KR20140025784A - Stereoscopic image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device which includes: a display panel which displays a 2D image in a 2D mode and displays a multi-view image in a 3D mode; a 3D filter which makes light, which is generated from the display panel, pass through the filter in the 2D mode and makes light, which is generated from the display panel, pass through the filter partially in the 3D mode; a user input unit which receives the number of viewers and the position of the viewers from a user in the 3D mode; a view signal generating unit which generates a viewer number signal according to the number of the viewers and a viewer position signal according to the position of the viewers which are inputted from the user input unit; a multi-view image converting unit which outputs input image data in the 2D mode and converts the image data into multi-view image data by changing the resolution of the image data according to the viewer number signal in the 3D mode; and a 3D filter driving unit which supplies a driving voltage which controls the 3D filter according to the viewer number and position signals in the 3D mode. [Reference numerals] (AA) Comparative example; (BB) Loss resolution (1, 2, 5 view); (CC) Monocular resolution = full resolution / 5; (DD) Example; (EE) Resolution; (FF) Monocular resolution = full resolution / 2

Description

Stereoscopic Display Device {STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE}

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display apparatus.

The stereoscopic image display apparatus is divided into a binocular parallax technique and an autostereoscopic technique. The binocular parallax method uses parallax images of right and left eyes with large stereoscopic effect, and both glasses and non-glasses are used, and both methods are practically used. 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. The autostereoscopic method generally uses a 3D filter such as a parallax barrier and a lenticular sheet to realize a stereoscopic image by separating an optical axis of a parallax image.

The parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device includes a parallax barrier positioned between the display panel and the user. The parallax barrier separates the left eye image and the right eye image to realize a stereoscopic image. However, the parallax barrier method has a disadvantage in that the luminance is lost when implementing the 2D image due to the barrier. Accordingly, a switchable barrier type stereoscopic image display device capable of selectively viewing 2D and 3D images by applying an electric field to a liquid crystal has been proposed.

The switchable barrier type stereoscopic image display device implements a stereoscopic image by separating the stereoscopic image displayed on the display panel using a barrier. At this time, the view of the stereoscopic image is generated by spaced apart the cameras by the binocular spacing of the general public and by taking an image of the object. In this process, when photographing an object using three cameras, the switchable barrier type stereoscopic image display device may provide three views of stereoscopic images.

When the view of the stereoscopic image is increased, the range in which the viewer can view the stereoscopic image in the stereoscopic region increases, so that the quality of the stereoscopic image can be improved. The positive stereoscopic area refers to an area where the viewer's left eye sees the view of the left side of the right eye. In this case, since the viewer substantially sees the left eye image through the left eye and the right eye image through the right eye, the viewer can watch the optimal stereoscopic image. However, when the view of the stereoscopic image is increased, since the image displayed on one pixel is increased by the number of views, the resolution is reduced as much.

On the contrary, when the view of the stereoscopic image is reduced, the resolution is increased, but since the viewer is more likely to view the stereoscopic image in the region of the reverse stereoscopic or mixed view image, the quality of the stereoscopic image is deteriorated. The inverted stereoscopic area refers to an area in which the viewer's left eye sees a view on the right side of the right eye. In this case, since the viewer substantially sees the right eye image through the left eye and the right eye image through the right eye, the viewer feels discomfort in viewing the stereoscopic image. In addition, the region where the view image is mixed refers to the region where the viewer's left and right eyes see different pixel images. In this case, the viewer may feel uncomfortable in viewing the stereoscopic image because the viewer views the mixed image.

Therefore, the conventional stereoscopic image display apparatus needs to change the control method of the image data and the control method of the 3D filter corresponding to the view of the stereoscopic image in order to optimally maintain the resolution of the stereoscopic image and the display quality of the stereoscopic image.

Embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problems of the background art, the glasses that can improve the resolution of the stereoscopic image and the display quality of the stereoscopic image by applying a variable resolution and a variable control method according to the number and position of the actual viewer The present invention provides a multi-view stereoscopic image display device.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a display panel for displaying a 2D image in the 2D mode, and a multi-view image in the 3D mode; A 3D filter passing light generated from the display panel in the 2D mode and partially passing light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode; A user input unit for receiving a number of viewers and a viewer's position from the user in the 3D mode; A view signal generation unit generating a number signal of the viewer according to the number of viewers input from the user input unit and a position signal of the viewer according to the viewer's position; A multi-view image converter for outputting image data input in the 2D mode and converting the resolution of the image data into multi-view image data according to the number of signals of the viewer in the 3D mode; And a 3D filter driver supplying a driving voltage for controlling the 3D filter according to the number of viewers and the position signal of the viewer in the 3D mode.

