Lenticular Lens Touch Integration for 3D Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stereographic image displays with touch screen functionality suffer from image quality degradation and increased thickness and material costs due to the attachment of a touchscreen, which complicates manufacturing and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

An image display apparatus with a lens array interposed between intersecting transparent electrode layers to separate images for the left and right eyes based on light refraction, integrated with a capacitive touchscreen that omits additional adhesives and films to reduce thickness and material costs, and enhances image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a touchscreen is attached to the autostereographic image display, then touch functionality is added, but image quality degradation occurs and thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touchscreen electrode layers with the lenticular lens structure by integrating the transparent electrode layers directly onto the lens array substrate. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate touchscreen attachment, preventing image quality degradation while maintaining touch functionality. The electrode layers are positioned at the same optical plane as the lens structures, ensuring optimal light transmission and image clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lenticular lens substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the optical elements for autostereographic 3D display and serves as the base substrate for the capacitive touchscreen electrodes. This multi-functionality reduces the overall layer count and eliminates the need for additional adhesive layers, thereby maintaining image quality while adding touch capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a touchscreen is attached to the autostereographic image display, then touch functionality is added, but the thickness of the entire display apparatus is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoiddisplay thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen electrode layers are integrated directly onto the lenticular lens substrate, eliminating the need for separate touchscreen modules and adhesive layers. This merging of functions reduces the overall display thickness while maintaining both 3D display and touch capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate layers such as optically clear adhesives and protective films that are typically required when attaching separate touchscreen modules. By removing these extraneous layers, the display thickness is reduced while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a touchscreen is attached to the autostereographic image display, then touch functionality is added, but material costs and manufacturing costs are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen electrode layers and lenticular lens structures are manufactured as an integrated single component, eliminating the need for separate procurement and assembly processes. This consolidation reduces material costs and simplifies manufacturing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent electrode layers are deposited and patterned directly onto the lenticular lens substrate during the same manufacturing process, before final assembly. This preliminary integration eliminates subsequent assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides a thinner, cost-effective stereographic image display with improved image quality by integrating a lens array and touch sensing unit, reducing material costs and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high transmittance and touchscreen functionality.

Implementation Method 1

separates an image output from the image display unit through the lens array into a left eye image and a right eye image based on a refractive index of light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight refraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2487523B1Image display apparatus and method thereof

Publication Date: 2014.06.18 PANTECH CO LTD

Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Provided are a stereographic image display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof. The stereographic image display apparatus includes an image display unit and a touch sensing unit which is positioned on the image display unit and is configured to interpose a lens array between a first transparent electrode layer and a second transparent electrode layer. The manufacturing method of the stereographic image display apparatus includes: allowing a transparent conductive material to be deposited on both surfaces of a lens array; forming first and second transparent electrode layers by etching the transparent conductive material deposited on the both surfaces of the lens array thereby generating a touch sensing unit; and adhering the touch sensing unit to an upper surface of an image display unit.