Liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal panel device, and imaging device

Abstract

To provide a liquid crystal panel including an opening region in which at least a partial region is set to be any one of a light transmitting state and a light blocking state, while an influence on light that will pass the opening region is suppressed.SOLUTION: A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate with a flat plate shape, a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate, a liquid crystal held between the first substrate and the second substrate, an opening region in which at least a partial region is set to be any one of a light transmitting state and a light blocking state between the first substrate and the second substrate, a seal part that surrounds the opening region between the substrates and has a tubular shape, and a structure that is in contact with an outer surface of the seal part between the substrates and is disposed so as to surround the seal part. The liquid crystal is sealed into the tube forming the seal part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal panel device, and an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known liquid crystal panels that can transmit or block light. As described in Patent Document 1, liquid crystal panels generally have a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two glass substrates incorporating transparent electrodes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-167026 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In liquid crystal panels, it may be desirable to provide an opening area between the substrates where the light-shielding film has been removed, and to control the electric field applied to at least a portion of the opening area so that the panel can be set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-shielding state.

[0005] However, simply providing an opening area in which the light-shielding film is removed in a liquid crystal panel may have an undesirable effect on light attempting to pass through the opening area.

[0006] For these reasons, there is a demand for technology in which a liquid crystal panel has an opening area in which at least a portion of the panel is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state, while minimizing the effects on light attempting to pass through the opening area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment is a liquid crystal panel comprising a flat, light-transmitting first substrate, a light-transmitting second substrate arranged opposite the first substrate, and liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the liquid crystal panel comprises an opening region between the first substrate and the second substrate, at least a portion of which is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state, a cylindrical sealing portion between the substrates surrounding the opening region, and a structure arranged between the substrates in contact with the outer surface of the sealing portion and surrounding the sealing portion, and the liquid crystal is sealed inside the cylinder that constitutes the sealing portion.

[0008] One embodiment is a liquid crystal panel device comprising a flat, light-transmitting first substrate, a light-transmitting second substrate arranged opposite the first substrate, liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a control unit that controls a voltage applied to the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal panel device comprising: an opening region between the first substrate and the second substrate, at least a portion of which is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state; a sealing portion between the substrates that has a cylindrical shape and surrounds the opening region; and a structure between the substrates that is in contact with the outer surface of the sealing portion and surrounds the sealing portion, the liquid crystal being sealed inside the cylinder that constitutes the sealing portion, and the control unit controlling the voltage to set at least a portion of the opening region to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state.

[0009] One embodiment is an imaging device including an optical system, the above-described liquid crystal panel device, and an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical system and the aperture region of the liquid crystal panel device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a liquid crystal panel according to Example 1 of Embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 1B] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a liquid crystal panel according to Example 1 of Embodiment 1. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an aperture region when the liquid crystal panel is viewed in the y direction. [Figure 3A] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a second embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a third embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid crystal panel device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7A] 11 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal panel in which spacers are not arranged in the open areas. FIG. [Figure 7B] 11 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal panel in which spacers are not arranged in the open areas. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Background to the review> Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, the background of the study by the present inventors will be described.

[0012] The present inventors have focused on liquid crystal panels that have an aperture region between substrates where the light-shielding film has been removed, and that can be switched between a light-passing state and a light-shielding state by controlling an electric field applied to at least a part of the aperture region. A liquid crystal panel having such a function can be used as a shutter or aperture of the image pickup device, or a coded aperture used in coded image pickup, by being disposed, for example, in front of, behind, or both of the optical system of the image pickup device. Such a liquid crystal panel has, for example, the following configuration.

[0013] The liquid crystal panel has a flat plate shape and includes a first substrate that transmits visible light, a second substrate that is disposed opposite the first substrate and also transmits visible light, and liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal panel also includes a plurality of spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a light-shielding film that is disposed inside the second substrate and has openings formed therein. The spacers are generally provided to keep the distance between the substrates uniform.

