Patent ID: 7268841
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A display device comprising: a display unit for forming a predetermined display mode; and a display switching unit overlapping with the display unit at least in one portion, wherein the display switching unit includes first polarization component selecting means, polarized-light transmitting axis changing means, and second polarization component selecting means sequentially disposed from the display unit toward an observation side, the first polarization component selecting means transmits a first polarization component and reflects a second polarization component having a polarization axis intersecting with a polarization axis of the first polarization component, the polarized-light transmitting axis changing means is switchable between a state of transmitting light after changing the first polarization component into the second polarization component and a state of transmitting light without substantially changing the polarization axis of the incident light, the second polarization component selecting means transmits one of the first polarization component and the second polarization component and absorbs or reflects the other, the display unit emits the first polarization component for forming the display mode, and the display switching unit is provided with a region including the first polarization component selecting means and a region including a third polarization component selecting means for transmitting the first polarization component and for absorbing the second polarization component.