JP2009053473A - Electrooptical device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrooptical device for uniforming an arrival angle range of diffracted light, and to provide electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid crystal display device has pixel rows wherein pixels 4L emitting light constituting a first image and pixels 4R emitting light constituting a second image are arrayed by alternately. Light shielding optical elements 54 are disposed on light emission sides of the pixels RL and 4R, and are provided with opening portions 54A in regions including alternate boundary areas between the pixels 4L and 4R in plan view. When a distance in plan view between an edge 54B of each opening portion 54A which crosses an extension direction of a pixel row and a side 4B of each of the pixels 4L and 4R along a boundary area included in the opening portion 54A is defined as a light emission width (dr, dg, db), pixels 4L and 4R corresponding to one color are different in light emission width from pixels 4L and 4R corresponding to other color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  One embodiment according to the present invention relates to an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus.

  It is known that different images can be directionally displayed in two or more different directions by superimposing a light-shielding optical element having an opening on an electro-optical panel (for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electro-optical device capable of directivity display. Light constituting the display of different images is emitted from the pixels 4L and 4R of the liquid crystal panel 2 as the electro-optical panel. Hereinafter, an image displayed by the pixel 4L is also called a first image, and an image displayed by the pixel 4R is also called a second image. An optical element 54 having an opening 54A is disposed at a position facing the liquid crystal panel 2. The light emitted from the pixel 4L and passing through the opening 54A is visually recognized in the display angle range 3L that is unevenly distributed to the left in the drawing. Similarly, the light emitted from the pixel 4R and passing through the opening 54A is visually recognized in the display angle range 3R that is unevenly distributed to the right in the drawing. In the display angle range 3L, only the light from the pixel 4L is visually recognized in the display angle range VL, and in the display angle range VR of the display angle range 3R, only the light from the pixel 4R is visually recognized. Therefore, only the first image is visually recognized in the display angle range VL, and only the second image is visually recognized in the display angle range VR.

  According to the electro-optical device capable of such directional display, for example, by positioning different persons in the display angle ranges VL and VR, the first person and the second image can be simultaneously viewed by the different persons. Can do. Alternatively, if the left eye and the right eye are positioned in the display angle ranges VL and VR, respectively, the first image is incident on the left eye and the second image is incident on the right eye. it can.

Japanese Patent No. 3096613

  However, in the above configuration, there is a problem that a part of the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 2 is diffracted when passing through the opening 54A of the optical element 54, and the appropriate viewing range is narrowed. That is, in FIG. 16, part of the light emitted from the pixel 4L that has traveled along the critical optical path 8L is diffracted at the edge of the opening 54A to become diffracted light 9Ld, which deviates from the original display angle range 3L. It is incident on the position. Similarly, part of the light emitted from the pixel 4R that has traveled along the critical optical path 8R is diffracted at the edge of the opening 54A to become diffracted light 9Rd, which is incident on a position deviated from the original display angle range 3R. Resulting in. As a result, there is a problem that the display angle ranges VL and VR in which only the first image or only the second image can be visually recognized are narrowed.

  Here, the diffraction angle (the amount of change in the traveling angle of light due to diffraction) is larger as the wavelength is longer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the diffraction angles Δr, Δg, Δb of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b that display red, green, and blue have a relationship of Δr> Δg> Δb. If it is assumed that there is no diffraction now, the angles φr, φg, φb from the normal line in the direction in which these lights travel (that is, the direction of the critical optical path 8L) are all equal. The reach angle ranges θr (= φr + Δr), θg (= φg + Δg), and θb (= φb + Δb) have a relationship of θr> θg> θb. As described above, since the arrival angle range of the diffracted light 9Ld varies depending on the color, a certain color of the diffracted light 9Ld is visually recognized and other colors are not visually recognized at a certain display angle. For this reason, the display at the display angle is greatly disturbed. As described above, particularly in an electro-optical device capable of color directional display, there is a problem that display quality is deteriorated due to a difference in the arrival angle range of the diffracted light for each display color.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A pixel row in which first pixels that emit light forming a first image and second pixels that emit light forming a second image are alternately arranged, and in plan view The first pixel and the second pixel each having an opening in a region including every other boundary region of the boundary regions between the first pixel and the second pixel in the pixel row. A light-shielding optical element disposed on the light emission side of the pixel, and a first pixel group composed of a plurality of the first pixels and a second pixel group composed of the plurality of second pixels, Including at least two kinds of the pixels corresponding to different colors, the edge of the opening of the optical element intersecting the extending direction of the pixel row, and the boundary region of the pixel included in the opening The side along the line is parallel to each other in plan view, and the side of one pixel and the front closest to the side When the distance from the edge in plan view is defined as the light emission width, the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to one color is different from the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the other color. Electro-optic device.

  According to the electro-optical device having such a configuration, the first image and the second image can be directionally displayed in different display angle ranges through the opening. Here, a part of the light traveling along the optical path connecting the side of the first pixel and the edge of the opening of the optical element (hereinafter also referred to as “critical optical path”) is diffracted at the edge, Only light from the second pixel is emitted in a display angle range to be visually recognized. Similarly, part of the light traveling on the optical path (critical optical path) connecting the side of the second pixel and the edge of the opening of the optical element is diffracted at the edge, and the light from the first pixel Only the display angle range to be viewed is emitted. The diffraction angle at this time depends on the color (wavelength) of light. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, since the light emission width of the pixel is different depending on the corresponding color, the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path is different for each pixel depending on the corresponding color. Therefore, it is possible to control the arrival angle range from the normal line of the diffracted light, which combines the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path and the diffraction angle, according to the color of the diffracted light. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the variation due to the color of the arrival angle range of the diffracted light. The “normal line” in the above refers to the normal line of the surface formed by the optical element.

