JP2000227602A - Liquid crystal device, electronic appliance and projection type display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device in which a uniform lateral electric field is generated in the horizontal direction along a glass substrate and liquid crystal molecules can be accurately controlled, and when the device is a scattering type liquid crystal device, the cell thickness is enough to enhance the optical characteristics, by forming plural columnar electrodes on one substrate of a pair of substrates. SOLUTION: In this device, plural columnar electrodes are formed on one substrate of a pair of substrates. For example, when a square pixel region is formed on an active matrix substrate la, columnar electrodes A1 are formed as first electrodes on each vertex of the four corners. Another columnar electrode A2 is disposed as a second electrode at the center of the pixel region, namely, at the position corresponding to the crossing point of lines connecting diagonal vertexes. In the liquid crystal panel P1, when specified voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2, a lateral electric field F in the horizontal direction along the substrates 1a, 1b is generated, and liquid crystal molecules 2a are aligned almost parallel to the glass substrate 1a, 1b by the lateral electric field F.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device used for a display device of electronic equipment such as a notebook personal computer and a portable game machine, and to such electronic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various electronic devices such as a notebook personal computer, a portable game machine and an electronic organizer, a liquid crystal device which is thin and lightweight and consumes little power is frequently used as a display unit.

As a liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal display using a field effect type optical rotation mode and a birefringence mode is generally applied. In each case, the movement of liquid crystal molecules is controlled by a vertical electric field perpendicular to a glass substrate. Was.

However, in a system in which liquid crystal molecules are controlled by a vertical electric field in a direction perpendicular to the glass substrate, when the liquid crystal molecules rise up obliquely, the optical characteristics change depending on the viewing angle of the viewer, and the floor height increases. There is an inconvenience that there is a viewing angle dependency, such as occurrence of tonal reversal and reduction of contrast.

In order to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, an operation mode (IPS: In-Plane Swipe) in which a horizontal electric field is generated in a horizontal direction with respect to a glass substrate and liquid crystal molecules are controlled by the horizontal electric field.
A liquid crystal device to which the (ching mode) is applied has been developed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the display principle of the IPS mode. In the IPS mode, a liquid crystal layer 43 is sandwiched between a pair of opposed glass substrates 40a and 40b, and a pixel electrode 42a formed on the liquid crystal layer side of the glass substrate 40a.
The horizontal electric field D (D1, D2, D
3) is generated.

FIG. 1A shows a state where there is no electric field between the electrodes 42a and 42b, and FIG. 2B shows a state where there is a horizontal electric field D between the electrodes 42a and 42b. As can be seen from this state, in the absence of the electric field D, the liquid crystal molecules 43a
Are oriented in the same direction parallel to the substrate surface, and in the state where the electric field D is present, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the direction of the electric field. In this manner, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes 42a and 42b, a normally black mode in which the light L incident from above is transmitted through the liquid crystal 43 and emitted downward is obtained.

According to the IPS mode, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated in parallel to the glass substrate, so that the viewing angle dependency, in which the optical characteristics change depending on the viewing angle of the viewer, is suppressed, and from which direction Also, a good image can be obtained.

[0009]

However, in the conventional IPS mode, a comb-shaped electrode is formed on the glass substrate 40a, and the liquid crystal located immediately above the electrode cannot be controlled by an electric field. The transmission state of light can be controlled by changing the tilt of the liquid crystal by the electric field only between the pixel electrodes. For this reason, the aperture ratio cannot be increased, and this is one of the factors that hinder the improvement of optical characteristics such as contrast.

The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above problems, and can generate a uniform horizontal electric field in a horizontal direction with respect to a glass substrate to accurately control liquid crystal molecules. In a scattering type liquid crystal device, it is a main object to provide a liquid crystal device capable of improving optical characteristics by sufficiently increasing a cell thickness, and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, a liquid crystal device according to the present invention comprises a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates. Are formed with a plurality of columnar electrodes. In addition,
The plurality of columnar electrodes control alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.