[0014] The region corresponding to the opening of the light-shielding film between the substrates of the liquid crystal panel (hereinafter also referred to as the opening region) is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state by controlling the electric field applied to the liquid crystal in the opening region. When the opening region in the liquid crystal panel is set to the light-transmitting state, light passes through the opening region. On the other hand, when the opening region in the liquid crystal panel is set to the light-blocking state, light cannot pass through the opening region.

[0015] However, when spacers are arranged in the opening region between the substrates of a liquid crystal panel, the spacers disrupt the alignment of the liquid crystal, so that even if an attempt is made to set the opening region in a light-shielding state, the expected blocking is not achieved, and a phenomenon occurs in which a small amount of light passes through the opening region. In other words, the light attempting to pass through the opening region is undesirably affected by the presence of the spacers. From this perspective, it is better not to arrange spacers in the opening region between the substrates of a liquid crystal panel.

[0016] However, it has been found that if spacers are not disposed in the open regions between the substrates of the liquid crystal panel, other problems may occur. This point will be described below.

[0017] 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of a liquid crystal panel in which no spacers are arranged in the opening region. Fig. 7A shows the liquid crystal panel 100 as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the light passing direction. Fig. 7B shows the liquid crystal panel 100 as viewed in the light passing direction. Here, the direction in which light passes through the opening, i.e., the direction between the substrates, is defined as the z direction, and two directions perpendicular to the z direction and perpendicular to each other are defined as the x direction and the y direction (hereinafter the same).

[0018] 7A and 7B, the liquid crystal panel 100 has a flat plate shape extending in the xy plane, and includes a first substrate 101 that transmits light L such as visible light, and a second substrate 102 that is disposed opposite the first substrate 101 and also transmits light L such as visible light. The liquid crystal panel 100 also includes a light-shielding film 103 that is disposed along the inner surface of the second substrate 102. The light-shielding film 103 has a circular opening HL formed therein.

[0019] In the region between the first substrate 101 and the light-shielding film 103, a sealant 104 is attached along the periphery of the second substrate 102, and a plurality of spacers 105 are arranged at intervals outside the region corresponding to the opening HL. The region surrounded by the first substrate 101, the second substrate 102, and the sealant 104 is filled with liquid crystal 106. No spacer 105 is arranged in the region corresponding to the opening HL between the substrates of the liquid crystal panel 100 so as not to affect the light L passing through the opening HL.

[0020] If spacer 105 is not disposed in a region corresponding to opening HL between the substrates of liquid crystal panel 100, the rigidity of portion 102a corresponding to opening HL in second substrate 102 will be low. If the rigidity of portion 102a is low, it may be deformed by pressure due to the bonding process of the substrates in the manufacturing process or atmospheric pressure, and may have an inwardly recessed shape as shown in FIG.

[0021] When the portion 102a of the second substrate 102 corresponding to the opening HL is deformed, the inter-substrate distance becomes shorter in some places in the region corresponding to the opening HL of the liquid crystal panel 100, causing unevenness in the inter-substrate distance. When unevenness occurs in the inter-substrate distance in the region corresponding to the opening HL, the thickness of the liquid crystal 106 layer does not become uniform, and unevenness in the light blocking rate when set to the light blocking state may occur.

[0022] From the situation described above, it can be understood that there is a demand for a technology in an LCD panel that can have an opening area in which at least a portion of the area is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state, while minimizing the effect on light attempting to pass through the opening area.

[0023] (Embodiment 1) The present inventors have invented the present invention as a result of intensive research to solve the above problems. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the embodiment described below is an example for carrying out the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the following embodiments, components having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof will be omitted unless particularly necessary.

[0024] It should also be noted that in each figure in this application, in order to facilitate understanding of the structural features of the liquid crystal panel, only the essential parts necessary for understanding the features are shown, and elements that may be necessary for implementation, such as electrodes, electrical wiring, and semiconductors, may be omitted from the illustration.

[0025] Example 1 The liquid crystal panel according to the first embodiment includes a cylindrical seal portion that surrounds an opening region between the substrates and that is set to a light passing state and a light blocking state, and a structure that is in contact with the outer surface of the seal portion and that is disposed so as to surround the seal portion. In this embodiment, a cylindrical member that includes the seal portion on its inside is used as the structure.

