Abstract:
A display apparatus comprises a display panel and a reflection member. The display panel comprises an array of pixels, the array having a quadrangular shape. The reflection member is disposed in a position not to overlap at least a portion of the array when viewed in a normal direction substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the display panel, the reflection member being configured to reflect light that is emitted from the display panel in a direction slanted with respect to the normal direction. The combination of light emitted from the display panel in the normal direction and the reflected light is configured to form an image having a shape other than a quadrangular shape.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0160875, filed on Nov. 18, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    One or more embodiments relate to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a pseudo-free form display apparatus having an actual shape and a visually perceived shape that are different from each other. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, demands for free form display apparatuses having various shapes other than quadrangular shapes have increased. For example, research has been conducted on display apparatuses having various shapes in consideration of functional and aesthetic factors to, for example, apply circular display apparatuses to smart watches, vehicle dashboards, etc. 
         [0006]    However, manufacturing costs of free form display apparatuses are higher than those of display apparatuses having quadrangular shapes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One or more embodiments include a pseudo-free form display apparatus having an actual shape that is relatively easily manufactured and a visually perceived shape that are different from each other. 
         [0008]    Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the invention provides a display apparatus comprising: a display panel comprising a major surface, the display panel comprising an array of pixels; a first polarization member that is disposed over the display panel and configured to separate light emitted from the display panel into first polarized light and second polarized light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other; a second polarization member that is disposed over the first polarization member such that the first polarization member is disposed between the display panel and the second polarization member, the second polarization member being configured to allow light polarized in the first direction to transmit therethrough and inhibit light polarized in the second direction from transmitting therethrough; a reflection member that is disposed in a position not to overlap at least a portion of the array when viewed in a normal direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface, the reflection member being configured to reflect light emitted from the display panel in a direction slanted with respect to the normal direction and transmitted through the first polarization member toward the second polarization member; a first phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel and transmitted through the first polarization member toward the reflection member; and a second phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member and transmitted toward the second polarization member. 
         [0010]    In the foregoing apparatus, the display panel may have a substantially quadrangular shape. Each of the first phase retarder and the second phase retarder may be a quarter wave plate, wherein there is an angle of about 45° between a slow axis of the first phase retarder and an axis of polarization of the first polarization member, wherein there is an angle of about 90° between a slow axis of the second phase retarder and the slow axis of the first phase retarder. 
         [0011]    Still in the foregoing apparatus, the first polarization member may comprise a plurality of first areas configured to transmit therethrough only a component of the first direction of light emitted from the display panel and a plurality of second areas configured to transmit therethrough only a component of the second direction of the light emitted from the display panel. The plurality of first areas and the plurality of second areas may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The plurality of first areas being stripe-shaped and the plurality of second areas being stripe-shaped may be alternately arranged. The first polarization member may be configured to switch between transmitting therethrough only a component of the first direction of the light emitted from the display panel and transmitting therethrough only a component of the second direction of the light emitted from the display panel according to an electrical signal. An angle between a light-emission surface of the display panel and a reflective surface of the reflection member may be equal to or greater than about 90°. An angle between the light-emission surface of the display panel and the reflective surface of the reflection member may be adjustable. The reflection member may surround the display panel when viewed in the normal direction and be disposed not to reflect light that is emitted from the display panel in the normal direction, wherein the first and second retarders are disposed such that the light emitted from the display panel does not pass therethrough. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the invention provides a display apparatus comprising: a display panel comprising an array of pixels, the array having a quadrangular shape; and a reflection member that is disposed in a position not to overlap at least a portion of the array when viewed in a normal direction perpendicular to a major surface of the display panel, the reflection member being configured to reflect light that is emitted from the display panel in a direction slanted with respect to the normal direction, wherein the combination of light emitted from the display panel in the normal direction and the reflected light is configured to form an image having a shape other than a quadrangular shape. 
         [0013]    In the foregoing apparatus, the apparatus may further comprise: a first polarization member that is disposed over the display panel and configured to separate light emitted from the display panel into first polarized light and second polarized light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other; a second polarization member that is disposed over the first polarization member such that the first polarization member is disposed between the display panel and the second polarization member, the second polarization member being configured to allow light polarized in the first direction to transmit therethrough and inhibit light polarized in the second direction from transmitting therethrough; a first phase retarder that is disposed between the first polarization member and the second polarization member; and a second phase retarder that is disposed between the first phase retarder and the second polarization member. Each of the first phase retarder and the second phase retarder may be a quarter wave plate, wherein there is an angle of about 45° between a slow axis of the first phase retarder and an axis of polarization of the first polarization member, wherein there is an angle of about 90° between a slow axis of the second phase retarder and the slow axis of the first phase retarder. 
