KR20130027932A - Stereoscopic image display device and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A tree-dimensional image display device and an operating method are provided to simultaneously implement a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image on one screen by including a switchable optical board. CONSTITUTION: A switchable optical board(40) individually controls each block. A switchable optical board operating unit(140) differently offer operating power in a combination mode based on the switchable optical board control unit. An image processing unit(170) outputs image data in a two-dimensional mode, converts the image data according to a view control signal, and simultaneously implements a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image by confirming the size and location of the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image in the combination mode.

Description

Stereoscopic Display and Driving Method {STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a switchable stereoscopic image display device and a driving method thereof.

The stereoscopic image display apparatus is divided into a binocular parallax technique and an autostereoscopic technique. The binocular parallax method uses a parallax image of the left and right eyes with a large stereoscopic effect, and there are glasses and no glasses, both of which are put to practical use. The spectacle method displays polarized light by changing polarization of left and right parallax images on a direct view display device or a projector and implements a stereoscopic image using polarized glasses, or displays a left and right parallax image in a time division method and implements a stereoscopic image using a shutter glasses. In the autostereoscopic method, a switchable optical plate such as a switchable barrier and a switchable lens is generally used to realize a stereoscopic image by separating an optical axis of a parallax image.

The switchable optical plate may selectively view 2D and 3D images by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal. However, the 3D image display device having a switchable optical plate is capable of switching between 2D and 3D images on the entire screen, but it is impossible to simultaneously implement 2D and 3D on one screen. Accordingly, some images such as text in various applications such as 3D games, movies, etc. are not easy to read when implemented in 3D. Therefore, there is a need to simultaneously implement 2D and 3D images in a stereoscopic image display device.

The present invention provides a stereoscopic image display apparatus and a driving method thereof, which simultaneously implement 2D and 3D images on one screen and adjust the number of views of stereoscopic images according to the number of viewers.

In order to achieve the above object, a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a display panel for displaying a 2D image, a 3D image and a mixed image thereof, a plurality of blocks are disposed on the display panel And a switchable optical plate configured to pass or partially block light generated from the display panel as it is, to output 2D image, 3D image, and mixed image, and output 2D image data input in 2D mode as it is, and input in 3D mode. An image processor for outputting 3D image data together with control signals and controlling a region corresponding to a 2D image by checking the position and size of the 2D image among the mixed image data by analyzing mixed image data input in the mixed mode; The driving voltage is supplied to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to transmit all the light in the mode, and the light is partially supplied in the 3D mode. A switchable voltage supplying driving voltages to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier so as to be cut off, and supplying driving voltages to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially transmit light while partially blocking light in the mixed mode. It may include an optical plate driver.

The image processor may check the position and size of the 2D image among the mixed image data, render the 2D image data at the position of the 2D image, and render 3D image data except the position of the 2D image.

The 3D image may be implemented in the entire screen through the 3D image data, and the 2D image may be covered at the position of the 2D image.

The driving of the block of the switchable optical plate corresponding to the position of the 2D image may be turned off.

The switchable optical plate partially blocks light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode to implement a multi-view image, and the image processor is configured to respectively display the first and second view modes according to the view control signal in the 3D mode. The 3D image data is converted into multi-view image data according to the number of preset views, and the switchable optical plate driver is configured to display the preset view in each of the first and second view modes according to the view control signal in the 3D mode. Driving voltages may be supplied to the split electrodes of the switchable optical plate so as to form barriers in a number of ways.

The image processor extracts a depth map from the input image data, calculates a disparity using a depth representing a three-dimensional effect in the depth map, and applies the disparity to the view control signal in the 3D mode. Generate first to n th (n is a natural number) view image data according to the number of preset views in any one of the first and second view modes, and then, the first to n th view image data are added to the panel view map. The multiview image data may be output by arranging accordingly.

The panel view map may be a vertical view map for vertically arranging each of the first to nth view image data, or a slanted view map for arranging each of the first to nth view image data diagonally.

The switchable optical plate may be formed on at least 64 block units which can be driven separately on the substrate.

The switchable optical plate may implement a lens or a barrier by rotating liquid crystal molecules present in the liquid crystal layer between the lower substrate and the upper substrate according to the voltage difference between the common electrode and the split electrodes.

