2D/3D imaging display

• US 6,157,424 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dimension Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dimension Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Eichenlaub, Jesse B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dudek, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/050,440
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 349/15, 349/74, 349/77, 349/83, 348/52, 348/59, 348/751, 348/752, 348/761, 348/762, 348/766, 348/767, 359/463, 359/464, 359/465, 359/894
• US Class Current: 349/74
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/30 involving parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/31 involving active parallax barriers involving directional light or back-light sources G02B30/33
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133538 with spatial distribution of the polarisation direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13476 in which at least one liquid crystal cell or layer assumes a scattering state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/359 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

An improved 2D/3D display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display uses both an imaging LCD and a secondary LCD. The secondary LCD is a light line forming LCD which can be placed between a light line forming system and the imaging LCD for eliminating ghost images, or can be used as the light line forming system itself. Variations of a glass sandwich employing an imaging liquid crystal layer and a line forming liquid crystal layer are disclosed. Alternatively, the secondary LCD may comprise a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips. Displays in which a 2D or 3D window can be viewed within a 3D or 2D window, respectively, are disclosed using light line forming systems and alternatively using light line forming LCD'"'"'s which have the opaque stripes divided into individually controllable areas. Movement of one window within another window is disclosed. Also disclosed is a strip diffuser for improving visual characteristics in 3D mode and movable elements for alternating between 2D and 3D mode.

Claims

1. A 2D/3D display, comprising:

an image forming LCD;

a secondary LCD; and

an electronic control, connected to the secondary LCD to selectively provide the secondary LCD to be clear when the display is in 2D mode and the secondary LCD to exhibit dark opaque stripes when the display is in 3D mode.

3. The 2D/3D display of claim 1 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a light line forming liquid crystal layer.

4. The 2D/3D display of claim 1 wherein the secondary LCD further comprises a front layer of glass and a rear layer of glass sandwiching the liquid crystal layer therebetween.

5. The 2D/3D display of claim 4 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear layer of glass and a front layer of glass divided by an image forming liquid crystal layer.

6. The 2D/3D display of claim 5 wherein the image forming LCD further comprises a front polarizer on the front layer of glass and a rear polarizer on the rear layer of glass.

12. The 2D/3D display of claim 1, in which the secondary LCD comprises a plurality of individually addressable sections and the electronic control comprises a plurality of outputs for independently addressing the sections for selectively switching the sections between 2D and 3D modes.

13. The 2D/3D display of claim 12, wherein the electronic control produces a signal that causes the controllable sections outside a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and another signal that causes the controllable sections within the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.

14. The 2D/3D display of claim 12, wherein the electronic control produces a signal that causes the controllable sections within a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and another signal that causes the controllable sections outside the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.

17. The 2D/3D display of claim 14 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a light line forming liquid crystal layer, the dark opaque stripes being formed by the liquid crystal layer.

18. The 2D/3D display of claim 14 wherein the secondary LCD comprises a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips having clear spaces in between the polarizing strips.

19. The 2D/3D display of claim 18 wherein a position of molecules within the liquid crystal layer can be changed, upon application of a voltage, to be perpendicular to a polarization direction of the polarizing strips, the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer, a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer, such that the polarization strips appear opaque upon application of the voltage, forming the dark opaque stripes for 3D mode.

23. The 2D/3D display of claim 1, where the electronic control applies a voltage to generate dark opaque stripes in the secondary LCD in 3D mode and zero voltage to make the secondary LCD turn clear in 2D mode.

2. A 2D/3D display comprising:

an image forming LCD; and

,

a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode;

a light line forming device, the transparent lines of the secondary LCD being coincident with light lines from the light line forming device, wherein the dark opaque stripes of the secondary LCD block stray light that can cause ghost images.

7. A 2D/3D display comprising:

an image forming LCD; and

,

a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, the secondary LCD comprising a liquid crystal layer and a series of polarizing strips having clear spaces in between the polarizing strips.

8. The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein the liquid crystal layer and the polarizing strips are separated by a layer of glass.

9. The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein a position of molecules within the liquid crystal layer can be changed, upon application of a voltage, to be perpendicular to a polarization direction of the polarizing strips.

10. The 2D/3D display of claim 9 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer and wherein a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer, such that the polarization strips appear opaque upon application of the voltage, forming the dark opaque stripes for 3D mode.

11. The 2D/3D display of claim 7 wherein the image forming LCD comprises a rear polarizer and wherein a polarization direction of the polarization strips is parallel with a polarization direction of the rear polarizer.

20. The 2D/3D display of claim 7, where the secondary LCD comprises a plurality of individually addressable sections.

21. The 2D/3D display of claim 20, further comprising an electronic control that produces a first signal that causes the controllable sections outside a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and a second signal that causes the controllable sections within the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.

22. The 2D/3D display of claim 20, further comprising an electronic control that produces a first signal that causes the controllable sections within a defined area to remain dark for 3D mode, and a second signal that causes the controllable sections outside the defined area to turn clear for 2D mode.

15. A 2D/3D display comprising:

an image forming LCD; and

,

a secondary LCD being clear in 2D mode, and displaying thin transparent lines separated by dark opaque stripes in 3D mode, at least some of the dark opaque stripes having individually controllable sections,

wherein a 3D imaging area can be viewed within a larger 2D imaging area by turning the controllable sections of the opaque stripes outside a subspatial defined area on the secondary LCD clear while the opaque stripes within the defined area remain dark;

software for generating coordinates of a boundary of a defined area.

16. The 2D/3D display of claim 15 comprising a controller for translating information from the software, and comprising line drivers for receiving signals from the controller to make the secondary LCD go clear everywhere except within the defined area.