U.S. patent application number 12/978639 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-21 for 3-dimensional image display.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Jian-Chiun Liou.
Application Number | 20110090413 12/978639 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43879032 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110090413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liou; Jian-Chiun |
April 21, 2011 |
3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE DISPLAY
Abstract
A 3-dimensional image display includes a backlight source, a
light deflecting lens array, and a display panel. The light
deflecting lens array is disposed over the backlight source. The
light deflecting lens array has a plurality of light deflecting
units, each of the light deflecting units deflects a portion of the
backlight source into a plurality of viewing zones in a time
sequence. The display panel displays images by the same time
sequence corresponding to the viewing zones. The backlight source
passes through the display panel to provide the images respectively
to the viewing zones.
Inventors: |
Liou; Jian-Chiun; (Kaohsiung
County, TW) |
Assignee: |
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
43879032 |
Appl. No.: |
12/978639 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11536691 |
Sep 29, 2006 |
7885079 |
|
|
12978639 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/15 ; 349/200;
359/463; 359/619 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 30/27 20200101;
H04N 13/398 20180501; H04N 13/305 20180501; H04N 13/31
20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/15 ; 359/619;
349/200; 359/463 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/22 20060101
G02B027/22; G02B 27/12 20060101 G02B027/12; G02F 1/29 20060101
G02F001/29 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2006 |
TW |
95130365 |
Claims
1. A light deflecting lens array, comprising: a substrate; and a
plurality of light deflecting units, formed as a light deflecting
lens array, disposed on the substrate, wherein each of the light
deflecting units deflects an incident light into a specific viewing
zone.
2. The light deflecting lens array of claim 1, wherein the light
deflection units are lenticular lenses.
3. The light deflecting lens array of claim 1, wherein the light
deflection units, comprising: two electrode layers; a transparent
material prism; and an anisotropic material prism, wherein the
transparent material prism and the anisotropic material prism are
sandwiched between the two electrode layer and form a slant
interface, wherein an index of refraction of the anisotropic
material prism is adjustable by applying a bias between the two
electrode layers.
4. The light deflecting lens array of claim 3, wherein the
anisotropic material prism is a liquid crystal prism.
5. The light deflecting lens array of claim 3, wherein a material
of the transparent material prism is also anisotropic material.
6. The light deflecting lens array of claim 3, wherein the index of
refraction of the anisotropic material prism is adjusted in range
and can be greater or less than an index of refraction of the
transparent material prism.
7. The light deflecting lens array of claim 1, wherein the
substrate is a flexible substrate.
8. The light deflecting lens array of claim 1, wherein the
substrate is a rigid substrate.
9. A 3-dimensional image display, comprising: a backlight source; a
light deflecting lens array, disposed over the backlight source,
wherein the light deflecting lens array has a plurality of light
deflecting units, each of the light deflecting units deflects a
portion of the backlight source into a plurality of viewing zones
in a time sequence; a display panel, to display images by the same
time sequence corresponding to the viewing zones, wherein the
backlight source passes through the display panel to provide the
images respectively to the viewing zones.
10. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein the light
deflecting units of the light deflecting lens array are lenticular
lenses, wherein the backlight source corresponding to each of the
lenticular lenses are grouped into a plurality of light groups at
different locations with respect to the lenticular lenses, the
light groups are sequentially turned on according to the time
sequence to emit light toward the viewing zones.
11. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein each of the
light deflecting units of the light deflecting lens array
comprises: two electrode layers; a transparent material prism; and
an anisotropic material prism, wherein the transparent material
prism and the anisotropic material prism are sandwiched between the
two electrode layer and form a slant interface, wherein an index of
refraction of the anisotropic material prism is adjustable by
applying a bias between the two electrode layers to deflect the
backlight source toward the viewing zones.
12. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 11, wherein the
anisotropic material prism is a liquid crystal prism.
13. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 11, wherein a material
of the transparent material prism is also anisotropic material.
14. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 11, wherein the index
of refraction of the anisotropic material prism is adjusted in
range and can be greater or less than an index of refraction of the
transparent material prism.
15. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein the
backlight source provides a collimated light source to the light
deflecting lens array, or the back light source is attached on the
light deflecting units.
16. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein the display
panel periodically and sequentially displays the images by the time
sequence, wherein display periods of the viewing zones equally
share a period of one image frame.
17. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein the display
panel is flexible and bent as a round shape and multiple viewing
locations are set.
18. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 9, wherein the
backlight source also comprises a uni-direction diffusion lens
plate to condense the portion of the backlight source into a
central region, respectively.
19. A 3-dimensional image display, comprising: a display panel to
display a sequence of images with actively emitting an image light,
wherein the images are corresponding a plurality of viewing zones
and sequentially displayed by a time sequence; and a light
deflecting lens array, disposed over the display panel, wherein the
light deflecting lens array has a plurality of light deflecting
units, the light deflecting units sequentially deflect the image
light to the corresponding viewing zones by the same time
sequence.
20. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 19, wherein the light
deflecting units of the light deflecting lens array are lenticular
lenses.
21. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 19, wherein each of
the light deflecting units of the light deflecting lens array
comprises: two electrode layers; a transparent material prism; and
an anisotropic material prism, wherein the transparent material
prism and the anisotropic material prism are sandwiched between the
two electrode layer and form a slant interface, wherein an index of
refraction of the anisotropic material prism is adjustable by
applying a bias between the two electrode layers.
22. The 3-dimensional image display of claim 19, wherein the
display panel is flexible and bent as a round shape and multiple
viewing locations are set.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of and claims the
priority benefit of patent application Ser. No. 11/536,691, filed
on Sep. 29, 2006, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 95130365, filed on Aug. 18, 2006. The
entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is
hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic assembly.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a 3D-image
display.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a conventional circuit board for carrying and
electrically connecting a plurality of electronic components is
composed of a plurality of patterned conductive layers and a
plurality of insulating layers stacked alternately. The patterned
conductive layers may be formed of copper foils through lithography
and etching processes, and the insulating layers are respectively
disposed between the adjacent patterned conductive layers for
isolating the patterned conductive layers. Besides, these
overlapped patterned conductive layers are electrically connected
to each other through conductive vias. Moreover, electronic
components can be disposed on the surface of the circuit board so
as to form an electronic assembly. The electronic components are
electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer on the
surface of the circuit board and electrical signal propagation is
accomplished via the internal wiring of the circuit board.
[0004] For the application of image display, the image is displayed
with 3D (3 dimension) visual effect has been proposed.
SUMMARY
[0005] In an embodiment, a light deflecting lens array includes a
substrate and a plurality of light deflecting units. The plurality
of light deflecting units, formed as a light deflecting lens array,
disposed on the substrate. Each of the light deflecting units
deflects an incident light into a specific viewing zone.
[0006] In an embodiment, a 3-dimensional image display includes a
backlight source, a light deflecting lens array, and a display
panel. The light deflecting lens array is disposed over the
backlight source. The light deflecting lens array has a plurality
of light deflecting units, each of the light deflecting units
deflects a portion of the backlight source into a plurality of
viewing zones in a time sequence. The display panel, to display
images by the same time sequence corresponding to the viewing
zones. The backlight source passes through the display panel to
provide the images respectively to the viewing zones.
[0007] In an embodiment, a 3-dimensional image display includes a
display panel and a light deflecting lens array. The display panel
is to display a sequence of images with actively emitting an image
light. The images are corresponding to a plurality of viewing zones
and sequentially displayed by a time sequence. The light deflecting
lens array is disposed over the display panel. The light deflecting
lens array has a plurality of light deflecting units, the light
deflecting units sequentially deflect the image light to the
corresponding viewing zones by the same time sequence.
