JP2012159704A - Stereoscopic image display device, and method of setting position of parallax barrier of electrophoretic display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic image display device that improves quality of stereoscopic images, reduces manufacturing costs, and has excellent recyclability.SOLUTION: A stereoscopic image display device includes: a liquid crystal display on which a pixel pattern for a single eye is displayed; an electrophoretic display that is bonded to the liquid crystal display; and an AC power supply that applies AC voltage to the electrophoretic display to form a parallax barrier.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device and a method for setting a parallax barrier position of an electrophoretic display used in the stereoscopic image display device.

  As a parallax barrier of an autostereoscopic image display device, a fixed barrier and a liquid crystal barrier (see Patent Document 1) are known.

  Patent Document 1 describes a liquid crystal barrier.

JP 2005-189455 A

The fixed barrier is excellent in terms of cost, but it cannot be switched to 2D, and when a parallax barrier is laminated on a glass plate, internal reflection of the glass occurs and crosstalk occurs, resulting in poor 3D video quality. There is a problem of becoming.
In addition, in order to effectively operate the liquid crystal barrier, it is necessary to continue driving the liquid crystal, and there is a problem that power consumption is increased and a device configuration such as a driver for driving the liquid crystal barrier is expensive.

Further, as a problem common to the fixed barrier and the liquid crystal barrier, it is necessary to calculate the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal and the barrier pitch in advance to ensure accuracy.
As a result, a very high barrier creation accuracy is required, which increases costs associated with investment in design and manufacturing equipment.
In addition, when the created parallax barrier is bonded to the liquid crystal screen, a very high accuracy is required, which increases costs associated with investment in manufacturing equipment.

  Furthermore, environmental considerations for the recycling of parallax barriers are a problem.

  An object (object) of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned various problems, improve the quality of stereoscopic images, realize cost reduction, and have excellent recyclability, and a barrier for stereoscopic image display devices and electrophoretic displays The object is to provide a position setting method.

  In order to solve the above problems, a stereoscopic image display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display on which a monocular pixel pattern is displayed, an electrophoretic display bonded to the liquid crystal display, and an AC voltage applied to the electrophoretic display. And an AC power source for forming a parallax barrier.

In addition, a backlight is disposed on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display to which the electrophoretic display is bonded.
The parallax barrier interval formed in the electrophoretic display is slightly smaller than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display.

The electrophoretic display is disposed between the liquid crystal display and a backlight.
The parallax barrier interval formed in the electrophoretic display may be slightly larger than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display.

A method for setting a parallax barrier position of an electrophoretic display used together with a liquid crystal display in the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention for solving the above-described problems includes the step of bonding the electrophoretic display to the liquid crystal display, and the liquid crystal display. A step of displaying a monocular pixel pattern, a step of applying an alternating voltage to the electrophoretic display, a step of imaging the displayed monocular pixel pattern from a predetermined viewpoint by an imaging means, and the captured monocular pixel Adjusting the phase of the AC voltage applied to the electrophoretic display so that the S / N ratio of the electrode becomes a predetermined value, and removing the applied AC voltage to fix the position of the barrier pattern It is characterized by including.

  Further, in the step of adjusting the phase of the AC voltage, in addition to adjusting the phase of the AC voltage, the electrophoretic display is adjusted so that the S / N ratio of the captured monocular pixel becomes a predetermined value. The frequency of the applied AC voltage is adjusted.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the quality of stereoscopic images, realize a highly recyclable stereoscopic image display device that can realize cost reduction, and easily set the position of the parallax barrier of the electrophoretic display for each product. .
In addition, the electrophoretic display retains its structure and can be reused for liquid crystal displays with different pitch patterns. Therefore, the electrophoretic display is more recyclable than when the electrophoretic display is broken down and recycled. Is extremely high.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st Example of the stereo image display apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure at the time of parallax barrier position setting in the three-dimensional image display apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the position setting of the parallax barrier of the three-dimensional image display apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of creation of the parallax barrier of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd Example of the stereo image display apparatus of this invention.

The configuration of the stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 includes a liquid crystal display 2, a backlight 3, and an electrophoretic display 4 that functions as a parallax barrier. The AC power supply 5 is used when setting the parallax barrier.
The liquid crystal display 2 is configured such that a left-eye pixel (left-eye image) L and a right-eye pixel (right-eye image) R are alternately arranged to display a stereoscopic image.
The backlight 3 is disposed on the back surface of the liquid crystal display 2. The electrophoretic display 4 adjusts the phase of the voltage applied from the AC power supply 5 and then blocks the application of the voltage from the AC power supply 5 to form a barrier pattern, thereby functioning as a parallax barrier. The backlight 3, the liquid crystal display 2, and the electrophoretic display 4 are bonded together to constitute the stereoscopic image display device 1.

