KR101271701B1 - Sub pannel and three dimensinaol image display having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A sub panel and a dimensional image display device including the same are provided to perform a rapid vertical alignment and a horizontal alignment of a liquid crystal and to prevent a 3D crosstalk phenomenon even if an observer tilts a head. CONSTITUTION: A sub panel includes a first substrate(310) with a first electrode layer, a second substrate(320) which is separately arranged with the first substrate and includes a first electrode layer(311) and a second electrode layer(321) in order to form a vertical electric field when a voltage is applied, a liquid crystal layer(330) between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and a plurality of strip electrodes(340) which is electrically insulated in an inner side of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer and forms a fringe electric field or a horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is arranged in a vertical direction to the first substrate by the vertical electric field, and is arranged in a horizontal direction to the first substrate if the fringe electric field or the horizontal electric field is formed.

Description

SUB PANNEL AND THREE DIMENSINAOL IMAGE DISPLAY HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a subpanel and a stereoscopic image display apparatus including the same, and more particularly, to a subpanel capable of quickly switching an alignment direction of a liquid crystal and a stereoscopic image display apparatus including the same.

With the rapid development of recent technology, studies on a stereoscopic image display apparatus for converting a 2D image formed on a display apparatus into a 3D stereoscopic image have been actively conducted.

In general, three-dimensional stereoscopic images are generally produced using the principle of binocular disparity through two eyes of a human being.

Since the two eyes of the human being are separated by a certain distance, the images observed from different angles with each eye are input to the brain, which enables the observer to perceive the sense of space by recognizing the three-dimensional feeling.

Among the principles of the 3D image, polarizer glasses are used to convert the polarization of the first image and the second image to be transmitted by including a subpanel on the display device for transmitting the first image and the second image. Then, the light is incident on the polarized glasses to realize a 3D image.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional subpanel includes a liquid crystal layer between the first electrode layer 11 and the second electrode layer 12. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 11 and the second electrode layer 12, a vertical electric field is formed, so that the liquid crystal L is vertically aligned, and thus the polarization of the first image that does not feel birefringence is emitted as it is. Then, when the voltage is turned off, the liquid crystal is restored horizontally back to its original state, and the second image passing therethrough feels birefringence of λ / 2 retardation, so that the polarization direction is rotated by 90 °.

However, when the vertical electric field is formed, the liquid crystal is vertically aligned relatively quickly, but when the vertical electric field is removed, the liquid crystal is restored to its original state (horizontal state) by its physical properties, so the polarization of the second image is relatively slow. There is a problem that the image quality of the stereoscopic image is deteriorated because the direction cannot be changed in a timely manner.

In addition, since the conventional subpanel is configured to rotate the polarization direction of either the first image or the second image by 90 °, both the first image and the second image maintain linear polarization (45 ° or 135 °). In this method, since the transmission plate of the polarizing glasses is tilted according to the head tilting of the observer, the first image and the second image are mixed so that a 3D crosstalk phenomenon called ghost occurs. have.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a sub-panel and a stereoscopic image display device including the same, capable of fast vertical alignment as well as quick horizontal alignment of liquid crystals.

In addition, the present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device that does not occur 3D crosstalk phenomenon even if the viewer tilts his head.

Sub panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate having a first electrode layer formed on one surface; A second substrate disposed spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second electrode layer formed on a surface facing the first electrode layer to form a vertical electric field when voltage is applied; A liquid crystal layer formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; And a plurality of strip electrodes which are electrically insulated from the inner surface of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, and form horizontal or fringe electric fields in the liquid crystal layer when a voltage is applied.

At this time, the quarter-wave phase delay layer is formed on the outer surface of the first substrate or the second substrate.

And a first power supply unit for forming a vertical electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to both ends of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

The apparatus may further include a second power supply unit configured to form a fringe electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the strip electrode and the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer on which the strip electrode is formed.

Alternatively, a third power supply unit may alternately form a first strip electrode and a second strip electrode, and form a horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a main panel configured to alternately display a first image and a second image; A sub-panel converting the first image displayed on the main panel into first circularly polarized light and converting the second image to second circularly polarized light; And polarizing glasses to which the first circularly polarized light and the second circularly polarized light are respectively incident.

The sub-panel further includes: a first substrate having a first electrode layer formed on one surface thereof and a 1/4 wavelength phase delay layer formed on the other surface thereof; A second substrate disposed spaced apart from the first electrode layer and having a second electrode layer formed on a surface facing the first electrode layer to form a vertical electric field when voltage is applied; A liquid crystal layer formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; And a plurality of strip electrodes which are electrically insulated from the inner surface of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, and form a horizontal electric field or a fringe electric field in the liquid crystal layer when a voltage is applied.

