JP5024800B2 - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in display quality caused by a light shielding part of a display panel, to provide a portable terminal apparatus mounted with the same, and to provide the display panel and a lens incorporated into the image display apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the image display apparatus 1 where a lenticular lens 3, the display panel 2 and a light source (not illustrated) are arranged in this order from an observer side, when cylindrical lenses 3a of the lenticular lens 3 are arranged in a lateral direction 12, openings 5 are formed in a first view pixel 41 and a second view pixel 42 of the display panel 2 so that the side crossing a straight line extending in the lateral direction 12 may not be parallel to the longitudinal direction 11. The openings of a pair of adjacent pixels in the longitudinal direction 11 are formed to linearly symmetrical shapes with the edge extending in the lateral direction 12 of the pixel as an axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image display equipment capable of displaying different images to a plurality of viewpoints, particularly, it relates to an image display equipment capable of displaying excellent quality stereoscopic images.

  Conventionally, an image display device capable of displaying different images at a plurality of viewpoints has been studied. As an example, there is a stereoscopic image display device on the premise that a parallax image is displayed as a multi-viewpoint image. In 280 BC, Greek mathematician Euclid considers that "stereoscopicity is the sense that the left and right eyes simultaneously see different images viewed from different directions of the same object" (for example, Non-patent document 1). That is, a stereoscopic image display device can be realized by presenting images with parallax to the left and right eyes, respectively.

  In order to specifically realize this function, many stereoscopic image display methods have been studied so far, and these methods can be roughly divided into a method using glasses and a method using no glasses. Among these, there are anaglyph methods that use the difference in color and polarized glasses methods that use polarized light, etc., but these methods cannot essentially avoid the annoyance of wearing glasses. Therefore, in recent years, a spectacleless method that does not use spectacles has been actively studied. The glassesless method includes a parallax barrier method and a lenticular lens method.

  First, the parallax barrier method will be described. The parallax barrier method is a stereoscopic image display method conceived by Berthier in 1896 and verified by Ives in 1903. FIG. 39 is an optical model diagram showing a stereoscopic image display method using a parallax barrier system. As shown in FIG. 39, the parallax barrier 105 is a barrier (light-shielding plate) in which a number of thin vertical stripe-shaped openings, that is, slits 105a are formed. A display panel 102 is disposed in the vicinity of one surface of the parallax barrier 105. In the display panel 102, a right eye pixel 123 and a left eye pixel 124 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slit 105a. A light source 108 is disposed in the vicinity of the other surface of the parallax barrier 105, that is, on the opposite side of the display panel 102.

  A part of the light emitted from the light source 108 is blocked by the parallax barrier 105. On the other hand, light that has passed through the slit 105 a without being blocked by the parallax barrier 105 passes through the right-eye pixel 123 to become a light beam 181, or passes through the left-eye pixel 124 to become a light beam 182. At this time, the position of the observer who can recognize the stereoscopic image is determined by the positional relationship between the parallax barrier 105 and the pixels. In other words, the right eye 141 of the observer 104 is in the pass band of all the light beams 181 corresponding to the plurality of right eye pixels 123, and the left eye 142 of the observer is in the pass band of all the light beams 182. It will be necessary. This is a case where the midpoint 143 of the right eye 141 and the left eye 142 of the observer is located within the quadrangular stereoscopic visible area 107 shown in FIG.

  Among the line segments extending in the arrangement direction of the right-eye pixel 123 and the left-eye pixel 124 in the stereoscopic viewable area 107, the line segment that passes through the intersection 107a of the diagonal lines in the stereoscopic viewable area 107 is the longest line segment. For this reason, when the middle point 143 is located at the intersection 107a, the tolerance when the position of the observer is shifted in the left-right direction is maximized, and thus the observation position is most preferable. Therefore, in this stereoscopic image display method, the distance between the intersection 107a and the display panel 102 is set as the optimum observation distance OD, and it is recommended to the observer to observe at this distance. A virtual plane in which the distance from the display panel 102 in the stereoscopic visible range 107 is the optimum observation distance OD is referred to as an optimum observation surface 107b. As a result, light from the right eye pixel 123 and the left eye pixel 124 reaches the observer's right eye 141 and left eye 142, respectively. For this reason, the observer can recognize the image displayed on the display panel 102 as a stereoscopic image.

  The above-mentioned parallax barrier method has a problem that it is unsightly and has low visibility because the parallax barrier is initially arranged between the pixel and the eye. However, with the recent realization of liquid crystal display devices, it becomes possible to dispose the parallax barrier 105 on the back side of the display panel 102 as shown in FIG. 39, and the problem of visibility is improved. For this reason, parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display devices are currently under active investigation, and stereoscopic image display devices to which the parallax barrier method is applied have actually been commercialized (see Non-Patent Document 2).

  For example, Table 1 of Non-Patent Document 2 introduces a mobile phone equipped with a 3D-compatible liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal display panel constituting the stereoscopic image display apparatus in this cellular phone has a diagonal size of 2.2 inches and has a display dot number of 176 horizontal dots × 220 vertical dots. Then, a liquid crystal panel for a switch for turning on / off the effect of the parallax barrier is provided, and the display can be switched between the stereoscopic display and the planar display.

  Next, the lenticular lens method will be described. The lenticular lens system was invented around 1910 by Ives et al., For example, as described in Non-Patent Document 1 described above. FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing a lenticular lens, and FIG. 41 is an optical model diagram showing a stereoscopic display method by a lenticular lens method. As shown in FIG. 40, one surface of the lenticular lens 121 is a flat surface, and the other surface has a semi-cylindrical convex portion (cylindrical lens 122) continuous in one direction, and the longitudinal directions thereof are parallel to each other. A plurality are formed so as to be.

  As shown in FIG. 41, in the stereoscopic image display device of the lenticular lens type, a lenticular lens 121, a display panel 102, and a light source 108 are arranged in this order from the observer side, and the lenticular lens 121 has a focal plane on the focal plane. The pixel of the display panel 102 is located. In the display panel 102, pixels 123 that display an image for the right eye 141 and pixels 124 that display an image for the left eye 142 are alternately arranged. At this time, a group of pixels 123 and 124 adjacent to each other corresponds to each cylindrical lens (convex portion) 122 of the lenticular lens 121. Thereby, the light emitted from the light source 108 and transmitted through each pixel is distributed in the direction toward the left and right eyes by the cylindrical lens 122 of the lenticular lens 121, so that the left and right eyes can recognize different images. A viewer can recognize a stereoscopic image.

  Whereas the parallax barrier method described above is a method of “hiding” unnecessary light by a barrier, the lenticular lens method is a method of changing the light traveling direction, and in principle the brightness of the display screen by providing a lenticular lens. There is no drop in height. For this reason, application to portable devices and the like where high luminance display and low power consumption performance are particularly important is considered promising.

  An example of developing a stereoscopic image display device using a lenticular lens method is described in Non-Patent Document 2 described above. The liquid crystal display panel constituting the stereoscopic image display device of this stereoscopic image display device has a diagonal size of 7 inches and a display dot number of 800 dots wide × 480 dots wide. The stereoscopic display and the flat display can be switched by changing the distance between the lenticular lens and the liquid crystal display panel by 0.6 mm. This stereoscopic image display apparatus has five lateral viewpoints, and five different images can be seen by changing the angle in the lateral direction.

  As another example of an image display device that can display different images at a plurality of viewpoints, a multi-image simultaneous display display is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). The display described in Patent Document 1 uses the image distribution function of the lenticular lens to simultaneously display different planar images for each observation direction under the same conditions, and is different from different directions for a plurality of different observers. Planar images can be observed simultaneously on a single display. FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing this multi-image simultaneous display. As shown in FIG. 42, in this multi-image simultaneous display, a lenticular lens 121 and a display panel 102 are arranged in order from the viewer 104 side. In the display panel 102, first viewpoint pixels 125 that display a first viewpoint image and second viewpoint pixels 126 that display a second viewpoint image are alternately arranged. At this time, a group of pixels 125 and pixels 126 adjacent to each other corresponds to each cylindrical lens (convex portion) 122 of the lenticular lens 121. Thereby, since the light of each pixel is distributed in a different direction by the cylindrical lens 122 of the lenticular lens 121, it becomes possible to recognize different images at different positions. By using this multi-image simultaneous display display, it is possible to reduce the installation space, the electricity bill, and the like as compared with the case where a display for the number of persons is prepared. As described above, image display devices capable of displaying different images at a plurality of viewpoints are being actively studied.

JP-A-6-332354

Chihiro Masuda, “3D Display”, Sangyo Tosho Co., Ltd. Nikkei Electronics, January 6, 2003, no. 838, p. 26-27

  However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems. That is, the display panel used in the image display apparatus is provided with a light shielding portion between pixels for each viewpoint. Since this light-shielding portion does not have a display function, a non-display area where no display is performed is formed between the images for each viewpoint. When the observer shifts the observation position from the image for each viewpoint, the non-display area is observed, but since the display is not performed in the non-display area as described above, the observer observes the image. Can not. In general, the observer cannot observe only at the optimum observation position, and the deviation of the observation position can frequently occur. As a result, the observer becomes aware of the situation where image observation is impossible. Such a situation does not occur in a normal image display device that does not have optical means for image distribution. Therefore, in an image display device that can display different images from a plurality of viewpoints, an observer can use a normal image display device. In comparison, the display quality is felt to be significantly reduced.

  Hereinafter, this problem will be described in detail by taking a lenticular lens type stereoscopic image display device using a display panel having a pixel aperture ratio of 50% in the arrangement direction (lateral direction) of the cylindrical lenses as an example. 43 is a plan view showing a conventional display panel having a pixel aperture ratio of 50% in the horizontal direction, and FIG. 44 is an optical model diagram of a lenticular lens type stereoscopic image display device using the display panel shown in FIG. is there. As shown in FIG. 43, this display panel 102 has a pixel pitch of P and a pixel aperture ratio of 50% in the lens arrangement direction (lateral direction 112), so that the width is (P / 2) at the center of the pixel. An opening 109 is formed. That is, the width of the light shielding portion 106 in the horizontal direction 112 of each pixel is (P / 4). As shown in FIG. 44, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus using this display panel 102, a lenticular lens 121, a display panel 102, and a light source 108 are arranged in this order from the observer side. The pixels of the display panel 102 are located on the surface. The distance between the vertex of the lenticular lens 121 and the pixel of the display panel 102 is H, the refractive index of the lenticular lens 121 is n, the focal length is f, and the lens pitch is L. In addition, each display pixel of the display panel 102 has one left-eye pixel 124 and one right-eye pixel 123 arranged in a set, and the pitch of each pixel is P. Therefore, the arrangement pitch of the display pixels each including the left-eye pixel 124 and the right-eye pixel 123 is 2P. One cylindrical lens 122 is arranged corresponding to each of the two display pixels of the left eye pixel 124 and the right eye pixel 123.

The distance between the lenticular lens 121 and the observer is the optimum observation distance OD, and the enlarged projection width of the pixel at this distance OD, that is, the pixel for the left eye on a virtual plane that is separated from the lens by the distance OD and parallel to the lens. The widths of the projected images 124 and the right-eye pixel 123 are each e. Furthermore, from the center of the cylindrical lens 122 located in the center of the lenticular lens 121, the distance to the center of the cylindrical lens 122 located at the end of the lenticular lens 121 in the horizontal direction 112 and W _L, located in the center of the display panel 102 and the center of the display pixels comprising a left-eye pixels 124 and right eye pixels 123, the distance between the center of the display pixels located at the edge of the display panel 102 in the lens array direction 112 and W _P. Furthermore, the incident angle and the outgoing angle of light in the cylindrical lens 122 located at the center of the lenticular lens 121 are α and β, respectively, and the incident angle of the light in the cylindrical lens 122 located at the end of the lenticular lens 121 in the lens arrangement direction 112. And γ and δ are the exit angles. Furthermore, the distance W the difference between _L and the distance W _P is C, the distance W number of pixels contained in the area of _P is referred to as the 2m.

  Since the arrangement pitch L of the cylindrical lenses 122 and the arrangement pitch P of the pixels are related to each other, the other is determined according to one, but usually the lenticular lens is often designed according to the display panel. Therefore, the pixel arrangement pitch P is treated as a constant. The refractive index n is determined by selecting the material of the lenticular lens 121. On the other hand, the observation distance OD between the lens and the observer, and the pixel enlargement projection width e at the observation distance OD are set to desired values. These values are used to determine the distance H and lens pitch L between the vertex of the lens and the pixel. From Snell's law and geometrical relationships, the following formulas 1 to 6 are established.

      n × sin α = sin β (Formula 1)

      OD × tan β = e (Formula 2)

      H × tan α = P (Formula 3)

      n × sin γ = sin δ (Formula 4)

      H × tan γ = C (Formula 5)

OD × tan δ = W _L (Formula 6)

  Also, the following formulas 7 to 9 are established.

W _P −W _L = C (Formula 7)

W _P = 2 × m × P (Formula 8)

W _L = m × L (Formula 9)

  From the above formulas 1 to 3, the following formulas 10 to 12 are established, respectively.

      β = arctan (e / OD) (Formula 10)

      α = arcsin (1 / n × sinβ) (Formula 11)

      H = (P / tan α) (Formula 12)

  From the above formulas 6 and 9, the following formula 13 is established.

      δ = arctan (m × L / OD) (Formula 13)

  Further, from the above formulas 7 and 8, the following formula 14 is established.

      C = 2 * m * P-m * L (Formula 14)

  Furthermore, the following formula 15 is established from the above formula 5.

      γ = arctan (C / H) (Formula 15)

  As described above, normally, in order to make the distance H between the apex of the lenticular lens and the pixel equal to the focal length f of the lenticular lens, the following formula 16 is established, and if the curvature radius of the lens is r, the curvature is The radius r is obtained by the following formula 17.

      f = H (Formula 16)

      r = H × (n−1) / n (Equation 17)

As shown in FIG. 44, a region where light from all right eye pixels 123 reaches is a right eye region 171, and a region where light from all left eye pixels 124 reaches is a left eye region 172. The observer can recognize a stereoscopic image by positioning the right eye 141 in the right eye region 171 and the left eye 142 in the left eye region 172. However, a non-display area 173 exists between the right eye area 171 and the left eye area 172. In order to examine the size of the non-display area 173, the incident angle and the emission angle of the light beam emitted from the left end of the right-eye pixel of the display panel 102 and passing through the cylindrical lens 122 positioned at the center of the lenticular lens 121. Are α ₁ and β ₁ , respectively, the distance e ₁ from the center line at the observation distance OD to the center line side light-shielding portion enlarged projection position is obtained by the following mathematical formulas 18 to 20.

n × sin α ₁ = sin β ₁ (Formula 18)

OD × tan β ₁ = e ₁ (Formula 19)

H × tan α ₁ = P / 4 (Formula 20)