[0026] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a structure of a liquid crystal panel according to Example 1 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a liquid crystal panel 1A according to Example 1 as viewed from the side along the y direction. Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a liquid crystal panel 1A as viewed from above along the z direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid crystal panel 1A has a first substrate 11, a second substrate 12, a light-shielding film 13, a first sealing portion 141, a second sealing portion 142, a structure 143A, a spacer 151, and a liquid crystal 16.

[0028] The first substrate 11 has a flat plate shape and is configured to transmit visible light. The second substrate 12 is disposed to face the first substrate 11 and is configured to transmit visible light. As shown in Fig. 1A, the light-shielding film 13 is disposed to extend along the inner surface of the second substrate 12, and as shown in Fig. 1B, a circular opening HL is formed therein. The light-shielding film 13 is made of, for example, metal or resin.

[0029] The first sealing portion 141 is disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, along the outer edge of the second substrate 12, and is tightly connected to the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12.

[0030] Here, the area between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 that corresponds to the opening HL is defined as the opening area AR. In this embodiment, the opening area AR has a cylindrical shape. The second seal portion 142 is disposed along the outer periphery of the opening area AR in the xy plane direction, and is connected in close contact with the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12. That is, the second seal portion 142 surrounds the opening area AR between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, and has a cylindrical shape.

[0031] The first seal portion 141 and the second seal portion 142 are composed of, for example, an adhesive that is cured by ultraviolet light. For example, the adhesive is applied to the first substrate 11 at a location where the seal portion is to be formed. Next, after spacers and the like are arranged on the first substrate 11 on which the adhesive has been applied, liquid crystal 16 and the like are dropped. Next, the second substrate 12 is bonded to the first substrate 11, and ultraviolet light is irradiated. Through such a process, the adhesive sandwiched between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 is cured by ultraviolet light and formed as a seal portion.

[0032] The structure 143A is disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, in contact with the outer surface of the second seal portion 142 and surrounding the second seal portion 142. The structure 143A is a member having a cylindrical shape and including the second seal portion 142 inside. The structure 143A is held in close contact with the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12. The structure 143A is made of, for example, resin, glass, metal, or the like. The structure 143A may be made of the same material as the first seal portion 141 and the second seal portion 142, and may be made of, for example, an adhesive that is cured by ultraviolet light.

[0033] The spacers 151 are disposed between the first substrate 11 and the light-shielding film 13 in a region outside the opening region AR. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, there are a plurality of spacers 151, which are disposed two-dimensionally at intervals in the xy plane direction with a substantially constant arrangement density. The spacers 151 have, for example, a columnar or spherical shape. When the spacers 151 are columnar, they are cylindrical or polygonal, and the areas of the upper and lower bases may be the same or different. The spacers 151 are made of, for example, glass, resin, metal, or the like.

[0034] The liquid crystal 16 is sandwiched between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, and is sealed inside the tube formed by the second seal portion 142, i.e., in the opening region AR. The liquid crystal 16 sealed in the opening region AR is sandwiched between a pair of transparent electrodes in the z direction, and the opening region AR is set to either a light transmitting state or a light blocking state by controlling the voltage applied between the transparent electrodes. In other words, the opening region AR is set to either a light transmitting state or a light blocking state depending on whether or not an electric field is applied to the opening region AR in the z direction.

[0035] Also, by dividing a pair of transparent electrodes into a plurality of partial electrode pairs and independently controlling the voltage applied to each partial electrode pair, the aperture region AR can be divided into a plurality of partial regions, and each partial region can be put into a light-transmitting state or a light-shielding state. That is, the aperture region AR can be configured so that a plurality of aperture patterns, for example, a coding aperture used for coding imaging, appear or disappear. Alternatively, the shape of the pair of transparent electrodes can be made different from that of the aperture HL, for example, a crescent or ring shape, and the voltage applied between the transparent electrodes can be controlled so that the aperture region AR can be put into a light-transmitting state in which the entire region is transparent, or into a light-shielding state in which a region where a part of the aperture HL is missing is opaque. In this way, at least a part of the aperture region AR can be set to a light-transmitting state or a light-shielding state.

