JPH1124060A - Liquid crystal device and projection type display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device which can obtain a light display image by increasing the effective aperture rate. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal device 100 has a substrate 110 and a counter substrate 120 arranged opposite the substrate 110. A liquid crystal layer 130 is charged between the substrate 110 and counter substrate 120 with a sealing material 140. The counter substrate 120 is equipped with a couple of microlens substrates 121 and 122 which are stuck together with an adhesion layer 150. On the surfaces of the microlenses 161 and 163 on the side of the adhesion layer 150, microlens arrays 162 and 164 comprising microlenses 161 and 163 are formed and those microlenses 161 and 163 converge light on each pixel aperture part 180. The substantial focal length can, therefore, be shortened, so a sufficiently light image of high quality can be obtained by increasing the effective aperture rate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device in which an effective aperture ratio is improved by using a microlens array, and a projection display device incorporating the liquid crystal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, attention has been paid to a projection type display device using a liquid crystal device. It is very difficult to increase the screen size of a direct-view type liquid crystal device. This is because a large image of high quality can be easily obtained by projecting the image on a screen or the like. When a liquid crystal device is used in a projection display device, it is necessary to increase the number of pixels so that the image quality is not noticeable even at a high magnification.
As the number of pixels increases, the area of a portion other than the pixels in the liquid crystal device also increases accordingly. This tendency is particularly strong in an active matrix type liquid crystal device. A light-shielding layer generally called a black matrix is formed in a portion other than the pixel, and the area of the opening of the pixel related to image display is reduced.
As a result, the aperture ratio of the miniaturized liquid crystal device becomes very small, and the displayed image becomes dark.

In order to prevent a decrease in aperture ratio due to the refinement of the liquid crystal device, a micro lens is attached to the liquid crystal device, and a sufficient amount of light is condensed on the opening of each pixel by the micro lens. Liquid crystal devices have been proposed.
Such a liquid crystal device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-24812.
No. 5, JP-A-7-225303 and the like.

The liquid crystal devices disclosed in these publications have an opposing substrate having a pair of glass substrates bonded to each other by an adhesive, and the opposing substrates are laminated on a transparent substrate via a liquid crystal layer. It is the configuration that was done. On the surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the glass substrate outside the opposing substrate,
A microlens array including a plurality of microlenses corresponding to each pixel is formed.

According to such a liquid crystal device, a light component which normally irradiates a black matrix can be condensed on a corresponding pixel opening by a microlens array, thereby substantially improving the aperture ratio. And a bright display image can be obtained. Note that Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-1813
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 05, a method for manufacturing the microlens array is described in detail.

[0006]

Here, if the focal length of a plurality of microlenses constituting the microlens array is long, the diameter of light at the pixel opening becomes large, and a light component which is blocked by the black matrix is generated. Therefore, it is not possible to efficiently irradiate the pixel opening with light. Therefore, in order to obtain a bright display image, it is desirable to reduce the radius of curvature of the microlens and shorten the focal length of the microlens.

[0007] However, if the radius of curvature of the microlens is too small, the influence of aberration becomes large, so that a small condensed spot cannot be obtained and the light condensing property may be deteriorated. . In particular, since the pixel aperture of a high-definition liquid crystal device is small, the above tendency is conspicuous, and as a result, the displayed image becomes dark.

An object of the present invention is to increase the effective aperture ratio by shortening the substantial focal length of the microlens without reducing the radius of curvature of the microlens even in a high-definition liquid crystal device, thereby sufficiently brightening the microlens. It is to provide a liquid crystal device capable of obtaining a display image. Another object of the present invention is to provide a projection display device incorporating the liquid crystal device.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates. The substrate includes a pair of microlens substrates on each of which a microlens array is formed on at least one surface, and the microlenses formed on the pair of microlens substrates converge light to an opening of each pixel. I have.

In the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, the light is condensed on the pixel opening using two microlens substrates, so that the radius of curvature of the plurality of microlenses can be substantially reduced. Focal length is shortened. By shortening the focal length, the diameter of light at the pixel opening can be reduced, and light can be efficiently emitted to the pixel opening without being blocked by the black matrix. In addition, since it is not necessary to reduce the radius of curvature of the microlens, light can be focused on the pixel opening with little aberration. For this reason, even in a high definition liquid crystal device, light can be efficiently condensed to the pixel opening, and a sufficiently bright display image can be obtained by increasing the effective aperture ratio.

