Asymmetric Reflective Pixel Layout for Stereoscopic Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stereoscopic image display devices using reflective and transmissive types face issues with non-reflective display areas expansion and visibility deterioration due to regular pixel layout and focal point shifts, leading to uneven luminance and image blurring, which affects the quality of stereoscopic images.

Innovation Solution

An image display device with asymmetrically arranged reflective display areas and an optical device that distributes light from pixels to different directions, utilizing a lenticular lens to enhance viewing area and suppress non-reflective areas, while maintaining high reflectance and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If regular pixel layout is used in stereoscopic image display devices, then manufacturing is simplified, but non-reflective display areas expand and visibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel layout regularityVSAvoidviewable area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by arranging reflective display areas in an asymmetric pattern rather than a regular grid. Specifically, reflective areas are positioned at different locations for different pixels (e.g., some at corners, others at edges), which prevents the formation of large non-reflective display areas while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through systematic asymmetric design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If regular pixel layout is used, then device structure is simplified, but luminance unevenness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel arrangement structureVSAvoidluminance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different reflective area positions to different pixels based on their specific locations in the display. Each pixel's reflective area is strategically positioned to compensate for local luminance deficiencies, ensuring that adjacent pixels contribute to different regions of the display, thereby achieving overall luminance uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If focal point shifts occur in conventional devices, then optical alignment becomes easier, but image blurring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical alignmentVSAvoidimage sharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning reflective display areas during the manufacturing process to account for expected focal point shifts. The asymmetric arrangement is designed in advance to compensate for optical deviations, ensuring that even with focal point shifts, the reflected light paths remain accurate and images remain sharp.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Area of stationary object

If asymmetric arrangement of reflective areas is implemented, then viewable area expands, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewable areaVSAvoidreflective area arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the display into multiple pixel units, each with its own asymmetrically positioned reflective area. This segmentation allows the complex asymmetric arrangement to be implemented in a modular fashion, where each pixel independently contributes to the overall viewable area expansion without requiring complex coordination across the entire display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution improves the quality of stereoscopic images by expanding the viewable area, reducing luminance unevenness, and maintaining high reflectance, even when viewed from different positions, thus enhancing the display performance and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

an optical device for distributing light emitted from each of the pixels to one and the other directions different from each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight distribution: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

each of the pixels having a transmissive display area for transmitting light and a reflective display area for reflecting external light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8773517B2Image display device and terminal device
Publication Date: 2014.07.08 NEC LCD TECH CORP
  • US8773517B2 patent drawing
  • US8773517B2 patent drawing
  • US8773517B2 patent drawing

AI summary

To provide an image display device of an excellent display quality with which the brightness is not deteriorated in reflective displays, and to provide a portable terminal using the same. Provided is a display device which includes: a plurality of arranged display elements each including at least a pixel for displaying a first-viewpoint image and a pixel for displaying a second-viewpoint image, each of the pixels having a transmissive display area for transmitting light and a reflective display area for reflecting external light; and an optical device for distributing light emitted from each of the pixels to different directions from each other, wherein the reflective display areas of each of the display elements are arranged asymmetrically with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to an image distributing direction.