JP2002528743A - Improved indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A device that selectively diffuses light, used in conjunction with a stand-alone display or a multilayer imaging system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement of a display. Specifically, the present invention is described as being used for a liquid crystal display screen. However, other applications are possible for those skilled in the art, and the description of the liquid crystal display device should not be interpreted as limiting.

Background Art Liquid crystal display devices are a commonly used type of display screen. Liquid crystal displays are commonly used as display screens in laptop computers, where the size and weight of the screen and the computer to which it is attached are important considerations. In various application fields other than the computer screen display device, a liquid crystal display device having a smaller size is widely known.

A liquid crystal display device is generally formed from a four-layer material and a large number of liquid crystals.
Usually, to form a display device, first, a polarizing plate is disposed on one surface of an alignment layer. Next, a liquid crystal is disposed between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer, and the liquid crystal is held at an appropriate position. Finally, a second polarizer is disposed on the remaining outer surface of the second alignment layer.

When this screen is used, an electric field is applied to selected regions of the liquid crystal held by the two alignment layers. In a normal state, non-polarized light is projected on the first polarizing plate. The polarized light that has passed through the first polarizing plate passes through the first alignment layer. This polarized light then passes through the liquid crystal of the display. The liquid crystal used is optically excited and twists the polarization by a set angle. The alignment layer holding the liquid crystal is usually aligned in parallel along the direction of the polarizing plate, and causes the light passing through the liquid crystal to have the same twist (displacement). The alignment layer of the conventional liquid crystal display has a very small groove line obtained by polishing the alignment layer in a single direction by a finishing device.

[0005] The twisted polarized light finally passes through the last (second) polarizing layer. The last polarizing layer is formed to allow light polarized by a specific angle to pass toward the front of the display device. This particular polarization angle is the angle at which light is usually twisted by the liquid crystal.

When an electric field is applied to a region where the liquid crystal is provided, the liquid crystal in the region is arranged differently by the electric field. Polarized light hitting such aligned liquid crystals is twisted at another angle and cannot pass through the last polarizing layer. In this manner, light is transmitted through certain areas of the display device and absorbed in certain areas by the selectively applied electric field, thereby forming a display surface that can be electrically controlled. In the latest liquid crystal display device, an improvement has been made such that light other than black and white can be displayed by adding a color filter to the basic description.

However, in such a liquid crystal display device, an image presented there has a number of defects due to its structure. For example, the use of two polarizers in a standard liquid crystal display greatly reduces the angle at which an image can be viewed with good resolution. When viewed at a wide angle, the liquid crystal image tends to be inferior in clarity as compared with a direct view from the front of the display device. Also, the use of two polarizers in a standard liquid crystal display significantly reduces the amount of light transmitted through the display. In order to transmit enough light for the viewer to illuminate the image, a strong backlight source must often be used. Furthermore, the use of two polarizers in a standard liquid crystal display increases manufacturing costs and time. Further, providing the polarizing plates on the two opposite surfaces of the display device requires more time and money.

[0008] Techniques for finishing the orientation layers as usual in parallel have advanced considerably.

An improved liquid crystal display device in which a polymer is dispersed in a liquid crystal has already been used.
This type of display device effectively scatters output light according to the arrangement of foreign particles dispersed in the liquid crystal layer. However, polymer dispersed liquid crystals have limited use in terms of manufacturing costs and the brightness of the image formed. Usually, this type of display device is used only as a large-sized optical switch such as a window.

Incidentally, the applicant of the present application has found that a standard liquid crystal display device is insufficient for application to a deep video imaging technique.
Deep moving image technology is disclosed in pending New Zealand patent application NZ31456.
6, NZ328807, NZ329130 and International Application PCT / NZ98 / 0
0098 is the subject matter of the invention. Deep moving image technology relates to new methods and devices for displaying images.
A moving image with depth can be obtained by combining two or more display screens, so that the viewer can see the image displayed on the first screen close to him and the image behind the first screen. At a second screen. The view seen by the viewer is characterized as a composite image composed of the images displayed on each screen. Due to the physical spacing between the display screens used, the composite image is perceived as if it were three-dimensional. Certain images on the front screen can appear to recede toward the background screen, and vice versa, and can be perceived as having depth.

