JP2015206926A - liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid crystal device capable of suppressing tailing phenomenon in moving image display and realizing excellent display quality, and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device are provided. A liquid crystal device is an active drive type in which liquid crystal molecules LC in a liquid crystal layer are aligned substantially perpendicularly to an alignment film, and a planar shape of a pixel electrode is an example of a non-rectangular shape. It is. Between the pixel electrodes 28 adjacent in the diagonal direction, the intensity of the lateral electric field is smaller than in other portions, and the liquid crystal molecules LC are tilted in a state close to the initial alignment state. Therefore, when the display pattern is moved, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted by the lateral electric field return to the initial alignment state in one energetically natural direction. Thereby, the tailing phenomenon in the moving image display is suppressed. [Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device.

  As a liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal device applied to a light valve (light modulation means) of a projector (projection display device) is known. In such a liquid crystal device, since the display in the liquid crystal device is enlarged and projected, the pixel size is generally set to be very small, such as several μm to several tens of μm, than the direct-view type liquid crystal device. When the pixel size is reduced, when the display pattern is moved within the display area, the horizontal line at the pattern boundary, that is, the boundary between a pixel to which a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer and a pixel to which a voltage lower than that pixel is applied. It becomes easy to be affected by the electric field. Specifically, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules at the pattern boundary is disturbed by the lateral electric field, so that when the pixel size is reduced, the tailing phenomenon in which the edge of the display pattern is disturbed as the display pattern moves is easily visible. Become.

  As a method for improving such a tailing phenomenon, Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe an effective method in which a lateral electric field strength between adjacent pixels is reduced at a pattern boundary and applied to one of adjacent pixels. A driving method for correcting a typical applied voltage has been proposed.

JP 2011-53390 A JP 2011-53417 A JP 2012-155212 A

  However, in order to suppress the above-described tailing phenomenon, if the ratio of effective correction of the applied voltage is increased, the region including the pixel for which the correction of the applied voltage that is not originally intended to be visually recognized is visually recognized. As a result, the display quality may be deteriorated. In addition, the correction of the applied voltage is affected by the physical properties of the liquid crystal molecules, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, the alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules, and so on, so it is difficult to uniquely determine the correction ratio. In other words, there is a problem that establishment of a method (technique) for improving the above-described tailing phenomenon is desired regardless of the driving method of the liquid crystal layer.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  [Application Example] The liquid crystal device according to this application example is an active drive type liquid crystal device in which the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned substantially perpendicular to the alignment film, and the planar shape of the pixel electrode is a non-rectangular shape It is characterized by being.

In the substantially vertical alignment type liquid crystal device, when the planar shape of the pixel electrode is rectangular, the pixel electrode is arranged in a first direction along the side of the rectangular shape and a second direction intersecting the first direction. When arranged, a lateral electric field is generated between the adjacent pixel electrodes in the first direction and the second direction. When a lateral electric field is generated, a reverse tilt in which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in different directions with respect to the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules that are substantially vertically aligned occurs, and the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed. In the liquid crystal layer, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied is the most stable state (hereinafter referred to as the initial alignment state). When a moving image is displayed, liquid crystal molecules that have been reverse-tilted by a horizontal electric field between adjacent pixel electrodes at the boundary of the display pattern may not easily return to the initial alignment state. The degree of occurrence of such a phenomenon varies depending on the direction in which the display pattern is moved, and the liquid crystal molecules that have been reverse-tilted with the movement of the display pattern remain, and the state in which the orientation is disturbed is subsequently visually recognized. This is called the tailing phenomenon.
According to this application example, since the planar shape of the pixel electrode is non-rectangular, the horizontal electric field is generated in directions other than the first direction and the second direction as compared to the rectangular shape. Will do. Therefore, compared to the first direction and the second direction, there are liquid crystal molecules that are reverse-tilted to return to the initial alignment state in one energetically natural direction, and a tailing phenomenon occurs in moving image display. A difficult liquid crystal device can be provided.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above, the liquid crystal layer is a uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method in which a major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is pretilted in a direction defined by a predetermined azimuth angle when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. Preferably there is.
The initial alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is uniaxial and substantially vertical alignment, so that it is easy to generate reverse tilt due to a lateral electric field. However, according to this configuration, the planar shape of the pixel electrode is made non-rectangular. Occurrence of the tailing phenomenon in the substantially vertical alignment can be effectively suppressed.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example, the planar shape of the pixel electrode is a shape configured by a circle or an arc, and the pixel including the pixel electrode collects light incident on the pixel. It is preferable to provide.
According to this configuration, since the planar shape of the pixel electrode is a circle or an arc, the interval between adjacent pixel electrodes is more diagonal than the interval in the first direction or the second direction in which the pixel electrodes are arranged. The direction spacing is larger. Therefore, the influence of the transverse electric field in the diagonal direction is smaller than in the first direction and the second direction, and the liquid crystal molecules existing between the pixel electrodes in the diagonal direction are tilted in a state close to the initial alignment state. . Therefore, even if a reverse tilt of the liquid crystal molecules occurs due to the lateral electric field, it is affected by the liquid crystal molecules close to the initial alignment state existing between the pixel electrodes in the diagonal direction. Immediately returns to the initial alignment state when the lateral electric field is eliminated.
In addition, in comparison with the case where the planar shape of the pixel electrode is a rectangular shape, the shape of a circle or an arc makes it possible to apply a driving voltage to the liquid crystal layer to control the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules. Although the area is small, it is possible to suppress a decrease in brightness during bright display by providing the light collecting means. That is, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal device capable of suppressing the occurrence of the tailing phenomenon and obtaining a bright display.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example, it is preferable that the light condensing unit is a microlens.
According to this configuration, if the condensing means is a microlens, the planar shape of the microlens can be made to correspond to the planar shape of the pixel electrode, and incident light is efficiently condensed on the region where the pixel electrode is disposed. be able to.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above, each of the plurality of pixel electrodes includes an inclined portion in which at least one corner portion of a rectangular shape is cut off, and projects from at least another corner portion of the rectangular shape. A projecting portion including a side portion parallel to the side portion, and the side portion may be arranged to face the inclined portion of the adjacent pixel electrode.
According to this configuration, even if the pixel electrodes are arranged in the second direction intersecting the first direction with the first direction, the first electrode is disposed between the inclined portion and the protruding portion of the adjacent pixel electrodes. A transverse electric field can be generated in a third direction that intersects the direction and the second direction. According to the lateral electric field generated in the third direction, the reverse tilted liquid crystal molecules can be easily returned to the initial alignment state, and the tailing phenomenon hardly occurs.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above, it may include a signal line disposed between adjacent pixel electrodes, and the signal line may have a portion bent along the inclined portion and the protruding portion. preferable.
According to this configuration, the pixel electrodes are arranged in the second direction intersecting the first direction and the first direction, and the signal lines are arranged in the first direction or the second direction between the adjacent pixel electrodes. Compared with the case of extending, the signal lines are arranged so as to fill in the space between the adjacent pixel electrodes, so that the disorder of the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules due to the horizontal electric field between the adjacent pixel electrodes is not visually recognized. That is, it is possible to make the tailing phenomenon in the moving image display more difficult to visually recognize.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above, it is preferable that an inclination angle of the inclined portion is less than 45 degrees.
According to this configuration, for example, when the pair of polarizing elements arranged with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween is crossed Nicols (orthogonal) in order to make the optical design of the liquid crystal device normally black, the light incident on the pixels is Even if the polarization state of the light reflected by the inclined portion and transmitted through the liquid crystal layer partially changes, the inclination angle of the inclined portion is less than 45 degrees, so that light leakage due to the reflected light can be suppressed.

