Patent Publication Number: US-2012038871-A1

Title: Stereoscopic display device and liquid crystal barrier device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a stereoscopic display device performing stereoscopic display by a parallax barrier method, and to a liquid crystal barrier device used for such a stereoscopic display device. 
     Recently, attention has been focused on a display device (stereoscopic display device) enabling stereoscopic display. In stereoscopic display, a left-eye image and a right-eye image with parallax therebetween (with different eyepoints) are displayed, and when a viewer views the respective images with two eyes, the viewer may feel a deep stereoscopic image. In addition, a display device has been developed, which displays three or more images with parallax therebetween, making it possible to provide a more natural stereoscopic image to a viewer. 
     Such a stereoscopic display device is roughly classified into two types: one using special glasses and the other using no special glasses. Since the special glasses are often unpleasant for a viewer, the type using no special glasses has been generally desired. A display device having no special glasses includes, for example, a lenticular lens type and a parallax barrier type (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-104105). In such types, a plurality of images (eyepoint images) with parallax therebetween is displayed at a time, and a viewer views different images depending on a relative positional relationship (angle) between the display device and the viewer. 
     In the parallax barrier type, a light barrier is typically configured of liquid crystal (liquid crystal barrier). In the liquid crystal barrier (liquid crystal barrier device), liquid crystal molecules are rotated depending on applied voltage, and a refractive index of the rotated portion is thus changed, causing light modulation, and consequently light is controlled to be transmitted or blocked. 
     Such a liquid crystal barrier has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections for controlling light to be transmitted or blocked as described above. The respective opening-and-closing sections have electrodes for such control, and the electrodes are separately disposed from one another to be electrically isolated. This inevitably leads to a boundary region (opening-and-closing-section boundary or inter-electrode boundary) free from such electrodes between adjacent opening-and-closing sections. 
     However, in the opening-and-closing-section boundary, light leakage (light escape) has disadvantageously occurred through the boundary region due to an oblique electric-field generated when voltage is applied to liquid crystal molecules. When such light leakage occurs, luminance disadvantageously increases during black display, leading to reduction in display contrast and thus reduction in image quality. 
     It is desirable to provide a liquid crystal barrier device that may reduce light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary (inter-electrode boundary), and provide a stereoscopic display device using such a liquid crystal barrier device. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first stereoscopic display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a display section and a liquid crystal barrier section. The liquid crystal barrier section has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections each configured of a liquid crystal element to extend along a predetermined direction in a light barrier surface. An orientation, in the light barrier plane, of liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element is different from an extending direction of each of the opening-and-closing sections. 
     A first liquid crystal barrier device according to an embodiment of the disclosure has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections each including a liquid crystal element and extending along a predetermined direction in a light barrier surface. An orientation of liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element is different from an extending direction of each opening-and-closing section in the light barrier surface. 
     In the first stereoscopic display device and the first liquid crystal barrier device according to the embodiments of the disclosure, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element is different from the extending direction of each opening-and-closing section in the light barrier surface. Consequently, when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application in a boundary region between the opening-and-closing sections (opening-and-closing-section boundary), the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is hardly changed in the boundary region. 
     A second stereoscopic display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a display section and a liquid crystal barrier section. The liquid crystal barrier section has a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates to contain liquid crystal molecules, a common electrode provided on one side of the pair of substrates on a liquid-crystal-layer side, and a plurality of electrodes provided on the other of the pair of substrates on a liquid-crystal-layer side, to extend along a predetermined direction. An orientation, in a substrate plane, of liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application is different from an extending direction of each of the electrodes. 
     A second liquid crystal barrier device according to an embodiment of the disclosure has a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates to contain liquid crystal molecules, a common electrode provided n one of the pair of substrates on a liquid-crystal-layer side, and a plurality of electrodes provided on the other of the pair of substrates on a liquid-crystal-layer side, to extend along a predetermined direction. An orientation, in a substrate plane, of liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application is different from an extending direction of each of the electrodes. 
     In the second stereoscopic display device and the second liquid crystal barrier device according to the embodiments of the disclosure, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal layer is different from the extending direction of each electrode in the substrate surface. Consequently, when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application in a boundary region between the plurality of electrodes (inter-electrode region), the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is hardly changed in the boundary region. 
     According to the first stereoscopic display device and the first liquid crystal barrier device of the embodiments of the disclosure, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element is different from the extending direction of each opening-and-closing section in the light barrier surface, allowing the liquid crystal molecules to be hardly changed in orientation during voltage application in the opening-and-closing-section boundary. This makes it possible to reduce light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary, leading to improvement in display contrast and thus improvement in image quality. 
     According to the second stereoscopic display device and the second liquid crystal barrier device of the embodiments of the disclosure, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules under no voltage application in the liquid crystal layer is different from the extending direction of each electrode in the substrate surface, allowing the liquid crystal molecules to be hardly changed in orientation during voltage application in the inter-electrode region. This makes it possible to reduce light leakage through the inter-electrode region, leading to improvement in display contrast and thus improvement in image quality. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the technology as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the technology. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration example of a stereoscopic display device according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are an exploded perspective diagram and a side diagram illustrating the general configuration example of the stereoscopic display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of each of a display section and a display drive section shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a pixel shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a plan diagram and a section diagram, respectively, illustrating a detailed configuration example of a liquid crystal barrier shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plan diagram illustrating an operation state example of the liquid crystal barrier shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  in stereoscopic display. 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  are schematic diagrams for explaining a relationship between an arrangement direction of transparent electrodes and an orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal barrier shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  by comparison with a comparative example. 
         FIGS. 8A to 8C  are schematic diagrams for explaining display operation of the stereoscopic display device shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic diagrams for explaining stereoscopic display operation of the stereoscopic display device shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         FIGS. 10A to 10C  are diagrams for explaining an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules and light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier. 
