JP2009075547A - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optical device capable of displaying various kinds of information pieces with high brightness, by constituting a pixel in response to a display mode, and to provide an electronic apparatus with the electro-optical device. <P>SOLUTION: The one pixel 100a is constituted of two sub-pixels 100b, when using the electro-optical device for a head-up display, the first sub-pixel 100b<SB>1</SB>out of the two sub-pixels 100b is made to serve as a color sub-pixel corresponding to a red color R, and the second sub-pixel 100b<SB>2</SB>is made to serve as a color sub-pixel corresponding to a green color G. Such constitution is enough to carry out simple navigation display and speed display. A pixel numerical aperture is high since a ratio occupied by a thin film transistor 30 and interconnection is low in the one pixel 100a, because constituting the pixel 100a of the two sub-pixels 100b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device capable of displaying various kinds of information in color, and an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device.

  In an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device or an organic electroluminescence device, a plurality of pixels are arranged in a predetermined direction. Among such electro-optical devices, for example, when performing color display with a liquid crystal device, as shown in FIG. 11A, each of the plurality of pixels 100e includes three sub-pixels corresponding to red, green, and blue. 100f (R), 100f (G), and 100f (B) (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, in a medical display device or the like, for the purpose of drawing a comment or a mark on an image, as shown in FIG. 11B, one sub-pixel of the three sub-pixels 100f constituting the pixel 100e. It has been proposed to use 100f (C) for color display and two subpixels 100f (-) for monochrome display (see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2-298916 JP 2004-198792 A

  In recent years, electro-optical devices have been used in various electronic devices such as direct-view display devices or projection display devices. Of the projection display devices, a display device that projects and displays various images on the windshield glass of the vehicle is called a head-up display (HUD / Head Up Display). There is an advantage that a person can visually recognize information without dropping his / her line of sight. Here, in the case of a projection display device, it is required to have higher luminance than that of a direct-view display device. This is because the ratio of the area that can emit display light in the sub-pixel (pixel opening) Rate) is required.

  However, in the sub-pixel, the pixel switching element and various wirings that are electrically connected to the pixel electrode are configured as a light-blocking region that does not transmit light, and there is a limit in reducing the area occupied by the light-blocking region. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the pixel aperture ratio.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical device capable of displaying various kinds of information with high luminance by configuring a pixel corresponding to a display form, and an electronic device including the electro-optical device. To provide equipment.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an electro-optical device that includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, and the pixel is configured by only the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel emit light of different colors.

  In the present invention, since one pixel is composed of two subpixels including a first subpixel and a second subpixel, compared with a case where one pixel is composed of three subpixels, Since the proportion of thin film transistors and wirings in one pixel is small, the pixel aperture ratio is high. Therefore, an image with high luminance can be displayed. In addition, since the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel emit different colors of light, there is no problem in distinguishing and displaying information required by a head-up display or the like. In addition, since the number of subpixels constituting one pixel is two, the configuration of the line driving circuit for driving the electro-optical device can be simplified as compared with the configuration where the number of subpixels is three.

  In the present invention, the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel can adopt a configuration that is a color sub-pixel that emits colored light of different colors. According to such a configuration, a total of three colors can be displayed, and a total of four different display states can be obtained. A head-up display or the like often does not require subpixels of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Therefore, for example, the three sub-pixels of the display panel used for R, G, and B may be used as sub-pixels of two colors such as R, G, G, or R, R, G. For this reason, it is advantageous to configure one pixel by two subpixels.

  In the present invention, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which one of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel is a monochrome sub-pixel that emits white light. According to this configuration, it is possible to perform monochrome display and display a warning or the like with a color.

  In the present invention, the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel can adopt the same size.

  In the present invention, the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel may adopt a configuration having different sizes. If comprised in this way, various information can be displayed easily if the size is adjusted according to the content to be displayed.

  In the present invention, when the directions crossing each other are the first direction and the second direction, a plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are alternately arranged along the first direction are arranged, In the pixel rows adjacent in the second direction, it is preferable that the positions of the first subpixel and the second subpixel in the first direction are shifted.

  In the present invention, an element substrate on which subpixels are formed and an electro-optic material held on the element substrate are provided, and a color filter is provided in a region corresponding to at least one of the first subpixel and the second subpixel. It has a configuration.

  In the present invention, the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are preferably driven with two gradations. According to such a configuration, a head-up display or the like often does not require a plurality of gradation displays, and the drive circuit can be further simplified by setting the sub-pixels to two gradations of on and off. .

