HORIZONTAL PARALLAX MULTIVIEW BACKLIGHT, DISPLAY, AND METHOD - Patent application

Abstract

A multi-view backlight, multi-view display, and method uses an array of active emitters arranged in columns to provide directional light beams having directions corresponding to the viewing directions of the multi-view display. The multi-view backlight includes a first array of active emitters arranged in columns and configured to provide a first plurality of directional light beams, and a second array of active emitters arranged in columns and configured to provide a second plurality of directional light beams. The columns of the second active emitter array are interleaved between the columns of the first active emitter array. The multi-view display further includes an array of light valves configured to modulate the directional light beams to display a multi-view image. The viewing directions of the multi-view display lie in a plane intersecting the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 111,209, filed November 9, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT N / A [Background technology]

[0003] Electronic displays are a nearly ubiquitous medium for conveying information to users of a wide variety of devices and products. The most commonly employed electronic displays include cathode ray tubes (CRTs), plasma display panels (PDPs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), electroluminescent displays (ELs), organic light emitting diode (OLED) and active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays, electrophoretic displays (EPs), as well as various displays employing electromechanical or electrofluidic light modulation (e.g., digital micromirror devices, electrowetting displays, etc.). Typically, electronic displays can be classified as either active displays (i.e., displays that emit light) or passive displays (i.e., displays that modulate light provided by another light source). The most obvious examples of active displays are CRTs, PDPs, and OLED / AMOLED. Displays typically classified as passive when considering emitted light are LCD and EP displays. Passive displays often exhibit attractive performance characteristics, including but not limited to, inherently low power consumption, but given their lack of light-emitting capability, they may find somewhat limited use in many practical applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Various features of examples and embodiments according to the principles described herein can be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like structural elements and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1A] 1 shows a perspective view of an example multi-view display according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0006] [Figure 1B] 1 illustrates a graphical representation of angular components of a light beam having particular principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of a multi-view display in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0007] [Figure 2A] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0008] [Figure 2B] 1 illustrates a plan view of an example multi-view backlight, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0009] [Figure 2C] 1 illustrates a plan view of an example multi-view backlight according to another embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0010] [Figure 3A] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein.

[0011] [Figure 3B] 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-view backlight of FIG. 3A in one example, according to an embodiment of principles described herein.

[0012] [Figure 4A] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein.

[0013] [Figure 4B] 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-view backlight of FIG. 4A in one example, according to an embodiment of principles described herein.

[0014] [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-view backlight including a wide-angle backlight in one example, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0015] [Figure 6] 1 shows a block diagram of an example multi-view display, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0016] [Figure 7] 1 shows a flowchart of an example method of multi-view backlight operation, in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein.

[0017] Particular examples and embodiments have other features in addition to, and in place of, the features shown in the above-referenced figures. These and other features are described in detail below with reference to the above-referenced figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Examples and embodiments according to the principles described herein provide multi-view backlights and multi-view displays that use an array of active emitters that can be reconfigured during operation. Specifically, embodiments consistent with the principles described herein provide multi-view backlights that employ an array of active emitters arranged in spaced apart columns configured to provide a directional light beam having a plurality of different principal angular directions in a plane intersecting the spaced apart columns. According to various embodiments, the columns of the second array of active emitters are interleaved between the columns of the first array of active emitters. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, selective activation of the first and second active emitter arrays can facilitate reconfiguration of the view directions of the multi-view backlight, as well as several views of the multi-view display. According to some embodiments, one or both of the columns of active emitters of the active emitter array may be spaced apart from one another to correspond to the spacing of the multi-view pixels of the multi-view display, and may have a width comparable to the size of the light valve of the multi-view display in a plane intersecting the columns. According to various embodiments, the different principal angular directions of the light beams provided by the active emitters of the first and second active emitter arrays correspond to the orientations of various different views of the multi-view display, i.e., the orientations of the multi-view images displayed by the multi-view display. On-the-fly reconfiguration can facilitate changing either or both of the resolution and the number of views provided in a plane intersecting the columns (e.g., the horizontal plane).

[0019] As used herein, a "two-dimensional display" or "2D display" is defined as a display configured to provide substantially the same view of an image regardless of the direction from which the image is viewed (i.e., within a given viewing angle or range of the 2D display). Conventional liquid crystal displays (LCDs) found in many smartphones and computer monitors are examples of 2D displays. In contrast, as used herein, a "multi-view display" is defined as an electronic display or display system configured to provide different views of a multi-view image at or from different viewing directions. Specifically, the different views can represent different perspective views of a scene or object in the multi-view image. Uses of the multi-view backlights and multi-view displays applicable to displaying the multi-view images described herein include, but are not limited to, mobile phones (e.g., smartphones), watches, tablet computers, mobile computers (e.g., laptop computers), personal computers and computer monitors, automobile display consoles, camera displays, and a variety of other mobile and substantially non-mobile display applications and devices.

[0020] 1A illustrates a perspective view of an example multi-view display 10, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein. As shown in FIG. 1A, the multi-view display 10 includes a screen 12 configured to display a multi-view image for viewing. The screen 12 may be, for example, a display screen of a phone (e.g., a mobile phone, a smartphone, etc.), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a computer monitor of a desktop computer, a camera display, or an electronic display of virtually any other device.

[0021] The multi-view display 10 of FIG. 1A provides different views 14 of a multi-view image in different view directions 16 relative to the screen 12. The view directions 16 are shown as arrows extending from the screen 12 in various different principal angular directions. The different views 14 are shown as shaded polygonal boxes at the ends of the arrows (i.e., indicating the view directions 16). By way of example and not limitation, only four views 14 and four view directions 16 are shown. It should be noted that while in FIG. 1A the different views 14 are shown as being above the screen, when a multi-view image is displayed on the multi-view display 10, the views 14 actually appear on or near the screen 12. The depiction of the views 14 above the screen 12 is for ease of explanation only and is meant to represent viewing the multi-view display 10 from each of the view directions 16 corresponding to a particular view 14. Furthermore, the illustrated multi-view display 10 represents a so-called horizontal parallax only (HPO) display, in that the different views 14 lie in a single plane, e.g., a horizontal plane. The 2D display may be substantially similar to multi-view display 10, except that the 2D display is typically configured to provide a single view of the displayed image (e.g., a view similar to view 14), as opposed to the different views 14 of the multi-view image provided by multi-view display 10.