         FIGS. 11A to 11D  are diagrams for explaining another example of the relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules and light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier. 
         FIGS. 12A to 12C  are exploded perspective diagrams illustrating arrangement examples of polarization transmission axes and absorption axes of polarizing plates of each of the display section and the liquid crystal barrier. 
         FIGS. 13A to 13C  are plan diagrams illustrating configuration examples of a liquid crystal barrier of a stereoscopic display device according to a second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 14A to 14C  are plan diagrams illustrating configuration examples of an opening-and-closing section of the liquid crystal barrier shown in  FIGS. 13A to 13C , together with configuration example of pixels in the display section. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are schematic diagrams for explaining a relationship between an arrangement direction of transparent electrodes and an orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal barrier shown in  FIGS. 13A to 13C . 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are schematic diagrams for explaining right-hand operation and left-hand operation of a liquid crystal molecule. 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  are graphs illustrating an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal barrier and transmittances at various positions in a screen. 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are graphs illustrating an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal barrier and the amount of light leakage through the liquid crystal barrier. 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  are graphs illustrating another example of the relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal barrier and the amount of light leakage through the liquid crystal barrier. 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  are an exploded perspective diagram and a side diagram, respectively, illustrating a general configuration example of a stereoscopic display device according to a modification. 
         FIGS. 21A and 21B  are schematic diagrams for explaining stereoscopic display operation of the stereoscopic display device shown in  FIGS. 20A and 20B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings. Description is made in the following order. 
     1. First embodiment (example of extending each opening-and-closing section of a liquid crystal barrier along a vertical line direction) 
     2. Second embodiment (example of extending each opening-and-closing section of a liquid crystal barrier along an oblique direction) 
     3. Modification (example of disposing a liquid crystal barrier between a backlight section and a display section) 
     First Embodiment 
     General Configuration of Stereoscopic Display Device  1   
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration of a stereoscopic display device (stereoscopic display device  1 ) according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are an exploded perspective diagram ( FIG. 2A ) and a side diagram (Y-Z side diagram: FIG.  2 B)), respectively, illustrating the general configuration of the stereoscopic display device  1 . The stereoscopic display device  1  may perform stereoscopic display (three-dimensional display) by a parallax barrier method based on a video signal Sin inputted from the outside. 
     The stereoscopic display device  1  includes a backlight section  10 , a display section  20 , a liquid crystal barrier  30  (liquid crystal barrier device), a controller  40 , a backlight drive section  41 , a display drive section  42 , and a barrier drive section  43 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the stereoscopic display device  1 , the backlight section  10 , the display section  20 , and the liquid crystal barrier  30  are disposed in this order along a Z-axis direction, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In other words, light is emitted from the backlight section  10  and received by a viewer through the display section  20  and the liquid crystal barrier  30  in this order. 
     The controller  40  generates and supplies a control instruction to each of the backlight drive section  41 , the display drive section  42 , and the barrier drive section  43  based on the video signal Sin, and controls the sections to operate in synchronization with one another. Specifically, the controller  40  supplies a backlight control instruction to the backlight drive section  41 , supplies a video signal S 0  to the display drive section  42  based on the video signal Sin, and supplies a barrier control instruction to the barrier drive section  43 . When the stereoscopic display device  1  performs stereoscopic display, the video signal S 0  includes, for example, a video signal including a plurality of eyepoint images as described later. 
     (Backlight Section  10  and Backlight Drive Section  41 ) 
     The backlight section  10 , which corresponds to a light source section emitting light to the display section  20 , is configured of a light emitting element such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     The backlight drive section  41  drives (performs emission-drive of) the backlight section  10  based on the backlight control instruction supplied from the controller  40 . 
     (Display Section  20  and Display Drive Section  42 ) 
     The display section  20  is configured of a liquid crystal display section that modulates light emitted from the backlight section  10  based on a display control signal supplied from the display drive section  42 , and thus performs video display based on the video signal S 0 . The display section  20  may display a plurality of eyepoint images in a manner including space division manner (here, space-and-time division manner) as described later. The display section  20  has a plurality of pixels Pix arranged generally in a matrix as shown in  FIG. 3 . In other words, the pixels Pix are arranged in the display section  20  along each of a horizontal line direction (here, X-axis direction) and a vertical line direction (here, Y-axis direction). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a circuit configuration example of each pixel Pix. Each pixel Pix has a liquid crystal element LC, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element Tr, and an auxiliary capacitance element C. Each pixel Pix is connected with a gate line G for line-sequentially selecting a pixel to be driven, with a data line D for supplying a pixel signal (pixel signal supplied from a data driver  423  described later) to the pixel to be driven, and with an auxiliary capacitance line Cs. 
     The liquid crystal element LC performs display operation according to a pixel signal supplied from the data line D to an end of the element LC via the TFT element Tr. The liquid crystal element LC includes a liquid crystal layer (not shown), including, for example, VA (Vertical Alignment)-mode or TN (Twisted Nematic)-mode liquid crystal, sandwiched by a pair of electrodes (not shown). One of the pair of electrodes (one end) of the liquid crystal element LC is connected to a drain of the TFT element Tr and to one end of the auxiliary capacitance element C, and the other (the other end) is grounded. The auxiliary capacitance element C stabilizes charge accumulated in the liquid crystal element LC. One end of the auxiliary capacitance element C is connected to one end of the liquid crystal element LC and to the drain of the TFT element Tr, and the other end of the element C is connected to an auxiliary capacitance line Cs. The TFT element Tr is a switching element for supplying a pixel signal based on the video signal S 0  to the respective one ends of the liquid crystal element LC and the auxiliary capacitance element C, and is configured of MOS-FET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor-Field Effect Transistor). A gate of the TFT element Tr is connected to the gate line G, and a source thereof is connected to the data line D, and the drain thereof is connected to the respective one ends of the liquid crystal element LC and the auxiliary capacitance element C. 
