JP5381423B2 - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus.

  For the purpose of directional display of different images in two or more different viewing directions, a light separation means such as a parallax barrier is disposed so as to overlap the electro-optical panel from which light contributing to display of different images is emitted. Electro-optical devices have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, and Patent Document 5).

  The parallax barrier includes a light shielding part that shields light and an opening part that allows light to pass therethrough. For example, light that contributes to display of the first image emitted from the first pixel is displayed in the first viewing direction. As a barrier for displaying the first image and the second image in different directions by directing light that contributes to the display of the second image emitted from the second pixel toward the second viewing direction Function.

JP-A-2005-78092 JP 2005-86506 A JP 2006-18282 A JP 2008-242055 A JP 2008-89635 A

  An electro-optical device in which such a parallax barrier is arranged can display different images in color even when the number of images to be directionally displayed and the number of colors constituting each image are both the same number of 3 or more. It is desirable to be able to do it. However, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Patent Document 4 disclose a configuration of an electro-optical device in which the number of images to be directional displayed and the number of colors constituting each image are three or more. It has not been.

  Patent Document 5 discloses an electro-optical device that can display an image composed of three colors in three directions. However, in Patent Document 5, although the number of images to be directional displayed is 3 or more, the number of colors constituting the image is 1 or more. No mention is made of a configuration of an electro-optical device suitable for the case where both numbers are the same number of 3 or more.

  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 according to this application example is an electro-optical device that displays n types (n ≧ 3) of images that differ depending on the viewing direction, and includes the first direction and the first direction. A sub-pixel that is arranged along a second direction that intersects with each other, and that contributes to any of the n types of images and emits light of n different colors, and in the first direction An electro-optical panel having n sub-pixel groups that are arranged along the line and contribute to different images, and the electro-optical panel is disposed on a side where light is emitted from the sub-pixel. And a light-shielding optical filter having an opening provided at a position corresponding to the sub-pixel contributing to the same image for each sub-pixel group, and n sets arranged along the first direction In the sub-pixel group, the same image The subpixels Azukasuru is characterized by injecting different color light from each other.

  According to this configuration, by separating the light emitted from the electro-optical panel with the optical filter, different images can be directionally displayed in n (three or more) different directions. Also, n different colors of light are emitted from n sub-pixels that contribute to the same image through the opening of the optical filter. For this reason, each of n types of images can be constituted by n-color light. Thereby, when both the number of images to be displayed and the number of colors constituting each image are the same n (three or more), a color image composed of n different colors of light is directed in n different directions. It is possible to provide an electro-optical device that can display the sex.

  Application Example 2 In the electro-optical device according to the application example described above, the openings of the optical filter may be arranged in a line along the second direction.

  According to this configuration, when the optical filter is a stripe barrier, different images can be formed by the sub-pixels arranged along the first direction and displayed in different directions.

Application Example 3 In the electro-optical device according to the application example, the opening of the optical filter, by the sub-pixel one-minute row adjacent Oite in the second direction the first They may be arranged so as to be displaced in the direction.

  According to this configuration, when the optical filter is a step barrier, different images can be formed and displayed in different directions by the sub-pixels arranged along the first direction.

  Application Example 4 The electro-optical device according to this application example is an electro-optical device that displays n types (n ≧ 3) of images that differ depending on the viewing direction, and includes the first direction and the first direction. And sub-pixels that emit light that contributes to any one of the n types of images, and n that contribute to different images arranged along the first direction. An electro-optical panel having a sub-pixel group composed of the sub-pixels, and an electro-optical panel disposed on a side where light is emitted from the sub-pixel of the electro-optical panel, and the same image for each sub-pixel group A light-shielding optical filter having an opening provided at a position corresponding to the sub-pixel that contributes to a color filter, and a color filter that is disposed in the opening and transmits one of n different colors of light And having a predetermined direction To n of the opening arranged along, characterized in that it is disposed the color filter which transmits light of different colors from each other.

  According to this configuration, by separating the light emitted from the electro-optical panel with the optical filter, different images can be directionally displayed in n (three or more) different directions. In addition, light from sub-pixels contributing to the same image is emitted from n openings arranged along a predetermined direction through a color filter that transmits n different colors of light. For this reason, each of n types of images can be constituted by n-color light. Thereby, when both the number of images to be displayed and the number of colors constituting each image are the same n (three or more), a color image composed of n different colors of light is directed in n different directions. It is possible to provide an electro-optical device that can display the sex.

Application 5 In the electro-optical device according to the application example, the opening of the optical filter, by the sub-pixel one-minute row adjacent Oite in the second direction the first The color filters that transmit light of different colors may be arranged in the n openings that are arranged in a shifted direction and are arranged along the first direction.