[0022] A light beam having a view direction, i.e. a direction corresponding to the view direction of a multi-view display, typically has, by definition herein, a principal angular direction given by the angular components {θ, φ}. The angular component θ is referred to herein as the "elevation component" or "elevation angle" of the light beam. The angular component φ is referred to herein as the "azimuth component" or "azimuth angle" of the light beam.

[0023] FIG. 1B illustrates a graphical representation of angular components {θ, φ} of a light beam 20 having a particular principal angular direction corresponding to a view direction (e.g., view direction 16 in FIG. 1A) of a multi-view display in one example, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein. Furthermore, the light beam 20 radiates or diverges from a particular point, as defined herein. That is, by definition, the light beam 20 has a central ray that intersects with a particular origin within the multi-view display. FIG. 1B also illustrates the origin O of the light beam (or view direction).

[0024] The term "multi-view" as used in the terms "multi-view image" and "multi-view display" is defined herein as multiple views that represent different viewpoints or multiple views that include angular disparity between the views of the multiple views. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "multi-view" explicitly includes two or more different views (e.g., a minimum of three views, typically more than three views) as defined herein. In some embodiments, the "multi-view display" as used herein may be used to explicitly distinguish from a stereoscopic display that includes only two different views to represent a scene or image. However, it should be noted that although a multi-view image and a multi-view display may include three or more views, as defined herein, a multi-view image can be viewed (e.g., on a multi-view display) as a stereoscopic pair of images by selecting only two of the multiple views to view at a time (e.g., one view per eye).

[0025] A "multi-view pixel" is defined herein as a set of view pixels representing each of a plurality of similar different views of a multi-view display. Specifically, a multi-view pixel may have individual view pixels that correspond to or represent a particular view pixel of each of the different views of a multi-view image. Furthermore, the view pixels of a multi-view pixel are so-called "directional pixels" in that, as defined herein, each of the view pixels is associated with a predefined view direction of a corresponding one of the different views. Furthermore, according to various examples and embodiments, the different view pixels of a multi-view pixel may have equivalent or at least substantially similar positions or coordinates in each of the different views. For example, a first multi-view pixel may have individual view pixels corresponding to pixels located at {x1, y1} of each of the different views of a multi-view image, a second multi-view pixel may have individual view pixels corresponding to pixels located at {x2, y2} of each of the different views, and so on. View pixels are likewise equivalent, as defined herein, to light valves of an array of light valves of a multi-view display. Thus, the terms "view pixel" and "light valve" may be used interchangeably herein, unless a distinction is necessary for a proper understanding.

[0026] As used herein, an "active emitter" (e.g., a light emitter configured to generate and emit light when activated) is defined as an active light source. Thus, by definition, an active emitter does not receive light from another light source. Instead, an active emitter directly generates light when activated. An active emitter, as defined herein, may be activated by applying a power source, e.g., a voltage or a current. For example, an active emitter may include a light emitter, e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), that emits light when activated or turned on. An LED may be activated, for example, by applying a voltage to the terminals of the LED. Specifically, as used herein, an active emitter may be substantially any active light source or may include substantially any active light emitter, including, but not limited to, one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a polymer light emitting diode, a plasma-based light emitter, a mini-LED (mLED), and a micro-LED (μLED). The light generated by an active emitter may have a color (i.e., may include light of a particular wavelength) or may be in multiple ranges of wavelengths (e.g., polychromatic light or white light). The different colors of light provided or generated by an active emitter may include, for example, but are not limited to, primary colors (e.g., red, green, blue). As defined herein, a "color emitter" is an active emitter that provides light having a color. In some embodiments, an active emitter may include multiple active emitters. For example, an active emitter may include a set or group of active emitters. In some embodiments, at least one of the active emitters in the set or group of active emitters may generate light having a color, i.e., a wavelength, that is different from the color or wavelength of light generated by at least one other light emitter of the multiple light emitters.

[0027] Further, as defined herein, the term "wide angle" in "wide angle emitted light" is defined as light having a cone angle greater than the cone angle of a view of a multi-view image or multi-view display. Specifically, in some embodiments, the wide angle emitted light can have a cone angle greater than about sixty degrees (60°). In other embodiments, the wide angle emitted light cone angle can be greater than about fifty degrees (50°), or greater than about forty degrees (40°). For example, the cone angle of the wide angle emitted light can be about one hundred twenty degrees (120°). Alternatively, the wide angle emitted light can have an angular range greater than plus or minus 45 degrees (e.g., >±45°) relative to the normal direction of the display. In other embodiments, the angular range of the wide angle emitted light can be greater than plus or minus 50 degrees (e.g., >±50°), greater than plus or minus 60 degrees (e.g., >±60°), or greater than plus or minus 65 degrees (e.g., >±65°). For example, the angular range of the wide-angle emitted light may be greater than about 70 degrees (e.g., >±70°) on either side of the normal to the display. A "wide-angle backlight," as defined herein, is a backlight configured to provide wide-angle emitted light.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cone angle of the wide-angle emitting light can be defined to be approximately the same as the viewing angle of an LCD computer monitor, LCD tablet, LCD television, or similar digital display device intended for wide-angle viewing (e.g., about ±40-65°). In other embodiments, the wide-angle emitting light can also be characterized or described as diffuse light, substantially diffuse light, omnidirectional light (i.e., light lacking a particular or defined directionality), or as light having a single or substantially uniform direction.

