Display device and liquid crystal display device

Abstract

To provide a display device with a large-screen by arranging a plurality of display devices in parallel.SOLUTION: A display device is formed by arranging a first display device 1 and a second display device 2 in parallel. The first display device 1 has a structure in which a first transparent display panel 6 is held between a first transparent protection plate 500 and a second transparent protection plate 600. An end part of the first transparent display panel 6 retracts inward relative to end parts of the first transparent protection plate 500 and the second transparent protection plate 600. The second display device 2 has a structure in which a second transparent display panel 7 is held between a third transparent protection plate 500 and a fourth transparent protection plate 600. The second transparent display panel 7 includes a projection part that projects outward relative to end parts of the third transparent protection plate 500 and the fourth transparent protection plate 600. The projection part of the second transparent display panel 7 is held by the first transparent protection plate 500 and the second transparent protection plate 600.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a transparent display device using a liquid crystal display device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a demand for a transparent display device that allows a background to be seen, like through glass. In a transparent display device, for example, an image displayed on the front side can be viewed superimposed on the background on the back side. Furthermore, even in areas where no image is displayed, the background image can be viewed through the glass. Such a transparent display device can be realized, for example, using a liquid crystal display device.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe configurations for realizing transparent liquid crystal displays using so-called polymer dispersed liquid crystals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-92748 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-92702 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-32938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Transparent liquid crystal display devices and the like are prone to problems with brightness gradients, making it difficult to increase the screen size. To increase the screen size, one approach is to arrange multiple transparent display devices in parallel. When arranging multiple transparent display devices in parallel, a method that is easy to assemble, does not impair image quality, and does not impair reliability is desired.

[0006] On the other hand, liquid crystal display devices require a frame region for sealing materials, etc. The presence of this frame region interrupts the screen, so simply arranging multiple transparent liquid crystal display devices side by side can make it difficult to display natural images.

[0007] Furthermore, it has been difficult to ensure sufficient reliability when constructing a curved display device or a circular display device using a transparent display device. The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and representative means are as follows.

[0009] (1) A display device in which a first display device and a second display device are arranged in parallel, wherein the first display device has a configuration in which a first transparent display panel is sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate, and the edges of the first transparent display panel are recessed inward from the edges of the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate; and the second display device has a configuration in which a second transparent display panel is sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate, and the second transparent display panel has a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the edges of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate, and the protruding portion of the second transparent display panel is sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate.

[0010] (2) A liquid crystal display device in which a first liquid crystal display device and a second liquid crystal display device are arranged in parallel, wherein the first liquid crystal display device has a configuration in which a first transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate, and an edge of the first transparent display panel is recessed inward from an edge of the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate; and the second liquid crystal display device has a configuration in which a second transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate, and an edge of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel has a protruding portion that protrudes outward from an edge of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate; The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate.

[0011] (3) A display device in which a first display device and a second display device are arranged in parallel, wherein the first display device has a first transparent display panel and a first adhesive sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate, and the second display device has a second transparent display panel and a second adhesive sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate, an end of the first adhesive being recessed inward from an end of the first display device, the second transparent display panel having a protruding portion that protrudes outward from an end of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate, the protruding portion being sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate and overlapping with the first transparent display panel, the first transparent display panel having a first display area and a first frame area, the second transparent display panel having a second display area and a second frame area, the first frame area overlapping with the second display area and the second frame area overlapping with the first display area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of a transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of two transparent liquid crystal display panels arranged side by side to create a large screen. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view of a large-screen liquid crystal display device formed by arranging two transparent liquid crystal display devices side by side according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 1 is a cross-sectional view of two transparent liquid crystal display devices before assembly. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of two transparent liquid crystal display devices before assembly according to another example of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view according to another example of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a case where three transparent liquid crystal display devices are arranged in parallel to form a large screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view of the three transparent liquid crystal display devices forming FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of each transparent liquid crystal display device when a large screen is configured using four transparent liquid crystal display devices. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a large screen formed by arranging two transparent liquid crystal display devices vertically. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 taken along line B-B. [Figure 17] 1A-1C are cross-sectional views illustrating a first process for forming a curved transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 18] 10A-10C are cross-sectional views illustrating a second process for forming a curved transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a large-screen curved transparent liquid crystal display device formed by combining two curved transparent liquid crystal display devices according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view of an individual curved transparent liquid crystal display device for forming the curved transparent liquid crystal display device of FIG. 19. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a circular transparent liquid crystal display device formed according to Example 2. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view of a curved transparent liquid crystal display device that constitutes the circular transparent liquid crystal display device of FIG. 21. FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a problem in the third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a transparent crystal display device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the principle of the third embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a transparent liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 27] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 24. [Figure 28] 28 is a cross-sectional view of an individual transparent liquid crystal display device that constitutes the transparent liquid crystal display device of FIG. 27. FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which three transparent liquid crystal display devices are arranged to form a large screen according to the third embodiment. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which three transparent liquid crystal display devices are arranged to form a large screen according to a third embodiment. [Figure 31] 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 30. [Figure 32] 31 is a cross-sectional view of each transparent liquid crystal display device that constitutes FIG. 30. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing Example 4. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific configuration of Example 4. [Figure 35] 35 is a cross-sectional view of each curved transparent liquid crystal display device constituting FIG. 34. FIG. [Figure 36] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a circular transparent liquid crystal display device formed according to Example 4. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the display areas of two transparent liquid crystal display devices are seamlessly arranged according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 38] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the first process of another assembly method for realizing the configurations of Examples 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 39] 39A and 39B are cross-sectional views of the process following FIG. 38. [Figure 40] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a completed transparent liquid crystal display device. [Figure 41] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the first process of another assembly method for realizing the configurations of Examples 3 and 4. [Figure 42] 42A and 42B are cross-sectional views of the process following FIG. 41. [Figure 43] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a completed transparent liquid crystal display device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention will be described in detail below using examples. [Example]

