Patent ID: 7724222

Claim:
An image display device comprising: a display panel that has a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined first direction and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; a light source that emits light to the display panel; a controller; a polarization axis controller that separates the light emitted from the light source into light with a first polarization axis and light with a second polarization axis different from the first polarization axis, the polarization axis controller being disposed between the display panel and the light source; and an optical element that directs the light emitted from the light source in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the optical element being disposed between the display panel and the polarization axis controller, wherein the polarization axis controller includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the first substrate so as to extend in the first direction, the plurality of first electrodes being arranged at a predetermined interval in the second direction, and a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the second substrate so as to extend in the first direction, the plurality of second electrodes being arranged at an interval twice the predetermined interval in the second direction, wherein the plurality of second electrodes is disposed so as to overlap at least part of the adjacent first electrodes, wherein the controller switches an image display mode between a dual-screen display mode and a three-dimensional image display mode by controlling voltages applied to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, wherein in the dual-screen display mode, the controller applies voltages to the plurality of second electrodes so that the adjacent electrodes have opposite phases, and, to the plurality of first electrodes, applies a voltage having the same phase as one of the voltages applied to the plurality of second electrodes, and wherein in the three-dimensional image display mode, the controller applies voltages to the plurality of first electrodes so that the adjacent electrodes have or opposite phases, and, to the plurality of second electrodes, applies a voltage having the same phase as one of the voltages applied to the plurality of first electrodes.