JP2002296540A - Stereoscopic image display device without spectacles - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic image display device simplifying a structure and enlarging possible lateral range which enables stereoscopic display at a relatively low cost. SOLUTION: This stereoscopic image display device is provided with a liquid crystal panel 1 for display constituting a display screen by a pixel group for a left eye and the pixel group for a right eye, a light source 2 provided on the light incident side of the liquid crystal panel for the display and an image separation means 3 arranged on the light emission side of the liquid crystal panel 1 for the display and constituting a barrier part generating a binocular parallax effect. The image separation means 3 is constituted of a liquid crystal panel part 30 for polarizing the polarization axis of image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 for the display and a polarization part 34 formed having the pattern of the different axial directions of polarized light alternately transmitted so as to separate left and right image light from the liquid crystal panel. The drive of the liquid crystal panel part 30 is controlled by the position of an observer 5 and the position of the light transmitted through the polarization part is switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device capable of observing a three-dimensional image without using special glasses, and more particularly to observing a three-dimensional image even when an observer moves in the left-right direction. To provide a three-dimensional image display device capable of performing the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for displaying a stereoscopic image without using special glasses, a parallax barrier or a lenticular lens is arranged on the viewer side of a display screen of a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel and the like. In some cases, light from a right-eye image and a left-eye image alternately displayed for each vertical line is separated so that a stereoscopic image can be viewed.

[0003] Further, a device for displaying a stereoscopic image without using special glasses by separating the light for the left eye and the light for the right eye into a transmissive display panel such as a liquid crystal panel. There is also.

In the above-described stereoscopic image display device, an optimum observation position such as an appropriate viewing distance of an observer is determined by a structure of the device. When the observer moves left and right from the optimal observation position, it becomes impossible to observe a good stereoscopic image.

A method for expanding the left and right stereoscopic viewing areas of the observer is as follows.
JP-A-7-270745 (IPC: G02F1)
/ 13). This method uses an active barrier element in which a slit is formed and disappears electrically as a light-shielding barrier that separates light from the left-eye pixel and light from the right-eye pixel, and moves the observer in the left-right direction. This is addressed by a configuration in which the slit forming position of the active barrier type element is electrically moved.

[0006]

However, in the above-described method, the configuration becomes very complicated in order to realize a configuration in which the slit can be electrically moved in the horizontal direction.
There is a problem that the cost increases.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional video display device whose structure can be simplified, and a left and right stereoscopic range can be expanded at a relatively low cost.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display liquid crystal panel constituting a display screen by a left-eye pixel group and a right-eye pixel group, and provided on a light incident side of the display liquid crystal panel. A light source, and an image separating unit that is arranged on a light emission side of the display liquid crystal panel and constitutes a barrier unit that causes a binocular parallax effect. The image separating unit includes an image from the display liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal panel unit for polarizing the polarization axis of light, and a polarizing unit formed with a pattern in which the axial directions of polarized light that is transmitted alternately to separate left and right image light from the liquid crystal panel are different, The driving of the liquid crystal panel unit is controlled in accordance with the position of the observer, and the position of light transmitted through the polarizing unit is switched.

Further, the present invention provides a display liquid crystal panel which forms a display screen by a left-eye pixel group and a right-eye pixel group, a light source provided on a light incident side of the liquid crystal panel, and the light source. And an image separating means which is disposed between the display liquid crystal panel and constitutes a barrier unit which causes a binocular parallax effect.The image separating means forms a pattern in which the axial directions of polarized lights which are alternately transmitted are different. It is composed of a polarizing part formed having, and a liquid crystal panel part for polarizing the polarization axis of light transmitted through the polarizing part, depending on the position of the observer,
It is characterized in that the driving of the liquid crystal panel section is controlled, and the positions of left and right lights to be incident on the display liquid crystal panel are switched.

The electrode of the liquid crystal panel is a solid electrode over the entire surface.

[0011] With the above-described configuration, by controlling the driving of the liquid crystal panel section, it is possible to widen the left and right stereoscopic ranges.

Further, the three-dimensional image display device of the present invention can observe a two-dimensional image by switching the driving voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel at high speed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an observation state at a normal viewing position according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of an observation state at a reverse viewing position according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the stereoscopic video display device of the present invention.

