JP4779378B2 - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that displays a stereoscopic image.

Conventionally, as a liquid crystal display device for displaying a stereoscopic image, an image for the left eye is displayed by every other column of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel, and an image for the right eye is displayed by every other column of pixels. And right-eye images are divided into the left-eye direction and the right-eye direction of the display observer for the light emitted from the pixels in one row and the light from the pixels in the other row of the liquid crystal display panel. Alternatively, the left and right eyes of the observer can be observed through a parallax barrier in which a plurality of transmissive parts and light-shielding parts parallel to the pixel rows of the liquid crystal display panel are alternately arranged. (See Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-19889 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-005455 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-268230

  However, since a conventional liquid crystal display device that displays a stereoscopic image displays an image for the left eye by every other row of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel and an image for the right eye by every other row of pixels, The image resolution is low.

  In addition, the conventional liquid crystal display device includes a lenticular lens having a lens pitch corresponding to the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display panel, or a parallax barrier having a transmissive portion pitch corresponding to the pixel pitch, and each of the lens portions or the transmissive portions is disposed on the lens portion. Manufacture is difficult because the pixels in each row of the liquid crystal display panel must be arranged with high precision in a predetermined positional relationship.

  Further, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, the direction in which the stereoscopic image can be observed, that is, the direction in which the left eye image and the right eye image can be observed with the left and right eyes of the display observer is the front of the liquid crystal display panel. Only the direction (direction near the normal of the screen).

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device that can display a stereoscopic image with high resolution, is easy to manufacture, and allows a stereoscopic image to be observed from a plurality of directions.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a predetermined image is displayed to the user by lighting in a time-division manner the light that irradiates the user's left eye and the light that irradiates the user's right eye. A liquid crystal display device for viewing three-dimensionally, wherein a predetermined region is formed in a shape in which the cylinder is partially cut and removed along the central axis of the cylinder, and the concave surface side in the predetermined region is light a reflecting member formed as a reflective surface, said liquid crystal display and a liquid crystal display panel in which pixels to control the transmission amount of light are arranged, from a first position to said liquid crystal display panel is interposed between the reflective member A first light-emitting element that irradiates light toward the light reflection surface so that light reflected by the light reflection surface is directed to the left eye of the user observing the panel through the liquid crystal display panel; the liquid between the reflective member The user's right eye observes the liquid crystal display panel from the first position by interposing the display panel, so that the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is directed through said liquid crystal display panel, the light reflective surface The user observes the display panel from a second position different from the first position by interposing the liquid crystal display panel between the second light-emitting element that emits light toward the reflector and the reflective member. Between the reflective member and the third light emitting element that irradiates light toward the light reflecting surface so that the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is directed to the left eye via the liquid crystal display panel. the liquid crystal display panel and the second position with intervening the right eye of the user to observe the liquid crystal display panel, so that the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is directed through said liquid crystal display panel, the light 4th which irradiates light toward a reflective surface Characterized by comprising a light emitting element.

The invention according to claim 2 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element has the first angle such that an angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel is a first angle. The light is irradiated so that the light is directed from the position toward the left eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel, and the second light emitting element is set so that the angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel is the first angle. Light is emitted so that light is directed from the first position to the right eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel, and the third light emitting element has an angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel that is the first angle. The fourth light emitting element emits the liquid crystal display so that the light is directed from the second position to the left eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel so as to be at different second angles. The angle with respect to the panel is the second angle. As the light to the right eye of a user from the second position to observe the liquid crystal display panel is directed to, and then irradiating with light.

The invention according to claim 3 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image corresponding to the left eye and the right eye are supported in synchronization with the time-divisional lighting of light. And a control means for displaying the image on the liquid crystal display panel.

The invention according to claim 4 is the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid crystal display panel is arranged in parallel to the cut surface of the cylinder. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 5 is the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element, the third light emitting element, and The fourth light emitting elements are arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder.

The invention according to claim 6 is the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element, the third light emitting element, and The fourth light emitting element is arranged so as to avoid a region where the liquid crystal display panel overlaps the reflective member.

The invention according to claim 7 is the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element, the third light emitting element, and The fourth light emitting element irradiates light toward the light reflecting surface with a predetermined spread angle.