Similarly, assuming that the incident angle and the emission angle of the light beam emitted from the right end of the opening and passing through the cylindrical lens 122 located at the center of the lenticular lens 121 are α ₂ and β ₂ , respectively, the end side light shielding portion from the center line at the observation distance OD. The distance e ₂ to the enlarged projection position is obtained by the following formulas 21 to 23.

n × sin α ₂ = sin β ₂ (Formula 21)

OD × tan β ₂ = e ₂ (Formula 22)

H × tan α ₂ = 3 × P / 4 (Formula 23)

As an example, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) having a refractive index n of 1.49 is used as the material of the lenticular lens 121, the pixel pitch is 0.24 mm, the observation distance OD is 280 mm, and the pixel enlarged projection width is When the number m of display pixels is 60 and the number m of display pixels is 60, the distance H between the lens surface and the pixel is 1.57 mm, the focal length f of the lens is 1.57 mm, the lens pitch L is 0.4782 mm, The radius of curvature r of the lens is 0.5161 mm. Further, the distance e ₁ to the light shielding portion enlarged projection position is 16 mm, and e ₂ is 49 mm. This result indicates that when the pixel aperture ratio in the horizontal direction 112 is 50%, the width of the non-display area on the observation surface is also 50%. Therefore, when the observer is located in this non-display area, the observer cannot recognize the image, so that it feels that the display quality is remarkably deteriorated.

  The same problem occurs not only in the lens system but also in the parallax barrier system stereoscopic image display apparatus. Hereinafter, the problem of the non-display area in the parallax barrier method will be described in detail. FIG. 45 is an optical model diagram showing a conventional parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device provided with a parallax barrier on the viewer side. First, the size of each part in a stereoscopic image display device including a parallax barrier having a normal slit-like opening and a display panel will be described. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the slit width of the parallax barrier is extremely small and can be ignored. In addition, it is assumed that many parallax barrier slits are arranged in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 45, the arrangement pitch of the slits 105a of the parallax barrier 105 is L, and the interval between the display panel 102 and the parallax barrier 105 is H. Further, P is an arrangement pitch of pixels. As described above, in the display panel 102, two pixels, that is, each one of the right eye pixel 123 and the left eye pixel 124 are arranged as one set of display pixels. The arrangement pitch of is 2P. Since the arrangement pitch L of the slits 105a and the arrangement pitch P of the display pixels are related to each other, the other is determined according to one, but it is usually possible to design a parallax barrier according to the display panel. Since there are many, the pixel arrangement pitch P is treated as a constant.

  Further, an area where light from all the right eye pixels 123 reaches is a right eye area 171, and an area where light from all the left eye pixels 124 reaches is a left eye area 172. An observer can recognize a stereoscopic image by positioning the right eye 141 in the right eye region 171 and the left eye 142 in the left eye region 172. The distance from the display panel 102 to the observer is defined as an observation distance OD. Further, e is an enlarged projection width of one pixel on the observation surface at the observation distance OD.

  Next, the distance H between the parallax barrier 105 and the pixel of the display panel 102 is determined using the above-described values. From the geometrical relationship shown in FIG. 45, the following formula 24 is established, and as a result, the interval H is obtained as shown in the following formula 25.

      P: H = e: (OD−H) (Equation 24)

      H = OD × P / (P + e) (Equation 25)

Furthermore, the center of the display pixel located at the center in the transverse direction 112 of the display panel 102, the distance between the center of the display pixels located at the end and W _P in the horizontal direction 112, corresponding respectively to these display pixels When the distance between the centers of the slits 105a and _{W L,} a difference C between the distance _{W P} and the distance _{W L} is given by the following equation 26.

W _P −W _L = C (Formula 26)

Further, the number of pixels included in the distance _{W P} in the display panel 102 When the 2m, following equations 27 and 28 is established.

W _P = 2 × m × P (Formula 27)

W _L = m × L (Formula 28)

  Furthermore, since the following mathematical formula 29 holds from the geometrical relationship, the pitch L of the slits 105a of the parallax barrier 105 is given by the following mathematical formula 30.

    WP: OD = WL: (OD-H) (Equation 29)

    L = 2 × P × (OD−H) / OD (Equation 30)

When the aperture ratio of the pixel is 50%, the distance e ₁ from the center line at the observation distance OD to the center line side light shielding portion enlarged projection position is a light ray emitted from the left end of the opening of the right eye pixel 123 of the display panel 102. Since it is a position on the observation surface at the observation distance OD, the following equation 31 can be obtained using the above equation 24.

e ₁ = (P / 4) × (OD−H) / H (Equation 31)

Similarly, the distance e ₂ from the center line at the observation distance OD to the enlarged projection position at the end-side light-shielding portion is on the observation surface at the observation distance OD of the light beam emitted from the right end of the opening of the right-eye pixel 123 of the display panel 102. Since it is the position, it can be obtained by the following mathematical formula 32.

e ₂ = (3 × P / 4) × (OD−H) / H (Formula 32)

  The above formulas 31 and 32 indicate that when the pixel aperture ratio in the barrier arrangement direction is 50%, the width of the non-display area on the observation surface is also 50%. When the observer is positioned in this non-display area, the observer cannot recognize the image, so that the display quality is felt to be significantly lowered.

  Furthermore, a similar problem occurs in a stereoscopic image display device in which a parallax barrier is provided on the back surface of the display panel. Hereinafter, this problem will be described in detail. FIG. 46 is an optical model diagram showing a conventional parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device in which a parallax barrier is provided on the back surface of a display panel. First, the size of each part in a stereoscopic image display device including a parallax barrier having a normal slit-like opening and a display panel will be described. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the slit width of the parallax barrier is extremely small and can be ignored. In addition, it is assumed that many parallax barrier slits are arranged in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 46, as in the case where the parallax barrier 105 is disposed on the front surface of the display panel 102 described above, the arrangement pitch of the slits 105a of the parallax barrier 105 is L, and the display panel 102 and the parallax barrier 105 are arranged. Let H be the interval between. Further, P is an arrangement pitch of pixels. As described above, in the display panel 102, two pixels, that is, each one of the right eye pixel 123 and the left eye pixel 124 are arranged as one set of display pixels. The arrangement pitch of is 2P. Since the arrangement pitch L of the slits 105a and the arrangement pitch P of the display pixels are related to each other, the other is determined according to one, but it is usually possible to design a parallax barrier according to the display panel. Since there are many, the pixel arrangement pitch P is treated as a constant.

  Further, an area where light from all the right eye pixels 123 reaches is a right eye area 171, and an area where light from all the left eye pixels 124 reaches is a left eye area 172. An observer can recognize a stereoscopic image by positioning the right eye 141 in the right eye region 171 and the left eye 142 in the left eye region 172. The distance from the display panel 102 to the observer is defined as an observation distance OD. Further, e is an enlarged projection width of one pixel on the observation surface at the observation distance OD.

  Next, the distance H between the parallax barrier 105 and the pixel of the display panel 102 is determined using the above-described values. From the geometrical relationship shown in FIG. 46, the following formula 33 is established, and as a result, the interval H is obtained as shown in the following formula 34.

      P: H = e: (OD + H) (Formula 33)

      H = OD × P / (e−P) (Formula 34)

Furthermore, the center of the display pixel located at the center in the transverse direction 112 of the display panel 102, the distance between the center of the display pixels located at the end and W _P in the horizontal direction 112, corresponding respectively to these display pixels When the distance between the centers of the slits 105a and _{W L,} a difference C between the distance _{W P} and the distance _{W L} is given by the following equation 35.