According to this, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer can be rotated horizontally with respect to the substrate and accurately controlled by the uniform lateral electric field generated between the columnar electrodes. Therefore, the phenomenon that the optical characteristics are different can be greatly reduced, and the viewing angle dependency can be improved.

It is preferable that the height of the columnar electrode is substantially equal to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. According to this, the strength of the lateral electric field can be kept uniform and high parallel regardless of the distance from the substrate. Therefore, the cell thickness can be increased, and the aperture ratio can be increased as compared with the IPS method. TN
The viewing angle can be wider than in the system. Furthermore, the display can be made bright because it can be applied to the scattering mode and the scattering layer can be made thick.

The columnar electrode is composed of a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first electrode is preferably arranged at each vertex of a pixel such that one pixel has a polygonal shape. .

It is preferable that the second electrode is arranged substantially at the center of the pixel.

Thus, a horizontal electric field in the pixel can be generated uniformly, and the horizontal electric field is generated by the first electrode disposed at each vertex of the pixel and the second electrode disposed substantially at the center of the pixel.
It is possible to avoid a situation in which a horizontal electric field affects each other between adjacent pixels, and to increase contrast and the like, since the risk of occurrence between the electrodes and leakage from the pixel region is low.

More specifically, the pixel has a quadrangular shape, the first electrode is disposed at a position corresponding to four vertices on the quadrilateral, and the second electrode is It can be configured to be arranged at a position corresponding to an intersection of a line segment connecting diagonal vertices of a rectangle.
Thereby, the viewing angle dependence can be eliminated while following the conventional pixel shape, and the cell thickness can be increased to further enhance the optical characteristics such as the aperture ratio.

[0018] The pixel may have a hexagonal shape, and the first electrode may be arranged at a position corresponding to six vertices on the hexagon.

Further, the second electrode may be arranged at a position corresponding to an intersection of a line connecting diagonal vertexes of the hexagon.

As a result, the viewing angle dependence can be eliminated, and the cell thickness can be increased to further enhance the optical characteristics such as the aperture ratio.

The microlens can be arranged on one of the pair of substrates. Thereby, the light collection rate can be increased.

Further, by forming a light-shielding film on the end surface of the columnar electrode on the one substrate side, it is possible to make the shadow of the electrode invisible on the display screen.

Further, a light-shielding film is formed on an end surface of the columnar electrode on the one substrate side of the second electrode, thereby avoiding a situation where a shadow of the second electrode is seen on a display screen. Is possible.

It is preferable that the first electrodes be common electrodes having the same potential as each other. In this case, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the potential is affected between adjacent pixels.

The columnar electrode may be formed by depositing chromium or aluminum by a sputtering method, or may be formed of a spherical member formed of Au, Ag, or Cu, and the spherical member may be fixed at a predetermined position by a sealing material. It can be fixedly formed. Thereby, a desired columnar electrode can be easily formed.

The liquid crystal layer may be a nematic liquid crystal and at least one of the substrates may be provided with a polarizing plate, or the liquid crystal layer may be a composite layer comprising a polymer and a liquid crystal. .

By applying the above-described liquid crystal device as a display device of various electronic devices, it is possible to provide a bright and clear liquid crystal display with little dependence on viewing angle.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel P1) according to the present embodiment. FIG.
(A) is a plan view of the liquid crystal device, and (b) is HH ′ of (a).
It is a sectional perspective view in a cross section. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration and a display principle of a main part of a liquid crystal panel P1 as a liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a pixel shape and an arrangement example of electrodes of the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment. FIG.

In the present liquid crystal device, an active matrix substrate 1a and a counter substrate 1b are bonded together with a sealant 40, and for example, a nematic liquid crystal is injected between these two substrates to form a liquid crystal layer 2.

On the active matrix substrate 1a made of glass, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) (not shown) made of polysilicon as a switching element,
And Al, T
A wiring layer (not shown) formed by laminating a composite material containing a or Al or Ta as a main component is formed. Polarizing plates 3a, 3b are provided on the surfaces of the substrates 1a, 1b opposite to the liquid crystal layer 2.
b are arranged respectively.

