Apparatus and method for displaying image

• US 6,784,961 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yoshio, Shirochi, Yoshiki, Tanimoto, Takeshi, Miyasaka, Sou
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/870,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 349/117, 349/118, 349/121, 349/96, 349/5, 349/119
• US Class Current: 349/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133567 on the back side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13363 Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133632 with refractive index ellipsoid inclined relative to the LC-layer surface
• 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

Abstract

Provided is a projection type liquid crystal display apparatus, which can improve black-level display and thus can display a higher-contrast image as compared to the related art. An optical compensator is located on the light exit side with respect to the liquid crystal display device so as to compensate for the optical phase difference caused by liquid crystal molecules in a light-entry-side region of the liquid crystal layer. As the optical compensator is located on the light exit side with respect to the liquid crystal display device, birefringence, caused by the liquid crystal molecules present in the light-entry-side region, is compensated for without being influenced by a microlenses provided in the liquid crystal plane. Consequently, the apparatus can improve the black-level display and thus can display a higher-contrast image as compared to the related art. Further, a phase difference caused by the birefringence of the nematic liquid crystal molecule is compensated for by using a substance having properties optically opposite to the positive crystal, namely, a substance having birefringence equivalent to birefringence of a negative crystal.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display projector comprising:

a light source for emitting light required for image display;

a transmission type liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer having an alignment of a plurality of twisted liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal display device for selectively applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer in response to an image signal, thereby realigning the liquid crystal molecules and thus modulating light passing through the liquid crystal layer;

a projection lens for projecting the light modulated by the liquid crystal display device;

a polarizer for allowing linearly polarized light, which is contained in light emitted from the light source, to enter into the liquid crystal display device;

an analyzer for allowing linearly polarized light, which is contained in light exiting from the transmission type liquid crystal display device, to enter into the projection lens; and

a first optical compensator located between the liquid crystal display device and the analyzer on a light exit side of the liquid crystal display device and containing a substance having birefringence equivalent to birefringence of a negative crystal, the first optical compensator for compensating for an optical phase difference caused by liquid crystal molecules in a light-entry-side region of the liquid crystal layer;

a second optical compensator located on the light exit side with respect to the liquid crystal display device and containing a substance having birefringence equivalent to birefringence of a negative crystal, the second optical compensator for compensating for an optical phase difference caused by liquid crystal molecules in the light-exit-side region of the liquid crystal layer; and

a third optical compensator located on the light exit side with respect to the liquid crystal display device, the third optical compensator for compensating for an optical phase difference caused by liquid crystal molecules present in a region of the liquid crystal layer excluding the light-entry-side region and the light-exit-side region.

2. A liquid crystal display projector according to claim 1, wherein the third optical compensator contains a substance having birefringence equivalent to birefringence of a negative uniaxial crystal.

3. A liquid crystal display projector according to claim 2, wherein each of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer has birefringence equivalent to birefringence of a positive uniaxial crystal;

in a state in which a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are realigned so that the major axes of the molecules change in position from a position parallel or about parallel to a plane of incidence of light to a position perpendicular or about perpendicular to the plane of incidence of light as they are situated farther from the light-entry-side and light-exit-side regions of the liquid crystal layer and closer to the center of the liquid crystal layer;

the third optical compensator functions to compensate for an optical phase difference caused by light entering into the liquid crystal molecules aligned with the major axes thereof perpendicular to the plane of incidence of light, at an angle to the major axes thereof; and

, in a state in which a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, molecules of the substance constituting the third optical compensator and having the birefringence are aligned so that the optic axes of the molecules are parallel to the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules to be compensated for.

4. A liquid crystal display projector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of microlenses for focusing incoming light on the liquid crystal layer are provided close to the light entry side of the liquid crystal layer.

5. A liquid crystal display projector according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of polarizers located on the light entry side and the light exit side with respect to the liquid crystal display device and located so that the crossed Nicols holds,

wherein the first optical compensator and the second optical compensator are located between the polarizer located on the light exit side and the liquid crystal display device.