LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE AND PROJECTOR

• US 20080211974A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: IKEBE, Tomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,872,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/5
• 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 1/136286 Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/122 having a particular pattern

Abstract

A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates. One of the pair of substrates includes data lines and scanning lines that intersect each other, pixels arranged in a matrix, at least one first electrode, and at least one second electrode that applies an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode to the liquid crystal layer. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of electrode portions, and a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrodes. At least a portion of the joint portion of the first electrode and at least a portion of the joint portion of the second electrode are arranged so as to overlap at least the data lines or the scanning lines, and are aligned in a line extending along the at least the data lines or the scanning lines.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates facing each other; and

a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates,

one of the pair of substrates including

data lines,

scanning lines,

the data lines and the scanning lines intersecting each other,

pixels arranged in a matrix,

at least one first electrode, and

at least one second electrode that applies an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode to the liquid crystal layer,

each of the first electrode and the second electrode including

a plurality of electrode portions, and

a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrode portions,

wherein at least a portion of the joint portion of the first electrode and at least a portion of the joint portion of the second electrode are arranged so as to overlap one line of the data lines or the scanning lines, and are aligned in a line extending along the line.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode portions of the first electrode and the electrode portions of the second electrode cross obliquely to the data lines or the scanning lines.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode portions of the first electrode are arranged so as to extend across adjacent two of the pixels.

9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of at least the joint portion of the first electrode or the joint portion of the second electrode is formed so as to narrow from the electrode portions thereof.

10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first electrodes which are adjacent in a direction in which the data lines or the scanning lines extend is formed into a continuous electrode pattern.

11. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the one of the pair of substrates further includes a common potential line to which a common potential is supplied, and

the first electrode and the common potential line are electrically connected through a contact hole that is formed for each of the pixels.

12. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed of a transparent electrically conductive material.

13. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a light modulator that modulates light emitted from the light source, the light modulator including the liquid crystal device according to claim 1; and

a projection unit that projects the light modulated by the light modulator.

2. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates facing each other; and

a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates,

one of the pair of substrates including

data lines,

scanning lines,

a first pixel group including a plurality of pixels arranged in columns,

a second pixel group adjacent to the first pixel group and including a plurality of pixels arranged in columns,

a plurality of first electrodes, and

a plurality of second electrodes that apply an electric field generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to the liquid crystal layer,

each of the first electrodes including

a plurality of electrode portions, and

a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrode portions,

each of the second electrodes including

a plurality of electrode portions, and

a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrode portions,

wherein at least a portion of the joint portion of one of the second electrodes which is associated with the second pixel group is placed between the joint portions of two of the first electrodes which are associated with the first pixel group.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the joint portion of each of the first electrodes and at least a portion of the joint portion of each of the second electrodes are arranged so as to overlap a corresponding one of the data lines or the scanning lines.

6. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates facing each other; and

a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates,

one of the pair of substrates including

data lines,

scanning lines,

the data lines and the scanning lines intersecting each other,

pixels arranged in a matrix,

first electrodes,

second electrodes that apply an electric field generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to the liquid crystal layer,

each of the first electrodes including

a plurality of electrode portions, and

a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrode portions,

each of the second electrodes including

a plurality of electrode portions, and

a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrode portions,

a first pixel group including a plurality of the pixels which are arranged in columns, and

a second pixel group adjacent to the first pixel group and including a plurality of the pixels which are arranged in columns,

wherein the first pixel group and the second pixel group are arranged so as to be offset with respect to each other in a direction in which the pluralities of pixels of the first pixel group are arrayed,

a plurality of the first electrodes and a plurality of the second electrodes which are associated with the first pixel group, and a plurality of the first electrodes and a plurality of the second electrodes which are associated with the second pixel group are arranged so as to be offset with respect to each other in the direction in which the pluralities of pixels of the first pixel group are arrayed, and

the joint portions of the first electrodes and the joint portions of the second electrodes, which are adjacent to each other in the direction in which the pluralities of pixels of the first pixel group are arrayed, are alternately arranged.

7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the joint portions of the first electrodes and at least a portion of the joint portions of the second electrodes are arranged so as to overlap the data lines or the scanning lines.

8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, further comprising a display area including the pixels arranged in a matrix,

wherein the first pixel group and the second pixel group are arranged so as to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction of the display area.