheres to the opposing side 10a, which is the right side of the left rear support 10A, and the opposing side 10a, which is the left side of the right rear support 10B, to connect the opposing sides 10a; an upper frame 22 that adheres to the upper side 10b of the rear support 10A and the upper side 10b of the rear support 10B; a lower frame 23 that adheres to the lower side 10c of the rear support 10A and the lower side 10c of the rear support 10B; a left frame 24 that adheres to the left side 10d of the left rear support 10A (X1 side); and a right frame 25 that adheres to the right side 10e of the right rear support 10B (X2 side). The upper frame 22, the lower frame 23, the left frame 24, and the right frame 25 constitute a "resin frame".

[0029] FIGS. 6(A) and (B) show the cross-sectional structure of the resin connecting portion 21 that connects the opposing side 10a, which is the right side of the left rear support 10A, and the opposing side 10a, which is the left side of the right rear support 10B. Locking protrusions 15 are integrally formed on the opposing sides 10a of the left and right rear supports 10A and 10B. On each opposing side 10a, the locking protrusions 15 are formed continuously or intermittently in the vertical direction. In the insert molding method, a thermoplastic molten resin is injected into the cavity where the left and right locking protrusions 15 face each other and cooled, so that a resin connecting portion 21 with a structure in which the locking protrusions 15 intervene from the left and right is molded between the left and right opposing sides 10a.

[0030] Figures 8(A) and (B) show the cross-sectional structure of the upper side 10b of the rear support 10A and the upper frame 22 which is a part of the resin frame. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, locking protrusions 16 are integrally formed on the upper sides 10b of the left and right rear supports 10A and 10B. In the rear supports 10A and 10B, the locking protrusions 16 are formed continuously or intermittently in the left-right direction. In the insert molding method, the thermoplastic molten resin is injected into the cavity where the locking protrusions 16 of the left and right rear supports 10A and 10B are located and cooled, so that the upper frame 22 with a structure in which the locking protrusions 16 are interposed is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, locking protrusions 17 are also integrally formed on the lower sides 10c of the left and right rear supports 10A and 10B, and the lower frame 23 with a shape in which the locking protrusions 17 are interposed is formed by the insert molding method.

[0031] Figures 9(A) and (B) show the cross-sectional structure of the right side 10e of the right rear support 10B and the right frame 25. A locking protrusion 18 is integrally formed on the right side 10e of the rear support 10B. The locking protrusion 18 is formed continuously or intermittently in the vertical direction. When the resin frame is molded by the insert molding method, the right frame 25 with a shape in which the locking protrusion 18 is interposed is formed. Similarly, a locking protrusion is integrally formed on the left side 10d of the left rear support 10A, and the left frame 24 with a structure in which the locking protrusion is interposed is formed by insert molding.

[0032] The "resin frame" formed by the insert molding method has an upper frame 22 continuously formed along the upper sides 10b of the rear support 10A on the left side and the rear support 10B on the right side, and the lower frame 23 is also continuously formed along the lower sides 10c of the rear support 10A on the left side and the rear support 10B on the right side. The upper frame 22, the lower frame 23, the left frame 24, and the right frame 25 together form a continuous rectangular frame, and the resin connecting portion 21 is integrally formed continuously with the upper frame 22 and the lower frame 23. The support connecting body 2 in which the two rear supports 10A and 10B and the resin molded body 20 are integrated has a structure in which a resin frame that continuously extends along the outer periphery of the two rear supports 10A and 10B connected by the resin connecting portion 21 is provided without interruption. Therefore, even if the rear supports 10A and 10B are formed independently, the support connecting body 2 can be handled as an integrated component. Also, since the resin frames (upper frame 22, lower frame 23, left frame 24, right frame 25) that are continuous with the outer peripheries (upper side 10b, lower side 10c, left side 10d, right side 10e) of the two rear supports 10A and 10B are formed without interruption, the display device 1 presents an integrated appearance.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, at the boundary between adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B, a connecting support member 40 is fixed to the rear portions of the rear supports 10A and 10B. Two connecting support members 40 are provided at a distance in the vertical direction (Z1-Z2 direction), and each connecting support member 40 is fixed to the rear surfaces 12 of the adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B across the resin connecting portion 21. The connecting support member 40 is die-cast using the same metal material as that forming the rear supports 10A and 10B, or is formed by bending a metal plate. Alternatively, it is injection-molded from a hard resin. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 7, the connecting support member 40 has a mounting portion 41 parallel to the rear surfaces 12 of the rear supports 10A and 10B, and positioning portions 42 that extend forward continuously above and below the mounting portion 41. As shown in Fig. 6, fixing holes 43 are formed in the mounting portion 41 at intervals in the lateral direction. As shown in Fig. 7, the front end of the positioning portion 42 is a positioning surface 42a, and as shown in Fig. 6, the positioning surface 42a is parallel to the rear surfaces 12 of the rear supports 10A and 10B and is formed linearly and continuously in the lateral direction (X1-X2 direction).

