WO2024089971A1 - 照明装置 - Google Patents

照明装置 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024089971A1
WO2024089971A1 PCT/JP2023/028793 JP2023028793W WO2024089971A1 WO 2024089971 A1 WO2024089971 A1 WO 2024089971A1 JP 2023028793 W JP2023028793 W JP 2023028793W WO 2024089971 A1 WO2024089971 A1 WO 2024089971A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid crystal
output channel
crystal cell
transparent electrode
voltage signal
Prior art date
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Ceased
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PCT/JP2023/028793
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English (en)
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
貴之 今井
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Display Inc
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Japan Display Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Display Inc filed Critical Japan Display Inc
Priority to CN202380066455.0A priority Critical patent/CN119866469A/zh
Priority to JP2024552839A priority patent/JP7796893B2/ja
Publication of WO2024089971A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024089971A1/ja
Priority to US19/174,644 priority patent/US20250237899A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
    • G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
    • G02F1/136286—Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/13306—Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1343—Electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1343—Electrodes
    • G02F1/13439—Electrodes characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1347—Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells

Definitions

  • One embodiment of the present invention relates to a lighting device that uses liquid crystal to control the distribution of light emitted from a light source.
  • liquid crystal lenses optical elements that utilize the change in refractive index of liquid crystals by adjusting the voltage applied to the liquid crystal, known as liquid crystal lenses.
  • development of lighting devices that use light sources and liquid crystal lenses is underway (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
  • the optical element of the lighting device is equipped with a control circuit for controlling the light distribution, which includes a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (DAC) and an amplification circuit (AMP) that occupy a large area.
  • DAC digital-to-analog conversion circuit
  • AMP amplification circuit
  • one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a lighting device with reduced manufacturing costs.
  • An illumination device includes a light source, an optical element including a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell that transmit light emitted from the light source in a variably diffused manner, and a control device connected to the optical element and controls the optical element, each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having first transparent electrodes and second transparent electrodes arranged alternately extending in a first direction, a second substrate having third transparent electrodes and fourth transparent electrodes arranged alternately extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the control device includes a first output channel electrically connected to the first transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, a second output channel electrically connected to the second transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, a third output channel electrically connected to the third transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, and a fourth output channel electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell.
  • a switch circuit section including an output channel of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell; a signal generating circuit section that generates a plurality of voltage signals to be input to the first transparent electrode, the second transparent electrode, the third transparent electrode, and the fourth transparent electrode of each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell; and a first voltage signal line and a second voltage signal line that are connected to the switch circuit section and the signal generating circuit section and transmit one of the generated plurality of voltage signals, one frame period includes a first subframe period and a second subframe period, and in the first subframe period, the switch circuit section drives so that the first voltage signal line and the first output channel are conductive and the second voltage signal line and the second output channel are conductive, and in the second subframe period, the switch circuit section drives so that the first voltage signal line and the third output channel are conductive and the second voltage signal line and the fourth output channel are conductive.
  • An illumination device includes a light source, an optical element including a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell that transmit light emitted from the light source in a variably diffused manner, and a control device connected to the optical element and controlling the optical element, each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having first transparent electrodes and second transparent electrodes arranged alternately extending in a first direction, a second substrate having third transparent electrodes and fourth transparent electrodes arranged alternately extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the control device controls the first a first output channel electrically connected to the first transparent electrode of the liquid crystal cell, a second output channel electrically connected to the second transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, a third output channel electrically connected to the third transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, a fourth output channel electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode of the first liquid crystal cell, a fifth output channel electrically connected to the first transparent electrode of
  • a switch circuit section including an eighth output channel electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode of the cell; a signal generating circuit section generating a plurality of voltage signals to be input to the first transparent electrode, the second transparent electrode, the third transparent electrode, and the fourth transparent electrode of each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell; and a first voltage signal line, a second voltage signal line, a third voltage signal line, and a fourth voltage signal line connected to the switch circuit section and the signal generating circuit section, each of which transmits one of the generated plurality of voltage signals, wherein one frame period includes a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period, In the first subframe period, the switch circuit unit drives the first voltage signal line, the second voltage signal line, the third voltage signal line, and the fourth voltage signal line so as to be conductive with the first output channel, the second output channel, the third output channel, and the fourth output channel, respectively, and in the second subframe period, the switch circuit unit drives the first voltage signal line, the second voltage signal line, the third voltage signal line,
  • 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 2 is a schematic plan view showing an electrode pattern of a liquid crystal cell included in an optical element of an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an electrode pattern of a liquid crystal cell included in an optical element of an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an illumination device
  • 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating optical characteristics of a liquid crystal cell included in an optical element of an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating optical characteristics of a liquid crystal cell included in an optical element of an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • 4 is a timing chart showing voltage signals input to transparent electrodes of liquid crystal cells to control light distribution in an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 4 is a timing chart showing voltage signals input to transparent electrodes of liquid crystal cells to control light distribution in an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 4 is a timing chart showing voltage signals input to transparent electrodes of liquid crystal cells to control light distribution in an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 4 is a timing chart showing voltage signals input to transparent electrodes of liquid crystal cells to control light distribution in an illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part in a schematic manner compared to the actual embodiment, but these are merely examples, and the illustrated shapes themselves do not limit the interpretation of the present invention.