The invention according to claim 8 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, wherein the light from the first light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface is reflected by the light reflecting surface. The light from the second light emitting element, the light from the third light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface, and the light from the fourth light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface are individually collected. It is characterized by comprising a light collecting means.

According to the present invention, a stereoscopic image with high resolution can be displayed, and the manufacturing is easy, and the stereoscopic image can be observed from a plurality of directions.

(First embodiment)
1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 3 is a line III-III in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the liquid crystal display device has a screen region 1a in which a plurality of pixels (not shown) are arranged in a matrix, and the plurality of pixels are observed with separate left and right eyes. The left-eye image data and the right-eye image data are selectively written, and the left-eye image and the right-eye image are selectively displayed according to the left-eye image data and the right-eye image data. Type liquid crystal display panel 1, illumination means 12 arranged outside one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and control means 20 for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display device.

  FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The liquid crystal display panel 1 includes a pair of transparent substrates 2 and 3 joined via a frame-shaped sealing material (not shown), and the substrates 2, 2. A region surrounded by the sealing material between the pair of substrates 2 and 3 and the transparent electrodes 4 and 5 that are provided on the inner surfaces of the substrate 3 and form a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix by the regions facing each other. And a nematic liquid crystal layer 8 provided on the substrate.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 used in this embodiment has a plurality of pixel electrodes 4 arranged in a matrix in the row direction (horizontal direction of the screen) and the column direction (vertical direction of the screen) on the inner surface of one substrate 2. , And an active matrix liquid crystal display panel provided with a single film-like counter electrode 5 facing the plurality of pixel electrodes 4 on the inner surface of the other substrate 3, which is omitted in FIG. On the inner surface of the substrate 2, a plurality of TFTs (thin film transistors) respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes 4, a plurality of gate wirings for supplying gate signals to the TFTs in each row, and an image data signal to the TFTs in each column A plurality of data lines to be supplied are provided.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 is a bent alignment type liquid crystal display panel having high-speed response, or a homogeneous alignment type liquid crystal display panel in which the liquid crystal molecular alignment is achieved by reducing the liquid crystal layer thickness (substrate gap) to achieve high-speed response. In the case of a bent alignment type liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal molecules 8a of the liquid crystal layer 8 are pretilted by the horizontal alignment films 6 and 7 provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 2 and 3 so as to cover the electrodes 4 and 5. In the case of a homogeneous alignment type liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal molecules 8a of the liquid crystal layer 8 are defined in the alignment direction by the horizontal alignment films 6 and 7, and the molecular long axis is set in one direction. They are aligned homogeneously.

  A pair of polarizing plates 9 and 10 are arranged on the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 2 and 3 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 with their transmission axes directed in a predetermined direction. A retardation film 11 for increasing display contrast is disposed between one of the substrates 2 and 3, for example, the substrate 3 on which the counter electrode 5 is provided and the polarizing plate 10 on the substrate side.

  Next, the illuminating means 12 arranged outside one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1 will be described. The illuminating means 12 is connected to the liquid crystal display panel 1 as shown in FIGS. A space is provided between them, and the surface facing the liquid crystal display panel 1 has a center in the direction along the vertical direction of the screen corresponding to the center of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the horizontal direction. The reflecting member 13 having a substantially semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13a, and the center of the substantially semi-cylindrical portion (hereinafter referred to as the upper half or the lower side) between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the reflecting member 13. In the vicinity of the center of curvature of the reflecting surface 13a) on the plurality of radiations extending in the left-right direction from the center of curvature toward the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13, and the reflecting member for each direction of the plurality of radiations. 13 reflective surfaces Towards 3a, having a predetermined spread angle, which is from the first plurality of light sources 14 for selectively emitting a second light center distance of each light away to the left and right.

  The reflection member 13 is made of, for example, a substantially semi-cylindrical body having a length comparable to the vertical height of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and a diameter comparable to the horizontal width of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The entire inner peripheral surface is a reflecting surface 13a.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the illuminating means 12. The light source 14 includes a first solid-state light emitting element 15a that emits first light having a predetermined spread angle θ and a second light having the spread angle θ. And a second solid-state light emitting element 15b that emits the same light, and a light emitter in which the center lines Oa and Ob of the emitted light of the solid-state light emitting elements 15a and 15b are parallel to each other and separated from each other by a predetermined distance. ing.