The multi-view image converter may reconstruct the view map of the image data according to the number signal of the viewer to convert the monocular resolution to be the full resolution / number of viewers.

The 3D filter driver may include: a lookup table storing driving voltage data divided by the number of viewers and the position signals of the viewer; a driving voltage controller configured to read driving voltage data stored in the lookup table in response to the number of viewers and the position signals of the viewer; The driving voltage controller may include a driving voltage supply unit configured to change a driving voltage to be supplied to the 3D filter using the driving voltage data read by the driving voltage controller.

The 3D filter may be a switchable barrier filter having transmissive portions and blocking portions that transmit light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode.

The switchable barrier filter may determine the number of transmission parts and blocking parts according to the number signal of the viewer, and the positions of the transmission parts and blocking parts may vary according to the position signal of the viewer.

The 3D filter may be a liquid crystal lens filter having lenses for refracting light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode.

The number of lenses of the liquid crystal lens filter may be determined according to the number signal of the viewer, and the refractive index of the lenses may vary according to the position signal of the viewer.

The 3D filter includes a first film, a first linear polarizer formed on a lower surface of the first film, split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the first film, a second film spaced apart from the first film, and a second film. It may include a second linear flat plate formed on the upper surface of the, a front electrode formed on the lower surface of the second film, and a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first film and the second film.

The 3D filter includes a first film, split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the first film, a second film spaced apart from the first film, a front electrode formed on a lower surface of the second film, and a first film and a first film. It may include a liquid crystal lens layer positioned between the two films.

The 3D filter includes a first film, a first front electrode formed on an upper surface of the first film, a second film spaced apart from the first film, first split electrodes formed on a lower surface of the second film, and A liquid crystal layer positioned between the first film and the second film, second split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the second film, a third film facing away from the second film, and a second film formed on the lower surface of the third film The second front electrode may include a liquid crystal lens layer positioned between the second film and the third film.

An embodiment of the present invention, by applying a variable resolution according to the number of actual viewers to support the maximum resolution according to the number of actual viewers and the resolution of the stereoscopic image in a variable control method to vary the position or refractive index of the transmitted light according to the position of the viewer There is an effect of providing an auto glasses-free multi-view stereoscopic image display device that can improve the display quality of the stereoscopic image.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to a comparative example and a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart embodying a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a block diagram of a part of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating display of multiview image data according to the number of viewers.
6 is a diagram illustrating a control state of a 3D filter according to the number of viewers.
7 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the 3D filter according to the first embodiment.
8 is an exemplary cross sectional view of a 3D filter according to a second embodiment;
9 is an exemplary cross sectional view of a 3D filter according to a third embodiment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a stereoscopic image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stereoscopic image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel 10, a 3D filter 180, a gate driver 110, a data driver 120, and a 3D filter driver 130. The timing controller 140 includes a multi-view image converter 150, a host system 160, a view signal generator 170, and a user input unit 190.

The display panel 10 displays an image under the control of the timing controller 140. A variety of panels may be selected for the display panel 10, but in the exemplary embodiment, the display panel 10 is selected as the liquid crystal panel 10. The data lines D and the gate lines G (or scan lines) are formed to cross each other on the TFT substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10. Black matrices, color filters, and the like are formed on the color filter substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10. In the liquid crystal panel 10, subpixels are formed in cell regions defined by the data lines D and the gate lines G. FIG. The pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed in the subpixels, and the liquid crystal layer formed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate is driven by the electric field formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

The lower polarizing plate is attached to the TFT substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the upper polarizing plate is attached to the color filter substrate. The light transmission axis of the lower polarizer and the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer may be formed to be orthogonal to each other. An alignment film for setting the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal is formed on the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10. A spacer for maintaining a cell gap of the liquid crystal cell is formed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10.

