JP2009157301A - Electro-optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic display device which can reduce the space between an electro-optical panel and lenticular lens. <P>SOLUTION: This electro-optical device which displays a multi-viewpoint image comprises an electro-optical panel 7, a first polarizing plate 35 which is oppositely arranged approximately in parallel on the display side of the electro-optical panel 7, and the lenticular lens 5 which is arranged between the electro-optical panel 7 and the first polarizing plate 35 and formed by arranging a plurality of cylindrical lenses 50 extended in the longitudinal direction in parallel to each other. A material with a lower index of refraction than that of the composing material of the lenticular lens 5 is filled between the first polarizing plate 35 and the lenticular lens 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device.

  In a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device, by using a lenticular lens, a first image formed by the first pixel and a second image formed by the second pixel are emitted in different directions in the left-right direction. Therefore, there is a stereoscopic display device that enables stereoscopic display (for example, Patent Document 1). Such a display device is hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal device. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional transmissive liquid crystal device that enables stereoscopic display using the lenticular lens 5 shown in FIG. Each component will be described later in the embodiment.

  As will be described later, the liquid crystal panel 7 includes an element substrate as a pair of translucent substrates, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the pair of substrates, and the like. The above-described pixels are regions formed by regularly dividing the display region of the liquid crystal panel, and are the smallest regions that can emit light with uniform color and intensity.

  The liquid crystal device includes a first polarizing plate 35 and a lenticular lens 5 that are sequentially arranged on the viewer 60 side of the liquid crystal panel 7, and a second polarizing plate 36 and a light source that are sequentially arranged on the opposite side of the viewer side. The backlight unit 90 or the like. As shown in FIG. 12, the lenticular lens 5 includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses 50 extended in the longitudinal direction arranged in parallel, and both sides are flat portions 51.

  In the liquid crystal panel 7, as illustrated, the left pixel L as the first pixel and the right pixel R as the second pixel are alternately arranged. The lenticular lens 5 is formed so that one cylindrical lens 50 faces the pair of left and right pixels L and R. The left pixel L and the right pixel R have a shutter function, and can continuously change the transmission amount of light emitted from the backlight unit 90. The cylindrical lens 50 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface while maintaining the illustrated cross-sectional shape. Further, the left pixel L and the right pixel R are also arranged to be continuous in the above direction.

The backlight unit 90 irradiates substantially uniform light on the entire liquid crystal panel 7 (entire surface), and the irradiated light is individually colored for each pixel and becomes an individual transmission amount to the lenticular lens 5. To reach. The light transmitted through the left pixel L by the action of the cylindrical lens 50 reaches only the left eye 65 of the observer 60, and the light transmitted through the right pixel R reaches only the right eye 66 of the observer 60. When different images reach the left and right eyes, the images are recognized as stereoscopic images.
The three-dimensional display having such a configuration has an advantage that the light emitted from the backlight unit 90 can be effectively used as compared with a method of shielding a part of the light emitted from the light source using a parallax barrier or the like. There is.

JP 2006-516753 A

However, on the other hand, the three-dimensional display having such a configuration has a problem that the thickness of the constituent members is limited by the distance to the observer 60. As shown,
p = pixel pitch that is the distance between the center of the left pixel L and the center of the right pixel R;
T = distance between pixel and node of lenticular lens,
D = distance between the node of the lenticular lens and the eye of the observer
d = distance between the left and right eyes of the observer,
Then,
T: D = p: d (1)
Than,
T = D × p / d (2)
It becomes.

In order to recognize a stereoscopic image when a general 4-inch VGA panel with a pixel pitch of 0.042 mm is viewed from a distance of D = 650 mm, T = 0.42 mm is required. The above-mentioned T is the optical distance in the atmosphere.
Here, considering the thickness of the components of the liquid crystal device,
Counter substrate 11 = 0.2 mm
First polarizing plate 35 = 0.15 mm
Lenticular lens (thickness to node) = 0.15mm
Assuming that the average refractive index of the above three components is approximately 1.5, the total thickness is approximately 0.33 mm when converted to the optical distance in the atmosphere, and from the above T = 0.42 mm Also short. Therefore, an optical design necessary for stereoscopic viewing is established. However, when the distance between the liquid crystal device and the observer 60 is 450 mm, T = 0.29 mm. Since the thickness of the counter substrate made of glass is difficult to reduce to less than 0.2 mm due to a problem in strength, the optical design necessary for stereoscopic viewing cannot be achieved at the above distance (450 mm). . Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the polarizing plate outside the lenticular lens (observer side) so that the lenticular lens and the pixels of the liquid crystal panel are close to each other.