  Although the structure of the first and second solid state light emitting devices 15a and 15b is not shown, an LED (light emitting diode) is molded with a transparent resin. Lens unit for emitting the radiated light at the predetermined spread angle θ.

  The plurality of light sources 14 are either on the upper side or the lower side of the space between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the reflecting member 13, for example, in the vicinity of the lower center of curvature, the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13. The reflection member 13 reflects the center line direction between the center lines Oa and Ob of the first and second lights from the respective light sources 14 at a predetermined interval along a semicircle concentric with the light source 14. It is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the radiation spreading from the center of curvature of the surface 13 a toward the reflecting surface 13 a of the reflecting member 13. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the positions of the plurality of light sources 14 are illustrated in the middle of the center of curvature and the reflecting member 13 in the drawing. They are concentrated in the vicinity of the center of curvature.

  The illuminating means 12 reflects the first and second lights from the plurality of light sources 14 by the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13, and a plurality of directions of the visual field of display in the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel. For each direction, the left-eye illumination light in which the peak of the emitted light intensity exists in the direction tilted to the left when viewed from the liquid crystal display panel 1 side, and the peak of the emitted light intensity in the direction tilted to the right Are selectively emitted toward the liquid crystal display panel 1. That is, of the first and second lights from the light source 14, the center line Oa is shifted to the right side (lower side in FIG. 4) as viewed from the radiation passing through the center of curvature of the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13. The first light emitted from one solid state light emitting element 15a is reflected by the semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. The left-eye illumination light having a peak of emitted light intensity in a direction inclined to the left by an angle corresponding to a distance shifted from the center line between the center lines Oa and Ob of the liquid crystal display. The light is emitted to the panel 1 side.

  Further, the second light emitted from the second solid-state light emitting element 15b in which the center line Ob is shifted to the left side (upper side in FIG. 4) as viewed from the radiation passing through the center of curvature of the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 is 4, the distance reflected from the semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13 a of the reflecting member 13 and deviated from the center line between the first and second light center lines Oa and Ob as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 4. As a result, the illumination light for the right eye having a peak of emitted light intensity in a direction tilted to the right by an angle corresponding to the angle is emitted to the liquid crystal display panel 1 side.

  The plurality of light sources 14 are arranged respectively in a plurality of directions radially extending from the center of curvature of the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 toward the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 in the left-right direction. The first and second lights from these light sources 14 are reflected by the semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13, and display of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. The left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light are emitted in a plurality of directions of the visual field, respectively.

  Thus, the illumination means 12 is arranged with a space between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and a central portion in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 on the surface facing the liquid crystal display panel 1. And a reflecting member 13 having a substantially semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13a having a center in a direction along the vertical direction of the screen, and a space between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the reflecting member 13. On the lower side, in the vicinity of the center of curvature of the semi-cylindrical reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13, respectively disposed on a plurality of radiations extending from the center of curvature toward the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 on the left and right, The first and second light beams having a predetermined spread angle θ and a center distance of each light left and right are selectively emitted toward the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 for each direction of a plurality of radiations. A plurality of light sources 14 Therefore, the first and second lights from the plurality of light sources 14 are reflected by the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13, and a plurality of directions of the visual field in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 are configured. The left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light can be emitted each time.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the plurality of light sources 14 of the illuminating means 12 are arranged at predetermined intervals at positions concentric with the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 in the vicinity of the center of curvature. The means 12 can emit left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light having substantially the same intensity in the plurality of directions.

  Further, in this embodiment, the light source 14 of the illuminating means 12 has a first solid-state light emitting element 15a emitting a first light having a predetermined spread angle θ and a second light emitting the second light having the spread angle θ. Since the two solid-state light-emitting elements 15b are light emitters juxtaposed with the center lines Oa and Ob of the emitted light from the solid-state light-emitting elements 15a and 15b separated from each other by a predetermined distance and parallel to each other. Thus, the first and second lights whose centers are shifted to the left and right can be emitted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seven light sources 14 are arranged at a position concentric with the reflecting surface 13 a of the reflecting member 13 and the center of the reflecting member 13 from the center. A plurality of radiation members 13 are arranged on the radiation that is sequentially shifted by a certain angle, for example, 25 °, in the left-right direction of the reflecting member 13. Therefore, the illuminating means 12 is directed toward the center in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light are emitted in a total of seven directions, each of which is sequentially shifted by 25 ° in the horizontal direction when viewed from the liquid crystal display panel 1 side.