[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure
as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a flexible electronic assembly
according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a performance of a liquid crystal light deflecting
unit without bias, according to an embodiment of disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a performance of a liquid crystal light deflecting
unit with bias, according to an embodiment of disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a drawing, schematically illustrating the
deflection mechanism from the LC, according an embodiment of
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating a light deflecting device, according to an embodiment
of disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating another light deflecting device, according to an
embodiment of disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating another light deflecting device with more LC light
deflecting units, according to an embodiment of disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating pixel structure with multiple viewing zones according
to an embodiment of disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating pixel structure with multiple viewing zones according
to an embodiment of disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9A is a drawing, schematically illustrating a mechanism
for 3D image display, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 9B is a drawing, schematically illustrating a mechanism
for 3D image display, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating a display structure for 3D image display based on
lenticular lens array, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a drawing, schematically illustrating a time
sequence for turning on the four groups of the light source,
according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 12 is perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
multiple viewers at different viewing zones to view individual
image content, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0025] FIGS. 14A-14B are cross-sectional drawings, schematically
illustrating a display structure for 3D image display based on
liquid lens array, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 15 is perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
multiple viewers at different viewing zones to view individual
image content, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 17 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 18 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] The flexible display can be based on the technology of
flexible electronic assembly. Embodiment for the flexible
electronic assembly is provided as follows.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a flexible electronic assembly
according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to
FIG. 1, the flexible electronic assembly 100 includes a flexible
circuit board 110 and at least one electronic component 120. The
flexible circuit board 110 includes a dielectric film layer 112 and
a patterned conductive layer 114 disposed on the dielectric film
layer 112. The electronic components 120 are disposed on the
flexible circuit board 110 and electrically connected to the
flexible circuit board 110, and the flexible angle .theta. of the
flexible electronic assembly 100 is greater than 5 degrees. It
should be noted that the flexible angle .theta. refers to the
tangent angle formed by the curved flexible circuit board 110 with
a horizontal line L tangent to the curved flexible circuit board
110. Besides, the value of the flexible angle .theta. of the
flexible electronic assembly 100 is determined according to the
material of the flexible circuit board 110 and the sizes of the
electronic components 120 thereon. For example, the smaller the
sizes of the electronic components 120 are, the larger the curving
extent of the flexible electronic assembly is.
[0032] In the embodiment, the material of the dielectric film layer
112 may be polyimide, glass epoxy resin, polyester, or
bismaleimide-triazine resin (i.e. BT resin), and the electronic
components 120 may be disposed on the patterned conductive layer
114. Besides, one of the electronic components 120 may be a logic
control component or a driving component. The electronic component
120 may be a chip or a chip package. The other one of the
electronic components 120 may be a light emitting diode chip, a
chip having photodiode, or a chip package containing one of the
foregoing chips.
[0033] In specific, the electronic components 120 can be the
components for forming a flexible display, such as flexible liquid
crystal display (LCD). The electronic components 120 can be
electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer 114
through flip chip bonding technology, tape automated bonding
technology, or surface mounting technology. For example, one of the
electronic components 120 may be a chip and has a plurality of
bumps 122, and the said electronic component 120 is electrically
connected to the patterned conductive layer 114 through the bumps
122. The said electronic component 120 is usually electrically
connected to the patterned conductive layer 114 through flip chip
bonding technology if the material of the bumps 122 of the said
electronic component 120 is tin, lead, or tin-lead alloy, while the
said electronic component 120 is usually electrically connected to
the patterned conductive layer 114 through tape automated bonding
technology if the material of the bumps 122 is gold.
[0034] Furthermore, if one of the electronic components 120 is a
chip package, the said electronic component 120 can be electrically
connected to the patterned conductive layer 114 through solder
paste (not shown). In other words, the said electronic component
120 is electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer 114
through surface mounting technology. It should be noted that the
electronic components 120 (of enough number) of the flexible
electronic assembly 100 may be electrically connected to the
flexible circuit board 110 through any one, two, or three of the
aforementioned technologies.
[0035] In order to display image with 3D visual effect, the
lenticular lens plate is usually used to deflect the image light to
the two eyes, respectively, to form the 3D effect. However, the
lenticular lens plate is not the only choice. Before describing the
3D image display, an adjustable liquid crystal (LC) light
deflecting unit is disclosed. The adjustable LC light deflecting
unit can be generally as a light deflecting unit.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a performance of a liquid crystal light deflecting
unit without bias, according to an embodiment of disclosure. Taking
the LC light deflecting unit 140 as an example to serve like
lenticular lens, it includes a light deflecting layer sandwiched by
two transparent electrode layers 154, 158. The light deflecting
layer is composed of a liquid crystal (LC) layer 150 with index of
refraction n.sub.LC and a transparent material layer 152 with index
of refraction n. The transparent material layer 152 and the liquid
crystal layer 150 are in prism structure and have a slant
interface. A bias can be applied to the liquid crystal layer 150 by
applying voltages to the bottom electrode layer 156 and the top
electrode layer 154, so as to change the aligning direction of the
liquid crystal and then the index of refraction n.sub.LC can be
changed. In the example that the bias is not applied, the direction
of the long axis of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 150
is about at the horizontal direction and the index of refraction
n.sub.LC is represented as n.sub.e, with a condition of
n<n.sub.e. In an example, when the incident light 158 with a
polarization parallel to the long axis of liquid crystal, the light
is deflected to left according to the Snell's law. This is also
known as the E-ray.