[0029] Furthermore, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to have its ordinary meaning in the patent art, i.e., "one or more." For example, "active emitter" means one or more active emitters, and thus, as used herein, "active emitter" means "active emitter(s)." Also, any reference herein to "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "up," "down," "front," "back," "first," "second," "left," or "right" is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term "about" when applied to a value typically means within the tolerance range of the equipment used to generate the value, or may mean plus or minus 10%, plus or minus 5%, or plus or minus 1%, unless otherwise specified. Additionally, the term "substantially" as used herein means a majority, or nearly all, or all, or an amount in the range of about 51% to about 100%. Additionally, the examples herein are intended to be illustrative only and are presented for purposes of explanation and not limitation.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, a multi-view backlight is provided. FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight 100 according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. FIG. 2A also illustrates a multi-view display using the multi-view backlight 100, by way of example and not limitation. FIG. 2B illustrates a plan view of an example multi-view backlight 100 according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. FIG. 2C illustrates a plan view of an example multi-view backlight 100 according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. The multi-view backlight 100 is configured to emit or provide a directional light beam 102. According to various embodiments, the directional light beam 102 provided by the multi-view backlight 100 has a direction that corresponds to the viewing direction of the multi-view display, i.e., the viewing direction of a multi-view image displayed by the multi-view display.

[0031] The multi-view backlight 100 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C includes a first array of active emitters 110. The active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array are arranged in spaced-apart columns, i.e., columns spaced apart from one another. According to various embodiments, each column of the first array of active emitters 110 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C is configured to emit or provide light as a first plurality of directional light beams 102′ in a plane intersecting the columns (e.g., this plane may be substantially perpendicular to the columns). Furthermore, the first plurality of directional light beams 102′ provided by the columns of active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array may have a direction that corresponds to a viewing direction of the multi-view display, i.e., a viewing direction of a multi-view image displayed by the multi-view display. Furthermore, the viewing direction may be in or substantially limited to a plane intersecting the columns. Thus, according to various embodiments, the directional light beam 102 provided by the multi-view backlight 100 can include directional light beams 102' of a plurality of first directional light beams provided by a column of the first active emitter array. The differently oriented solid arrows in FIG. 2A represent directional light beams 102' of a plurality of first directional light beams by way of example and not limitation.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the multi-view backlight 100 further includes a second array of active emitters 120. According to various embodiments, the active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array are also arranged in spaced apart columns. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the columns of the second active emitter array are interleaved between the columns of the first active emitter array. That is, according to various embodiments, the columns of the active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array are interleaved with or interleaved between the columns of the active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array. In some embodiments, the columns of the active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array are interleaved with or approximately midway between adjacent columns of the active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array.

[0033] According to various embodiments, each column of the second array of active emitters 120 is configured to emit or provide light as a second plurality of directional light beams 102'' in a plane intersecting the column (e.g., the plane may be substantially perpendicular to the column). Similar to the first plurality of directional light beams 102', the directional light beams 102'' of the second plurality of directional light beams 102'' may have a direction corresponding to a view direction of the multi-view display, i.e., a view direction of a multi-view image displayed by the multi-view display. Specifically, according to some embodiments, the direction of the directional light beams 102'' of the plurality of second directional light beams may be equivalent or the same as the direction of the directional light beams 102' of the plurality of first directional light beams. Thus, the directional light beams 102 provided by the multi-view backlight 100 may further include the directional light beams 102'' of the plurality of second directional light beams provided by the columns of active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array. In FIG. 2A , solid arrows of different orientations represent, by way of example and not limitation, directional light beam 102″ of the plurality of second directional light beams. Dashed arrows also distinguish directional light beam 102″ from directional light beam 102′ of the plurality of first directional light beams, as shown.

[0034] In some embodiments, the distance between adjacent columns of one or both of the first array of active emitters 110 and the second array of active emitters 120 corresponds to (i.e., is comparable or proportional to) the distance between multi-view pixels of a multi-view display using the multi-view backlight 100. Specifically, the distance (e.g., center-to-center distance) between adjacent columns of the first active emitter array may be approximately equal to the center-to-center distance between adjacent multi-view pixels. Similarly, the center-to-center distance between adjacent columns of the second active emitter array may be approximately equal to the center-to-center distance between adjacent multi-view pixels. As a result, according to some embodiments, there may be a one-to-one correspondence, i.e., a unique correspondence, between the multi-view pixels and the individual columns of the active emitters 110, 120. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A, the view direction of the multi-view display is in a plane that intersects with the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays.

[0035] According to various embodiments, the width of the columns of active emitters 110, 120 in the first and second active emitter arrays is comparable to the size of the light valves in the light valve array of the multi-view display using the multi-view backlight 100. Specifically, the width of the columns of active emitters in each of the first and second active emitter arrays can be between about one-quarter (0.25) and about two times (2.0) the size of the light valve. For example, the column width may be approximately equal to the light valve size. In another example, the width may be between about one-half (0.5) or fifty percent (50%) and about two (2.0) times or two hundred percent (200%) of the size of the light valve. In other examples, the column width is greater than about sixty percent (60%) of the size of the light valve, or greater than about seventy percent (70%) of the size of the light valve, or greater than about eighty percent (80%) of the size of the light valve, or greater than about ninety percent (90%) of the size of the light valve. Further, in some examples, the column width is less than about one hundred eighty percent (180%) of the light valve size, or less than about one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the light valve size, or less than about one hundred forty percent (140%) of the light valve size, or less than about one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the light valve size.

[0036] In some embodiments, the width of the column of active emitters 110, 120 may be defined as the size of the portion of the active emitters 110, 120 in the column that actively emits light when the active emitters 110, 120 are activated (e.g., the active portion of the active emitters). The size of the light valve may be defined, for example, as the aperture size of the light valve, i.e., by the center-to-center distance between the light valves of the light valve array. According to some embodiments, the comparable width of the column of active emitters 110, 120 and the light valve may be selected to reduce, or in some examples minimize, dark bands between views of the multi-view display (e.g., minimize moiré), or in some examples minimize it, while simultaneously reducing, or in some examples minimize, overlap between views of the multi-view display.

[0037] FIG. 2A further illustrates an array of light valves 104 for purposes of facilitating the description herein, by way of example and not limitation. The illustrated light valve array may be part of a multi-view display that uses, for example, the multi-view backlight 100. The light valves 104 of the light valve array illustrated in FIG. 2A are configured to modulate directional light beams 102 (e.g., directional light beams 102′, 102″) to provide a multi-view image that is displayed by the multi-view display. Additionally, as illustrated, different ones of the directional light beams 102 having different principal angular directions may pass through and be modulated by different ones of the light valves 104 in the light valve array.