     The display drive section  42  drives (performs display-drive of) the display section  20  based on the video signal S 0  supplied from the controller  40 , and has a timing controller  421 , a gate driver  422 , and a data driver  423  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The timing controller  421  controls drive timing of each of the gate driver  422  and the data driver  423 , and supplies a video signal S 1  to the data driver  423  based on the video signal S 0  supplied from the controller  40 . 
     The gate driver  422  sequentially selects pixels Pix in the display section  20  for each of horizontal lines (rows) in accordance with timing control performed by the timing controller  421  so that line-sequential scan is performed. 
     The data driver  423  supplies a pixel signal based on the video signal  51  to each pixel Pix in the display section  20 . Specifically, the data driver  423  performs D/A (digital to analog) conversion based on the video signal S 1 , and thus generates the pixel signal as an analog signal and supplies the pixel signal to each pixel Pix. 
     (Liquid Crystal Barrier  30  and Barrier Drive Section  43 ) 
     The liquid crystal barrier  30  has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections (opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  described later) each including a liquid crystal element described later, and has a function of transmitting or blocking light emitted from the backlight section  10  and transmitted through the display section  20 . 
     The barrier drive section  43  drives (performs barrier-drive of) the liquid crystal barrier  30  based on the barrier control instruction supplied from the controller  40 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a detailed configuration of the liquid crystal barrier  30 , where  FIG. 5A  illustrates a planar configuration (X-Y planar configuration), and  FIG. 5B  illustrates a sectional configuration (Y-Z sectional configuration). In this example, it is assumed that the liquid crystal barrier  30  performs normally white operation. In other words, the liquid crystal barrier  30  transmits light while being not driven (under no voltage application). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the liquid crystal barrier  30  has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 , each section  31  or  32  extending along a predetermined direction in a light barrier surface (here, X-Y plane) and transmitting or blocking light. Specifically, the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  have a rectangular shape (with a major axis along a Y-axis direction) extending along the Y-axis direction (vertical-line direction of the display section  20 ) each, and are arranged in parallel along an X-axis direction (horizontal-line direction of the display section  20 ). While the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  extend along the vertical-line direction of the display section  20  herein, this is not limitative, and the sections may extend in an approximately-vertical-line direction. The opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  perform different operation depending on whether the stereoscopic display device  1  performs normal display (two-dimensional display) or stereoscopic display. Specifically, the opening-and-closing sections  31  are in an open state (light-transmitting state) during normal display of the stereoscopic display device  1 , and in a closed state (light-blocking state) during stereoscopic display thereof, as described later. On the other hand, the opening-and-closing sections  32  are in an open state (light-transmitting state) during normal display of the stereoscopic display device  1 , and time-divisionally opened and closed during stereoscopic display thereof, as described later. 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates an example of an operation state of the liquid crystal barrier  30  during stereoscopic display. Here, while the opening-and-closing sections  31  are in a closed state (light-blocking state), the opening-and-closing sections  32  are time-divisionally opened and closed, as described above. In the figure, closed regions of the opening-and-closing sections  31  are shaded. The opening-and-closing sections  32  have two groups (groups A and B), in each of which opening-and-closing sections perform opening-and-closing operation at the same timing. Specifically, the opening-and-closing sections  32  include opening-and-closing sections  32 A belonging to the group A performing opening-and-closing operation at one timing, and opening-and-closing sections  32 B belonging to the group B performing opening-and-closing operation at the other timing. The barrier drive section  43  drives the liquid crystal barrier such that a plurality of opening-and-closing sections  32 A or  32 B belonging to the same group perform opening-and-closing operation at the same timing during stereoscopic display. Specifically, the barrier drive section  43  drives the liquid crystal barrier such that the opening-and-closing sections  32 A belonging to the group A and the opening-and-closing sections  32 B belonging to the group B perform opening-and-closing operation time-divisionally alternately. 
     The liquid crystal barrier  30  (opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  thereof) is configured of liquid crystal elements as shown in  FIG. 5B . Specifically, the liquid crystal barrier  30  includes a transparent substrate  341 , a transparent substrate  342  oppositely disposed to the transparent substrate  341 , and a liquid crystal layer  35  interposed between the transparent substrates  341  and  342 . The respective transparent substrates  341  and  342  (a pair of substrates) is formed of, for example, glass. For example, liquid crystal molecules (liquid crystal molecules  350  described later) in the liquid crystal layer  35  are in TN arrangement or homogenous arrangement (parallel arrangement). 
     Transparent electrodes  371  and  372  including, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) are formed on a surface on a liquid crystal layer  35  side of the transparent substrate  341  and on a surface on a liquid crystal layer  35  side of the transparent substrate  342 , respectively. Here, for example, the transparent electrode  371  formed on the transparent substrate  341  is provided as a common electrode between the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 . In contrast, a plurality of transparent electrodes  372  (a plurality of electrodes) formed on the transparent substrate  342  are separately provided at positions corresponding to the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 . The transparent electrodes  372  are disposed separately from one another to be electrically insulated, leading to a boundary region (opening-and-closing-section boundary (inter-electrode region)  33  described later) with no transparent electrode  372  between adjacent opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 . Such transparent electrodes  371  and  372  and the liquid crystal layer  35  configure the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 . 
     Alignment films  381  and  382  are formed on a surface on a liquid crystal layer  35  side of the transparent electrode  371  and on a surface on a liquid crystal layer  35  side of the transparent electrode  372 , respectively, in order to align the liquid crystal molecules  350  in the liquid crystal layer  35  in a predetermined direction. Specifically, the alignment films  381  and  382  are subjected to rubbing treatment along an in-plane, predetermined direction in a manufacturing process, so that the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application are aligned in a predetermined direction in a substrate surface (in a light barrier surface). 
