JP2002277878A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] Without using observation glasses equipped with a polarizing plate,
Provided is a display device capable of directly observing an image observed from two directions, such as a stereoscopic image or a battle game image. A direction of viewing angles B1 and B2 of a liquid crystal display element 1 is changed to regions A1 and A having a width corresponding to at least one pixel.
2 in each area A of the liquid crystal display element 1.
Area A1 having a viewing angle B1 in one direction of A1 and A2
The first voltage is applied by applying a write voltage corresponding to the first image data between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the area A1.
An image corresponding to the image data is displayed, and a region A2 having a viewing angle B2 in the other direction is applied to a region A2 having a viewing angle B2 by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between electrodes of pixels corresponding to the region A2. An image corresponding to the second image data is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for displaying an image viewed from two directions, such as a stereoscopic image or a battle game image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a display device for displaying a stereoscopic image, a first liquid crystal display element which emits linearly polarized light in one direction, a polarization direction of light emitted from the first liquid crystal display element, and the like. And a second liquid crystal display element that emits linearly polarized light along different directions. The first liquid crystal display element displays a right-eye image, and the second liquid crystal display element displays a left-eye image. While displaying, the display images of these liquid crystal display elements are projected on the same screen by projection means,
The projected image is provided to a display observer by a right-eye polarizing plate having a transmission axis in a direction along the polarization direction of the outgoing light of the first liquid crystal display element, and the outgoing light of the second liquid crystal display element. There is a configuration in which a stereoscopic image is observed using observation glasses provided with a left-eye polarizing plate having a transmission axis in a direction along the polarization direction.

[0003] The principle of the display device can be applied to a two-way observation type display device for displaying images viewed from two directions, such as a battle game image, in addition to a three-dimensional image display device. In that case, the first liquid crystal display element displays an image for one observer viewing the screen from one side of the display device, and the second liquid crystal display element displays the image from the opposite side of the display device. An image for the other observer to be displayed is displayed, and both images are projected on a screen. The transmission axis is given to one observer in a direction along the polarization direction of the light emitted from the first liquid crystal display element. An image for the observer is observed using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate having a polarizing plate, and the other observer is provided with a transmission axis in a direction along a polarization direction of light emitted from the second liquid crystal display element. For the observer using observation glasses with polarizing plates with By so as to observe the image, respectively to both of the observer, it is possible to observe an image for the observer.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional display device has a problem that it is necessary to use observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate to observe the display.

The present invention provides a display device capable of directly observing a stereoscopic image or an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image, without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate. It is intended to do so.

[0006]

A display device according to the present invention comprises:
On the inner surfaces of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, an electrode forming a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction by regions facing each other is provided, and at least one liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer is provided. For each region having a width corresponding to the pixel, a liquid crystal display element which is subjected to an alignment process for causing the directions of the viewing angles of these regions to be alternately aligned in different alignment states, and of the respective regions of the liquid crystal display element A write voltage corresponding to the first image data is applied between the electrodes of the pixels corresponding to the region having the viewing angle in one direction, and the write voltage corresponding to the region having the viewing angle in the other direction is applied between the electrodes of the pixels corresponding to the region having the viewing angle in the other direction. Display driving means for applying a write voltage corresponding to the second image data.

This display device displays a stereoscopic image or an image viewed from two directions, such as a battle game image. In the case of a stereoscopic image display device, at least one of the liquid crystal display elements is used. An alignment process is performed on every other region of each region having a width corresponding to a pixel so as to align liquid crystal molecules in that region to an alignment state having a viewing angle to the right as viewed from the display observation side. , An alignment process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in each of the other regions to an alignment state having a viewing angle to the left as viewed from the viewing side of the display is performed, and the display driving unit includes: A write voltage corresponding to image data for the right eye is applied between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to every other region having a viewing angle in the right direction among the respective regions of the liquid crystal display element, and has a viewing angle in the left direction. Every other area Configured to apply a write voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye between the electrodes of each pixel response.

In this three-dimensional image display device, the viewing angle of a region corresponding to a pixel to which a writing voltage corresponding to right-eye image data is applied among the respective regions of the liquid crystal display element is set to a right angle as viewed from a display observation side. Since the viewing angle of the region corresponding to the pixel to which the write voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is applied is in the left direction when viewed from the viewing side of the display, the write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied. The right-eye image displayed in the area corresponding to the pixel to be viewed is seen by the right eye of the display observer, and the left-eye image displayed in the area corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is applied is displayed. It is possible to make a display visible to the left eye of the display observer and observe a stereoscopic image in which the right-eye image and the left-eye image are combined.

The area for displaying the image for the right eye and the area for displaying the image for the left eye of the liquid crystal display element are alternately arranged, and these areas have a very small width corresponding to at least one pixel. Because of this area, the display observer can see the right-eye image displayed by every other area,
The left-eye images displayed by the other alternate regions appear as continuous images without breaks, and a high-quality stereoscopic image obtained by combining the right-eye image and the left-eye image is observed. .

In the case of a two-direction observation type display device for displaying an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image, etc., among the regions having a width corresponding to at least one pixel of the liquid crystal display element, An alignment process is performed on every other region to align the liquid crystal molecules in that region into an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction, and the liquid crystal molecules in that region are applied to the other alternate regions, respectively. An alignment process is performed for aligning the liquid crystal display device in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction opposite to the one direction, and the display driving unit has a viewing angle in one direction among the respective regions of the liquid crystal display element. A write voltage corresponding to image data for one observer is applied between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to every other region, and the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to every other region having a viewing angle in the opposite direction are applied. Image data for the other observer Configured to apply a write voltage corresponding to the data.

In the two-directional observation type display device, the viewing angle of a region corresponding to a pixel to which a writing voltage corresponding to one observer image data is applied in one of the regions of the liquid crystal display element is set to one direction. Since the viewing angle of the region corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the other observer image data is applied is in the opposite direction, one observer who looks at the screen from one side of the display device has One observer image displayed in the region corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the observer has been applied is observed, and the other observer who looks at the screen from the opposite side of the display device receives the image. The other observer image displayed in the area corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the observer image data is applied can be observed.

That is, in the display device of the present invention, the direction of the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display element is alternately changed for each region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel, and one of the respective regions of the liquid crystal display element is provided. In a region having a viewing angle in the direction of, an image corresponding to the first image data is displayed by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the region, and the other is displayed. In a region having a viewing angle in a direction, an image corresponding to the second image data is displayed by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the region. According to this display device, a stereoscopic image can be obtained without using observation glasses having a polarizing plate as in a conventional display device.
Alternatively, it is possible to directly observe an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image.

According to another display device of the present invention, an electrode for forming a plurality of pixels is provided on an inner surface of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and an electrode for forming a plurality of pixels is provided. A first liquid crystal display element that has been subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction, and regions opposed to each other on inner surfaces of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. An electrode for forming a plurality of pixels is provided, and an alignment process for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer to an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction different from the direction of the viewing angle of the first liquid crystal display element is performed. A second liquid crystal display element disposed on either side of the first liquid crystal display element,
A write voltage corresponding to the first image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the first liquid crystal display element, and the write voltage corresponding to the second image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the second liquid crystal display element. Display driving means for applying a write voltage.

This display device also displays a stereoscopic image or an image viewed from two directions, such as a battle game image. In the case of a stereoscopic image display device, the first and second liquid crystals are used. Of the display elements, one of the liquid crystal display elements is subjected to an alignment process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules to an alignment state having a viewing angle to the right when viewed from the display observation side, and the other liquid crystal display element displays the liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal display device is provided with an alignment process for aligning the liquid crystal display device with a viewing angle in the left direction when viewed from the observation side of the liquid crystal display device. And a write voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the other liquid crystal display element having a leftward viewing angle.

