Patent Publication Number: US-2016249045-A1

Title: Display device and method for displaying images

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a display technology field, more particularly, to a display device and a method for displaying images. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Traditional three-dimension (3D) image display device is capable of switching display modes between 2D image and 3D image to display 2D or 3D images. 
     Conventional 3D image display device adopts the light-division schemeor the time-division scheme when displaying 3D images. 
     In practice, the inventor has found the below problem in the prior art at least: 
     The 3D image display effects in the two above schemes are worse and easily result in human-body fatigue and visual impairment, 
     Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new scheme to solve the above technical problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a display device and a method for displaying images thereof to improve 3D image display effect. 
     According to the present invention, a display device comprising a display panel, the display panel comprises a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array substrate, a 3D display circular polarizer, and a control circuit. The Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array substrate comprises at least two sub-pixel column sets, at least two of the sub-pixel column sets arranged in array. The sub-pixel column sets comprises: a first sub-pixel column and a second sub-pixel column set up in parallel, the first sub-pixel column comprising at least two first sub-pixels, at least two of the first sub-pixels arranged in array in the first direction, the second sub-pixel column comprising at least two second sub-pixels, at least two of the second sub-pixels arranged in array in the first direction. The first direction is parallel to a line where the first sub-pixel column locates. The 3D display circular polarizer is stacked with the display panel. The control circuit is used for receiving display control signals and controlling the display panel to switch to a 2D image display mode or a 3D image display mode according to the display control signals. Color of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in the same sub-pixel column set is identical, but that of the two adjacent sub-pixel column sets are not identical. The 3D display circular polarizer is used for polarizing displayed images into left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized displayed images when the display device is in the 3D display mode. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the 3D display circular polarizer arranges at least one left-handed circular polarization region and at least one right-handed circular polarization region. Both the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region correspond to one sub-pixel area, and the sub-pixel area is area the first sub-pixel or the second sub-pixel correspond to. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the first sub-pixel corresponds to one of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region, the second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel in a second direction corresponds to the other of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the first direction, the two adjacent first sub-pixels respectively correspond to the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region; in the first direction, the two adjacent second sub-pixels respectively correspond to the right-handed circular polarization region and the left-handed circular polarization region. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the first direction, the two adjacent first sub-pixels both correspond to one of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region; in the first direction, the two adjacent second sub-pixels both correspond to the other of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit controls a sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region to display a first images in a displaying period of one frame of images; in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit further controls a sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to display a second images in a displaying period of a continuous next frame of the one frame. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, in a displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixels in the TFT array substrate in the display and the non-display state respectively or in the non-display and the display state respectively. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, in the 2D image display mode, the control circuit also controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region and the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to simultaneously display a third images. 
     According to the present invention, a display device comprises a display panel. The display panel comprises: a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array substrate, a 3D display circular polarizer, and a control circuit. The Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array substrate comprises at least two sub-pixel column sets, at least two of the sub-pixel column sets arranged in array. The sub-pixel column sets comprises: a first sub-pixel column and a second sub-pixel column set up in parallel, the first sub-pixel column comprising at least two first sub-pixels, at least two of the first sub-pixels arranged in array in the first direction, the second sub-pixel column comprising at least two second sub-pixels, at least two of the second sub-pixels arranged in array in the first direction. The first direction is parallel to a line where the first sub-pixel column locates. The 3D display circular polarizer is stacked with the display panel. The control circuit is used for receiving display control signals and controlling the display panel to switch to a 2D image display mode or a 3D image display mode according to the display control signals. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, color of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in the same sub-pixel column set is identical, but that of the two adjacent sub-pixel column sets are not identical. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the 3D display circular polarizer is used for polarizing displayed images into left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized displayed images when the display device is in the 3D display mode. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the 3D display circular polarizer arranges at least one left-handed circular polarization region and at least one right-handed circular polarization region; both the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region correspond to one sub-pixel area, and the sub-pixel area is area the first sub-pixel or the second sub-pixel correspond to. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the 3D display circular polarizer arranges at least one left-handed circular polarization region and at least one right-handed circular polarization region. Both the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region correspond to one sub-pixel area, and the sub-pixel area is area the first sub-pixel or the second sub-pixel correspond to. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the first sub-pixel corresponds to one of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region, the second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel in a second direction corresponds to the other of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the first direction, the two adjacent first sub-pixels respectively correspond to the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region; in the first direction, the two adjacent second sub-pixels respectively correspond to the right-handed circular polarization region and the left-handed circular polarization region. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the first direction, the two adjacent first sub-pixels both correspond to one of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region; in the first direction, the two adjacent second sub-pixels both correspond to the other of the left-handed circular polarization region and the right-handed circular polarization region. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit controls a sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region to display a first images in a displaying period of one frame of images; in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit further controls a sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to display a second images in a displaying period of a continuous next frame of the one frame. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, in a displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixels in the TFT array substrate in the display and the non-display state respectively or in the non-display and the display state respectively. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, in the 2D image display mode, the control circuit also controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region and the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to simultaneously display a third images. 
