Display device

Abstract

To provide a display device the frame of which can be narrowed.SOLUTION: A display device according to the present disclosure comprises an optical member, an electrochemical member, a housing, and an adhesive layer. The optical member has light permeability. The optical member has a rear face. The rear face includes a first and a second region. The second region is outward of the first region. The electrochemical member is disposed on the rear face side of the optical member. The optical characteristic of the electrochemical member is changed by voltage application. The electrochemical member has a rear face. The rear face includes a third and a fourth region. The four region is outward of the third region. The housing is disposed on the outside of the electrochemical member on the rear face side of the optical member. The housing has a protrusion. The protrusion extends along the rear face of the electrochemical member. The adhesive layer is disposed between the third region and the protrusion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] A display device such as an electronic mirror has a display area inside a frame area on a surface. In a display mode, the display device displays an image in the display area on the surface, and in a mirror mode, the display area on the surface functions as a mirror. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10,850,667 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In display devices, from the viewpoint of miniaturization and / or weight reduction, it is desirable to narrow the width of the frame region to achieve a narrower frame.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a display device that can have a narrow frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The display device according to the present disclosure includes an optical member, an electro-optical member, a housing, and an adhesive layer. Half mirror film and light-shielding frame The optical element is translucent. The optical element has a back surface. The back surface includes a first region and a second region. The second region is a region outside the first region. The electro-optic element is disposed on the back surface side of the optical element. The optical properties of the electro-optic element can be changed by applying a voltage. The electro-optic element has a back surface. The back surface includes a third region and a fourth region. The fourth region is a region outside the third region. The housing is disposed on the back surface side of the optical element and outside the electro-optic element. The housing has a protrusion. The protrusion extends along the back surface of the electro-optic element. The adhesive layer is a first4 and the protrusion. The half mirror film covers the third region. The light-shielding frame covers the second region. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front surface of the optical component, the light-shielding frame and the half mirror film are adjacent to each other or have a striped overlapping portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the display device according to the present disclosure, the frame can be narrowed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an electronic mirror system including a display device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a narrow frame in the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views illustrating the reason why black lines occur in the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV1). [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV1). [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV2 (>OV1)). [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV2 (>OV1)). [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV3 (>OV2)). [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing in the embodiment (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV3 (>OV2)). [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a display device according to a modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a display device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Embodiment) The display device according to the embodiment is, for example, an electronic mirror. The display device according to the embodiment has a frame area at the edge of the surface, and is designed to narrow the width of the frame area. Narrowing the width of the frame area is sometimes called frame narrowing. For example, the electronic mirror system 3 may be mounted on a vehicle 5 as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the vehicle 5 on which the electronic mirror system 3 is mounted. The electronic mirror system 3 includes an imaging device 1 and a display device 2.

[0011] The imaging device 1 is an on-board camera mounted on a vehicle 5, and is installed on the outside or inside of a vehicle body 6. The imaging device 1 may be installed at the rear end of the vehicle body 6 and applied to a rear electronic mirror, or at the end of the vehicle body 6 near the door and applied to a side electronic mirror, or at the front end of the vehicle body 6 and applied to a front electronic mirror.

[0012] The display device 2 is disposed inside the vehicle interior 7. The display device 2 is, for example, an electronic mirror, has a surface 2a, and is capable of displaying an image captured by the imaging device 1 on the surface 2a. The display device 2 is configured to be switchable between a display mode and a mirror mode. The display mode is a mode in which the display device 2 functions as a display that displays an image captured by the imaging device 1. The mirror mode is a mode in which the display device 2 functions as a mirror.

[0013] When the display device 2 is an electronic mirror for rearview visibility, it may be implemented in the form of a rearview mirror, with the surface 2a facing the vehicle interior 7 and the shape of the surface 2a being the mirror surface of a rearview mirror. When the display device 2 is an electronic mirror for side visibility, it may be implemented in the form of a door mirror (e.g., door mirror 61), with the surface 2a facing the rear of the vehicle body 6 and the shape of the surface 2a being the mirror surface of a door mirror. When the display device 2 is an electronic mirror for forward visibility, it may be implemented in the form of an in-vehicle display device (e.g., display device 71), with the surface 2a facing the vehicle interior 7 and the shape of the display unit of the display device.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration in which the imaging device 1 is installed at a rear end 6a of a vehicle body 6, and the display device 2 is applied to an electronic mirror for rearward visibility. The electronic mirror for rearward visibility is also called an electronic rearview mirror. The imaging device 1 captures an image of the area behind the vehicle body. The display device 2 can display the image of the area behind the vehicle body captured by the imaging device 1.

