US 12,613,023 B2Granted

Lighting device with liquid crystal panels

AssigneeJapan Display Inc.

InventorsKojiro Ikeda, Takeo Koito

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Disclosed is a lighting device including a light source, a first liquid crystal panel over the light source, and a second liquid crystal panel over the first liquid crystal panel. Each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel includes: a substrate; a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape; a first orientation film over the plurality of lower electrodes; a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film; a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film; a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film, orthogonal to the plurality of lower electrodes, and arranged in a stripe shape; and a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lighting device comprising:

a light source;
a first liquid crystal panel over the light source;
a second liquid crystal panel over the first liquid crystal panel;
a third liquid crystal panel over the second liquid crystal panel;
and
a fourth liquid crystal panel over the third liquid crystal panel,
wherein each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape;
a first orientation film over the plurality of lower electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film, orthogonal to the plurality of lower electrodes, and arranged in a stripe shape;
and
a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes,
wherein a first angle between an extending direction of the plurality of lower electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel and an extending direction of the plurality of lower electrodes of the second liquid crystal panel is equal to or greater than 0° and equal to or less than 5°, and
wherein, in each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel,
with respect to sequentially arranged first to third lower electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of lower electrodes, a spacing between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode is different from a spacing between the second lower electrode and the third lower electrode, and
with respect to sequentially arranged first to third upper electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of upper electrodes, a spacing between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode is different from a spacing between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode,
wherein the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel each have the same structure as the first liquid crystal panel or the second liquid crystal panel, and
an extending direction of the plurality of lower electrodes of the third liquid crystal panel and an extending direction of the plurality of lower electrodes of the fourth liquid crystal panel are each orthogonal to the extending direction of the plurality of lower electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel.

18 more elements

A lighting device comprising:

a light source;
and
first to fourth liquid crystal panels sequentially stacked over the light source,
wherein each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape;
a first orientation film arranged over the plurality of lower electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
and
a counter substrate over the second orientation film,
wherein each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a first orientation film over the substrate;
a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film in a stripe shape;
and
a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes,
wherein extending directions of the plurality of lower electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel are orthogonal to extending directions of the plurality of upper electrodes of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third lower electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of lower electrodes in each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode is different from a spacing between the second lower electrode and the third lower electrode,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third upper electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of upper electrodes in each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode is different from a spacing between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode, and
wherein at least one of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel further comprises a single upper electrode overlapping the plurality of lower electrodes between the second orientation film and the counter substrate.

20 more elements

A lighting device comprising:

a light source;
and
first to fourth liquid crystal panels sequentially stacked over the light source,
wherein each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a first orientation film arranged over the substrate;
a liquid crystal layer arranged over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film in a stripe shape;
and
a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes,
wherein each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel comprises;
a substrate;
a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape;
a first orientation film arranged over the plurality of lower electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer arranged over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
and
a counter substrate over the second orientation film,
wherein extending directions of the plurality of upper electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel are orthogonal to extending directions of the plurality of lower electrodes of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third upper electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of upper electrodes in each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode is different from a spacing between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third lower electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of lower electrodes in each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode is different from a spacing between the second lower electrode and the third lower electrode, and
wherein at least one of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel further comprises a single lower electrode overlapping the plurality of upper electrodes between the substrate and the first orientation film.

20 more elements

A lighting device comprising:

a light source;
and
first to fourth liquid crystal panels sequentially stacked over the light source,
wherein each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape;
a first orientation film arranged over the plurality of lower electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
and
a counter substrate over the second orientation film,
wherein each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a first orientation film over the substrate;
a liquid crystal layer over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film in a stripe shape;
and
a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes,
wherein extending directions of the plurality of lower electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel are orthogonal to extending directions of the plurality of upper electrodes of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third lower electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of lower electrodes in each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode is different from a spacing between the second lower electrode and the third lower electrode,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third upper electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of upper electrodes in each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode is different from a spacing between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode, and
wherein at least one of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel further comprises a single lower electrode overlapping the plurality of upper electrodes between the substrate and the first orientation film.

20 more elements

A lighting device comprising:

a light source;
and
first to fourth liquid crystal panels sequentially stacked over the light source,
wherein each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a first orientation film arranged over the substrate;
a liquid crystal layer arranged over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
a plurality of upper electrodes arranged over the second orientation film in a stripe shape;
and
a counter substrate over the plurality of upper electrodes,
wherein each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel comprises:
a substrate;
a plurality of lower electrodes arranged over the substrate in a stripe shape;
a first orientation film arranged over the plurality of lower electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer arranged over the first orientation film;
a second orientation film arranged over the liquid crystal layer and having an orientation direction orthogonal to that of the first orientation film;
and
a counter substrate over the second orientation film,
wherein extending directions of the plurality of upper electrodes of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel are orthogonal to extending directions of the plurality of lower electrodes of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third upper electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of upper electrodes in each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode is different from a spacing between the second upper electrode and the third upper electrode,
wherein, with respect to sequentially arranged first to third lower electrodes arbitrarily selected from the plurality of lower electrodes in each of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel, a spacing between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode is different from a spacing between the second lower electrode and the third lower electrode, and
wherein at least one of the third liquid crystal panel and the fourth liquid crystal panel further comprises a single upper electrode overlapping the plurality of lower electrodes between the second orientation film and the counter substrate.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/753,362Filed 25 Jun 2024 · continuation
Priority: JP 2022-00396413 Jan 2022
Published: US 2024/0344685 A117 Oct 2024
Granted: 28 Apr 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F21S 2/00
Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups f21s4/00 -
F21V 14/003
Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements: by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable…
F21V 9/40
Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters: with provision for controlling spectral…
G02F 1/1337
Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods: surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers