U.S. patent application number 13/186774 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-10 for embedded stereoscopic 3d display and 2d display film stack.
This patent application is currently assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company. Invention is credited to Bonnie W. Albrecht, Scott E. Brigham, Robert L. Brott, Glenn E. Casner, Kathy L. Hagen, Martin Kristoffersen, John C. Nelson, John C. Schultz, Michael J. Sykora.
Application Number | 20110273636 13/186774 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40522923 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110273636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schultz; John C. ; et
al. |
November 10, 2011 |
EMBEDDED STEREOSCOPIC 3D DISPLAY AND 2D DISPLAY FILM STACK
Abstract
An LCD device with 3D and 2D sections. The device includes an
LCD panel, a light guide with a backlight, and an embedded 3D-2D
film stack positioned between the LCD panel and the light guide.
The 3D and 2D sections provide for simultaneously viewing visual
content in 3D and 2D formats. The device can also include a frame
providing a barrier between the 3D and 2D sections and can include
other features to enhance the display.
Inventors: |
Schultz; John C.; (Afton,
MN) ; Sykora; Michael J.; (Deer Park, WI) ;
Kristoffersen; Martin; (Maplewood, MN) ; Hagen; Kathy
L.; (Stillwater, MN) ; Casner; Glenn E.;
(Woodbury, MN) ; Albrecht; Bonnie W.; (Lake Elmo,
MN) ; Brott; Robert L.; (Woodbury, MN) ;
Brigham; Scott E.; (Maplewood, MN) ; Nelson; John
C.; (The Sea Ranch, CA) |
Assignee: |
3M Innovative Properties
Company
|
Family ID: |
40522923 |
Appl. No.: |
13/186774 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12241502 |
Sep 30, 2008 |
8004622 |
|
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13186774 |
|
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60977482 |
Oct 4, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 13/32 20180501;
G02B 30/27 20200101; H04N 13/312 20180501; G02F 1/133391 20210101;
G02F 1/133626 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/15 |
International
Class: |
G02F 1/1335 20060101
G02F001/1335 |
Claims
1. A stereoscopic 3D display, comprising: a liquid crystal display
panel; drive electronics configured to drive the liquid crystal
display panel with alternating left eye and right eye images; a
light guide and a backlight positioned to provide light to the
liquid crystal display; and a double sided prism film positioned
between the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide;
wherein the display includes a 3D section providing for visual
information in a 3D format and having sufficient disparity depth
cues within the 3D section to allow a viewer to effectively discern
disparity information.
2. The display of claim 1, wherein the 3D section comprises a no
content zone adjacent to a display bezel.
3. A stereoscopic 3D display, comprising: a liquid crystal display
panel; drive electronics configured to drive the liquid crystal
display panel with alternating left eye and right eye images; a
light guide and a backlight positioned to provide light to the
liquid crystal display; and a double sided prism film positioned
between the liquid crystal display panel and the light guide;
wherein the display provides a substantially uniform perceived
luminance along a length of the light guide.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/241,502, filed Sep. 30, 2008, now allowed, which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/977,482, filed Oct.
4, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein in their entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a backlit liquid crystal
display apparatus and particularly to displaying stereo 3D images
with 2D images.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A stereoscopic 3D display usually presents an observer with
images with parallax from individual right and left eye viewpoints.
There are two methods of providing the two eyes of the observer
with the parallax images in a time sequential manner. In one
method, the observer utilizes a pair of shutter or 3D glasses which
transmit or block light from the viewer's eyes in synchronization
with alternating the left/right image display. Similarly, in
another method, right eye and left eye viewpoints are alternatively
displayed and presented to the respective eyes of the observer but
without the use of 3D glasses. This second method is referred to as
autostereoscopic and is sometimes desirable for stereo 3D viewing
because separate glasses are not needed though there is limited
permissible head motion.
[0004] A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a sample and hold display
device such that the image at any point or pixel of the display is
stable until that pixel is updated at the next image refresh time,
typically 1/60 of a second or faster. In such a sample and hold
system, displaying different images, specifically displaying
alternating left and right images for an autostereoscopic display,
requires careful timing sequencing of the light sources so that,
for example, the left eye image light source is not on during the
display of data for the right eye and vice versa.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure relates to a backlit liquid crystal
display apparatus and particularly to displaying stereo 3D images
with 2D images using an embedded 3D film stack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention may be more completely understood in
consideration of the following detailed description of various
embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative display
apparatus;
[0008] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are schematic side views of an
illustrative display apparatus in operation;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a 3D-2D display for an
automobile dashboard;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of a 3D-2D
display;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of a 3D-2D display
with barriers between the 3D and 2D zones;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a 3D-2D display with
barriers between the 3D and 2D zones;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a frame for providing
barriers between 3D and 2D sections in a 3D-2D display;
[0014] FIG. 8 is cross-sectional view of the frame of FIG. 7 taken
along line 8-8 that provides barriers between 3D and 2D sections in
a 3D-2D display and illustrating bezels in the barriers;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a left eye view, center
view, and right eye view;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a black ellipse perceived
to float above a display bezel;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a black ellipse perceived
to project behind a display bezel
[0018] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a black ellipse perceived
to float above a display bezel and including a no content zone;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a stereoscopic display
lacking sufficient features to determine relative disparity;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a stereoscopic display
containing sufficient features to determine relative disparity;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a stereoscopic display
with a logo and containing sufficient features to determine
relative disparity;
[0022] FIG. 16 is a graph of maximum light intensity or luminance
through a 3D film;
[0023] FIG. 17 is an angular plot of light intensity or luminance
of a 2D area of a 3D-2D display;
[0024] FIG. 18 is an angular plot of light intensity or luminance
of a 3D area of a 3D-2D display;
[0025] FIG. 19 is a graph of brightness or luminance measurements
of a 3D-2D display with an embedded film stack; and
[0026] FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating the brightness or luminance
measurements of a 3D display.