In the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above, a video signal designating an applied voltage of the liquid crystal layer is input to each pixel including the pixel electrode, and the applied voltage designated by the video signal is lower than a first voltage. A boundary between one pixel and a second pixel whose applied voltage is greater than or equal to a second voltage greater than the first voltage is detected, and a first pixel electrode of the first pixel and a second pixel of the second pixel It is preferable that the applied voltage of the first pixel and / or the second pixel is corrected and driven so that a lateral electric field generated between the electrodes is small.
According to this, compared with the case where the planar shape of the pixel electrode is rectangular, the liquid crystal molecules reverse tilted by the horizontal electric field are more likely to return to the initial alignment state, so that the applied voltage of the first pixel and / or the second pixel The amount of correction can be reduced. That is, the tailing phenomenon in moving image display can be further reduced.

[Application Example] An electronic apparatus according to this application example includes the liquid crystal device according to the application example described above.
According to this application example, it is possible to provide an electronic device that hardly causes a tailing phenomenon in moving image display and has excellent display quality.

1 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the liquid crystal device along the line A-A ′ of FIG. 1. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecule in a liquid-crystal layer, (b) is a schematic plan view which shows the azimuth in the orientation process of a liquid crystal molecule. The schematic plan view which shows arrangement | positioning of the pixel electrode in a pixel. (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the tailing phenomenon in case the azimuth in the pretilt of a liquid crystal molecule is larger than 45 degree | times. (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the tailing phenomenon in case the azimuth | direction angle in the pretilt of a liquid crystal molecule is smaller than 45 degree | times. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the suppression effect of the tailing phenomenon by the pixel electrode of 1st Embodiment. (A) is a schematic plan view which shows arrangement | positioning and a structure of the pixel in the liquid crystal device of 2nd Embodiment, (b) is an enlarged view which shows the planar shape of a pixel electrode. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the suppression effect of the tailing phenomenon by the pixel electrode of 2nd Embodiment. Schematic which shows the structure of the projection type display apparatus as an electronic device. (A) And (b) is a schematic plan view which shows the shape of the pixel electrode of a modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings to be used are appropriately enlarged or reduced so that the part to be described can be recognized.

(First embodiment)
<Liquid crystal device>
As an example of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, an active matrix type liquid crystal device including a thin film transistor (TFT) as a pixel switching element will be described. This liquid crystal device can be suitably used, for example, as a light modulation element (liquid crystal light valve) of a projection display device (liquid crystal projector) described later.

  First, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing the electrical configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an AA of FIG. 4 'is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the liquid crystal device along the line, FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, and FIG. 4 (b) is an azimuth angle in the alignment treatment of the liquid crystal molecules. It is a schematic plan view shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the liquid crystal device 100 according to the present embodiment includes an element substrate 20 and a counter substrate 30 that are disposed to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 40 that is disposed between the element substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30. have. As shown in FIG. 1, the element substrate 20 is slightly larger than the counter substrate 30, and the two substrates are bonded together via a sealing material 42 arranged in a frame shape along the outer edge of the counter substrate 30.

  The liquid crystal layer 40 is composed of liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy enclosed in a space surrounded by the element substrate 20, the counter substrate 30, and the sealing material 42. The sealing material 42 is made of an adhesive such as a thermosetting or ultraviolet curable epoxy resin. Spacers (not shown) are mixed in the sealing material 42 to keep the distance between the element substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30 constant.

  A display region E including a plurality of pixels P arranged in a matrix is provided inside the sealing material 42 arranged in a frame shape. Further, a parting portion 14 is provided between the sealing material 42 and the display area E so as to surround the display area E. The parting portion 14 is defined by a first light shielding layer 22, a second light shielding layer 26, and a light shielding film 32 made of a light shielding metal or metal compound described later. Note that the display area E may include dummy pixels arranged so as to surround the plurality of pixels P in addition to the plurality of pixels P contributing to display. In addition, as will be described in detail later, a microlens ML1 as a light condensing unit arranged for each of the plurality of pixels P in the display region E is provided on the counter substrate 30 (see FIG. 3).

  The element substrate 20 is provided with a terminal portion in which a plurality of external connection terminals 54 are arranged. A data line driving circuit 51 is provided between the first side portion along the terminal portion of the element substrate 20 and the sealing material 42. In addition, an inspection circuit 53 is provided between the sealing material 42 and the display area E along the second side facing the first side. Further, a scanning line driving circuit 52 is provided between the seal material 42 and the display area E along the third and fourth sides that are orthogonal to the first side and face each other. A plurality of wirings 55 that connect the two scanning line driving circuits 52 are provided between the sealing material 42 on the second side and the inspection circuit 53. The arrangement of the inspection circuit 53 is not limited to this, and the inspection circuit 53 may be provided at a position along the inner side of the seal material 42 between the data line driving circuit 51 and the display area E.

  Wirings connected to the data line driving circuit 51 and the scanning line driving circuit 52 are connected to a plurality of external connection terminals 54 arranged along the first side. In the following description, the direction along the first side is defined as the X direction, and the direction along the third side is defined as the Y direction. The direction along the line A-A ′ in FIG. 1 is the X direction. A direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction and going from the element substrate 20 toward the counter substrate 30 is defined as a Z direction. In this specification, viewing from the surface 11b (see FIG. 3) side of the counter substrate 30 along the Z direction is referred to as “plan view”.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal device 100 includes a plurality of scanning lines 2 and a plurality of data lines 3 as signal wirings that are insulated and orthogonal to each other at least in the display region E, and capacitance lines 4 arranged in parallel along the scanning lines 2. . The direction in which the scanning line 2 extends is the X direction, and the direction in which the data line 3 extends is the Y direction.

  A pixel electrode 28, a TFT 24, and a storage capacitor 5 are provided in a region divided by the scanning line 2, the data line 3, the capacitor line 4, and these signal lines, and these constitute a pixel circuit of the pixel P. doing.

  The scanning line 2 is electrically connected to the gate of the TFT 24, and the data line 3 is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 24. The pixel electrode 28 is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 24.

  The data line 3 is connected to a data line driving circuit 51 (see FIG. 1), and supplies image signals D1, D2,..., Dn supplied from the data line driving circuit 51 to the pixels P. The scanning lines 2 are connected to a scanning line driving circuit 52 (see FIG. 1), and supply scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm supplied from the scanning line driving circuit 52 to the pixels P.