  The illuminating means 12 is arranged so that the surface between the left and right edges of the reflecting member 13 faces the screen region 1a of the liquid crystal display panel on the outside of one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1. While being substantially parallel to the panel surface of the display panel 1, the upper and lower edges of the reflecting member 13 are emitted from the plurality of light sources 14 with respect to the upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The tilt angle in the vertical direction of the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light reflected by the reflecting surface 13a and emitted to the liquid crystal display panel 1 side, that is, the tilt angle with respect to the horizontal plane including the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 Is shifted downward by a height corresponding to

  That is, the illumination unit 12 is arranged so that the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light from the illumination unit 12 are incident on the screen region 1 a of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  The control unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a driving circuit for the liquid crystal display panel 1 and driving circuits for the plurality of light sources 14 of the illuminating unit 12, although the specific configuration is not shown. The left-eye image data and the right-eye image data are selectively written into the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the plurality of light sources 14 of the illumination unit 12 are synchronized with the writing of the left-eye image data. The first solid state light emitting elements 15a are simultaneously turned on, and the second solid state light emitting elements 15b of the plurality of light sources 14 of the illumination unit 12 are simultaneously turned on in synchronization with the writing of the left eye image data.

  That is, the control unit 20 emits left-eye illumination light in the plurality of directions from the illumination unit 12 in synchronization with the writing of the left-eye image data to the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1, The right-eye illumination light is emitted from the illumination unit 12 in the plurality of directions in synchronization with the writing of the right-eye image data to the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  In this liquid crystal display device, the control means 20 selectively writes left-eye image data and right-eye image data to a plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and synchronizes with the writing of the left-eye image data. The left-eye illumination light is emitted from the illumination means 12 and the right-eye illumination light is emitted from the illumination means 12 in synchronization with the writing of the left-eye image data. The left-eye image corresponding to the left-eye image data and the right-eye image corresponding to the right-eye image data are sequentially displayed so that the display observer can observe the stereoscopic image.

  The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment displays a stereoscopic color image by field sequential display, and the first and second solid state light emitting elements 15a and 15b of the plurality of light sources 14 of the illumination unit 12 are respectively It is equipped with a red LED that emits red light, a green LED that emits green light, and a blue LED that emits blue light, and these LEDs are selectively lit to select light of three colors: red, green, and blue The light is emitted.

  Then, the control means 20 performs image data for left eye and right eye of unit colors of red, green, and blue for each of six fields obtained by dividing one frame for displaying one stereoscopic color image into six. One of the image data for image is selected in an arbitrary order and sequentially written to a plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and each of the image data for left eye of each unit color of red, green and blue is written. Synchronously, the illumination means 12 emits illumination light for the left eye of the color of the written image data in the plurality of directions, and is synchronized with the writing of the image data for the right eye of each unit color of red, green, and blue. The illumination unit 12 is configured to emit right-eye illumination light of the color of the written image data in the plurality of directions.

  This liquid crystal display device displays left-eye images by writing left-eye image data to a plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and emitting left-eye illumination light from the illumination means 12, and the liquid crystal Since the right-eye image data is written to the plurality of pixels of the display panel 1 and the right-eye image is displayed by emitting the right-eye illumination light from the illuminating unit 12, the left-eye image is sequentially displayed. The image for the right eye and the image for the right eye can be displayed using all the pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1, respectively, and therefore a high-resolution stereoscopic image can be displayed.

  In addition, the liquid crystal display device is configured such that the illumination unit 12 is disposed outside the liquid crystal display panel 1, and left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light from the illumination unit 12 are transmitted to the screen area of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Since it should just arrange | position so that it may inject into 1a, it can manufacture easily.