When, for example, a rectangular pixel area G1 as shown in FIG. 3A is formed on the active matrix substrate 1a, a columnar electrode A1 as a first electrode is provided at each of the four vertices. Are respectively formed.

A columnar electrode A2 as a second electrode is disposed substantially at the center of the pixel area G1, that is, at a position corresponding to an intersection of a line connecting diagonal vertices.

Each of the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 is made of, for example, Cr
Or Al is deposited and formed by sputtering.

A light-shielding film (black mask) 4 is provided on the end surface of the columnar electrode A2 on the substrate 1b side to make the presence of the electrode inconspicuous. Further, the substrates 1a, 1b
Vertical alignment films 6a and 6b made of a polyimide resin, a silane coupling agent, or the like are formed on the surface on the liquid crystal layer 2 side.

Are set at the same potential as each other, and are used as common electrodes (common electrodes).
The ON / OFF state of the liquid crystal array is controlled by a switching element such as a TFT formed on the glass substrate 1a by a voltage applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2.

In the liquid crystal panel P1 thus configured, in a state where no voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 (FIG. 2A), the liquid crystal molecules 2a, 2a. It is oriented almost vertically, and is in a state where the external light L is not transmitted by the function of the polarizing plates 3a and 3b.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, when a predetermined voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2, a horizontal electric field F is generated in the horizontal direction with respect to the substrate, and the liquid crystal molecules 2a and 2a are generated. 2
a ... are the glass substrates 1a, 1
It is oriented almost parallel to b.

Thus, a normally black mode display in which the light L incident from above is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 2 and emitted downward can be performed.

In this case, the liquid crystal molecules 2a are oriented radially and symmetrically about the columnar electrode A2 arranged at the center of the pixel shown in FIG. The optical characteristics do not change even if the angle changes, and it is possible to always obtain a good image without inverting display or lowering the contrast from any angle.

That is, the control of the liquid crystal molecules 2a by the lateral electric field F can greatly reduce the viewing angle dependency.

Further, the horizontal electric field F is caused by the columnar electrodes A1 and A2.
Since the electric field can be applied uniformly at any position of the electrode between the electrodes, the electric field strength becomes weaker as the distance from the electrode increases and the controllability of the liquid crystal molecules decreases as in the conventional IPS system. (See FIG. 11).

Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, the horizontal electric field F is applied uniformly at any position between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 even if the distance (cell thickness) between the substrates 1a and 1b is sufficient. Thus, the liquid crystal molecules 2a can be accurately controlled. Furthermore, there is also an effect that the design margin is widened because the design restrictions due to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer are eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a plurality of pixel regions G1 can be arranged vertically and horizontally to form a screen having a predetermined area.

In this case, the columnar electrodes A1, A1,... As common electrodes are formed one at each vertex of each pixel region G1, G1,. Are arranged substantially at the centers of G1, G1,....

Here, the wiring structure of the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the wiring structure of the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 in each pixel region G1.

FIG. 4A shows the structure of a columnar electrode A1 serving as a common electrode, and a polarizing plate 3a is provided on the lower surface of the glass substrate 1a.

On the active matrix substrate 1a,
For example, a diameter of about 5
A columnar electrode A1 having a height of about 20 μm and a height of about 20 μm is formed.

On the upper surface of the active matrix substrate 1a, a vertical alignment film 6a made of a polyimide resin or a silane coupling agent is formed.

A polarizing plate 3b is provided on the upper surface of the glass substrate 1b, and a color filter 5 is provided on the lower surface of the glass substrate 1b.

A transparent electrode 7 made of ITO is formed on the surface of the color filter 5, and is in electrical contact with the upper surface of the columnar electrode A1.

On the surface of the transparent electrode 7, a vertical alignment film 6b made of a polyimide resin or a silane coupling agent is formed.