The three-dimensional image display device includes the first and second
Of the liquid crystal display elements, the writing voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied. One viewing angle of the liquid crystal display element is rightward when viewed from the display observation side, and the writing voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is Since the viewing angle of the other liquid crystal display element to be applied is to the left as viewed from the viewing side of the display, the right-eye image displayed by one of the liquid crystal display elements to which the write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied Is visible to the right eye of the display observer, performs a display in which the left-eye image displayed by the other liquid crystal display element to which the writing voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is applied is visible to the left observer of the display observer,
A three-dimensional image in which the right-eye image and the left-eye image are combined can be observed.

In the case of a two-direction observation type display device for displaying an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image, one of the first and second liquid crystal display elements is used. The liquid crystal molecules are subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction, and the other liquid crystal display element is aligned with the liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction opposite to the one direction. The display driving means is provided between the electrodes of each pixel of one of the liquid crystal display elements having a viewing angle in one direction among the liquid crystal display elements of the first and second liquid crystal display elements. A write voltage corresponding to the image data for the other observer is applied, and a write voltage corresponding to the image data for the other observer is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the other liquid crystal display element having a viewing angle in the opposite direction. It is configured as follows.

In this two-directional observation type display device, the viewing angle of one liquid crystal display element to which a writing voltage corresponding to one observer image data is applied is in one direction, and the other observer image data is Since the viewing angle of the other corresponding liquid crystal display element is in the opposite direction, one observer looking at the screen from one side of the display device receives one of the write voltages corresponding to the image data for the observer. One observer's image displayed by one liquid crystal display element displayed by the liquid crystal display element is observed, and the other observer looking at the screen from the opposite side of the display device corresponds to the image data for that observer. The other observer image displayed by the other liquid crystal display element to which the applied write voltage is applied can be observed.

That is, in another display device of the present invention, a direction different from the direction of the viewing angle of the first liquid crystal display element is provided on one of the front and rear sides of the first liquid crystal display element having a viewing angle in one direction. A second liquid crystal display element having a viewing angle is disposed on the first liquid crystal display element, and a first liquid crystal display element is provided between the electrodes of each pixel.
An image corresponding to the first image data is displayed by application of a write voltage corresponding to the image data of (a), and the second liquid crystal display element corresponds to the second image data between the electrodes of each pixel. An image corresponding to the second image data is displayed by applying a write voltage;
According to this display device, a stereoscopic image or an image viewed from two directions such as a battle game image is directly observed without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate as in a conventional display device. be able to.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The display device of the present invention, as described above, alternates the direction of the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display element for each region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel. By applying a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data to an area having a viewing angle in one direction among the respective areas, the first voltage is applied between electrodes of pixels corresponding to the area.
The image corresponding to the second image data is displayed in an area having a viewing angle in the other direction by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between the electrodes of the pixels corresponding to the area. By displaying an image corresponding to the image data, it is possible to directly observe a stereoscopic image or an image viewed from two directions such as a battle game image without using observation glasses equipped with a polarizing plate. It was made possible.

In this display device, it is preferable that each of the regions in which the viewing angle directions of the liquid crystal display device are alternately different is a band-shaped region that is continuous over substantially the entire length of at least one pixel column of the liquid crystal display device.

In the liquid crystal display device, a plurality of scanning electrodes are provided on an inner surface of one substrate in parallel with each other in a row direction, and a plurality of signal electrodes are provided on an inner surface of the other substrate in a column direction. In the case of a simple matrix liquid crystal display element provided in parallel along with each other, it is desirable that each of the regions in which the viewing angle directions are alternately different is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode to which a data signal is supplied. .

Further, the liquid crystal display element has a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a row direction and a column direction on an inner surface of one substrate, and a plurality of T electrodes respectively connected to the pixel electrodes.
An FT (thin film transistor), a plurality of gate lines for supplying gate signals to the TFTs in each row, and a plurality of data lines for supplying data signals to the TFTs in each column are provided. In the case of an active matrix liquid crystal display device provided with a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes, the regions in which the viewing angle directions are alternately different are regions corresponding to substantially the entire length of a pixel electrode row along the data lines. It is desirable that

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device before and after a first liquid crystal display element which has been subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning liquid crystal molecules into an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction. On either side, a second liquid crystal display element which has been subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction different from the viewing angle direction of the first liquid crystal display element is arranged. And causing the first liquid crystal display element to display an image corresponding to the first image data by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data to between the electrodes of each pixel, thereby displaying the second liquid crystal. The display device displays an image corresponding to the second image data by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between the electrodes of each pixel, whereby observation glasses having a polarizing plate are displayed. Without using
It is possible to directly observe an image observed from two directions, such as a stereoscopic image or a battle game image.

In this display device, it is desirable that the first liquid crystal display element and the second liquid crystal display element are provided so as to be tiltable in directions opposite to each other.

[0025]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a three-dimensional image display device, and FIG. 2 is a part of a liquid crystal display element constituting the three-dimensional image display device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a part of the liquid crystal display device showing an alignment processing state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stereoscopic image display device 1 includes a liquid crystal display element 2 and a display driving means 13 for driving the liquid crystal display element 2.

The liquid crystal display element 2 includes a plurality of transparent substrates 3 and 4 which are opposed to each other with the liquid crystal layer 10 interposed therebetween. Electrodes 5 and 6 are provided, and the pair of substrates 3 and 4 are
The liquid crystal layer 10 is provided in a screen area surrounded by the seal material 9 between the substrates 3 and 4.

The liquid crystal display element 2 is a simple matrix liquid crystal display element, and an electrode 5 provided on one substrate, for example, an inner surface of a front substrate 3 which is a display observation side is arranged in a row direction (a horizontal direction of the screen). ), The plurality of scanning electrodes formed in parallel with each other, and the plurality of electrodes 6 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 4 include a plurality of scanning electrodes formed in parallel with each other along the column direction (up and down direction of the screen). It is a signal electrode.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front substrate 3 is formed so that one end edge protrudes outside the rear substrate 4, and the rear substrate 4 has one side edge. Front substrate 3
The terminal portions (not shown) of the plurality of scanning electrodes 5 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 3 are arranged and formed on the protruding edge of the front substrate 3. Terminal portions (not shown) of the plurality of signal electrodes 6 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 4 are arranged and formed on the protruding edge portion of the rear substrate 4.

Further, alignment films 7 and 8 are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 3 and 4 so as to cover the electrodes 5 and 6, respectively. The molecules are oriented so that the directions of the viewing angles B1 and B2 of these areas A1 are alternately different for each area A1 having a width corresponding to one pixel (the area where the scanning electrode 5 and the signal electrode 6 face each other). An orientation process is performed for the purpose.

In this embodiment, each of the areas A1,
A2 is a band-like region having a width corresponding to one pixel (a width corresponding to one signal electrode 6) and being continuous over almost the entire length of the pixel column. Therefore, each of the regions A1 and A2 has: Uniform alignment processing without unevenness can be performed.

That is, in the alignment treatment of the inner surfaces of the substrates 3 and 4, the alignment films 7 and 8 are formed on the inner surfaces of the substrates 3 and 4, and the film surfaces of the alignment films 7 and 8 are removed from the regions A1 and A2. Rubbing in one direction by masking the region corresponding to every other first region A1, and then changing the film surface of the alignment films 7, 8 to the other second region A2 Is performed by rubbing in the other direction while masking the area corresponding to
Since each of the regions A1 and A2 is a band-shaped region that is continuous over substantially the entire length of the pixel column, a region corresponding to the first region A1 of the alignment films 7 and 8 and a region corresponding to the second region A2
Are rubbed evenly over the entire area, and uniform alignment processing without unevenness can be performed.