The applicant has found that the liquid crystal display device can be applied to a moving image having a large depth.
That is, a rear screen can be configured by a liquid crystal display device having a backlight light source behind the display, and the second liquid crystal display device can be disposed in front of the rear display device. The second liquid crystal display would not have the conventional backlight components so as not to block the transmitted light from the rear screen. The front screen is virtually transparent, allowing the transmitted light from the rear screen to reach the viewer's eyes. However, the applicant has noticed that when a plurality of liquid crystal display devices are used in combination, the viewed composite image has a number of defects. The image formed on the front screen is transparent unless it is black. The viewer will be able to see through the front screen and see the background image on the rear screen. However, when two liquid crystal display devices are combined, a stripe pattern is formed on the surface of the display device. The regular structure provided on the alignment layer of each liquid crystal display device creates a pattern in the transmitted light because the two patterns combine to cause a Moire interference effect.

[0012] Furthermore, a moving image having a depth using an ordinary liquid crystal display device has a problem in parallax and a sense of obstruction when a viewer moves. A viewer who views from an angle away from the center of the display device has a greater degree of seeing the images on the front and rear screens at different positions than when viewing from the front. A possible image processing technique for providing a viewer with a three-dimensional effect is to gradually reduce the size of the front screen image, and then transfer this image to the rear screen,
This gives the impression that the image is moving backward.

However, this processing technique has a problem when viewing the display device from different angles at the same time. When the image moves from the front screen to the rear screen, the point at which the image moves to the rear screen is different between when viewing from the front and when viewing at an angle. When the image moves from the front screen to the rear screen, some viewers may see the image jump or jump to a new location, breaking the impression that the image on the front screen is regressing. become.

[0014] An improved display device that can solve any or all of the above problems can provide significant advantages over the prior art. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide at least convenient options to the public. Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is provided by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least two holding (orientation) layers and one optically excited element, wherein the holding layer comprises a first stage. A display device is provided in which the elements to be excited are kept in a uniformly irregular state and in a second step in a regular state. According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a retaining layer that can be used in the above display device, wherein the retaining layer is formed to hold the excited element in an irregular state.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a display device substantially similar to the above, comprising: a) a first method including at least two excited elements. Selectively applying a field to the region, b) aligning the excited elements in the region in substantially the same direction, and c) transmitting light through the first region, where the light presents a first characteristic. And d) transmitting light to another area of the first area so that the transmitted light presents a second characteristic.

In a preferred embodiment, the display device is formed using liquid crystal display device technology. Hereinafter, other features of the display device according to the present invention as a device using liquid crystal technology will be described. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of display devices can be used in connection with the present invention, and the description of a liquid crystal display device should not be taken as limiting.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding layer, when configured as two or more groups, can hold an optically excited element in a particular area.
All types of almost transparent objects. In a further preferred embodiment, the holding layer is formed from a transparent plastic material, with an irregular surface on one side of this layer. Such irregular surfaces are:
The optically excited element is held in multiple orientations in a region on the retaining layer, and the held optically excited element is irregularly shaped. In a further preferred embodiment, the retaining layer is formed from a transparent plastic material, on one side of which a plurality of irregular flaws are provided. These irregular flaws cause the optically excited elements held by the retaining layer to be oriented multiple times in an irregular fashion. Throughout this specification, the invention is described as though the retaining layer is formed from a transparent plastic material, with one surface of the layer having a plurality of irregular flaws. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other types of retention layers, such as glass, can be used in connection with the present invention and that the above description should not be construed as limiting.

In a preferred embodiment, the optically excited element is a liquid crystal used in a conventional liquid crystal display. The attributes and properties of liquid crystals are well known and they are easy to use in the present invention. In alternative embodiments, other methods could be used instead of liquid crystals as optically excited elements. In other embodiments, any type of optically-excited element may be used that allows the optical attributes to be easily controlled and adjusted. Throughout this specification, the invention will be described assuming that the optically excited element is a liquid crystal. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other types of optically excited elements can be used, and the above description should not be construed as limiting.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystals are classified or organized into two different forms. In the first stage, the liquid crystal is held between the two holding layers in an irregular or irregular manner. The surface of the holding layer causes the held liquid crystal to have a number of different directions (angles). In the second stage, the liquid crystal is held between the holding layers with regularity. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystals are held in approximately the same orientation and angle as one another. Due to this regular and regular form of liquid crystals, each liquid crystal acts on the transmitted light in an optically similar manner. In a preferred embodiment, a field is applied to the liquid crystal in the display to align the liquid crystals in the electric field so that they are substantially in the same direction. In a further preferred embodiment, the field used is an electric field. The electric field can be easily generated by ordinary electric components, and a small area including the liquid crystal can be controlled accurately and precisely.

