KR102556964B1 - Flim Type Lens Cell For Autostereoscopic 3-Dimensional Display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an autostereoscopic 3D image display device implementing multiple viewing areas using a lenticular lens. The film-type lens cell according to the present invention includes a lower film, a lower transparent electrode, an upper film, an upper transparent electrode, an upper alignment layer, a lenticular lens layer, a liquid crystal layer, a side seal, and a pad open pattern. A lower transparent electrode is applied on one surface of the lower film. An upper transparent electrode is applied on one surface of the upper film. An upper alignment film is applied over the upper transparent electrode. A lenticular lens layer is disposed on the lower transparent electrode. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the lenticular lens layer and the upper alignment layer. The side seal seals the rim between the lower and upper films. The pad open pattern is disposed on the lenticular lens layer to expose a part of the lower transparent electrode extending out of the side seal.

Description

Film type lens cell for autostereoscopic 3-dimensional display {Flim Type Lens Cell For Autostereoscopic 3-Dimensional Display}

The present invention relates to a film-type lens cell applied to an autostereoscopic 3D display device implementing multiple viewing areas (or multi-view). In particular, the present invention relates to a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic image display device having an open pattern in a pad portion for applying a voltage.

Due to the development of stereoscopic image display technology, technology for reproducing stereoscopic images is applied to display devices such as televisions and monitors, enabling anyone to enjoy stereoscopic (or 3D) images anywhere. A 3D image display device can be defined as "a system for artificially reproducing a 3D image".

The reason why a person visually feels a three-dimensional effect is due to binocular disparity that appears when the eyes are separated by 65 mm in a horizontal direction. Because of binocular parallax, the human eye sees images viewed from slightly different angles even when looking at the same object.

A stereoscopic image display device displays both left and right eye images on a two-dimensional display device using a binocular parallax mechanism, and creates a virtual three-dimensional effect through a design that accurately transmits images to the left and right eyes. As a method for implementing binocular parallax, a glasses method and a glasses-free method have been developed, respectively.

In the glasses-free method related to the present invention, a left eye image and a right eye image are simultaneously displayed, and the optical axis of each image is separated and provided separately to the left eye and the right eye. The glasses-free method can be further divided into a parallax barrier method, a lenticular lens method, and an integral photography method. In the parallax barrier method, vertical lattice-shaped apertures are installed on the front surface of the display panel to provide separate left-eye images and right-eye images. In the lenticular lens method, a lens film in which semi-cylindrical lenses are continuously arranged is attached to the front of a display panel to provide separate left-eye images and right-eye images. In the integral photography method, a left-eye image and a right-eye image are separated and provided using a lens plate in the shape of a dragonfly's eye.

A lenticular lens applied to a lenticular lens-type autostereoscopic image display device may be implemented as a switchable lens cell in order to actively switch between a 2D mode and a 3D mode. The switchable lens cell is an optical element in which a lenticular lens function is turned on or off depending on whether a voltage is applied. In order to implement a lenticular lens method using a switchable lens cell, a means for applying an external electrical signal should be further provided compared to the case of using a fixed lens film. is being requested. Therefore, structural features for smoothly applying electrical signals are required.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above problems, and to provide a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device having an open pattern in a pad part for applying a voltage. Another object of the present invention is to provide a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device in which a pad portion is opened without a separate subsequent process.

In order to achieve the above object, the film-type lens cell according to the present invention includes a lower film, a lower transparent electrode, an upper film, an upper transparent electrode, an upper alignment layer, a lenticular lens layer, a liquid crystal layer, a side seal, and a pad open pattern. . A lower transparent electrode is applied on one surface of the lower film. An upper transparent electrode is applied on one surface of the upper film. An upper alignment film is applied over the upper transparent electrode. A lenticular lens layer is disposed on the lower transparent electrode. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the lenticular lens layer and the upper alignment layer. The side seal seals the rim between the lower and upper films. The pad open pattern is disposed on the lenticular lens layer to expose a part of the lower transparent electrode extending out of the side seal.

For example, in the lenticular lens layer, a plurality of lenticular lenses having a semi-cylindrical shape are continuously disposed. An upper surface of the lenticular lens layer is bonded to the upper alignment layer by contacting with it.

For example, in the pad open pattern, a plurality of square shapes are arranged at regular intervals.

For example, in the pad open pattern, line segments having a predetermined length are arranged in parallel at regular intervals.

For example, a plurality of pad open patterns are distributed within a certain area. A lens residual pattern is disposed between each pad open pattern.

For example, the pad open pattern is disposed on at least one side of the lenticular lens layer.

