Multiple-view directional display

• US 20050111100A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unified Innovative Technology, LLC (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bourhill, Grant, Mather, Jonathan, Montgomery, David J., Winlow, Robert, Barrett, Neil W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/464
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1323 Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/354 for displaying sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/359 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes

Abstract

A multiple view display comprises a display device which displays first and second images in a spatially multiplexed fashion across the display surface. The device cooperates with a parallax optic such as a lenticular screen so as to act as a directional display sub-system directing light from the first and second images in different viewing directions. An optical system, for example comprising a lenticular screen of diverging elements, changes the angular separation of the viewing angle directions, for example so as to increase the angular separation.

Claims

1. A multiple view display comprising:

a display device arranged to display spatially multiplexed first and second images;

a parallax optic arranged to cooperate with said device to direct light from said first and second images in first and second directions, respectively, with a first angular separation; and

an optical system for receiving said light from said first and second directions and for directing said light in first and second viewing directions, respectively, with a second angular separation different from said first angular separation, said parallax optic and said optical system being arranged to form a real image only at or adjacent a display viewing distance in front of said display.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which said second angular separation is greater than said first angular separation.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which said optical system comprises an array of optical elements.

4. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said elements is asymmetric.

5. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said elements comprises a lens.

6. A display as claimed in claim 5, in which each said lens is a diverging lens.

7. A display as claimed in claim 5, in which said lens array is combined with said parallax optic.

8. A display as claimed in claim 6, in which said optical system comprises a further lens array of converging lenses.

9. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said elements comprises a prism.

10. A display as claimed in claim 4, in which each of said elements comprises a wedge and a plane non-inclined region.

11. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which said array has a non-plane surface, said display comprises a layer of material whose refractive index is controllable, and said layer has a surface which matches and is in contact with said non-plane surface.

12. A display as claimed in claim 11, in which said layer has a controllable range of refractive indices including a refractive index of said array.

13. A display as claimed in claim 11, in which said material of said layer is a liquid crystal material.

14. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which said array has a non-plane surface, said display comprises a layer of birefringent material, and said layer has a surface which matches and is in contact with said non-plane surface.

15. A display as claimed in claim 14, in which said birefringent material has first and second refractive indices, one of which is substantially equal to a refractive index of said array.

16. A display as claimed in claim 14, in which said birefringent material is a polymerised liquid crystal.

17. A display as claimed in claim 14, comprising a polarisation switch for selectively switching a polarisation of light passing through said layer.

18. A display as claimed in claim 17, comprising a polariser for receiving light from said polarisation switch.

19. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which said device comprises a liquid crystal device.

20. A display as claimed in claim 1, comprising a driving arrangement for driving said device so as to display said multiplexed first and second images.