  In the present invention, the electro-optical device further includes a backlight, and the light source of the backlight includes a first light source that emits the same color as the first sub-pixel and a second light source that emits the same color as the second sub-pixel. It is preferable to have. According to such a configuration, the backlight emits light of the same color as the light emitted from the sub-pixels, in other words, only the light of the necessary color is emitted, so that the light use efficiency is high and bright display is possible. It becomes.

  In the present invention, the first light source and the second light source are LEDs, and it is preferable that the numbers of the first light source and the second light source to be turned on are different. According to this configuration, for example, when it is desired to brightly display the first subpixel out of the first subpixel and the second subpixel, the first subpixel is brightened by increasing the number of first light sources to be lit. can do. In addition, it is preferable that the first light source and the second light source are LEDs, and current values passed through the first light source and the second light source are different from each other. Instead of increasing or decreasing the number of light sources to be turned on, the brightness of the first light source and the second light source can be adjusted by controlling the current of the light sources to be turned on. In order to brighten the first sub-pixel, it is possible to make the size of the first sub-pixel larger than that of the second sub-pixel. In such a case, it is necessary to control with the driving circuit. If it is a structure, it is possible only by controlling a light source.

  The electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied can be used for a direct-view display device (electronic device) such as a mobile phone, an electronic notebook, a viewfinder type, a POS terminal, a touch panel, or a projection display device such as a head-up display. It can be used for (electronic equipment). In this case, the projection display device projects a light source that supplies light to the electro-optical device and display light obtained by optically modulating the light emitted from the light source by the electro-optical device toward a projection surface. And an optical system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device. In the following description, an electro-optical device used for a head-up display (projection display device / electronic apparatus) will be mainly described. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the scales are different for each layer and each member so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized on the drawing. Further, in the drawings referred to in the following description, (R) is attached to the portion corresponding to red, (G) is attached to the portion corresponding to green, and the portion that emits white light for monochrome is indicated. (-) Is attached.

[Basic configuration of head-up display]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a basic configuration of a head-up display as an example of an electronic apparatus in which an electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied is mounted.

  A head-up display 1000 as an electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a backlight device 110 using an LED, a cold cathode ray tube, an electroluminescence element, and the like, an electro-optical device 100 described later, and a mirror 120 as an optical system. The white light emitted from the backlight device 110 is optically modulated by the electro-optical device 100 and emitted from the electro-optical device 100 toward the mirror 120 as display light. The display light reflected by the mirror 120 is projected onto the windshield glass 130 (projected surface). The projection surface in the present invention is assumed to be projected on a transparent screen such as windshield glass. That is, an external scene is visually recognized through the windshield glass, and information projected on the windshield glass is visually confirmed.

  The head-up display 1000 performs simple navigation display, speed display, and the like. At that time, sufficient information can be displayed with three colors. Therefore, the head-up display 1000 has a special feature that unlike an ordinary full-color display device, an image should be displayed with a small number of colors.

  Moreover, the head-up display 1000 may be configured as a night vision. In this case, an image obtained by capturing the front of the vehicle such as an infrared camera is displayed at night, and when the presence of a passerby is recognized, a warning is given in red in the image. In such an application, the head-up display 1000 has the special feature that it is only necessary to perform monochrome image display and red warning display, unlike a normal full-color display device.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the electro-optical device 100 is configured as described below as the first to fourth embodiments. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which a transmissive electro-optical device is used, a reflective electro-optical device may be used.

[Embodiment 1]
(overall structure)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, the electro-optical device 100 generally includes a liquid crystal panel 100p, an image processing circuit 202, a timing generation circuit 203, and a power supply circuit 201, and the image processing circuit 202, the timing generation circuit 203, and the power supply circuit. Reference numeral 201 denotes an IC or the like mounted on a flexible substrate (not shown) connected to the liquid crystal panel 100p. In the timing generation circuit 203, a dot clock for driving each pixel 100a (sub-pixel 100b) of the liquid crystal panel 100p is generated, and based on this dot clock, clock signals VCK and HCK, inverted clock signals VCKB and HCKB, transfer Start pulses HSP and VSP are generated. When input image data is input from the outside, the image processing circuit 202 generates an image signal based on the input image data and supplies it to the liquid crystal panel 100p. The power supply circuit 201 generates a plurality of power supplies VDD, VSS, VHH, and VLL and supplies them to the liquid crystal panel 100p.

