Patent Publication Number: US-9417456-B2

Title: Three dimensional display device and manufacturing method for the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean patent application Serial No. 10-2013-0159534, filed on Dec. 19, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a three dimensional (3D) display device and manufacturing method for the 3D display device for displaying 3D images. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Three dimensional (3D) display devices commonly include a display panel which displays an image. 
     One type of 3D display device includes a first display panel which displays a first image and a second display panel which displays a second image, where the second image is an image of the same scene, but from a point of view different from that of the first image. The first and second display panels are arranged one behind the other so that the user can simultaneously view the first and second images, having different points of view, thereby enabling the user to view a 3D image without the user of glasses. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments may provide a three dimensional (3D) display device to which a back light module, used in ordinary display devices, may be applied. 
     In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a three dimensional (3D) display device is provided. The 3D display device includes a 3D display module; a back light module arranged behind the 3D display module, for supplying light to the 3D display module; and a main frame, wherein the back light module is installed inside of a rear side of the main frame and the 3D display module is installed inside of a front side of the main frame. The 3D display module includes: a first display panel for displaying a two dimensional (2D) image, a second display panel, arranged apart from and in front of the first display panel, for displaying a 3D image, and a spacing panel between the first display panel and the second display panel. The first display panel is affixed to a rear side of the spacing panel, and the second display panel is affixed to a front side of the spacing panel. 
     The back light module may include a light source, a diffuser plate arranged in front of the light source, a back light frame for supporting the light source and the diffuser plate, a supporting bracket installed on the back light frame for supporting outer edges of the diffuser plate and to hold the diffuser plate to the back light frame, and a rear chassis for covering the rear side of the back light frame. 
     The main frame may have a substantially rectangular shape, as viewed from the front, such that is loops around outer edges of the back light module and the display module. 
     The main frame may include a projecting part that extends inward from inside of a rear side edge of the main frame to catch and support the back light module, and a receiving groove formed inside a front side edge for receiving and supporting outer edges of the 3D display module. 
     The outer edges of the spacing panel may extend from between the first and second display panels, and the extended outer edges of the spacing panel may be received within the receiving groove. 
     The back light module may include an installation bracket installed on the outer side of the back light module, wherein the installation bracket is configured to abut against the projecting part of the main frame when the back light module is installed within the main frame. 
     The 3D display device may further include a case installed around the main frame for forming an exterior of the 3D display device, wherein the case includes a bezel part to cover the outer side of the 3D display module and a side part to cover the sides of the main frame. 
     In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a manufacturing method for a three dimensional (3D) display device is provided. The method includes preparing a 3D display module; preparing a back light module; preparing a main frame; preparing a case; installing the back light module within an inside of a rear side of the main frame; installing the 3D display module within an inside of a front side of the main frame; and installing the case on the main frame. 
     Preparing the 3D display module may include providing a first panel affixed to a rear side of a spacing panel and a second panel affixed to a front side of the spacing panel. 
     Installing the back light module may include inserting the back light module into the main frame until an installation bracket, installed on an outer side of the back light module, abuts against a projecting part projecting inward from the inside of the rear side of the main frame. 
     Installing the 3D display module may include inserting the 3D display module into the main frame until outer edges of the spacing panel that extend from between the first and second display panels abut against a receiving groove arranged inside of the front side of the main frame. 
     Other exemplary aspects, advantages, and salient features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other exemplary features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a three dimensional (3D) display device, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a 3D display device, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a 3D display device, according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  are cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a manufacturing process for a 3D display device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components, and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limited to specific structures and features set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and thus their description will be omitted. If it is determined that a detailed description of commonly-used technologies or structures related to the exemplary embodiments may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter, the detailed description will be omitted herefrom. It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a 3D display device in will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a 3D display device  1  may include a 3D display module  10  for displaying a 3D image, a back light module  20  arranged behind the 3D display module  10  for supplying light to the 3D display module  10 , a main frame  30  for receiving and supporting the 3D display module  10  and the back light module  20 , and a case  40  mounted on the main frame  30  to form an exterior of the 3D display device  1 . 