[0027] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used
in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be
understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a
given figure is not intended to limit the component in another
figure labeled with the same number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are
shown by way of illustration several specific embodiments. It is to
be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be
made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present
invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to
be taken in a limiting sense.
[0029] All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings
commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The
definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of
certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0030] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature
sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification
and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances
by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary,
the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification
and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon
the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in
the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.
[0031] The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all
numbers subsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2,
2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5) and any range within that range.
[0032] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the
singular forms "a", "an", and "the" encompass embodiments having
plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As
used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or"
is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the
content clearly dictates otherwise.
[0033] The term "autostereoscopic" refers to displaying
three-dimensional images that can be viewed without the use of
special headgear or glasses on the part of the user or viewer.
These methods produce depth perception for the viewer even though
the image is produced by a flat device. The term stereoscopic 3D
incorporates the field of autostereoscopic devices but also
includes the stereoscopic 3D display case in which special
headgear, typically shutter glasses, are need to see stereoscopic
3D from a flat device.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative display
apparatus 10. The display apparatus includes a liquid crystal
display panel 20 and a backlight 30 positioned to provide light to
the liquid crystal display panel 20. The backlight 30 includes a
right eye image solid state light source 32 or plurality of first
light sources 32, and a left eye image solid state light source 34
or plurality of second light sources 34, capable of being modulated
between the right eye image solid state light source 32 and the
left eye image solid state light source 34 at a rate of, in many
embodiments, at least 90 Hertz. A double sided prism film 40 is
disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 20 and the
backlight 30.
[0035] The liquid crystal display panel 20 and/or backlight 30 can
have any useful shape or configuration. In many embodiments, the
liquid crystal display panel 20 and backlight 30 has a square or
rectangular shape. However, in some embodiments, the liquid crystal
display panel 20 and/or backlight 30 has more than four sides or is
a curved shape. While the present disclosure is directed to any
stereoscopic 3D backlight including those requiring shutter glasses
or more than a single lightguide and associated liquid crystal
display panel, the present disclosure is particularly useful for
autostereoscopic displays.
[0036] A synchronization driving element 50 is electrically
connected to the backlight 30 plurality of first and second light
sources 32, 34 and the liquid crystal display panel 20. The
synchronization driving element 50 synchronizes activation and
deactivation (i.e., modulation) of the right eye image solid state
light source 32 and the left eye image solid state light source 34
as image frames are provided at a rate of, in many embodiments, 90
frames per second or greater to the liquid crystal display panel 20
to produce a flicker-free still image sequence, video stream or
rendered computer graphics. An image (e.g., video or computer
rendered graphics) source 60 is connected to the synchronization
driving element 50 and provides the images frames (e.g., right eye
images and left eye images) to the liquid crystal display panel
20.
[0037] The liquid crystal display panel 20 can be any useful
transmissive liquid crystal display panel. In many embodiments,
liquid crystal display panel 20 has a frame response time of less
than 16 milliseconds, or less than 10 milliseconds, or less than 5
milliseconds. Commercially available transmissive liquid crystal
display panels having a frame response time of less than 10
milliseconds, or less than 5 milliseconds, or less than 3
milliseconds, are for example Toshiba Matsushita Display's (TMD)
optically compensated bend (OCB) mode panel LTA090A220F (Toshiba
Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd., Japan).
[0038] The backlight 30 can be any useful backlight that can be
modulated between a right eye image solid state light source 32 and
left eye image solid state light source 34 at a rate of, in many
embodiments, at least 90 Hertz, or 100 Hertz, or 110 Hertz, or 120
Hertz, or greater than 120 Hertz.