  The image signals D1 to Dn supplied from the data line driving circuit 51 to the data lines 3 may be supplied line-sequentially in this order, or may be supplied for each of a plurality of adjacent data lines 3 for each group. Good. The scanning line driving circuit 52 supplies the scanning signals G1 to Gm to the scanning line 2 in a pulse-sequential manner at a predetermined timing.

  In the liquid crystal device 100, the TFT 24, which is a switching element, is turned on for a certain period by the input of the scanning signals G1 to Gm, so that the image signals D1 to Dn supplied from the data line 3 are at the predetermined timing. It is the structure written in. A predetermined level of the image signals D1 to Dn written to the liquid crystal layer 40 via the pixel electrode 28 is between the pixel electrode 28 and the common electrode 34 (see FIG. 3) disposed opposite to the liquid crystal layer 40. Is held for a certain period. The frequency of the image signals D1 to Dn is 60 Hz, for example.

  In order to prevent the held image signals D1 to Dn from leaking, the storage capacitor 5 is connected in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 28 and the common electrode 34. The storage capacitor 5 is provided between the drain of the TFT 24 and the capacitor line 4.

  The data line 3 is connected to the inspection circuit 53 shown in FIG. 1, and the operation defect of the liquid crystal device 100 can be confirmed by detecting the image signal in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device 100. Although not shown in the equivalent circuit of FIG.

  The peripheral circuit for driving and controlling the pixel circuit in the present embodiment includes a data line driving circuit 51, a scanning line driving circuit 52, and an inspection circuit 53. The peripheral circuit includes a sampling circuit that samples the image signal and supplies it to the data line 3, and a precharge circuit that supplies a precharge signal of a predetermined voltage level to the data line 3 prior to the image signal. Also good.

  Next, the structure of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the element substrate 20 includes a translucent substrate body 21, a first light shielding layer 22, an insulating film 23, a TFT 24, and a first interlayer insulating film provided on the substrate body 21. 25, a second light shielding layer 26, a second interlayer insulating film 27, a pixel electrode 28, and an alignment film 29. The substrate body 21 is made of a light transmissive material such as glass or quartz.

The first light shielding layer 22 and the second light shielding layer 26 are made of, for example, metals such as Al (aluminum), Ti (titanium), Cr (chromium), W (tungsten), Ta (tantalum), and Mo (molybdenum). A metal simple substance including at least one, an alloy, a metal silicide, a polysilicide, a nitride, or a laminate thereof can be used, and has both light shielding properties and conductivity.
The first light shielding layer 22 is formed in a lattice shape so as to overlap the upper second light shielding layer 26 in plan view, and is arranged so as to sandwich the TFT 24 in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the element substrate 20. Has been. Incidence of light to the TFT 24 is suppressed by the first light shielding layer 22 and the second light shielding layer 26. A region surrounded by the first light shielding layer 22 and the second light shielding layer 26 (inside the opening portions 22a and 26a) is an opening region (pixel opening portion) through which light passes through the element substrate 20.

The insulating film 23 is provided so as to cover the substrate body 21 and the first light shielding layer 22. The insulating film 23 is made of an inorganic material such as SiO ₂ . The TFT 24 is provided on the insulating film 23. Although not shown, the TFT 24 has a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode.

The gate electrode is disposed opposite to a region overlapping the channel region of the semiconductor layer in plan view on the element substrate 20 via a part (gate insulating film) of the first interlayer insulating film 25.
The first light shielding layer 22 is patterned so that a part thereof functions as the scanning line 2 (see FIG. 2). The gate electrode is electrically connected to the scanning line 2 disposed on the lower layer side through a contact hole that penetrates the gate insulating film and the insulating film 23.

The first interlayer insulating film 25 is provided so as to cover the insulating film 23 and the TFT 24. The first interlayer insulating film 25 is made of an inorganic material such as SiO ₂ , for example. The first interlayer insulating film 25 includes a gate insulating film that insulates between the semiconductor layer of the TFT 24 and the gate electrode. The first interlayer insulating film 25 alleviates surface irregularities caused by the TFT 24.
A second light shielding layer 26 is provided on the first interlayer insulating film 25. The second light shielding layer 26 is patterned so as to function as any of the electrodes of the data line 3, the capacitor line 4, or the storage capacitor 5 that is electrically connected to the TFT 24. A second interlayer insulating film 27 made of an inorganic material is provided so as to cover the first interlayer insulating film 25 and the second light shielding layer 26.

  The pixel electrode 28 is made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), and is provided on the second interlayer insulating film 27 corresponding to the pixel P. The pixel electrode 28 is disposed in a region overlapping the opening 22 a of the first light shielding layer 22 and the opening 26 a of the second light shielding layer 26 in plan view.

  For the alignment film 29 covering the pixel electrode 28, an inorganic material such as silicon oxide capable of approximately vertically aligning liquid crystals (liquid crystal molecules) having negative dielectric anisotropy can be used.

  The liquid crystal constituting the liquid crystal layer 40 modulates the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 40 by changing the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules according to the voltage level applied between the pixel electrode 28 and the common electrode 34, and the gradation Enable display. For example, in the normally white mode, the transmittance for incident light decreases according to the voltage applied in units of each pixel P. In the normally black mode, the transmittance for incident light increases according to the voltage applied in units of each pixel P, and light having a contrast corresponding to an image signal is emitted from the liquid crystal device 100 as a whole. In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal device 100 is configured on the assumption that light enters from the counter substrate 30 side, passes through the liquid crystal layer 40, and is emitted from the element substrate 20 side.

  The counter substrate 30 includes a microlens array substrate 10, a light shielding film 32, a planarization layer 33 that covers the light shielding film 32, a common electrode 34, and an alignment film 35. The microlens array substrate 10 includes a translucent substrate body 11, a lens layer 13 including a microlens ML <b> 1 arranged for each of a plurality of pixels P, and an optical path length adjustment layer 31. Note that the microlens array substrate 10 may not include the optical path length adjustment layer 31. Or it is good also as a structure containing the light shielding film 32, the planarization layer 33, and the common electrode 34. FIG. Further, the light shielding film 32 may be disposed between the lens layer 13 and the optical path length adjusting layer 31. According to this, the planarization layer 33 can be eliminated.

  The substrate body 11 has a plurality of recesses 12 formed on the surface 11a on the liquid crystal layer 40 side opposite to the surface 11b on which light is incident. Each recess 12 is provided corresponding to each pixel P. The bottom part (center part) of the recessed part 12 is formed in a flat state, and constitutes the flat part 12a among the lens surfaces of the microlens ML1. Hereinafter, the recess 12 may be referred to as the lens surface 12. The substrate body 11 is made of a light transmissive material such as glass or quartz.

The lens layer 13 includes a plurality of microlenses ML <b> 1 formed by filling a plurality of concave portions 12 formed corresponding to the plurality of pixels P on the surface 11 a side of the substrate body 11. The lens layer 13 is made of an inorganic lens material that has optical transparency and a refractive index n higher than that of the substrate body 11. For example, if the substrate body 11 is a quartz substrate having a refractive index n of approximately 1.46, the lens material constituting the lens layer 13 is SiON (refractive index n = 1.50 to 1.70), Al _2. And O ₃ (refractive index n = 1.76). The refractive index n depends on the wavelength of light transmitted through the substrate body 11 and the lens layer 13.