     On the other hand, a polarizing plate  361  is provided on a surface of the transparent substrate  341  on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer  35 , and a polarizing plate  362  is provided on a surface of the transparent substrate  342  on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer  35 . While not shown, in  FIG. 5B , the display section  20  and the backlight section  10  are disposed in order as shown in  FIG. 2B  on the right of the liquid crystal barrier  30  (on the right of the polarizing plate  362 : in a positive direction of the Z-axis). In other words, the transparent substrate  341 , the transparent electrode  371 , the alignment film  381 , and the polarizing plate  361  are disposed on a viewer side (light output side), and the transparent substrate  342 , the transparent electrode  372 , the alignment film  382 , and the polarizing plate  362  are disposed on a display section  20  side (light input side). 
     Opening-and-closing operation of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  of the liquid crystal barrier  30  is the same as display operation of the display section  20 . In other words, light, which has been emitted from the backlight section  10  and transmitted by the display section  20 , is formed into linearly polarized light in a direction determined by the polarizing plate  362  and then enters the liquid crystal layer  35 . In the liquid crystal layer  35 , a direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is changed in a certain response time depending on potential difference supplied to the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 . Light, which has entered such a liquid crystal layer  35 , is changed in polarization state depending on a current alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules  350 . Then, light is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer  35 , and then enters the polarizing plate  361 , through which only light in a particular polarization direction passes. In this way, intensity modulation of light is performed in the liquid crystal layer  35 . 
     According to such a configuration, in the case of normally white operation, when voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes  371  and  372  and thus potential difference is increased therebetween, light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer  35  is decreased, and consequently the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  are into a light-blocking state (closed state). In contrast, when potential difference is decreased between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 , light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer  35  is increased, and consequently the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  are into a light-transmitting state (open state). 
     While it is assumed that the liquid crystal barrier  30  performs normally white operation in this example, this is not limitative. For example, the liquid crystal barrier  30  may perform normally black operation instead. In such a case, when potential difference is increased between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 , the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  are into an open state (light-transmitting state), whereas when potential difference is decreased between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 , the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  are into a light-blocking state (closed state). Incidentally, normally white operation or normally black operation may be optionally selected, for example, through appropriately setting each polarizing plate and liquid crystal alignment. 
     In the liquid crystal barrier  30  of the embodiment, an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element (liquid crystal layer  35 ) is different from (has a predetermined angle to) an extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  (extending direction of the transparent electrodes  372 ; the same below) in a light barrier surface (in a substrate surface; the same below). Specifically, for example, an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  in a state of no voltage application (here, light-transmitting state) is different from an extending direction (here, Y-axis direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in the light barrier surface (X-Y plane), as schematically shown in  FIG. 7A . In other words, an angle θ formed by an arrangement direction (here, X-axis direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  and an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  has a value different from 90 or 270 degrees unlike a liquid crystal barrier  103  according to a comparative example shown in  FIG. 7B . This means that θ is not 90 or 270 degrees (0°≦θ&lt;90°, 90°&lt;θ&lt;270°, and) 270°&lt;θ≦360° (=0°. Here, “orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350 ” means that, for example, when the liquid crystal molecules  350  are in TN alignment (twisted alignment), an orientation (rubbing direction) on an alignment film (here, alignment film  382 ) on a side where a plurality of electrodes (here, the plurality of transparent electrodes  372 ) corresponding to the plurality of opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  are provided, which is the same below. 
     Moreover, in the liquid crystal barrier  30  of the embodiment, for example, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably approximately orthogonal (here, orthogonal) to the extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in the light barrier surface (X-Y plane) as shown in  FIG. 7C . In other words, the angle θ formed by the arrangement direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably approximately 0 degrees (the arrangement direction is approximately parallel to the orientation) (here, θ=0° (parallel to each other)). This makes it possible to effectively reduce light leakage through an opening-and-closing boundary  33  as described later. 
     [Effects and Advantage of Stereoscopic Display Device  1 ] 
     (1. Display Operation) 
     In the stereoscopic display device  1 , first, the controller  40  generates and supplies a control instruction to each of the backlight drive section  41 , the display drive section  42 , and the barrier drive section  43  based on the video signal Sin supplied from the outside, and thus controls the sections to operate in synchronization with one another. Next, the backlight drive section  41  drives (performs emission-drive of) the backlight section  10  based on the backlight control instruction supplied from the controller  40 . The backlight section  10  emits surface-emitted light to the display section  20 . The display drive section  42  drives (performs display-drive of) the display section  20  based on the video signal S 0  supplied from the controller  40 . The display section  20  modulates light emitted from the backlight section  10  based on a display control signal supplied from the display drive section  42 , thereby performing video display based on the video signal S 0 . The barrier drive section  43  drives (performs barrier-drive of) the liquid crystal barrier  30  based on the barrier control instruction supplied from the controller  40 . The liquid crystal barrier  30  transmits or blocks light, which has been emitted from the backlight section  10  and transmitted through the display section  20  in the above way, in each opening-and-closing section  31  or  32 . 
     Here, stereoscopic display and normal display (two-dimensional display) of the stereoscopic display device  1  are described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 8A to 8C  and  9 A and  9 B.  FIGS. 8A to 8C  schematically illustrate, using a sectional structure, a state of the liquid crystal barrier  30  in each of stereoscopic display and normal display (two-dimensional display).  FIG. 8A  shows a state of stereoscopic display (stereoscopic display  1 ),  FIG. 8B  shows another state of stereoscopic display (stereoscopic display  2 ), and  FIG. 8C  shows a state of normal display (two-dimensional display). In this example, the opening-and-closing sections  32 A or  32 B are provided by one for six pixels Pix of the display section  20 . In  FIGS. 8A to 8C  and  9 A and  9 B, the liquid crystal barrier  30  is shaded particularly in light-blocking portions. 
     First, in the case of normal display (two-dimensional display), the liquid crystal barrier  30  is controlled to allow both the opening-and-closing sections  31  and the opening-and-closing sections  32  (opening-and-closing sections  32 A and  32 B) to be continuously in the open state (light-transmitting state) as shown in  FIG. 8C . This allows a viewer to directly view a normal two-dimensional image displayed on the display section  20  based on the video signal S 0 . 
