JP2009075391A - Electro-optical device, driving method thereof, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optical device with enhanced illumination efficiency of a light source when different images are displayed in two display ranges by a single device. <P>SOLUTION: A shutter device 33 includes pixel electrodes 33UR and 33UL for displaying images in a driver's seat side and in a front passenger's seat side in a preceding display region 331 and also pixel electrodes 33LR and 33LL for displaying images in the driver's seat side and in the front passenger's seat side in a succeeding display region 332. In a liquid crystal device 20 (not shown), when writing an image in the half of pixel rows of the entire pixel rows corresponding to the preceding display region 331 is completed, the pixel electrode 33UR is rendered into a light transmitting state. When writing an image in the other half pixel rows is completed, the pixel electrode 33LR is rendered into a light transmitting state. Subsequently, the pixel electrodes 33UL and 33LL are subjected to the same process for an image in the front passenger's seat side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal display device, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal display device that displays different images in two different display ranges (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “two-image display device”) has been proposed. According to this two-image display device, each of viewers located in different directions around the device can view images of different contents. Therefore, the apparatus is suitable, for example, by being incorporated in the center of an automobile dashboard. According to this, for example, the driver displays an image having contents relating to route information, traffic jam information, etc., and a person other than the driver such as a person sitting in the passenger seat (hereinafter referred to as “passenger”). In other words, an image having the contents of a movie or the like reproduced from a DVD or the like can be displayed.
As such a two-image display device, for example, a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2005-77437 A

  For example, as described above, the two-image display device displays images having different contents such as the first image on the driver's seat side and the second image on the passenger seat side. Various configurations for realizing this can be considered. For example, there is typically a configuration including a light source, a shutter, a lenticular lens, and a liquid crystal display device. Particularly in this configuration, the shutter has, for example, first and second regions. When the former blocks light, the latter allows light to pass. Conversely, when the former allows light to pass, the latter transmits light. The action of blocking is made possible. The lenticular lens has a function of causing light that has passed through the first area of the shutter to travel in the direction toward the driver's seat, and light that has passed through the second area to travel toward the passenger seat.

  According to such a configuration, the light emitted from the light source travels toward the driver's seat or passenger's seat through the shutter and lenticular lens. The liquid crystal display device is installed on such a light traveling path. In this liquid crystal display device, when light is advanced to the driver's seat side through the first region of the shutter, prior to that, writing based on image data relating to the first image to be displayed on the driver's seat side is performed. When light is advanced to the passenger seat side through the second area, writing based on image data relating to the second image to be displayed on the passenger seat side is also performed prior to that. In order to continuously perform image display in both display ranges, such two kinds of operations may be repeated alternately and at a relatively high speed. As described above, the image display in the two display ranges is possible with the help of the afterimage phenomenon on the visual characteristics of the viewer or the like.

However, such a configuration has the following problems. That is, when a series of operations in the above-described configuration is viewed in time series, first, after writing image information for one screen of the first image to the liquid crystal display device, the first region of the shutter is opened. The second area of the shutter is opened after the image information for one screen of the second image is written in the liquid crystal display device, and the second area is closed after the elapse of the predetermined time. (This is repeated thereafter).
In this case, the time during which the image is displayed on the driver's seat or passenger's seat side is only the fixed time, that is, the time from when the shutter is opened until it is closed. However, this time generally needs to be set very short. This is because otherwise, continuous image display in both display ranges cannot be realized, and it takes a certain time to write an image on the liquid crystal display device.
However, as a result of this, if no measures are taken, the image becomes dark. Because, after all, the image is composed of light emitted from the light source, and if the light reaches the viewer only for a very short time, the result is that the brightness of the image decreases. This is because it must be done. With this, high-quality image display cannot be performed.