[0034] As shown in Fig. 2, on the rear surfaces 12 of the rear supports 10A and 10B, fixing projections 19 are formed so as to project rearward at two locations on each of the left and right sides, and female screw holes 19a are formed in the respective fixing projections 19. Two fixing screws 45 are inserted into fixing holes 43 formed in the connecting support member 40 and are screwed into the respective female screw holes 19a of a pair of facing fixing projections 19 straddling the resin connecting portion 21, whereby the connecting support member 40 is fixed to the rear supports 10A and 10B. As shown in Fig. 6, when the connecting support member 40 is fixed, the positioning surface 42a of the connecting support member 40 abuts against the rear surface 12 of the left rear support 10A and the rear surface 12 of the right rear support 10B, which are located straddling the resin connecting portion 21. When the positioning surface 42a of the connecting support member 40 abuts against the rear surfaces 12 of the left and right rear supports 10A and 10B, the resin connecting portion 21 is slightly deformed so that the rear surface 12 of the rear support 10A and the rear surface 12 of the rear support 10B are substantially flush, and the rear supports 10A and 10B are positioned relative to each other in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the relative flatness of the front surfaces (front surfaces located around the storage recess 11) 14 of the left rear support 10A and the front surface 14 of the right rear support 10B can be maintained at a high level.

[0035] By insert molding, the two rear supports 10A and 10B and the resin molded body 20 are integrated, and the adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B are fixed to and positioned relative to each other by the two upper and lower connecting support members 40, completing the support connecting body 2.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 6(A), 8(A), and 9(A), the cover assembly 3 is assembled independently of the support connecting body 2. The cover assembly 3 has a light-transmissive cover plate 30. Here, the "light transmittance" preferably has a total light transmittance of, for example, 60% or more, and a transparent plate of 90% or more is more preferable. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one cover plate 30 has an area that covers all the rear supports constituting the support connecting body 2. In the display device 1 of the first embodiment, it has an area that covers the two rear supports 10A and 10B from the front. The cover plate 30 is formed of a resin plate such as a glass plate or polycarbonate, but in order to ensure flatness over a large area, it is preferably formed of a glass plate. In the display device 1 of the first embodiment used for vehicle-mounted applications, a tempered glass plate with a thickness of about 0.8 mm is used.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 6(A), 8(A), and 9(A), the cover plate 30 has a front surface 30a facing forward (Y1 direction) and a rear surface 30b facing rearward (Y2 direction). Two display panels 31A and 31B are provided on the rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30, and the display panels 31A and 31B are adhered to the rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30 by an optical adhesive layer 32. The display panel 31A and the display panel 31B are liquid crystal display panels with the same structure and the same dimensions. As shown in FIG. 6(A) and the like, in the display panel 31A and the display panel 31B, a front glass substrate 33 and a rear glass substrate 34 are overlapped, and transparent electrodes are formed on the opposing surfaces of the respective glass substrates 33 and 34. A liquid crystal material is encapsulated inside the front glass substrate 33 and the rear glass substrate 34, and a color filter is provided on the opposing surface of one of the glass substrates. The front glass substrate 33 is adhered to the rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30 by an optical adhesive layer 32.

