Parallax barrier based stereoscopic display device and method

A parallax barrier device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a polarizer, and a controller. The first electrode includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes, and the second electrode includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes arranged intersecting the plurality of first sub-electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrode, and the liquid crystal layer forms respective display windows corresponding to regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes. The polarizer is disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode on a side away from the liquid crystal layer. Further, the controller is coupled to the first electrodes and the second electrode and configured to control voltages on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes to form a parallax barrier.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. CN201310231242.7, filed on Jun. 9, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of display technology and, more particularly, to a parallax barrier device for stereoscopic display and a stereoscopic display device and method.

BACKGROUND

With the development of the display technologies, three-dimensional (3D) display technology has been developed with a variety of display modes to generate stereoscopic vision for the viewer. The stereoscopic vision can be generated when the left eye and the right eye of the viewer receive images at different angles, which are further combined by the brain, such that the viewer can sense the layering and depth perception of objects for 3D display.

Currently, 3D display devices can be divided into passive 3D display devices and automatic 3D display devices. When using a passive 3D display device, the viewer needs to wear auxiliary devices such as glasses or helmet, etc. The automatic 3D display devices are also called autostereoscopic display devices, i.e., the viewer does not need the help of any auxiliary device to see the stereoscopic images. In general, an autostereoscopic display device often uses a lenticular lens array or a parallax barrier, etc., to achieve the 3D display. The lenticular or cylindrical lens array usually has a complex manufacturing process, but has high brightness. On the other hand, a parallax barrier can lose certain brightness, but has a simple manufacturing process and is relatively easy for mass production and, thus, is also a popular means to achieve autostereoscopic display.

Parallax barrier is based on the principle of pinhole imaging, projecting light emitting from a display panel into the left eye and the right eye of the viewer, respectively. An existing parallax barrier device can be a single layer of transparent medium, and opaque materials are then plated on the transparent medium with strip-shaped portions etched away for passing light, parallel to each other, to form a black-and-white grating, i.e., the parallax barrier. The existing parallax barrier device can also include a liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal layer, where the liquid crystal molecules can be rotated by a control voltage. With the addition of polarizer to the liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal cell can form a black-and-white grating, i.e., the parallax barrier.

Referring toFIG. 1, a display panel10is provided to display 2D/3D images, and a parallax barrier20is disposed over the display panel10. When a liquid crystal cell is used to form the parallax barrier, not only 3D image view can be achieved, but 2D/3D switching can also be achieved. Using the birefringence property of the liquid crystal molecules to change the polarization state of the emitting light, together with a polarizer, transparent and opaque grating structures (e.g., liquid crystal slits) can be formed, forming the parallax barrier. When in the 2D mode, the control voltage is turned off and 2D images can be displayed.