     The 3D display module  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , may include a first display panel  11  for displaying a two dimensional (2D) image, a second display panel  12  separated from and placed in front of the first display panel  11  for forming a 3D image together with the first display panel  11 , and a spacing panel  13  arranged between the first and second display panels  11  and  12  for keeping them separated from each other. 
     When the first display panel  11  displays a first image and the second display panel  12  displays a second image with a different angle of view from that of the first image, a user may perceive a 3D image by viewing the first and second images at the same time. 
     The first and second display panels  11  and  12  are each formed of a liquid crystal panel of a flat rectangular shape in a size corresponding to each other, and the spacing panel  13  is formed of a transparent rectangular plate having a certain thickness. The spacing panel transmits light therethrough. 
     The first display panel  11  is affixed to the rear side of the spacing panel  13  while the second display panel  12  is affixed to the front side of the spacing panel  13 . The first and second display panels  11  and  12  are attached to the spacing panel with any of various optical bonding materials to prevent optical attenuation at the boundary between the spacing panel  13  and the first display panel  11  and at the boundary between the spacing panel  13  and the second display panel  12 . 
     As discussed above, since the 3D display module  10  is comprised of the spacing panel  13 , and the first and second display panels  11  and  12  affixed to either side of the spacing panel  13 , it may be thicker than a conventional display module that includes only a single display panel. 
     Having the first and second display panels  11  and  12  affixed to either side of the spacing panel  13  means that the spacing panel  13  maintains a constant distance between the first and second display panels  11  and  12 , providing a constant difference in the angles of view of the first and second images, thereby enabling the user to view an accurate 3D image. 
     The spacing panel  13  is formed to have greater vertical and horizontal widths than those of each of the first and second display panels  11  and  12 , such that its outer edges extend from between the first and second display panels  11  and  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the back light module  20  may include a light source  21  for generating light, a diffuser plate  22 , arranged in front of the light source  21 , for diffusing light, a plurality of optical sheets  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C arranged in front of the diffuser plate  22 , a back light frame  24  for supporting the light source  21  and the diffuser plate  22 , a rear chassis  25  installed behind the back light frame  24 , a supporting bracket  26  installed on the front edge of the back light frame  24  for holding the diffuser plate  22  and the plurality of optical sheets  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C installed upon the back light frame  24 , and an installation bracket  27  installed on the outer side of the rear chassis  25  for allowing the back light module  20  to be installed on the main frame  30 . 
     The light source  21  may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  21 , a substrate  21   b  on which the LEDs  21  are mounted, and lenses  21   c  for dispersing light emitted from the LEDs  21 . The LEDs  21 , lenses  21   c , and substrate  21   b  may be installed behind the diffuser plate  22  to face the diffuser plate  22 . 
     The diffuser plate  22  is formed of a transparent plate with a certain thickness and serves to diffuse light generated by the light source  21 . 
     The plurality of optical sheets  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C may include a diffusive sheet  23 A for further diffusing the light transmitted through the diffuser plate  22 , a prism sheet  23 B that includes a prism pattern for enabling the light diffused by the diffusive sheet  23 A to be focused in a direction perpendicular to the 3D display module  10 , and a protective sheet  23 C arranged in front of the prism sheet  23 B for protecting the scratch-sensitive prism sheet  23 B against dust or other substance. 
     The back light frame  24  may include a light source receptacle  24   a  within which the light source  21  and a diffuser plate receptacle  24   b  may be arranged behind the diffuser plate  22 . 
     The rear chassis  25  may be formed of a metal for purposes of heat radiation and may be installed behind the back light frame  24  to cover the outer side of the light source receptacle  24   a.    
