Fabrication method of lenticular device for 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating lenticular lenses on a conductive surface of a transparent support, the method comprising the steps of imprinting a curable resin onto the support with a lenticular mold, subsequently curing the resin, and removing the mold to obtain a lenticular device comprising the transparent support and the lenticular lenses thereon. A small portion of the curable resin contains conductive particles that, after curing, provide the lenticular lenses with conductive paths between the conductive support surface and the lenticular lens surface. In this way, the conductive support surface is easily and directly electrically accessible as a planar electrode when the lenticular device is incorporated into an electrically switchable liquid crystal cell. Accordingly, the present invention further relates to such a lenticular device, a liquid crystal cell comprising such a lenticular device, and an autostereoscopic display device comprising such a liquid crystal cell.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for making a lenticular lens on a conductive surface of a transparent support, and to a method for making a liquid crystal cell containing such a lenticular lens.

[0002] The invention further relates to a lenticular device comprising a lenticular lens, a liquid crystal cell comprising such a lenticular device, and an autostereoscopic display device comprising such a liquid crystal cell. [Background technology]

[0003] <Background> Autostereoscopic displays with lenticular lenses allow viewers to perceive three-dimensional images without the need for specialized eyewear devices such as glasses or headsets. These displays are playing an increasingly important role in virtual reality and augmented reality applications.

[0004] A lenticular lens consists of semi-cylindrical microlenses (lenticules) arranged parallel to each other. In an autostereoscopic display, the lenticular lens is placed over an array of (sub)pixels, with each lenticule associated with a specific arrangement of (sub)pixels. By appropriately controlling these (sub)pixels, an autostereoscopic display can simultaneously direct a left-eye image to a viewer's left eye and a right-eye image to a viewer's right eye. The resulting stereoscopic image provides depth perception, and elements in the image can appear in front of or further away than the display ("behind" the display).

[0005] A special type of autostereoscopic display is the so-called "2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display." Such displays can be electrically switched between 2D and 3D viewing modes. They rely on liquid crystal cells in which lenticular lenses are adjacent to a liquid crystal medium that can be switched between two liquid crystal orientations under the influence of an electric field. In 2D viewing mode, the liquid crystal medium is in a first orientation. Its refractive index matches that of the lenticulars, thereby depriving the lenticulars of their focusing effect and causing the lenticular lenses to behave as transparent, flat optical panels. In 3D viewing mode, the liquid crystal medium is in a second liquid crystal orientation. Because the refractive indices do not match, each lenticular can exhibit a focusing effect.

[0006] Electrical switching between 2D and 3D viewing modes is achieved by applying a switching voltage to two planar switching electrodes that sandwich the liquid crystal cell. One of the electrodes is opposite the side that is backed by and harbors the lenticular lenses. The other electrode is on the opposite side of the liquid crystal cell. Both electrodes need to be electrically accessible to produce a working 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display with the liquid crystal cell.

[0007] The lenticular lens itself is generally produced by stamping (or punching) the lenticular profile onto a (uncured) curable resin solution that exists as a continuous film on a planar electrode, followed by curing the curable resin. Such an electrode is a conductive surface on an otherwise electrically insulating support. At this stage, attention must be paid to the electrical accessibility of the electrode, since once the curable resin is applied to the support and cured, the electrode will be completely surrounded by the support and the curable resin.

[0008] However, a problem with current manufacturing methods is that stamping a profile onto a curable resin solution does not allow some electrode areas to remain uncovered by resin, even when a highly protruding part of the stamp (the so-called "dam") is pressed onto the electrode surface. A thin layer of cured resin always forms between the electrode and the dam. Such a layer can be thick enough to separate the electrodes, making it difficult to make electrical connections to them.

[0009] This is conventionally solved, for example, by removing the cured resin from certain desired areas of the conductive surface (i.e., the electrode) to leave some surface areas of the electrode bare and available for electrical connection, or by removing the uncured resin from areas shielded from curing by a mask. However, these are undesirable procedures because they require extra processing steps and generate waste, such as removed cured resin and, if the resin is removed by dissolving it in a solvent, solvent. In addition, removing the resin by burning it with a laser has also proven unsuccessful because this causes, for example, damage to the conductive surface.

[0010] Alternatively, lenses can be 3D-printed directly in the desired lens shape, leaving areas free of lens material. However, 3D-printing lenticular lenses is not feasible on an industrial scale.

