JP4999173B2 - Multiple view directional display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multiple view directional display that displays two or more images such that each image is visible from different directions. Therefore, two viewers viewing the display from different directions see different images. Such a display can be used, for example, as an autostereoscopic display device or a dual view display device. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a parallax barrier substrate and a multiple view directional display.

  Over the years, conventional display devices have been designed to be viewed simultaneously by multiple users. The display characteristics of display devices have made it possible for an observer to see as good image quality from different angles with respect to the display. This is useful in applications where many users need to see the same information on a display, for example, display of departure information at airports and railway stations. However, there are many applications where it is desirable for individual users to be able to see different information on the same display. For example, in a car, a driver may want to see satellite navigation data and a passenger may want to watch a movie. These conflicting requirements can be met by providing two separate display devices, which can take up extra space and increase costs. Furthermore, if two separate displays are used in this example, the driver can see the passenger's display by moving his head, which can cause distraction for the driver. As a further example, each player in a computer game for two or more players may wish to view the game from their own perspective. This is currently done by each player watching the game on a separate display screen and each player seeing their own field of view on the individual screens. However, providing each player with a separate display screen takes up a lot of space, is costly, and impractical in portable games.

  In order to solve these problems, multiple view displays have been developed. One of the uses of the multiple view display is as a “dual view display”. A dual view display can display two or more different images simultaneously, each image being visible only in a particular direction. Thus, an observer observing the display device from one direction will see one image, and an observer observing the display device from another different direction will see a different image. A display that can show different images to two or more users can save considerable space and cost compared to using two or more separate displays.

  Examples of possible uses for multiple view directional display devices are listed above, but there are many other uses. For example, it may be used on an airplane that provides a personal in-flight entertainment program for each passenger. Currently, for each passenger, a personal display device is typically provided on the back of the front row of seats. By using multiple view directional displays, each passenger can select the movie he wants to watch while still allowing more than two passengers to see on one display, thus reducing cost, space and weight. You can save a lot.

A further advantage of multiple view directional displays is that they can prevent users from seeing each other's views. This is desirable not only in the above computer game examples, but also in applications that require security, such as banking or sales transactions, such as the use of an automated teller machine (ATM).

  A further application of multiple view directional displays is the manufacture of 3D displays. In normal vision, the two human eyes are in different positions in the face, and thus recognize the surrounding scene from different viewpoints. These two viewpoints are then used by the brain to calculate the distance to various objects in the scene. In order to create a display that effectively displays a three-dimensional image, it is necessary to reproduce this situation and supply one “stereoscopic pair” of images, one for each eye of the observer.

  Three-dimensional displays are classified into two types, depending on the method used to provide different views to the eye. Stereoscopic displays typically display both images of a stereoscopic image pair over a wide viewing range. Each view is encoded, for example, by color, polarization state, or display time. The user needs to wear a spectacle filter system that separates the views so that each eye sees only the view directed to that eye.

  The autostereoscopic display displays the right eye view and the left eye view in different directions, and each view is visible only from the area of the defined space. The area of the space where the image is visible throughout the display active area is called the “observation window”. If the observer is positioned so that the observer's left eye is in the observation window for the left-eye view of the stereoscopic pair and the right eye is in the observation window for the right-eye image of the pair, the correct view is represented by each observer's eye. A 3D image is perceived. The autostereoscopic display does not require an auxiliary instrument for observation worn by the observer.

  Autostereoscopic displays are in principle similar to dual view displays. However, the two images displayed on the autostereoscopic display are the left eye image and the right eye image of the stereoscopic image pair and are not independent of each other. Further, the two images are displayed so that they are visible to one observer with one image visible to each of the observer's eyes.

  In flat panel displays, the formation of the viewing window is typically due to the combination of the pixel (or “pixel”) structure of the image display device of an autostereoscopic display and an optical element commonly referred to as parallax optics. To do. An example of parallax optics is a parallax barrier. A parallax barrier is often a screen having a transmissive region, which is in the form of a slit and separated by an opaque region. This screen can be placed in front of or behind a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a two-dimensional array of pixels to produce an autostereoscopic display.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional multiple view directional device, in this example, an autostereoscopic display. The directional display 1 includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) 4 and a parallax barrier 5 constituting an image display device. The SLM of FIG. 1 is in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having an active matrix thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 6, a counter substrate 7, and a liquid crystal layer 8 disposed between the substrate and the counter substrate. The SLM is provided with an addressing electrode (not shown) that defines a plurality of independently addressable pixels, and an alignment layer that aligns the liquid crystal layer. An observation angle enhancement film 9 and a linear polarizer 10 are provided on the outer surfaces of the substrates 6 and 7, respectively. The illumination 11 is supplied from a backlight (not shown).

The parallax barrier 5 includes a substrate 12 having a parallax barrier aperture array 13 formed on a surface adjacent to the SLM 4. The aperture array includes transparent apertures 15 extending vertically (ie, extending toward the plane of the paper of FIG. 1) separated by opaque portions 14. An anti-reflection (AR) coating 16 is formed on the opposite surface of the parallax barrier substrate 12 (which forms the output surface of the display 1).

  The pixels of the SLM 4 are arranged in rows and columns with the columns extending towards the plane of the paper in FIG. The row or horizontal pixel pitch (distance from the center of one pixel to the center of an adjacent pixel) is p. The width of the transmission slit 15 extending vertically in the aperture array 13 is 2w, and the horizontal pitch of the transmission slit 15 is b. The surface of the barrier aperture array 13 is separated from the surface of the liquid crystal layer 8 by a distance s.

When used, the display device 1 forms a left eye image and a right eye image, and has a head at a position such that the left eye and the right eye coincide with the left eye observation window 2 and the right eye observation window 3, respectively. Observing observers see 3D images. The left and right eye observation windows 2 and 3 are formed on the window surface 17 at a desired observation distance from the display. The window surface is separated from the surface of the aperture array 13 by a distance r _O. Windows 2 and 3 are continuous in the window plane and have a pitch e corresponding to the average spacing between the two human eyes. The half angle for the center of each window 2 and 3 from the vertical axis to the display normal is α _s .

  The pitch of the slits 15 in the parallax barrier 5 is selected to be close to an integer multiple of the pixel pitch of the SLM 4 and a group of pixel columns is associated with a particular slit in the parallax barrier. FIG. 1 shows a display device in which two pixel columns of the SLM 4 are associated with each of the transmission slits 15 of the parallax barrier.

  FIG. 2 shows the angular zone of light generated from the SLM 4 and the parallax barrier 5 when the parallax barrier has a pitch that is exactly an integer multiple of the pixel column pitch. In this case, the angular zones coming from different positions across the display panel surface are mixed and a view of image 1 or image 2 (where “image 1” and “image 2” represent the two images displayed by the SLM 4) There is no pure zone. In order to address this problem, it is preferred that the parallax barrier pitch is slightly reduced and slightly less than an integer multiple of the pixel column pitch. As a result, the angular zone converges to a predetermined plane (“window plane”) in front of the display. This effect is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 shows the image zone generated by the SLM 4 and the improved parallax barrier 5 '. The observation region generated in this way has a substantially bowl shape in the plan view.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of another conventional multiple view directional display device 1 ′. This generally corresponds to the display device 1 of FIG. 1 with the difference that the parallax barrier 5 is located behind the SLM 4 and is between the backlight and the SLM 4. This device may have advantages such as the parallax barrier being less visible to the viewer and the pixels of the display appear closer to the front of the device. Further, FIGS. 1 and 4 each show a transmissive display device illuminated by a backlight, but reflective devices that use ambient light (in the bright state) are also known. In the case of a transmissive device, the back parallax barrier of FIG. 4 does not absorb any ambient light. This is an advantage if the display has a 2D mode that uses reflected light.

  In the display devices of FIGS. 1 and 4, parallax barriers are used as parallax optics. Other types of parallax optics are also known. For example, a lenticular lens array can be used to orient alternating images in different directions to form a stereoscopic image pair or two or more images, each viewed in a different direction.

  Image division holographic methods are also known, but in practice these methods have drawbacks such as viewing angle problems, false shadow zones, and lack of easy image control.

  Another type of parallax optics is a micropolarizer display. The micropolarizer display uses a polarized directional light source and a patterned high precision micropolarizer element aligned with the SLM pixels. Such a display offers the possibility of high window image quality, small devices and the ability to switch between 2D and 3D display modes. The main requirement when using a micropolarizer display as parallax optics is that the parallax problem needs to be avoided when the micropolarizer element is incorporated into an SLM.

  When a color display is required, each pixel of the SLM 4 is generally provided with a filter associated with one of the three primary colors. Many visible colors can be generated by controlling a group of three pixels with different color filters. In autostereoscopic displays, each of the stereoscopic image channels needs to include sufficient color filters for balanced color output. Many SLMs have color filters arranged in vertical columns because they are easy to manufacture, and all the pixels in a column have the same color filters associated with them. If the parallax optic is placed on an SLM with three pixel columns associated with each slit or lenslet of the parallax optic, each viewing region sees only one color pixel. To avoid this situation, attention must be paid to the color filter layout. Some describe further details of a suitable color filter layout (Patent Document 1).

  The function of parallax optics in directional display devices as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is to limit the light transmitted through the pixels of the SLM 4 to a certain output angle. This limitation defines the angle of view of each pixel column behind an element with parallax optics (eg, a transmissive slit). The angular range of view for each pixel is the pixel pitch p, the spacing s between the pixel plane and the parallax optics plane, and the material between the pixel plane and the parallax optics plane (in the display of FIG. 1, the substrate It is defined by the refractive index n of 7). Some describe that the angle of the interval between images in an autostereoscopic display depends on the distance between the display pixel and the parallax barrier (Comparative Patent Document 1).

The half angle α in FIG. 1 or 4 is obtained as follows.
sin α = n · sin (arctan (p / 2s)) (1)
One problem with many existing multiple view directional displays is that the angular spacing between the two images is too small. In principle, the angle 2α between the viewing windows is increased by increasing the pixel pitch p, decreasing the spacing s between the parallax optic and the pixel, or increasing the refractive index n of the substrate. Can do.

(Certification of conventional technology)
Some describe a novel pixel structure for use with a standard parallax barrier that provides a larger angular spacing between the viewing windows of a multiple view display (US Pat. No. 6,057,049). However, it may be desirable to be able to use standard pixel structures in multiple view directional displays.

  Some have proposed increasing the angle of the spacing between the viewing windows of multiple view directional displays by increasing the effective pitch of the pixels (Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4).

  Proposed to increase the pixel pitch and increase the angular spacing between viewing windows of multiple view directional displays by rotating the pixel configuration so that the color sub-pixels run horizontally rather than vertically (Patent Document 5). This leads to an increase in the pixel width threshold, and the viewing angle increases almost three times. This has the disadvantage that the parallax barrier pitch must increase as the pixel pitch increases, increasing the visibility of the parallax barrier to the viewer. Manufacturing and driving such non-standard panels is not cost effective. Furthermore, there may be applications where the viewing angle needs to be increased to be greater than three times the standard configuration, in which case it is not sufficient to simply rotate the pixel. This is common for high resolution panels.

  However, in general, the pixel pitch is typically defined by the required resolution standard and therefore cannot be changed.

  It is not always practical or cost effective to significantly change the refractive index of a substrate usually made of glass.

  Other attempts to increase the angular spacing between the viewing windows of multiple view display devices have attempted to reduce the spacing between the parallax optics and the SLM pixel face. However, this has been difficult as will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the display device 1 of FIG. 1 having an LCD as the SLM 4.

  The LCD panel forming the SLM 4 is manufactured from two glass substrates. The substrate 6 has TFT switching elements that address the SLM pixels and is known as a “TFT substrate”. The TFT substrate generally has other layers, for example, to align the liquid crystal layer 8 and to allow electrical switching of the liquid crystal layer. On the other substrate 7 (corresponding to the counter substrate in FIG. 1), a color filter 18 is formed, for example, together with other layers that align the liquid crystal layer. Therefore, the counter substrate 7 is generally known as a “color filter substrate” or a CF substrate. The LCD panel is formed by positioning the color filter substrate on the opposite side of the TFT substrate and sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 8 between the two substrates. In conventional directional displays, the parallax optics has been bonded to the finished LCD panel as shown in FIG. The distance between the LCD pixel and the parallax optics is mainly defined by the thickness of the CF's CF substrate. By reducing the thickness of the CF substrate, the distance between the LCD pixel and the parallax optics is reduced, but the substrate is correspondingly weakened. The practical minimum for an LC substrate is about 0.5 mm, but if the parallax optic is glued to this thickness of the substrate, the spacing between the pixel and the parallax optic is still too large for many applications .