However, existing liquid crystal slit technologies often can only achieve full-screen 2D/3D switching. That is, the viewers often cannot simultaneously view contents containing both 2D and 3D information. The disclosed method and device are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a parallax barrier device. The parallax barrier device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a polarizer, and a controller. The first electrode includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes, and the second electrode includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes arranged intersecting the plurality of first sub-electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the liquid crystal layer forms respective display windows corresponding to regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes. The polarizer is disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode on a side away from the liquid crystal layer. Further, the controller is coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to control voltages on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes to cause the display windows of the liquid crystal layer to have different voltage differences, such that some of incident linearly polarized light passing through the display windows passes through the polarizer and some other incident polarized light passing through the display windows does not pass through polarizer, displaying a pattern of transparent and opaque display windows to form a parallax barrier.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a three-dimensional (3D) display device. The 3D display device include a parallax barrier device, and a display unit coupled to the parallax barrier device and configured to provide incident linearly polarized light of images to the parallax barrier device. The parallax barrier device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a polarizer, and a controller. The first electrode includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes, and the second electrode includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes arranged intersecting the plurality of first sub-electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the liquid crystal layer forms respective display windows corresponding to regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes. The polarizer is disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode on a side away from the liquid crystal layer. Further, the controller is coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to control voltages on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes to cause the display windows of the liquid crystal layer to have different voltage differences, such that some of the incident linearly polarized light passing through the display windows passes through the polarizer and some other incident polarized light passing through the display windows does not pass through polarizer, displaying a pattern of transparent and opaque display windows to form a parallax barrier.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes display method for a three-dimensional (3D) display device based on a parallax barrier device. The parallax barrier device contains a first electrode including a plurality of first sub-electrodes, a second electrode including a plurality of second sub-electrodes arranged intersecting the plurality of first sub-electrodes, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer forming respective display windows corresponding to regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes, a polarizer disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode on a side away from the liquid crystal layer, and a controller coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to control voltages on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes. The display method includes receiving content information to be displayed and determining whether the content information includes both two-dimensional (2D) information and 3D information. The method also includes, when it is determined that the content information includes both two-dimensional (2D) information and 3D information, controlling voltage difference of display windows of a 2D display region for the 2D information such that the incident linearly polarized light passing through the display windows of the 2D display region passes through the polarizer, and controlling voltage difference of display windows of a 3D display region for the 3D information to cause the display windows of the 3D display region to have different voltage differences, such that some of incident linearly polarized light passing through the display windows of the 3D display region passes through the polarizer and some other incident polarized light passing through the display windows of the 3D display region does not pass through polarizer, displaying a pattern of transparent and opaque display windows to form a parallax barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A 3D display terminal device may include any appropriate type of terminal device with a three dimensional (3D) display feature (e.g., 3D TVs, 3D phones, 3D computers, etc.). The 3D display terminal device can contain a variety of 3D display technologies.FIG. 9illustrates an exemplary 3D display terminal device incorporating certain aspects of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 9, a three-dimensional (3D) display terminal device900may include a 3D display910and a base920. The 3D display terminal device900may include any appropriate system that is capable of processing and displaying two-dimensional (2D) or 3D images, such as a computer, a television set, a smart phone, or other consumer electronic devices. Although 3D display terminal device900is shown as a notebook computer, any device with computing power may be used.

The 3D display910may include any appropriate type of 3D display screen based on plasma display panel (PDP) display, field emission display (FED), cathode ray tube (CRT) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or other types of displays. Further, 3D display910may also be touch-sensitive, i.e., a touch screen. Other display types may also be used.

Base920may include any appropriate structures and components to support operations of 3D display terminal device900. For example, base920may include a controller to control operation of 3D display910.FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary controller consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

As shown inFIG. 10, controller1000may include a processor1002, a random access memory (RAM)1004, a read-only memory (ROM)1006, an input/output interface1008, a driving unit1010, and a communication interface1012. Other components may be added and certain devices may be removed without departing from the principles of the disclosed embodiments.

Processor1002may include any appropriate type of graphic processing unit (GPU), general-purpose microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP) or microcontroller, and application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor1002may execute sequences of computer program instructions to perform various processes associated with 3D display terminal device900. The computer program instructions may be loaded into RAM1004for execution by processor1002from read-only memory1006to process various 3D images.

Input/output interface1008may be provided for users to input information into 3D display terminal device900or for the users to receive information from 3D display terminal device900. For example, input/output interface1008may include any appropriate input device, such as a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, an electronic tablet, a voice communication device, or any other optical or wireless input device. Further, driving unit1010may include any appropriate driving circuitry to drive various devices, such as 3D display910.

Further, communication interface1012may provide communication connections such that controller1000may be accessed by and/or communicate with other processors or systems through computer networks or other communication links via various communication protocols, such as transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

During operation of the 3D display terminal device900, image data containing both 2D and 3D images may be received from certain image input devices, such as a camera, a video player, etc. The image data may include pixel or a sub-pixel data of a plurality of 2D and 3D images. The 3D display910may include a liquid crystal parallax barrier device to effect 2D/3D image display.FIGS. 2-3illustrate an exemplary parallax barrier device.

As shown inFIGS. 2-3, parallax barrier device200may include a polarizer201, a first substrate202, a first electrode203, a first alignment layer204, a liquid crystal layer205, a second alignment layer206, a second electrode207, and a second substrate208. Certain components may be omitted and other components may be included.

The first electrode203includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes. The second electrode207includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes, and the second sub-electrodes and the first sub-electrodes are arranged in a cross over or intersecting position.

The liquid crystal layer205includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first electrode203and the second electrode207are disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal layer205. The liquid crystal layer205forms respective display windows corresponding to the regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes.

Further, polarizer201can be disposed on the first electrode203or the second electrode207on the side away from the liquid crystal layer and is configured to receive light emitting from the display panel.

