Image display system and light source unit

• US 7,804,549 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMIC Technology Incorporated, Arisawa Manufacturing Company Limited, Sophia Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AMIC Technology Incorporated, Arisawa Manufacturing Company Limited, Sophia Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Arisawa, Sanji, Ioki, Sadao, Tomita, Seijiro
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDE, TIMOTHY L
• Application Number:
  US10/549,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 349/15, 349 61- 71
• US Class Current: 349/5
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing

Abstract

The present invention provides an image display system that secures a bright image and reduces cross-talk of a three-dimensional image display of a liquid-crystal type and provides a large viewing angle. The image display system includes a filter having a first area for transmitting light of a specific polarization and a second area for transmitting a light of polarization axis orthogonal to the light of the specific polarization provided repeatedly in the vertical direction, and a light source (201) including a light-emitting source (210), a polarizer (212) for emitting the light in the forms of the light having the specific polarization and the light having the polarization axis orthogonal to the specific polarization, and an optical element (203) for refracting the lights having the different polarizations into the directions toward the left and right eyes respectively and irradiating the same onto a liquid crystal panel (205).

Claims

1. An image display system comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel;

a light source which emits light having a first polarization and light having a second polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization, onto the liquid crystal display panel,

a filter, disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source, comprising;

first areas which transmit light having the first polarization and second areas which transmit light having the second polarization, wherein the first and second areas are disposed repeatedly, and alternate in a vertical direction;

wherein the light source comprises;

a light emitting source which emits light,

polarizing means which polarizes light emitted from the light emitting source into light having the first polarization and light having the second polarization,

optical means which refracts the light having the first polarization in a different direction than the light having the second polarization,

wherein the light-emitting source is a linear light-emitting source which is disposed in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the liquid crystal display panel, and comprises peripheral portions and a center portion therebetween;

wherein the linear light-emitting source comprises

a plurality of center prisms, disposed in the center portion, and

a plurality of peripheral prisms, disposed in the peripheral portions,

wherein the center prisms focus light passing therethrough to a greater degree than the peripheral prisms; and

wherein the center prisms and the peripheral prisms each include a light-inputting surface which receives light from a point light-emitting source and a light-outputting surface opposite the light-inputting surface.

2. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein

the linear light-emitting source comprises a plurality of linearly disposed point light-emitting sources disposed in the peripheral and center portions, such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between point light-emitting sources and center prisms in the center portion and a one-to-one correspondence between point light-emitting sources and peripheral prisms in the peripheral portions.

3. The image display system according to claim 2, wherein the center prisms and the peripheral prisms are disposed with substantially no gaps therebetween.

4. The image display system according to claim 2, wherein

the center prisms are formed of a single, integral body, and the peripheral prisms are formed as two integral bodies on each side of the integral body of the center prisms.

5. The image display system according to one of claims 2, 3, and 4, wherein:

a density of the point light-emitting sources in the center portion is greater than a density of the linear light-emitting sources in the peripheral portions.

6. The image display system according to claim 5, wherein:

each of the center prisms and the peripheral prisms comprises a wedge shaped prisms, each comprising

the light-inputting surface,

the light-outputting surface, first opposing side surfaces and

curved second opposing side surfaces.

7. The image display system according to claim 6, wherein the first opposing side surfaces are substantially planar.

8. The image display system according to claim 5, wherein:

the light-outputting surfaces of the center prisms and the light-outputting surfaces of the peripheral prisms are positioned at a substantially uniform distance from a center of the liquid crystal display panel.

9. The image display system according to one of claims 2, 3, and 4, wherein:

each of the center prisms and the peripheral prisms comprises a wedge shaped prisms, each comprising

the light-inputting surface,

the light-outputting surface,

first opposing side surfaces and

curved second opposing side surfaces.

10. The image display system according to claim 9, wherein the first opposing side surfaces are substantially planar.

11. The image display system according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein

the light-outputting surfaces of the center prisms and the light-outputting surfaces of the peripheral prisms are positioned at a substantially uniform distance from a center of the liquid crystal display panel.