Patent Application
20080036853
The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
According to the present embodiment, the spatial light modulator 33 may be switched between a first status, a second status, and a third status, in which the polarization direction of light passing through the spatial light modulator 33 is different respectively by 45°. For example, the spatial light modulator 33 has a first status in which the polarization direction of incident light is not converted, a second status in which the polarization direction of incident light is converted by +45°, and a third status in which the polarization direction of incident light is converted by +90°. However, since the conversion angle of the polarization direction in each status of the spatial light modulator 33 is exemplary, the conversion angle can be differently designed according to the polarization directions of the polarizing plate 32 and polarizers of the LCD panel 37. It is satisfactory that the difference between the polarization directions of light is 45° when the spatial light modulator 33 is in each of the first, second, and third statuses. Also, the spatial light modulator 33 may be designed such that in the second status, the light is circularly polarized light, not linearly polarized light.
The spatial light modulator 33 includes an electrically controllable device having three anisotropic states according to the amount of applied voltage. For example, a liquid crystal retarder that is formed of an optical compensation bend (OCB) twist nematic liquid crystal panel or a ferro-electric liquid crystal panel and is electrically controllable can be used as the spatial light modulator 33. A liquid crystal retarder having a switching speed of about 180 Hz may be available at a relatively low cost. When the spatial light modulator 33 includes a liquid crystal retarder, for example, the incident light is not delayed in the first status, the incident light is delayed by a phase of ¼ the wavelength (λ/4) in the second status, and the incident light is delayed by a phase of ½ the wavelength (λ/4) in the third status.
As illustrated in
Also, according to the present embodiment, the first birefringent element array 34 converts the polarization direction of the incident light such that the polarization directions of light passing through the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b are perpendicular to each other. For example, each of the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b can comprise a polarizer having a polarization plane in a predetermined direction. In this case, the polarization plane of a polarizer forming the first vertical birefringent element 34a and the polarization plane of a polarizer forming the second vertical birefringent element 34b are perpendicular to each other. Also, the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b can comprise retarders that delay the incident light by a predetermined phase. In this case, the retarders forming the first vertical birefringent elements 34a and the retarders forming the second vertical birefringent element 34b are formed such that a phase delay difference therebetween is λ/2. For example, the first vertical birefringent element 34a does not delay the phase while the second vertical birefringent element 34b delays the phase by λ/2, or the first vertical birefringent element 34a delays the phase by −λ/4 while the second vertical birefringent element 34b delays the phase by +λ/4. Also, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b can comprise rotators that rotate the incident light by a predetermined angle. In this case, the rotator forming the first vertical birefringent element 34a and the rotator forming the second vertical birefringent element 34b are formed such that a rotation angle difference is 90°. For example, the first vertical birefringent element 34a does not rotate the incident light while the second vertical birefringent element 34b rotates the incident light by 90°, or the first vertical birefringent element 34a rotates the incident light by −45° while the second vertical birefringent element 34b rotates the incident light by +45°.
According to the present embodiment, the light passing through the spatial light modulator 33 and the first birefringent element array 34 may have one of the following polarization directions according to the status of the spatial light modulator 33. That is, first, the polarization direction of light passing through the first vertical birefringent element 34a may be perpendicular to the polarization direction of a polarizer 38a (refer to
The lenticular lens sheet 35 includes a plurality of vertical lenticular lens elements that are horizontally arranged. Thus, each vertical lenticular lens element is formed lengthwise in the vertical direction of the autostereoscopic display apparatus 30, parallel to the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b of the first birefringent element array 34. The lenticular lens sheet 35 separates the incident light into left and right eye viewing zones. That is, according to the incident position of the incident light, the light passing through the lenticular lens sheet 35 is separated into the left and right eye viewing zones, at a viewing distance, and forms images. For example, the light emitted from the first vertical birefringent element 34a can be guided to the left eye viewing zone through the lenticular lens sheet 35 while the light emitted from the second vertical birefringent element 34b can be guided to the right eye viewing zone.
As it is well known in the art, the interval between the left and right eye viewing zones at a viewing distance may be about 65 mm. In the present embodiment, the pitch between the vertical lenticular lens elements of the lenticular lens sheet 35 may be the same as or less than the pitch between a pair of the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b. That is, the width of one vertical lenticular lens element is the same as or slightly less than the sum of the widths of the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b. Also, the distance between the lenticular lens sheet 35 and the first birefringent element array 34 is the same as or slightly greater than the focal length of the vertical lenticular lens element.