  Application Example 2 In the electro-optical device, the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the color on the longest wavelength side among the different colors is equal to the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the other color. An electro-optical device smaller than the width.

  According to such a configuration, the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path in the pixel corresponding to the color on the longest wavelength side can be reduced. As a result, the arrival angle range from the normal line of the diffracted light, which is the sum of the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path and the diffraction angle in the pixel, can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

  Application Example 3 The electro-optical device according to the electro-optical device, wherein the pixel corresponding to the color on the long wavelength side has a smaller light emission width.

  According to such a configuration, the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path can be reduced as the pixel corresponding to the color on the long wavelength side. On the other hand, the diffraction angle is larger as the light of the longer wavelength side. Therefore, the range of the arrival angle from the normal line of the diffracted light, which is the sum of the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path and the diffraction angle, can be made to be constant regardless of the color.

  Application Example 4 In the electro-optical device, the width of the boundary region in the extending direction of the pixel row is constant, and the width of the opening in the extending direction of the pixel row is the opening. An electro-optical device that is equal to the sum of the width of the boundary region that partially overlaps the portion in plan view and the light emission width of two pixels adjacent to each other across the boundary region.

  By adjusting the width of the opening in this manner, the light emission width in each pixel can be made different according to the corresponding color.

  Application Example 5 In the electro-optical device, the width of the opening in the extending direction of the pixel row is constant, and the width of the boundary region in the extending direction of the pixel row is the opening. An electro-optical device having a length equal to a length obtained by subtracting the sum of the light emission widths of two pixels adjacent to each other with the boundary region interposed therebetween.

  By adjusting the width of the boundary region in this way, the light emission width in each pixel can be made different according to the corresponding color.

  Application Example 6 In the electro-optical device, the different colors are three colors of a red color, a green color, and a blue color, and the pixel of the pixel corresponding to the red color is used. The light emission width is smaller than the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the green color, and the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the green color is the pixel corresponding to the blue color. An electro-optical device smaller than the light emission width.

  According to such a configuration, the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path can be made the smallest for the red pixel, and can be made the largest for the blue pixel. On the other hand, the diffraction angle is the largest for red light and the smallest for blue light. Therefore, the arrival angle range from the normal line of the diffracted light, which is the sum of the angle from the normal line of the critical optical path and the diffraction angle, can be made constant regardless of the color.

  Application Example 7 An electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device.

  According to such a configuration, an electronic device capable of high-quality display with small variations in color due to diffracted light can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings shown below, the dimensions and ratios of the components are appropriately different from the actual ones in order to make the components large enough to be recognized on the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal device 1 as an electro-optical device. FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. The liquid crystal device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 2 as an electro-optical panel, and a mask substrate 50 disposed to face the liquid crystal panel 2. Hereinafter, the direction on the mask substrate 50 side of the liquid crystal panel 2 is also referred to as “observation side”, and the direction opposite to the mask substrate 50 is also referred to as “back side”. On the mask substrate 50, a light-shielding optical element 54 (FIGS. 2 and 5) having an opening 54A is formed. A polarizing plate 47 is disposed on the observation side of the mask substrate 50, and a polarizing plate 46 is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 2. The liquid crystal panel 2 includes an element substrate 10 and a counter substrate 30 disposed on the observation side of the element substrate 10. The element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 30 are bonded together via a frame-shaped sealing agent 41. A liquid crystal layer 40 is disposed in a space surrounded by the element substrate 10, the counter substrate 30, and the sealing agent 41. A driver IC 42 for driving the liquid crystal layer 40 is disposed on the element substrate 10. A backlight 49 is disposed on the back side of the polarizing plate 46. The liquid crystal device 1 performs display in the display region 43 by modulating the light incident from the backlight 49 and transmitting it to the observation side.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the display area 43 of the liquid crystal device 1. This figure is a view of the liquid crystal device 1 as viewed from the observation side, more specifically, from the normal direction of the mask substrate 50. In this specification, viewing from the normal direction of the mask substrate 50 is also referred to as “plan view”. The normal direction of the mask substrate 50 is defined as the Z axis. FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel 2, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged plan view of the mask substrate 50. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the mask substrate 50 of FIG. 3B is superimposed on the liquid crystal panel 2 of FIG.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 has pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b that are arranged in a matrix and are rectangular in plan view, and these emit light of red, green, and blue, respectively (hereinafter, the corresponding colors are shown). If they are not distinguished, they are simply called “pixel 4”). The pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b are repeatedly arranged in this order in one direction to form a pixel row 5. In the direction orthogonal to the pixel row 5, the pixels 4 are arranged so that the pixels 4 corresponding to the same color are arranged in a line in a stripe shape, thereby forming a pixel column 6. A light shielding layer 34 made of a light shielding resin is disposed between the adjacent pixels 4. The area of the pixel 4 in plan view is an area surrounded by the light shielding layer 34. In this specification, the extending direction of the pixel row 5 is defined as the X axis, and the extending direction of the pixel column 6 is defined as the Y axis.