  The liquid crystal panel 100p includes a pixel array region 10b in which a plurality of pixels 100a are arrayed in a central region. In the liquid crystal panel 100p, on the element substrate 10 described later, a plurality of data lines 6a and a plurality of scanning lines 3a extend vertically and horizontally inside the pixel array region 10b, and are sub-positioned at positions corresponding to their intersections. A pixel 100b is configured. In each of the plurality of subpixels 100b, a thin film transistor 30 as a pixel switching element and a pixel electrode 9a are formed in a one-to-one relationship. The data line 6 a is electrically connected to the source of the thin film transistor 30, the scanning line 3 a is electrically connected to the gate of the thin film transistor 30, and the pixel electrode 9 a is electrically connected to the drain of the thin film transistor 30.

As will be described in detail later, in the electro-optical device 100 of this embodiment, each of the plurality of pixels 100a includes two sub-pixels 100b. In this embodiment, one of the two sub-pixels 100b ( The first sub-pixel 100b ₁ ) is a color sub-pixel that emits red (R) light, and the other sub-pixel (second sub-pixel 100b ₂ ) is a color sub-pixel that emits green (G) light. It is a sub-pixel.

  In the element substrate 10, a scanning line driving circuit 104 and a data line driving circuit 101 are configured outside the pixel array region 10 b. The data line driving circuit 101 is electrically connected to one end of each data line 6a, and sequentially supplies the image signal supplied from the image processing circuit 202 to each data line 6a. The scanning line driving circuit 104 is electrically connected to each scanning line 3a, and sequentially supplies a scanning signal to each scanning line 3a.

  In each pixel 100a, the pixel electrode 9a is opposed to a common electrode formed on a counter substrate, which will be described later, via a liquid crystal, and constitutes a liquid crystal capacitor 50a. In addition, in each sub-pixel 100b, a holding capacitor 60 is added in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor 50a in order to prevent the image signal held in the liquid crystal capacitor 50a from leaking. In this embodiment, in order to form the storage capacitor 60, the capacitor line 3b is formed in parallel with the scanning line 3a, and the capacitor line 3b is connected to a common potential line (not shown) and has a predetermined potential. Is held in. The storage capacitor 60 may be formed between the preceding scanning line 3a.

(Configuration of liquid crystal panel and element substrate)
3A and 3B are a plan view of the liquid crystal panel 100p of the electro-optical device 100 to which the present invention is applied as viewed from the side of the counter substrate together with each component, and a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line HH ′. It is. As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, in the liquid crystal panel 100p of the electro-optical device 100, the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are connected to each other with a sealant 107 through a predetermined gap. The sealing material 107 is disposed along the edge of the counter substrate 20. The sealing material 107 is an adhesive made of a photo-curing resin, a thermosetting resin, or the like, and is mixed with a gap material such as glass fiber or glass beads for setting the distance between both substrates to a predetermined value.

  In the element substrate 10, a data line driving circuit 101 and a plurality of terminals 102 are formed along one side of the element substrate 10 in the outer region of the sealing material 107, and scanning line driving is performed along two sides adjacent to the one side. A circuit 104 is formed. In at least one corner of the counter substrate 20, a vertical conductive material 109 is formed for electrical conduction between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.

  As will be described in detail later, pixel electrodes 9 a are formed in a matrix on the element substrate 10. On the other hand, a frame 108 made of a light-shielding material is formed in the inner area of the sealing material 107 on the counter substrate 20, and the inner side is an image display area 10 a. In the counter substrate 20, a light shielding film 23 called a black matrix (or black stripe) is formed in a region facing the vertical and horizontal boundary regions of the pixel electrode 9 a of the element substrate 10, and the upper layer side will be described later. A color filter, a planarizing film, a counter electrode 21, and an alignment film are formed. In the pixel array area 10b, a dummy pixel may be configured in an area overlapping with the frame 108. In this case, the area excluding the dummy pixel in the pixel array area 10b is used as the image display area 10a. become.

  Although not shown, in the electro-optical device 100, the type of the liquid crystal 50 to be used, that is, the TN (twisted nematic) mode, is provided on the light incident side surface or the light emission side of the counter substrate 20 and the element substrate 10. A polarizing film, a retardation film, a polarizing plate, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction in accordance with an operation mode such as an STN (super TN) mode or a normally white mode / normally black mode.