In the present invention, a pair of microlens substrates are arranged so that, for example, both microlens arrays face each other. In this case, the surfaces on which the microlens arrays are formed may be bonded and fixed to each other, or may be fixed to each other via an air layer. When an adhesive is interposed between a pair of microlens substrates, since the difference in the refractive index between the microlens substrate and the adhesive is generally relatively small, light is sufficiently focused on the pixel opening. For this purpose, it is desirable to use a microlens having a small radius of curvature to some extent. On the contrary,
When a pair of microlens substrates is fixed via an air layer, the difference in the refractive index between the microlens substrate and the air layer is large, so that even if a microlens having a relatively large radius of curvature is used, the pixel opening can be reduced. The light can be collected sufficiently.

Further, a pair of microlens substrates may be arranged so that the microlens array formed on each of them is on the light emitting surface side, and in such a case, the light is emitted from the liquid crystal device. The spread of the light to be emitted can be suppressed. Therefore, when employed as a light valve of a projection display device, the amount of light swallowed by the projection lens increases, and a bright projection image can be obtained.

In order to fix a pair of microlens substrates, it is desirable that the substrates are fixed to each other via a spacer. When the spacer is interposed between the substrates, the cap between the substrates can be held uniformly. The spacer may be a separate component, but if integrally formed on one microlens substrate, an increase in the number of components can be prevented, and a rise in the cost of the liquid crystal device can be avoided.

The liquid crystal device of the present invention has a modulating means for modulating a light beam emitted from a light source in accordance with image information, and a projecting means for enlarging and projecting the light beam modulated by the modulating means on a projection surface. It can be used as the modulation means of the projection display device. As described above, the liquid crystal device of the present invention can suppress a decrease in aperture ratio due to high definition.Accordingly, according to the projection display device including the liquid crystal device, a bright high-quality image can be projected. it can.

In particular, a color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from a light source into light beams of respective colors, a plurality of modulating means for modulating the light beams of respective colors separated by the color separating means in accordance with image information, The present invention is used as a modulating means of a projection type display device having a color synthesizing means for synthesizing the luminous fluxes of the respective colors modulated by the modulating means, and a projection means for enlarging and projecting the luminous flux synthesized by the color synthesizing means on a projection surface. The inventive liquid crystal device is suitable.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 (Liquid Crystal Device) An example of a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the liquid crystal device. As shown in this figure, the liquid crystal device 100 of the present example has a substrate 110 and an opposing substrate 120 arranged so as to oppose the substrate 110.
A liquid crystal layer 130 is sealed between the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 120. The liquid crystal layer 130 is filled between the substrate 110 and the counter substrate 120 with a sealant 140.

The substrate 110 is an active matrix substrate, and has a structure in which an alignment film, pixel electrodes, switching elements, bus wiring, and the like are formed on a glass substrate made of quartz glass or the like. For example, as a switching element,
A polysilicon TFT can be used.

The opposing substrate 120 includes a pair of microlens substrates 121 and 122 having microlens arrays 162 and 164 formed on one surface, and these microlens substrates 121 and 122 are mutually connected via an adhesive layer 150. It is stuck. Micro lens substrates 121, 12
2 is made of crystallized glass made of quartz, neoceram or the like.

These micro lens substrates 121 and 12
2, a micro-lens array 162 composed of a plurality of micro-lenses 161 is integrally formed on the light-emitting side of the micro-lens substrate 121 on the light-incident side. Each micro lens 161 is a spherical convex lens, and is arranged in a matrix corresponding to each pixel of the active matrix substrate 110. Therefore, almost all of the light incident on the microlens substrate 121 is guided to the corresponding pixel openings 180 by the microlens arrays 162 and 164, and the amount of light condensed in the pixel openings 180 can be increased.

Similarly to the microlens substrate 121, the surface on the light incident side of the microlens substrate 122 on the light emitting side is also provided.
A microlens array 164 including a plurality of microlenses 163 is integrally formed. Liquid crystal device 1 of this example
00, a pair of microlens substrates 121, 122
Are arranged so that the microlens arrays 162 and 164 face each other with the adhesive layer 150 interposed therebetween. Each micro lens 1 formed on the micro lens substrate 122
Reference numeral 63 denotes a spherical convex lens having a convex side on the side of the microlens substrate 121, the microlens substrate 121, the microlens 161, the adhesive layer 150, and the microlens 16.
3. The optical characteristics are given so that the light passing through the microlens substrate 122 is focused on the pixel opening 180. Further, the light L emitted from each micro lens 161
The optical characteristic is given so as to give an aberration that cancels out the aberration occurring in the optical system.