On the other hand, when the liquid crystal panel 10 is a vertical field driving method such as twisted nematic (TN) mode and vertical alignment (VA) mode, the common electrode is formed on the color filter substrate. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal panel 10 is a horizontal electric field driving method such as IPS (In Plane Switching) mode and FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode, the common electrode is formed on the TFT substrate together with the pixel electrode. The liquid crystal mode of the liquid crystal panel 10 may be implemented in any liquid crystal mode as well as the above-described TN mode, VA mode, IPS mode, FFS mode.

The timing controller 140 controls the 2D image data to be addressed to the liquid crystal panel 10 in the 2D mode, and controls the multiview image data to be addressed to the liquid crystal panel 10 in the 3D mode. The multi-view image refers to a first to n th (n is a natural number of two or more) view image. 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 four cameras, the liquid crystal panel 10 may display three-dimensional images of four views.

The timing controller 140 drives the liquid crystal panel 10 at a predetermined frame frequency based on the image data (/ RGB) and timing signals received from the multi-view image converter 150 and based on the predetermined frame frequency. Accordingly, the gate driver control signal GCS and the data driver control signal DCS may be generated. The timing controller 140 supplies the gate driver control signal GCS to the gate driver 110, and supplies the image data / RGB and the data driver control signal DCS to the data driver 120.

The data driver 120 includes a plurality of source drive ICs. The source drive ICs convert the image data (/ RGB) input from the timing controller 140 into positive / negative gamma compensation voltages to generate positive / negative analog data voltages and generate data lines of the liquid crystal panel 10. To the field (D).

The gate driver 110 includes a shift register, a level shifter, an output buffer, and the like. The gate driver 110 sequentially generates gate pulses synchronized with the data voltage under the control of the timing controller 140, and supplies the gate pulses to the gate lines G of the liquid crystal panel 10.

The user input unit 190 is a device that receives the number of viewers and the location of the viewer from the user (or viewer) in the 3D mode. The user input unit 180 may be a remote controller as an example, but may be any device that can receive an input in relation to a stereoscopic image display device.

When the user inputs the number of viewers and the position of the viewer through the user input unit 180, the view signal generator 170 may output the number signal of the viewer according to the number of viewers and the position signal of the viewer according to the position of the viewer. Create Since the view signal generator 170 may be included in the host system 160, the view signal generator 170 will be described below as an example.

The host system 160 supplies the image data RGB and timing signals to the multi-view image converter 150 through an interface such as a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface and a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) interface. . In the 2D mode, the host system 160 supplies 2D image data input from the outside to the multiview image converter 150. In 3D mode, the host system 160 supplies 3D image data including left eye image data and right eye image data to the multiview image converter 150. The timing signals include a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a data enable signal, a dot clock, and the like.

The host system 160 supplies the 3D filter driver 130 and the multiview image converter 150 with a mode signal MODE that can distinguish between 2D mode and 3D mode. The mode signal MODE may be generated at a logic low level in the 2D mode and may be generated at a logic high level in the 3D mode, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the host system 160 supplies the number signal of the viewer and the position signal Cview of the viewer output from the view signal generator 170 to the 3D filter driver 130 and the multiview image converter 150.

The multiview image converter 150 receives the image data RGB mode signal MODE, the number of viewers, and the position signal Cview of the viewer from the host system 160. The multiview image converter 150 may determine whether it is a 2D mode or a 3D mode according to the mode signal MODE. In addition, the multiview image converter 150 may determine the number of views of the stereoscopic image to be expressed in the 3D mode according to the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer. In the 2D mode, the multiview image converter 150 outputs the image data RGB without being converted. In contrast, in the 3D mode, the multiview image converter 150 converts the image data RGB according to the set number of views according to the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer. At this time, the multi-view image converter 150 reconstructs the view map of the image data RGB according to the number of viewers and the number of viewers of the viewer's position signal Cview so that the monocular resolution is full resolution / number of viewers. To convert.

The 3D filter 180 passes the light generated from the liquid crystal panel 10 as it is (almost all) in the 2D mode, and partially passes the light generated from the liquid crystal panel 10 in the 3D mode.

The 3D filter driver 130 controls the 3D filter 180 to pass light generated from the liquid crystal panel 10 as it is in the 2D mode. In addition, the 3D filter driver 130 controls the 3D filter 180 to partially pass the light generated from the liquid crystal panel 10 in the 3D mode. In the 3D mode, the 3D filter driver 130 supplies a driving voltage for controlling the 3D filter to the 3D filter 180 according to the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer.