In operation, various control voltages may be applied on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and/or the plurality of second sub-electrodes, such that the various display windows of the liquid crystal layer can have different voltages or different voltage differences. The rotation of the liquid crystal molecules within the different display windows are also different corresponding to the different control voltages applied on the display windows. Thus, some of the polarized light of images from the display panel can pass through some display windows and also pass through the polarizer201, while some other polarized light of the images from the display panel cannot pass through the polarizer201after passing through some display windows. Thus, the display windows can display a pattern of brightness and darkness windows so as to form a parallax barrier.

Thus, according to the disclosed embodiments, the first electrode203and the second electrode207of the parallax barrier device both comprise a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrode are disposed in an intersectional or crossover arrangement. The intersected second sub-electrodes and first sub-electrodes can divide the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of display windows. By controlling the voltage differences applied between the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes, after the polarized image light passes through the plurality of display windows, some of the passing light can pass the polarizer while other portion of the passing light cannot pass the polarizer. Thus, the plurality of display windows show a pattern of bright-dark states, forming a transparent and opaque grating structure, i.e., forming a parallax barrier. Thus, integrated 2D and 3D display (i.e., displaying 2D and 3D information at the same time on the same display screen) can be achieved. Moreover, by controlling the voltage differences between the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes, the aperture ratio of the parallax barrier can be arbitrarily adjusted in real time.

Thus, according to disclosed embodiments, the birefringence of the liquid crystal is used to change the polarization state of the passing light such that the linearly polarized incident image light can be transmitted at respective different polarization directions. Under the effect of the polarizer as the outermost layer, a transparent and opaque grating structure can be formed, generating a parallax barrier.

Further, the parallax barrier device can be controlled by the controller (e.g., a computer or a microcontroller). The controller is coupled to the respective first sub-electrodes and second sub-electrodes to control the voltage applied on each of the first sub-electrodes and second sub-electrodes such that, after the polarized image light passes through the plurality of display windows, some of the passing light can pass the polarizer while some other passing light cannot pass the polarizer.

That is, the controller can implement the control on the voltage difference of each of the display windows of the liquid crystal layer. When the voltage difference applied on a display window is greater than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the display window is in the dark/opaque state. When the voltage difference applied on a display window is less than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, the display window is in the bright/transparent state. Thus, by controlling whether the linear polarized light passing through each display window can pass through the polarizer, the plurality of display windows can be in the dark state or the bright state so as to form the parallax barrier.

The controller can also be configured to selectively control the voltage difference of one or more display windows, such that the voltage difference is greater than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. The voltage difference control may be performed on selected one or more adjacent display windows, such as three laterally or horizontally adjacent display windows. Or voltage difference control may be performed on selected one or more non-adjacent display windows, such as three longitudinally or vertically spaced/separated display windows. By selectively controlling the voltage difference of the display windows, it can be arbitrarily controlled whether the linearly polarized light passing through any particular display window can pass through the polarizer, so that the plurality of display windows can be in the bright/dark state to form a parallax barrier.

The controller can also be configured to adjust the voltage of one or more sub-electrodes based on the display effect. For example, the controller may adjust the voltage of one or more sub-electrodes of the first electrode; may adjust the voltage of one or more sub-electrodes of the second electrode; or may simultaneously adjust the voltage of one or more sub-electrodes of the first electrode and one or more sub-electrodes of the second electrode, such that the voltage difference between each first sub-electrode and each second sub-electrode can be controlled to adjust the display effect.

Further, the shape of the first sub-electrode and/or the second sub-electrode may be one of strip, zigzag, or extended curve shaped, or other regular or irregular shape. In certain embodiments, each sub-electrode is strip shaped. The sub-electrodes of the first electrode may be arranged in parallel, and the sub-electrodes of the second electrode may also be arranged in parallel. The angle formed between the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes may be approximately 60 to 120 degrees. For example, the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes may be disposed perpendicular to each other, i.e., the angle is formed by approximately 90 degrees.

When the first sub-electrodes and second sub-electrodes are disposed perpendicularly, by controlling the voltages on the respective sub-electrodes, it can be achieved that the voltage difference between horizontal sub-electrodes and vertical sub-electrode is greater than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules, so that the liquid crystal layer can display horizontal or vertical darkness to enable 3D display for horizontal screen or vertical screen. Further, by applying voltages on sub-electrodes from different rows and different columns, the bright/dark state of individual display windows can be individually and separately controlled. That is, the parallax barrier can realize bright and dark display windows.