[0014] Figure 1 is a front view of a transparent liquid crystal display device, and Figure 2 is a side view. In Figures 1 and 2, there is no backlight behind the display area, and the substrate is made of transparent glass, so light normally passes through and the back of the transparent liquid crystal display device can be seen.

[0015] 1 and 2 is configured as a single display device 1, but the operation described below is similar when a large-screen transparent liquid crystal display device is configured by arranging two liquid crystal display panels side by side, as will be explained later. The liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between transparent protective plates on the back and front sides for mechanical protection or to give the liquid crystal display panel a curved surface. For convenience, in this specification, a device sandwiched between transparent protective plates will be referred to as a transparent liquid crystal display device (e.g., 1), and a device not sandwiched between transparent protective plates will be referred to as a transparent liquid crystal display panel (e.g., 6).

[0016] In Fig. 1, the light source 40 as a side light, driver ICs 51 and 52, etc. are arranged in a lower base 5000. The display device 1 is transparent, so the opposite side of the display device 1 can be seen like a glass window. Furthermore, the image displayed on the display device 1 can be seen from both the front and back sides. Therefore, the image displayed on the display device 1 gives the impression of floating in the background.

[0017] 1 and 2 show examples of the use of a transparent liquid crystal display device, but the transparent liquid crystal display device can also be used for various other purposes. For example, by attaching it to window glass, it can be used as a window glass normally and display an image on the window when necessary. Also, when used as a display device for an automobile, it can be used as a window through which the outside can be seen normally and display an image within the transparent medium when necessary.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of a transparent liquid crystal display device. In Fig. 3, liquid crystal 300 is sandwiched between a TFT substrate 100 on which pixel electrodes, signal lines, TFTs (Thin Film Transistors), etc. are arranged, and an opposing substrate 200 on which a common electrode, a black matrix, etc. are formed. A light guide plate 400 is arranged on the opposing substrate 200. The surface of the light guide plate 400 may be subjected to a surface treatment to prevent fingerprints and the like from being left on it when touched with a finger. This surface treatment is also called AF (Anti-finger) treatment.

[0019] The counter substrate 200 and the light guide plate 400 are bonded together with a transparent adhesive 70. For example, the transparent adhesive 70 may be an OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) 70 or an OCR (Optical Clear Resin) (described later). In this embodiment, an OCA is used as an example. The OCA 70 is a transparent adhesive sheet with a refractive index similar to that of glass. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the interfacial reflection between the OCA 70 and the counter substrate 200 or the light guide plate 400. The thickness of the OCA 70 is, for example, 0.1 mm. The light guide plate 400 attached to the counter substrate 200 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the second transparent protective plate 600 (described later). Although not shown in FIG. 3, the TFT substrate 100 may further include a light guide plate 400 via the OCA 70. In this case, the light guide plate 400 attached to the TFT substrate 100 corresponds to the first transparent protective plate 500 (described later).

[0020] The liquid crystal display device in Figure 3 is driven in a so-called field sequential mode, so it does not have a color filter. The absence of a color filter allows for increased light transmittance in the display area. The display area is formed where the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 overlap, and the terminal area 30 is formed in the TFT substrate 100 where it does not overlap with the counter substrate 200.

[0021] In FIG. 3, the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are bonded with a transparent sealant 60, and liquid crystal 300 is sealed inside. The liquid crystal 300 in FIG. 3 is what is called a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. The liquid crystal that constitutes the liquid crystal layer 300 normally transmits light, but when a voltage is applied between the pixel electrodes formed on the TFT substrate 100 and the common electrode formed on the counter substrate 200, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 301 changes and the light is scattered. An image can be formed by controlling the scattering action of the liquid crystal molecules 301 for each pixel. This image can be viewed from both the front and back of the liquid crystal display panel.

[0022] 3, the TFT substrate 100 is formed to be larger than the counter substrate 200, and the portion where the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 do not overlap is a terminal region 30. A light source 40 is disposed in the terminal region 30 so as to face the side surface of the counter substrate 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 40 is composed of an LED 42 and a lens 41.

[0023] 4, the light source 40 has a configuration in which a plurality of LEDs 42 are arranged on the side of a lens 41. The light emitted from the LEDs 42 is converged or diverged by the lens 41, and enters the display area of the transparent liquid crystal display device from the side of the counter substrate 200 or the light guide plate 400, as shown in FIG.

