JP2004234017A - Liquid crystal device and projection display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent incident light from a direction reverse to a distinct vision direction from becoming involved in display in a liquid crystal device and a projection display device using the same as a light valve. <P>SOLUTION: A microlens (41) of the liquid crystal device (1) has a planer plane on a light incident side and a planer plane on a light-emitting side, and is composed of a high-refractive index layer formed on the light incident side of one substrate and a low-refractive index layer formed in contact with the high-refractive index layer. The low-refractive index layer is made thicker from the central side of a pixel toward the distinct vision direction and is made thinner toward the direction reverse to the distinct vision direction and the high-refractive index layer is made thinner from the central side of the pixel toward the distinct vision direction and is made thicker toward the direction reverse to distinct vision direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal sealed between a pair of substrates is twisted and aligned between the substrates, and to a projection display device using the liquid crystal liquid crystal device as a light valve. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology for improving contrast in a display device using a liquid crystal device.

A liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal (TN liquid crystal / twisted nematic mode liquid crystal) sealed between a pair of substrates is twisted and aligned between the substrates is mounted as a light valve on a projection display device, for example. . In this type of projection display device, for example, generally, light of three primary colors of red, blue, and green is formed through a liquid crystal device for each color to form an image component, and these image components are combined to form a desired color image. Producing and projecting.
The configuration of a conventional liquid crystal device used for such a display device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 27 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a conventional liquid crystal device.

  As shown in FIG. 27, in the liquid crystal device 1, a transparent pixel electrode 8, an alignment film 46, a thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a TFT) for pixel switching (not shown), a data line (not shown), and a scanning line An active matrix substrate 20 on which a capacitor 91 and a capacitance line 92 are formed, a counter substrate 30 on which a transparent counter electrode 32 and an alignment film 47 are formed, and a liquid crystal 39 sealed and sandwiched between these substrates. It is configured. As the liquid crystal 39 sealed therein, a TN (twisted nematic) mode liquid crystal that is twisted and aligned at 90 ° between the substrates by the alignment films 46 and 47 is widely used. In the liquid crystal device 1 configured as described above, the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39 between the pixel electrode 8 and the counter electrode 32 is changed by the image signal applied from the data line to the pixel electrode 8 via the TFT on the active matrix substrate 20. Can be controlled. Therefore, in the transmissive liquid crystal device 1, the light incident from the counter substrate 30 side is adjusted to a predetermined linearly polarized light by the incident side polarizing plate (not shown), and then the light is input from the counter substrate 30 side. The linearly polarized light that enters the liquid crystal 39 and passes through a certain region is emitted from the active matrix substrate 20 with its transmission polarization axis twisted, while the linearly polarized light that has passed through another region has its transmission polarization axis twisted. The light is emitted from the active matrix substrate 20 side without being emitted. Therefore, the light passing through the exit-side polarizing plate (not shown) is a linearly polarized light whose polarization axis is twisted by the liquid crystal 39 or a straight line whose polarization axis is not twisted by the liquid crystal 39. One of polarized light. Therefore, predetermined information can be displayed by controlling these polarization states for each pixel.

  Here, when light incident from the side of the counter substrate 30 enters the TFT channel region or is reflected by the TFT channel region, such light not only does not contribute to display but also causes a photoelectric current due to a photoelectric conversion effect. Occurs, and the transistor characteristics of the TFT deteriorate. For this reason, on the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30, a black matrix made of a metal material such as chromium or resin black or a first black mask called a black mask is formed so as to overlap the region between the adjacent pixel electrodes 8. Light-shielding film 6 and second light-shielding film 7 may be formed. With such a configuration, in the liquid crystal device 1, the first and second openings defined by the first light-shielding film 6 and the second light-shielding film 7 in both the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30. Light is transmitted only through the regions 21 and 31, and light is blocked by the first light-shielding film 6 and the second light-shielding film 7 in other regions, so that strong light enters or is reflected by the channel region of the TFT 10. Can be prevented.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 having such a configuration, the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20 and the second light-shielding film 7 of the counter substrate 30 are formed in substantially overlapping regions.

  For this reason, the first opening region 31 of the active matrix substrate 20 and the second opening region 21 of the counter substrate 30 have the same center position 211, 311. As another example of the conventional liquid crystal device, although not shown, a microlens is formed on the counter substrate 30 to condense light incident on the liquid crystal device, thereby increasing the light use efficiency. . That is, in the example shown in FIG. 27, a part of the light incident from the opposing substrate 30 is blocked by the second light-shielding film 7 and does not contribute to display, but if a microlens is formed on the opposing substrate 30 side, The light blocked by the second light-shielding film 7 also enters the liquid crystal 39, so that the amount of light contributing to display increases.

  When a microlens (not shown) is formed on the opposing substrate 30 in this manner, the optical center position of the microlens is also adjusted to the center positions 211 and 311 of the active matrix substrate 20 and the opening regions 21 and 31 of the opposing substrate 30. By forming the microlenses so as to overlap with each other, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of light contributing to display. Therefore, the liquid crystal device 1 with high reliability and capable of performing bright display can be configured.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 configured as described above, the liquid crystal 39 is twisted at 90 ° between the active matrix substrate 20 and the opposing substrate 30, as schematically shown in FIG. is there. Here, in FIG. 28, in order to represent the directions of the substrates 20 and 30, numerals corresponding to the times on a clock are given. In order to impart such a 90 ° twist, after forming a polyimide film or the like to be the alignment films 46 and 47 on the surfaces of the substrates 20 and 30, the rubbing directions are indicated by arrows A and B, respectively, as shown in FIG. After performing a rubbing process in a direction perpendicular to each other between the pair of substrates, the substrates 20 and 30 are attached to each other, and a liquid crystal 39 is filled in a gap therebetween. As a result, the liquid crystal 39 is oriented with its major axis directed in the rubbing direction to the alignment films 46 and 47, and the major axis of the liquid crystal 39 is twisted by 90 ° between the pair of substrates 20 and 30.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 using the liquid crystal 39 twisted and aligned as described above, the contrast characteristic has a directivity depending on the alignment state (major axis direction and major axis tilt) of the liquid crystal 39 located at the center between the substrates 20 and 30. Show. That is, when the liquid crystal 39 is oriented as shown in FIG. 28, as shown in FIG. 29A, the contrast characteristic in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions of the liquid crystal device 1 is centered at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. Shows symmetrical characteristics. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 29B, the contrast characteristic of the liquid crystal device 1 in the direction of 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock has a high contrast in the direction of 6 o'clock, but drops significantly when it deviates therefrom. Therefore, in the direction of 12 o'clock, the contrast is significantly reduced. In such a case, the direction at 6 o'clock is called the clear viewing direction, and the opposite direction is called the reverse clear viewing direction.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30, if only light from the clear visual direction is incident on the liquid crystal device 1 and light from the reverse clear visual direction is not incident on the liquid crystal device 1, a display with high contrast can be performed. Although, in a projection display device or the like, the light emitted from the light source is converted into a parallel light beam in the light guide system, the liquid crystal device 1 is still directed in a direction opposite to the normal direction to the clear visual direction. It is impossible to prevent light from entering from an obliquely inclined direction. As a result, in the conventional liquid crystal device 1, as shown in FIG. 27, of the light incident from the counter substrate 30 side, the light incident from the direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction also inclined in the clear viewing direction. Similarly to the light incident from the direction, the light passes through the layer of the liquid crystal 39 and is emitted from the first opening region 21 of the active matrix substrate 20. Therefore, in the projection type display device using the conventional liquid crystal device 1, there is a problem that the contrast is low because the light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction is also involved in the display.

  In a configuration in which a hemispherical microlens is formed on the counter substrate 30 to increase the light incident on the liquid crystal device, the amount of light incident from the clear viewing direction can be increased. The amount of light incident from the light source increases. For this reason, when micro lenses are formed on the counter substrate 30, the contrast characteristics are reduced.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device capable of improving contrast characteristics by preventing light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction from participating in display. An object of the present invention is to provide a projection type display device using the same as a light valve.

  Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device that can prevent light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction from participating in display and improve light use efficiency, and to use the liquid crystal device as a light valve. An object of the present invention is to provide a projection display device using the same.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a liquid crystal having a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates. In the apparatus, one of the first and second substrates on which light is incident is provided with a microlens corresponding to a pixel, and the microlens has a plane on a light incident side and a plane on an emission side. Further, the microlens comprises a high refractive index layer formed on the light incident surface side of the one substrate, and a low refractive index layer formed in contact with the high refractive index layer; The refractive index layer is thicker from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and thinner toward the reverse clear viewing direction side, and the high refractive index layer is thinner from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side, and It is characterized in that it becomes thicker toward the direction side.