[0015] The display device 2, as viewed from the surface 2a side, appears as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the display device 2. In the following, the direction perpendicular to the surface 2a is defined as the Z direction, and the two orthogonal directions within the surface 2a are defined as the X direction and the Y direction.

[0016] The surface 2a has, for example, a rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in the XY plane. The surface 2a has a frame region 2a1 and a display region 2a2. The frame region 2a1 is the edge of the surface 2a. The display region 2a2 is the portion of the surface 2a inside the frame region 2a1.

[0017] In the display mode, the display device 2 displays an image in a display area 2a2 on the surface 2a, and in the mirror mode, the display area 2a2 on the surface 2a functions as a mirror.

[0018] The display device 2 may have a VRM (Variable Reflectance Mirror) function. When the display device 2 has the VRM function, in the mirror mode, the reflectance of the display area 2a2 may be changed according to the luminance of the reflected image or the like. For example, in the mirror mode, when the luminance of the reflected image is less than a predetermined value, the display device 2 may maintain the reflectance of the display area 2a2 at RR1. When the luminance of the reflected image is equal to or greater than a predetermined luminance, the display device 2 may reduce the reflectance of the display area 2a2 to RR2 (<RR1). When the luminance of the reflected image is equal to or greater than a predetermined luminance, it is a case where the headlight of the vehicle behind is reflected at a predetermined luminance or more or the sunlight is reflected in the rear image at a predetermined luminance or more. Thereby, the display device 2 can achieve automatic anti-glare by the VRM in the mirror mode. Further, in the display mode, the display device 2 may reduce the reflectance of the display area 2a2 to RR3 (<<RR2). Thereby, the display device 2 can display the image of the electro-optical member 27 (see FIG. 3) transmitted through the surface 2a in the display mode.

[0019] On the surface 2a, the frame region 2a1 has a generally width W1 in the portion extending in the Y direction and a generally width W2 in the portion extending in the X direction. The width W1 and the width W2 may be equal or different.

[0020] In the display device 2, as shown in FIG. 3, by devising the arrangement of the adhesive layer 24, the width W1 of the frame region 2a1 on the surface 2a can be narrowed. FIG. 3 is an XZ cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the display device 2, and shows the XZ cross-section when FIG. 2 is cut along the line A-A. In FIG. 3, the structure of the XZ cross-section corresponding to the portion of the frame region 2a1 extending in the Y direction is illustrated, but the concept of the present embodiment is similarly applicable to the structure of the YZ cross-section corresponding to the portion of the frame region 2a1 extending in the X direction.

[0021] 3, the display device 2 includes an optical member 21, an electro-optical member 22, a housing 23, an adhesive layer 24, a half-mirror film 25, a light-shielding frame 26, an electro-optical member 27, an adhesive layer 28, a frame member 29, a frame member 30, an optical member 31, and a case 32. The VRM function is mainly realized by the electro-optical member 22 and the half-mirror film 25.

[0022] The optical member 21 extends like a plate in the X and Y directions and has a substantially rectangular shape with the X direction as the longitudinal direction. The optical member 21 is light-transmitting. The optical member 21 may be made of inorganic glass containing SiO2, or may be made of organic glass containing transparent resin such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate resin) or PC (polycarbonate). The optical member 21 is also called a cover panel, and can protect the display device 2 from external impacts and the like.

[0023] The optical member 21 has a surface 2a on the +Z side and a back surface 21a on the -Z side. The surface 2a has a frame region 2a1 and a display region 2a2. The frame region 2a1 is the edge of the surface 2a and extends in a striped pattern in the Y or X direction along the outer contour of the surface 2a (see Figure 2). The display region 2a2 extends planarly in the X and Y directions inside the frame region 2a1. The back surface 21a has regions 21a1 and 21a2. Region 21a2 is located outside region 21a1 in the X and Y directions. Region 21a2 corresponds to the frame region 2a1 and overlaps with the frame region 2a1 when viewed from the Z direction. Region 21a1 corresponds to the display region 2a2 and overlaps with the display region 2a2 when viewed from the Z direction.