  According to this configuration, different images can be formed and displayed in different directions by the sub-pixels arranged along the first direction through the optical filter in which the color filter is provided in the opening of the step barrier.

Application 5 In the electro-optical device according to the application example, the opening of the optical filter, by the sub-pixel one-minute row adjacent Oite in the second direction the first are arranged displaced in the direction, the first 1 n pieces of the adjacent openings Oite in the direction of the color filter which transmits same color of light may be disposed.

  According to this configuration, through the optical filter in which the color filter is provided in the opening portion of the step barrier, different images can be formed by the sub-pixels arranged along the arrangement direction of the opening portions and displayed in different directions.

  Application Example 7 An electronic apparatus according to this application example includes the electro-optical device described above.

  According to this configuration, since the electronic apparatus has the above-described electro-optical device as a display unit, both the number of images to be displayed and the number of colors constituting the image are the same n (three or more). Even in this case, the color image can be directionally displayed in different directions.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a directional display method of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. The top view which shows the structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the display in the different visual recognition direction of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure explaining the display in the different visual recognition direction of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to a fourth embodiment. The figure explaining the display in the different visual recognition direction of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. FIG. 14 illustrates an example of an electronic device. The top view which shows an example of the conventional structure of a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating display in different viewing directions of a liquid crystal device including the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 12.

  The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings to be referred to, in order to show the configuration in an easy-to-understand manner, the layer thickness, dimensional ratio, angle, and the like of each component are appropriately changed. Moreover, in each drawing to refer, some components are abbreviate | omitted.

(First embodiment)
<Outline of liquid crystal device>
First, an outline of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG.

  The electro-optical device according to the present embodiment is an active matrix type liquid crystal device including a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element as a switching element, and a TN (Twisted Nematic) type transmissive liquid crystal device. . As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal device 100 includes a liquid crystal panel 1 as an electro-optical panel, a parallax barrier 50 as an optical filter, and a backlight 46.

  The parallax barrier 50 is disposed to face the liquid crystal panel 1. Hereinafter, the direction on the parallax barrier 50 side of the liquid crystal panel 1 is also referred to as “observation side”, and the direction opposite to the parallax barrier 50 of the liquid crystal panel 1 is also referred to as “back side”. The backlight 46 is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 1 so as to face the liquid crystal panel 1. A polarizing plate 45 is disposed on the observation side of the parallax barrier 50, and a polarizing plate 44 is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 1.

  The liquid crystal panel 1 includes a counter substrate 30 disposed on the observation side and an element substrate 10 disposed opposite to the back side of the counter substrate 30. The element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 30 are bonded together via a frame-shaped sealing agent 41. A liquid crystal layer 40 is disposed in a space surrounded by the element substrate 10, the counter substrate 30, and the sealing agent 41.

  A driver IC 42 for driving the liquid crystal layer 40 is disposed on the element substrate 10. A backlight 46 is disposed on the back side of the polarizing plate 44. The liquid crystal device 100 performs display in the display region 2 by modulating the light incident from the backlight 46 and emitting it to the observation side.

<Directional display method>
Next, a directional display method of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a directional display method of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. 2 corresponds to a cross section taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1A, but the observation side and the back side of the liquid crystal device 100 are reversed from FIG. 1B. It is shown in the figure. In FIG. 2, illustrations are omitted except for the components necessary for the description here.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal device 100 separates the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 1 with a parallax barrier 50, thereby three images A, B, and C according to three different viewing directions. This is an electro-optical device that displays different images with directivity. The liquid crystal panel 1 has arranged sub-pixels 4. The sub-pixel 4 is a minimum structural unit for display of the liquid crystal panel 1 (liquid crystal device 100). Details of the arrangement of the sub-pixels 4 will be described later.

  The sub-pixel 4 emits light that contributes to any one of the images A, B, and C. The sub-pixel 4 that emits light constituting the image A is also referred to as a sub-pixel 4a. Similarly, the sub-pixel 4 that emits light constituting the image B is also called a sub-pixel 4b, and the sub-pixel 4 that emits light constituting the image C is also called a sub-pixel 4c. In addition, when not distinguishing correspondence with the image which comprises, it is also only called the sub pixel 4. Further, the three sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c arranged in order are referred to as a sub-pixel group 5 as a set.

  In the liquid crystal panel 1, image data representing the three images A, B, and C is input to the driver IC 42 (see FIG. 1A), and a drive signal based on the image data representing the images A, B, and C is transmitted to the driver IC 42. To the sub-pixels 4a, 4b and 4c. Thereby, the light which comprises the images A, B, and C is inject | emitted from the subpixel 4a, 4b, 4c in the direction of the observation side, ie, the parallax barrier 50 side.

  The parallax barrier 50 is disposed on the side where light is emitted from the sub-pixels 4 of the liquid crystal panel 1. The parallax barrier 50 is a light-blocking optical filter, and includes a light-blocking portion 51 and an opening 52. One opening 52 is provided for each sub-pixel group 5 (sub-pixels 4a, 4b, 4c). The specific arrangement position and arrangement interval of the opening 52 are appropriately set depending on the size of the sub-pixel 4 and the appropriate viewing positions of the three images A, B, and C.

  In the present embodiment, the appropriate viewing position of the image B passes through substantially the center of the display area 2 of the liquid crystal device 100 and is on the center line (indicated by a dashed line) along the normal direction of the observation side surface of the liquid crystal device 100. Is set. Further, the appropriate viewing position of the image A is set at a position obliquely rightward with respect to the center line, and the appropriate viewing position of the image C is set obliquely leftward with respect to the center line.

  The opening 52 is disposed at a position substantially opposite to the sub-pixel 4b. However, in order to guide the light emitted from the sub-pixel 4b located in the left-right direction away from the center line to an appropriate viewing position of the image B, the arrangement interval of the openings 52 is slightly smaller than the arrangement interval of the sub-pixel 4b. Is set to Note that the appropriate viewing position means an optimal position where a corresponding image can be visually recognized by design, and the appropriate viewing range means a range where a corresponding image can be visually recognized around the appropriate viewing position. Moreover, both images can be visually recognized at the boundary between adjacent suitable viewing ranges.

  In the liquid crystal device 100, the light that passes through the opening 52 among the light emitted from the sub-pixel 4 a is guided to an appropriate viewing range centered on the appropriate viewing position of the image A. In addition, light that passes through the opening 52 among the light emitted from the sub-pixel 4b is guided to an appropriate viewing range centered on the appropriate viewing position of the image B, and the opening of the light emitted from the sub-pixel 4c. The light passing through 52 is guided to an appropriate viewing range centered on the appropriate viewing position of the image C.

  Thereby, the observer who exists in the suitable viewing range of the image A can visually recognize the image A comprised with the light inject | emitted from each sub pixel 4a. Further, an observer who is in the appropriate viewing range of the image B can visually recognize the image B composed of light emitted from each sub-pixel 4b, and an observer who is in the proper viewing range of the image C can see each sub-pixel 4c. The image C composed of the light emitted from can be visually recognized.

<Configuration of liquid crystal device>
Next, the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged plan view of the parallax barrier.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the liquid crystal panel 1 has sub-pixels 4 arranged two-dimensionally. The sub-pixel 4 has a rectangular planar shape and has a short side and a long side. A direction along the short side of the sub-pixel 4 is referred to as a row direction as the first direction, and a direction along the long side of the sub-pixel 4 is referred to as a column direction as the second direction. The sub-pixels 4 are arranged in a matrix along the row direction and the column direction. A light shielding layer 32 made of a light shielding resin or the like is disposed between adjacent sub-pixels 4. That is, the area surrounded by the light shielding layer 32 is the area of the sub-pixel 4.

  The liquid crystal panel 1 has sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c that emit light constituting three different images A, B, and C as described above. In the present embodiment, the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c are repeatedly arranged in this order along the row direction. The sub-pixel group 5 is composed of three sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c arranged in order along the row direction. Therefore, the sub-pixel groups 5 are arranged so as to be aligned along the row direction.

  In the present embodiment, the sub-pixels 4a, sub-pixels 4b, or sub-pixels 4c corresponding to the same image are arranged in a line along the column direction. That is, the sub-pixel group 5 is arranged in a matrix in the row direction and the column direction. Three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 arranged along the row direction are also referred to as sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c in order from the left in the drawing.

  The liquid crystal panel 1 has color filters of three different colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) arranged for each sub pixel 4 on the observation side of the sub pixel 4. In the present embodiment, any one of the R, G, and B color filters is arranged in a line along the column direction. Further, along the row direction, R, G, and B color filters are arranged as follows corresponding to the sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c.

  In the sub-pixel group 5a, R, G, and B color filters are arranged corresponding to the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively. In the sub-pixel group 5b, G, B, and R color filters are arranged corresponding to the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively. In the sub-pixel group 5c, B, R, and G color filters are arranged corresponding to the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively. That is, the color filters are repeatedly arranged in the order of R, G, B, G, B, R, B, R, and G along the row direction. As a result, in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction, the correspondence between the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c and the R, G, and B color filters is different.