  As described above, the microlens ML1 having the flat portion 12a is formed by selectively etching one surface 11a of the substrate body 11 to form the recess 12 and filling the recess 12 with the lens material described above. . In addition, a microlens array MLA is configured by the plurality of microlenses ML1.

  An optical path length adjustment layer 31 is provided so as to cover the surface 13a of the lens layer 13. The optical path length adjusting layer 31 is light transmissive, and is made of, for example, an inorganic material having substantially the same refractive index n as that of the substrate body 11. The optical path length adjusting layer 31 is provided so as to flatten the surface of the microlens array substrate 10 facing the liquid crystal layer 40 and to focus the light collected by the microlens ML1 at a desired position. Yes. Therefore, the layer thickness of the optical path length adjustment layer 31 is appropriately set based on optical conditions such as the focal length of the microlens ML1 corresponding to the wavelength of light.

  A light shielding film 32 is provided on the flat surface of the optical path length adjusting layer 31 that covers the side of the lens layer 13 opposite to the microlens ML1. The light shielding film 32 is provided in a peripheral region surrounding the display region E where the plurality of microlenses ML1 are provided, and constitutes the parting section 14.

  The light-shielding film 32 is made of, for example, a light-shielding material such as Al (aluminum), Mo (molybdenum), W (tungsten), Ti (titanium), TiN (titanium nitride), or Cr (chromium), or these materials. It can be composed of a laminate of at least two materials selected from the inside. Although detailed illustration is omitted in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the light shielding film 32 includes two layers of Al (aluminum) and TiN (titanium nitride) that are sequentially stacked from the surface side of the optical path length adjustment layer 31. It has a structure.

  A common electrode 34 is provided so as to cover the planarization layer 33. The common electrode 34 is a counter electrode that is formed across a plurality of pixels P and faces the pixel electrode 28 with the liquid crystal layer 40 interposed therebetween. As the common electrode 34, for example, a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide) is used. Since the common electrode 34 is disposed to face the plurality of pixel electrodes 28 with the liquid crystal layer 40 interposed therebetween, the surface of the common electrode 34 must be flat in order to realize desired optical characteristics for each pixel P. Is preferred. The common electrode 34 is electrically connected to the wiring connected to the external connection terminal 54 of the element substrate 20 through the vertical conduction portion 56 provided at the corner of the counter substrate 30 (see FIG. 1).

  An alignment film 35 is provided to cover the common electrode 34. Similar to the alignment film 29 on the element substrate 20 side, the alignment film 35 is formed using an inorganic material such as silicon oxide, for example. As described above, the material selection and alignment processing methods of the alignment films 29 and 35 depend on the selection of liquid crystal based on the optical design of the liquid crystal device 100 and the display mode.

  In the liquid crystal device 100, light enters from the side of the counter substrate 30 (the surface 11b of the substrate body 11) provided with the microlens ML1, and is collected for each pixel P by the microlens ML1. For example, of the light incident on the microlens ML1 from the surface 11b side of the substrate body 11, the incident light L1 incident along the optical axis passing through the planar center of the pixel P passes through the flat portion 12a of the microlens ML1. As it goes straight, it passes through the liquid crystal layer 40 and is emitted to the element substrate 20 side.

  Incident light L2 that has entered the periphery of the flat portion 12a of the microlens ML1 outside the incident light L1 is refracted toward the planar center of the pixel P due to the difference in refractive index n between the substrate body 11 and the lens layer 13. To do. If the incident light L2 goes straight as it is, it may be slightly refracted by passing through the liquid crystal layer 40 or the element substrate 20, and may be incident on the second light shielding layer 26 (or the first light shielding layer 22) to be shielded. is there.

  In the liquid crystal device 100, the incident light L2, which may be shielded by the second light shielding layer 26 (or the first light shielding layer 22) in this way, passes through the liquid crystal layer 40 by the condensing action of the microlens ML1. 2 The light can enter the opening 26 a of the light shielding layer 26 (or the opening 22 a of the first light shielding layer 22). As a result, since the amount of light emitted from the element substrate 20 side can be increased, the light utilization efficiency can be increased. In this embodiment, since light is incident from the counter substrate 30 side, the microlens ML1 is provided on the counter substrate 30 side. However, light is incident from the element substrate 20 side, and the microlens ML1 is disposed on the element substrate 20 side. It is good also as a structure to provide.

  Next, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, in explaining the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules, the electrical configuration of the TFT 24 and the like in the element substrate 20 and the configuration of the microlens ML1 and the like in the counter substrate 30 are not shown.

  The liquid crystal layer 40 in the liquid crystal device 100 of the present embodiment employs a liquid crystal molecule alignment method called a VA (Vertical Alignment) method. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the orientation obtained by obliquely depositing silicon oxide on the surface of the pixel electrode 28 in the liquid crystal device 100 by a vacuum deposition method which is an example of a vapor phase growth method. A film 29 is formed. By oblique deposition, a silicon oxide crystal grows in a columnar shape toward the deposition direction on the substrate surface. This columnar crystal is referred to as column 29a. The alignment film 29 is an aggregate of such columns 29a. Similarly, the alignment film 35 covering the surface of the common electrode 34 in the liquid crystal device 100 is also an assembly of columns 35a.

On the surfaces of the alignment films 29 and 35, the liquid crystal molecules LC having negative dielectric anisotropy have a pretilt angle (tilt angle) θp of about 3 to 5 degrees with respect to the normal line of the substrate surface. Are approximately vertically aligned. In addition, the pretilt direction, that is, the tilt direction for tilting the liquid crystal molecules LC is the same as the planar deposition direction of the oblique deposition in the alignment films 29 and 35.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the tilt direction of the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the display region E is set so that the azimuth angle θa made with the Y direction is 45 degrees. An arrow direction indicated by a broken line is a direction of oblique deposition with respect to the element substrate 20 and is a direction from the upper right to the lower left. On the other hand, the arrow direction indicated by the solid line is the direction of oblique deposition with respect to the counter substrate 30, and is the direction from the lower left to the upper right. The tilt direction of the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the display region E is appropriately set based on the optical design conditions of the liquid crystal device 100.

Next, electrical driving of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
A device including the element substrate 20 and the counter substrate 30 arranged to face each other and the liquid crystal layer 40 sandwiched between the pair of substrates is referred to as a liquid crystal panel 110. The liquid crystal device 100 is used with polarizing elements 81 and 82 disposed on the light incident side and the light exit side of the liquid crystal panel 110, respectively. Further, the polarizing elements 81 and 82 are such that the transmission axis or absorption axis of one of the polarizing elements 81 and 82 is parallel to the X direction or the Y direction, and the transmission axes or absorption axes thereof are orthogonal to each other. In this manner, the liquid crystal panel 110 is disposed.

