Stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus with slatted light guide

• US 7,911,547 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lundin, David J., Brott, Robert L., Bryan, William J., Schultz, John C., Meis, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoan C
• Application Number:
  US11/865,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 349/61, 349/62, 349/65, 349/15, 362 29- 30, 362/225, 362/600, 362/602, 362611-612, 362615-616, 362 26- 27, 356/12
• US Class Current: 349/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/33 involving directional light or back-light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side, and a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. Each segment first and second light source is selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern and each segment light source selectively transmits light into the light guide first side or light guide second side to form a scanning backlight.

Claims

1. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a light guide formed from a plurality of segments, each segment having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light, and the plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel, with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display;

a first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side; and

a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side;

wherein, only one of each segment first or second light source is selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern and each segment first or second light source selectively transmits light into only one of the light guide first side or light guide second side to form a scanning backlight.

2. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and second light source each comprise a one or more light emitting diodes.

3. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each segment is completely separated from an adjacent segment by an air gap.

4. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments are hollow.

5. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments are solid.

6. A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronization driving element electrically coupled to the first and second light sources and the synchronization driving element synchronizes turning each segment first or second light source on or off in an alternating order between the first and second sides.

7. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel;

drive electronics configured to drive the liquid crystal display panel with alternating left eye and right eye images; and

a scanning backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, the scanning backlight comprising;

a light guide formed from a plurality of segments, each segment having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light, and the plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for the stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display panel;

a first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side; and

a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side;

wherein, only one of each segment first or second light source is selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern and each segment first or second light source selectively transmits light into only one of the light guide first side or light guide second side to form a scanning backlight.

8. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the scanning backlight.

9. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each first or second light source selectively transmits light into the light guide first side or light guide second side based upon whether a right or left image is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel.

10. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each first or second light source is turned on or off in an alternating order between the first and second sides.

11. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a synchronization driving element electrically coupled to the first and second light sources and the synchronization driving element synchronizes turning each segment first or second light source on or off in an alternating order between the first and second sides.

12. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each segment is completely separated from an adjacent segment by an air gap.

13. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first light source and second light source each comprise one or more light emitting diodes.

14. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first surface the second surface defines a segment thickness or diameter having a value of 5 millimeters or less.

15. A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a reflective film located adjacent to the second surface and a thermal sink layer attached to the reflective film.