IMAGE DISPLAY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Abstract
An image display includes the following components. A display panel has a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. A light source emits light toward the display panel. A polarization-axis control unit is disposed between the display panel and the light source. The polarization-axis control unit separates the light emitted from the light source into light having a first polarization axis and light having a second polarization axis different from the first polarization axis. An optical element is arranged between the display panel and the polarization-axis control unit. The optical element allows the light emitted from the light source to travel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The polarization-axis control unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, a plurality of first electrodes extending in the first direction arranged at a predetermined pitch in the second direction on the first substrate, and a second electrode on the second substrate. The first electrodes each having a connecting part and a plurality of strip electrode segments extending from the connecting part are arranged in such a manner that the respective connecting parts are arranged in opposite end portions of the first substrate and the strip electrode segments are alternately arranged over a surface of the first substrate. The second electrode is superposed over the first electrodes in a region corresponding to a pixel array area of the display panel.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.



FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an image display according to an embodiment of the invention.



FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagram showing states where viewers located in front of the image display view a display panel, the diagrams explaining the principle of the image display.



FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a polarization control liquid crystal display panel.



FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the polarization control liquid crystal display panel.



FIG. 5 is a plan view of the polarization control liquid crystal display panel.



FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.



FIG. 7 is an electrical diagram of a driving circuit.



FIGS. 8A and 8B are timing charts explaining voltages output from the driving circuit.



FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the viewer located in front of the image display views the display panel, FIG. 9 explaining the principle of the image display.



FIGS. 10A and 10B are exploded perspective views for explaining the principle of the image display.



FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams explaining areas of the display panel viewed by the respective viewers in dual-view display modes of the image display.



FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a mobile phone.


Claims
  • 1. An image display comprising: a display panel having a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction;a light source that emits light toward the display panel;a polarization-axis control unit disposed between the display panel and the light source, the polarization-axis control unit separating the light emitted from the light source into light having a first polarization axis and light having a second polarization axis different from the first polarization axis; andan optical element arranged between the display panel and the polarization-axis control unit, the optical element allowing the light emitted from the light source to travel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, whereinthe polarization-axis control unit includes:a first substrate;a second substrate;a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates;a plurality of first electrodes extending in the first direction arranged at a predetermined pitch in the second direction on the first substrate; anda second electrode on the second substrate,the first electrodes each having a connecting part and a plurality of strip electrode segments extending from the connecting part being arranged in such a manner that the respective connecting parts are arranged in opposite end portions of the first substrate and the strip electrode segments are alternately arranged over a surface of the first substrate,the second electrode being superposed over the first electrodes in a region corresponding to a pixel array area of the display panel.
  • 2. The image display according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller that controls voltages applied to the first and second electrodes to switch an image display mode of the image display between a first dual-view display mode and a second dual-view display mode.
  • 3. The image display according to claim 2, wherein in the first dual-view display mode, the controller applies the voltages to the first and second electrodes so that the adjacent electrode segments of the respective first electrodes are opposite in phase and the second electrode is applied with the voltage having the same phase as that of one of the voltages applied to the first electrodes, andin the second dual-view display mode, the controller applies the voltages to the first and second electrodes so that the adjacent electrode segments of the respective first electrodes are opposite in phase and the second electrode is applied with the voltage having the same phase as that of the other voltage.
  • 4. An electronic device having the image display according to claim 1.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2006-011304 Jan 2006 JP national