  Further, according to the present invention, in a liquid crystal device including a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates, One of the first and second substrates to be incident is provided with a microlens corresponding to a pixel, and the microlens has a plane on a light incident side and a plane on an emission side, and further, The microlens comprises a low-refractive-index layer formed on the light-incident side of the one substrate, and a high-refractive-index layer formed on the light-exiting side of the substrate in contact with the low-refractive-index layer. The refractive index layer is thinner from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and thicker toward the reverse clear viewing direction side, and the low refractive index layer is thicker from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side, and It is characterized in that it becomes thinner toward the direction side.

  Furthermore, an intermediate refractive index layer formed on the light incident side of the substrate, a high refractive index layer formed on the light emitting side of the substrate in the clear viewing direction, and the high refractive index layer formed on the light emitting side of the substrate. The high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer, which are adjacent to each other on the reverse clear viewing direction side, become thinner from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and the reverse clear viewing direction side, respectively. Microlenses can be used. In the specification of the present application, “low-refractive-index layer, intermediate-refractive-index layer, and high-refractive-index layer” means that the relative magnitude relation of the refractive index of each layer is as follows: low-refractive-index layer <intermediate-refractive-index layer <high-refractive-index layer. It means that it is in layers.

  With any of the above configurations, more light from the clear viewing direction side can be made incident, and less light from the reverse clear viewing direction side can be made incident, thereby increasing light use efficiency and improving contrast characteristics. Good display can be performed.

  In this case, on one of the first and second substrates, there is provided a microstructure having a convex shape in a region facing each pixel and a flat surface in a region facing the center side of each pixel. It is preferable that a microlens substrate having a lens and a thin plate bonded to the microlens substrate with an adhesive be provided, and that a flat surface of the microlens be in contact with the thin plate.

  That is, the one substrate has a microlens substrate on which the microlens is formed, and a thin plate bonded to the microlens substrate with an adhesive, and the microlens is provided on the center side of the pixel. It is preferable that the microlens substrate and the thin plate have a convex shape having a flat surface forming the non-lens region, and the microlens substrate and the thin plate are bonded together in a state where the thin plate is in contact with the flat surface. According to such a configuration, it is possible to direct light toward the light-shielding film or the wiring or the like in the pixel peripheral region to the center of the pixel, so that it is possible to increase the light use efficiency and to reduce light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction. Since the number can be reduced, a display with high contrast can be performed.

  Further, since the pixel central region has a flat surface and the microlens is formed only in the pixel peripheral region, the irradiation light incident on the pixel central region is not focused at one point at the pixel center of the liquid crystal, It is possible to pass through the pixel with a certain degree of spread. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the incident light from being locally applied to the liquid crystal, and it is possible to extend the life of the liquid crystal. Furthermore, since the flat surface of the pixel central region is in contact with the thin plate via the adhesive, the gap control between the thin plate and the microlens substrate provided with the microlens can be made uniform. Therefore, the microlens array substrate and the thin plate can be accurately bonded.

  In the present invention, a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines are formed on the first substrate, and the pixel electrodes are connected to the scanning lines and the data lines via pixel switching elements. Sometimes.

  In the present invention, the one substrate is, for example, the second substrate. In this case, a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines are formed on the first substrate, and the pixel electrodes are connected to the scanning lines and the data lines via pixel switching elements. It is preferable that the pixel switching element is formed on the pixel in the clear viewing direction with respect to the pixel electrode. In each of the pixels, it is preferable that the scanning line and the capacitance line for forming a storage capacitor corresponding to the pixel are formed on the clear viewing direction side.

  In the first substrate, the opening region is basically configured as a region excluding a region for forming a pixel switching element from a region defined by a data line, a scanning line, and a capacitor line. On the side where is formed, the region where light is blocked is made wider by that much.

  That is, on the side where the pixel switching element is formed, the area through which light does not pass is widened by that much, so if the pixel switching element is formed on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel electrode, the reverse occurs. Light incident from a direction inclined in the clear viewing direction can be blocked by using the region where the pixel switching element is formed.

  Also, in addition to the switching elements, if scanning lines and capacitance lines are formed on the clear viewing direction side, light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction uses the area where the switching elements, scanning lines, and capacitance lines are formed. Can be blocked. Conversely, light incident from the clear viewing direction side can be prevented from being blocked by the light-shielding film, the wiring, the pixel switching element, and the like, so that the efficiency of use of the incident light from the clear viewing direction side can be increased.

  Since a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied has high contrast characteristics, it is preferably used as a light valve of a projection display device. That is, a projection display device using the liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a light source, a condensing optical system that guides light emitted from the light source to the liquid crystal device, and a light that is light-modulated by the liquid crystal device. And an enlarged projection optical system for projection.

  In the liquid crystal device of the projection display device according to the present invention, it is preferable that light whose optical axis is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device is incident on the liquid crystal device. According to such a configuration, since light inclined in the clear viewing direction is incident on the substrate, the contrast can be further increased.

  When the projection display device is configured as described above, it is preferable that the optical axis of the light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device.

  In the present invention, when the optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device, for example, the liquid crystal device may be tilted toward the light beam incident on the liquid crystal device. The axes are arranged in an oblique posture in which the axes are inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device. Further, when the optical axis of the light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device, the condensing lens used for the condensing optical system is incident on the liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device may be arranged in an oblique posture in which the optical axis of the light is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device. Further, the reflection mirror used in the light-collecting optical system may be disposed in an oblique posture in which the optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device. . In other words, even if the microlens or the internal structure of the liquid crystal device alone is not sufficient in that light is allowed to enter the liquid crystal only from the clear viewing direction, such a shortage is caused by tilting or collecting the liquid crystal device. The correction may be made by the inclination of the condenser lens or the reflection mirror of the optical optical system.

  In the present invention, a plurality of liquid crystal devices may be used in a projection display device. In this case, it is preferable that the angle at which the optical axis of the incident light is inclined with respect to the normal direction of the liquid crystal device is set to an optimum value for each of the plurality of liquid crystal devices.

  As described above, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, of the light incident from the direction oblique to the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction, the light incident from the direction oblique to the reverse clear viewing direction contributes to display. Since it is suppressed, display with high contrast can be performed. Therefore, a high-quality image can be displayed on a projection display device or the like.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the liquid crystal device according to each embodiment described below has the same basic configuration as the above-described conventional liquid crystal device, and therefore, portions having common functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, each embodiment will be described below, and a configuration common to each embodiment will be described first.

[Overall configuration of liquid crystal device]
1 and 2 are a plan view of the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the counter substrate side and a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device 1 taken along the line HH 'in FIG.

  1 and 2, the liquid crystal device 1 includes an active matrix substrate 20 on which pixel electrodes 8 are formed in a matrix, a counter substrate 30 on which a counter electrode 32 is formed, an active matrix substrate 20, The liquid crystal 39 is enclosed and sandwiched between the liquid crystal devices 30. The active matrix substrate 20 and the opposing substrate 30 are bonded together with a predetermined gap therebetween by a sealing material 52 containing a gap material formed along the outer peripheral edge of the opposing substrate 30. A liquid crystal sealing region is defined between the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30 by a sealing material 52 containing a gap material, and a liquid crystal 39 is sealed inside the region. As the sealing material 52, an epoxy resin, various ultraviolet curable resins, or the like can be used. Further, as the gap material, an inorganic or organic fiber or sphere of about 2 μm to about 10 μm can be used.

  The opposing substrate 30 is smaller than the active matrix substrate 20, and the peripheral portion of the active matrix substrate 20 is bonded so as to protrude from the outer peripheral edge of the opposing substrate 30. Therefore, the drive circuits (the scan line drive circuit 70 and the data line drive circuit 60) and the input / output terminals 45 of the active matrix substrate 20 are exposed from the counter substrate 30. Here, the sealing material 52 is partially interrupted to form a liquid crystal injection port 241. After the opposing substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20 are bonded to each other, the liquid crystal 39 is sealed from the liquid crystal injection port 241, and the liquid crystal injection port 241 is closed with a sealant 242. The opposing substrate 30 is also provided with a light-shielding film 55 for parting the display for cutting off the image display area 4 inside the sealant 52. In each of the corners of the counter substrate 30, a vertical conductive material 56 for establishing electrical connection between the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30 is formed.

[Configuration of active matrix substrate]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the liquid crystal device 1, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a part of a pixel region of an active matrix substrate used in the liquid crystal device 1 (illustration of a light shielding film is omitted). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the active matrix substrate taken along the line AA 'in FIG. 4 (illustration of a light-shielding film is omitted).