In the present embodiment, a substantially vertical alignment process is performed in the display region E so that the azimuth angle θa of the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules LC intersects the transmission axes or absorption axes of the polarizing elements 81 and 82 at 45 degrees. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the liquid crystal layer 40 is driven by applying a drive voltage between the pixel electrode 28 and the common electrode 34, the liquid crystal molecules LC are tilted in the tilt direction of the pretilt, resulting in high transmission. It is an optical arrangement that provides a good rate.
When driving (ON / OFF) of the liquid crystal layer 40 is repeated, the liquid crystal molecules LC repeatedly behave in such a manner as to fall in the pretilt tilt direction or return to the initial alignment state. Such a substantially vertical alignment treatment in which the behavior of the liquid crystal molecules LC occurs is referred to as a uniaxial substantially vertical alignment treatment.

  The liquid crystal device 100 may include an optical compensation element such as a retardation plate on the light incident side or the light exit side of the liquid crystal panel 110.

Next, the arrangement of the pixel electrode 28 in the pixel P will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of pixel electrodes in a pixel.
As shown in FIG. 5, each of the plurality of pixels P is partitioned by a light shielding region 15 extending in a lattice shape in the X direction and the Y direction in plan view. The intersecting portion of the lattice-shaped light shielding region 15 is an expanded portion 15a whose width is expanded as compared with other portions. A portion surrounded by the light shielding region 15 for each pixel P is an opening region (pixel opening) 16 through which light is transmitted. A protruding portion 15 b that slightly protrudes toward the opening region 16 is provided at a portion extending in the X direction of the light shielding region 15.
Such a light shielding region 15 is configured by the first light shielding layer 22 and the second light shielding layer 26 provided on the substrate body 11 as described above. That is, the opening region 16 is defined by the openings 22a and 26a. A TFT 24 is disposed in a portion of the light shielding region 15 that overlaps the extended portion 15a. A contact portion 17 that electrically connects the pixel electrode 28 and the TFT 24 is provided at a portion of the light shielding region 15 that overlaps the protruding portion 15b.

The pixel electrode 28 has a circular shape in plan view and is disposed so as to overlap the opening region 16. Further, a part of the outer edge of the pixel electrode 28 is disposed so as to overlap with a portion of the light shielding region 15 extending in the X direction and the Y direction. A part of the outer edge of the pixel electrode 28 is disposed so as to overlap the contact portion 17, whereby the pixel electrode 28 and the contact portion 17 are electrically connected.
If the pixel electrode 28 has a connection portion that overlaps with the contact portion 17, the outer edge other than the connection portion of the pixel electrode 28 does not necessarily overlap the portion extending in the X direction and the Y direction of the light shielding region 15. May be. In other words, the planar shape of the pixel electrode 28 may be a substantially circular shape having a connection portion, and the outer edge of the circular portion of the pixel electrode 28 may be disposed inside the opening region 16.

Next, an example of the tailing phenomenon in moving image display will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic views for explaining the tailing phenomenon when the azimuth angle in the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules is larger than 45 degrees, and FIGS. 7A to 7C are the pretilts of the liquid crystal molecules. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the tailing phenomenon in case the azimuth angle in is smaller than 45 degree | times.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example in which pixel electrodes having a square planar shape are arranged in the X direction and the Y direction in the display region. The liquid crystal molecules are schematically shown as cylinders for easy understanding of the pretilt direction. The pretilt state of the liquid crystal molecules is the state when viewed from the element substrate 20 side. In the cylinder showing the liquid crystal molecules, one indicated by a circle is directed toward the element substrate 20 side. Further, in order to represent the coordinates of the pixels P arranged in the X direction and the Y direction, a number is appended after the symbol P indicating the pixel. For example, P11 indicates the pixel in the first row and the first column, and P21 indicates the pixel P in the second row and the first column.

The optical design in the liquid crystal device is set to a normally black mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the pixels P12 to P15, the pixels P23 to P25, and the pixel P35 are turned off to display dark display (black display). ), And other pixels P are turned on (ON) to make bright display (white display). The bright display (white display) includes not only a complete ON state but also a halftone.
In the bright display (white display) pixel P22, a horizontal electric field is generated at the boundary between the pixel P23 adjacent in the row direction (X direction) and the pixel P12 adjacent in the column direction (Y direction). In this way, the pixel P22 that is affected by the lateral electric field in the two directions of the X direction and the Y direction is referred to as a single connected pixel.
On the other hand, in the bright display (white display) pixel P33 and the pixel P34 adjacent in the row direction, the lateral electric field generated at the boundary between the pixel P23 and the pixel P24 adjacent in the column direction (Y direction) is dominant. In this way, the pixel P33 and the pixel P34 that are predominantly affected by the horizontal electric field in the Y direction are referred to as horizontal two-connected pixels.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the pixels P13 to P15, the pixels P23 to P25, the pixels P34 to P35, and the pixel P45 are turned off to make dark display (black display), etc. The pixel P is turned on (ON) to make a bright display (white display).
In this case, the pixel P33 is a single connected pixel. On the other hand, in the bright display (white display) pixels P12 and P22 adjacent in the column direction, the lateral electric field generated at the boundary between the pixels P13 and P23 adjacent in the row direction (X direction) is dominant. In this manner, the pixel P12 and the pixel P22 that are dominantly affected by the horizontal electric field in the X direction are referred to as vertically connected pixels.

As shown in FIG. 6C, in the uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method (VA method), when the azimuth angle θa of the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state is larger than 45 degrees, reverse tilt is caused by the lateral electric field. It is energetically natural that the liquid crystal molecules (hereinafter given RLC as a reference) return to the initial alignment state clockwise.
In the pixel P22 of one connected pixel shown in FIG. 6A and the pixel P33 of one connected pixel shown in FIG. 6B, for example, the display pattern is moved (scrolled) in the Y direction and received from two directions. When the transverse electric field is no longer generated, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted return to the initial state clockwise. On the other hand, in the pixels P33 and P34 of the two horizontally connected pixels shown in FIG. 6A, for example, when the display pattern is moved (scrolled) in the Y direction, a lateral electric field dominant in the Y direction is not generated. The liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted try to return to the initial state counterclockwise. Accordingly, in the region extending in the Y direction indicated by the symbol B in FIG. 6A, which is the boundary between the one connected pixel and the horizontal two connected pixels, the reverse tilted liquid crystal molecules RLC return to the initial alignment state in different directions. The tailing phenomenon is visually recognized in the state where the orientation is disturbed due to the attempt.

  On the other hand, when the display pattern is moved (scrolled) in the Y direction and no lateral electric field dominant in the X direction is generated in the pixels P12 and P22 of the vertically connected pixels shown in FIG. The liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been made attempt to return to the initial state clockwise. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6B, the alignment disorder occurs because the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted return to the initial alignment state in the clockwise direction at the boundary between the two vertically connected pixels and the 1 connected pixel. hard. In other words, the liquid crystal molecules RLC return to the initial alignment state smoothly (smoothly).