  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]
An electro-optical device for displaying a multi-viewpoint image, wherein the electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel, a first polarizing plate disposed substantially parallel to the display surface side of the electro-optical panel, and the electro-optical device. A lenticular lens formed by arranging a plurality of longitudinally extending cylindrical lenses arranged in parallel between the panel and the first polarizing plate, the first polarizing plate and the lenticular An electro-optical device characterized in that a material having a refractive index lower than that of the constituent material of the lenticular lens is filled between the lenses.

  According to such a configuration, a space between the electro-optical panel and the lenticular lens can be shortened. In addition, since a predetermined interval is provided between the lenticular lens and the polarizing plate, the action of the lenticular lens can be expressed in a mode in which the polarizing plate is arranged on the viewer side. Accordingly, in the electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image, the viewing distance (the distance between the electro-optical device and the observer) can be shortened. Here, “displaying a multi-viewpoint image” means displaying an image in at least two different directions, and includes display of four viewpoints, eight viewpoints, sixteen viewpoints, etc. in addition to the two viewpoints.

[Application Example 2]
An electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image, and includes a light source, an electro-optical panel that forms an image by adjusting a transmission amount of light emitted from the light source, and a display surface side of the electro-optical panel. A first polarizing plate arranged oppositely in parallel, and a plurality of cylindrical lenses, which are arranged between the electro-optical panel and the first polarizing plate and extended in the longitudinal direction, are arranged in parallel. An electro-optical device comprising: a lenticular lens; and a second polarizing plate disposed between the light source and the electro-optical panel, wherein the first polarizing plate is predetermined with respect to the lenticular lens. Electricity is disposed at a distance, and a substance having a refractive index lower than that of the constituent material of the lenticular lens is filled between the first polarizing plate and the lenticular lens. Manabu apparatus.

  According to such a configuration, a space between the electro-optical panel and the lenticular lens can be shortened. In addition, since a predetermined interval is provided between the lenticular lens and the polarizing plate, the action of the lenticular lens can be expressed in a mode in which the polarizing plate is arranged on the viewer side. Accordingly, the viewing distance can be shortened in the electro-optical device that can transmit and display a multi-viewpoint image using light emitted from the light source.

[Application Example 3]
An electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image, wherein a light source, a first pixel that forms a first image by adjusting a transmission amount of light emitted from the light source, and light emitted from the light source An electro-optical panel in which a second pixel that forms a second image by adjusting the amount of transmission of the light is disposed in a display area, and a second pixel that is disposed substantially parallel to the display surface side of the electro-optical panel. A polarizing plate, a lenticular lens formed between a plurality of cylindrical lenses that are arranged between the electro-optic panel and the first polarizing plate and extended in the longitudinal direction; and the light source, An electro-optical device including a second polarizing plate disposed between the electro-optical panel and the first polarizing plate disposed at a predetermined distance from the lenticular lens. And the first polarizing plate Serial between the lenticular lens, an electro-optical device characterized by low material refractive index than the material of the lenticular lens is filled.

  According to such a configuration, a space between the electro-optical panel and the lenticular lens can be shortened. In addition, since a predetermined interval is provided between the lenticular lens and the polarizing plate, the action of the lenticular lens can be expressed in a mode in which the polarizing plate is arranged on the viewer side. Accordingly, the viewing distance can be shortened in an electro-optical device capable of transmitting and displaying a two-viewpoint image, particularly a three-dimensional image, using the light emitted from the light source and the first image and the second image. .

[Application Example 4]
In the above-described electro-optical device, the electro-optical panel transmits a light amount irradiated from the light source by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of light-transmitting substrates for each pixel. An electro-optical device, which is a liquid crystal panel that adjusts the brightness.

  Since the liquid crystal panel has high controllability of the transmission amount, an electro-optical device with improved display quality can be obtained with such a configuration.

[Application Example 5]
In the above-described electro-optical device, the substance is air, and the first polarizing plate is formed on a flat portion formed on an outer peripheral portion on a surface opposite to the electro-optical panel of the lenticular lens. An electro-optical device, which is disposed on a surface of a support substrate fixed by a spacer.

  According to such a configuration, the first polarizing plate and the lenticular lens can have a refractive index higher than that of the constituent material of the lenticular lens without separately forming a light-transmitting layer on the lenticular lens. Can be placed through low material. Therefore, the above-mentioned viewing distance can be shortened while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost and the like.

[Application Example 6]
The electro-optical device, wherein the polarizing plate is a laminate of a polarizing film and a retardation film.

