JP2009048000A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying a three-dimensional image in a plurality of directions without carrying out a vast amount of arithmetic processing. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display panel 1 including a first substrate having a plurality of pixel groups each having a plurality of pixels, a second substrate having a display screen and disposed opposing to the first substrate leaving a gap, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first and second substrates; a memory section 7 stored with image information; a control section 8 for transmitting the image information in the memory section to the liquid crystal display panel 8; and an optical member disposed on the display screen and transmitting the image displayed by the liquid crystal display panel to form a stereoscopic image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device.

  In general, liquid crystal display devices are widely used as display devices. Since the liquid crystal display device is small and lightweight, it is used as a display device for various electronic devices. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate, a counter substrate disposed to face the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the two substrates.

In recent years, a liquid crystal display device that performs three-dimensional display is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using the liquid crystal display device as described above, three-dimensional display can be performed in a plurality of directions, so that an observer can visually recognize a stereoscopic image from a plurality of directions.
JP 2005-309374 A

  As described above, when three-dimensional display is performed, it is necessary to display a plurality of images in a plurality of directions different from each other, and the information processing amount of the liquid crystal display device becomes enormous. The above is remarkable when the liquid crystal display device displays a moving image instead of a still image. Therefore, when performing three-dimensional display, it is necessary to provide a control unit with high processing capability in the liquid crystal display device and perform enormous arithmetic processing.

However, when the control unit is provided, the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device increases and the product price also increases. For this reason, the liquid crystal display device is unrealistic.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of three-dimensional display in a plurality of directions without performing enormous arithmetic processing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a liquid crystal display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
A first substrate having a plurality of picture element groups each having a plurality of picture elements, a second substrate having a display surface and disposed opposite to the first substrate with a gap, and the first substrate and the first substrate A liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two substrates;
A storage unit storing image information;
A control unit for transmitting image information of the storage unit to the liquid crystal display panel;
And an optical member that is provided on the display surface and that transmits an image displayed by the liquid crystal display panel to form a stereoscopic image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of three-dimensional display in a plurality of directions without performing enormous arithmetic processing.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel 1, a color filter 2, a lens 3 as an optical member, a drive circuit 4, a backlight unit 5, a substrate 6, a storage unit 7, and a control unit 8. And a terminal 9.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 includes an array substrate 10 as a first substrate, a display surface S, a counter substrate 20 as a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 30. The array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are each formed in a rectangular shape. The array substrate 10 is formed to have a size larger than that of the counter substrate 20.

  The array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are arranged so that the three sides of each of them substantially overlap. On the remaining side of the array substrate 10, the array substrate 10 extends outward from the counter substrate 20. More specifically, the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are disposed so as to substantially overlap in the first direction d1. In the second direction d2 orthogonal to the first direction d1, the array substrate 10 extends outward from the counter substrate 20. The liquid crystal display panel 1 has a rectangular display region R that overlaps the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.

  The array substrate 10 has a rectangular glass substrate 11 as a transparent insulating substrate. The glass substrate 11 has an extending portion 11 a that is detached from the counter substrate 20. In the display region R, a plurality of picture element groups 12 are arranged on the glass substrate 11. The picture element group 12 is provided in a matrix along the first surface d1 and the second direction d2 along the display surface S. Note that the display surface S overlaps the display region R. In this embodiment, the array substrate 10 has a 120 × 160 pixel group 12. That is, 120 pixel elements 12 are arranged in the first direction d1 and 160 in the second direction d2.

  Each picture element group 12 has a plurality of picture elements 13. The picture elements 13 are provided in a matrix along the first direction d1 and the second direction d2. In this embodiment, the picture element group 12 has 4 × 4 picture elements 13. In each picture element group 12, four picture elements 13 are arranged in the first direction d1 and four in the second direction d2.

  Each picture element 13 has a plurality of pixels. In this embodiment, the picture element 13 has three pixels arranged in the first direction d1. More specifically, the picture element 13 includes a pixel 14a as a first pixel, a pixel 14b as a second pixel, and a pixel 14c as a third pixel.