  • elements with similar functions to those explained in relation to previous drawings in the specification may be given the same reference numerals, even if they are in different drawings, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.
  • each structure When a film is processed to form multiple structures, each structure may have a different function or role, and each structure may be formed on a different base.
  • these multiple structures originate from a film formed as the same layer in the same process, and are made of the same material. Therefore, these multiple films are defined as existing in the same layer.
  • FIGS. 1 to 6C An illumination device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6C.
  • Configuration of lighting device 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an illumination device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination device 1 includes an optical element 10, a light source 20, a control device 30, and a power source 40.
  • the optical element 10 includes four liquid crystal cells 100 (first liquid crystal cell 100-1, second liquid crystal cell 100-2, third liquid crystal cell 100-3, and fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4).
  • the first liquid crystal cell 100-1, second liquid crystal cell 100-2, third liquid crystal cell 100-3, and fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 are stacked in the z-axis direction in order from the side closest to the light source 20.
  • the optical element 10 includes four liquid crystal cells 100
  • the number of liquid crystal cells 100 included in the optical element 10 is not limited to four. It is sufficient that the optical element 10 includes at least two liquid crystal cells 100. The configuration of the optical element 10 will be described in detail below.
  • the light source 20 can emit light to the optical element 10.
  • the light emitted from the light source 20 is incident on the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 and is emitted from the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • the diffusion and polarization of light are controlled by the four liquid crystal cells 100 included in the optical element 10, and the light distribution of the light emitted from the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 can be changed.
  • the optical element 10 can transmit the light emitted from the light source 20 in a diffusible manner and control the light distribution.
  • LEDs light-emitting diodes
  • the light source 20 may be any element or device that can emit light.
  • the control device 30 is connected to the optical element 10 and can control the optical element 10.
  • the control device 30 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor (MPU), an integrated circuit (IC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a random access memory (RAM).
  • CPU central processing unit
  • MPU microprocessor
  • IC integrated circuit
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • RAM random access memory
  • the power supply 40 is connected to the control device 30 and can supply power to the control device 30. That is, the power supply 40 can generate a predetermined voltage. For example, the power supply 40 can generate two voltages (e.g., 3.3 V and 30 V), but is not limited to this.
  • the power supply 40 may also include a voltage that is GND (e.g., 0 V). For the sake of convenience, this specification may be described as generating a voltage even in the case of GND.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lighting device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the control device 30 includes a signal generating circuit section 310, a switch circuit section 320, a first voltage signal line 330-1, a second voltage signal line 330-2, and a timing control signal line 340.
  • the signal generation circuit section 310 can perform arithmetic processing using data or information. Specifically, the signal generation circuit section 310 can generate a plurality of voltage signals to be input to the liquid crystal cell 100 based on a predetermined program. The signal generation circuit section 310 can also generate a timing control signal that controls the switch circuit section 320 according to the voltage signal output from the signal generation circuit section 310.
  • the signal generation circuit section 310 is, for example, an FPGA, but is not limited to this.
  • the signal generating circuit section 310 and the switch circuit section 320 are connected via a first voltage signal line 330-1 and a second voltage signal line 330-2. Therefore, two voltage signals out of the multiple voltage signals generated by the signal generating circuit section 310 are input to the switch circuit section 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2.
  • a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (DAC) 331 and an amplifier circuit (AMP) 332 are connected to each of the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2.
  • a voltage of 3.3 V and 30 V is supplied to the DAC 331 and the AMP 332, respectively, from the power supply 40.
  • the voltage signal output from the signal generating circuit section 310 is converted into a digital signal by the DAC 331, the voltage is amplified by the AMP 332, and is input to the switch circuit section 320.
  • the voltage signal output from the signal generating circuit unit 310 includes a voltage signal that has been converted into a digital signal by the DAC 331 and amplified by the AMP 332.
  • the switch circuit section 320 includes 16 output channels CH (first output channel CH1 to sixteenth output channel CH16).
  • a timing control signal is input to the switch circuit section 320 via a timing control signal line 340.
  • the timing control signal includes information about two output channels CH that are electrically connected to the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2.
  • the timing control signal includes information about the output channel CH that is selected according to two voltage signals input from the signal generation circuit section 310 to the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2.
  • the switch circuit section 320 can drive the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 to be electrically connected to the first output channel CH1 to the sixteenth output channel CH16.
  • the switch circuit section 320 drives the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 so that they are conductive with the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2, respectively.