     In the case of stereoscopic display, the liquid crystal barrier  30  is controlled to allow the opening-and-closing sections  32  (opening-and-closing sections  32 A and  32 B) to time-divisionally perform opening-and-closing operation, and allows the opening-and-closing sections  31  to be continuously in the closed state (light-blocking state) as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . Here, the display section  20  displays a plurality of eyepoint images space-divisionally and time-divisionally. 
     Specifically, in the case of stereoscopic display  1  as shown in  FIG. 8A , the opening-and-closing sections  32 A are opened, and opening-and-closing sections  32 B are closed. In the display section  20 , six adjacent pixels Pix disposed at positions corresponding to such opened opening-and-closing sections  32 A perform display in correspondence to six eyepoint images in the video signal S 0 . In detail, for example, the pixels Pix of the display section  20  display pixel information P 1  to P 6  corresponding to the respective six eyepoint images in the video signal S 0 , as shown in  FIG. 9A . Here, light from each of the pixels Pix of the display section  20  is outputted with an angle limited by each of the opening-and-closing sections  32 A. For example, a viewer views pixel information P 3  by a left eye and pixel information P 4  by a right eye, making it possible for the viewer to view a stereoscopic image. 
     Similarly, in the case of stereoscopic display  2  as shown in  FIG. 8B , the opening-and-closing sections  32 B are opened, and opening-and-closing sections  32 A are closed. In the display section  20 , six adjacent pixels Pix disposed at positions corresponding to such opened opening-and-closing sections  32 B perform display in correspondence to six eyepoint images in the video signal SB. In detail, for example, the pixels Pix of the display section  20  display pixel information P 1  to P 6  corresponding to the respective six eyepoint images in the video signal SB, as shown in  FIG. 9B . Here, light from each of the pixels Pix of the display section  20  is outputted with an angle limited by each of the opening-and-closing sections  32 B. For example, a viewer views pixel information P 3  by a left eye and pixel information P 4  by a right eye, making it possible for the viewer to view a stereoscopic image. 
     In this way, a viewer views different kinds of pixel information between the pixel information P 1  to P 6  between two eyes, making it possible for the viewer to feel a stereoscopic image. In addition, the opening-and-closing sections  32 A and  32 B are time-divisionally alternately opened for image display, allowing a viewer to view images displayed at positions offset from each other in an average manner. Accordingly, the stereoscopic display device  1  enables resolution twice as high as resolution in a case where only the opening-and-closing sections  32 A are provided. In other words, resolution of the stereoscopic display device  1  is relatively high, ⅓ (=⅙*2) of resolution in the case of two-dimensional display. 
     (2. Effects of Liquid Crystal Barrier  30 ) 
     Next, effects of the liquid crystal barrier  30  as one of features of the embodiment of the disclosure are described in detail in comparison with a comparative example. 
     (Relationship between Orientation of Liquid Crystal Molecules  350  and Light Leakage in Liquid Crystal Barrier  30 ) 
     First, in a liquid crystal barrier in the past, light leakage (light escape) has disadvantageously occurred through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  due to an oblique electric-field generated when voltage is applied to the liquid crystal molecules  350 . When such light leakage occurs, luminance disadvantageously increases during black display, leading to reduction in display contrast and thus reduction in image quality. 
     Thus, in the liquid crystal barrier  30  of the embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application is different from (has a predetermined angle to) the extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in a light barrier surface, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7C . In other words, an angle θ formed by the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  has a value different from 90 or 270 degrees unlike the liquid crystal barrier  103  according to the comparative example shown in  FIG. 7B . Consequently, in the liquid crystal barrier  30 , when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application in the boundary region (opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 ) between the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is hardly changed compared with the liquid crystal barrier  103  according to the comparative example, leading to reduction in light leakage through the opening-and-closing boundary  33  compared with the liquid crystal barrier  103 . 
     Moreover, in the liquid crystal barrier  30  of the embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably approximately orthogonal (here, orthogonal) to the extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in the light barrier surface as shown in  FIG. 7C . In other words, the angle θ formed by the arrangement direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably approximately 0 degrees (the arrangement direction is approximately parallel to the orientation) (here, θ=0° (parallel to each other)). In the case of such a configuration, when the oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is further hardly changed, and consequently light leakage through the opening-and-closing boundary  33  is further (more effectively) reduced. 
       FIGS. 10A to 10C  illustrate an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  and light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier  30 , which corresponds to an example of a case of liquid crystal molecules  350  in homogenous alignment (parallel alignment).  FIG. 10A  shows the example in the case of θ=0°,  FIG. 10B  shows an example in the case of θ=45°, and  FIG. 10C  shows a case of θ=90° (comparative example). In addition, each of  FIGS. 10A to 10C  shows, in order from above, a schematic diagram illustrating the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350 , a simulation diagram of an alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules  350  when voltage of 0 V (light-transmitting voltage) is applied between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372  (when no voltage is applied), and a simulation diagram of an alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules  350  when voltage of 7 V (here, light-blocking voltage) is applied between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 . In the schematic diagrams illustrating the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350 , arrows represent respective polarization transmission axes of the polarizing plates  361  and  362 . 
     From  FIGS. 10A to 10C , in the case of  FIG. 10C  according to the comparative example (θ=90°), an oblique electric-field is generated in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  during voltage application of 7 V, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is greatly changed (twisted) in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V due to a direction of the generated oblique electric-field. This allows a large amount of light leakage (light escape) to occur through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  in the comparative example, as indicated by a sign G 12  in  FIG. 10C . In contrast, in the case of  FIG. 10A  or  10 B according to the example of the embodiment (θ=0° or 45°), when the oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application of 7 V in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is little changed in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V compared with the comparative example. Particularly, in the case of θ=0° shown in  FIG. 10A , when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application of 7 V in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is not (scarcely) changed in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V. In the example shown in  FIG. 10B , light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is reduced compared with the comparative example as indicated by a sign G 11  in the figure. In the example shown in  FIG. 10A , light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  hardly occurs (is prevented). 
