IP Library Granted Patent US 12,292,656
Granted Patent B2
US 12,292,656 · App. 18/416,396 · Granted May 6, 2025

Electro-optical device, electro-optical unit, and display device

Inventors: Hirofumi Ohira (Tokyo, JP); Koji Yoshida (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
G02F1/134309G02F1/133391G09G2300/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,292,656
App. No.
18/416,396
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an aspect, an electro-optical device includes: a first substrate; a first electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second substrate disposed facing the first substrate; a second electrode disposed on the second substrate and facing the first electrode; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode includes a plurality of divided electrodes arranged in a first direction. Two divided electrodes adjacent to each other among the divided electrodes are disposed with a slit interposed between the two divided electrodes.

Claims (36)

1. An electro-optical device configured to be placed so as to overlap a display panel configured to display an image in a display region provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the electro-optical device comprising:

a first substrate;

a first electrode disposed on the first substrate;

a second substrate disposed facing the first substrate;

a second electrode disposed on the second substrate and facing the first electrode; and

a liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein

the second electrode includes a plurality of divided electrodes arranged in a first direction and each of which has a size in the first direction larger than each of the pixel electrodes,

two divided electrodes adjacent to each other among the divided electrodes are disposed with a slit interposed between the two divided electrodes,

each of the divided electrodes is configured to adjust a view angle of the display region in accordance with a visual recognition control signal related to visual recognition of the image displayed in the display region, and

the electro-optical device is placed between the display panel and a viewer.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein, of the two divided electrodes adjacent to each other, a potential of a divided electrode on a first side in the first direction is higher than a potential of a divided electrode on a second side in the first direction.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

a potential of one of the divided electrodes is equal to a potential of the first electrode, and

a potential of another one of the divided electrodes is higher than the potential of the one divided electrode.

4. An electro-optical unit comprising two of the electro-optical devices according to claim 1 , wherein

two first divided electrodes adjacent to each other among a plurality of first divided electrodes included in a first electro-optical device of the two electro-optical devices are disposed with a first slit interposed between the two first divided electrodes,

two second divided electrodes adjacent to each other among a plurality of second divided electrodes included in a second electro-optical device of the two electro-optical devices overlap the two first divided electrodes in a plan view and are disposed with a second slit interposed between the two second divided electrodes, and

the second slit overlaps the first slit in a plan view.

5. An electro-optical unit comprising two of the electro-optical devices according to claim 1 , wherein

two first divided electrodes adjacent to each other among a plurality of first divided electrodes included in a first electro-optical device of the two electro-optical devices are disposed with a first slit interposed between the two first divided electrodes,

two second divided electrodes adjacent to each other among a plurality of second divided electrodes included in a second electro-optical device of the two electro-optical devices overlap the two first divided electrodes in a plan view and are disposed with a second slit interposed between the two second divided electrodes,

the second electro-optical device is disposed on a back surface side of the first electro-optical device, and

the second slit is positioned on a first side of the first slit in the first direction in a plan view.

6. A display device comprising:

the electro-optical device according to claim 1 ; and

the display panel having the display region, wherein

the electro-optical device entirely overlaps the display region in a plan view.

7. The display device according to claim 6 , wherein

the display region includes a strip-shaped black display region parallel to the slit in a plan view, and

the black display region overlaps the slit in a plan view.

8. The display device according to claim 6 , wherein

the display region includes a strip-shaped black display region parallel to the slit in a plan view, and

the black display region is positioned on a first side of the slit in the first direction in a plan view.

9. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

when the visual recognition control signal is a first signal, potentials of the divided electrodes are controlled such that a traveling direction of light does not change in the liquid crystal layer, and

when the visual recognition control signal is a second signal, the potentials of the divided electrodes are controlled such that a transmittance of the liquid crystal layer decreases from one side to the other side in the first direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071793/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: OHIRA, HIROFUMI; YOSHIDA, KOJI
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 066179/0561 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-010519 · Jan 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240255812A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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