[0011] To date, no satisfactory solution has been proposed for making planar electrodes electrically accessible. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] <Summary of the Invention> It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lenticular lens on planar electrodes, where the planar electrodes are easily and / or directly electrically accessible, and more generally to provide an improved liquid crystal cell for a 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display device, and in particular to provide a lenticular device for a 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display device that has an improved ability to be electrically connected to other electrical devices or components.

[0013] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for covering a planar electrode with a lenticular lens to obtain an easily and / or directly electrically accessible planar electrode, the lenticular lens being formed by curing a curable resin.More generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for manufacturing a 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display device, and in particular to provide an improved method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell for such a device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] It has now been discovered that one or more of these objectives can be achieved by a particular method of locally rendering the lenticular lens material electrically conductive.

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for producing a lenticular lens on a conductive surface of a transparent support, - providing a layer of curable resin on the conductive surface of a transparent support; - providing a mold comprising a lenticular surface representing the lenticular lenses in negative relief; - contacting the lenticular surface of the mold with a layer of curable resin; - curing the curable resin to form a layer of transparent cured resin; - releasing the mold to obtain a lenticular lens on a transparent support, the lenticular lens having a shaped surface formed by the mold, the shaped surface including lenticular elements, and wherein a portion of the layer of curable resin includes first conductive particles which, after curing, provide the lenticular lens with conductive paths between the conductive surface of the support and the shaped surface of the lenticular lens.

[0016] The present invention further comprises: a support (2) comprising an electrically conductive surface (3) capable of functioning as a first electrode; a layer of transparent cured resin (4b) provided on the conductive surface (3) of the support (2), the transparent cured resin (4b) forming a lenticular lens having a molding surface (5) comprising lenticular elements, A portion of the layer of transparent cured resin (4b) contains first conductive particles (6), which provide the lenticular lens with conductive paths (7) between the conductive surface of the support (3) and the molding surface of the lenticular lens (5).

[0017] The present invention further relates to a liquid crystal cell (10) comprising a cavity filled with a liquid crystal medium (16), the cavity comprising at least a lenticular device (1) as described above, a transparent plate (11) provided on top of the lenticular lenses of the lenticular device (1) so as to face the molding surface (5) of the lenticular lenses, the transparent plate (11) having a conductive layer (13) capable of functioning as a second electrode; - a sealing (12) connecting the lenticular device (1) and the transparent plate (11).

[0018] The present invention further relates to an autostereoscopic display device comprising the above-mentioned lenticular device (1) and / or liquid crystal cell (10). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the steps of a conventional method for producing lenticular lenses on a transparent support. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the steps of the method of the present invention for producing lenticular lenses on a transparent support. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of a conventional lenticular device obtained by the method shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of a lenticular device (1) according to the invention, obtained by the method shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first liquid crystal cell (10) according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second liquid crystal cell (10) according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of the first liquid crystal cell (10) as shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of the second liquid crystal (10) cell as shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The drawings are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. Elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale, with emphasis instead being placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. For example, the (relative) dimensions of the lenticular elements, conductive particles, and conductive paths cannot be derived from the drawings. The shape and appearance of the liquid crystal cell in the drawings do not reflect reality. For example, the electrode spacing and its dimensions relative to the dimensions of the lenticular elements cannot be derived from the drawings.

[0021] A lenticular lens is a lens made up of semi-cylindrical microlenses (lenticules) arranged parallel to one another. In this specification, the term "arranged" is used only to describe a particular appearance or appearance, rather than a configuration of separate parts, since the lenticular elements are not arranged as separate objects. A lenticular lens according to the invention essentially consists of one single part, with the different lenticular elements all being part of the same piece of material.

[0022] In this application, objects and elements are described that have the property of being "electrically conductive." For clarity and brevity, this property is sometimes referred to by the term "conductive" alone. Similarly, the term "electrical conductivity" is sometimes reduced to "conductivity." If conductivities other than electrical conductivity are intended, this will be explicitly specified, if any.

[0023] Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and the like in this specification and claims, if any, are generally used to distinguish between similar elements or items and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order.