  The R, G, and B color filters selectively transmit light of three different colors of R, G, and B, respectively. The sub-pixel 4a is supplied with driving signals based on the image data of R, G, and B colors constituting the image A in correspondence with the arranged R, G, and B color filters. Similarly, the sub-pixels 4b and 4c are supplied with drive signals based on the image data of the R, G, and B colors constituting the images B and C corresponding to the arranged R, G, and B color filters. Is done. As a result, each of the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c emits light of any of three different colors of R, G, and B.

  Therefore, in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged along the row direction, light of three different colors R, G, and B is emitted from the three sub-pixels 4a that contribute to the same image A. . Similarly, in the sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c, light of three colors R, G, and B different from each other is emitted from the three sub-pixels 4b that contribute to the image B, and the three sub-pixels 4c that contribute to the image C , Three different colors of R, G, and B are emitted.

  The sub-pixels 4a that emit light of R, G, and B are also referred to as sub-pixels 4a (R), 4a (G), and 4a (B), respectively. Similarly, the sub-pixels 4b that emit R, G, and B light are also referred to as sub-pixels 4b (R), 4b (G), and 4b (B), respectively, and the sub-pixels that emit R, G, and B light. 4c is also referred to as sub-pixels 4c (R), 4c (G), and 4c (B), respectively (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C). As described above, the liquid crystal panel 1 has nine types of sub-pixels 4 obtained by multiplying the number of images (3) displayed by the liquid crystal device 100 by the number of colors (3) constituting each image.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, one opening 52 of the parallax barrier 50 is provided for each sub-pixel group 5, and is arranged at a position corresponding to the sub-pixel 4b. The light shielding portion 51 is disposed at a position corresponding to the sub-pixels 4a and 4c. The parallax barrier 50 is a so-called stripe barrier in which the openings 52 are arranged in a line along the row direction in a stripe shape. Based on the parallax barrier 50, it can be said that the sub-pixel group 5 (sub-pixels 4 a, 4 b, 4 c) of the liquid crystal panel 1 is arranged corresponding to the arrangement of the openings 52.

<Image display>
Next, display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 4A shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 50 at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, and FIG. 4B shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 50 at the appropriate viewing position of the image B. FIG. 4C shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 50 at an appropriate viewing position of the image C.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a), at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, the sub-pixels 4a (R), 4a (G), The light emitted from 4 a (B) passes through the opening 52. Then, a pixel 6a serving as a display unit of the image A is configured by light of three different colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4a (R), 4a (G), and 4a (B). Thereby, the image A comprised by each pixel 6a is visually recognized in the appropriate viewing position of the image A.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, at the appropriate viewing position of the image B, for each of the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction, the sub-pixels 4b (R), 4b (G), The light emitted from 4 b (B) passes through the opening 52. Then, a pixel 6b serving as a display unit of the image B is configured by light of three different colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4b (R), 4b (G), and 4b (B). Thereby, the image B comprised by each pixel 6b in the suitable viewing position of the image B is visually recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, at the appropriate viewing position of the image C, for each of the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, 5c arranged in the row direction, the sub-pixels 4c (R), 4c (G), The light emitted from 4c (B) passes through the opening 52. Then, a pixel 6c serving as a display unit of the image C is configured by light of three different colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4c (R), 4c (G), and 4c (B). Thereby, the image C comprised by each pixel 6c in the suitable viewing position of the image C is visually recognized.

  As described above, in the liquid crystal device 100, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c, which are display units of three different images A, B, and C, are divided into 9 for every three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction. The type of sub-pixel 4 is constituted by sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c that emit light of three different colors. In the liquid crystal device 100, color display can be performed for each of the images A, B, and C by appropriately changing the luminance of each of the nine types of sub-pixels 4 in each of the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c.

  Here, as a comparison, an example of a conventional configuration of a liquid crystal device that performs directional display will be described. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional configuration of a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device including the liquid crystal panel of FIG.

  The liquid crystal panel 3 shown in FIG. 12 has a configuration in which R, G, and B color filters are repeatedly arranged in order along the row direction. In a conventional liquid crystal device, a configuration such as a liquid crystal panel 3 in which R, G, and B color filters are repeatedly arranged in this order is often used. If the liquid crystal device performs, for example, directional display of two different images, the liquid crystal panel 3 having such a configuration can also perform color display of the two images.