  Further, in this liquid crystal display device, the illuminating means 12 is viewed from the liquid crystal display panel 1 side in each of a plurality of directions of the visual field of display in the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 with respect to the direction. The liquid crystal display panel 1 selectively selects left-eye illumination light having an emission light intensity peak in a direction inclined to the left side and right-eye illumination light having an emission light intensity peak in a direction inclined to the right side. Therefore, the left-eye illumination light that has entered the liquid crystal display panel 1 after being emitted in a plurality of directions in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1, that is, in a plurality of directions from the illumination unit 12. 3D images can be observed from the direction in which the right-eye illumination light is emitted from the liquid crystal display panel 1. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the viewing direction of the stereoscopic image of the liquid crystal display device. In the figure, three display observers A are viewing the stereoscopic image from the three left and right directions. .

  In the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, as described above, the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination are respectively provided in a total of seven directions along the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 from the illumination unit 12. Since light is emitted, stereoscopic images can be observed from the seven directions.

  Further, in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, the illuminating means 12 is arranged outside the one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1 so as to face the screen region 1a of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light are incident on the liquid crystal display panel 1 from the one surface in the plurality of directions, respectively, and stereoscopic images are respectively displayed from the plurality of directions on the other surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Can be observed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the illuminating means 12 emits the light emitted from the plurality of light sources 14 and reflected by the reflecting surface 13 a of the reflecting member 13 to the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The light is emitted in a direction tilted upward with respect to the horizontal plane including the tilt angle, and the tilt angle is a relatively small angle within, for example, about 30 °. Therefore, the stereoscopic image in the plurality of directions is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1. It can be observed with sufficient brightness from a height close to the height of the screen.

  In the above embodiment, the plurality of light sources 14 of the illuminating means 12 are arranged below the space between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the reflecting member 13, but the plurality of light sources 14 are arranged in the space. In this case, the upper and lower edges of the reflecting member 13 are shifted upward with respect to the upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and left from the illuminating means 12. What is necessary is just to make it make the illumination light for eyes and the illumination light for right eyes enter into the screen area | region 1a of the said liquid crystal display panel 1. FIG.

(Second Embodiment)
7 to 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 9 is a stereoscopic image of the liquid crystal display device. It is a top view which shows the observation direction.

  The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is similar to the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment described above on either the incident surface facing the illumination means 12 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 or the exit surface on the opposite side. A condensing means 16 is provided, which condenses the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light from the illumination means 12 to the left eye and right eye of the display observer A, respectively. Is the same as in the first embodiment.

  The condensing means 16 is a condensing lens made of, for example, a circular Fresnel lens. In this embodiment, the condensing means 16 is disposed on the incident surface side facing the illumination means 12 of the liquid crystal display panel 1. .

  In this liquid crystal display device, the condensing means 16 is disposed on the incident surface side facing the illuminating means 12 of the liquid crystal display panel 1, so that the left eye illumination light and the right eye illumination from the illuminating means 12 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 9, the light is condensed on the left eye and the right eye of the display observer A, respectively, and the brightness of the stereoscopic image observed from a plurality of directions in the left and right directions of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is increased. can do.

(Third embodiment)
10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG.

  The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment includes a first illuminating means 12a arranged outside one surface of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 1 shown in FIG. Second illumination means 12b arranged in the direction of the above, and these illumination means 12a and 12b are respectively arranged so that the emission directions of the left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light are above the other illumination means 12b and 12a. And the liquid crystal display panel 1 corresponds to the area where the light emitted from the first and second illumination means 12a and 12b intersects the screen area 1a (see FIG. 1). Are arranged.

  Both the first and second illumination means 12a and 12b have the same basic configuration as that of the illumination means 12 of the first embodiment, and the plurality of light sources 14 are inclined in the vertical direction. The left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light that are emitted from the light source 14 and reflected by the reflection surface 13a of the reflection member 13 are directed upward or downward, for example, upward of the other illumination means 12b, 12a. Therefore, overlapping description is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light from the illumination means 12a and 12b arranged on the one surface and the other surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1, respectively, are provided. Refracting means 17a and 17b are arranged so that the liquid crystal display panel 1 is incident on the liquid crystal display panel 1 by being refracted in a direction in which the angle with respect to a horizontal plane including the normal line of the screen is reduced.