  There has been disclosed a method of reducing an observation distance by increasing an angular interval between observation windows of a multiple view directional display device (Patent Document 6). This patent proposes to reduce the thickness between the LC and the barrier. This is done by constructing a stereoscopic LCD panel with the following sequence of components: LCD panel, parallax barrier, and polarizer. Until now, the order was LCD panel, polarizer, parallax barrier as shown in FIG. This reduces the spacing between the parallax barrier and the pixel plane by the thickness of the polarizer, but this is a limited increase in the angular spacing between the viewing windows of multiple view directional display devices. There is nothing to do.

  Some disclose a spatial light modulator in which a microlens array is disposed near a liquid crystal layer to prevent the occurrence of secondary imaging at a high incident angle (Patent Document 7).

Some have disclosed a spatial light modulator in which elements such as a polarizer and a half-wave plate 32 are disposed between two substrates of the spatial light modulator (Patent Document 8). This avoids the need to use a highly isotropic substrate, and a cheaper and lighter plastic substrate can be used. When the polarizer is disposed outside the spatial light modulator, the substrate of the spatial light modulator needs to have high isotropy so that the polarization direction of light passing through the substrate does not change.

  There has been disclosed a directional display having a liquid crystal panel and a parallax barrier (Patent Document 9). The parallax barrier is not disposed in the liquid crystal panel, and the parallax barrier is outside the liquid crystal panel and is separated from the liquid crystal layer by the diffuser and the substrate of the liquid crystal panel.

Some have disclosed a lenticular lens film used with X-rays (Patent Document 10). Mercury, lead, or tungsten powder or other flowable X-ray absorbing material is introduced into the recess of the X-ray transmissive material.
European Patent Application Publication No. 0 752 610 UK Patent Application No. 0315171.9 UK Patent Application No. 0306516.6 British Patent Application No. 0315170.1 JP-A-7-28015 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-50019 German Patent Application No. 2 278 222 German Patent Application Publication No. 2 296 099 US Pat. No. 5,831,765 U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,471 H Yamamoto et al., “Optimum parameters and viewing areas of stereoscopic full-color LED displays using parallel barrier” (IEICE Trans.

  Conventionally, in order to view a three-dimensional image, an observer needs to bring his head to a position where the left eye and the right eye coincide with the left eye observation window and the right eye observation window, respectively.

  It is a first object of the present invention to provide a multiple view directional display that displays two or more images such that each image is visible from different directions.

  Yet another object is to provide a multiple view directional display that can be used with light in the visible region of the spectrum to display an image that is within the visible region of the spectrum and is directly visible to the viewer.

(Summary of the Invention)
The present invention is a multiple view directional display having an image display element and a parallax optic, the image display element comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; and the first substrate and the second substrate. The parallax optics provides a multiple view directional display including the image display layer sandwiched between the image display elements.

  Putting the parallax optics within the image display element brings the parallax optics closer to the image display layer, reduces the spacing s in equation (1), and increases the angular spacing between the two viewing windows generated by the display device. . There is no need to reduce the thickness of one of the substrates of the image display element, and the structural strength of the image display element is not affected.

  The display of the present invention is intended to be used with light in the visible region of the spectrum to display an image that is within the visible region of the spectrum and is directly visible to the viewer.

  The parallax optics may be disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. This is a conventional manner of positioning the parallax optics close to the image display layer.

  Alternatively, the parallax optics may be disposed within one of the first substrate or the second substrate. This allows the parallax optics to be positioned closer to the image display layer without reducing the thickness of the substrate of the image display element.

  Alternatively, the parallax optics may be disposed within the thickness of the first substrate.

  The parallax optic may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element is disposed in a respective recess of the main surface of the first substrate.

  The first substrate may include a base substrate and a light transmissive layer disposed on the base substrate, and the parallax optics may be disposed between the light transmissive layer and the base substrate.

  The first substrate may include a base substrate, a light transmission layer disposed on a main surface of the base substrate, and a plurality of recesses defined in the light transmission layer, and the parallax optics may include a plurality of parallax optics A parallax element may be included, and each parallax element is disposed in a respective recess of the light transmission layer.

  Each parallax element may be disposed on the bottom surface of the respective recess.

  The cross section of the recess is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element can substantially fill a respective recess.

  A color filter array or an array of switching elements may be disposed on the main surface of the first substrate.

  It may further include a light transmission layer disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array or the array of switching elements.

  It may further include other parallax optics disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array or the array of switching elements.

  A color filter array or an array of switching elements may be disposed on the second major surface of the first substrate.

  A light transmission layer may be disposed between the parallax optics and the image display layer.

The parallax optics and one of a color filter array and an array of switching elements may be disposed on a base substrate, the base substrate being included in the first or second substrate.

  The parallax optics may be disposed on the first main surface of the base substrate, and the color filter array or the array of switching elements is disposed on the parallax optics.

  The color filter array or the array of switching elements may be disposed on the first main surface of the base substrate, and the parallax optics may be disposed on the color filter array or the array of switching elements.

  The light transmission layer may be disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array or the array of switching elements.

  It may further include other parallax optics disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array or the array of switching elements.

  The parallax optic may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element is disposed in a recess of a main surface of the first or second substrate.

  A second light transmission layer may be disposed on the main surface of the base substrate, the second light transmission layer is between the base substrate and the first light transmission layer, and a plurality of recesses are provided. The parallax optics may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element is disposed in a respective recess of the second light transmissive layer.

  One of a color filter array and an array of switching elements may be disposed on the first major surface of the base substrate, and the parallax optics may be on or on the second major surface of the base substrate. The base substrate is included in the first or second substrate.

  The parallax optics may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element is disposed in a recess of the second main surface of the base substrate.

  Each parallax element may be disposed on the bottom surface of the respective recess.

  The cross section of the recess is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element can substantially fill a respective recess.

  The light transmission layer may be a transparent resin layer, a laminated plastic layer, or a glass layer.

  The parallax optics may be a parallax barrier or a lenticular lens array.

  The parallax optics may be disableable and addressable.

  The second aspect of the present invention may include the multiple view directional display described above.

  A third aspect of the present invention is an autostereoscopic display device including the multiple view directional display described above.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a parallax optic that includes a light transmissive substrate and a plurality of parallax elements, wherein each parallax element is disposed in a respective recess of the surface of the substrate. .

  The parallax optics of the present invention are intended to be used with light in the visible region of the spectrum.

  The cross section of the recess is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element can substantially fill a respective recess.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is (a) a step of reducing the thickness of the first substrate of the image display element, the image display element including the first substrate, the second substrate, and the first substrate. A step including an image display layer disposed between one substrate and the second substrate, and (b) a state in which parallax optics is disposed between the third substrate and the first substrate. And a method of manufacturing a display device.

  The third substrate can be bonded to the first substrate, or alternatively, one or more additional components can be sandwiched between the first substrate and the third substrate.

  The parallax optics may be defined on or on the first main surface of the third substrate, and the step (b) includes displaying the first main surface of the third substrate on the image display. Adhering to the first substrate of the device may be included.

  In accordance with the present invention, a multiple view directional display having an image display element and parallax optics (13, 13 ′, 35, 35 ′, 35 ″, 35 ′ ″, 42, 46, 67, 79, 84), The image display element includes a first substrate (7, 25, 25 ′, 29, 31, 31 ′, 34, 34 ′, 34 ″, 34 ″ ′, 36, 39, 39 ′, 44, 49). 49 ′, 68, 71, 80) and a second substrate (6), and the image display layer (8) sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the parallax A multiple view directional display is provided in which the optics are disposed within the image display element, thereby achieving the above objective.

  The parallax optics may be disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

  The parallax optics (13, 35, 35 ′, 35 ″, 35 ′ ″, 42, 46, 67, 79, 84) are within one of the first substrate or the second substrate. Can be placed.

  The parallax optics may be disposed within the thickness of the first substrate.

  The parallax optic may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element may be disposed in a recess (26) of a main surface of the first substrate (25, 25 ', 31).

  The first substrate includes a base substrate (19) and a light transmission layer (20) disposed on the base substrate, and the parallax optics includes the light transmission layer (20) and the base substrate (19). Between the two.

The first substrate includes a base substrate (19), a light transmission layer (20) disposed on the main surface of the base substrate, and a plurality of recesses (26) defined in the light transmission layer (20). ) And
The parallax optics (13) may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element may be disposed in a respective recess (26) of the light transmission layer (20).

  Each parallax element may be disposed on the bottom surface of the respective recess (26).

  The cross section of the recess (26) is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element may substantially fill a respective recess (26).

  A color filter array (18) or an array of switching elements may be disposed on the main surface of the first substrate.

  It may further include a light transmissive layer (20) disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array (18) or the array of switching elements.

  It may further include other parallax optics (13 ') disposed between the parallax optics (13) and the color filter array (18) or an array of switching elements.

  A color filter array (18) or an array of switching elements may be disposed on the second major surface of the first substrate.

  The light transmissive layer (20) may be disposed between the parallax optics (13, 13 ′, 35, 35 ′, 35 ″, 35 ′ ″, 42, 46) and the image display layer (8). .

  The parallax optics and one of the color filter array (18) and the array of switching elements are disposed on a base substrate (19), the base substrate being included in the first or second substrate. Can be.

  The parallax optics (13, 35, 35 ′, 35 ″, 35 ′ ″, 42) are arranged on the first main surface of the base substrate, and the color filter array (18) or switching element An array may be placed on the parallax optics.

  The color filter array (18) or the array of switching elements is disposed on the first main surface of the base substrate, and the parallax optics (13) is disposed on the color filter array or the array of switching elements. Can be placed.

  The light transmission layer (20) may be disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter array (18) or an array of switching elements.

  It may further include other parallax optics (13 ') disposed between the parallax optics (13) and the color filter array (18) or an array of switching elements.

  The parallax optic may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element may be disposed in a recess (26) of a main surface of the first or second substrate.

A second light transmission layer (32) is disposed on the main surface of the base substrate (19), and the second light transmission layer (32) includes the base substrate (19) and the first substrate. A plurality of recesses (26) are defined in the second light transmission layer (32), and the parallax optics includes a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element includes the parallax elements It can be arranged in each recess of the second light transmission layer (32).

  One of the color filter array (18) and the array of switching elements is disposed on the first main surface of the base substrate (19), and the parallax optics includes the second main surface of the base substrate. The base substrate (19) may be included in the first or second substrate (25 ′, 6).

  The parallax optic may include a plurality of parallax elements, and each parallax element may be disposed in a respective recess (26) of the second main surface of the base substrate.

  Each parallax element may be disposed on the bottom surface of the respective recess (26).

  The cross section of the recess (26) is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element can substantially fill a respective recess.

  The light transmission layer (20) may be a transparent resin layer.

  The light transmission layer (20) may be a laminated plastic layer.

  The light transmission layer (20) may be a glass layer.

  The parallax optic may be a parallax barrier (13, 13 ').

  The parallax optics may be a lenticular lens array (35, 35 ', 35 ", 35"').

  The parallax optics may be disableable.

  The parallax optics may be addressable.

  The present invention provides a dual view display device that can include the multiple view directional display, thereby achieving the above objects.

  The present invention provides an autostereoscopic display device that can include the multiple view directional display, thereby achieving the object.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a parallax optic including a light-transmitting substrate and a plurality of parallax elements, each parallax element being disposed in a respective concave portion of the surface of the substrate, thereby providing the above-described object. Is achieved.

  The cross section of the recess is parallel to the surface of the substrate and can be reduced with depth.

  Each parallax element can substantially fill a respective recess.