  However, when the liquid crystal panel 3 having such a configuration is used to perform color display of three different images, a desired display may not be obtained. For example, the liquid crystal panel 3 shown in FIG. 12 has a configuration in which R, G, B color filters are arranged in the same order in any of the sub-pixel groups 5 arranged in the row direction. Therefore, in any subpixel group 5, an R color filter is disposed in the subpixel 4a, a G color filter is disposed in the subpixel 4b, and a B color filter is disposed in the subpixel 4c. It will be.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13A, at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, R light emitted from the sub-pixel 4a (R) is visually recognized, but G and B light is not visually recognized. As shown in FIG. 13B, at the appropriate viewing position of the image B, the G light emitted from the sub-pixel 4b (G) is visually recognized, but the R and B lights are not visually recognized. Further, as shown in FIG. 13C, at the appropriate viewing position of the image C, the B light emitted from the sub-pixel 4c (B) is visually recognized, but the R and G lights are not visually recognized. As a result, the images A, B, and C are all displayed in a single color, and a color display cannot be obtained.

  In the liquid crystal device 100 according to the present embodiment, in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction, three sub-pixels 4a that contribute to the image A and three sub-pixels 4b that contribute to the image B , And three sub-pixels 4c that contribute to the image C, R, G, and B light of three different colors are emitted from the respective sub-pixels 4c. For this reason, each of the three different types of images can be constituted by three different colors of light. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the liquid crystal device 100 capable of displaying the images A, B, and C in a color directional manner.

(Second Embodiment)
<Configuration of liquid crystal device>
Next, the configuration of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment is different from the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment in the arrangement of subpixels and the arrangement of openings of the parallax barrier, but the other configurations are the same. Constituent elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged plan view of the parallax barrier according to the second embodiment. The liquid crystal device 200 according to the second embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 11 instead of the liquid crystal panel 1 and a parallax barrier 54 instead of the parallax barrier 50 as shown in FIGS. .

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the liquid crystal panel 11, sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c composed of three sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c arranged in order along the row direction are repeated along the row direction. It is arranged. However, in adjacent rows, the sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c (sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c) are arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four sub-pixels. It differs from the liquid crystal panel 1 which concerns on a form.

  Further, in the liquid crystal panel 11, the color filters are repeated in the order of R, G, B, G, B, R, B, R, and G along the row direction, as in the liquid crystal panel 1 according to the first embodiment. The color filters of R, G, and B are arranged in a line along the column direction. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel 11, the correspondence between the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction and the color filters of R, G, and B is adjacent to the row. Different from each other.

  Here, the sub pixel group 5 located in the same column in the row adjacent to the sub pixel group 5a (sub pixels 4a, 4b, 4c) is defined as a sub pixel group 5d (sub pixels 4c, 4a, 4b), and further the sub pixel group A sub pixel group 5 located in the same column in a row adjacent to 5d is defined as a sub pixel group 5e (sub pixels 4b, 4c, 4a). In the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5d, and 5e arranged in a line along the column direction, the correspondence between the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c and the R, G, and B color filters is different.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the parallax barrier 54 has a light shielding part 55 and an opening part 56. One opening 56 is provided for each sub-pixel group 5 and is arranged corresponding to the sub-pixel 4b. The openings 56 are arranged so as to be shifted in the column direction by four subpixels in adjacent columns. It can be said that the openings 56 are arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four subpixels in adjacent rows. The parallax barrier 54 is a so-called step barrier in which the openings 56 are arranged obliquely with respect to the row direction and the column direction, and this point is different from the parallax barrier 50 according to the first embodiment.

<Image display>
Next, display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 6A shows the display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 54 at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, and FIG. 6B shows the display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 54 at the appropriate viewing position of the image B. FIG. 6C shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 54 at the appropriate viewing position of the image C.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, the sub-pixels 4a (R), 4a (G), Pixels 6a serving as a display unit of the image A are configured by the three colors of light emitted from 4a (B). In the present embodiment, the three colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4a (R), 4a (G), and 4a (B) in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5d, and 5e arranged along the column direction. The pixel 6a is also configured by light.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, at the appropriate viewing position of the image B, the sub-pixels 4b (G), 4b (B), and 3b among the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction. The three colors of light emitted from 4b (R) constitute a pixel 6b serving as a display unit for the image B. In the present embodiment, the three colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4b (G), 4b (B), and 4b (R) in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5d, and 5e arranged along the column direction. The pixel 6b is also configured by light.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, at the appropriate viewing position of the image C, the sub-pixels 4c (B), 4c (R), and 4c among the three sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction. A pixel 6c serving as a display unit of the image C is configured by the light of the three colors emitted from 4c (G). In the present embodiment, the three colors emitted from the sub-pixels 4c (B), 4c (R), and 4c (G) in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5d, and 5e arranged along the column direction. The pixel 6c is also configured by light.