  With such a configuration, coloring or the like due to the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer can be suppressed, and display quality when the electro-optical device is viewed from an oblique direction can be improved.

[Application Example 7]
The electro-optical device described above, wherein the lenticular lens has a substantially square shape in plan view, and the spacer is disposed along two sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens. .

  With such a configuration, since the spacer can be disposed on the lenticular lens without grinding the four sides of the lenticular lens, an electro-optical device can be obtained at low cost.

[Application Example 8]
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the lenticular lens has a substantially square shape in a plan view, and the spacer is disposed along four sides of the lenticular lens.

  With such a configuration, the support substrate can be reliably fixed by the spacer, and the reliability of the electro-optical device can be improved.

[Application Example 9]
In the above-described electro-optical device, the first polarizing plate is disposed on a surface of the support substrate facing the lenticular lens, the spacer has a frame shape in plan view, and the inner side of the frame. The electro-optical device is characterized in that a notch is formed to connect the outside and the outside.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to avoid a space surrounded by the spacer, the lenticular lens, and the support substrate from being a sealed space. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation in such a space and the deformation and breakage due to pressure imbalance, and the reliability of the electro-optical device can be improved.

[Application Example 10]
The electro-optical device described above, wherein the spacer is formed integrally with the lenticular lens.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the step of bonding (adhering) the spacer and the lenticular lens, and the electro-optical device can be obtained at low cost.

[Application Example 11]
The electro-optical device described above, wherein the spacer is formed integrally with the support substrate.

  With such a configuration, the step of bonding (adhering) the spacer and the support substrate can be reduced, and the electro-optical device can be obtained at low cost.

[Application Example 12]
The electro-optical device described above, wherein the spacer is colored black.

  With this configuration, stray light can be prevented from entering the electro-optical panel via the spacer, and the display quality of the electro-optical device can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a stereoscopic display type liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings shown below, the dimensions and ratios of the respective components are appropriately changed from the actual ones in order to make the respective components large enough to be recognized on the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of a liquid crystal panel 7 common to the present embodiment and liquid crystal devices according to second to fourth embodiments described later. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an active matrix type liquid crystal panel 7 that forms an image in a display area 75 by individually controlling individual pixels that are regularly arranged.

  The liquid crystal panel includes a display region 75 in which pixels (R or L) each including a TFT (thin film transistor) 40 and a pixel electrode 21 are regularly arranged, a drive circuit formed in a peripheral region adjacent to the region, and the like. Consists of. The display area 75 is an area where an image is actually formed in a plan view, and scanning lines 76 and data lines 77 are formed in a grid pattern. A rectangular area surrounded by the scanning lines 76 and the data lines 77 is an area where one pixel is formed.

  The scanning line driving circuit 72 supplies a scanning signal formed based on a driving signal supplied from an external circuit (not shown) to the TFT 40 via the scanning line 76. The data line driving circuit 73 supplies an image signal formed based on a driving signal supplied from an external circuit (not shown) to the pixel electrode 21 via the data line 77. An image signal of a predetermined level supplied to the pixel electrode 21 is held for a certain time between the pixel electrode 21 and a counter electrode 22 (see FIG. 3) described later. During this time, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 12 (see FIG. 3) sandwiched between the pair of electrodes is kept constant, and the translucency of the liquid crystal layer is defined. An image signal is individually applied to each pixel, and the amount of transmitted light is controlled for each pixel, whereby an image is formed in the display region 75.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an arrangement mode of the pixels in the display region 75 (see FIG. 1) and the cylindrical lens 50 (see FIG. 12) constituting the lenticular lens 5 in the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment. It is. This figure shows a part of the display area 75, and the actual number of pixels is several hundred to several thousands in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

  The pixels include a left pixel L as a first pixel that forms an image for the left eye and a right pixel R as a second pixel that forms an image for the right eye. The image for the left eye is the first image, and the image for the right eye is the second image. The lowercase alphabets attached to both pixels represent the color of light emitted from each pixel.

  Each pixel is provided with a color filter 15 (see FIG. 3), and light of any of the three primary colors can be selected and emitted from white light emitted from a backlight unit 90 as a light source described later. r indicates a red pixel that transmits red light from transmitted white light, g indicates a green pixel that transmits green light from white light, and b is a blue pixel that transmits blue light from white light. It is shown that. A general term for these six types of pixels (Lr, Lg, Lb, Rr, Rg, Rb) is a pixel.