  The light emitted from each pixel 4 constitutes either the first image or the second image. The pixel 4 that emits light constituting the first image is also called a pixel 4L, and the pixel 4 that emits light constituting the second image is also called a pixel 4R. The pixels 4L and 4R correspond to the first pixel and the second pixel, respectively. The pixels 4 </ b> L and 4 </ b> R are alternately and repeatedly arranged along the pixel row 5, and are also alternately and repeatedly arranged along the pixel column 6.

  A pixel group composed of a plurality of pixels 4L includes three types of pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b corresponding to three different colors (red, green, and blue). Similarly, a pixel group including a plurality of pixels 4R includes three types of pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b corresponding to three different colors (red, green, and blue).

  An optical element 54 formed on the mask substrate 50 is located on the observation side of the pixel 4, that is, on the light emission side. The optical element 54 has a light shielding property, and light passes through an opening 54 </ b> A provided in the optical element 54. 2 and 3 (b), the shaded area represents the arrangement area of the optical element 54. Detailed configurations and operations of the optical element 54 and the opening 54A will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing components in the vicinity of the pixel 4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the gate line 12 is formed along the X direction, and the source line 14 is formed along the Y direction. At a position corresponding to the intersection of the gate line 12 and the source line 14, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element 20 as a switching element including the semiconductor layer 20a is formed.

  A common electrode 17 and a pixel electrode 16 are formed in a rectangular region surrounded by the gate line 12 and the source line 14. The common electrode 17 is formed over substantially the entire surface of this rectangular region. The common electrode 17 may be formed on substantially the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 2. The pixel electrode 16 is provided with a large number of elongated slits 16 </ b> A in parallel. The common electrode 17 is connected to a constant potential line (not shown), and the pixel electrode 16 is connected to the drain electrode 20 d of the TFT element 20 through the contact hole 25.

  When the gate line 12 becomes a selection potential, the TFT element 20 connected to the gate line 12 is turned on. During the period in which the TFT element 20 is on, the image signal supplied to the source line 14 is applied to the pixel electrode 16 through the TFT element 20. A voltage determined by an image signal of a predetermined level applied to the pixel electrode 16 and the common potential of the common electrode 17 becomes a drive voltage.

As shown in FIG. 5, the element substrate 10 is configured using the substrate 11 as a base. As the substrate 11, a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, or the like can be used. A gate line 12 is formed on the substrate 11 on the liquid crystal layer 40 side. An insulating layer made of silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ), silicon nitride (SiN), or the like may be further provided between the substrate 11 and the gate line 12. A semiconductor layer 20a is formed on the gate line 12 with a gate insulating layer 21 made of silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ), silicon nitride (SiN) or the like interposed therebetween. The semiconductor layer 20a can be composed of, for example, amorphous silicon or polysilicon. In addition, a source electrode 20s and a drain electrode 20d are formed so as to partially overlap the semiconductor layer 20a. The source electrode 20s can be formed integrally with the source line 14 (FIG. 4). The TFT element 20 is composed of the semiconductor layer 20a, the source electrode 20s, the drain electrode 20d, the gate line 12, and the like. The gate line 12 also serves as the gate electrode 20 g of the TFT element 20. The gate line 12 (gate electrode 20g), the source electrode 20s, the drain electrode 20d, and the source line 14 are made of, for example, titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), or the like. It can be composed of a simple metal, an alloy, a metal silicide, a polysilicide, a laminate of these, or conductive polysilicon containing at least one of refractory metals. As the switching element, a two-terminal TFD (Thin Film Diode) element or the like may be used instead of the three-terminal TFT element 20.

A common electrode 17 made of light-transmitting ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is formed on the TFT element 20 with an interlayer insulating layer 22 made of silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ), silicon nitride (SiN) or the like interposed therebetween. ing.

A pixel electrode 16 made of ITO is formed on the common electrode 17 with an interlayer insulating layer 23 made of silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ), silicon nitride (SiN) or the like interposed therebetween. The pixel electrode 16 is connected to the drain electrode 20 d of the TFT element 20 through a contact hole 25 formed through the interlayer insulating layers 22 and 23. An alignment film (not shown) made of polyimide is formed on the pixel electrode 16. The element substrate 10 includes elements from the substrate 11 to the alignment film.

  When a driving voltage is applied between the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 16, the driving voltage comes out from the upper surface of the pixel electrode 16 and reaches the upper surface of the common electrode 17 (or comes out of the upper surface of the common electrode 17 and reaches the upper surface of the pixel electrode 16. An electric field having electric field lines is generated. At this time, an electric field having a component parallel to the substrate 11, that is, a lateral electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer 40. The liquid crystal molecules 40 </ b> A in the liquid crystal layer 40 change the alignment direction in a plane parallel to the substrate 11 in accordance with the lateral electric field. As a result, the relative angle with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 46 and 47 changes, and display is performed based on the polarization conversion function corresponding to the relative angle. Such a liquid crystal mode is called an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode, and a wide viewing angle is obtained because the liquid crystal molecules 40A are always driven in a state parallel to the substrate 11.