With the above-described configuration, the pixel area G
1 arranged at each vertex of the
The same potential is maintained through the transparent electrodes 7 connected to each other.

FIG. 4B shows the configuration of a columnar electrode A2 formed substantially at the center of the pixel area G1. Note that the same components as those in FIG. 4A are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

On the upper surface of the active matrix substrate 1a, connection lines 8 made of Cr or the like by a sputtering method or the like are formed. The connection line 8 is connected to a switching element such as a TFT connected to the source line 500 and the gate line 501 as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal molecules are controlled by the voltage applied to the electrode A2.

On the active matrix substrate 1a, columnar electrodes A2 electrically connected to the connection lines 8 are formed, for example, by C.
A diameter of about 5 μm and a height of about 5 μm are formed by depositing r or Al by sputtering. The configuration of the glass substrate 1b is a configuration without the transparent electrode 7.

Thus, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the columnar electrode A2 via the connection line 8 by turning on / off a switching element such as a TFT, a uniform horizontal voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1, A1,. The electric field F is formed, and the liquid crystal molecules 2a can be accurately controlled.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a liquid crystal panel P2 as a liquid crystal device according to a second embodiment and a display principle. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

In the liquid crystal panel P2 according to the second embodiment, a configuration in which a composite layer composed of liquid crystal and a polymer is sandwiched in place of the liquid crystal layer 2 of the nematic liquid crystal in the first embodiment will be described. Here, a configuration in which polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) 20a, 20a,... Are sandwiched between an active matrix substrate 1a and a counter substrate 1b as a composite layer will be described as an example.

As described above, when PDLC is used, P
From the characteristics of the DLC, the polarizing plates 3a, 3
b is unnecessary.

The columnar electrodes A1, A1,... Are common electrodes (common electrodes) having the same potential as each other, and the columnar electrodes A1, A2,.
The ON / OFF of the voltage between them is controlled by a switching element such as a TFT formed on the active matrix substrate 1a, for example.

That is, when no voltage is applied, the “transmission state”
In the voltage application state, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 20a is arranged radially around the center columnar electrode A1, resulting in a “scattering state” (see FIGS. 6A and 6B).

The liquid crystal panel P2 constructed as described above
In the state where no voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 (FIG. 6A), the liquid crystal molecules 20a and the polymer 2
0b is oriented almost perpendicular to the substrate surface,
Since the refractive index at the boundary between a and the polymer 20b is substantially the same, the external light L is in a transmission state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when a predetermined voltage is applied between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2, a horizontal electric field F is generated in the horizontal direction with respect to the substrate, and the liquid crystal molecules 20a,
20a are glass substrates 1a,
1b.

Since the alignment of the polymer 20b hardly changes even when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecule 20a and the polymer 20b are not changed.
A difference occurs in the refractive index at the boundary of b, and the external light L is scattered, whereby the transmission state and the scattering state, that is, ON / OFF of the display can be controlled.

In this case, since the voltage required for driving the liquid crystal does not depend on the cell thickness, even if the distance (cell thickness) between the substrates 1a and 1b is sufficient, the voltage is generated evenly between the columnar electrodes A1 and A2. The liquid crystal molecules 20a can be accurately controlled by the horizontal electric field F.

Assuming that there is no influence of absorption in the liquid crystal layer, the scattering becomes stronger as the liquid crystal layer is thicker. Therefore, by making the scattering layer by the liquid crystal layer 20 sufficiently thick, a high scattering effect can be obtained, and it is bright and easy to see. Display is possible.

Here, the example using the polymer dispersion type liquid crystal in the reverse mode (scattering when voltage is applied and transparent when no voltage is applied) has been described. However, the normal mode (transparent when voltage is applied and scattering when no voltage is applied) is used. The same effect can be obtained even if it is used. Also, when using the normal mode,
The alignment films 6a and 6b become unnecessary.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing the shape of a pixel region of a liquid crystal device according to a third embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a hexagonal pixel area G2 is employed instead of the square pixel area G1 in the first and second embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the shape of the pixel area G2 is hexagonal, columnar electrodes A1, A1,... A2 is arranged.