         [0014]    Still in the foregoing apparatus, the first polarization member comprises a plurality of first areas configured to transmit therethrough only a component of the first direction of light emitted from the display panel and a plurality of second areas configured to transmit therethrough only a component of the second direction of the light that is emitted from the display panel. The plurality of first areas and the plurality of second areas may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The plurality of first areas being stripe-shaped and the plurality of second areas being stripe-shaped may be alternately arranged. The first polarization member may be configured to switch between transmitting therethrough only a component of the first direction of the light emitted from the display panel and transmitting therethrough only a component of the second direction from among the light that is emitted from the display panel according to an electrical signal. 
         [0015]    Further in the foregoing apparatus, an angle between a light-emission surface of the display panel and a reflective surface of the reflection member may be equal to or greater than about 90°. An angle between the light-emission surface of the display panel and the reflective surface of the reflection member is adjustable. The reflection member may surround the display panel when viewed in the normal direction and may be disposed not to reflect light that is emitted from the display panel in the normal direction. 
         [0016]    According to one or more embodiments, a display apparatus includes: a display panel; a first polarization member that is disposed in front of the display panel, and spatially or temporally separates light emitted from the display panel into first light and second light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other; a second polarization member that is disposed in paths of the first light and the second light that pass through the first polarization member, and transmits therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction; a reflection member that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted at an angle that is greater than a predetermined value in a normal direction of the display panel from the display panel, and reflects light that is incident from the display panel to the second polarization member; a first phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel and is incident on the reflection member; and a second phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member and is incident on the second polarization member. 
         [0017]    The display panel may have a substantially quadrangular shape. 
         [0018]    Each of the first phase retarder and the second phase retarder may be a quarter wave plate, there may be an angle of about 45° between a slow axis of the first phase retarder and an axis of polarization of the first polarization member, and there may be an angle of about 90° between a slow axis of the second phase retarder and the slow axis of the first phase retarder. 
         [0019]    The first polarization member may include a first area that transmits therethrough only a component of the first direction and a second area that transmits therethrough only a component of the second direction from among the light emitted from the display panel. 
         [0020]    The first area and the second area may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. 
         [0021]    The first area and the second area may be alternately arranged in a striped pattern. 
         [0022]    The first polarization member may have a switching function of transmitting therethrough only a component of the first direction or transmitting therethrough only a component of the second direction from among the light emitted from the display panel according to an electrical signal. 
         [0023]    An angle between a light-emission surface of the display panel and a reflective surface of the reflection member may be equal to or greater than about 90°. 
         [0024]    The angle between the light-emission surface of the display panel and the reflective surface of the reflection member may be adjustable. 
         [0025]    The reflection member may be disposed outside a path of light that is emitted in the normal direction of the display panel. 
         [0026]    According to one or more embodiments, a display apparatus includes: a display panel having a quadrangular shape; and a reflection member that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted at an angle that is greater than a predetermined value in a normal direction of the display panel from the display panel, and reflects light that is incident from the display panel, wherein it looks to a user as if an image formed from the display panel has a shape other than the quadrangular shape. 
         [0027]    The display apparatus may further include: a first polarization member that is disposed in front of the display panel, and spatially or temporally separates light emitted from the display panel into first light and second light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other; a second polarization member that is disposed in paths of the first light and the second light that pass through the first polarization member, and transmits therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction; a first phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel and is incident on the reflection member; and a second phase retarder that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member and is incident on the second polarization member. 
         [0028]    Each of the first phase retarder and the second phase retarder may be a quarter wave plate, there may be an angle of about 45° between a slow axis of the first phase retarder and an axis of polarization of the first polarization member, and there may be an angle of about 90° between a slow axis of the second phase retarder and the slow axis of the first phase retarder. 
         [0029]    The first polarization member may include a first area that transmits therethrough only a component of the first direction and a second area that transmits therethrough only a component of the second direction from among the light that is emitted from the display panel. 
         [0030]    The first area and the second area may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. 
         [0031]    The first area and the second area may be alternately arranged in a striped pattern. 