[0037] Here, the liquid crystal layer 150 is just an example. The
liquid crystal layer 150 can be an anisotropic material of which
the optical axis can be controlled. Even further, the transparent
material layer 152 can also be other anisotropic material of which
the optical axis can be controlled as well.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a performance of a liquid crystal light deflecting
unit with bias, according to an embodiment of disclosure. In FIG.
3, when a bias is applied to the liquid crystal layer 150 by
applying a ground voltage to the bottom electrode layer 156 and
applying a positive voltage to the top electrode layer 154, the
liquid crystal are rotated to be vertical aligning direction and
the index of refraction n.sub.LC is changed to n.sub.o, greater
than the index of refraction n of the transparent material layer
152. In this situation, when the incident light with transverse
polarization vertically enters the liquid crystal layer 150, the
light is deflected toward the right side, according to the Snell's
law. This also known as the O-ray.
[0039] Based on the adjustable change of the index of refraction of
liquid crystal layer 150, the incident light can be deflected to
the other expected direction under control. As a result, the
function like the lenticular lens can be achieved. Additionally,
the aligning direction of liquid crystal under control may result
in the effect of deflecting the incident light. FIG. 4 is a
drawing, schematically illustrating the deflection mechanism from
the LC, according an embodiment of disclosure. In FIG. 4a, for
example, the light being vertically incident to the LC light
deflecting unit is not deflected at the output end when the liquid
crystal is aligned to the light incident direction. Alternatively,
for example in FIG. 4b, when the bias is applied between the
electrode layers, the liquid crystal are rotated to a controlled
direction with the change of index of refraction, the incident
light is defected to other direction. In other words, based on the
property of controllable index of refraction and the aligning
direction of the liquid LC, in association with another transparent
layer, the incident light can be deflected to the determined
direction.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating a light deflecting device, according to an embodiment
of disclosure. In FIG. 5, three LC light deflecting units 140 are
shown as an example. Based on technology of flexible assembly, a
flexible light deflecting device can be fabricated with multiple LC
light deflecting units 140 as the columnar structure on the
substrate, such as a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. The
LC light deflecting units 140 can be implemented with the light
source 162. The light source 162 can be formed by multiple light
emitting devices in this example. It can be understood that each
light defecting unit 140 is a columnar structure, extending along a
vertical line of a displayed image in a practical application. In
this example, each LC light deflecting unit 140 has a bottom
electrode layer 156 and a top electrode layer 154.
[0041] A controllable light-deflecting layer is sandwiched between
the two electrode layers 154, 156. The controllable
light-deflecting layer is composed of a transparent material layer
152 with index of refraction n.sub.o and a liquid crystal layer 150
with controllable index of refraction n.sub.1, in which n1 can be
adjusted to be less or greater than n.sub.o. The transparent
material layer 152 and the liquid crystal layer 150 can have a
slant interface. In an example, the transparent material layer 152
and the liquid crystal layer 150 are the prism structures. A
separator 160 may be also implemented at the interface. The
transparent material layer 152 may be, for example, a solid
material or another kind of LC without specifically limited to the
example. Also, the liquid crystal layer 150 can also be any
material with controllable index of refraction without specifically
limited to example. In addition, the stack sequence of the
transparent material layer 152 and the liquid crystal layer 150 can
also be changed in option.