     Next,  FIGS. 11A to 11D  illustrate an example of another relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  and light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier  30 , which corresponds to an example of a case of liquid crystal molecules  350  in TN alignment.  FIG. 11A  shows the example in the case of θ=0°,  FIG. 11B  shows an example in the case of θ=45°,  FIG. 11C  shows a case of θ=90° (comparative example), and  FIG. 11D  shows an example in the case of θ=135°. In addition, in the same way as  FIGS. 10A to 10C , each of  FIGS. 11A to 11D  shows, in order from above, a simulation diagram of an alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules  350  when voltage of 0 V (light-transmitting voltage) is applied between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 , and a simulation diagram of an alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules  350  when voltage of 7 V (here, light-blocking voltage) is applied between the transparent electrodes  371  and  372 . In the case of TN alignment, an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is changed depending on positions in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer  35 , as known from  FIGS. 11A to 11D . Specifically, for example, in the example shown in  FIG. 11A , θ is about 0 degrees near a boundary with the transparent electrode  372 , about −45 degrees near the center of thickness (center of cell thickness), and about −90 degrees near a boundary on a counter side of the transparent electrode  372  (on a transparent electrode  371  side). Thus, since “orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350 ” is defined as orientation on the transparent electrode  372  side as described before, in the case of the TN alignment, angle θ on the transparent electrode  372  side is also used as the described angle θ to specify the examples and the comparative example. 
     From  FIGS. 11A to 11D , in the case of  FIG. 11C  according to the comparative example)(θ=90°, an oblique electric-field is generated in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  during voltage application of 7 V, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is greatly changed in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V due to a direction of the generated oblique electric-field. This allows a large amount of light leakage (light escape) to occur through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  in the comparative example, as indicated by a sign G 23  in  FIG. 11C . In contrast, in the case of  FIG. 11A ,  11 B, or  11 D according to the example of the embodiment (θ=0°, 45°, or 135°), when the oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application of 7 V in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is little changed in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V compared with the comparative example. Particularly, in the case of θ=0° shown in  FIG. 11A , when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application of 7 V in the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is not (scarcely) changed in the boundary  33  from that in voltage application of 0 V. In the example shown in  FIG. 11B  or  11 D, light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is reduced compared with the comparative example as indicated by a sign G 22  or G 24  in the figure. In the example shown in  FIG. 11A , light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is further reduced as indicated by a sign G 21  in the figure. Furthermore, when the examples shown in  FIGS. 11B and 11D  are compared, the amount of light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is reduced in the example shown in FIG.  11 D)(θ=135° compared with the example shown in FIG.  11 B)(θ=45°. This is because when attention is focused on an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  at the center of cell thickness, while θ is 0 degrees at the center of cell thickness in the example shown in  FIG. 11B , θ is 90 degrees at the center of cell thickness in the example shown in  FIG. 11D . In other words, since each of polarization transmission axes Apo of the polarizing plates  361  and  362  is in a direction of θ=+45° or −45°, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  at the center of cell thickness is desirably twisted. Consequently, in the case of TN alignment shown in  FIGS. 11A to 11D , light leakage is reduced near 135°≦θ≦180° (0° compared with near 45°≦θ≦90°. 
     (Arrangement of Polarization Transmission Axis and Absorption Axis of Each Polarizing Plate of Each of Display Section  20  and Liquid Crystal Barrier  30 ) 
     In the liquid crystal barrier  30  of the embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably substantially equal to (preferably equal to) a horizontal-line direction (here, X-axis direction) or a vertical-line direction (here, Y-axis direction) of the display section  20 . As described below, such a configuration allows some components of a stereoscopic display device as a whole or a liquid crystal barrier to be eliminated (unnecessary) in conjunction with a direction of each polarization transmission axis in the display section  20 , leading to reduction in cost (reduction in size or thickness). 
     Specifically, when the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  in the liquid crystal layer  35  of the liquid crystal barrier  30  is different from each of the horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) and the vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction) of the display section  20 , a λ/2 retardation film  11  needs to be provided to suppress reduction in luminance, for example, as shown in  FIG. 12A . In other words, each of a pair of polarizing plates  221  and  222  of the display section  20  (liquid crystal display section) having the liquid crystal layer  21  has a polarization transmission axis Apo (solid line) and an absorption axis Aab (broken line) typically in a horizontal-line or vertical-line direction each, as shown in  FIG. 12A . Specifically, the polarizing plate  222  on a light-input side has a polarization transmission axis Apo in a horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) and an absorption axis Aab in a vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction). In contrast, the polarizing plate  221  on a light-output side has a polarization transmission axis Apo in a vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction) and an absorption axis Aab in a horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction). As a result, when the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  in the liquid crystal layer  35  is set as above, the polarization transmission axis Apo and the absorption axis Aab of each of a pair of the polarizing plates  361  and  362  of the liquid crystal barrier  30  are accordingly directed as in the following. That is, as shown in the figure, each of directions of the polarization transmission axis Apo and the absorption axis Aab of the polarizing plate  361  or  362  needs to have an angle with respect to each of the horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) and the vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, it is therefore necessary to provide the λ/2 retardation film  11  between the display section  20  and the liquid crystal barrier  30  so as to rotate a polarization direction of light outputted from the polarizing plate  221  before the light is inputted to the polarizing plate  362 . 
     On the other hand, when the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  in the liquid crystal layer  35  of the liquid crystal barrier  30  is substantially equal to (equal to) each of the horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) and the vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction) of the display section  20 , the λ/2 retardation film  11  need not be provided, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 12B and 12C . Specifically, in the example shown in  FIG. 12B , since respective directions of the polarization transmission axis Apo and the absorption axis Aab are the same between the polarizing plates  221  and  362 , the λ/2 retardation film  11  is unnecessary. 