[0024] According to conventional methods and in accordance with the present invention, lenticular lenses are made by fixing the lenticular surface of a lens material onto the conductive surface of a transparent support. This is done by imprinting the lenticular surface of a mold onto a layer of curable resin, and then curing the curable resin to fixate the lenticular surface and adhere the lenticular lens to the support. The lenticular lens itself is then essentially made from the cured resin. After curing, the mold is released from the cured resin, yielding a lenticular lens on the transparent support. For purposes of the present invention, this composition consisting of the support and the lenticular lens is called a "lenticular device."

[0025] In the prior art, as a final step, the conductive surface is made available for electrical connection to an external electronic device (e.g., a power source). This is done, for example, by removing the cured resin to expose a surface area of ​​the underlying conductive surface. This can be done, for example, by abrasion, laser ablation, or plasma ablation. Such a prior art method is shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the area where the cured resin has been removed, although prior art methods have concerns about washing away uncured resin that was masked during curing.

[0026] However, in accordance with the present invention, conductive pathways are formed within the cured resin, thereby avoiding the traditional step of removing cured or uncured resin. This process, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in Figure 2. An enlarged view of the area where the conductive pathways have been introduced is shown in Figure 4. The method of the present invention is further described below.

[0027] The support in the method of the present invention is a transparent material, i.e., transparent to at least visible light wavelengths (e.g., 380 to 750 nm). The support comprises a transparent main support material, such as glass. It has a conductive surface, typically formed by a conductive layer present on the main support material. The conductive surface is actually a planar electrode and can function as such when connected to a voltage source. When the conductive surface of the support is referred to as an electrode hereinafter, it is referred to as the "first electrode."

[0028] The conductive layer forming such a conductive surface is typically a thin layer of electrically conductive material, for example, having a thickness in the range of 20 to 100 nm. The electrically conductive material usually comprises a transparent conductive metal oxide, where the metal comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, tin, aluminum, zinc, copper, and nickel. Indium tin oxide is preferred. It may also be tin oxide or zinc oxide doped with aluminum or gallium. The conductive surface may also be a fine grid of conductive wires, such as silver wires.

[0029] In the method of the present invention, a curable resin is applied directly onto the conductive surface of a substrate, such that the conductive surface is in contact with the curable resin (and subsequently with the cured resin), for example by spraying (e.g., airbrushing) or printing.

[0030] The mold includes a lenticular surface that represents the lenticular lenses in a negative shape, so that the curable resin adjacent the mold covers the shape of the mold but in opposite relief.

[0031] The curable resin is typically a deformable substance such as a fluid or gel. It is deformable by contact with a mold according to the method of the present invention. The curable resin is cured, for example, by heat or UV radiation, to obtain a transparent cured resin that is transparent to at least visible light wavelengths (e.g., 380 to 750 nm). Examples include epoxy resins (thermosetting resins) and acrylate resins (UV-curable resins).

[0032] In the method of the present invention, certain conductive particles (hereinafter referred to as "first conductive particles") are provided in a portion of the curable resin layer. When the curable resin is cured (or hardened), these first conductive particles form electrically conductive regions within the curable resin, hereinafter referred to as "conductive paths." This conductive path exists between the conductive surface of the support and the molding surface of the lenticular lens. It is actually equivalent to a conventional wire connected to an electrode, making the conductive surface of the support electrically accessible to, for example, a power source via the molding surface of the lenticular lens (i.e., electrical connection to the conductive path can be made by connecting it to a corresponding region of the molding surface of the lenticular lens).

[0033] The first conductive particles are typically dispersed locally in specific regions of the curable resin layer where electrical conductivity is desired, typically outside the functional optical area. This can be done, for example, by applying pure resin through a first nozzle and a mixture of resin and first conductive particles through a second nozzle, each nozzle applying its supply to the desired area of ​​the conductive surface of the support. However, it is not necessary to premix the particles with the resin. The particles may also be first applied directly to the desired area, and then the resin may be applied to the entire conductive surface, including the areas where the particles are located. Their presence is preferably compatible with the molding process (imprinting) and does not interfere with the accurate imprinting of the lenticular shape.

[0034] The electrical conductivity of the conductive pathways can result from the proximity or even mutual contact of particles when the particle dimensions (especially the maximum dimension of the particles) are smaller than the thickness of the portion of the final layer of the cured resin containing the first conductive particles. To achieve this upon curing, the particles are dispersed in a specific portion of the curable resin in an appropriate manner. The particle size may also exceed the thickness of the final layer of the cured resin. In such cases, the minimum dimension of the first conductive particles is greater than the thickness of the portion of the final layer of the cured resin containing the first conductive particles.