[0024] The light-shielding frame 26 is disposed between the optical member 21 and the electro-optical member 22 in the Z direction. The light-shielding frame 26 is disposed between the region 21a2 and the electro-optical member 22 in the Z direction. The light-shielding frame 26 has a substantially rectangular outer contour with the X direction as its longitudinal direction. The light-shielding frame 26 has an opening corresponding to the display region 2a2. The light-shielding frame 26 contacts the back surface 21a of the optical member 21 on the +Z side and covers the region 21a2. The light-shielding frame 26 contacts the electro-optical member 22 on the -Z side and covers the +Z side surface of the electro-optical member 22.

[0025] The color of the light-shielding frame 26 desirably corresponds to the color of the display region 2a2 when the surface 2a is observed from the +Z side. If the color of the display region 2a2 is silver, the light-shielding frame 26 may be a mirror-like print formed by applying a resin containing a silver pigment to the region 21a2 of the back surface 21a of the optical member 21, or a frame-shaped sheet of resin containing a silver pigment attached to the region 21a2 of the back surface 21a of the optical member 21. If the color of the display region 2a2 is silver close to black, the light-shielding frame 26 may be a black print formed by applying a resin containing a black pigment to the region 21a2 of the back surface 21a of the optical member 21, or a frame-shaped sheet of resin containing a black pigment attached to the region 21a2 of the back surface 21a of the optical member 21.

[0026] The electro-optical member 22 is disposed on the rear side (-Z side) of the optical member 21. The electro-optical member 22 is disposed on the rear side (-Z side) of the light-shielding frame 26. The optical characteristics of the electro-optical member 22 can be changed by applying a voltage. The electro-optical member 22 has a liquid crystal region 221 and a peripheral region 222. The boundary between the liquid crystal region 221 and the peripheral region 222 in the electro-optical member 22 defines the boundary between the display region 2a2 and the frame region 2a1 on the surface 2a. The peripheral region 222 may be adhered to the rear side of the light-shielding frame 26 with a transparent adhesive such as OCA.

[0027] The electro-optical member 22 has a front surface 22b on the +Z side and a back surface 22a on the -Z side. The front surface 22b has regions 22b1 and 22b2. Region 22b2 is located outside region 22b1 in the X and Y directions. Region 22b2 corresponds to frame region 2a1 and overlaps with frame region 2a1 when viewed from the Z direction. Region 22b1 corresponds to display region 2a2 and overlaps with display region 2a2 when viewed from the Z direction. The back surface 22a has regions 22a1 and 22a2. Region 22a2 is located outside region 22a1 in the X and Y directions. Region 22a2 corresponds to frame region 2a1 and overlaps with frame region 2a1 when viewed from the Z direction. Region 22a1 corresponds to display region 2a2 and overlaps with display region 2a2 when viewed from the Z direction.

[0028] The light-shielding frame 26 covers the region 22b2, which corresponds to the peripheral region 222 of the electro-optical member 22. This makes it possible to shield elements, wiring, terminals, etc., arranged in the peripheral region 222 of the electro-optical member 22, thereby improving the appearance of the display device 2.

[0029] The liquid crystal region 221 corresponds to the display region 2a2 and extends in the XY directions. The liquid crystal region 221 includes, for example, a TN liquid crystal panel 221a and a polarizer 221b disposed on its +Z side. The liquid crystal panel 221a has a configuration in which a TN liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of transparent substrates spaced apart in the Z direction and extending in the XY directions. The peripheral region 222 corresponds to the frame region 2a1 and extends to surround the periphery of the liquid crystal region 221 in the XY planar view. The peripheral region 222 includes ends of the pair of transparent substrates and a member for sealing the liquid crystal material. The +Z-side surface of the end of the +Z-side transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates may be bonded to the rear surface of the light-shielding frame 26 with a transparent adhesive such as OCA. The -Z-side surface of the end of the -Z-side transparent substrate may be bonded to the housing 23 with a transparent adhesive such as OCA. Each of the pair of transparent substrates may be provided with a transparent electrode made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO.

[0030] Additionally, a control circuit or the like connected to the pair of transparent electrodes may be disposed in the peripheral region 222. The control circuit can change the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules by changing the voltage applied to the pair of transparent electrodes, thereby changing the optical properties (e.g., transmittance and reflectance) of the electro-optical member 22. The VRM function is mainly realized by changes in the optical properties of the electro-optical member 22 and the corresponding operation of reflecting and transmitting light by the half mirror film 25.

