Liquid crystal device, projection type display and electronic equipment

• US 20050275785A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kamijo, Kimitaka, Maeda, Tsuyoshi, Matsushima, Toshiharu, Okumura, Osamu, Kawata, Hirotaka, Ozawa, Kinya, Seki, Takumi, Okamoto, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/143
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13373 Disclination line; Reverse tilt
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136227 Through-hole connection of the pixel electrode to the active element through an insulation layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/40 Arrangements for improving the aperture ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/006 using LCD's

Abstract

The invention provides a reflection type liquid crystal device, and a projection type display and electronic equipment in which display defects caused by disclination are reduced, minimized or prevented from being produced for a highly fine liquid crystal display with a space between pixels made to be narrow to make it possible to provide a high-contrast and bright display. A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode formed on a face of the above-described second substrate on a side of the above-described liquid crystal layer. The above-described first electrode and the above-described second electrode are formed so that an electric field substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate with respect to the above-described liquid crystal layer can be applied thereto. The above-described first electrode is formed in a linear shape having a specified line width on the above-described second electrode with a second insulation film interposed therebetween. The above-described second electrode is formed in a rectangular shape, and at least one of the above-described first electrode and the above-described second electrode is a reflecting electrode that causes incident light coming from a direction of the above-described first substrate.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a signal line located at a first-substrate side of the liquid crystal, the signal line supplying one of a scanning signal and an image signal;

an active element at the first-substrate side of the liquid crystal and electrically connected to the signal line;

a first insulation film;

a second insulation film;

a first electrode located at the first-substrate side of the liquid crystal, the first electrode being formed in each of pixels in a linear shape;

a second electrode located at the first-substrate side of the liquid crystal in a different layer than the first electrode with the second insulation film being disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode being separated from the first electrode by the second insulation film, the second electrode be separated from the signal line and the active element by the first insulation layer, the liquid crystal being controlled by an electric field generated between the pair of electrodes, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode operating as a reflecting electrode that reflects incident light coming from a direction of the first substrate, the second electrode having an opening, the first electrode being electrically connected to the active element through the opening of the second electrode.

2. The liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second electrode has a plurality of the openings in each pixel, a plurality of the linear first electrodes being connected to the same single active element through each of the openings.

3. The liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first insulation film having a leveling function so that the second electrode provides a mirror surface.

4. The liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first insulation film has a thickness D1 that satisfies the equation 0.01 μ

m≦

D1≦

5 μ

m.

5. The liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second electrode is formed substantially over all of a display area of the liquid crystal device.