Hereinafter, a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to a comparative example and a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to a comparative example and a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 10 of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the comparative example has five multi-view images (1 to 5) that are basically set even though the number of viewers (3 View, 4 View) is two. Is displayed. In addition, the 3D filter 180 of the stereoscopic image display device according to the comparative example also transmits five multi-view images 1 to 5. Accordingly, the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the comparative example has a loss resolution (1, 2, 5 views) corresponding to the number of non-viewers (1, 2, 5 views).

In contrast, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 10 displays two multi-view images 3 and 4 when the number of viewers (3 views, 4 views) is two. In addition, the 3D filter 180 of the stereoscopic image display device also transmits two multi-view images 3 and 4. Accordingly, the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the embodiment has a loss resolution (0) that is incompatible with the number of non-viewers (1, 2, 5 views).

Table 1 shows the effect of improving the resolution according to the application of the driving concept of the stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although the 3D image display device is designed as a multi-view (N-View), the actual viewers are not N-1 people in actual use environment, and in this case, resolution loss is caused by the number of views that do not contribute to viewing. . The object of the present invention is to increase (improve) the monocular reference 3D resolution of the actual viewer by converting such a loss resolution into a resolution effective for viewing.

Embodiments can achieve the object of the present invention by improving the monocular resolution by the active 3D filter 180 and the reconfiguration process of the image data, which will be described in detail as follows.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a driving concept of a stereoscopic image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the 3D image display device according to the embodiment does not have a loss resolution, so that a multi-view image may be displayed using a Variable Resolution Autostereoscopic 3D (VRA) method that supports the maximum monocular resolution according to the actual viewer. This is because it generates and controls the 3D filter 180 according to the number of viewers and the position.

To this end, the stereoscopic image display device according to the embodiment receives the number of viewers and the viewing position through the user input unit 190 (S110).

Next, the 3D image data is acquired. (S120) The 3D image data is acquired as left / right (L / R) images such as side by side and top-bottom. After obtaining the 3D image data first, the number of viewers and the viewing position may be input.

Next, the 3D image data is mapped according to the number of viewers and the viewing position (S130). The process of mapping the 3D image data corresponding to the number of viewers and the viewing position is performed by the image processing process of the multi-view image converter 150. Is done by.

Next, the 3D image data display and the 3D filter are controlled according to the number of viewers and the viewing position. The process of displaying the 3D image data on the liquid crystal panel 10 and controlling the 3D filter 180 according to the number of viewers and the viewing position is performed by the gate driver 110, the data driver 120, and the 3D filter driver 130. )

Hereinafter, a device for driving the 3D image display device according to the embodiment will be described in detail according to the number of viewers and the viewing position.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a part of a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating display of multi-view image data according to the number of viewers, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the control state of a 3D filter.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user input unit 180, the host system 160, the multi-view image converter 150, and the 3D filter driver 130 are provided in a part of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Shown.

The host system 160 includes a view signal generator 170 and an image supply unit 165. The view signal generator 170 generates the number signal of the viewer and the position signal Cview of the viewer in response to the user inputting the number of viewers and the position of the viewer through the user input unit 180.

The multiview image converter 150 includes a signal determiner 151, an image lookup table 153, and an image data mapper 155. The image lookup table 153 stores an image data map for reconstructing image data according to the number of viewers and the number of viewers among the viewer position signals Cview. The signal determiner 151 reads the data map stored in the image lookup table 153 in correspondence with the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer. The image data mapping unit 155 maps the multiview image data (/ RGB) to be supplied to the timing controller 140 using the image data map read by the signal determination unit 151.

As described above, when the resolution of the corresponding viewer increases according to the adjustment of the active optical substrate, the multi-view image converter 150 image data of the subpixels on the liquid crystal panel 10 corresponding to the increased resolution. The value must be reset. In this case, the reconstruction method of data may be changed under various conditions according to the number of views, the number of viewers, the viewing position, and the like. And, it is designed to be selectively applied through the image lookup table 153 which becomes a view map database for each mode.

For example, when the user inputs the number of viewers to watch the multiview image through the user input unit 180 as two persons, the multiview image converter 150 performs image data mapping process for the two viewers. The multiview image converter 150 reconstructs the multiview image data such that only two multiview images 3 and 4 are displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, only two multi-view images 3 and 4 are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10 as shown in FIG.