  The same type of pixels are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. This direction is the Y direction. The adjacent direction is the X direction so that the right pixel R and the left pixel L repeat r, g, and b. A cylindrical lens 50 is formed so as to straddle the row of right pixels R and the row of left pixels L, and guides images formed by both pixels to different viewpoints.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section in the display area 75 of the liquid crystal panel 7 together with the backlight unit 90 and the like. The liquid crystal panel 7 modulates and transmits the light from the backlight unit 90, thereby emitting light to the counter substrate 11 side for display. Accordingly, the counter substrate 11 side of the liquid crystal panel 7 is the display surface side. The liquid crystal panel includes an element substrate 10 on which a TFT 40 and the like are formed, a counter substrate 11 on which a color filter 15 and the like are formed, and a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode liquid crystal layer 12 and the like sandwiched between the two substrates. . Both the substrates are held by a sealing material (not shown) so as to face each other with a predetermined interval. A second polarizing plate 36 is affixed to the surface of the element substrate 10 opposite to the side on which the TFT 40 is formed, and a predetermined surface is provided on the surface of the counter substrate 11 opposite to the side on which the color filter 15 is formed. The 1st polarizing plate 35 is arrange | positioned with the space | interval. Such an arrangement mode will be described later.

  The TFT 40 includes a gate electrode 41 formed by extending a part of the scanning line 76, a gate insulating film 42, a semiconductor layer 43, and a source electrode 45 formed by extending a part of the data line 77 so as to branch. And a drain electrode 46. The gate insulating film 42 is made of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or the like, and is formed over the entire display region 75.

  An interlayer insulating film 23 that insulates the TFT 40 from the pixel electrode 21 is formed on the TFT 40. The interlayer insulating film 23 is made of a light-transmitting insulating material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride. A part of the interlayer insulating film is selectively etched to form a contact hole 25 that connects the pixel electrode 21 and the drain electrode 46.

  The pixel electrode 21 is made of an ITO (indium oxide / tin alloy) layer patterned in an island shape. ITO is a transparent conductive material and can achieve both transmission of light irradiated from the backlight unit 90 and application of a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 12. A second alignment film 32 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 23 of the element substrate 10 (that is, on the liquid crystal layer 12 side) so as to cover the pixel electrode 21. Further, the color filter 15 (or the black matrix 16), the overcoat layer 34, the counter electrode 22, and the first alignment film 31 are sequentially stacked on the surface of the counter substrate 11 on the liquid crystal layer 12 side. The first alignment film 31 and the second alignment film 32 are films obtained by performing an alignment process on a thin film made of a polymer material such as polyimide, and can align the alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 12. .

  The backlight unit 90 can uniformly irradiate the surfaces of both substrates with the light guide plate 92 and the reflection plate 91 with the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 93. Then, the light can be transmitted to the outside of the liquid crystal device through the liquid crystal layer 12 and the color filter 15. The liquid crystal device changes the alignment state of the liquid crystal layer 12 for each pixel, thereby changing the transmission amount of light emitted from the backlight unit 90 for each pixel to form an image. The change in the transmission amount is performed by switching the ON state and the OFF state of the TFT 40 and changing the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 21.

  The counter electrode 22 is a thin film made of ITO formed on the entire surface of at least the display region 75 (see FIG. 1), and in this region, the counter substrate side of the liquid crystal layer 12 is kept at the same potential. Therefore, the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 21 via the TFT 40 becomes the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer in the region where the pixel electrode is formed.

  The color filter 15 is a layer formed of a colored resin or the like. As described above, the colored light is extracted from the white light irradiated by the backlight unit 90 by transmitting light in a predetermined range of incident light and absorbing light in other wavelength ranges. Can do. The black matrix 16 is made of a resin colored in black and imparted with a light shielding property, and is formed in a lattice shape in the display area 75 so as to surround the individual color filters 15. The scanning lines 76, the data lines 77, and the TFTs 40 are formed so as to overlap the black matrix 16 in plan view. A region where the scanning line or the like is formed is a region where a voltage cannot be applied to the liquid crystal layer 12, and the black matrix 16 prevents such a region from becoming translucent.

The above-described change in the transmission amount in the liquid crystal device is performed as follows.
The alignment direction of the first alignment film 31 is parallel to the direction of the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 35, and the alignment direction of the second alignment film 32 is the direction of the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 36. Parallel. Therefore, in a state where no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 12, the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 12 is twisted 90 degrees in the liquid crystal layer 12.