(Configuration of each pixel)
4A and 4B are respectively a plan view of adjacent pixels in the element substrate 10 used in the electro-optical device 100 to which the present invention is applied, and a position corresponding to the line AA ′. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when the electro-optical device 100 is cut.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the element substrate 10 has a base protective film 12 made of a silicon oxide film or the like formed on the surface of a translucent substrate 10d made of glass or the like. On the surface side, an N-channel thin film transistor 30 is formed at a position adjacent to the pixel electrode 9a. The thin film transistor 30 is an LDD in which a channel forming region 1a ′, a low concentration source region 1b, a high concentration source region 1d, a low concentration drain region 1c, and a high concentration drain region 1e are formed on an island-shaped semiconductor film 1a. Lightly Doped Drain) structure.

The semiconductor film 1a is a polysilicon film that is polycrystallized by laser annealing or lamp annealing after an amorphous silicon film is formed on the element substrate 10. The low-concentration source region 1b and the low-concentration drain region 1c are low-concentration N-type, for example, with a dose of about 0.1 × 10 ¹³ / cm ² to about 10 × 10 ¹³ / cm ^{2 using} the scanning line 3a as a mask. This is a semiconductor region formed by introducing impurity ions (phosphorus ions), and the high concentration source region 1d and the high concentration drain region 1e are about 0.1 × 10 ¹⁵ / cm ² to about 10 using a resist mask. This is a semiconductor region formed by introducing high-concentration N-type impurity ions (phosphorus ions) at a dose of × 10 ¹⁵ / cm ² .

  Interlayer insulating films 7 and 8 are formed on the upper layer side of the thin film transistor 30. A data line 6 a is formed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film 7, and the data line 6 a is electrically connected to the high concentration source region 1 d via a contact hole 7 a formed in the interlayer insulating film 7. A translucent pixel electrode 9 a made of an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film is formed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film 8. The pixel electrode 9 a is electrically connected to the drain electrode 6 b through the contact hole 8 a formed in the interlayer insulating film 8, and the drain electrode 6 b is connected to the contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film 7 and the gate insulating film 2. 7b is electrically connected to the high concentration drain region 1e. An alignment film 16 made of a polyimide film is formed on the surface side of the pixel electrode 9a. Further, the extension portion 1f (lower electrode) extending from the high-concentration drain region 1e has a capacitance in the same layer as the scanning line 3a through an insulating film (dielectric film) formed simultaneously with the gate insulating film 2. The storage capacitor 60 is configured by the line 3b facing as an upper electrode. In this embodiment, the scanning line 3a and the capacitor line 3b are formed of a single layer film or a laminated film such as a molybdenum film, an aluminum film, a titanium film, a tungsten film, or a tantalum film. The data line 6a and the drain electrode 6b are also formed of a single layer film or a laminated film such as a molybdenum film, an aluminum film, a titanium film, a tungsten film, or a tantalum film.

  The element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 configured as described above are disposed so that the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode 21 face each other, and the sealing material 107 (see FIG. ), A liquid crystal 50 as an electro-optic material is sealed in the space surrounded by FIG. The liquid crystal 50 assumes a predetermined alignment state by the alignment films 16 and 26 in a state where the electric field from the pixel electrode 9a is not applied. The liquid crystal 50 is made of, for example, one or a mixture of several types of nematic liquid crystals.

In the electro-optical device 100 having such a configuration, one sub pixel 100b is formed corresponding to one pixel electrode 9a, and one pixel 100a is configured by the two sub pixels 100b. In this embodiment, in any of the plurality of pixels 100a, one of the two sub-pixels 100b (the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ ) is a color sub-pixel corresponding to red (R), and the other The sub pixel (second sub pixel 100b ₂ ) is a color sub pixel corresponding to green (G).

In constructing such a color sub-pixel, the counter substrate 20 has a black matrix (or a region opposite to the vertical / horizontal boundary region of the pixel electrode 9a of the element substrate 10 on the surface of the translucent substrate 20b made of glass or the like. A light shielding film 23 called “black stripe” or the like is formed, and on the upper layer side of the light shielding film 23, color filters 22 (22 (R), 22 (G)) of corresponding colors are formed. In this embodiment, the red (R) color filter 22 (R) is formed in the first sub-pixel ₁₀₀ b ₁ out of the two sub-pixels 100 b, and the green (G) is formed in the second sub-pixel 100 b ₂ . A color filter 22 (G) is formed. Note that a planarizing film 24 made of a photosensitive resin, a translucent counter electrode 21 made of an ITO film, and an alignment film 26 are formed on the color filter 22.