  The refracting means 17a and 17b are, for example, prism sheets in which a plurality of elongated prisms extending in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 are formed in parallel to each other.

  The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment includes a first illumination unit 12a facing one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and a second illumination unit 12b facing the other surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The emission directions of the left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light from the illumination means 12a, 12b are directed toward either the upper or lower side of the other illumination means 12b, 12, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 is Since the screen area 1a is arranged so as to correspond to the area where the light emitted from the first and second illumination means intersects, the liquid crystal display panel 1 has one surface side and the other surface side. A stereoscopic image can be displayed, and both of the stereoscopic images can be observed from a plurality of directions in the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  Note that one of the stereoscopic images displayed on the one surface side and the other surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is an image in which left and right are reversed.

  In this embodiment, since the refraction means 17a and 17b are arranged on one surface and the other surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1, respectively, the first surface disposed on one surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is used. Left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light from one illumination means 12a, and left-eye illumination light and right-eye from the second illumination means 12b disposed on the other surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The illumination light is refracted in a direction in which an angle with respect to a horizontal plane including the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is reduced and is incident on the liquid crystal display panel 1. A stereoscopic image in a plurality of directions can be observed with sufficient luminance from a height close to the height of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

(Fourth embodiment)
12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG.

  In the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, a light condensing means (for example, the liquid crystal display panel 1 shown in FIG. A condensing lens (circular Fresnel lens) 16 and a plurality of directions radially extending toward the liquid crystal display panel 1 from a position corresponding to a central portion of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the horizontal direction. The first and second lights are selectively emitted toward the liquid crystal display panel 1 in each of the plurality of directions and having a predetermined divergence angle and the centers of the respective lights being shifted from each other to the left and right. The illumination means 18 consisting of a plurality of light sources 14 is arranged.

  The plurality of light sources 14 of the illuminating means 18 are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and the first and second solid state light emitting elements 15a and 15b having LEDs of three colors of red, green and blue are provided. The solid-state light emitting elements 15a and 15b are composed of light emitters juxtaposed with the center lines of the emitted light parallel to each other.

  The plurality of light sources 14 are arranged at predetermined intervals along an arc centered at a position corresponding to a central portion in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the vicinity of the focal point of the condenser lens. And the center directions between the first and second light center lines from the respective light sources 14 are respectively arranged in a plurality of directions of the visual field in the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. .

  The illumination means 18 emits first and second light from the plurality of light sources 14 directly toward the liquid crystal display panel 1, and each of the plurality of directions has the direction relative to the direction. Left-eye illumination light (light indicated by an arrow in FIG. 12) in which the peak of the emitted light intensity exists in the direction inclined to the left when viewed from the liquid crystal display panel 1 side, and the intensity of the emitted light in the direction inclined to the right Right-eye illumination light (light indicated by a broken line in FIG. 12) having a peak is selectively emitted.

  That is, the illuminating means 18 has a plurality of directions that radiate in the left-right direction toward the liquid crystal display panel 1 from a position near the focal point of the condenser lens at the center in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. A plurality of light sources 14 that selectively emit first and second light having a predetermined spread angle and the center of each light being separated by a predetermined distance from side to side are arranged. Therefore, the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light can be emitted in a plurality of directions within the display field of view in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1, respectively.

  In addition, the illuminating means 18 arranges the plurality of light sources 14 at predetermined intervals along an arc centered at a position corresponding to the central portion in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Therefore, the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light having substantially the same intensity can be emitted in the plurality of directions.

  The illumination means 18 of this embodiment includes a plurality of light sources 14 that are sequentially shifted by a certain angle, for example, 25 °, in the left-right direction as viewed from the center of the arc and the center of curvature of the arc. Therefore, the illuminating means 18 is arranged in a direction toward the central portion of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the left-right direction and in the left-right direction when viewed from the liquid crystal display panel 1 side. The left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light are respectively emitted in a total of seven directions that are sequentially shifted by 25 °.

  The illuminating unit 18 opposes the plurality of light sources 14 to an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and outputs left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light from these light sources 14. The center line is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the horizontal plane including the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  In this embodiment, the left side from the illuminating means 18 is placed on one of the incident surface facing the illuminating means 18 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the exit surface opposite thereto, for example, on the incident surface side. Condensing means 16 for condensing the eye illumination light and the right eye illumination light to the left eye and right eye of the display observer A is disposed.