  In FIG. 3, a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix and constituting an image display area 4 of the liquid crystal device 1 are composed of a pixel electrode 8 and a TFT 10 as a pixel switching element for controlling the pixel electrode 8, and an image signal. Is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 10. Image signals S1, S2,..., Sn to be written to the data lines 90 are sequentially supplied. The scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm are applied to the gate electrode of the TFT 10 in a line-sequential manner in this order via the scanning line 91. The pixel electrodes 9 are electrically connected to the drains of the TFTs 10. By closing the switches of the TFTs 10 for a certain period, the image signals S1, S2,..., Sn supplied from the data lines 90 are written at predetermined timings. . The image signals S1, S2,..., Sn of a predetermined level written in the liquid crystal via the pixel electrode 8 are connected to the counter electrode 32 (see FIG. 1 and the like) formed on the counter substrate 30 (see FIG. 1 and the like). For a certain period. Here, in order to prevent the held image signal from leaking, a storage capacitor 40 is added in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 8 and the counter electrode. As a method of forming the storage capacitor 95 in this manner, a capacitor line 92 which is a wiring for forming a capacitor may be provided, or a capacitor may be formed between the storage line 95 and a preceding scanning line 91. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, in each pixel, a plurality of transparent pixel electrodes 8 are formed in a matrix, and data lines 90, scanning lines 91, and capacitance lines are formed along the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the pixel electrodes 9. 92 are formed. The data line 90 is electrically connected to the source region 16 of the semiconductor layer such as a polysilicon film via a contact hole. The pixel electrode 8 is electrically connected to the drain region 17 via a contact hole. The scanning line 91 extends so as to face the channel region 15. The storage capacitor 40 is a silicon film 40a (semiconductor film / FIG. 4) corresponding to an extended portion of the silicon film 10a (semiconductor film / region shaded in FIG. 4) for forming the pixel switching TFT 10. A region in which the conductive region is shaded is defined as a lower electrode 41, and a capacitance line 92 overlaps the lower electrode 41 as an upper electrode.

  A cross section taken along line AA ′ of the pixel region thus configured is basically represented as shown in FIG. First, on the surface of the active matrix substrate 2, island-shaped silicon films 10a and 40a are formed on a base insulating film 201. A gate insulating film 13 is formed on the surface of the silicon film 10a, and a scanning line 91 (gate electrode) is formed on the gate insulating film 13. In the silicon film 10a, a region facing the scanning line 91 via the gate insulating film 13 is a channel region 15. A source region 16 having a low-concentration source region 161 and a high-concentration source region 162 is formed on one side of the channel region 15, and a drain region having a low-concentration drain region 171 and a high-concentration drain region 172 is formed on the other side. A region 17 is formed. A first interlayer insulating film 18 and a second interlayer insulating film 19 are formed on the surface side of the pixel switching TFT 10 configured as described above. The data line 90 formed on the surface of the first interlayer insulating film 18 is , Is electrically connected to the high-concentration source region 162 via a contact hole formed in the first interlayer insulating film 18. Further, the pixel electrode 8 is electrically connected to the high-concentration drain region 162 via contact holes formed in the first interlayer insulating film 18 and the second interlayer insulating film 19. A lower electrode 41 made of a low-concentration region is formed on the silicon film 40 a extending from the high-concentration drain region 172, and an insulating film (formed simultaneously with the gate insulating film 13) is formed on the lower electrode 41. The capacitance lines 92 face each other via a dielectric film). Thus, the storage capacitor 40 is formed.

  Here, the TFT 10 preferably has the LDD structure as described above, but may have an offset structure. Alternatively, the impurity ions may be implanted at a high concentration using the scanning line 91 as a mask, and the high-concentration source and drain regions may be self-aligned. May be a self-aligned TFT.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 7 and 8 are a plan view and an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the first light-shielding film 6 formed on the active matrix substrate 20 of the liquid crystal device 1 and the second light-shielding film 7 formed on the counter substrate 30. It is. The cross section shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the cross section taken along line BB ′ in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, a first light-shielding film 6 made of a metal film such as chromium is formed below the base protective film 201 on the active matrix substrate 20 side, The first light-shielding film 6 is formed in a matrix in a region corresponding to a region between adjacent pixel electrodes 8 as shown as a hatched region on the lower left in FIG. For this reason, the first light-shielding film 6 is formed in a region that overlaps the data line 90, the scanning line 91, the capacitance line 92, the TFT 10, and the storage capacitor 40 described with reference to FIG. The first light-shielding film 6 defines a first opening region 21 in each pixel of the active matrix substrate 20.
A second light-shielding film 7 made of a metal film such as chromium is formed in a matrix on the side of the counter substrate 30 so as to face the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20. The light-shielding film 7 forms a second opening region 31. The formation region of the second light-shielding film 7 is shown in FIG. Further, the counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed on the side of the counter substrate 30.

  The counter substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20 configured as described above are each subjected to rubbing processing in a direction orthogonal to each other, and then bonded through a predetermined gap. Thereafter, the liquid crystal 39 is sealed in the gap. Is done. As a result, the liquid crystal 39 is twisted and oriented at 90 ° between the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30. Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated according to the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, and when light incident on the liquid crystal device 1 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction participates in display, Decrease contrast. In the example shown here, in each pixel, the direction in which the pixel switching TFT 10 is located with respect to the pixel electrode 8 (the lower side in the drawing) is in the clear viewing direction, and the opposite side (the upper side in the drawing) is the opposite clear viewing direction. Direction.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, of the first and second light-shielding films 6 and 7, the first and second light-shielding films 6 and 7 are formed on the side of the opposing substrate 30 (one substrate) on which light is incident. The second light-shielding film 7 has a first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20 (the other substrate) from which light is emitted, on the reverse clear viewing direction side compared to the clear viewing direction side. It is formed so as to overlap widely. For this reason, the center position 311 of the second opening region 31 formed on the side of the counter substrate 30 is in the clear viewing direction with respect to the center position 211 of the first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20. It is off to the side. That is, in each pixel, the edge of the second light-shielding film 7 substantially overlaps with the edge of the first light-shielding film 6 on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed (the side in the clear viewing direction). The second light-shielding film 7 and the first opening region 21 hardly overlap each other in the clear viewing direction, but on the side opposite to the side on which the pixel switching TFTs 10 are formed (the side in the reverse clear viewing direction). The edge of the second light-shielding film 7 extends toward the first opening region 21 more than the edge of the first light-shielding film 6 by an amount corresponding to the width L. Further, the capacitance lines and the scanning lines are also formed on the clear viewing direction side.

  For this reason, in the liquid crystal device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, of the light incident from the counter substrate 30 side, the light incident from the direction inclined in the clear viewing direction is the active matrix substrate 20. The light emitted from the first opening area 21 and involved in display, but incident on the counter substrate 30 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is shifted from the first opening area 21 with respect to the active matrix substrate 20. Of the active matrix substrate 20, which is blocked by the first light-shielding film 6 in a portion of each pixel located in the clear viewing direction in each pixel, can be prevented. Therefore, even if the light incident from the counter substrate 30 includes light tilted in the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction, the light tilted in the reverse clear viewing direction that causes a decrease in contrast is active. Since emission from the matrix substrate 20 can be suppressed, it is not involved in display. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 1 to which the present invention is applied, a display with high contrast can be performed.

  Further, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, in each pixel, the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel electrode 8, so that light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is emitted. Can be effectively blocked. That is, in the active matrix substrate 20, the first opening region 21 is basically formed from a region rectangularly defined by the data line 90, the scanning line 91, and the capacitance line 92 from the pixel switching TFT 10 and the storage capacitance 40. Since it is configured as a region excluding the formation region, the first light shielding film 6 protrudes by that amount on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed. For this reason, on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed, the area through which light does not pass is widened by that much, so that light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is transmitted to the pixel switching TFT 10. Blocking can be performed using the formed area.

  In the present embodiment, a microlens may be provided on the counter substrate 30 as in Embodiments 3 to 8 described later. In this case, if the optical center position of the microlens is made to coincide with the center position 211 of the opening region 21 of the counter substrate 30, the light use efficiency is improved, and a display with good contrast is possible. On the other hand, if the optical center position of the microlens is shifted from the center position 211 of the opening area 21 toward the clear viewing direction and preferably substantially coincides with the center position 311 of the opening area 31, a display with good contrast can be obtained. In addition to this, it is effective for preventing light from entering from the reverse clear vision direction side.