Among the sub-electrodes of the first electrode or the second electrode, at least two adjacent sub-electrodes can form an electrode group or sub-electrode group. For each sub-electrode group, the display window corresponding to at least one sub-electrode and its respective intersecting sub-electrode is in the bright state, while all other display windows are in the dark state. In certain embodiments, in each sub-electrode group, when the display window corresponding to at least two sub-electrodes and the respective intersecting sub-electrodes is in the bright state, and other display windows are in the dark state, the at least two sub-electrodes are adjacent sub-electrodes.

Referring again toFIGS. 2 and 3, the parallax barrier device also includes the first substrate202and the second substrate208. The first electrode203and the second electrode207are transparent and disposed on the inner side of the substrate202and the substrate208, respectively. The first alignment layer204is disposed on top surface of the first electrode203, and the second alignment layer206is disposed on top surface of the second electrode207. The liquid crystal layer205is disposed between the first alignment layer204and the second alignment layer206.

The first sub-electrodes are arranged on the first substrate202in parallel and at a predetermined interval from each other. The first alignment layer204is formed on the upper surface of each of the first sub-electrodes and in the gap between adjacent first sub-electrodes, such that the first sub-electrodes are insulated from each other. Similarly, the second sub-electrodes are arranged on the second substrate208in parallel and at a predetermined interval from each other. The second alignment layer206is formed on the upper surface of each of the second sub-electrodes and in the gap between adjacent second sub-electrodes, such that the second sub-electrodes are insulated from each other.

Further, the parallax barrier device also includes a sealant frame (not shown) for sealing the liquid crystal molecules between the two alignment layers204and206. Further, one or more pads or spacers are placed between the two alignment layers204and206for setting the distance between the two alignment layers204and206, and for ensuring the distance between the two alignment layers204and206is a predetermined distance.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary parallax barrier with partially applied voltages. As shown inFIG. 4, the first electrode includes first strip sub-electrodes a1-a9arranged in parallel at a first interval, and the second electrode includes second strip sub-electrodes b1-b9arranged in parallel at a second interval. Thus, 9×9 display windows are formed by the sub-electrodes a1-a9and the sub-electrodes b1-b9, each display window corresponds to a portion of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer.

For the convenience of illustration, the 9×9 display windows shown inFIG. 4can be viewed as a two-dimensional 9×9 matrix. The columns of the two-dimensional matrix represent the sub-electrodes of the first electrode203, and the rows of the two-dimensional matrix represent the sub-electrodes of the second electrode207. The display window corresponding to the i-th row (i=1, . . . , 9) and j-th column (j=1, . . . , 9) is represented by aij.

When no voltage is applied on the i-th row sub-electrode and the j-th column sub-electrode, or when voltages Uiand Ujare respectively applied on the i-th row sub-electrode and the j-th column sub-electrode and the difference between Uiand Ujis less than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules, under the effect of the first alignment layer204and the second alignment layer206, the liquid crystal molecules within aijare twisted by 90 degrees. Thus, the linearly polarized incident light with the polarization direction parallel to the rubbing direction of the incident substrate passes through aij, and the outgoing light is linearly polarized light with the polarization direction perpendicular to the polarization direction of the incident linearly polarized light. At this time, the polarization direction of the outgoing light is the same as the polarization direction of the polarizer201, i.e., the outgoing light can pass through the polarizer201, and the display window aijis in the bright state.

When voltages Uiand Ujare respectively applied on the i-th row sub-electrode and the j-th column sub-electrode and the voltage difference between Uiand Ujis greater than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal molecules, under the effect of the electric field created by the voltage difference, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules within display window aijis rotated to be perpendicular to the direction of the first substrate202and the second substrate208. At this time, display window aijdoes not change the polarization state of the incident linearly polarized light, and the polarization direction of the outgoing polarized light (i.e., polarized light passing through aij) is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the polarizer201, and display window aijis in the dark state. Thus, by applying voltages on sub-electrodes from different rows and different columns, the bright/dark state of individual display windows can be individually and separately controlled. That is, the parallax barrier can realize bright and dark display windows control.