In a preferred embodiment, the first region including at least two liquid crystals is provided at any number of positions on the display surface of the display device. Furthermore, in embodiments where the present invention is used in a multi-layer screen display, in any area, any used screen can have a display surface. In a further preferred embodiment, the first area can be anywhere on the display, where an electric field can be applied. In such an embodiment, an electric field is selectively applied to a specific area of the display unit, and
Region can be provided. By applying an electric field to a particular area, the liquid crystals are aligned in substantially the same alignment, thereby modifying the incident light to have approximately the same effect. On the other hand, in the other region than the first region, no electric field is given, and no regularization, that is, a process of equalizing is given to the incident light.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal in the first region exhibits a first optical characteristic. In contrast, liquid crystals outside the first region exhibit second optical characteristics. In a further preferred embodiment, the first optical characteristic exhibited by the liquid crystal in the first region is transparency. Such liquid crystals are regularly arranged in substantially the same direction. Because these liquid crystals are transparent to certain polarizations, this regular form allows them to transmit incident light in much the same manner.

In a further preferred embodiment, a second optical characteristic exhibited by the liquid crystal outside the first region is to diffuse the element. Due to the random and irregular orientation of the liquid crystal, light transmitted through the display device is diffused outside the first region. The diffusing element may be any element that diffuses light. Such elements can scatter light in various directions. Such a diffusing element causes an image viewed from the first area to appear diffuse to a viewer from a distance closer to the screen, and the image to appear opaque to a viewer from a distance from the screen. . In other words, the longer the distance between the viewer and the screen, the less the image spreads in the first area and instead becomes opaque. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, making the liquid crystal irregular when no electric field is applied will diffuse the light transmitted through the display. On the other hand, when an electric field is applied to the region, the liquid crystals are now arranged in approximately the same way, so that light is transmitted through the region with little diffusion.

The invention described above can be used to construct a simple display device. A plurality of transparent electrodes may be arranged on the surface of the display device in order to selectively apply an electric field to a specific region to form a first region. Depending on whether this electric field is applied or not,
Light can be transmitted through a specific region, or diffused when light passes in other regions. An image is formed on a display by applying an electric field to the area to be transparent, while not applying an electric field to the area to be imaged. The color filters of a standard liquid crystal display can also be used in this display to provide other colors in the diffusion area.

In the present invention, white can be presented on a display device. A normal liquid crystal display device cannot display sharp white. To display white on a typical liquid crystal display, a white backlight background is used, where the liquid crystal is arranged to be transparent. This is symmetric with the present invention. According to the present invention, a sharp white color can be obtained simply by diffusing light passing through a selected area of the display unit.

The following description relates to the present invention as used in a multilayer display device. In the use of a moving image having a depth, a composite image is formed by using two liquid crystal display devices. Here, one display device is arranged in front of the other display device,
The rear display has the required backlight components. Separate images are shown on each screen, and the spatial distance between the two screens gives the composite image a three-dimensional character.

In one embodiment, the present invention may be used in a deep video display. Throughout this specification, a display device formed in accordance with the present invention will be described as being a selectively light diffusing layer used in deep moving image applications. As mentioned above, the invention can be used to selectively diffuse certain areas of the display while making other parts transparent.

A moving image display device having a depth provided with two liquid crystal screens can use only three polarizing layers. The first polarizing layer may be located behind the rear screen, the second polarizing layer may be located between the two screens, and the last polarizing layer may be located in front of the front screen. In an ordinary liquid crystal display device, two polarizing layers are required for one screen to apply polarized light to the liquid crystal in order to effectively perform a display operation. However, in deep moving image applications using two liquid crystal displays, the polarization is always provided behind the front screen, obviating the need for a fourth polarizer in the composite display.