The liquid crystal display element 2 twists liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 10 between the pair of substrates 3 and 4 at a twist angle of substantially 90 degrees and polarizes the liquid crystal molecules on the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 3 and 4 respectively. The liquid crystal layer is of a TN (twisted nematic) type in which the plates 11 and 12 are arranged, and the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 10 are aligned on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 3 and 4 by the respective substrates 3 and 4. Are controlled in the orientation direction in the vicinity of each of the regions A1, A
For every two, the directions of the viewing angles B1, B2 of these regions A1, A2 are alternately oriented in different orientations.

Further, in this embodiment, each of the regions A
1, A2 is a region along the vertical direction of the screen, that is, a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode 6 to which a data signal is supplied among the plurality of scanning electrodes 5 and the signal electrodes 6.

In FIG. 1, for convenience, the width of each of the regions A1 and A2 of the liquid crystal display element 2 is greatly exaggerated, but the width of each pixel of the liquid crystal display element 2 is 100 μm to 100 μm. Therefore, the width of each of the regions A1 and A2 is a very small width of 100 μm to 200 μm.

In this embodiment, of the regions A1 and A2 having the widths corresponding to the respective pixel columns of the liquid crystal display element 2, the liquid crystal molecules in the region A1 are displayed on every other region A1 on the viewing side of the display. An alignment process is performed to align the liquid crystal molecules in every other region A2 to the right with a viewing angle B1 when viewed from the (front side). An orientation process is performed to achieve an orientation state having a viewing angle B2 in the direction.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 3a denotes the liquid crystal display element 2;
Direction of liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front substrate 3 of FIG.
Indicates the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the rear substrate 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, every other area (hereinafter referred to as a first area) A1 of the areas A1 and A2 of the liquid crystal display element 2 is provided with liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 3. To
The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the rear substrate 4 are oriented in a direction substantially 45 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front with respect to the horizontal axis x of the screen.
The liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction substantially 45 degrees counterclockwise as viewed from the front side with respect to the horizontal axis x, and the liquid crystal molecules are moved from the rear substrate 4 to the front side as indicated by the broken arrows in the figure. The substrate is twisted at a twist angle of approximately 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front side toward the substrate 3.

Therefore, every other first area A1
Is in the direction along the horizontal axis x and to the right as viewed from the viewing side (front side) of the display.

Further, in every other area (hereinafter, referred to as a second area) A2, liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 3 are filled with liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 3 in the first area A1. The liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 4 are aligned in a direction substantially opposite to the molecular alignment direction 3a, and the first region A
1, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction substantially opposite to the liquid crystal molecule alignment direction 4a in the vicinity of the rear substrate 4, and the liquid crystal molecules are transferred to the rear substrate 4 as shown by the broken arrows in the figure. From the front side to the front substrate 3 and twisted clockwise at a twist angle of approximately 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front side.

Therefore, the viewing angle B2 of the other alternate second area A2 is in the direction along the horizontal axis x and to the left as viewed from the viewing side (front side) of the display.

Each of the polarizing plates 11 and 12 arranged on the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 3 and 4 of the liquid crystal display element 2 is a normal polarizing plate having a transmission axis in one direction. The polarizing plate, for example, the front polarizing plate 11 has its transmission axis set to one of the regions (for example, the first region A1, A2) of the orientation direction 3a of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front substrate 3 in the first and second regions A1, A2. The liquid crystal molecules are substantially parallel to the direction of alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the region A1), and are substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal molecule alignment directions of the other region (for example, the second region A2). 12 is to make the transmission axis substantially orthogonal to the transmission axis of the front polarizing plate 11,
Alternatively, it is attached to the outer surface of the rear substrate 4 so as to be substantially parallel.

On the other hand, the display driving means 13 comprises a scanning side driving circuit 14, a signal side driving circuit 15 and its control circuit 1.
The scanning side driving circuit 14 sequentially supplies a scanning signal to each scanning electrode 5 of the liquid crystal display element 2, and synchronizes with the scanning signal from the signal side driving circuit 15 to one of the liquid crystal display elements 2. Supplying a first image data signal to each signal electrode 6 corresponding to every other first area A1,
Each signal electrode 6 corresponding to every other second region A2
Respectively, to supply the first image data between the electrodes 5 and 6 of the pixels corresponding to the first area A1 in the areas A1 and A2 of the liquid crystal display element 2. A write voltage corresponding to the data is applied, and a write voltage corresponding to the second image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the second area A2.

Since the display device 1 of this embodiment is a stereoscopic image display device, the display drive means 13 corresponds to every other first area A1 having a viewing angle B1 to the right of the liquid crystal display element 2. The image data signal for the right eye is supplied to each of the signal electrodes 6, and the image data signal for the left eye is supplied to each of the signal electrodes 6 corresponding to every other second area A2 having a viewing angle B2 in the left direction. By doing so, a write voltage corresponding to image data for the right eye is applied between the electrodes 5 and 6 of each pixel corresponding to the first area A1 having the viewing angle B1 in the right direction of the liquid crystal display element 2, and A writing voltage corresponding to image data for the left eye is applied between the electrodes 5 and 6 of each pixel corresponding to the second area A2 having the viewing angle B2.

In this embodiment, as described above,
Data signals are supplied to every other first area A1 having a viewing angle B1 to the right of the liquid crystal display element 2 and to every other second area A2 having a viewing angle B2 to the left. The image data signal supplied to each of the plurality of signal electrodes 6 is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode 6.
Either one of the image data signals for the right eye and the left eye may be used, so that the configuration of the display driving means 13 can be simplified.

That is, every other first area A1 having a viewing angle B1 to the right of the liquid crystal display element 2 and every other second area A2 having a viewing angle B2 to the left are Contrary to the embodiment, a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the scanning electrode 5 may be used. In this case, the image data signal for the right eye and the image data signal for the left eye are alternately applied to the plurality of signal electrodes 6 respectively. , The configuration of the scanning side drive circuit 14 of the display drive means 13 becomes complicated.

However, as in this embodiment, every other first area A1 having a viewing angle B1 to the right of the liquid crystal display element 2 and every other first area A1 having a viewing angle B2 to the left. 2
If the area A2 is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode 6 to which the data signal is supplied, the image data signals supplied to the plurality of signal electrodes 6 are the same as the image data signals for the right eye and the left eye. Since only one of the signals may be used, the configuration of the scanning drive circuit 14 of the display drive unit 13 can be simplified.

In the three-dimensional image display device 1 of this embodiment, the first area corresponding to the pixel to which the write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied among the areas A1 and A2 of the liquid crystal display element 2 The viewing angle B1 of A1 is in the right direction when viewed from the viewing side of the display, and the viewing angle B of the second area A2 corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is applied.
2 is to the left as viewed from the viewing side of the display.

Since the display on the display device is viewed from the front (the direction along the normal line of the screen), a writing voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied to the right eye of the display observer. The image for the right eye displayed by the other liquid crystal display element is observed, and the image for the left eye displayed by the other liquid crystal display element to which the writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye is applied is observed on the left eye. A stereoscopic image in which the right-eye image and the left-eye image are combined is observed.

Therefore, according to the three-dimensional image display device 1, a three-dimensional image can be directly observed without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate as in a conventional three-dimensional image display device.

The three-dimensional image display device 1 displays both the right-eye image and the left-eye image on one liquid crystal display element 2. The first area A1 and the second area A2 for displaying the left-eye image are alternately arranged.
1 and A2 are very small width areas corresponding to one pixel, so that every other first area A is displayed to the display observer.
1 for the right-eye image and every other second
The left-eye image displayed by the area A2 looks like an unbroken continuous image, and a high-quality stereoscopic image obtained by combining the right-eye image and the left-eye image is observed.