[0036] In this embodiment, it is assumed that polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is used as the liquid crystal 16 filled in the aperture region AR. PDLC is a liquid crystal that contains a liquid crystal material and a polymer such as an anisotropic polymer. A PDLC type liquid crystal panel that uses PDLC as the liquid crystal is a liquid crystal panel that utilizes a structure in which the liquid crystal material has a phase separation in a polymer matrix. The liquid crystal panel 1A according to this embodiment adopts a vertically aligned reverse mode PDLC type as an example of the PDLC type.

[0037] Vertically Aligned Reverse Mode PDLC FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the aperture region AR when the liquid crystal panel 1A is viewed in the y direction. As shown in FIG. 2, in the vertical alignment type reverse mode PDLC method, a vertical alignment film 132 is disposed inside the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12. In addition, a PDLC containing a liquid crystal material 161 and a polymer 162 is used as the liquid crystal 16. The polymer 162 is, for example, an anisotropic polymer. The vertical alignment film 132 is, for example, made of a polyimide-based material like the horizontal alignment film, and is an alignment film with a pretilt angle α of 90°. By using the vertical alignment film 132, the liquid crystal material 161 and the polymer 162 are aligned vertically to the coating surface of the vertical alignment film 132. In addition, no alignment process is required in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel.

[0038] In the vertical alignment reverse mode PDLC method, a polymer and liquid crystal material with different refractive indices are used in the long and short axis directions of the vertical alignment film and polymer. The liquid crystal material is a negative liquid crystal with a negative dielectric constant. When no voltage is applied to the PDLC, the refractive indices of the liquid crystal material and polymer are almost equal, and the liquid crystal-filled area becomes transparent. Conversely, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal in a vertical electric field, the liquid crystal material is driven perpendicular to the electric field direction, and the alignment vectors, i.e., the refractive indices, of the liquid crystal material and polymer become different, causing light to be scattered in the liquid crystal-filled area.

[0039] The PDLC method does not require a polarizing plate, so the transparency of the liquid crystal filled part set to a light-transmitting state is relatively high. Therefore, PDLC liquid crystal panels are suitable for use as shutters, apertures, coded apertures, etc. in imaging devices.

[0040] 1A and 1B, in the liquid crystal panel 1A, a second seal portion 142 is provided surrounding the opening region AR in the region between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12. This structure makes it possible to seal the liquid crystal 16 inside the second seal portion 142, i.e., in the opening region AR. As a result, even if a portion 12a of the second substrate 12 corresponding to the opening HL receives external pressure, the pressed liquid crystal 16 is supported by the second seal portion 142, so that it is possible to prevent the portion 12a from being deformed and dented.

[0041] In addition, a structure 143A is disposed so as to contact the outer surface of the second seal portion 142 and surround the second seal portion 142. The presence of this structure 143A reinforces the second seal portion 142, and can further suppress deformation of the portion 12a of the second substrate 12 corresponding to the opening HL. In addition, in the ODF (one drop fill) process in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel 1A, pressure is applied to the second substrate 12 when the substrates are bonded together, and pressure is also applied to the liquid crystal 16, and it cannot be denied that the second seal portion 142 may break at that time. However, by providing the structure 143A beside the second seal portion 142, the structure 143A supports the second seal portion 142 and can suppress the second seal portion 142 from breaking.

[0042] Furthermore, in the ODF process, when PDLC is dropped as the liquid crystal 16, the polymer hardened by irradiation with ultraviolet light supports the portion 12a corresponding to the opening HL of the second substrate 12, making the portion 12a less likely to collapse. Therefore, other members such as spacers for supporting the portion 12a in the opening region AR can be eliminated.