In a further preferred embodiment, the deep moving image display device may be formed to have three polarizing layers as described above. A layer for selectively diffusing light (SDL (selectively diffusion layer)) may be arranged between the front screen and the intermediate polarizing layer. SDL is used to diffuse the polarization provided by the intermediate polarizing layer, thereby destroying the imaging capability of the front screen in certain areas.
This allows the SDL to effectively blur the frontal image. As described above, according to the moving image display device having the depth formed to have the SDL, for all viewers regardless of the viewing angle, the image on the front screen disappears at the same point, It is possible to make the rear screen appear to retreat. Conventionally, in a moving image technology having a depth, an image moving from a front screen to a rear screen appears to a person looking directly in front of the display device as if it were smoothly receding. For those looking out of an angle,
It looked as if he was jumping sideways. This effect is eliminated by using the SDL provided as described above. That is, the SDL allows all viewers to see the front image as if it were at the same point on the rear screen, and appears to jump sideways when viewed from an angle off the center of the display device. This conventional disadvantage is eliminated.

In still another embodiment, a layer for selectively diffusing light may be disposed between two liquid crystal display devices each having a front and a rear polarizing plate. In this case, the layer for selectively diffusing light is arranged in front of the polarizer in front of the rear screen and behind the polarizer behind the front screen. A layer that selectively diffuses light can be used to diffuse the polarized light from the rear screen so that the image on the front screen appears dense. This allows the layer that selectively diffuses light to diffuse and render the rear image invisible while providing sufficient light to illuminate the front image. In a conventional moving image display device having a depth, in which a layer for selectively diffusing light is not provided, a front image is seen with transparency and a rear screen is seen through the front image. On the other hand, if a layer for selectively diffusing light is provided, the image on the rear screen is blurred, and the image on the front can be made denser.

In yet another embodiment, a first polarizing layer, a rear liquid crystal screen, a second polarizing layer, a first selectively diffusing light layer, a second liquid crystal screen, a third polarizing layer, Second
Are selectively provided in the display device, a fourth polarizing layer, a third (front) liquid crystal screen, and a fifth polarizing layer. Such a moving image display device having a depth combines the principles used in the application to the other two moving images having a depth. That is, the second SDL diffuses the light that has passed through the rear and intermediate screens, and makes the image of the front screen appear dense. The first SDL diffuses the light destined for the second liquid crystal display so that all viewers cannot see the image of the second liquid crystal display at the same point on the rear liquid crystal display. .

Still further, in deep moving image technology, a layer that selectively diffuses light may be used to prevent interference effects. That is, when a normal liquid crystal display device is viewed through another liquid crystal display device in a normal state, an interference pattern occurs due to the two display device structures. On the other hand, if the SDL diffuses the entire display surface at a certain low level, the interference pattern can be eliminated by providing the SDL between the two screens. That is, this diffusion causes any light pattern from the rear screen to be irregular (discrete) and eliminate interference effects.

The present invention has a number of advantages over existing prior art liquid crystal display devices and deep moving image display devices. The present invention can be used in deep moving image technology to make the front view look rich and make the front view appear to recede at the same point on the rear screen regardless of the viewing angle It is.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings. However, the description is given for illustrative purposes only. FIG. 1 illustrates how the present invention modifies light transmitted through a display. FIG.
In a, an electric field is applied to a certain region of the display device, and in FIG. 1b, no electric field is applied to the same region. In either case, the unpolarized light 1 goes to the rear alignment layer 2 and the liquid crystal (
(Not shown) and then out through the front alignment layer 3.

In FIG. 1 a, an electric field is applied to the area. The liquid crystals in this region are aligned in substantially the same direction, which allows the incident unpolarized light 1 to pass through the liquid crystal and exit the front alignment layer 3. The output from the screen 5 is the incident light 1
Is almost the same as

This is symmetrical to the light transmitted through this area when no electric field is applied as shown in FIG. 1b. In this case, the liquid crystal between the two alignment layers 2, 3 converts the incident unpolarized light 1 into diffused light 6. The diffused light 6 passes through the front alignment layer 3 and exits as a display output 7. As is clear from these figures, by applying an electric field to a certain region, the liquid crystal transmits incident light almost as it is. By not applying an electric field to a certain area, the transmitted light is diffused.

FIG. 2 shows an application to a moving image having depth. In this application, a layer d1 for selectively diffusing light is provided. This deep moving image display device has a rear screen s1 and a front screen s2. The polarizing layers p1 and p2 are provided on both sides of the rear screen s1, and the polarizing layers p3 and p4 are provided on both sides of the front screen s2. The SDL (selectively diffusion layer) d1 diffuses the polarized light from the polarizing layer p2 and destroys the image presented on the rear screen s1.
As a result, only the diffused background light is left behind the image on the front screen s2, so that the image on the front screen s2 looks rich.