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7C, in the uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method (VA method), when the azimuth angle θa of the pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state is smaller than 45 degrees, It is energetically natural that the liquid crystal molecules RLC that are reversely tilted by the rotation return to the initial alignment state counterclockwise.
Then, the optical design in the liquid crystal device is set to a normally black mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the pixel P12 to the pixel P15, the pixel P23 to the pixel P25, and the pixel P35 as shown in FIG. Is turned off (OFF) for dark display (black display), and other pixels P are turned on (ON) for bright display (white display). When such a display pattern is scrolled in the Y direction, for example, in the pixel P22 of one connected pixel, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted due to the disappearance of the lateral electric field from the two directions return to the initial alignment state counterclockwise. Return. Similarly, in the pixels P33 and P34 of the two horizontally connected pixels, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted with the disappearance of the transverse electric field dominant in the Y direction return to the initial alignment state counterclockwise. Therefore, since the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted return to the initial alignment state in the same direction at the boundary between the one connected pixel and the two horizontally connected pixels, the alignment is not disturbed.

  On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the pixels P13 to P15, the pixels P23 to P25, the pixels P34 to P35, and the pixel P45 are turned off as shown in FIG. 6B. Then, dark display (black display) is performed, and other pixels P are turned on (ON) to perform bright display (white display). When such a display pattern is scrolled in the Y direction, for example, in the pixel P33 of one connected pixel, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted due to the disappearance of the lateral electric field from the two directions return to the initial alignment state counterclockwise. Return. In the pixel P12 and the pixel P22 of the two vertically connected pixels, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted with the disappearance of the lateral electric field dominant in the X direction return to the initial alignment state clockwise. Therefore, in the region extending in the Y direction indicated by the symbol C in FIG. 7B, which is the boundary between the vertical two connected pixels and the one connected pixel, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted attempt to return to the initial alignment state in different directions. Therefore, the tailing phenomenon is visually recognized since the disorder of the alignment is delayed after returning to the initial alignment state.

  The tailing phenomenon when the planar shape of the pixel electrode is rectangular is summarized as follows. The liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted by the horizontal electric field between the dark display (black display) pixel P and the bright display (white display) pixel P return to the initial alignment state in the moving image display that moves the display pattern. The direction is defined as the relaxation direction. As described above, the relaxation direction of one connected pixel that is affected by the lateral electric field from the two directions of the X direction and the Y direction is determined by the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC during the initial alignment. As described above, the relaxation direction in the two connected pixels in the horizontal or vertical direction is affected by the lateral electric field that is dominant in either the X direction or the Y direction, so that it does not depend on the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment. This is determined by the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecule RLC that has been reverse tilted. In the region where the relaxation direction of the 1-connected pixel is different from the relaxation direction of the 2-connected pixel (the B region or the C region), the relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted to return to the initial alignment state is delayed. The tailing phenomenon is visually recognized following the disordered alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.

  6 and 7, the case where the pretilt azimuth angle θa of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state is larger than 45 degrees and the case where it is smaller than 45 degrees has been described. This is because in manufacturing a liquid crystal device, it is necessary to define the direction in which the inorganic alignment film material is obliquely vapor-deposited in order to achieve uniaxial substantially vertical alignment. It is assumed that the azimuth angle θa varies due to variations.

  In the liquid crystal device 100 of the present embodiment, the above-described tailing phenomenon is improved by making the planar shape of the pixel electrode 28 circular. Hereinafter, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the effect of suppressing the tailing phenomenon by the pixel electrode of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, when the optical design of the liquid crystal device is a normally black mode, the pixel P selected based on the video information and having become bright display (white display) will be referred to as white pixel P, and non-selected dark display (black display). The pixel P that is displayed) is called a black pixel P. As described above, the white pixel P is a concept including a halftone.

The optical design in the liquid crystal device 100 is set to a normally black mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the pixels P12 to P15, the pixels P23 to P25, and the pixels P35 are not selected as shown in FIG. A black pixel P is selected, and another pixel P is selected as a white pixel P. In the pixel P22 of one connected pixel, a horizontal electric field is generated in the X direction between the pixel P23 and a horizontal electric field is generated in the Y direction between the pixel P12. In the two connected pixels P33 and P34, a lateral electric field dominant in the Y direction is generated between the pixel P23 and the pixel P24. On the other hand, since the pixel electrode 28 of the present embodiment has a circular planar shape, the pixel electrode 28 in the diagonal direction intersecting the X direction and the Y direction has a square shape (rectangular shape). ) Is greater than Accordingly, in the diagonal direction that matches the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state, the intensity of the lateral electric field is reduced as compared with the case where the pixel electrode is square (rectangular). Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules LC between the pixel electrodes 28 in the diagonal direction are tilted in a state close to the initial alignment state. When such a display pattern is scrolled in the Y direction, for example, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted in different directions in the pixel P22 that is one connected pixel and the pixels P33 and 34 that are two horizontally connected pixels are Since the liquid crystal molecules LC are tilted in a state close to the initial alignment state existing between the pixel electrodes 28 in the liquid crystal molecules 28, the liquid crystal molecules RLC quickly return to the initial alignment state.
As shown in FIG. 6B and FIG. 7B, even in the case of two vertically connected pixels, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted similarly by making the pixel electrode 28 circular are quickly brought into the initial alignment state. Return to. That is, since the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted by the lateral electric field quickly return to the initial alignment state, the tailing phenomenon in moving image display is less likely to occur.

The effects of the first embodiment are as follows.
(1) The liquid crystal device 100 employs a uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method (VA method) in the initial alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules LC, and the planar shape of the pixel electrodes 28 arranged in the X direction and the Y direction is rectangular. It is not a circle. Therefore, the interval between the pixel electrodes 28 adjacent in the diagonal direction is larger than the minimum interval between the pixel electrodes 28 adjacent in the X direction and the Y direction, and is hardly affected by the lateral electric field. Therefore, even if a horizontal electric field is generated, the liquid crystal molecules LC between the pixel electrodes 28 adjacent in the diagonal direction are tilted in a state close to the initial alignment state. The liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted by the transverse electric field quickly return to the initial alignment state.
In addition, by making the planar shape of the pixel electrode 28 circular, a region for modulating light incident on the pixel P is smaller than that in the case where the pixel electrode is square, but the region on the light incident side of the pixel P is microscopic. A lens ML1 is disposed. Therefore, since the light incident on the pixel P is collected by the microlens ML1, it is possible to provide the liquid crystal device 100 capable of bright display while suppressing the tailing phenomenon in the moving image display.