According to the present invention, (a) reducing the thickness of the first substrate (60) of the image display element, the image display element comprising the first substrate (60), the second substrate (61), And including an image display layer (8) disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and (b) a third substrate (62) on the first substrate. There is provided a method of manufacturing a display device comprising the step of adhering with the parallax optics (13) disposed therebetween, whereby the above object is achieved.

  The parallax optics (13) is defined on or on the first main surface of the third substrate (62), and the step (b) The method may include the step of adhering the main surface to the first substrate of the image display element.

  The present invention can provide a multiple view directional display that displays two or more images such that each image is visible from different directions.

  The display of the present invention can be used with light in the visible region of the spectrum to display an image that is within the visible region of the spectrum and is directly visible to the viewer.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below by describing exemplary examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same members.

(Detailed description of preferred embodiments)
FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view of a multiple view directional display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The display device 58 includes a first transparent substrate 6 and a second transparent substrate 7 together with an image display layer 8 disposed between the first substrate 6 and the second substrate 7. An array of color filters 18 is provided on the second substrate 7, and the second substrate is called a color filter substrate.

  The first substrate 6 is provided with a pixel electrode (not shown) for defining an array of pixels in the image display layer 8, and a switching element for selectively addressing the pixel electrode such as a thin film transistor (TFT). (Not shown) is provided. The substrate 6 is called a “TFT substrate”.

  The image display layer 8 is the liquid crystal layer 8 in this embodiment. The present invention is not limited to this, and any transmissive image display layer can be used. Furthermore, when the display is used in “front barrier mode” with the parallax optics disposed between the image display layer and the viewer, the display layer is alternatively a plasma display or an organic light emitting device (OLED) layer. It may be a radiation display layer.

  The display 58 is assembled such that the color filters 18 are substantially opposite to the pixels of the image display layer 8, respectively. Other components, such as an alignment layer, may be disposed on the surfaces of the substrates 6 and 7 adjacent to the image display layer, and a counter electrode (s) may be disposed on the CF substrate 7. These components are conventional and will not be further described.

  Further, the display 58 may include additional components such as a polarizer, an observation angle enhancement film, and an antireflection film that are disposed outside the image display element. These components are also conventional and will not be further described.

  The color filter substrate 7 is shown in more detail in FIG. The color filter substrate 7 includes a base substrate 19 manufactured from a light transmitting material such as glass. The parallax barrier aperture array 13 is disposed on one of the main surfaces of the base substrate 19. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 (a), the parallax barrier aperture array 13 is formed by placing opaque strips 14 on the surface of the base substrate and defining transmissive slits 15 between the opaque strips.

  The color filter substrate includes a spacer layer 20. In this embodiment, the spacer layer 20 is made of a light transmitting resin and is provided on the parallax barrier aperture array 13. Accordingly, the parallax barrier aperture array is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 7. Finally, the color filter 18 is disposed on the upper surface of the spacer layer 20.

  In this embodiment, the parallax barrier aperture array 13 is separated from the pixels of the liquid crystal layer 8 by the thickness of the resin spacer layer 20. The resin layer 20 can be made very thin, and the interval s in the formula (1) is reduced, which leads to an increase in the angular interval of the observation window. Although the resin layer 20 is shown as a single layer, in practice, it may be necessary to deposit two or more separate resin layers to obtain a spacer layer having the desired thickness. For example, layer 20 can have a thickness of 50 microns and can include polyethylene perephthalate.

  FIG. 6 (d) is a schematic plan view of a display 21 according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (c) shows the counter substrate of this display. Only the differences between this embodiment and the previous embodiment will be described.

  In this embodiment, the parallax barrier aperture array 13 and the color filter 18 are both disposed on the first main surface of the base substrate 19 of the color filter substrate 7 '. The spacer layer 20 of the color filter substrate is again made of resin, but is disposed on the parallax barrier aperture array 13 and the color filter array. Accordingly, the parallax barrier aperture array is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 7 '. Also here, the parallax barrier aperture array 13 is separated from the pixels of the liquid crystal layer 8 by the thickness of the resin layer 20, and this can be reduced. By providing the parallax barrier and the color filter in the same plane, the manufacture of the display is simplified.

  The resin layer 20 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6D can be easily manufactured with a uniform thickness. The layer can be deposited, for example, by spin coating or printing.

  FIG. 7B is a plan view of the display 22 according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7A shows a color filter substrate of the display 22. Only the differences between this embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the parallax barrier aperture array 13 is deposited on the main surface of the base substrate 19. The color filter substrate 7 further includes a spacer layer 20 positioned on the parallax barrier aperture array 13 and a color filter array disposed on the spacer layer 20. Accordingly, the parallax barrier aperture array is disposed within the thickness of the color filter substrate 7. In this embodiment, the spacer layer 20 is not a resin spacer layer but a glass spacer layer. The glass spacer layer can be glued to the parallax barrier and etched in situ to the desired thickness.
By using the glass layer 20, further processing steps are simplified. For example, when the transmission layer is a glass layer, manufacturing the color filter 18 on the transmission layer 20 is very similar to manufacturing the color filter on a normal glass substrate.

  FIG. 8 (b) is a schematic plan view of a display 23 according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 (a) shows a CF substrate of this display. The display 23 of this embodiment generally corresponds to the display of FIG. 6 (b), and only the differences between the two embodiments will be described. In the display 23, the spacer layer 20 between the parallax barrier aperture array and the array of color filters 18 is a layer of plastic material. The layer of plastic material is adhered to the parallax barrier aperture array 13 by a suitable method such as lamination or gluing. Alternatively, the plastic material 20 can be printed on the parallax barrier aperture array.

  Using the laminated plastic layer as the transmission layer 20 may be cheaper than using a spin coating technique for the light transmission layer of resin. There may be less material wasted than if a resin was used, and the lamination process could be faster.

  FIG. 9 (b) is a schematic plan view of a multiple view directional display 24 according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 (a) shows a CF substrate 25 of this display. The display 24 also includes a TFT substrate 6, a color filter substrate 25, and a liquid crystal layer or other image display layer 8 disposed between the TFT substrate 6 and the color filter substrate 25.

  FIG. 9A shows the color filter substrate 25 of the display. As can be seen, a plurality of recesses 26 are formed on the first main surface of the base substrate 19. The base substrate 19 is formed from any suitable light transmissive material such as, for example, glass, plastic, or glass reinforced plastic. The recess 26 is formed by any suitable process such as, for example, an etching or cutting process. The recess 26 preferably extends in the form of a slot that extends over the entire vertical height of the base substrate 19, that is, toward the paper surface of FIG. The recesses 26 preferably have substantially the same depth and width as each other.

  The parallax barrier aperture array is defined in the base substrate 19 by depositing an opaque material in each recess 26 so that the opaque material covers at least the bottom surface of the recess. Thereby, the opaque material defines the opaque strips 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array and the light transmissive areas are defined between the opaque strips 14. The opaque strip 14 and the parallax barrier aperture array are disposed within the thickness of the substrate 25.

  The opaque material that forms the opaque region of the parallax barrier aperture array can be any suitable opaque material and can be deposited by any suitable method. For example, an opaque resin may be deposited in the recess 26 using a spin process.

  After the opaque material is deposited, the recess is filled with a light transmissive material to planarize the surface of the base substrate 19. For example, a light-transmitting resin can be deposited in the recess 26 using a spin process.

  After the surface of the base substrate 19 is flattened, an array of color filters 18 can be deposited on the base substrate 19 to complete the color filter 25.

  In this embodiment, the distance between the parallax barrier aperture array and the liquid crystal layer is substantially equal to the depth d of the recess 26. The depth d of the recess can be reduced to, for example, 50 microns, and the angular interval between the observation windows can be increased.

FIG. 10 (b) shows a display 27 according to a further embodiment of the invention. The display 27 also includes a TFT substrate 6, a color filter substrate 25 ′, and a liquid crystal layer (or other image display layer) 8 disposed between the TFT substrate 6 and the color filter substrate 25 ′. This embodiment generally corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), and only the differences between the two embodiments will be described.

  FIG. 10A is a schematic plan view of the color filter substrate 25 ′ of the display 27. In this embodiment, the color filter 18 is deposited on the first main surface of the base substrate 19. The recess 26 is defined on the second main surface of the base substrate 19 using, for example, an etching or cutting technique. Thereafter, opaque material is deposited in the recesses to form the opaque strip 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array. The opaque strip 14 and the parallax barrier aperture array are disposed within the thickness of the substrate 25. If desired, the recess may be filled with a light transmissive material to planarize the second major surface of the base substrate 19. As with the previous embodiment, any suitable material can be used as the opaque material and can be deposited by any suitable technique. In one of the preferred embodiments, the opaque material is deposited in the recess 26 using a spin technique.

  Compared to the conventional display shown in FIG. 5, the spacing between the parallax barrier and the liquid crystal layer is reduced by the depth of the recess, for example 50 microns, and the angular spacing between the viewing windows is increased. Since the thickness of the base substrate is reduced only where there is a recess, the strength of the structure of the base substrate is stronger than when the thickness of the entire substrate is reduced.

  FIG. 11 (b) is a schematic plan view of a multiple view directional display 28 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This display also includes a TFT substrate 6, a color filter substrate 29, and a liquid crystal layer 8 or other image display layer disposed between the TFT substrate 6 and the color filter substrate 29.

  The color filter substrate 29 is shown in FIG. As can be seen, the color filter substrate 29 is generally similar to the color filter substrate 7 of FIG. 6 (a), except that two parallax barriers 13 and 13 'are provided. The color filter substrate 29 includes a base substrate 19 made of any suitable light transmissive material such as glass. The first parallax barrier aperture array 13 is disposed on the first surface of the base substrate. The parallax barrier aperture array is formed, for example, by depositing a stripe 14 of opaque material to form the opaque portion 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array 13.

  A first light transmissive spacer layer 20 is then deposited on the surface of the substrate 19 where the parallax barrier aperture array is to be formed. The first spacer layer can be formed of, for example, a light transmissive resin, glass, or a transparent plastic material, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a), 7 (a), and 8 (a) described above.

  A second parallax barrier aperture array 13 ′ is disposed on the upper surface of the first spacer layer 20. This second parallax barrier aperture array may also be provided by depositing an opaque material on the spacer layer 20 to form the opaque portion 14 'of the second parallax barrier aperture array.

  The color filter substrate further includes a second spacer layer 20 ′ provided on the second parallax barrier aperture array. Both parallax barrier aperture arrays 13 and 13 ′ are disposed within the thickness of the substrate 29. The second spacer layer can also be any suitable light transmissive material such as a light transmissive resin, a glass layer, glass, or a light transmissive plastic material.

  The color filter 18 is deposited on the upper surface of the second spacer layer 20 '.

  The two parallax barriers 13 and 13 ′ are configured such that the transmission region of the second barrier 13 ′ is not disposed directly in front of the transmission region of the first parallax barrier 13. In the two parallax barriers, the transparent area of the second parallax barrier 13 ′ is aligned with the opaque area 14 of the first parallax barrier 13, and the opaque area 14 ′ of the second parallax barrier 13 ′ is the first parallax barrier 13. Configured to be aligned with the transparent area. As a result, light emitted by the backlight in a direction parallel to or close to the normal to the display surface of the display is blocked by either of the parallax barriers 13 and 13 '. The two parallax barriers are configured such that the transmission region in the first parallax barrier 13 is offset in the lateral direction with respect to the transmission region of the second parallax barrier 13 ′. The light that exits travels in the first and second ranges in a direction tilted with respect to the normal.

  Many backlights provide the highest intensity along the vertical axis, which is a disadvantage in multiple view directional displays because the viewing window is generally angularly offset from the vertical axis. is there. In a typical dual view display, the two viewing windows can be ± 40 degrees relative to the normal. By using two parallax barriers as in the display of FIG. 11 (b), a “black center window” can be provided. That is, it is a region around the vertical line with respect to the display surface of the display having low luminance.

  This embodiment is not limited to providing two parallax barriers on the color filter substrate. In principle, more than two parallax barrier aperture arrays can be provided on the substrate 19 with each pair of adjacent parallax barrier aperture arrays separated by a spacer layer.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 11 (a), the two spacer layers 20 and 20 'need not be formed from the same material. The two spacer layers may be made from different materials. Therefore, for example, the first spacer layer 20 may be a glass layer and the second spacer layer 20 ′ may be a light transmitting resin layer.