As a result, a horizontal electric field F can be generated in the columnar electrodes A1 and A2, and the liquid crystal molecules can be accurately controlled by the horizontal electric field F in the same manner as in the above embodiment. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7B, a screen having a predetermined area can be configured by arranging a plurality of hexagonal pixel regions G2 vertically and horizontally.

When the liquid crystal panel having the hexagonal shape of the pixel area G2 is used as a transmissive light valve, the plan view shown in FIG. 7C and the plan view shown in FIG. As described in the cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 3, the light collection efficiency can be improved by arranging the microlenses M corresponding to the respective pixel regions G2.

The shape of the pixel area is not limited to the square or hexagon shown in the above embodiment, but may be another polygon. In such a case, the columnar electrodes A1, A1,... Are formed at the respective vertices of the polygon, and the columnar electrode A2 is disposed substantially at the center.

Since the shape of the microlens is circular, the more polygonal the shape becomes, the closer the shape becomes to a circular shape.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid crystal device according to a fourth embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the columnar electrodes A1,
Instead of forming A2 by depositing Cr or Al by sputtering as in the first, second, and third embodiments, for example, A2
A metal sphere made of u, Ag or Cu is sandwiched between glass substrates to form electrodes.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the polarizing plates 3a, 3a
.. formed of Au, Ag or Cu having a diameter of about 5 μm between the glass substrates 1 a and 1 b respectively provided with a pixel having a square shape in FIG. 3 or a hexagonal shape in FIG. The columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are arranged at each vertex of the region and at a position substantially at the center thereof.

In this case, fixing members 10a, 10b are applied to the respective surfaces of the glass substrates 1a, 1b on the liquid crystal layer 2 side, and the spherical members 9, 9,... Are solidified by fixing the fixing members 10a, 10b.
・ Fix. This makes it possible to easily and quickly form the columnar electrodes A1 and A2.

In addition, any other method can be adopted as long as the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 having a height extending between the glass substrates 1a and 1b can be formed.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a main part of a reflection type liquid crystal device according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal device.

FIG. 4 referred to in the description of the first embodiment.
The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 9A, an Al, Cr or dielectric multilayer film 600 is formed on the surface of the vertical alignment film 6b, and a reflection film is formed on the counter substrate 1b side. In this case, it functions as a reflection type liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel P3a) by allowing light to enter from the active matrix substrate 1a side.

Further, Al, Cr or dielectric multilayer film 60
A reflective liquid crystal device can also be obtained by changing the transparent electrode 7 to a reflective electrode film of Al or Cr instead of forming 0.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 9B, the surface of the vertical alignment film 6a is coated with Al, Cr or the dielectric multilayer film 6a.
No. 01 is formed, and a reflection film is formed on the active matrix substrate 1a side. In this case, it functions as a reflection type liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel P3b) by making light incident from the counter substrate 1b side.

In the structure of the liquid crystal device described above,
Although the mode in which the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned in the initial state has been described, the present invention can be applied to a mode in which the liquid crystal molecules are horizontally aligned with respect to the substrate.

As a mode in which liquid crystal molecules are horizontally aligned,
TN mode in which liquid crystal molecules are twisted at almost 90 degrees,
An STN mode in which the liquid crystal molecules are twisted at an angle of 120 degrees or more, a mode in which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in parallel without twist, and the like can be applied.

In these modes, when an electric field is applied to the columnar electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged radially around the electrodes arranged in the pixels as in the above-described embodiment. The off state and the on state of the display are controlled by the initial state and the voltage application state.

Next, an example of the configuration of an electronic apparatus or the like to which the liquid crystal device according to the above embodiment is applied will be described.

An electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal device includes a display information output source 1010, a display information processing circuit 1011 and a display driving circuit 1012 shown in FIG. 12, and a display panel 1013 such as a liquid crystal panel P as the liquid crystal device. , A clock generation circuit 1014, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM,
It is configured to include a tuning circuit that tunes and outputs a television signal, and outputs display information such as a video signal based on a clock from a clock generation circuit 1014.

The display information processing circuit 1011 processes and outputs display information based on the clock from the clock generation circuit 1014. The display information processing circuit 1011 can include, for example, an amplification / polarity inversion circuit, a phase expansion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a clamp circuit, and the like. The display driving circuit 1012 includes a scanning side driving circuit and a data side driving circuit, and drives the liquid crystal panel 1013 for display. The power supply circuit 1015 supplies power to each of the above circuits.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic apparatus having such a configuration.
A liquid crystal projector using the transmissive liquid crystal panels P1 and P2 shown in FIG. 3, a reflective liquid crystal panel P3a shown in FIG.
There are a liquid crystal projector using P3b, an electronic device having the liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel) shown in FIG. 15 as a display, and the like.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a liquid crystal projector using a transmissive liquid crystal panel P1 or P2. In the figure, 1020 is a light source, 1023a, 1023
b is a dichroic mirror, 1024a, 1024b,
1024c is a reflection mirror, 1025a, 1025b, 1
025c is a relay lens, 1026R, 1026G, 1
Reference numeral 026B denotes a transmission type liquid crystal light valve, 1500 denotes a micro lens array, 1027 denotes a cross dichroic prism, and 1028 denotes a projection lens.

The above three transmission type liquid crystal light valves 10
Each of 26R, 1026G, and 1026B has a transmissive type in which columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are formed at the respective vertices of the pixel region such as the square shape in FIG. 3 or the hexagonal shape in FIG. Liquid crystal panels P1 and P2 are used.

The micro lens array 1500 is the same as that shown in FIG.
The microlenses M shown in (c) are arranged vertically and horizontally corresponding to each pixel. This micro lens array 1
Reference numeral 500 denotes a hexagonal pixel region G2 particularly approximated to a circle.
It can be expected that the light collection efficiency can be further improved by combining the above.

The light source 1020 includes a lamp 1021 such as a metal halide and a reflector 1022 that reflects the light of the lamp.
Consists of The dichroic mirror 1023a that reflects blue light and green light transmits red light of the white light flux from the light source 1020 and reflects blue light and green light. The transmitted red light is reflected by the reflection mirror 1024c, and is incident on the liquid crystal light valve for red light 1026R via the micro lens array 1500.

On the other hand, among the color lights reflected by the dichroic mirror 1023a, the green light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 1023b which reflects green light, and passes through the microlens array 1500 to the liquid crystal light valve 1 for green light.
026G.

The blue light also passes through the second dichroic mirror 23b. For blue light, a light guiding means 1030 composed of a relay lens system including an incident lens 1025a, a relay lens 1025b, and an emission lens 1025c is provided to prevent light loss due to a long optical path. Blue light is incident on the liquid crystal light valve for blue light 1026B.

The three color lights modulated by the respective light valves enter the cross dichroic prism 1027. This prism has four right-angle prisms bonded together, and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects red light and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects blue light are formed in a cross shape on the inner surface.
The three color lights are combined by these dielectric multilayer films to form light representing a color image. The combined light is projected on a screen 1029 by a projection lens 1028, which is a projection optical system, and an image is displayed in an enlarged manner.

The electronic apparatus according to this example uses the transmission type liquid crystal panel P1 or P2 in which the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are formed as shown in the above embodiment, as the transmission type liquid crystal light valves 1026R, 1026G and 1026B. The liquid crystal molecules can be accurately controlled by a horizontal electric field having a uniform electric field strength, and the aperture ratio can be increased; and
In the scattering type, a bright and high-quality image can be provided by sufficiently increasing the cell thickness to enhance the scattering performance.

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural view of a main part of a liquid crystal projector using a reflection type liquid crystal panel as viewed in plan.