[0042] The optical property is that the index of refraction can be
adjusted by applying proper bias between the two electrode layers,
so that the incident light can be deflected as adjusted. In this
example, the bottom electrode layer 156 can be the ground voltage
layer and can be commonly connected together in flexible shape. In
this example, the light source 162 can be formed from the
light-emitting devices over the bottom electrode layer 156, so that
the emitted light is directly entering the LC light deflecting
units 140. By applying a proper operation voltage individually on
each of the top electrode layers in association with the geometric
structure, the output lights can be deflected to the determined
directions. In one application on 3D display, the output lights of
the LC light deflecting units 140 are deflected into a direction at
a time period. In next time period, the output lights of the LC
light deflecting units 140 are deflected into another direction,
for another viewing zone.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating another light deflecting device, according to an
embodiment of disclosure. The light source 164 can have other
choice. In this example, the light source 164 is provided by
external collimated light. In this structure, the incident light
source 154 onto the LC light deflecting units 140 is not vertical.
However, with the proper setting of the geometrical locations and
the operation bias, the function of deflecting lights 166a, 166b,
166c into the intended directions can also be achieved.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating another light deflecting device with more LC light
deflecting units, according to an embodiment of disclosure. In FIG.
7, several LC light deflecting units 140 can be formed as a lens
array 180, being grouped corresponding to pixels so as to form
multiple viewing regions when applying to 3D image display. Due to
the flexible property, the viewing regions can be easily set up in
the space for naked eyes to view 3D image. In temporal multiplexed
mechanism for 3D display, several viewing zones corresponding to
different viewing angles of same landscape are to be display by a
time sequence. The LC light deflecting units 140 can be controlled
to respectively deflect the 2D images of viewing zones into viewing
directions by the same time sequence. The two eyes of a viewer at
different viewing direction to view the left image and the right
image of two different viewing zones. As a result, due to the
parallax between the two viewing zones, a 3D visual effect can be
created in the human visual system. The mechanism for 3D image
display is to be described later in detail.
[0045] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating pixel structure with multiple viewing zones according
to an embodiment of disclosure. In FIG. 8A, the lens array 180 is
implemented behind the pixels 182a, 182b of a flexible display
panel. Here, only two pixels 182a, 182b are presented as the
example. In this example, one pixel may be implemented with nine LC
light deflecting units 140. The light source 162 may provide light
just behind the LC light deflecting units 140. All of the LC light
deflecting units 140 are adjusted to have the same light emitting
direction, corresponding to the viewing zones. However, the light
emitting direction is changed by time sequence, corresponding to
the time sequence of display, so that images with parallax of
multiple viewing zones are sequentially project to different
viewing directions for view by two eyes of a viewer at different
time. Since the two eyes receive the two images at two viewing
zones and form the 3D visual effect.
[0046] It can be noted that the flexible display panel in this
example of FIG. 8A, such as the LCD display panel, needs the back
light. Alternatively, if the flexible display panel is the type to
actively emit image light, such as LED display panel, the lens
array 180 is disposed in front of the pixels of the display panel.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically illustrating
pixel structure with multiple viewing zones according to an
embodiment of disclosure. In FIG. 8B, the pixels 182a, 182b are
disposed behind the lens array 180 to actively emit the image
light. The lens array 180 in this example does not need the light
source 162.
[0047] To have the 3D image display for multiple viewers to view
individual 3D content at different portion of the landscape, the
flexible display panel can be set as a round geometric structure in
an example. FIG. 9A is a drawing, schematically illustrating a
mechanism for 3D image display, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 9A, a light source 200 with the flexible
property is assembled as the round geometric structure. A lens
array 204 with the flexible property is also set as a round
geometric structure to deflect the light source 200 into multiple
viewing zones in a time sequence. The round display panel 206 is
then receives the light source 200 with multiple viewing zones to
display the images according to temporal multiplexed mechanism. The
mechanism for 3D image display is described in subsequent
embodiments. The light source 200 and the lens array 204 can be
formed together as an active barrier dynamic backlight slit
assembler in an integrated unit.
[0048] FIG. 9B is a drawing, schematically illustrating a mechanism
for 3D image display, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
In FIG. 9B, if the display panel 210 is actively emitting the image
light, with the same concept, the lens array 204 is disposed as an
outer layer, so that the image light can be deflected and enter the
multiple viewing zones for the two eyes of each viewer,
respectively.