In the three-dimensional image display apparatus of the present invention, an image separating means 3 is arranged on the viewer 5 side with a liquid crystal panel 1 for a display panel interposed therebetween, and light from a backlight 2 which is a flat light source is applied to the liquid crystal panel 1. , And the modulated image light is separated into left and right image lights by the image separation means 3 and is provided to the left and right eyes 5L and 5R of the observer 5, respectively. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of an ordinary parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device.

The liquid crystal panel 1 includes a light incident side glass substrate 11, a light emitting side glass substrate 12, and these substrates 11,
It has a liquid crystal layer 13 provided between the two, a light incident side polarizing plate 14 attached to the light incident side glass substrate 11, and a light emitting side polarizing plate 15 attached to the light emitting side glass substrate 12. The liquid crystal panel 1 is driven by, for example, a matrix driving method, and an image is displayed by applying a voltage to a transparent pixel electrode (not shown) according to an image signal. Then, by processing the video signal supplied to the liquid crystal panel 1, the image R for the right eye and the image L for the left eye are alternately displayed every other vertical line.

As is well known, in the liquid crystal panel 1, light is incident as polarized light polarized in one direction of the vibration axis by the incident-side polarizing plate 14, and light of a predetermined polarization direction is emitted from the emitting-side polarizing plate 15. And emitted. Then, by controlling the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer 13, transmission or blocking of light from the emission-side polarizing plate 15 is controlled.

The image separating means 3 comprises a liquid crystal panel 30 and a polarizing section 34 provided on the viewing side of the liquid crystal panel 30. The polarizing section 34 is formed to have a pattern in which the axial directions of polarized light that is transmitted alternately are different. For example, the polarizing section 34 is configured by a phase difference plate in which the polarizing pattern sections 34a and 34b have a phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to the axis direction of the polarized light, and separates the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 1 into right and left. Are formed at a predetermined pitch so as to be applied to the left and right eyes 5L, 5R of the observer 5.

The polarization pattern portion 34a, for example, is configured to transmit the same polarized light as the light exit side polarization plate 15, and the polarization pattern portion 34b has a phase difference of 90 degrees from the light exit side polarization plate 15. Is configured. Therefore,
The image light, which is one polarized light, is blocked by one of the polarization pattern parts 34a or 34b. As a result, the polarizing section 34 has the same function as the parallax barrier.

The polarizing section 34 can be formed by, for example, attaching a transparent retardation film having a 1/2 retardation pattern formed in a stripe pattern at a predetermined pitch on a polarizing plate.

The liquid crystal panel 30 has a liquid layer 33 made of TN type liquid crystal between a glass substrate 31 and a glass substrate 32. A transparent solid electrode such as ITO is formed on the entire inner surface of the glass substrates 31 and 32. Depending on whether or not a voltage is applied, the polarization direction of the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 can be directly transmitted or rotated by 90 degrees. And let it pass.

The above-described polarizing section 34 is provided by being attached to the light-emitting side glass plate 32 of the liquid crystal panel 30 or the like.

When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel 30, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
The image light emitted through 5 passes through the polarization pattern portion 34a that transmits the same polarized light as the light exit side polarizing plate 15, and
The light is blocked in the polarization pattern part 34b next to it. Therefore, the left and right image light beams are separated by the polarizing unit 34 and provided to the left and right eyes 5L and 5R of the observer 5, respectively.
Stereoscopic vision can be performed.

FIG. 1 shows the case of a normal vision state. When the observer's head moves from the solid line state in FIG. 1 to the left or right as indicated by the broken line (moves to the left in the broken line in FIG. 1), the left and right eyes receive different image light from the left and right eyes. Will be incident. Therefore, in the present invention, when the observer's head is in the pseudoscopic region, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel 30,
The polarization direction of the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 is rotated by 90 degrees and applied to the polarization unit 34. This state is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the liquid crystal panel 30, as a result of rotating the polarization direction of the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 by 90 degrees, the image light is transmitted by the polarization pattern portion 34b, and is transmitted by the polarization pattern portion 34a adjacent thereto. Will be shut off. Therefore, the left and right image light beams are separated by the polarizing unit 34 and provided to the left and right eyes 5L and 5R of the observer 5, respectively.
Stereoscopic vision can be performed. That is, ON / OFF of the liquid crystal panel 30
The control is the same as moving the slit formation position.