  • two voltage signals generated by the signal generating circuit section 310 are input to the switch circuit section 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2, and are output from the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 are not conductive with the third output channel CH3 to the sixteenth output channel CH16.
  • the switch circuit section 320 is, for example, an analog switch circuit (ASW), but is not limited to this.
  • the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 are connected to the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 via flexible printed circuits (FPCs) 170 (see FIG. 1).
  • the fifth output channel CH5 to the eighth output channel CH8 are connected to the second liquid crystal cell 100-2 via the FPCs 170.
  • the ninth output channel CH9 to the twelfth output channel CH12 are connected to the third liquid crystal cell 100-3 via the FPCs 170.
  • the thirteenth output channel CH13 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are connected to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 via the FPCs 170.
  • Configuration of the optical element 10 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views showing a configuration of an illumination device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the optical element 10 taken along line A1-A2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the optical element 10 taken along line B1-B2 in Fig. 1.
  • each of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 includes a first substrate 110-1, a second substrate 110-2, a plurality of first transparent electrodes 120-1, a plurality of second transparent electrodes 120-2, a plurality of third transparent electrodes 120-3, a plurality of fourth transparent electrodes 120-4, a first alignment film 130-1, a second alignment film 130-2, a sealant 140, and a liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the first transparent electrodes 120-1 and the second transparent electrodes 120-2 are alternately provided on the first substrate 110-1.
  • a first alignment film 130-1 is provided on the first substrate 110-1 so as to cover the first transparent electrodes 120-1 and the second transparent electrodes 120-2.
  • a third transparent electrode 120-3 and a fourth transparent electrode 120-4 are alternately provided on the second substrate 110-2.
  • a second alignment film 130-2 is provided so as to cover the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4.
  • the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2 are disposed so that the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 face the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4, and are bonded via a sealant 140 provided on the periphery of the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2.
  • a liquid crystal is sealed in the space surrounded by the first substrate 110-1 (more specifically, the first alignment film 130-1), the second substrate 110-2 (more specifically, the second alignment film 130-2), and the sealant 140, and a liquid crystal layer 150 is provided between the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2.
  • An optically elastic resin layer 160 is provided between the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 and the second liquid crystal cell 100-2. Similarly, an optically elastic resin layer 160 is provided between the second liquid crystal cell 100-2 and the third liquid crystal cell 100-3, and between the third liquid crystal cell 100-3 and the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • an adhesive containing a light-transmitting acrylic resin can be used as the optically elastic resin layer 160. In other words, the optically elastic resin layer 160 can bond and fix two adjacent liquid crystal cells 100 together.
  • Each of the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2 may be a rigid substrate having optical transparency, such as a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, or a sapphire substrate. Also, each of the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2 may be a flexible substrate having optical transparency, such as a polyimide resin substrate, an acrylic resin substrate, a siloxane resin substrate, or a fluororesin substrate.
  • Each of the first transparent electrode 120-1, the second transparent electrode 120-2, the third transparent electrode 120-3, and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 functions as an electrode for forming an electric field in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • Each of the first transparent electrode 120-1, the second transparent electrode 120-2, the third transparent electrode 120-3, and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 is made of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO).
  • the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 extend in the x-axis direction
  • the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 extend in the y-axis direction
  • the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 extend in the y-axis direction
  • the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 extend in the x-axis direction.
  • first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 may be described as transparent electrodes 120.
  • the first alignment film 130-1 and the second alignment film 130-2 each align the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 150 in a predetermined direction.
  • a polyimide resin or the like is used as each of the first alignment film 130-1 and the second alignment film 130-2.
  • each of the first alignment film 130-1 and the second alignment film 130-2 may be given alignment characteristics by an alignment treatment such as a rubbing method or a photo-alignment method.
  • the rubbing method is a method in which the surface of the alignment film is rubbed in one direction.
  • the photo-alignment method is a method in which the alignment film is irradiated with linearly polarized ultraviolet light.
  • the first alignment film 130-1 is subjected to an alignment treatment so that the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side of the liquid crystal layer 150 are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2.
  • the second alignment film 130-2 is subjected to an alignment treatment so that the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side of the liquid crystal layer 150 are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4.
  • the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side are aligned in the y-axis direction, and the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side are aligned in the x-axis direction.
  • the third liquid crystal cell 100-3 and the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side are aligned in the x-axis direction, and the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side are aligned in the y-axis direction.
  • an adhesive containing epoxy resin or acrylic resin is used as the sealing material 140.
  • the adhesive may be of the ultraviolet curing type or the heat curing type.
  • the liquid crystal layer 150 can refract the light passing through it or change the polarization state of the light passing through it depending on the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules.
  • Nematic liquid crystals or the like are used as the liquid crystal for the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the liquid crystal described in this embodiment is of the positive type, but it is also possible to apply a negative type by changing the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 120.