     According to the present invention, a method for displaying images using the above display device comprises: using the control circuit to receive display control signals and to switch to a 3D image display mode according to the display control signals; in the 3D image display mode, using the control circuit to control a sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region to display a first images in a displaying period of one frame of images; in the 3D image display mode, using the control circuit to control a sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to display a second images in a displaying period of a continuous next frame of the one frame. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises: using the control circuit to switch to a 2D image display mode according to the display control signals; in the 2D image display mode, using the control circuit to control a sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region and a sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region to simultaneously display a third image. 
     Compared to the prior art, the present invention improves 3D image display effect and prevents from human-body fatigue and visual impairment. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram that the display device of the first embodiment in the 2D image display mode. 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are respective diagrams that the before and after of two frames of images displayed in the display device in  FIG. 2  in the 3D image display mode. 
         FIG. 5  shows a display device operates in the 2D image display mode according, to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are respective diagrams that the before and after of two frames of images displayed in the display device in  FIG. 5  in the 3D image display mode. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method of displaying images using the display device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 1  shows a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a diagram that the display device of the first embodiment in the 2D image display mode. 
     The display device of the first embodiment comprises a display panel  10  and a 3D display circular polarizer stacked with the display panel  10 . The display panel  10  can be Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) or Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD). The display panel  10  comprises a TFT array substrate  20  comprising at least two sub-pixel column sets 101  arranged in an array. The sub-pixel column set  101  comprises a first sub-pixel column  1011  and a second sub-pixel column  1012 . The first sub-pixel column  1011  and the second sub-pixel column  1012  are arranged in parallel. The first sub-pixel column  1011  comprises at least two of the first sub-pixel columns  10111  arranged in array in the first direction  301 , and the second sub-pixel column  1012  comprises at least two of the second sub-pixel columns  10121  arranged in array in the first direction  301 . The first direction  301  is parallel to the line where the first sub-pixel column  1011  locates. 
     The TFT array substrate  20  arranges color resistance (color material) comprising red, green, blue, etc. The color resistance is set up in the area where sub-pixels are. Without doubt, the color resistance is able to be set up on a color filter substrate opposite to the TFT array substrate  20 . 
     The display panel  10  further comprises a control circuit coupled to the TFT array substrate  20 . The control circuit is used for receiving display control signals and controlling the display panel  10  to switch display modes between the 2D image and the 3D image according to the display control signals. In particularly, the control circuit turns a pixel switch on the TFT array substrate  20  on or off according to the display control signals so that the correspondent sub-pixel area on the TFT array substrate  20  displays the correspondent images according to image data. 
     In the embodiment, the color which the first sub-pixel  10111  and the second sub-pixel  10121  in the same sub-pixel column set  101  correspond is identical. That is to say in the whole pixel column set, each sub-pixel in the first sub-pixel column  1011  and the second sub-pixel column  1012  arranged parallelly with each other corresponds to color resistance with the same color (i.e. displaying the same color). Any two of adjacent sub-pixel column sets  101  correspond to different colors. For instance, two adjacent sub-pixel column sets  101  respectively correspond to red and green or green and blue, etc. 
     In the embodiment, the 3D display circular polarizer is used for polarizing the incident light into left-handed or right-handed circularly polarizing light when the display device is in 3D display mode. The 3D display circular polarizer arranges a plurality of circular polarizing regions. In particular, the 3D display circular polarizer arranges at least one left-handed circular polarization region  202  and at least one right-handed circular polarization region  201 . Both the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the right-handed circular polarization region  201  correspond to one sub-pixel area where the first sub-pixel  10111  and the second sub-pixel  10121  correspond. In particular, the left-handed circular polarization region  202  corresponds to one of the sub-pixel displaying the left-eye images and the sub-pixel displaying the right-eye images, and the right-handed circular polarization region  201  corresponds to the rest of the sub-pixel displaying the left-eye images and to the sub-pixel displaying the right-eye images. 
     In the embodiment, the first sub-pixel  10111  corresponds to one of the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the right-handed circular polarization region  201 , corresponds to the second sub-pixel  10121  adjacent to the first sub-pixel  10111  in the second direction  302  and corresponds to the rest of the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the right-handed circular polarization region  201 . In other words, in the second direction  302 , at least one right-handed circular polarization region  201  exists between any two of the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 , and at least one left-handed circular polarization region  202  exists between any two of the right-handed circular polarization regions  201 . 