More specifically, for example, voltage U0is applied on the second sub-electrodes b1to b6, voltage U1is applied on the first sub-electrodes a2, a3, a5, a6, a8, a9, and no voltage is applied on the remaining sub-electrodes. The voltages satisfy the following relation: |U1−U0| is greater than the threshold voltage Uthof the liquid crystal molecules; and both |U0| and |U1| are less than Uth.

Under such voltage relationships, as shown inFIG. 4, the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules within the display windows corresponding to the above sub-electrodes (shown in shaded area) is perpendicular to the substrates, and cannot rotate the polarization state of the incident light by 90 degrees. Thus, the outgoing light from these display windows has a polarization direction perpendicular to the polarization direction of the polarizer201, and the outgoing light from these display windows cannot pass through the polarizer201, forming dark display windows.

If using every 3 column sub-electrodes as a period, a parallax barrier with an aperture ratio of 1/3 is formed. Clearly, if selecting only one second sub-electrode within the period and applying voltage U0on the selected second sub-electrode, while keeping other conditions unchanged, a parallax barrier with an aperture ratio of 2/3 is formed. Thus, the aperture ratio of the parallax barrier can be adjusted. Because no voltage is applied on the sub-electrodes of other display windows or the applied voltage on the liquid crystal molecules is less than Uth, the incident light is capable of passing through the liquid crystal layer and the polarizer201to form bright regions, without forming parallax barriers.

The controller may determine the voltages to be applied on the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes based on the content information of the images on the display panel. For example, if the controller determines that content information of a display region is 2D information, the controller may control the voltages for the display windows of the display region to pass the image light. On the other hand, if the controller determines that content information of a display region is 3D information, the controller may control the voltages for the display windows of the display region to form a parallax barrier to effect 3D display.

FIG. 5illustrates another exemplary parallax barrier with partially applied voltages. As shown inFIG. 5, voltage U0is applied on the first sub-electrodes a1to a6, voltage U1is applied on the second sub-electrodes b1, b2, b4, b5, b7, and b8, and no voltage is applied on the remaining sub-electrodes. The parallax barrier can be formed as shown inFIG. 5, the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the respective sub-electrodes is arranged perpendicular to the substrate, forming dark areas. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, dark areas are formed vertically and horizontally, meeting the need of vertical screen and horizontal screen viewing.

Each of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of strip sub-electrodes, arranged overlapped with each other. The distance between two sub-electrodes adjacent to a same sub-electrode is less than or equal to the width of the same sub-electrode, such that adjacent sub-electrodes are overlapped with each other, eliminating the weak crosstalk caused by the small gap between the sub-electrodes and improving the 3D display effects.

FIG. 6illustrates another parallax barrier device. As shown inFIG. 6, the first electrode and the second electrode each includes a plurality of strip sub-electrodes disposed in two layers. The first electrode203includes horizontally arranged plurality of strip sub-electrodes, part of the strip sub-electrodes is disposed on the first layer2031, and the other part of the strip sub-electrodes is disposed on the second layer2032. The strip sub-electrodes on the first layer2031overlap with the strip sub-electrodes on the second layer2032, and adjacent strip sub-electrodes are disposed on different layers.

Further, the gap between two adjacent strip sub-electrodes on the first layer2031face a strip sub-electrode on the second layer2032, and the width of the strip sub-electrode on the second layer2032is greater than or equal to the distance between the two adjacent strip sub-electrodes on the first layer2031. A first insulating layer2033is provided between the first layer2031and the second layer2032.

Similarly, the second electrode207includes vertically arranged plurality of strip-shaped second sub-electrodes, arranged perpendicular to the first sub-electrodes. The second sub-electrodes are disposed on a third layer2071and a fourth layer2072. A second insulating layer2073is provided between the third layer2071and the fourth layer2072. The gap between two adjacent strip sub-electrodes on the third layer2071face a strip sub-electrode on the fourth layer2072, and the width of the strip sub-electrode on the fourth layer2072is greater than or equal to the distance between the two adjacent strip sub-electrodes on the third layer2071.

FIG. 7illustrates another exemplary parallax barrier with partially applied voltages. As shown inFIG. 7, sub-electrodes on the first layer are represented as ai (i is an odd number), sub-electrodes on the second layer are represented as bj (j is an even number), sub-electrodes on the third layer are represented as cm (m is an odd number), and sub-electrodes on the fourth layer are represented as dn (n is an even number), respectively.