  In the display region R, a plurality of signal lines 15 and a plurality of scanning lines 16 are provided in a grid pattern on the glass substrate 11. The signal line 15 extends in the second direction d2, and the scanning line 16 extends in the first direction d1. Two adjacent signal lines 15 and two adjacent scanning lines 16 partition the pixels 14a, 14b, and 14c.

  For example, a TFT (thin film transistor) 17 is provided as a switching element near the intersection of the signal line 15 and the scanning line 16. Although not shown, the TFT 17 includes a gate electrode in which a part of the scanning line 16 is extended, a channel layer facing the gate electrode through a gate insulating film, a source electrode connected to one region of the channel layer, and the other A drain electrode connected to the region. Here, the channel layer is formed of polysilicon (p-Si). The source electrode is connected to the signal line 15, and the drain electrode is connected to a pixel electrode 18 described later.

A plurality of pixel electrodes 18 are formed in a matrix on the glass substrate 11. The pixel electrode 18 is formed of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (indium tin oxide). The pixel electrode 18 is formed in a region surrounded by two adjacent signal lines 15 and two adjacent scanning lines 16.
Each of the pixels 14a, 14b, and 14c includes a TFT 17 and a pixel electrode 18 connected to the TFT.

  Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of columnar spacers C are formed as a plurality of spacers on the glass substrate 11 on which the TFT 17 and the pixel electrodes 18 are formed. An alignment film 19 is formed on the glass substrate 11 and the pixel electrode 18 so as to overlap the entire display region R.

  The counter substrate 20 has a rectangular glass substrate 21 as a transparent insulating substrate. In the display region R, the counter electrode 22 is formed on the glass substrate 21 with a transparent conductive film such as ITO. An alignment film 23 is formed on the counter electrode 22. The counter substrate 20 includes a display surface S on the opposite side to the array substrate 10.

  The array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap by a columnar spacer C. The array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are joined to each other by a rectangular frame-shaped sealing material 31 disposed on the peripheral portions of both substrates outside the display region R.

  The liquid crystal layer 30 is sandwiched between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 and surrounded by a sealing material 31. A liquid crystal injection port 32 formed in a part of the sealing material 31 is sealed with a sealing material 33.

  The color filter 2 is provided on the display surface S of the counter substrate 20. The color filter 2 is provided between the counter substrate 20 and the lens 3. The color filter 2 includes a light shielding part 41, a peripheral light shielding part 42, a plurality of red coloring layers 43R, a plurality of green coloring layers 43G, and a plurality of blue coloring layers 43B.

  The light shielding portion 41 is formed in a lattice shape and overlaps the signal line 15 and the scanning line 16. The peripheral light shielding portion 42 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and is formed along the entire periphery of the peripheral portion of the display region R. The peripheral light shielding portion 42 contributes to shielding light leaking from the outside of the display region R.

  The colored layers 43R, 43G, and 43B are formed on the glass substrate 21, the light shielding part 41, and the peripheral light shielding part 42. The colored layers 43R, 43G, and 43B are adjacent to each other in the first direction d1 and are arranged alternately. The colored layers 43R, 43G, and 43B each extend in the second direction d2 and are formed in stripes. The peripheral portions of the colored layers 43R, 43G, and 43B overlap the light shielding portion 41 and the peripheral light shielding portion.

  The colored layer 43R overlaps the pixel 14a. The colored layer 43G overlaps the pixel 14b. The colored layer 43B overlaps the pixel 14c. Note that, not limited to this embodiment, the pixels 14a, 14b, and 14c of each picture element 13 are colored in any one of red, green, and blue and overlap with different colored layers.

  The lens 3 is provided on the display surface S of the counter substrate 20, more specifically on the color filter 2. A plurality of arc-shaped convex portions 3p are formed on the surface of the lens 3. The plurality of protrusions 3p are arranged in the first direction d1 at a pitch corresponding to the pixel group 12, and each extend in the second direction d2. The convex portions 3p overlap with the plurality of picture element groups 12 arranged in a line in the second direction d2. The lens 3 transmits the image displayed by the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the color filter 2 to form a stereoscopic image.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 displays an image in accordance with the shape of the surface of the lens 3. The liquid crystal display panel 1 displays images in a plurality of directions for each region overlapping the picture element group 12. More specifically, the liquid crystal display panel 1 displays images in different directions in a plurality of regions overlapping the plurality of picture elements 13 of each picture element group 12. For this reason, in the liquid crystal display panel 1, the alignment states of the liquid crystal molecules are different from each other for each of a plurality of regions overlapping the plurality of picture elements 13 of each picture element group 12.

  In this embodiment, the resolution of the image of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is equal to the number of picture element groups 12 and is 120 × 160. The resolution of the image of the normal liquid crystal display panel 1 is equal to the number of picture elements 13 and is 480 × 640. For this reason, the resolution of the image of the liquid crystal display panel 1 of this embodiment is 1/16 of the normal one, which is rough.

  The drive circuit 4 is mounted on the extension part 11a. Here, one end portions of the plurality of signal lines 15 and the plurality of scanning lines 16 are provided on the extending portion 11a. That is, one end of each of the plurality of signal lines 15 and the plurality of scanning lines 16 is located on the extending portion 11 a outside the sealing material 31 beyond the sealing material 31. The drive circuit 4 is electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines 15 and the plurality of scanning lines 16.

  The backlight unit 5 is disposed on the outer surface side of the array substrate 10. The backlight unit 5 includes a light guide 5a disposed to face the array substrate 10, and a light source 5b and a reflector 5c disposed to face one side edge of the light guide.

  The storage unit 7, the control unit 8, and the terminal 9 are mounted on the substrate 6. The storage unit 7 stores image information such as still images and moving images in advance. Here, the storage unit 7 stores a plurality of pieces of image information in advance such that, for example, a plurality of pieces of data relating to still images viewed from 16 directions are a total of five pieces. Each image information stored in the storage unit 7 is information for causing the liquid crystal display panel 1 to change the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules for each of a plurality of regions where the liquid crystal display panel 1 overlaps the plurality of picture elements 13 of each picture element group 12. This corresponds to the shape of the convex portion 3p. Thereby, the liquid crystal display panel 1 can display an image that fits the shape of the convex portion 3p, and can display a stereoscopic image by the interaction with the lens 3. In this embodiment, the storage unit 7 is a ROM formed exclusively for reading.

The control unit 8 controls whether the image information in the storage unit 7 is transmitted to the liquid crystal display panel 1. Here, since a plurality of pieces of image information are stored in the storage unit 7, the control unit 8 further selects the image information stored in the storage unit 7 and transmits the selected image information to the liquid crystal display panel. . As described above, since image information is stored in the storage unit 7 in advance, an enormous calculation process by the control unit 8 becomes unnecessary.
The control unit 8 has a timing controller 8a. For this reason, a control signal from the control unit 8 is transmitted to the storage unit 7 and the like based on an instruction from the timing controller 8a.

  The substrate 6 and the liquid crystal display panel 1 are connected by a flexible cable 50. The flexible cable 50 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 4 and the storage unit 7. Therefore, the image information in the storage unit 7 based on the control of the control unit 8 is transmitted to the liquid crystal display panel 1 through the flexible cable 50 and the drive circuit 4.

  In addition, a power supply unit 60 is mounted on the substrate 6. The substrate 6 and the backlight unit 5 are connected by a cable 70. The cable 70 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 60 and the backlight unit 5. Therefore, a direct current from the power supply unit 60 is given to the backlight unit 5 through the cable 70 under the control of the control unit 8.

  According to the liquid crystal display device configured as described above, the liquid crystal display device includes the liquid crystal display panel 1, the storage unit 7, the control unit 8, the lens 3, and the like. Usually, in the case of three-dimensional display, a clock is transmitted from a device external to the liquid crystal display device to the control unit 8, and enormous calculation processing by the control unit 8 is necessary. However, in this embodiment, since image information is stored in the storage unit 7 in advance, a clock from an external device is unnecessary, and an enormous calculation process by the control unit 8 is unnecessary. Since it is not necessary to provide the liquid crystal display device with a controller with high processing capability, the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device can be suppressed, and the product price can also be suppressed.

  The lens 3 has a plurality of arc-shaped convex portions 3p, and the convex portions 3p extend in the second direction d2. Each image information stored in the storage unit 7 is information for making the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules different for each of the plurality of regions where the liquid crystal display panel 1 overlaps the plurality of picture elements 13 of each picture element group 12. This corresponds to the shape of the convex portion 3p. More specifically, the image information is information for displaying a stereoscopic image in a plurality of directions in the left-right direction (first direction d1) of the display screen for each pixel group 12.