The present invention provides a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device in which a part of a pad part is exposed. Accordingly, the pad portion of the film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device may be exposed without a separate subsequent process. Since a subsequent process for exposing the pad part is not performed, damage to the pad part does not occur due to the process of exposing the pad part. In particular, the pad open pattern exposing the pad part opens some electrodes on one side of the lens sheet. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent corrosion or damage to the exposed electrodes from spreading to all of the electrodes.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a driving method of a film type lens cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic view showing the structure of a lens sheet of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic view showing the structure of a lens sheet of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers throughout the specification indicate substantially the same elements. In the following description, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known technology or configuration related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, component names used in the following description may be selected in consideration of ease of writing specifications, and may be different from names of parts of actual products.

<First Embodiment>

Hereinafter, a film type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D image display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A film-type lens cell (LCM) for an autostereoscopic image display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a lower film (FL), an upper film (FU), a lower transparent electrode (EL), and an upper transparent electrode (EU). , a lenticular lens layer (LN), a liquid crystal layer (LC), an upper alignment layer (AU), and a side seal (SE). A lens pad terminal LPD extending from the lower transparent electrode EL to the outside of the side seal SE may be exposed at one end of the film-type lens cell LCM. The lens pad terminal LPD may be connected to the film type printed circuit board FPC. A film type printed circuit board (FPC) is a means for connecting with an external device (not shown). The lens pad LPC may be electrically connected to the pad terminal PD formed on the film-type printed circuit board FPC by using a conductive connection film ACF such as an anisotropy conductive film.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , a specific structure of the film type lens cell (LCM) will be described. A lower transparent electrode EL made of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) is coated on the entire upper surface of the lower film FL. A lenticular lens layer LN is formed on the lower transparent electrode EL. Here, in the lenticular lens layer LN, half-cylindrical lenses are continuously arranged with a predetermined tilt angle.

An upper transparent electrode EU is coated on the entire lower surface of the upper film FU. An upper alignment layer AU is coated on the upper transparent electrode EU. The lower surface of the upper film FU and the upper surface of the lower film FL face each other and are bonded together. In particular, the surface of the upper transparent electrode EU of the upper film FU is bonded to the uppermost surface of the lenticular lens layer LN. A liquid crystal layer LC is filled between the lenticular lens layer LN and the upper transparent electrode EU. Edges of the bonded upper film FU and lower film FL are sealed with side seals SE. The side seal SE prevents liquid crystal materials of the liquid crystal layer LC filled therein from leaking to the outside.

An alignment pattern (or an alignment pattern) for determining an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer LC may be engraved on the upper alignment layer AU disposed on the lower surface of the upper film FU. Also, an alignment pattern may be engraved on an outer surface of the lenticular lens layer LN that contacts the liquid crystal layer LC. The alignment pattern of the lenticular lens layer (LN) and the alignment pattern of the upper alignment layer (AU) may be determined according to the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal layer (LC).

The liquid crystal layer LC is a refractive index anisotropic material, and has different refractive indices according to directions of liquid crystal molecules. For example, the liquid crystal layer LC has a major axis direction refractive index ne and a minor axis direction refractive index no. Here, it is preferable that the refractive index ne of the liquid crystal layer LC and the refractive index ne of the lenticular lens layer LN are the same. Also, the refractive index no in the minor axis direction is preferably smaller than the refractive index ne in the major axis direction.

The liquid crystal layer LC is driven according to a potential difference between the upper transparent electrode EU and the lower transparent electrode EL. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a driving method of the film type lens cell (LCM) according to the present invention will be described. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a driving method of a film type lens cell (LCM) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

For example, when the potential difference is 0V, the initial alignment state is maintained, and the major axis direction of the liquid crystal layer LC is disposed parallel to the plane of the film type lens cell LCM. Since the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer LC are arranged in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the lenticular lens LN, the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. In this case, the incident light 100 incident from the lower film FL of the film-type lens cell LCM is incident in the long axis direction of the liquid crystal layer LC having the same refractive index as that of the lenticular lens LN. Accordingly, since a uniform material having no difference in refractive index is filled between the upper film FU and the lower film FL, the incident light 100 is transmitted through the lenticular lens layer LN without any effect. That is, the emitted light 200 maintains the same state as the incident light 100 .

On the other hand, when the potential difference between the upper transparent electrode EU and the lower transparent electrode EL is 5V, the liquid crystal layer LC is aligned vertically between the upper transparent electrode EU and the lower transparent electrode EL. It changes. As a result, the incident light 100 is incident in the direction of the minor axis of the liquid crystal layer LC having a smaller refractive index than that of the lenticular lens LN. Therefore, the lens function of the lenticular lens layer LN is operated between the upper film FU and the lower film FL. That is, the emitted light 210 has a state in which the incident light 100 is condensed by the lenticular lens layer LN.