Further, voltage U0is applied on sub-electrodes of the first layer a3, a5, a9, and on sub-electrodes of the second layer b2, b6, b8. Voltage U1is applied on sub-electrodes of the third layer c1to c5, and on sub-electrodes of the fourth layer d2to d6. No voltage is applied on the remaining sub-electrodes. The voltages satisfy the following relation: |U1−U0| is greater than the threshold voltage Uthof the liquid crystal molecules; and both |U0| and |U1| are less than Uth.

Under such voltage relationships, as shown inFIG. 7, the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules within the display windows corresponding to the above sub-electrodes (shown in shaded area) is perpendicular to the substrates, and cannot rotate the polarization state of the incident light by 90 degrees. Thus, the outgoing light from these display windows has a polarization direction perpendicular to the polarization direction of the polarizer201, and the outgoing light from these display windows cannot pass through the polarizer201, forming dark display windows.

If using every 3 column sub-electrodes as a period, a parallax barrier with an aperture ratio of 1/3 is formed. Clearly, if selecting only one sub-electrode within the period, such as a3, b6, a9, and applying voltage U0on the selected sub-electrode, while keeping other conditions unchanged, a parallax barrier with an aperture ratio of 2/3 can be formed. Thus, the aperture ratio of the parallax barrier can be adjusted. Because no voltage is applied on the sub-electrodes of other display windows or the applied voltage on the liquid crystal molecules is less than Uth, the incident light is capable of passing through the liquid crystal layer and the polarizer201to form bright regions, without forming parallax barriers.

FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary 3D display deice. As shown inFIG. 8, the 3D display device includes a parallax barrier device200and a display unit100. As explained, the parallax barrier device200includes, for example, a polarizer, two substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates. The first electrode and the second electrodes are disposed on the inner sides of the substrates. The display unit is disposed on one side of one substrate away from the liquid crystal layer, and the polarizer is disposed on one side of the other substrate away from the liquid crystal layer.

The display unit100provides linearly polarized image light. The display unit100can be any appropriate device provides linearly polarized image light, such as a display panel. The linearly polarized image light is provided to the liquid crystal layer. The pixels of the display unit match the display windows of the parallax barrier device.

The display unit may also selectively provide linearly polarized image light to one or more display windows. For example, the display unit may provide linearly polarized image light the display windows of a particular sub-electrode row or a particular sub-electrode column, selectively providing linearly polarized image light to certain display windows. The pixels of the display unit match the horizontal display windows of the parallax barrier device, e.g., at least one row of pixels of the display unit correspond to at least one row of horizontal display windows. Of course, the pixels of the display unit can also be configured to match the vertical display windows of the parallax barrier device, e.g., at least one column of pixels of the display unit correspond to at least one column of vertical display windows. A parallax barrier for vertical screen or horizontal screen may be realized.

According to the disclosed embodiments, the parallax barrier device can be used in a 2D-3D stereoscopic display device to providing a variety functions, such as window-based stereoscopic image display, i.e., integrated 2D-3D image display, compatible horizontal and vertical screen stereoscopic display, and adjustment of the aperture ratio of the parallax barrier, etc.

According to the disclosed embodiments, the stereoscopic display device uses liquid crystal cell to form a parallax barrier. The parallax barrier includes a first electrode and a second electrode, comprising a plurality of first sub-electrodes and a plurality of second sub-electrodes, respectively. The first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes are arranged intersecting or crossover each other. The intersected first sub-electrodes and second sub-electrodes divide the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of display windows. By controlling the voltage difference between the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes, when the linearly polarized image light provided by the display unit100passes through the display windows, part of the outgoing linearly polarized image light can pass through the polarizer while other part of the outgoing linearly polarized image light cannot pass through the polarizer, forming transparent and opaque grating structures. Thus, a parallax barrier is formed, and integrated 2D and 3D display (i.e., 2D and 3D images displayed on the same display screen at the same time) can be achieved. Further, by controlling the voltage difference between the intersected first sub-electrodes and second sub-electrodes, the aperture ratio of the parallax barrier can be arbitrarily adjusted.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative, and are not limiting. Those skilled in the art can understand that various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.