[0038] In the cover assembly 3, a transparent touch sensor panel is interposed between the front glass substrate 33 of the display panel 31A and the cover plate 30, and a transparent touch sensor panel is also sandwiched between the front glass substrate 33 of the display panel 31B and the cover plate 30. The touch sensor panel has transparent electrodes and can detect a change in capacitance when a human finger touches or approaches the front surface 30a of the cover plate 30, thereby detecting the contact position and approach position of the finger.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the left rear support 10A is a case and has a storage recess 11 that is open toward the front. Inside the storage recess 11, a backlight unit 35A and an optical sheet 36 such as a light diffusion sheet superimposed in front of it are stored and supported. A spacer 37 is fixed in front of the optical sheet 36. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, a backlight unit 35B, an optical sheet 36, and a spacer 37 are also stored and supported in the storage recess 11 of the right rear support 10B. The backlight unit 35A and the backlight unit 35B are the same and each has a light source such as a plurality of LEDs and a light guide plate that guides the light from the light source to irradiate the display panels 31A and 31B.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 6(A), 8(A), and 9(A), an adhesive layer 4 is provided on the front surface 14 of the rear supports 10A and 10B. The adhesive layer 4 is provided on the entire circumference surrounding the storage recess 11 on the front surface 14, and the rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30 is adhered to the front surface 14 by the adhesive layer 4 as shown in FIGS. 6(B), 8(B), and 9(B). As the adhesive layer 4, a double-sided adhesive tape or the like is used. When the cover assembly 3 is fixed in front of the support connecting body 2, the left display panel 31A is located between the left rear support 10A and the cover plate 30, and most of the display panel 31A is located inside the storage recess 11 of the rear support 10A. The right display panel 31B is located between the right rear support 10B and the cover plate 30, and most of the display panel 31B is located inside the storage recess 11 of the rear support 10B. Also, a backlight unit 35A faces the rear of the left display panel 31A, and a backlight unit 35B faces the rear of the right display panel 31B.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6(B), 8(B), and 9(B), when the cover plate 30 constituting the cover assembly 3 is adhesively fixed to the front surfaces 14 of the rear supports 10A and 10B constituting the support connecting body 2, the assembly of the display device 1 is completed. In FIG. 1, since the cover assembly 3 is shown from the front, the area where the display panels 31A and 31B are overlapped on the cover plate 30 is indicated by a broken line. The display area of the display device 1 is the area surrounded by the broken line.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, in the display device 1, flexible wiring boards 5 and 6 appear on the back surfaces of the respective rear supports 10A and 10B. These flexible wiring boards 5 and 6 are electrically connected to the transparent electrodes of the display panels 31A and 31B and to the transparent electrodes of the touch sensor panel, and further supply driving power to the backlight units 35A and 35B. When a driving signal is applied to the display panels 31A and 31B via the flexible wiring boards 5 and 6 and driving power is applied to the backlight units 35A and 35B, an image is displayed in the display area surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 1. Further, a detection signal when a finger touches or approaches the front surface 30a of the cover plate 30 is detected by the touch panel sensor, and the detection signal is output via one of the flexible wiring boards 5 and 6 to a detection circuit located further rearward.

[0043] In the display device of the present invention, as the display panels 31A and 31B, a self-luminous display panel that does not use a backlight unit, such as an organic electroluminescence element, may be used. Also in this case, the display panel 31A is provided between the cover plate 30 and the rear support 10A, and the display panel 31B is provided between the cover plate 30 and the rear support 10B.

[0044] <Manufacturing Method of the Display Device 1 of the First Embodiment> The display device 1 is assembled by the following steps. (a) By an insert molding method, two rear supports 10A and 10B and a resin molded body 20 are integrated to form a resin connecting portion 21 that connects the two rear supports 10A and 10B, and a "resin frame" that adheres to the other outer peripheries of the respective rear supports 10A and 10B that are not coupled to the resin connecting portion 21. Further, a support connecting member 40 is fixed to the rear portions of the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B across the resin connecting portion 21 to complete the support connecting body 2. (b) In a step different from (a) above, the display panels 31A and 31B are attached to the rear surface 30b of the cover plate 30, and a touch sensor panel is interposed between the rear surface 30b and each display panel 31A and 31B to complete the cover assembly 3. (c) Install the backlight units 35A and 35B, the optical sheet 36, and the spacer 37 in the storage recesses 11 of the respective rear supports 10A and 10B of the support connector 2. (d) Adhere and fix the cover plate 30 to the front surfaces 14 of the respective rear supports 10A and 10B via the adhesive layer 4 to complete the manufacture of the display device 1.

