IP Library Granted Patent US 8,964,147
Granted Patent B2
US 8,964,147 · App. 13/547,122 · Granted Feb 24, 2015

Electro-optic device, method of producing electro-optic device, and projection type display apparatus

Inventors: Satoshi Ito (Eniwa, JP); Yohei Ono (Chitose, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
G02F1/1333G02F1/1335G03B21/006G02F1/133345G02F2001/133302
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,964,147
App. No.
13/547,122
Granted
Feb 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electro-optic device is provided. In the electro-optic device, when a groove is sealed to be hollow, a sacrificial film is formed in the groove before forming a first sealing film, the first sealing film is formed, and then the sacrificial film is removed through a penetration portion of the first sealing film. A second sealing film is formed on the first sealing film, and the penetration portion of the first sealing film is blocked by the second sealing film. For this reason, it is possible to form the first sealing film to block an opening portion of the groove, and it is possible to prevent the first sealing film from being formed up to the inside of the groove.

Claims (41)

1. An electro-optic device comprising:

a first substrate that is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of switching elements;

a second substrate that is opposed to the first substrate; and

an electro-optic material layer that is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein one substrate of the first substrate and the second substrate is a transparent substrate, and

wherein the one substrate is provided with a groove, an opening portion of the groove is directed to a space between one of the plurality of pixel electrodes and another one of the plurality of pixel electrodes that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of pixel electrodes, the groove being hollow, a first sealing film is disposed so as to block the opening portion of the groove, the first sealing film being provided with a penetration portion having an opening area smaller than an area of the opening portion, the penetration portion being hollow and communicating with an inside of the groove, and a second sealing film is disposed on the first sealing film to block the penetration portion.

2. The electro-optic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first sealing film is in an overhang state with respect to the groove.

3. The electro-optic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first sealing film and the second sealing film are transparent insulating films.

4. The electro-optic device according to claim 1 , wherein side faces of the groove are inclination faces inclined to the space between one of the plurality of pixel electrodes and another one of the plurality of pixel electrodes that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of the pixel electrodes.

5. The electro-optic device according to claim 1 , wherein the inside of the groove is in a vacuum state.

6. The electro-optic device according to claim 1 , wherein the groove is disposed on one side of the second substrate.

7. The electro-optic device according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes and the first substrate have transparency.

8. A method of producing an electro-optic device, comprising:

forming a groove to one of a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of switching elements, wherein the second substrate is opposed to the first substrate, an opening portion of the groove is directed to a space between one of a plurality of pixel electrodes and another of the plurality of pixel electrodes adjacent to the one of the plurality of pixel electrodes on one substrate;

forming a sacrificial film blocking the opening portion of the groove;

forming a first sealing film on the sacrificial film;

forming a penetration portion of the first sealing film with an opening area smaller than an area of the sacrificial film;

removing the sacrificial film through the penetration portion; and

forming a second sealing film on the first sealing film to block the penetration portion, the penetration portion being hollow.

9. The method of producing the electro-optic device according to claim 8 , wherein the forming of the sacrificial film includes filling with a resin material to the groove.

10. The method of producing the electro-optic device according to claim 8 , wherein the forming of the sacrificial film includes forming a metal film on a face to which the groove is opened, melting the metal film by heating to block the opening portion of the groove by the metal film, removing a part of the metal film formed on the outside of the groove, and remaining a part of the metal film blocking the opening portion in the groove.

11. A projection type display apparatus using the electro-optic device according to claim 1 , comprising:

a light source unit that outputs the light input from one substrate side to the electro-optic device; and

a projective optical system that performs projection of the light modulated by the electro-optic device.

12. An electro-optic device comprising:

a transparent substrate including a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged;

a first sealing film that is disposed on a first side of the transparent substrate; and

a second sealing film that is disposed above the first sealing film,

wherein

the transparent substrate has a groove that is disposed between a first pixel and a second pixel, the first pixel being one of the plurality of pixels and the second pixel being adjacent to the first pixel,

the first sealing film has an penetration portion that is positioned in the groove when viewed from plan view,

the second sealing film is disposed so as to overlap with the penetration portion, and

the groove and the penetration portion are hollow.

13. The electro-optic device according to claim 12 , wherein the first sealing film is in an overhang state with respect to the groove.

14. The electro-optic device according to claim 12 , wherein the first sealing film and the second sealing film are transparent insulating films.

15. The electro-optic device according to claim 12 , wherein side faces of the groove are inclined.

16. The electro-optic device according to claim 12 , wherein the inside of the groove is in a vacuum state.

17. The electro-optic device according to claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a transparent pixel electrode.

18. A projection type display apparatus using the electro-optic device according to claim 12 , comprising:

a light source unit that outputs the light input from one side to the electro-optic device; and

a projective optical system that perform projection of the light modulated by the electro-optic device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2019
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 050197/0212 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2012
From: ITO, SATOSHI; ONO, YOHEI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028533/0840 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-159621 · Jul 21, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130021540A1 · Jan 24, 2013