The three-dimensional image display device 1 of the above embodiment
Although the liquid crystal display element 2 is a simple matrix type liquid crystal display element, the liquid crystal display element may be an active matrix type liquid crystal display element using a TFT (thin film transistor) as an active element.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a part of a liquid crystal display element constituting a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The liquid crystal display element 20 is an active matrix type liquid crystal display element using a TFT as an active element. The liquid crystal display element 20 is provided on one of the front and rear transparent substrates 21 and 22, for example, on the inner surface of the rear substrate 22. Transparent pixel electrodes 23 arranged in a matrix in the direction and the column direction
A plurality of TFTs 24 connected to the pixel electrodes 23; a plurality of gate lines 30 for supplying gate signals to the TFTs 24 in each row;
Data wirings 31 each supplying a data signal to the
The other substrate, for example, the inner surface of the front substrate 21 is provided with a single-film transparent counter electrode (not shown) facing the plurality of pixel electrodes 23.

The TFT 24 includes a gate electrode 25 formed on the rear substrate 22 and a transparent gate insulating film 26 formed on the rear substrate 22 so as to cover the gate electrode 25. I-type semiconductor film 27 provided on gate insulating film 26 so as to face gate electrode 25
And n (not shown) on both sides of the i-type semiconductor film 27.
It is composed of a source electrode 28 and a drain electrode 29 provided via a mold semiconductor film.

The gate wiring 30 is connected to the rear substrate 2
2 is formed integrally with the gate electrode 25 of the TFT 24, and the data wiring 31 is formed on the gate insulating film 2.
6 and the drain electrode 29 of the TFT 24
It is connected to the.

Further, the pixel electrode 23 is formed on the gate insulating film 26 and is connected to the source electrode 28 of the TFT 24 corresponding to the pixel electrode 23.

Also, alignment films (not shown) are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 21 and 22, respectively, and at least one pixel (pixel electrode 23 and counter electrode) For each of the regions C1 and C2 having a width corresponding to the facing region), the viewing angles D1,
An orientation process is performed to cause the orientation of D2 to be alternately different.

In this embodiment, each of the regions C1,
C2 is a strip-shaped region that is continuous over substantially the entire length of one pixel row. Therefore, the regions C1 and C2 can be subjected to uniform alignment processing without unevenness.

The pair of substrates 21 and 22 are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material (not shown) surrounding the screen area of the liquid crystal display element 2, and the sealing material between the substrates 21 and 22 is used. A liquid crystal layer (not shown) is provided in the enclosed screen area.

Further, the liquid crystal display element 20 twists the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer between the pair of substrates 21 and 22 at a twist angle of substantially 90 degrees, and applies the liquid crystal molecules to the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 21 and 22 respectively. It is of a TN type in which a polarizing plate (not shown) is arranged, and the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are in the vicinity of the respective substrates 21 and 22 by the alignment treatment performed on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 21 and 22. Is regulated, and for each of the regions C1 and C2 having a width corresponding to the at least one pixel, the respective regions C1 and C2
The two viewing angles D1 and D2 are alternately oriented in different orientations.

Further, in this embodiment, each of the regions C
1 and C2 are regions along the vertical direction of the screen, that is, regions corresponding to substantially the entire length of the pixel electrode rows along the data lines 31, and the width of each of the regions C1 and C2 is
The width corresponds to one pixel (the width corresponding to one pixel electrode column).

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21a denotes an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 21 of the liquid crystal display element 20, and reference numeral 22a denotes an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, every other area (hereinafter, referred to as a first area) C1 of the areas C1 and C2 of the liquid crystal display element 20 is provided with liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 21. Is approximately 45 clockwise as viewed from the front with respect to the horizontal axis x of the screen.
The liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 22 are rotated approximately 45 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal axis x when viewed from the front side.
The liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction shifted by an angle, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned on the rear substrate 2 as indicated by the broken arrows in FIG.
From 2 toward the front substrate 21, the substrate is twist-oriented at a twist angle of approximately 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front.

Therefore, every other first region C1
Is in the direction along the horizontal axis x and in the right direction when viewed from the observation side (front side) of the display.

The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front substrate 21 and the liquid crystal in the vicinity of the front substrate 21 in the first region C1 are placed in every other region (hereinafter, referred to as a second region) C2. The liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 22 are oriented substantially diametrically opposite to the molecular orientation direction 21a, and the liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 22 in the first region C1 are substantially diametrically opposed to the liquid crystal molecule orientation direction 22a near the rear substrate 22. The liquid crystal molecules are oriented from the rear substrate 22 to the front substrate 21 as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 4 and substantially 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front. It is twist-oriented at a twist angle.

Therefore, the viewing angle D2 of the other alternate second area C2 is in the direction along the horizontal axis x and to the left as viewed from the viewing side (front side) of the display.

Each of the polarizing plates (not shown) disposed on the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 21 and 22 of the liquid crystal display element 20 is a normal polarizing plate having a transmission axis in one direction. The plate, for example, the front-side polarizing plate has its transmission axis set in the orientation direction 21a of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front-side substrate 21 in the first and second regions C1, C2.
One region (for example, the first region C1) is substantially parallel to the liquid crystal molecule alignment direction, and the other region (for example, the second region C1)
The front substrate 21 is set substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal molecule alignment direction of 2).
The other rear polarizer is attached to the outer surface of the rear substrate 22 with its transmission axis substantially perpendicular to or substantially parallel to the transmission axis of the front polarizer. .

The three-dimensional image display device of this embodiment is
A display driving unit for driving the liquid crystal display element 20 is provided.

Although not shown, the display driving means comprises a display driving means comprising a scanning side driving circuit, a signal side driving circuit and its control circuit. A gate signal is sequentially supplied to each gate wiring 31, and in synchronism therewith, each data wiring corresponding to every other first area C 1 having a viewing angle D 1 in the right direction of the liquid crystal display element 20 from the signal side driving circuit. 31
By supplying a left-eye image data signal to each data wiring 31 corresponding to every other second region C2 having a viewing angle D2 in the left direction. Each area C of the liquid crystal display element 20
1 and C2, between the electrodes of the pixels (pixel electrodes 23) corresponding to every other first region C1 having a viewing angle D1 in the right direction.
And a counter electrode), a writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the right eye is applied, and the left eye is placed between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to every other second region C2 having a viewing angle D2 in the left direction. Write voltage corresponding to the image data for use.

In this embodiment, as described above,
The liquid crystal display element 20 is formed such that every other first area C1 having a viewing angle D1 in the right direction and every other second area C2 having a viewing angle D2 in the left direction are along the data wiring 31. Since the region corresponds to almost the entire length of the pixel electrode row,
The image data signal to be supplied to each of the plurality of data lines 31 may be either the right-eye image data signal or the left-eye image data signal, and thus the configuration of the display driving unit can be simplified.

In the stereoscopic image display apparatus of this embodiment, the first area C1 corresponding to the pixel to which the write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied among the areas C1 and C2 of the liquid crystal display element 20 is provided. Is in the right direction as viewed from the viewing side of the display, and the viewing angle D of the second area C2 corresponding to the pixel to which the write voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye is applied.
2 is in the left direction when viewed from the viewing side of the display, the right-eye image displayed in the first area C1 corresponding to the pixel to which the write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied is displayed by the display observer. A second area C2 corresponding to a pixel which is visible to the right eye and to which a write voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye is applied;
The image for the left eye displayed on the display can be displayed so as to be visible to the left eye of the display observer, and a stereoscopic image in which the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are synthesized can be observed. A stereoscopic image can be directly observed without using glasses.