[0045] <The display device 101 of the second embodiment> The display device 101 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has the same basic structure as the display device 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the display device 101 has a support connector 102 in which three rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C are connected by a resin molded body 20. The rear support 10A, the rear support 10B, and the rear support 10C have the same structure and the same dimensions, and they are the same as the rear supports 10A and 10B in the support connector 2 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the backlight units 35A, 35B, and 35C, the optical sheet 36, etc. are stored in the storage recesses 11 of the respective rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C. As shown in FIG. 10, the display device 101 has a cover assembly 103 in which three display panels 31A, 31B, and 31B are attached to the rear surface of the cover plate 30. The display panel 31A, the display panel 31B, and the display panel 31C have the same structure and the same dimensions, and they are the same as the display panels 31A and 31B in the cover assembly 3 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the display device 101 has three display areas surrounded by broken lines.

[0046] In the manufacturing process of the support connecting body 102 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, three rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C and a resin molded body 120 are integrated by an insert molding method. The resin molded body 120 has two resin connecting parts 121 and a "resin frame". The "resin frame" has the upper frame 22, the lower frame 23, the left frame 24, and the right frame 25 continuous. The cross-sectional shapes of the upper frame 22, the lower frame 23, the left frame 24, and the right frame 25 are the same as those of the "resin frame" of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, the locking protrusions 15 are formed on the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10B and the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10C, and the left and right locking protrusions 15 intervene in the resin connecting part 121 formed by the insert molding method, and the rear supports 10B and 10C are connected. The width dimension of the resin connecting part 121 in the lateral direction (X1-X2 direction) is larger than that of the resin connecting part 21 of the display device 1 of the first embodiment. A plurality of recesses 121a that are recessed from the rear surface toward the front are formed in the resin connecting part 121, and the resin connecting part 121 is easily deformed. The recess 121a may be single. Also, the recess may be recessed from the front surface of the resin connecting part 121 toward the rear, or a recess recessed toward the front and a recess recessed toward the rear may be mixed. Note that the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B are also connected by a resin connecting part 121 having the same structure as that shown in FIG. 12.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 12, locking protrusions 15 are formed on the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10B and the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10C, and the left and right locking protrusions 15 intervene in the resin connecting part 121 formed by the insert molding method, and the rear supports 10B and 10C are connected. The width dimension of the resin connecting part 121 in the lateral direction (X1-X2 direction) is larger than that of the resin connecting part 21 of the display device 1 of the first embodiment. A plurality of recesses 121a that are recessed from the rear surface toward the front are formed in the resin connecting part 121, and the resin connecting part 121 is easily deformed. The recess 121a may be single. Also, the recess may be recessed from the front surface of the resin connecting part 121 toward the rear, or a recess recessed toward the front and a recess recessed toward the rear may be mixed. Note that the opposing sides 10a of the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B are also connected by a resin connecting part 121 having the same structure as that shown in FIG. 12.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, between adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B, a connecting support member 140 straddling the resin connecting portion 121 is fixed. Also, between adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, a connecting support member 140 straddling the resin connecting portion 121 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 12, the connecting support member 140 has fixing holes 143 formed at two positions on the left and right. On the rear surfaces 12 of the left and right rear supports 10B and 10C, fixing protrusions 19 are formed protruding near the opposing sides 10a. Fixing screws 45 inserted into the respective fixing holes 143 are screwed into the female screw holes 19a of the fixing protrusions 19, and the connecting support member 140 is fixed to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 12, the connecting support member 140 is provided with positioning portions 142 spaced apart in the lateral direction. Each positioning portion 142 has a front-rear positioning surface 142a and a left-right positioning surface 142b. When the connecting support member 140 is fixed to the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, the left and right front-rear positioning surfaces 142a abut against the rear surfaces 12 of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, and the relative position in the front-rear direction of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C is determined. Also, the left-right positioning surfaces 142b enter between the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C, and the left-right positioning surfaces 142b are pressed against the opposing sides 10a of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, and the relative position in the lateral direction of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C is also determined. The connection and positioning by the connecting support member 140 are the same between the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B.