(Color array)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of each pixel (sub-pixel) in the electro-optical device 100 to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, since the stripe arrangement is adopted as the color arrangement, the directions orthogonal to each other are the first direction X (the direction in which the scanning line 3a extends) and In the second direction Y (the direction in which the data line 6a extends), among the plurality of pixels 100a, in the pixel 100a arranged along the first direction X, the first sub pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub pixel 100b ₂ are alternately arranged, and in the pixels adjacent in the second direction Y, the positions of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ in the first direction X coincide with each other. In other words, a plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixels 100b ₂ are alternately arranged along the first direction X are arranged, and in the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction Y, The positions of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in one direction are the same. In any of the plurality of pixels 100a, the first sub pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub pixel 100b ₂ have the same size.

When the electro-optical device 100 configured as described above is used in the head-up display 1000 illustrated in FIG. 1, display in red (R) by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and green (G) by the second sub-pixel 100b _2. ) And yellow display by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are possible, and this number of colors is used for the simple navigation display, the speed display, and the like on the head-up display 1000. It is enough.

  In this embodiment, since the pixel 100a includes the two sub-pixels 100b, the ratio of the thin film transistor 30 and the wiring in one pixel 100a is smaller than that of the pixel described with reference to FIG. The pixel aperture ratio is high. That is, when one pixel is formed by three subpixels, three thin film transistors 30 and two data lines 6a are formed in one pixel. In this embodiment, one pixel is composed of two subpixels 100b. Since 100a is configured, only two thin film transistors 30 and one data line 6a are formed in one pixel 100a, so that a region through which display light is transmitted is wide. Therefore, according to this embodiment, an image with high luminance can be displayed.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of each pixel (sub-pixel) in the electro-optical device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, also in the electro-optical device 100 of the present embodiment, one pixel 100a is configured by two sub-pixels 100b. In this embodiment, in any of the plurality of pixels 100a, one of the two sub-pixels 100b (the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ ) is a color sub-pixel corresponding to red (R), and the other The sub pixel (second sub pixel 100b ₂ ) is a color sub pixel corresponding to green (G).

In the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, since the stripe arrangement is adopted as the color arrangement, when the directions orthogonal to each other are the first direction X and the second direction Y, among the plurality of pixels 100a, In the pixels 100a arranged along the first direction X, the first sub-pixels 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixels 100b ₂ are alternately arranged, and in the pixels adjacent in the second direction Y, the first sub-pixels 100b ₁ are arranged. and the position in the first direction X of the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are coincident. In other words, a plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixels 100b ₂ are alternately arranged along the first direction X are arranged, and in the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction Y, The positions of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in one direction are the same.

Here, in any of a plurality of pixels 100a is also the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are different in size, the second size of the sub-pixel 100b ₂ corresponding to the green (G) is, This is about twice the size of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to red (R).

(Main effects of this form)
When the electro-optical device 100 configured as described above is used in the head-up display 1000 shown in FIG. 1, the display in red (R) by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel, as in the first embodiment. The green (G) display by the pixel 100b ₂ and the yellow display by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are possible. It is enough to display speed. In this embodiment, since the pixel 100a includes the two sub-pixels 100b, the ratio of the thin film transistor 30 and the wiring in one pixel 100a is smaller than that of the pixel described with reference to FIG. The pixel aperture ratio is high. Therefore, an image with high luminance can be displayed. In addition, if the area of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ is the same as the case where there are three sub-pixels, the area of one pixel is reduced to two-thirds. The outer dimensions of the electro-optical device 100 can be reduced. On the other hand, when the external dimensions of the electro-optical device 100 are not changed, the area of one pixel is two-thirds. Therefore, by arranging more pixels, the total number of pixels is increased and the definition is increased. be able to.

  Further, since the number of subpixels constituting the pixel is two, the configuration of the data line driving circuit 101 for driving the electro-optical device 100 can be simplified as compared with the configuration where the number of subpixels is three. Specifically, the area occupied by the data line driving circuit 101 can be reduced to reduce the outer dimensions of the electro-optical device 100. Further, the three data lines 6a are controlled to control one pixel, but two data lines 6a may be controlled, and the control becomes easy.

Furthermore, among red (R) and green (G), the size of the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ corresponding to green (G) with low visibility is set to the size of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to red (R). Therefore, there is an advantage that the portion displayed in green (G) is easily visible. At that time, in the case where the pixel includes a sub-pixel having an area larger than the area of the sub-pixel in the case where the number of sub-pixels is three, the time for applying the voltage needs to be longer than that in the past in order to drive the large sub-pixel. There is.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of each pixel (sub-pixel) in the electro-optical device 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, also in the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, one pixel 100 a is configured by two sub-pixels 100 b. In this embodiment, in any of the plurality of pixels 100a, one of the two sub-pixels 100b (the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ ) is a color sub-pixel corresponding to red (R), and the other The sub pixel (second sub pixel 100b ₂ ) is a color sub pixel corresponding to green (G). In any of the plurality of pixels 100a, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ have the same size.