  When the TFT 40 is in the OFF state, that is, when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 12, the light emitted from the backlight unit 90 is secondly polarized as linearly polarized light that is polarized in the direction of the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 36. The liquid crystal layer 12 is incident through the alignment film 32. When the light passes through the liquid crystal layer 12, the polarization direction is twisted by 90 degrees and enters the first polarizing plate 35. As described above, the direction of the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 35 is orthogonal to the direction of the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 36. Therefore, the light passes through the first polarizing plate 35 and is emitted toward an observer (not shown).

  On the other hand, when the TFT 40 is in an ON state, that is, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 12, the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 12 faces the vertical direction with respect to the element substrate 10 and the like. Therefore, the linearly polarized light transmitted through the second polarizing plate 36 enters the first polarizing plate 35 while maintaining the polarization state. As described above, the direction of the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 35 is orthogonal to the direction of the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 36. Therefore, such light is absorbed in the first polarizing plate 35 and is not emitted to the outside, that is, the viewer side.

  The OFF state and the ON state are controlled stepwise by the amount of voltage applied to the pixel electrode 21. Therefore, the transmission amount of light emitted from the backlight unit 90 is controlled step by step for each pixel. As described above, the liquid crystal panel 7 of the present embodiment adopts the TN mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but is not limited to this. VA (Vertical Alignment) IPS (In Plain Switching), FFS (Fringe Field Switching), STN ( Various modes such as Super Twisted Nematic) can be adopted.

  FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams schematically showing the arrangement of each component such as the lenticular lens 5 and the first polarizing plate 35 in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in the XZ plane, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing each component separately. FIG. 4 shows the right eye 66 and the left eye 65 of the observer 60 in order to show the effect of this embodiment. In addition, illustration of the backlight unit 90 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment has a lenticular lens 5 attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 7 on the viewer side (the side where the backlight unit 90 is not disposed). The first polarizing plate 35 is located on the viewer side. In other words, the lenticular lens 5 is disposed between the liquid crystal panel 7 and the first polarizing plate 35. That is, unlike the conventional liquid crystal device, the first polarizing plate 35 is not disposed between the liquid crystal panel 7 and the lenticular lens 5. The lenticular lens 5 may have a structure in which a lens shape is transferred to a resin layer or a structure in which a lens shape is transferred to a resin layer formed on the surface of a glass substrate.

  The first polarizing plate 35 is affixed on the support substrate 13 that is arranged at a distance from the lenticular lens 5. That is, the first polarizing plate 35 is disposed between the lenticular lens and the observer 60. Therefore, there is a space between the lenticular lens 5 and the first polarizing plate 35. In addition, the 2nd polarizing plate 36 is directly affixed on the surface at the side of the backlight unit 90 of the liquid crystal panel 7 similarly to the conventional liquid crystal device.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the left pixel L and the right pixel R are alternately arranged (in the X direction) in the display region 75 in the liquid crystal panel 7. A sealing material 19 is formed on the outer periphery of the non-display area 79 adjacent to the display area 75 to seal the liquid crystal layer 12 (see FIG. 3).

  The lenticular lens 5 is affixed by a lens adhesive layer 81 to substantially the entire area of the liquid crystal panel 7 on the side where the observer 60 is located. In the region of the lenticular lens 5 that overlaps the display region 75 (of the liquid crystal panel 7) in plan view, the cylindrical lenses 50 constituting the lenticular lens 5 are arranged in the X direction. The cylindrical lens 50 extends over the entire area of the lenticular lens 5 in the Y direction.

  Of the surface of the lenticular lens 5 opposite to the liquid crystal panel 7, a region overlapping the non-display region 79 (of the liquid crystal panel 7) in plan view is a flat portion 51. A spacer 4 is disposed on the flat portion in parallel with the extending direction of the cylindrical lens 50. A support substrate 13 is disposed via the spacer 4. The spacer 4 and the lenticular lens 5 are joined by a lower adhesive layer 83, and the spacer 4 and the support substrate 13 are joined by an upper adhesive layer 82. And the 1st polarizing plate 35 is stuck on the surface at the side of the observer 60 of the support substrate 13. With this configuration, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the liquid crystal layer 12 (see FIG. 3) is sandwiched between two polarizing plates while the lenticular lens 5 is directly attached to the liquid crystal panel 7. . The first polarizing plate 35 is formed so as to overlap at least the entire display region 75 in plan view.

  As the material of the spacer 4, a resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate is preferable. And it is preferable to use such resin colored black. By coloring in black, it is possible to suppress stray light from entering the liquid crystal panel 7 and lowering the contrast of the display image, thereby improving display quality. The height of the spacer 4 (dimension in the Z direction) is set so that the surface of the cylindrical lens 50 does not touch the support substrate 13 and is, for example, approximately 0.2 mm.

