MULTIPLE-VIEW DIRECTIONAL DISPLAY

• US 20090168164A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mather, Jonathan, Kean, Diana Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/463
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/30 involving parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/14 displaying different signs depending upon the view-point of the observer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/351 for displaying simultaneously

Abstract

A multiple view directional display comprises a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels (P1) assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels (P2) assigned to display a second image, and a parallax barrier aperture array (21) for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window (2) and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window (3) not overlapping the first viewing window. The display further comprises first light directing means (31) for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region (25) of each first pixel away from the second viewing window.

Claims

1. A multiple view directional display comprising:

a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels assigned to display a second image; and

a parallax barrier aperture array for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window not overlapping the first viewing window,

wherein the display further comprises first light directing means for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region of each first pixel away from the second viewing window.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the first light-directing means is arranged to direct light emitted from a first lateral edge region of each first pixel into the first viewing window at an intended viewing distance of the display.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the first light-directing means is arranged so as not to re-direct light emitted from a laterally-central region of each first pixel.

4. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the first light-directing means is arranged so as not to re-direct light emitted from a second lateral edge region of each first pixel.

5. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the display further comprises second light directing means for re-directing light emitted from a first lateral edge region of each second pixel into the second viewing window at an intended viewing distance of the display.

6. A display as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

the second light-directing means is arranged so as not to re-direct light emitted from a laterally-central region of each second pixel.

7. A display as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

the second light-directing means is arranged so as not to re-direct light emitted from a second lateral edge region of each second pixel.

8. A display as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

the second light directing means is the first light-directing means.

9. A display as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the first light directing means comprises an array of lenses, the lens array being non co-planar with the parallax barrier.

10. A display as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

each lens of the array is aligned with a respective aperture of the parallax barrier.

11. A display as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

each lens of the array is substantially co-extensive with a respective aperture of the parallax barrier.

37. A display as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a polariser disposed in front of the image display layer;

wherein the display further comprises a polarisation-sensitive scattering film disposed over the polariser.

40. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the image display layer is a liquid crystal display layer.

41. An autostereoscopic display apparatus comprising:

a multiple-view directional display as defined in claim 1.

42. A dual view display apparatus comprising:

a multiple-view directional display as defined in claim 1.

12. A multiple view directional display comprising:

a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels assigned to display a first image and a plurality of second pixels assigned to display a second image; and

a parallax barrier aperture array for directing light from the first pixels generally into a first viewing window and for directing light from the second pixels generally into a second viewing window not overlapping the first viewing window,

wherein the display further comprises first means for varying a characteristic of light emitted from a first pixel and directed to the second viewing window.

13. A display as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the first means does not substantially vary the characteristic of light emitted from a first pixel and directed to the first viewing window.

14. A display as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

second means for varying a characteristic of light emitted from a second pixel and directed to the first viewing window.

15. A display as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

the second means does not substantially vary the characteristic of light emitted from a second pixel and directed to the second viewing window.

16. A display as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the characteristic is the polarisation and the or each means is adapted to vary the polarisation state of light passing through it.

17. A display as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

the or each means comprises an array of retarders.

18. A display as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

each retarder is aligned with and is substantially co-extensive with a respective opaque region of the parallax barrier.

19. A display as claimed in claim 18 wherein:

each retarder is co-extensive with a respective opaque region of the parallax barrier.

20. A display as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

each retarder is aligned with a respective transmissive region of the parallax barrier.

21. A display as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the characteristic is the wavelength and the or each means is adapted to block light of a selected wavelength range.

22. A display as claimed in claim 21 wherein:

the or each means comprises a colour filter barrier array.

23. A display as claimed in claim 22 wherein each retarder is aligned with and is substantially co-extensive with a respective opaque region of the parallax barrier.

24. A display as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the characteristic is the intensity and the or each means is adapted to block light of a selected polarisation.

25. A display as claimed in claim 24 wherein:

the or each means comprises an array of linear polarisers.

26. A display as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

each polariser is aligned with and is substantially co-extensive with a respective opaque region of the parallax barrier.

27. A multiple view directional display comprising:

a pixellated image display layer having a plurality of first pixels assigned to display a first image into a first viewing window and a plurality of second pixels assigned to display a second image into a second viewing window not overlapping the first viewing window, wherein the pixellated image display layer is non-planar.

28. A display as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

the pitch of the pixels of the image display layer varies over the area of the image display layer.

29. A display as claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the width of the pixels of the image display layer varies over the area of the image display layer thereby to vary the pitch of the pixels.

30. A display as claimed in claim 29 wherein:

the width of the pixels assigned to a first image varies over the area of the image display layer.

31. A display as claimed in claim 28 wherein:

the pitch of the pixels of the image display layer varies such that, for each pair of a first pixel and adjacent second pixel, the distance from the image display layer to the point of intersection of a line from the centre of the first pixel to the centre of the first viewing window and a line from the centre of the second pixel to the centre of the second viewing window is substantially constant over the area of the display.

32. A display as claimed in claim 27 wherein:

the pitch of the pixels of the image display layer is substantially constant over the area of the image display layer.

33. A display as claimed in claim 27 wherein:

for each pair of a first pixel and adjacent second pixel, the distance from the image display layer to the point of intersection of a line from the centre of the first pixel to the centre of the first viewing window and a line from the centre of the second pixel to the centre of the second viewing window varies over the area of the display.

34. A display as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

a parallax barrier aperture array for directing light from the first pixels generally into the first viewing window and for directing light from the second pixels generally into the second viewing window, the parallax barrier being positioned generally coincident with a surface defined by the points of intersection.

35. A display as claimed in claim 34, wherein:

each of the parallax barrier apertures is disposed at a respective one of the points of intersection.

36. A multiple view directional display comprising:

an image display layer, a parallax optic, and a polariser disposed in front of the image display layer;

wherein the display further comprises a polarisation-sensitive scattering film disposed over the polariser.

38. A display as claimed in claim 36 wherein:

the polarisation-sensitive scattering film does not substantially scatter light having a polarisation state passed by the polariser.

39. A display as claimed in claim 36 wherein:

the polariser is a linear polariser.