  In another embodiment (not shown), the color filter substrate includes two parallax barrier aperture arrays, one on each side of the base substrate 19. In this embodiment, a first parallax barrier aperture array can be formed on the first major surface of the base substrate 19 as in FIG. 6 (a), 7 (a) or 8 (a), and the filter 18 is It may be provided on the first parallax barrier aperture array, and a light transmissive spacer layer is inserted between the first parallax barrier aperture array and the color filter 18. A second parallax barrier aperture array may be formed on the second major surface of the base substrate 19, with a light transmission layer overlaid thereon, and both parallax barrier aperture arrays are disposed within the thickness of the color filter substrate. obtain.

  Figures 12 (a) and 12 (b) show a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 (b) is a schematic plan view of a multiple view directional display 30 according to this embodiment of the present invention. This display device also includes a TFT substrate 6, a color filter substrate 31, and a liquid crystal layer 8 or other image display layer disposed between the TFT substrate 6 and the color filter substrate 31.

  FIG. 12A is a schematic plan view of the color filter substrate 31 of this embodiment of the present invention. The color filter substrate 31 includes a base substrate 19 that can be manufactured from any suitable light transmissive material. A plurality of recesses 26 are defined in one surface of the substrate 19 by any suitable process, such as etching or cutting. When the substrate 31 is viewed from the front, the recess 26 looks like a parallel strip extending from the top of the base substrate 19 to the bottom.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, in this embodiment, the width of the recess parallel to the surface of the substrate 19 is reduced as it goes to the center of the substrate. In the embodiment of FIG. 12 (a), the recess 26 has a triangular cross section, but the recess is not limited to this particular cross section.

  The parallax barrier aperture array 13 is formed by depositing opaque (or reflective) material (or both) in the recesses 26 to form the opaque portion 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array. The opaque material preferably substantially fills the recess 26 so as to planarize the upper surface of the base substrate 19. In a preferred embodiment, the opaque material is an opaque resin that is deposited in the recesses 26 by a spin process. However, in principle, any opaque material can be used.

  The color filter substrate 31 further includes a light transmission spacer layer 20 deposited on the upper surface of the base substrate 19. The parallax barrier aperture array is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 31. As described above, the light transmissive spacer layer may be a light transmissive resin layer, a glass layer, a light transmissive plastic material, or the like. The spacer layer can be adhered to the substrate 19 in any manner.

  Finally, the color filter 18 is deposited on the upper surface of the spacer layer 20, and the color filter substrate 31 is formed.

  In this embodiment, the parallax barrier has a three-dimensional contour because the opaque elements 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array extend toward the substrate over a finite depth, eg, 50 microns. The parallax barrier operates in the same manner as a conventional parallax barrier, for example, the parallax barrier of FIG. However, due to the three-dimensional structure of the parallax barrier, the conventional parallax barrier of the type shown in FIG. The light to be blocked. This can be beneficial in preventing secondary windows.

  In the color filter of FIG. 12A, the depth of the recess may vary across the substrate 19 to change the depth of the opaque portion of the parallax barrier. Doing this can mean that the blocking angle at which light is blocked, relative to the normal to the surface of the substrate, can vary across the display device.

  FIG. 13 (a) shows a further color filter substrate 31 'of the present invention, and FIG. 13 (b) shows the color filter substrate of FIG. 13 (a) incorporated in a display 30'.

  These embodiments are generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), and only the differences will be described.

  In the color filter substrate 31 ′ of FIG. 13A, the recess 26 is not formed in the base substrate 19. Instead, the color filter substrate includes a light transmission spacer layer 32 formed on the base substrate 19, and the recess 26 is formed in the spacer layer 32. The spacer layer 32 can be any suitable material such as, for example, a light transmissive resin, glass, or light transmissive plastic material. The recess 26 may be formed in the spacer layer 32 by any suitable method such as cutting or etching.

As described with respect to FIG. 12 (a) above, opaque material is deposited in the recesses 26 of the spacer layer 32 to form the opaque portion 14 of the parallax barrier aperture array. Finally, the second spacer layer 20 is deposited on the first spacer layer 32, and the color filter 18 is formed on the upper surface of the second spacer layer 20. The parallax barrier aperture array is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 31 ′.

  In the above embodiment, the parallax optics is constituted by a parallax barrier aperture array. However, the present invention is not limited to this particular form of parallax optics, and can be used with other types of parallax optics.

  FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) show a further embodiment of the present invention in which the parallax optics is a lenticular lens array.

  FIG. 14 (b) is a schematic plan view of a multiple view display according to this embodiment of the present invention. The display 33 also includes a TFT substrate 6, a color filter substrate 34, and a liquid crystal layer 8 or other image display layer disposed between the color filter substrate 34 and the TFT substrate 6.

  FIG. 14A shows the color filter substrate 34 of the display device 33. The color filter substrate 34 includes a light transmissive base substrate 19 having a top surface that is contoured to form a lenticular lens array 35. The base substrate 19 can be formed in any suitable manner, for example, by molding a light transmissive plastic material using a suitable mold to provide a lenticular lens array 35 on one surface of the base substrate 19. . Alternatively, the lens array 35 can be formed by embossing a glass substrate.

  The color filter substrate further includes a spacer layer 20 deposited on the lenticular lens array 35. The spacer layer is preferably light transmissive and is formed from a resin or plastic material so that the lower surface of the spacer layer can follow the contour of the lenticular lens array 35. The color filter 18 is deposited on the top surface of the spacer layer 20, which is preferably flat. The lenticular lens array is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 31.

  In this embodiment, the distance between the parallax optics (lenticular lens array 35) and the liquid crystal layer 8 is equal to the thickness of the spacer layer 20. The thickness of the spacer layer 20 needs to be at least sufficient to flatten the lens. The spacer layer 20 can be thinned so that the angular spacing between the observation windows can be increased.

  Figures 14 (c) and 14 (d) show a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 (c) shows a further substrate 34a of the present invention. The substrate 34a includes a first light transmissive base substrate 19 having a surface contoured to form a first lenticular lens array 35. The substrate 34a further includes a second light transmissive base substrate 19a having a surface contoured to form a second lenticular lens array 35a. The light transmissive substrates 35 and 35a can be formed in any suitable manner, for example, using one of the methods described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14C, the light transmission substrate is assembled so that the surfaces on which the lenticular lens array is formed face each other. A transparent spacer layer 20 is disposed between the two lenticular lens arrays 35 and 35a, and the layer 20 can be, for example, a transparent resin layer or a layer of the transparent lens array of FIG. 14 (a). Both lenticular arrays are arranged within the thickness of the substrate 34a.

  The array of color filters 18 is disposed on the outer surface of the substrate 34a, which is preferably flat.

  FIG. 14D is a view showing a display 33a in which the substrate 34a, the image display layer 8 such as a liquid crystal layer, and the second substrate 6 shown in FIG. 14C are incorporated.

  Figures 15 (a) and 15 (b) show a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b), and only the differences will be described.

  14A and 14B, the lenticular lens array 35 is integral with the base substrate 19 and is obtained by appropriately creating the contour of the upper surface of the base substrate 19. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the lenticular lens array 35 ′ is not integral with the base substrate 19. Instead, the base substrate 19 has a substantially flat top surface, and the lenticular lens array 35 ′ is deposited on the top surface of the base substrate 19. This can be done using any suitable technique. For example, a layer of light transmissive resin or light transmissive plastic material can be deposited on the top surface of the base substrate 19, and this layer can be patterned to form a lenticular lens array 35 '.

  FIG. 15C shows a different CF substrate 34 ″ in that the substrate 34 ′ and the lenticular lens array 34 ″ in FIG. 15A are “double-sided”. That is, the lenticular lens of the array 35 ′ is plano-convex, but the lenticular lens of the array 35 ″ is biconvex. Such a configuration is more difficult to manufacture because it is necessary to form a recess in the substrate 19, but the optical performance is improved. For example, the display using the substrate 34 ″ in FIG. 15C has a smaller crosstalk region and more free movement of the observer.

  FIG. 15 (d) shows another modified CF substrate 34 ″ ″. The CF substrate 34 ′ ″ is separated from the substrate 34 ″ of FIG. 15C by the lenticular lenses of the array 34 ′ ″, and is separated by a black mask region 35 ′ ″. It is different. Indeed, any embodiment that uses a lens array as parallax optics may similarly have individual lenses or lens elements separated by a black mask region that does not transmit visible light.

  The number f of lenticular lens arrays needs to be very low, which makes it difficult to manufacture the arrays. By reducing the diameter of each lens in the array and keeping the pitch constant (by filling the gap between the lenses with a light absorbing material or a light reflecting material or both), the number f of lenses can be increased. . Such a configuration improves performance in terms of, for example, making the crosstalk region smaller and increasing the degree of freedom of the observer's position.

  Figures 16 (a) and 16 (b) show a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16B is a schematic plan view of the multiple view directional display 37 of this embodiment, and FIG. 16A is a schematic plan view of the color filter substrate 36. This embodiment is generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), and only the differences will be described here.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the positions of the parallax barrier aperture array 13 and the color filter 18 are switched compared to the positions in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). . That is, the color filter 18 is formed on the main surface of the light transmission base substrate 19. The spacer layer 20 is deposited on the color filter 18, and parallax optics are formed on the top surface of the spacer layer 20. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the parallax barrier aperture array 13 forms a parallax optic, but this embodiment is not limited to this particular type of parallax optic. The spacer layer 20 may be a light transmissive resin layer, a glass layer, a light transmissive layer of a plastic material, or the like.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the parallax barrier array 13 is disposed substantially adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 8. Thus, an angular interval between different observation windows can be obtained.

  17 (a) and 17 (b) show a display 38 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the parallax optics is constituted by a reactive mesogen parallax barrier. This embodiment generally corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), and only the differences will be described here.

  The RM parallax barrier in this embodiment is formed by a strip 40 of reactive mesogenic material disposed on the upper surface of the light transmissive base substrate 19 of the color filter substrate 39. A polarizer 41 is provided on the top surface of the base substrate 19 that includes a strip 40 of RM material. The strip of RM material 40 and the polarizer 41 form an RM parallax barrier 42. The operation of the RM parallax barrier is described in detail in EP A 0 829 744.

  The color filter substrate 39 further includes a spacer layer 20 disposed on the upper surface of the RM parallax barrier 42, and the parallax barrier 42 is disposed within the thickness of the substrate 39. The color filter 18 is disposed on the upper surface of the spacer layer 20. As in the previous embodiment, the spacer layer 20 can be, for example, a light transmissive resin layer, a glass layer, a light transmissive plastic layer, or the like. The base substrate 19 may be a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a glass reinforced plastic substrate, or the like.

  Also in the multiple view directional display 38 of this embodiment, the distance between the parallax barrier 42 and the liquid crystal layer 8 is substantially equal to the thickness of the spacer layer 20. The spacer layer can be thin so that a good angular spacing between the different viewing windows can be achieved.

  In this embodiment, the RM parallax barrier is an active parallax barrier, so that the strip of RM material 40 is in a transparent state so that the parallax barrier is disabled or “off” (not shown but appropriately With the additional advantage of being able to be switched. When the parallax barrier 42 is disabled, the display device functions as a conventional two-dimensional or single view display device. Thus, this embodiment can operate in either 2-D display mode or 3-D or multiple view display mode, and between adjacent observation windows when operating in 3-D or multiple view display mode. Provided is a display capable of improving the angular interval.

  FIG. 18 (b) shows a display 38 'according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color filter substrate 39' of this display. The display 38 ′ of this embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), but the spacer layer 20 is omitted and the color filter 18 is disposed directly on the upper surface of the polarizer 42. Is different. All the other features of FIG. 18B correspond to the features of the display 38 of FIG. 17B and will not be further described here.

  Figures 19 (a) and 19 (b) show a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an active parallax barrier 46 is provided on the color filter substrate 44 of the multiple view directional display 43. FIG. 19B is a schematic plan view of the display device 43, and FIG. 19A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color filter substrate 44.