In the figure, reference numeral 1110 denotes a light source section arranged along the system optical axis L, 1120 denotes an integrator lens, 11
Reference numeral 30 denotes a polarization conversion element, and a light source unit 1110, an integrator lens 1120, and a polarization conversion element 1130 constitute a polarization illumination device 1100.

In the figure, reference numeral 1150 denotes an S-polarized light beam reflecting surface;
1140 is a polarizing beam splitter, 1160a, 116
0b is a dichroic mirror, 1170R, 1170
G, 1170B is a reflective liquid crystal light valve, 1180
Denotes a projection lens, and 1190 denotes a screen.

The above three reflective liquid crystal light valves 11
As described above, 70R, 1170G, and 1170B each have a reflection type in which columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are formed at the vertices of a pixel region such as the square shape in FIG. 2 or the hexagonal shape in FIG. The liquid crystal panel P3a or P3b is used.

The randomly polarized light beam emitted from the light source unit 1110 is split into a plurality of intermediate light beams by the integrator lens 1120, and the polarization direction is substantially changed by the polarization conversion element 1130 having the second integrator lens on the light incident side. After being converted into one kind of polarized light beam (S-polarized light beam), the light beam reaches the polarizing beam splitter 1140.

The S-polarized light beam emitted from the polarization conversion element 1130 is reflected by the S-polarized light beam reflecting surface 1150 of the polarizing beam splitter 1140, and the blue light (B) light beam among the reflected light beams is a dichroic mirror 116.
The light is reflected by the blue light reflection layer 0a and modulated by the reflection type liquid crystal light valve 1170B.

[0107] Among the light beams transmitted through the blue light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1160a, the light beam of red light (R) is reflected by the red light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1160b, and is modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valve 1170R. You.

On the other hand, the light flux of green light (G) transmitted through the red light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1160b is modulated by the reflection type liquid crystal light valve 1170G. Thus, each of the reflective liquid crystal light valves 1170
The color light is modulated by R, 1170G, and 1170B. Among the color lights reflected from the pixels of these reflective liquid crystal panels, the S-polarized light component does not pass through the polarization beam splitter 1140 that reflects the S-polarized light, and the P-polarized light component does.

The light transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 1140 forms light representing an image. The synthesized light is projected on a screen 1190 by a projection lens 1180, which is a projection optical system, and an image is enlarged and displayed.

The electronic apparatus according to this example uses, as the reflective liquid crystal light valves 1026R, 1026G, and 1026B, the reflective liquid crystal panels P3a and P3b on which the columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are formed as described in the above embodiment. The liquid crystal molecules can be accurately controlled by a horizontal electric field having a uniform electric field strength, and the aperture ratio can be increased; and
In the scattering type, a bright and high-quality image can be provided by sufficiently increasing the cell thickness to enhance the scattering performance.

Also, personal computers, word processors, pagers, mobile phones, and the like, as electronic devices having transmissive and reflective liquid crystal panels as displays.
TV, viewfinder type or monitor direct view type video tape recorder, electronic organizer, electronic desk calculator, wristwatch,
Examples thereof include a car navigation device, a POS terminal, and a device having a touch panel.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing a mobile phone. Reference numeral 200 denotes a mobile phone body, of which 201
Is a liquid crystal display section using the reflection type liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 15B is a diagram showing a portable information processing device such as a word processor or a personal computer. Reference numeral 300 denotes an information processing device, 301 denotes an input unit such as a keyboard, 302 denotes a display unit using a reflective liquid crystal panel as a liquid crystal device according to the present invention, and 303 denotes an information processing device main body.

FIG. 15C shows a wristwatch-type electronic device 40.
FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes a liquid crystal display unit using the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment.