[0024] The LED 42 has three LED chips that emit red, green, and blue light arranged in each package. The liquid crystal display device in FIG. 3 is driven in a field sequential mode. In other words, a color image is displayed by displaying red, green, and blue images in a time-division manner. In the following drawings, the light source 40 is shown as a combination of the LED 42 and the lens 41.

[0025] Returning to FIG. 3, light from the light source 40 enters the liquid crystal display panel through the side surfaces of the counter substrate 200 and the light guide plate 400, or through the sealant 60. The incident light collides with liquid crystal molecules 301 in the liquid crystal layer 300 while repeatedly undergoing total reflection. When the light collides with the liquid crystal molecules 301 in a pixel where a voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, it is scattered as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, in a pixel where no voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the light travels in a straight line. As a result, the scattering of the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 300 is controlled for each pixel, and an image is formed.

[0026] In Fig. 3, a reflector 350 is attached to the side of the TFT substrate 100, the counter substrate 200, and the light guide plate 400 facing the light source 40, and reflects light that reaches the edge toward the display area. Note that the reflector 350 is not shown in Fig. 5 and subsequent figures. In Fig. 3, driver ICs 51 and 52 are arranged alongside the light source 40 in the terminal area 30. The liquid crystal display device in Fig. 3 is driven in a field sequential manner, and therefore data processing is performed three times faster than with a normal driving method, resulting in increased heat generation from the driver IC 50.

[0027] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a transparent liquid crystal display device used in the present invention. In Fig. 5, a TFT substrate 100 and a counter substrate 200 are arranged so as to overlap each other. As shown in Fig. 3, liquid crystal is sandwiched between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. A transparent light guide plate 400 made of glass is attached to the counter substrate 200, and serves also as mechanical protection. The thickness of each of the TFT substrate 100, the counter substrate 200, and the light guide plate 400 is, for example, 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm.

[0028] The TFT substrate 100 is formed to be larger than the counter substrate 200, and the portion where the TFT substrate 100 does not overlap with the counter substrate 200 forms a terminal region 30. In the terminal region 30, a light source 40 is disposed on the side surface of the counter substrate 200 and the light guide plate 400. Light incident from the light source 40 onto the side surface of the counter substrate 200 and the light guide plate 400 is repeatedly totally reflected at the interfaces between the TFT substrate 100, the counter substrate 200, and the light guide plate 400, and forms an image as described in FIG.

[0029] In FIG. 5, a display area 10 is formed in the overlapping area of the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200, and the periphery of the display area 10 is a frame area 20. A transparent sealant, scan line leads, etc. are arranged in the frame area 20. A feature of the liquid crystal display panel shown in FIG. 5 is that the light source 40 is arranged over the entire side surface of the counter substrate 200 and the light guide plate 400 along the terminal area 30. In other words, light from the light source 40 is incident even on the portion corresponding to the frame area 20 where no pixel electrodes are formed. This makes it possible to suppress brightness unevenness in the display area 10.

[0030] 5, in addition to the light source 40, driver ICs 51 and 52 are arranged in the terminal area 30. The driver IC 51 for video signals is arranged in the center of the terminal area 30, and driver ICs 52 for scanning signals are arranged on both sides of it. A flexible wiring board for supplying signals and power is connected to the terminal area 30, but is omitted in FIG. 5.

[0031] In transparent liquid crystal display devices such as those shown in Figures 3 to 5, uneven brightness on the screen becomes a problem when an attempt is made to increase the screen size. Therefore, in order to obtain a large-screen transparent liquid crystal display device, it is possible to arrange multiple transparent liquid crystal display devices side by side. Figure 6 shows an example of this. In Figure 6, two transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 are arranged in parallel. In Figure 6, one image is formed by two display areas 10. The boundary between the two transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 is 11.

[0032] 6 shows two transparent liquid crystal display panels arranged side by side, but in an actual display device, these two transparent liquid crystal display panels must be fixed in place. A transparent liquid crystal display panel is primarily composed of a TFT substrate 100 and an opposing substrate 200, each of which has a thickness of 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm.

[0033] In the present invention, in order to improve mechanical strength, a transparent liquid crystal display device is constructed by placing a first transparent protective plate 500 on the back surface of the TFT substrate 100 of the transparent liquid crystal display panel shown in FIG. 3 and a second transparent protective plate 600 on the front surface of the counter substrate 200. The second transparent protective plate 400 corresponds to the light guide plate 400 shown in FIG. 3. The transparent protective plate is formed of glass or transparent resin and has a thickness of, for example, 3 mm. Both the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 are attached to each transparent liquid crystal display panel. The two transparent liquid crystal display devices 1 and 2 are then assembled so that they fit together at the edges where the two transparent liquid crystal display panels abut. The configuration of the present invention has advantages, such as the ability to manufacture small transparent display devices in advance and then assemble them into a larger transparent display device on-site.

[0034] 7 is a plan view of two transparent liquid crystal display devices 1 and 2 arranged in parallel according to the present invention. The boundary 11 between the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is indicated by a dotted line. In the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, the second transparent protective plate 600 also covers the light source 40 and the terminal area 30, as shown by the hatching in FIG. 7, and mechanically protects this area as well.