As illustrated in
The second birefringent element array 36, like the first birefringent element array 35, changes the polarization direction of the incident light such that the polarization directions of the light passing through the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b are perpendicular to each other. For example, each of the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b may comprise a polarizer having a polarized plane in a predetermined direction. In this case, the polarized plane of the polarizer of the third horizontal birefringent element 36a is perpendicular to the polarized plane of the polarizer of the fourth birefringent element 36b. Also, the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b may be retarders that delay the incident light by a predetermined phase. In this case, the phase delay difference between the retarder forming the third horizontal birefringent element 36a and the retarder forming the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b is λ/2. For example, the third horizontal birefringent element 36a does not delay the phase of the incident light while the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b delays the phase of the incident light by λ/2, or the third horizontal birefringent element 36a delays the phase of the incident light by −λ/4 while the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b delays the phase by +λ/4. Also, in another embodiment of the present invention, the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b can comprise rotators that rotate the incident light by a predetermined angle. In this case, the rotator forming the third horizontal birefringent element 36a and the rotator forming the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b are formed such that a rotation angle difference is 90°. For example, the third horizontal birefringent element 36a does not rotate the incident light while the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b rotates the incident light by 90°, or the third horizontal birefringent element 36a rotates the incident light by −45° while the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b rotates the incident light by +45°.
According to the present embodiment, each of the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b of the second birefringent element array 36 corresponds to one of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. Thus, the number of third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b of the second birefringent element array 36 is the same as of the number of pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. Also, the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b of the second birefringent element array 36 are arranged parallel to the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37.
To prevent the generation of a Moire pattern on an image displayed on the LCD panel 37, the pitch of the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b of the second birefringent element array 36 may be slightly greater than that of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37.
According to the present embodiment, there is no need to use a high speed response LCD having a refresh rate of about 120 Hz as the LCD panel 37 and the use of a related art LCD having a refresh rate of 60-75 Hz is sufficient. In the present embodiment, an interlaced method is used instead of the related art time-sharing method in which the images for left and right eyes are alternately displayed on the entire screen in a time-sequence manner. That is, according to the present embodiment, the LCD panel 37 displays images by interlacing the images for the left and right eyes. For example, in the first frame, the left eye image is displayed on odd pixel lines while the right eye image is displayed on even pixel lines. In the next frame, the right eye image is displayed on the odd pixel lines while the left eye image is displayed on the even pixel lines.
Referring to
When the spatial light modulator 33 is in the first status, the polarization direction of light that passes through the polarizing plate 32 and is incident upon the spatial light modulator 33 does not change. Thus, the light passing through the spatial light modulator 33 has a horizontal polarization direction. Then, the light passes through the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b. At this time, the light passing through the first vertical birefringent element 34a maintains the horizontal polarization direction while the polarization direction of light passing through the second vertical birefringent element 34b changes by 90° so as to have a vertical polarization direction. The light passing through the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b is separated by the lenticular lens sheet 35 into the left and right eye zones L and R and guided by the lenticular lens sheet 35 towards the left and right eye zones. That is, the light passing through the first vertical birefringent element 34a proceeds towards the left eye zone L of a viewing zone 100 while the light passing through the second vertical birefringent element 34b proceeds towards the right eye zone R of the viewing zone 100.
Then, the light separated by the lenticular lens sheet 35 passes through the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b arranged along the vertical direction. In this process, of the light passing through the first vertical birefringent element 34a and proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the third horizontal birefringent element 36a maintains the horizontal polarization direction while the polarization direction of light passing through the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b changes by 90° so as to have a vertical polarization direction. Also, of the light passing through the second vertical birefringent element 34b and proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the third horizontal birefringent element 36a maintains the vertical polarization direction while the polarization direction of light passing through the fourth horizontal birefringent element 36b changes by 90° so as to have a horizontal polarization direction. That is, of the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a horizontal polarization direction while the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a vertical polarization direction. Also, of the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a vertical polarization direction while the light passing through the even rows has a horizontal polarization direction.
The polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37 has a horizontal polarization direction. Thus, of the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 passes through the polarizer 38a, but the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 does not pass through the polarizer 38a. Also, of the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 does not pass through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37, but the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 passes through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37. As described above, the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b of the second birefringent element array 36 correspond to the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. Thus, the image displayed from the odd rows of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 proceeds towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100 while the image displayed from the even rows of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 proceeds towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100. As a result, as illustrated in
Next,
The light separated by the lenticular lens sheet 35 passes through the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b. In this process, of the light passing through the first vertical birefringent elements 34a and proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the third horizontal birefringent element 36a maintains the vertical polarization direction while the polarization direction of light passing through the fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36b changes by 90° so as to have a horizontal polarization direction. Also, of the light passing through the second vertical birefringent elements 34b and proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the third horizontal birefringent elements 36a maintains the horizontal polarization direction while the polarization direction of light passing through the fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36b changes by 90° so as to have a vertical polarization direction. That is, of the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a vertical polarization direction while the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a horizontal polarization direction. Also, of the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a horizontal polarization direction while the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 has a vertical polarization direction.
The polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37 has a horizontal polarization direction. Thus, of the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 does not pass through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37, while only the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 can pass through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37. Also, of the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100, the light passing through the odd rows of the second birefringent element array 36 can pass through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37, but the light passing through the even rows of the second birefringent element array 36 cannot pass through the polarizer 38a at the incident side of the LCD panel 37. As a result, the image displayed from the odd rows of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 proceeds towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100 while the image displayed from the even rows of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 proceeds towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100. Thus, as illustrated in
According to the above principle, while the LCD panel 37 displays the left eye image in the odd pixel lines and the right eye image in the even pixel lines, the spatial light modulator 33 switches to the first status. In the next frame, while the LCD panel 37 displays the right eye image in the odd pixel lines and the left eye image in the even pixel lines, the spatial light modulator 33 switches to the third status. Thus, the spatial light modulator 33, the first birefringent element array 34, and the second birefringent element array 36 together control the polarization direction such that the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone L of the viewing zone 100 is incident on the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 where the left eye image is displayed and the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone R of the viewing zone 100 is incident on the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 where the right eye image is displayed. Thus, it can be seen that the spatial light modulator 33, the first birefringent element array 34, and the second birefringent element array 36 together constitute a single polarization switch.
According to the display operation according to the present embodiment an image is displayed by scanning twice, that is, once for odd rows and once for even rows. In this way, an image can be displayed without decreasing resolution and simultaneously preventing flickering at a relatively slow scanning speed of 25 Hz (PAL) or 30 Hz (NTSC). In the present embodiment, as the left eye image and the right eye image are displayed by interlacing the pixel lines of the respective left and right eye images sequentially, the flickering and decrease of resolution are hardly noticeable when the related art LCD panel 37 having a vertical scanning speed, that is, a refresh rate, of 60-75 Hz, is used.
In the autostereoscopic display apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment, a 2-dimensional image mode (2D mode) can be embodied in a number of ways. For example, the spatial light modulator 33 may be repeatedly switched between the first and third statuses so that the LCD panel 37 displays the same 2D image continuously twice. In this way, the odd rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the left eye and the even rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the right eye. Then, the even rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the left eye and the odd rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the right eye. Thus, a viewer can sense a 2D image.
In another method, the spatial light modulator 33 is maintained in the second status and the LCD panel 37 displays a 2D image frame by frame in a conventional manner. When the spatial light modulator 33 is in the second status, the polarization direction of light passing through the polarizing plate 32 and incident on the spatial light modulator 33 changes by 45°. Thus, the light passing through the spatial light modulator 33 has a polarization direction of 45°, that is, in a diagonal direction. Then, the light continuously passes through the first and second vertical birefringent elements 34a and 34b and the third and fourth horizontal birefringent elements 36a and 36b. The first through fourth birefringent elements 34a, 34b, 36a, and 36b do not change the polarization direction of the incident light or change the polarization direction of the incident light by 90°. As a result, the light passes through the LCD panel 37 and forms an image in both of the left and right viewing zones L and R of the viewing zone 100. Thus, when the LCD panel 37 displays a 2D image, a user can view the 2D image through the left and right eyes.
Also, when the spatial light modulator 33 is in the second status, instead of changing the polarization direction of the incident light by 45°, the polarization state of the incident light can be changed so that the exit light becomes circularly polarized light. For example, the spatial light modulator 33 does not change the polarization direction of the incident light in the first status, however, it changes the polarization direction of the incident light by 90° in the third status, and changes the incident light to circularly polarized light in the second status. When the incident light changes to circularly polarized light in the second status, the same result as the case in which the polarization direction of the incident light changes by 45° can be obtained.