[0035] The first conductive particles are electrically conductive. They have the ability to function as conductive elements when placed adjacent to each other. Therefore, the first conductive particles are electrically conductive at least on their exterior. They may be made of a specific conductive material, preferably a metal or a mixture of metals. For example, they are made of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold. They may also have a metallic exterior surface surrounding a non-conductive inner material, such as a non-conductive polymer (e.g., acrylate). Preferably, the inner material is flexible so that the particles deform when pressed together. This property allows the particles to have a larger contact surface when pressed together. Such particles are known in the art. Their metallic exterior surface may be made of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold.

[0036] The lenticular device may be subjected to further processing steps, such as steps in the manufacture of a liquid crystal cell, a switchable liquid crystal cell that can control the liquid crystal orientation, or a 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display device.

[0037] For the manufacture of a liquid crystal cell, the method of the present invention typically includes: - providing a transparent plate over the lenticular lens such that the transparent plate faces the molded surface of the lenticular lens; - providing an encapsulant between the lenticular lens and the transparent plate to form a cavity defined by the lenticular lens, the transparent plate and the encapsulant; - allowing the sealing material to form a sealing that adheres to both the lenticular lens and the transparent plate; followed by filling the cavity with a liquid crystal medium to obtain a liquid crystal cell, or - applying a liquid crystal medium to the molded surface of the lenticular lens; - applying a sealing material to the periphery of the molded surface of the lenticular lens; - providing a transparent plate over the lenticular lenses such that the transparent plate faces the molded surface of the lenticular lenses and contacts the encapsulating material and the liquid crystal medium; - allowing a sealing material to form a seal that adheres to both the lenticular lens and the transparent plate to create a liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal medium being present in the cavity of the liquid crystal cell defined by the lenticular lens, the transparent plate and the sealing material.

[0038] The liquid crystal medium is thus sandwiched between the molded surface of the lenticular lens and the transparent plate. A sealing is usually present along the boundary of the lenticular lens and is usually also sandwiched between the molded surface of the lenticular lens and the transparent plate.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the transparent plate comprises a conductive layer. This conductive layer and the conductive surface of the support then form two planar switching electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal medium, allowing the liquid crystal to be switched between two orientations. To actually produce an operationally switchable liquid crystal cell, both electrodes must be connected to a (switchable) voltage source. Therefore, for the production of a switchable liquid crystal cell, the method of the present invention further comprises: - electrically contacting the conductive paths of the lenticular lens with a first pole of a voltage source; - bringing the conductive layer of the transparent plate into electrical contact with a second pole of a voltage source.

[0040] The resulting switchable liquid crystal cell can then be used to fabricate a 2D / 3D switchable autostereoscopic display device, for which purpose the switchable liquid crystal cell is typically provided on an array of display pixel elements operatively connected to a processor.

[0041] The sealing material, particularly a portion thereof, may contain second conductive particles that provide a second conductive pathway in the formed sealing, the second conductive pathway preferably being disposed within the sealing so as to electrically connect with the first conductive pathway, thereby contributing to the electrical accessibility of the conductive surface of the support.

[0042] The first and second conductive paths may electrically connect the conductive surface of the support together with the conductive layer of the transparent plate (i.e., they connect both planar electrodes). In such cases, the portion of the conductive layer of the transparent plate that contacts the second conductive path is separated from the conductive layer to prevent a shortcut between the conductive layer of the transparent plate and the conductive surface of the support. In other words, there are small "islets" within the conductive layer of the transparent plate that are not electrically connected within the remaining portion of the conductive layer. This is shown in Figures 6 and 8, which are further described below.

[0043] This architecture provides an advantageous method of connecting each electrode to one pole of a voltage source, since both connections are on the same side of the liquid crystal cell.

[0044] The second conductive particles may have the same composition and / or properties as those described above for the first conductive particles. They may be composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold. They may have a metallic outer surface surrounding a non-conductive inner material, such as a non-conductive polymer (e.g., acrylate). Such a metallic outer surface may be made of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold. Preferably, all of the metallic portions have the same electrical potential.

[0045] The method of the present invention results in a lenticular lens on a first planar electrode, the first electrode being electrically accessible through the surface of the cured resin that makes up the lenticular lens. A key advantage of this method is that no post-processing is required after the molding step to gain electrical access to the electrode. For example, it is not necessary to remove a portion of the cured resin to bare a portion of the planar electrode. This reduces waste in the form of resin and the eventual solvent that may be used to remove the resin.

