Abstract:
The present invention provides a parallax barrier which can be converted to the transmissive type if necessary, thereby converting 2D viewing to 3D viewing. The parallax barrier of the present invention is constituted by a twist nematic shutter, a polarizer is disposed on the outside surface of a substrate of the parallax barrier, and the substrate can be replaced with a plastic film, whereby the object distance between the view position of the parallax barrier and the display pixel of a display device is a shorter distance so as to provide a 3D image with a shorter view distance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing, and more particularly to a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing having parallax barrier for converting from 2D to 3D viewing and vice versa.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,029 entitled “Dual-mode 2D/3D display system” discloses that a backlight  1  and a parallax barrier  2  are disposed either side of a displace device  3  (a transmissive type panel). The parallax barrier  2  has dual mode: a transmissive type and a barrier type. A switch  12  controls the parallax barrier  2  that converts transmissive and barrier types between each other if necessary; therefore performing bi-directional conversions between 2-dimensional (mentioned as 2D hereafter) and 3-dimensional (mentioned as 3D hereafter) displays.  
         [0003]      FIG. 2  depicts a display system, which includes a liquid crystal display  4  having a backlight  7 , and a parallax barrier  2  for converting between 2D viewing and 3D viewing. The parallax barrier  2  is a twist nematic shutter and is consists of a polarizer  5 , a substrate  6 , a liquid crystal layer  8 , a substrate  6  and a polarizer  5 . The function of the polarizer  5  which is disposed on the inside of the parallax barrier  2  can be replaced With the function of a polarizer  5  which is disposed on the outside of the liquid crystal display  4 , and therefore the polarizer  5  which is disposed on the inside of the parallax can be removed. In this constitution, a view position  9  of the parallax barrier  2  is the position of the polarizer  5  which is disposed on the outside of the parallax barrier  2 , a display pixel  10  of the liquid crystal display  4  is disposed at the position of the polarizer  5  which is disposed on the front side of the liquid crystal display  4 , the distance between the view position  9  of the parallax barrier  2  and the display pixel  10  is denoted by letter d, The spacing between opaque and clear linear sections adjacent pixel columns on the parallax barrier  2  is denoted by letter Δp, the spacing between the right view and left view of the display pixel  10  is denoted by letter ΔL, the distance between the right eye and left eye of a viewer  11  is denoted by S, the distance between the viewer  11  and the view position  9  of the parallax barrier  2  is denoted by letter D, and the spacing Δp is about two times of the spacing ΔL, wherein an equation is 
   d=ΔL ( D+d )/ S    
 , where Δp, ΔL and S are limited by the viewer  11  and the necessary resolution of the liquid crystal display  4  are generally constant. Here Δp is equal to 0.016 centimeter, ΔL is equal to 0.008 centimeter, and S is equal to 6.5 centimeters. According to the abovementioned equation, the distance d is positive and proportional to the distance D. The distance D, i.e., the minimum distance of forming a 3-D image after computing, is 60 centimeters. It is apparent that the distance D being 60 centimeters is not useful for applying to display systems with medium/small dimensions. 
 
         [0004]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,850 entitled “Spatial light modulator, directional display and directional light source”. As compared with the above-mentioned display system, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,850 discloses that one substrate  6  of liquid crystal display  4  is removed to decrease the distance d and in turn decrease the distance D being equal to 35 centimeters. Although the distance D being 35 centimeters meet the applied requirement of the display system with medium/small dimension, two sides of the substrate  6  must be both processed by using coating, etching, rubbing, etc. It is apparent that the substrate  6  having two sides which are both processed is very different from the current substrate  6  in the prior art having only one side which is processed is by using coating, etching, rubbing, etc. The cost of mass production is high, and therefore apparent that the substrate  6  having two sides, which are both processed, cannot meet the requirements of mass production.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there exists a need for a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing to solve the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing having a manufacturing process of a parallax barrier for decreasing the distance between the view position of a parallax barrier and a display pixel of a display device.  
         [0007]     In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing including a display device and a parallax barrier. The parallax barrier has a second polarizer, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first polarizer and a first substrate, characterized in that the second polarizer, the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer, the first polarizer and the first substrate are disposed on the display device in sequence.  