As described above, in the liquid crystal device 100 of this embodiment, since the respective microlenses 161 and 163 are formed integrally with the microlens substrates 121 and 122, the separately formed microlenses are attached to the microlens substrate. There is no need for troublesome work such as attaching. In order to integrally form the plurality of microlenses 161 and 163 on the microlens substrates 121 and 122, for example, they can be formed by photolithography after patterning the microlens substrates to obtain desired microlenses. .

The microlens array can also be formed by cutting a material by a machining method. Further, it can be formed by an evaporation method or the like. In this case, a concave portion similar to the contour shape of the microlens is formed on the substrate, a predetermined substance is vapor-deposited until the concave portion is filled, and then the entire thickness (the portion to be the microlens substrate) is formed. May be adjusted by polishing or the like. It is needless to say that the microlens may be formed from a material different from the microlens substrate.

In the liquid crystal device 100 of this embodiment, the surface of the microlens substrate 122 on the light emitting side is made of metal chromium or the like to prevent the switching elements formed on the active matrix substrate from being irradiated with light. Is formed by vapor deposition or the like. With the black matrix 170, effects such as prevention of light deterioration of the switching element and prevention of light leakage between pixels can be obtained, and a bright and high-contrast display image can be obtained. Further, a common transparent electrode, an alignment film, and the like (not shown) are also formed on the light emission side surface of the microlens substrate 122.

In the liquid crystal device 100 configured as above, the light L incident on the microlens substrate 121 from the counter electrode side is refracted by each microlens 161 of the microlens array 162, and the microlens substrate 12 on the light emission side
The light is emitted toward two corresponding microlenses 163. The emitted light L is refracted by the microlens 163 and condensed on the corresponding pixel opening 180.

Here, if the radius of curvature of the microlens 161 is increased in order to reduce aberration, the focal length becomes longer. Therefore, if the microlens 163 is not formed on the light-emitting side microlens substrate 122, the position where the light L is focused on the liquid crystal layer 130 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
And a part of the light is shifted to the black matrix 17.
0, which causes the displayed image to be dark. In the liquid crystal device 100 of this example, the light L emitted from the microlens 161 of the light incident side microlens substrate 121 is
Micro lens 1 of light emitting side micro lens substrate 122
The light is refracted at 63 and condensed on the pixel opening 180. Therefore, the substantial focal length can be shortened and a minute light spot can be formed in the pixel opening 180 without using a microlens having a small radius of curvature.

The micro lens substrate 12 on the light incident side
The light L emitted from each of the microlenses 161 has some aberration, but in the liquid crystal device 100 of the present example, the light L is emitted by the microlenses 163 formed on the microlens substrate 122 on the light emission side. An aberration that is opposite to the aberration of the light L is given. For this reason, the light L emitted from each micro lens 161 of the light incident side micro lens substrate 121 is
Are condensed on the pixel opening 180 in a state where the aberration is corrected by each micro lens 163.

More specifically, when the radius of curvature of the microlens 161 of the light incident side microlens substrate 121 is reduced in order to obtain a bright display image, aberration generated in the light L passing through the microlens 161 is large. In other words, the light-collecting property is deteriorated, which causes a display image to be dark. In the liquid crystal device 100 of the present example, the light L emitted from the microlens 161 of the light incident side microlens substrate 121 is given an aberration in a direction to cancel the aberration of the light L by the other microlens 163. Can be Therefore, even when the radius of curvature of the microlens 161 is reduced, it is possible to prevent the light-collecting property from deteriorating at the pixel opening 180.

As described above, in the liquid crystal device 100 of the present embodiment, the light is transmitted in a state where the focal length is substantially short with respect to the pixel opening 180 using the pair of microlens substrates 121 and 122 and the aberration is small. Can collect light. Therefore, even in a high definition liquid crystal device in which the aperture ratio is significantly reduced,
Light can be efficiently emitted to the pixel openings, and a bright display image can be obtained.

In the liquid crystal device 100 of this embodiment, the microlens arrays 162 and 164 are integrally formed on the microlens substrates 121 and 123. However, the microlens arrays 162 and 164 are separately formed, and Therefore, these micro lens arrays 162 and 164 may be bonded to the micro lens substrates 121 and 122. Further, it is not always necessary to arrange the microlenses 161 and 163 in a close-packed state. When a sufficient effective aperture ratio is obtained, the microlenses 161 and 163 are arranged so that a space is formed between the adjacent microlenses 161 and 163. 162 can also be arranged.