Here, in the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, since the delta arrangement is adopted as the color arrangement, when the directions orthogonal to each other are the first direction X and the second direction Y, among the plurality of pixels 100a. In the pixel 100a arranged along the first direction X, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are alternately arranged, and in the pixel adjacent in the second direction Y, the first sub-pixel 100b. The positions in the first direction X of the _first and second sub-pixels 100b ₂ are shifted. In other words, a plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are alternately arranged along the first direction X are arranged, and the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction Y are arranged in the first direction. The positions of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are shifted. In this embodiment, in the pixels in the pixel column adjacent in the second direction Y, the positions of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ in the first direction X by a dimension corresponding to 1/2 the pixel pitch. Is off.

When the electro-optical device 100 configured as described above is used in the head-up display 1000 shown in FIG. 1, the display in red (R) by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel, as in the first embodiment. The green (G) display by the pixel 100b ₂ and the yellow display by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are possible. It is enough to display speed. In this embodiment, since the pixel 100a includes the two sub-pixels 100b, the ratio of the thin film transistor 30 and the wiring in one pixel 100a is smaller than that of the pixel described with reference to FIG. The pixel aperture ratio is high. Therefore, an image with high luminance can be displayed.

  Further, when the electro-optical device 100 is provided with a cover, for example, when the side indicated by the arrow X1 is covered with the cover and an image is displayed only on the side indicated by the arrow X2, the stripe arrangement shown in FIGS. In this case, a green (G) line or the like may be displayed at the edge of the image, but according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent such a line from being displayed.

[Modification of Embodiments 1 to 3]
In the first to third embodiments, one of the two sub-pixels 100b (first sub-pixel 100b ₁ ) is a color sub-pixel corresponding to red (R), and the other sub-pixel (second sub-pixel 100b ₁ ). The sub-pixel 100b ₂ ) is a color sub-pixel corresponding to green (G), but other color combinations such as a combination of red (R) and blue (B), green (G) and A combination with blue (B) may be employed. In the form shown in FIG. 6, the size of the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ corresponding to green (G) out of red (R) and green (G) is set to the size of the first sub-pixel 100b corresponding to red (R). It was greater than ₁ size, the first size of the sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to red (R), employs a configuration which is larger than the second size of the sub-pixel 100b ₂ corresponding to the green (G) Also good. Furthermore, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 may be applied when the size of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ is different from the size of the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ as in the configuration illustrated in FIG.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the electro-optical device 100 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention when the electro-optical device 100 is cut at a position corresponding to the line AA ′ in FIG. FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are explanatory diagrams each showing a planar arrangement of pixels (sub-pixels) in the electro-optical device 100 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of each pixel (sub pixel) which concerns on the modification, and explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of each pixel (sub pixel) which concerns on another modification. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the first to third embodiments, the two sub-pixels 100b included in one pixel 100a, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ red color (R) filter 22 (R) is formed, the second sub-pixel The green (G) color filter 22 (G) is formed in 100b ₂ , but as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A, in this embodiment, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ has a red color ( Although the color filters 22 of R) (R) is formed, the second sub-pixel 100b _2, the color filter 22 (G) is not formed. Therefore, the second sub pixel 100b ₂ is a monochrome sub pixel that emits white light.

Since the electro-optical device 100 configured as described above employs an arrangement similar to the stripe arrangement, when the directions orthogonal to each other are defined as the first direction X and the second direction Y, among the plurality of pixels 100a In the pixel 100a arranged along the first direction X, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ are alternately arranged, and in the pixel adjacent in the second direction Y, the first sub-pixel 100b. _{The positions of the first} and second sub-pixels 100b ₂ in the first direction X are the same. In other words, a plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are alternately arranged along the first direction X are arranged, and the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction Y are arranged in the first direction. The position of the 1st sub pixel and the 2nd sub pixel are in agreement. In any of the plurality of pixels 100a, the first sub pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub pixel 100b ₂ have the same size.

When the electro-optical device 100 configured as described above is used in the head-up display 1000 shown in FIG. 1, a monochrome display by the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ and a warning display in red (G) by the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ And is sufficient for use as a night vision in the head-up display 1000.

