Liquid crystal device, electronic device and projector with maximum-light-intensity direction inclined from the direction normal to the substrates

• US 9,013,657 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lauren
• Application Number:
  US14/285,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 349/96, 349/99, 349/102, 349/103
• US Class Current: 349/99
• 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 light source;

a liquid crystal panel configured to operate in a vertical alignment mode and including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant; and

polarizing plates disposed on opposite sides of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein one of the polarizing plates is disposed between the light source and 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 pair of substrates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured to transmit light emitted by the light source and entering through said one of the polarizing plates toward the other of the polarizing plates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured to have a maximum transmission for the light in a maximum intensity direction different from a direction normal to the planes of the pair of substrates,

wherein the light source is configured to generate the light in the maximum intensity direction,

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

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

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

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

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

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

wherein the liquid crystal device is configured to display an image in a direction in which the light transmitted through the liquid crystal device has the maximum intensity.

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

wherein the liquid crystal device is configured to project an image in a direction in which the light emitted from the liquid crystal device has the maximum intensity.

6. A liquid crystal device, comprising:

a light source;

a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and

polarizing plates disposed on opposite sides of the liquid crystal panel,

wherein one of the polarizing plates is disposed between the light source and 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 is configured to transmit light emitted by the light source and entering through said one of the polarizing plates to the other one of the polarizing plates,

wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured to have a maximum transmission for the light in a maximum transmission direction different from a direction normal to the planes of the substrates,

wherein the light source is configured to generate the light in the maximum transmission direction,

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 planes of the substrates of the liquid crystal panel toward the predetermined direction in which a direction normal to the polarizing plate and the maximum transmission direction are progressively closer to being parallel to each other.