[0050] The manufacturing method of the display device 101 of the second embodiment is substantially the same as the manufacturing method of the display device 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the display device 101 of the second embodiment also has a large width dimension in the lateral direction (X1-X2 direction), and the total area of the display regions surrounded by the broken lines is large. Therefore, when used for in-vehicle applications or the like, various display forms can be realized.

[0051] <Manufacturing Method of Display Devices 201 and 211 of the Third Embodiment> As shown in FIGS. 13 to 17, the display devices 201 and 211 of the third embodiment, similar to the display device 101 of the second embodiment, include a support connection body 202 in which three rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C are coupled to a resin molded body 120, three backlight units 35A, 35B, and 35C housed in the respective rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C, and a cover assembly 203 in which three display panels 31A, 31B, and 31C are adhered to the rear surface of a cover plate 30. The opening angles of the display device 201 and the display device 211 in the forward (Y1 direction) of the adjacent rear supports and the cover plate 30 attached thereto are angles other than 180 degrees. The display device 201 shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 has an opening angle θ in the forward (Y1 direction) of the adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B and the cover plate 30 attached thereto, and an opening angle θ in the forward (Y1 direction) of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C and the cover plate 30 attached thereto, which are set to be less than 180 degrees. For example, the opening angle θ is 120 degrees or more and 170 degrees or less. The display device 211 shown in FIG. 17 has an opening angle θ2 in the forward direction of the adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B and the cover plate 30 attached thereto that is less than 180 degrees, and an opening angle θ1 in the forward direction of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C and the cover plate 30 attached thereto that exceeds 180 degrees. For example, the angle θ1 is 190 degrees or more and 240 degrees or less. However, each of the angles θ, θ1, and θ2 may be an angle outside the above range.

[0052] The manufacturing method of the display device 201 is, as shown in FIG. 13, to manufacture a support connection body 202 in which a resin molded body 120 is bonded to three rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C by an insert molding method. Further, a cover assembly 203 in which three display panels 31A, 31B, and 31C are adhered to the rear surface of the cover plate 30 is manufactured. The cover plate 30 is adhered to the front surfaces of the respective rear supports 10A, 10B, and 10C via the adhesive layer 4 by the adhesive layer 4, and the cover assembly 203 is fixed in front of the support connection body 202. The manufacturing process from the manufacturing method of the support connection body 202, the manufacturing method of the cover assembly 203, to the mutual fixation of the support connection body 202 and the cover assembly 203 is the same as each manufacturing process in the display device 101 of the second embodiment.

[0053] In the manufacturing method of the display device 201 of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, after the support connection body 202 in a planar state and the cover assembly 203 in a planar state are joined, a sufficient curing time is ensured to firmly join the support connection body 202 and the cover assembly 203. Thereafter, at normal temperature or in a heated state, a mechanical external force is applied to deform the resin connection portion 121 and further deform the cover plate 30, and the rear supports 10B, 10C and the cover plate 30 joined thereto are bent so that the opening angle θ forward is less than 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 14. Similarly, the adjacent rear support 10A and the rear support 10B and the cover plate 30 joined to these rear supports 10A, 10B are also bent so that the opening angle θ forward is less than 180 degrees.

[0054] FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the VX portion of FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C open at an angle θ of less than 180 degrees due to the deformation of the resin connecting portion 121. The cover plate 30 is a glass plate with a thickness of about 0.8 mm, but the glass plate 30 has a large area with a horizontal dimension of 600 mm or more and a vertical dimension of 300 mm or more, for example. Therefore, when the resin connecting body 121 is deformed, the cover plate 30 firmly joined to the front surfaces of the rear supports 10B and 10C via the adhesive layer 4 can deform following the opening angle θ between the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C without separating from the rear supports 10B and 10C. When the cover plate 30 is formed of a thermoplastic resin such as polycarbonate, when an external force is applied to the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C, by applying heat such that the cover plate 30 does not discolor, the cover plate 30 easily deforms following the rear supports 10B and 10C.