In the first and second embodiments,
The liquid crystal display elements 1 and 20 have a configuration in which, for each region corresponding to one pixel column, an alignment process is performed to align the viewing angles of these regions alternately in different alignment states. A, for each region corresponding to a plurality of adjacent pixel columns, a configuration in which the direction of the viewing angle of these regions is subjected to an alignment process for alternately orienting them in different alignment states,
The display driving unit applies a write voltage corresponding to image data for the right eye between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to a region having a viewing angle in one direction among regions corresponding to a plurality of adjacent pixel columns, The writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye may be applied between the electrodes of the pixels corresponding to the region having the viewing angle in the other direction.

In this case, it is preferable that the width of each region where the direction of the viewing angle is alternately different is a width corresponding to two or three adjacent pixel columns. In addition, since the right-eye image displayed by the alternate region and the left-eye image displayed by the other alternate regions look like continuous images without breaks, the right-eye image A high-quality stereoscopic image synthesized with the left-eye image is observed.

The three-dimensional image display devices of the first and second embodiments are for displaying a monochrome three-dimensional image. One of the substrates (preferably, the front substrate) of the liquid crystal display elements 2 and 20 is used. Are provided with three color filters of red, green, and blue, respectively, corresponding to the respective pixel columns.
Adjacent 3 provided with three color filters of green and blue
For each region corresponding to one pixel column, an orientation process is performed for alternately orienting the viewing angle directions of these regions to different alignment states, and the display driving unit is configured to control the display driving unit for each of the three adjacent pixel columns. Of the regions, a write voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data of red, green, and blue is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the three pixel columns corresponding to the region having a viewing angle in one direction, and the other direction. A color stereoscopic image is displayed by applying a write voltage corresponding to red, green, and blue left-eye image data between electrodes of each pixel of three pixel columns corresponding to a region having a viewing angle. be able to.

Further, the stereoscopic image display devices of the first and second embodiments are provided with TN type liquid crystal display elements 1 and 20, and the liquid crystal display element uses liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules may be oriented at 180 to 270 degrees (for each region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel) as long as the liquid crystal molecules are subjected to an alignment process for causing the directions of the viewing angles of these regions to be alternately aligned in different alignment states. An STN (super twisted nematic) type that is twist-oriented at a twist angle of usually 230 to 260 degrees) may be used.

In the three-dimensional image display devices of the first and second embodiments, a reflection plate is disposed on the rear side of the liquid crystal display element 2 or 20, and external light, which is light in a use environment of the display device, is provided. The present invention can be applied to a reflective display device that performs reflective display using the same, and a transmissive display device that performs transmissive display using light from a backlight disposed behind the liquid crystal display element 2 or 20.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a three-dimensional image display device showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The three-dimensional image display device 30 of this embodiment has a first liquid crystal display element 31 and The second liquid crystal display element 32 disposed on either side of the first liquid crystal display element 31 (the rear side in this embodiment)
And display driving means (not shown) for driving the first and second liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32. In addition,
The first liquid crystal display element 31 and the second liquid crystal display element 32
Are of the same number of pixels and pixel arrangement.

The first and second liquid crystal display elements 31, 32
Are provided with transparent electrodes 35 and 36 that form a plurality of pixels by regions facing each other on the inner surfaces of a pair of front and rear transparent substrates 33 and 34 facing each other with the liquid crystal layer 39 interposed therebetween. The pair of substrates 33, 34
A liquid crystal layer 39 is provided between the substrates 33 and 34 in a screen area surrounded by the sealing material, which is joined via a frame-shaped sealing material (not shown).

The first and second liquid crystal display elements 3
Reference numerals 1 and 32 denote, for example, a simple matrix type liquid crystal display element. The electrodes 35 provided on one substrate, for example, the inner surface of the front substrate 33, are formed parallel to each other along the row direction (left and right direction of the screen). The plurality of scanning electrodes, the rear substrate 34
The electrodes 36 provided on the inner surface of are a plurality of signal electrodes formed in parallel with each other along the column direction (vertical direction of the screen).

The first and second liquid crystal display elements 3
Alignment films 37 and 38 are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 33 and 34 to cover the electrodes 35 and 36, respectively.
The liquid crystal molecules are subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined alignment state.

The alignment process is different between the first and second liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32. The first liquid crystal display element 31 allows the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 39 to have a viewing angle in one direction. The second liquid crystal display element 32 causes the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 39 to be oriented in a direction different from the direction of the viewing angle of the first liquid crystal display element 31. An alignment process for aligning to an alignment state having a viewing angle is performed.

The first and second liquid crystal display elements 3
Each of the substrates 1 and 32 twists the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 39 between the pair of substrates 33 and 34 at a twist angle of substantially 90 degrees, and twists the pair of substrates 33 and 34.
With polarizing plates 40, 41, 42 arranged on the outer surface of
It is an N-type, and the rear polarizer 41 of the first liquid crystal display element 31 arranged on the front side also serves as the front polarizer of the second liquid crystal display element 32 arranged on the rear side.

Hereinafter, the first liquid crystal display element 31 disposed on the front side is referred to as a front liquid crystal display element, and the second liquid crystal display element 32 disposed on the rear side is referred to as a rear liquid crystal display element. The front polarizer 40 is a front polarizer, the front polarizer of the front liquid crystal display element 31 is a middle polarizer, and the rear polarizer 41 is also an intermediate polarizer. The polarizing plate 42 on the side is referred to as a rear polarizing plate.

In this embodiment, one of the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 on the front side and the rear side, for example, the liquid crystal display element 31 on the front side displays the liquid crystal molecules on the display observation side (front side). An alignment process is performed to align the liquid crystal in an alignment state having a viewing angle in the right direction.
In addition, the liquid crystal molecules are subjected to an alignment process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle to the left as viewed from a display observation side.

FIG. 6 shows the alignment directions 33a and 34a of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the pair of substrates 33 and 43 of the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the rear liquid crystal display element 32, the front polarizer 40 and the intermediate polarizer 41. And the transmission axis 41 of the rear polarizing plate 42
a, 41a and 42a are shown.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front liquid crystal display element 31
The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front substrate 33 are oriented in a direction substantially 45 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front with respect to the horizontal axis x of the screen, and the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the rear substrate 34 are The liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction substantially 45 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the front with respect to the horizontal axis x, and the liquid crystal molecules are moved from the rear substrate 34 to the front substrate as indicated by the broken arrows in the figure. It is oriented clockwise at a twist angle of about 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front side toward 33.

Therefore, the front liquid crystal display element 31
In the direction along the horizontal axis x and on the viewing side of the display (front side)
Has a viewing angle E1 to the right as viewed from above.

In the rear liquid crystal display element 32, the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the front substrate 33 are substantially diametrically opposite to the liquid crystal molecule orientation direction 33a in the vicinity of the front substrate 33 of the front liquid crystal display element 31. And the liquid crystal molecules near the rear substrate 34 are aligned with the front liquid crystal display element 31.
Liquid crystal molecule alignment direction 34a near the rear substrate 34
The liquid crystal molecules are subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in almost the opposite direction with respect to the liquid crystal molecules.
From the rear substrate 34 toward the front substrate 33, the liquid crystal is twist-oriented at a twist angle of approximately 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front.

For this reason, the rear liquid crystal display element 32
In the direction along the horizontal axis x and on the viewing side of the display (front side)
Has a viewing angle E2 to the left as viewed from above.

The front polarizing plate 40 is arranged so that its transmission axis 40a is substantially orthogonal to the orientation direction 33a of the liquid crystal molecules near the front substrate 33 of the front liquid crystal display element 31, and the intermediate polarizing plate 41 is The transmission axis 41a is arranged substantially perpendicular to the transmission axis 40a of the front polarizing plate 40, and the rear polarizing plate 42 is arranged with the transmission axis 42a substantially orthogonal to the transmission axis 41a of the intermediate polarizing plate 41. ing.