Thus, according to the position of the observer's head,
By performing the ON / OFF control of the liquid crystal panel 30, the left and right stereoscopic viewing areas of the observer can be expanded.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the stereoscopic video display device of the present invention. Sensor 10 for detecting the position of an observer observing a stereoscopic image displayed on liquid crystal panel 1
1 is supplied to a position detection control circuit 102. The position detection control circuit 102 detects whether the observer is in a normal-vision observation position or a reverse-vision observation position, based on the output of the sensor 101. To the separation control circuit 103.

The display circuit 100 generates a left-eye video signal and a right-eye video signal to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 1, respectively.
It is given to the liquid crystal panel 1.

Also, the separation control circuit 103 stops applying voltage to the liquid crystal panel 30 when the observer is at the normal viewing position and outputs the voltage when the observer is at the reverse viewing position, based on the output from the position detection control circuit 102. Control is performed so that a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel 30.

That is, when the observer is in the standard observation position, the liquid crystal panel 30 is turned off as shown in FIG.
Then, the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 is directly provided to the polarizing unit 34.

When the observer is in the pseudoscopic viewing position, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 30 is turned on, and the polarization direction of the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 is polarized by 90 degrees to the polarization section 34. give.

As described above, the ON / O of the liquid crystal panel 30
By the FF control, observation can be easily performed regardless of whether the observer is in the normal viewing position or the reverse viewing position.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an observation state at a normal viewing position according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a configuration of an observation state at a reverse viewing position according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The same components as those in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the three-dimensional image display apparatus of the second embodiment, an image separating means 3 'is arranged between a backlight 2 which is a flat light source and a liquid crystal panel 1. The image separating means 3 ′ includes a polarizing section ′ and a TN type liquid crystal panel 30, and is arranged in the order of the backlight 2, the polarizing section ′, the TN type liquid crystal panel 30, and the liquid crystal panel 1.

Similarly to the above-mentioned polarizing section 34, the polarizing section 34 'is formed of a phase difference plate in which the polarizing pattern sections 34a' and 34b 'have a phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to the polarization axis direction. . The polarizing part 34 'is provided with the polarizing pattern part 3
4a 'and 34b' and the incident side polarizer 14 of the liquid crystal panel 1 slit the light from the backlight 2 to separate the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 1 into right and left parts, and
The right and left eyes 5L and 5R are formed at a predetermined pitch.

The polarizing pattern portion 34b ', for example, is configured to transmit the same polarized light as the light incident side polarizing plate 14, and the polarizing pattern portion 34a' is configured to transmit the light incident side polarizing plate 14.
Are configured so that the phase difference is different from that of 90 °. Accordingly, the light from the backlight 2 is incident on the liquid crystal panel 30 in a striped shape with a phase difference of 90 degrees. Then, the light is provided to the incident side polarizing plate 14 of the liquid crystal panel 1. In the incident side polarizing plate 14, one polarized light beam is transmitted to the liquid crystal panel 1.
It is made to enter inside. As a result, the polarizing section 34 'slits the light from the backlight 2 and the liquid crystal panel 1
Has the same function as the light source side light shielding sub-barrier that separates the light passing through the light source to the left and right.

The polarizing section 34 'can be formed by, for example, attaching a transparent retardation film having a 1/2 retardation pattern formed in a stripe pattern at a predetermined pitch on a polarizing plate.

The liquid crystal panel 30 has a liquid layer 33 made of TN type liquid crystal formed between a glass substrate 31 and a glass substrate 32. A transparent solid electrode such as ITO is formed on the entire inner surface of the glass substrates 31 and 32. Depending on whether or not a voltage is applied, the polarization direction of the image light from the liquid crystal panel 1 can be directly transmitted or rotated by 90 degrees. And let it pass.

When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel 30, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the polarization pattern portion 3 which transmits the same polarized light as the light incident side polarizing plate 14 of the polarization portion 34 '.
The light transmitted through 4b 'enters the liquid layer panel 1.
On the other hand, the light transmitted through the adjacent polarization pattern portion 34a 'is blocked by the light incident side polarizing plate 14. Therefore, the image light separated into left and right lights and modulated by the liquid crystal panel 1 is provided to the left and right eyes 5L and 5R of the observer 5 by the polarization unit 34 ', and stereoscopic viewing can be performed.

