Three-dimensional image display apparatus

• US 20030067460A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Tomono, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 6,943,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/317 using slanted parallax optics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307

Abstract

A three-dimensional image display apparatus is provided. The three-dimensional image display apparatus, which includes an image forming display flat panel and a lens unit that is disposed in front of the image forming display flat panel and converts images projected from the image forming display flat panel into three-dimensional images. The lens unit includes a set of diffractive optical devices, each of which includes a plurality of diffractive grating elements that are parallel to one another and are disposed above the image forming display flat panel. Accordingly, the three-dimensional image display apparatus uses diffractive optical devices, each of which is composed of diffractive grating elements having very narrow widths, thereby displaying two- and three-dimensional images of good quality.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional image display apparatus comprising an image forming display flat panel and a lens unit, which is disposed in front of the image forming display flat panel and converts images projected from the image forming display flat panel into three-dimensional images, wherein the lens unit comprises a set of diffractive optical devices, each of which comprises a plurality of diffractive grating elements that are parallel to one another and are disposed above the image forming display flat panel.

2. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image forming display flat panel is one selected from the group consisting of a cathode-ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an electroluminescent (EL) display.

3. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum width of a diffractive grating element is no greater than a value “

w”

calculated from the following formula;

4. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens unit functions as a lenticular lens.

5. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each diffractive optical device is disposed on each corresponding pixel, which is composed of “

n”

sub-pixels, on the image forming display flat panel.

6. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 5, wherein each diffractive optical device and each pixel therebelow on the same row are shifted by the pitch of at least one sub-pixel in a horizontal direction such that the diffractive optical devices and the pixels are disposed in a step pattern.

7. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each diffractive optical device has concentric steps having the same height, and the width of the steps decreases from the center toward the periphery at a predetermined ratio.

8. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive grating elements are formed to face the image forming display flat panel, and a coating sheet is disposed between the diffractive grating elements and the image forming display flat panel.

9. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein a refractive index of the diffractive optical devices is different from a refractive index of the coating sheet.

10. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one among the diffractive optical device and the coating sheet is made of a carbonate-based polymer or a methacrylate-based polymer.

11. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive grating elements are formed to face away from the image forming display flat panel, and a coating sheet is formed on the diffractive grating elements, such that it fills recesses among the diffractive grating elements.

12. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 11, wherein a refractive index of the diffractive grating elements is different from a refractive index of the coating sheet.

13. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one among the diffractive optical device and the coating sheet is made of a carbonate-based polymer or a methacrylate-based polymer.

14. The three-dimensional image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the diffractive optical devices is manufactured using a mold.