  • the liquid crystal contains a chiral agent that imparts a twist to the liquid crystal molecules.
  • FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view showing an electrode pattern of a liquid crystal cell 100 included in an optical element 10 of an illumination device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4A is a plan view showing an electrode pattern formed on a first substrate 110-1 of a first liquid crystal cell 100-1
  • Figure 4B is a plan view showing an electrode pattern formed on a second substrate 110-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2 are bonded together such that the electrode pattern shown in Figure 4A and the electrode pattern shown in Figure 4B face each other.
  • a first connection pad 121-1 and a second connection pad 121-2 are provided on a first substrate 110-1.
  • a plurality of first transparent electrodes 120-1 are electrically connected to the first connection pad 121-1.
  • a plurality of second transparent electrodes 120-2 are electrically connected to the second connection pad 121-2.
  • the second substrate 110-2 is provided with a third connection pad 121-3, a fourth connection pad 121-4, a first terminal 122-1, a second terminal 122-2, a third terminal 122-3, and a fourth terminal 122-4.
  • the third transparent electrodes 120-3 are electrically connected to the third terminal 122-3.
  • the fourth transparent electrodes 120-4 are electrically connected to the fourth terminal 122-4.
  • the third connection pad 121-3 is electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1.
  • the fourth connection pad 121-4 is electrically connected to the second terminal 122-2.
  • the first connection pad 121-1 and the second connection pad 121-2 overlap with the third connection pad 121-3 and the fourth connection pad 121-4, respectively.
  • a conductive electrode is provided between the first connection pad 121-1 and the third connection pad 121-3, and the first connection pad 121-1 and the third connection pad 121-3 are electrically connected via the conductive electrode.
  • a conductive electrode is provided between the second connection pad 121-2 and the fourth connection pad 121-4, and the second connection pad 121-2 and the fourth connection pad 121-4 are electrically connected via the conductive electrode. Therefore, the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 on the first substrate 110-1 are electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1 and the second terminal 122-2, respectively.
  • the electrode pattern of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2 is the same as the electrode pattern of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the configuration of the electrode patterns of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3 and the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 is similar to the configuration of the electrode pattern of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1, except that the extension direction of the transparent electrode 120 differs by 90°.
  • the first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 on the second substrate 110-2 are exposed from the first substrate 110-1.
  • the exposed first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 are provided with FPCs 170 (see FIG. 1).
  • the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 are electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 via FPCs 170.
  • the fifth output channel CH5 to the eighth output channel CH8 are electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2 via FPCs 170.
  • the ninth output channel CH9 to the twelfth output channel CH12 are electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3 via FPCs 170.
  • the thirteenth output channel CH13 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are electrically connected to the first terminal 122-1 to the fourth terminal 122-4 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 via FPCs 170. Therefore, the control device 30 can input voltage signals to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the liquid crystal cell 100 via the FPCs 170, thereby controlling the optical element 10.
  • Optical characteristics of the liquid crystal cell 100 are schematic diagrams illustrating optical characteristics of the liquid crystal cell 100 included in the optical element 10 of the lighting device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Fig. 5A shows the liquid crystal cell 100 in a state where no voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 120, and Fig. 5B shows the liquid crystal cell 100 in a state where a voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 120.
  • the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side of the liquid crystal layer 150 are aligned in the y-axis direction, and the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side of the liquid crystal layer 150 are aligned in the x-axis direction. Therefore, when no voltage is applied to any of the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 150 are aligned so as to be twisted 90° in the c-axis direction as they move from the first substrate 110-1 to the second substrate 110-2. Furthermore, the polarization plane (the direction of the polarization axis or polarization component) of the light passing through the liquid crystal layer 150 is rotated 90° according to the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules. In other words, the light passing through the liquid crystal layer 150 (more specifically, the polarization component of the transmitted light) is rotated.
  • the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 150 are oriented so as to be twisted 90° in the c-axis direction as they move from the first substrate 110-1 to the second substrate 110-2, while the liquid crystal molecules near the first substrate 110-1 side are arranged in a convex arc shape relative to the first substrate 110-1 due to the transverse electric field between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2, and the liquid crystal molecules near the second substrate 110-2 side are arranged in a convex arc shape relative to the second substrate 110-2 due to the transverse electric field between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4.
  • the liquid crystal molecules arranged in a convex arc shape have a refractive index distribution, and light having the same polarization direction as the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules is diffused.
  • the cell gap d which is the distance between the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2, is sufficiently larger than the distance between the two adjacent transparent electrodes (for example, 8 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 50 ⁇ m, preferably 10 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 30 ⁇ m, and more preferably 15 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 25 ⁇ m), so the electric field formed between the transparent electrodes 120 does not have much effect on the liquid crystal molecules located near the center between the first substrate 110-1 and the second substrate 110-2.