(Projection Display Device) An example of a projection display device provided with the liquid crystal device described above will be described. The projection display apparatus of this example separates a white light beam emitted from the light source lamp unit into three primary color light beams of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and converts each of these color light beams as a light valve. This is a type in which the light is modulated in accordance with image information through a liquid crystal device to which the present invention is applied, and the luminous flux of each color after the modulation is recombined and enlarged and displayed on a screen via a projection optical system.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the projection display device of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the projection display device 1 of this example has an outer case 2 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The outer case 2 is basically composed of an upper case 3, a lower case 4, and a front case 5 defining the front of the apparatus.
It is composed of The front end portion of the projection lens unit 6 projects from the center of the front case 5.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of each component inside the outer case 2 of the projection display device 1.
Shows a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. As shown in these figures, a power supply unit 7 is disposed at the rear end side inside the outer case 2. A light source lamp unit 8 is arranged at a position adjacent to the power supply unit 7 on the front side of the apparatus. An optical unit 9 is disposed in front of the light source lamp unit 8. At the center of the front side of the optical unit 9, the projection lens unit 6
Is located on the proximal side.

On the other hand, on the side of the optical unit 9, an interface board 11 on which an input / output interface circuit is mounted is disposed in the front-rear direction of the apparatus, and a video signal processing circuit is mounted in parallel with the interface board 11. Video board 12 is disposed. Further, a control board 13 for controlling driving of the apparatus is disposed above the light source lamp unit 8 and the optical unit 9. Speakers 14R and 14L are arranged at the left and right corners on the front end side of the device, respectively.

A cooling air intake fan 15A is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the optical unit 9 and a circulation fan 15B for forming a cooling circulation flow is disposed at the center of the lower surface of the optical unit 9.
Is arranged. An exhaust fan 16 is disposed on the side of the apparatus, which is the back side of the light source lamp unit 8. An auxiliary cooling fan 17 for sucking the cooling airflow from the intake fan 15A into the power supply unit 7 is disposed at a position facing the ends of the substrates 11 and 12 in the power supply unit 7.

Immediately above the power supply unit 7, a floppy disk drive unit (FDD) 1
8 are arranged.

The light source lamp unit 8 includes a light source lamp 80. The light source lamp 80 includes a halogen lamp,
A lamp body 81 such as a xenon lamp or a metal halide lamp, and a reflector 82 having a parabolic reflective surface in cross section are provided. The reflector 82 reflects the divergent light from the lamp body 81 and moves the optical unit 9 substantially along the optical axis. The light can be emitted toward the side.

FIG. 5 shows the optical unit 9 and the projection lens unit 6 in an extracted manner. As shown in this figure, the optical unit 9 includes the color combining prism 1.
Optical elements other than 0 are upper and lower light guides 901 and 902
It is configured to be held between upper and lower sides.
These upper light guide 901 and lower light guide 902
Are fixed to the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 by fixing screws, respectively. The upper and lower light guide plates 901 and 902 are similarly fixed to the color combining prism 10 by fixing screws. The color combining prism 10 is fixed to the back side of the thick head plate 903, which is a die-cast plate, with fixing screws. On the front surface of the head plate 903, the base end side of the projection lens unit 6 is similarly fixed by fixing screws.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of an optical system incorporated in the projection display device 1 of this embodiment. The optical system of the projection display apparatus 1 of this example includes a light source lamp 80 as a component of the light source lamp unit 8 and a uniform illumination optical system 923 including an integrator lens 921 and an integrator lens 922 as uniform illumination optical elements. Has been adopted. Then, the projection display apparatus 1 includes a color separation optical system 9 for separating the white light beam W emitted from the uniform illumination optical system 923 into red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
24, three liquid crystal devices 100R, 100G, and 100B that modulate the color light fluxes R, G, and B, and a color composition prism 1 as a color composition optical system that recombines the modulated color light fluxes.
And a light guide system 927 that guides the liquid crystal device 100B corresponding to the blue light flux B in the projection lens unit 6 that enlarges and projects the combined light flux on the surface of the screen 1000.