  Thereby, the liquid crystal display panel 1 can display an image that fits the shape of the convex portion 3p, and can display a stereoscopic image by the interaction with the lens 3. As described above, the liquid crystal display device can perform three-dimensional display in a plurality of directions in the left-right direction of the display screen. An observer can visually recognize a stereoscopic image from a plurality of directions.

The control unit 8 can select the image information stored in the storage unit 7 and transmit the selected image information to the liquid crystal display panel. That is, the operator (observer) can select a stereoscopic image to be displayed with one switch provided in the liquid crystal display device. For this reason, the liquid crystal display device can switch and display a plurality of types of stereoscopic images.
As described above, a liquid crystal display device capable of three-dimensional display in a plurality of directions without performing enormous arithmetic processing can be obtained.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

For example, the convex portion 3p may extend in the first direction d1. Thereby, a stereoscopic image can be displayed in a plurality of directions in the vertical direction (second direction d2). Moreover, the convex part 3p may be formed in the dome shape for every area | region which overlapped with the pixel group 12. FIG. The convex part 3p should just be a shape which can display a stereo image in the direction to display.
The optical member is not limited to the lens 3 and may be any member that is provided on the display surface S and that forms a stereoscopic image by transmitting an image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  One picture element group 12 has 4 × 4 picture elements 13, but is not limited to this. The picture element group 12 may include, for example, a 3 × 3 picture element 13. Even in this case, a liquid crystal display device capable of three-dimensional display in a plurality of directions can be obtained.

  The storage unit 7 may be formed so that image information can be written therein. The storage unit 7 may be formed so that image information can be rewritten. In this case, the image information is stored in the storage unit 7 via the terminal 9.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the liquid crystal display panel shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the pixel group of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1, and is sectional drawing which shows a liquid crystal display panel, a color filter, and a lens. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing each picture element group shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the pixel of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1, and is sectional drawing which shows a liquid crystal display panel, a color filter, and a lens. The schematic block diagram which shows a part of array board | substrate shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal display panel, 2 ... Color filter, 3 ... Lens, 3p ... Convex part, 4 ... Drive circuit, 5 ... Backlight unit, 7 ... Memory | storage part, 8 ... Control part, 10 ... Array substrate, 11 ... Glass substrate , 12 ... picture element group, 13 ... picture element, 14a, 14b, 14c ... pixel, 15 ... signal line, 16 ... scanning line, 17 ... TFT, 18 ... pixel electrode, 20 ... counter substrate, 21 ... glass substrate, 22 ... counter electrode, 30 ... liquid crystal layer, 43R, 43G, 43B ... colored layer, d1 ... first direction, d2 ... second direction, R ... display region, S ... display surface.

Claims (10)

A first substrate having a plurality of picture element groups each having a plurality of picture elements, a second substrate having a display surface and disposed opposite to the first substrate with a gap, and the first substrate and the first substrate A liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two substrates;
A storage unit storing image information;
A control unit for transmitting image information of the storage unit to the liquid crystal display panel;
An optical member provided on the display surface and configured to transmit an image displayed by the liquid crystal display panel to form a stereoscopic image.   2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel has different alignment states of liquid crystal molecules for each of a plurality of regions overlapping a plurality of picture elements of each picture element group.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter having a plurality of colored layers of a plurality of colors. A color filter having a plurality of colored layers of red, green and blue;
2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the picture element includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel that are any one of the red, green, and blue and overlap each other in different color layers. apparatus.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the color filter is provided between the second substrate and the optical member. The picture element groups are provided in a matrix along the display surface and in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other,
A plurality of the optical members are arranged in the first direction, and a plurality of arc-shaped convex portions each extending in the second direction are formed on the surface,
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the convex portions overlaps the plurality of picture element groups arranged in the second direction.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the image information stored in the storage unit corresponds to a shape of the convex portion. The storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of image information,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects image information stored in the storage unit and transmits the selected image information to the liquid crystal display panel.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is formed to be able to write image information.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is formed so that image information can be rewritten.

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