         [0008]     The dual-mode display system, according to the present invention has an object distance between the view position of the parallax barrier and display pixel (being approximately half of the object distance d in the prior art) and the viewing distance between the viewer and view position of the parallax barrier, around 35 centimeters after calculating, to meet the requirements display systems with medium/small dimension. In addition, the present invention utilizes the technology of plastic liquid crystal panel and a substrate is replaced with a plastic substrate for decreasing the object distance and further decreasing the view distance.  
         [0009]     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing in the prior art.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing in the prior art.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a structural sectional schematic view of another dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing in the prior art.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a manufacturing flow diagram of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a manufacturing flow diagram of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a manufacturing flow diagram of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a manufacturing flow diagram of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a manufacturing flow diagram of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a structural sectional schematic view of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]      FIG. 4  defines the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The dual-mode display system includes a display device  30  and a parallax barrier  20 A disposed on the outside surface of the display device  30 . The parallax barrier  20 A includes a second polarizer  24 , a second substrate  23 , a liquid crystal layer  25 , a first polarizer  21  and a first substrate  22  that are disposed on the display device  30  in sequence. A surface of the first substrate  22  and a surface of the second substrate  23  of which both are close to the liquid crystal layer  25  have a specific pattern of electrodes (not shown). The two surfaces that contact the liquid crystal layer  25  are processed by using rubbing treatment for arranging the crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer  25  in a specific direction. The parallax barrier  20 A changes the arrangement of the crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer  25  through the electrode of the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  by controlling the outside voltage. The parallax barrier  2  has a dual mode: a transmissive type and a barrier type, converting the transmissive type and the barrier type to each other if necessary, and further converting 2D viewing and 3D viewing to each other.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , it depicts a flow diagram of manufacturing a parallax barrier  20 A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In step  5 A, a specific pattern of electrode forms on the surface of the first substrate  22 . In step  5 B, the first polarizer  21  is manufactured, and the surface of the first substrate  22  can be coated with the first polarizer  21  by means of printing. In step  5 C, a surface of the first polarizer  21  is processed by means of a rubbing treatment. In step  5 D, a specific pattern of electrodes is formed on the surface of the second substrate  23 . In step  5 E, the surface of the second substrate  23  is processed by means of rubbing treatment. In step  5 F, the first substrate  22  is provided with an adhesive. In step  5 G, the second substrate  23  is provided with a plurality of spacers. In step  5 H, the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  are joined to each other. In step  5 I, a space between the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  is filled with liquid crystal material. In step  5 J, the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  are packaged. In step  5 K, the second polarizer  24  adheres to a surface of the second substrate  23  to complete the parallax barrier  20 A.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 4  again, a view position  40  (the actual position of the alternate opaque and clear linear sections viewed by the viewer  45 ) of the parallax barrier  20 A is the position of the first polarizer  21 . A display pixel  50  of the display device  30  is located at the position of the second polarizer  24 , the distance between the view position  40  of the parallax barrier  20 A and the display pixel  50  is denoted by letter d. The spacing between opaque and clear linear sections on the view position  40  is denoted by letter Δp, the spacing between the right view and left view of the display pixel  50  is denoted by letter ΔL, the distance between the right eye and left eye of a viewer  45  is denoted by S, the distance between the viewer  45  and the view position  40  of the parallax barrier  20 A is denoted by letter D, and therefore the distance d is approximately half of the distance d in the prior art (because the thickness of the first substrate  22  is not required to be considered). For example, the dual-mode display system is actually measured, the distance d is about 0.4˜0.5 mm, and therefore the distance D is about 35 centimeters after calculating so as to meet the requirements of display systems with medium/small dimensions.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 B is manufactured by utilizing the technology of plastic liquid crystal panel. As compared with the first embodiment, the second substrate  23  in the second embodiment is replaced with a plastic substrate  60  that is less than 0.2 mm in thickness. The plastic substrate  60  can be made of one of Polyester (PES), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Artone. The chemical formula of the Artone is as follows:  
                           