[0046] In addition, it is no longer necessary to minimize the resin thickness to form localized areas on planar electrodes, thereby making obsolete the use of highly protruding elements ("dams") on the mold for imprinting. Instead, a uniform resin thickness can be applied, except for the reliefs that make up the lenticular elements. Since it is most preferable to position the conductive paths outside the functional optical area, the area surrounding the functional optical area can be made with a uniform thickness. This is an advantage, as it simplifies the lens fabrication process and introduces fewer artifacts and / or fewer localized deformations during lens fabrication.

[0047] The present invention further comprises: a support (2) comprising an electrically conductive surface (3) capable of functioning as a first electrode; a layer of transparent cured resin (4b) provided on the conductive surface (3) of the support (2), the transparent cured resin (4b) forming a lenticular lens having a molding surface (5) comprising lenticular elements, A portion of the layer of transparent cured resin (4b) contains first conductive particles (6) that provide the cured resin (4b) (and therefore the lenticular lenses) with conductive paths (7) between the conductive surface (3) of the support and the molding surface (5) of the lenticular lenses.

[0048] For the elements in such devices, the same considerations apply as detailed above for the corresponding elements in the method for making a lenticular lens, such as the size of the first conductive particles, the nature and composition of the first conductive particles, and the type of cured resin.

[0049] A cross-sectional view of a lenticular device (1) according to the present invention is provided as the final product of the method of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2. An enlarged view of a portion thereof is shown in Figure 4, where it can be seen that the first conductive particles (6) together form conductive elements (7).

[0050] The lenticular device is preferably used to manufacture a liquid crystal cell for an autostereoscopic display device. Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a liquid crystal cell (10) comprising a cavity filled with a liquid crystal medium (16), the cavity comprising at least a lenticular device (1) as described above, a transparent plate (11) placed on the lenticular lens of the lenticular device (1), the transparent plate being placed so as to face the molding surface (5) of the lenticular lens, the transparent plate (11) being provided with a conductive layer (13) capable of functioning as a second electrode; - a sealing (12) connecting the lenticular device (1) and the transparent plate (11).

[0051] The present invention further relates to an autostereoscopic display device comprising the liquid crystal cell (10) described above.

[0052] For the elements in such a liquid crystal cell or autostereoscopic display device, the same considerations apply as those detailed above for the corresponding elements in the method for making a liquid crystal cell, such as the transparent plate, the conductive layer thereon, the sealing, the size of the second conductive particles, and the nature and composition of the second conductive particles.

[0053] The transparent plate includes a conductive layer that can function as a second electrode. Such a conductive layer can be the conductive surface of the transparent plate.

[0054] In one embodiment, both the first and second electrodes are attached to a (switchable) voltage source, so that the liquid crystal medium sandwiched between them can be switched between two orientations of the liquid crystal.

[0055] This embodiment is shown in Figure 5, which shows a cross-section of a first liquid crystal cell (10) according to the present invention. Conductive paths (7) are present within the lenticular lens material (i.e., within the resin). One pole of a voltage source is electrically connected to the conductive surface (3) of the support (2) (i.e., the first electrode) at the lenticular surface via the conductive paths (7). The other pole of the voltage source is connected to the conductive layer (13) of the transparent plate (11) (i.e., the second electrode). Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the portion of the cell where the first conductive portion (7) connects the conductive layer to the voltage source.

[0056] The ceiling (12) in the liquid crystal cell (10) may include second conductive particles (14) that provide a second conductive path (15) in the ceiling (12). Preferably, this second conductive path (15) is located in the ceiling (12) in electrical communication with the first conductive path (7). In such a case, the first electrode is electrically accessible through the ceiling.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive path (7) and the second conductive path (15) electrically connect the conductive surface (3) of the support (2) together with a portion (13a) of the conductive layer (13) of the transparent plate (11), which portion (13a) is electrically isolated from the remainder of the conductive layer (13).

[0058] This embodiment is shown in Figure 6. A cross-sectional view of a second liquid crystal cell (10) according to the present invention is shown therein. An enlarged view of the portion of the cell where the first conductive portion (7) and the second conductive portion (15) connect the conductive layer (13) together to a voltage source is shown in Figure 8. Also shown therein is the electrical isolation of a portion (13a) of the conductive layer (13) from the rest of the conductive layer (13). The portion (13a) is connected to one pole of the voltage source and the remaining portion is connected to the other pole of the voltage source.

