Patent ID: 8873004

Claim:
A two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) switchable image display device comprising: a backlight unit configured to emit light; a light modulation panel configured to modulate the light emitted from the backlight unit based on image information and for forming image gradation; an electro-wetting prism array comprising a plurality of electro-wetting prisms that are arranged in correspondence to a plurality of pixels of the image, for providing color to light beams that penetrate the plurality of electro-wetting prisms, and for adjusting the direction of the light beams; a control unit configured to control the backlight unit and the electro-wetting prism array such that the light beams of the plurality of pixels of the image are directed towards at least two different view zones in a 3D mode, and such that the light beams of the plurality of pixels of the image maintain the paths of the light beams in a 2D mode; and a variable diffuser unit that is switchable between a scattering mode for scattering passing light and a transparent mode for transmitting passing light without scattering, wherein the control unit controls the variable diffuser unit to be in a transparent mode during a 3D mode and to be in a scattering mode during a 2D mode.