         [0032]    The first polarization member may have a switching function of transmitting therethrough only a component of the first direction or transmitting therethrough only a component of the second direction from among the light emitted from the display panel according to an electrical signal. 
         [0033]    An angle between a light-emission surface of the display panel and a reflective surface of the reflection member may be equal to or greater than about 90°. 
         [0034]    The angle between the light-emission surface of the display panel and the reflective surface of the reflection member may be adjustable. 
         [0035]    The reflection member may be disposed outside a path of light that is emitted in the normal direction of the display panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a display apparatus according to an embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2A  is a view illustrating a path of light emitted in a normal direction from the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2B  is a view illustrating a path of light emitted in a direction with an angle that is greater than a predetermined value with respect to the normal direction from the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3A  is a view illustrating a first polarization member according to an embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 3B  is a result obtained after simulating an image visually perceived in a display apparatus including the first polarization member of  FIG. 3A , according to an embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating a first polarization member according to another embodiment; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4B  is a result obtained after simulating an image visually perceived in a display apparatus including the first polarization member of  FIG. 4A , according to an embodiment; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a display apparatus according to another embodiment; and 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a display apparatus according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0046]    The inventive concept may include various embodiments and modifications, and embodiments thereof will be illustrated in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. The advantages and features of the inventive concept and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; 
         [0047]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference elements are denoted by like elements and a repeated explanation thereof will not be given. 
         [0048]    While such terms as “first”, “second”, etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. 
         [0049]    As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0050]    It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” used herein specify the presence of stated features or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components. 
         [0051]    It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component is referred to as being “formed on” another layer, region, or component, it can be directly or indirectly formed on the other layer, region, or component. For example, intervening layers, regions, or components may be present. 
         [0052]    Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation. In other words, since sizes and thicknesses of components in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of explanation, the following embodiments are not limited thereto. 
         [0053]    As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0054]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a display apparatus  1  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2A  is a view illustrating a path of light emitted in a normal direction from the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2B  is a view illustrating a path of light emitted in a direction slanted with respect to the normal direction from the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B , the display apparatus  1  according to an embodiment includes a display panel  100 , a first polarization member  20 , a second polarization member  30 , and a reflect member  10 . The first polarization member or plate  20  is disposed in front of the display panel  100  and separates light emitted from the display panel  100  into first light L 1a  and second light L 2a  that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other. The second polarization member or plate  30  is disposed in paths of the first light L 1a  and second light L 2a  that pass through the first polarization member  20  and transmits therethrough light that is polarized in the first direction. The reflection member or mirror  10  is disposed in a path of light emitted in a direction slanted with respect to a normal direction from the display panel  100  and reflects light that is incident from the display panel  100  to the second polarization member  30 . In embodiments, the normal direction is substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the display panel. The major surface may be a surface of a substrate in the display panel. In another embodiment, the major surface may be a display surface of the display panel. In the illustrated embodiments, the slanted direction has an angle with respect to the normal direction may be greater than a predetermined angle which is greater than 0°. In an embodiment, the reflection member may reflect light beams emitted from the display panel which form an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90°. In another embodiment, the reflection member may reflect light beams emitted from the display panel which form an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 45°. 
         [0056]    In the illustrated embodiments, the apparatus further includes a first phase retarder  40  that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel  100  and is incident on the reflection member  10 , and a second phase retarder  50  that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member  10  and is incident on the second polarization member  30 . The first and second polarization members and the first and second phase retarders may form a multi-layered optical structure. In embodiments, the reflector  10  may include a reflection surface generally facing the multi-layered optical structure. 
         [0057]    The display panel  100  may be any of various types of panels that display images, such as an organic light-emitting display panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a plasma display panel, or an electrophoresis display panel, and may have a substantially quadrangular shape. 
         [0058]    Display panels having quadrangular shapes have been widely applied to mobile phones, tablet computers, monitors, TVs, etc, and thus, are familiar to users, and may be economical in consideration of productivity and yield. 
         [0059]    The first polarization member  20  may be disposed in front of the display panel  100 , wherein the first polarization member  20  includes first areas  20   a  and second areas  20   b . The first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  may include polarizers that are oriented in different directions, and light beams transmitted through the first areas  20   a  may be polarized in the first direction and light beams transmitted through the second areas  20   b  may be polarized in the second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
         [0060]    The first areas  20   a  may transmit therethrough only components of the first direction and may block light of other directions from among light emitted from the display panel  100 . The second areas  20   b  may transmit therethrough only components of the second direction and may block light of other directions from among light emitted from the display panel  100 . 