  In this state, from the viewpoint 1 corresponding to the user's right eye and the viewpoint 2 corresponding to the user's left eye, the left-eye image L and the right of the liquid crystal display 2 through the gap of the electrophoretic display 4 (parallax barrier). The eye image R is separated and stereoscopic viewing is possible.

  In the example of FIG. 1, since the backlight 3 is disposed on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display 2 to which the electrophoretic display 4 is bonded, the interval between the parallax barriers formed on the electrophoretic display is larger than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display. Also formed slightly smaller.

  Next, a method for setting the barrier position of the electrophoretic display (for example, electronic paper) 4 as the parallax barrier of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram at the time of setting the barrier position in FIG. 2 and the flowchart for setting the barrier position in FIG. To do.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the stereoscopic image display device 1 after bonding the liquid crystal display 2 and the electrophoretic display 4 and the imaging means 6 used when setting the barrier position.
In FIG. 2, the imaging means 6 is arranged at the position of the viewpoint 1 (or viewpoint 2) of the stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 in FIG.

  Next, the procedure for setting the position of the barrier in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, the electrophoretic display 4 is bonded to the liquid crystal display 2. (Step S1)
At this time, the backlight 3 is attached to the liquid crystal display 2, and the imaging means is disposed at the position of the viewpoint 1 or the viewpoint 2.
In addition, a monocular sub-pixel pattern (left-eye pixel L and right-eye pixel R) is displayed on the liquid crystal display 2. (Step S2)
Next, a voltage is applied to the electrophoretic display 4 from the AC power supply 5 to form a parallax barrier. (Step S3)
At this time, the frequency of the AC power supply 5 is slightly smaller than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal.

Then, the monocular sub-pixel pattern displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 is imaged by the imaging means 6 through the barrier gap formed on the electrophoretic display 4. (Step S4)
At this time, the phase of the AC power supply 5 applied to the electrophoretic display 4 is adjusted so that the S / N ratio (signal-noise ratio) of the monocular sub-pixel pattern imaged in step S4 becomes a predetermined value. To do. (Step S5)
Note that the S / N ratio being a predetermined value basically means maximizing, but it may be a numerical value that is not less than a certain value.
Next, when the S / N ratio becomes a predetermined value by adjusting the phase of the AC voltage in step S5, the AC power supply voltage applied to the electrophoretic display 4 is removed (shut off), and the electrophoretic display 4 The relative position between the barrier formed on the liquid crystal display 2 and the liquid crystal display 2 is fixed. (Step S6)

  After fixing the positional relationship between the barriers of the liquid crystal display 2 and the electrophoretic display 4 in the above procedure, the barrier position remains fixed even when the AC power supply 5 is shut off (the same principle as electronic paper). Therefore, it is not necessary to continuously apply the voltage of the AC power supply 5 to the electrophoretic display 4 for stereoscopic viewing, so that power consumption can be suppressed.

  In the above description, the S / N ratio is adjusted by adjusting the phase of the AC power supply 5 applied to the electrophoretic display 4 so that the S / N ratio of the single-request required subpixel pattern becomes a predetermined value. It is explained that the value becomes a predetermined value.

  However, it is assumed that the frequency of the AC power supply 5 at that time is slightly smaller than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display, and the barrier pitch may be applied with an AC voltage having a frequency that matches the theoretical design formula. Although it is desirable, in reality, it is difficult to obtain an ideal barrier pitch only by driving an electrophoretic display at a frequency as theoretically designed.

  The barrier pitch actually formed on the electrophoretic display is the actual pixel pitch for each manufactured liquid crystal display, the distance between the liquid crystal display and the electrophoretic display, the distance between the viewpoints 1 and 2, the distance between the viewpoint and the liquid crystal display, etc. Therefore, it cannot be said that an ideal barrier pitch can be formed at a frequency according to the theoretical calculation formula.

  Therefore, as an operation for setting the predetermined S / N ratio in step S5, in addition to the adjustment of the phase of the AC power source, the frequency of the AC power source is slightly increased or decreased to thereby increase the predetermined S / N ratio for each manufactured product. N ratio can be achieved.

Next, an example of creating the electrophoretic display 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4A is an example of creating a step barrier by the electrophoretic display 4. By applying the voltage of the AC power supply 5 to the X axis and the Y axis of the electrophoretic display 4, the lattice barrier (step Barrier) can be formed.

  FIG. 4B is an example of creating a stripe barrier by the electrophoretic display 4. By applying the voltage of the AC power source 5 only to the X axis of the electrophoretic display 4, a stripe-shaped barrier (stripe barrier) is shown. ) Can be formed.