[0031] The housing 23 is disposed on the rear side (-Z side) of the optical member 21, and disposed outside the electro-optical member 22 in the X and Y directions. The housing 23 has a protrusion 231 and a side wall 232. The side wall 232 covers the XY end face 22c of the electro-optical member 22 from the outside in the X and Y directions, on the outside of the electro-optical member 22 in the X and Y directions. The side wall 232 extends in the Y and Z directions or the Z and X directions (see FIG. 2 ), and forms an outer surface 23a of the housing 23. The protrusion 231 protrudes from the side wall 232 in a direction along the rear face 22a of the electro-optical member 22. The protrusion 231 extends along the rear face 22a of the electro-optical member 22. The housing 23 may be formed of a material having light-blocking properties.

[0032] The adhesive layer 24 is disposed between the rear surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 and the protruding portion 231. The adhesive layer 24 may be a member having adhesive applied to the +Z side surface and the -Z side surface, such as double-sided tape. The rear surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 has an area 22a1 and an area 22a2. The area 22a2 is disposed outside the area 22a1 in the X direction. The adhesive layer 24 is disposed between the area 22a2 and the protruding portion 231, and bonds the peripheral area 222 of the electro-optical member 22 to the protruding portion 231.

[0033] That is, the light-shielding frame 26 is printed or adhered to the back surface 21a of the optical member 21, and is adhered to the peripheral region 222 of the electro-optic member 22 via a transparent adhesive such as OCA. The adhesive layer 24 adheres the back surface 22a of the electro-optic member 22 to the housing 23. This fixes the optical member 21 to the housing 23 via the light-shielding frame 26 and the electro-optic member 22. This allows the X-direction width of the adhesive layer 24 to be ensured in accordance with the X-direction width of the peripheral region 222, and a wide adhesive area of ​​the adhesive layer 24 can be ensured, making it easy to ensure adhesive strength (e.g., vibration robustness).

[0034] For example, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when the adhesive layer 24i bonds the light-shielding frame 26i to the housing 23i, the thickness of the housing 23i in the X direction is increased to ensure the X-direction width of the adhesive layer 24i and the bonding area. The adhesive layer 24i bonds the light-shielding frame 26i to the +Z-side end face of the housing 23i. Accordingly, the X-direction end 22ci of the electro-optical member 22i is recessed inward in the X direction, and the boundary between the liquid crystal region 221i and the peripheral region 222i of the electro-optical member 22i is recessed inward in the X direction. As a result, the boundary between the display region 2a2i and the frame region 2a1i on the surface 2ai is recessed inward in the X direction, and the width W1i of the frame region 2a1i is increased.

[0035] 3, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the adhesive layer 24 is disposed between the rear surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 and the protrusion 231, and the optical member 21 is fixed to the housing 23 via the light-shielding frame 26 and the electro-optical member 22. This allows the X-direction width of the adhesive layer 24 to be secured according to the X-direction width of the peripheral region 222 while positioning the X-direction end 22c of the electro-optical member 22 further outward in the X direction. That is, the X-direction end 22c of the electro-optical member 22 can be brought closer to the outer surface 23a of the housing 23. Accordingly, the boundary between the liquid crystal region 221 and the peripheral region 222 in the electro-optical member 22 can be positioned further outward in the X direction. As a result, the boundary between the display region 2a2 and the frame region 2a1 on the surface 2a can be positioned further outward in the X direction, and the width W1 of the frame region 2a1i can be narrowed (frame narrowing).

[0036] The half mirror film 25 shown in FIG. 3 is disposed between the electro-optical member 22 and the electro-optical member 27 in the Z direction. The light-shielding frame 26 is disposed between the region 22a1 and the electro-optical member 27 in the Z direction. The half mirror film 25 has a substantially rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction in the X direction corresponding to the display region 2a2 (see FIG. 2). The half mirror film 25 contacts the back surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 on the +Z side and covers the region 22a1. The half mirror film 25 may be adhered to the back surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 with a transparent adhesive such as OCA. The half mirror film 25 is spaced apart from the electro-optical member 27 on the -Z side.

[0037] For example, the display device 2 is configured such that the color of the frame region 2a1 and the color of the display region 2a2 correspond to each other when viewed from the +Z side in mirror mode. The color of the frame region 2a1 is formed by the color of the light-shielding frame 26, and the color of the display region 2a2 is formed mainly by the color of the half-mirror film 25. In this case, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, a black line may be visible near the boundary between the frame region 2a1 and the display region 2a2. This black line is thought to occur when, as shown by the dash-dot line in FIG. 5, light incident from the +Z side of the surface 2a is reflected by the surface of the half-mirror film 25 and directed toward the back surface of the light-shielding frame 26, but is then blocked by the light-shielding frame 26, resulting in the black line being perceived as a shadow of the light-shielding frame 26. The width of the perceived black line can be, for example, approximately twice the width of the light-shielded region. The larger the light-shielded region, the more noticeable the black line becomes.