[0035] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7. The first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 in FIG. 8 have the same structure. A first transparent protective plate 500 is attached to the bottom of the TFT substrate 100 using an OCA 70, and a second transparent protective plate 600 is attached to the top of the counter substrate 200 using an OCA 70. In FIG. 8, the widths in the lateral direction (x direction) of the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 are greater than the widths in the lateral direction (x direction) of the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. The second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 has a protruding portion that fits into a recess formed by the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1.

[0036] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 before assembly. In Fig. 9, the protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into the recess of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. The depth x1 of the fitting portion in the lateral direction (x direction) needs to be set to a value that allows the two transparent liquid crystal display devices to be stably fixed.

[0037] 9, an OCA 70 is attached to the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. The OCA 70 may cover the tip of the protruding portion of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. Because the OCA 70 has adhesive properties, it may be difficult to fit the protruding portion in the configuration shown in FIG. 9. In such a case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, an OCR (Optical Clear Resin) may be applied to the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 7 and the abutting portion with the first transparent liquid crystal display device 6, and then cured with ultraviolet light after fitting.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which OCR80 has been applied to the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 and the portion that abuts against the first transparent liquid crystal panel 6. Because OCR80 is liquid before being cured with UV light, it can act relatively smoothly when fitting the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 together. Note that OCA70 may also be used if it is possible to apply it. Even when OCA70 is used, it is better to place OCA70 not only at the fitting portion but also on the front surface of the abutting portion of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 shown in FIG. 10 fitted together. In FIG. 11, a thin layer of OCR is present at the abutment portion between the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. However, the thickness x2 of this layer is 100 μm or less, and in most cases, 50 μm or less, so the boundary between the first transparent liquid crystal display device and the second transparent liquid crystal display device hardly affects visibility. On the contrary, the OCR 80 fills small, irregular gaps at the abutment portion, making the boundary less noticeable. As described above, various configurations of the fitting portion are conceivable. In the following description, the fitting portion will be simply referred to as a fitting portion without specifying whether it is the configuration shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 11, or another configuration.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a large screen constructed by arranging three transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7, and 8 in parallel using the present invention. The boundaries of the second transparent protective plates 600 of the transparent liquid crystal display devices 1, 2, and 3 are indicated by solid lines 12. The boundaries 11 of the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7, and 8 are indicated by dotted lines. The transparent protective plates 600 also cover the light source 40 and the terminal area 30. The first, second, and third transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7, and 8 are all the same size. However, the sizes of the second transparent protective plates 600 in the x direction are different. The sizes of the transparent protective plates 600 in the horizontal direction (x direction) are in the order of first transparent liquid crystal display device > second transparent liquid crystal display device > third transparent liquid crystal display device. This is to form a fitting structure.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, a second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, and a third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 that realize the structure of FIG. 12. In the figures following FIG. 13, for ease of understanding, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7, the third transparent liquid crystal display panel 8, etc. are simplified and depicted as a single plate. In FIG. 13, the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 is fitted into the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, and the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 is fitted into the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. In FIG. 13, the widths of the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 in the horizontal direction (x direction) are in the order of the first transparent liquid crystal display device > the second transparent liquid crystal display device > the third transparent liquid crystal display device.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent liquid crystal display device that is long in the horizontal direction (x direction) by arranging four transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7, 8, and 9 in parallel. In FIG. 14, a second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 is fitted into a first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, a fourth transparent liquid crystal display device 4 is fitted into the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, and a third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 is fitted into the fourth transparent liquid crystal display device 4. In FIG. 14, all of the transparent liquid crystal display panels, from the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 to the fourth transparent liquid crystal display panel 9, have the same structure. Furthermore, the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 and the fourth transparent liquid crystal display device 4 have the same structure. In other words, according to the present invention, by fabricating three types of transparent liquid crystal display devices, it is possible to fabricate a transparent liquid crystal display device that is as long as desired in the horizontal direction by connecting any number of transparent liquid crystal display devices.

[0043] The above explanation is for the case where transparent liquid crystal display panels are arranged horizontally to form a large-screen transparent liquid crystal display device. The configuration of the present invention also allows for a large screen to be formed by arranging transparent liquid crystal display devices vertically (y direction) as shown in Figure 15. However, due to the characteristics of the transparent liquid crystal display device used in the present invention, up to two devices can be connected vertically.

[0044] 15, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are the same size. However, the vertical size (y direction) of the second transparent protective plate 600 in the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 is larger than the vertical size (y direction) of the second transparent protective plate 600 in the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. This is to form a fitting structure.

[0045] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Fig. 15. In Fig. 16, the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 also cover the light source 40 and the terminal area 30 of the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7. The size in the y direction of the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 is larger in the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 than in the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. The protruding portion of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 is fitted into the recess formed by the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. The fitting method and configuration are the same as those described with reference to Figs. 8 to 11, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] By combining the configuration of FIG. 15 with the configurations of FIGS. 7 to 14, a transparent liquid crystal display device with an even larger screen can be formed. [Example]

[0047] The present invention can also be applied to curved transparent liquid crystal display devices. Figures 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views showing the process of forming a curved transparent display device. In Figure 17, a flat transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is bonded to the inner surface of a curved second transparent protective plate 600, for example, by OCA. Because the thickness of the second transparent protective plate 600 is thicker than the thickness of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, the transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 curves along the inner surface of the second transparent protective plate 600.