(Effect of this embodiment)
The liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment does not change the component itself with the conventional liquid crystal device, and changes the arrangement position of the component to change the distance between the pixel and the node of the lenticular lens 5 as “T”. (See FIG. 4). That is, the first polarizing plate 35 is not disposed between the lenticular lens 5 and the liquid crystal panel 7, but is disposed between the lenticular lens 5 and the observer 60, thereby changing the “T” to the first polarization. The thickness of the plate 35 is reduced by 0.15 mm.

Here, the distance “d” between the left and right eyes of the observer 60 does not change. The pixel pitch “p”, which is the distance between the center of the left pixel L and the center of the right pixel R, is also constant. Therefore, a modification of the above equation, ie D = T × p / d (3)
Accordingly, D can be shortened. That is, the viewing distance D can be shortened.

  Further, as described above, in order to develop the lens action of the cylindrical lens 50, a region filled with a material having a refractive index lower than that of the material constituting the cylindrical lens 50 is necessary on the convex surface side of the cylindrical lens 50. Become. In the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, the first polarizing plate 35 is not attached to the lenticular lens 5 but is attached to the support substrate 13 fixed at a predetermined distance from the lenticular lens 5 by the spacer 4. Thus, a space is formed between the lenticular lens 5 and the first polarizing plate 35 to ensure the expression of the lens action described above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal device as a first modification of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. In the liquid crystal device according to this modification, the first polarizing plate 35 is formed of a laminate of a polarizing film 37 and a retardation film 38. By arranging the retardation film 38 between the liquid crystal panel 7 and the viewer 60 (see FIG. 4), optical compensation such as color compensation becomes possible. For example, the display quality when the viewer 60 is located obliquely is improved. Can be improved.
Since the configuration other than the above is the same as that of the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal device as a second modification of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. The liquid crystal device according to this modification has a first polarizing plate 35 on the surface of the support substrate 13 opposite to the surface facing the observer 60 (see FIG. 4) (that is, the surface facing the lenticular lens 5). Is arranged. Since the 1st polarizing plate 35 is not exposed to the observer 60 side, the liquid crystal device excellent in abrasion resistance etc. can be comprised. Further, since the antireflection film 39 is attached to the surface of the support substrate 13 facing the observer 60 (see FIG. 4), the display quality in a bright place can be improved.
Note that the first polarizing plate 35 is a laminate of a polarizing film 37 and a retardation film 38, which is the same as the first modification. Since other configurations are the same as those of the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows an outline of the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of each component like FIG. The liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment described above, except for the shape of the spacer 4. The internal configuration of the liquid crystal panel 7 is also the same. Therefore, the same code | symbol is provided to the common component and description of description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The liquid crystal device of the present embodiment is characterized in that the spacer 4 has a frame shape. That is, it is not disposed on the two opposing sides of the lenticular lens 5 as in the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment, but is disposed on all four sides. And since the corner | angular part (4 sides) is also joined, it has a frame shape by planar view. With this configuration, all four sides of the support substrate 13 can be held, and deformation or the like can be suppressed from occurring on the support substrate. Moreover, it can suppress that dust etc. adhere on the lenticular lens 5. Therefore, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment has improved display quality and reliability.

  Since the spacer 4 has a frame shape, the lenticular lens 5 has flat portions 51 on all four sides of the outer edge portion. Such a configuration is obtained by grinding the end of the cylindrical lens 50 stretched in the Y direction. Alternatively, the flat portion 51 may be formed at the same time when the cylindrical lens 50 is molded.

  Further, the spacer 4 is formed with a notch 85 so that the atmosphere can flow between the inside and the outside of the frame. Thereby, the space formed by the spacer 4, the lenticular lens 5, and the support substrate 13 is avoided from being a sealed space, and the support substrate 13 is caused by condensation or pressure imbalance when used at a high place. Can be avoided.

  The number of notches 85 is not limited to one, and a plurality of notches may be formed. Further, the formation position of the notch 85 is not limited to the interface between the support substrate 13 and the spacer 4. You may form in the interface of the spacer 4 and the lenticular lens 5, and may form in the middle of the thickness direction (Z direction) of the spacer 4. FIG.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows an outline of the configuration of the liquid crystal device of the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an arrangement mode of each component as in FIG. 4. The liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment described above, except for the shape of the lenticular lens 5. The internal configuration of the liquid crystal panel 7 is also the same. Therefore, the same code | symbol is provided to the common component and description of description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The liquid crystal device of this embodiment is characterized in that the spacer 4 is integrated with the lenticular lens 5. Such a configuration can be obtained by forming the spacers 4 together when the lenticular lens 5 is molded. By integrating the two components, the process of joining the spacer 4 and the lenticular lens 5 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal device can be suppressed.

