LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND PROJECTOR

• US 20090219456A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: OKUMURA, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/5
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133531 characterised by the arrangement of polariser or analyser axes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13363 Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1337 Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/006 using LCD's
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/08 Sequential recording or projection G03B33/02, G03B33/04, G03B33/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time

Abstract

A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates that sandwiches a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules exhibiting a parallel alignment in an initial alignment state, and a polarizing plate disposed on either side of the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal molecules are inclined at a pretilt angle and aligned in a predetermined direction in planes of the substrates. The liquid crystal panel emits light entering through one of the polarizing plates toward the other. The liquid crystal panel emits light having the maximum intensity in a direction different from a direction normal to the substrates. The azimuth of the maximum-light-intensity direction projected onto the planes of the substrates is substantially parallel to the predetermined direction. The maximum-light-intensity direction is a direction inclined from the direction normal to the substrates toward a direction in which the maximum-light-intensity direction form a right angle with a longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal molecules inclined at the pretilt angle.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates that sandwiches a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules exhibiting a parallel alignment in an initial alignment state; and

a polarizing plate disposed on either side of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein the liquid crystal molecules are inclined at a pretilt angle and aligned in a predetermined direction in planes of the substrates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light entering through one of the polarizing plates toward the other,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light having the maximum intensity in a direction different from a direction normal to the substrates,

wherein the azimuth of the maximum-light-intensity direction projected onto the planes of the substrates is substantially parallel to the predetermined direction, and

wherein the maximum-light-intensity direction is a direction inclined from the direction normal to the substrates toward a direction in which the maximum-light-intensity direction form a right angle with a longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal molecules inclined at the pretilt angle.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein an absorption axis direction of one of the polarizing plates is substantially parallel to the predetermined direction, and

wherein the polarizing plate is inclined from the substrates of the liquid crystal panel toward a direction in which a direction normal to the polarizing plate and the maximum-light-intensity direction are parallel to each other.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein a light source is disposed adjacent to one of the polarizing plates on the side opposite the liquid crystal panel, and

wherein a direction in which the light source emits light is the direction in which the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel has the maximum intensity.

6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising a viewing-angle compensation retardation film,

wherein the retardation film is inclined from the substrates of the liquid crystal panel toward a direction in which a direction normal to the retardation film and the maximum-light-intensity direction are parallel to each other.

7. An electronic device comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal device displays an image in the direction in which the light emitted from the liquid crystal device has the maximum intensity.

8. A projector comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal device projects an image in the direction in which the light emitted from the liquid crystal device has the maximum intensity.

2. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel operating in a vertical alignment mode and including a pair of substrates that sandwiches a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant; and

a polarizing plate disposed on either side of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein the liquid crystal molecules are inclined at a pretilt angle and aligned in a predetermined direction in planes of the substrates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light entering through one of the polarizing plates toward the other,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light having the maximum intensity in a direction different from a direction normal to the substrates,

wherein the azimuth of the maximum-light-intensity direction projected onto the planes of the substrates is substantially parallel to the predetermined direction, and

wherein the maximum-light-intensity direction is a direction inclined from the direction normal to the substrates toward a direction in which the maximum-light-intensity direction and a longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal molecules inclined at the pretilt angle are parallel to each other.

3. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates that sandwiches a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules exhibiting a parallel alignment in an initial alignment state; and

a polarizing plate disposed on either side of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a predetermined direction in planes of the substrates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light entering through one of the polarizing plates to the other one of the polarizing plates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel emits light having the maximum intensity in a direction different from a direction normal to the substrates,

wherein an absorption axis direction of one of the polarizing plates is substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and

wherein the polarizing plate with the absorption axis direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction is inclined from the substrates of the liquid crystal panel toward a direction in which a direction normal to the polarizing plate and the maximum-light-intensity direction are parallel to each other.