  In the liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is arranged on one outer side of the liquid crystal display panel 1 for each of a plurality of directions of a visual field of display in the left and right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The left-eye illumination light in which the peak of the emitted light intensity exists in the direction tilted to the left as viewed from the side and the right-eye illumination light in which the peak of the output light intensity exists in the direction tilted to the right are selectively Since the illumination means 18 that emits light toward the liquid crystal display panel is arranged, a stereoscopic image with a high resolution can be displayed as in the first to third liquid crystal display devices described above, and the manufacturing is easy. In addition, a stereoscopic image can be observed from a plurality of directions in the horizontal direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel.

  Further, in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, the illuminating means 12 is arranged outside the one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1 so as to face the screen region 1a of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Left-eye illumination light and right-eye illumination light are incident on the liquid crystal display panel 1 from the one surface in the plurality of directions, respectively, and stereoscopic images are respectively displayed from the plurality of directions on the other surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Can be observed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the illuminating means 18 causes the plurality of light sources 14 to face the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the left-eye illumination light from these light sources 14 and the right Since the center line of the ophthalmic illumination light is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the horizontal plane including the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1, a stereoscopic image in the plurality of directions is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1. It can be observed with sufficient brightness from the same height as the screen.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the condensing means 16 is disposed on the incident surface side facing the illumination means 12 of the liquid crystal display panel 1, the left-eye illumination light from the illumination means 12 and the right-eye illumination light are supplied. The illumination light is condensed on the left eye and the right eye of the display observer A as shown in FIG. 12, and the brightness of the stereoscopic image observed from a plurality of directions in the left and right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is further increased. Can be high.

  In this embodiment, the illuminating means 18 is substantially arranged in a horizontal plane that includes the center lines of the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light from the plurality of light sources 14 including the normal line of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The illumination means 18 is arranged so that the center lines of the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light from the plurality of light sources 14 are in one of the upper and lower directions with respect to the horizontal plane. For example, the three-dimensional images in the plurality of directions may be arranged at a height close to the height of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 1. It can be observed with sufficient brightness.

(Other embodiments)
In the first to third embodiments described above, the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 of the illuminating means 12, 12a, 12b is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, but the reflecting surface 13a of the reflecting member 13 is semi-cylindrical. A plurality of light sources 14 are formed on either the upper side or the lower side of the space between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the reflective member 13 from the center of the semi-polygonal cylinder. You may arrange | position toward each of the several direction which spreads radially toward each surface of a polygonal cylindrical reflective surface, respectively.

  In the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment, the illumination means 18 is disposed outside the one surface of the liquid crystal display panel so as to face the screen area of the liquid crystal display panel. The means 18 is arranged on the outside of one surface of the liquid crystal display panel and the outside of the other surface, respectively, and the emission directions of the left-eye illumination light and the right-eye illumination light of one illumination device are changed to those of the other illumination device. The liquid crystal display panel 1 is arranged so as to face either the upper side or the lower side, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 is arranged so that the screen area thereof corresponds to the area where the light emitted from both illumination means intersects. A stereoscopic image may be observed from a plurality of directions on one surface side of the liquid crystal display and a plurality of directions on the other surface side of the liquid crystal display panel.

  Furthermore, the liquid crystal display device of the above embodiment displays a stereoscopic color image by field sequential display using the liquid crystal display panel 1 that does not include a color filter. However, the present invention provides a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of pixels, respectively. Can be applied to a liquid crystal display device that displays a three-dimensional color image using a liquid crystal display panel having color filters of three colors such as red, green, and blue. In that case, red, green, blue The left-eye image data and the right-eye image data having the color information of the three colors are sequentially written to the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal display panel, and the visual field of display in the left-right direction of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel from the illumination means In each of a plurality of directions, white left-eye illumination light is emitted in synchronization with writing of the left-eye image data, and white light is output in synchronization with writing of the right-eye image data. The eye illuminating light may be caused to exit.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 is not limited to a bent alignment type liquid crystal display panel or a homogeneous alignment type liquid crystal display panel, and may be a ferroelectric liquid crystal display panel, a TN (twisted nematic) type liquid crystal display panel, or the like.