     This makes it possible to achieve reduction in cost (reduction in size or thickness) in correspondence to such elimination of the λ/2 retardation film  11  compared with the example shown in  FIG. 12A . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 12C , first, respective directions of the polarization transmission axis Apo and the absorption axis Aab of the polarizing plate  221  or  222  are rotated by 90 degrees with respect to those in the example shown in  FIG. 12A  or  12 B. Specifically, in the polarizing plate  222 , the polarization transmission axis Apo (solid line) is in a vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction), and the absorption axis Aab (broken line) is in a horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction). In contrast, in the polarizing plate  221 , the polarization transmission axis Apo is in a horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction), and the absorption axis Aab is in a vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction). Consequently, the liquid crystal barrier  30 A need not have the polarizing plate  362  on a light-input side, and has the polarizing plate  361  on a light-output side, of which respective directions of the polarization transmission axis Apo and the absorption axis Aab are rotated by 90 degrees with respect to those of the polarizing plate  361  of the liquid crystal barrier  30 . This makes it possible to achieve further reduction in cost (reduction in size or thickness) in correspondence to such elimination of the polarizing plate  362  compared with the example shown in  FIG. 12B . 
     As described hereinbefore, in the embodiment, the liquid crystal barrier  30  is designed such that the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application in the liquid crystal element is different from the extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in a light barrier surface, allowing the liquid crystal molecules  350  to be hardly changed in orientation during voltage application. This makes it possible to reduce light leakage through the opening-and-closing boundary  33 , leading to improvement in display contrast (contrast on the liquid crystal barrier  30 ) and thus improvement in image quality. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment of the disclosure is described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same symbols, and description of them is appropriately omitted. 
     [Configuration of Liquid Crystal Barriers  30 B,  30 C, and  30 D] 
       FIGS. 13A to 13C  illustrate planar configuration examples of liquid crystal barriers (liquid crystal barriers  30 B,  30 C, and  30 D) of a stereoscopic display device of the embodiment. In the liquid crystal barriers  30 B,  30 C, and  30 D of the embodiment, an extending direction of opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  is an oblique direction different from each of a horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) and a vertical-line direction (Y-axis direction) of a display section  20  unlike the liquid crystal barrier  30  in the first embodiment. Other configurations (configurations of the display section  20  and a backlight section  10 ) of the stereoscopic display device are the same as those in the first embodiment. 
     Specifically, the liquid crystal barrier  30 B or  30 C shown in  FIG. 13A  or  13 B has a plurality of opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  each having a rectangular shape and extending in an oblique direction in a light barrier surface (X-Y plane) (oblique barrier type). In detail, the liquid crystal barrier  30 B of  FIG. 13A  has opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  each extending in a right oblique direction as viewed from a viewer in the light barrier surface. In contrast, the liquid crystal barrier  30 C of  FIG. 13B  has opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  each extending in a left oblique direction as viewed from a viewer in the light barrier surface. 
     On the other hand, the liquid crystal barrier  30 D of  FIG. 13C  has opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  each generally extending stepwise in an oblique direction in the light barrier surface (X-Y plane) (stepped-barrier type). While the sections extend in a right oblique direction as viewed from a viewer in the example of the stepped-barrier type, the sections may conversely extend in a left oblique direction as viewed from a viewer. 
     Next,  FIGS. 14A to 14C  are plan diagrams (X-Y plan diagrams) schematically illustrating configuration examples of the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  of the respective liquid crystal barriers  30 B and  30 C together with a pixel configuration example of the display section  20 . 
     First, in the example shown in  FIG. 14A  or  14 B, a red pixel Pixr, a green pixel Pixg, and a blue pixel Pixb are continuously viewed in order along an oblique direction from a viewer in an opening-and-closing section  32  extending in a right oblique or left oblique direction. On the other hand, in the example shown in  FIG. 14C , a red pixel Pixr, a green pixel Pixg, and a blue pixel Pixb are discontinuously (intermittently) viewed in order along an oblique direction from a viewer in an opening-and-closing section  32  extending in a right oblique direction. However, a layout of red pixels Pixr, green pixels Pixg, and blue pixels Pixb in the display section  20 , or a layout of the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32  in the liquid crystal barrier  30 B or  30 C are not limited to these examples, and other layouts may be used. 
     Even in the liquid crystal barriers  30 B and  30 C of the embodiment, an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application is different from (has a predetermined angle to) an extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in a light barrier surface, in the same way as the liquid crystal barrier  30  in the first embodiment. In other words, an angle θ formed by an arrangement direction (oblique direction) of a plurality of opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  has a value different from 90 or 270 degrees as in the liquid crystal barriers  30 B and  30 C shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B . In the figures, an angle φ represents an angle formed by a horizontal-line direction (here, X-axis direction) of the display section  20  and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application. An angle α represents an angle formed by the horizontal-line direction (X-axis direction) of the display section  20  and the extending direction (oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  (transparent electrodes  372 ), for example, an angle satisfying tan α=3)(α≈71.5651°). 
     When the liquid crystal molecules  350  are in TN alignment, the liquid crystal barriers  30 B and  30 C of the embodiment are desirably configured as follows. That is, an angular direction given by the extending direction (oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  with respect to a vertical-line direction (here, Y-axis direction) of the display section  20  is desirably the same (rotational direction) as a twisted direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  as viewed from a light output side (viewer side). 