  Note that the center position 311 of the second opening region 31 formed on the side of the counter substrate 30 is positioned on the side in the clear viewing direction with respect to the center position 211 of the first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20. In the case of the first embodiment, the second light-shielding film 7 formed on the side of the counter substrate 30 is different from the first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20 as in the first embodiment. The first light-shielding film 6 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20 is formed on the side of the opposing substrate 30 in addition to the configuration in which the first light-shielding film 6 is wider on the side of the opposite clear view than on the side of the clear visual direction. A configuration in which the second opening region 31 is overlapped with the second opening region 31 in the clear viewing direction side wider than in the reverse clear viewing direction side, or these configurations as in a second embodiment described below. Even if the configuration is a combination of There.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIGS. 10 and 11 are a plan view and an explanatory view, respectively, showing the positional relationship between the first light-shielding film 6 formed on the active matrix substrate 20 of the liquid crystal device 1 and the second light-shielding film 7 formed on the counter substrate 30. It is. The cross section shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the cross section taken along the line BB 'in FIGS.

  In FIG. 9, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment, and thus only different points will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, a first light-shielding film 6 is formed below the base protective film 201, and the first light-shielding film 6 is adjacent to the adjacent pixel electrode as shown in FIG. 8 are formed in a matrix in a region corresponding to the area between the two. For this reason, the first light-shielding film 6 is formed in a region that overlaps the data line 90, the scanning line 91, the capacitance line 92, the TFT 10, and the storage capacitor 40 described with reference to FIG. The first light-shielding film 6 defines a first opening region 21 in each pixel of the active matrix substrate 20.

On the side of the opposing substrate 30, a second light-shielding film 7 is formed in a matrix so as to face the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20, and a second light-shielding film 7 is formed by the second light-shielding film 7. An opening region 31 is formed. The formation region of the second light-shielding film 7 is shown in FIG. Further, the counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed on the side of the counter substrate 30.
The liquid crystal 39 is in a twisted state between the opposing substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20 configured as described above. Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated according to the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, and when light incident on the liquid crystal device 1 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction participates in display, Decrease contrast. Also in the example shown here, in each pixel, the direction in which the pixel switching TFT 10 is located with respect to the pixel electrode 8 is the clear viewing direction, and the opposite side is the reverse clear viewing direction.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, in each pixel, on the side opposite to the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed (the side in the reverse clear viewing direction), the pixel is formed on the counter substrate 30. The edge of the second light-shielding film 7 extends toward the inside of the pixel from the edge of the first light-shielding film 6 by an amount corresponding to the width L1. For this reason, the second light-shielding film 7 formed on the side of the counter substrate 30 is located on the side of the clear viewing direction with respect to the first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20 from which light is emitted. In comparison, they are broadly overlapped in the reverse clear vision direction.
In this embodiment, the edge of the first light-shielding film 6 formed on the active matrix substrate 20 corresponds to the edge of the second light-shielding film 7 on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed in each pixel. Overhangs by an amount corresponding to the width L2 toward the inside of the pixel. For this reason, the first light-shielding film 6 formed on the active matrix substrate 20 side is compared with the second opening region 31 formed on the counter substrate 30 side as compared with the reverse clear viewing direction side. Widely overlaps in the clear vision direction.

Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment, the center position 311 of the second opening region 31 formed on the side of the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident among the first and second opening regions 21 and 31 is light. Are shifted to the clear viewing direction side with respect to the center position 211 of the first opening region 21 formed on the side of the active matrix substrate 20 from which the light exits.
Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, of the light incident from the counter substrate 30 side, the light incident from the direction inclined in the clear viewing direction is the active matrix substrate 20. The light emitted from the first opening area 21 and involved in display, but incident on the counter substrate 30 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is shifted from the first opening area 21 with respect to the active matrix substrate 20. The light is radiated to the position, and is blocked by the first light-shielding film 6 in the portion located in the clear viewing direction in each pixel, so that the light is not emitted from the active matrix substrate 20. Therefore, even if the light incident from the counter substrate 30 includes light tilted in the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction, the light tilted in the reverse clear viewing direction that causes a decrease in contrast is active. Since the light is not emitted from the matrix substrate 20, it does not participate in the display. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 1 to which the present invention is applied, a display with high contrast can be performed.

  Also in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, in each pixel, the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel electrode 8, so that the light incident from the direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction. Can be effectively blocked. That is, in the active matrix substrate 20, the first opening region 21 is basically formed from a region rectangularly defined by the data line 90, the scanning line 91, and the capacitance line 92 from the pixel switching TFT 10 and the storage capacitance 40. Since it is configured as a region excluding the formation region, the first light shielding film 6 protrudes by that amount on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed. For this reason, on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed, the area through which light does not pass is widened by that much, so that light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is transmitted to the pixel switching TFT 10. Blocking can be performed using the formed area.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIGS. 13 and 14 are a plan view and an explanatory view, respectively, showing the positional relationship between the microlenses formed on the opposing substrate 30 of the liquid crystal device 1 and the pixel electrodes 8 formed on the active matrix substrate 20. The cross section shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the cross section taken along line BB ′ in FIGS.

  In FIG. 12, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, a first light-shielding film 6 made of a metal film such as chromium is formed on the active matrix substrate 20 below the base protective film 201, and this first light-shielding film 6 is formed. The film 6 is formed in a matrix in a region corresponding to a region between the adjacent pixel electrodes 8 as shown by a hatched region falling left in FIG. Therefore, the first light-shielding film 6 is formed in a region that planarly overlaps the data line 90, the scanning line 91, the capacitor line 92, the TFT 10, and the storage capacitor 40 described with reference to FIGS. The first light-shielding film 6 defines a first opening region 21 in each pixel of the active matrix substrate 20 in a matrix.

  Further, on the side of the counter substrate 30, a second light-shielding film 7 is formed in a matrix so as to face the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20, as shown by a hatched area falling to the right in FIG. The second light-shielding film 7 defines the second opening region 31 in a matrix. Further, the microlenses 41 (microlenses) are formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. In the counter substrate 30 having such a structure, for example, a thin glass 49 is adhered to the lens array substrate 40 on which the microlenses 41 are formed with an adhesive 48, and the second light shielding film 7 is attached to the thin glass 49. And the transparent counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed.

  The counter substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20 configured as described above are each subjected to rubbing processing in a direction orthogonal to each other, and then bonded through a predetermined gap. Thereafter, the liquid crystal 39 is sealed in the gap. Is done. As a result, the liquid crystal 39 is twisted and oriented at 90 ° between the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30. Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated according to the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, and when light incident on the liquid crystal device 1 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction participates in display, Decrease contrast. In the example shown here, in each pixel, the direction in which the pixel switching TFT 10 is located with respect to the pixel electrode 8 (the lower side in the drawing) is in the clear viewing direction, and the opposite side (the upper side in the drawing) is the opposite clear viewing direction. Direction.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the focal position 411 of the microlens 41 formed on the counter substrate 30 is set with respect to the center position of the first opening region 21 of the active matrix substrate 20. , Shifted toward the clear vision direction.

  Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, of the light incident from the counter substrate 30 side, the light incident from the direction inclined toward the clear viewing direction is a micro lens. Even if the light is refracted at 41, it is emitted from the first opening region 21 of the active matrix substrate 20 and participates in display. On the other hand, light incident on the counter substrate 30 from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is refracted by the microlens 41 and then shifted from the first opening region 21 with respect to the active matrix substrate 20. , And is blocked by the first light shielding film 6 located on the clear viewing direction side in each pixel, so that emission from the active matrix substrate 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the light incident from the counter substrate 30 includes light tilted in the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction, the light tilted in the reverse clear viewing direction that causes a decrease in contrast is active. Since emission from the matrix substrate 20 can be suppressed, it is not involved in display. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 1 to which the present invention is applied, a display with high contrast can be performed.

  Further, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, in each pixel, the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel electrode 8, so that light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is emitted. Can be effectively blocked. That is, in the active matrix substrate 20, the first opening region 21 is basically formed from a region rectangularly defined by the data line 90, the scanning line 91, and the capacitance line 92 from the pixel switching TFT 10 and the storage capacitance 40. Since it is configured as a region excluding the formation region, the first light shielding film 6 protrudes by that amount on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed. For this reason, on the side where the pixel switching TFT 10 is formed, the area through which light does not pass is widened by that much, so that light incident from a direction inclined in the reverse clear viewing direction is transmitted to the pixel switching TFT 10. Blocking can be performed using the formed area.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the microlens is formed on the counter substrate 30 side has been described. However, a microlens may be provided corresponding to each pixel of the active matrix substrate 20. Further, microlenses may be provided on both the opposing substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20. In that case, the microlenses formed on the active matrix substrate 20 can convert the light obliquely incident on the liquid crystal device from the clear viewing direction side into parallel light or diffused light. Can be substantially increased. Further, it may be expanded or converged depending on the application. Further, the optical center position of the microlenses formed on the counter substrate 30 is shifted toward the clear viewing direction, and the optical center position of the microlenses formed on the active matrix substrate is shifted toward the clear viewing direction, so that the focal positions of each other are shifted. If they are made to match, the light use efficiency can be increased.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. This corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line.