[0038] As defined herein, a light valve 104 of a light valve array may correspond to a view pixel of a multi-view display, while a set of light valves 104 or a set of view pixels may correspond to a multi-view pixel 106. Specifically, different sets of light valves 104 of a light valve array may be configured to receive and modulate directional light beams 102, 102', 102'' from different ones of the columns of active emitters 110, 120. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A for the columns of active emitters 110, 120, there may be a unique set of light valves 104 (or multi-view pixels 106) for each column of active emitters. In various embodiments, different types of light valves may be used as the light valves 104 of a light valve array, including, but not limited to, one or more of a liquid crystal light valve, an electrophoretic light valve, and an electrowetting-based light valve.

[0039] Further, as shown, FIG. 2A illustrates a size S of the light valve 104 that corresponds to the aperture size of the light valve 104 in the light valve array. In other examples, the light valve size can be defined as the distance (e.g., center-to-center distance) between adjacent light valves 104 in the light valve array. For example, the aperture of the light valve 104 may be smaller than the center-to-center distance between the light valves 104 in the light valve array. Thus, as discussed above, the light valve size can be defined as either the size of the light valve 104 or a size that corresponds to the center-to-center distance between the light valves 104, among other definitions. Also, in FIG. 2A, the size s of the column of active emitters 110, 120 is illustrated as being comparable to the light valve size S.

[0040] 2A, the inter-column distance (e.g., center-to-center distance) between a pair of adjacent columns of active emitters 110, 120 is approximately equal to the inter-pixel distance (e.g., center-to-center distance) between a corresponding pair of adjacent multi-view pixels 106 represented by, for example, the light valve sets. For example, a center-to-center distance d between a column of active emitters 110a of a first active emitter array and another column of active emitters 110b of the first active emitter array is substantially equal to a center-to-center distance D between the first light valve set 104a and the second light valve set 104b, each light valve set 104a, 104b representing a multi-view pixel 106. In other embodiments (not shown), the relative center-to-center distance between a pair of columns of active emitters 110a, 110b (or columns of active emitters 120) and the corresponding light valve sets 104a, 104b may be different, for example, the columns of active emitters 110, 120 may have inter-element spacing (i.e., center-to-center distance d) that is greater or less than the spacing between the light valve sets that represent the multi-view pixels 106 (i.e., center-to-center distance D).

[0041] In some embodiments, the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays may be tilted. For example, the columns may have a tilt with respect to the edge of the substrate supporting the first and second active emitter arrays. Similarly, the columns may be tilted with respect to the columns of the light valves of the light valve array. Figures 2B and 2C show the columns of the first and second arrays of active emitters 110, 120 as tilted columns. Furthermore, the multiview image provided by a multiview display using the multiview backlight 100 may be a so-called "horizontal parallax only" (HPO) multiview image having multiple views in only one direction, i.e., substantially perpendicular to the columns or across the columns.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 of one or both of the first and second active emitter arrays can include either mini light emitting diodes (miniLEDs or mLEDs) or micro light emitting diodes (microLEDs or μLEDs). Here, a mini LED is a light emitting diode having a dimension less than about 0.5 millimeters (mm). For example, a mini LED can have a dimension ranging from about 75 micrometers (μm) to about 300 μm. Herein, a μLED is defined as a micro light emitting diode (LED), i.e., an LED having a microscopic dimension less than 100 μm, more typically less than about 75 μm. For example, a micro LED can have a size of about 10 to 50 μm. In some embodiments, a mini LED or μLED can include multiple mini LEDs or μLEDs having a size comparable to a light valve size that, when combined, function together as a unit as the active emitter 110, 120.

[0043] In some embodiments, a mini LED or μLED may include multiple different regions (i.e., multiple mini LEDs or μLEDs), each of which may be configured to provide a different color of light. For example, a mini LED or μLED may include three regions, with a first region configured to provide red light, a second region configured to provide green light, and a third region configured to provide blue light. Thus, a mini LED or μLED may be configured to selectably provide red light, green light, or blue light, or any combination thereof (e.g., white light).

[0044] According to some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 of one or both of the first and second active emitter arrays can include organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). As defined herein, an OLED is an emitter having a light emitting electroluminescent film or layer that includes organic compounds configured to emit light in response to an electrical stimulus, such as an electric current. Similar to mini-LEDs and μLEDs, an OLED can include multiple OLEDs that, when combined, function together as a unit as the active emitter 110, 120. In some embodiments, an OLED can include multiple different regions, each of which can be configured to provide a different color of light. For example, an OLED can include three regions, a first region configured to provide red light, a second region configured to provide green light, and a third region configured to provide blue light. Thus, an OLED functioning as an active emitter 110, 120 can be configured to selectably provide red light, green light, or blue light, or any combination thereof (e.g., white light). In yet other embodiments, other types of active light emitters can be used as active emitters 110, 120, for example, but not limited to, high brightness LEDs and quantum dot LEDs having sizes comparable to light valve sizes.

[0045] According to some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 in the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays may be arranged vertically or substantially vertically, as shown in Figure 2B. In other embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 may be rotated to align in a column, as shown in Figure 2C.

[0046] In some embodiments, a directional diffuser can be used to diffuse the light emitted by the active emitters 110, 120 in one or both of a direction along the row and a direction perpendicular to a plane containing the view direction. For example, the diffuser can diffuse the light along the row to such an extent that the row of active emitters 110, 120 appears to be a substantially continuous row of active emitters 110, 120. Diffusing the light along the row can facilitate a reduction in the number of active emitters 110, 120 along the length of the row required.