Therefore, it is conceivable to prepare a light source capable of generating high-intensity light as the light source. According to this, even if the time during which the shutter is opened is short, the luminance of the light source is originally increased, so that the image is not deteriorated.
However, this measure simultaneously increases the cost of the light source, and thus increases the cost of the entire apparatus. In addition, since the high-intensity light source generally consumes more power, the above measures are disadvantageous in terms of running cost. In particular, in the above-described configuration, since the light source is planned to be used in a state where dots are kept at all, such a problem cannot be ignored.

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that “dot matrix light source 33” ([0055], [FIG. 4], etc. in Patent Document 1) is used as a light source. It is considered possible to cope with the above problems. However, even with this measure, since the structure of the light source itself is complicated, the above-mentioned cost problem cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and in the case where separate images are displayed in two display ranges with a single device, a high-quality image with a lower cost and a simpler configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-optical device, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus that can display the image.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical device that can be illuminated with a relatively high efficiency, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus in order to better solve the above-described problem. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an electro-optical device according to the present invention includes an electro-optical element that receives a supply of an image signal and changes a light emission mode or a light transmission mode, and includes a first display range and a second display range. An electro-optical device capable of displaying images having different contents, a light source, shutter means for passing a part of light emitted from the light source and blocking the rest of the light, and the shutter means Lens means for refracting the light so as to travel in the first direction corresponding to the first display range or the second direction corresponding to the second display range; and the electro-optic element Signal supply means for supplying an image signal for the first display range or the second display range, and the shutter means is for the first display range or the second display range by the signal supply means. Picture for In the first stage when the supply of a part of the image signals constituting one screen is finished, the light is passed through an area corresponding to the preceding image displayed by the part of the image signals, and the rest In the second stage after the supply of the image signal is completed, the light is allowed to pass through an area corresponding to the succeeding image displayed by the remaining image signal.

According to the present invention, the shutter means, for example, promptly emits light at the first stage when the supply of a part of the image signals constituting one screen of the image for the first display range is finished. Let it pass. According to this, as compared with the conventional mode in which light is allowed to pass through after all the image signals of the image signal constituting one screen have been supplied, the time for the light from the light source to reach the viewer is increased. Will be relatively long. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of light even if a light source with relatively high luminance is not specially prepared.
Thus, according to the present invention, illumination with a light source can be performed with relatively high efficiency.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to display a high-quality image with a lower cost and a simpler configuration.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the shutter unit may include a liquid crystal element so that the light is allowed to pass through or is blocked according to an alignment state of the liquid crystal included in the liquid crystal element.
According to this aspect, light can be passed and shielded better. Therefore, the determination of the light traveling direction by the lens means described above can also be performed more suitably.
In addition, since the shutter means can be configured substantially in the same manner as a general liquid crystal display device, in that case, there is also an advantage that the control becomes relatively easy.
Further, from this point of view, if the “electro-optical device” according to the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device and the shutter means can basically have the same configuration. Therefore, the common elements of these control circuits can be combined into one configuration, or their response performances can be made substantially the same, so that the entire apparatus can be controlled stably. Various advantages such as being able to be obtained can be obtained.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, when the light passes through the first region of the shutter unit, the lens unit causes the light to travel in the first direction, and the second region of the shutter unit is moved to the second region. When light passes, the light travels in the second direction, and the shutter means first, in a region where the first region and the region corresponding to the preceding image overlap, second, the first In the region where the region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap, thirdly, in the region where the region corresponding to the second region and the preceding image overlaps, fourth, in the second region and the following image You may comprise so that the said light may be permeate | transmitted in the area | region where a corresponding area | region overlaps, respectively.
According to this aspect, first, the preceding image is displayed in the first display range, and secondly, the subsequent image is displayed in the display range. Third, the preceding image is displayed in the second display range, and fourth, the subsequent image is displayed in the display range. Thereafter, if the first to fourth processes are repeatedly performed, the image display in two preferable display ranges is performed as a whole.
Thus, according to this aspect, the image display in the entire apparatus is performed with a good balance.