In addition, the driving method of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a display panel for displaying a 2D image, a 3D image, and a mixed image thereof are arranged on the display panel in a plurality of block units, the display A stereoscopic image display device including a switchable optical plate configured to pass or partially block light generated from a panel as it is to realize 2D image, 3D image, and mixed image, and outputs 2D image data input in 2D mode as it is. Outputs the 3D image data input in the 3D mode together with the control signals, and analyzes the mixed image data input in the mixed mode to check the position and size of the 2D image among the mixed image data to control an area corresponding to the 2D image. And supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier so as to transmit all the light in the 2D mode. The driving voltage is supplied to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially block the light in the mode, and the driving voltage is supplied to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially transmit the light while partially blocking the light in the mixed mode. It may include the step of supplying.

A stereoscopic image display device and a driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention have an advantage that a 2D image and a 3D image can be simultaneously implemented on one screen by having a switchable optical plate divided into a plurality of blocks.

In addition, the stereoscopic image display apparatus and the driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention can optimally maintain the resolution and stereoscopic image quality of the stereoscopic image by converting the input image data according to a predetermined number of optimal views.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the switchable lens of the present invention in 2D and 3D modes.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a switchable barrier of the present invention.
4 is a plan view showing a switchable lens of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a 2D, 3D, and mixed image realization method of the image processor of FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart illustrating an image conversion method of the image processing unit of FIG. 1.
7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating an original image image, a depth map image image, first to third view image images, and a stereoscopic image image.
FIG. 8 illustrates a vertical view map in which first to fourth view image data are arranged vertically in a row; FIG.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a slotted view map in which first to fourth view image data are arranged obliquely diagonally; FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2a and 2b is a cross-sectional view showing a switchable lens of the present invention in 2D and 3D mode, Figure 3 is a present invention Is a cross-sectional view showing a switchable barrier of Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a switchable lens of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the stereoscopic image display apparatus of the present invention includes a display panel 10, a switchable optical plate 40, a gate driver 110, a data driver 120, a timing controller 130, and a switchable optical plate. The driver 140 includes a switchable optical plate controller 150, an image processor 170, a host system 160, and the like.

The display panel 10 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), OLED) such as a flat panel display device. Although the present invention has been exemplified by the liquid crystal display device in the following embodiment, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal display device. As the liquid crystal display device, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel that modulates light from the backlight unit may be selected.

The transmissive liquid crystal display panel includes a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter substrate. A liquid crystal layer is formed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate. On the TFT substrate, data lines and gate lines (or scan lines) are formed to cross each other, and liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix form in cell regions defined by the data lines and gate lines. The TFT formed at the intersection of the data lines and the gate lines transfers the data voltage supplied via the data lines to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell in response to a gate pulse (or scan pulse) from the gate line. For this purpose, the gate electrode of the TFT is connected to the gate line, and the source electrode is connected to the data line. The drain electrode of the TFT is connected to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell and the storage capacitor. The storage capacitor maintains the data voltage transferred to the pixel electrode for a predetermined time until the next data voltage comes in. The common voltage is supplied to the common electrode facing the pixel electrode.

A common electrode, a black matrix, a color filter, and the like are formed on the color filter substrate. The common electrode is formed on a TFT substrate in a vertical electric field driving method such as twisted nematic (TN) mode and vertical alignment (VA) mode, and a horizontal electric field driving such as IPS (In Plane Switching) mode and FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode. In the method, the pixel electrode is formed on the color filter substrate.

The display panel 10 displays 2D image data under the control of the timing controller 130 in the 2D mode. The display panel 10 displays the first to n th (n is two or more natural numbers) view images under the control of the timing controller 130 in the 3D mode. The view of the stereoscopic image is generated by spaced apart the cameras by binocular spacing of the general public and by taking an image of the object. For example, when photographing an object using nine cameras, the display panel 10 may display three-dimensional images of nine views. When the switchable optical plate 40 is a liquid crystal lens, images of the first to nth views are displayed for every pitch of the liquid crystal lens, and the liquid crystal lens displays the first to nth views of the first to nth views. By refraction in a viewpoint, a stereoscopic image is realized. When the switchable optical plate 40 is a liquid crystal barrier, images of the first to nth views are displayed for each pitch of the liquid crystal barrier, and the liquid crystal barrier barriers the first to nth view images to the first to nth view regions. By doing so, a stereoscopic image is realized. The first to n th view areas are areas where a stereoscopic image is substantially implemented, and the user may view an optimal stereoscopic image only when positioned in the first to n th view areas.