[0047] In some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 may be configured to provide substantially monochromatic light having a particular color (i.e., the light may include light of a particular wavelength). In other embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 may be configured to provide polychromatic light, such as but not limited to white light, including multiple wavelengths or wavelength ranges. For example, the active emitters 110, 120 may be configured to provide one or more of red light, green light, blue light, or combinations thereof. In another example, the active emitters 110, 120 may be configured to provide light that is substantially white light (i.e., the active emitters 110, 120 may be white μLEDs or white OLEDs). In some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 may include microlenses, diffraction gratings, or another optical film or component configured to provide one or both of collimation and polarization control (e.g., according to a collimation coefficient) of the emitted light, i.e., the directional light beams 102, 102′, 102″. Microlenses, diffraction gratings, or other optical films or components may also, or alternatively, be configured to control the direction of the directional light beams 102, 102', 102". Alternatively, one or both of the collimation and polarization control may be provided by an optical layer or film, for example, between the active emitter array and the light valve array.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the active emitters 110, 120 in the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays may be independently controlled, activated, or powered to provide local dimming and to enable switching between generating directional light beams by the first and second active emitter arrays. Specifically, in some embodiments, the column of active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array may be configured to provide a first plurality of directional light beams 102' by selective activation, for example, during a first time interval or a particular mode. Similarly, the column of active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array may be configured to provide a second plurality of directional light beams 102'' by selective activation, for example, during a second time interval or a particular mode. In various embodiments, the first time interval and the second time interval may be alternating successive time intervals, as further described below. The activation may be provided, for example, by a controller that provides power to the active emitters 110, 120.

[0049] Figure 3A shows a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight 100 in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein. Figure 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-view backlight 100 of Figure 3A in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein. The multi-view backlight 100 shown in Figures 3A-3B includes a first array of columns of active emitters 110 and a second array of columns of active emitters 120. An array of light valves 104 is also shown in Figures 3A-3B.

[0050] As shown, the multi-view backlight 100 is configured to provide selective activation of columns of a first and second active emitter array during different time intervals. Specifically, FIG. 3A illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 during a first time interval T1, and FIG. 3B illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 during a second time interval T2. During the first time interval T1 (FIG. 3A), the columns of the first array of active emitters 110 are selectively activated to provide a first plurality of directional light beams 102′, while the columns of the second array of active emitters 120 are selectively activated to provide a second plurality of directional light beams 102″ during the second time interval T2. The first time interval T1 and the second time interval T2 may, for example, alternate chronologically. Thus, according to some embodiments, the array of light valves 104 may be time multiplexed such that the directional light beams 102' provided by a first array of active emitters 110 are modulated during a first time interval T1, and the directional light beams 102'' provided by a second array of active emitters 120 are modulated during a second time interval T2. Time multiplexing of the light valve array may be provided, for example, by a display driver in cooperation with an active emitter controller.

[0051] Time multiplexing of an array of light valves 104 can provide an effective doubling of the resolution of a multi-view image displayed by a multi-view display including a multi-view backlight 100 and an array of light valves 104, as shown in Figures 3A-3B, for example, when compared to the same multi-view display in which time multiplexing is not used. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, the multi-view image resolution can be selectively increased or decreased by either using or not using time multiplexing. It should be noted that, as shown in Figures 3A-3B, the displayed multi-view image can include, by way of example and not limitation, four different views.

[0052] In other embodiments, the first array of active emitters 110 may be configured to provide the first plurality of directional light beams 102′ during the first mode of the multi-view backlight 100. Specifically, the columns of the first array of active emitters 110 may be activated during the first mode. The columns of the second array of active emitters 120 may be deactivated during the first mode, for example. Further, during the second mode of the multi-view backlight 100, the columns of the first array of active emitters 110 may also be configured to provide the first plurality of directional light beams 102′ during the second mode, and the columns of the second array of active emitters 120 may also be configured to provide the second plurality of directional light beams 102″. Specifically, columns of both the first and second active emitter arrays may be activated during the second mode.

[0053] FIG. 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example multi-view backlight 100 in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein. FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the multi-view backlight 100 of FIG. 4A in accordance with an embodiment of principles described herein. The multi-view backlight 100 shown in FIGS. 4A-B includes a first array of active emitters 110 and a second array of active emitters 120, each of which is arranged in a column. An array of light valves 104 is also shown in FIGS. 4A-B. Additionally, FIG. 4A illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 in or being in a first mode (mode 1), while FIG. 4B illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 in or being in a second mode (mode 2).

[0054] Specifically, FIG. 4A illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 during a first mode (Mode 1) in which a column of active emitters 110 of a first active emitter array is activated and a column of active emitters 120 of a second active emitter array is deactivated. As illustrated, the active emitters 110, when activated during the first mode (Mode 1), provide directional light beams 102' of a plurality of first directional light beams. These directional light beams 102' can be modulated by an array of light valves 104 to provide a multi-view image having a first amount or number of different views characterized by multi-view pixels 106. Specifically, the multi-view pixels 106 associated with the active emitters 110 during the first mode include view pixels (i.e., light valves) corresponding to eight (8) different views, as shown in FIG. 4A by way of example and not limitation.

[0055] FIG. 4B illustrates the multi-view backlight 100 in a second mode (Mode 2) in which both the row of active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array and the row of active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array are activated simultaneously. As shown, the rows of active emitters 110, 120, when activated, provide both a plurality of first directional light beams 102′, 102″ and a plurality of second directional light beams. In each of the first and second modes, the light valves 104 of the light valve array may be used to modulate the directional light beams 102 (e.g., only the directional light beams 102′ in the first mode and the directional light beams 102′, 102″ during the second mode) to provide a multi-view image. Additionally, the resolution of the multi-view image may be increased (e.g., doubled) in the second mode (Mode 2) as compared to the resolution of the first mode (Mode 1). Of course, as shown in Figures 4A-4B, the amount or number of views of the multi-view image provided in the second mode (mode 2) is less than (e.g., half) the number of views of the multi-view image provided in the first mode (mode 1). Specifically, as shown in Figure 4B by way of example and not limitation, a multi-view pixel 106 is associated with each of the active emitters 110, 120, and each of the multi-view pixels 106 includes a view pixel (i.e., light valve) corresponding to four (4) different views of the second mode (mode 2). Thus, switching between the first mode (mode 1) and the second mode (mode 2) can facilitate switching between a greater number of views (lower resolution) and a higher resolution (fewer views) of the multi-view image.