[0038] 3, the light-shielding frame 26 and the half mirror film 25 are configured to be adjacent to each other or to have a striped overlapping portion when viewed from the Z direction. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the light-shielding frame 26 and the half mirror film 25 are configured so that the width of the overlapping portion when viewed from the Z direction is 0.5 mm or less. This makes it possible to suppress the width of the black lines, making them less noticeable.

[0039] When the light-shielding frame 26 and the half-mirror film 25 are adjacent to each other when viewed from the Z direction, i.e., when the width OV1 of the overlapping portion is approximately 0 mm, the width of the black line changes depending on the angle of oblique viewing, as shown in FIG. 6. The angle of oblique viewing is defined as the angle of inclination of the observer's line of sight relative to the normal direction (Z direction) of the surface 2a. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing (when the width of the overlapping portion is approximately 0 mm).

[0040] As shown in Figure 6(a), when the oblique viewing angle is θ11, the black line width is 2 × W11. As shown in Figure 6(b), when the oblique viewing angle increases to θ12 (> θ11), the black line width increases accordingly to 2 × W12 (> 2 × W11).

[0041] This can be plotted as a graph, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the change in black line width depending on the angle of oblique viewing (when the width of the overlapping part is 0 mm). In Figure 7, the horizontal axis represents the angle of oblique viewing, and the vertical axis represents the black line width. It can be seen that the black line width changes linearly depending on the angle of oblique viewing.

[0042] On the other hand, when the overlapping width between the light-shielding frame 26i and the half-mirror film 25i when viewed from the Z direction is relatively large (OV100 >> 0.5 mm) (see FIG. 4(b)), the black line width changes linearly with a steeper slope depending on the oblique viewing angle, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 7. If the maximum angle assumed when viewing the surface 2a obliquely is called the angle threshold θth, then in the case of the dotted line in FIG. 7, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W100. In the case of the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 7, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W10, and the improvement in black line width achieved by setting the overlapping width OV1 ≈ 0 mm is ΔW10 = 2 × W100 - 2 × W10. For example, when θth = 34°, the improvement in black line width is ΔW10 = 0.47 mm.

[0043] When the width of the overlapping portion between the light-shielding frame 26 and the half mirror film 25 is OV2 (>OV1) when viewed from the Z direction, the width of the black line changes depending on the angle of oblique viewing, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV2 (>OV1)).

[0044] As shown in Figure 8(a), when the oblique viewing angle is θ11, the black line width is 2 × W21. Compared to Figure 6(a), it can be seen that the overlapping area tends to create shadows, resulting in a corresponding thickening of the black line width 2 × W21 (2 × W21 > 2 × W11). As shown in Figure 8(b), when the oblique viewing angle increases to θ22 (> θ11), the black line width also increases to 2 × W22 (> 2 × W21). The oblique viewing angle θ22 is the angle at which light passing through the +X side edge of the light-shielding frame 26 is incident on the -X side edge of the half-mirror film 25. When the oblique viewing angle is greater than θ22, the effect of the overlapping area disappears, and the black line width is considered to change in the same way as when the overlapping area width is ≈ 0 mm.

[0045] This is shown graphically by the solid line in Figure 9. Figure 9 shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV2 (>OV1)). In Figure 9, the horizontal axis represents the oblique viewing angle, and the vertical axis represents the black line width. The black line width changes at a similar slope to the dotted line until the oblique viewing angle reaches θ22, and then changes at a similar slope to the dashed-dotted line once the oblique viewing angle reaches θ22 or greater. The dotted line in Figure 9 corresponds to the dotted line in Figure 7 and shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle when the width of the overlapping portion is relatively large, OV100. The dashed-dotted line in Figure 9 corresponds to the dashed-dotted line in Figure 7 and shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle when the width of the overlapping portion is almost zero.

[0046] In the case of the dotted line in Figure 9, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W100. In the case of the solid line in Figure 9, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W20, and the improvement in black line width by setting the overlapping portion width to OV2 is ΔW20 = 2 × W100 - 2 × W20. For example, when OV2 = 0.2 mm, θ22 = 13.95°, θth = 34°, and the improvement in black line width is ΔW20 = 0.28 mm.