[0049] Based on the example in FIG. 9A, multiple viewers can view
the 3D image display with different contents at different display
regions of the round display panel 206. Taking four viewing zones
as an example to be created, each viewing zone occupies 1/240
second for display one 2D image. One eye receives the first image
in 1/240 second at one viewing zone and another eye receives
another image in next 1/240 second at the adjacent viewing zone.
This is within the acceptable range of the human visual system to
compose the 3D effect without causing image blinking. The detail is
described in FIG. 10.
[0050] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional drawing, schematically
illustrating a display structure for 3D image display based on
lenticular lens array, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 10, the embodiment is illustrated for four
viewing zones 1-4 located at the viewing location 208. Each viewing
zone uses 1/240 second to display one image. In this example, the
light source 200 at specific location is grouped corresponding to
each lenticular lens of the lenticular lens array 204. For the four
viewing zones, each lenticular lens has four groups 1-4 of light
sources corresponding to four viewing zones 1-4. The four groups of
light are sequentially turned on for 1/240 second. For example, the
group 1 of light source 200 is turned on, and then the group 2 of
light source 200 is turned on next for 1/240 second. Likewise, the
groups 3 and 4 of light source 200 are sequentially turned on for
1/240 second. Generally, the multiple viewing zones equally shares
1/60 second for one image frame. In addition, a uni-direction
diffusion lens plate 202 can be used with the light source 200 to
improve the light emitting direction to form the active barrier.
The uni-direction diffusion lens plate 202 can condense the light
individually belonging to each the lenticular lens at transverse
direction.
[0051] It can be understood that the flexible property has the
advantage for bending the display into the geometric structure.
However, the flexible property may also be set as a flat structure.
According to the need, the flexible property can be replaced by a
rigid flat structure. In other words, the provided embodiments as
described in the disclosure can also be applied to a rigid flat
display.
[0052] The lenticular lenses of the lens array 204 receive the
light and deflect the light into each viewing zone in a time
sequence, respectively. The display panel 206 displays the
corresponding images of the four viewing zones by the same time
sequence according to temporal multiplexed mechanism. Further
descriptions about the 3D image display mechanism will be provided
later in FIG. 12.
[0053] The light source 200 is divided into four groups, which are
turned on sequentially, and then a displaying rate of 60 Hz for
displaying 3D image still maintain. FIG. 11 is a drawing,
schematically illustrating a time sequence for turning on the four
groups of the light source, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 11, the time sequence for turning on the four
groups of the light source 200. When the group 1 of the light
source is turned on, represented by white region, the other groups
2-4 are turned off. At this moment, only the viewing zone (view 4)
corresponding to one eye can be viewed. When the group 2 is turned
on and groups 1, 3-4 are turned off, only the viewing zone (view 3)
can be viewed at another eye. The display panel 206 correspondingly
displays the images with a period of 1/240 second four different
viewing zones. Likewise, the group 2, group 3, and group 4 are
sequentially turned on for viewing zones 3, 2 and 1. Four viewing
zones can be created.
[0054] FIG. 12 is perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 12, for one viewer 216, the lenticular lens
array 204 and the active barrier 212 form as a backlight source.
According to the time sequence for turning the groups of the light
source, multiple viewing zones at multiple directions are created.
The lights belonging to different viewing zones can enter the left
eye (L) and the right eye (R) at different time period. Since the
directions of light for the viewing zones are different, the two
eyes do not interfere. Only one eye individually receives the image
at one corresponding viewing zone at its displaying time period,
such as 1/240 second. As a result, the 3D image can be created for
the viewer by naked eyes.
[0055] FIG. 13 is a perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
multiple viewers at different viewing zones to view individual
image content, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In
FIG. 13, based on the flexible property, the active barrier 212 is
formed in a round shape to emit lights. Each light unit of the
active barrier is a thin bar structure, for example. Three viewers
250 are shown at three viewing locations for different part of
image to be displayed in the display panel 214. Each viewer 250
views the 3D image based on the mechanism as described in FIG.
12.
[0056] The previous embodiments for 3D image display are based on
the lenticular lens array in association with the control of the
backlight source. However, the lenticular lens array 204 in FIG. 12
can be replaced by the LC light deflecting units to form liquid
lens array. Generally, a light deflecting lens array can be
referred and can be the lenticular lens array or the liquid lens
array, or any other array with the same function.