[0048] Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing this state. In Figure 18, a curved first transparent protective plate 500 is adhered to the curved surface of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 formed in this way. The thickness of the first transparent protective plate 500 is approximately the same as that of the second transparent protective plate 600, but is thicker than the thickness of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 6. In this way, a curved transparent liquid crystal display device can be formed.

[0049] However, when forming a curved display device, as the radius of curvature decreases, stress and distortion on the transparent liquid crystal display panel increase. Furthermore, when forming a large-sized curved display device, stress and distortion also increase. This reduces the reliability of the transparent liquid crystal display device. To address this issue, an effective solution is to form multiple small curved transparent liquid crystal display devices and combine them to form a larger transparent display device. In other words, in a divided curved display device, the stress and distortion generated in each transparent liquid crystal display panel can be reduced. The present invention can be applied to such a configuration.

[0050] Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of Example 2. The curved transparent liquid crystal display device of Figure 19 is composed of a curved first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and a curved second transparent liquid crystal display device 2. In Figure 19, the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 are divided, so the stress and distortion generated in each of the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 is small. This can improve the reliability of the transparent liquid crystal display device as a whole.

[0051] 19, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are depicted in a simplified manner. The configuration in FIG. 19 is the same as that in FIG. 8 except that the first transparent protective plate 500, the second transparent protective plate 600, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are curved.

[0052] Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 before assembling the curved transparent liquid crystal display device of Figure 19. In Figure 20, the protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into the recess of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. The configuration of Figure 20 is the same as that of Figure 9 except that the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 are curved.

[0053] Furthermore, a larger curved transparent liquid crystal display device can be constructed by fitting and combining a third, fourth, etc. curved transparent liquid crystal display device in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 12 to 14.

[0054] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a circular transparent display device formed by combining four curved transparent liquid crystal display devices. Attempting to form a circular transparent liquid crystal display device using a single transparent liquid crystal display panel would result in significant stress being placed on the transparent liquid crystal display panel, reducing the reliability of the display device. By dividing the transparent liquid crystal display device into parts and assembling them, as shown in FIG. 21, the stress on each individual transparent liquid crystal display panel can be significantly reduced, improving reliability. In FIG. 21, a circle is formed by four first transparent protective plates 500, transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7, 8, and 9, and a second transparent protective plate 600. In FIG. 21, the circular transparent liquid crystal display device is formed by fitting together four curved transparent liquid crystal display devices 1, 2, 3, and 4.

[0055] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of one of the transparent liquid crystal display devices of Figure 21, for example, the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. The transparent liquid crystal display device 1 of Figure 22 is the same as the second transparent liquid crystal display panel of Figure 13 or the second transparent liquid crystal display panel and fourth transparent liquid crystal display panel of Figure 14, except that the first transparent protective plate 500, the second transparent protective plate 600, and the transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 are curved. In other words, a circular display device can be constructed by combining one curved transparent liquid crystal display device by fitting. [Example]

[0056] Fig. 23 is a plan view of a first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and a second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 arranged side by side. Fig. 23 is the same as Fig. 6, but Fig. 23 separates the display area 10 and the frame area 20. In the configuration of Fig. 23, the screen is divided by the frame area 20 over a width w2, which may cause an unnatural feeling on the display screen. In Fig. 23, a transparent sealant 60 is used as the sealant placed in the frame area 20, so although the frame area 20 is also transparent, no image is formed therein.

[0057] Figure 24 is a plan view showing the configuration of a transparent liquid crystal display device that addresses the above-mentioned problems. The feature of Figure 24 is that the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are arranged so that they are continuous and seamless. In other words, there is no area where no image is displayed between the display areas. To achieve this configuration, for example, the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is arranged facing backward with respect to the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6.

[0058] Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in Figure 24. In Figure 25, the second transparent liquid crystal display panel is disposed behind the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6. Both the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 have frame areas 20, where no image is formed, on both sides of the display area 10. The first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are bonded together near the frame areas 20 with an OCA 70. A feature of Figure 25 is that the frame area 20 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 overlaps with the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. In other words, the frame area 20 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 overlaps with the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6.

[0059] 25 , the image in the display region 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 can be viewed from the frame region 20 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, and the image in the display region 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 can be viewed from the frame region 20 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. Therefore, the display region 10 defined by the width AA1 in the x-direction of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the display region 10 defined by the width AA2 in the x-direction of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 can be arranged contiguously.

[0060] Fig. 26 is a perspective view specifically illustrating the configuration of Fig. 25. In Fig. 26, a second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is disposed upside down relative to a first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, with their display regions 10 and frame regions 20 overlapping. The back side of the TFT substrate 100 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the back side of the TFT substrate 100 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel are bonded to each other via an OCA in the frame region 20. Each of the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 shown in Fig. 26 displays the same image whether viewed from the front or back, so there is no problem with visibility of the transparent liquid crystal display device as a whole. The two display regions 10 are seamlessly connected.

[0061] Regarding seamlessness, the question is how accurately the two display areas 10 can be joined, but alignment accuracy can be achieved with approximately 10 μm. On the other hand, to the naked eye, if the edges of the display areas 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are aligned within 50 μm or less, the display area appears seamless.