[0047] When viewed from the Z direction, if the width of the overlapping portion between the light-shielding frame 26 and the half mirror film 25 is OV3 (>OV2), the width of the black line changes depending on the angle of oblique viewing, as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the change in the width of the black line depending on the angle of oblique viewing (when the width of the overlapping portion is OV3 (>OV2)).

[0048] As shown in Figure 10(a), when the oblique viewing angle is θ11, the black line width is 2 × W31. Compared to Figure 6(a), it can be seen that shadows are more likely to be cast by the overlapping portion, and the black line width W31 is accordingly thicker (2 × W31 > 2 × W11). As shown in Figure 10(b), when the oblique viewing angle increases to θ32 (> θ11), the black line width also increases to 2 × W32 (> 2 × W31). The oblique viewing angle θ32 is the angle at which light passing through the +X side end of the light-shielding frame 26 is incident on the -X side end of the half-mirror film 25. When the oblique viewing angle is greater than θ32, the influence of the overlapping portion disappears, and the black line width is considered to change in the same way as when the overlapping portion width is ≈ 0 mm.

[0049] This is shown graphically by the solid line in Figure 11. Figure 11 shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle (when the overlapping width is OV3 (>OV2)). In Figure 11, the horizontal axis represents the oblique viewing angle, and the vertical axis represents the black line width. The black line width changes at a similar slope to the dotted line until the oblique viewing angle reaches θ32, and then changes at a similar slope to the dashed-dotted line once the oblique viewing angle reaches θ32 or greater. The dotted line in Figure 11 corresponds to the dotted line in Figure 7 and shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle when the overlapping width is relatively large, OV100. The dashed-dotted line in Figure 11 corresponds to the dashed-dotted line in Figure 7 and shows the change in black line width depending on the oblique viewing angle when the overlapping width is almost zero.

[0050] In the case of the dotted line in Figure 11, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W100. In the case of the solid line in Figure 11, the black line width at the angle threshold θth is 2 × W30, and the improvement in black line width by setting the overlap width to OV3 is ΔW30 = 2 × W100 - 2 × W30. For example, when OV3 = 0.5 mm, θ32 = 31.85°, θth = 34°, and the improvement in black line width is ΔW30 = 0.04 mm. The improvement in black line width is a positive value, but is close to zero.

[0051] For example, if the overlap width is set to be greater than 0.5 mm, the angle at which the black line width changes from the dotted line to the dashed line in accordance with the angle of oblique viewing is considered to be equal to or greater than the angle threshold θth. In other words, if the overlap width is set to be greater than 0.5 mm, there is essentially no improvement in the black line width in the oblique viewing angle range of θth or less.

[0052] On the other hand, by setting the overlap width to 0 mm≦width of overlapping portion≦0.5 mm, for example, the width of the black lines can be suppressed as shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 11, and the black lines can be made less noticeable.

[0053] Returning to FIG. 3 , the frame member 29 is disposed between the housing 23 and the electro-optical member 27 in the XY directions. The frame member 29 extends along the YZ direction or the ZX direction. The end of the frame member 29 on the +Z side is bent inward in the XY direction so as to cover the electro-optical member 27 from the +Z side. The frame member 29 can be formed from a material that can be processed into sheet metal, such as metal. The frame member 29 may be fixed to the housing 23.

[0054] The electro-optical member 27 is disposed on the back surface 22a side (-Z side) of the electro-optical member 22. The electro-optical member 27 is disposed between the electro-optical member 22 and the optical member 31 in the Z direction. The electro-optical member 27 is disposed between the frame members 29 and 30 in the Z direction. The optical characteristics of the electro-optical member 27 can be changed by applying a voltage. The electro-optical member 27 has a liquid crystal region 271 and a peripheral region 272. The electro-optical member 27 may be, for example, a display panel for displaying images.

[0055] The liquid crystal region 271 corresponds to the display region 2a2 and extends in the XY directions. The liquid crystal region 271 includes, for example, a TFT-type liquid crystal panel 271a and a polarizer 271b disposed on its +Z side. The liquid crystal panel 271a has a configuration in which a TFT-type liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of transparent substrates spaced apart in the Z direction and extending in the XY directions. The peripheral region 272 corresponds to the frame region 2a1 and extends to surround the periphery of the liquid crystal region 271 in the XY planar view. The peripheral region 272 includes ends of the pair of transparent substrates and a member for sealing the liquid crystal material. The -Z-side surface of the end of the -Z-side transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates may be bonded to the frame member 30 with a transparent adhesive such as OCA. Each of the pair of transparent substrates may be provided with a transparent electrode made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO.