The main panel has a first section in which a first image is displayed, a second section in which a second image is displayed, and a third section in which no image is displayed between the first section and the second section, and the sub The horizontal electric field or fringe electric field of the panel is applied to the liquid crystal layer at a time point corresponding to the third section.

According to the present invention, since the vertical alignment of the liquid crystal as well as the rapid horizontal alignment is possible, since the first image and the second image are transmitted to the viewer without mixing, high-quality stereoscopic images can be provided.

In addition, since the first image and the second image are converted to circularly polarized light, 3D crosstalk does not occur even when the viewer tilts their head.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a response state of liquid crystals when an electric field is applied to a sub-panel according to the related art and when no electric field is applied;
2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a sub-panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which liquid crystals are vertically aligned when a vertical electric field is formed in a sub-panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a fringe electric field is formed in a sub-panel according to an embodiment of the present invention so that liquid crystals are horizontally aligned again;
6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a horizontal electric field is formed in a sub-panel according to another embodiment of the present invention so that liquid crystals are aligned horizontally again.
FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the strip electrode structure of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating a relationship between a display period of a first image and a second image of a main panel and a horizontal electric field and vertical electric field formation period of a sub panel.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It should be understood that the drawings in the present application are shown to be enlarged or reduced for convenience of description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2, a stereoscopic image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a main panel 200 that alternately displays a first image and a second image, and the first panel displayed on the main panel 200. A sub-panel 300 for converting the image into the first circularly polarized light and converting the second image into the second circularly polarized light, and a polarizing glasses 400 to which the first and second circularly polarized light are incident, respectively. .

The main panel 200 according to the present embodiment may be implemented as a panel of various display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display (PDP), an organic light emitting display (OLED), and the like. In the embodiment, a liquid crystal display device will be described.

The liquid crystal display is divided into a backlight unit 100, which serves as a light source, and a main panel 200, which forms an image by controlling light provided from the backlight unit 100.

Since the general configuration of the backlight unit 100 will be apparent to those skilled in the art, further detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted, and in addition to the side type backlight shown in FIG.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 1, the main panel 200 includes a main liquid crystal layer 230 between the TFT substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220, and the TFT substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220. The first polarizing plate 240 and the second polarizing plate 250 are attached to the outer surface, respectively. In this case, the polarization axes of the first polarizing plate 240 and the second polarizing plate 250 are formed to be orthogonal to each other, and are configured to control light according to the direction of the liquid crystal. In this case, all images passing through the main panel 200 are linearly polarized light.

The main panel 200 alternately displays a first image to be incident to the observer's left eye and a second image to be incident to the right eye in order to implement a stereoscopic image, and the first image and the second image are arranged in a predetermined order and time. Are displayed alternately.

The sub panel 300 changes polarization information of the first image and the second image that have passed through the main panel 200. That is, the polarization directions of the first image and the second image are differently converted and provided to the left eye lens 410 and the right eye lens 420 of the polarizing glasses 400 to provide a stereoscopic image to the viewer. At this time, the left circular circular polarizing plate is attached to the left eye lens 410 of the polarizing glasses 400, and the right circular circular polarizing plate is attached to the right eye lens 420.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sub-panel 300 is spaced apart from the first substrate 310 having the first electrode layer 311 formed thereon and the first substrate 310, and generates a vertical electric field when voltage is applied. A second substrate 320 having a second electrode layer 321 formed on a surface facing the first electrode layer 311, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first electrode layer 311 and the second electrode layer 321. 330, and a plurality of electrical insulating layers formed on the inner surface of the first electrode layer 311 or the second electrode layer 321 to form a horizontal electric field or a fringe electric field in the liquid crystal layer 330 when a voltage is applied. Strip electrode 340.

The first substrate 310 and the second substrate 320 are composed of a transparent substrate and have a predetermined distance so that the liquid crystal layer 330 can be filled. The first substrate 310 and the second substrate 320 are formed on the surface facing each other, the first electrode layer 311 and the second electrode layer 321 is formed when the voltage is applied by the first power supply unit (V1) liquid crystal layer A vertical electric field is formed at 330. In this case, since forming a uniform vertical electric field in the entire liquid crystal layer 330 is advantageous for vertically aligning the liquid crystal as a whole, it is preferable that the first electrode layer 311 and the second electrode layer 321 use a through electrode. Here, vertical is defined as being substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane (flat surface) of the first substrate 310 and the second substrate 320.

An alignment layer is formed between the first substrate 310 and the second substrate 320 and the liquid crystal layer 330. The alignment film may be a polymer polymer such as polyimide, and the liquid crystal is aligned in a predetermined direction along the rubbing direction of the alignment film. However, the alignment layer may be selected from one of a horizontal alignment layer, a vertical alignment layer and a photo alignment layer.