  As described above, in the present invention, by forming the parallax barrier with the electrophoretic display, it is possible to improve the quality of the stereoscopic image and to realize a stereoscopic image display device capable of realizing cost reduction. The advantage of forming is described.

As described above in the description of setting the position of the barrier, the barrier formed by the electrophoretic display can be changed to any barrier pitch by changing the frequency of the AC voltage applied to the electrophoretic display in principle. Is possible.
Therefore, it can be applied (reused) to other liquid crystal displays with the same structure, and the electrophoretic display is a product with excellent recyclability.

  In the above description, it is described that a parallax barrier peculiar to a stereoscopic image display device is formed. However, the parallax barrier formed for a stereoscopic image (3D) is re-formed into a uniform barrier for 2D use. It can also be used.

  Also, instead of forming the entire screen of the electrophoretic display on a 3D image or 2D barrier, it is also possible to form a part of the screen for a 3D image and the other on a 2D barrier. is there.

  In the above description, the viewpoint position is fixed (assumed) and the parallax barrier peculiar to the viewpoint is described. However, when the viewpoint fluctuates, the parallax barrier peculiar to the fluctuating viewpoint is described. It is also possible to form

  Thus, the electrophoretic display used as the parallax barrier in the stereoscopic image display apparatus of the present application is not only effective as the parallax barrier of the stereoscopic image display apparatus, but also has a structure without subdividing the electrophoretic display. Recyclability is extremely high because it can be used for liquid crystal displays with different pitch patterns.

Next, a stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 'according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the stereoscopic image display apparatus 1 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the basic components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
The difference from the first embodiment is that the electrophoretic display 4 is disposed between the backlight 3 and the liquid crystal display 2.
Then, the backlight 3, the electrophoretic display 4 and the liquid crystal display 2 are bonded together to form a stereoscopic image display device 1 ′.
In this case, the parallax barrier interval formed on the electrophoretic display 4 is slightly larger than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display 2.

  In this state, the user visually recognizes the image L for the left eye and the image R for the right eye of the liquid crystal display 2 irradiated with the light of the backlight 3 as a stereoscopic image through the gap of the barrier of the electrophoretic display 4. be able to.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to continuously apply the voltage of the AC power supply 5 to the electrophoretic display 4 for stereoscopic viewing, so that power consumption is suppressed.

  The frequency of the AC power supply 5 at this time is slightly larger than the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display 2 in the case of the configuration of the second embodiment.

  The left-eye pixel (left-eye image L) and right-eye pixel (right-eye image R) displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 are the left-eye pixel L and the right-eye in the case of color stereoscopic vision. In the pixel R, pixels corresponding to the three primary colors (red), (green), and (blue) of light are arranged for each pixel.

1: stereoscopic image display device, 2: liquid crystal display, 3: backlight, 4: electrophoretic display (parallax barrier), 5: AC power supply, 6: imaging means, L: pixel for left eye (image for left eye), R: Right eye pixel (right eye image)

Claims (7)

A liquid crystal display on which a monocular pixel pattern is displayed;
An electrophoretic display bonded to the liquid crystal display;
A stereoscopic image display device comprising: an AC power source that applies an AC voltage to the electrophoretic display to form a parallax barrier.   The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 1, wherein a backlight is disposed on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display to which the electrophoretic display is bonded.   The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 2, wherein a parallax barrier interval formed in the electrophoretic display is slightly smaller than a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display.   The stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic display is disposed between the liquid crystal display and a backlight.   The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 4, wherein a parallax barrier interval formed in the electrophoretic display is slightly larger than a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display. A method for setting a parallax barrier position of an electrophoretic display used together with a liquid crystal display in a stereoscopic image display device,
Bonding the electrophoretic display to the liquid crystal display;
Displaying a monocular pixel pattern on the liquid crystal display;
Applying an alternating voltage to the electrophoretic display;
Imaging the displayed monocular pixel pattern from a predetermined viewpoint with an imaging means;
Adjusting the phase of the AC voltage applied to the electrophoretic display so that the S / N ratio of the imaged monocular pixel has a predetermined value;
Removing the applied AC voltage and fixing the position of the parallax barrier pattern;
A parallax barrier position setting method for an electrophoretic display, comprising: In the step of adjusting the phase of the AC voltage, in addition to adjusting the phase of the AC voltage, the AC voltage is applied to the electrophoretic display so that the S / N ratio of the captured monocular pixel becomes a predetermined value. Adjust the frequency of AC voltage
The parallax barrier position setting method for an electrophoretic display according to claim 6.

Images