[0056] Additionally, a control circuit or the like connected to the pair of transparent electrodes may be disposed in the peripheral region 272. The control circuit can change the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules by changing the voltage applied to the pair of transparent electrodes, thereby changing the optical properties (e.g., transmittance) of the electro-optical member 27. The image display function is mainly realized by changing the optical properties of the electro-optical member 27.

[0057] The frame member 30 is disposed between the frame member 29 and the case 32 and optical member 31 in the XY directions. The frame member 30 extends along the YZ direction or the ZX direction. The frame member 30 has a bent portion 30a bent inward in the XY directions so that the end on the +Z side covers the case 32 and optical member 31 from the +Z side. The frame member 30 can be formed from a material that can be processed into sheet metal, such as metal. The frame member 30 can be fixed to the housing 23 directly or via the frame member 29.

[0058] The adhesive layer 28 is disposed between the rear surface of the electro-optical member 27 and the bent portion 30a of the frame member 30. The adhesive layer 28 may be a member having adhesive applied to the +Z side surface and the -Z side surface, such as double-sided tape. The adhesive layer 28 is disposed between the outer region on the rear surface of the electro-optical member 27 and the bent portion 30a of the frame member 30, and bonds the peripheral region 272 of the electro-optical member 27 to the bent portion 30a of the frame member 30.

[0059] That is, the adhesive layer 28 adheres the back surface of the electro-optical member 27 to the frame member 30. This fixes the electro-optical member 27 to the housing 23 via the shielding frame member 30. This allows the X-direction width of the adhesive layer 28 to be secured according to the X-direction width of the peripheral region 272, while positioning the X-direction end of the electro-optical member 27 relatively outward in the X direction. As a result, a wide display region and a wide adhesive area of ​​the adhesive layer 28 can be secured, and therefore adhesive strength can be easily secured.

[0060] The optical member 31 is disposed on the rear side (-Z side) of the electro-optical member 27. The optical member 31 extends like a plate in the XY directions and has a substantially rectangular shape with the X direction as its longitudinal direction. The optical member 31 is configured to be able to illuminate the electro-optical member 27 from the rear side. The optical member 31 is, for example, a backlight.

[0061] Case 32 is disposed on the rear side (-Z side) of electro-optical member 27, and on the -Z side of optical member 31. Case 32 has a box shape with an open +X side, and can house optical member 31. Case 32 may be fixed to housing 23 directly or via frame member 30 and / or frame member 29.

[0062] As described above, in the embodiment, in the display device 2, the adhesive layer 24 is disposed between the rear surface 22a of the electro-optical member 22 and the protruding portion 231, and the optical member 21 is fixed to the housing 23 via the light-shielding frame 26, the electro-optical member 22, and the adhesive layer 24. This allows the X-direction end 22c of the electro-optical member 22 to be brought closer to the outer surface 23a of the housing 23 while ensuring the adhesive area of ​​the adhesive layer 24. Accordingly, the width W1 of the frame region 2a1i on the front surface 2a can be narrowed (frame narrowing). This improves the appearance (design) of the display device 2. Furthermore, the display device 2 can be easily made smaller and / or lighter, reducing the cost of the display device 2 and stabilizing the adhesion by the adhesive layer 24.

[0063] Furthermore, in the embodiment, in the display device 2, the light-shielding frame 26 and the half mirror film 25 are configured to be adjacent to each other or to have a stripe-shaped overlapping portion when viewed from the Z direction. For example, by setting the width of the overlapping portion when viewed from the Z direction to 0 mm≦(width of the overlapping portion when viewed from the Z direction)≦0.5 mm, the width of the black line when observing the surface 2a can be reduced, and the black line can be made less noticeable.

[0064] The concept of this embodiment can also be applied to a display device that does not have a VRM function (for example, a half-mirror type electronic mirror). For example, as a modification of the embodiment, a display device 2j can be configured as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a display device 2j according to the modification of the embodiment.

[0065] The display device 2j has a half-mirror film 25j, a light-shielding frame 26j and an electro-optical member 27j instead of the half-mirror film 25, the light-shielding frame 26 and the electro-optical member 27 (see Figure 3), and the electro-optical member 22, the frame member 29 and the adhesive layer 28 are omitted.