[0039] The illustrated backlight 30 includes a first side 31 or
first light input surface 31 adjacent to the plurality of first
light sources 32 or right eye image solid state light source 32 and
an opposing second side 33 or second light input surface 33
adjacent to the plurality of second light sources 34 or left eye
image solid state light source 34. A first surface 36 extends
between the first side 31 and second side 33, and a second surface
35, opposite the first surface 36, extends between the first side
31 and second side 33. The first surface 36 substantially
re-directs (e.g., reflects, extracts, and the like) light and the
second surface 35 substantially transmits light. In many
embodiments, a highly reflective surface is on or adjacent to the
first surface 36 to assist in re-directing light out through the
second surface 35.
[0040] In many embodiments, the first surface 36 includes a
plurality of extraction elements such as, for example, linear prism
or lenticular features as shown. In many embodiments, the linear
prism or lenticular features can extend in a direction parallel to
the first side 31 and second side 33 or parallel to the linear
prism and lenticular features of the double sided prism film 40. In
some embodiments, the linear prism or lenticular features are not
parallel to the first side 31 or second side 33.
[0041] The solid state light sources can be any useful solid state
light source that can be modulated at a rate of, for example, at
least 90 Hertz. In many embodiments, the solid state light source
is a plurality of light emitting diodes such as, for example,
Nichia NSSW020B (Nichia Chemical Industries, Ltd., Japan). In other
embodiments, the solid state light source is a plurality of laser
diodes or organic light emitting diodes (i.e., OLEDs). The solid
state light sources can emit any number of visible light
wavelengths such as red, blue, and/or green, or range or
combinations of wavelengths to produce, for example, white light.
The backlight can be a single layer of optically clear material
with light sources at both ends or two (or more) layers of
optically clear material with a light source per layer which
preferentially extract light in a desired direction for each
layer.
[0042] The double sided prism film 40 can be any useful prism film
having a linear lenticular structure on a first side and a linear
prismatic structure on an opposing side. The linear lenticular
structure and the linear prism structure are parallel. The double
sided prism film 40 transmits light from the scanning backlight to
the liquid crystal display panel 20 at the proper angles such that
a viewer perceives depth in the displayed image. Useful, double
sided prism films are described in United States Patent Publication
Nos. 2005/0052750 and 2005/0276071, which are incorporated herein
to the extent they do not conflict with the present disclosure.
[0043] The image source 60 can be any useful image source capable
of providing images frames (e.g., right eye images and left eye
images) such as, for example, a video source or a computer rendered
graphic source. In many embodiments, the video source can provide
image frames from 50 to 60 Hertz or greater. In many embodiments,
the computer rendered graphic source can provide image frames from
100 to 120 Hertz or greater.
[0044] The computer rendered graphic source can provide gaming
content, medical imaging content, computer aided design content,
and the like. The computer rendered graphic source can include a
graphics processing unit such as, for example, an Nvidia FX5200
graphics card, a Nvidia GeForce 9750 GTX graphics card or, for
mobile solutions such as laptop computers, an Nvidia GeForce GO
7900 GS graphics card. The computer rendered graphic source can
also incorporate appropriate stereo driver software such as, for
example, OpenGL, DirectX, or Nvidia proprietary 3D stereo
drivers.
[0045] The video source can provide video content. The video source
can include a graphics processing unit such as, for example, an
Nvidia Quadro FX1400 graphics card. The video source can also
incorporate appropriate stereo driver software such as, for
example, OpenGL, DirectX, or Nvidia proprietary 3D stereo
drivers.
[0046] The synchronization driving element 50 can include any
useful driving element providing synchronizing activation and
deactivation (i.e., modulation) of the right eye image solid state
light source 32 and the left eye image solid state light source 34
with image frames provided at a rate of, for example, 90 frames per
second or greater to the liquid crystal display panel 20 to produce
flicker-free video or rendered computer graphics. The
synchronization driving element 50 can include a video interface
such as, for example, a Westar VP-7 video adaptor (Westar Display
Technologies, Inc., St. Charles, Mo.) coupled to custom solid state
light source drive electronics.
[0047] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are schematic side views of an
illustrative display apparatus 10 in operation. In FIG. 2A the left
eye image solid state light source 34 (i.e., plurality of second
light sources 34) is illuminated and the right eye image solid
state light source 32 (i.e., plurality of first light sources 32)
is not illuminated. In this state, the light emitted from the left
eye image solid state light source 34 transmits through the
backlight 30, through the double sided prism sheet 40, and liquid
crystal panel 20 providing a left eye image directed toward the
left eye 1a of an viewer or observer. In FIG. 2B the right eye
image solid state light source 32 is illuminated and the left eye
image solid state light source 34 is not illuminated. In this
state, the light emitted from the right eye solid state light
source 32 transmits through the backlight 30, through the double
sided prism sheet 40, and liquid crystal panel 20 providing a right
eye image directed toward the right eye 1b of an viewer or
observer. It is understood that while the right eye solid state
light source 32 is located on the right side of the light guide and
the left eye image solid state light source 34 is located on the
left side of the light guide, is some embodiments, the right eye
solid state light source 32 is located on the left side of the
light guide and the left eye image solid state light source 34 is
located on the right side of the light guide.