  In FIG. 15, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, a first light-shielding film 6 made of a metal film such as chromium is formed on the active matrix substrate 20 below the base protective film 201. The light shielding films 6 are formed in a matrix in a region corresponding to a region between the adjacent pixel electrodes 8. For this reason, the first light-shielding film 6 is formed in a region that overlaps the data line 90, the scanning line 91, the capacitance line 92, the TFT 10, and the storage capacitor 40 described with reference to FIG. The first light-shielding film 6 defines a first opening region 21 in each pixel of the active matrix substrate 20 in a matrix.

  On the opposing substrate 30, a second light-shielding film 7 is formed in a matrix shape so as to face the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20, and the second opening region 31 is formed by the second light-shielding film 7. The sections are formed in a matrix. Further, the microlenses 41 (microlenses) are formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. For this reason, since the microlens 41 condenses the light L from the light source incident on the counter substrate 30 and makes the light L incident on the liquid crystal 39, the light blocked by the first light shielding film 6 can be reduced. Therefore, since the light use efficiency is high, a bright display can be performed.

  In the counter substrate 30 having such a structure, for example, a thin glass 49 is attached to a transparent lens array substrate 40 on which the microlenses 41 are formed by using a photolithography technique, using an adhesive 48. On the other hand, it can be manufactured by forming the second light shielding film 7, the transparent counter electrode 32, and the alignment film 47.

  The counter substrate 30 and the active matrix substrate 20 configured as described above are each subjected to rubbing processing in a direction orthogonal to each other, and then bonded through a predetermined gap. Thereafter, the liquid crystal 39 is sealed in the gap. Is done. As a result, the liquid crystal 39 is twisted and oriented at 90 ° between the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30. Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, so that when light enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction, the contrast is improved. In the example shown here, the left side in the drawing is the clear viewing direction, and the right side is the reverse clear viewing direction.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the refractive index of the lens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1> n2
The lens array substrate 40 and the adhesive 48 are made of a material that satisfies the above condition, and the thickness of the adhesive 48 is continuously changed from the clear viewing direction side to the reverse clear viewing direction side in a portion corresponding to the microlens 41. Irregularities are formed on the lens array substrate 40 so that the thickness becomes thinner. That is, a high refractive index layer (lens array substrate 40) is disposed on the light incident side of the counter substrate 30 on which the microlenses 41 are formed, and a low refractive index layer (adhesive 48 The microlens 41 is formed such that the thickness of the low-refractive index layer (the layer of the adhesive 48) is continuously increased from the pixel center 311 side to the clear viewing direction side, and is increased in the reverse clear viewing direction side. , The thickness is continuously reduced, and the thickness is sharply increased again to the thickness in the clear viewing direction in the boundary region (region where the light shielding film 7 is formed) with the adjacent pixel. .

  Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, the microlens 41 is formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, of the active matrix substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30, so that the light use efficiency can be improved. Can be. In addition, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, of the light incident on the opposing substrate 30 from the clear viewing direction side, the light is directed to the first light shielding film 6 positioned on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel. The reflected light is bent by the microlens 41 in a direction avoiding the first light-shielding film 6 and is emitted to the liquid crystal 39 almost without being blocked by the first light-shielding film 6, whereas the light is directed in the reverse clear viewing direction. Out of the light incident on the counter substrate 30 from the side, the light going to the first light shielding film 6 located on the side opposite to the clear viewing direction with respect to the pixel is applied to the first light shielding film 6 by the microlens 41. The first light-shielding film 6 partially bends. For this reason, with respect to the light incident on the liquid crystal 39, the light incident from the clear viewing direction side can be increased, and the light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction side can be reduced. Thus, a display with high contrast can be performed.

[Modification of Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate 20, a counter substrate 30, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a liquid crystal device 1 according to a modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment and in any of the embodiments described later, the basic configuration is common to that of the fourth embodiment. Corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and illustration thereof, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. I do.

  In FIG. 16, also in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, microlenses 41 (microlenses) are formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20.

  Also in this liquid crystal device 1, since the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction occur in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, the contrast is improved when a large amount of light enters the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction side.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as in Embodiment 4, when the refractive index of the lens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1> n2
The lens array substrate 40 (high-refractive-index layer) and the adhesive 48 (low-refractive-index layer) satisfying the above conditions are used, and in a portion corresponding to the microlens 41, the thickness of the adhesive 48 is clearly measured from the pixel center 311. Irregularities are formed on the lens array substrate 40 so as to be continuously thicker toward the viewing direction side and continuously thinner toward the reverse clear viewing direction side, but unlike the fourth embodiment, In the microlens 41 portion, the thickness of the adhesive 48 (low-refractive index layer) is continuously reduced from the clear viewing direction side to the reverse clear viewing direction side, so that the boundary region between adjacent pixels (light-shielded region) It is configured to gradually return to the thickness in the clear viewing direction side from the vicinity of the (area where the film 7 is formed).

  Even in such a configuration, since the microlens 41 is formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, the light use efficiency can be improved. Further, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, the light incident on the liquid crystal 39 is increased from the clear viewing direction side and the light incident on the liquid crystal 39 is increased from the reverse clear viewing direction side, as in the fourth embodiment. Since the amount of light to be emitted can be reduced, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment can perform display with high contrast.

  Further, since the boundary surface between the lens array substrate 40 (high-refractive-index layer) and the adhesive 48 (low-refractive-index layer) in the microlens 41 has a shape that is curved even in the reverse clear vision direction side, Although a little light in the reverse clear vision direction side is included, more light can be emitted toward the liquid crystal 39 than in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, a bright display can be performed.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The basic configuration of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 17, also in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, micro lenses 41 (micro lenses) are formed in a matrix on the opposing substrate 30 so as to oppose the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. In the counter substrate 30 having such a structure, for example, a thin glass 49 is bonded to the lens array substrate 40 on which the microlenses 41 are formed with an adhesive 48, and the second light shielding film 7 is attached to the thin glass 49. And the transparent counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed. Also in this liquid crystal device 1, since the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction are generated in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, the contrast is improved when light enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction side.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the refractive index of the lens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1 <n2
In a portion corresponding to the microlens 41 using the lens array substrate 40 and the adhesive 48 satisfying the above condition, the thickness of the adhesive 48 is continuously increased from the clear viewing direction side to the reverse clear viewing direction side. Thus, the lens array substrate 40 is formed with irregularities.

  That is, a low-refractive-index layer (lens array substrate 40) is arranged on the light-incident side of the opposing substrate 30 on which the microlenses 41 are formed, and a high-refractive-index layer (adhesive 48) is disposed on the light-exiting side of the opposing substrate 30. Layer), and at the microlens 41 portion, the thickness of the high refractive index layer is continuously reduced from the pixel center 311 toward the clear viewing direction side, and is continuously reduced toward the reverse clear viewing direction side. In the boundary region between the adjacent pixels (the region where the light-shielding film 7 is formed), the thickness is sharply increased again to the thickness in the clear viewing direction.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, since the microlenses 41 are formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, the light use efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, of the light incident on the opposing substrate 30 from the clear viewing direction side, the light is directed to the first light shielding film 6 positioned on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel. The reflected light is bent by the microlens 41 in a direction avoiding the first light-shielding film 6 and is emitted to the liquid crystal 39 almost without being blocked by the first light-shielding film 6, whereas the light is directed in the reverse clear viewing direction. Out of the light incident on the counter substrate 30 from the side, the light going to the first light shielding film 6 located on the side opposite to the clear viewing direction with respect to the pixel is applied to the first light shielding film 6 by the microlens 41. The first light-shielding film 6 partially bends. For this reason, with respect to the light incident on the liquid crystal 39, the light incident from the clear viewing direction side can be increased, and the light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction side can be reduced. Thus, a display with high contrast can be performed.

[Modification of Embodiment 5]
FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a liquid crystal device 1 according to a modification of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 18, also in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, micro lenses 41 (micro lenses) are formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. Also in this liquid crystal device 1, since the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction are generated in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, the contrast is improved when light enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction side.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as in Embodiment 5, when the refractive index of the lens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1 <n2
The lens array substrate 40 (low-refractive-index layer) and the adhesive 48 (high-refractive-index layer) satisfying the above conditions are used. In the microlens 41, the thickness of the adhesive 48 is changed from the clear viewing direction to the reverse clear viewing direction. Irregularities are formed on the lens array substrate 40 so that the thickness increases continuously toward the side. Therefore, different from the fifth embodiment, the microlens 41 continuously increases the thickness of the adhesive 48 (high refractive index layer) from the clear viewing direction side to the reverse clear viewing direction side, and is adjacent to the micro lens 41. The thickness gradually increases from the vicinity of the boundary region with the pixel (the region where the light shielding film 7 is formed) to the thickness in the clear viewing direction.

