Patent Publication Number: US-2019196265-A1

Title: Display device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-251142 filed on Dec. 27, 2017. The entire contents of the priority application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technology described herein relates to a display device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A known display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal display panel, and a transparent cover. The second substrate is disposed closer to a viewer in comparison to the first substrate. The liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The transparent cover is attached to a surface of the liquid crystal display panel closer to the viewer with an adhesive. The liquid crystal display panel includes a polarizing plate disposed between the second substrate and the transparent cover. The adhesive covers entire side surfaces of the polarizing plate. The adhesive has a wavy outline when viewed in plan. An example of such a display is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-69321. 
     The adhesive includes a section that project from the perimeter of the polarizing plate. A dimension of the section in a projecting direction is 0.1 mm or greater. This technology is for reducing display unevenness resulting from expansion of edge sections of the polarizing plate due to moisture. When light sources or other heat generating components generates heat after the liquid crystal display device is turned on, components of the liquid crystal display device may thermally expand. When the liquid crystal display device is turned off, the components may thermally contract. The substrates and the transparent cover included in a liquid crystal panel that is a relatively large component may thermally expand or contract in relatively large amount. If linear expansion coefficients of the substrates and the transparent cover that are disposed on top of each other are different from one another, stresses may be exerted on the substrates and the transparent cover. If the stresses are exerted on certain areas of the liquid crystal panel, display defects may be created in those areas. 
     SUMMARY 
     The technology described herein was made in view of the above circumstances. An object is to reduce display defects. 
     A display device includes a display panel for display images, a polarizing plate fixed to the display panel, a protective panel, a structural member, and a light transmissive fixing layer. The protective panel is disposed such that the polarizing plate is sandwiched between the display panel and the protective panel. The structural member projects from a plate surface of the protective panel on a polarizing plate side and overlaps the polarizing plate. The light transmissive fixing layer is disposed between the polarizing plate and the protective panel to fix the polarizing plate and the protective panel together. The light transmissive fixing layer is separated from the structural member with a clearance. 
     According to the configuration light exiting from the display panel is polarized by the polarizing plate. The polarized light passes through the light transmissive fixing layer and the protective panel and then exits the display device. The polarizing plate is protected by the protective panel and fixed to the protective panel with the light transmissive fixing layer. The structural member projects from the plate surface of the protective panel on the polarizing plate side and overlaps the polarizing plate. Therefore, a surface of the display panel is not directly viewed when the display device is viewed from the front side. This configuration provides higher quality of appearance. 
     The display panel, the polarizing plate, the light transmissive fixing layer, and the protective panel may be thermally expanded or thermally contracted according to variations in thermal condition. Amounts of the thermal expansion and thermal contraction depend on linear expansion coefficients of the display panel, the polarizing plate, the light transmissive fixing layer, and the protective panel. The structural member projects from the plate surface of the protective panel and overlaps the polarizing plate. If the light transmissive fixing layer extends to a space between the structural member and the polarizing plate, a step may be formed in the light transmissive fixing layer. A large amount of stress may be exerted on a section of the display panel closer to the space between the structural member and the polarizing plate. As a result, display defects may be created. Because the light transmissive fixing layer is disposed such that the clearance is provided between the structural member and the light transmissive fixing layer, the light transmissive fixing layer is less likely to be disposed between the structural member and the polarizing plate. The light transmissive fixing layer is less likely to have the step. The stress is less likely to be exerted on the section of the display panel closer to the space between the structural member and the polarizing plate. Therefore, the display defects are less likely to be created. 