  • the light emitted from the light source 20 contains a polarized component in the x-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "P polarized component”) and a polarized component in the y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "S polarized component").
  • P polarized component a polarized component in the x-axis direction
  • S polarized component a polarized component in the y-axis direction
  • the light emitted from the light source 20 will be described below as being divided into a first light 1000-1 having a P polarized component and a second light 1000-2 having an S polarized component.
  • the P-polarized component of the first light 1000-1 incident from the first substrate 110-1 side is different from the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side, so the first light 1000-1 is not diffused (see (1) in FIG. 5B).
  • the first light 1000-1 is rotated while passing through the liquid crystal layer 150, and the polarization component changes from the P-polarized component to the S-polarized component.
  • the S-polarized component of the first light 1000-1 is different from the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side, so the first light 1000-1 is not diffused (see (2) in FIG. 5B).
  • the S-polarized component of the second light 1000-2 incident from the first substrate 110-1 side is the same as the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules on the first substrate 110-1 side, so the second light 1000-2 is diffused in the y-axis direction according to the refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal molecules (see (3) in FIG. 5B).
  • the second light 1000-2 is rotated while passing through the liquid crystal layer 150, and the polarization component changes from the S-polarized component to the P-polarized component.
  • the P-polarized component of the second light 1000-2 is the same as the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules on the second substrate 110-2 side, so the second light 1000-2 is diffused in the x-axis direction according to the refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal molecules (see (4) in FIG. 5B).
  • Control of light distribution by lighting device 1 6A to 6C are timing charts showing voltage signals input to the transparent electrodes 120 of the liquid crystal cells 100 to control the light distribution in the lighting device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • predetermined voltage signals are sequentially input to the first transparent electrodes 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrodes 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4, respectively, to drive the liquid crystal cells 100 in a time-division manner. That is, in the lighting device 1, the light distribution of the light passing through the optical element 10 can be controlled by driving the multiple liquid crystal cells 100 in a time-division manner based on one signal generating circuit unit 310.
  • a plurality of liquid crystal cells 100 are connected to a switch circuit section 320, and a pair of analog conversion circuits 331 and amplifier circuits 332 are provided between the switch circuit section 320 and the signal generation circuit section 310, and the connection states between the analog conversion circuit 331 and the amplifier circuit 332 and the transparent electrodes 120 of each liquid crystal cell 100 are switched in a time-division manner via the switch circuit section 320, thereby enabling time-division driving of each liquid crystal cell 100.
  • time-division driving will be described in detail below.
  • FIG. 6A is a timing chart for controlling the optical element 10 so that the light distribution shape is circular
  • FIG. 6B is a timing chart for controlling the optical element 10 so that the light distribution shape is a line shape spreading in the x-axis direction
  • FIG. 6C is a timing chart for controlling the optical element 10 so that the light distribution shape is a line shape spreading in the y-axis direction.
  • the voltage signals output from the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 are input to the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1, respectively.
  • the voltage signals output from the fifth output channel CH5 to the eighth output channel CH8 are input to the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2, respectively.
  • the voltage signals output from the ninth output channel CH9 to the twelfth output channel CH12 are input to the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3, respectively.
  • the voltage signals output from the thirteenth output channel CH13 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are input to the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4, respectively.
  • one frame period is divided into eight subframe periods SF (the first subframe period SF1 to the eighth subframe period SF8).
  • a first voltage signal having a square wave is output from the first output channel CH1
  • a second voltage signal having a square wave is output from the second output channel CH2.
  • the phase of the first voltage signal is opposite to the phase of the second voltage signal. In other words, the phase of the first voltage signal is different from the phase of the second voltage signal by 180°.
  • the third output channel CH3 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state (High-Z).
  • the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal generated by the signal generating circuit unit 310 are input to the switch circuit unit 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2, respectively.
  • the switch circuit unit 320 drives the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 so that they are conductive with the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2, respectively. Therefore, in the first subframe period SF1, as described above, the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are output from the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2, respectively.
  • the third output channel CH3 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1. That is, in the first subframe period SF1, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third voltage signal having a rectangular wave and the fourth voltage signal having a rectangular wave generated by the signal generating circuit unit 310 are input to the switch circuit unit 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2, respectively.
  • the phase of the third voltage signal is the opposite of the phase of the fourth voltage signal.
  • the switch circuit unit 320 drives the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 so that they are conductive to the third output channel CH3 and the fourth output channel CH4, respectively. Therefore, in the second subframe period SF2, the third voltage signal and the fourth voltage signal are output from the third output channel CH3 and the fourth output channel CH4, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 are in a non-conductive state with the first output channel CH1, the second output channel CH2, and the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16, so the first output channel CH1, the second output channel CH2, and the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1. That is, in the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is generated between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2 are in a high impedance state, and the high or low voltage applied to the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150. Therefore, even during the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is maintained between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third subframe period SF3 to the eighth subframe period is the same. That is, in the third subframe period SF3 and the fourth subframe period SF4, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2. In the fifth subframe period SF5 and the sixth subframe period SF6, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3.