W _L −W _P = C (Formula 35)

Further, the number of pixels included in the distance _{W P} in the display panel 102 When the 2m, following equations 36 and 37 is established.

W _P = 2 × m × P (Formula 36)

W _L = m × L (Formula 37)

  Furthermore, since the following mathematical formula 38 holds from the geometrical relationship, the pitch L of the slits 105a of the parallax barrier 105 is given by the following mathematical formula 39.

W _P : OD = W _L : (OD + H) (Formula 38)

      L = 2 × P × (OD + H) / OD (Equation 39)

When the aperture ratio of the pixel is 50%, the distance e ₁ from the center line at the observation distance OD to the center line side light shielding portion enlarged projection position is a light ray emitted from the left end of the opening of the right eye pixel 123 of the display panel 102. Since it is the position on the observation surface at the observation distance OD, it can be obtained by the following formula 40 using the formula 33.

e ₁ = (P / 4) × (OD + H) / H (Formula 40)

Similarly, the distance e ₂ from the center line at the observation distance OD to the enlarged projection position at the end-side light-shielding portion is on the observation surface at the observation distance OD of the light beam emitted from the right end of the opening of the right-eye pixel 123 of the display panel 102. Since it is the position, it can be calculated by the following formula 41.

e ₂ = (3 × P / 4) × (OD + H) / H (Formula 41)

  The above formulas 40 and 41 indicate that when the pixel aperture ratio in the barrier arrangement direction is 50%, the width of the non-display area on the observation surface is also 50%. When the observer is located in this non-display area, the observer cannot recognize the image, so that the display quality is felt to be significantly lowered.

  In the above description, the degradation of display quality caused by the light-shielding portion of the display panel has been described using the conventional stereoscopic image display device as an example. However, this problem is not limited to the stereoscopic image display device, and the lenticular lens In the case of an image display device including optical means such as a parallax barrier, the same occurs.

The present invention was made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image display equipment which can prevent deterioration in display quality caused by light shielding portion of the display panel.

The image display apparatus according to the present first invention, n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) first including table示単position the n kinds of pixels for displaying an image for the viewpoint is perpendicular to the first direction and the first direction and a display panel arranged in a matrix in two directions, and an optical means for distributing in different directions from each other the light emitted from the pixels arrayed in the first direction along the first direction, the pixel Is provided with a display area that emits light, and the display area includes a pair of sides parallel to the first direction and a set of parallel sides inclined with respect to the second direction. The display region is provided with a comb electrode, and the comb electrode is parallel to a side inclined with respect to the second direction of the display region. the display regions arranged in a line symmetrical der Rukoto each other said first direction to the axis And features.

The image display device according to the second invention of the present application is configured such that a display unit including n types of pixels for displaying an image for an n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) viewpoint is a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A display panel arranged in a matrix, and optical means for distributing light emitted from the pixels arranged in the first direction in different directions along the first direction. A display area for emitting light is provided, and the display area is composed of a pair of sides parallel to the first direction and a set of parallel sides inclined with respect to the second direction. The display region is provided with a comb-teeth electrode, the comb-teeth electrode is inclined with respect to the second direction, and the comb-teeth electrodes arranged in the second direction are arranged in the first direction. It is characterized by being symmetrical with respect to each other about the direction.

  According to the present invention, since the positions of the midpoints of both ends in the first direction of the display area of the pixel change according to the position in the second direction, generation of a non-display area where light from the pixel does not reach is suppressed It is possible to prevent deterioration in display quality due to the light shielding portion of the display panel.

It is a perspective view which shows a part of image display apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the display panel 2 shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the portable terminal device carrying the image display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the AA line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the BB line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the CC line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the position of the wiring in the display panel 2 shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the DD line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the EE line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 4th Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the FF line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the GG line shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the HH line | wire shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 5th Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 6th Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the display panel of the image display apparatus of the 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the II line | wire shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the JJ line | wire shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure of the cross section by the KK line | wire shown in FIG. It is an optical model figure which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus of the 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the portable terminal device of the 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is an optical model figure which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus in the image display apparatus of the 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the lens and display panel in an image display apparatus of the 11th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the display panel in the image display apparatus of the 12th Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows distribution of the brightness in the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the 12th Embodiment of this invention, taking an observation position on a horizontal axis and taking a brightness on a vertical axis | shaft. It is an optical model figure which shows the stereo image display method by a parallax barrier system. It is a perspective view which shows a lenticular lens. It is an optical model figure which shows the three-dimensional display method by a lenticular lens system. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a multiple image simultaneous display described in Patent Document 1. It is a top view which shows the conventional display panel whose pixel aperture ratio of a lens arrangement direction is 50%. FIG. 44 is an optical model diagram of a lenticular lens type stereoscopic image display device using the display panel shown in FIG. 43. It is an optical model figure which shows the stereoscopic image display method of the conventional parallax barrier system provided with the parallax barrier on the observer side. FIG. 11 is an optical model diagram showing a conventional parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device in which a parallax barrier is provided on the back surface of a display panel.

  Hereinafter, an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an image display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the image display apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the display panel. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image display apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the lenticular lens 3, the display panel 2, and the light source (not shown) are provided in order from the observer side. The display panel 2 is, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal panel. The display panel 2 includes a large number of display pixels, and one display pixel includes a pair of adjacent first viewpoint pixels 41 and second viewpoint pixels 42. In FIG. 1, in order to make the drawing easier to see, the boundary line between the cylindrical lenses 3a on the display panel 2 is omitted, and the same applies to the following drawings.

  The lenticular lens 3 is provided such that a plurality of cylindrical lenses 3a are parallel to each other. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens 3a is defined as a longitudinal direction 11, and the arrangement direction of the cylindrical lenses 3a is defined as a lateral direction 12. In the lenticular lens 3, one cylindrical lens 3 a corresponds to a pair of adjacent first viewpoint pixels 41 and second viewpoint pixels 42, that is, columns in which display pixels are arranged along the vertical direction 11. Are arranged as follows. Each pixel of the display panel 2 is provided with an opening 5 and a light shielding portion 6. The light-shielding portion 6 is for preventing color mixture of images and providing wiring for transmitting display signals to the pixels. The opening 5 is an area that substantially contributes to display by emitting light, and is also referred to as a display area in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the image display device of the present embodiment, the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are formed with a rectangular opening 5 that is a display area, and the horizontal direction 12. The directions in which the sides facing each other extend are not parallel to the vertical direction 11 but are inclined with respect to the vertical direction 11. That is, the opening 5 has a substantially parallelogram shape in a plan view. For this reason, the opening position of the display panel 2 changes depending on the position in the vertical direction 11. Specifically, the opening positions of the cross section taken along line AA, the cross section taken along line BB, and the cross section taken along line CC in FIG. 2 are different. When attention is paid to the openings 5 of the pixels adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11, the sides facing each other in the horizontal direction 12 are inclined in directions opposite to each other between the adjacent pixels, and the direction in which the sides extend And the vertical direction 11 have the same angle. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when attention is paid to the opening 5 of each pixel, sides facing each other in the lateral direction 12 are inclined at the same angle in the same direction. Further, regarding the sides facing each other in the horizontal direction 12 in the opening 5 of each pixel, when the pixels adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11 are compared, they are inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vertical direction 11. The absolute values of the inclination angles are equal. That is, the shape of the opening 5 of each pixel is axisymmetric about the edge extending in the horizontal direction 12 of the pixel in the vertical direction 11.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal device equipped with the image display device of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the image display device 1 is mounted on a mobile phone 9, for example.