     According to the technology described herein, display defects are less likely to be created. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of q liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1  along line B-B. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a touch panel pattern on a cover glass included in a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a magnified plan view illustrating a section of the touch panel pattern closer to a corner of the cover glass. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device along a long dimension of the liquid crystal display device. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device along a short dimension of the liquid crystal display device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiments 
     A first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In this section, a liquid crystal display device  10  will be described. The X axes, the Y axes, and the Z axes may be present in the drawings. The axes in each drawing correspond to the respective axes in other drawings to indicate the respective directions. An upper side and a lower side in each drawing correspond to a front side and a back side of the liquid crystal display device  10 , respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the liquid crystal display device  10  has a horizontally-long rectangular shape with a long direction and a short direction corresponding with the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the liquid crystal display device  10  includes a liquid crystal panel  11  (a display panel), front and back polarizing plates  12  (polarizing plates with retardation functions), a cover glass  13  (a protective panel), a light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and a backlight unit BL. The liquid crystal panel  11  is configured to display images. The front polarizing plate  12  and the back polarizing plate  12  are attached to front and back plate surfaces of the liquid crystal panel  11 , respectively. The cover glass  13  is disposed to cover the front polarizing plate  12  from the front side. The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed between the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13  and fixed to the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13 . The backlight unit BL is an external light source disposed behind and opposite the liquid crystal panel  11  (on an opposite side from the cover glass  13 ) for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel  11  for image display. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the liquid crystal panel  11  includes substrates  11 A and  11 B, a liquid crystal layer  11 C, and a sealant  11 D. The substrates  11 A and  11 B are opposed to each other with a gap (a cell gap) and bonded together. The liquid crystal layer  11 C is sandwiched between the substrates  11 A and  11 B. The sealant  11 D is disposed between outer edge sections of the substrates  11 A and  11 B to surround and to seal the liquid crystal layer  11 C. The liquid crystal panel  11  is configured to operate in in-plane switching (IPS) mode in which liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are horizontally oriented. The substrates  11 A and  11 B are substantially transparent and made of glass (e.g., alkali-free glass). The substrates  11 A and  11 B have linear expansion coefficients less than a linear expansion coefficient of the cover glass  13 . One of the substrates  11 A and  11 B disposed on the back side is an array substrate  11 B (an active matrix substrate). The array substrate  11 B includes source lines, gate lines, switching components (e.g., TFTs), pixel electrodes, and an alignment film. The switching components are connected to the source lines and the gate lines that are perpendicular to each other. The pixel electrodes are connected to the switching components. The substrate  11 A on the front side is a CF substrate  11 A (a common substrate). The CF substrate  11 A includes a color filter, a light blocking portion (a black matrix, a display panel-side light blocking portion), and an alignment film. The color filter includes red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color portions that are disposed in a predefined arrangement. The light blocking portion separates the adjacent color portions from one another. The light blocking portion includes a grid section that separates the adjacent color portions from one another and a frame section  11 E that extends for an entire perimeter of the CF substrate  11 A. The liquid crystal panel  11  includes a display area (an active matrix area) AA in which images are displayed and a non-display area (a non-active area) NAA having a frame shape to surround the display area AA and in which images are not displayed. The frame section  11 E surrounds the display area AA to define the display area AA. The frame section  11 E is disposed to about entirely cover the non-display area NAA. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the front and the back polarizing plates  12  are disposed to cover the entire display area AA (or a section of the light blocking portion other than the frame section  11 E) and a section of the non-display area NAA around an inner perimeter of the non-display area NAA (the frame section  11 E). The front and the back polarizing plates  12  include plate surfaces along the plate surface of the liquid crystal panel  11 . The front and the back polarizing plates  12  include polarizing layers for creating linearly polarized light from ambient light. Each polarizing layer includes a polarizer and protective films that sandwich the polarizer. The polarizer is prepared by mixing absorbers such as iodine and dichromatic dyes into a polymer resin film such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film and stretching in one direction to orient the absorbers. The protective films may be triacetylcellulose (TAC) films. The front and the back polarizing plates  12  include retardation layers (retarders) for creating phase differences in transmitting light. Each retardation layer is prepared by uniaxially or biaxially stretching a polymer resin film. The retardation layers create phase differences in transmitting light to compensate degradation in view angle characteristics due to birefringence of the liquid crystal layer. The front and the back polarizing plates  12  have such retardation functions. The front and the back polarizing plates  12  include laminator layers (protective layers) for protecting the