Meanwhile, when the display panel 10 is implemented as a transmissive liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit is required. The backlight unit includes a light source, a light guide plate (or diffusion plate), and a plurality of optical sheets that are turned on in accordance with a driving current supplied from the backlight unit driving unit. The backlight unit may be implemented as a direct type backlight unit or an edge type backlight unit. The light sources of the backlight unit may include one of a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), a light emitting diode (LED), or two or more light sources. .

The backlight unit driver generates a driving current for turning on light sources of the backlight unit. The backlight unit driver turns on / off a driving current supplied to the light sources under the control of the backlight controller. The backlight controller may include backlight control data including a duty ratio adjustment value of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to a global / local dimming signal (DIM) input from the host system 160 or the timing controller 130. The data is sent to the backlight driver in data format. The backlight controller may be built in the timing controller 130.

The data driver 120 includes a plurality of source drive ICs. The source drive ICs convert the 3D image data input from the timing controller 130 into the positive / negative gamma compensation voltage in the 3D mode to generate positive / negative analog data voltages. The source drive ICs convert the 2D image data input from the timing controller 130 into the positive / negative gamma compensation voltage in the 2D mode to generate positive / negative analog data voltages. Positive / negative analog data voltages output from the source drive ICs are supplied to the data lines of the display panel 10.

The gate driver 110 includes a plurality of gate drive integrated circuits each including a shift register, a level shifter for converting an output signal of the shift register into a swing width suitable for driving a TFT of a liquid crystal cell, an output buffer, and the like. The gate driver 110 sequentially supplies gate pulses synchronized with the data voltage to the gate lines of the display panel 10 under the control of the timing controller 130.

The timing controller 130 may drive the display panel 10 at a predetermined frame frequency and generate a gate driver 110 control signal and a data driver 120 control signal based on the predetermined frame frequency. The gate driver 110 control signal includes a gate start pulse (GSP), a gate shift clock (GSC), a gate output enable signal (Gate Output Enable, GOE), and the like. The gate start pulse (GSP) controls the timing of the first gate pulse. The gate shift clock GSC is a clock signal for shifting the gate start pulse GSP. The gate output enable signal GOE controls the output timing of the gate driver 110.

The control signal of the data driver 120 includes a source start pulse (SSP), a source sampling clock (SSC), a source output enable signal (SOE), a polarity control signal (POL), and the like. It includes. The source start pulse SSP controls the data sampling start time of the data driver 120. The source sampling clock is a clock signal that controls the sampling operation of the data driver 120 based on the rising or falling edge. If the digital video data to be input to the data driver 120 is transmitted using a mini LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) interface standard, the source start pulse SSP and the source sampling clock SSC may be omitted. The polarity control signal POL inverts the polarity of the data voltage output from the data driver 120 every L (L is a natural number) horizontal period period. The source output enable signal SOE controls the output timing of the data driver 120.

Meanwhile, referring to the switchable lens as an example of the switchable optical plate 40 of the present invention, the switchable lens 40 is disposed on the display panel 10. 2A and 2B, the switchable lens 40 includes first split electrodes 41A, second split electrodes 41B, a liquid crystal layer 42, a common electrode 43, and an insulating film 44. , A lower substrate 45, and an upper substrate 46. The lower substrate 45 and the upper substrate 46 may be implemented by any one of glass, plastic, and film.

The first and second split electrodes 41A and 41B are patterned on the lower substrate 45. The first and second split electrodes 41A and 41B are formed in two layers with the insulating film 44 interposed therebetween. The insulating film 44 prevents a short circuit between the first split electrodes 41A and the second split electrodes 41B. The first split electrodes 41A are positioned at intervals between the second split electrodes 41B. The common electrode 43 is patterned into a single film on the upper substrate 46.