  In this embodiment, since the pixel 100a includes the two sub-pixels 100b, the ratio of the thin film transistor 30 and the wiring in one pixel 100a is smaller than that of the pixel described with reference to FIG. The pixel aperture ratio is high. Therefore, a monochrome image with high luminance can be displayed.

Here, also for the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b _2, the second size of the sub-pixel 100b ₂ for monochrome, red ( it may be larger than the first size of the sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to R). Although not shown, the size of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to red (R) may be larger than the size of the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ for monochrome.

Also in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9C, among the plurality of pixels 100a, in the pixel 100a arranged along the first direction X, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100a are arranged. In the pixels that are alternately arranged with the pixels 100b ₂ and are adjacent in the second direction Y, the positions of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ in the first direction X are shifted, in other words, the first A plurality of pixel columns in which the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are alternately arranged along the direction X are arranged, and in the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction Y, the first sub-pixels and the first sub-pixels in the first direction are arranged. A configuration in which the positions of the two sub-pixels are shifted may be employed.

Also in this embodiment, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ corresponding to red (R) and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ for monochrome are combined, but the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ is associated with other colors. Also good.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the polysilicon film is used as the semiconductor film. However, the present invention may be applied to the element substrate 10 using an amorphous silicon film or a single crystal silicon layer. Further, the present invention may be applied to a liquid crystal device using a thin film diode element (nonlinear element) as a pixel switching element.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a TN (Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystal device (electro-optical device), but a so-called fringe field switching (FFS) method or in-plane switching (IPS). The present invention may be applied to a liquid crystal device (electro-optical device) of a type in which liquid crystal is driven by a horizontal electric field, such as a switching) method.

In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal device is described as an example of the electro-optical device. However, the present invention may be applied to an electro-optical device using an electro-optical material other than liquid crystal, for example, an organic electroluminescence device. In that case, the electro-optical material does not need to be held between the element substrate and the counter substrate, and is configured to be held on the element substrate. If necessary, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b are configured. _A color filter may be provided in a region corresponding to at least one of the _two .

Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, it is preferable to drive the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ with two gradation levels, on and off. In a head-up display or the like, a display that is easy to visually recognize is first required, and thus a complicated display such as a plurality of gradation displays is often not required. Accordingly, it is possible to further simplify the drive circuit by omitting the drive circuit and control for displaying a complicated gradation.

In addition to the above embodiment, the electro-optical device of the present invention further includes a backlight device 110 as shown in FIG. 1, and the light source of the backlight device 110 is the first sub-pixel as shown in FIG. It is preferable to have a first light source 110a ₁ that emits the same color as 100b ₁ and a second light source 110a ₂ that emits the same color as the second sub-pixel 100b ₂ . Since the backlight device 110 emits light of the same color as the light emitted from the sub-pixels, in other words, only the light of the necessary color is emitted, the light use efficiency is improved and a brighter display is possible. Become.

Furthermore, it is also preferable that the first light source 110a ₁ and the second light source 110a ₂ are LEDs, and the numbers of the first light source 110a ₁ and the second light source 110a ₂ to be turned on are different. For example, among the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b _2, if you want to display brighter first sub-pixel 100b ₁ is often the first number of light sources 110a ₁ to turn than the second light source 110a ₂ By doing so, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ can be brightened. In this case, when it is desired to always display the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ brightly, it can be realized by arranging and lighting the first light source 110a ₁ more than the second light source 110a ₂ from the beginning. Ordinarily, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ and the second sub-pixel 100b _{2 have} the same brightness, and the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ needs to be brightened according to the display contents. 1 keep the number and second light sources 110a ₂ of the light source 110a ₁ and the same number on, when it becomes necessary to brighten the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ has occurred, can be realized by increasing the number lighting of the first light source 110a ₁ is there. In addition, it is also preferable that the current values flowing through the first light source 110a ₁ and the second light source, which are LEDs, are different from each other. The number of the first light sources 110a ₁ is the same as the number of the second light sources 110a ₂ , and instead of increasing or decreasing the number of light sources to be lit, the current of the light sources to be lit is controlled to control the first light source 110a ₁ and the second light source 110a ₁ . The brightness of the light source 110a ₂ may be adjusted. For example, if you need to brighten the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ may be also be controlled to increase the current supplied to the first light source 110a ₁ brighten first sub-pixel 100b _1. Furthermore, you may control both the number of light sources and the electric current sent through a light source. In order to make the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ brighter, it is possible to make the size of the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ larger than that of the second sub-pixel 100b _{2. In} such a case, the first sub-pixel 100b ₁ can be controlled by a drive circuit. Although it is necessary, such a configuration is possible only by controlling the number of light sources to be lit. The backlight device 110 shown in FIG. 12 has LEDs arranged on the side surfaces of the light guide plate. Similarly, in the direct type backlight device in which the LEDs are arranged directly below the back surface of the electro-optical device, The current value can be controlled.