polarizing layers and fixing layers fixed to the plate surfaces of the CF substrate  11 A and the array substrate  11 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cover glass  13  has a horizontally-long rectangular shape for covering about entire areas of the liquid crystal panel  11  and the front polarizing plate  12  from the front side. The liquid crystal panel  11  and the front polarizing plate  12  are protected by the cover glass  13 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cover glass  13  is opposed to the front plate surface of the front polarizing plate  12  and fixed to the front plate surface of the front polarizing plate  12  with the light transmissive fixing layer  14  that is disposed between the cover glass  13  and the front polarizing plate  12 . The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is a substantially transparent adhesive layer having high light transmissivity, such as an optical clear adhesive (OCA) film. The light transmissive fixing layer  14  may be made of ultraviolet curable resin that is cured when an ultraviolet ray is applied. The light transmissive fixing layer  14  will be described in more detail later. A frame-shaped light blocking member  15  (a structural member, a protective panel-side light blocking member) having light blocking properties is disposed on an outer edge section of the cover glass  13 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  extends for an entire perimeter of the cover glass  13 . In  FIG. 1 , the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is shaded. The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is prepared by forming a light blocking film made of light blocking material (e.g., a carbon black and a metal material) on the back plate surface of the cover glass  13 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is a structural member that project from the back plate surface of the cover glass  13  toward the back side (toward the front polarizing plate  12 ) by a thickness of the light blocking film. The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is disposed over the frame section  11 E (the non-display area NAA) in the liquid crystal panel  11  except for the inner edge section. An area surrounded by the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is slightly larger than the display area AA that is surrounded by the frame section  11 E. The cover glass  13  has a plate shape. The cover glass  13  is made of substantially transparent glass having high light transmissivity (e.g., soda lime glass), preferably. A tempered glass, preferably, a chemically tempered glass may be used for the cover glass  13 . The chemically tempered glass is prepared by chemical tempering on a surface of a glass plate to form a chemically toughened layer on the surface. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is disposed to overlap the front polarizing plate  12  in a plan view. Specifically, the inner edge section of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is disposed to overlap the outer edge section of the front polarizing plate  12  for the entire perimeter of the front polarizing plate  12 . When the liquid crystal display device  10  is viewed from the front side, the surface of the front polarizing plate  12  attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel  11  and the surf ace of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  on the surface of the cover glass  13  may be viewed; however, the surface of the liquid crystal panel  11  may not be directly viewed. In comparison to a configuration in which the frame-shaped light blocking member does not overlap the front polarizing plate  12  and the surface of the liquid crystal panel  11  is directly viewed from the front side, the liquid crystal display device  10  according to this embodiment has higher quality of appearance. Because the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  has the light blocking properties, light rays passed through the outer edge section of the front polarizing plate  12  are blocked by the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . The outer edge section of the front polarizing plate  12  overlaps the non-display area NAA. Transmitting light through the outer edge section of the front polarizing plate  12  is referred to as leak light that is not used for the image display in the display area AA. By blocking the transmitting light through the outer edge section of the front polarizing plate  12  with the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , the lead light does not exit the liquid crystal display device  10  and thus display quality improves. The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is disposed so that inner edge of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is inner than the inner edge of the sealant  11 D. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the liquid crystal panel  11 , the polarizing plate  12 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and the cover glass  13  that are disposed on top of one another may thermally expand or thermally contract according to variations in thermal condition. Amounts of the thermal expansion and thermal contraction depend on the linear expansion coefficients of the liquid crystal panel  11 , the polarizing plate  12 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and the cover glass  13 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  projects from the back plate surface of the cover glass  13  and overlaps the front polarizing plate  12 . If the light transmissive fixing layer  14  extends to a space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 , a step is formed in the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . A large amount of stress may be applied to a section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . The inner edge of the sealant  11 D is located outer than the inner edge of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . A large amount of stress that is exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12  may create a difference in thickness of the liquid crystal layer  11 C. If the thickness becomes uneven, display defects may be created. To solve such a problem, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed away from the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  with a clearance C 1 . Namely, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is not disposed in the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . Therefore, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  does not have a step that may be created by the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and thus a stress is less likely to be exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . The difference in thickness of the liquid crystal layer  11 C is less likely to be created and thus the display defects are less likely to be created. If the difference in thickness of the liquid crystal layer  11 C is created due to the stress, color unevenness may be observed in specific areas because the front polarizing plate  12  in this embodiment has the retardation function. In this Embodiment, such color unevenness is less likely to occur and thus high display quality can be achieved. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is 0.1 mm or greater. In a production of the liquid crystal display device  10 , the polarizing plate  12  is attached to the liquid crystal panel  11  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is fixed to one of the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13 . Then, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is fixed to the other one of the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is cured. To fix the light transmissive fixing layer  14  to the cover glass  13 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is positioned relative to the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . However, a positioning error may occur. If the clearance C 1  between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is less than 0.1 mm and the positioning error occurs, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is more likely to contact the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . In this embodiment, the clearance C 1  between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is 0.1 mm or greater. Namely, a sufficient size of the clearance C 1  is provided so that the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less likely to contact the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  even if the positioning error occurs. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the outer edges of the light transmissive fixing layer  14  are inner than the inner edges of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . Namely, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed not to overlap the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . In comparison to a configuration in which the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed to overlap the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , the clearance C 1  is properly provided between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . The outer edges of the light transmissive fixing layer  14  are located outer than the inner edges of the frame portion  11 E (a boundary between the display area AA and the non-display area) for the entire perimeter of the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is less than a distance C 2  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the display area AA. According to the configuration, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  covers the entire display area AA. Namely, the outer edge section (a section) of the display area AA constantly overlaps the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . Therefore, exiting light rays from the display area AA are more likely to pass through the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . A problem such that some of the exiting light rays from the display area AA exit without passing through the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less likely to occur. According to the configuration, display defects are less likely to be created. The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that a difference between the clearance C 1  and the distance C 2  is 0.1 mm or greater. If the difference is less than 0.1 mm, the outer edge section of the display area may not constantly overlap the light transmissive fixing layer  14  due to the positioning error that may occur in the positioning of the light transmissive fixing layer  14  relative to the front polarizing plate  12 . With the clearance C 1  defined such that the difference between the clearance C 1  and the distance C 2  is 0.1 mm or greater, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  more properly covers the entire display area AA even if the positioning error occurs. Therefore, the section of the display area AA constantly overlaps the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . The display defects are further less likely to be created. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the long-side inner edge sections and the short-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  overlap the long-side outer edge sections and the short-side inner edge sections of the front polarizing plate  12 , respectively. The clearance C 1  between the short-side outer edge sections of the transmissive fixing layer  14  and the short-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is 0.1 mm or greater. The short-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  are located closer to the ends of the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13  with respect to the X-axis direction (the longitudinal direction, the long direction) in which the amounts of expansion and contraction of the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13  due to variations in the thermal conditions are especially large. Large amounts of stresses may be exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  in which the short-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the short-side outer edge sections of the front polarizing plate  12  overlap each other. In this embodiment, the stresses are effectively compensated because the clearance C 1  that is equal to 0.1 mm or greater is provided between the short-side outer edge sections of the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the short-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the clearance C 1  of 0.1 mm or greater is provided between the long-side outer edge sections of the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the long-side inner edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . Stresses that may be exerted on the outer edge section of the liquid crystal panel  11  are properly compensated for the entire perimeter of the liquid crystal panel  11 . Therefore, a frame-shaped display defect is less likely to be created on the liquid crystal panel  11 . 