[0062] The transparent liquid crystal display panel configurations shown in Figures 25 and 26 alone are mechanically unstable. Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view showing the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 combined together with a first transparent protective plate 500 and a second transparent protective plate 600 reinforced therewith.

[0063] 27, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are simply shown as single plates 6 and 7. In Fig. 27, in order to fill the step formed between the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7, spacers OCA71 that are thicker than the OCA 70 are disposed below the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and above the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. In Fig. 27, a protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 formed in the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into a recess formed in the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1.

[0064] Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 before assembly. In Fig. 28, the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into the recessed portion of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. In Fig. 28, the OCA 70 is disposed on the protruding portion of the transparent liquid crystal display panel 7, but alternatively, for example, an OCR 80 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be used.

[0065] The configurations shown in Figures 25 and 26 can also be applied to cases where three or more transparent liquid crystal display panels are arranged in parallel. Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view of three transparent liquid crystal display panels 7, 8, and 9 arranged seamlessly. As explained in Figure 25 etc., display areas 10 with widths AA1, AA2, and AA3 in the horizontal direction (x direction) are also arranged seamlessly in Figure 29.

[0066] Figure 30 is a plan view showing a state in which a first transparent protective plate 500 and a second transparent protective plate 600 are attached to Figure 29 to form a first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, a second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, and a third transparent liquid crystal display device 3, which are then fitted together to form a transparent liquid crystal display device with a large width in the horizontal direction. In Figure 30, the display areas 10 of the first, second, and third transparent liquid crystal display devices 1, 2, and 3 are arranged seamlessly.

[0067] Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of Figure 30. In Figure 31, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6, the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7, and the third transparent liquid crystal display panel 8 are arranged so that they partially overlap each other, so that the display area 10 can be arranged seamlessly. The transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the spacer OCA71 are sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate 500 and the second transparent protective plate 600. A portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into the recess of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, and a portion of the third transparent liquid crystal display panel 8 of the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 fits into the recess of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2.

[0068] Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, and the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3, showing the state before the assembly of Figure 31 is performed. In Figure 32, the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 protrudes and is configured to fit into a recess in the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 so as to overlap with a part of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6. In addition, the third transparent liquid crystal display panel 8 of the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 protrudes and is configured to fit into a recess in the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 so as to overlap with a part of the second transparent liquid crystal device 2.

[0069] The same applies to the case where four or more transparent liquid crystal display devices are arranged in parallel and the display areas 10 are seamlessly connected to form a large-screen transparent liquid crystal display device. [Example]

[0070] The composite transparent liquid crystal display device in which the display region 10 is seamlessly arranged, as explained in the third embodiment, can also be applied to a curved transparent liquid crystal display device. Combining small curved transparent liquid crystal display devices to form a large-screen curved transparent liquid crystal display device reduces stress on the individual transparent liquid crystal display panels and improves the reliability of the transparent liquid crystal display panels, rather than forming a large-screen curved transparent liquid crystal display device using a single transparent liquid crystal display device.

[0071] 33 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a curved first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and a curved second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are bonded together with a partial overlap so as to form a seamless display area 10. The configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 except that the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 are curved.

[0072] The transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7 shown in Fig. 33 alone are mechanically unstable. Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 reinforced with a first transparent protective plate 500 and a second transparent protective plate 600, and combined to form the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 2. The method of bending the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 in the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 in the second transparent liquid crystal display device is as described in Figs. 17 and 18.

[0073] In Figure 34, a recess is formed at the end of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, and a protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into this recess, allowing the curved display area 10 to be arranged seamlessly.

[0074] Figure 35 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 before they are assembled into a curved composite transparent liquid crystal display device. The protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 fits into the recess of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, allowing for seamless arrangement of the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. The other configurations of Figure 35 are the same as those described in Figure 27 etc., except that each component is curved.

[0075] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of a circular transparent liquid crystal display device having a seamless display area formed from four transparent liquid crystal display devices 1, 2, 3, and 4. If a circular transparent liquid crystal display device is formed from a single transparent liquid crystal display device, the stress on the transparent liquid crystal display panel will be very large, reducing reliability. As shown in Figure 36, if the transparent liquid crystal display device is divided into four and the four transparent liquid crystal display devices are assembled to form a circular transparent liquid crystal display device, the stress on each transparent liquid crystal display device can be significantly reduced.

[0076] 36, for example, a recess is formed at one end of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, which fits into a protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 at one end of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, so that the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are seamlessly connected. The relationship between the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 and the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3, the relationship between the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 and the fourth transparent liquid crystal display device 4, and the relationship between the fourth transparent liquid crystal display device 4 and the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 are also the same.

[0077] In Figure 36, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 1 to the fourth transparent liquid crystal display panel 4 all have the same shape. In other words, a circular transparent liquid crystal display device can be constructed by fabricating one transparent liquid crystal display device. The assembly method can be, for example, to position the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 as shown in Figure 36, and then fit the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 into the recessed portion of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 from above the page. The fit between the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 and the third transparent liquid crystal display device 3 is also the same.