  • a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • the output channel CH from which no voltage signal is output is in a high impedance state, so the high or low voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the diffusion characteristics of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 in one frame period are as shown in Table 1.
  • a horizontal electric field is generated between two adjacent transparent electrodes 120 on one substrate 110 side of the liquid crystal cell 100.
  • the high voltage or low voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150, so that the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 have the diffusion characteristics shown in Table 1 in one frame period.
  • each of the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component of the light emitted from the light source 20 is diffused in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction by the optical element 10. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 20 is controlled by the optical element 10 to have a circular light distribution.
  • the optical element 10 controls the magnitude of the high voltage and low voltage applied to each transparent electrode 120 to have an elliptical shape.
  • the period of one frame period is 30 Hz or more and 120 Hz or less, and preferably 60 Hz.
  • the voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 can be maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal having an intermediate voltage (a voltage between a High voltage and a Low voltage) generated by the signal generating circuit section 310 are input to the switch circuit section 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2, respectively.
  • the intermediate voltage is a fixed voltage
  • the phase of the first voltage signal is the same as the phase of the second voltage signal.
  • the switch circuit section 320 drives the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 so that they are conductive with the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are output from the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 are in a non-conductive state with the third output channel CH3 to the sixteenth output channel CH16, the third output channel CH3 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • the first subframe period SF1 an intermediate voltage is applied to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 are at the same potential, and no transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2.
  • the second subframe period SF2 shown in FIG. 6B is similar to the second subframe period SF2 shown in FIG. 6A, so a description thereof will be omitted.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1. That is, in the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is generated between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2 are in a high impedance state, and the intermediate voltage applied to the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150. Therefore, during the first subframe period SF1 and the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is generated only between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third subframe period SF3 to the eighth subframe period a transverse electric field is generated only between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2.
  • a transverse electric field is generated only between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3.
  • a transverse electric field is generated only between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • the output channel CH from which no voltage signal is output is in a high impedance state, so the high voltage, low voltage, or intermediate voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the diffusion characteristics of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 in one frame period are as shown in Table 2.
  • a horizontal electric field is controlled to be generated between two adjacent transparent electrodes 120 on one substrate 110 side of the liquid crystal cell 100.
  • an intermediate voltage is controlled to be applied to the two transparent electrodes 120 on the other substrate 110 side of the liquid crystal cell 100.
  • the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 have the diffusion characteristics shown in Table 2 during one frame period.
  • each of the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component of the light emitted from the light source 20 is diffused only in the x-axis direction by the optical element 10. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 20 is controlled by the optical element 10 to have a linear light distribution that spreads in the x-axis direction.
  • the high voltage, low voltage, and intermediate voltage are +15V, -15V, and 0V, respectively, but are not limited to these.
  • the high voltage, low voltage, and intermediate voltage may be +30V, 0V, and +15V, respectively. Note that the above voltage values are merely examples and are not limited to these.
  • the first sub-frame period SF1 shown in FIG. 6C is similar to the first sub-frame period SF1 shown in FIG. 6A, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1. That is, in the first subframe period SF1, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third voltage signal and fourth voltage signal having an intermediate voltage generated by the signal generating circuit unit 310 are input to the switch circuit unit 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2, respectively.
  • the switch circuit unit 320 drives the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 so that they are conductive with the third output channel CH3 and the fourth output channel CH4, respectively. Therefore, in the second subframe period SF2, the third voltage signal and the fourth voltage signal are output from the third output channel CH3 and the fourth output channel CH4, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 are in a non-conductive state with the first output channel CH1, the second output channel CH2, and the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16, so the first output channel CH1, the second output channel CH2, and the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • an intermediate voltage is applied to each of the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 are at the same potential, and no transverse electric field is generated between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4.
  • the first output channel CH1 and the second output channel CH2 are in a high impedance state, and the high or low voltage applied to the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150. Therefore, during the first subframe period SF1 and the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is generated only between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third subframe period SF3 to the eighth subframe period SF8 is the same. That is, in the third subframe period SF3 and the fourth subframe period SF4, a transverse electric field is generated only between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2. In the fifth subframe period SF5 and the sixth subframe period SF6, a transverse electric field is generated only between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3. In the seventh subframe period SF7 and the eighth subframe period SF8, a transverse electric field is generated only between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • the output channel CH from which no voltage signal is output is in a high impedance state, so the high voltage, low voltage, or intermediate voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the diffusion characteristics of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 in one frame period are as shown in Table 3.
  • a horizontal electric field is controlled to be generated between two adjacent transparent electrodes 120 on one substrate 110 side of the liquid crystal cell 100.
  • an intermediate voltage is controlled to be applied to the two transparent electrodes 120 on the other substrate 110 side of the liquid crystal cell 100.