However, as described above, a display panel sequentially displays continuous images of a frame from the top of a screen to the bottom of the screen, rather than displaying a single frame image over the entire screen and then the next single frame image over the entire screen. Thus, cross talk can occur as the left eye image and the right eye image are mixed while the image of two frames shares a screen. To prevent this problem, the autostereoscopic display apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, the number of horizontal segments of the backlight unit 31 and of the spatial light modulator 33 can be appropriately chosen according to the design. To completely remove cross talk, a horizontal segment of the backlight unit 31 and of the spatial light modulator 33 may correspond to a pixel line of the LCD panel 37. In this case, however, manufacturing costs are high. Thus, the horizontal segments of each of the backlight unit 31 and of the spatial light modulator 33 may instead correspond to the number of pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. For example, a horizontal segment of the backlight unit 31 and a horizontal segment of the spatial light modulator 33 may correspond to 100 pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. The number of horizontal segments of the backlight unit 31 may be the same as that of the spatial light modulator 33.
In this structure, the horizontal segments of the backlight unit 31 and of the spatial light modulator 33 corresponding each other can be simultaneously switched. That is, the respective horizontal segments of the backlight unit 31 are turned on and off in synchronization with the scanning time of the corresponding pixel lines of the LCD panel 37. Also, each horizontal segment of the spatial light modulator 33, for example, switches to the first status when the pixel lines of the LCD panel 37 corresponding thereto display an image of a frame and to the third status when the image of the next frame is displayed.
However, according to the present embodiment, cross talk in which the left and right eye images are mixed or reversed may occur according to the height of the eyes of the viewer.
Thus, to more comfortably view the autostereoscopic image, the height range in which the left and right images are clearly separate should be increased. To achieve this, as illustrated in
Referring to
The following Equation 2 can be obtained from trapezoids CEFG, and ABFG and the following Equation 3 can be obtained from trapezoids CEFG and ABCE.
Then, the following Equation 4 can be obtained from Equations 1 through 3.
H2=(L/t)(D1+D2+(t/L)D2) [Equation 4]
Here, since t<<L, the term “(t/L)D2” can be ignored. Accordingly, the following Equation 5 can be finally obtained.
H2=(L/t)(D1+D2) [Equation 5]
In Equation 5, as the widths D1 and D2 of the opaque mask 36c of the second birefringent element array 36 and the black matrix 38d of the LCD panel 37 increase, the range H2 of the height at which the left and right images are clearly separate can be increased. Thus, according to the present embodiment, to increase the range H2 of a height at which the left and right images are clearly separated, the width of the opaque mask 36c is maximized within a range in which reduction of the brightness of a displayed image is minimized. By doing so, the range H2 of a height at which the left and right images are clearly separate can be increased to about 150-200 mm.
According to the present embodiment, the backlight unit 41 does not need to be a division type and a related art backlight unit can be used. However, as illustrated in
The spatial light modulator 42 includes a plurality of cells that are arranged in two dimensions along rows and columns and are independently controllable. The number of rows of the spatial light modulator 42, that is, the number of cells in the vertical direction, may be the same as the number of pixel lines of the LCD panel 47. According to the present embodiment, the spatial light modulator 42 can be switched between three statuses. That is, the spatial light modulator 42 switches between the first status in which all cells of the spatial light modulator 42 are transparent, the second status in which the transparent cells and opaque cells are arranged in a checkered pattern, and the third status, which is complementary to the second status, in which the transparent cells in the second status become opaque and the opaque cells in the second status become transparent. Also, according to the present embodiment, the spatial light modulator 42 can be switched at a high speed between the second and third statuses sequentially line by line in synchronization with the vertical scanning time of the LCD panel 47. To this end, the spatial light modulator 42 can use a structure in which, for example, an optical compensation bend (OCB) twist nematic (TN) liquid crystal panel or a ferro-electric liquid crystal (FELC) panel is arranged between two polarizers. Since a polarizer is arranged on the incident surface of the LCD panel 47, the spatial light modulator 42 according to the present embodiment can comprise a polarizer and a liquid crystal panel.
