Display unit capable of displaying two- and three-dimensional images and method for controlling display unit

• US 7,068,252 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Sea Phone Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Sea Phone Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hattori, Tomohiko, Noritake, Kazuto, Tsuzaka, Masanori, Tanase, Katsuya, Yokota, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLTON, STEVEN E
• Application Number:
  US10/869,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 345/55, 345/84, 345 87- 93, 345 98-100, 345102-104
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/351 for displaying simultaneously

Abstract

A display unit includes an organic electroluminescence device having light-emitting regions, and a liquid crystal panel having pixels. The liquid crystal panel is spaced apart from the organic electroluminescence device so that the light of each light-emitting region illuminates at least two pixels. An image signal output section provides data of a first image to first pixels of the liquid crystal panel and provides data of a second image to second pixels of the liquid crystal panel. The image signal output section switches the display of the first image and the display of the second image in synchronization with a switching of the emitting of the light-emitting region and non-emitting of another light-emitting region of the organic electroluminescence device by the light-emission control section.

Claims

1. A display unit having the horizontal direction for displaying a plurality of images including a first image and a second image, the display unit comprising:

a light source having a plurality of light-emitting regions;

a transmissive image display panel for displaying an image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel including a predetermined number of pixels in the horizontal direction, and being arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that light from each light-emitting region illuminates at least two pixels;

a light-emission control section for controlling the light source, the light-emission control section emitting at least one first selected light-emitting region among the plurality of light-emitting regions and non-emitting at least one second selected light-emitting region among the light-emitting regions adjacent to the at least one first selected light-emitting region, the light-emission control section alternately switching emitting and non-emitting of the at least one first selected light-emitting region and the at least one second selected light-emitting region at a predetermined cycle; and

an image signal output section connected to the display panel for providing data of the plurality of images to the plurality of pixels, wherein the image signal output section provides first image data for displaying the first image to at least one first pixel of the plurality of pixels, and provides second image data for displaying the second image to at least one second pixel of the plurality of pixels adjacent to the at least one first pixel, and wherein in synchronization with the switching of the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region by the light-emission control section, the image signal output section alternately provides data of an image different from the image, displayed before switching of the emitting and non-emitting of the light-emitting region, to the at least one first pixel and the at least one second pixel, wherein in the horizontal direction of the transmissive image display panel, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the pixels, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each pixel, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the pixels.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein when the first image and the second image are viewed by an observer with both eyes, the first and second images have a parallax between the left and right eyes.

3. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the pixels displays one of red, green, or blue, and the transmissive image display panel displays a color image.

4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a transmissive image display panel for displaying a color image;

and

each pixel includes three partitions partitioned in a vertical direction of the transmissive image display panel, which three partitions display red, green, and blue.

5. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a liquid crystal panel.

6. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a PLZT (lead lanthanum zicronate titanate) panel.

7. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an organic electroluminescence device.

8. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source is planar.

9. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting regions is a plurality of strip-shaped regions parallel to each other.

10. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions from each other.

11. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source emits white light.

15. The display unit according to claim 1 wherein the transmissive image display panel is a liquid crystal panel.

12. A display unit having a horizontal direction comprising:

a light source having a plurality of parallel light-emitting regions arranged in the horizontal direction for emitting light;

a transmissive image display panel for displaying an image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel having a plurality of display positions arranged in the horizontal direction and each including a plurality of pixels;

an image signal output section connected to the display panel, the image signal output section equally dividing each of a plurality of N images of a first to an Nth image to a plurality of divided images in which two successive images of the N images have a continuous parallax therebetween, the image signal output section generating image data so that the plurality of divided images of each of the N images is repeatedly displayed in a predetermined order at the plurality of display positions of the transmissive image display panel, respectively, and providing the image data to the plurality of pixels; and

a light-emission control section for controlling the light source, the light-emission control section simultaneously emitting the light-emitting regions for every Nth light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction and switching the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region at a predetermined cycle, wherein the transmissive image display panel is arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that light from each light-emitting region illuminates the pixels related to at least N divided images, and wherein in synchronization with the switching of the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region by the light-emission control section, the image signal output section alternately provides data of a divided image, different from the divided image displayed before switching of the emitting and non-emitting of the light-emitting region, to each pixel, wherein in the horizontal direction, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the pixels, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each pixel, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the pixels.

13. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein each of the pixels displays one of red, green, or blue, and the transmissive image display panel displays a color image.

14. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a transmissive image display panel for displaying a color image;

and

each pixel includes three partitions partitioned in a vertical direction of the transmissive image display panel, which three partitions display red, green, and blue.

16. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a PLZT (lead lanthanum zicronate titanate) panel.

17. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the light source is an organic electroluminescence device.

18. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the light source is planar.

19. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of light-emitting regions is a plurality of strip-shaped regions parallel to each other.

20. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions from each other.

21. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein the light source emits white light.

22. A display unit having a horizontal direction comprising:

a light source having a plurality of parallel light-emitting regions arranged in the horizontal direction;

a transmissive image display panel for displaying an image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel having a plurality of display positions arranged in the horizontal direction and each including a plurality of pixels;

an image signal output section connected to the display panel, the image signal output section equally dividing each of a right eye image and a left eye image into a plurality of divided images, the image signal output section generating image data so that the plurality of divided images of the right eye image and the plurality of divided images of the left eye image are alternately displayed at the plurality of display positions of the transmissive image display panel, respectively, and providing the image data to the plurality of pixels; and

a light-emission control section for controlling the light source, the light-emission control section switching the emitting and non-emitting of the plurality of light-emitting regions at a predetermined cycle so that one of the two adjacent light-emitting region is emitted and the other light-emitting region is non-emitted;

wherein

the transmissive image display panel is arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that the light from each light-emitting region illuminates the pixel related to at least two divided images; and

the image signal output section alternately provides data of the divided image of the left eye image and data of the divided image of the right eye image to each pixel in synchronization with the switching of the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region by the light-emission control section, wherein in the horizontal direction, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the pixels, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each pixel, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the pixels.

23. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the image signal output section provides an image signal to each pixel so that pixels positioned next to the relevant pixel in the horizontal direction displays divided images of an intermediate image with parallax between the left eye image and the right eye image.

24. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein each of the pixels displays one of red, green, or blue, and the transmissive image display panel displays a color image.

25. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a transmissive image display panel for displaying a color image;

and

each pixel includes three partitions partitioned in a vertical direction of the transmissive image display panel, which three partitions display red, green, and blue.

26. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a liquid crystal panel.

27. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the transmissive image display panel is a PLZT (lead lanthanum zicronate titanate) panel.

28. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the light source is an organic electroluminescence device.

29. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the light source is planar.

30. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of light-emitting regions is a plurality of strip-shaped regions parallel to each other.

31. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions from each other.

32. The display unit according to claim 22, wherein the light source emits white light.

33. A method of controlling a display unit including a light source having a plurality of light-emitting regions and a transmissive image display panel for displaying an image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel including a plurality of pixels and being arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that the light from each light-emitting region illuminates at least two pixels, wherein in a horizontal direction of the display unit, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the pixels, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each pixel, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the pixels, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting at least one first selected light-emitting region among the plurality of light-emitting regions and non-light emitting at least one second selected light-emitting region among the light-emitting regions adjacent to the at least one first selected light-emitting region;

alternately switching the emitting and non-emitting of the at least one first selected at least one second selected light-emitting region at a predetermined cycle;

providing image data to the plurality of pixels so that the at least one first pixel of the plurality of pixels displays a first image and at the same time the at least one second pixel of the plurality of pixels adjacent to the at least one first pixel displays a second image; and

controlling the plurality of pixels so that each pixel displays an image, different from the image displayed before switching of each light-emitting region, to display a plurality of images on the transmissive image display panel in sychronization with the switching of the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region at the predetermined cycle.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein when the first image and the second image are viewed by an observer with both eyes, the first and second images have a parallax between the left and right eyes.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions each other.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the light source emits white light.

37. The method according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of light emitting regions is a plurality of strip-shaped regions parallel to each other.

38. A computer program product for controlling a display device including a light source having a plurality of light-emitting regions, a transmissive image display panel for displaying an image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel including a plurality of pixels, and being arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that light from each light-emitting region passes through at least two pixels, and a computer for controlling the emitting of the light source and providing an image signal to the display panel, wherein in a horizontal direction of the display unit, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the pixels, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each pixel, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the pixels, the computer program product comprising recording media enclosed with instruction steps which when executed by the computer cause the computer to perform steps including:

emitting at least one first selected light-emitting region of the plurality of light-emitting regions and at the same time non-emitting at least one second selected light-emitting region of the light-emitting regions adjacent to the at least one first selected light-emitting region;

alternately switching the emitting and non-emitting of the at least one first selected light-emitting region and the at least one second selected light-emitting region at a predetermined cycle;

providing image data to the plurality of pixels so that the at least one first pixel of the plurality of pixels displays a first image and at the same time the at least one second pixel of the plurality of pixels adjacent to the at least one first pixel displays a second image; and

providing image data to the plurality of pixels so that each pixel displays an image different from the image displayed before switching of each light-emitting region in synchronization with the switching of the emitting and non-emitting of each light-emitting region at the predetermined cycle.

39. The computer program product according to claim 38, wherein when the first image and the second image are viewed by an observer with both eyes, the first and second images have a parallax between the left and right eyes.

40. The computer program product according to claim 38, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions from each other.

41. The computer program product according to claim 38, wherein the light source emits white light.

42. The computer program product according to claim 38, wherein the plurality of light-emitting regions is a plurality of strip-shaped regions parallel to each other.

43. A display unit for displaying a stereoscopic image by alternately displaying a first image and a second image;

the display unit comprising;

a light source having a plurality of strip-shaped light-emitting regions parallel to each other;

a transmissive image display panel for displaying the first image and the second image when light from the light source is transmitted therethrough, the transmissive image display panel including a plurality of first columns each including a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second columns each including a plurality of second pixels, in which each of the first column and each of the second column are adjacent to each other, the transmissive image display panel being arranged spaced apart from and facing the light source so that the light from each light-emitting region illuminates one of the first columns and one of the second columns adjacent to each other;

a light-emission control section for controlling the light source, the light-emission control section emitting a plurality of first light-emitting regions of the plurality of light-emitting regions and at the same time non-emitting a plurality of second light-emitting regions adjacent to each of the first light-emitting regions and alternately switching the emitting and non-emitting of the first light-emitting regions and the second light-emitting regions; and

an image signal output section for providing data of the first image and data of the second image to the plurality of first columns and the plurality of second columns, respectively, the image signal output section displaying the first image on the plurality of first columns when the light-emission control section emits the plurality of first light-emitting regions, and displaying the second image on the plurality of second columns when the light-emission control section emits the plurality of second light-emitting regions, wherein in a horizontal direction of the display unit, the light-emitting regions are arranged at the substantially same pitch as that of the columns, and the light-emitting regions each have substantially the same width as that of each column, and wherein the number of the plurality of light-emitting regions in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the columns.

44. The display unit according to claim 43, wherein the light source includes partitions for partitioning the light-emitting regions from each other.

45. The display unit according to claim 43, wherein the light source emits white light.