         [0061]    The first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  of the first polarization member  20  may be arranged in various patterns. For example, the first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern or a striped pattern, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Since a shape of an image visually perceived by a user may vary according to an arrangement of the first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  of the first polarization member  20 , the arrangement of the first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  may be changed according to a desired shape, which will be explained below. 
         [0062]    The first phase retarder  40  may be disposed between the first polarization member  20  and the second polarization member  30 . The first phase retarder  40  may be a quarter wave plate, and there may be an angle of about 45° between a slow axis of the first phase retarder  40  and an axis of polarization of the first polarization member  20 . In embodiments, axes of polarization of the first areas  20   a  and the second areas  20   b  having axes of polarization that are perpendicular to each other may form an angle of about 45° with the slow axis of the first phase retarder  40 , respectively. 
         [0063]    Accordingly, light transmitted through the first polarization member  20  may be changed into circularly polarized light by the first phase retarder  40 . In this case, the first light L 1a  and the second light L 2a  may be changed into circularly polarized light of different directions. For example, the first light L 1a  may be changed into clockwise circularly polarized light and the second light L 2a  may be changed into counterclockwise circularly polarized light. 
         [0064]    Although the display panel  100 , the first polarization member  20 , and the first phase retarder  40  are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined interval in  FIG. 1  for convenience of explanation, the first polarization member  20  and the first phase retarder  40  may be attached to the display panel  100  with or without an adhesive material. In embodiment, the first polarization member  20  may contact the display panel and the first phase retarder  40  may contact the first polarization member  20 . In the illustrated embodiments, the second phase retarder  40  and the second polarization member  30  may be spaced from each other. In other embodiments, the second phase retarder  40  and the second polarization member  30  may be attached to each other with or without an adhesive. In illustrated embodiments, the first phase retarder and the second phase retarder may be spaced from each other. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , light emitted in the normal direction from the display panel  100  may pass through the first polarization member  20  and the first phase retarder  40 , and then may be incident on the second phase retarder  50  located between the first phase retarder  40  and the second polarization member  30 . 
         [0066]    The second phase retarder  50  may be a quarter wave plate, and there may be an angle of about 90° between a slow axis of the second phase retarder  50  and the slow axis of the first phase retarder  40 . Accordingly, light passing through the first phase retarder  40  and the second phase retarder  50  may be linearly polarized light of the same direction as that of light before passing through the first phase retarder  40 . 
         [0067]    In embodiments, the first light L 1a  and second light L 2a  that are respectively polarized in the first direction and the second direction may be circularly polarized by the first phase retarder  40  and the second phase retarder  50 , and then may be changed back into third light L 1b  and fourth light L 2b  that are respectively polarized in the first direction and the second direction. 
         [0068]    The third light L 1b  and fourth light L 2b  that are respectively polarized in the first direction and the second direction may be incident on the second polarization member  30  that is disposed in front of the second polarization member  50 . The second polarization member  30  may transmit therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction, and thus, may transmit only the third light L 1b  that is polarized in the first direction. In embodiments, a user who is in front of the second polarization member  30  may visually perceive only the third light L 1b  that originates from the first light L 1a  from among the light emitted substantially in the normal direction from the display panel  100 . 
         [0069]    Although the first phase retarder  40  and the second phase retarder  50  are located so that light emitted in the normal direction from the display panel  100  passes through the first phase retarder  40  and the second phase retarder  50  in  FIG. 1 , the inventive concept is not limited thereto. In embodiments, the first phase retarder  40  and the second phase retarder  50  may be located only in a path of light that is incident on and is reflected by the reflection member  10 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , light emitted from the display panel  100  in a slanted direction with an angle that is greater than a predetermined value with respect to the normal direction may pass through the first polarization member  20  and the first phase retarder  40 , and then may be reflected by the reflection member  10 . Light reflected by the reflection member  10  may be incident on the second phase retarder  50 . An angle θ between a light-emission surface of the display panel  100  and a reflective surface of the reflection member  10  may be equal to or greater than about 90°. Since the angle θ is equal to or greater than about 90°, light reflected by the reflection member  10  may be efficiently guided to the second polarization member  30 . 