  Next, the operation of the image display device 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, that is, the image display method in the image display device 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is an optical model diagram of a section taken along line AA shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, when the light source 10 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 10 enters the display panel 2. On the other hand, the display panel 2 is driven by the control device (not shown), and the first viewpoint image 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of each display pixel are supplied to the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint, respectively. An image is displayed. Then, the light incident on the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of the display panel 2 is transmitted through the openings 5 of these pixels, and further refracted by the lenticular lens 3, respectively. Exit toward At this time, when the observer places the left eye 61 in the region EL and the right eye 62 in the region ER, an image for the first viewpoint is input to the left eye 61 and the second eye 62 A viewpoint image is input. For example, the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint image are parallax images constituting a stereoscopic image, the first viewpoint image is the left eye 61 image, and the second viewpoint image is the right eye 62 image. In some cases, the observer can recognize a stereoscopic image. However, in the cross section taken along the line AA, the non-display area EB caused by the light shielding portion 6 occurs on both sides of the display areas EL and ER.

  FIG. 5 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line BB shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the cross section taken along the line BB, the positions of the openings 5 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are shown in FIG. 4 rather than the cross section taken along the line AA shown in FIG. It is provided on the right side. For this reason, in the cross section by the BB line, the non-display area EB is biased to the right side of the drawing with respect to the center line x of the observation surface. The operations other than those described above are the same as those in the cross section taken along the line AA.

  Further, FIG. 6 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along the line CC shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, in the cross section taken along the line CC, the positions of the openings 5 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are shown in FIG. 4 rather than the cross section taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 4. It is provided on the left side. For this reason, in the cross section by the BB line, the non-display area EB is biased to the left side of the drawing with respect to the center line x of the observation surface. The operations other than those described above are the same as those in the cross section taken along the line AA.

  FIG. 7 is an optical model diagram showing the operation of the image display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The cylindrical lens 3a constituting the lenticular lens 3 is a lens in which lens elements are one-dimensionally continuous, and has no lens effect in the vertical direction 11 that is the continuous direction. Therefore, actually, the display areas EL and ER in the cross section taken along the line AA (FIG. 4), the cross section taken along the line BB (FIG. 5), and the cross section taken along the line CC (FIG. 6) are synthesized. Display areas EL and ER. As a result, in the image display device 1 according to the present embodiment, the non-display area EB does not exist, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality caused by the light shielding unit 6.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 8, in the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, the influence of the light shielding unit 6 is mitigated due to the above-described effect, and thus a non-display area EB in which light from each pixel does not reach does not occur.

  Generally, when the arrangement direction of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 is not parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens 3a, the display quality is deteriorated because the images are observed while being superimposed. For this reason, in the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, the sides facing each other in the lateral direction 12 in the openings 5 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction 11 are inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to the longitudinal direction 11. The absolute values of the angles formed by the extending direction of the side and the vertical direction 11 are equal. In other words, the shape of the opening 5 is axisymmetric with respect to an edge extending in the horizontal direction 12 of the pixel. Thereby, since the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are arranged along the vertical direction 11, respectively, the arrangement direction of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 and the cylindrical lens 3a are arranged. The longitudinal directions can be parallel to each other. For this reason, in the image display apparatus 1 of this embodiment, problems, such as an image being superimposed and observed, do not occur.

  Further, in the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, the shape of the opening 5 surrounded by the light shielding portion 6 is a substantially parallelogram in plan view, and therefore two of the four corners are obtuse. In general, when the light-shielding part 6 is produced by an inexpensive manufacturing method, the corners are rounded and the aperture ratio is reduced. However, the image display device 1 of the present embodiment has a small number of corners, and half of them are configured with obtuse angles. Therefore, rounding of corners can be minimized. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the aperture ratio due to the manufacturing method. This is particularly effective when applied to a high-definition image display device having a small pixel pitch.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the position of the wiring in the display panel 2. In the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, the direction in which the opposite sides extend in the horizontal direction 12 of the opening 5 and the vertical direction 11 are not parallel, but as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the longitudinal direction of the wiring 60 disposed between the openings 5 adjacent to the direction 12 is not parallel to the longitudinal direction 11. Thereby, since the overlapping margin of the wiring 60 and the light shielding part 6 at the time of assembly can be increased, the manufacturing yield is improved.

  Furthermore, since the image display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment uses the lenticular lens 3 as the image distribution means, the black stripe pattern caused by the barrier does not occur unlike the image display using the parallax barrier, and the light There is little loss. In the above description, the case of two viewpoints has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained even when the image display apparatus has multiple viewpoints of three or more viewpoints. .

  Further, the image display device 1 of the present embodiment can be suitably applied to a mobile device such as a mobile phone, and can display a good image. In particular, when displaying a stereoscopic image on the image display device 1, unlike the case of applying to a large display device, the observer can arbitrarily adjust the positional relationship between his eyes and the display screen, The optimal visible range can be found quickly. Further, when a planar image having different contents is displayed on the image display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, unlike when applied to a large display apparatus, the planar image having different contents can be obtained only by the observer changing the angle of the image display apparatus. Therefore, convenience is greatly improved. Furthermore, the image display device 1 of the present embodiment is applicable not only to mobile phones but also to various mobile terminal devices such as mobile terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), game machines, digital cameras, and digital video cameras. can do.

  In the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel is used as the display panel 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the transmissive region and the reflection are provided in the reflective liquid crystal display panel or each pixel. A transflective liquid crystal display panel provided with a region may be used. Further, the driving method of the liquid crystal display panel may be an active matrix method such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) method and a TFD (Thin Film Diode) method, or a passive method such as an STN (Super Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal) method. A matrix system may be used. Further, the display panel is a display panel other than a liquid crystal display panel, for example, an organic electroluminescence display panel, a plasma display panel, a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display panel, or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display panel. A field emission display panel or PALC (Plasma Address Liquid Crystal) may be used. Furthermore, in the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, a color image may be displayed by a time division method.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the display panel of the image display apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the image display device 13 of the present embodiment, the side intersecting with the straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 in each opening 15 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 has the vertical direction 11. The opening 15 has a shape shifted in the lateral direction 12 near the center. Therefore, the opening position of the display panel 14 changes according to the position in the vertical direction 11.

  FIG. 11 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line DD shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, in the cross section taken along the line DD, the positions of the openings 15 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are provided on the right side of the drawing. For this reason, in the cross section by the DD line, the non-display area EB is biased to the right side of the drawing with respect to the center line x of the observation surface. FIG. 12 is an optical model diagram of a section taken along line EE shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, in the cross section taken along the line EE, the positions of the openings 15 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are provided on the left side of the drawing. For this reason, in the cross section taken along the line EE, the non-display area EB is biased to the right side of the drawing with respect to the center line x of the observation surface, unlike the cross section taken along the line DD.

  FIG. 13 is an optical model diagram showing the operation of the image display device 13 of the present embodiment. Since this image display device 13 uses a lenticular lens as in the first embodiment, in the cross section taken along the line DD (FIG. 11) and the cross section taken along the line EE (FIG. 12). The display areas EL and ER are combined to form the display areas EL and ER shown in FIG. As a result, in the image display device 13 according to the present embodiment, the non-display area EB does not exist, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality caused by the light shielding unit 16.

  FIG. 14 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 14, in the image display device 13 of the present embodiment, the influence of the light shielding unit 16 is mitigated by the above-described effect, so that a non-display area EB in which light from each pixel does not reach does not occur. Further, since the brightness near the image boundary can be increased as compared with the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above, the effect of suppressing the display quality degradation caused by the light shielding unit 16 is greater.