The liquid crystal layer 42 is formed between the lower substrate 45 and the upper substrate 46 of the switchable lens 40. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 42 are rotated by the voltage difference between the common electrode 43 and the first and second division electrodes 41A and 41B. In the 2D mode, as shown in FIG. 2A, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 42 are incident from the display panel 10 due to the voltage difference between the common electrode 43 and the first and second split electrodes 41A and 41B. Pass the light as it is without refraction. Therefore, the user sees a two-dimensional image without parallax between the left and right eyes. In 3D mode, as shown in FIG. 2B, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 42 form the liquid crystal lens 47 due to the voltage difference between the common electrode 43 and the first and second split electrodes 41A and 41B. Each of the first to ninth view images is refracted to the first to ninth view areas. Therefore, the user sees the 3D image due to binocular parallax. In the present embodiment, the number of views has been described using nine examples, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, the switchable optical plate 40 of the present invention may use a switchable barrier. Referring to FIG. 3, the switchable barrier 40 may include a first substrate 31, a second substrate 32, a first linear polarizer 33A, a second linear polarizer 33B, split electrodes 34, The liquid crystal layer 35 and the common electrode 36 are included. The first substrate 31 and the second substrate 32 of the switchable barrier 40 face each other. The first substrate 31 and the second substrate 32 may be implemented with glass or a film. The first linear polarizer 33A is attached to the first substrate 31, and the second linear polarizer 33B is attached to the second substrate 32. The optical axis of the first linear polarizer 33A and the optical axis of the second linear polarizer 33B are perpendicular to each other. A plurality of split electrodes 34 are formed on the first substrate 31. The common electrode 36 is formed of one film on the second substrate 32. The switchable barrier 40 includes a liquid crystal layer 35 formed between the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 32. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 35 are rotated by the voltage difference between the common electrode 36 and the division electrodes 34.

The switchable barrier 40 electrically controls the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 35 to pass light generated from the display panel 10 in 2D mode as it is, and partially blocks light generated from the display panel 10 in 3D mode. do. First, due to the voltage difference between the common electrode 36 and the split electrodes 34 of the switchable barrier 40 in the 2D mode, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 35 may pass through the first linear polarizer 33A. Change the polarization characteristics. Accordingly, the light passing through the first linear polarizer 33A may pass through the second linear polarizer 33B because the polarization characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 35 are changed. As a result, since the switchable barrier 40 does not form a barrier in the 2D mode, the image of the display panel 10 passes as it is, and the viewer views an image without binocular disparity.

Due to the voltage difference between the common electrodes 36 of the switchable barrier 40 and the divided electrodes of some of the split electrodes 34 in the 3D mode, between the divided electrodes of the common electrode 36 and a part of the divided electrodes 34. Only the liquid crystal molecules of change the polarization characteristic of the light passing through the first linear polarizer 33A. Therefore, some of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 35 do not change the polarization characteristic of the light passing through the first linear polarizer 33A, and the light passing through the first linear polarizer 33A by these liquid crystal molecules. A portion of does not pass through the second linear polarizer 33B. That is, the second linear polarizer 33B functions as a barrier against the light whose polarization characteristic is not changed among the light passing through the first linear polarizer 33A. As a result, since the switchable barrier 40 forms a barrier in the 3D mode, the image of the display panel 10 is separated, and the viewer can view a stereoscopic image of binocular parallax.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 4, the switchable optical plate 40 of the present invention described above is dividedly arranged in units of a plurality of blocks B, and controls each block B independently. Therefore, in the mixed mode in which 2D and 3D images are mixed, all the blocks B corresponding to the position of the 3D image are driven on, and the blocks B corresponding to the position of the 2D image are driven off to drive the 2D and 3D images. This mixed mixed image is realized. In FIG. 4, 64 blocks of 8 blocks and 8 blocks are illustrated as an example. However, the switchable optical plate 40 of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be formed to have 64 blocks or more.

Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2B, and 4, the switchable optical plate driver 140 may include the common electrode 43 corresponding to each block B of the switchable optical plate 40, and the first and first electrodes. A voltage is supplied to each of the two split electrodes 41A and 41B. The switchable optical plate driver 140 supplies the common voltage Vcom to the common electrode 43 and periodically inverts the polarity of the driving voltage supplied to each of the first and second split electrodes 41A and 41B. . This is to prevent the DC afterimage of the liquid crystal, and to prevent this since the charged particles of the liquid crystal molecules may accumulate on the alignment layer when the DC driving is performed, and thus the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules may be changed. . The switchable optical plate driver 140 supplies a driving voltage differently in 2D mode, 3D mode, and mixed mode under the control of the switchable optical plate controller 150. In the 2D mode, the switchable optical plate driver 140 supplies a voltage such that the switchable optical plate 40 passes light incident from the display panel 10 as shown in FIG. 2A. In the 3D mode, the switchable optical plate driver 140 supplies a voltage such that the switchable optical plate 40 forms the liquid crystal lens 47 as shown in FIG. 2B. In the mixed mode, the switchable optical plate driver 140 supplies a voltage such that the block B of the switchable optical plate 40 on which the 3D image is located forms the liquid crystal lens 47, and the switcher on which the 2D image is located. The block B of the black optical plate 40 supplies a voltage to pass the incident light as it is.

