AsianScientist (Nov. 8, 2016) – Forget those flimsy 3D viewing glasses! Researchers in South Korea have developed 2D and 3D imaging convertible video displays for mobile devices that do not require the use of eyewear. Details were published in Optics Express.
Convertible video displays that offer both 2D and 3D imaging without the need of any eyewear offer greater convenience to users who would otherwise have to keep track of yet another accessory. However, viewers typically must view these displays from a distance of around one meter, eliminating the possibility of using the smaller screens of mobile devices.
For eyewear-free displays, the images’ pixels and optics are layered together to produce the stereoscopic effect behind the screen. The two primary ways of producing these optically-illusive effects are by using either an array of micro-lenses called lenticular lenses, or an array of micro-filters called parallax barriers, in front of the image to make its appearance depend on the angle at which it is being seen. In the case of 2D/3D convertible screens, these layers are active, meaning they can be electronically switched on or off.
In their paper, Professor Lee Sin-Doo and his colleagues at Seoul National University describe a monolithic structure that effectively combines the active parallax barrier, a polarizing sheet, and an image layer into a single panel. Instead of two separate image and barrier panels, they use a polarizing interlayer with the image layer in direct contact with one side of the interlayer, while the active parallax barrier of a liquid crystal layer is formed on the other side as an array of periodically patterned indium-tin-oxide electrodes.
According to the inventors, this concept not only applies to LC-based 2D/3D displays, but also to OLED-based 2D/3D displays, making it suitable for a broad range of device designs.
The article can be found at: Kim et al. (2016) Concept of Active Parallax Barrier on Polarizing Interlayer for Near-Viewing Autostereoscopic Displays.
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Source: Optical Society; Photo: Pixabay.
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