  Even in such a configuration, since the microlens 41 is formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, the light use efficiency can be improved. Further, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, the light incident on the liquid crystal 39 is increased from the clear viewing direction side and the light incident on the liquid crystal 39 is increased from the reverse clear viewing direction side, as in the fifth embodiment. Since the amount of light to be emitted can be reduced, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment can perform display with high contrast.

  In addition, since the boundary surface between the lens array substrate 40 (low-refractive-index layer) and the adhesive 48 (high-refractive-index layer) in the microlens 41 has a shape that is curved even in the reverse clear vision direction side, Although a little light in the reverse clear viewing direction side is included, more light can be emitted toward the liquid crystal 39 than in the fifth embodiment. Therefore, a bright display can be performed.

Embodiment 6
FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in the liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. Since the sixth embodiment has the same basic structure as the fourth embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 19, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment as well, a second light-shielding film 7 is formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate 20. The second light-shielding film 7 defines the second opening region 31 in a matrix. Further, the microlenses 41 (microlenses) are formed in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. In the counter substrate 30 having such a structure, for example, a thin glass 49 is adhered to the lens array substrate 40 on which the microlenses 41 are formed with an adhesive 48, and the second light shielding film 7 is attached to the thin glass 49. And the transparent counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed. In this liquid crystal device 1 as well, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, so that when light enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction, the contrast is improved.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lens array substrate 40 of the opposing substrate 30 is provided with an intermediate refractive index layer 40A made of a transparent substrate, which is a base thereof, on the light incident side. The low refractive index layer 40B and the high refractive index layer 40C are adjacent to each other on the opposite clear viewing direction side. Here, the low-refractive-index layer 40B and the high-refractive-index layer 40C are transparent resin layers laminated on the surface of the transparent substrate (intermediate refractive index layer 40A), which is the base of the lens array substrate 40, on which the irregularities are formed. In the micro lens 41, the low-refractive-index layer 40B and the high-refractive-index layer 40C are continuously and symmetrically formed from the pixel center side 311 toward the clear viewing direction and the reverse clear viewing direction. It is thick.

That is, when the refractive indices of the intermediate refractive index layer 40A, the low refractive index layer 40B, and the high refractive index layer 40C that constitute the lens array substrate 40 are n11, n12, and n13, respectively,
n12 <n11 <n13
In the portion corresponding to the microlens 41, the low-refractive-index layer 40B is gradually thickened from the pixel center side 311 toward the clear viewing direction, and the pixel center is gradually increased. The high refractive index layer 40C is gently thickened from the side 311 toward the reverse clear viewing direction.

  Even in the liquid crystal device 1 configured as described above, since the microlenses 41 are formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, the light use efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, of the light incident on the opposing substrate 30 from the clear viewing direction side, the light is directed to the first light shielding film 6 positioned on the clear viewing direction side with respect to the pixel. The reflected light is bent by the microlens 41 in a direction avoiding the first light-shielding film 6 and is emitted to the liquid crystal 39 almost without being blocked by the first light-shielding film 6, whereas the light is directed in the reverse clear viewing direction. Out of the light incident on the counter substrate 30 from the side, the light going to the first light shielding film 6 located on the side opposite to the clear viewing direction with respect to the pixel is applied to the first light shielding film 6 by the microlens 41. The first light-shielding film 6 partially bends. For this reason, with respect to the light incident on the liquid crystal 39, the light incident from the clear viewing direction side can be increased, and the light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction side can be reduced. Thus, a display with high contrast can be performed.

Embodiment 7
FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. Since the seventh embodiment has the same basic structure as the fourth embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 20, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, similarly to the sixth embodiment, the microlenses 41 (microlenses) are arranged in a matrix on the counter substrate 30 so as to face the pixel electrodes 8 of the active matrix substrate 20. Is formed. In the counter substrate 30 having such a structure, for example, a thin glass 49 is adhered to the lens array substrate 40 on which the microlenses 41 are formed with an adhesive 48, and the second light shielding film 7 is attached to the thin glass 49. And the transparent counter electrode 32 and the alignment film 47 are formed. In this liquid crystal device 1 as well, a clear viewing direction and a reverse clear viewing direction are generated in accordance with the alignment state of the liquid crystal 39, so that when light enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction, the contrast is improved.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, an intermediate refractive index layer 40A is formed on the light incident side of the lens array substrate 40 of the opposing substrate 30, and the height of the intermediate refractive index layer 40A is increased on the light emitting side and the reverse clear viewing direction side of the substrate. The refractive index layer 40C and the low refractive index layer 40B are formed so as to be adjacent to each other, and in the microlens 41, the high refractive index layer 40C and the low refractive index layer 40B are shifted from the pixel center side 311 to the clear viewing direction and to the reverse light. The thickness is reduced continuously and symmetrically toward the viewing direction.

That is, when the refractive indices of the intermediate refractive index layer 40A, the low refractive index layer 40B, and the high refractive index layer 40C that constitute the lens array substrate 40 are n11, n12, and n13, respectively,
n12 <n11 <n13
In the portion corresponding to the microlens 41, the high-refractive-index layer 40C is gently thinned from the pixel center side 311 to the clear viewing direction side, and the pixel center side 311 is formed. , The low-refractive-index layer 40B is gently thinned in the reverse clear vision direction.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, since the microlenses 41 are formed on the counter substrate 30 on which light is incident, the light use efficiency can be improved. Further, since the microlenses 41 have asymmetric optical characteristics, light incident on the liquid crystal 39 from the clear viewing direction side is increased with respect to light incident on the liquid crystal 39 and incident on the reverse clear viewing direction side, as in the sixth embodiment. Since the amount of light to be emitted can be reduced, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment can perform display with high contrast.

Embodiment 8
FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a liquid crystal device 1 according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. Since the eighth embodiment has the same basic structure as the fourth embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  In the example shown in FIG. 21, the configuration of the microlens 41 is changed based on the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. That is, also in the liquid crystal device 1, as in the sixth embodiment, since the microlenses 41 are formed on the counter substrate 30, the light use efficiency is high.

  The microlens 41 enhances the light use efficiency by bending the traveling direction of the light incident on the opposing substrate 30 toward the first light shielding film 6 into the opening region of the pixel. . Therefore, the light that is originally going to the pixel center 311 is incident on the pixel opening region without providing the micro lens 41, so that the micro lens need not be formed corresponding to the central region of the pixel. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a microlens is not formed in the central region of the pixel in order to make light incident at right angles to the counter substrate 30 go straight to the liquid crystal 39, that is, a non-lens region 400 is formed. In the peripheral region of the pixel, a microlens 41 having a shape in which the adhesive 48 becomes thicker from the side closer to the pixel center 311 toward the peripheral portion is formed.

In this embodiment, when the refractive index of the microlens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1> n2
If the microlens array substrate 40 and the adhesive 48 are made of a material that satisfies the above condition, light directed to a light-shielding film or wiring around the pixel can be directed to the center of the pixel, so that the light use efficiency can be improved. At the same time, light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction can be reduced, so that a display with high contrast can be performed.

  As described above, the shape in which the central region of the pixel is set as the non-lens region 400 is such that the central region of the pixel is flattened and the periphery of the pixel has a predetermined curvature as shown in FIG. The adhesive 48 may be slightly provided between the non-lens area 400 in the central area and the thin glass 49. If the adhesive 48 is applied to the entire surface of the microlens array substrate 40, the thickness between the thin glass 49 and the microlens array substrate 40 is thin in the central region and thick in the peripheral region. Adhesion with the substrate 40 can be improved. Further, since the pixel central region has a flat surface and the microlens is formed only in the pixel peripheral region, the irradiation light incident on the pixel central region is not focused at one point at the pixel center of the liquid crystal, It is possible to pass through the pixel with a certain degree of spread. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the incident light from being locally irradiated on the liquid crystal, and it is possible to extend the life of the liquid crystal.

[First Modification of Eighth Embodiment]
FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a liquid crystal device 1 according to a first modification of the eighth embodiment. Since the first modification has the same basic structure as that of the eighth embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

  The difference between the present modification and the eighth embodiment is that, in the present modification, in the microlens 41 having a convex shape, the non-lens area 400 formed on the center side of the pixel is provided on the thin glass 49 via the adhesive 48. The other configuration is the same as that of the eighth embodiment.

  With the configuration shown in FIG. 22, light incident on the non-lens region 400 in the central region of the pixel can be incident on the liquid crystal without the intervention of the adhesive 48, and thus is incident on the pixel center side. The light can be directed to the liquid crystal without being bent by the adhesive 48, so that the light use efficiency can be increased and the light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction can be reduced, so that a display with high contrast can be performed. it can.

