Patent ID: 8786683

Claim:
A stereoscopic display device, comprising: a display panel operable to transmit light corresponding to image data; a polarization state conversion section comprising a first polarization segment for converting light transmitted by the display device to a first polarization state, and a second polarization segment for converting light transmitted by the display device to a second polarization state; an optical separation element that is placed, via application of a voltage, in an on state in which light transmitted by the display panel is refracted or an off state in which light transmitted by the display panel is not refracted; wherein the stereoscopic display device is operable to display either two-dimensional or three-dimensional images, and is switchable from a two-dimensional display mode to a first three-dimensional display mode enabling non-autostereoscopic image display, from the first three-dimensional display mode to a second three-dimensional display mode enabling autostereoscopic image display, and from the second three-dimensional display mode to the first three-dimensional display mode; wherein: the optical separation element comprises a variable lens array; the variable lens array comprises a liquid lenticular lens; the liquid lenticular lens comprises an electro-wetting type liquid lens array placed in an on state or an off state via application of a voltage; and the liquid lenticular lens is placed in an on state by applying zero voltage, and placed in an off state by applying a non-zero voltage.