  As described above, in the liquid crystal device 200 according to the present embodiment, as in the liquid crystal device 100 according to the first embodiment, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c serving as display units for three different images A, B, and C are provided. Each of the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5b, and 5c arranged in the row direction includes sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c that emit light of three different colors. Thereby, each image A, B, and C can be directionally displayed in color.

  Further, in the liquid crystal device 200, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c are also configured for each of the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5a, 5d, and 5e arranged in the column direction. Therefore, according to the configuration of the liquid crystal device 200, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c are configured by improving the substantial resolution in the row direction and improving the balance in the row direction and the column direction as compared with the liquid crystal device 100. it can. Thereby, the image quality of each of the images A, B, and C displayed on the liquid crystal device 200 can be improved as compared with the liquid crystal device 100.

(Third embodiment)
<Configuration of liquid crystal device>
Next, the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment is different from the liquid crystal device according to the above embodiment in that a color filter is provided in the opening of the parallax barrier, but the other configurations are the same. Constituent elements common to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 7A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged plan view of the parallax barrier.

  The liquid crystal device 300 according to the third embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 21 and a parallax barrier 60 as shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the liquid crystal panel 21 has sub-pixels composed of three sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c arranged in order along the row direction, like the liquid crystal panel 11 according to the second embodiment. The pixel group 5 is repeatedly arranged along the row direction. Further, in adjacent rows, the sub-pixel group 5 (sub-pixels 4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four sub-pixels. However, the liquid crystal panel 21 is not provided with a color filter, which is different from the liquid crystal panel 11 according to the second embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the parallax barrier 60 includes a light shielding unit 61 and an opening 62. Similar to the parallax barrier 54 according to the second embodiment, the parallax barrier 60 is provided with one opening 62 for each sub-pixel group 5 and arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the row direction and the column direction. It is a step barrier. However, the opening 62 is provided with any of R, G, and B color filters, and this is different from the parallax barrier 54 according to the second embodiment.

  Each of the R, G, and B color filters disposed in the opening 62 is referred to as a color filter 62R, 62G, and 62B. The color filters 62R, 62G, and 62B are arranged in this order in the openings 62 arranged in the row direction. In addition, color filters of the same color among the color filters 62R, 62G, and 62B are arranged in the openings 62 arranged in the oblique direction.

<Image display>
Next, display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 8A shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 60 at an appropriate viewing position of the image A, and FIG. 8B shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 60 at an appropriate viewing position of the image B. FIG. 8C shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 60 at an appropriate viewing position of the image C.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, the color filter 62R is emitted from the sub-pixel 4a in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 arranged along the row direction and arranged along the row direction. , 62G, 62B, the three colors of light constitute a pixel 6a that is a display unit of the image A. The pixels 6a are arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four subpixels in adjacent rows.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, at an appropriate viewing position of the image B, a color filter 62R that is emitted from the sub-pixel 4b in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 arranged along the row direction and arranged along the row direction. , 62G, and 62B, the pixel 6b, which is a display unit of the image B, is configured by the three colors of light that have passed through. The pixels 6b are arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four subpixels in adjacent rows.

  As shown in FIG. 8C, at an appropriate viewing position of the image C, a color filter 62R that is emitted from the sub-pixel 4c in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 arranged in the row direction and arranged in the row direction. , 62G, and 62B, the pixel 6c, which is a display unit of the image C, is configured by the three colors of light that have passed through. The pixels 6c are arranged so as to be shifted in the row direction by four subpixels in adjacent rows.

  In the liquid crystal device 300 of the present embodiment, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c serving as display units for three different images A, B, and C each include three sub-pixels for each of the three sub-pixel groups 5 arranged in the row direction. The light is emitted from 4a, 4b, 4c and transmitted through the color filters 62R, 62G, 62B. As a result, similar to the liquid crystal device 100 of the first embodiment, the images A, B, and C can be directionally displayed in color.

(Fourth embodiment)
<Configuration of electro-optical device>
Next, a configuration of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid crystal device according to the fourth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment in the arrangement of the color filters provided in the opening of the parallax barrier, but the other configurations are the same. . Constituent elements common to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a configuration of a liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device according to the fourth embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 9A is an enlarged plan view of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged plan view of the parallax barrier. A liquid crystal device 400 according to the fourth embodiment includes the same liquid crystal panel 21 as the liquid crystal device 300 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9A and a parallax barrier 64 shown in FIG. 9B. Yes.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the parallax barrier 64 includes a light shielding portion 61 and an opening 65. As with the parallax barrier 60 according to the third embodiment, the parallax barrier 64 is provided with one opening 65 for each sub-pixel group 5 and is arranged obliquely with respect to the row direction and the column direction. It is a step barrier. However, the arrangement of the R, G, and B color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B provided in the opening 65 is different from that of the parallax barrier 60 according to the third embodiment.