As another example, when the user inputs three viewers to view the multiview image through the user input unit 180, the multiview image converter 150 performs an image data mapping process for the three viewers. The multiview image converter 150 reconstructs the multiview image data such that only three multiview images 3, 4, and 5 are displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, only three multi-view images 3, 4, and 5 are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10 as shown in FIG. 5B.

The 3D filter driver 130 includes a driving voltage controller 131, a filter lookup table 133, and a driving voltage supply unit 135. The filter lookup table 133 stores driving voltage data divided according to the number of viewers and the position signals of the viewers. The driving voltage controller 131 reads the driving voltage data stored in the filter lookup table 133 corresponding to the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer. The driving voltage supply unit 135 varies the driving voltage FCS to be supplied to the 3D filter using the driving voltage data read by the driving voltage controller 131.

For example, when the user inputs the number of viewers to watch the multi-view image as two users through the user input unit 180, the 3D filter driver 130 performs a driving voltage reading process for the two viewers. The 3D filter driver 130 adjusts the opening area and the blocking area of the 3D filter 180 corresponding to the two multi-view images 3 and 4 displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, the 3D filter 180 includes an opening area TA for transmitting only two multi-view images 3 and 4 and a blocking area NTA for blocking the others, as shown in FIG. 6A. The widths W1 and W2 of 2 are adjusted.

As another example, when the user inputs the number of viewers to watch the multiview image through the user input unit 180 as 3 persons, the 3D filter driver 130 performs a driving voltage reading process for the 3 viewers. The 3D filter driver 130 adjusts the opening area and the blocking area of the 3D filter 180 corresponding to the three multi-view images 3, 4, and 5 displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, the 3D filter 180 includes an opening area TA for transmitting only three multi-view images 3, 4, and 5, and a blocking area NTA for blocking the other, as shown in FIG. 6B. And fourth widths W3 and W4 are adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first and second widths W1 and W2 serving as the opening area TA and the blocking area NTA of the 3D filter 180 may be the third and fourth widths W3. , W4), because the number of multiview images to be transmitted is different.

For example, when the three multi-view images 3, 4, and 5 are displayed on the liquid crystal panel, the 3D filter 180 may include the third and fourth widths W3, which are the opening area TA and the blocking area NTA. W4) is controlled to be larger than the first and second widths W1 and W2.

Hereinafter, the structure of a 3D filter applicable to a stereoscopic image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the 3D filter according to the first embodiment, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the 3D filter according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the 3D filter according to the third embodiment. .

≪ Embodiment 1 >

As shown in FIG. 7, the 3D filter 180 according to the first embodiment has a switchable barrier filter having transmission parts TA for transmitting light generated from the liquid crystal panel and blocking parts NTA for blocking the light generated from the liquid crystal panel in 3D mode. 180 may be selected.

The switchable barrier filter 180 determines the number of the transmission units TA and the blocking units NTA according to the number signal of the viewer, and the positions of the transmission units TA and the blocking units NTA are determined according to the position signal of the viewer. Variable.

To this end, the switchable barrier filter 180 is formed on the first film 31, the first linear polarizer 33A formed on the lower surface of the first film 31, and the upper surface of the first film 31. The split electrodes 34, the second film 32 facing away from the first film 31, the second line flatter 33B formed on the upper surface of the second film 32, and the second film 32 may include a front electrode 36 formed on a lower surface of the 32, and a liquid crystal layer 35 positioned between the first film 31 and the second film 32.

On the other hand, Figure 7 (a) is an example of the driving state of the switchable barrier filter 180, when the number of viewers to watch the multi-view image is input to two. In this case, the switchable barrier filter 180 forms permeable parts TA and cutoff parts NTA as shown in FIG. 6A. To this end, a first voltage V1 is supplied to the split electrodes 34 corresponding to the transmission parts TA, and a second voltage V2 is supplied to the split electrodes 34 corresponding to the blocking parts NTA. do. Here, the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 may vary depending on the arrangement state of the liquid crystal layer 35, but the voltages applied to them are different.

Unlike the foregoing, FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a driving state of the switchable barrier filter 180 when three viewers for viewing the multi-view image are input. In this case, the switchable barrier filter 180 forms permeable parts TA and cutoff parts NTA as shown in FIG. 6B. To this end, a first voltage V1 is supplied to the split electrodes 34 corresponding to the transmission parts TA, and a second voltage V2 is supplied to the split electrodes 34 corresponding to the blocking parts NTA. do. Here, the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 may vary depending on the arrangement state of the liquid crystal layer 35, but the voltages applied to them are different.