The active parallax barrier 46 is formed by a plurality of regions 47 of a material whose optical characteristics can be switched, which are arranged on the surface of the base substrate 19. Region 47 may take the form of a strip extending toward the surface of the paper of FIG. In the active parallax barrier, the region 47 is disposed on the region 47, and may be a linear polarizer or a transparent spacer layer depending on the material used for the active strip 47. Formed in combination with the layer 45.

  In a preferred embodiment, region 47 is a region of liquid crystal material and layer 45 is a linear polarizer. As is well known, the liquid crystal material can be addressed to rotate or not rotate the polarization plane of the linearly polarized light passing therethrough. The region 47 of the liquid crystal material is preferably switchable between a state in which the polarization plane of the linearly polarized light is rotated by 90 ° and a state in which the polarization plane of the linearly polarized light is not rotated. Thus, is the region 47 of liquid crystal material, whether light passing through the region 47 is transmitted by the linear polarizer 45 (in this case, the region 47 defines a transmission region) or is blocked by the linear polarizer 45? (In this case, region 47 defines an opaque region).

  The display 43 needs to be illuminated from the color filter side by polarized light from a light source that emits polarized light or a polarizer placed in front of the light source. Alternatively, illumination may be performed from the TFT side. In this case, an additional polarizer (not shown) needs to be placed beyond the color filter substrate.

  When light that does not pass through the region 47 of switchable optical properties (ie, passes through the gap between adjacent active regions) passes through the polarizer 45, the light that passes through the region 47 is blocked by the polarizer. A parallax barrier is formed. In this case, a 3-D or multiple view display mode is obtained. When region 47 is switched so that light passing through region 47 is transmitted by polarizer 45, there is no barrier and a 2-D or single view display mode is obtained.

  In principle, it is also possible to align the transmission direction of the polarizer 45 and the polarization direction of the incident light so that light passing through the gap between the regions 47 of the liquid crystal material is blocked by the polarizer 45. In this case, the parallax barrier is formed when the region 47 rotates on the surface of the incident light so that the incident light can pass through the polarizer 45. However, when region 47 is switched so that light passing through strip 47 is blocked by polarizer 45, all light is blocked by the polarizer, thus producing a dark display.

  The region of the active material 47 is not limited to the liquid crystal material. In principle, any material that can be addressed to alter the optical properties can be used. For example, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material can be used as an active parallax barrier material. As is well known, PDLC includes droplets of liquid crystal material dispersed throughout a polymer matrix. The refractive index of the liquid crystal droplet can vary, and the PDLC transmits light when the refractive index of the liquid crystal droplet is the same as the refractive index of the polymer matrix. However, when the liquid crystal material is switched so that the refractive index is different from the refractive index of the polymer matrix, the light passing through the PDLC is scattered.

  Another suitable material for the active parallax barrier is a dichroic guest-host material.

This embodiment allows the parallax barrier to be switched on and off to select either 3-D (or multiple view) or 2-D display mode. Furthermore, the active parallax barrier 46 can be arranged so that the configuration of the transmissive and opaque regions can be changed. For example, the active parallax barrier 46 can be switched to move from one location to another location in the opaque region of the barrier. This allows the barrier to move across the area of the display device, thereby changing the position of the viewing window. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to control the position of the observation window by appropriately addressing the active parallax barrier 46. This embodiment is particularly useful when combined with an observer tracking device that tracks the viewers of the display, as the observation window can be controlled based on the position of the observer as determined by the observer tracking device. obtain.

  It should be noted that the polarizer 45 is included in the liquid crystal display element in this embodiment. Accordingly, the polarizer 45 needs to be capable of withstanding a severe manufacturing environment that occurs during the manufacture of the liquid crystal panel. Conventional polarizers used on the outside of a liquid crystal display cannot be used because they cannot always withstand the processing environment. This may have the disadvantage that it may be necessary to use a polarizer with a lower contrast ratio than conventional polarizers used outside the liquid crystal panel. In such a case, the polarizer 45 can be oriented and its low contrast ratio affects either the parallax barrier contrast ratio or the pixel contrast ratio of the liquid crystal layer 8.

  If layer 45 is a spacer layer, layer 45 may be processed to align with a liquid crystal material, eg, region 47, with a specific alignment direction and pretilt angle. For example, the spacer layer can be coated with a polyimide layer (not shown) in a conventional photo-alignment process, and is rubbed and / or exposed to ultraviolet light.

  In another embodiment, the color filter may be disposed on the TFT substrate 6 or between the active parallax barrier 46 and the substrate 19.

  FIG. 20 (b) shows a display 48 according to a further embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 20 (a) shows a color filter substrate 49 of this display. This embodiment generally corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), but in this embodiment, the color filter substrate 49 of the multiple view display 48 includes active parallax optics 35 ″. Is different. In this embodiment, the active parallax optics 35 "is an active lenticular lens array. The lenticular lens array can be switched between a mode with substantially no lens effect (no parallax optics) and a mode with a lens effect (with parallax optics formed). The lenticular lens array 35 '' can be addressed by suitable addressing means (not shown).

  For example, the lenticular lens of the lenticular lens array can be made from a liquid crystal material addressed by an electrode (not shown) disposed on the opposite side of the lenticular lens. The liquid crystal material is selected such that for some voltage applied across the lens array, the refractive index is as close as possible to the refractive index of the base substrate 19. When an appropriate voltage is applied between the electrodes provided on the opposite side of the lenticular lens, the refractive index of the liquid crystal material of the lenticular lens matches the refractive index of the spacer layer 20, and the lenticular lens is substantially a lens. Has no effect. However, by changing the applied voltage, the liquid crystal material of the lenticular lens changes and the refractive index is made different from the refractive index of the substrate 19. Therefore, the lenticular lens functions as a lens and forms an element of parallax optics.

  The lenticular lens 50 of the active lenticular lens array is configured as a grating refractive index (GRIN) or as a Fresnel lens.

FIG. 20C shows a different substrate 49 from the substrate shown in FIG. 20A in that the glass substrate 19 is recessed to accommodate the active lenticular lens array 35 ″. In this configuration, the refractive index of the active array must substantially match the refractive index of the substrate 19 in a single view or non-directional mode of operation.

  FIG. 20D shows the substrate 49 in the case where the lenses of the active array 35 ″ are biconvex in order to improve performance such as reducing the crosstalk area and making the observer move more freely. Show. In this case, in the single view operation mode, the refractive index of the array 35 ″ needs to substantially match the refractive indexes of the substrate 19 and the spacer 20.

  FIG. 21 (b) shows a display 48 'according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 21 (a) shows a color filter substrate 49' of the display 48 '. This embodiment is generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 20 (a) and 20 (b), and only the differences will be described here.

  The multiple view directional display 48 ′ of FIG. 21 (b) has a color filter substrate incorporating an active lenticular lens array 35 ″. In this embodiment, the lenticular lens 50 is manufactured from a liquid crystal material. However, the microstructure of the liquid crystal material is fixed and the liquid crystal material is not addressed in device operation.

  In this embodiment, switching the lens array is achieved by taking advantage of the fact that the refractive index of the liquid crystal material generally depends on the polarization state of the light passing therethrough. The liquid crystal material of the lenticular lens 50 is selected so that the refractive index of the liquid crystal material is substantially the same as the refractive index of the spacer layer 20 for light in a certain polarization state. Therefore, the liquid crystal material has substantially no lens effect on the light in this polarization state. However, for other polarization states, particularly for the polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal material does not match the refractive index of the layer 20, and the liquid crystal material is in the second polarization state. Lens effect on light.

  The liquid crystal lenticular lens 50 is switched on or off by changing the polarization state of the light entering the display 48. This is done by providing a polarization switch 51 that can change the polarization state of light passing through a selected portion of the polarization switch 51, for example, by selecting one of two linear polarizations. obtain. The polarization switch 51 can be constituted by a liquid crystal cell, for example, followed by a polarizer 51 '.

  FIG. 21 (c) shows another substrate 49 ′ in which the glass substrate 19 is recessed to accommodate the array 35 ″. In this case, one of the refractive indices of the material of the array 35 " needs to substantially match the refractive index of the glass substrate 19 to provide a single view mode of operation.

  FIG. 21D shows another form of the color filter 49 ′ in which both the spacer 20 and the glass substrate 19 have a concave portion that accommodates the biconvex lens array 35 ″. In this case, one of the refractive indices of the material of the array 35 '' needs to substantially match the refractive index of the spacer 20 and the glass substrate 19 in order to provide a non-directional or single view mode of operation. is there.

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multiple view directional display 52 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This is similar to the display 58 shown in FIG. 6B in many respects, except that a plurality of prisms 53 are provided on the outer surface of the base substrate 19 of the color filter substrate 7. In FIG. 22, the prism 53 is shown to have a triangular cross section. The prism 53 functions in combination with the parallax barrier 13 provided inside the display device. When used, the device is illuminated by light provided behind the TFT substrate 6 and the base substrate 19 of the color filter substrate 7 forms the outer surface of the display device. The prism structure varies the angle of the spacing between the left and right images caused by the parallax barrier.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 22, the prism is configured to reduce the angle of spacing between the viewing windows of different images.

  Although the prisms are shown in FIG. 22 as having a triangular cross section, this embodiment is not limited to prisms having a triangular cross section. In principle, any prism structure that reduces the angle of spacing between the two viewing windows can be used. Furthermore, if a prism having a triangular cross section is used, the prism need not have an equilateral triangular cross section. In fact, any symmetrical or asymmetrical converging or diverging element can be used, for example, to adapt to any application of the display.

  FIG. 23 shows a display 52 'according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This display 52 'generally corresponds to the display of FIG. 22, except that a prism 53 provided on the surface of the substrate 19 is intended to increase the angle of the spacing between the two viewing windows.

  FIG. 24 shows a multiple view directional display 59 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The display 59 of this embodiment generally corresponds to the display device 20 of FIG. 6 (b), except that it further includes a switchable means 54 that varies the angle between the two viewing windows generated by the device. . The switchable means 54 can be switched between a state that does not substantially affect the angular interval between the two observation windows and another state that increases or decreases the angular interval between the two observation windows. . In this embodiment, the switchable means 54 includes a plurality of light transmitting prisms 53 attached on the outer surface of the base substrate 19 of the color filter substrate. An active layer 55 is disposed on the prism 53 and the prism is planarized. The active layer is included in the transparent plate 56. The prism and the transparent plate can be formed of glass, transparent resin, transparent plastic material, or the like. The active layer 55 can include, for example, a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is selected such that the refractive index of the liquid crystal material matches the refractive index of the prism 53 when no electric field is applied across the liquid crystal material. In this state, the prism does not substantially affect the angular spacing between the two viewing windows generated by the device 54.

  The switchable means 54 further includes an electrode (not shown) that allows an electric field to be applied across the liquid crystal layer 55. By applying a voltage across the electrodes and applying an electric field across the liquid crystal layer, it is possible to vary the refractive index of the liquid crystal material so that it is different from the refractive index of the prism 53. Accordingly, light passing through the interface between the prism and the liquid crystal layer is refracted. As a result, the angular spacing between the two viewing windows formed by the display device is changed by the prism 53. This allows the display 59 to switch between, for example, a dual view display mode and an autostereoscopic display mode.

  The switchable means 54 allows the angular spacing between the two observation windows to be continuously controlled by continuously varying the electric field applied across the liquid crystal layer. This allows the angular spacing between the two viewing windows to be adjusted to suit the particular application of the display device 54. This embodiment is particularly useful when information about the longitudinal spacing between the display and the viewer is available from, for example, an observer tracking device. In autostereoscopic display mode, the switchable means 54 can control the angular spacing between the left and right eye viewing windows, and the lateral spacing at the viewer is the spacing between the two human eyes. To be equal.

  FIG. 25 shows a multiple view directional display 57 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This display 57 is generally similar to the display 54 of FIG. 24, and only the differences will be described here.

  In the display 57 of FIG. 25, the switching means 54 that varies the angular interval between two observation windows formed by the display is disposed on the outer surface of the substrate 19 of the color filter substrate 7. The liquid crystal layer 55 is located on the prism 53, but in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 24, the microstructure of the liquid crystal layer is fixed. No means for addressing the liquid crystal layer 55 is required.