[0055] After bending the rear supports 10B and 10C and the cover plate 30 joined to these rear supports 10B and 10C by an external force, as shown in FIG. 16, a connecting support member 240 is fixed to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C. The connecting support member 240 is pre-manufactured such that the mounting portions 244 at both left and right ends match the opening angle θ. By screwing a fixing screw 45 inserted into a mounting hole 243 formed in the mounting portion 244 to a fixing projection 19 formed on the rear surface 12 of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C can be fixed while maintaining the opening angle θ. Also, the front-rear positioning surfaces 242a formed on both left and right sides of the connecting support member 240 determine the relative front-rear position of the adjacent rear supports 10B and 10C, and the left-right positioning surfaces 242b also determine the lateral position of the rear supports 10B and 10C. Also, the connecting support member 240 is fixed to the rear portions of the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B, and the opening angle between the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B is similarly set to θ.

[0056] The display device 211 shown in FIG. 17 can be manufactured by the same manufacturing process as the manufacturing method of the display device 201 shown in FIGS. 13 to 16. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, after the planar support connection body 202 and the planar cover assembly 203 are joined, a sufficient curing time is ensured to firmly join the support connection body 202 and the cover assembly 203. Thereafter, an external force is applied to make the opening angle θ2 in the forward (Y1 direction) of the adjacent rear support 10A and rear support 10B less than 180 degrees, and the opening angle θ1 between the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C greater than 180 degrees. Thereafter, the connection support member 442 is fixed to the rear portions of the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B, and the connection support member 441 is fixed to the rear portions of the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C. Also, in the display device 211 of FIG. 17, it is also possible to set both the angle θ1 and the angle θ2 to be greater than 180 degrees.

[0057] In addition, in the display device 201 of FIGS. 14 to 16, the opening angle θ between the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C may be set to be less than 180 degrees, and the opening angle between the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B may remain 180 degrees. Also, in the display device 211 shown in FIG. 17, the opening angle θ between the rear support 10B and the rear support 10C may be set to be greater than 180 degrees, and the opening angle between the rear support 10A and the rear support 10B may remain 180 degrees. Further, in the display device 1 of the first embodiment in which the two rear supports 10A and 10B are connected, the opening angles of the adjacent rear supports 10A and 10B and the cover plate 30 joined to each of the rear supports 10A and 10B may be manufactured to be less than 180 degrees or greater than 180 degrees.

[0058] <Advantages of Display Devices 1, 101, 201, 211> The advantages (effects of the present invention) of the display devices 1, 101, 201, 211 and their manufacturing methods of the above embodiments are as follows. When attempting to configure a display device having a large display area for in-vehicle use or the like with a single rear support, the rear support becomes large and it is difficult to maintain the dimensions of the rear support with high precision, especially difficult to maintain flatness. In contrast, in the display devices 1, 101, 201, 211 of each embodiment, since the rear supports 10A, 10B, 10C corresponding to a single display panel are manufactured independently of each other, even if the overall area of the display devices 1, 101, 201, 211 is large, the dimensional tolerance of each individual rear support can be reduced and flatness can be maintained at a high level. Then, by connecting a plurality of rear supports with resin moldings 20, 120 and further fixing connection support members 40, 140, 240, 441, 442 to the rear portions of each rear support straddling adjacent rear supports, the connection support members 40, 140, 240, 441, 442 can determine the relative positions of adjacent rear supports. As a result, a display device with a small dimensional error as a whole and supporting flatness with high precision can be obtained.