[0048] The light sources 32, 34 can be air coupled or index matched
to the backlight light guide. For example, a packaged light source
device (e.g., LED) can be edge-coupled without index matching
material into the light guide. Alternatively, packaged or bare die
LEDs can be index matched and/or encapsulated in the edge of the
light guide for increased efficiency. This feature may include
additional optical features, e.g., injection wedge shapes, on the
ends of the light guide to efficiently transport the input light.
The LEDs can be alternatively embedded in the edge or side 31, 33
of the light guide with appropriate features to efficiently collect
and collimate the LED light into TIR (i.e., total internal
reflection) modes of the light guide.
[0049] Liquid crystal display panels 20 have a refresh or image
update rate that is variable, but for the purposes of this example,
a 60 Hz refresh rate is presumed. This means that a new image is
presented to the viewer every 1/60 second or 16.67 milliseconds
(msec). In the 3D system this means that at time t=0 (zero) the
right image of frame one is presented. At time t=16.67 msec the
left image of frame one is presented. At time t=2*16.67 msec the
right image of frame two is presented. At time t=3*16.67 msec the
left image of frame two is presented, and this process is thus
repeated. The effective frame rate is half that of a normal imaging
system because for each image a left eye and right eye view of that
image is presented.
[0050] In this example, turning the first plurality of light
sources on to light the right (or left) image at time t=0 provides
light to the right (or left) image, respectively. At time t=16.67
msec the second image left or right, starts to be put in place.
This image replaces the "time t=0 image" from the top of the LCD
panel to the bottom of the LCD, which takes 16.67 msec to complete
in this example. Non-scanned solutions turn off all the first
plurality of light sources and then turn on all the second
plurality of light sources sometime during this transition.
[0051] Providing at least 45 left eye images and at least 45 right
eye images (alternating between right eye and left eye images and
the images are possibly a repeat of the previous image pair) to a
viewer per second provides a flicker-free 3D image to the viewer.
Accordingly, displaying different right and left viewpoint image
pairs from computer rendered images or images acquired from still
image cameras or video image cameras, when displayed in
synchronization with the switching of the light sources 32 and 34,
enables the viewer to visually fuse the two different images,
creating the perception of depth from the flat panel display. A
limitation of this visually flicker-free operation is that, as
discussed above, the backlight should not be on until the new image
that is being displayed on the liquid crystal display panel has
stabilized; otherwise cross-talk and a poor stereoscopic image will
be perceived.
[0052] The backlight 30 and associated light sources 32, 34
described herein can be very thin (thickness or diameter) such as,
for example, less then 5 millimeters, or from 0.25 to 5
millimeters, or from 0.5 to 4 millimeters, or from 0.5 to 2
millimeters.
Embedded 3D-2D Film Stack
[0053] An embodiment includes an article incorporating a 3D film,
such as the double sided prism film described and identified above,
incorporated into an autostereoscopic 3D display as part of the
backlight for an embedded 2D and 3D display. "Embedded" in this
case means that the 2D portion(s) of the display and the 3D
portion(s) of the display use a common backlight comprising a 3D
backlight using 2-sided 3D film and that the 2D portions of this
display use the same backlight with the addition of, for example,
diffusers, reflective polarizers, brightness enhancement film,
turning film, gain enhancement diffusers, and possibly other films
used between the backlight and an LCD panel. An advantage of this
embodiment is that a conventional optical stack of films will work
with the 3D backlight and that the creation of the 2D portions of
the backlight does not degrade the performance of the 3D portion(s)
of the display. Also, this combination of 3D and 2D displays can
produce a visually appealing display with autostereoscopic 3D in
particular regions for conspicuity, improved human response time,
and generally a more immersive type display.
[0054] One particular embodiment includes an embedded or combined
2D and 3D display unit as part of an automobile dashboard. Visually
the 3D portion of the display is compelling because the otherwise
flat display is made to have apparent depth. Some automobile makers
attempt to provide a 3D effect in the instrument cluster by making,
for example, the speedometer number be a transparent lightguide
with a needle mounted in front of or behind the lightguide. This
technique is a static feature or simply changing 3D effect compared
to the autostereoscopic 3D effect demonstrated with the embedded
solution.
[0055] An illustrative example is shown in FIG. 3 for an embedded
automotive instrument cluster 100. The center autostereoscopic 3D
region 110 is embedded in simple gauge oriented 2D regions 112,
114. The left 112 and right 114 zones in FIG. 3 are 2D displays
providing, in this example, instrument readings for an
automobile.
[0056] The optical paths for the 3D display region 110 and the 2D
display regions 112, 114 are shown in cross-section in FIG. 4 taken
along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. The film stack may be composed of various
combinations of diffuser, reflective polarizer, turning film,
brightness enhancement film, gain diffuser and other films
typically used to enhance viewing angle, brightness, efficiency, or
other desirable properties in a display.