[0056] Referring again to FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, the multi-view backlight 100 may further comprise a planar substrate 130. Specifically, the array of active emitters 110, 120 may be spaced across a surface of the planar substrate 130. The planar substrate 130 may further comprise electrical interconnects for providing power to the active emitters 110, 120. In some embodiments, the planar substrate 130 is configured to be optically transparent or at least substantially optically transparent (i.e., may be a planar transparent substrate). For example, the planar substrate 130 may comprise an optically transparent material that can transmit light from a first side to a second side of the planar substrate 130. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the electrical interconnects may be optically transparent. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the combination of the first and second arrays of active emitters 110, 120 and the planar substrate 130 (e.g., plus the electrical interconnects) may be configured to be optically transparent.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the multi-view backlight 100 may further comprise a wide-angle backlight adjacent the planar substrate 130. The wide-angle backlight may be configured to provide wide-angle emitted light. Additionally, according to various embodiments, the combination of the first and second arrays of active emitters 110, 120 and the planar substrate 130 may be configured to be transparent to the wide-angle emitted light.

[0058] Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-view backlight 100 including, in one example, a wide-angle backlight 140, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein. Specifically, Figure 5 illustrates the wide-angle backlight 140 adjacent a surface of a planar substrate 130 having an array of active emitters 110, 120 disposed on the opposing surface. Figure 5 further illustrates an array of light valves 104 adjacent the opposite surface of the planar substrate 130.

[0059] As shown on the left side of FIG. 5, a multi-view backlight 100 may be used to provide a multi-view image (MULTIVIEW) by activating an array of active emitters 110, 120 to provide a directional light beam 102, such as one or both of the directional light beams 102', 102'' variously described and illustrated above. Alternatively, as shown on the right side of FIG. 5, a two-dimensional (2D) image may be provided by deactivating the array of active emitters 110, 120 and activating a wide-angle backlight 140 to provide wide-angle emitted light 142 to an array of light valves 104. Thus, according to various embodiments, a multi-view backlight 100 including a wide-angle backlight 140 and a transparently configured planar substrate 130 may be used to provide an electronic display that can be switched between displaying a multi-view image and a 2D image. Herein, the rows of active emitters 110, 120 are shown as activated using cross-hatching, while active emitters 110, 120 without cross-hatching represent a deactivated state or status.

[0060] In another embodiment (not shown), an additional column of active emitters may be provided between the columns of active emitters of the first and second active emitter arrays. In some embodiments, the additional column may be selectively used as a third, fourth, etc. column of active emitters to extend any of the multiplexing or mode switching concepts described above. In another embodiment, for example, instead of using a separate wide-angle backlight to display a 2D image, the additional column may be used or activated along with the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays to effectively provide a wide-angle emitted light.

[0061] According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, a multi-view display is provided. According to various embodiments, the multi-view display is configured to display a multi-view image. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, an image resolution of the multi-view image is configured to be dynamically selectable according to an operational mode. In some embodiments, the image resolution and the number of different views of the multi-view image are dynamically selectable.

[0062] 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example multi-view display 200, according to an embodiment consistent with principles described herein. As illustrated, the multi-view display 200 includes a first plurality of active emitter columns 210. The first plurality of active emitter columns 210 are configured to provide directional light beams 202 having a direction corresponding to a view direction of a multi-view image provided by the multi-view display 200 (i.e., a view direction of the multi-view display 200). Specifically, each active emitter column 210 of the first plurality of active emitter columns 210 is configured to provide a directional light beam 202 that corresponds to or has a direction corresponding to a view direction of the multi-view display 200, i.e., a view direction of a multi-view image displayed by the multi-view display 200.

[0063] The multi-view display 200 shown in FIG. 6 further comprises a second plurality of active emitter columns 220, which are interleaved with (or disposed between) the active emitter columns of the first plurality of active emitter columns 210 on the surface of the substrate. Similar to the first plurality of active emitter columns 210, the second plurality of active emitter columns 220 are configured to provide directional light beams 202 having a direction corresponding to a view direction of a multi-view image. Specifically, each active emitter column 220 of the second plurality of active emitter columns 220 is configured to provide a directional light beam 202 that corresponds to or has a direction of a view direction of the multi-view display 200, i.e., a view direction of a view of the multi-view image. Furthermore, the direction of the directional light beams 202 provided by the second plurality of active emitter columns 220 may be substantially similar to the direction of the directional light beams 202 provided by the first plurality of active emitter columns 210.

[0064] 6, the multi-view display 200 further comprises an array of light valves 230 configured to modulate the directional light beams 202 provided by one or both of the first plurality of columns of active emitters 210 and the second plurality of columns of active emitters 220. In some embodiments, the array of light valves 230 may be substantially similar to the array of light valves 104 described above with respect to the multi-view backlight 100. Specifically, according to various embodiments, the array of light valves 230 may be configured to modulate the directional light beams 202 to provide a multi-view image.

[0065] In some embodiments, the columns of active emitters in the first plurality of columns of active emitters 210 may be substantially similar to the columns of active emitters 110 of the first active emitter array described above with respect to the multi-view backlight 100. In some embodiments, the columns of active emitters in the second plurality of columns of active emitters 220 may also be substantially similar to the columns of active emitters 120 of the second active emitter array of the multi-view backlight 100 described above. Specifically, in some embodiments, the width of the columns of active emitters in the first and second plurality of columns of active emitters 210, 220 is comparable to the size of the light valves 230 of the light valve array. For example, the width may be about one-quarter (0.25) to about two times (2.0) the size of the light valves.

[0066] Additionally, the active emitters of the first and second multiple arrays of active emitters 210, 220 may be substantially similar to the active emitters 110, 120 of the multi-view backlight 100 described above. For example, the active emitters may comprise one or both of micro light emitting diodes (μLEDs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), according to various embodiments. Similarly, the substrate on which the first and second multiple arrays of active emitters 210, 220 are located or disposed may be optically transparent, in some embodiments, as described above with respect to the planar substrate 130 of the multi-view backlight 100.

