Patent attributes
An electro-optical apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image, an illuminating device that allows light rays to pass through the display panel, a polarization axis controlling unit arranged between the illuminating device and the display panel for allowing light rays having first polarization axis out of light rays outputted from the illuminating device to pass and changing the polarization axes of part of the light rays emitted from the illuminating device to convert the light rays to light rays having second polarization axis different from the first polarization axis, and a lens having a plurality of linear lens patterns for causing the light rays having the first polarization axis and the light rays having the second polarization axis separated by the polarization axis controlling unit respectively to proceed in predetermined directions. The polarization axis controlling unit includes a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of electrodes arranged in a stripe pattern so as to oppose the liquid crystal layer. The width of the electrodes to which a voltage is applied when changing the polarization axes of the part of the light rays emitted from the illuminating device is larger than the width of the electrode to which no voltage is applied.