In the film-type lens cell (LCM) according to the present invention, the lenticular lens layer (LN) can be turned on or off by adjusting the potential difference between the upper transparent electrode (EU) and the lower transparent electrode (EL). As a result, it is possible to freely switch between an autostereoscopic image and a normal 2D image. For example, when a 2D image is provided on the display panel, the lens function of the film-type lens cell (LCM) of the present invention is turned off, and when a 3D image is provided, the lens function is turned on, Optionally, a glasses-free stereoscopic image function is provided.

<Second Embodiment>

In order to drive the film-type lens cell (LCM) according to the present invention, the upper transparent electrode EU and the lower transparent electrode EL, which extend outside the side chamber SE, must be exposed. In the case of the upper transparent electrode EU, since the structure is covered by the upper alignment layer AU, the end portion of the upper transparent electrode EU can be exposed without much difficulty by removing the upper alignment layer AU. In addition, since one end portion of the upper alignment layer AU having a uniform thickness is removed, no damage occurs to the upper transparent electrode EU after removal.

However, in the case of the lower transparent electrode EL, it is covered by the lenticular lens layer LN. Unlike the upper alignment layer AU, the lenticular lens layer LN is very thick, its thickness is not constant, and its thickness difference is very large. This is because the lenticular lens layer LN has semi-cylindrical lenses continuously arranged. Therefore, it is not easy to remove the lenticular lens layer LN.

For example, in order to remove a part of the lenticular lens layer (LN), there is a method of melting and removing using a solvent. In this case, a portion of the lower transparent electrode EL exposed during the removal process may be removed together. As a result, electrical characteristics of the lower transparent electrode EL may deteriorate, and voltage may not be normally applied. Due to this, if the lens function does not operate normally, it is impossible to normally recognize a stereoscopic image.

In another method, before forming the lenticular lens layer (LN) on the lower transparent electrode (EL), after attaching the masking tape to the lens pad (LP) region, and after forming the lenticular lens layer (LN), the masking tape is By removing it, the lens pad LP can be exposed. In this case, a defect may occur in the process of forming the lenticular lens layer LN due to a step between the outer portion with the masking tape and the lenticular lens layer LN disposed in the display area without the masking tape. In addition, in the process of exposing the lens pad LP by removing the masking tape, a part of the peripheral lenticular lens layer LN may also be torn off, resulting in a defect.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a film type lens cell (LCM) having a structure in which the lenticular lens layer (LC) is selectively removed from the pad area. Hereinafter, a film type lens cell (LCM) in which the lenticular lens layer (LC) is selectively removed from the pad area according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 . 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a film type lens cell (LCM) for an autostereoscopic image display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a lower film (FL), an upper film (FU), a lower transparent electrode (EL), It includes an upper transparent electrode (EU), a lenticular lens layer (LN), a liquid crystal layer (LC), an upper alignment layer (AU), a side seal (SE), and a pad open pattern (LNO). Redundant descriptions of the same components as those of the film-type lens cell (LCM) according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be omitted.

The pad open pattern LNO has a shape obtained by selectively removing a portion of the end of the lenticular lens layer LN exposed to the outside of the side seal SE. The lens pad terminal (LPD) is. A portion extending from the lower transparent electrode EL to the outside of the side seal SE and exposed by the pad open pattern LNO. Around the pad open pattern LNO, there is a residual lens pattern LNP in which the lenticular lens layer LN remains.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the lens pad terminal LPD may be connected to the film type printed circuit board FPC. A film type printed circuit board (FPC) is a means for connecting with an external device (not shown). The lens pad LPD may be electrically connected to the pad terminal PD formed on the film-type printed circuit board FPC by using a connection member ACF such as an anisotropy conductive film.

Hereinafter, a lens sheet (LNS) of a film type lens cell (LCM) for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 . 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a lens sheet of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The lens sheet LNS includes a lower film FL, a lower transparent electrode EL, and a lenticular lens layer LN. The lens sheet (LNS) is the most essential part in forming the film type lens cell (LCM). Considering productivity, the lens sheet LNS is a roll in the process of depositing the lower transparent electrode EL on the lower film FL and forming the lenticular lens layer LN on the lower transparent electrode EL. ) is preferred.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the lens sheet LNS is wound around a roll ROL. Although not shown in FIG. 4 , a lower transparent electrode EL is deposited on the entire surface of one side of the lens sheet LNS. A lenticular lens layer LN is formed on one surface on which the lower transparent electrode EL is deposited. The lenticular lens layer LN has a structure in which a plurality of lenticular lenses are disposed obliquely at a predetermined angle.