  Further, in the image display device 13 of the present embodiment, the side intersecting with the straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 in the opening 15 is formed by a straight line parallel to the vertical direction 11 and a vertical straight line. Each opening 15 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 that are arranged can be made larger than the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. As a result, it is possible to increase the illuminance at the boundary between the viewpoint images, and therefore, the effect of suppressing the deterioration in display quality caused by the light shielding unit 16 is greater than that of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. .

  However, in the image display device 13 of the present embodiment, the wiring is arranged on the light shielding portion 16 formed between the openings 15 adjacent to each other in the lateral direction 12 so as to be parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11. Therefore, the wiring length is longer than that of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the time constant of the wiring due to the wiring resistance and capacitance is increased. For this reason, in the point which drives a display panel, the image display apparatus 1 of the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment is more advantageous than the image display apparatus 13 of this embodiment. In the image display device 13 of the present embodiment, the configuration and operation other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 15, in the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment, a side that intersects with a straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 in the opening 25 of the display panel is formed by a curved line. That is, the opposite sides in the lateral direction 12 of the opening 25 are configured by curves.

  FIG. 16 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. In the image display device according to the present embodiment, since the side intersecting with the straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 in the opening 25 of the display panel is formed by a curved line, the brightness distribution on the observation surface can be made into an arbitrary shape. For example, it is possible to set with a higher degree of freedom according to desired optical characteristics such as a distribution shape as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the image display device according to the present embodiment, the number of corners of the opening 25 surrounded by the light-shielding portion 26 can be reduced to four, and all the corners can be set to a right angle. That is, unlike the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above, an acute angle is not formed. Thereby, compared with the image display apparatus of the above-mentioned 1st and 2nd embodiment, the fall of the aperture ratio resulting from a manufacturing method can be prevented. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with an opening 35 having a shape in which three quadrangles having the same area in plan view are shifted in the vertical 11 direction and connected in the horizontal direction 12. The openings 35 are formed so that the shape of pixels adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction 12 is the same, and the shape of pixels adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11 is axisymmetric. Therefore, the aperture ratio in the vertical direction 11 at an arbitrary position in the horizontal direction 12 of each pixel is constant.

  FIG. 18 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. In the image display device of the present embodiment, the aperture ratio in the vertical direction 11 at an arbitrary position in the horizontal direction 12 of each pixel is constant, so that the brightness distribution with respect to the observation position can be constant, and the light shielding unit 36 The resulting display quality degradation can be completely eliminated. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 13 of the second embodiment described above. Moreover, this display panel can also be applied to the image display device of the third embodiment described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 19, the image display device 43 according to the present embodiment is obtained by dividing the opening in the display panel of the image display device according to the first embodiment into two in the horizontal direction 12 by a light shielding portion. That is, the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are each provided with two openings 45 parallel to each other. The side of the opening 45 that intersects the straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 is not parallel to the vertical direction 11 but is inclined with respect to the vertical direction 11.

  Next, the operation of the image display device 43 of the present embodiment configured as described above, that is, the image display method in the image display device 43 will be described. 20 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line FF shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, in the cross section taken along line FF of the display panel 44, a light shielding portion 46 is provided at the center of each pixel. For this reason, the non-display area EB caused by the light shielding part 46 is generated on both sides and the center of the display areas EL and ER. FIG. 21 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line GG shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, in the cross section taken along the line GG, the light shielding part 46 is provided on the right side of the pixel. For this reason, the non-display area EB occurs on the right side of the display areas EL and ER. Further, FIG. 22 is an optical model diagram of a section taken along line HH shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 22, in the cross section taken along the line HH, the light shielding portion 46 is provided closer to the left side of the pixel. For this reason, the non-display area EB occurs on the left side of the display areas EL and ER.

  FIG. 23 is an optical model diagram showing the operation of the image display device 43 of this embodiment. Since this image display device 43 uses a lenticular lens as in the first embodiment described above, a cross section taken along the line FF (FIG. 20), a cross section taken along the line GG (FIG. 21), And the display areas EL and ER in the cross section (FIG. 22) taken along the line H-H are combined to form the display areas EL and ER shown in FIG. As a result, in the image display device 43 according to the present embodiment, the non-display area EB does not exist, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality due to the light shielding unit 46.

  FIG. 24 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 24, even when a light shielding part 46 that divides a pixel in the horizontal direction 12 is provided at the center of the pixel as in the image display device 43 of the present embodiment, the light shielding part 46 results. A decrease in display quality can be suppressed.

  Note that a storage capacitor provided for each pixel and a wiring for connecting the storage capacitor can be disposed under the light shielding portion 46 that divides the pixel provided in the center of the pixel. In addition, the configuration and operation of the image display device 43 of this embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. Further, the display panel 44 can be applied to the image display devices of the first to fourth embodiments described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 25, the display panel of the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of openings 5 of the display panel in the image display apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. This is divided by the comb electrode 57. The comb-tooth electrode 57 is parallel to the side extending between the openings 5 adjacent to the horizontal direction 12 in the light shielding portion 6, and is not parallel to the vertical direction 11 but is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction 11. Yes. The extending directions of the comb-shaped electrodes 57 in the pixels adjacent to the horizontal direction 12 are parallel to each other, and the comb-shaped electrodes 57 in the pixels adjacent to the vertical direction 11 have the sides extending in the horizontal direction 12 of the light shielding unit 6 as axes. It is symmetric. In FIG. 25, the comb-tooth electrode 57 is hatched for easy understanding of the drawing.

  FIG. 26 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 26, even in the case where the opening 5 of each pixel in the display panel is divided in the lateral direction 12 by the comb-tooth electrode 57 as in the image display apparatus of the present embodiment, the first embodiment described above. The same effect as that of the image display device 1 can be obtained, and the deterioration of display quality due to the comb-tooth electrode 57 can be suppressed.

  In the image display device of this embodiment, since the comb-tooth electrode 57 is provided in the opening of each pixel, an electric field can be generated in the horizontal direction 12 of the display panel, and the in-plane switching mode of the liquid crystal panel is driven. Can be suitably used. The comb electrode 57 in this image display device may be either an opaque electrode formed of a metal material such as aluminum or a transparent electrode formed of ITO (Indium tin oxide). Even in the case, the same effect can be obtained. When the comb-tooth electrode 57 is provided in the opening of each pixel, even if the comb-tooth electrode 57 is a transparent electrode, the lateral electric field is not sufficiently applied to the comb-tooth electrode 57, and the liquid crystal generated by the lateral electric field An area that cannot be driven and does not sufficiently transmit light is generated. However, as in the image display device according to the present embodiment, the extending directions of the comb-shaped electrodes 57 in the pixels adjacent to the horizontal direction 12 are parallel to each other. By making the comb-tooth electrode 57 in the pixel adjacent to the direction 11 symmetrical with respect to the side extending in the horizontal direction 12 of the light shielding portion 6, no non-display area exists, and the display quality caused by the comb-tooth electrode 57 is eliminated. Can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the image display device of this embodiment, the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display panel does not sufficiently transmit light to the opening of each pixel as in the above-described in-plane switching mode. This is effective when driving in a mode in which a region, that is, a non-display region is generated. As the liquid crystal drive mode in which the non-display area is generated in this way, for example, the fringe field switching mode and the advanced fringe field switching mode which are transverse electric field modes as in the in-plane switching mode, and the multi-domain mode The vertical alignment mode is a multi-domain vertical alignment mode, a patterned vertical alignment mode, an advanced super vui mode, or the like. In the case of this multi-domain vertical alignment mode, a region that does not transmit light is generated at the boundary between domains. The other configurations and operations of the image display apparatus of the present embodiment are the same as those of the image display apparatus of the fifth embodiment described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 27 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 27, in the image display device according to the present embodiment, the side of the opening 65 that intersects the straight line extending in the horizontal direction 12 is bent a plurality of times.