  Further, the flat surface of the non-lens area 400 of the microlens array substrate 40 is fixed in contact with the thin glass 49, so that the gap between the microlens array substrate 40 and the thin glass 49 can be kept constant. Therefore, the microlens array substrate 40 and the thin glass 49 can be bonded with high accuracy.

[Second Modification of Embodiment 8]
FIG. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a liquid crystal device 1 according to a second modification of the eighth embodiment. Since the second modification has the same basic structure as that of the eighth embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The difference between this modification and the eighth embodiment is that, in this modification, the micro lens 41 has a thin and flat shape in the central region of the pixel, or the central region of the pixel has no micro lens at all, The periphery of the pixel is shaped such that the adhesive is formed thicker from the center region toward the outer periphery.

In this case, when the refractive index of the microlens array substrate 40 is n1 and the refractive index of the adhesive 48 is n2,
n1> n2
If the microlens array substrate 40 and the adhesive 48 are made of a material that satisfies the above condition, light directed to a light-shielding film or wiring around the pixel can be directed to the center of the pixel, so that the light use efficiency can be improved. At the same time, light incident from the reverse clear viewing direction can be reduced, so that a display with high contrast can be performed.
In each of the present embodiment and its modifications, the central region of the pixel is formed only in the peripheral region without forming a microlens, so that the light use efficiency can be increased and light is incident from the reverse clear viewing direction. Since light can be reduced, display with high contrast can be performed.

  It should be noted that such formation of the non-lens region 400 can be applied in combination with the above-described fourth to seventh embodiments.

[Other embodiments]
It should be noted that a display with better contrast can be realized by combining the above-described embodiments. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case of clear view at 6:00 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, when there is a clear viewing direction in the oblique direction of the substrate such as clear viewing at half past 1:30 or clear viewing at half past 10:30, for example, as described in Embodiments 1 to 3, The contrast can be improved by shifting the center position of the aperture ratio or the optical center position of the microlens in the clear viewing direction, but the contrast can also be improved by shifting the center position closer to the upper, lower, left and right clear viewing directions. Can be.

  Further, when light is incident on the liquid crystal device, light whose optical axis is inclined toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the normal line of the liquid crystal device is incident on the liquid crystal device. This is effective for preventing the incidence of light, so that a display with higher contrast can be realized.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the first light-shielding film 6 of the active matrix substrate is formed in the lower layer of the TFT. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an upper layer of the TFT or a light-shielding wiring may be used. Then, the first light shielding film 6 may be formed on the active matrix substrate.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the microlens is formed only on the opposing substrate 30 on which light is incident, but a microlens may be formed on the active matrix substrate 20 side on which light is emitted so as to oppose each pixel. . In this case, it is preferable that the optical center position of the microlens formed on the active matrix substrate 20 is shifted toward the clear viewing direction with respect to the center position 311 of the opening region 31 of the counter substrate 30. According to such a configuration, high-contrast light incident through the microlenses formed on the opposing substrate can be efficiently emitted by the microlenses formed on the active matrix substrate 20. Further, since the emitted light can be converged light, parallel light, or diffused light according to the optical system, the aperture ratio of the pixel can be substantially improved, and the light use efficiency can be improved. it can.

[Application of Liquid Crystal Device 1 to Electronic Equipment]
Next, an example of an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 24 is a block diagram of an electronic device. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part (optical system) of a projection display device as an example of an electronic apparatus to which the invention is applied.

  24, a display information output source 1000, a display information processing circuit 1002, a display drive circuit 1004, the liquid crystal device 1, a clock generation circuit 1008, and a power supply circuit 1010 of the present embodiment are included. The display information output source 1000 includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, a tuning circuit for tuning and outputting a television signal, and the like, and outputs display information such as a video signal based on a clock from a clock generation circuit 1008. I do. The display information processing circuit 1002 processes and outputs display information based on the clock from the clock generation circuit 1008. The display information processing circuit 1002 can include, for example, an amplification / polarity inversion circuit, a serial-parallel conversion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a clamp circuit, and the like. The display driving circuit 1004 includes a scanning side driving circuit and a data side driving circuit, and drives the liquid crystal device 1 for display. The power supply circuit 1010 supplies power to each of the above-described circuits.

(Configuration Example 1 of Projection Display Device)
As an example of an electronic device having such a configuration, a projection display device will be described with reference to FIG. In the projection display device 1100 shown in FIG. 25, an optical unit is mounted in a housing of the projection display device 2001 shown in FIG. 25, and a light source lamp 2011 (light source) and a minute light source are provided in the optical unit. An illumination optical system 2015 including integrator lenses 2012 and 2014 formed of an aggregate of lenses, and a polarization conversion element 2016 formed of an assembly of a polarization separation film and a λ / 4 wavelength plate, and light emitted from the illumination optical system 2015. Separation optical system 2020 that separates a white light beam into red, green, and blue light beams R, G, and B, and three liquid crystals configured by the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment as light valves that modulate each color light beam. Light valves 2030R, 2030G, 2030B and a dichroic prism as a color synthesizing optical system for re-synthesizing modulated color light flux That a prism unit 2042, a projection lens unit 2050 and the (enlarged projection optical system) is configured for enlarging and projecting the synthesized light beam onto a screen. As the light source lamp 2011, a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like can be used. In this optical unit, of the P-polarized light and the S-polarized light separated by each prism in the polarization conversion element 2016, this optical unit is equivalent to a configuration in which a λ / 2 plate is disposed at the position where P-polarized light is emitted. be able to.

  The illumination optical system 2015 includes a reflection mirror 2017 so that the central optical axis of the illumination optical system 2015 is bent at a right angle toward the front of the apparatus. In the color separation optical system 2020, a red-green reflection dichroic mirror 2022, a green reflection dichroic mirror 2024, and a reflection mirror 2026 are arranged. The white light beam emitted from the light source lamp 2011 passes through the illumination optical system 2015, and firstly, the red light beam R and the green light beam G contained therein are reflected at right angles by the red-green reflection dichroic mirror 2022, and the green light beam is reflected by the green light. It goes to the side of the reflection dichroic mirror 2024. The blue light flux B passes through the red-green reflecting dichroic mirror 2022, is reflected at a right angle by the rear reflecting mirror 2026, and is emitted from the emission part of the blue light flux toward the prism unit 2042. The red and green luminous fluxes R and G reflected by the red-green reflective dichroic mirror 2022 are reflected by the green reflective dichroic mirror 2024 so that only the green luminous flux G is reflected at a right angle to the prism unit 2042 from the emission part of the green luminous flux. Is emitted. On the other hand, the red light beam R that has passed through the green reflection dichroic mirror 2024 is emitted from the emission portion of the red light beam to the light guide system 2044 side. Condensing lenses 2027R, 2027G, and 2027B are arranged on the emission side of each color light beam in the color separation optical system 2020, respectively. Therefore, each color light beam emitted from each emission part is incident on these condenser lenses 2027R, 2027G, 2027B and is condensed on each liquid crystal light valve 2030R, 2030G, 2030B. As described above, in the present embodiment, the light emitted from the light source lamp 2011 is condensed by the illumination optical system 2015, the color separation optical system 2020, the condenser lenses 2027R, 2027G, 2027B, and the light guide system 2044. A light guiding optical system for guiding the liquid crystal light valves 2030R, 2030G, and 2030B is configured.

  Of the light beams R, G, and B thus collected, the light beams B and G of blue and green are incident on the liquid crystal light valves 2030B and 2030G, modulated, and image information (video information) corresponding to each color light beam. Is added. That is, these light valves are switching-controlled by driving means (not shown) in accordance with image information, and thereby each color light passing therethrough is modulated. As such a driving unit, a known unit can be used as it is.

  On the other hand, the red light flux R is guided to the liquid crystal light valve 2030R via the light guide system 2044, where it is similarly modulated according to image information. In addition, as the light guide system 2044, an incident side lens 2045, an incident side reflecting mirror 2046, an emitting side reflecting mirror 2047, and an intermediate lens 2048 arranged therebetween are arranged.

Next, each color light flux modulated through each liquid crystal light valve 2030R, 2030G, 2030B is incident on the prism unit 2042, where it is recombined. The recombined color image is enlarged and projected through a projection lens unit 2050 onto a screen (projection surface) at a predetermined position.
(Measures to improve contrast in projection display devices)
Taking the projection display device 2001 configured as shown in FIG. 25 as an example, a liquid crystal light valve and an optical component for guiding light to the liquid crystal light valve according to the viewing angle characteristics of the liquid crystal device (liquid crystal light valve). A configuration for improving the contrast by optimizing the posture will be described.

  26, the liquid crystal light valve 2030B, the reflection mirror 2026, and the condenser lens 2027B are conventionally arranged in an upright posture with respect to the end face of the prism unit 2042.