[0057] The stereoscopic 3D display and 2D display 100 includes, for
example, a liquid crystal display panel 20, drive electronics
configured to drive the liquid crystal display panel with
alternating left eye and right eye images (shown in FIG. 1), a
light guide or backlight 30 positioned to provide light to the
liquid crystal display 20, and an embedded 3D film 40 positioned
between the liquid crystal display panel 20 and the light guide 30.
In many embodiments, the embedded 3D film 40 is coextensive with
the liquid crystal display panel 20, as illustrated. The display
100 includes a 3D section 110 providing for visual information in a
3D format and a 2D section 112, 114 providing for visual
information in a 2D format. Light sources 32, 34 such as, for
example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned on opposing
sides of the light guide 30, as described above. A light reflector
150 can be placed on or adjacent a surface of the light guide 30
opposite the liquid crystal display panel.
[0058] A diffuser film 140 is positioned between the liquid crystal
display panel 20 and the embedded 3D film 40. The diffuser film 140
scatters light and disrupts angular orientation of light passing
through the 2D section 112, 114 providing for visual information in
a 2D format. However, this construction provides a stereoscopic 3D
display and 2D display 100 having a uniform brightness.
3D-2D Display Transition Zone
[0059] An embodiment includes a display with stereoscopic 3D
content in one section and 2D content in other sections with a
narrow transition zone between the 2D and 3D sections, possibly
made using a physical barrier between the 2D and 3D sections. In
some embodiments, the 3D film that creates the 3D effect is covered
over in the 2D sections by a diffuser stack or diffuser film. The
2D-3D sections are split by the edge of the diffuser stack, which
is a very narrow zone, perhaps one pixel wide. This area can be
covered over by a very narrow bezel to separate the two sections
and assist the viewer in transition between the two views.
[0060] One particular embodiment includes a 2D-3D-2D display with
one backlight and one LCD display that shows 3D content only in the
center section and 2D content in sections on either side of the 3D
section. The 3D film that transmits light to one or the other eye
to allow a 3D effect is attached to a rigid film frame (e.g., metal
film frame) in the center of the display with other turning films
attached to the rigid film frame on either side. Alternatively,
there can be the one 3D film all along the bottom of the frame.
These films are situated on top of a single backlight with a
minimum air gap between the light guide and the 3D films. The light
guide is illuminated on the left and right sides by several
side-emitting LEDs. The left and right side LEDs are alternately
turned on in synchronization with their corresponding left or right
image, as described above. The 3D film transmits light from the
left LEDs into the viewer's left eye while the left image is
presented on the LCD display. Similarly, the 3D film transmits
light from the right LEDs into the viewer's right eye while the
right image is presented on the LCD display.
[0061] The 2D sections provide two identical images on the LCD
panel. The 3D section provides two different images from two
different viewpoints on the LCD panel at two different times,
generating the 3D effect. The 2D sections also have one or more
diffuser films between the LCD panel and the turning film to
improve the view angle performance and uniformity of the 2D
sections and to minimize cosmetic blemishes. Thus, the 2D sections
will not show stereoscopic 3D.
[0062] If the diffuser films are separated from the turning film
with a large air gap, then a physical barrier can be between the 2D
and 3D sections to prevent stray light from the 2D from entering
the 3D area and contaminating the directional 3D light. If the
diffuser films are in close proximity to the 3D film, a physical
barrier may not be needed because the 2D scattered light is
extracted through the display very quickly and will be less likely
to bounce into the 3D zone. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view
of a 3D-2D display in this embodiment with barriers between the 3D
and 2D zones, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of this embodiment,
which also shows other stack components for a 2D-3D-2D display.
Many of the elements of FIG. 5 are described in relation to FIG. 4
above. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates the physical barrier 160
that reduces or prevents light passing between the 3D section 110
and a 2D sections 112, 114. FIG. 5 also illustrates light ray
tracing where each light source has a light ray that passes through
one of the 2D sections 112, 114 and another light ray passing
through the 3D section 110.
[0063] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the stereoscopic
3D display and 2D display 100. Many of the elements of FIG. 6 are
described in relation to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 above. FIG. 6
illustrates one embodiment of a frame 155 providing a barrier layer
160. The frame 155 can be formed of any useful material and in many
embodiments is a rigid material such as, for example, aluminum. The
illustrated frame 155 includes a center section, a left section
adjacent a first side of the center section, and a right section
adjacent a second side of the center section opposite the first
side, wherein the center section corresponds with the 3D section
110 and wherein the left section corresponds to a 2D section 112
and right section correspond with the 2D section 114.