The reason that the switchable barrier filter 180 can be driven in the above manner is that the driving voltage output from the 3D filter driver varies in response to the number of viewers and the position signal Cview of the viewer.

≪ Embodiment 2 >

As shown in FIG. 8, the 3D filter 180 according to the second exemplary embodiment may be selected as the liquid crystal lens filter 180 having the lenses LS that refract light generated from the liquid crystal panel in the 3D mode.

The number of lenses LS is determined according to the number signal of the viewer, and the refractive index of the liquid crystal lens filter 180 is variable according to the position signal of the viewer. Since the positions of the lenses LS vary according to the number of lenses LS, the liquid crystal lens filter 180 may perform an operation similar to that of the switchable barrier filter 180 in which a region for transmitting light is controlled. . In addition, since the refractive index is changed according to the position signal of the viewer, it is possible to provide an optimized multi-view image according to the viewer's position.

To this end, the liquid crystal lens filter 180 may include a first film 31, split electrodes 34 formed on an upper surface of the first film 31, and a second film spaced apart from the first film 31. 32, a front electrode 36 formed on the lower surface of the second film 32, and a liquid crystal lens layer 35 positioned between the first film 31 and the second film 32. have.

8A is an example of the driving state of the liquid crystal lens filter 180 when the number of viewers to watch the multi-view image is input by two. In this case, the liquid crystal lens filter 180 forms first lenses LW1 capable of transmitting two multi-images separately. To this end, the first to mth voltages (m is an integer of 2 or more) are respectively supplied to the split electrodes 34 forming the first lenses LW1. Here, the first to mth voltages are voltages for forming the liquid crystal lens layer 35 in the form of the first lenses LW1.

Unlike the above, FIG. 8B is an example of the driving state of the liquid crystal lens filter 180 when the number of viewers to watch the multi-view image is input by three. In this case, the liquid crystal lens filter 180 forms second lenses LW2 that may transmit three multi-images separately. To this end, first to nth voltages (n is an integer greater than m) are respectively supplied to the split electrodes 34 forming the second lenses LW2. Here, the first to nth voltages are voltages for forming the liquid crystal lens layer 35 in the form of the second lenses LW2.

On the other hand, the liquid crystal lens layer 35 of the liquid crystal lens filter 180 may be designed by a lenticular lens method. At this time, the lens plate should be designed in the form of a GRIN (Liquid Gradient Refractive Index) lens that can adjust the width and refractive index of the lens.

As can be seen from the above description, when the liquid crystal lens filter 180 is selected as the 3D filter 180, the size of the lenses LW1 <LW2 increases as the number of viewers increases. In addition, when the liquid crystal lens filter 180 is selected as the 3D filter 180, when the position of the viewer is changed, the refractive index is also changed to provide a multi-view image according to the position of the viewer.

&Lt; Third Embodiment >

As shown in FIG. 9, the 3D filter 180 according to the third embodiment may be selected as the hybrid 3D filter 180 having refraction parts that block and refracting light generated from the liquid crystal panel in the 3D mode. have. The hybrid 3D filter 180 has a structure in which a switchable barrier filter and a liquid crystal lens filter are mixed.

The hybrid 3D filter 180 determines the number of the first lenses LW1 according to the number signal of the viewer, the positions of the transmission units TA and the blocking units NTA, and the first signal according to the position signal of the viewer. The refractive index of the lenses LW1 is variable.

Since the positions of the transmission units TA and the blocking units NTA vary according to the number signal of the viewer, the hybrid 3D filter 180 prevents crosstalk between images emitted through the first lenses LW1. Here, the blocking units NTA block the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel or drive the display to display black itself.

To this end, the hybrid 3D filter 180 may include a first film 31, a first front electrode 36 formed on an upper surface of the first film 31, and a second surface spaced apart from the first film 31. The film 32, the first split electrodes 34 formed on the lower surface of the second film 32, the liquid crystal layer 35 positioned between the first film 31 and the second film 32, and Second split electrodes 44 formed on an upper surface of the second film 32, a third film 42 facing the second film 32, and a lower surface of the third film 42. The formed second front electrode 46 and the liquid crystal lens layer 45 positioned between the second film 32 and the third film 42 may be included.