  • the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 have the diffusion characteristics shown in Table 3 during one frame period.
  • each of the P-polarized component and S-polarized component of the light emitted from the light source 20 is diffused only in the y-axis direction by the optical element 10. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 20 is controlled by the optical element 10 to have a linear light distribution that spreads in the y-axis direction.
  • one frame is divided into a number of subframe periods SF.
  • the output channel of the switch circuit section 320 is switched in response to two voltage signals input from the signal generation circuit section 310 to a pair of voltage signal lines 330 (a first voltage signal line 330-1 and a second voltage signal line), and two voltage signals are input to each of two adjacent transparent electrodes 120. Therefore, the number of voltage signal lines 330 can be reduced more than the number of transparent electrodes 120, and as a result, the number of DACs and AMPs can be reduced. Therefore, in the lighting device 1, the control device 30 can be made smaller and manufacturing costs can be reduced.
  • FIG. 7 An illumination device 1A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8.
  • the configuration of the illumination device 1A is similar to that of the illumination device 1, the description of the configuration of the illumination device 1A may be omitted.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an illumination device 1A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the illumination device 1A includes an optical element 10, a light source 20, a control device 30A, and a power supply 40.
  • the control device 30A includes a signal generating circuit section 310, a switch circuit section 320A, a first voltage signal line 330-1, a second voltage signal line 330-2, a third voltage signal line 330-3, a fourth voltage signal line 330-4, and a timing control signal line 340.
  • the signal generating circuit section 310 and the switch circuit section 320A are connected via the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4. Therefore, four voltage signals out of the multiple voltage signals generated by the signal generating circuit section 310 are input to the switch circuit section 320 via the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4.
  • the switch circuit unit 320A can drive the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4 and the first output channel CH1 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 based on the timing control signal so as to be conductive between them.
  • the switch circuit unit 320A can drive the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4 and the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 based on the timing control signal so as to be conductive between them.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4 and the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a non-conductive state. In other words, each of the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 is in a high impedance state.
  • Control of light distribution by lighting device 1A 8 is a timing chart showing voltage signals input to the transparent electrodes 120 of the liquid crystal cells 100 to control the light distribution in a lighting device 1A according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • predetermined voltage signals are sequentially input to the first transparent electrodes 120-1 to 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cells 100-1 to 100-4, respectively, to drive the liquid crystal cells 100 in a time-division manner. That is, in the lighting device 1A, the light distribution of the light passing through the optical element 10 can be controlled by driving the multiple liquid crystal cells 100 in a time-division manner based on one signal generating circuit section 310.
  • a plurality of liquid crystal cells 100 are connected to a switch circuit section 320A, and two pairs of analog conversion circuits 331 and amplifier circuits 332 are provided between the switch circuit section 320A and the signal generation circuit section 310, and the connection states between the analog conversion circuit 331 and the amplifier circuit 332 and the transparent electrodes 120 of each liquid crystal cell 100 are switched in a time-division manner via the switch circuit section 320A, thereby enabling time-division driving of each liquid crystal cell 100.
  • time-division driving will be described in detail below.
  • FIG. 8 is a timing chart for controlling the optical element 10 so that the light distribution shape is circular.
  • the light distribution shape controlled by the optical element 10 is not limited to this.
  • a light distribution shape having a linear shape spreading in the x-axis or y-axis direction is also possible.
  • one frame period is divided into four subframe periods (the first subframe period SF1 to the fourth subframe period SF4).
  • the first to fourth voltage signals having a rectangular wave generated by the signal generating circuit unit 310 are input to the switch circuit unit 320A via the first to fourth voltage signal lines 330-1 to 330-4, respectively.
  • the phase of the first voltage signal is opposite to that of the second voltage signal
  • the phase of the third voltage signal is opposite to that of the fourth voltage signal.
  • the switch circuit unit 320 drives the first to fourth voltage signal lines 330-1 to 330-4 so that they are conductive to the first to fourth output channels CH1 to CH4, respectively. Therefore, in the first subframe period SF1, the first to fourth voltage signals are output from the first to fourth output channels CH1 to CH4, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4 are not conductive with the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16, so the fifth output channel CH5 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1. That is, in the first subframe period SF1, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the fifth to eighth voltage signals having a rectangular wave generated by the signal generating circuit unit 310 are input to the switch circuit unit 320A via the first to fourth voltage signal lines 330-1 to 330-4, respectively.
  • the phase of the fifth voltage signal is opposite to that of the sixth voltage signal
  • the phase of the seventh voltage signal is opposite to the movement of the eighth voltage signal.
  • the switch circuit unit 320 drives the first to fourth voltage signal lines 330-1 to 330-4 so that they are conductive to the fifth to eighth output channels CH5 to CH8, respectively. Therefore, in the second subframe period SF2, the fifth to eighth voltage signals are output from the fifth to eighth output channels CH5 to CH8, respectively.