[0064] One particular embodiment of a film frame for the display
has about a 1/2 inch gap between the LCD and the diffuser so that
the 3D film is spaced from the LCD panel to prevent moire visual
effects. A narrow metal barrier has been included between the 2D
and 3D areas lined with specular reflective material to reflect
light within the 2D areas in order to prevent it from being
absorbed and to maintain the 2D areas brighter. The light in the 3D
section is also contained between the barriers. The frame can be
composed of aluminum, for example. This film frame design for this
embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, which is perspective view of the
frame, and in FIG. 8, is a side view of the frame 155 with the
physical barriers 160 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
[0065] The width of the bezel 180 (see FIG. 3) on top of the LCD 20
must be at least as wide as the frame barrier 160 separating the 2D
112, 114 and 3D sections 110. To minimize the width of the bezel
180, a wedge shape can be made in the frame 155, which is wider at
the bottom and narrower at the top of the bezel. The angle of the
wedge can be located on the 2D sides of the frame; the 3D edges can
be vertical because they are visible to the viewer. The 2D area has
diffusers 140 to hide the shape of the wedge from the viewer.
[0066] The transition zone between the 2D sections 112, 114 and 3D
section 110 is a narrow area at the inner edges of the diffuser
film 140. This transition zone can be covered by a narrow bezel 180
located above the LCD panel 20. The bezel 180 will also cover the
narrowest area of the film frame 155 and any other portions of the
LCD 20 that are not needed.
Techniques to Avoid Depth Cue Conflict in 3D Display
[0067] The following description illustrates how to avoid some
commonly occurring depth cue conflicts that can occur with 3D
display systems. This disclosure of techniques to avoid depth cue
conflict in 3D display is applicable to any 3D display in general.
In some embodiments a good 3D display is obtained when content is
designed to avoid conflicting depth cues. Such content includes
stereoscopic content such that the disparity depth cue content that
does not conflict with the visual depth of the display bezel visual
depth (see FIG. 3, reference numeral 180). For example, if the
disparity depth cue provides a visual response that is not at the
same depth as the display bezel for portions of the stereoscopic
image near or adjacent to the display bezel, the viewer will have
difficulty seeing the stereoscopic content. In another example, the
disparity depth cue and/or the bezel visual depth may conflict with
a second depth cue (occlusion) producing a conflicting visual
interpretation. While this example describes the effects of a
display bezel, the same effects will be of concern wherever a
physical depth touches the stereoscopic display area such as the
edges of the display or displays tiled together.
[0068] Another depth cue conflict that often occurs with
stereoscopic displays results from the common stereoscopic content
generation practice that leads to the content being perceived as a
limited number of discrete depth layers, referred to as a
"cardboarding" effect. For example, when stereoscopic content is
generated that in the real world would cross numerous depth layers,
designers often will take stimulus generation shortcuts that lead
to the content component being perceived as a single depth layer in
terms of parallax whereas other depth cues such as linear
perspective or texture gradient suggest that the same component
should. Such depth cue conflicts can be avoided by generating
stereoscopic content using actual geometries whenever possible, for
example using 3D rendering programs.
[0069] Another depth cue conflict that can be very subtle, but
potentially devastating in terms of its impact on a viewer's
ability to fuse stereoscopic content, results from surfaces in the
content lacking sufficient features for the visual system to
determine relative disparity. Thus, one component of the present
disclosure illustrates how to design stereoscopic content to
effectively utilize disparity to confer a sense of depth to a
viewer by designing all stereoscopic content with sufficient
features to allow the viewer's system to effectively discern
disparity information.
[0070] The availability of surface features by which the viewer's
visual system can determine surface disparity is key to a viewer
being able to effectively fuse a stereoscopic image pair. FIG. 9 is
an illustration showing how due to the fact that a viewer's two
eyes are located at slightly different locations in space each eye
sees a slightly different view of the world. The viewer's brain is
able to fuse the two images 202, 204 to form a solid perception 206
of the world to infer depth via the amount of disparity in the two
views of a given surface. The inference that the viewer's visual
system is making is a surface with more disparity in a scene is
inferred to be closer to the viewer than surfaces with less
disparity in the scene.
[0071] In fact fusing an image has been found to be significantly
easier if all of the layers in a piece of stereoscopic content
contain sufficient features to determine relative disparity. If a
single layer in a piece of stereoscopic content lacks sufficient
disparity features to determine relative disparity, it not only
affects the viewer's ability to fuse that layer but also the other
layers in the piece as well due to the resulting conflict in depth
cues that often are partially due to the lack of sufficient surface
features to accurately judge disparity. If a surface lacks
sufficient surface features by which one can accurately infer
disparity information, then as a result that surface has zero
disparity and is perceived as being at the display level. Such
phenomenon can result in a depth cue conflict if one or more depth
cues suggest the layer is located at one depth plane whereas other
depth cue suggests the layer is located at another depth plane.
[0072] If stereoscopic content is generated incorrectly, one depth
cue may provide the viewer with one type of visual information and
a second depth cue may provide a different type of visual
information. For example, disparity information may indicate to the
viewer that it is to be perceived in front of the bezel, whereas if
the bezel itself is blocking off part of that same content a
different depth cue, occlusion, may indicate to the viewer the
bezel must be in front. When this condition occurs, two depth cues
are in conflict and the viewer may have difficulty fusing the two
images and thus fail to perceive depth in the display. Such depth
cue conflict is believed to be one of the main causes of visual
strain or fatigue.