[0078] In a circular transparent liquid crystal display device such as that shown in Figure 36, the more divisions there are, the less stress is generated in each individual transparent liquid crystal display device. Furthermore, once a single transparent liquid crystal display device is fabricated, it can be assembled to realize a circular transparent liquid crystal display device with a seamless display area. [Example]

[0079] In Example 3, as an example of a configuration in which multiple display areas are seamlessly arranged using multiple transparent liquid crystal display devices, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is arranged so that it faces the front, i.e., the counter substrate 200 is on top, and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is arranged so that it faces the rear, i.e., the TFT substrate 100 is on top. The frame region 20 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 6 overlaps with the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2, and the frame region 20 of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 7 overlaps with the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, thereby achieving a configuration in which the display areas are seamlessly arranged.

[0080] However, the method for seamlessly arranging the display areas 10 of the two transparent liquid crystal display panels 6, 7 in parallel is not limited to a configuration in which the two transparent liquid crystal display panels are arranged in opposite directions. In other words, even if the two transparent liquid crystal display panels face the same direction, for example, if the opposing substrates 200 of the two transparent liquid crystal display panels both face upward, it is possible to realize the configuration shown in FIG.

[0081] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the transparent liquid crystal display panels 6 and 7 showing this configuration. The driver IC is omitted from FIG. 37. In FIG. 37, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are arranged so that their display areas 10 are seamlessly arranged, for example, so that the frame area 20 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 overlaps with the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. In other words, even with the configuration of FIG. 37, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the frame area 20 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 overlaps with the display area 10 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 2, and the frame area 20 of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 overlaps with the display area 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6.

[0082] The configuration of the fifth embodiment, that is, the configuration of FIG. 37, can be applied to both the configuration of the third embodiment and the configuration of the fourth embodiment. [Example]

[0083] In the configurations of Examples 1 to 5, the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 are first completed, and then the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 is fitted into the recessed portion of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1. However, with such a configuration, there may be cases where fitting is difficult. This example is a configuration that addresses such cases.

[0084] 38 to 40 show another manufacturing method for realizing the configurations of Examples 1 and 2. This method is a method for assembling the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 with each other before the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 are completed.

[0085] The left side of Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1, in which the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is attached to the second transparent protective plate 600 via an OCA 70. The right edge of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is recessed inward (leftward) from the edge of the second transparent protective plate 600. The right side of Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 7, in which the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is attached to the second transparent protective plate 600 via an OCA 70. The left edge of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 protrudes outward (leftward) from the edge of the second transparent protective plate 600.

[0086] The upper diagram in FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view showing the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 connected with the second transparent protective plate 600 butted against each other. In FIG. 39, the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 are connected in an butted state. The protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is surface-bonded to the second transparent protective plate 600 of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 via the OCA 70. The lower diagram in FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the first transparent protective plate 500 is about to be bonded to the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 2 via the OCA 70. Note that in this manufacturing method, the first transparent protective plate 500 does not necessarily need to be divided between the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2; a continuous first transparent protective plate may be used.

[0087] Figure 40 is a cross-sectional view showing the transparent liquid crystal display device completed through the above process. Figure 40 has the same configuration as Figure 8 of Example 1. The above process can also be applied to a transparent liquid crystal display device composed of three or more transparent liquid crystal display devices, or to a curved transparent liquid crystal display device as in Example 2.

[0088] 41 to 43 show another manufacturing method for realizing the configurations of Examples 3 and 4. This method is a method in which the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 are assembled together before the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2 are completed.

[0089] 41 is a cross-sectional view of the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 in which the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 is attached to the second transparent protective plate 600 via an OCA70, and a spacer OCA71 is attached below the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6. The edges of the spacer OCA71 are recessed inward from the edges of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6.

[0090] 41 is a cross-sectional view of the second transparent liquid crystal display device 7, in which the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is attached to the second transparent protective plate 600 via spacers OCA71 and OCA70. The left edge of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 protrudes outward beyond the edge of the second transparent protective plate 600.

[0091] The upper diagram in FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the first transparent liquid crystal display device 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 7 are arranged with a partial overlap via an OCA 70. As described in Example 3, this is to seamlessly juxtapose the display areas 10 of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7. The step resulting from the partial overlap of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 is filled with a spacer OCA 71. The lower diagram in FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first transparent protective plate 500 is about to be bonded to the first transparent liquid crystal display panel 6 and the second transparent liquid crystal display panel 7 via the OCA 70. Note that in this manufacturing method, the first transparent protective plate 500 does not necessarily need to be divided between the first transparent liquid crystal display device 1 and the second transparent liquid crystal display device 2; a continuous first transparent protective plate may be used.

[0092] Fig. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the transparent liquid crystal display device completed through the above process. Fig. 43 has the same configuration as Fig. 27 of Example 3. The above process can also be applied to a transparent liquid crystal display device composed of three or more transparent liquid crystal display devices, or to a curved transparent liquid crystal display device as in Example 4.