Since each electronic device uses a transmissive liquid crystal panel P on which columnar electrodes A1 and A2 are formed as shown in the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules are generated by a horizontal electric field having a uniform electric field intensity. Can be controlled accurately,
By increasing the aperture ratio and, in the case of the scattering type, by sufficiently increasing the cell thickness to enhance the scattering performance, a bright and easy-to-view display can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional perspective view of an embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a schematic configuration and a display principle of a liquid crystal panel as a first embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a pixel shape and an arrangement of electrodes of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows columnar electrodes A1 and A in each pixel region G1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second wiring structure.

FIG. 5 shows columnar electrodes A1 and A in each pixel region G1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a wiring structure of No. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration and a display principle of a liquid crystal panel as a liquid crystal device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of pixel shapes and electrode arrangements of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a wiring structure of columnar electrodes A1 and A2 of a liquid crystal device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a wiring structure of columnar electrodes A1 and A2 in each pixel region of a reflection type liquid crystal device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a reflective liquid crystal device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display principle in an IPS mode.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a video projector as an example of a projection display device in which the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment is applied as a transmissive light valve.

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view of a video projector as an example of a projection display device in which the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment is applied as a reflection type light valve.

FIGS. 15 (a), (b) and (c) are external views each showing an example of an electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

P1, P2, P3a, P3b Liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel) A1 First columnar electrode (common electrode) A2 Second columnar electrode F Lateral electric field L Light 1a, 1b Glass substrate 2 Liquid crystal layer 2a Liquid crystal molecules 3a, 3b Polarizer G1 square pixel area 5 color filter 6a, 6b vertical alignment film 7 transparent electrode 8 signal line G2 hexagonal pixel area 9 spherical members 10a, 10b fixing material 40 sealing material

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H089 HA04 LA09 NA02 NA14 QA16 RA05 SA01 TA02 TA04 TA09 TA12 TA13 TA16 2H090 HB08Y KA11 LA04 LA12 LA15 MA01 MB01 2H092 GA13 HA02 HA04 JA24 JB05 JB07 JB24 JB33 KA04 KB13 MA05 NA01 NA07 PA08 PA09 PA11 QA07 QA15 RA05

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of columnar electrodes are formed on one of the pair of substrates. 2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of columnar electrodes control alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. 3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the columnar electrode is substantially equal to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the columnar electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first electrode is arranged at each vertex of the pixel such that one pixel has a polygonal shape. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The pixel according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is disposed substantially at the center of the pixel.
A liquid crystal device according to any one of the above. 6. The pixel has a quadrangular shape, the first electrode is disposed at a position corresponding to four vertices on the quadrangle, and the second electrode is located on a diagonal of the quadrangle. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal device is arranged at a position corresponding to an intersection of a line connecting the vertices. 7. The pixel according to claim 4, wherein said pixel has a hexagonal shape, and said first electrode is arranged at a position corresponding to six vertexes on said hexagon.
A liquid crystal device according to any one of the above. 8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7, wherein the second electrode is disposed at a position corresponding to an intersection of a line connecting diagonal vertexes of the hexagon. 9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a microlens is arranged on one of the pair of substrates. 10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a light-shielding film is formed on an end surface of the columnar electrode on the one substrate side. 11. The liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein a light-shielding film is formed on an end surface of the second electrode of the columnar electrodes on the one substrate side. 12. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a common electrode. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the columnar electrode is made of chromium or aluminum.
3. The liquid crystal device according to any one of 2. 14. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the columnar electrode is formed of a spherical member made of Au, Ag, and Cu. 15. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal layer is formed of a nematic liquid crystal.
5. The liquid crystal device according to any one of 4. 16. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a polarizing plate is provided on at least one of the substrates. 17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer is a composite layer including a polymer and a liquid crystal.
6. The liquid crystal device according to any one of 5. 18. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1 as a display device. 19. A light source, a liquid crystal device configured to modulate light from the light source and transmitting or reflecting the light, and a front or rear side of the liquid crystal device. A projection-type display device, comprising: at least a microlens array arranged to increase a light-condensing rate, and projection optical means for condensing and modulating and projecting light modulated by the liquid crystal device.