IP Library Granted Patent US 8,773,615
Granted Patent B2
US 8,773,615 · App. 13/422,356 · Granted Jul 8, 2014

Liquid crystal device and projector

Inventor: Norihiko Ozawa (Shiojiri, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,773,615
App. No.
13/422,356
Granted
Jul 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal layer is interposed between first and second substrates. The liquid crystal device includes a light-shielding layer formed in a lattice shape and a condensing lens condensing light incident on the side of the first substrate into the inside of an opening portion of a light-shielding section. In the second substrate, a prism element condensing the light which has been incident from the side of the first substrate and has passed and spread through the condensing lens, the liquid crystal layer, and the opening portion is disposed at a position overlapping the light-shielding layer in a plan view. The prism element includes a groove formed in the second substrate.

Claims (36)

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a first substrate on a light incident side;

a second substrate on a light exit side; and

a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate,

one of the first substrate and the second substrate having a light transmission section at a position overlapping a plurality of pixels in a plan view and a light-shielding section at a position overlapping a space between the plurality of pixels in a plan view,

the first substrate having a condensing lens that condenses incident light into an inside of the light transmission section,

the second substrate having a prism element that condenses light passing and spreading through the light transmission section into a position overlapping the light-shielding section in a plan view, and

the prism element including a groove,

wherein a cover portion occupying a portion of the groove close to the liquid crystal layer is formed between the light-shielding section and the prism element,

wherein an inside of the groove is a void,

wherein a part of the cover portion penetrates into a portion of the groove close to the liquid crystal layer, and

wherein a reflection film is formed in a portion at least overlapping the portion of the groove into which the part of the cover portion penetrates and in the opening portion on the upper side of the groove.

2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein a depth of the groove is greater than a width of the groove.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light-shielding section has a data line and a scanning line intersecting each other,

wherein the groove has a V shape in a cross-sectional view,

wherein a width of a portion overlapping the data line in the groove is identical with a width of a portion overlapping the scanning line in the groove, and

wherein a depth of the portion overlapping the data line in the groove is identical with a depth of the portion overlapping the scanning line in the groove.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the cover portion close to the light-shielding section is a flat surface.

5. A projector comprising:

a light source device;

the liquid crystal device according to claim 1 which modulates light emitted from the light source device in accordance with image information; and

a projection optical system projecting the light modulated by the liquid crystal device as a projected image.

6. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a first substrate on a light incident side;

a second substrate on a light exit side; and

a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate,

one of the first substrate and the second substrate having a light transmission section at a position overlapping a plurality of pixels in a plan view and a light-shielding section at a position overlapping a space between the plurality of pixels in a plan view, the light-shielding section having a data line and a scanning line intersecting each other,

the first substrate having a condensing lens that condenses incident light into an inside of the light transmission section,

the second substrate having a prism element that condenses light passing and spreading through the light transmission section into a position overlapping the light-shielding section in a plan view, and

the prism element including a groove having a V shape in a cross-sectional view,

wherein a width of a portion overlapping the data line in the groove is identical with a width of a portion overlapping the scanning line in the groove,

wherein a depth of the portion overlapping the data line in the groove is identical with a depth of the portion overlapping the scanning line in the groove,

wherein a cover portion occupying a portion of the groove close to the liquid crystal layer is formed between the light-shielding section and the prism element,

wherein a part of the cover portion penetrates into a portion of the groove close to the liquid crystal layer, and

wherein a reflection film is formed in a portion at least overlapping the portion of the groove into which the part of the cover portion penetrates and in the opening portion on the upper side of the groove.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2012
From: OZAWA, NORIHIKO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027877/0742 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-067782 · Mar 25, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120242915A1 · Sep 27, 2012