  The refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 55 depends on the polarization state of light passing through the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is selected such that the refractive index is substantially equal to the refractive index of the prism 53 for a certain polarization state. In this case, the light passing through the prism is not substantially refracted.

  However, the refractive index of the liquid crystal material 55 is not equal to the refractive index of the prism 53 for light in another polarization state, for example, a polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. Accordingly, the light in the second polarization state is refracted at the interface between the prism and the liquid crystal layer 55, leading to a variation in the angular interval between the two observation windows formed by the display 57.

  This embodiment can be switched on or off by appropriately selecting the polarization state of light entering or leaving the panel. This can be done by providing a polarization switch 51 and a polarizer 51 'between the light source and the viewer. In FIG. 25, the polarization switch 51 and the polarizer 51 'are disposed between the display device and the observer, but may be disposed between the light source and the display device. The polarization switch can be, for example, a liquid crystal cell.

  The embodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 can be implemented using prism structures that tend to increase the angular spacing between the viewing windows, similar to FIG.

  26 (a) -26 (d) show a method of manufacturing the display of the present invention. This method takes as a starting point a conventional image display device 63 having an image display layer 8 (eg, a liquid crystal layer) disposed between two substrates 60 and 61. The image display device 63 includes other components such as an electrode for controlling the image display layer 8 and a switching element. When the image display device 63 is a color image display device, the image display device 63 includes a color filter. These are generally conventional and are omitted from FIGS. 26 (a) to 26 (d) for the sake of clarity.

  According to the method of this embodiment, the thickness of one substrate 60 of the image display device 63 is reduced. The thickness is preferably in the range of 50 μm to 150 μm. The thickness of the substrate 60 can be reduced by any suitable method such as, for example, a mechanical gliding method or a chemical etching method. Therefore, the substrate 60 can be transformed into a transparent layer 60 'as shown in FIG. The thickness of the thin transparent layer 60 'is desirably substantially uniform over the range of the layer 60'.

Next, a further substrate 62 is adhered to the thin transparent layer 60 ′ such that the parallax optics 13 is disposed between the thin transparent layer 60 ′ and the further substrate. This can conventionally be done by providing parallax optics on or at the surface of the further substrate and adhering that surface of the further substrate to the thin transparent layer 60 '. For example, the parallax barrier aperture array can be printed on the surface of a further substrate 62 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, an RM parallax barrier lenticular lens array may be defined on / on the surface of the further substrate. The additional substrate 62 can be adhered to the transparent layer 60 'using a suitable transparent adhesive.

  The additional substrate 62 can be adhered directly to the thin transparent layer 60 'as shown in FIG. 26 (d). Alternatively, as described below with reference to FIG. 28, one or more components may be sandwiched between a further substrate 62 and a thin transparent layer 60 '.

  The resulting display is shown in FIG. 26 (d) (transparent adhesive is omitted from FIG. 26 (d) for clarity). The parallax optics is separated from the image display layer 8 only by the thin transparent layer 60 ′ (and the thickness of the transparent adhesive layer) obtained by reducing the thickness of the substrate 60. Accordingly, the parallax optics is disposed near the image display layer 8 and the above-described advantages can be obtained.

  In the method of FIGS. 26A to 26D, the substrate 60 is incorporated into the display device 63 when the thickness is reduced. The other elements of the display device 63 provide physical support during and after the thickness reduction process. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the substrate 60 to a thickness of 50 μm without a significant risk that the substrate will be destroyed. In contrast, if the thickness of the isolated substrate is reduced, it is difficult to reduce to a thickness much less than 0.5 mm without the significant risk that the substrate will be destroyed.

  The method of FIGS. 26 (a) to 26 (d) can be used to manufacture a display 22 as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Comparing FIG. 26 (d) with FIG. 7 (b), the additional substrate 62 of FIG. 26 (d) corresponds to the base substrate 19 of FIG. 7 (b), and the thin layer 60 ′ (image) of FIG. 26 (d). (Obtained by reducing the thickness of the substrate 60 of the display element 63) corresponds to the glass layer 20 between the parallax barrier 13 and the color filter array 18 in FIG.

  The methods of FIGS. 26 (a) -26 (d) can also be used in the manufacture of displays where the parallax optics are not parallax barrier aperture arrays. For example, a lens array or RM parallax barrier can be placed on one surface of the further substrate 62, allowing for the production of a display as shown, for example, in FIG. 15 (b) or FIG. 17 (b).

  The lens array can be bonded by providing a layer of transparent adhesive over the entire area of the substrate. Alternatively, the lens array can be adhered to a further substrate by placing adhesive only at selected locations, eg, around the circumference of each lens. This provides an air gap between the lens and the non-adhesive substrate, reducing the focusing capability that can occur when there is a layer of transparent adhesive having a refractive index close to that of the lens array. Can be lost. In principle, it is possible to use a non-transparent adhesive when the adhesive is only placed at a selected location.

  FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a display 64 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This display also includes an image display element 65 and has parallax optics 66 disposed in the image display element. In this embodiment, the parallax optics is a prism array 66.

The prism array 66 is formed on the base substrate 19 (for example, manufactured from glass), and the planarization layer 67 is provided on the prism array. The base substrate 19, the prism array 66, and the planarization layer 67 form one substrate 68 of the image display element 65. The image display layer 8, for example, a pixelated liquid crystal layer, is disposed between the substrate 68 and the second substrate 6. Other components of the image display element, such as a color filter array (in the case of a full color display), an alignment layer, a switching element, and electrodes, are completely conventional and are omitted from FIG.

  The display 64 includes a backlight 69 that illuminates the image display element 65 with collimated light or partially collimated light. Light from the backlight is refracted by the prisms of the prism array and directed to the left observation window 2 or the right observation window 3. When two interlaced images are displayed on the pixels 70 of the image display layer 8, a directional display is provided. Directing light to the two viewing windows using the prism array means that a backlight 69 with a relatively low degree of collimation can be used. In contrast, if a lens array is used instead of a prism array, it may be necessary to use a highly collimated backlight.

  One method of manufacturing the substrate 68 is to place a layer of photoresist on the base substrate 19. The refractive index of the photoresist needs to be as close as possible to the refractive index of the base substrate 19, and the refractive index of the photoresist is preferably equal to or substantially equal to the refractive index of the base substrate 19. The prism array 66 is then defined using conventional masking, irradiation, and etching processes.

  Thereafter, the planarization layer 67 is disposed on the prism array 66. The planarization layer 67 preferably has a minimum thickness necessary for planarizing the substrate 68.

  Components such as alignment layers, color filters, etc. may be provided on the substrate 68 using any suitable technique. Thereafter, the substrate 68 is assembled together with the second substrate 6 to form the image display element 65.

The refractive index of the planarization layer 67 needs to be different from the refractive index of the prism array 66 so that light is refracted at the interface between the prism array 66 and the planarization layer 67. The refractive index of the planarization layer may be higher or lower than the refractive index of the prism array, but in practice, it is better to look for an appropriate material for the polarizing layer having a lower refractive index than the prism array. It can be easier. (The direction of refraction depends on whether the refractive index of the planarization layer is higher or lower than the refractive index of the prism array.)
Embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to particular types of parallax optics. However, embodiments are not limited to the particular type of parallax optics shown, and may be used with other types of parallax optics.

  The present invention enables a substrate on which parallax optics are mounted to be used together with a substrate such as an image display element such as a liquid crystal display element. This has the advantage that parallax optics and display element alignment are performed during the manufacture of the display element. This allows alignment to be performed more accurately compared to the conventional case (see FIG. 1) where the external parallax optics is aligned with the completed liquid crystal display element. Further, by omitting the step of gluing the parallax optics to the completed image display element or other bonding step, the manufacturing process is quicker and less expensive.

  FIG. 28 is a schematic plan cross-sectional view of a multiple view directional display 76 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The display 76 includes a first transparent substrate 6 and a second transparent substrate 71 in a state where the image display layer 8 is disposed between the first substrate 6 and the second substrate 71. An array of color filters (not shown) is provided on the second substrate 71, and therefore the second substrate is referred to as the color filter substrate.

  The first substrate 6 is provided with a pixel electrode (not shown) that defines an array of pixels in the image display layer 8, and a switching element (such as a thin film transistor (TFT)) that selectively addresses the pixel electrode. Not shown). The substrate 6 is called a “TFT substrate”. The image display layer 8 is the liquid crystal layer 8 in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any transmissive image display layer can be used.

  The display 76 is assembled such that the color filter is located substantially opposite each pixel of the image display layer 8. Other components such as an alignment layer may be disposed on the surface of the substrates 6 and 71 adjacent to the image display layer, and the counter electrode (s) may also be disposed on the CF substrate 71. These components are conventional and will not be further described. Further, the display 76 may include additional components such as a viewing angle enhancement film and an antireflection film disposed outside the image display element. These components are also conventional and will not be further described.

  The color filter substrate 71 includes a transparent waveguide 74, a linear polarizer 73 disposed on the waveguide 74, and a transparent layer 72 disposed on the linear polarizer 73. The waveguide 74 not only forms part of the color filter substrate 71 but also forms part of the backlight of the display.

  When used, the backlight of the display 76 is comprised of a waveguide 74 and one or more light sources 75 disposed along the side of the waveguide. In FIG. 28, only one light source 75 is shown arranged along the side surface 74a with the waveguide 74, but the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration of the backlight shown in FIG. More than one light source may be used. As an example, the display may be provided with two light sources arranged along opposite sides 74a and 74b of the waveguide 74. The light source 65 preferably extends along all or substantially all of the respective sides of the waveguide, and may be, for example, a fluorescent tube.

  The waveguide 74 is adhered to the polarizer 73 by an adhesive 81 arranged along the end of the polarizer 73. Since the adhesive 81 is disposed only along the edge of the polarizer 73, the air gap 82 is between the waveguide 74 and the linear polarizer 73 over most of the area of the polarizer. As is well known, light from the light source (s) 75 enters the waveguide 74 and is confined within the waveguide 74 by a total reflection phenomenon. Light propagating through the waveguide 74 that is incident on the front or back surface of the waveguide 74 undergoes total internal reflection at the waveguide / air interface and is not emitted from the waveguide.

  Alternatively, the waveguide 74 and the polarizer 73 can be bonded using a low refractive index transparent adhesive. That is, the adhesive has a refractive index lower than that of the waveguide. A low refractive index adhesive can be placed over the entire area of the linear polarizer 73, and internal reflection at the front surface of the waveguide 74 results from the difference between the refractive index of the adhesive and the refractive index of the waveguide.

  According to the embodiment of FIG. 28, diffusion points are provided in selected regions 84 of the front surface 74 c of the waveguide 74. When light propagating in the waveguide enters the region of the front surface 74c of the waveguide, the light is not reflected like a mirror but is scattered by a diffusion point as shown in FIG. As a result, a part of the light is scattered outside the waveguide toward the image display layer 8.

Light is scattered outside the waveguide 74 only in the region 84 with the diffusion point, and no light is emitted from the waveguide 74 without the diffusion point. Therefore, the waveguide 74 has a region that emits light (corresponding to the region 84 having the diffusion point) and a region that does not emit much light. When the region 84 where the diffusion point is provided has a stripe shape extending toward the surface of the paper in FIG. 28, the region emitting the light in the waveguide 74 is, for example, the parallax barrier 13 in FIG. It corresponds to the transmission region of the parallax barrier in terms of size, shape and position. The region of the waveguide 74 that does not emit light corresponds to the opaque region of the parallax barrier in terms of size, shape, and position. Accordingly, the parallax barrier is effectively defined within the thickness of the color filter substrate 71 on the front surface 74 c of the waveguide 74.

  The areas free of diffusion points of the waveguide 74 can be coated with an absorbent material to ensure that no light is scattered from these areas. This reduces the intensity of light emitted by the region of the waveguide, which is intended to correspond to the opaque region of the parallax barrier 13 of FIG.

  The diffusion point may include a diffusion structure, a diffractive structure, or a micro-reflection structure. The fine structure is not important as long as light is scattered from the region 84 where the diffusion point is provided and not so much scattered in the region where the diffusion point is not provided.