     As described above, the liquid crystal display device  10  includes the liquid crystal panel  11 , the front and the back polarizing plates  12 , the cover glass  13 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . The liquid crystal panel  11  is configured to display images. The front and the back polarizing plates  12  are fixed to the liquid crystal panel  11 . The cover glass  13  is disposed such the front polarizing plate  12  is between the liquid crystal panel  11  and the cover glass  13 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is a structural member disposed to project from the plate surface of the cover glass  13  on the front polarizing plate  12  side and to overlap the front polarizing plate  12 . The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed between the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13  and fixed to the front polarizing plate  12  and the cover glass  13 . The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed with the clearance C 1  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . 
     The light exiting from the liquid crystal panel  11  is polarized when the light passes through the front polarizing plate  12 . The light from the front polarizing plate  12  passes through the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the cover glass  13 , and then the light exits to the outside. The front polarizing plate  12  is protected by the cover glass  13 . The front polarizing plate  12  is fixed to the cover glass  13  with the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , which is a structural member, projects from the plate surface of the cover glass  13  on the front polarizing plate  12  side. The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is disposed to overlap the front polarizing plate  12 . Therefore, the surface of the liquid crystal panel  11  is not directly viewed when the liquid crystal display device  10  is viewed from the front side. This configuration provides higher quality of appearance. 
     The liquid crystal panel  11 , the polarizing plate  12 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and the cover glass  13  may be thermally expanded or thermally contracted according to variations in thermal condition. The amounts of the thermal expansion and thermal contraction depend on the linear expansion coefficients of the liquid crystal panel  11 , the polarizing plate  12 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , and the cover glass  13 . The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  projects from the back plate surface of the cover glass  13  and overlaps the front polarizing plate  12 . If the light transmissive fixing layer  14  extends to a space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 , a step is formed in the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . A large amount of stress may be exerted on a section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . As a result, display defects may be created. In this embodiment, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  is provided between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . Therefore, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less likely to be disposed between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less likely to have the step. The stress is less likely to be exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . Therefore, the display defects are less likely to be created. 
     The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is 0.1 mm or greater. If the clearance C 1  is less than 0.1 mm, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is more likely to contact the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  due to the positioning error. With the clearance C 1  equal to 0.1 mm or greater provided between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less likely to contact the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  even if the positioning error occurs. 
     The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed not to overlap the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . In comparison to a configuration in which the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed to overlap the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , the clearance C 1  is properly provided between the light transmissive fixing layer  14  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  11  includes the display area AA in which images are displayed. The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is less than the distance C 2  between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the display area AA. According to the configuration, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is more likely to constantly cover the entire display area AA. Therefore, the rays exiting to the outside without passing through the light transmissive fixing layer  14  are reduced and thus the display defects are further less likely to be created. 
     The light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the difference between the clearance C 1  and the distance C 2  is equal to or greater than 0.1 mm. Even if the positioning error occurs in the positioning of the light transmissive fixing layer  14 , the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is more likely to constantly cover the entire display area AA. Therefore, the display defects are further less likely to be created. 
     The liquid crystal panel  11  includes the substrates  11 A and  11 E, the liquid crystal layer  11 C, and the sealant  11 D. The liquid crystal layer  11 C is sandwiched between the substrates  11 A and  11 B. The sealant  11 D is disposed between the substrates  11 A and  11 B to surround and seal the liquid crystal layer  11 C. The sealant  11 D is disposed such that the inner edges of the sealant  13  are outer than the inner edges of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 . If a large amount of stress is exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 , the thickness of the liquid crystal layer  11 C becomes uneven due to the stress. This may create the display defects. In this embodiment, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed such that the clearance C 1  is provided between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . The stress is less likely to be exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . Therefore, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer  11 C is more likely to remain even and thus the display defects are less likely to be created. 