FIG. 4 shows the case of a normal vision state. When the observer's head moves from the solid line state in FIG. 1 to the left or right as indicated by the broken line (moves to the left in the broken line in FIG. 4), the left and right eyes receive different image light from the left and right eyes. Will be incident. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the observer's head is in the pseudo-vision region, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel 30,
By rotating the polarization direction of the light from the polarization unit 34 'by 90 degrees,
It is given to the liquid crystal panel 1. This state is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the liquid crystal panel 30, as a result of rotating the polarization direction of the light from the polarizing section 34 'by 90 degrees, the light transmitted through the polarizing pattern section 34a' enters.
The light transmitted through the adjacent polarization pattern portion 34b 'is blocked. Therefore, the left and right lights are separated by the polarizing section 34 ', and the left and right eyes 5L and 5L of the observer 5, respectively.
5R, stereoscopic vision can be performed. That is, the liquid crystal panel 3
The ON / OFF control of 0 is the same as moving the slit formation position.

Thus, according to the position of the observer's head,
By performing the ON / OFF control of the liquid crystal panel 30, the left and right stereoscopic viewing areas of the observer can be expanded.

In the first and second embodiments, the liquid crystal panel 30 is driven at a high speed, for example, at 120 Hz.
When ON / OFF driving is performed at the above high speed, the observer can see the two-dimensional image. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a case of viewing a two-dimensional video using the first embodiment. FIGS. 8 and 9 show a case of viewing a two-dimensional video using the second embodiment.

The states shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (or FIGS. 8 and 9) are switched at intervals of 120 Hz or more. As a result, the observer 5 observes the image of A and the image of B in a time-division manner. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 30 (30 ')
By driving ON / OFF at a high speed of, for example, 120 Hz or more, a two-dimensional image can be observed.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the left and right three-dimensional range can be expanded at a relatively low cost with a very simple structure. Further, by switching the driving voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel of the image separating means at a high speed, the
Two-dimensional images can also be easily observed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an observation state at a standard viewing position according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an observation state at a pseudoscopic position according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic video display device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an observation state at a standard viewing position according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an observation state at a pseudoscopic position according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a case of observing a two-dimensional video using the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a case of observing a two-dimensional video using the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a case of observing a two-dimensional video using the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case of observing a two-dimensional video using the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display liquid crystal panel 2 Backlight 3 Image separation means 30 TN type liquid crystal panel 34 Polarization part 5 Observer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H088 EA06 HA02 HA16 HA18 HA28 MA01 MA20 5C006 BB11 EC12 FA41 FA51 5C061 AA06 AA11 5C080 AA10 BB05 CC10 DD22 DD27 EE26 JJ02 JJ06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A display liquid crystal panel constituting a display screen by a left-eye pixel group and a right-eye pixel group, a light source provided on a light incident side of the display liquid crystal panel, and the display liquid crystal. Image separation means arranged on the light emission side of the panel to constitute a barrier unit for generating a binocular parallax effect, wherein the image separation means polarizes a polarization axis of image light from the display liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal panel section, and a polarizing section formed with a pattern in which the axial direction of polarized light that is transmitted alternately to separate left and right image light from the liquid crystal panel is formed with a different pattern, and the position of the observer. And controlling the driving of the liquid crystal panel unit to switch the position of light transmitted through the polarizing unit. 2. A display liquid crystal panel constituting a display screen by a left-eye pixel group and a right-eye pixel group, a light source provided on a light incident side of the liquid crystal panel, the light source and the display liquid crystal panel. Image separating means arranged between the liquid crystal panel and a barrier unit for generating a binocular parallax effect, wherein the image separating means is formed having a pattern in which the axial directions of polarized light that is transmitted alternately are different from each other. And a liquid crystal panel unit for polarizing the polarization axis of light transmitted through the polarization unit, and controls the driving of the liquid crystal panel unit according to the position of an observer, and displays the liquid crystal for display. A stereoscopic image display device without glasses, characterized by switching positions of left and right lights to be incident on a panel. 3. The three-dimensional image display device without glasses according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes of the liquid crystal panel are solid electrodes over the entire surface. 4. The stereoscopic image display device without glasses according to claim 1, wherein a driving voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel is switched at high speed to observe a two-dimensional image.