Depending on the type of the alignment layer and the rubbing direction, the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 330 may be aligned in a vertical or horizontal direction with respect to the flat surface of the first substrate 310. If the liquid crystal is twisted by more than 90 degrees, such as TN or STN mode, the response characteristics of the liquid crystal are relatively degraded by a vertical electric field or a horizontal electric field, and thus, it is difficult to quickly change the direction of the liquid crystal.

Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid crystals are oriented in the vertical or horizontal direction without being twisted in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer. Since the liquid crystal layer 330 has excellent response characteristics to the vertical electric field and the horizontal electric field, it is suitable to switch the direction of the liquid crystal in a very short period as will be described later. In this case, when the liquid crystal is switched in the horizontal direction, the liquid crystal is arranged to be inclined by 45 ° with the polarization axes of the first image and the second image displayed on the main panel 200.

In addition, a plurality of strip electrodes 340 are disposed on the inner surface of the second electrode layer 321 to form a fringe field in the liquid crystal layer 330 when a voltage is applied. By this intentional fringe electric field, the liquid crystal aligned vertically to the substrate can be quickly restored to its original state. Hereinafter, the plurality of strip electrodes 340 will be described as being formed on the inner surface of the second electrode layer 321, but it will be apparent that the strip electrodes 340 may be formed on the first electrode layer 311. In this case, an insulating layer is formed between the strip electrode 340 and the second electrode layer 321 to be electrically insulated.

The sub panel 300 may emit light by changing only the polarization axes of the linearly polarized light of the first image and the second image (eg, the first image is 45 ° linearly polarized and the second image is 135 ° linearly polarized). Since the transmission axis of the polarizing glasses is inclined according to the head tilt, there is a problem that 3D crosstalk occurs in which the first image and the second image are mixed, and thus the first and second images are converted into circularly polarized light. It is preferable.

Therefore, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the 1/4 wavelength phase delay layer 350 is formed on the outer surface of the first substrate 310 or the outer surface of the second substrate 320 to pass through the sub-panel 300. The first image and the second image are converted into circular polarized light.

Hereinafter, the response state in which the liquid crystals are aligned by the vertical electric field and the horizontal electric field will be described. First, when the first image is emitted from the main panel 200, a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 311 and the second electrode layer 321 by the first power supply unit V1 as shown in FIG. 4 to form the liquid crystal layer 330. In (), a vertical electric field is formed so that the liquid crystals are vertically aligned. Therefore, the first image incident through the main panel 200 does not feel birefringence and passes through the sub panel 300 as it is. Thereafter, the first image is converted into right circularly polarized light by the quarter wavelength phase delay layer 350, and the right circularly polarized light is incident only to the right eye lens 420 to which the right circular polarizing plate is attached.

In addition, when the second image is emitted from the main panel 200, a voltage is applied to the second electrode layer 321 and the strip electrode 340 by the second power supply unit V2 as shown in FIG. 5, and thus the liquid crystal layer 330. Since a fringe field is formed within the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal is restored horizontally again. In this case, since the liquid crystal is aligned in the horizontal direction by the fringe electric field, the liquid crystal is restored much faster than when the liquid crystal is restored by its physical properties. Accordingly, the second image incident through the main panel 200 feels birefringence of λ / 2 retardation so that the polarization direction is rotated by 90 ° and then left by the quarter wavelength phase delay layer 350. It is converted to polarized light and emitted. The left circularly polarized light is incident only to the left eye lens 410 to which the left circular circularly polarizing plate is attached.

With this configuration, since the first image and the second image are incident on the right eye lens and the left eye lens of the observer, the observer feels a three-dimensional effect due to binocular disparity.

However, various configurations may be applied to the configuration of applying a horizontal electric field to the liquid crystal layer, in addition to the fringe field described above. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the strip electrode 340 includes the first strip electrode 341 and the second strip electrode 342, and the first strip electrode 341 is formed by the third power supply unit V3. ) And a second strip electrode 342 may be applied.

Therefore, when a voltage is applied by the third power supply unit V3, a potential difference is generated between the first strip electrode 341 and the second strip electrode 342, thereby causing an in-plain electric field in the liquid crystal layer 330. ) Can be formed.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating a relationship between a display period of a first image and a second image of a main panel and a horizontal electric field and vertical electric field formation period of a sub panel.

First, the main panel 200 has a preset frame, and the frame includes a first sub frame displaying a first image and a second sub frame displaying a second image. Therefore, the first image is displayed in the first sub frame for a predetermined period, and then the second image is displayed in the second sub frame. After that, the first image and the second image are repeated in the same manner.

In this case, a third section W3 in which no image is displayed may be provided between the first section W1 in which the first image is displayed and the second section W2 in which the second image is displayed. The third section W3 may have a relatively short period compared to the first section W1 and the second section W2 so that the observer does not feel the disconnection of the image. The third section W3 and the section T1 forming the horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer 330 of the sub-panel 300 may coincide with each other.