  The spacer 4 may be formed on two sides as shown in FIG. 5 (first embodiment), or may be formed on four sides as shown in FIG. 8 (second embodiment). Moreover, although the 1st polarizing plate 35 is arrange | positioned on the surface at the side of the observer 60 (refer FIG. 4), you may arrange | position on the surface on the opposite side. Furthermore, you may affix the antireflection film 39 (refer FIG. 7) to the surface at the side of the observer 60. FIG.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 10 shows an outline of the configuration of the liquid crystal device of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an arrangement mode of each component as in FIG. 4. The liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the liquid crystal device of the first embodiment described above, except for the shape of the support substrate 13. The internal configuration of the liquid crystal panel 7 is also the same. Therefore, the same code | symbol is provided to the common component and description of description is abbreviate | omitted.

The liquid crystal device of this embodiment is characterized in that the spacer 4 is integrated with the support substrate 13. Such a configuration can be obtained by thinning the region other than the position where the spacer 4 is formed by etching or the like when the support substrate 13 is molded. By integrating the two components, the process of joining the spacer 4 and the support substrate 13 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal device can be suppressed.
The spacer 4 may be formed on two sides as shown in FIG. 5 (first embodiment), or may be formed on four sides as shown in FIG. 8 (second embodiment). Moreover, you may arrange | position the 1st polarizing plate 35 on the surface at the side of the observer 60 (refer FIG. 4).

  Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above, and can be implemented in the following forms.

(Modification 1)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the stereoscopic display device has been described as an example. However, the present invention displays different images for a plurality of observers arranged in the X direction (see FIG. 2 and the like). The present invention can also be applied to multi-viewpoint display devices (viewpoints, eight viewpoints, etc.). In the case of a two-screen (two viewpoints) display device that displays different images in the driver's seat and front passenger seat, it is necessary to shorten the viewing distance, and the first polarizing plate 35 is replaced with the lenticular lens 5 and the observer 60. You can take advantage of the effect of placing between.

(Modification 2)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the spacer 4 is arranged only around the display area 75. However, a mode in which the spacer 4 is arranged in the display area 75 is also possible. In the case where the area of the display region 75 is large, the bending of the support substrate 13 can be suppressed by arranging the spacer 4 also in the display region 75. In such a case, it is preferable that the spacers 4 having a small plan view shape are arranged so as to be dispersed in the display region 75. Further, the spacer 4 may be disposed so as to overlap the black matrix 16 in plan view. With this configuration, the support substrate 13 can be held in the display region 75 without degrading display quality.

(Modification 3)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the space between the lenticular lens 5 and the support substrate 13 is filled with air. However, a liquid having a low refractive index may be filled instead of the air. In such a case, by forming the lenticular lens 5 with a material having a high refractive index, the difference in refractive index from the above-described filling substance replacing the atmosphere can be increased, and the expression of the lens action can be ensured.

(Modification 4)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the transmission type multi-view display device using the liquid crystal panel 7 as the electro-optical panel has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a multi-view display device using a self-luminous electro-optical panel such as an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel. In a display device using an organic EL panel, in order to prevent external light reflection, a circularly polarizing plate in which a polarizing plate (linear polarizing plate) and a quarter wavelength plate are laminated is disposed between the panel and an observer. Is preferred. In such a case, by providing the circularly polarizing plate between the lenticular lens 5 and the observer using the spacer 4 and the support substrate 13, an antireflection function can be imparted without changing the viewing distance.

