Liquid Crystal Lens Panel Bus Line Reduction for Autostereoscopic Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D image display devices require glasses for stereoscopic viewing, either shutter glasses or polarized glasses for stereoscopic-type devices, or complex lenticular lenses or parallax barriers for autostereoscopic-type devices, which can be cumbersome and limit user experience.
Innovation Solution
A 3D image display device incorporating a liquid crystal lens panel with a pair of regions, each with linear electrodes, where bus lines supply voltages to the electrodes, allowing for shared voltages and reduced bus line count, enabling 2D or 3D mode operation without the need for glasses by using diffraction and refraction to separate fields of vision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional 3D image display devices use lenticular lenses or parallax barriers, then stereoscopic effect is achieved, but device complexity increases and user experience is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical optical systems (lenticular lenses, parallax barriers) with a liquid crystal display system that uses electric field control to achieve the same stereoscopic effect. The liquid crystal panel modulates light phase and direction through voltage-controlled liquid crystal molecules, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical components while maintaining the stereoscopic viewing effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the liquid crystal material by applying different voltage levels to create distinct viewing zones. By controlling the refractive index and orientation of liquid crystal molecules through voltage application, the system dynamically adjusts light propagation paths to generate stereoscopic images without requiring fixed mechanical optical elements.
2Reliability
If shutter glasses or polarized glasses are used for stereoscopic viewing, then binocular disparity is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for additional accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for external glasses by integrating the stereoscopic viewing function directly into the display panel itself. The liquid crystal display generates different image information for left and right eyes through spatial or temporal multiplexing at the panel level, allowing viewers to perceive depth without any additional accessories.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal display panel performs multiple functions simultaneously: it displays the image content and generates the stereoscopic effect through the same optical path. The display system integrates both the visual information delivery and the depth perception mechanism into a single unified device, eliminating the need for separate glasses components.
3Measurement precision
If a liquid crystal lens panel with separate bus lines for each linear electrode is used, then precise voltage control is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple bus lines by implementing a shared bus structure where a single bus line serves multiple linear electrodes. The liquid crystal lens controller intelligently routes voltage signals to the appropriate electrodes through the shared bus, reducing the total number of bus lines required while maintaining precise voltage control through electronic switching and timing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic voltage control where the same bus line can be dynamically assigned to different electrodes at different time periods. The liquid crystal lens controller adjusts voltage application in real-time based on the required lens configuration, allowing a reduced number of physical bus lines to control a larger number of electrodes through time-multiplexed signal routing.
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 seamless transition between 2D and 3D modes, providing stereoscopic effect without the need for glasses by efficiently managing light refraction and diffraction through the liquid crystal lens panel, enhancing user experience and display quality.
Implementation Method 1
efficiently managing light refraction and diffraction through the liquid crystal lens panel
Implementation Method 2
efficiently managing light refraction and diffraction through the liquid crystal lens panel
Implementation Method 3
A liquid crystal lens panel having a liquid crystal lens and operating in a 2D mode or a 3D mode
Data Source
AI summary
An image display device includes a display panel and a liquid crystal lens. The liquid crystal lens includes first and second zones equally distant from a center of the liquid crystal lens. The first zone, positioned at a left of the center, includes first linear electrodes. The second zone, positioned at a right of the center, includes second linear electrodes. A number of the first linear electrodes is equal to a number of the second linear electrodes. Bus lines are electrically connected to the first and second linear electrodes. A number of the plurality of bus lines is less than a sum of the number of the first linear electrodes and the number of the second linear electrodes.