         [0030]      FIG. 7  depicts a flow diagram of manufacturing a parallax barrier  20 B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. All Step  7 A, Step  7 B, Step  7 C, Step  7 E, Step  7 F, Step  7 G, Step  7 H, Step  7 I, Step  7 J, Step  7 K is same as the steps in the first embodiment except step  7 D. The step  7 D is similar to the step  5 D, wherein the second substrate  23  is replaced with the plastic substrate  60 . As described above, the distance d in the second embodiment is much less than the first embodiment, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in a specific field.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , it depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 C is also manufactured by utilizing the technology of plastic liquid crystal panel. As compared with the first embodiment, the first polarizer  21  is removed and disposed on the outside surface of the parallax barrier  20 C (similar to the parallax barrier in  FIG. 2 ), and the second substrate  23  is replaced with a plastic substrate  60  which is less than 0.2 mm in thickness. The plastic substrate  60  can be made of one of Polyester (PES), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Artone.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , it depicts a flow diagram of manufacturing a parallax barrier  20 C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In step  9 A and  9 C, a specific pattern of electrode is formed on a surface of the first substrate  22  and a specific pattern of electrode is formed on a surface of the plastic substrate  60 . In step  9 B and  9 D, the surface of the first substrate  22  and the surface of the plastic substrate  60  are processed by means of rubbing. In step  9 E, the first substrate  22  is provided with an adhesive. In step  9 F, the plastic substrate  60  is provided with a plurality of spacers. In step  9 G, the first substrate  22  and the plastic substrate  60  are joined together. In step  9 H, a space between the first substrate  22  and the plastic substrate  60  is filled with liquid crystal material. In step  9 I, the first substrate  22  and the plastic substrate  60  are packaged. In step  9 J, the first polarizers  21  adheres to the other surface of the second substrate  23  and the second polarizers  24  adheres to the other surface of the plastic substrate  60  so as to complete the parallax barrier  20 C. As described above, the distance d in the third embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , it depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 D is also manufactured by utilizing the technology of plastic liquid crystal panel. The dual-mode display system in the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the third embodiment, but the first substrate  22  is replaced with a plastic substrate  60  which is less than 0.2 mm in thickness. The plastic substrate  60  can be made of one of Polyester (PES), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Artone.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , it depicts a flow diagram of manufacturing a parallax barrier  20 D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first substrate  22  in the fourth embodiment is replaced with the plastic substrate  60 . In step  11 C and  11 A, a specific pattern of electrode is formed on a surface of the second substrate  23  and a specific pattern of electrode is formed on a surface of the plastic substrate  60 . In step  11 B and  11 D, the surface of the second substrate  23  and the surface of the plastic substrate  60  are processed by means of rubbing treatment. In step  11 E, the plastic substrate  60  is provided with an adhesive. In step  11 F, the second substrate  23  is provided with a plurality of spacers. In step  11 G, the second substrate  23  and the plastic substrate  60  are joined with each other. In step  11 H, a space between the second substrate  23  and the plastic substrate  60  is filled with liquid crystal material. In step  11 I, the second substrate  23  and the plastic substrate  60  are packaged. In step  11 J, the first polarizers  21  adheres to the other surface of the plastic substrate  60  and the second polarizers  24  adheres to the other surface of the second substrate  23  so as to complete the parallax barrier  20 D. As described above, the distance d in the fourth embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , it depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 E is also manufactured by utilizing the technology of plastic liquid crystal panel. The dual-mode display system in the fifth embodiment is similar to that in the third embodiment, but the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  are replaced with two plastic substrates  60  which are less than 0.2 mm in thickness. The plastic substrate  60  can be made of one of Polyester (PES), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Artone.