     The supporting bracket  26  has an L-shaped cross section and is installed on the front edge of the back light frame  24  to support the diffuser plate  22  and the outer edges of the optical sheets  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C mounted on the diffuser plate  22 , thereby holding them inside the diffuser plate receptacle  24   b.    
     The installation bracket  27  is secured to the outer side of the rear chassis  25  and has a stepped form to support a projecting part  30   b  of the main frame  30  as will be described below. The installation bracket  27  is secured to the rear chassis  25  and the main frame  30  with fastening members S, such as screws, to enable the back light module  20  to be secured to the main frame  30 . 
     The main frame  30  has a substantially rectangular shape, as viewed from the front, so that it loops around the outer edges of the display module  10  and the backlight module  20 . The back light module  20  is installed within the rear side of the main frame  30 , and the display module  10  is installed within the front side of the main frame  30 . 
     For this, the main frame  30  has a receiving groove  30   a  concavely formed inside of the front side of the main frame  30  to securely receive the outer edges of the spacing panel  13 , and a projecting part  30   b  formed inside of the rear side of the main frame  30  to catch and support the installation bracket  27 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Accordingly, the back light module  20  can be installed and supported inside of the rear side of the main frame  30  using the installation bracket  27  and the projecting part  30   b , and the 3D display module  10  can be installed and supported inside of the front side of the main frame  30  using the receiving groove  30   a.    
     As described above, the outer edges of the spacing panel extending from between the first and second display panels  11  and  12  are securely held in the receiving groove  30   a  of the main frame  30  in a manner that any force or pressure is not applied to the first display panel  11  or the second display panel  12 , thereby preventing deformation of the first and second display panels  11  and  12  and any resultant image distortion. 
     This structure, in which the back light module  20  and the 3D display module  10  may be arranged one behind another by means of the main frame  30 , enables a back light module  20 , otherwise used in general display devices, to be installed behind the display module  10  without modification. This means that the back light module  20  may be common to both general display devices and the 3D display device  1 . 
     The case  40  may have a substantially rectangular shape, as viewed from the front, so that it loops around the outer edges of the main frame  30 , and may have an L-shaped cross section, constituting outer front edges and top, bottom, left, and right sides of the 3D display device  1 . The case  40  may include a bezel part  40   a  to cover the outer edges of the second display panel  12 , a side part  40   b  to cover the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the main frame  30 , and may be secured to the main frame  30  by means of the fastening members S, such as screws. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of the 3D display device will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     A 3D display module, the back light module  20 , the main frame  30 , and the case  40  are prepared and/or provided separately. 
     The 3D display module  10  may be prepared by attaching the first display panel  11  to the rear side of the spacing panel  13  and the second display panel  12  to the front side of the spacing panel  13 . 
     The back light module  20  is installed inside of the rear side of the main frame  30  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The back light module  20  may be installed by inserting the back light module  20  into the inside of the main frame  30  such that the installation bracket  27 , installed on the outer side of the back light module  20 , may be caught and supported by the projecting part  30   b  arranged inside of the rear side of the main frame  30 , and fastening the installation bracket  27  to the main frame  30  with the fastening members S, such as screws. 
     The 3D display module  10  is installed on the main frame  30  with the back light module  20  installed, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The 3D display module  10  may be installed by having the outer edges of the spacing panel  13 , extending from between the first and second display panels  11  and  12 , securely received and supported by the receiving groove  30   b  arranged inside of the front side of the main frame  30 . 
     After completion of the installation of the 3D display module  10 , the case  40  is installed on the main frame  30  such that the bezel part  40   a  of the case  40  covers the outer edges of the 3D display module  10  and the side part  40   b  of the case  40  covers the sides of the main frame  30 . 
     In this way, a commonly used back light module may be installed behind a 3D display module by means of a main frame, and thus applied to and used by a 3D display device. 
     Several exemplary embodiments have been described, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described, which have been provided only for illustrative purposes.