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

• US 9,568,771 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• 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:
  US14/659,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 including a liquid crystal layer;

a first polarizing plate disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal panel, an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is directed to a first direction; and

a second polarizing plate disposed over one side of the liquid crystal panel, the one side is opposite to a side facing the first polarizing plate, an absorption axis of the second polarizing plate is directed to a second direction that intersects the first direction;

wherein

an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is along the first direction or the second direction,

the liquid crystal panel and the second polarizing plate are inclined from the first polarizing plate so as to rotate on an axis parallel to the second direction,

the first polarizing plate has opposite first and second ends,

the first end is closer to the liquid crystal panel and the second polarizing plate than the second end, and

a transmitted light is emitted from the light source and is transmitted through the first polarizing plate, the liquid crystal panel, and the second polarizing plate, the transmitted light having a maximum contrast direction different from a direction perpendicular to the one side of the liquid crystal panel.

2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal layer has a positive anisotropy of dielectric constant.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal layer has a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal layer is aligned with a pretilt angle.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is along the first direction.

6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is along the second direction.

7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a projection optical system configured to project the transmitted light;

wherein an outside light is transmitted through the projection optical system and is projected to the second polarizing plate, and

the second polarizing plate is disposed so as to incline from a projection direction of the outside light.

8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7,

wherein the maximum contrast direction is along the projection direction of the outside light.

9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a retardation film that compensates a view-angle of the transmitted light.