  In the parallax barrier 64, color filters of the same color of the color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B are arranged in the openings 65 arranged in the row direction. In addition, the color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B are repeatedly arranged in this order in the openings 65 arranged in the oblique direction.

<Image display>
Next, display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining display in different viewing directions of the liquid crystal device according to the fourth embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 10A shows the display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 64 at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, and FIG. 10B shows the display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 64 at the appropriate viewing position of the image B. FIG. 10C shows a display visually recognized through the parallax barrier 64 at the appropriate viewing position of the image C.

  In the present embodiment, pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c serving as display units for images A, B, and C are configured for each of three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 (9 sub-pixels 4) that are adjacent in the column direction. The three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 adjacent in the column direction refer to sub-pixel groups 5 having a positional relationship such as sub-pixel groups 5f, 5g, and 5h shown in FIG. In other words, the sub-pixel group 5g is located in the row direction adjacent to the sub-pixel group 5f by one sub-pixel group 5f in the row direction, and the sub-pixel group 5h includes the sub-pixel group 5g. In the adjacent row, the subpixel group 5g is positioned so as to be shifted in the row direction by four subpixels.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, at the appropriate viewing position of the image A, the light is emitted from the sub-pixel 4a in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 adjacent in the column direction, and obliquely with respect to the row direction and the column direction. The three colors of light transmitted through the arranged color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B constitute a pixel 6a that is a display unit of the image A. The pixels 6a are arranged side by side along the row direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, at the appropriate viewing position of the image B, the light is emitted from the sub-pixel 4b in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 adjacent in the column direction, and obliquely with respect to the row direction and the column direction. The three colors of light transmitted through the arranged color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B constitute a pixel 6b that is a display unit of the image B. The pixels 6b are arranged side by side along the row direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, at the appropriate viewing position of the image C, the light is emitted from the sub-pixel 4c in the three sets of sub-pixel groups 5 adjacent in the column direction, and obliquely with respect to the row direction and the column direction. The three colors of light transmitted through the arranged color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B constitute a pixel 6c that is a display unit of the image C. The pixels 6c are arranged side by side along the row direction.

  In the present embodiment, it can also be said that the pixels 6 a, 6 b, and 6 c are configured for each sub-pixel 4 of 3 rows × 3 columns adjacent to each other. The adjacent sub-pixels 4 of 3 rows × 3 columns are the same columns as the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, 4c of the three columns of the sub-pixel group 5f shown in FIG. 9A, and are adjacent to the sub-pixel group 5f. The sub-pixels 4c, 4a, 4b located in this row and the sub-pixels 4 in the positional relationship such as the sub-pixels 4b, 4c, 4a located in the next row.

  In the liquid crystal device 400 according to the present embodiment, the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c, which are display units of three different images A, B, and C, include three sub-pixel groups 5 that are adjacent to each other in the column direction. It is composed of light emitted from the sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c and transmitted through the color filters 65R, 65G, and 65B. As a result, similar to the liquid crystal device 100 according to the first embodiment and the liquid crystal device 300 according to the third embodiment, the images A, B, and C can be directionally displayed in color.

  Further, in the liquid crystal device 400, each of the three sub-pixels 4a, 4b, and 4c constituting each of the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c is arranged in an oblique direction, so that the pixels 6a, 6b, and 6c are balanced in the row direction and the column direction. Can be improved. Thereby, in the liquid crystal device 400, compared with the liquid crystal device 100 and the liquid crystal device 300, the image quality of each image A, B, C to be displayed can be improved.

(Electronics)
FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an electronic device. The liquid crystal devices 100, 200, 300, and 400 described above can be used by being mounted on a display device 500 for a car navigation system as an electronic device as shown in FIG. In the display device 500, when the number of images to be displayed and the number of colors constituting the images are the same n (three or more) by the liquid crystal devices 100, 200, 300, and 400 incorporated in the display unit 510. However, a color image can be directionally displayed in different directions. For example, three different images can be displayed in color in three directions on the driver's seat side, passenger seat side, and rear seat side.