  The counter substrate 30 is configured with the substrate 31 as a base. The substrate 31 is disposed to face the substrate 11. As the substrate 31, a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, or the like can be used. A color filter 32 is formed on the liquid crystal layer 40 side of the substrate 31. The color filter 32 is a member that absorbs light having a specific wavelength in incident light, and the transmitted light can be changed to a predetermined color (for example, red, green, or blue) by the color filter 32. The color filter 32 includes three types of color elements corresponding to red, green, and blue colors, and these color elements are arranged in the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b, respectively. Here, the observation-side surface of the color filter 32 becomes a light emitting portion 7 from which light is emitted from each pixel 4. That is, the area occupied by the pixel 4 in the cross section of FIG. 5 is a rectangular parallelepiped with the light emitting portion 7 as the observation side surface.

  A light shielding layer 34 is formed in the same layer as the color filter 32. The light shielding layer 34 plays a role of preventing the light leakage from the inter-pixel region and improving the display contrast. An alignment film (not shown) made of polyimide is formed on the surface layer (back side) of the color filter 32 and the light shielding layer 34. An overcoat made of a light-transmitting resin may be laminated on the color filter 32 and the light shielding layer 34, and an alignment film may be formed thereon. The counter substrate 30 is composed of elements from the substrate 31 to the alignment film.

  The liquid crystal layer 40 is disposed between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 30 as described above. The alignment films formed on the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 30 are both rubbed along the X direction (FIG. 4). Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules 40A are aligned along the X direction when no voltage is applied. Therefore, the liquid crystal layer 40 is in parallel alignment when no voltage is applied.

  A mask substrate 50 is attached to the surface of the counter substrate 30 opposite to the liquid crystal layer 40 via an adhesive 56. The mask substrate 50 is configured with a substrate 51 made of glass, quartz or the like as a base. An optical element 54 is formed on the surface of the substrate 51 on the liquid crystal layer 40 side. Therefore, the optical element 54 is located on the light emission side of the pixel 4. The optical element 54 can be made of, for example, black resin or metal.

  A polarizing plate 46 is disposed on the back side of the element substrate 10, and a polarizing plate 47 is disposed on the observation side of the mask substrate 50. The transmission axis of the polarizing plate 46 extends along the X-axis direction, and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 47 extends along the Y-axis direction. As described above, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 40 is a direction along the X axis. Therefore, the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 46 and 47 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other, and are arranged so as to be parallel or perpendicular to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 40. A backlight 49 that irradiates light toward the polarizing plate 46 is disposed on the back side of the polarizing plate 46.

  According to such a configuration, when the liquid crystal molecules 40A of the liquid crystal layer 40 are aligned along the X axis (for example, when no voltage is applied), dark display is performed. That is, at this time, the linearly polarized light emitted from the backlight 49 and transmitted through the polarizing plate 46 is not given a phase difference depending on the liquid crystal layer 40, and is incident on the polarizing plate 47 and absorbed as the same linearly polarized light. The display is dark. On the other hand, when a driving voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 40 and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules 40A becomes non-parallel to the X axis, halftone display or bright display is performed. That is, at this time, the linearly polarized light having a polarization axis parallel to the X axis that has been emitted from the backlight 49 and transmitted through the polarizing plate 46 is given a phase difference by the liquid crystal layer 40, and the circularly polarized light, the elliptically polarized light, or the Y axis The light is converted into linearly polarized light having parallel polarization axes and enters the polarizing plate 47. For this reason, part of the incident light is transmitted through the polarizing plate 47, and halftone display or bright display is performed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the configuration of the optical element 54 and the opening 54A will be described in detail. The opening 54A is substantially rectangular in plan view. The opening 54A is formed in a region including at least a part of the boundary region between the pixel 4L and the pixel 4R in the pixel row 5 in plan view. More specifically, the opening 54A is provided in an area including every other boundary area among the boundary areas between the pixel 4L and the pixel 4R in the pixel row 5 in plan view. Here, the boundary region between the pixel 4L and the pixel 4R is a formation region of the light shielding layer 34 disposed between the pixel 4L and the pixel 4R in the present embodiment. The width of the opening 54 </ b> A in the pixel row 5 direction is larger than the width of the light shielding layer 34. The opening 54A is arranged at a position where the pixel 4L, the opening 54A, and the pixel 4R are arranged in this order along the −X direction. Accordingly, the pixel 4L is arranged in the + X direction of a certain opening 54A, and the pixel 4R is arranged in the −X direction. It should be noted that the opening 54A is not provided in a portion where the pixels 4R and 4L are arranged in this order along the −X direction.

  Since the openings 54A are arranged corresponding to every other light shielding layer 34, the arrangement pitch of the openings 54A along the pixel row 5 is about twice the arrangement pitch of the pixels 4. Further, since the pixels 4L and 4R are alternately arranged along the direction of the pixel column 6, the arrangement pitch of the openings 54A along the pixel column 6 is about twice the arrangement pitch of the pixels 4. In other words, the openings 54 </ b> A are arranged in every other pixel row 5 in the direction along the pixel column 6. Accordingly, in any direction of the pixel row 5 and the pixel column 6, the columns formed by the openings 54A are arranged such that adjacent columns are shifted from each other by a half pitch. That is, the openings 54A are arranged in a check pattern or a mosaic pattern so as to form a checkered pattern. With the openings 54A having such an arrangement, it is possible to suppress a decrease in resolution of the first image and the second image.