[0057] FIGS. 14A-14B are cross-sectional drawings, schematically
illustrating a display structure for 3D image display based on
liquid lens array, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In
FIG. 14A, the active barrier 264 as the backlight source includes
the light source 260 and the uni-direction diffusion lens plate
262. In this embodiment, all of the light source may be turned
on/off without grouped. For example, the collimated light source is
produced. Each of the LC light deflecting units of the liquid lens
array 268 can be controlled to deflect the incident light to a set
direction, corresponding to one of the viewing zones by a time
sequence. For example In FIG. 14A, the LC light deflecting units of
the liquid lens array 268 are adjusted to emit light toward the
viewing zone (view 1) at a time period, such 1/240 second. In FIG.
14B, the LC light deflecting units of the liquid lens array 268 are
adjusted to emit light toward the next viewing zone (view 2) at the
next time period, such 1/240 second. The flexible display panel 206
sequentially displays the images of the viewing zones. When the
left-eye image and the right-eye image at the viewing location 208
separately view the images at two adjacent viewing zones, a 3D
image can be created for the corresponding viewer. The display
mechanism is like the mechanism for lenticular lens in FIG. 10.
[0058] FIG. 15 is perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 15, for one viewing location 300, the liquid
lens array 268 and the active barrier 264 form as a backlight
source. The emitted light in each LC light deflecting unit of the
liquid lens array 268 respectively passes the flexible display
panel 214 and then enters the left eye (L) and right eye (R) in a
time sequence. The left-eye image and the right-eye image are
sequentially display in the flexible display panel 214 and
sequentially enter the two eyes to form a 3D image.
[0059] FIG. 16 is a perspective drawing, schematically illustrating
multiple viewers at different viewing zones to view individual
image content, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In
FIG. 16, based on the flexible property, the active barrier as the
264 is formed in a round shape to emit lights. Each light unit is a
thin bar structure. Three viewing locations 300 are shown at three
viewing zones. A viewer at each viewing location 300 views the 3D
image with naked eyes based on the mechanism as described in FIG.
15. However, different viewing location 300 views different part of
the flexible display panel 214. For the example of three viewers,
they can be located at different viewing locations 300. The
flexible display panel 214 displays the 3D images for multiple
viewers.
[0060] It can be understood that if the display panel 214 displays
different contents at the different viewing locations, multiple
viewers can separately view different image objects. This is also
one of practical applications.
[0061] Even further, the previous embodiments for the 3D image
display are based on the flexible display panel in light
transmission type. The product of LCD panel is more popular in the
current market. However, as described in FIGS. 8B and 9B, the LED
display panel is also developed and can actively emit the image
light. In this situation, the location of the display panel is
behind the lens array, so as to deflect the image light to both
eyes with left-eye image and right-eye image.
[0062] Even further, because the light deflection of the LC light
deflecting unit can be dynamically adjusted, when the viewer is
moving viewing location/angle, the image content can be dynamically
tracking the viewer. In this mechanism, an additional viewer
tracker can be implemented to detect the location of the viewer
based on the technology of state-in-the-art without limitation.
[0063] FIG. 17 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 17, the flexible display panel 400 with
actively emitting image light is formed in a round shape as an
example. The flexible display panel 400 can emit image lights by
time sequence. The lenticular lens array 402 is disposed outer the
flexible display panel 400. Four viewers 404a-404d, as an example,
can respectively view 3D image at the corresponding viewing
locations.
[0064] FIG. 18 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating
the 3D image display mechanism, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. In FIG. 18, the flexible display panel 400 with
actively emitting image light is formed in a round shape as an
example. The flexible display panel 400 can emit image light in a
time sequence. The liquid lens array 406 is disposed outer the
flexible display panel 400. Four viewers 404a-404d, as an example,
can respectively view 3D image at the corresponding viewing
locations.
[0065] In general, the lens array can be disposed in any proper
location between the light source and the viewer, in which the
light source may be just the backlight or the image light carrying
the color information from the display panel. The flexible lens
array deflects the pixel lights of the left-eye image and right-eye
image to two naked eyes of one viewer at the specific viewing zone
without interfering with other viewers.
[0066] Further, as previously mentioned, the embodiments are not
limited to the flexible structure and can be applied to the rigid
flat display or any other proper geometric structure.
[0067] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
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