Electrowetting Lens Unit for Glasses-Free 3D Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D image display technologies require glasses for user convenience, and existing glasses-less methods struggle to seamlessly switch between 2D and 3D images on flat panel displays, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A 3D image display apparatus utilizing an electrowetting lens unit with first and second electrowetting lenses, controlled by a controller to separate light beams into distinct viewing zones, allowing for glasses-less 3D image rendering by adjusting the curvature of lenses based on voltage and user position, enabling seamless switching between 2D and 3D modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If glasses are used for 3D image display, then 3D viewing effect is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates due to the need to wear additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the 3D viewing function from the glasses and integrates it directly into the display apparatus. By incorporating multiple display panels arranged at specific angles (e.g., 120 degrees apart) that correspond to the three color subpixels (R, G, B), the system enables each eye to receive different color information directly from the display structure itself, eliminating the need for external 3D glasses.
Solution Approach 2:
The display apparatus is designed to perform both 2D and 3D display functions using the same hardware structure. The control unit can switch between displaying images for single-eye viewing (2D mode) and displaying different color information for both eyes simultaneously (3D mode), making the system universal and eliminating the need for separate equipment for different viewing modes.
2Ease of operation
If glasses-less 3D display method is used, then user convenience is improved, but switching between 2D and 3D images becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching capability between 2D and 3D display modes through electronic control. The control unit can dynamically adjust which pixels display information for the left eye and which for the right eye, and can switch between presenting different color information (3D mode) and identical color information to both eyes (2D mode) without any mechanical adjustments or additional components.
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
Enables glasses-less 3D image display with improved user convenience by creating separate viewing zones for each eye, maintaining high brightness and eliminating beam loss, while allowing for efficient switching between 2D and 3D modes without mechanical adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
an electrowetting lens unit which includes a plurality of first electrowetting lenses arranged to correspond to the plurality of pixels in the image panel and a plurality of second electrowetting lenses arranged opposite to the first electrowetting lenses
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for displaying three dimensional (3D) images are provided. The display apparatus includes a backlight unit which emits light, an image panel which includes plurality of pixels for modulating the light from the backlight unit to form a gray scaled image, an electrowetting lens unit which includes first electrowetting lenses arranged to correspond to the plurality of pixels in the image panel and second electrowetting lenses arranged opposite to the first electrowetting lenses, wherein at least two of the first electrowetting lenses and at least one of the second electrowetting lenses may be arranged opposite each other; and a controller which controls the electrowetting lens unit to separate beams exiting from the image panel into at least two viewing zones in a 3D image display mode.