(Second Embodiment)
<Liquid crystal device>
Next, a liquid crystal device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement and configuration of pixels in the liquid crystal device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged view showing the planar shape of the pixel electrodes. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the effect of suppressing the tailing phenomenon by the pixel electrode of the second embodiment.
The liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment is different from the liquid crystal device 100 according to the first embodiment in that the planar shape of the pixel electrodes and the arrangement of signal lines are different. Accordingly, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The liquid crystal device 200 according to the present embodiment employs a uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method (VA method), similarly to the liquid crystal device 100 according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules LC are pretilted in a direction in which the azimuth angle θa is 45 degrees with respect to the Y direction (see FIG. 4B).
As shown in FIG. 9A, the pixels P in the liquid crystal device 200 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X direction and the Y direction. The pixel P is provided with a non-rectangular pixel electrode 28A.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the planar shape of the pixel electrode 28A has an inclined portion 28Ac with a square corner portion cut off, and an overhang portion 28Ad including a side portion 28Ae parallel to the inclined portion 28Ac. doing. In the drawing, the inclined portion 28Ac is located at the lower right of the pixel electrode 28A, and the side portion 28Ae is located at the upper right. That is, in the pixel electrode 28A, the side portion facing in the X direction is a straight line extending in the Y direction, but the side portion facing in the Y direction extends in the X direction and is bent in the Y direction. The inclination angle θb of the inclined portion 28Ac and the side portion 28Ae with respect to the outer edge extending in the X direction of the pixel electrode 28A is smaller than the azimuth angle θa of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state. That is, the inclination angle θb is preferably less than 45 degrees, and in this case, it is set to 15 degrees. In addition, the length d2 in the X direction of the inclined portion 28Ac and the overhanging portion 28Ad is preferably d1 / 2 (half of d1) or more with respect to the length d1 in the X direction of the pixel electrode 28A.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the scanning line 2A extending in the X direction has a portion bent along the inclined portion 28Ac and the overhanging portion 28Ad between the pixel electrodes 28A adjacent in the Y direction. ing. The data line 3 extends in the Y direction so as to be orthogonal to the scanning line 2A between the pixel electrodes 28A adjacent in the X direction. That is, the scanning line 2A is provided so as to overlap with the outer edge extending in the X direction of the pixel electrode 28A, and the data line 3 is provided so as to overlap with the outer edge extending in the Y direction of the pixel electrode 28A.

  In such a liquid crystal device 200, the optical design is set to a normally black mode, and as shown in FIG. 10, the pixels P11 to P13 and the pixels P22 to P23 are set to non-selected black pixels P, and other pixels P are selected. The white pixel P is displayed. In the pixel P21 which is one connected pixel, a horizontal electric field is generated between the pixel P11 and the pixel P22 which are black pixels P. The lateral electric field is generated in the X direction (first direction), the Y direction (second direction), and the third direction between the inclined portion 28Ac and the overhang portion 28Ad. The relaxation direction of the liquid crystal molecules RLC that has been reverse tilted by the lateral electric field in the third direction is one direction that is energetically natural with respect to the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state. The liquid crystal molecules RLC reverse tilted by a lateral electric field in a direction other than the third direction are also relaxed in one direction that is naturally energetically affected by the liquid crystal molecules RLC that are relaxed in one direction that is energetically natural. Is done. Therefore, the trailing phenomenon in the moving image display is unlikely to occur.

The effects of the second embodiment are as follows.
(1) The initial alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules LC is a uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method, and the pixel electrode 28A arranged in the X direction and the Y direction in the display region E is inclined with a rectangular corner cut off. It has a non-rectangular shape having a portion 28Ac and an overhanging portion 28Ad including a side portion 28Ae parallel to the inclined portion 28Ac. Therefore, a transverse electric field in a third direction different from the X direction and the Y direction is generated between the inclined portion 28Ac and the side portion 28Ae. The relaxation direction of the liquid crystal molecules RLC that has been reverse tilted by the transverse electric field in the third direction is one direction that is energetically natural with respect to the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state. The liquid crystal device 200 in which the pulling phenomenon is reduced (suppressed) can be provided.
(2) Since the length d2 of the inclined portion 28Ac and the overhanging portion 28Ad in the X direction is set to be more than half of the length d1 with respect to the length d1 of the pixel electrode 28A in the X direction, The lateral electric field in the third direction becomes dominant with respect to the direction, and the liquid crystal molecules RLC reverse tilted by the lateral electric field return to the initial state smoothly (smoothly).
(3) In the pixel electrode 28A, the inclination angle θb of the inclined portion 28Ac and the side portion 28Ae of the overhanging portion 28Ad is smaller than the pretilt azimuth angle θa (45 degrees) of the liquid crystal molecules LC in the initial alignment state. Therefore, even if the light (polarized light) incident on the pixel P is reflected by the inclined portion 28Ac or the side portion 28Ae of the pixel electrode 28A and the polarization state of the light (polarized light) transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 40 is partially disturbed, Light leakage is unlikely to occur.
(4) The scanning line 2A extending in the X direction, which is an example of a signal line, has a portion bent in the Y direction along the inclined portion 28Ac and the side portion 28Ae. Therefore, as compared with the case where the scanning line 2A is simply extended in the X direction, the scanning line 2A ensures that the liquid crystal molecules are reverse tilted due to the lateral electric field between the inclined portion 28Ac and the side portion 28Ae and the alignment is disturbed. It is possible to make it difficult to see by shading. That is, the tailing phenomenon can be made inconspicuous.

(Third embodiment)
<Electronic equipment>
Next, a projection display device will be described as an example of the electronic apparatus according to the third embodiment with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a projection display device as an electronic apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a projection display apparatus 1000 as an electronic apparatus according to this embodiment includes a polarization illumination apparatus 1100 arranged along the system optical axis L0, and two dichroic mirrors 1104 and 1105 as light separation elements. Three reflection mirrors 1106, 1107, 1108, five relay lenses 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, three transmissive liquid crystal light valves 1210, 1220, 1230 as light modulation means, and a light combining element As a cross dichroic prism 1206 and a projection lens 1207.

  The polarized light illumination device 1100 is generally configured by a lamp unit 1101 as a light source composed of a white light source such as an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp or a halogen lamp, an integrator lens 1102, and a polarization conversion element 1103.

  The dichroic mirror 1104 reflects red light (R) and transmits green light (G) and blue light (B) among the polarized light beams emitted from the polarization illumination device 1100. Another dichroic mirror 1105 reflects the green light (G) transmitted through the dichroic mirror 1104 and transmits the blue light (B).

The red light (R) reflected by the dichroic mirror 1104 is reflected by the reflection mirror 1106 and then enters the liquid crystal light valve 1210 via the relay lens 1205.
Green light (G) reflected by the dichroic mirror 1105 enters the liquid crystal light valve 1220 via the relay lens 1204.
The blue light (B) transmitted through the dichroic mirror 1105 enters the liquid crystal light valve 1230 via a light guide system including three relay lenses 1201, 1202, 1203 and two reflection mirrors 1107, 1108.

  The liquid crystal light valves 1210, 1220, and 1230 are disposed to face the incident surfaces of the cross dichroic prism 1206 for each color light. The color light incident on the liquid crystal light valves 1210, 1220, and 1230 is modulated based on video information (video signal) and emitted toward the cross dichroic prism 1206. In this prism, four right-angle prisms are bonded together, and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects red light and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects blue light are formed in a cross shape on the inner surface thereof. The three color lights are synthesized by these dielectric multilayer films, and the light representing the color image is synthesized. The synthesized light is projected onto the screen 1300 by the projection lens 1207, which is a projection optical system, and the image is enlarged and displayed.