  The display 76 of FIG. 28 does not require a parallax barrier aperture array, and the light emitted by the waveguide 74 is absorbed by the opaque regions of the parallax barrier aperture array. For some output from the light source (s) 75, the display 76 of FIG. 28 provides a brighter image than a display having a parallax barrier aperture array such as the display of FIG. 6 (a).

  The polarizer 73 functions as a conventional entrance polarization for the image display layer 8. Depending on the mode of operation of the image display layer, a second linear polarizer (not shown) can be provided on the opposite side of the image display layer from the polarizer 73.

  The display 76 can be manufactured using a method similar to that shown in FIGS. 26 (a) -26 (d). In this method, an image display element including the front substrate 6, the image display layer 8, and the rear substrate can be initially manufactured. The back substrate is reduced in thickness to form the transparent layer 72. Next, the polarizer 73 can be bonded to the transparent layer 72, and the waveguide 74 can be bonded to the polarizer 73.

  Alternatively, the color filter substrate 71 can be manufactured by bonding the polarizer 73 to the waveguide 74. Thereafter, the transparent layer 72 may be bonded to the polarizer 73 in the case of the glass transparent layer 72, for example. Alternatively, a transparent plastic or transparent resin layer may be disposed on the polarizer 73 to form the transparent layer 72. Thereafter, the completed color filter 71 is assembled together with the TFT substrate 6 to form a display 76. In this method, the waveguide 74 forms the base substrate of the color filter substrate 71.

  FIG. 29 is a schematic plan cross-sectional view of a multiple view directional display 76 ', according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The display 76 'generally corresponds to the display 76 of FIG. 28, and only the differences will be described.

  In the display 76 ′ in FIG. 29, the polarizer 73 is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the waveguide 74 and is adhered to the waveguide 74 using, for example, a transparent adhesive (not shown). The refractive index of the waveguide 74, the polarizer 73, and the adhesive is such that light propagating in the waveguide 74 is substantially free from internal reflection at the interface between the waveguide 74 and the polarizer 73. Is selected to pass through. Internal reflection occurs at the back of the polarizer 73, as shown by the rays in FIG.

In this embodiment, the distance between the front surface 74c of the waveguide 74 and the image display layer 8 is reduced by the thickness of the polarizer. Light that is internally reflected at the back of the waveguide is polarized in reflection, and this polarization is preserved when the light is scattered outside the waveguide.

  FIG. 30 is a schematic plan cross-sectional view of a multiple view directional display 77 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The display 77 includes the first transparent substrate 6 and the second transparent substrate 80 in a state where the image display layer 8 is disposed between the first substrate 6 and the second substrate 80. An array of color filters (not shown) is provided on the second substrate 80, which is referred to as a color filter substrate.

  In the first substrate 6, pixel electrodes (not shown) defining an array of pixels 8P, 8S are provided on the image display layer 8, and a thin film transistor (TFT) or the like for selectively addressing the pixel electrodes. A switching element (not shown) is provided. The substrate 6 is called a “TFT substrate”. The image display layer 8 is the liquid crystal layer 8 in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any transmissive image display layer can be used.

  The display 77 is assembled such that the color filters are respectively located substantially opposite the respective pixels of the image display layer 8. Other components such as an alignment layer may be disposed on the surface of the substrates 6 and 80 so as to be adjacent to the image display layer, and a counter electrode (s) may be disposed on the CF substrate 80. These components are conventional and will not be further described. Further, the display 77 may include additional components such as a polarizer, an observation angle enhancement film, and an antireflection film that are disposed outside the image display element.

  In this embodiment, the display includes a parallax barrier 79 having a transmissive region 79a and an opaque region 79b. In this embodiment, the opaque transmission portion 79a of the parallax barrier 79 is a polarization aperture that transmits certain polarized light and substantially blocks orthogonally polarized light. Pixels 8S and 8P emit / transmit light in either the first polarization state or the second polarization state. In FIG. 30, the two polarization states are taken to be a P-line polarization state and an S-line polarization state. Pixels marked “8S” or “8P” emit / transmit light with S-polarized light or P-polarized light, respectively. The transmissive portion 79a of the parallax barrier 79 is marked “P” or “S” to indicate whether to transmit light having S-polarized light or light having P-polarized light, respectively.

  The parallax barrier 79 is disposed on the base substrate 19. A transmissive spacer layer 78, which can be a layer of glass, transparent resin, or transparent plastic, is provided between the image display layer 8 and the parallax barrier 79.

  The parallax barrier may, for example, transmit P-polarized light but block S-polarized light and other areas that block S-polarized light but block P-polarized light. Formed from a patterned polarizer having the following regions: The opaque region 79b can be deposited on the patterned polarizer, for example, by printing. Alternatively, the parallax barrier may be formed from a combination of a uniform linear polarizer and a patterned retarder having a region that rotates the plane of polarization of light by 90 ° and another region that does not rotate the plane of polarization of light. The opaque region 79b can also be deposited, for example, by printing.

The parallax barrier 79 is configured such that an aperture 79a that transmits light of a specific polarization is not positioned in front of a pixel that emits / transmits light of that polarization. Accordingly, the aperture 79a that transmits the P-polarized state is not disposed in front of the pixel 8P that transmits / emits the P-polarized state, and the aperture 79a of the parallax barrier that transmits the S-polarized state transmits the S-polarized state. It can be placed in front of the emitting / transmitting pixel 8S. As a result, the light transmitted / emitted by a pixel in a certain polarization state passes only through the parallax barrier 79 in the direction of the first and second ranges located on opposite sides, unlike the normal to the display surface of the display. obtain. For example, light emitted by S-pixels in a direction parallel or close to the normal direction is incident on an aperture 79a that transmits only P-polarized light or an opaque portion 79b of the parallax barrier. Therefore, the intensity of light emitted by the display of this embodiment in the perpendicular direction or a direction close to the perpendicular direction is low. The device provides a black window between the two image viewing windows, providing the advantages described with reference to FIG. 11 (b).

  A black mask (represented by the non-transmissive region 8b) can be provided between adjacent pixels 8S and 8R. The black center window can be varied by changing the black mask: pixel ratio (while keeping the pixel pitch constant). As the width between adjacent pixels increases, the angular range of the black center window increases.

  The angular range of the black center window is also defined by the width of the polarization aperture 79 of the parallax barrier 79. The angular range of the black center window can be varied by changing the width of the polarizing aperture (while keeping the aperture pitch constant). As the width of the polarization aperture of the parallax barrier decreases, the angular range of the black center window increases.

  In any of the above embodiments including a lens array, the lens array can be an array of GRIN (Graded Index) lenses, as described with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 20 (b) above.

  FIG. 31 shows a modification of the backlight of the display 76 in FIG. The backlight of FIG. 31 includes a first waveguide 74 and one or more first light sources 75 disposed along the side surface of the first waveguide. In FIG. 31, two first light sources 75 are shown disposed along opposing side surfaces 74a and 74b of the first waveguide, but the invention is not limited to this particular configuration. Only one light source or more than two light sources may be provided. The light source 75 preferably extends over all or substantially all of the respective sides of the first waveguide, and may be, for example, a fluorescent tube.

  A diffusion point is provided in a selected region 84 of the back surface 74 c of the first waveguide 74. The region 84 with the diffusion point is, for example, in the form of a stripe and may extend toward the paper surface of FIG. When light propagating through the first waveguide enters the region 84 where the diffusion point of the front surface 74c of the waveguide is provided, the light is not reflected by a mirror but is reflected in FIG. (See FIG. 31 it is assumed that the observer is on the page and the light is outside the first waveguide 74 as described above with reference to FIG. Generally scattered upward).

  The backlight further includes a second waveguide 74 'and one or more second light sources 75' disposed along a side of the first waveguide. The second waveguide 74 ′ is disposed behind and is generally parallel to the first waveguide 74. The second waveguide 74 'substantially corresponds to the first waveguide 74 in terms of size and shape. In FIG. 31, two light sources 75 ′ are arranged along opposite side surfaces 74a ′ and 74b ′ of the second waveguide 74 ′, but the present invention is not limited to this particular configuration, Only one or more than two may be used. The light source 75 'preferably extends along all or substantially all of the respective sides of the second waveguide, and may be, for example, a fluorescent tube.

  A diffusion point is provided over substantially all of the front surface 74d 'of the second waveguide 74'. Thus, when the second light source 75 'is illuminated, the light is scattered outside the front surface 74d' over most of the area of the front surface 74d 'of the second waveguide.

  Therefore, the backlight of FIG. 31 can be switched between the “pattern mode” and the “uniform mode”. In the “pattern mode”, the first light source 75 is illuminated and the second light source 75 ′ is not illuminated. The light propagates only through the first waveguide 74, and the backlight has areas that emit light (these areas correspond to areas 84 with diffusion points) and do not emit light (these areas). This region corresponds to a region having no diffusion point. In “uniform mode”, the second light source 75 ′ is illuminated and light propagates through the second waveguide. Since the diffusing point 89 is provided over substantially the entire front surface 74d 'of the second waveguide 74, the backlight provides substantially uniform illumination over the entire area in "uniform mode". The display provided with the backlight of FIG. 31 can be switched from the directional display mode to the conventional 2-D display mode by switching the backlight from the “pattern mode” to the “uniform mode”.

In the “uniform mode”, the first light source 75 may or may not be illuminated. If desired, the first light source may be kept on continuously, and the backlight may be switched to “uniform mode” or “pattern” by switching the second light source 75 ′ on or off, respectively. Mode ". (Maintaining the patterned waveguide to be illuminated in a uniform mode can cause some variation in intensity across the area of the backlight, but in some applications, this potential disadvantage The need to switch only the second light source 75 'can be important.)
In order to ensure that internal reflection occurs at the back surface 74c of the first waveguide, the space between the first waveguide 74 and the second waveguide 74 'is the first waveguide. Need to have a lower refractive index. This may be conveniently achieved by providing an air gap between the first waveguide 74 and the second waveguide 74 ′, or alternatively, the first waveguide 74 and the second waveguide. The space between 74 'may be filled with a light transmissive material having a low refractive index.

The back surface of the region 84 where the diffusion points are provided on the first waveguide 74 may be made reflective, for example by applying a metal coating. When this is done, any light scattered by the diffusion point towards the second waveguide 74 'is reflected back towards the viewer. (If the back surface of the region 84 where the diffusion point is provided on the first waveguide 74 is made reflective, the reflection surface can block the light scattered upward from the second waveguide 74 ′, so The first light source and the second light source are illuminated to achieve a uniform mode.)
Each waveguide may be provided with an anti-reflective coating (not shown).

  FIG. 32 shows another backlight according to the present invention. The backlight includes a waveguide 74 and one or more light sources 75 disposed along the side of the waveguide. Although FIG. 32 shows two light sources 75 disposed along opposite side surfaces 74a and 74b of the waveguide 74, the present invention is not limited to this particular configuration, and only one light source is used. There may be only one or more than two. The light source preferably extends along all or substantially all of the respective sides of the waveguide, and can be, for example, a fluorescent tube.

  The waveguide 74 includes a layer 87 of liquid crystal material sandwiched between two light transmissive substrates 92 and 93. The liquid crystal layer can be addressed, for example, by electrodes (not shown) that allow an electric field to be applied across the liquid crystal layer 87. The regions 87A and 87B of the liquid crystal layer (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 32) depend on each other, for example, by using appropriately patterned electrodes that allow an electric field to be applied across selected regions of the liquid crystal layer. Addressable without. The regions 87A and 87B of the liquid crystal layer are, for example, in the form of stripes and can extend toward the paper surface of FIG.

  The regions 87A and 87B of the liquid crystal layer can be switched to a scattering mode or a clear light transmission mode. If all the liquid crystal regions are switched to the light transmission mode, the light propagates through the waveguide with minimal scattering. That is, light undergoes internal reflection on the upper surface 92 a of the upper substrate 92, passes through the upper substrate 92 and the liquid crystal layer 87 toward the lower substrate 93, undergoes internal reflection on the bottom surface 93 b of the lower substrate 93, and is reflected on the upper substrate 92. Reflects back toward you. There is little or no light emitted from the waveguide.

