Liquid crystal device and projector

• US 7,872,720 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US12/027,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 349/139, 349/46
• US Class Current: 349/139
• 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 U-shaped first electrode, and

at least one U-shaped 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 first electrode portion and a second electrode portion, and

a joint portion for connecting the first and second electrode portions, the first electrode portion and second electrode portion extending from the joint portion such that the first electrode portion is parallel to the second electrode portion,

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 one line of at least the data lines or the scanning lines.

2. 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.

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

4. 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 first and second electrode portions thereof.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of contact holes, the plurality of contact holes being formed on the joint portion of each of the first electrode and second electrode, wherein at least a portion of a contact hole of the first electrode and at least a portion of a contact hole of the second electrode are arranged so as to overlap the one line of at least the data lines or the scanning lines.

10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the contact hole of the first electrode and the portion of the contact hole of the second electrode are aligned in the line extending along the one line of at least the data lines or the scanning lines.