  • the first voltage signal line 330-1 to the fourth voltage signal line 330-4 are in a non-conductive state with the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 and the ninth output channel CH9 to the sixteenth output channel CH16, the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 and the ninth output channel CH9 to the sixteenth output channel CH16 are in a high impedance state.
  • a high voltage or a low voltage is applied to each of the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2. That is, in the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the second liquid crystal cell 100-2.
  • the first output channel CH1 to the fourth output channel CH4 are in a high impedance state, and the high or low voltage applied to the first transparent electrode 120-1 to the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150. Therefore, even in the second subframe period SF2, a transverse electric field is maintained between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1.
  • the third subframe period SF3 and the fourth subframe period SF4 The same is true for the third subframe period SF3 and the fourth subframe period SF4. That is, in the third subframe period SF3, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the third liquid crystal cell 100-3. In the fourth subframe period SF4, a transverse electric field is generated between the first transparent electrode 120-1 and the second transparent electrode 120-2 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4, and between the third transparent electrode 120-3 and the fourth transparent electrode 120-4 of the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4.
  • the output channel CH from which no voltage signal is output is in a high impedance state, so the high or low voltage applied to the transparent electrode 120 is maintained by the capacitance of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150.
  • the diffusion characteristics of the first liquid crystal cell 100-1 to the fourth liquid crystal cell 100-4 during one frame period are as shown in Table 1.
  • each of the P-polarized component and S-polarized component of the light emitted from the light source 20 is diffused in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction by the optical element 10. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 20 is controlled by the optical element 10 to have a circular light distribution. Note that by changing the magnitude of the High voltage and Low voltage applied to each transparent electrode 120, it is also possible to control the light distribution to have an elliptical shape.
  • one frame is divided into a plurality of subframe periods SF.
  • the output channel of the switch circuit section 320 is switched according to two voltage signals input from the signal generating circuit section 310 to two pairs of voltage signal lines 330 (first voltage signal line 330-1 to fourth voltage signal line), and two voltage signals are input to each of two adjacent transparent electrodes 120.
  • the control device 30A can be made smaller and the manufacturing costs can be reduced.
  • FIG. 9 An illumination device 1B according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9.
  • the configuration of the illumination device 1B is similar to that of the illumination device 1, the description of the configuration of the illumination device 1B may be omitted.
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lighting device 1B according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the lighting device 1B includes an optical element 10, a light source 20, a control device 30B, and a power supply 40.
  • the control device 30B includes a signal generating circuit section 310B, a switch circuit section 320, a first voltage signal line 330-1, a second voltage signal line 330-2, and a timing control signal line 340.
  • the signal generating circuit unit 310B includes a DAC.
  • the signal generating circuit unit 310B has a built-in DAC, and the voltage signal output from the signal generating circuit unit 310B is a digital signal. Therefore, the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2 do not include a DAC.
  • the lighting device 1B does not include a DAC that occupies a large area in each of the first voltage signal line 330-1 and the second voltage signal line 330-2. Therefore, in the lighting device 1B, the number of DACs can be reduced, and as a result, manufacturing costs can be reduced.
  • 1, 1A, 1B lighting device, 10: optical element, 20: light source, 30, 30A, 30B: control device, 40: power supply, 100: liquid crystal cell, 110: substrate, 120: transparent electrode, 121: connection pad, 122: terminal, 130: alignment film, 140: sealant, 150: liquid crystal layer, 160: optical elastic resin layer, 170: flexible printed circuit board (FPCs), 310, 310B: signal generation circuit section, 320, 320A: switch circuit section, 330: voltage signal line, 331: digital-to-analog conversion circuit (DAC), 332: amplifier circuit (AMP), 340: timing control signal line, 1000-1: first light, 1000-2: second light, CH: output channel, SF: subframe period

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
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PCT/JP2023/028793 2022-10-25 2023-08-07 照明装置 Ceased WO2024089971A1 (ja)

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CN202380066455.0A CN119866469A (zh) 2022-10-25 2023-08-07 照明装置
JP2024552839A JP7796893B2 (ja) 2022-10-25 2023-08-07 照明装置
US19/174,644 US20250237899A1 (en) 2022-10-25 2025-04-09 Lighting device

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170269453A1 (en) * 2014-11-24 2017-09-21 Lensvector Inc. Liquid crystal beam control device with improved zone transition and method of manufacture thereof
WO2022176684A1 (ja) * 2021-02-18 2022-08-25 株式会社ジャパンディスプレイ 液晶光制御装置

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170269453A1 (en) * 2014-11-24 2017-09-21 Lensvector Inc. Liquid crystal beam control device with improved zone transition and method of manufacture thereof
WO2022176684A1 (ja) * 2021-02-18 2022-08-25 株式会社ジャパンディスプレイ 液晶光制御装置

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