A pad open pattern LNO is formed on at least one of both side edges of the lens sheet LNS. For example, the pad open pattern LNO may have a checkerboard (or chessboard) shape. That is, pad open patterns LNOs having a plurality of squares may be arranged at regular intervals. In this case, a lens residual pattern LNP may be disposed between the pad off patterns LNO. The remaining lens pattern (LNP) is the remaining lenticular lens layer (LN).

Since the pad open pattern LNO is a pattern for exposing one end of the lower transparent electrode EL, it is preferable to be disposed on the side edge of the lens sheet LNS instead of the central area. In particular, it is preferable to expose only a part of the side edge of the lens sheet LNS rather than all of the side edges of the pad open pattern LNO. Therefore, it is preferable that the pad open patterns LNO are distributed at regular intervals on the side portions of the lens sheet LNS. For example, it may have a structure in which several pad open patterns (LNOs) are gathered in a certain area.

In the lens sheet LNS, the pad open pattern LNO preferably corresponds to the non-display area NA of the display panel. Also, it is preferable that the center area of the lens sheet LNS where the pad open pattern LNO is not formed corresponds to the display area AA of the display panel.

<Third Embodiment>

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 . The third embodiment relates to a different shape of the pad open pattern LNO formed on the lens sheet LNS. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a lens sheet of a film-type lens cell for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The lens sheet LNS according to the third embodiment has basically the same structure as the lens sheet LNS according to the second embodiment. If there is a difference, it is in the shape of the pad open pattern (LNO). Therefore, here, the description will focus on the shape of the pad open pattern LNO.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the lens sheet LNS according to the third embodiment includes a pad open pattern LNO formed on at least one of both side edges of the lens sheet LNS. In particular, the pad open pattern LNO may have a line segment shape having a predetermined length. The line segment shape has a straight line shape, and a plurality of them may be arranged in parallel. In particular, the line segment shape may be disposed in the longitudinal direction of the lens sheet LNS. As another example, the pad open pattern LNL may have a wavy line segment shape having a predetermined length. A lens residual pattern (LNP) in which the lenticular lens layer (LN) remains may be disposed between the line segment-shaped pad open patterns (LNO).

Since the pad open pattern LNO is a pattern for exposing one end of the lower transparent electrode EL, it is preferable to be disposed on the side edge of the lens sheet LNS instead of the central area. In particular, it is preferable to expose only a part of the side edge of the lens sheet LNS rather than all of the side edges of the pad open pattern LNO. Therefore, it is preferable that the pad open patterns LNO are distributed at regular intervals on the side portions of the lens sheet LNS. For example, it may have a structure in which several pad open patterns (LNOs) are gathered in a certain area.

In the lens sheet LNS, the pad open pattern LNO preferably corresponds to the non-display area NA of the display panel. Also, it is preferable that the center area of the lens sheet LNS where the pad open pattern LNO is not formed corresponds to the display area AA of the display panel.

In addition, the pad open pattern LNO exposing the pad, which is the end of the lower transparent electrode EL, opens only a portion of the electrode at one side of the lens sheet LNS. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the entire lower transparent electrode EL from being damaged due to the spread of corrosion or damage to the exposed lower transparent electrode EL.

Through the above description, those skilled in the art will be able to make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be defined by the claims.

DP: Display panel LCM: Film type lens cell
FU: upper film FL: lower film
EU: upper transparent electrode EL: lower transparent electrode
LC: liquid crystal layer LN: lenticular lens layer
SE: side seal AU: upper alignment layer
LNS: Lens sheet LNO: Pad open pattern

Claims (6)

bottom film;
a lower transparent electrode applied on one surface of the lower film;
top film;
an upper transparent electrode applied on one surface of the upper film;
an upper alignment layer applied on the upper transparent electrode;
a lenticular lens layer disposed on the lower transparent electrode;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the lenticular lens layer and the upper alignment layer;
a side seal sealing an edge between the lower film and the upper film; and
A film-type lens cell comprising a pad open pattern disposed on the lenticular lens layer to expose a portion of the lower transparent electrode extending out of the side seal.
According to claim 1,
In the lenticular lens layer, a plurality of lenticular lenses having a semi-cylindrical shape are continuously disposed,
A film-type lens cell in which an upper surface of the lenticular lens layer is in contact with and bonded to the upper alignment layer.
According to claim 1,
The pad open pattern,
A film-type lens cell in which a plurality of square shapes are arranged at regular intervals.
According to claim 1,
The pad open pattern,
A film type lens cell in which line segments having a certain length are arranged in parallel at regular intervals.
According to claim 1,
The pad open pattern,
A large number of them are distributed in a certain area,
A film-type lens cell in which a lens residual pattern is disposed between each of the pad open patterns.
According to claim 1,
The pad open pattern,
A film-type lens cell disposed on at least one side of the lenticular lens layer.

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