     In the embodiment, in the first direction  301 , two adjacent first sub-pixels  10111  respectively correspond to one of the right-handed circular polarization region  201  and the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 , and in the first direction  301 , two adjacent second sub-pixels  10121  respectively correspond to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  and the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 . That is to say in the first direction  301 , at least one right-handed circular polarization region  201  exists between any two of the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 , and at least one left-handed circular polarization region  202  exists between any two of right-handed circular polarization regions  201 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are respective diagrams that the before and after of two frames of images displayed in the display device in  FIG. 2  in the 3D image display mode. 
     In the embodiment, the control circuit in the 3D image display mode also controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  to display a first image in the displaying period of one frame of images(like one of the left-eye and the right-eye images). 
     In the 3D image display mode, the control circuit further controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  to display a second image in the displaying period of the continuous next frame of the one frame (like the other of the left-eye and the right-eye images). 
     In hence, in the displaying period of any two continuous frames of images (the left-eye and right-eye images), the control circuit controls each sub-pixel in the TFT array substrate  20  (comprising the first sub-pixel  10111  and the second sub-pixel  10121 , i.e. the sub-pixel is a general designation of the first sub-pixel  10111  and the second sub-pixel  10121 ) to switch the display and the non-display state alternatively. Furthermore, in the displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixels in the TFT array substrate  20  in the display and the non-display state respectively (or in the non-display and the display state). The display state corresponds to the left-eye or the right-eye images to be displayed. 
     In the embodiment, the control circuit in the 2D image display mode also controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  to simultaneously display a third images. In other words, every sub-pixel in the TFT array substrate  20  is in the display state. 
     According to the scheme, the display device in the present invention improves the 3D image display effect and unlikely results in user fatigue and visual impairment. 
     Refer to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 5  shows a display device operates in the 2D image display mode according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are respective diagrams that the before and after of two frames of images displayed in the display device in  FIG. 5  in the 3D image display mode. 
     The display device of the second embodiment according to the present invention is similar to that of the first embodiment, but the difference is that: 
     In the first direction  301 , both two adjacent first sub-pixels  10111  correspond to one of the right-handed circular polarization region  201  and the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 , and in the first direction  301 , two adjacent second sub-pixels  10121  correspond to the other of the right-handed circular polarization region  201  and the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 . That is to say in the first direction  301 , any two of the adjacent sub-pixels both correspond to the left-handed circular polarization regions  202 , or any two of the adjacent sub-pixels both correspond to the right-handed circular polarization regions  201 . The sub-pixels corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the sub-pixels corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  both are arranged in strip (parallel to the line corresponding to the first direction  301 ). In addition, the sub-pixel corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the sub-pixel corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  are set up alternately. 
     In the displaying period of any two continuous frames of images (the left-eye and the right-eye images), the control circuit controls each sub-pixel in the TFT array substrate  20  (comprising the first sub-pixel  1011  and the second sub-pixel  1012 , i.e. the sub-pixel is a general designation of the first sub-pixel  1011  and the second sub-pixel  1012 ) to switch the display and the non-display state alternatively. In the displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixels in the TFT array substrate  20  in the display and the non-display state respectively (or in the non-display and the display state). 
     Refer to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method of displaying images using the display device according to the present invention. 
     The method of the first embodiment for the display device displaying images according to the present invention comprises the following steps: 
     Step  801 , the control circuit receives display control signals. 
     Step  802 , the control circuit determines the display panel  10  to display 3D images or 2D images based on the display control signals, and go to Step  803  if displaying the 3D images, otherwise, go to Step  806 . 
     Step  803 , the control circuit switches the display mode of the display panel  10  to the 3D image. 
     Step  804 , in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  to display a first image in the displaying period of one frame of images. 
     Step  805 , in the 3D image display mode, the control circuit further controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  to display a second image in the displaying period of the continuous next frame of the one frame. 
     In hence, in the displaying period of any two continuous frames of images (the left-eye and the right-eye images), the control circuit controls each sub-pixel in the TFT array substrate  20  to switch the display and the non-display state alternatively. In the displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixels in the TFT array substrate  20  in the display and the non-display state respectively (or in the non-display and the display state). 
     Or, in the displaying period of any two continuous frames of images (the left-eye and the right-eye images), the control circuit controls each sub-pixel column in the TFT array substrate  20  to switch the display and the non-display state alternatively. In the displaying period of any one frame of images, the control circuit controls any two adjacent sub-pixel columns in the TFT array substrate  20  in the display and the non-display state respectively (or in the non-display and the display state). 
     Step  806 , the control circuit switches to the 2D image display mode based on the display control signals. 
     Step  807 , in the 2D image display mode, the control circuit controls the sub-pixel area corresponding to the left-handed circular polarization region  202  and the sub-pixel area corresponding to the right-handed circular polarization region  201  simultaneously to display a third image. 
     According to the scheme, the display device in the present invention improves the 3D image display effect and unlikely results in user fatigue and visual impairment. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements made without departing from the scope of the broadest interpretation of the appended claims.