  However, in the present embodiment, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 26, the liquid crystal light valve 2030B is disposed in an oblique posture that is shifted back and forth in the direction of the optical axis L0 (device optical axis).

  Therefore, the optical axis L0 of the light incident on the liquid crystal light valve 2030B is inclined toward the clear viewing direction (side at 6:00) by a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the normal direction M of the light incident surface of the liquid crystal device 1. I have. Therefore, it is possible to increase the light incident on the liquid crystal light valve 2030B from the clear viewing direction side and reduce the light from the reverse clear viewing direction, so that a display with high contrast can be performed in the liquid crystal light valve 2030B. Can be.

  However, if the liquid crystal light valve 2030B is tilted too much, even if the light from the light source lamp 2011 is focused by the liquid crystal light valve 2030B, the liquid crystal light valve 2030B will be largely displaced from its focal position. As a result, in the image display area 7 of the liquid crystal light valve 2030B, the quality of the image is degraded in a portion largely shifted from the focal position.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, regarding the condenser lens 2027B (see FIG. 25) used for the condenser optical system (light guide system 2044), the optical axis L of the light incident on the liquid crystal light valve 2030B is equal to that of the liquid crystal light valve 2030B. It is tilted slightly backward from the upright posture shown by the alternate long and short dash line so as to be inclined further upward with respect to the normal M direction, as shown by the solid line. Further, in the present embodiment, also with respect to the reflection mirror 2026 (see FIG. 25) used in the light collecting optical system (light guide system 2044), the optical axis L of the light incident on the liquid crystal light valve 2030B is the same as that of the liquid crystal light valve 2030B. It is tilted slightly backward from the upright posture shown by the alternate long and short dash line so as to be further inclined to the clear visual direction side with respect to the direction of the line M, so as to have an obliquely upward posture shown by the solid line. For this reason, in the present embodiment, there is a limit to the angle at which the liquid crystal light valve 2030B can be tilted from the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration in image quality due to a shift in the positional relationship between the focal position and the liquid crystal light valve 2030B. Even if it is not possible to compensate for optimizing the direction of the light with the configuration described in the paragraphs 8 to 8, etc., such a shortage of the inclination can be compensated for by the inclination of the reflection mirror 2026 and the condenser lens 2027B of the light guide optical system. it can. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to incline the light incident on the liquid crystal toward the clear viewing direction to an optimum condition.

  The inclination of the optical axis with respect to the liquid crystal light valve 2030B can be optimized by the condenser lens 2027B and the reflection mirror 2026 as described above. 2027R, a reflection mirror 2047, or the like, and the inclination of the optical axis with respect to the liquid crystal light valve 2030G can be performed, for example, by a condenser lens 2027G, a green reflection dichroic mirror 2024, or the like.

  Further, when a plurality of liquid crystal light valves (liquid crystal devices) are used as in the projection type display device of the present embodiment, the optical axis of the incident light is set for each of the liquid crystal light valves 2030R, 2030G, and 2030B. It is preferable that the angle of inclination of the liquid crystal light valve with respect to the normal direction of each liquid crystal light valve is set to an optimum angle. In such a configuration, it is preferable that the inclination of each of the liquid crystal light valves 2030R, 2030G, and 2030B be the same, and the inclination of the corresponding condenser lens and reflection mirror be optimized for each color.

1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from a counter substrate side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line HH ′. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a part of a pixel region of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the active matrix substrate taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates in the liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a positional relationship between first and second light-shielding films formed on an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between first and second light shielding films formed on an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a positional relationship between first and second light-shielding films formed on an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between first and second light-shielding films formed on an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a positional relationship between microlenses formed on a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 12 and pixel electrodes formed on an active matrix substrate. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between microlenses formed on a counter substrate of the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 12 and pixel electrodes formed on an active matrix substrate. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to a modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to a modification of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. FIG. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a structure for bonding these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to a first modification of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates in a liquid crystal device according to a second modification of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a display device illustrating an example of use of a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a projection display device showing an example of use of a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the orientations of a liquid crystal device, a condenser lens, and a reflection mirror in the projection display device shown in FIG. 25 are improved. FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, and a bonding structure of these substrates used in a conventional liquid crystal device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the major axis direction of liquid crystal is twisted by 90 ° between substrates in a liquid crystal device. (A) and (B) are a graph showing a contrast change in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions of the liquid crystal device, and a graph showing a contrast change in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock direction of the liquid crystal device, respectively. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which light is incident on a liquid crystal device from an oblique direction.

Explanation of reference numerals

Reference Signs List 1 liquid crystal device 4 image display area 6 first light-shielding film 7 on active matrix substrate side second light-shielding film 8 on opposite substrate side 8 pixel electrode 10 pixel switching TFT
20 Active matrix substrate (first substrate / other substrate)
21 First opening area 30 on active matrix substrate side Opposing substrate (second substrate / one substrate)
31 second opening region on the counter substrate side 32 counter electrode 39 liquid crystal 40 lens array substrate 40A intermediate refractive index layer 40B low refractive index layer 40C high refractive index layer 41 micro lens 48 adhesive 49 thin glass 52 sealing material 81 pixel electrode Center position 90 Data line 91 Scan line 211 Center position 311 of first opening region Center position 411 of second opening region Optical center position of microlens

Claims (10)

In a liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates,
One of the first and second substrates on which light is incident includes a microlens corresponding to a pixel,
The microlens has a plane on the light incident side and a plane on the emission side,
Further, the microlens comprises a high refractive index layer formed on the light incident surface side of the one substrate, and a low refractive index layer formed in contact with the high refractive index layer, and the low refractive index layer is It is thicker from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and thinner toward the reverse clear viewing direction side, and the high refractive index layer is thinner from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and is closer to the reverse clear viewing direction side. A liquid crystal device characterized by being thicker toward the surface. In a liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates,
One of the first and second substrates on which light is incident includes a microlens corresponding to a pixel,
The microlens has a plane on the light incident side and a plane on the emission side,
Further, the microlens comprises a low refractive index layer formed on the light incident side of the one substrate, and a high refractive index layer formed on the light emitting side of the substrate in contact with the low refractive index layer, The high refractive index layer is thinner from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side and thicker toward the reverse clear viewing direction side, and the low refractive index layer is thicker from the pixel center side toward the clear viewing direction side, A liquid crystal device characterized by being thinner toward a clear viewing direction. In a liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates,
One of the first and second substrates on which light is incident includes a microlens corresponding to a pixel,
The microlens has an intermediate refractive index layer formed on the light incident side of the one substrate, a low refractive index layer formed on the light emitting side of the substrate in the clear viewing direction, and a light emitting side of the substrate. The high-refractive-index layer adjacent to the low-refractive-index layer on the reverse clear-vision direction side, wherein the low-refractive-index layer and the high-refractive-index layer are respectively located on the clear-vision direction side and the reverse clear-vision direction side from the pixel center side. A liquid crystal device, characterized in that the thickness of the liquid crystal device increases. In a liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates,
One of the first and second substrates on which light is incident includes a microlens corresponding to a pixel,
The microlens includes an intermediate refractive index layer formed on the light incident side of the one substrate, a high refractive index layer formed on the light emitting side of the substrate in the clear viewing direction, and a light emitting side of the substrate. The low refractive index layer adjacent to the high refractive index layer on the reverse clear viewing direction side, wherein the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer are respectively from the pixel center side to the clear viewing direction side and the reverse clear viewing direction side. A liquid crystal device characterized by being thinner toward.   A projection type display device using the liquid crystal device defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a light source, a light-collecting optical system for guiding light emitted from the light source to the liquid crystal device, and the liquid crystal. And a magnifying projection optical system for magnifying and projecting light modulated by the device.   6. The projection display device according to claim 5, wherein an optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward a clear viewing direction with respect to a normal direction of the liquid crystal device.   7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid crystal device is disposed in an oblique posture in which an optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device is inclined toward a clear viewing direction with respect to a normal direction of the liquid crystal device. Projection display device.   9. The condensing lens according to claim 6, wherein the condensing lens used in the condensing optical system tilts an optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device toward a clear viewing direction with respect to a normal direction of the liquid crystal device. A projection type display device characterized by being arranged in:   9. The reflection mirror according to claim 6, wherein the reflection mirror used in the condensing optical system is configured such that an optical axis of light incident on the liquid crystal device is in a clear viewing direction side with respect to a normal direction of the liquid crystal device. A projection-type display device, wherein the projection-type display device is disposed in an oblique posture. 9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the liquid crystal devices are used, and an optical axis of incident light is inclined with respect to a normal direction of the liquid crystal device for each of the plurality of liquid crystal devices. The projection type display device, wherein the respective angles are set to predetermined values.

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