[0093] The above configuration has been described for a transparent liquid crystal display device. However, the assembly configurations described in Examples 1 to 6 are not limited to transparent liquid crystal display devices. Since organic EL display devices do not require a backlight, a transparent display device can be configured, and therefore the present invention can also be applied to organic EL display devices. Furthermore, the assembly structure of the present invention can be applied to non-transparent liquid crystal display devices, as well as non-transparent organic EL display devices, micro LED display devices, etc. In the case of a non-transparent display device, one of the transparent protective plates, for example, the first transparent protective plate 500, does not have to be transparent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1...first transparent liquid crystal display device, 2...second transparent liquid crystal display device, 3...third transparent liquid crystal display device, 4...fourth transparent liquid crystal display device, 6...first transparent liquid crystal display panel, 7...second transparent liquid crystal display panel, 8...third transparent liquid crystal display panel, 9...fourth transparent liquid crystal display panel, 10...display area, 11...boundary of transparent liquid crystal display panel, 12...boundary of transparent protective plate, 20...frame area, 30...terminal area, 40...light source, 41...LED, 42...lens, 50...driver IC, 51...video signal line driver IC, 52...scanning line driver IC, 60...transparent sealant, 70...adhesive, OCA, 71...spacer OCA, 100...TFT substrate, 200...counter substrate, 300...liquid crystal layer, 301...liquid crystal molecules, 350...reflector, 400...light guide plate, 500...First transparent protective plate, 600...Second transparent protective plate, 5000...Base

Claims

1. A display device in which a first display device and a second display device are arranged in parallel, the first display device has a configuration in which a first transparent display panel is sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate, and an edge of the first transparent display panel is recessed inward from an edge of the first transparent protective plate and an edge of the second transparent protective plate; the second display device has a configuration in which a second transparent display panel is sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate, and the second transparent display panel has a protruding portion that protrudes outward beyond edges of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate; The display device, wherein the protruding portion of the second transparent display panel is sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate.

2. the first transparent display panel is bonded to the first transparent protection plate with a first adhesive and to the second transparent protection plate with a second adhesive; the second transparent display panel is bonded to the third transparent protection plate with a third adhesive and to the fourth transparent protection plate with a fourth adhesive; 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the second transparent display panel is adhered to the first transparent protective plate with the third adhesive and to the second transparent protective plate with the fourth adhesive.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first display device and the second display device are curved with respect to a protruding direction of the protruding portion of the second transparent display panel.

4. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

5. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display panel is an organic EL display panel.

6. A liquid crystal display device in which a first liquid crystal display device and a second liquid crystal display device are arranged in parallel, the first liquid crystal display device has a configuration in which a first transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate, and an edge of the first transparent display panel is recessed inward from an edge of the first transparent protective plate and an edge of the second transparent protective plate; the second liquid crystal display device has a configuration in which a second transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate, and an edge of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel has a protruding portion that protrudes outward beyond edges of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate; The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel is sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate.

7. the first transparent liquid crystal display panel is bonded to the first transparent protective plate with a first adhesive and to the second transparent protective plate with a second adhesive; the second transparent liquid crystal display panel is bonded to the third transparent protective plate with a third adhesive and to the fourth transparent protective plate with a fourth adhesive; 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel is adhered to the first transparent protective plate with the third adhesive and to the second transparent protective plate with the fourth adhesive.

8. the first transparent liquid crystal display panel is in contact with the second transparent liquid crystal display panel in an abutting state via a fifth adhesive; the first to fourth adhesive materials are pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets, 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the fifth adhesive material is an ultraviolet-curable resin.

9. the first transparent protective plate of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel is in contact with the third transparent protective plate of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel in an abutting state via a sixth adhesive OCR; the second transparent protective plate of the first transparent liquid crystal display panel is in abutting contact with the fourth transparent protective plate of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel via a seventh adhesive; 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the sixth and seventh adhesive materials are ultraviolet-curable resins.

10. 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the first liquid crystal display device and the second liquid crystal display device are curved with respect to a protruding direction of the protruding portion of the second transparent liquid crystal display panel.

11. A display device in which a first display device and a second display device are arranged in parallel, the first display device includes a first transparent display panel and a first adhesive sandwiched between a first transparent protective plate and a second transparent protective plate; the second display device includes a second transparent display panel and a second adhesive sandwiched between a third transparent protective plate and a fourth transparent protective plate; an end of the first adhesive material is recessed inward from an end of the first display device; the second transparent display panel has a protruding portion that protrudes outward beyond the ends of the third transparent protective plate and the fourth transparent protective plate, the protrusion is sandwiched between the first transparent protective plate and the second transparent protective plate and overlaps the first transparent display panel; the first transparent display panel has a first display area and a first frame area; the second transparent display panel has a second display area and a second frame area; 10. A display device, comprising: a first frame region overlapping the second display region; and a second frame region overlapping the first display region.

12. an end of the first transparent protective plate is disposed opposite an end of the third transparent protective plate; A display device, characterized in that an edge of the second transparent protective plate is disposed opposite an edge of the fourth transparent protective plate.

13. an edge of the first display device is disposed opposite an edge of the second adhesive; A display device, characterized in that an end of the second display device is disposed opposite an end of the first adhesive material.

14. the first transparent display panel is bonded to the second transparent display panel by a third adhesive; The display device according to claim 11 , wherein the third adhesive has a thickness smaller than that of the first adhesive and the second adhesive.

15. The display device of claim 11 , wherein the first display device and the second display device are curved with respect to a protruding direction of the protruding portion of the second transparent display panel.

16. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first transparent display panel and the second transparent display panel are transparent liquid crystal display panels.

Images