[0067] According to some embodiments, an image resolution of a multi-view image displayed by the multi-view display 200 may have a first value in a first mode of operation and a second value in a second mode of operation. In particular, the first mode of operation may include active emitters of the first plurality of rows of active emitters 210 being activated to provide directional light beams 202 and active emitters of the second plurality of rows of active emitters 220 being deactivated. The first mode of operation may be configured, for example, to provide a multi-view image having a first image resolution.

[0068] In some embodiments, the second mode of operation may include active emitters of both the first plurality of columns of active emitters 210 and the second plurality of columns of active emitters 220 being activated to simultaneously provide the directional light beam 202. According to some embodiments, the second mode of operation may be configured to provide a multi-view image having a second image resolution, the second image resolution being greater or higher than the first image resolution. For example, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, the first mode of operation may be substantially similar to a first mode (mode 1) of the multi-view backlight 100, and the second mode of operation may be substantially similar to a second mode (mode 2) of the multi-view backlight 100. According to various embodiments (e.g., as described above), a selection between the first and second modes of operation may provide a dynamic selection of image resolution, although with a concomitant change in the number of views of the multi-view image.

[0069] In other embodiments, the second mode of operation may include activating active emitters of the first plurality of columns of active emitters 210 to provide the directional light beam 202 during a first time interval and activating active emitters of the second plurality of columns of active emitters 220 to provide the directional light beam 202 during a second time interval. In some embodiments, the first and second time intervals may alternate during consecutive time intervals. For example, the second mode of operation may be substantially similar to the time multiplexing described above with respect to the multi-view backlight 100 with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. As noted above, according to various embodiments, selection between the first and second modes of operation may provide dynamic selection of image resolution (e.g., with or without time multiplexing).

[0070] In some embodiments (not shown), the multi-view display 200 may further comprise a wide-angle backlight configured to provide wide-angle emitted light. According to various embodiments, the wide-angle backlight may be located adjacent to another surface of the substrate opposite the surface on which the first and second plurality of active emitter arrays 210, 220 are disposed. In some embodiments, the wide-angle backlight may be substantially similar to the wide-angle backlight 140 of the multi-view backlight 100 shown and described with respect to FIG. 5. In particular, according to various embodiments, the combination of the first and second plurality of active emitter arrays 210, 220 and the substrate may be substantially transparent to the wide-angle emitted light.

[0071] According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, a method of multi-view backlight operation is provided. FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 of multi-view backlight operation in one example according to embodiments of the principles described herein. The method 300 of multi-view backlight operation illustrated in FIG. 7 includes emitting 310 a first plurality of directional light beams using a first array of active emitters arranged in a column. Specifically, according to various embodiments, the directional light beams of the first plurality of directional light beams have directions corresponding to the view directions of the multi-view image. In some embodiments, the first array of active emitters may be substantially similar to the first array of active emitters 110 described above with respect to the multi-view backlight 100.

[0072] The method 300 shown in FIG. 7 further includes emitting 320 a second plurality of directional light beams using a second array of active emitters arranged in columns that are interleaved with or interleaved with the columns of active emitters of the first active emitter array. Specifically, the directional light beams of the second plurality of directional light beams are emitted to have directions that correspond to the view directions of the multi-view image. In some embodiments, the second array of active emitters may be substantially similar to the second array of active emitters 120 of the multi-view backlight 100 described above. For example, the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays may be angled as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C described above.

[0073] According to various embodiments, the view direction of the multi-view image, i.e., the direction of the directional light beams emitted by the first and second arrays of active emitters, is in a plane that intersects the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays. Furthermore, the columns of active emitters of one or both of the first and second active emitter arrays may have a width comparable to the size of a view pixel, i.e., a light valve of the multi-view display used to display the multi-view image. For example, a view pixel may correspond to a light valve of the light valve array used to modulate the directional light beam, and the columns of active emitters may have a width across the column that corresponds to one or both of the size or distance between the light valves of the light valve array. As discussed above, the comparable width of the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays may be about one-quarter (0.25) to about two times (2.0) the size of the view pixel or light valve. For example, the column width may be about half (0.5) to about two times (2.0) the size of the light valve.

[0074] 7, the method 300 of multiview backlight operation further includes modulating 330 one or both of the first plurality of directional light beams and the second plurality of light beams using an array of light valves to display a multiview image. In some embodiments, the array of light valves may be substantially similar to the array of light valves 104, 230 described above with respect to either the multiview backlight 100 or the multiview display 200. In some embodiments, a set of light valves in the array of light valves may correspond to a multiview pixel of the multiview display, and each light valve may correspond to an individual view pixel.

[0075] In some embodiments, emitting 310 the first plurality of light beams may be performed during a first time interval and emitting 320 the second plurality of light beams may be performed during a second time interval, the first and second time intervals alternating in time. These embodiments may be used in conjunction with time multiplexing (e.g., of an array of light valves), as described above in connection with the multi-view backlight 100 with reference to Figures 3A-3B.

[0076] In other embodiments, emitting the first plurality of directional light beams 310 may be performed during a first mode of operation. Additionally, both emitting the first plurality of directional light beams 310 and emitting the second plurality of light beams 320 may be performed during a second mode of operation. These embodiments may be used to provide a selection between a first image resolution and a second image resolution of the multi-view image, as described above in connection with the multi-view backlight 100 with reference to Figures 4A-4B.