[0073] The present embodiment illustrates a method of stereoscopic
content generation or presentation involving physically separating
the content from the display bezel so as to prevent depth cue
conflict resulting from disparity/occlusion mismatch. The distance
to maintain the 3D content from the bezel depends on the depth of
the bezel, the maximum amount of disparity in the display, and the
perceived distance of the content above the bezel, tiled surfaces,
edges or any physical edges touching or immediately adjacent to the
stereoscopic portion of the display. The present embodiment can
apply to any stereoscopic 3D display system with a bezel in which
it is possible for bezel occlusion of display content to create
depth cue conflict.
[0074] For all the anaglyphs (FIGS. 10-15) described herein below,
the color "red" is denoted in the figures with "hatched" fill and
the color blue is denoted in the figures by a "stippling" fill.
[0075] FIG. 10 is a red/cyan anaglyph illustration that represents
a black ellipse with disparity such that it would be perceived to
float above the display bezel 180. Note that in a red/cyan anaglyph
stereo image an object with red highlighted disparity to the left
and cyan highlighted disparity to the right is typically perceived
to project closer to the viewer, whereas an object with cyan
highlighted disparity to the left and red highlighted disparity to
the right is typically perceived to project away from the viewer
(i.e., into the display). In the illustration in FIG. 10, the outer
square frame represents the display bezel 180. In the illustration
in FIG. 10, there are two definite depth cues in conflict,
disparity and occlusion.
[0076] FIG. 11 is a red/cyan anaglyph illustration that represents
a black ellipse with disparity such that it would be perceived to
project behind the display bezel 180. Note that in a red/cyan
anaglyph stereo image an object with red highlighted disparity to
the left and cyan highlighted disparity to the right is typically
perceived to project closer to the viewer, whereas an object with
cyan highlighted disparity to the left and red highlighted
disparity to the right is typically perceived to project away from
the viewer (i.e., into the display). In the illustration in FIG.
11, the outer square frame represents the display bezel 180. In the
illustration in FIG. 11, there are no depth cues in conflict. In
this example, the black ellipse is drawn so that it projects into
the display behind the bezel.
[0077] One particular embodiment includes a stereoscopic display
where there is a no content zone directly interior to the display
bezel's left and right edge and the bezel's size is defined by the
maximum amount of disparity to be displayed. FIG. 12 is an
illustration where the no content zone 190 is displayed in the
square inside the outer square 180 (bezel).
[0078] Another particular embodiment includes stereoscopic content
that dynamically determines the screen size where the presence and
size of a no content zone is determined by whether the content to
be displayed in that region of the screen would lead to depth cue
conflict.
[0079] With artificial stereoscopic content (e.g., drawn or render
stereoscopic image pairs), surfaces may be generated in such a way
as to lack sufficient stereoscopic disparity determining features.
FIG. 13 is an example of a surface that would lack sufficient
disparity features to determine relative disparity. FIG. 14 is an
example of a surface that contains sufficient disparity features to
determine relative disparity.
[0080] FIG. 13 is a red/cyan anaglyph illustration of a
stereoscopic display where the displayed features lack sufficient
disparity features to determine relative disparity. The square
frame represents the display bezel 180. In the illustration in FIG.
13, the dark square represents a stereoscopic display and the
horizontal black and white bars represent a single surface. Red and
cyan portions on the right and left ends of the black bars,
respectively, would illustrate the disparity in the two eye views.
In the displayed section of the images (inside the display bezel
180) there is no disparity, thus the two eye views would be
identical.
[0081] FIG. 14 is a red/cyan anaglyph illustration of a
stereoscopic display where the displayed features contain
sufficient disparity features to determine relative disparity. The
square frame represents the display bezel 180. In the illustration
in FIG. 14, the dark square represents a stereoscopic display and
the vertical black and white bars represent a single surface. Red
and cyan portions on the right and left sides, respectively, of
each black bar would illustrate the disparity in the two eye views.
In the displayed section of the images (inside the display bezel
180) there is disparity, thus the two eye views would not be
identical.
[0082] The features need not be noticeably or consciously
discernable in order for a viewer's visual system to use them to
determine relative disparity, which is illustrated in FIG. 15.
[0083] FIG. 15 is a red/cyan anaglyph illustration of a
stereoscopic display where the displayed features contain
sufficient disparity features to determine relative disparity. In
the illustration in FIG. 15, the square 180 represents a
stereoscopic display or display bezel 180. The red and cyan
portions, on the right and left sides, respectively, of the gray
square, would illustrate the disparity in the two eye views. In the
displayed section of the images there is disparity, thus the two
eye views would not be identical. In the illustration in FIG. 15,
the gray of the 33 logo and the gray of the background are
noticeably different (i.e., there is more than an 8% difference in
brightness from one to the other); however, for a viewer's visual
system to use them as a basis of judging relative disparity they
need not be noticeably or perceptively different.