  Note that the liquid crystal devices 100, 200, 300, and 400 can be used for various electronic devices such as a mobile computer, a digital camera, a digital video camera, an in-vehicle device, and an audio device in addition to the display device 500.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, various deformation | transformation can be added with respect to the said embodiment in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. As modifications, for example, the following can be considered.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where three types of different images composed of three different colors of light are displayed has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this mode. You may make it display 4 or more types of different images comprised by 4 or more colors of different light.

  For example, when four types of different images composed of four different colors of light are displayed, if the configurations of the liquid crystal devices of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are used, four subs that contribute to different images are displayed. In a liquid crystal panel including four sets of sub-pixel groups including pixels, light of four different colors may be emitted from sub-pixels contributing to the same image in the four sets of sub-pixel groups.

  Further, with the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, a liquid crystal panel configured with four sets of sub-pixel groups each including four sub-pixels that contribute to different images is predetermined. What is necessary is just to combine the parallax barrier which has arrange | positioned four color filters which are mutually different to the four openings lined up along the direction.

  Even in such a configuration that displays four or more types of different images composed of four or more different colors, the configuration of the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment can be applied to perform color display of different images. it can.

(Modification 2)
In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal device is a TN liquid crystal device, but is not limited to this mode. The liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device such as a VA (Vertical Alignment) method or an ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) method in which the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is controlled by a vertical electric field generated between the element substrate and the counter substrate as in the TN method. May be. The liquid crystal device may be an FFS (Fringe-Field Switching) type or IPS (In-Plane Switching) type liquid crystal device that controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules by a lateral electric field. Further, the liquid crystal device may be a transflective liquid crystal device having a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. Even in these liquid crystal devices, the configuration of the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment can be applied.

(Modification 3)
In the above embodiment, the electro-optical device is a liquid crystal device, but is not limited to this mode. The electro-optical device may be an organic electroluminescence device (organic EL device) including an organic electroluminescence element (organic EL element), a plasma display device including a plasma display element, or the like. Even in these electro-optical devices, the configuration of the electro-optical device of the above-described embodiment can be applied.

  1, 11, 21... Liquid crystal panel as an electro-optical panel, 4, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c... Sub pixel, 5, 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 e, 5 f, 5 g, 5 h. , 60, 64 ... parallax barrier as optical filter, 52, 56, 62, 65 ... opening, 62R, 62G, 62B, 65R, 65G, 65B ... color filter, 100, 200, 300, 400 ... as electro-optical device Liquid crystal device, 500... Display device for car navigation system as electronic equipment.

Claims (7)

An electro-optical device that displays n types (n ≧ 3) of different images depending on the viewing direction,
Arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, the light contributes to any of the n types of images and emits light of n different colors. Sub-pixels,
An electro-optical panel having a sub-pixel group composed of n sub-pixels arranged along the first direction and contributing to different images.
The electro-optical panel is disposed on the side from which light is emitted from the sub-pixel, and has a light-shielding property having an opening provided at a position corresponding to the sub-pixel contributing to the same image for each sub-pixel group. An optical filter,
In the n sets of sub-pixel groups arranged along the first direction, the sub-pixels contributing to the same image emit light of different colors. The electro-optical device according to claim 1,
The electro-optical device, wherein the openings of the optical filter are arranged in a line along the second direction. The electro-optical device according to claim 1,
Wherein the opening of the optical filter, an electro-optical apparatus characterized by being arranged offset in the first direction in the line adjacent Oite by the sub-pixels one minute in the second direction. An electro-optical device that displays n types (n ≧ 3) of different images depending on the viewing direction,
Sub-pixels arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction and emitting light that contributes to any of the n types of images;
An electro-optical panel having a sub-pixel group composed of n sub-pixels arranged along the first direction and contributing to different images.
An opening provided at a position corresponding to the sub-pixel, which is disposed on a side where light is emitted from the sub-pixel of the electro-optical panel, and contributes to the same image for each sub-pixel group;
A light-shielding optical filter having a color filter that is disposed in the opening and transmits one of n different colors of light;
The electro-optical device, wherein the color filters that transmit light of different colors are arranged in the n openings arranged along a predetermined direction. The electro-optical device according to claim 4,
Wherein the opening of the optical filter is arranged offset to said each said sub-pixel one-minute row adjacent Oite in a second direction the first direction,
The electro-optical device, wherein the color filters that transmit light of different colors are arranged in the n openings arranged along the first direction. The electro-optical device according to claim 4,
Wherein the opening of the optical filter is arranged offset to said each said sub-pixel one-minute row adjacent Oite in a second direction the first direction,
Wherein the n number of the adjacent openings Oite in the first direction, the electro-optical device, characterized in that said color filter which transmits the color light are arranged.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

Images