  In the image display device of the present embodiment, a plurality of sides intersecting the straight line extending in the lateral direction 12 in the opening 65 are bent and bent, so that the angle of this side is less conspicuous than the image display device of the first embodiment described above. Thus, the display quality can be further improved. This shape of the opening 65 is particularly effective when the pixel pitch is large. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. This display panel can also be applied to the image display devices of the first to sixth embodiments described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 28, the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment is the image display apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment described above, except that the extending direction of the wiring 60 is parallel to the vertical direction 11. It is the same.

  In the image display device according to the present embodiment, a non-display area due to the wiring 60 is generated, but the sides facing each other in the horizontal direction 12 of the opening 5 are not parallel to the vertical direction 11 and the vertical direction of each pixel. 11 is changed, the display quality deterioration caused by the light-shielding portion 6 can be suppressed more than the conventional image display device. On the other hand, since the wiring 60 is parallel to the vertical direction 11, the length of the wiring 60 can be shortened compared to the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the wiring caused by the wiring resistance and the capacitance. The time constant of can be reduced. This is advantageous in that the display panel is driven. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. The display panel can also be applied to the image display devices of the first to seventh embodiments described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a display panel of an image display apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 29, the image display device 81 of the present embodiment is provided with a parallax barrier 8 instead of a lenticular lens. The shape of each pixel is the same as that of the image display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the other configuration in the present embodiment is the same as that of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment described above. is there.

  Next, the operation of the image display apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 30 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line II shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 30, in the image display device 81 of this embodiment, when the light source 10 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 10 enters the display panel 2. On the other hand, the display panel 2 is driven by the control device (not shown), and the first viewpoint image 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of each display pixel are supplied to the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint, respectively. An image is displayed. The light incident on the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of the display panel 2 passes through the openings 5 of these pixels, passes through these pixels, and travels toward the parallax barrier 8. Further, these lights pass through the slit 8a of the parallax barrier 8 and are emitted toward the regions EL and ER, respectively. At this time, when the observer places the left eye 61 in the region EL and the right eye 62 in the region ER, an image for the first viewpoint is input to the left eye 61 and the second eye 62 A viewpoint image is input. For example, the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint image are parallax images constituting a stereoscopic image, the first viewpoint image is the left eye 61 image, and the second viewpoint image is the right eye 62 image. In some cases, the observer can recognize a stereoscopic image. However, a non-display area EB caused by the light shielding portion 6 occurs on both sides of the display areas EL and ER.

  FIG. 31 is an optical model diagram of a section taken along line JJ shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 31, in the cross section taken along the line JJ, the positions of the openings 5 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are shown in the drawing more than the cross section taken along the line II shown in FIG. 30. It is provided on the right side. For this reason, in the cross section by a JJ line, the non-display area | region EB is biased to the right side of a figure with respect to the centerline x of an observation surface. The other operations are the same as those in the cross section taken along the line I-I.

  Further, FIG. 32 is an optical model diagram of a cross section taken along line KK shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 32, in the cross section taken along the line KK, the positions of the openings 5 of the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 are shown in FIG. 30 rather than the cross section taken along the line I-I shown in FIG. It is provided on the left side. For this reason, in the cross section taken along the line KK, the non-display area EB is biased to the left side of the drawing with respect to the center line x of the observation surface. The other operations are the same as those in the cross section taken along the line I-I.

  FIG. 33 is an optical model diagram showing the operation of the image display apparatus of the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the image display device of the present embodiment, the openings of the slits 8a constituting the parallax barrier 8 are one-dimensionally continuous, and do not have a light shielding effect with respect to the vertical direction 11 that is the continuous direction. Therefore, actually, the display areas EL and ER in the cross section taken along the line II (FIG. 30), the cross section taken along the line JJ (FIG. 31), and the cross section taken along the line KK (FIG. 32) are synthesized. Display areas EL and ER. As a result, in the image display device 1 according to the present embodiment, the non-display area EB does not exist, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality caused by the light shielding unit 6.

  In the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment, the use of the parallax barrier has an advantage that the quality of the display image is not deteriorated due to the lens pattern as compared with the case where the lenticular lens is used. The other effects of the image display device of the present embodiment are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. In the image display devices according to the second to eighth embodiments described above, a parallax barrier can be used instead of the lenticular lens.

  Next, a portable terminal device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the portable terminal device of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 34, in the mobile terminal device 99 of the present embodiment, cylindrical lenses 93 a that constitute the lenticular lens 93 of the image display device 91 are arranged in the vertical direction 11. That is, the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens 93 a is the lateral direction 12. The other configuration of the image display device of the portable terminal device 99 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the image display device of the first embodiment described above.

  Next, the operation of the image display device 91 in the mobile terminal device 99 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 35 is an optical model diagram showing the operation of the image display apparatus. As shown in FIG. 35, in the image display device 91 of the mobile terminal device 99 of the present embodiment, when the light source 10 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 10 enters the display panel 2. At this time, the display panel 2 is driven by a control device (not shown), and the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint image are respectively applied to the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of each display pixel. Is displayed. The light incident on the first viewpoint pixel 41 and the second viewpoint pixel 42 of the display panel 2 passes through these pixels, is refracted by the cylindrical lens 3a of the lenticular lens 3, and enters the regions E1 and E2, respectively. Exit toward. At this time, when the observer places both eyes in the region E1, the image for the first viewpoint can be observed, and when both eyes are located in the region E2, the image for the second viewpoint is displayed. The image can be observed.

  In the mobile terminal device 99 of the present embodiment, since the cylindrical lenses 93a constituting the lenticular lens 93 of the image display device 91 are arranged in the vertical direction 11, only changing the angle of the mobile terminal device 99 is used for the first viewpoint. Or an image for the second viewpoint can be observed. In particular, when there is a relationship between the image for the first viewpoint and the image for the second viewpoint, each image can be referred to by a simple operation of changing the observation angle, so that convenience is greatly improved. For example, when images for a plurality of viewpoints are arranged in the horizontal direction 12, positions for observing images of different viewpoints for the right eye and the left eye are generated, so that the observer is confused and images of the respective viewpoints are displayed. Although it may become impossible to recognize, when images for a plurality of viewpoints are arranged in the vertical direction 11 as in the mobile terminal device 99 of the present embodiment, the observer must always view the images for each viewpoint with both eyes. Since the images can be observed, the images of the respective viewpoints can be recognized without confusion. The effects of the portable terminal device 99 of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the first embodiment described above. The present embodiment can also be applied to the second to ninth embodiments described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 36 is a plan view showing a lens and a display panel in the image display apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 36, the image display device according to the present embodiment is different from the image display device according to the first embodiment described above in that the direction in which the sides facing each other in the horizontal direction 12 of the pixel opening 95 extend vertically. This is a conventional shape that is parallel to the direction 11 and in which the position of the opening 95 does not change depending on the position in the longitudinal direction 11. Then, the direction in which the optical axes of the cylindrical lenses 97a are connected changes in accordance with the position in the vertical direction 11.