  According to such a configuration, the display of the first image by the pixel 4L is viewed through the opening 54A from an angle inclined in the −X direction from the normal direction, and the display of the second image by the pixel 4R is the normal It is visually recognized through the opening 54A from an angle inclined in the + X direction from the line direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the light emitted from the pixel 4L and passing through the opening 54A is visually recognized in the display angle range 3L unevenly distributed in the −X direction. Similarly, the light emitted from the pixel 4R and passing through the opening 54A is visually recognized in the display angle range 3R that is unevenly distributed in the + X direction. Here, the display angle range 3R includes a range different from the display angle range 3L. Therefore, the opening 54A allows the light from the pixel 4L to pass through the first display angle range, and allows the light from the pixel 4R to pass through the second display angle range different from the first display angle range. In the display angle range 3L, only the light from the pixel 4L is visually recognized in the display angle range VL, and in the display angle range VR of the display angle range 3R, only the light from the pixel 4R is visually recognized. Therefore, only the first image is visually recognized in the display angle range VL, and only the second image is visually recognized in the display angle range VR. However, part of the light emitted from the pixel 4L is diffracted at the edge of the opening 54A to become diffracted light 9Ld, and is incident on a position shifted in the + X direction from the display angle range 3L. Similarly, part of the light emitted from the pixel 4R is diffracted at the edge of the opening 54A to become diffracted light 9Rd, and is incident on a position shifted in the −X direction from the display angle range 3R.

  By the way, the substrate 31 included in the counter substrate 30 is processed to a thickness of about 50 μm by chemical etching, CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing), or the like. By this processing, the distance between the light emitting portion 7 (FIG. 5) of the pixel 4 and the opening 54A of the optical element 54 is adjusted, and as a result, the angle of the optical path from the light emitting portion 7 to the opening 54A is adjusted. The Thereby, the display angle ranges 3L, 3R, VL, VR (FIG. 16) in which the first image and the second image are directionally displayed by the liquid crystal device 1 can be adjusted. As in the present embodiment, when the thickness of the substrate 31 is about 50 μm, there are display angle ranges 3L and VL in which the first image is displayed and display angle ranges 3R and VR in which the second image is displayed. Since they differ greatly, the first image and the second image can be simultaneously viewed by different persons. If the thickness of the substrate 31 is further increased, the display angle ranges 3L, VL in which the first image is displayed and the display angle ranges 3R, VR in which the second image is displayed approach each other. In this case, the first image can be incident on the left eye and the second image can be incident on the right eye, and stereoscopic display can be performed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the opening 54 </ b> A of the optical element 54 extends along the edge 54 </ b> B intersecting the extending direction (X direction) of the pixel row 5 and the boundary region included in the opening 54 </ b> A of the pixel 4. The sides 4B all extend along the Y direction and are parallel to each other in plan view. Here, the distance in plan view between the side 4B of a certain pixel 4 and the edge 54B of the opening 54A closest to the side 4B is defined as the light emission width of the pixel 4. In FIG. 2, the light emission widths of the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b are dr, dg, and db, respectively, which are different from each other. Therefore, the light emission width of the pixel 4 corresponding to a certain color is different from the light emission width of the pixel 4 corresponding to another color.

  In particular, the light emission width is the smallest in the pixel 4 corresponding to the color on the longest wavelength side, and is smaller as the pixel 4 corresponding to the color on the long wavelength side. For example, in the present embodiment, the color on the longest wavelength side among the colors corresponding to the pixel 4 is red, and the light emission width dr of the pixel 4r corresponding to red is larger than the light emission width dg of the pixel 4g corresponding to green. It is getting smaller. The light emission width dg of the pixel 4g corresponding to green is smaller than the light emission width db of the pixel 4b corresponding to blue. That is, there is a relationship of dr <dg <db among the light emission widths dr, dg, db.

  The width of the opening 54A in the extending direction (X direction) of the pixel row 5 is a boundary that partially overlaps the opening 54A in plan view so that the light emission widths dr, dg, and db satisfy the above relationship. This is equal to the sum of the width of the region and the light emission width of two adjacent pixels 4 across the boundary region. Here, the width of the boundary region of the pixel 4 in the extending direction of the pixel row 5 is constant. That is, the sizes of the light emission widths dr, dg, and db are adjusted by making the width of the boundary region constant and appropriately changing the width of the opening 54A in the pixel row 5 direction.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the optical path of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixel 4L (pixels 4r, 4g, 4b). The diffracted light 9Ld shown in this figure is critical diffracted light that travels along an optical path that is most inclined in the + X direction from the Z-axis. In such diffracted light 9Ld, light that has passed through the critical optical path 8L that connects the side 4B of the pixel 4L and the edge 54B of the opening 54A of the optical element 54 among the light emitted from the pixel 4L is transmitted through the opening 54A. This is caused by diffracting at the edge 54B.

  Here, the angles φr, φg, φb from the normal line of the critical optical path 8L for the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b depend on the light emission widths dr, dg, db, and more specifically, the light emission widths dr, dg, The slope increases as db increases. In the present embodiment, since there is a relationship of dr <dg <db, the relationship of φr <φg <φb is satisfied with respect to the inclination from the normal line of the critical optical path 8L. In addition, since the diffraction angle of light (the amount of change in the traveling angle of light due to diffraction) increases as the wavelength of light increases, the light diffraction angles Δr, Δg, Δb from the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b are between There is a relationship of Δr> Δg> Δb. Further, in the present embodiment, the light emission widths dr, dg, and db are determined so that the relationship of (φr + Δr) = (φg + Δg) = (φb + Δb) is established.