In the present embodiment, cross talk in which the left and right images are mixed or reversed according to the viewing height of a viewer may occur for the same reason as explained above with reference to
As in the description with reference to
In general, the distance t1 between the black matrix and the opaque mask 42a can be a sum of the optical thicknesses (i.e. physical thickness/refractive index) of a substrate of the spatial light modulator 42, a substrate of the LCD panel 47, and the lenticular lens sheet 45. For example, when the thickness of the substrate of the spatial light modulator 42 is 0.7 mm, the thickness of the lenticular lens sheet 45 is 0.2 mm, the thickness of the substrate of the LCD panel 47 is 0.7 mm, the thickness of the polarizer is 0.2 mm, and the average refractive index n of the above devices is 1.5, the distance t1 between the black matrix and the opaque mask 42a is t1=(0.7+0.7+0.2+0.2)/1.5=1.2 mm. Also, for example, when the width of the opaque mask 42a D1 is 0.1 mm, the width D2 of the black matrix is 0.05 mm, and the viewing distance L from the LCD panel 47 is 700 mm, the height H2 of a viewing zone having no cross talk is H2=700 mm(0.1+0.05)/1.2=87.5 mm.
The operation of the autostereoscopic display apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
For example, when the spatial light modulator 42 is in the second status and viewing in the direction in which the light proceeds, it is assumed that in the odd rows of the spatial light modulator 42, the odd columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are transparent and the even columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are opaque and, in the even rows of the spatial light modulator 42, the odd columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are opaque and the even columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are transparent (see the upper portion of the spatial light modulator 42 of
Also, when the spatial light modulator 42 is in the third status and viewed from the direction in which the light proceeds, it is assumed that in the odd rows of the spatial light modulator 42, the odd columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are opaque and the even columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are transparent and in the even rows of the spatial light modulator 42, the odd columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are transparent and the even columns of the spatial light modulator 42 are opaque (see the lower portion of the spatial light modulator 42 of
Thus, for example, when the LCD panel 47 displays the left eye image in the odd pixel lines and the right eye image in the even pixel lines in the first frame and the right eye image in the odd pixel lines and the left eye image in the even pixel lines in the second frame, the spatial light modulator 42 switches to the second status when the LCD panel 47 displays the first frame and to the third status when the LCD panel 47 displays the second frame. As described above, since the spatial light modulator 42 according to the present embodiment switches between the second and third statuses sequentially line by line in synchronization with the vertical scanning time of the LCD panel 47, cross talk does not occur during when the LCD panel 47 displays the first and second frames at the same time. Also, since the LCD panel 47 displays the image according to the interlaced method, the decrease in the resolution and the generation of flickering can be minimized.
In the autostereoscopic display apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment, the 2-dimensional image mode (2D mode) can be embodied in a number of ways. For example, the spatial light modulator 42 switches between the second and third statuses and the LCD panel 47 and continuously displays the same 2D image twice. Then, the odd rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the left eye and the even rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the right eye. Next, the even rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the left eye and the odd rows of the same 2D image are recognized by the right eye. Thus, a viewer can sense a 2D image. In another way, while the spatial light modulator 42 is maintained in the first status in which all cells are transparent, the LCD panel 47 displays a 2D image in a conventional method.
According to the present embodiment, the backlight unit 51 does not need to be a division type and a related art backlight unit can be used. However, like the embodiment illustrated in
Also, the LCD panel 57, as the embodiment illustrated in
The spatial light modulator 53 includes a plurality of vertical columns that are independently controllable. According to the present embodiment, the spatial light modulator 53 can switch between two statuses. That is, the spatial light modulator 53 switches between the first status in which the odd vertical columns (hereinafter, referred to as the odd columns) do not change the polarization direction of the incident light and the even vertical columns (hereinafter, referred to as the even columns) change the polarization direction of the incident light by +90° or −90° and the second status in which the odd columns change the polarization direction of the incident light by +90° or −90° and the even columns do not change the polarization direction of the incident light. For example, in the first status, the odd columns of the spatial light modulator 53 do not delay a phase of light while the even columns delay a phase of light by +½ wavelength, or by −½ wavelength. In the second status, the odd columns delay a phase of light by +½ wavelength, or by -½ wavelength while the even columns of the spatial light modulator 53 do not delay the phase of light. Also, in the present embodiment, the spatial light modulator 53 can be switched at a high speed between the first and second statuses sequentially line by line in synchronization with the vertical scanning time of the LCD panel 57.