[0043] Example 2 In the liquid crystal panel according to the second embodiment, a plurality of components each having a columnar or spherical shape are used as structures disposed outside the seal portion surrounding the opening region and in contact with the seal portion. The components are scattered around the seal portion.

[0044] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a schematic structure of a liquid crystal panel according to Example 2. As illustrated in Fig. 3A, liquid crystal panel 1B according to Example 2 has structural body 143B disposed outside second seal portion 142 surrounding opening region AR and in contact with the outer surface of second seal portion 142. Structural body 143B is composed of a plurality of members scattered around second seal portion 142.

[0045] In this embodiment, the structure 143B is composed of, for example, a plurality of spacers. The spacers constituting the structure 143B have, for example, a columnar or spherical shape, similar to the spacer 151. When the spacers constituting the structure 143B have a columnar shape, the upper and lower bottom surfaces are bonded to the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12. The spacers constituting the structure 143B may have the same shape and material as the spacer 151, that is, may be the same type of parts as the spacer 151.

[0046] In the liquid crystal panel 1B configured as described above, the second seal portion 142 is supported by the structure 143B, and therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the phenomenon in which the second seal portion 142 breaks even if pressure is applied to the second substrate 12 in the ODF process and thus to the liquid crystal 16. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, if the same type of component as the spacer 151 is used as the structure 143B, it is possible to reuse the components and reduce the number of types of components constituting the liquid crystal panel, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal panel.

[0047] Example 3 The liquid crystal panel according to the third embodiment has the same structure as that of the first or second embodiment in the aperture region and the peripheral region adjacent to the aperture region, but has a structure of another display panel outside the peripheral region. As the other display panel, for example, a display panel using an organic electroluminescent (OLED) light emitting diode, a micro light emitting diode (μLED), or the like is conceivable.

[0048] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a schematic structure of a liquid crystal panel according to Example 3. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the entire liquid crystal panel 1C, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a partial region 1Ca including the aperture region AR. As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the liquid crystal panel 1C according to Example 3 has a structure substantially similar to that of Example 1 or Example 2 in the aperture region AR and the peripheral region adjacent to the aperture region AR. On the other hand, the liquid crystal panel 1C has a display panel 2C using an OLED or μLED without a light-shielding film 13 outside the peripheral region of the aperture region AR.

[0049] According to the liquid crystal panel 1C configured as described above, it is possible to realize a device in which the aperture region AR is used as an optical shutter or a coded aperture of an imaging mechanism, and the display panel 2C is used as a display screen of an image display mechanism. Such devices include, for example, smartphones, tablet terminals, notebook or laptop personal computers, and face authentication systems.

[0050] As described above, the liquid crystal panel according to the first embodiment includes a cylindrical seal portion surrounding the opening region, and a structure disposed between the substrates in contact with the outer surface of the seal portion and surrounding the seal portion, and the liquid crystal is sealed inside the cylinder that constitutes the seal portion. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel according to the first embodiment, structures such as spacers that may cause the alignment of the liquid crystal to be disturbed are not disposed in the opening region, and even if such structures are not disposed, the rigidity of the substrates is maintained by the seal portion. As a result, even if the substrates are pressed during the bonding process of the substrates or by atmospheric pressure during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel, deformation of the substrates can be suppressed, and non-uniformity, i.e., unevenness, in the distance between the substrates can be suppressed.

[0051] In addition, since a structure is provided so as to contact the outer surface of the sealing portion, the rigidity of the sealing portion is reinforced, and the sealing portion is less likely to break even if the liquid crystal is pressed through the substrate during the substrate lamination process in the manufacturing process or due to atmospheric pressure, etc.

[0052] In other words, the liquid crystal panel of embodiment 1 has an opening area in which at least a portion is set to either a light-transmitting state or a light-blocking state, while being able to reduce the effect on light attempting to pass through the opening area.

[0053] (Embodiment 2) Liquid crystal panel device according to embodiment 2 The liquid crystal panel device according to the second embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments, and a control unit that controls the voltage applied to the liquid crystal in the aperture region of the liquid crystal panel.