In the hybrid 3D filter 180 described above, the positions of the transmission parts TA and the blocking parts NTA are determined by voltages applied to the first split electrodes 34. In addition, the first lenses LW1 having the shape shown in FIG. 9A are formed or the second lenses having the shape shown in FIG. 9B by the voltages applied to the second split electrodes 44. LW2) is formed.

Meanwhile, in the third embodiment, only the first to third films 31, 32, and 42 are used to simplify the process of reducing the number of films. However, this may consist of two films over the liquid crystal layer 35 and four films over two films with the liquid crystal lens layer 45 interposed therebetween. In the third embodiment, the first or second split electrodes 34 and 44 are formed on one surface of a specific film as an example. However, it may be repositioned to be located on the film on each of the opposing faces. Meanwhile, in the present invention, only the setting method by the user input unit is used as an example, but this can be implemented by an automatic setting function by a camera or a sensor.

In the present invention, the resolution of the stereoscopic image and the display quality of the stereoscopic image by applying a variable resolution according to the number of actual viewers to support the maximum resolution according to the actual number of viewers and varying the position or refractive index of transmitted light according to the position of the viewer There is an effect of providing a glasses-free multi-view three-dimensional image display device that can be improved.

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.

110: gate driver 120: data driver
130: 3D filter driver 140: timing controller
150: multi-view image converter 160: host system
170: view signal generator 180: 3D filter
190: user input unit 31: the first film
34: split electrodes 36: front electrode
32: second film TA: transmissive parts
NTA: Blocks

Claims (10)

A display panel configured to display a 2D image in 2D mode and to display a multiview image in 3D mode;
A 3D filter passing light generated from the display panel in the 2D mode and partially passing light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode;
A user input unit configured to receive the number of viewers and the location of the viewer from the user in the 3D mode;
A view signal generation unit generating a number signal of a viewer according to the number of viewers input from the user input unit and a position signal of a viewer according to a position of the viewer;
A multi-view image converter for outputting image data input in the 2D mode and converting the resolution of the image data into multi-view image data according to the number signal of the viewer in the 3D mode; And
And a 3D filter driver for supplying a driving voltage for controlling the 3D filter according to the number of viewers and a position signal of the viewer in the 3D mode. The method of claim 1,
The multiview image converter
And reconstructing the view map of the image data according to the number signal of the viewer to convert the monocular resolution to a full resolution / number of viewers. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter driver
A lookup table storing driving voltage data classified by the number of viewers and the position signals of the viewers;
A driving voltage controller configured to read driving voltage data stored in the lookup table in response to the number of viewers and position signals of the viewers;
And a driving voltage supply unit configured to change the driving voltage to be supplied to the 3D filter by using the driving voltage data read by the driving voltage controller. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter
And a switchable barrier filter having transmissive portions and blocking portions that transmit light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode. 5. The method of claim 4,
The switchable barrier filter
And the number of the transmitting parts and the blocking parts is determined according to the number signal of the viewer, and the positions of the transmitting parts and the blocking parts are changed according to the position signal of the viewer. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter
And a liquid crystal lens filter having lenses for refracting light generated from the display panel in the 3D mode. The method according to claim 6,
The liquid crystal lens filter
And the number of lenses is determined according to the number signal of the viewer, and the refractive index of the lenses is variable according to the position signal of the viewer. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter
The first film,
A first linear polarizer formed on the lower surface of the first film,
Split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the first film;
A second film spaced apart from the first film,
A second linear flat plate formed on an upper surface of the second film,
A front electrode formed on the lower surface of the second film,
And a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first film and the second film. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter
The first film,
Split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the first film;
A second film spaced apart from the first film,
A front electrode formed on the lower surface of the second film,
And a liquid crystal lens layer disposed between the first film and the second film. The method of claim 1,
The 3D filter
The first film,
A first front electrode formed on an upper surface of the first film,
A second film spaced apart from the first film,
First split electrodes formed on a bottom surface of the second film;
A liquid crystal layer positioned between the first film and the second film;
Second split electrodes formed on an upper surface of the second film;
A third film spaced apart from the second film;
A second front electrode formed on the bottom surface of the third film;
And a liquid crystal lens layer disposed between the second film and the third film.

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