[0059] In the display devices 1, 101, 201, 211 of each embodiment, by die-casting the rear supports 10A, 10B, 10C using a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a zinc alloy, or the like, it is possible to increase the dimensional accuracy and flatness of each individual rear support. However, in a display device having a single metal rear support and a plurality of display panels, when static electricity discharges from a person's finger approaching the cover plate to one of the display panels to operate the touch sensor panel, the discharge not only affects one display panel, but also propagates through the metal rear support and affects other display panels, causing problems such as noise generation in a plurality of display panels. In contrast, in the display devices 1, 101, 201, 211 of the embodiment, an individual display panel and a touch sensor panel are provided for each of the plurality of independent rear supports, and an insulating resin connection portion 21, 121 is provided between adjacent rear supports, so that static electricity is less likely to propagate to other rear supports and other display panels, and adverse effects such as image noise due to electrostatic discharge can be minimized.

[0060] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the destruction state when an impact force acts on the display device 1 of the first embodiment from the front. For example, when an impact force acts from the front of the rear support 10A, the resin connecting portion 21 can absorb the impact by deforming. Since the cover plate 30 is a thin plate material, it can be easily deformed. Further, by forming the connection support member 40 from a material having lower rigidity or inferior brittleness than the rear supports 10A and 10B, the connection support member 40 is likely to deform or break as the resin connecting portion 21 deforms. Due to the deformation of the resin connecting portion 21 and the deformation or breakage of the connection support member 40, the resistance to an external impact can be alleviated, and it becomes easier to ensure the safety of the occupants even when an impact acts during the running of the vehicle.

[0061] FIG. 19(A) shows the display device 101 of the second embodiment. Since the resin connecting portion 121 used in this display device 101 has a plurality of recesses 121a, it is likely to deform when an impact acts. The connection support member 140 is preferably formed of a metal material that is more brittle than the rear supports 10B and 10C. Further, a recess 145 that is recessed from the front to the rear is formed in the connection support member 140. Alternatively, a recess that is recessed from the rear to the front may be formed. As shown in FIG. 19(B), when an impact force acts on the display device 101 from the front, the resin connecting portion 121 having a large number of recesses 121a can be easily deformed, and the connection support member 140 is likely to break at the location where the recess 145 is formed. Thereby, it becomes easier to absorb the impact force from the front.

[0062] In the manufacturing method of the display devices 201 and 211 according to the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 17, by deforming the resin connecting portion 121 (or resin connecting portion 21) and the cover plate 30, it becomes easier to manufacture a display device with an opening angle θ forward other than 180 degrees. If one rear support corresponding to a plurality of display panels is used to manufacture a display device with an opening angle θ forward other than 180 degrees, a three-dimensional rear support with a forward opening angle less than 180 degrees or more than 180 degrees has to be molded by die casting or the like, the mold becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost becomes high. Also, if an attempt is made to bond a cover plate to the front surface of a rear support that is previously formed with an opening angle other than 180 degrees, problems such as the cover plate peeling off and rising from the rear support at the bent portion, and the cover plate being easily peeled off from the front surface of each rear support are likely to occur. On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the display devices 201 and 211 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, since the flat support connecting body 202 is bonded to the cover assembly 3 in a planar state, it can be cured while remaining flat after bonding by the adhesive layer 4, and each rear support and the cover plate can be firmly bonded. After that, as shown in FIG. 14, it is bent so that the opening angle θ between adjacent rear supports is less than 180 degrees, or as shown in FIG. 17, it is bent so that the opening angle θ1 is more than 180 degrees, whereby in the completed display device 201, the cover plate 30 is less likely to peel off from the rear support.

[0063] <The display device 301 according to the fourth embodiment> The display device according to an embodiment of the present invention can combine and connect rear supports of different sizes by a resin molded body. Although all the rear supports can have different dimensions, in the support connecting body 302 of the display device 301 according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, two rear supports 10A and 10B having the same structure and the same shape, and a rear support 110 having different dimensions from these rear supports 10A and 10B are connected by a resin molded body 20. Thus, a plurality of rear supports having different shapes and different dimensions may be connected to form a support connecting body. However, as shown in FIG. 20, it is preferable that at least two of the plurality of rear supports have the same dimension and the same shape. By using a plurality of rear supports having the same shape and the same dimension, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, such as by commonly using a mold for molding the rear supports.