[0054] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid crystal panel device according to embodiment 2. A liquid crystal panel device 30 illustrated in FIG.

[0055] The liquid crystal panel 1G, like the liquid crystal panel 1A according to the above-mentioned first embodiment, has a first substrate 11, a second substrate 12, a light-shielding film 13, a first sealing portion 141, a second sealing portion 142, a structure 143, a spacer 151, and a liquid crystal 16. The liquid crystal panel 1G further has a flexible substrate 17, electrodes 181 and 182, and an electrical wiring 183. The structure 143 may be a spacer as in the second embodiment.

[0056] The flexible substrate 17 is attached to the first substrate 11. The electrodes 181, 182 are so-called transparent electrodes, and are electrodes made of a material that transmits visible light and allows electricity to flow. The electrode 181 is disposed on the inside of the first substrate 11 in an opening region AR corresponding to the opening HL. The electrode 182 is disposed on the inside of the second substrate 12 in the opening region AR. The electrical wiring 183 is disposed so as to electrically connect the electrodes 181, 182 and the flexible substrate 17, and is also disposed so as to electrically connect the flexible substrate 17 and the control unit 19.

[0057] The control unit 19 has a function of applying a voltage between the electrodes 181 and 182 via the flexible substrate 17 and the electrical wiring 183. The control unit 19 controls the orientation of the liquid crystal 16 by controlling the voltage applied to the electrodes 181 and 182, and puts the aperture region AR in the liquid crystal panel 1G in a light transmitting state or a light blocking state. The control unit 19 is configured by, for example, an electronic circuit, a semiconductor circuit, a dedicated IC chip, a programmable IC chip, a microcontroller, a computer, or the like.

[0058] According to the liquid crystal panel device 30 of the second embodiment, the aperture region AR in the liquid crystal panel 1G corresponding to the aperture HL can be put into a light transmitting state or a light blocking state by controlling the voltage applied to the liquid crystal 16 by the control unit 19. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel device 30 can be used as a shutter, a coded aperture, or a diaphragm, for example, by installing the liquid crystal panel 1G in front of or behind the optical system of an imaging device.

[0059] (Embodiment 3) Imaging device according to embodiment 3 The imaging device according to the third embodiment includes an optical system, the liquid crystal panel device according to the second embodiment, and an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical system and the aperture region of the liquid crystal panel device.

[0060] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging device according to embodiment 3. An imaging device 40 illustrated in Fig. 6 includes liquid crystal panel devices 30a and 30b, an optical system 31, an imaging element 32, and a general control unit 33.

[0061] The liquid crystal panel devices 30a and 30b have the same configuration as the liquid crystal panel device according to the second embodiment. The liquid crystal panel device 30a has a liquid crystal panel 1a having an aperture region ARa and a control unit 19a electrically connected to the liquid crystal panel 1a. The liquid crystal panel device 30b has a liquid crystal panel 1b having an aperture region ARb and a control unit 19b electrically connected to the liquid crystal panel 1b. The liquid crystal panel 1a is disposed in front of the optical system 31, i.e., on the subject 92 side. The liquid crystal panel 1b is disposed behind the optical system 31. The image sensor 32 is disposed further behind the liquid crystal panel 1b.

[0062] The imaging element 32 is an image sensor in which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally to form a light receiving surface. The imaging element 32 may be, for example, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. Note that some image sensors are of a type that outputs analog signals, while others convert the analog signals into digital signals and output them as image data.

[0063] The overall control unit 33 is electrically connected to the control units 19a, 19b and the image sensor 32. The overall control unit 33 transmits control signals to the control units 19a, 19b for independently setting the aperture regions ARa, ARb to a light passing state or a light blocking state. By transmitting such control signals, the overall control unit 33 causes the aperture region ARa of the liquid crystal panel 1a to function as a shutter or a coded aperture, and causes the aperture region ARb of the liquid crystal panel 1b to function as a shutter or a diaphragm. The overall control unit 33 also receives an output signal from the image sensor 32.

