Optical Modulation Unit for Stereoscopic Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stereoscopic display devices face challenges in accurately emitting light for left-eye and right-eye images in different polarization states, leading to complex structures and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

An optical modulation unit comprising a liquid crystal cell and a phase retardation film, which simplifies the manufacturing process by using a single liquid crystal cell and a phase retardation film to achieve the required phase delays of λ/4 and -λ/4 for each eye, reducing complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If two liquid crystal cells are used to achieve accurate phase delays of λ/4 and -λ/4 for left-eye and right-eye images, then the polarization accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolarization accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of two separate liquid crystal cells into a single liquid crystal cell by introducing a phase retardation film. The liquid crystal cell works in conjunction with the phase retardation film to achieve the differential phase delays (λ/4 and -λ/4) that were previously requiring two separate cells, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining polarization accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The phase retardation film acts as an intermediary element that modifies the optical path of light passing through the liquid crystal cell. By introducing this intermediate component, the system can achieve the equivalent effect of two liquid crystal cells using only one, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If two liquid crystal cells are used to achieve accurate phase delays, then the stereoscopic display performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestereoscopic display performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of two expensive liquid crystal cells into a single cell配合 phase retardation film assembly. This reduction in component count directly lowers manufacturing costs while the phase retardation film ensures that the stereoscopic display performance (accurate phase delays of λ/4 and -λ/4) is maintained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by introducing a phase retardation film with specific retardation characteristics. This parameter change allows the single liquid crystal cell to achieve the same optical effect as two cells, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while preserving display performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables accurate phase delays for left-eye and right-eye images, enhancing the viewer's stereoscopic experience while simplifying the structure and reducing manufacturing costs compared to using two liquid crystal cells.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid crystal cell switchable between 0 and λ/2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal phase switching: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

a phase retardation film that delays a phase of light by a predetermined amount

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase retardation: Birefringence

Data Source

PatentEP2963480B1Optical modulation unit and stereoscopic display device comprising same
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 HAN SUNG HEE
  • EP2963480B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The present inventive concept provides, for an optical modulation unit of which the manufacturing is simplified and the performance is improved and a stereoscopic display having the same, an optical modulation unit and a stereoscopic display device comprising the same, the optical modulation unit comprising: a liquid crystal cell having different phase delay amounts of penetrated light in the on and off states; and a phase delay film part arranged on at least one among an optical path of light having passed through the liquid crystal cell and an optical path of light entering into the liquid crystal cell, and comprising a phase delay film having a fixed phase delay amount, wherein when a wavelength of light, which has passed through both the liquid crystal cell and the phase delay film part, is λ, a phase delay amount of the light having passed through both the liquid crystal cell and the phase delay film part is λ/4 when the liquid crystal cell is in the on state and -λ/4 when the liquid crystal cell is in the off state, or is -λ/4 when the liquid crystal cell is in the on state and λ/4 when the liquid crystal cell is in the off state.