On the other hand, the front and rear liquid crystal display elements 3
Although not shown, the display driving means for driving the first and second liquid crystal display elements 32 is provided between the electrodes 35 and 36 of each pixel of the front liquid crystal display element 31 having the viewing angle E1 in the right direction. An element driving system and a rear element driving system for applying a writing voltage corresponding to left-eye image data between the electrodes 35 and 36 of each pixel of the rear liquid crystal display element 32 having a viewing angle E2 in the left direction. The writing of right-eye image data to the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the writing of left-eye image data to the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are alternately performed, and the right-eye image data to the front liquid crystal display element 31 is written. During writing of data, all pixels of the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are controlled to transmit light, and during writing of left-eye image data to the rear liquid crystal display element 32, the front liquid crystal display element is controlled. It is configured to control all the pixels of one state to transmit light.

In the three-dimensional image display device 30, the viewing angle E1 of the front liquid crystal display element 31, to which the writing voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied, of the front and rear liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 is displayed. It is to the right as seen from the observation side,
The writing voltage corresponding to the right-eye image data is applied because the viewing angle E2 of the rear liquid crystal display element 32 to which the writing voltage corresponding to the left-eye image data is applied is leftward when viewed from the viewing side of the display. The image for the right eye displayed by one liquid crystal display element 31 is seen by the right eye of the display observer, and the image for the left eye displayed by the other liquid crystal display element 32 to which the writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the left eye is applied. It is possible to make a display visible to the left eye of the display observer and observe a stereoscopic image in which the right-eye image and the left-eye image are combined.

The stereoscopic image display device 30 has a liquid crystal display element 31 for displaying the image for the right eye and a liquid crystal display element 32 for displaying the image for the left eye, which are arranged in an overlapping manner. Writing right-eye image data to the front liquid crystal display element 31;
Writing of the left-eye image data to the front-side liquid crystal display element 31 is performed alternately, and all the pixels of the rear-side liquid crystal display element 32 are controlled to transmit light during writing of the right-eye image data to the front-side liquid crystal display element 31. During the writing of the left-eye image data into the rear liquid crystal display element 32, all pixels of the front liquid crystal display element 31 are controlled to transmit light, so that the right eye displayed by one liquid crystal display element 31 is controlled. The display image is seen by the right eye of the display observer, and the left eye image displayed by the other liquid crystal display element 32 is seen by the left eye of the display observer.

Therefore, according to the three-dimensional image display device 30, a three-dimensional image can be directly observed without using observation glasses having a polarizing plate as in a conventional display device.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 (a) shows the screens of the first and second liquid crystal display elements 31, 32 facing the front. Status,
(B) shows a state where the screens of the first and second liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 are directed in a direction obliquely inclined with respect to the front direction.

The stereoscopic image display device 30a of this embodiment is
The first liquid crystal display element 31 having a viewing angle in the right direction for displaying the image for the right eye and the front or rear side (rear side in this embodiment) of the first liquid crystal display element 31 have a viewing angle in the left direction for displaying the image for the left eye. Two liquid crystal display elements 32 are arranged, and these liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 are tilted in directions opposite to each other by a tilting mechanism 44.

The first liquid crystal display element (hereinafter referred to as the front liquid crystal display element) 31 and the second liquid crystal display element 32
A liquid crystal display element 32 (hereinafter referred to as a rear liquid crystal display element) is the same as the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. Further, the stereoscopic image display device 30a of this embodiment also includes a display drive unit having the same configuration as that of the third embodiment.

The tilting mechanism 44 includes a pair of front and rear frame plates 45a and 45b.
1 is supported by a front frame plate 45a, and the rear liquid crystal display element 32 is supported by a rear frame plate 45b.

The front polarizing plate 40 of the front liquid crystal display element 31 is attached to the outer surface of the front substrate 33 of the front liquid crystal display element 31, and the rear polarizing plate 42 of the rear liquid crystal display element 32 is The intermediate polarizer 41, which is attached to the outer surface of the rear substrate 34 of the liquid crystal display element 32 and serves as both the rear polarizer of the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the front polarizer of the rear liquid crystal display element 32, is shown in FIG. Is attached to the outer surface of the rear substrate 34 of the front liquid crystal display element 31 as described above, or is attached to the outer surface of the front substrate 33 of the rear liquid crystal display element 32.

One end of each of the pair of frame-shaped plates 45a and 45b is fixed to a fixed member 4 provided at a fixed position.
6 is pivotally supported at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction, and is provided so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction about a pivot point with respect to the fixing member 46. The other end of the pair of frame plates 45a and 45b has a nut member 48 at one end.
Are pivotally supported by a pair of front and rear movable members 47, respectively.

On the other hand, on the side of the other ends of the frame-shaped plates 45a and 45b, screwed shafts 49 having oppositely oriented screw portions formed at both ends and a rotary operation knob 49a provided at one end are provided. Are arranged in parallel with the normal line of the screen of the display device 30a (the normal line of the screens of the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 in a state where the screens of the front and rear liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 are oriented in the front direction). ing. The threaded shaft 49 is rotatably supported by a shaft receiver 50 provided at a fixed position while being restricted from moving in the axial direction.

Then, the pair of frame-shaped plates 45a,
A pair of front and rear movable members 4 for pivotally supporting the other end of the 45b, respectively.
Numerals 7 are screwed to the threaded portions on both ends of the threaded shaft 29 via the nut members 48, respectively.

The pair of movable members 47 are spring members (for example, tension coil springs) 5 for absorbing looseness of the movable members 47 with respect to the threaded shaft 29.
They are connected by 1.

The tilting mechanism 44 includes a front liquid crystal display element 31 supported by a front frame plate 45a and a rear frame plate 4 by rotation of the threaded shaft 29.
When the screwed shaft 29 is rotated in one direction, the pair of front and rear movable members 47 are moved to the rear of the screwed shaft 29 by rotating the screwed shaft 29 in one direction. Are moved in a direction approaching each other by the screw feed action of.

Therefore, when the threaded shaft 29 is rotated in one direction, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the front liquid crystal display element (displays a right-eye image) supported by the front frame plate 45a. The liquid crystal display element 31 having a viewing angle in the right direction is tilted so that the screen faces in a direction inclined to the right with respect to the normal line of the display device 30a, and is supported by the rear frame plate 45b. Rear liquid crystal display element (liquid crystal display element having leftward viewing angle for displaying left-eye image) 3
2 is tilted so that the screen faces in a direction inclined leftward with respect to the normal line of the display device 30a.

When the threaded shaft 29 is rotated in the reverse direction, the pair of front and rear movable members 46 are moved in a direction away from each other, and the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are moved to the positions shown in FIG. The display device 30a as shown in FIG.
When the threaded shaft 29 is further rotated in the reverse direction, the front liquid crystal display element 31 is tilted leftward with respect to the normal line of the display device 30a. Is tilted so that the screen faces in a direction in which the rear liquid crystal display element 32 is tilted rightward with respect to the normal line of the display device 30a.

The stereoscopic image display device 30a of this embodiment is
Since the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are provided so as to be tiltable in directions opposite to each other,
The viewing angles of the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 can be adjusted in accordance with the viewing distance of display, so that the viewing distance range in which a good stereoscopic image can be viewed can be widened.

That is, the display of the display device is observed from the front direction, but the observation direction by the right eye and the observation direction by the left eye of the display observer are directions obliquely shifted from the front direction.