         [0071]    Since the reflection member  10  has to be disposed to reflect only light emitted in a direction having an angle greater than the predetermined value with respect to the normal direction from the display panel  100 , the reflection member  10  may be disposed outside a path of light emitted in the normal direction from the display panel  100 . In embodiments, the light emitted in the normal direction from the display panel  100  may be directly incident on the second phase retarder  50  without being reflected by the reflection member  10 . 
         [0072]    The first light L 1a  and second light L 2a  that pass through the first phase retarder  40  are respectively circularly polarized in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, may be reflected by the reflection member  10  to change their phases by 180°, and thus may be respectively circularly polarized in the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction. 
         [0073]    The lights respectively circularly polarized in the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction may be changed by the second phase retarder  50  into fifth light L 1c  and sixth light L 2c  that are respectively linearly polarized in the second direction and the first direction. The first light L 1a  that is polarized in the first direction may be changed into the fifth light L 1c  that is polarized in the second direction by the second phase retarder  50 , and the second light L 2a  that is polarized in the second direction may be changed into the sixth light L 2c  that is polarized in the first direction by the second phase retarder  50 . 
         [0074]    The second polarization member  30  may pass therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction, and thus, only the sixth light L 2c  may pass through the second polarization member  30 . In embodiments, the user who is in front of the second polarization member  30  may perceive only the sixth light L 2c  that originates from the second light L 2a  from among the light emitted from the display panel  100  in the slanted direction. 
         [0075]    The light emitted from the display panel  100  in the slanted direction may be reflected by the reflection member  10  to change its path. Accordingly, it may look to the user as if light incident on the user is incident from a predetermined area VI. The area VI may be an area where any of pixels of the display panel  100  is not actually disposed, and the user visually perceives a virtual image instead of a real image. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , it may look to the user as if an image is formed from a panel having a shape different from a shape of the display panel  100 , for example, a quadrangular shape, that actually forms the image. 
         [0077]      FIG. 3A  is a view illustrating a first polarization member  120  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3B  is a result obtained after simulating an image visually perceived in a display apparatus including the first polarization member  120  of  FIG. 3A , according to an embodiment. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the first polarization member  120  according to an embodiment may include a first area  120   a  that transmits therethrough only a component of a first direction and a second area  120   b  that transmits therethrough only a component of a second direction from among light emitted from the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ), and the first area  120   a  and the second area  120   b  may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. 
         [0079]    In embodiments, light emitted from the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the normal direction and passing through the first areas  120   a  of the first polarization member  120  may be visually perceived by a user as shown in (a) of  FIG. 3B . Light passing through the second areas  120   b  of the first polarization member  120  and reflected by the reflection member may be visually perceived by the user as shown in (b) of  FIG. 3B . In embodiments, since only light reflected by the reflection member  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) from among the light passing through the second areas  120   b  may be visually perceived by the user, it may look to the user as if a display panel that forms an image is located outside the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). An image that is finally visually perceived by the user is shown in (c) of  FIG. 3B , and it may look to the user as if an image is formed by a circular display panel. 
         [0080]      FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating a first polarization member  320  according to another embodiment.  FIG. 4B  is a result obtained after simulating an image visually perceived in a display apparatus including the first polarization member  320  of  FIG. 4A , according to an embodiment. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the first polarization member  320  according to an embodiment may include a first area  320   a  that transmits therethrough only a component of a first direction and a second area  320   b  that transmits therethrough only a component of a second direction from among light emitted from the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ), and the first area  320   a  and the second area  320   b  may be alternately arranged in a striped pattern. 
         [0082]    In the illustrated embodiments, light emitted from the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) and passing through the first area  320   a  of the first polarization member  320  may be visually perceived as shown in (a) of  FIG. 4B . Light passing through the second area  320   b  of the first polarization member  320  may be visually perceived as shown in (b) of  FIG. 4B . In embodiments, since only light reflected by the reflection member  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) from among the light passing through the second area  320   b  may be visually perceived by a user, it may look to the user as if a display panel that forms an image is located outside the display panel  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). An image that is finally visually perceived by the user is shown in (c) of  FIG. 4B , and it may look to the user as if an image is formed from a display panel having a shape as shown in (c) of  FIG. 4B . 
         [0083]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a display apparatus  2  according to another embodiment. 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is only a difference in a configuration of a first polarization member  220  between the display apparatus  2  and the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 , and the following explanation will focus on the difference. 