[0066] The half mirror film 25j is moved between the optical member 21 and the light-shielding frame 26 relative to the half mirror film 25 (see FIG. 3), and its area is enlarged so as to cover the regions 21a1 and 21a2 on the back surface 21a of the optical member 21. The electro-optical member 27j is moved between the light-shielding frame 26j and the adhesive layer 24 relative to the electro-optical member 27 (see FIG. 3).

[0067] The back surface 25a of the half mirror film 25j has a region 25a1 and a region 25a2. The region 25a2 is located outside the region 25a1 in the X and Y directions. The region 25a2 corresponds to the frame region 2a1j and overlaps with the frame region 2a1j when viewed from the Z direction. The region 25a1 corresponds to the display region 2a2j and overlaps with the display region 2a2j when viewed from the Z direction.

[0068] The light-shielding frame 26j contacts the rear surface 25a of the half mirror film 25j on the +Z side and covers the region 25a2. The light-shielding frame 26j contacts the electro-optical member 27j on the -Z side and covers the +Z side surface of the electro-optical member 27j.

[0069] The electro-optical member 27j has a peripheral region 272 on the +Z side bonded to the light-shielding frame 26j with an adhesive such as OCA, and a peripheral region 272 on the -Z side bonded to the protruding portion 231 of the housing 23 via an adhesive layer 24. The function of the electro-optical member 27j is similar to that of the electro-optical member 27. The back surface 27a of the electro-optical member 27 has a region 27a1 and a region 27a2. The region 27a2 is disposed outside the region 27a1 in the X direction.

[0070] The adhesive layer 24 is disposed between the region 27 a 2 and the protruding portion 231 and bonds the peripheral region 272 of the electro-optical member 27 to the protruding portion 231 .

[0071] In such a display device 2j, the adhesive layer 24 is also disposed between the rear surface 27a of the electro-optical member 27 and the protrusion 231, and the optical member 21 is fixed to the housing 23 via the light-shielding frame 26j, the electro-optical member 27, and the adhesive layer 24. This allows the X-direction end 22c of the electro-optical member 27 to be brought closer to the outer surface 23a of the housing 23 while ensuring the adhesion area of ​​the adhesive layer 24. Accordingly, the width W1j of the frame region 2a1j on the surface 2aj can be narrowed (narrowed frame).

[0072] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Imaging device 2 Display device 3. Electronic mirror system 21 Optical Components 22, 22i, 27, 27j Electro-optical components 23,23i chassis 24,24i,28 Adhesive layer 25,25j Half mirror film 26, 26i, 26j Light blocking frame

Claims

1. an optical member having a light-transmitting back surface including a first region and a second region outside the first region; an electro-optical element disposed on a rear surface side of the optical element, the optical characteristics of which are changed by application of a voltage, and having a rear surface including a third region and a fourth region outside the third region; a housing disposed outside the electro-optical member on the rear side of the optical member and having a protrusion extending along the rear surface of the electro-optical member; an adhesive layer disposed between the fourth region and the protrusion; a half mirror film covering the third region; a light-shielding frame that covers the second region; Equipped with When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front surface of the optical member, the light-shielding frame and the half mirror film are adjacent to each other or have a stripe-shaped overlapping portion. Display device.

2. The width of the overlapping portion is 0.5 mm or less. The display device according to claim 1 .

3. The electro-optical element further includes a second electro-optical element disposed on the rear side of the electro-optical element and capable of changing optical characteristics by applying a voltage. The display device according to claim 1 .

4. the housing has a sidewall portion that covers an end face of the electro-optical member from the outside of the electro-optical member, The protrusion protrudes from the side wall in a direction along the rear surface of the electro-optical member. The display device according to claim 1 .

5. an optical member having a light-transmitting back surface including a first region and a second region outside the first region; an electro-optical element disposed on a rear surface side of the optical element, the optical characteristics of which are changed by application of a voltage, and having a rear surface including a third region and a fourth region outside the third region; a housing disposed on the rear side of the optical member and outside the electro-optical member; a half mirror film covering the third region; a light-shielding frame that covers the second region; Equipped with When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front surface of the optical member, the light-shielding frame and the half mirror film are adjacent to each other or have a stripe-shaped overlapping portion. Display device.

6. The width of the overlapping portion is 0.5 mm or less. The display device according to claim 5 .

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