For example, if the display is observed in a state where the screens of the front and rear liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 are directed to the front as shown in FIG. When the viewing angles 31 and 32 match, the right-eye image displayed by the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the left-eye image displayed by the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are clearly visible to the right and left eyes of the display observer. If the observation distance is changed, the right-eye image and the left-eye image cannot be clearly seen, so that a good stereoscopic image cannot be observed.

However, the stereoscopic image display device 3 of this embodiment
0a is a front liquid crystal display element 31 and a rear liquid crystal display element 32
Are tilted in directions opposite to each other, the distance from the position of the display observer's eyes to the screens of the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 can be changed, so that the viewing angles of both the liquid crystal display elements 31 and 32 can be changed. According to the viewing distance of the display, the right-eye image displayed by the front liquid crystal display element 31 and the left-eye image displayed by the rear liquid crystal display element 32 are clearly seen by the right and left eyes of the display observer. It can be adjusted, and therefore, the observation distance range in which a good stereoscopic image can be observed can be widened.

The three-dimensional image display devices 30 and 30a of the third and fourth embodiments each have a simple matrix type liquid crystal having a plurality of scanning electrodes 35 extending in a row direction and a plurality of signal electrodes 36 extending in a column direction. The display device includes display elements 31 and 32. The first and second liquid crystal display elements each include a simple matrix having a plurality of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes formed in a shape corresponding to a display pattern such as a number or a character. Type liquid crystal display element, or an active matrix type liquid crystal display element using a TFT or MIM (two-terminal non-linear resistance element) as an active element. Further, the liquid crystal display element is not limited to the TN type, but may be an STN type.

In the stereoscopic image display devices 30 of the third and fourth embodiments, a reflection plate is disposed on the rear side of the rear liquid crystal display element 32, and external light which is light of the use environment of the display device is provided. The present invention can be applied to a reflective display device that performs reflective display using the same, and a transmissive display device that performs transmissive display using light from a backlight disposed behind the rear liquid crystal display element 32.

Further, the display devices of the first to fourth embodiments each display a stereoscopic image.
The present invention can also be applied to a two-direction observation display device that displays an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image.

FIG. 8 is a use state diagram showing an example of the two-directional observation type display device.
Is arranged with its screen facing upward, and the display device 5
2 allows one observer 54a looking at the screen from one side to observe the image for the observer, and the other observer 54b looking at the screen from the opposite side of the display device 52 displays the image for the observer. Let them observe.

Note that the two-direction observation type display device 52
For example, a battle game image is displayed, and each observer (competitor) views keyboards 53a and 53b arranged on both sides of the display device 52 while viewing his / her own image displayed on the display device 52. To play the battle game.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an image for one observer and an image for the other observer displayed on the two-directional observation display device 52. FIG. 9A shows an image for one observer. And (b) shows an image for the other observer.

This image is a battle game image using playing cards. In the image for one observer shown in FIG. 13A, a hand 54 of the observer is displayed face up and the other observer's hand is displayed. In the image in which the observer's hand 55 and the unassigned bill 56 are displayed face down, the image for the other observer shown in (b), the observer's hand 55 is displayed face up,
This is an image in which the hand 54 and the unpaid bill 56 of the one observer who is the opponent are displayed face down.

When the present invention is applied to such a two-directional observation type display device, the display driving means of the above-described stereoscopic image display devices of the first to fourth embodiments may be replaced by a liquid crystal display element having one viewer. It may be changed to a configuration in which a write voltage corresponding to image data for the other and a write voltage corresponding to image data for the other observer are applied.

That is, of the display devices of the present invention, the display devices of the present invention corresponding to the above-described first and second embodiments are basically provided on the inner surfaces of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. Electrodes forming a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction by regions facing each other are provided, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are separated from each other by a region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel. A liquid crystal display element that has been subjected to an alignment process for causing the viewing angle direction to be alternately aligned in different alignment states, and each pixel corresponding to a region having a viewing angle in one direction among the regions of the liquid crystal display element A table in which a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data is applied between the electrodes, and a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel corresponding to a region having a viewing angle in the other direction. It is characterized in that a drive means.

Therefore, when the inventions corresponding to the first and second embodiments are applied to a two-direction observation display device, the liquid crystal display element must be provided in at least one region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel. An alignment process is performed on every other region to align the liquid crystal molecules in that region into an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction, and the liquid crystal molecules in that region are applied to the other alternate regions, respectively. The liquid crystal display device has a configuration in which an alignment process is performed for aligning the liquid crystal display device in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction opposite to the one direction, and a display driving unit that drives the liquid crystal display device. A writing voltage corresponding to image data for one observer is applied between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to every other region having a viewing angle in one direction, and one having a viewing angle in the opposite direction. For other areas It may be configured to apply a write voltage corresponding to the image data for the other viewer between the electrodes of each pixel that.

In this two-direction observation display device, the viewing angle of a region corresponding to a pixel to which a writing voltage corresponding to one observer image data is applied in one of the regions of the liquid crystal display element is set in one direction. Since the viewing angle of the region corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the other observer image data is applied is in the opposite direction, one observer who looks at the screen from one side of the display device has One observer image displayed in the region corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the image data for the observer has been applied is observed, and the other observer who looks at the screen from the opposite side of the display device receives the image. The other observer image displayed in the region corresponding to the pixel to which the writing voltage corresponding to the observer image data is applied can be observed.

Therefore, according to the two-direction observation type display device, images observed from two directions, such as a battle game image, can be directly observed without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate. .

Further, among the display devices of the present invention, the display devices corresponding to the above-described third and fourth embodiments are basically opposed to each other on the inner surfaces of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A first liquid crystal display element provided with an electrode for forming a plurality of pixels by a region to be formed, and an alignment treatment for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction; An electrode for forming a plurality of pixels is provided on an inner surface of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and an electrode forming a plurality of pixels is provided. A second liquid crystal display element, which has been subjected to an alignment treatment for orienting the liquid crystal in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction different from that of the first liquid crystal display element, and A write voltage corresponding to the first image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the first liquid crystal display element, and a write voltage corresponding to the second image data is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of the second liquid crystal display element. And a display driving means for applying

Therefore, when the inventions corresponding to the third and fourth embodiments are applied to a two-way observation type display device, one of the first and second liquid crystal display devices is replaced by one of the first and second liquid crystal display devices. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction having a viewing angle in one direction, and the other liquid crystal display element is aligned in a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules have a viewing angle in a direction opposite to the one direction. And a display driving means for driving the first and second liquid crystal display elements is provided with one of the liquid crystal display elements of the first and second liquid crystal display elements. A write voltage corresponding to image data for one observer is applied between the electrodes of each pixel of one liquid crystal display element having a viewing angle in the direction of the other, and each pixel of the other liquid crystal display element having a viewing angle in the opposite direction is applied. Image for the other observer between the electrodes It may be configured to apply a write voltage corresponding to the over data.

In this two-directional observation type display device, the viewing angle of one liquid crystal display element to which the writing voltage corresponding to one observer image data is applied is in one direction, and the other observer image data is Since the viewing angle of the other corresponding liquid crystal display element is in the opposite direction, one observer looking at the screen from one side of the display device receives one of the write voltages corresponding to the image data for the observer. One observer's image displayed by one liquid crystal display element displayed by the liquid crystal display element is observed, and the other observer looking at the screen from the opposite side of the display device corresponds to the image data for that observer. The other observer image displayed by the other liquid crystal display element to which the applied write voltage is applied can be observed.

Therefore, according to the two-direction observation type display device, an image observed from two directions such as a stereoscopic image or a battle game image can be directly displayed without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate. Can be observed.