Switcher block optical plate controller 150 receives detection information from the user _(S D), the mode signal (MODE), the host system 160.

The host system 160 displays image data (RGB) and timing signals (Vsync, Hsync, DE, CLK) through an interface such as a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface and a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) interface. Supply to 170. The host system 160 supplies 2D image data to the image processor 170 in the 2D mode, while supplying 3D image data including the first to nth view images to the image processor 170 in the 3D mode. In addition, the 2D image data and the 3D image data are supplied to the image processor 170 in the mixed mode. In addition, the host system 160 may generate a dimming signal DIM by analyzing the image data RGB and calculating a global / local dimming value to increase the contrast characteristic of the display image according to the analysis result. In addition, the host system 160 supplies a mode signal MODE that can distinguish between 2D mode, 3D mode, and mixed mode, to the image processor 170 and the switchable optical plate controller 150.

The image processor 170 receives an image data RGB mode signal MODE and a view control signal Cview from the host system 160. The image processor 170 supplies the image data RGB and the timing signals Vsync, Hsync, DE, and CLK to the timing controller 130. The image processor 170 may determine the 2D mode, the 3D mode, and the mixed mode according to the mode signal MODE. In addition, the image processor 170 may determine the number of views of the stereoscopic image in the 3D mode according to the view control signal Cview. The image processor 170 outputs the image data RGB without being converted in the 2D mode. The image processor 170 converts the image data RGB according to the set number of views according to the view control signal Cview in the 3D mode. The image processor 170 checks the position and size of the 2D image to be implemented as a 2D image of the 3D image in the mixed mode, supplies a driving control signal to the switchable optical plate controller 150, and simultaneously implements the 2D image and the 3D image. Process as much as possible. Detailed descriptions of the 2D, 3D, and mixed image implementation method and the multi-view image conversion method of the image processing unit 170 will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a 2D, 3D, and mixed image realization method of the image processor of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the image processor 170 receives image data RGB and a mode signal MODE from the host system 160. The image processor 170 determines whether it is a 2D mode or a 3D mode or a mixed mode in which 2D and 3D are mixed according to the mode signal MODE. First, when the input mode signal MODE is determined to be the 2D mode, the image processor 170 outputs the 2D image data to the timing controller 130 without being converted in the data rendering block. In the 3D cell control block, the switchable optical plate is completely turned off to realize a 2D image.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the input mode signal MODE is the 3D mode, the image processor 170 determines whether the 3D image data has the format of 3D image data side by side or top and bottom. It determines whether it is a mosaic, and converts the 3D image data in the data rendering block and outputs it to the timing controller 130. In the 3D cell control block, the switchable optical plate is entirely driven on to realize a 3D image.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the input mode signal MODE is a mixed mode in which 2D and 3D are mixed, the image processor 170 checks the position and size of the 2D image among the mixed image data. The position and size of the 2D image are given by coordinates or vector values. After confirming the position and size of the 2D image in the entire display panel, the 2D image data is rendered at the position of the 2D image of the display panel in the data rendering block, and the 3D image data is rendered at the position other than the position of the 2D image in the timing controller 130. ) In the 3D cell control block, the blocks B of the switchable optical plate corresponding to the position of the 2D image are driven off and the blocks B of the other switchable optical plate are driven on to display 2D and 3D images on one screen. Implement at the same time.

Meanwhile, the image processor of the present invention converts the image data RGB according to the set number of views according to the view control signal Cview in the 3D mode. Hereinafter, the multi-view image conversion method of the image processor will be described.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an image conversion method of the image processor of FIG. 1. 7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating an original image image, a depth map image image, first to third view image images, and a stereoscopic image image. Hereinafter, an image conversion method of the image processor 170 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7A to 7D.

Referring to FIG. 6, the image processor 170 receives the image data RGB, the mode signal MODE, and the view control signal Cview from the host system 160. The image processor 170 may determine whether it is a 2D mode or a 3D mode according to the mode signal MODE.