Explanation of Signs

[0064] 1 Display device according to the first embodiment 2 Support connecting body 3 Cover assembly 4 Adhesive layer 10A, 10B, 10C Rear support 10a Opposite side 10b Upper side 10c Lower side 10d Left side 10e Right side 15, 16, 17, 18 Locking projection 20 Resin molded body 21 Resin connecting portion 22 Upper frame (resin frame) 23 Lower frame (resin frame) 24 Left frame (resin frame) 25 Right frame (resin frame) 30 Cover plate 31A, 31B, 31C Display panel 35A, 35B, 35C Backlight unit 40 Connecting support member 42a Positioning surface 101 Display device according to the second embodiment 102 Support connecting body 103 Cover assembly 120 Resin molded body 121 Resin connecting part 140 Connecting support member 142a Front - rear positioning surface 142b Left - right positioning surface 201, 211 Display device of the third embodiment 202 Support connecting body 203 Cover assembly 240 Connecting support member 242a Front - rear positioning surface 242b Left - right positioning surface 301 Display device of the fourth embodiment 302 Support connecting body 441, 442 Connecting support body

Claims

1. In a display device having a rear support, a translucent cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate, a plurality of the rear supports are provided, and the plurality of the rear supports are connected via a resin connecting portion, the front of the plurality of the rear supports is covered by the cover plate, and the cover plate is fixed to each of the rear supports, and an individual display panel is provided for each of the rear supports. A display device characterized by this.

2. A resin frame continuous along the outer periphery of the plurality of the rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion is provided, and the resin frame is formed integrally with the resin connecting portion. The display device according to Claim 1.

3. The display device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two of the rear supports have the same shape and the same dimensions.

4. The display device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a recess recessed forward or backward is formed in the resin connecting portion.

5. The display device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a connecting support member fixed to the rear portions of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connecting portion is provided.

6. The display device according to Claim 5, wherein the adjacent rear supports are positioned relative to each other in the front-rear direction by the connecting support member.

7. The display device according to Claim 5, wherein a recess recessed forward or backward is formed in the connecting support member.

8. The display device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the front surfaces of the adjacent rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion are at an angle other than 180 degrees.

9. The display device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight unit is supported in each of the rear supports.

10. In a method of manufacturing a display device having a rear support, a translucent cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate, (a) using a plurality of rear supports, connecting the rear supports to each other with a resin connecting portion; and (b) covering the front of the plurality of the rear supports connected by the resin connecting portion with the cover plate and fixing the cover plate to each of the rear supports. The method of manufacturing a display device is characterized by including providing an individual display panel for each of the rear supports.

11. A step of integrally forming a resin frame continuous along the outer periphery of the plurality of the rear supports connected by the resin connection part with the resin connection part; The method for manufacturing a display device according to claim 10, including this step.

12. The method for manufacturing a display device according to claim 11, wherein the resin connection part and the resin frame are integrally formed by an insert molding method.

13. A step of fixing a connection support member to the rear parts of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connection part, and positioning the adjacent rear supports in the front-rear direction with respect to each other by the connection support member; The method for manufacturing a display device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, including this step.

14. In a method for manufacturing a display device having a rear support, a light-transmissive cover plate fixed in front of the rear support, and a display panel provided between the rear support and the cover plate, (a) A step of using a plurality of rear supports and connecting the rear supports to each other by a resin connection part; (b) A step of covering the front of the plurality of rear supports connected by the resin connection part with the cover plate and fixing the cover plate to each of the rear supports; (c) After the step (b), a step of deforming the resin connection part and the cover plate so that the front surfaces of the adjacent rear supports connected by the resin connection part form an angle other than 180 degrees; (d) A step of fixing a connection support member to the rear parts of the adjacent rear supports straddling the resin connection part to fix the relative positions of the adjacent rear supports; The method for manufacturing a display device, characterized by having these steps.

15. A step of integrally forming a resin frame continuous along the outer periphery of the plurality of the rear supports connected by the resin connection part with the resin connection part; The method for manufacturing a display device according to claim 14, including this step.

Images