[0128]

According to the display device of the present invention, the direction of the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device is alternately changed for each region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel, and one of the regions of the liquid crystal display device is provided. In a region having a viewing angle in the direction of, an image corresponding to the first image data is displayed by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the region, and the other is displayed. In a region having a visual angle in the direction, an image corresponding to the second image data is displayed by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between electrodes of each pixel corresponding to the region. It is possible to directly observe a stereoscopic image or an image observed from two directions, such as a battle game image, without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate.

In this display device, it is preferable that each of the regions in which the viewing angles of the liquid crystal display elements are alternately different is a band-shaped region that is continuous over substantially the entire length of at least one pixel column of the liquid crystal display device. By doing so, it is possible to perform a uniform alignment process without unevenness on each of the regions.

Further, in the liquid crystal display element, a plurality of scanning electrodes are provided on the inner surface of one substrate in parallel with each other along the row direction, and a plurality of signal electrodes are provided on the inner surface of the other substrate in the column direction. In the case of a simple matrix liquid crystal display element provided in parallel along with each other, it is desirable that each of the regions in which the viewing angle directions are alternately different is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode to which a data signal is supplied. By doing so, the image data signals to be supplied to the plurality of signal electrodes can be any one of the right-eye image data signal and the left-eye image data signal, and the configuration of the display driving unit can be simplified.

Further, the liquid crystal display element has a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a row direction and a column direction on an inner surface of one substrate, and a plurality of T electrodes respectively connected to the pixel electrodes.
FT, a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to each of the TFTs in each row, and a plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to each of the TFTs in each column,
In the case of an active matrix liquid crystal display element in which a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on the inner surface of the other substrate, the regions in which the viewing angle directions are alternately different are:
It is desirable that the region corresponds to almost the entire length of the pixel electrode row along the data line.
The image data signal supplied to each of the plurality of data wirings may be one of a right-eye image data signal and a left-eye image data signal, so that the configuration of the display driving unit can be simplified.

Further, another display device according to the present invention is provided on one of front and rear sides of a first liquid crystal display element which has been subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in one direction. Disposing a second liquid crystal display element that has been subjected to an alignment process for aligning liquid crystal molecules in an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction different from the direction of the viewing angle of the first liquid crystal display element; The liquid crystal display element displays an image corresponding to the first image data by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the first image data between the electrodes of each pixel, and causes the second liquid crystal display element to display an image corresponding to the first image data. Since an image corresponding to the second image data is displayed by applying a writing voltage corresponding to the second image data between the electrodes of each pixel,
A stereoscopic image or an image viewed from two directions, such as a battle game image, can be directly observed without using observation glasses provided with a polarizing plate.

In this display device, it is desirable that the first liquid crystal display element and the second liquid crystal display element are provided so as to be tiltable in directions opposite to each other. In this manner, the first and second liquid crystal display elements are provided. The viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device can be adjusted according to the viewing distance of display, and the viewing distance range in which a good stereoscopic image can be viewed can be widened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display element included in the stereoscopic image display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a part showing an alignment processing state of the liquid crystal display element.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a part of a liquid crystal display element constituting a stereoscopic image display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a stereoscopic image display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules near a pair of substrates of a front liquid crystal display element and a rear liquid crystal display element according to a third embodiment, and transmission axes of the front polarizer, the intermediate polarizer, and the rear polarizer. FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the screens of the first and second liquid crystal display elements of the stereoscopic image display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention are directed to the front direction and to the direction inclined obliquely to the front direction. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a use state diagram illustrating an example of a two-direction observation display device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an image for one observer and an image for the other observer displayed by the two-directional observation display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stereo image display device 2 ... Liquid crystal display element 3, 4 ... Substrate 3a, 3a ... Orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of substrate 5 ... Scanning electrode 6 ... Signal electrode 7, 8 ... Alignment film 10 ... Liquid crystal layer 12, 12 ... Polarizing plates A1, A2: areas corresponding to pixel rows B1, B2: viewing angle 13: display driving means 20: liquid crystal display elements 21, 22: substrates 21a, 22a: orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules near the substrates 23: pixel electrodes 24 ... TFT 30 gate wiring 31 data wiring C1, C2 area corresponding to pixel column D1, D2 viewing angle 30, 30a stereoscopic image display device 31, 32 liquid crystal display element 33, 34 substrate 33a, 34a near substrate 35, 36 ... Electrodes 37, 38 ... Alignment film 39 ... Liquid crystal layer 40, 41, 42 ... Polarizer E1, E2 ... Viewing angle 44 ... Tilting mechanism 52 ... 2 Direction observation type display device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G02F 1/1343 G02F 1/1343 5C006 1/1347 1/1347 5C061 1/1368 1/1368 5C080 G09G 3/20 660 G09G 3/20 660R 660X 660Z 680 680H 680E 680W 3/36 3/36 H04N 13/04 H04N 13/04 F term (reference) 2H088 EA06 HA02 HA03 HA06 HA08 HA12 HA18 JA05 JA13 KA17 MA01 MA07 MA18A0 Q0 RA10 TA04 TA12 TA15 UA09 2H090 HD14 KA05 KA08 LA01 LA04 LA09 LA15 MA15 2H092 GA14 JA24 NA01 NA04 PA08 PA11 QA07 QA10 RA01 2H093 NC34 ND01 ND13 NE03 NE04 NE06 NF05 NF13 NG08 5C006 BB08 AB10 AB15A12 CC12 AB12A15 AB12A15 DD13 FF10 FF11 JJ01 JJ06 KK50

Claims (6)

[Claims] An electrode for forming a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction by regions facing each other is provided on inner surfaces of a pair of substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are provided. For each region having a width corresponding to at least one pixel, a liquid crystal display element which is subjected to an alignment process for causing the directions of viewing angles of these regions to be alternately differently aligned; In each of the regions, a write voltage corresponding to the first image data is applied between electrodes of the pixels corresponding to a region having a viewing angle in one direction, and each pixel corresponding to a region having a viewing angle in the other direction. A display driving means for applying a write voltage corresponding to the second image data between the electrodes. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the regions in which the viewing angle direction is alternately different is a band-shaped region that is continuous over substantially the entire length of at least one pixel column of the liquid crystal display device. Display device. 3. A liquid crystal display device, wherein a plurality of scanning electrodes are provided on an inner surface of one substrate in parallel with each other in a row direction, and a plurality of signal electrodes are provided on an inner surface of the other substrate in a column direction. 3. The display according to claim 2, wherein each of the regions is a simple matrix liquid crystal display device provided in parallel with each other, and each region having a different viewing angle direction is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of the signal electrode. apparatus. 4. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a row direction and a column direction on an inner surface of one substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors respectively connected to the pixel electrodes; A plurality of gate lines each supplying a gate signal, and a plurality of data lines supplying a data signal to each of the thin film transistors in each column are provided, and a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on an inner surface of the other substrate. 3. The active matrix liquid crystal display element provided with, and each of the regions having different viewing angle directions is a region corresponding to substantially the entire length of a pixel electrode row along the data wiring. Display device. 5. An electrode which forms a plurality of pixels by regions facing each other on the inner surfaces of a pair of substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and has a viewing angle in one direction with respect to liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. A first liquid crystal display element that has been subjected to an alignment treatment for aligning it in an alignment state; and an electrode that forms a plurality of pixels by regions facing each other on inner surfaces of a pair of substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. And an alignment process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer to an alignment state having a viewing angle in a direction different from the viewing angle direction of the first liquid crystal display element,
A second liquid crystal display element disposed on either side of the first liquid crystal display element; and a write voltage corresponding to first image data between electrodes of each pixel of the first liquid crystal display element. A display drive unit for applying a write voltage corresponding to second image data between electrodes of each pixel of the second liquid crystal display element. 6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein the first liquid crystal display element and the second liquid crystal display element are provided so as to be tiltable in directions opposite to each other.