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing a lenticular lens on a conductive surface of a transparent support, comprising: - providing a layer of a curable resin on the conductive surface of the transparent support; - providing a mold comprising a lenticular surface representing said lenticular lenses in negative relief; - bringing the lenticular surface of the mold into contact with the layer of curable resin; - curing the curable resin to form a layer of transparent cured resin; - releasing the mold to obtain a lenticular lens on the transparent support, the lenticular lens having a molding surface comprising lenticular elements, A method wherein a portion of the layer of curable resin includes first conductive particles that, after curing, provide a conductive path in the lenticular lens between the conductive surface of the support and the molding surface of the lenticular lens.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive particles have a maximum dimension that is less than a thickness of the portion of the final layer of cured resin that includes the first conductive particles.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive particles have a smallest dimension that is greater than a thickness of the portion of the final layer of cured resin that includes the first conductive particles.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first conductive particles have a metallic outer surface surrounding an inner material that is not conductive.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the metallic exterior surface comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the curable resin comprises an epoxy resin or an acrylate resin.

7. The method is followed by a step of fabricating a liquid crystal cell, the method comprising: - providing a transparent plate over the lenticular lenses so that the transparent plate faces the molding surface of the lenticular lenses; - providing a sealing material between the lenticular lens and the transparent plate to form a cavity defined by the lenticular lens, the transparent plate and the sealing material; - allowing the sealing material to form a seal that adheres to both the lenticular lenses and the transparent plate; - filling said cavity with a liquid crystal medium, thereby obtaining said liquid crystal cell, Alternatively, the method may further comprise: - applying a liquid crystal medium to the molded surface of the lenticular lens; - applying a sealing material to the periphery of the molding surface of the lenticular lens, and then - providing a transparent plate over the lenticular lenses so that the transparent plate faces the molding surface of the lenticular lenses and is in contact with the sealing material and the liquid crystal medium; - allowing the sealing material to form a seal that adheres to both the lenticular lens and the transparent plate, thereby giving rise to the liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal medium being present in a cavity of the liquid crystal cell, the cavity being defined by the lenticular lens, the transparent plate and the sealing material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the transparent plate includes a conductive layer.

9. The method further comprises: - electrically connecting the conductive paths of the lenticular lenses to a first pole of a voltage source; - electrically connecting the conductive layer of the transparent plate to a second pole of the voltage source.

10. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sealing material includes second conductive particles that provide a second conductive path in the formed sealing, the second conductive path being in electrical communication with the first conductive path in the sealing.

11. a support (2) comprising an electrically conductive surface (3) capable of functioning as a first electrode; a layer of transparent cured resin (4b) provided on the conductive surface (3) of the support (2), the transparent cured resin (4b) forming a lenticular lens having a molding surface (5) comprising lenticular elements, A lenticular device (1), wherein a portion of the layer of transparent cured resin (4b) contains first conductive particles (6), which provide conductive paths (7) between the conductive surface (3) of the support and the molding surface (5) of the lenticular lens.

12. A liquid crystal cell (10) comprising a cavity filled with a liquid crystal medium (16), said cavity comprising at least - a lenticular device (1) according to claim 11, and a transparent plate (11) placed on top of the lenticular lenses of the lenticular device (1) and facing the molding surface (5) of the lenticular lenses, said transparent plate (11) comprising a conductive layer (13) capable of functioning as a second electrode; - a sealing (12) connecting said lenticular device (1) and said transparent plate (11); A liquid crystal cell (10) defined by:

13. 13. The liquid crystal cell (10) of claim 12, wherein the ceiling (12) includes second conductive particles (14) that provide a second conductive path (15) in the ceiling (12), the second conductive path (15) being positioned to electrically connect with the first conductive path (7) in the ceiling (12).

14. 14. A liquid crystal cell (10) according to claim 13, wherein the first conductive path (7) and the second conductive path (15) electrically connect the conductive surface (3) of the support (2) to a portion (13a) of the conductive layer (13) of the transparent plate (11), and the portion (13a) is electrically isolated from the remainder of the conductive layer (13).

15. An autostereoscopic display device comprising a lenticular device (1) according to claim 11 and / or a liquid crystal cell (10) according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

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