With this configuration, since the liquid crystal has a quick response time and is restored in the horizontal direction by the horizontal electric field in the third section W3, the second image displayed thereafter has an advantage of providing the viewer with a more three-dimensional image without deterioration of image quality. have. If the second image is incident before the liquid crystal lies completely horizontally, part of the second image becomes an elliptical polarization instead of the left circular polarization, so that the left eye image is incident not only to the left eye lens but also to the right eye lens.

Similarly, after the vertical electric field is emitted from the second image, it is preferable to form an electric field in the section T2 corresponding to the third section W3 from which the first image is emitted again. At this time, in order to switch the direction of the liquid crystal vertically or horizontally at a high speed in a period corresponding to the third section, it is preferable to select a liquid crystal mode having excellent response characteristics and to apply a high voltage to the liquid crystal layer.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

100: backlight unit 200: main panel
300: subpanel 310: first substrate
311: first electrode layer 312: first alignment layer
320: second substrate 321: second electrode layer
322: second alignment layer 330: liquid crystal layer
340: strip electrode 341: first strip electrode
342: second strip electrode 400: polarized glasses

Claims (15)

A sub-panel which converts polarization information of a first image and a second image displayed on a main panel to provide a stereoscopic image to an observer wearing polarized glasses.
A first substrate having a first electrode layer formed on one surface thereof;
A second substrate disposed spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second electrode layer formed on a surface facing the first electrode layer to form a vertical electric field when voltage is applied;
A liquid crystal layer formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; And
It includes a plurality of strip electrodes which are electrically insulated from the inner surface of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, and forms a fringe electric field or a horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer when a voltage is applied,
The liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is vertically aligned with the first substrate by the vertical electric field, and when the fringe electric field or the horizontal electric field is formed, the sub-panel is aligned horizontally with the first substrate. The sub-panel according to claim 1, wherein a quarter wavelength phase delay layer is attached to an outer surface of the first substrate or an outer surface of the second substrate. The sub-panel of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer has an initial alignment direction oriented vertically or horizontally with respect to the flat surface of the first substrate. The liquid crystal display of claim 3, wherein a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer are respectively formed between the first and second substrates and the liquid crystal layer, and the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are any one of a vertical alignment layer, a horizontal alignment layer, and a photo alignment layer. Sub-panel. The sub panel of claim 1, further comprising a first power supply unit configured to form a vertical electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to both ends of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The sub panel of claim 5, further comprising a second power supply unit configured to form a fringe electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the strip electrode and the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer on which the strip electrode is formed. The liquid crystal display of claim 5, wherein the strip electrode is formed by alternately forming a first strip electrode and a second strip electrode, and forms a horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode. 3 sub panel including a power supply. A main panel for alternately displaying a first image and a second image;
A sub-panel converting the first image displayed on the main panel into first circularly polarized light and converting the second image to second circularly polarized light; And
And polarizing glasses to which the first circularly polarized light and the second circularly polarized light are respectively incident.
The sub-panel,
A first substrate having a first electrode layer formed on one surface thereof and a quarter wavelength phase delay layer formed on the other surface thereof;
A second substrate disposed spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second electrode layer formed on a surface facing the first electrode layer to form a vertical electric field when voltage is applied;
A liquid crystal layer formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; And
A plurality of strip electrodes formed on the inner surface of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer to be electrically insulated, and forming a horizontal electric field or a fringe electric field on the liquid crystal layer when a voltage is applied;
The liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is vertically aligned with the first substrate by the vertical electric field, and when the fringe electric field or the horizontal electric field is formed, the stereoscopic image display device is aligned horizontally with the first substrate. delete The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the main panel includes a first section in which a first image is displayed, a second section in which a second image is displayed, and a third section in which no image is displayed between the first section and the second section. And a horizontal electric field or a fringe electric field of the sub-panel is applied to the liquid crystal layer at a time point corresponding to the third section. The stereoscopic image display device of claim 8, wherein an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is vertically or horizontally aligned with respect to the flat surface of the first substrate. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer are formed between the first and second substrates and the liquid crystal layer, respectively, wherein the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are any one of a vertical alignment layer, a horizontal alignment layer, and a photo alignment layer. Stereoscopic image display device. The stereoscopic image display device of claim 8, further comprising a first power supply unit configured to form a vertical electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to both ends of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The stereoscopic image display device of claim 13, further comprising a second power supply unit configured to form a fringe electric field on the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the strip electrode and the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer on which the strip electrode is formed. The liquid crystal display of claim 13, wherein the strip electrode is formed by alternately forming a first strip electrode and a second strip electrode, and forms a horizontal electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode. 3D image display device including a power supply.

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