  The arrival angle ranges θr, θg, θb from the normal line of the diffracted light 9Ld are represented by the sum of the inclination from the normal line of the critical optical path 8L and the diffraction angle of light, and θr = φr + Δr, θg = φg + Δg, θb = φb + Δb The relationship holds. Here, since the right sides of these equations are equal to each other as described above, θr = θg = θb. That is, the arrival angle ranges of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b are equal to each other.

  Specifically, by appropriately adjusting the light emission widths dr, dg, db, (φr, φg, φb) = (2.5 °, 3.0 °, 3.7 °), (Δr, Δg, Δb) = (4.5 °, 4.0 °, 3.3 °), (θr, θg, θb) = (7.0 °, 7.0 °, 7.0 °) .

  As described above, the light emission widths dr, dg, and db can be set to desired values by adjusting the width of the opening 54A. Furthermore, the arrival angle range of the diffracted light 9Ld can be set to a constant value regardless of the color by reducing the light emission width dr, dg, db as the pixel 4 corresponding to the color on the long wavelength side. In particular, by making the relationship of dr <dg <db with respect to the light emission widths of the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b, the direction of the critical optical path 8L varies depending on the color of the pixel 4 (red, green, blue). It is possible to compensate for the difference in diffraction angle depending on the color of light, and make the arrival angle range of the diffracted light 9Ld uniform regardless of the color of the pixel 4. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a problem that the display quality is deteriorated due to the arrival angle range of the diffracted light being different for each display color.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the optical path of the diffracted light 9Rd from the pixel 4R (pixels 4r, 4g, 4b). The diffracted light 9Rd shown in this figure is critical diffracted light that travels along an optical path that is most inclined in the −X direction from the Z-axis. In such diffracted light 9Rd, the light emitted from the pixel 4R passes through the critical optical path 8R connecting the side 4B of the pixel 4R and the edge 54B of the opening 54A of the optical element 54. This is caused by diffracting at the edge 54B.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the relationship of dr <dg <db is established between the light emission widths of the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b in the pixel 4R. Accordingly, as in the case of the pixel 4L, the arrival angle ranges θr, θg, θb from the normal line of the diffracted light 9Rd are equal to each other.

  From the above, in both the first image by the pixel 4L and the second image by the pixel 4R, it is possible to suppress the problem that the display quality is deteriorated due to the arrival angle range of the diffracted light being different for each display color. be able to.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described. The liquid crystal device 1 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the opening 54A of the optical element 54 and the width of the light shielding layer 34, and the other points are the same as those in the first embodiment. .

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the display area 43 of the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel 2, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged plan view of the mask substrate 50. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a state in which the mask substrate 50 of FIG. 9B is overlapped with the liquid crystal panel 2 of FIG. 9A.

  Also in this embodiment, the distance (light emission width) in plan view between the side 4B of the pixel 4 and the edge 54B of the opening 54A closest to the side 4B is different for each of the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b. . More specifically, the relationship dr <dg <db is established for the light emission widths dr, dg, db of the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the width in the X direction of the boundary region between the adjacent pixels 4, that is, the width of the light shielding layer 34 varies depending on the location, whereby the light emission widths dr, dg, db are as described above. To meet the relationship. On the other hand, the width of the opening 54A of the optical element 54 in the X direction is constant regardless of the location. In other words, the width of the boundary region of the pixel 4 in the extending direction of the pixel row 5 is obtained by subtracting the sum of the light emission widths of two adjacent pixels 4 across the boundary region from the width of the opening 54A. Is equal to the length.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the optical path of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixel 4L (pixels 4r, 4g, 4b). Although the width of the opening 54A is constant, the width of the boundary region of the pixel 4 (the width of the light shielding layer 34) varies depending on the location, so that the light emission widths dr, dg, db of the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b are , Dr <dg <db. Thus, the relationship of φr <φg <φb is satisfied with respect to the inclination from the normal line of the critical optical path 8L. Furthermore, the light emission widths dr, dg, and db are determined so that the relationship of (φr + Δr) = (φg + Δg) = (φb + Δb) is established between the light diffraction angles Δr, Δg, and Δb. As a result, the reach angle ranges θr (= φr + Δr), θg (= φg + Δg), and θb (= φb + Δb) from the normal line of the diffracted light 9Ld are equal to each other.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the optical path of the diffracted light 9Rd from the pixel 4R (pixels 4r, 4g, 4b). As shown in this figure, the relationship of dr <dg <db is established between the light emission widths of the pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b in the pixel 4R. Accordingly, as in the case of the pixel 4L, the arrival angle ranges θr, θg, θb from the normal line of the diffracted light 9Rd are equal to each other.

  As described above, the light emission widths dr, dg, and db can be set to desired values by adjusting the width of the boundary region between the pixels 4 (the width of the light shielding layer 34). The arrival angle range of 9Ld and 9Rd can be made uniform regardless of the color of the pixel 4. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a problem that the display quality is deteriorated due to the arrival angle range of the diffracted light being different for each display color.