  The liquid crystal light valve 1210 is obtained by applying the liquid crystal device 100 of the first embodiment or the liquid crystal device 200 of the second embodiment described above. A pair of polarizing elements arranged in crossed Nicols are arranged with a gap between the colored light incident side and the emitting side of the liquid crystal device 100 (liquid crystal device 200). The same applies to the other liquid crystal light valves 1220 and 1230.

  According to such a projection display apparatus 1000, since the liquid crystal device 100 or the liquid crystal device 200 is used as the liquid crystal light valves 1210, 1220, and 1230, the tailing phenomenon in moving image display is improved and excellent. A projection display device 1000 having display quality can be provided.

  The electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal device 100 of the first embodiment and the liquid crystal device 200 of the second embodiment can be applied is not limited to the projection display device 1000. For example, a projection type HUD (head-up display), a direct-view type HMD (head-mounted display), an electronic book, a personal computer, a digital still camera, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct-view type video recorder, a car navigation system It can be suitably used as a display unit of an information terminal device such as an electronic notebook or POS.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. Electronic equipment to which the liquid crystal device is applied is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various modifications other than the above embodiment are conceivable. Hereinafter, a modification will be described.

(Modification 1) The shape of the non-rectangular pixel electrode 28 (pixel electrode 28A) is not limited to a circular shape or a shape having an inclined portion 28Ac and an overhanging portion 28Ad. 12A and 12B are schematic plan views showing the shape of the pixel electrode of the modification. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the pixel electrode 28B according to the modified example includes an arc defined by the radius R1 and an overhang portion 28Bd configured by an arc defined by the radius R2 smaller than the radius R1. It is configured. The projecting portion 28Bd is disposed so as to project in the diagonal direction of the pixel P. According to this, since the area where the liquid crystal molecules LC are driven in the pixel P can be increased as compared with the case where the pixel electrode has a circular shape defined by the radius R1, it is possible to prevent light leakage and darkness having excellent contrast. Display and bright display can be realized. In addition, it is preferable to provide the projecting portion 28Bd formed of an arc at a point-symmetrical position with respect to the center of the pixel electrode 28B in terms of smoothly returning the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse tilted to the initial alignment state. . Further, a plurality of projecting portions 28Bd may be arranged so as to project toward the corners of the pixel P.
For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the pixel electrode 28C according to the modification may be a parallelogram. Specifically, the pixel electrode 28C includes a side portion 28Ca that faces each other in the X direction and extends in the Y direction, and a side portion 28Cb that faces each other in the Y direction and is inclined at an inclination angle θb. That is, the pixel electrode 28C has a square portion and a protruding portion 28Cd including a side portion 28Cb that protrudes from the square portion in the Y direction and is inclined at an inclination angle θb smaller than the azimuth angle θa (45 degrees). It may be. According to this, the lateral electric field in the third direction becomes more dominant, and the tailing phenomenon in moving image display can be effectively reduced (suppressed).

  (Modification 2) In the liquid crystal device 100 of the first embodiment and the liquid crystal device 200 of the second embodiment, the microlens ML1 disposed on the light incident side with respect to the pixel P is at the bottom (center). It is not limited to the configuration having the flat portion 12a. The micro lens ML1 may have a hemispherical lens surface. In the liquid crystal device 100 and the liquid crystal device 200, the microlens ML1 is not an essential component. For example, it is good also as a structure provided with a prism etc. as a condensing means.

  (Modification 3) In the liquid crystal device 200 of the second embodiment, the side where the inclined portion 28Ac and the overhanging portion 28Ad are provided may not be a side extending in the X direction. For example, a side portion extending in the Y direction may be used. Correspondingly, the data line 3 as a signal line may be bent.

  (Modification 4) The liquid crystal device 100 (or the liquid crystal device 200) to which the pixel electrode 28 (or pixel electrode 28A) of the above-described embodiment is applied is not limited to the transmissive type, and can be applied to a reflective type. is there. In the case of the reflective type, the pixel electrode 28 (or the pixel electrode 28A) may be formed of, for example, aluminum having light reflectivity or an alloy containing aluminum.

(Modification 5) The driving methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 taken up in the background art are applied to the liquid crystal device 100 of the first embodiment and the liquid crystal device 200 of the second embodiment. May be. That is, a video signal designating an applied voltage of the liquid crystal layer 40 is input to each pixel P including a pixel electrode, and the applied voltage designated by the video signal is lower than the first voltage, and the applied voltage is the first voltage. Detecting a boundary with a second pixel that is greater than or equal to a second voltage, and reducing a lateral electric field generated between the first pixel electrode of the first pixel and the second pixel electrode of the second pixel, The voltage applied to the first pixel and / or the second pixel may be corrected and driven.
According to the present invention, since the planar shape of the pixel electrode is non-rectangular, the liquid crystal molecules RLC that have been reverse-tilted by a lateral electric field are in an initial alignment state as compared with the case where the planar shape of the pixel electrode is rectangular. Therefore, the correction amount of the applied voltage of the first pixel and / or the second pixel can be reduced. That is, the tailing phenomenon in moving image display can be further reduced.

  2A: Scan lines as signal lines, 28, 28A, 28B, 28C ... Pixel electrodes, 28Ac ... Inclined portion, 28Ad ... Overhang portion, 28Ae ... Inclined side portion of overhang portion, 29, 35 ... Alignment film, 40 ... Liquid crystal Layer: 100 ... Liquid crystal device, 200 ... Liquid crystal device, 1000 ... Projection type display device as an electronic device, LC ... Liquid crystal molecule, ML1 ... Micro lens, RLC ... Reverse tilt liquid crystal molecule.

Claims (9)

An active drive type liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal layer are aligned substantially perpendicularly to an alignment film,
A liquid crystal device, wherein a planar shape of a pixel electrode is a non-rectangular shape.   2. The uniaxial substantially vertical alignment method in which a major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is pretilted in a direction defined by a predetermined azimuth angle when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal device described. The planar shape of the pixel electrode is a shape constituted by a circle or an arc,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel including the pixel electrode includes a condensing unit that condenses light incident on the pixel.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein the condensing unit is a microlens. Each of the plurality of pixel electrodes includes a sloped portion in which at least one corner of a rectangular shape is cut off,
Projecting from at least another corner of the rectangular shape, and having a projecting part including a side parallel to the inclined part,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the side portion is disposed to face the inclined portion of the adjacent pixel electrode. A signal line disposed between the adjacent pixel electrodes;
6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein the signal line has a portion bent along the inclined portion and the protruding portion.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein an inclination angle of the inclined portion is less than 45 degrees. A video signal designating an applied voltage of the liquid crystal layer is input for each pixel including the pixel electrode,
Detecting a boundary between a first pixel in which the applied voltage specified by the video signal is lower than a first voltage and a second pixel in which the applied voltage is greater than or equal to a second voltage greater than the first voltage;
The applied voltage of the first pixel and / or the second pixel is corrected so that a lateral electric field generated between the first pixel electrode of the first pixel and the second pixel electrode of the second pixel is reduced. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is driven.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.

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