  In order to emit light from the waveguide, one or more liquid crystal regions are switched to form a region schematically indicated by reference numeral 85 in FIG. When light propagating in the first waveguide enters the scattering region 85, the light is scattered outside the waveguide as described with reference to FIG. 28 above (in FIG. 32, the observer Is assumed to be on the page and light is scattered outside the waveguide 74, generally upwards).

  FIG. 32 shows a waveguide that has been switched so that all of the alternating liquid crystal regions 87A produce a scattering region 85. The other liquid crystal region 87B is switched so as not to be scattered. Light is emitted only from a region approximately corresponding to the scattering region 85 in front of the waveguide 74, and the backlight operates in “pattern mode”.

  When all the liquid crystal regions 87A and 87B are switched to form a scattering region, the liquid crystal layer 87 scatters light over the entire region so that light is emitted from substantially the entire region of the waveguide 74. Become. Thus, the backlight operates in “uniform mode” when all the liquid crystal regions 87A and 87B are switched to form a scattering region. The backlight can be switched between “pattern mode” and “uniform mode” by switching the liquid crystal region. The display provided with the backlight of FIG. 32 can be switched from the directional display mode to the conventional 2-D display mode by switching the backlight from the “pattern mode” to the “uniform mode”.

  In the embodiment of the backlight of FIG. 32, the back surface 92b of the upper substrate 92 is smooth throughout its area. In this embodiment, layer 87 needs to include a liquid crystal material that can be switched between a light transmitting state and a light scattering state without significant scattering, such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). is there. The scattering region 85 is obtained by switching the region of the liquid crystal layer to the scattering mode.

  For example, the region 87A of the liquid crystal layer is switched to the scattering mode so as to generate the scattering region 85. The light passing from the upper substrate 92 to the region 87A of the liquid crystal layer is scattered by the liquid crystal material, and part of the light is reflected upward and can pass from the front surface of the waveguide 74 to the outside. On the contrary, the region 87B of the liquid crystal layer is switched to a mode that does not scatter. The light passing from the upper substrate 92 to the region 87B of the liquid crystal layer only passes to the lower substrate without being scattered by the liquid crystal. When the region 87B of the liquid crystal layer is in a non-scattering mode, the backlight is in the “pattern mode”.

  In order to achieve a “uniform mode” of the backlight, all of the regions 87A and 87B of the liquid crystal layer are switched to the scattering mode. The back surface of the waveguide 74 scatters over substantially the entire area.

  In this embodiment, it is possible to change the size and position of the scattering region 85 and the non-scattering region. For example, two adjacent liquid crystal regions are switched to the scattering mode, the next liquid crystal region to the non-scattering mode, the next two liquid crystal regions to the scattering mode, and the next liquid crystal region to the non-scattering mode. It is possible to simulate a parallax barrier having an aperture to barrier ratio.

  Alternatively, the areas of the back surface 92b of the upper substrate 92 that correspond to the desired position of the scattering area 85 may be roughened so that these areas always scatter light. The backlight can be switched between “uniform mode” and “pattern mode” by switching the liquid crystal region 87B to a scattering mode or a non-scattering mode, respectively.

  As yet another example, the upper substrate back surface 92b may be optically rough throughout its area. This embodiment requires that the layer 87 of liquid crystal material has a refractive index that can be changed. The scattering region 85 is obtained by switching the corresponding liquid crystal region 87A so that the refractive index of the liquid crystal does not match the refractive index of the waveguide 74. Light propagating through the upper substrate “sees” and scatters the optically rough surface on the upper surface of the upper substrate.

  The non-scattering region is obtained by switching the corresponding liquid crystal region 87B so that the refractive index of the liquid crystal in the region 87B matches the refractive index of the upper substrate 92. The light propagating through the upper substrate does not “see” the optically rough surface and passes through the liquid crystal layer without being scattered (then it is internally reflected at the back surface 93b of the lower substrate).

  The reflecting surface may be provided behind the scattering region 85 if the position of the scattering region is fixed, which is indicated by reference numeral 86 in FIG. Any light scattered toward the back surface 93 by the scattering region 85 is reflected by the reflecting surface 86 toward the viewer.

  FIG. 33 shows a further backlight. The backlight includes a waveguide 74 and one or more light sources 75 disposed along the side of the waveguide. In FIG. 33, two light sources 75 are shown disposed along opposing sides 74a and 74b of the waveguide 74, but the invention is not limited to this particular configuration and the light sources used are: There may be only one or more than two. The light source 75 preferably extends along all or substantially all of the respective sides of the waveguide, and may be, for example, a fluorescent tube.

  A diffusion point is provided in a selected region of the back surface 74 c of the waveguide 74. The region 84 with the diffusion point is, for example, in the form of a stripe and may extend toward the paper surface of FIG. When light propagating through the first waveguide enters the region 84 where the diffusion point of the front surface 74c of the waveguide is provided, the light is not reflected by a mirror but is reflected in FIG. (See FIG. 33, the observer is assumed to be on the page and the light is outside the first waveguide 74 as described with reference to FIG. Generally scattered upward).

  The lens array 88 is disposed on the front surface of the waveguide 74. The lens array directs light emitted by the waveguide 74 primarily in a first direction (or first range of directions) 90 and a second direction (or second range of directions) 91. The first direction (or first range of directions) 90 and the second direction (or second range of directions) 91 are preferably separated by a third range of directions including the vertical direction. Since light is primarily directed in the first and second directions (or first and second ranges of directions) 90 and 91, the first and second directions (or first and second directions) The intensity of the light in the ranges 90 and 91 is higher than the intensity in the third range of directions. A first direction (or first range of directions) 90 and a second direction (or second range of directions) 91 are each on opposite sides in the vertical direction and are substantially symmetrical with respect to the normal. Preferably there is.

The backlight of FIG. 33 is particularly suitable for use in a directional display. A typical dual view display displays two images, for example, in a state where images are displayed along a direction on the opposite side in the vertical direction. The backlight of FIG. 33 provides a bright image by directing light primarily in the direction in which the two images are displayed by the dual view display. In contrast, conventional backlights have the highest brightness along the vertical direction and have lower brightness when viewed from off-axis directions.

  A four-view illumination system can be made by using a 2D array of microlenses and a 2D array of diffusion points. This provides four views arranged so that there are two views above the two views, providing both horizontal and vertical spacing of the views.

  FIG. 34 shows a further backlight. This backlight is similar to the backlight of FIG. 33 in that a lens array is provided that directs emitted light in two preferred directions (or range of directions) 90 and 91. The backlight of FIG. 34 further includes a second waveguide 74 'and a second light source 75' disposed along the respective side surface of the second waveguide 74 '. The diffusion point 89 is provided over substantially the entire front surface of the second waveguide 74 '. The second waveguide 74 'shown in FIG. 34 substantially corresponds to the second waveguide 74' shown in FIG. The backlight of FIG. 34 can be switched between “pattern mode” and “uniform mode” in the manner described above with respect to the backlight of FIG.

  The backlights of FIGS. 31-34 may be incorporated into, for example, display 76 of FIG. 28 or display 76 'of FIG.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 31-34, to change the spatial illumination uniformity to compensate for the intensity of light propagating in the waveguide, where the density of diffusion points decreases as the distance from the light source 75 increases. Can be adjusted to. This can be applied to both waveguides of the embodiment of FIGS.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 31-34, the diffusing points can be replaced with fine reflecting structures such as prisms, protrusions and the like. This can be used, for example, by controlling the directionality of radiation from the region where the waveguide diffusion points are provided.

  In the above embodiment, the parallax optics is arranged on the same substrate as the color filter. It is also possible to arrange the parallax optics on the TFT substrate 6 of the display, and for all embodiments in which the parallax optics are provided on the color filter substrate, corresponding embodiments in which the parallax optics are provided on the TFT substrate. There is. In such a modified embodiment, an array of switching elements, such as an array of TFTs, and an element of parallax optics, in some cases, with a spacer layer inserted between the parallax optics and the film transistor, It may be disposed on a base substrate of the substrate. The spacing between the parallax barrier and the image display layer can again be substantially the thickness of the spacer layer (it is assumed that the spacer layer is located on the parallax optics). 22 to 25, the prism 53 can be disposed on the TFT substrate.

  Further, in some liquid crystal panels, the color filter is disposed on the same substrate as the thin film transistor. Thereafter, the present invention is applied to such devices. For example, a light transmissive spacer layer (eg, a resin, glass, or plastic spacer layer) can be placed over the TFT (or other switching element) and a color filter, and the parallax optics is placed over the spacer layer. obtain.

  Embodiments of the present invention can be used as either a back barrier device (see FIG. 4) or a front barrier device (see FIG. 1), with the exceptions shown in FIGS. 22-25 and 28-34.

When the device of the present invention in which the parallax optic is a parallax barrier is used in the back barrier mode of FIG. 4, it is preferable that the parallax barrier element is reflective on the side facing the backlight. Light from the backlight incident on the opaque region of the barrier can be reflected and reflected from the backlight so that it can pass through the parallax barrier and pass through the display device. This can increase the brightness of the display. The surface of the parallax barrier element opposite to the backlight is preferably absorptive in order to prevent crosstalk.

  The present invention has been described with reference to an image display element that includes a liquid crystal layer. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific image display element, and any appropriate image display element can be used. As an example, an OLED (organic light emitting device) image display element may be used.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable embodiment of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention. Patents, patent applications, and documents cited herein should be incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if the contents themselves were specifically described herein. Understood.

(wrap up)
A multiple view directional display having an image display element and parallax optics is provided. The display element (8) includes a substrate (6, 19), a display layer (8) is sandwiched therebetween, and the parallax optics (13) is disposed in the image display element.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a conventional autostereoscopic display. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an observation window provided by a conventional multiple view display device. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an observation window generated by another conventional multiple view directional display device. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of another conventional autostereoscopic display device. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing main components of a conventional multiple view directional display device. FIGS. 6A to 6B are diagrams showing a display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 (c)-(d) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 7 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 8 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 9 (a)-(b) are diagrams illustrating a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 10 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 11 (a)-(b) show a display according to a further embodiment of the invention. 12 (a)-(b) are diagrams illustrating a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 13 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 (a) shows a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 (b) illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 (c) shows a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 (d) shows a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 15 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 15C to 15D are views showing a color filter substrate according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 16 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 17 (a) to 17 (b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 18 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 19 (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 20 (a)-(b) are diagrams illustrating a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 20C to 20D are views showing a color filter substrate according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 21 (a) to 21 (b) are diagrams showing a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 21C to 21D are views showing a color filter substrate according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 26 (a) to 26 (d) are diagrams showing a method for manufacturing the display of the present invention. FIG. 27 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 illustrates a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a display according to a further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a backlight suitable for use in the display of the present invention. FIG. 32 shows a further backlight suitable for use in the display of the present invention. FIG. 33 shows a further backlight suitable for use in the display of the present invention. FIG. 34 shows a further backlight suitable for use in the display of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

6 TFT substrate 7 Transparent substrate 8 Image display layer 19 Base substrate 20 Spacer layer 25 Color filter substrate 26 Recess 27 Display 35 Lenticular lens array 36 Color filter substrate 40 Strip 43 Multiple view directional display 45 Polarizer 46 Active parallax barrier 47 Liquid crystal material Region 53 Prism

Claims (4)

(A) reducing the thickness of the first substrate of an image display element having a first substrate, a second substrate, and an image display layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; When,
(B) a third substrate having parallax optics and a color filter disposed on the same surface on the first substrate having a reduced thickness in the step; the third substrate and the first substrate; Combining so that the parallax optics and the color filter are disposed between,
Including
The method for manufacturing a display device, wherein the parallax optics has a structure including an opaque region and a transparent region .   The method of manufacturing a display device according to claim 1, wherein in the step of reducing the thickness of the first substrate, the first substrate is reduced to a thickness of 50 to 150 μm. An image display element comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, and an image display layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A parallax optics and a color filter located on the same plane, and a third substrate coupled to the first substrate so that the parallax optics and the color filter are disposed between the parallax optics and the color filter. And
The parallax optics has a structure composed of an opaque region and a transparent region,
The display device, wherein the first substrate is thinner than the second substrate and thinner than the third substrate.   The display device according to claim 3, wherein the first substrate has a thickness of 50 to 150 μm.

Images