IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,049,859
Granted Patent B2
US 8,049,859 · App. 12/090,888 · Granted Nov 1, 2011

Liquid crystal display device including a relief area

Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,049,859
App. No.
12/090,888
Granted
Nov 1, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate by a frame-shaped sealing member, a display area located inside the sealing member, a non-display area located outside the display area and a plurality of spacers interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A relief area in which a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate is larger than that in the display area is provided in at least a portion of the non-display area.

Claims (18)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first flexible substrate;

a second flexible substrate arranged to face the first flexible substrate;

a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate by a frame-shaped sealing member;

a display area located inside the sealing member and arranged to contribute to display;

a non-display area located outside the display area and does not contribute to the display; and

a plurality of spacers interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and having a height which determines a thickness of the liquid crystal layer; wherein

a wall which is taller than the spacers in the display area is provided in the non-display area to be interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the non-display area is gradually reduced in a direction from an area where the wall is provided to the display area and also in a direction extending away from the display area from the area where the wall is provided;

a relief area in which the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate is larger than that in the display area is provided in the non-display area between the wall and the display area;

the sealing member is arranged on the side of the wall opposite the display area; and

a surface of the wall opposite the display area is in contact with the sealing member.

2. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the display area is substantially rectangular and the relief area extends a side of the display area which is not bent.

3. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the display area is substantially rectangular and the relief area has a frame-shaped configuration enclosing the display area.

4. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the display area is substantially rectangular and the wall is arranged to extend along a side of the display area which is not bent.

5. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the display area is substantially rectangular and the wall has a frame shaped configuration enclosing the display area.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the relief area is arranged to relieve a force applied to the first substrate and the second substrate.

7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is made of a thermoplastic resin.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2008
From: WATANABE, NORIKO; KIHARA, HIDENORI
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 020830/0564 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2006-008866 · Jan 17, 2006 · national
JP 2006-193310 · Jul 13, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090290117A1 · Nov 26, 2009