The figure which shows typically the circuit structure of a liquid crystal panel. The figure which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of the pixel and cylindrical lens in the display area of a liquid crystal device. The figure which shows the cross section of a liquid crystal panel typically with a backlight unit etc. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an arrangement mode of each component of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of each component of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the 1st modification of the liquid crystal device concerning 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a second modification of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of each component of the liquid crystal device of 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of each component of the liquid crystal device of 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of each component of the liquid crystal device of 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows typically the aspect of arrangement | positioning of the component of the conventional liquid crystal device. The figure which shows a lenticular lens.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Spacer, 5 ... Lenticular lens, 7 ... Liquid crystal panel as an electro-optical panel, 10 ... Element substrate as a translucent substrate, 11 ... Opposite substrate as a translucent substrate, 12 ... Liquid crystal layer, 13 ... Support substrate , 15 ... Color filter, 16 ... Black matrix, 19 ... Sealing material, 21 ... Pixel electrode, 22 ... Counter electrode, 23 ... Interlayer insulating film, 25 ... Contact hole, 31 ... First alignment film, 32 ... Second Alignment film 34 ... Overcoat 35 ... First polarizing plate 36 ... Second polarizing plate 37 ... Polarizing film 38 ... Retardation film 39 ... Antireflection film 40 ... TFT as switching element 41 ... Gate electrode, 42 ... Gate insulating film, 43 ... Semiconductor layer, 45 ... Source electrode, 46 ... Drain electrode, 50 ... Cylindrical lens, 51 ... Flat part, 60 ... Observer, 65 ... Left , 66 ... Right eye, 72 ... Scan line drive circuit, 73 ... Data line drive circuit, 75 ... Display area, 76 ... Scan line, 77 ... Data line, 79 ... Non-display area, 81 ... Lens adhesive layer, 82 ... Top Adhesive layer, 83 ... lower adhesive layer, 85 ... notch, 90 ... backlight unit as light source, 91 ... reflector, 92 ... light guide plate, 93 ... fluorescent tube, L ... left pixel, R ... right pixel.

Claims (12)

An electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image,
The electro-optical device includes:
An electro-optic panel;
A first polarizing plate disposed opposite to and substantially parallel to the display surface side of the electro-optical panel;
A lenticular lens formed between the electro-optical panel and the first polarizing plate, which is formed by arranging a plurality of cylindrical lenses extended in the longitudinal direction in parallel;
With
An electro-optical device, wherein a material having a refractive index lower than that of a constituent material of the lenticular lens is filled between the first polarizing plate and the lenticular lens. An electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image,
A light source;
An electro-optical panel that forms an image by adjusting a transmission amount of light emitted from the light source;
A first polarizing plate disposed opposite to and substantially parallel to the display surface side of the electro-optical panel;
A lenticular lens formed between the electro-optical panel and the first polarizing plate, which is formed by arranging a plurality of cylindrical lenses extended in the longitudinal direction in parallel;
A second polarizing plate disposed between the light source and the electro-optical panel;
An electro-optical device comprising:
The first polarizing plate is disposed at a predetermined distance from the lenticular lens,
An electro-optical device, wherein a material having a refractive index lower than that of a constituent material of the lenticular lens is filled between the first polarizing plate and the lenticular lens. An electro-optical device that displays a multi-viewpoint image,
A light source;
A first pixel that forms a first image by adjusting the amount of light transmitted from the light source and a second image that forms a second image by adjusting the amount of light transmitted from the light source. An electro-optical panel in which two pixels are arranged in a display area;
A first polarizing plate disposed opposite to and substantially parallel to the display surface side of the electro-optical panel;
A lenticular lens formed between the electro-optical panel and the first polarizing plate, which is formed by arranging a plurality of cylindrical lenses extended in the longitudinal direction in parallel;
A second polarizing plate disposed between the light source and the electro-optical panel;
An electro-optical device comprising:
The first polarizing plate is disposed at a predetermined distance from the lenticular lens,
An electro-optical device, wherein a material having a refractive index lower than that of a constituent material of the lenticular lens is filled between the first polarizing plate and the lenticular lens. The electro-optical device according to claim 2, wherein
The electro-optical panel is a liquid crystal panel that adjusts a transmission amount of light emitted from the light source by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of translucent substrates for each pixel. Electro-optical device characterized. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The substance is the atmosphere;
The first polarizing plate is disposed on a surface of a support substrate fixed by a spacer to a flat portion formed on an outer peripheral portion on a surface opposite to the electro-optical panel of the lenticular lens. Electro-optical device characterized. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The electro-optical device, wherein the polarizing plate is a laminate of a polarizing film and a retardation film. The electro-optical device according to claim 5 or 6,
The electro-optical device, wherein the lenticular lens has a substantially square shape in a plan view, and the spacer is disposed along two sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens. The electro-optical device according to claim 5 or 6,
The electro-optical device, wherein the lenticular lens has a substantially square shape in a plan view, and the spacer is disposed along four sides of the lenticular lens. The electro-optical device according to claim 8,
The first polarizing plate is disposed on a surface of the support substrate facing the lenticular lens,
2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has a frame shape in plan view, and a notch is formed to connect the inner side and the outer side of the frame. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
The electro-optical device, wherein the spacer is formed integrally with the lenticular lens. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
The electro-optical device, wherein the spacer is formed integrally with the support substrate. The electro-optical device according to claim 5,
The electro-optical device, wherein the spacer is colored black.

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