[0084] Another particular embodiment includes a rendering tool that
assesses whether a given surface has sufficient features to judge
relative disparity. Words or logo could be used as disparity
feature enhancers, or patterns (e.g., sinusoidal pattern) could
also be used as disparity feature enhancers. Such feature enhancers
could be either consciously perceptible or only subjectively
perceptible in nature.
Uniform Light Guide
[0085] An embodiment includes a display with stereoscopic 3D
content in one section and 2D content in other sections, as
described above for example, with a high degree of perceived
uniformity and no neutral density filters. The perceived brightness
or luminance uniformity of the display among all the 2D-3D-2D
sections does not waste light and includes a single light guide. As
used herein the phrase "uniformed perceived luminance or
brightness" refers to the lack of noticeable perceived luminance
change across a space (e.g., for a given display or image a
photometer might measure luminance changes across a space (or
across the display or image) that the average human visual system
lacks the sensitivity to perceive the luminance changes.) This
disclosure of uniform light guide is also applicable to any 3D
display in general.
[0086] One particular embodiment includes a 2D-3D-2D display with
one backlight and one LCD panel which displays 3D content only in
the center section and 2D content on either side, as described
above with respect to FIGS. 5-8.
[0087] As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the display construction is assembled
with a backlight and LCD. The backlight includes a reflector made
with a reflective film such as, for example, a film commercially
available under the trade designation Enhanced Specular Reflective
(ESR) film from 3M Company St. Paul, Minn., a light guide that has
extraction features on the back side and a lenticular on the output
surface, 3D film, and diffusers over the 3D film only covering the
area where 2D visual information is displayed. The backlight is
edge lit with LEDs, as described above.
[0088] The variables of the light guide are selected to balance the
on-axis brightness of the 2D and 3D zones. The variables include
the extractor angle and the thickness. These variables effect the
rate the light is extracted from the light guide. The rate of light
extraction determines the uniformity of the backlight. The rate of
the extraction is selected so the amount of light extracted along
the length of the light guide is within an acceptable range of
perceived luminance uniformity. The rate of extraction for the
light guide is very aggressive (see FIG. 16). The 3D zone is highly
directional (see FIG. 18). Because the 2D zones use a diffuser; the
light that emanates from this area is spread out over 2.pi.
steradians (see FIG. 17), effectively lowering the intensity of
light normal to the display while improving view angle performance.
Selecting a light guide with the correct rate of extraction
provides for construction of a backlight with the same intensity or
brightness normal to the display in the 3D zone as well as in the
flanking 2D zones. The correct rate of extraction is enough to make
the on-axis brightness of the 2D zone about the same as the 3D zone
with acceptable uniformity in the 2D zone and acceptable uniformity
in the 3D zone. This brightness and uniformity is accomplished
without neutral density filters so as to minimize the light loss
and effectively provide a highly efficient backlight.
[0089] FIG. 16 illustrates the maximum intensity or luminance
through the 3D film plotted to show the highly nonuniform backlight
before the diffusers were place over the 2D areas. The total width
of the light guide was 230 mm and has about a 10:1 uniformity. The
effective 3D area was 75 mm wide centered and had 5:3
uniformity.
[0090] FIG. 17 is an angular plot of the light intensity or
luminance for 2D area of the display through the LCD panel. This
plot shows that with diffusers the light from the 3D film is spread
over greater viewing angles.
[0091] FIG. 18 is an angular plot of the light intensity or
luminance for 3D area of the display through the LCD panel. This
plot was generated within the 3D portion of the display with the
right LEDs on. The highly directional backlight is directing the
light towards the viewer's right eye.
[0092] The final on-axis brightness or luminance of the 2D-3D-2D
display was measured and recorded (see FIG. 19). This graph shows
that an embedded 3D-2D display can be constructed with one
lightguide and no neutral density filters which improve the light
guide efficacy.
[0093] FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating the final brightness or
luminance measurements of the embedded display, which has 10:9
uniformity in the 2D sections and 5:3 uniformity in the 3D
sections. This display was found to have acceptable perceived
brightness or luminance uniformity.
[0094] FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating the final brightness or
luminance measurements of a 3D display where the perceived
luminance uniformity is the Sum line which has a better than 10:9
uniformity, while measurement of the Right or Left each have a 2:1
uniformity. However, a viewer perceives the 3D image as a fused or
summed Sum image of both the Right and Left. This display was found
to have acceptable perceived brightness or luminance
uniformity.
[0095] Thus, embodiments of the EMBEDDED STEREOSCOPIC 3D DISPLAY
AND 2D DISPLAY FILM STACK are disclosed. One skilled in the art
will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced with
embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments
are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and
the present invention is limited only by the claims that
follow.
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