[Example of mounting on electronic equipment]
Next, an electronic apparatus to which the electro-optical device 100 according to the above-described embodiment is applied will be described. FIG. 10A shows the configuration of a mobile phone provided with the electro-optical device 100. A cellular phone 3000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 3001, scroll buttons 3002, and the electro-optical device 100 as a display unit. By operating the scroll button 3002, the screen displayed on the electro-optical device 100 is scrolled. FIG. 10B shows a configuration of a portable information terminal (PDA: Personal Digital Assistants) to which the electro-optical device 100 is applied. The information portable terminal 4000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 4001, a power switch 4002, and the electro-optical device 100 as a display unit. When the power switch 4002 is operated, various types of information such as an address book and a schedule book are displayed on the electro-optical device 100.

  Note that examples of the electronic apparatus to which the electro-optical device 100 is applied include a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a POS terminal, a device including a touch panel, and the like in addition to those illustrated in FIG. The electro-optical device 100 described above can be applied as a display unit of these various electronic devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a basic configuration of a head-up display as an example of an electronic apparatus on which an electro-optical device to which the invention is applied is mounted. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied. (A), (b) is the top view which looked at the electro-optical apparatus to which this invention was applied from the opposing substrate side with each component, respectively, and its H-H 'sectional drawing. FIGS. 4A and 4B are plan views of adjacent pixels on the element substrate used in the electro-optical device to which the present invention is applied, and the electro-optical device cut at a position corresponding to the line AA ′. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of pixels (sub-pixels) in the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of pixels (sub-pixels) in an electro-optical device according to Embodiment 2 of the invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar arrangement of pixels (sub-pixels) in an electro-optical device according to Embodiment 3 of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electro-optical device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention when the electro-optical device is cut at a position corresponding to the line A-A ′ of FIG. (A), (b), (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of each pixel (sub pixel) in the electro-optical apparatus 100 which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention, respectively, Each which concerns on the modification Explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of a pixel (subpixel), and explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of each pixel (subpixel) which concerns on another modification. Explanatory drawing of the electronic device using the electro-optical apparatus which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the planar arrangement | sequence of each pixel (sub pixel) in the conventional electro-optical apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a backlight device applied to the electro-optical device according to the invention.

Explanation of symbols

9a ... pixel electrode, 10 ... element substrate, 10b ... pixel array region, 20 ... counter substrate, 22 (R), 22 (G) ... color filter, 30 ... thin film transistor, 100 ... electro-optical device, 100a ... pixel, 100b ... Sub-pixel, 100b ₁ ... first sub-pixel, 100b ₂ ... second sub-pixel, 110 ... backlight device, 110a ₁ ... first light source, 110a ₂ ... second light source, 120 ... mirror as an optical system, 1000 ... electron Head-up display as a device.

Claims (13)

An electro-optic device,
A first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel,
An electro-optical device, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel constitute a pixel, and the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel emit light of different colors.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are color sub-pixels that emit different colors of colored light.   2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel is a monochrome sub-pixel that emits white light.   4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel have the same size. 5.   4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel have different sizes. 5. When the directions crossing each other are the first direction and the second direction,
A plurality of pixel columns in which a plurality of the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are alternately arranged along the first direction are arranged, and in the pixel columns adjacent in the second direction, the first direction The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein positions of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are shifted from each other. An element substrate on which the sub-pixel is formed; and an electro-optical material held on the element substrate;
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a color filter is disposed in a region corresponding to at least one of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are driven with two gradations. The electro-optical device further includes a backlight,
The light source of the backlight includes a first light source that emits the same color as the first sub-pixel and a second light source that emits the same color as the second sub-pixel. The electro-optical device according to one item.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are LEDs, and the numbers of the first light source and the second light source to be turned on are different. .   The electro-optic according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first light source and the second light source are LEDs, and current values flowing through the first light source and the second light source are different from each other. apparatus.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.   A light source for supplying light to the electro-optical device; and an optical system for projecting display light obtained by optically modulating light emitted from the light source toward the projection surface. The electronic device according to claim 12.

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