     Specifically, in the liquid crystal barrier  30 B shown in  FIG. 15A , since the angular direction given by the extending direction (right oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  is a clockwise direction, the twisted direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably the clockwise direction as viewed from a light output side. In other words, the liquid crystal molecules  350  are desirably aligned in a right-hand direction, for example, as shown in  FIG. 16A . In the liquid crystal barrier  30 C shown in  FIG. 15B , since the angular direction given by the extending direction (left oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  is a counterclockwise direction, the twisted direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is desirably the counterclockwise direction as viewed from a light output side. In other words, the liquid crystal molecules  350  are desirably aligned in a left-hand direction, for example, as shown in  FIG. 16B . In  FIGS. 16A and 16B , arrows in alignment films  381  and  382  represent rubbing directions in manufacturing. 
     [Effects of Liquid Crystal Barriers  30 B and  30 C] 
     Even in the liquid crystal barrier  30 B or  30 C of the embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  under no voltage application is different from (has a predetermined angle to) the extending direction of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  in a light barrier surface, as described before. Consequently, as in the liquid crystal barrier  30 , when an oblique electric-field is generated during voltage application in a boundary region (opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 ) between the opening-and-closing sections  31  and  32 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  is hardly changed, leading to reduction in light leakage through the opening-and-closing boundary  33 . 
     When the liquid crystal molecules  350  are in TN alignment, an angular direction given by the extending direction (oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  with respect to the vertical-line direction of the display section  20  and a twisted direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  as viewed from a light output side are the same (the same rotational direction), the following effect occurs. That is, light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is further reduced according to the following reason. Specifically, in the case of TN alignment, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  at the center of cell thickness is desirably twisted due to influence of a traverse electric-field as described in the first embodiment. Consequently, even in the following example for TN alignment ( FIGS. 17A and 17B  to  19 A and  19 B), light leakage is reduced near 135°≦θ≦180° (0°) compared with near 45°≦θ≦90°. 
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  illustrate an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  and transmittances at various points in a screen in each of the liquid crystal barriers  30 B and  30 C, where  FIG. 17A  illustrates a case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to left, and  FIG. 17B  illustrates a case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to right. 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  and the amount of light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier  30 B, and  FIGS. 19A and 19B  illustrate an example of a relationship between the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules  350  and the amount of light leakage in the liquid crystal barrier  30 C.  FIG. 18A  or  19 A illustrates a case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to left, and  FIG. 18B  or  19 B illustrates a case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to right. 
     From  FIGS. 17A and 17B  to  19 A and  19 B, in the case of θ=90° or −90° according to the comparative example, a large amount of light leakage (light escape) occurs through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33 . In contrast, in the case of θ=0° or 135° (θ≠90° or −90°) according to the example of the embodiment, light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is reduced compared with the comparative example. Particularly, in the case of θ=0° (180°), light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is further reduced. Furthermore, when the angular direction given by the extending direction (oblique direction) of the opening-and-closing sections  31  or  32  with respect to the vertical-line direction of the display section  20  and the twisted direction of the liquid crystal molecules  350  as viewed from a light output side are the same (the same rotational direction), light leakage through the opening-and-closing-section boundary  33  is still further reduced. Specifically, in the liquid crystal barrier  30 B shown in  FIGS. 18A and 18B , light leakage is still further reduced in the case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to right compared with the case of the molecules  350  twisted to left. Conversely, in the liquid crystal barrier  30 C shown in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , light leakage is still further reduced in the case of the liquid crystal molecules  350  twisted to left compared with the case of the molecules  350  twisted to right. 
     As described hereinbefore, even in the embodiment, the same advantage may be obtained through the same effects as in the first embodiment. In other words, light leakage through the opening-and-closing boundary  33  may be reduced, leading to improvement in display contrast and thus improvement in image quality. 
     Modification 
     Next, a common modification between the first and second embodiments is described. The same components as those in the embodiments are designated by the same symbols, and description of them is appropriately omitted. 
       FIGS. 20A and 20B  are an exploded perspective diagram ( FIG. 20A ) and a side diagram (Y-Z side diagram: FIG.  20 B)), respectively, illustrating a general configuration of a stereoscopic display device (stereoscopic display device  1 A) according to the modification. 
     In the stereoscopic display device  1 A according to the modification, a backlight section  10 , a liquid crystal barrier  30 , and a display section  20  are disposed in this order along a Z-axis direction, unlike the stereoscopic display device  1  according to the embodiments. In other words, light is emitted from the backlight section  10  and received by a viewer through the liquid crystal barrier  30  and the display section  20  in this order. 
     Specifically, in the stereoscopic display device  1 A, light emitted from the backlight section  10  is first inputted to the liquid crystal barrier  30 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 21A  (stereoscopic display  1 ) and  FIG. 21B  (stereoscopic display  2 ). Then, the light is partially transmitted by an opening-and-closing section  32 A or  32 B. The display section  20  modulates the transmitted light and thus outputs six eyepoint images. 
     Even in the stereoscopic display device  1 A having such a configuration, the same advantage may be obtained through the same effects as in the embodiments. 
     Other Modifications 
     While the disclosure has been described with the embodiments and the modifications hereinbefore, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and the like, and various modifications or alterations may be made. 
     For example, while the video signal S 0  includes six eyepoint images in the embodiments and the like, this is not limitative. For example, the signal may include five or less eyepoint images or seven or more eyepoint images. 
     In addition, while the embodiments and the like have been described with specific examples of the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules and the extending direction of the opening-and-closing section (extending direction of the transparent electrodes  372 ) in the liquid crystal barrier, the directions and a combination thereof are not limited to those in the embodiments and the like. 
     Furthermore, while the embodiments and the like have been described on a case where the opening-and-closing sections  32 A and  32 B are time-divisionally alternately opened for image display, this is not limitative, and the display section may display a plurality of eyepoint images merely space-divisionally. 
     In addition, while the embodiments and the like have been described on a case where the display section  20  is configured of a liquid crystal display section and the backlight section  10  is provided as a light source section, this is not limitative. In other words, another type of display section (for example, a self-luminous display section such as organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display or PDP (Plasma Display Panel)) may be provided in place of the display section  20  and the backlight section  10 . 
     The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2010-179557 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Aug. 10, 2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.