1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view of the liquid crystal display device of a 1st Example. Sectional drawing which follows the III-III line | wire of FIG. The enlarged plan view of a part of the illumination means of the first embodiment FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display panel. The top view which shows the stereo image observation direction of the liquid crystal display device of a 1st Example. The perspective view of the liquid crystal display device which shows 2nd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display device of a 2nd Example. The top view which shows the stereo image observation direction of the liquid crystal display device of a 2nd Example. The top view of the liquid crystal display device which shows the 3rd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI line of FIG. The top view of the liquid crystal display device which shows the 4th Example of this invention. The expanded sectional view which follows the XIII-XIII line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal display panel, 1a ... Screen area | region, 12, 12a, 12b, 18 ... Illuminating means, 13 ... Reflecting member, 13a ... Reflecting surface, 14 ... Light source, 15a, 15b ... Solid light emitting element, 16 ... Condensing means, 17a, 17b ... refraction means, 20 ... control means.

Claims (8)

A liquid crystal display device that allows the user to visually recognize a predetermined image in a three-dimensional manner by illuminating light radiated toward the user's left eye and light radiated toward the user's right eye in a time-sharing manner. There,
A reflecting member in which a predetermined region is formed in a shape in which the cylinder is partially cut and removed along the central axis of the cylinder, and a concave surface side in the predetermined region is formed as a light reflecting surface;
A liquid crystal display panel in which pixels for controlling the amount of transmitted light are arranged;
The light reflected by the light reflecting surface passes through the liquid crystal display panel to the left eye of the user who observes the liquid crystal display panel from the first position with the liquid crystal display panel interposed between the reflective member and the reflective member. A first light emitting element that irradiates light toward the light reflecting surface,
The light reflected by the light reflecting surface passes through the liquid crystal display panel to the right eye of the user who observes the liquid crystal display panel from the first position with the liquid crystal display panel interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the reflective member. A second light emitting element that emits light toward the light reflecting surface,
Light reflected by the light reflecting surface on the left eye of a user who observes the liquid crystal display panel from a second position different from the first position with the liquid crystal display panel interposed between the light reflecting member and the reflecting member. A third light emitting element that irradiates light toward the light reflecting surface such that the light is directed through the liquid crystal display panel;
The light reflected by the light reflecting surface passes through the liquid crystal display panel to the right eye of the user who observes the liquid crystal display panel from the second position with the liquid crystal display panel interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the reflective member. A fourth light emitting element that irradiates light toward the light reflecting surface,
A liquid crystal display device comprising: The first light emitting element emits light so that the light is directed from the first position to the left eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel so that the angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel becomes a first angle. And
The second light emitting element emits light so that the light is directed from the first position to the right eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel so that the angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel is the first angle. Irradiated,
The third light emitting element emits light to the left eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel from the second position so that the angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel is a second angle different from the first angle. Irradiate light so that
The fourth light emitting element emits light so that the light is directed from the second position to the right eye of the user observing the liquid crystal display panel so that the angle with respect to the liquid crystal display panel is the second angle. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is irradiated. 3. A control means for displaying an image corresponding to the left eye and an image corresponding to the right eye on the liquid crystal display panel in synchronization with the lighting of the time-division light. A liquid crystal display device according to 1. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed in parallel to the cut surface of the cylinder. The first light emitting element, the second light emitting element, the third light emitting element, and the fourth light emitting element are arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder. 5. A liquid crystal display device according to any one of 4 above. The first light-emitting element, the second light-emitting element, the third light-emitting element, and the fourth light-emitting element are disposed so as to avoid a region where the liquid crystal display panel overlaps the reflective member. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: The first light-emitting element, the second light-emitting element, the third light-emitting element, and the fourth light-emitting element emit light toward the light reflecting surface with a predetermined spread angle. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is a liquid crystal display device. Light from the first light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface, light from the second light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface, and the third light emitting element reflected by the light reflecting surface The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, further comprising condensing means for individually condensing light from the fourth light emitting element reflected from the light reflecting surface and the light from the light reflecting surface.

Images