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , it depicts a flow diagram of manufacturing a parallax barrier  20 E according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first substrate  22  and the second substrate  23  in the fifth embodiment is replaced with the two plastic substrates  60 . In step  13 C and  13 A, two specific patterns of electrode are respectively formed surfaces of the two plastic substrates  60 . In step  13 B and  13 D, the surfaces of the two plastic substrates  60  are processed by means of rubbing. In step  13 E and  13 F, the two plastic substrates  60  are provided with an adhesive and a plurality of spacers. In step  13 G, the two plastic substrates  60  are joined with each other. In step  13 H, a space between the two plastic substrates  60  is filled with liquid crystal material. In step  13 I, the two plastic substrates  60  are packaged. In step  13 J, the first polarizers  21  and the second polarizers  24  adhere to the other surfaces of the two plastic substrates  60  to complete the parallax barrier  20 E. As described above, the distance d in the fifth embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0037]     Refer to  FIG. 14 , for the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The structure of a parallax barrier  20 A of the dual-mode display system in the sixth embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment, but the display device  30  is replaced with a liquid crystal panel  70  having a backlight module  75 . The function of the second polarizer  24  in the first embodiment is replaceable with the function of a fourth polarizer  79  of the liquid crystal panel  70 , and therefore the second polarizer  24  can be removed. According to the second, third, fourth and fifth embodiment, the display device  30  is replaced with a liquid crystal panel  70  having a backlight module  75 , and the second polarizer  24  can be removed.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , it depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 F in the seventh embodiment is similar to the parallax barrier  2  in the prior art (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and is disposed between the liquid crystal panel  70 F and the backlight module  75 . The liquid crystal panel  70 F includes a third substrate  76 , a third polarizer  78 , a liquid crystal layer  25 , a fourth substrate  77  and a fourth polarizer  79  which are disposed on the parallax barrier  20 F in sequence. The parallax barrier  20 F includes a first polarizer  21 , a first substrate  22 , a liquid crystal layer  25  and a second substrate  23  which are disposed on the backlight module  75  in sequence. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel  70 F is similar to the parallax barrier  20 A in the first embodiment, and the third polarizer  78  can form on the surface of the third substrate  76  by means of printing mode. According to the seventh embodiment, a view position  40  (the actual position of the alternate opaque and clear linear sections is viewed by the viewer  45 ) of the parallax barrier  20 F is the position of the third polarizer  78 , a display pixel  50  of the liquid crystal panel  70 F is located at the position of the fourth polarizer  79 . Although the definitions of the distance d and the distance D in the seventh embodiment are not similar to those in the above-mentioned embodiments, the distance D is positive proportional to the distance d. As described above, the distance d in the seventh embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , it depicts the structure of a dual-mode display system for 2D and 3D viewing according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The parallax barrier  20 G in the eighth embodiment is similar to the parallax barrier  2  in the prior art (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and disposed between the liquid crystal panel  70 G and the backlight module  75 . The liquid crystal panel  70 G includes a third polarizer  78 , a third substrate  76 , a liquid crystal layer  25 , a fourth polarizer  79  and a fourth substrate  77  which are disposed on the parallax barrier  20 G in sequence. The parallax barrier  20 G includes a first polarizer  21 , a first substrate  22 , a liquid crystal layer  25  and a second substrate  23  which are disposed on the backlight module  75  in sequence. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel  70 G is similar to that in the seventh embodiment, and the fourth polarizer  79  can form on a surface of the fourth substrate  77  by means of printing mode. According to the eighth embodiment, a view position  40  (the actual position of the alternate opaque and clear linear sections is viewed by the viewer  45 ) of the parallax barrier  20 G is the position of the third polarizer  78 , a display pixel  50  of the liquid crystal panel  70 G is located at the position of the fourth polarizer  79 . As described above, the distance d in the eighth embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0040]     According to the seventh and eighth embodiments, at least one of the third substrate  76  and the fourth substrate  77  can also be replaced with a plastic substrate  60  by utilizing the technology of the plastic liquid crystal panel if necessary. The plastic substrate  60  can be made of one of Polyester (PES), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Artone. As described above, the distance d in the seventh and eighth embodiment is much less than that in the prior art, and therefore the distance D is very short after calculating so as to be applied in specific field.  
         [0041]     The distance d is less than 0.8 mm as use the skill that is disclosed by the invention. The distance D is less than 60 cm so as to meet the requirements of display systems with medium/small dimensions.  
         [0042]     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is not used to limit the invention. It is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.