     The liquid crystal panel  11 , the front polarizing plate  12 , and the cover glass  13  have the rectangular shapes. The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  overlaps at least the edge sections of the front polarizing plate  12  at ends of the long dimension of the front polarizing plate  12 . The amounts of expansion and contraction of the liquid crystal panel  11 , the front polarizing plate  12 , and the cover glass  13  tend to be especially large in the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal panel  11 , the front polarizing plate  12 , and the cover glass  13 . Therefore, large amounts of stresses may be exerted on sections of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to spaces between the edge sections of the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12 . In this embodiment, the clearance C 1  is provided between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14 . Therefore, the stresses that may be exerted on the sections of the liquid crystal panel  11  closer to the ends of the longitudinal dimension of the liquid crystal panel  11  can be properly compensated. A frame-shaped display defect is less likely to be created on the liquid crystal panel  11 . 
     The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  overlaps the outer edge sections of the front polarizing plate  12  for the entire perimeter of the front polarizing plate  12 . According to the configuration, stresses that may be exerted on the outer edge sections of the liquid crystal panel  11  can be properly compensated. Therefore, the frame-shaped display defect is less likely to be created on the liquid crystal panel  11 . 
     The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  is a structural member that has light blocking properties and is disposed in the outer edge sections of the cover glass  13  to extend for the entire perimeter of the cover glass  13 . According to the configuration, light rays toward the outer edge sections of the cover glass  13  are blocked by the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  for the entire perimeter of the cover glass  13 . Because the frame-shaped light blocking member  15 , which is the structural member having the light blocking properties, is disposed to overlap the front polarizing plate  12 , light rays from overlapping sections of the front polarizing plate  12  are less likely to leak to the outside. Therefore, the display quality improves. 
     The front polarizing plate  12  has the retardation function. The light from the liquid crystal panel  11  is polarized while passing through the front polarizing plate  12  to have the phase difference. This provides view angle compensation. According to the front polarizing plate  12  that has the retardation function, colors of displayed images may be locally different from target colors due to the phase difference and a stress exerted on the liquid crystal panel  11 . In this embodiment, the light transmissive fixing layer  14  is disposed away from the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  by the clearance C 1 . Therefore, the section of the liquid crystal panel closer to the space between the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the front polarizing plate  12  and thus local color unevenness is less likely to occur on the liquid crystal panel  11 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . The second embodiment includes a cover glass  113  having a configuration different from the configuration of the cover glass  13  in the first embodiment. Configuration, functions, and effects similar to those of the first embodiment will not be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cover glass  113  includes a touch panel pattern  16  for detecting input positions at which a user of a liquid crystal display device  110  inputs positional information in response to images displayed in the display area AA of a liquid crystal panel  111 . The touch panel pattern  16  is a projected capacitive type touch panel pattern. The detection uses a self-capacitance detection technology. The touch panel pattern  16  is prepared by forming a transparent electrode film on a back plate surface of the cover glass  113  and patterning the transparent electrode film. The touch panel pattern  16  includes touch electrodes  17  (position detection electrodes) arranged in a matrix that includes lines of the touch electrodes  17  in the X-axis direction and lines of the touch electrodes  17  in the Y-axis direction within the display area AA of the liquid crystal panel  111 . The touch electrodes  17  are disposed in an area of the cover glass  113  overlapping the display area AA of the liquid crystal panel  11 . The area of the cover glass  113  may be referred to as a touch area. The display area AA of the liquid crystal panel  111  substantially corresponds with the touch area in which the input positions are detectable. A non-display area NAA of the liquid crystal panel  111  substantially corresponds with non-touch area in which the input positions are not detectable. When a finger of a user, which is a conductive body, is brought closer to a surface of the cover glass  113  for position information input based on an image displayed in the display area AA recognized by the user, a capacitor is formed between the finger and the touch electrode  17 . A capacitance detected by the touch electrode  17  closer to the finger alters as the finger approaches the touch electrode  17 . The capacitance differs from capacitances detected by the touch electrodes  17  farther from the finger. Based on a difference in capacitance, the input position is detected. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a flexible circuit board  18  for a touch panel is connected to a corner of the outer edge section of the cover glass  113  (the non-touch area). The flexible circuit board  18  is for transmitting signals from a touch panel control circuit. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the corner of the outer edge section of the cover glass  113  includes terminals  19 . The terminals  19  are electrically connected to terminals of the flexible circuit board  18 . The outer edge section of the cover glass  113  includes electric lines  20  (a structural member) connected to the terminals  19  and the touch panel pattern  16 . The electric lines  20  are routed parallel to each other to surround the touch area (the display area AA) in the outer edge section of the cover glass  113 . The electric lines  20  include first ends connected to the terminals  19  and second ends connected to the touch electrodes  17  in the touch panel pattern  16 . The electric lines  20  are prepared by forming a transparent electrode film and a metal film on the back plate surface of the cover glass  113  and patterned the transparent electrode film and the metal film. Namely, each electric line  20  has a multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal film. The electric lines  20  have line resistances less than a line resistance of the touch panel pattern  16  (or the touch electrodes  17 ), which is prepared from the transparent electrode film. Therefore, sensitivity in position detection can be properly maintained. Each terminal  19  also has a multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal film. The electric lines  20  are disposed along one of the long edges of the cover glass  113  and the short edges of the cover glass  113  in the outer edge section of the cover glass  113 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the electric lines  20  are arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction in the outer edge section of the cover glass  113 . The electric lines  20  protrude from the back plate surface of the cover glass  113 . The electric lines  20  may be referred to as structural members that protruded from the back plate surface of the cover glass  113  toward the back side (the polarizing plate  112  side) by a thickness of the metal film. Because each electric line  20  has the multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal film, a dimension of the electric line  20  from the back plate surface of the cover glass  113  is greater than that of the touch panel pattern  16  by the thickness of the metal film. 
     The innermost electric line  20  (the closest to the display area AA) and the adjacent electric line  20  overlap the outer edge section of the polarizing plate  112  in a plan view. A light transmissive fixing layer  114  is disposed separated from the innermost electric line  20  with the clearance C 1  that is equal to 0.1 mm or greater. According to the configuration, the light transmissive fixing layer  114  is less likely to be present between the electric line  20  and the polarizing plate  112 . Although the electric line  20  has the multilayer structure and the dimensions from the back plate surface of the cover glass is larger, the light transmissive fixing layer  114  is less likely to have a step resulting from the electric line  20 . Therefore, a stress is less likely to be exerted on the section or the liquid crystal panel  111  closer to a space between the electric line  20  and the polarizing plate  112 . Because a thickness of a liquid crystal layer  111 C is less likely to become uneven due to the stress, the display defects are less likely to be created. The light transmissive fixing layer  114  does not overlap the electric lines  20 . Furthermore, the light transmissive fixing layer  114  is separated from the innermost electric line  20  with the clearance C 1  that is defined such that a difference between the clearance C 1  and the distance C 2  between the innermost electric line  20  and the display area AA is 0.1 mm or greater. According to the configuration, even if a positioning error occurs in positioning of the light transmissive fixing layer  114  relative to the polarizing plate  112 , the light transmissive fixing layer  114  properly covers the entire display area AA. Namely, non-overlapping section is less likely to be present between the display area AA and the light transmissive fixing layer  114 . Therefore, the display defects are further less likely to be created. 
     As described earlier, the electric lines  20  routed on the cover glass  113  may be referred to as the structural members. The electric lines  20  may be used as a structural member overlapping the polarizing plate  112 . 
     The cover glass  113  includes the touch electrodes  17  (the position detection electrodes) connected to the electric lines  20 . The each touch electrode  17  and the finger of the user form a capacitor having a capacitance from which a position of input by the user is detected. The touch electrodes  17  are prepared from the transparent electrode film. Each electric line  20  has the multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal film. Based on the capacitance between the finger, which is the conductive member for the position information input, and one of the touch electrodes  17  on the cover glass  113 , the position of input by the finger or the conductive member can be detected. Each electric line  20  connected to the touch electrodes  17  has the multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal film. Therefore, the line resistance of the electric line  20  is less than the line resistances of the touch electrodes  17  that are prepared from the transparent electrode film. According to the configuration, the higher sensitively in position detection can be maintained. Each electric line  20  has the dimension from the back plate surface of the cover glass  113  greater than that of the touch electrodes  17 . The electric line  20  may create a large step in the light transmissive fixing layer  114 . Because the clearance C 1  is provided between the light transmissive fixing layer  114  and the electric line  20 , the light transmissive fixing layer  114  is less likely to have the step resulting from the electric line  20 . Therefore, the stress is less likely to be exerted on the section of the liquid crystal panel  111  closer to the space between the electric line  20  and the polarizing plate  112  and thus the display defects are less likely to be created. 