First, when the 2D mode signal MODE is input, the image processor 170 outputs the input 2D image data to the timing controller 130 without being converted. (S101, S102)

Second, when the 3D mode signal MODE is input, the image processor 170 determines the first view mode when the low logic level view control signal Cview is input in the 3D mode, and views the high logic level. If the control signal Cview is input, it may be determined as the second view mode. For example, when the number of viewers is one, it may be set to a first view mode driven by two views, and when the number of viewers is two or more, it may be set to a second view mode driven by four views. As another example, when the number of viewers is three or less, the first view mode may be set to four views, and when the number of viewers is four or more, the second view mode may be set to six views. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a description will be given focusing on a first view mode driven in two views when the number of viewers is one, and a second view mode driven in four views when the number of viewers is two or more. Note that it is not limited.

When the image processor 170 is set to the first view mode in the 3D mode, the image processor 170 converts the input image data RGB into image data in the 2 view mode and outputs the image data to the timing controller 130. When the image processor 170 is set to the second view mode in the 3D mode, the image processor 170 converts the input image data RGB into image data in the 4 view mode and outputs the image data to the timing controller 130. The image data RGB input to the image processor 170 may be 2D image data or 3D image data. Hereinafter, an image conversion method of the image processor 170 will be described based on the case where the second view mode is set in the 3D mode. (S103)

Third, the image processor 170 extracts a depth map from the input image data RGB. The image processor 170 may extract the depth map using 2D image data or 3D image data. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the image processing unit 170 has been described based on extracting a depth map using 2D image data.

The image processor 170 finds an object through object detection in order to extract the depth, and gives a difference to the depth according to the object. In this case, the image processor 170 may extract depths using various depth cues. Depth cue means various kinds of information that can know the depth of the image, superimposition (determination of the front and rear depth between overlapping objects), linear perspective image (detecting the vanishing point, and processing the vanishing point position with back depth) ), Shadow analysis (divides shades to express deeper portions of light), motion parallax image (detects depth as the relativeness of movement by detecting motion), atmospheric perspective (relative depth as determined by sharpness of outline), Relative size images (depth determination based on relative sizes between objects), and the like.

7A illustrates a 2D image image input to the image processor 170, and FIG. 7B illustrates a depth map image extracted by the image processor 170. Depth of each pixel of the 2D image data is shown in the depth map, and the depth may be represented by 8-bit gray levels of 0 to 255 as shown in FIG. 7B. The depth may be expressed as deep as it is closer to black, and as deep as it is closer to white, as shown in FIG. 7B. In addition, the multi-view image converter 150 may further smoothly correct the boundary of the depth map image image. (S104)

Fourth, the image processor 170 calculates a disparity using the extracted depth map. Disparity refers to a value for shifting 2D image data left or right to form a three-dimensional effect. The lower the gray level of the extracted depth map, the larger the disparity, and the higher the gray level of the depth map, the smaller the disparity. (S105)

Fifth, the image processor 170 generates the first to fourth view images as shown in FIG. 7C by applying the calculated disparity to the 2D image data. The image processor 170 may generate the first to fourth view images by moving the 2D image data left or right by the calculated disparity.

On the other hand, since the image is shifted left or right by the disparity as the first to fourth view images, the Occlusion area in which data existing in the 2D image data is deleted or data that is not present is added and holes lost due to the shift ( Hole) area is generated. If the occlusion area and the hole area are not corrected, there is a problem that the viewer views a distorted stereoscopic image. Therefore, the image processor 170 may correct data of the occlusion area and the hole area by using an already known in-painting technique. (S106)

Sixth, the image processor 170 generates the multi-view image data by arranging the first to fourth view image data according to the panel view map of the four view mode. The image processor 170 outputs the generated multi-view image data to the timing controller 130. The multi-view video image generated by the image processor 170 is illustrated in FIG. 7D.

Meanwhile, the panel view map of the 4 view mode is as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 8 illustrates a vertical view map for vertically arranging each of the first to fourth view image data. When arranging the first to fourth view image data in a vertical view map method, as shown in FIG. 8, the viewer views the first view, the second view, the second view, the third view, And a barrier is vertically formed to view the fourth view (View4) image. FIG. 9 shows a slanted view map in which the first to fourth view image data are arranged obliquely diagonally. When arranging the first to fourth view image data in the slotted view map method, the viewer views the first view, the second view, and the third view according to the viewer's position as shown in FIG. 9. , And the barrier is also formed obliquely diagonally to view the fourth view (View4) image.

