Multi-functional active matrix liquid crystal displays

• US 8,610,762 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Inventors: Sharp, Gary D., Robinson, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HIGA, BRENDAN Y
• Application Number:
  US13/561,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20120293747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 348 42- 60
• US Class Current: 348/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/024 Scrolling of light from the illumination source over the display in combination with the scanning of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/061 for resetting or blanking
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/06 Colour space transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/342 using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing

Abstract

A direct view display provides a light modulating panel and a backlight including first and second sets of spectral emitters. The first set of spectral emitters generate a first light bundle and the second set of spectral emitters generate a second light bundle. Several modes of operation may be provided including (1) an advanced 2D mode, (2) an enhanced color gamut mode employing simultaneous illumination of the first and second set of spectral emitters, (3) a privacy screen mode, (4) a channel multiplexed mode, and (5) a stereoscopic image mode. The latter three modes utilize the first and second set of spectral emitters to alternately illuminate a portion of the light modulating panel. Images and representations generated by the direct view display operating in the latter three modes are viewed using appropriate eyewear having filters with passband characteristics to transmit the respective light bundle.

Claims

1. Eyewear operable to convey a first image to a first eye and a second image to a second eye, the first image comprising a first polarized light bundle, the second image comprising a second polarized light bundle, wherein the first and second polarized light bundles comprise substantially discrete spectral components, the eyewear comprising:

a first filter comprising a first retarder stack and a first polarizer, the first polarizer having a first polarizing axis; and

a second filter comprising a second retarder stack and a second polarizer, the second polarizer having a second polarizing axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarizing axis,

wherein the first and second retarder stacks comprise substantially identical retardance.

2. Eyewear according to claim 1, wherein the first polarized light bundle comprises:

a first spectral component selected from a pair of long band spectral components (R1, R2),

a second spectral component selected from a pair of middle band spectral components (G1, G2), and

a third spectral component selected from a pair of short band spectral components (B1, B2);

wherein the second polarized light bundle comprises;

fourth, fifth, and sixth spectral components comprising a complementary selection of spectral components to those selected for the first set of spectral components.

3. Eyewear according to claim 2, wherein the R1 and R2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the L-cone receptors in a human eye, wherein the G1 and G2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the M-cone receptors in the human eye, and wherein the B1 and B2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the S-cone receptors in the human eye.

4. Eyewear according to claim 1, wherein the first filter has a passband characteristic operable to transmit the first light bundle, and wherein the second filter has a passband characteristic operable to transmit the second light bundle.

5. Eyewear according to claim 4, wherein the first filter has a stopband characteristic operable to block the second light bundle, and wherein the second filter has a stopband characteristic operable to block the first light bundle.

6. Eyewear according to claim 1, wherein the retarder stacks comprise birefringent polymer film.

7. Eyewear according to claim 1, wherein each retarder stack comprises N≧

2 retarder films, wherein each retarder stack is designed to comprise an FIR filter, and thereby is operable to generate at least N+1 spatially offset light pulses in response to a linearly polarized light impulse input, the FIR filter operable to filter at least one band of light.

13. Eyewear according to claim 2, wherein R1 has an emission peak with a longer wavelength than R2, wherein G1 has an emission peak with a longer wavelength than G2, and wherein B1 has an emission peak with a longer wavelength than B2.

14. Eyewear according to claim 2, wherein the first/second polarized light bundles comprise one of the following combinations:

R1G1B1/R2G2B2, R1G2B1/R2G1B2, R1G1B2/R2G2B1, and R1G2B2/R2G1B1.

15. Eyewear according to claim 2 the first light bundle is defined by a first RGB triangle of an EBU color gamut diagram, and the second light bundle is defined by a second RGB triangle of the EBU color gamut diagram including colors outside the first RGB triangle.

8. Eyewear operable to convey a first image to a viewer and to block a second image from the viewer, the first image comprising a first polarized light bundle, the second image comprising a second polarized light bundle, wherein the first and second polarized light bundles comprise substantially discrete spectral components, the eyewear comprising:

a left eye and a right eye filter, each filter comprising;

a retarder stack; and

one and only one polarizing element having a polarization axis,

wherein the first and second retarder stacks comprise substantially identical retardance,

wherein the polarization axis of the left eye polarizing element is parallel to the polarizing axis of the right eye polarizing element.

9. Eyewear according to claim 8, wherein the left and right eye filters have substantially identical passband characteristics.

10. Eyewear according to claim 8, wherein the first polarized light bundle comprises:

a first spectral component selected from a pair of long band spectral components (R1, R2),

a second spectral component selected from a pair of middle band spectral components (G1, G2), and

a third spectral component selected from a pair of short band spectral components (B1, B2);

wherein the second set of spectral components comprises;

fourth, fifth, and sixth spectral components comprising a complementary selection of spectral components to those selected for the first set of spectral components.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the R1 and R2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the L-cone receptors in a human eye, wherein the G1 and G2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the M-cone receptors in the human eye, and wherein the B1 and B2 spectral components lie substantially within the sensitive wavelengths of the S-cone receptors in the human eye.

12. Eyewear according to claim 8, wherein each retarder stack comprises N≧

2 retarder films, wherein each retarder stack is designed to comprise an FIR filter, and thereby is operable to generate at least N+1 spatially offset light pulses in response to a linearly polarized light impulse input, the FIR filter operable to filter at least one band of light.