[0064] That is, general control unit 33 controls liquid crystal panel device 30a and liquid crystal panel device 30b to capture an image of subject 92, and obtains an image signal of subject 92 obtained by the capture from imaging element 32. Note that the captured image is not limited to general image capture, and may be special image capture such as coded image capture.

[0065] The general control unit 33 is electrically connected to the external device 50. The general control unit 33 performs imaging based on a command signal from the external device 50, generates image data based on an image signal obtained by imaging, and transmits the image data to the external device 50. The general control unit 33 is configured by, for example, an electronic circuit, a semiconductor circuit, a dedicated IC chip, a programmable IC chip, a microcontroller, or a computer. The external device 50 may be any device that handles image data, and may be, for example, a driving assistance device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0066] According to the imaging device 40 of the third embodiment, the liquid crystal panel can be used as a shutter, a coded aperture, or a diaphragm.

[0067] Although various embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and includes various modified examples. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments have been described in detail to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. In addition, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. All of these belong to the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​etc. included in the text and figures are merely examples, and the effect of the present invention is not impaired even if different ones are used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1G, 1a, 1b... Liquid crystal panel 2C…Display panel 11...First substrate 12...Second board 13...Light-shielding film 132...Vertical alignment film 141…First seal part 142…Second seal part 143,143A,143B...Structure 151...Spacer 16...Liquid crystal 161...Liquid crystal material 162...Polymer 17...Flexible board 181,182...electrode 183…Electrical wiring 19, 19a, 19b...Control unit 30, 30a, 30b...Liquid crystal panel device 31...Optical system 32...Image sensor 33...General control unit 40...Imaging device 50...External device 92…Subject AR, ARa, ARb…Aperture area HL…Aperture L…Light

Claims

1. A first substrate having a flat plate shape and allowing light to pass through; a second substrate that is disposed opposite the first substrate and transmits light; A liquid crystal panel comprising: a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, an opening region between the first substrate and the second substrate, at least a portion of which is set to either a light transmitting state or a light blocking state; a sealing portion having a cylindrical shape and surrounding the opening region between the substrates; a structure disposed between the substrates in contact with an outer surface of the seal portion and surrounding the seal portion; The liquid crystal is sealed inside the cylinder that constitutes the sealing portion. LCD panel.

2. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, The open area has a cylindrical shape. LCD panel.

3. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, The structure is a member having a cylindrical shape and including the sealing portion therein. LCD panel.

4. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, The structure is a plurality of members scattered around the seal portion, each of which has a columnar or spherical shape. LCD panel.

5. 5. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 4, a plurality of spacers disposed at intervals in an area outside the seal portion between the substrates; The structure is the same type of part as the spacer. LCD panel.

6. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, a light-shielding film disposed so as to extend along the inner side of the second substrate and having an opening formed therein; LCD panel.

7. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, A display panel is provided on the outside of the structure, the display panel using an organic electroluminescence (EL) light-emitting diode or a micro light-emitting diode. LCD panel.

8. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, The liquid crystal is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. LCD panel.

9. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, The aperture region is configured such that a coded aperture appears. LCD panel.

10. A first substrate having a flat plate shape and allowing light to pass through; a second substrate that is disposed opposite the first substrate and transmits light; a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; A control unit that controls a voltage applied to the liquid crystal, an opening region between the first substrate and the second substrate, at least a portion of which is set to either a light transmitting state or a light blocking state; a sealing portion having a cylindrical shape and surrounding the opening region between the substrates; a structure disposed between the substrates in contact with an outer surface of the seal portion and surrounding the seal portion; The liquid crystal is sealed inside a tube that constitutes the sealing portion, The control unit sets at least a part of the opening region to either a light transmitting state or a light blocking state by controlling the voltage. Liquid crystal panel device.

11. An optical system; A liquid crystal panel according to claim 1; an image sensor that receives light passing through the optical system and the opening region of the liquid crystal panel, Imaging device.

12. 12. The imaging device according to claim 11, The aperture region is configured such that a coded aperture appears. Imaging device.

Images