The uniform illumination optical system 923 includes a reflection mirror 93
1, the optical axis 1a of the light emitted from the uniform illumination optical system 923 is bent at a right angle toward the front of the apparatus. The integrator lenses 921 and 922 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other with the reflection mirror 931 interposed therebetween.

The light emitted from the light source lamp 80 passes through the integrator lens 921 to be incident on the entrance surface of each lens constituting the integrator lens 922, respectively.
Is projected as the next light source image, and the integrator lens 9
The object to be illuminated is illuminated using the light emitted from 22.

Each color separation optical system 924 includes a blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 941, a green reflecting dichroic mirror 942, and a reflecting mirror 943. First, the white light beam W is first transmitted to the blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 941 by the blue light beam B and the green light beam G contained therein.
Is reflected at a right angle, and the green reflecting dichroic mirror 942
Head towards.

The red light beam R passes through the mirror 941, is reflected at a right angle by the rear reflection mirror 943, and is emitted from the emission portion 944 of the red light beam R to the prism unit 10 side. The blue and green luminous fluxes B and G reflected by the mirror 941 are reflected only at a right angle by the green reflection dichroic mirror 942, and are emitted from the emission section 945 of the green luminous flux G to the color combining optical system side. You.
The blue light flux B that has passed through the mirror 942 is a blue light flux B
Out of the light guide 927 from the light emitting portion 946 of the light emitting device. In this example, from the emission part of the white light beam W of the uniform illumination optical element,
An emission unit 944 for each color light beam in the color separation optical system 924;
The distances to 945 and 946 are all set to be equal.

The red and green luminous fluxes R of the color separation optical system 942,
Condensing lenses 951 and 952 are arranged on the emission sides of the G emission sections 944 and 945, respectively. Therefore,
The red and green luminous fluxes R and G emitted from the respective emission sections are incident on these condenser lenses 951 and 952 and are parallelized.

The red and green luminous fluxes R and G thus collimated enter the liquid crystal devices 100R and 100G, are modulated, and image information corresponding to each color light is added. That is, the switching of these liquid crystal devices is controlled by driving means (not shown) in accordance with image information.
The modulation of each color light passing therethrough is performed. As such a driving means, a known means can be used as it is.
On the other hand, the blue luminous flux B is guided to the corresponding liquid crystal device 100B via the light guide system 927, where it is similarly modulated according to image information.

The light guide system 927 includes a light emitting portion 94 for the blue light flux B.
6, a condenser lens 954 disposed on the exit side, an incident side reflection mirror 971, an exit side reflection mirror 972, an intermediate lens 973 disposed between these reflection mirrors, and disposed on the near side of the liquid crystal device 100B. And a condenser lens 953. The optical path length of each color light beam, that is, the distance from the light source lamp 80 to each liquid crystal panel, is the longest for the blue light beam B, and therefore, the light amount loss of this light beam is the largest. However, by interposing the light guide system 927, the light amount loss can be suppressed. Therefore, the optical path length of each color light beam can be made substantially equivalent.

Next, each of the liquid crystal devices 100R, 100G, 1
The color light beams R, G, B modulated through 00B enter the color combining prism 10 and are recombined here. The color image synthesized by the color synthesis prism 10 is
The image is enlarged and projected on the surface of the screen 1000 at a predetermined position via the projection lens unit 6.

The projection display device 1 configured as described above
Are liquid crystal devices 100R, 100G, 1
00B. Liquid crystal devices 100R, 100G, 1
00B, as described above, can reduce the degree of reduction in the effective aperture ratio due to higher definition,
According to the projection display apparatus 1 provided with R, 100G, and 100B, a sufficiently bright high-quality image can be displayed on the screen 1000.
Can be enlarged and projected on the surface of the camera.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal device 101 according to a second embodiment. FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to portions common to the above-described liquid crystal device 100 and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal device 101 of this embodiment
, The pair of microlens substrates 221 and 222
Are fixed to each other via the air layer 250 by the spacer 251, and the cap between the substrates is uniformly held by the spacer 251. Spacer 251
Can be formed, for example, by a resin layer containing particles having a certain diameter. Also, the spacer 251
Is the micro lens substrate 2 by dry etching or the like.
When the microlens array 262 is formed on the microlens substrate 21 or by dry etching or the like,
When forming the microlens array 264 on the microlens substrate 22 or the microlens substrate 22
2 may be integrally formed. As described above, the spacer 251 is attached to one of the microlens substrates 221 or 2.
If the liquid crystal device is formed integrally with the liquid crystal device 22, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of components and to prevent a rise in the cost of the liquid crystal device.

