Display panel and projection type display apparatus

• US 6,281,867 B2
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koyama, Osamu, Kurematsu, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/036,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 345/88, 345/151, 345/152, 349/5, 349/8, 349/95
• US Class Current: 345/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133623 Inclined coloured light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/745 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3108 by using a single electronic spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406

Abstract

A display panel is characterized by a pixel unit array comprising pixel units having a combination of two of, first, second and third three color pixels disposed in a first direction and a combination of two color pixels differing from the combination of the two color pixels disposed in a second direction differing from the first direction, so as to share a color pixel, the pixel units being two-dimensionally arranged at a predetermined pitch on a substrate, and a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses in which the pitch of the two color pixels in the first direction and the second direction is one pitch, the plurality of microlenses being two-dimensionally arranged on the pixel unit array on the substrate.

Claims

1. A reflection type liquid crystal panel comprising:

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units,

wherein one of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, the other two color pixels being adjacent to said one color pixel in different directions,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of said lens array, and reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit;

wherein the lights of the three different colors reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the plurality of lenses of said lens array.

2. A reflection type liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein each of said two color pixels adjacent to said one color pixel in different directions is disposed at a position corresponding to the boundary of the lenses in said lens array.

3. A reflection type liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein said three color pixels comprise reflection electrodes.

4. A reflection type liquid crystal panel according to claim 3, wherein said three color pixels are adapted to use the DMD operation of the reflection electrodes.

5. A projection type display apparatus comprising:

a reflection type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of said lens array, and reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the plurality of lenses of said lens array;

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists; and

a projecting means for projecting said first, second and third color lights modulated by said liquid crystal panel onto a surface.

6. A projection type apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said illuminating means color-resolves white light from a light source into a plurality of color lights by the use of a plurality of dichroic mirrors so that by the disposition of said plurality of dichroic mirrors, said plurality of color lights may be applied to said three color pixels from different directions for the respective color lights.

7. A projection type display apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said projecting means projects the disposition surface of said microlenses or the vicinity thereof onto a surface.

8. A direct-view type display apparatus comprising:

a reflection type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of said single lens array, and reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the plurality of lenses of said lens array;

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists; and

an eyepiece for directing said first, second, and third color lights modulated by said liquid crystal panel to an observer'"'"'s eyeball.

9. A display apparatus comprising:

a reflection type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of said lens array, and reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors reflected from the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the plurality of lenses of said lens array; and

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists.

10. A reflection type liquid crystal panel comprising:

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors, said three color pixels being two-dimensionally arranged; and

a lens array having a plurality of lenses which are two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of said plurality of pixel units.

11. A transmission type liquid crystal panel comprising:

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors, said three color pixels being two-dimensionally arranged; and

a pair of lens arrays, each lens array having a plurality of lenses which are two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said plurality of lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of said plurality of pixel units, said plurality of pixel units being provided between said pair of lens arrays.

12. A transmission type liquid crystal panel comprising:

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a pair of lens arrays, each lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units,

wherein one of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, the other two color pixels being adjacent to said one color pixel in different directions,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of one of said pair of lens arrays, and transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the lenses of another of said pair of lens arrays.

13. A projection type display apparatus comprising:

a transmission type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a pair of lens arrays, each lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are of first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of one of said pair of lens arrays, and transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the lenses of another of said pair of lens arrays;

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists; and

a projecting means for projecting said first, second and third color lights modulated by said liquid crystal panel onto a surface.

14. A direct-view type display apparatus comprising:

a transmission type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a pair of lens arrays, each lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by three different lenses of one of said pair of lens arrays, and transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the lenses of another of said pair of lens arrays; and

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists; and

an eyepiece for directing said first, second and third color lights modulated by said liquid crystal panel to an observer'"'"'s eyeball.

15. A display apparatus comprising:

a transmission type liquid crystal panel having

a plurality of pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each pixel unit including three color pixels corresponding to three different colors; and

a pair of lens arrays, each lens array having a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged, the arrangement pitch of said lenses being the same as the arrangement pitch of the plurality of pixel units, wherein a first of the three color pixels is positioned at the optical axis of each lens, a second and third of the three color pixels being adjacent to said first color pixel in different directions which are first and second directions, respectively,

wherein lights of the three different colors are respectively condensed on the corresponding three color pixels of said pixel unit by different lenses of one of said pair of lens arrays, and transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit,

wherein the lights of the three different colors transmitted through said three color pixels of said pixel unit are caused to be incident in common on one of the lenses of another of said pair of lens arrays; and

an illuminating means for causing a first color light to enter said liquid crystal panel perpendicularly thereto, causing a second color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a first plane on which said first direction exists, and causing a third color light to obliquely enter said liquid crystal panel within a second plane on which said second direction exists.