         [0085]    The display apparatus  2  according to an embodiment includes the display panel  100 , the first polarization member  220  that is disposed in front of the display panel  100  and separates light emitted from the display panel  100  into first light and second light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second polarization member  30  that is disposed in paths of the first light and the second light that pass through the first polarization member  220  and transmits therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction, the reflection member  10  that is disposed in a path of light emitted from the display panel  100  in a slanted direction with an angle that is greater than a predetermined value with respect to a normal direction and reflects light that is incident from the display panel  100  to the second polarization member  30 , the first phase retarder  40  that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel  100  and is incident on the reflection member  10 , and the second phase retarder  50  that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member  10  and is incident on the second polarization member  30 . 
         [0086]    The first polarization member  220  may separate the light emitted from the display panel  100  into the first light and the second light that are temporally respectively polarized in the first direction and the second direction. Although the first polarization member  220  is not spatially divided into the first area  20   a  and the second area  20   b , unlike the first polarization member  20  of  FIG. 1 , as time passes, the first polarization member  220  may pass therethrough only the first light that is polarized in the first direction or may pass therethrough only the second light that is polarized in the second direction. 
         [0087]    In embodiments, the first polarization member  220  may have a switching function of transmitting therethrough only a component of the first direction or transmitting only a component of the second direction, and the switching function may be controlled by a controller  70 . For example, the first polarization member  220  may be controlled according to an electrical signal, and may include an anisotropic material such as liquid crystals. 
         [0088]    When the first polarization member  220  transmits therethrough only a component of the first direction, a shape of the display panel  100  and a shape visually perceived by a user may be the same. When the first polarization member  220  transmits therethrough only a component of the second direction, since the user perceives only light reflected by the reflection member  10 , it may look to the user as if an image is displayed from the outside of the display panel  100 . 
         [0089]    When the switching time is reduced to be less than a predetermined value, it may look to the user as if light that reaches the user without being reflected by the reflection member  10  and light that reaches the user after being reflected by the reflection member  10  are simultaneously visually perceived. In embodiments, it may look to the user as if an image is displayed from a panel having a shape other than the shape, e.g., a quadrangular shape, of the display panel  100 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a display apparatus  3  according to another embodiment. 
         [0091]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is only a difference in a configuration of a reflection member  310  between the display apparatus  3  and the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 . The following explanation will focus on the difference. 
         [0092]    The display apparatus  3  according to an embodiment includes the display panel  100 , the first polarization member  20  that is disposed in front of the display panel  100  and separates light emitted from the display panel  100  into first light and second light that are respectively polarized in a first direction and a second direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second polarization member  30  that is disposed in paths of the first light and the second light that pass through the first polarization member  20  and transmits therethrough only light that is polarized in the first direction, the reflection member  310  that is disposed in a path of light emitted from the display panel  100  in a slanted direction with an angle that is greater than a predetermined value with respect to a normal direction and reflects light that is incident from the display panel  100  to the second polarization member  30 , the first phase retarder  40  that is disposed in a path of light that is emitted from the display panel  100  and is incident on the reflection member  10 , and the second phase retarder  50  that is disposed in a path of light that is reflected by the reflection member  10  and is incident on the second polarization member  30 . 
         [0093]    As described above, part of the light emitted from the display panel  100  in the slanted direction may be reflected by the reflection member  310  and then may pass through the second phase retarder  50  and the second polarization member  30 . 
         [0094]    An angle θ between a light-emission surface of the display panel  100  and a reflective surface of the reflection member  310  may be equal to or greater than about 90°, and an angle of light that passes through the second polarization member  30  and is incident on a user may vary according to the angle θ. As a result, the shape of a display panel visually perceived by the user may vary according to the angle θ. 
         [0095]    The display apparatus  3  according to an embodiment may adjust the angle θ between the light-emission surface of the display panel  100  and the reflective surface of the reflection member  310 . In detail, a gradient of the reflection member  310  may be adjusted. 
         [0096]    According to an embodiment, since the angle θ may be adjusted, a shape of a display panel visually perceived by the user may also be adjusted. 
         [0097]    As described above, according to the one or more of the above embodiments, a display apparatus can display an image having a shape different from that of an array of pixels of the display panel. For example, a display apparatus can display a circular or oval shaped image using a display panel having a square or rectangular shaped array of pixels. Thus, a pseudo-free form display apparatus has an actual shape that is relatively easily manufactured and a visually perceived shape that is different from the actual shape. The scope of the inventive concept is not limited by the effect. 
         [0098]    It should be understood that the embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. 
         [0099]    While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.