Each micro lens 261,
263 is provided with optical characteristics such that light passing through the microlens substrate 221, the microlens 261, the air layer 250, the microlens 263, and the microlens substrate 222 is focused on the pixel opening 180. Also,
The optical characteristics are given so as to give an aberration that cancels out the aberration occurring in the light L emitted from each microlens 261.

In the liquid crystal device 101 configured as above, the light L emitted from the microlens 261 of the microlens substrate 221 on the light incident side is refracted by the microlens 263 of the microlens substrate 222 on the light emission side. Since the light is focused on the pixel opening 180, the substantial focal length can be shortened without using a microlens having a small radius of curvature, and a minute light spot can be formed on the pixel opening 180. Also, the light L emitted from each microlens 261 of the microlens substrate 221 on the light incident side
Each of the microlenses 26 formed on the microlens substrate 222 on the light emission side has some aberrations.
Due to 3, aberration contradictory to the aberration of the light L is given, and the light can be condensed on the pixel opening 180 with little aberration. Therefore, even if the liquid crystal device 101 of this example is a high-definition liquid crystal device in which the aperture ratio is significantly reduced, light can be efficiently radiated to the pixel openings, and a bright display image can be obtained. Can be

In addition to this, the liquid crystal device 101 of the present embodiment can provide the following effects. When an adhesive is interposed between the two microlens substrates 221 and 222, the microlens substrates 221 and 22 are generally used.
Since the refractive index between the adhesive 2 and the adhesive is relatively small, it is necessary to form a microlens having a relatively small radius of curvature in order to sufficiently condense light on the pixel opening 180. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal device 101 of this example, the air layer 250 is interposed between the pair of microlens substrates 221 and 222, and the microlens substrates 221 and 222 and the air layer 250
Is relatively large. For this reason, even if a microlens having a relatively large radius of curvature is employed, light can be sufficiently focused on the pixel openings 180.

It is preferable that an anti-reflection film is formed on the surfaces of the microlens arrays 262 and 264 in order to improve the light use efficiency.

Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal device 102 according to a third embodiment. FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to portions common to the above-described liquid crystal device 100 and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal device 102 of this embodiment
, A pair of microlens substrates 321 and 322
Is the micro lens array 36 formed on each
2, 364 are arranged on the light emitting surface side.
In the microlens substrate 321 on the light incident side, the surface on which the microlens array 362 is formed is fixed to the surface on which the microlens array 364 of the microlens substrate 322 on the light emission side is not formed via the adhesive layer 350. I have. In the microlens substrate 322 on the light emission side, the surface on which the microlens array 364 is formed is flattened by the adhesive layer 351. In this example, the black matrix 170 is formed on the surface of the adhesive layer 351.

The liquid crystal device 10 of the present embodiment thus configured
2, the light L incident on the microlens substrate 321 from the counter electrode side is refracted by each microlens 361 of the microlens array 362, passes through the adhesive layer 350 and the microlens substrate 322, and passes through the microlens substrate 322.
Is focused on the corresponding microlens 363. And
The light is emitted from the micro lens 363 toward the corresponding pixel opening 180.

Also in the liquid crystal device 102 of this embodiment, light can be efficiently irradiated to the pixel openings 180 without being blocked by the black matrix 170. As a result, even in a high definition liquid crystal device in which the aperture ratio is remarkably reduced, if the configuration of this example is applied, light can be efficiently guided to the pixel openings, and a bright display image can be obtained. Can be obtained.

In addition to this, in the liquid crystal device 102 of this embodiment, the microlens array 364 formed on the microlens substrate 322 on the light emission side is arranged so as to face the light emission surface side. The spread of the emitted light is reduced. Therefore, each micro lens 3
Since the spread of the light emitted from 63 is small, the spread of the light emitted from the device can also be suppressed. Therefore, when the liquid crystal device 102 of this example is employed as a light valve of a projection display device, the amount of light swallowed by the projection lens can be increased, and a brighter projected image can be obtained.

Here, in the liquid crystal device 102 of this embodiment,
The adhesive layer 351 is formed on the microlens substrate 322 on the light emission side.
After the microlens array 364 is formed, an adhesive is applied to the surface of the microlens array 364, and the surface is flattened and cured to form the microlens array 364. At this time, it is preferable to form the adhesive layer 351 with a thickness that does not cause unevenness due to the microlens array 364.

As the adhesive, a photo-curing adhesive that is cured by light such as ultraviolet light or a thermosetting adhesive that is cured by heat can be used. In addition, since the photocurable adhesive can be cured in a short time, it is more advantageous to use a photocurable adhesive than a thermosetting adhesive in consideration of the curing time.

In order to form a flat adhesive layer 351,
For example, an adhesive having relatively high fluidity may be used. Further, the adhesive may be applied to the microlens substrate 322 by a so-called spin coating method in which the adhesive is applied while rotating the microlens substrate 322 at high speed.

As still another method, first, an adhesive is applied to the surface of the microlens substrate 322. Next, a flattening member is placed on the adhesive, which has been subjected to a treatment that prevents the adhesive from sticking to the surface flattened by polishing or the like. Next, the surface of the adhesive is flattened by sliding the flattening member and the microlens substrate 322. Finally, when the adhesive is cured and the flattening member is removed, a flattened adhesive layer 351 is formed. The flattening member used at this time is desirably formed of a material having a light transmitting property. When such a flattening member is used, when a light-curing adhesive is used, light is hardened. The irradiation area can be increased, and the curing time can be shortened.

[Other Embodiments] The projection display device 1 is a full-surface projection display device that performs projection from the side where the projection surface is observed, but the liquid crystal device of the present invention observes the projection surface. The present invention is also applicable to a rear projection display device that performs projection from a direction opposite to the side. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the liquid crystal device 100 according to the first embodiment is employed as a light valve of a projection display device, but instead of the liquid crystal devices 101 and 102 according to the second and third embodiments. You may adopt it.

[0064]

As described above, the liquid crystal device of the present invention uses two microlens substrates to shorten the substantial focal length without reducing the radius of curvature of a plurality of microlenses. I have to. Therefore, the light spot at the pixel opening can be reduced, and the pixel opening can be efficiently irradiated with light without being hindered by the black matrix. Further, since it is not necessary to reduce the radius of curvature of the microlens, light can be focused on the pixel opening with little aberration. Therefore,
Even in a high-definition liquid crystal device in which the aperture ratio is significantly reduced, the amount of light guided to the pixel aperture can be increased, and a sufficiently bright display image can be obtained by increasing the effective aperture ratio.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external shape of a projection display device in which the liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the internal configuration of the projection display device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the optical unit and the projection lens unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical system incorporated in the optical unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Projection display apparatus 6 Projection lens unit 7 Power supply unit 8 Light source lamp unit 9 Optical unit 10 Color synthesis prism 1000 Projection surface 921, 922 Integrator lens 923 Uniform illumination optical system 924 Color separation optical system 100, 100R, 100G, 100B, 101 , 10
2 Liquid crystal device 110 Substrate 120 Counter substrate 121, 122, 221, 222, 321, 322 Micro lens substrate 130 Liquid crystal layer 140 Sealant 150, 350, 351 Adhesive layer 161, 163, 261, 263, 361, 363 Micro lens 162, 164, 262, 264, 362, 364 Micro lens array 170 Black matrix 180 Pixel opening 251 Spacer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein one of the substrates has a microlens array formed on at least one surface. A liquid crystal device, comprising: a pair of microlens substrates; and condensing light on an opening of each pixel by the microlens array formed on the pair of microlens substrates. 2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of microlens substrates are arranged so that both of the microlens arrays face each other. 3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the surfaces of the pair of microphone lens substrates on the side of the microlens array are adhered to each other. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of microlens substrates are fixed to each other via an air layer. 5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein the pair of microlens substrates are fixed to each other via a spacer. 6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein the spacer is formed integrally with the microlens substrate. 7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of microlens substrates are arranged such that the microlens arrays formed on the respective microlens substrates are on the light emitting surface side. 8. A modulating means comprising: a modulating means for modulating a light beam emitted from a light source in accordance with image information; and a projecting means for enlarging and projecting the light beam modulated by the modulating means on a projection surface. Is a liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. The color separation device according to claim 8, wherein the light beam emitted from the light source is separated into light beams of respective colors, and the light beam of each color separated by the color separation device is modulated according to image information. And the color synthesizing means for synthesizing the luminous flux of each color modulated by each of the modulating means, and the light flux synthesized by the color synthesizing means is enlarged and projected on a projection surface by the projection means. A projection display device characterized by the above-mentioned.