US 12,442,513 B2
Lighting device with liquid crystal panels
Kojiro Ikeda, Tokyo (JP); and Takeo Koito, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Japan Display Inc., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Japan Display Inc., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/753,362.
Application 18/753,362 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2022/043044, filed on Nov. 21, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-003964 (JP), filed on Jan. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0344685 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. F21V 14/00 (2018.01); G02F 1/1337 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01); G02F 1/1347 (2006.01)
CPC F21V 14/003 (2013.01) [G02F 1/1337 (2013.01); G02F 1/134309 (2013.01); G02F 1/1347 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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.