(Third embodiment)
Subsequently, a third embodiment will be described. The liquid crystal device 1 of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the openings 54A of the optical element 54 are striped and the arrangement of the pixels 4L and 4R. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the display area 43 of the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel 2, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged plan view of the mask substrate 50. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which the mask substrate 50 of FIG. 13B is superimposed on the liquid crystal panel 2 of FIG.

  The pixels 4r, 4g, and 4b are repeatedly arranged in this order in the X direction to form a pixel row 5. In the Y direction, the pixels 4 are arranged so that the pixels 4 corresponding to the same color are arranged in a line in a stripe shape. The pixels 4L and 4R are alternately and repeatedly arranged along the X direction, and the pixels 4L or the pixels 4R are arranged in a stripe shape in the Y direction.

  The opening 54A of the optical element 54 is formed in a stripe shape in a region including every other boundary region of the boundary regions between the pixel 4L and the pixel 4R in the pixel row 5 in plan view. The opening 54A is arranged at a position where the pixel 4L, the opening 54A, and the pixel 4R are arranged in this order along the −X direction. Accordingly, the pixel 4L is arranged in the + X direction of a certain opening 54A, and the pixel 4R is arranged in the −X direction. It should be noted that the opening 54A is not provided in a portion where the pixels 4R and 4L are arranged in this order along the −X direction.

  Even with such a configuration, the display of the first image by the pixel 4L is viewed through the opening 54A from an angle inclined in the −X direction from the normal direction, and the display of the second image by the pixel 4R is normal. It is visually recognized through the opening 54A from an angle inclined in the + X direction from the direction.

  Here, also in the present embodiment, by adjusting the width of the opening 54A in the X direction, the light emission widths dr, dg, db in the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b satisfy the relationship dr <dg <db. Is set to As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the difference in diffraction angle depending on the color of light can be compensated to make the arrival angle range of the diffracted light uniform regardless of the color of the pixel 4. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a problem that the display quality is deteriorated due to the arrival angle range of the diffracted light being different for each display color.

  Further, this embodiment may be combined with the second embodiment. That is, the size of the light emission widths dr, dg, db may be set by adjusting the width of the boundary region between the pixels 4 while keeping the width of the opening 54A in the X direction constant. Even with such a configuration, the arrival angle range of the diffracted light can be made uniform regardless of the color of the pixel 4.

(Electronics)
The above-described liquid crystal device 1 can be used by being mounted on a display device 100 for a car navigation system as an electronic device as shown in FIG. In the display device 100, the liquid crystal device 1 incorporated in the display unit 110 can directionally display two images in different display angle ranges. For example, a map image can be displayed on the driver's seat side, and a movie image can be displayed on the passenger seat side. At that time, high-quality display can be performed with little variation due to the color of the influence of diffracted light.

  The liquid crystal device 1 to which the present invention is applied can be used for various electronic devices such as a mobile computer, a digital camera, a digital video camera, an in-vehicle device, and an audio device in addition to the display device 100 described above.

  Various modifications can be made to the above embodiment. As modifications, for example, the following can be considered.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the light emission widths dr, dg, db in the pixels 4r, 4g, 4b are set to different values. Instead, two of the light emission widths dr, dg, db are set as follows. It may be set equal and the remaining one may be set to a different value.

  FIG. 14 is an example in which the light emission width is set to satisfy the relationship dr <dg = db by adjusting the width in the X direction of the opening 54A of the optical element 54. At this time, the angles φr, φg, and φb from the normal line of the critical optical path 8L satisfy the relationship φr <φg = φb. Further, in relation to the light diffraction angles Δr, Δg, Δb, the light emission widths dr, dg, db are determined so that (φr + Δr) = (φg + Δg)> (φb + Δb). Therefore, the reach angle range for each pixel 4 from the normal line of the diffracted light 9Ld has a relationship of θr = θg> θb. Although not shown, the diffracted light 9Rd in the pixel 4R also satisfies the relationship θr = θg> θb in the arrival angle range with the same configuration.

  The arrival angle range θr of the diffracted light 9Ld and 9Rd in the red pixel 4r is compared with θg and θb due to the large diffraction angle in the conventional configuration in which the light emission width is constant regardless of the color. Although it becomes the largest, in this modification, it is reduced to a value equal to θg. As described above, according to this modification, it is possible to reduce variations in the arrival angle range of the diffracted light, and to suppress deterioration in display quality due to the diffracted light.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, the pixel 4 corresponds to three colors of red, green, and blue. However, it is not strictly limited to these colors, and the three colors that the pixel 4 corresponds to include a red color and a green color. It can be arbitrarily selected from colors and blue colors. Further, the number of different colors corresponding to the pixel 4 may be two colors, or may be four or more colors. For example, in the case of four colors, a blue color, a red color, and a hue from blue to yellow are selected from the visible light region (380 to 780 nm) in which the hue changes according to the wavelength. And two different colors. Although it is used here as a system, for example, if it is a blue system, it is not limited to a pure blue hue, but includes a bluish purple or a bluish green. If it is a red hue, it is not limited to red but includes orange.

(Modification 3)
In the above embodiment, the light emission width of the pixel 4 is set to a desired value by adjusting either the width of the opening 54A of the optical element 54 or the width of the boundary region of the pixel 4. Instead, the light emission width may be adjusted by changing both the width of the opening 54A of the optical element 54 and the width of the boundary region of the pixel 4 for each location.

(Modification 4)
In the above embodiment, the FFS mode liquid crystal panel 2 is used as the electro-optical panel, but the liquid crystal mode is not limited to this, and for example, TN (Twisted Nematic), VA (Vertical Alignment), IPS ( Various modes such as In Plain Switching and STN (Super Twisted Nematic) can be adopted.

(Modification 5)
As the electro-optical panel, in addition to the liquid crystal panel 2, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) device, a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), an SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display), an FED (Field Emission Display), an electrophoretic display device, etc. Various electro-optical panels can be used.

(Modification 6)
The optical element 54 may be disposed on the light emission side of the pixel 4. For example, the optical element 54 may be formed on the liquid crystal layer 40 side of the counter substrate 30 and on the observation side of the color filter 32. The optical element 54 may be formed on the observation side surface of the counter substrate 30.

(Modification 7)
In the above embodiment, the pixel 4 and the opening 54A of the optical element 54 are rectangular. However, instead of this, various shapes such as an ellipse, an oval, a parallelogram, and a rhombus can be used. Even in these cases, the edge of the opening of the optical element that intersects the extending direction of the pixel row and the side of the pixel along the boundary region included in the opening are parallel to each other in plan view. It is preferable.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a liquid crystal device, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing in the AA in (a). FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a display area of the liquid crystal device. (A) is an enlarged plan view of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is an enlarged plan view of a mask substrate. The top view which expanded and showed the component of the vicinity of a pixel. Sectional drawing in the BB line in FIG. The schematic cross section which shows the optical path of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixel 4L. The schematic cross section which shows the optical path of the diffracted light 9Rd from the pixel 4R. The enlarged plan view of the display area of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A) is an enlarged plan view of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is an enlarged plan view of a mask substrate. The schematic cross section which shows the optical path of the diffracted light 9Ld from the pixel 4L. The schematic cross section which shows the optical path of the diffracted light 9Rd from the pixel 4R. The enlarged plan view of the display area of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. (A) is an enlarged plan view of a liquid crystal panel, (b) is an enlarged plan view of a mask substrate. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an optical path of diffracted light from a pixel according to Modification Example 1. The perspective view of the display apparatus as an electronic device. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electro-optical device capable of directivity display. The schematic cross section which shows the optical path of diffracted light.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device, 2 ... Liquid crystal panel, 3L, 3R, VL, VR ... Display angle range, 4 ... Pixel, 4L ... 1st pixel, 4R ... 2nd pixel, 5 ... Pixel row, 6 ... Pixel row, 7 ... Light emission part, 8L, 8R ... Critical light path, 9Ld, 9Rd ... Diffracted light, 10 ... Element substrate, 11 ... Substrate, 12 ... Gate line, 14 ... Source line, 16 ... Pixel electrode, 17 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Common electrode, 20 ... TFT element, 30 ... Counter substrate, 31 ... Substrate, 32 ... Color filter, 34 ... Light shielding layer, 40 ... Liquid crystal layer, 40A ... Liquid crystal molecule, 43 ... Display area, 46, 47 ... Polarizing plate, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 49 ... Back light, 50 ... Mask board | substrate, 51 ... Board | substrate, 54 ... Optical element, 54A ... Opening part, 56 ... Adhesive, 100 ... Display apparatus as an electronic device, dr, dg, db ... Light emission width, (DELTA) r, Δg, Δb: Diffraction angle, φr, φg, φb: Critical optical path Angle from the normal line, θr, θg, θb ... arrival angle range of the diffracted light.

Claims (7)

A pixel row in which first pixels that emit light constituting the first image and second pixels that emit light constituting the second image are alternately arranged;
The first pixel and the first pixel each having an opening in a region including every other boundary region among the boundary regions between the first pixel and the second pixel in the pixel row in plan view. A light-shielding optical element disposed on the light emission side of the two pixels,
The first pixel group consisting of a plurality of the first pixels and the second pixel group consisting of a plurality of the second pixels include at least two types of the pixels corresponding to different colors,
The edge of the opening of the optical element that intersects the extending direction of the pixel row and the side of the pixel along the boundary region included in the opening are parallel to each other in plan view. ,
When the distance in plan view between the side of one pixel and the edge closest to the side is defined as a light emission width, the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to one color is An electro-optical device having a light emission width different from that of the pixel corresponding to the color. The electro-optical device according to claim 1,
The electro-optical device, wherein the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the color on the longest wavelength side among the different colors is smaller than the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the other color. The electro-optical device according to claim 2,
The electro-optical device, wherein the pixel corresponding to the color on the long wavelength side has a smaller light emission width. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The width of the boundary region in the extending direction of the pixel rows is constant,
The width of the opening in the extending direction of the pixel row is the width of the boundary region partially overlapping with the opening in plan view, and the light emission of the two pixels adjacent to each other across the boundary region. An electro-optical device having a width equal to the sum. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The width of the opening in the extending direction of the pixel row is constant,
The width of the boundary region in the extending direction of the pixel row is equal to a length obtained by subtracting the sum of the light emission widths of two adjacent pixels across the boundary region from the width of the opening. An electro-optical device. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The different colors are three colors of a red color, a green color, and a blue color,
The light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the red color is smaller than the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the green color,
The electro-optical device, wherein the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the green color is smaller than the light emission width of the pixel corresponding to the blue color.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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