Glasses-free 2D-3D switchable display using an integrated single light guide plate

Abstract

To commercialize glasses-free 3D display more widely, the display device should also be able to express 2D images without image quality degradation. Moreover, the thickness of display panel including backlight unit (BLU), and the power consumption should not be increased too much, especially for mobile applications. In this paper, we present a 10.1-inch 2D-3D switchable display using an integrated single light guide plate (LGP) without increasing the thickness and power consumption. The integrated single LGP with a wedge shape is composed of prismatic line patterns on its top surface and straight bump patterns on its bottom surface. The prismatic line patterns, which are composed of micro prisms having the light aperture on one side, act as slit apertures of parallax barriers for 3D mode. The linear bump patterns arranged along the vertical direction scatter the light uniformly together with the reflective film disposed under the LGP for 2D mode. LED light sources are arranged as edge-lit in the left and right sides of the LGP for 2D mode, and on the top edge of the LGP with the wider thickness for 3D mode. Display modes can be simply switched by turning on and off the LED light sources, alternatively. Applying the integrated single LGP, we realized a 2D-3D switchable display prototype with a 10.1-inch tablet panel of WQXGA resolution (2,560 × 1,600), and showed the light-field 3D display with 27-ray mapping and 2D display. Consequently, we acquired brightness uniformity over 70% for 2D and 3D modes.