As described with reference to
According to the present embodiment, the first and second birefringent elements 56a and 56b of the birefringent element array 56 correspond to the pixel lines of the LCD panel 57. Thus, the number of first and second birefringent elements 56a and 56b of the birefringent element array 56 is the same as that of the pixel lines of the LCD panel 57. As in the description with reference to
The birefringent element array 56 can be a thin film type. Thus, the birefringent element array 56 of a film type can be directly attached to the polarizer at the incident side of the LCD panel 57. In this case, the distance t between the black matrix in the LCD panel 57 and the opaque mask 56c of the birefringent element array 56 is very short. Then, the height H2 of the viewing zone having no cross talk can be greatly increased.
First, the light proceeding towards the upper portion of the LCD panel 57 will be described. Referring to
Then, part of the light passes through the first birefringent elements 56a of the birefringent element array 56 and the other part of the light passes through the second birefringent elements 56b of the birefringent element array 56. Since the first birefringent elements 56a allow the light to pass as the light is, the light passing through the first birefringent elements 56a of the birefringent element array 56 and proceeding towards the left eye of the viewer has a polarization direction of 135° and the light proceeding towards the right eye of the viewer has a polarization direction of 45°. In contrast, since the second birefringent elements 56b of the birefringent element array 56 change the polarization direction of the incident light by +90°, the light passing through the second birefringent elements 56b of the birefringent element array 56 and proceeding towards the left eye of the viewer has a polarization direction of 45° and the light proceeding towards the right eye of the viewer has a polarization direction of 135°.
The light passing through the birefringent element array 56 is incident on the polarizer 57a at the incident side of the LCD panel 57. However, since the polarizer 57a at the incident side of the LCD panel 57 has a polarization direction of 135°, only the light passing through the first birefringent elements 56a of the birefringent element array 56 and proceeding towards the left eye of the viewer can pass through the polarizer 57a. In contrast, of the light passing through the second birefringent device 56b of the LCD panel 57, the light proceeding towards the right eye of the viewer can only pass through the polarizer 57a. As a result, of the light passing through the polarizer 57a, the light proceeding towards the left eye of the viewer is incident on the odd pixel lines of the LCD panel 57 and the light proceeding towards the right eye of the viewer is incident on the even pixel lines of the LCD panel 57. As described above, the upper portion of the LCD panel 57 displays the left eye image in the odd pixel lines and the right eye image in the even pixel lines. Thus, the left eye image can proceed towards the left eye of the viewer and the right eye image proceeds towards the right eye of the viewer.
The above description describes the light proceeding towards the upper portion of the LCD panel 57. The light proceeding towards the lower portion of the LCD panel 57 can be described with the same principles as described above. In such a case, since the lower portion of the spatial light modulator 53 is in the first status when viewed in the direction in which the light proceeds, the light passing through the odd columns of the lower portion of the spatial light modulator 53 has a polarization direction of 45° and the light passing through the even columns of the spatial light modulator 53 has a polarization direction of 135°. As a result, among the light passing through the polarizer 57a, the light proceeding towards the left eye of the viewer is incident on the even pixel lines of the LCD panel 57 and the light proceeding towards the right eye of the viewer is incident on the odd pixel lines of the LCD panel 57. As described above, the lower portion of the LCD panel 57 displays the right eye image in the odd pixel lines and the left eye image in the even pixel lines. Thus, the left eye image can proceed towards the left eye of the viewer and the right eye image proceeds towards the right eye of the viewer.
Thus, the spatial light modulator 53 and the birefringent element array 56 together control the light proceeding towards the left eye viewing zone to be incident on the pixel lines of the display panel 57 displaying the left eye image and the light proceeding towards the right eye viewing zone to be incident on the pixel lines of the display panel 57 displaying the right eye image. Thus, the spatial light modulator 33 and the birefringent element array 56 together constitute a polarization switch.
As described above, according to the present invention, a spatial light modulator such as a liquid crystal retarder that has a fast switching time and is relatively inexpensive is used. Thus, an autostereoscopic display apparatus according to the present invention has a simple structure and is relatively inexpensive.
Also, according to the present invention, since each of the backlight unit and the spatial light modulator is divided into a plurality of segments and each of the segments is operated in synchronization with the vertical scanning time of the LCD panel, cross talk of the left and right images hardly occurs.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the display panel displays the left and right images by interlacing the left and right images, even when a related art display panel having a relatively slow refresh rate is used, a decrease in the resolution and flickering of the left and right images hardly occurs.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0067301 | Jul 2006 | KR | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60797373 | May 2006 | US |