  In the image display device according to the present embodiment, the positions of the midpoints of both ends in the horizontal direction 12 of the pixel opening 95 with respect to the direction in which the optical axes of the lenses are connected change in accordance with the vertical direction 11, so that the conventional image As compared with the display device, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display quality caused by the light shielding unit 96. In addition, since a general-purpose display panel can be used, the cost can be reduced. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above. This lens can also be applied to the image display devices of the first to ninth embodiments described above.

  Next, an image display apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 37 is a plan view showing a display panel in the image display apparatus of the embodiment. In FIG. 37, the wiring 70 is hatched for easy understanding of the drawing. While the opening 5 of the display panel in the image display device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has a substantially parallelogram shape in plan view, the image display device of this embodiment has a configuration as shown in FIG. Moreover, the opening 75 of the display panel has a shape including a trapezoid in a plan view. Specifically, the opening 75 has a symmetrical trapezoid and a rectangle in which the length of the lower base of the trapezoid is equal to the length of the long side so that the lower base of the trapezoid and the long side of the rectangle are in contact with each other. It is the hexagon shape formed by arrange | positioning. Here, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 37, the longer one of the trapezoidal upper and lower bases is described as the lower base. That is, the shape of the opening 75 is bilaterally symmetric with respect to the line segment extending in the vertical direction 11, and the sides constituting the opening 75 are inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vertical direction 11. A pair of sides having the same angle between the extending direction and the longitudinal direction 11 are provided.

  Therefore, in the region between the pair of sides inclined with respect to the vertical direction 11, the position of the opening 12 in the horizontal direction 12 varies depending on the position of the vertical direction 11. However, the midpoints of both ends in the horizontal direction 12 are unchanged in the position in the horizontal direction 12 regardless of the position in the vertical direction 11. And since the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens 3a which comprises a lenticular lens is parallel to the vertical direction 11, the distance of the edge part in the horizontal direction 12 of the opening part 75 of a display panel and the optical axis of the cylindrical lens 3a is vertical. The distance between the line segment connecting the midpoints of both ends in the horizontal direction 12 of the opening 75 of the display panel and the optical axis of the cylindrical lens 3 a varies depending on the position in the direction 11. Regardless of, it is constant. That is, the position of the end portion of the display panel opening 75 in the horizontal direction 12 and the position of the optical axis of the cylindrical lens 3a are different in the vertical direction 11, and both ends of the display panel opening 75 in the horizontal direction 12 are different. The position of the midpoint of the part and the position of the optical axis of the cylindrical lens 3a are unchanged in the vertical direction.

  Further, the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11 of the display panel are arranged so as to be line symmetric with respect to the line segment extending in the horizontal direction 12. Also, the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction 12 are at the intersection of a line segment connecting the midpoints of both ends in the vertical direction 11 and a line segment connecting the midpoints of both ends in the horizontal direction 12. On the other hand, they are arranged so as to be point-symmetric. Therefore, when the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction 12 are also added, the width of the opening 75 in the vertical direction 11 is substantially constant regardless of the position in the horizontal direction 12.

  The light shielding portion 76 is inclined with respect to the region between the sides inclined with respect to the vertical direction 11 among the regions between the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction 12, that is, with respect to the vertical direction 11 of the pixel. Of the region between the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11, the region between the sides extending in the direction parallel to the horizontal direction 12, that is, the pixel extends in the horizontal direction 12. It is provided only at the edge. The openings 75 adjacent to each other in the lateral direction 12 are partitioned by the wiring 70 and are shielded from light by the wiring 70.

  FIG. 38 is a graph showing the distribution of brightness on the observation surface of the image display apparatus of the present embodiment, with the observation position on the horizontal axis and the brightness on the vertical axis. Like the image display device of the present embodiment, the opening 75 of each pixel in the display panel has a shape including a trapezoid in plan view, and the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction 11 extend in the horizontal direction 12. The openings 75 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the line segment, and the openings 75 adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction 12 are connected to the line segment connecting the midpoints of both ends in the vertical direction 11 and both ends in the horizontal direction 12. Since the vertical aperture ratio at an arbitrary position in the horizontal direction 12 can be made constant by arranging them so as to be point-symmetric with respect to the intersection with the line segment connecting the midpoints of the portions, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the distribution of brightness with respect to the observation position can be made constant. As a result, it is possible to completely eliminate the deterioration in display quality caused by the light shielding portion 76.

  In the image display device according to the present embodiment, the light shielding portion 76 is not provided in the region between the pair of sides inclined with respect to the vertical direction 11. Even when the position error margin in the horizontal direction 12 is large, the influence on the aperture ratio is small. That is, the position margin in the horizontal direction 12 can be set large, and the aperture ratio can be increased. Such a shape is particularly effective when the light shielding portion 76 is formed on the substrate opposite to the substrate on which the wiring 70 is formed.

  Furthermore, in the image display device according to the present embodiment, the shape of the opening 75 is a trapezoid and a rectangle having the same length of the lower base of the trapezoid and the length of the long side in plan view. All the corners are obtuse or right-angled because they are formed in a hexagonal shape that is arranged so that their long sides are in contact with each other. For this reason, the rounding of the corners resulting from the formation method of the light shielding portion 76 can be minimized, and the decrease in the aperture ratio due to the manufacturing method can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the display panel is provided with a striped color filter for color display, it is preferable that the same color continuous direction of the color filter is the horizontal direction 12. This eliminates the need to block the same color area of the color filter, and makes it possible to make the color filter rectangular. Therefore, the color filter can be easily manufactured and the cost can be reduced. Note that the configuration and operation of the image display device of the present embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment described above.

1, 13, 43, 81, 91; Image display device 2, 14, 44, 102; Display panel 3, 93, 121; Lenticular lens 3a, 97a, 122; Cylindrical lens (convex part)
5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 65, 75, 95, 109; opening 6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 66, 76, 96, 106; light shielding part 8; parallax barrier 8a; slit 9; Cellular phone 1, 108; light source 11; longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction of cylindrical lens)
12, 112; lateral direction (arrangement direction of cylindrical lenses)
41, 125; first viewpoint pixel 42, 126; second viewpoint pixel 57; comb electrode 60, 70; wiring 61, 141; left eye 62, 172; right eye 104; observer 105; parallax barrier 105a Slit 107; Stereoscopic visible area 107a; Diagonal intersection 107b; Optimal observation plane 123; Right eye pixel 124; Left eye pixel 143; Middle point 171 of right eye 141 and left eye 142; Left eye area 172; Area 173; Non-display area 181, 182; Light flux

Claims (3)

  a display panel in which display units including n kinds of pixels for displaying an image for n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) viewpoints are arranged in a matrix in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; Optical means for distributing light emitted from the pixels arranged in the first direction in different directions along the first direction, and the pixel is provided with a display area for emitting light. The display area has a shape composed of a pair of sides parallel to the first direction and a pair of parallel sides inclined with respect to the second direction. An electrode is provided, and the comb electrode is parallel to a side inclined with respect to the second direction of the display region, and the display region aligned in the second direction has the first direction as an axis. An image display device characterized by being symmetrical with respect to each other.   a display panel in which display units including n kinds of pixels for displaying an image for n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) viewpoints are arranged in a matrix in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; Optical means for distributing light emitted from the pixels arranged in the first direction in different directions along the first direction, and the pixel is provided with a display area for emitting light. The display area has a shape composed of a pair of sides parallel to the first direction and a pair of parallel sides inclined with respect to the second direction. An electrode is provided, the comb electrode is inclined with respect to the second direction, and the comb electrodes arranged in the second direction are line-symmetric with respect to the first direction. An image display device characterized by the above.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a side inclined with respect to the second direction of the display area has a bend.

Images