     Other Embodiments 
     The technology described herein is not limited to the embodiments described above and with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments may be included in the technical scope. 
     (1) The clearance C 1  may be altered where appropriate. The distance C 2  may be altered where appropriate. The difference between the clearance C 1  and the distance C 2  may be altered where appropriate. The clearance C 1 , the distance C 2 , and the difference may be defined based on the positioning error. The clearance C 1 , the distance C 2 , and the difference may be reduced as the accuracy in positioning increases. 
     (2) The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  and the light transmissive fixing layer  14  or the electric line  20  and the light transmissive fixing layer  114  may overlap each other as long as they are separated from each other with the clearance C 1 . 
     (3) The TAC film included in the polarizing layer may have the retardation function and the retardation layer may be omitted. The configuration of the polarizing plates  12  or  112  may be altered where appropriate. Alternatively, polarizing plate without the retardation functions may be used. 
     (4) The structural members are not limited to those having the light blocking properties. The technology described herein may be applied to structural members having light transmitting properties. At least sections of the electric lines  20  in the second embodiment may be prepared from a single layer of the transparent electrode film or a single layer of a metal mesh film to have the light transmitting properties. The at least sections of the electric lines  20  may have a multilayer structure of the transparent electrode film and the metal mesh film. 
     (5) The Light transmissive fixing layers  14  and  114  may he made of light curing resin that is curable by light in a wavelength range other than the ultraviolet ray, for example, visible light. The light transmissive fixing layers  14  and  114  may be made of thermosetting resin. 
     (6) The frame-shaped light blocking member may be disposed to partially overlap the front polarizing plate  112  along the perimeter of the front polarizing plate  112 . 
     (7) The arrangement or the number of the electric lines  20  in the outer edge section of the cover glass  113  in the second embodiment may be altered where appropriate. For example, only the innermost electric line  20  may overlap the front polarizing plate  112 . The electric lines  20  may extend the entire perimeter of the outer edge section of the cover glass  113 . 
     (8) The touch panel pattern may be prepared from a metal mesh film. 
     (9) The frame-shaped light blocking member  15  in the first embodiment may be formed on the cover glass  113 . In this case, the electric lines  20  and the frame-shaped light blocking member  15  may be referred to as the structural members in the second embodiment. 
     (10) The technology described herein may be applied to mutual capacitance type touch panel patterns. The technology described herein may be applied to touch electrodes having two dimensional shapes other than the diamond shape including rectangular shaped, round shapes, pentagonal shapes, and polygonal shapes other than the pentagonal shapes. 
     (11) The glass materials of the CF substrate  11 A, the array substrate  11 B, and the cover glasses  13  and  113  may be altered where appropriate. The CF substrate  11 A, the array substrate  11 B, and the cover glasses  13  and  113  may be made of material other than glass (e.g., synthetic resin). 
     (12) The liquid crystal panels  11  and  111  may be configured to operate in FFS mode, TN mode, VA mode, or RTN mode. 
     (13) The two dimensional shape of the liquid crystal display devices  10 ,  110  (and the liquid crystal panels  11  and  111  or the backlight unit EL) may be altered to vertically-long rectangular shapes, square shapes, oval shapes, elliptical shapes, round shapes, trapezoidal shapes, or shapes including curves. 
     (14) The technology described herein may be applied to other types of display panels such as organic EL panels, micro capsule type electrophoretic display (EPD) panels, and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) display panels.