2D and 3D switchable display device

• US 8,334,952 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Yu-June, Wu, Po-Wei, Chien, Ming-Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Phu
• Application Number:
  US12/915,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 349/112, 349/87, 349/96
• US Class Current: 349/112
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13471 in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells G02F1/13475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/356 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details

Abstract

A 2D and 3D switchable display device includes an organic light emitting diode display unit, a polarization activated microlens, a polarization switching unit and a polarizer. The organic light emitting diode display unit includes a top substrate, a bottom substrate and an organic light emitting diode display array disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The polarization activated microlens is disposed between the top substrate and the organic light emitting diode display array, and the polarization activated microlens directly contacts both the top substrate and the organic light emitting diode display array. The polarization switching unit is disposed on the top substrate, and the polarizer is disposed on the polarization switching unit.

Claims

1. A 2D and 3D switchable display device, comprising:

an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display unit, comprising a top substrate, a bottom substrate and an OLED display array disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate;

a polarization activated microlens (PAM) disposed between the top substrate and the OLED display array, wherein the PAM is in contact with the top substrate and the OLED display array;

a polarization switching unit disposed on the top substrate of the OLED display unit; and

a polarizer disposed on the polarization switching unit.

2. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 1, wherein the PAM comprises a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer and a structural layer, the LCP layer and the structural layer are in contact with each other, the LCP layer has an ordinary refractive index and an extraordinary refractive index, the structural layer has a refractive index, and the refractive index of the structural layer is substantially identical to one of the ordinary refractive index and the extraordinary refractive index of the LCP layer.

3. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 2, wherein the LCP layer is disposed between the structural layer and the OLED display array, and the LCP layer is in contact with the OLED display array.

4. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 1, wherein the polarization switching unit comprises a liquid crystal layer, a pair of alignment films, a pair of transparent conductive layers and a pair of transparent substrates, the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the pair of alignment films, the pair of alignment films is disposed between the pair of transparent conductive layers, and the pair of transparent conductive layers is disposed between the pair of transparent substrates.

5. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the top substrate of the OLED display unit and the polarization switching unit for bonding the top substrate of the OLED display unit and the polarization switching unit.

6. A 2D and 3D switchable display device, comprising:

an image display unit;

a polarization switching unit, comprising;

a bottom transparent substrate;

a first transparent conductive layer disposed on the bottom transparent substrate;

a second transparent conductive layer disposed on the first transparent conductive layer; and

a top transparent substrate disposed on the second transparent conductive layer; and

a polarization activated microlens (PAM) disposed between the second transparent conductive layer and the top transparent substrate;

wherein the PAM is in contact with the second transparent conductive layer and the top transparent substrate.

7. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 6, wherein the PAM comprises a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer and a structural layer, the LCP layer and the structural layer are in contact with each other, the LCP layer has an ordinary refractive index and an extraordinary refractive index, the structural layer has a refractive index, and the refractive index of the structural layer is substantially identical to one of the ordinary refractive index and the extraordinary refractive index of the LCP layer.

8. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 7, wherein the LCP layer is disposed between the structural layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and the LCP layer is in contact with the second transparent conductive layer.

9. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 6, wherein the polarization switching unit further comprises a liquid crystal layer and a pair of alignment films, the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the pair of alignment films, and the pair of alignment films is disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

10. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 6, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the image display unit and the bottom transparent substrate of the polarization switching unit for bonding the image display unit and the bottom transparent substrate of the polarization switching unit.

11. The 2D and 3D switchable display device of claim 6, wherein the image display unit comprises a liquid crystal display unit.