Liquid crystal projector, liquid crystal device and substrate for liquid crystal device

• US 20050168662A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/5
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133565 inside the LC elements, i.e. between the cell substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13363 Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133634 the refractive index Nz perpendicular to the element surface being different from in-plane refractive indices Nx and Ny, e.g. biaxial or with normal optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/02 Number of plates being 2
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/10 with refractive index ellipsoid inclined, or tilted, relative to the LC-layer surface O plate
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/14 Negative birefingence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3167 for polarizing the light beam polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28

Abstract

Red incident light is reflected on a mirror (19) and linearly polarized by a polarizer (26R). Linearly polarized incident light enters a transmissive liquid crystal device (11R), in which oblique incident light is changed into elliptically polarized light. A retardation compensator (27R) between the liquid crystal device (11R) and an analyzer (28R) has an inorganic form birefringence layer. The retardation compensator (27R) yields birefringence effect to change elliptical polarized light into linearly polarized light. Linearly polarized light from the retardation compensator (27R) can pass the analyzer (28R) without decreasing intensity, and enters a color recombining prism (24). The liquid crystal device (11R) may have the inorganic form birefringence layer. Retardation in green and blue light is also compensated in the same manner. Red, green and blue image light, mixed in the color recombining prism (24), is projected onto a screen 3 by a projection lens system (25).

Claims

1. A transmissive liquid crystal projector having at least one liquid crystal device and a projection optical system, said liquid crystal device changing illumination light from a light source into image light, said projection optical system focusing said image light onto a screen, said illumination light being guided to an incidence plane of said liquid crystal device, and said image light being emanated from an emanation plane opposite to said incidence plane, said liquid crystal projector comprising:

a polarizer provided in said incidence plane side of said liquid crystal device;

an analyzer provided in said emanation plane side of said liquid crystal device; and

an inorganic form birefringence layer provided between said polarizer and said analyzer in at least one of said incidence plane side and said emanation plane side.

2. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 1, wherein said form birefringence layer is plural thin films, said thin films comprising at least two kinds of thin films layers with different refractive index alternatively stacked.

3. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 2, wherein the optical thickness of said thin film layer is from λ

/100 to λ

/5, wherein λ

is the wavelength of said illumination light that enters said liquid crystal device.

4. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 1, wherein said form birefringence layer is a plurality of birefringence members arranged to appear one or two dimensional refractive index distribution in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of said illumination light or said image light.

5. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 4, wherein said birefringence members are inclined to the optical axis of said illumination light or said image light.

6. A reflective liquid crystal projector having at least one liquid crystal device and a projection optical system, said liquid crystal device changing illumination light from a light source into image light, said projection optical system focusing said image light onto a screen, said illumination light being guided to an incidence plane of said liquid crystal device, and said image light being emanated from said incidence plane, said liquid crystal projector comprising:

a polarizer provided in said incidence plane side of said liquid crystal device, said polarizer performs as an analyzer to said image light; and

an inorganic form birefringence layer provided between said polarizer and said liquid crystal device.

7. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 6, wherein said form birefringence layer is plural thin films, said thin films comprising at least two kinds of thin film layers with different refractive index alternatively stacked.

8. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 7, wherein the optical thickness of said thin film layer is from λ

/100 to λ

/5, wherein λ

is the wavelength of said illumination light that enters. said liquid crystal device.

9. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 6, wherein said form birefringence layer is a plurality of birefringence members arranged to appear one or two dimensional refractive index distribution in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of said illumination light or said image light.

10. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 9, wherein said birefringence members are inclined to the optical axis of said illumination light or said image light.

11. A liquid crystal projector having at least one liquid crystal device and a projection optical system, said liquid crystal device changing illumination light from a light source into image light, said projection optical system focusing said image light onto a screen, said liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrate bodies, an orientation film and electrode formed on said substrate body, said liquid crystal projector comprising:

an inorganic form birefringence layer formed on at least one surface of at least one substrate body, said form birefringence layer compensating retardation of light that passes said liquid crystal layer.

12. A liquid crystal projector according to claim 11, wherein said form birefringence layer is plural thin films, said thin films comprising at least two kinds of thin film layers with different refractive index alternatively stacked.

13. A liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrate bodies, an orientation film and electrode formed on said substrate body, said liquid crystal device comprising:

an inorganic form birefringence layer formed on at least one surface of at least one substrate body, said form birefringence layer compensating retardation of light that passes said liquid crystal layer.

14. A liquid crystal device according to claim 13, wherein said form birefringence layer is plural thin films, said thin films comprising at least two kinds of thin film layers with different refractive index alternatively stacked.

15. A substrate for a liquid crystal device for enclosing a liquid crystal layer, said substrate having an orientation film and electrode formed on the inner surface side of said substrate body, said substrate comprising:

an inorganic form birefringence layer formed on at least one of the inner surface side and the outer surface side of said substrate body, said form birefringence layer compensating retardation of light that passes said liquid crystal layer.

16. A substrate for a liquid crystal device according to claim 15, wherein said form birefringence layer is plural thin films, said thin films comprising at least two kinds of thin film layers with different refractive index alternatively stacked.

17. A substrate for a liquid crystal device according to claim 16, wherein said plural thin films consist of first thin films with high refractive index and second thin films with low refractive index that are alternatively stacked.

18. A substrate for a liquid crystal device according to claim 15, wherein said form birefringence layer is formed on the inner surface of said substrate body.

19. A substrate for a liquid crystal device according to claim 15, wherein said form birefringence layer is formed on the outer surface of said substrate body.

20. A substrate for a liquid crystal device according to claim 15, wherein said form birefringence layers are formed on the outer and inner surfaces of said substrate body.