In the present invention, a method of implementing a mixed image mixed with 2D and 3D and a multiview image conversion method have been separately described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the process of rendering 3D image data in a mixed image mixed with 2D and 3D The multiview image conversion method may be used.

As described above, the stereoscopic image display apparatus and its driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention have a switchable optical plate that is divided into a plurality of blocks, which can simultaneously realize 2D and 3D images on one screen. have.

In addition, the stereoscopic image display apparatus and the driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention can optimally maintain the resolution and stereoscopic image quality of the stereoscopic image by converting the input image data according to a predetermined number of optimal views.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood that the invention may be practiced. It is therefore to be understood that the embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. In addition, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the detailed description. Also, all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

10 display panel 40 switchable optical plate
110: gate driver 120: data driver
130: timing controller 140: switchable optical plate driver
150: switchable optical plate control unit 160: host system
170: image processing unit

Claims (10)

A display panel displaying a 2D image, a 3D image, and a mixed image thereof;
A switchable optical plate disposed on the display panel in units of a plurality of blocks and implementing 2D image, 3D image, and mixed image by passing or partially blocking light generated from the display panel;
2D image data input in 2D mode is output as it is, 3D image data input in 3D mode is output with control signals, mixed image data input in mixed mode is analyzed, and position of 2D image among mixed image data and An image processor for controlling a region corresponding to the 2D image by checking the size; And
Supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to transmit all the light in the 2D mode, and supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially block the light in the 3D mode, And a switchable optical plate driver configured to supply a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier while partially blocking light in the mixed mode and simultaneously transmitting the light.
The method according to claim 1,
The image processing unit
And a 3D image display apparatus for checking the position and size of the 2D image among the mixed image data, rendering the 2D image data at the position of the 2D image, and rendering the 3D image data except the position of the 2D image.
The method according to claim 1,
A 3D image display apparatus for implementing a 3D image on the entire screen through the 3D image data and covering the 2D image at the position of the 2D image.
The method according to claim 2 or 3,
And a driving unit of the block of the switchable optical plate corresponding to the position of the 2D image.
The method according to claim 1,
The switchable optical plate partially blocks light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode to implement a multi-view image,
The image processing unit converts the 3D image data into multi-view image data according to the number of preset views in each of the first and second view modes according to the view control signal in the 3D mode,
The switchable optical plate driver may drive voltages on the split electrodes of the switchable optical plate to form a barrier according to the predetermined number of views in each of the first and second view modes according to the view control signal in the 3D mode. Stereoscopic image display to supply.
6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the image processing unit comprises:
Extracting a depth map from the input image data, calculating a disparity using a depth representing a three-dimensional feeling in the depth map, and applying the disparity to the first and second in accordance with the view control signal in the 3D mode. The first to nth (n is a natural number) view image data are generated according to the number of preset views in any one of the view modes, and the first to nth view image data are arranged according to a panel view map to multiview. A stereoscopic image display device for outputting image data.
The method of claim 6,
The panel view map may be a vertical view map for vertically arranging each of the first to nth view image data, or a slit view map for diagonally arranging each of the first to nth view image data in an oblique manner. Device.
The method according to claim 1,
The switchable optical plate is formed on at least 64 block units which can be driven separately on a substrate.
The method according to claim 1,
The switchable optical plate implements a lens or a barrier by rotating the liquid crystal molecules present in the liquid crystal layer between the lower substrate and the upper substrate according to the voltage difference between the common electrode and the split electrodes.
A display panel displaying a 2D image, a 3D image, and a mixed image thereof; And a switchable optical plate disposed on the display panel in units of a plurality of blocks, and configured to pass or partially block light generated from the display panel to implement 2D image, 3D image, and mixed image. In the apparatus,
2D image data input in 2D mode is output as it is, 3D image data input in 3D mode is output with control signals, mixed image data input in mixed mode is analyzed, and position of 2D image among mixed image data and Checking the size to control an area corresponding to the 2D image; And
Supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to transmit all the light in the 2D mode, and supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially block the light in the 3D mode, And supplying a driving voltage to the split electrodes of the switchable barrier to partially block light in the mixed mode and to transmit the light partially.

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