FIG. 3 shows another application of the present invention to moving images with depth. In this embodiment, a moving image screen having a depth includes a rear screen s1 and a front screen s2.
And Polarizing layers p1 and p2 are provided on both sides of the rear screen s1,
The last polarizing layer p3 is provided on the front surface of the front screen s2. SDL d1
Is disposed between the polarizing layer p2 and the front screen s2.

[0039] The SDL d1 can diffuse the polarized light from the polarizing layer p2. Reducing the polarization state of the background light of the front screen s2 prevents the front screen s2 from displaying a clear image. That is, SDL d1 can be used to blur the image on front screen s2. By utilizing this phenomenon, as described above, for all viewers regardless of the viewing angle, the image on the front screen is
It is possible to make it appear to disappear at the same point on the rear screen.

FIG. 4 uses both of the two embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3,
1 shows a moving image display device having a depth. To diffuse the light and the image from the rear screen s1 and the intermediate screen s2, it is possible to use a selectively light-diffusing layer d2, so that the image on the front screen s3 looks rich. Further, in order to diffuse the polarized light from the polarizing layer p2, it is possible to use a layer d1 for selectively diffusing light, whereby the image on the intermediate screen s2 can be blurred. This display device configuration using the present invention makes the image of the front screen s3 look rich,
Moreover, it is possible for all viewers, regardless of the viewing angle, to make the image on the intermediate screen s2 disappear at the same point on the rear screen s1.

While the various features of the invention have been described by way of example only, it will be understood that modifications and additions are possible within the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an effect of a device on light in a certain specific area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the present invention used for application to a moving image having depth according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the present invention used for application to a moving image having depth, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the present invention used for application to a moving image having depth, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] June 14, 2000 (2000.6.14)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AU, BR, CA , CN, CZ, DE, DK, ES, GB, IL, JP, KP, KR, MX, NZ, RU, SE, SG, US (71) Applicant Airport Road, Mystery Creek, RD 2, Hamilton , New Zealand (72) Inventor Engel, Gabriel Damon Kembli, New Zealand Di-, P. O Box 784 F-term (reference) 2H088 EA02 HA12 HA18 HA28 MA06 MA20 2H090 LA09 LA10 LA15 LA16 MA09 5C061 AA29 AB14 AB16 AB18

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A display device based on an optical switch. By using a uniform alignment layer, it is possible to change a light transmitting state to a light diffusing state as needed. There is an indicator. 2. A display device, wherein a liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly aligned alignment layers, and a method of applying an electric field to the liquid crystal is used. 3. A display device in which a liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly irregular alignment layers, and a method of applying an electric field to each cell is used to diffuse light (backlight) passing therethrough. . 4. A display device in which a liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly uneven alignment layers and a method of applying an electric field to each cell is used to diffuse reflected light. 5. The display according to claim 3, wherein the display diffuses a light-transmitting pattern for displaying an image. 6. The display according to claim 5, wherein said pattern is a black and white pattern. 7. The display according to claim 5, wherein the pattern is a multi-color pattern. 8. The display of claim 7, wherein the pattern is a red, green, and blue filter. 9. A display device based on an optical switch, wherein a state in which light is transmitted can be changed to a state in which light is diffused as necessary by using a uniform alignment layer. Yes, a display provided on a display device to improve the viewing angle. 10. A liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly uneven alignment layers,
A display, wherein the method of applying an electric field to the liquid crystal is used, combined with a conventional LCD, to selectively diffuse polarized light from an image presented on a screen to which it is attached. 11. A liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly aligned alignment layers,
A multilayer display device having a layer in which the method of applying an electric field to the liquid crystal is used, wherein the layer is arranged at a distance from a display that transmits light, and polarization reaches a certain LCD layer in the multilayer display device. A multilayer display device that selectively blocks. 12. A liquid crystal material is provided between uniformly aligned alignment layers,
What is claimed is: 1. A multi-layer display device having a layer in which a method for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal is used, wherein the layer is disposed close to a light-sending display,
A multilayer display that selectively diffuses before polarized light reaches the layers.