[0077] Thus, examples and embodiments of a multi-view backlight using multiple arrays of active emitters arranged in columns, a multi-view display, and a method of operating a multi-view backlight have been described. It should be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative of some of the many specific examples which represent the principles described herein. Clearly, those skilled in the art can readily devise numerous other configurations without departing from the scope defined by the claims which follow. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10 Multi-view display 12 Screens 14 Views 16 View Directions 20 Light Beam 100 Multi-view backlight 102 directional light beam 102' directional light beam 102'' directional light beam 104 Light bulb 104a First Light Bulb Set 104b Second Light Valve Set 106 Multiview Pixels 110 Active Emitter 110a active emitter 110b active emitter 120 Active Emitter 130 Planar board 140 Wide-angle backlight 142 Wide-angle synchrotron radiation 200 Multi-view Display 202 directional light beam 210 Active Emitter Array 220 Active Emitter Array 230 Light bulb D Center distance O Origin S size, light bulb size T1 First time interval T2 Second time interval d Center distance S size θ angle component φ angle component

Claims

1. a first array of active emitters arranged in spaced apart columns, each column of the first array of active emitters configured to provide a first plurality of directional light beams having directions corresponding to viewing directions of a multi-view display; a second array of active emitters arranged in spaced apart columns interleaved between the columns of the first array of active emitters, each column of the second array of active emitters configured to provide a second plurality of directional light beams having a direction corresponding to the viewing direction of the multi-view display, the viewing direction of the multi-view display lies in a plane that intersects the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays; the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays are tilted, and the width of the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays is greater than or equal to ¼ and less than 2 times the size of a light valve of the multi-view display; Multi-view backlight.

2. 2. The multi-view backlight of claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent columns of one or both of the first and second active emitter arrays corresponds to a distance between multi-view pixels of the multi-view display.

3. 2. The multi-view backlight of claim 1, wherein a column of the second active emitter array is disposed approximately midway between adjacent columns of the first active emitter array.

4. 10. The multi-view backlight of claim 1, wherein active emitters of one or both of the first active emitter array and the second active emitter array comprise micro light emitting diodes (μLEDs).

5. 2. The multi-view backlight of claim 1 , wherein the columns of the first active emitter array are configured to provide the first plurality of directional light beams during a first time interval and the columns of the second active emitter array are configured to provide the second plurality of directional light beams during a second time interval, the first and second time intervals being alternating successive time intervals.

6. 2. The multi-view backlight of claim 1 , wherein the columns of the first active emitter array are configured to provide the first plurality of directional light beams during a first mode of the multi-view backlight, and wherein the columns of the first active emitter array are also configured to provide the first plurality of directional light beams and the columns of the second active emitter array are also configured to provide the second plurality of directional light beams during a second mode of the multi-view backlight.

7. 10. The multi-view backlight of claim 1, further comprising a planar substrate configured to be optically transparent, and the first and second rows of active emitter arrays spaced across a surface of the planar substrate.

8. 8. The multi-view backlight of claim 7, further comprising: a wide-angle backlight adjacent to the planar substrate, the wide-angle backlight being configured to provide wide-angle emitted light, the combination of the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays and the planar substrate being configured to be transparent to the wide-angle emitted light.

9. 2. A display comprising a multi-view backlight as described in claim 1, further comprising an array of light valves configured to modulate one or both of the first and second plurality of directional light beams to provide a multi-view image, and multi-view pixels corresponding to sets of light valves in the array of light valves, the display being the multi-view display.

10. a first plurality of rows of active emitters configured to provide a directional light beam having a direction corresponding to a view direction of the multi-view image; a second plurality of rows of active emitters interleaved with rows of active emitters of the first plurality of rows of active emitters on a surface of a substrate and configured to provide directional light beams having a direction corresponding to a view direction of the multi-view image; an array of light valves configured to modulate the directional light beams provided by one or both of the plurality of first and second rows of active emitters to display the multi-view image, a resolution of the multi-view image is configured to be dynamically selectable depending on an operation mode of the multi-view display; one or both of the widths of the active emitter columns of the first and second pluralities of active emitter columns are greater than or equal to ¼ and less than 2 times a size of a light valve of the array of light valves. Multi-view display.

11. The multiple view display of claim 10 , wherein the active emitters of the first and second pluralities of active emitter columns comprise one or both of micro light emitting diodes and organic light emitting diodes.

12. 11. A multi-view display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the resolution of the multi-view image has a first value in a first mode of operation and a second value in a second mode of operation, the first mode of operation including the first column of active emitters being activated to provide the directional light beam and the second column of active emitters being deactivated.

13. 13. A multiple view display as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second mode of operation includes both the first column of active emitters and the second column of active emitters being activated to simultaneously provide the directional light beam.

14. 13. A multiple view display as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second mode of operation includes the first plurality of rows of active emitters being activated to provide the directional light beam for a first time interval and the second plurality of rows of active emitters being activated to provide the directional light beam for a second time interval, the first and second time intervals being alternating successive time intervals.

15. 11. The multi-view display of claim 10, further comprising a wide-angle backlight configured to provide wide-angle emission light, the wide-angle backlight adjacent to another surface of the substrate opposite the surface on which the first and second rows of active emitters are alternately arranged, the combination of the first and second rows of active emitters and the substrate configured to be transparent to the wide-angle emission light.

16. emitting a first plurality of directional light beams using a first array of active emitters arranged in a column, the directional light beams of the first plurality of directional light beams having directions corresponding to view directions of a multi-view image; emitting a second plurality of directional light beams using a second array of active emitters arranged in columns interleaved with the columns of the first array of active emitters, the directional light beams of the second plurality having directions corresponding to the viewing directions of the multi-view image; the viewing direction is in a plane that intersects the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays; the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays are tilted, and a width of the columns of the first and second active emitter arrays is greater than or equal to ¼ and less than 2 times a size of a light valve of a multi-view display that uses the multi-view backlight to display the multi-view image; method.

17. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising modulating one or both of the first plurality of directional light beams and the second plurality of light beams using an array of light valves of a multiview display that displays the multiview image using the multiview backlight.

18. 17. The method of multi-view backlight operation of claim 16, wherein the step of emitting the first plurality of directional light beams is performed during a first time interval and the step of emitting the second plurality of directional light beams is performed during a second time interval, the first and second time intervals alternating in time.

19. 17. The method of multi-view backlight operation of claim 16, wherein the step of emitting the first plurality of directional light beams is performed during a first mode of operation, and both the step of emitting the first plurality of directional light beams and the step of emitting the second plurality of light beams are performed during a second mode of operation.

Images