In this aspect, the shutter unit may have a shape having a certain area in plan view, and regions corresponding to the preceding image and the succeeding image may each be configured to halve the area. .
According to this configuration, the preceding image is an image that occupies half of one image to be displayed (the same applies to the succeeding image). Therefore, according to this configuration, the image display in the entire apparatus is performed with a better balance than the above aspect.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the first stage includes a plurality of small stages up to the first, second,..., (N−1) (where N is a positive integer). The stage may correspond to an Nth stage following the first stage.
According to this aspect, the first stage includes the first, second,..., (N−1) th sub-stages that are finely divided. That is, the concept “previous image” mentioned above is derived from the preceding image in the first sub-stage, the preceding image in the second sub-stage,..., The preceding image in the (N−1) -th sub-stage. It can be grasped as configured.
According to this, the shutter means, for example, at the stage when the supply of a part of the image signal that is further smaller than the image signal constituting one screen of the image for the first display range is completed. However, since light is allowed to pass through, the time for the light from the light source to reach the viewer is further prolonged.
Therefore, according to this aspect, the effects according to the present invention described above are more effectively achieved.

In this aspect, the preceding image and the succeeding image in each of the first, second,..., (N−1) th sub-stages correspond to an image for one line on the screen, respectively. May be.
According to this configuration, the shutter means already allows light to pass through at the stage where the supply of the image signal related to the image for one line that is almost the minimum unit is completed. The effect is very effective.

In the aspect in which the first stage is composed of smaller sub-stages, the lens means causes the light to travel in the first direction when the light passes through the first area of the shutter means, and the shutter When the light passes through the second region in the means, the light travels in the second direction, and the shutter means firstly applies the first region and the preceding image in the first sub-stage. In the region where the corresponding region overlaps, after passing the light, secondly, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the first region and the second and subsequent sub-stages overlap, Third, the light is transmitted in a region where the first region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap, and fourth, the second region and the first In the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in the stage overlaps, after passing the light, fifth, the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the second region and the second and subsequent sub-steps overlaps. In each of the regions, the light may be transmitted, and sixthly, the light may be transmitted in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap.
According to this configuration, as the first stage, the image display in the first display range is performed. This is because the preceding image and the Nth in each of the first, second,. This is based on a mode in which the subsequent images are sequentially displayed in the second stage having significance as the second sub-stage.
Subsequently, as the second stage, image display in the second display range is performed. As in the case described above, the preceding image and the Nth image in the first, second,. This is based on a mode in which the subsequent images are sequentially displayed in the second stage having significance as the second sub-stage.
Thus, according to this configuration, the image display in the entire apparatus is performed in a balanced manner.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the first area and the second area may extend in a stripe shape, and the first area and the second area may be alternately arranged. Good.
According to this aspect, it is possible to advance light in a balanced manner in each of the first display range and the second display range. Therefore, a high-quality image can be displayed in both display ranges.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the light source may be configured to continue lighting in a normal state.
According to this aspect, it is not necessary to prepare a light source having a particularly complicated structure such as a dot matrix light source. Further, it is not necessary to perform particularly complicated lighting control for the light source. As the “light source” according to this aspect, for example, a light source that uniformly emits light with a constant luminance is preferably prepared.
Thus, according to this aspect, since it is only necessary to prepare a relatively simple light source, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced. Even if such a simple light source is provided, in the present invention, as described above, a sufficient amount of light reaches the viewer, so that the image does not deteriorate extremely.

Moreover, in order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the electro-optical device according to various aspects described above.
Since the electronic apparatus of the present invention includes the various electro-optical devices described above, it is possible to display a high-quality image at a lower cost and with a simpler configuration. Also, illumination with the light source can be performed with relatively high efficiency.
The “electronic device” according to the present invention is applied to a car navigation device mounted in the center of a dashboard of an automobile and provides one of the most preferable specific modes.

  On the other hand, in order to solve the above-described problem, the electro-optical device driving method of the present invention receives an image signal and changes its light emission mode or light transmission mode, and light emitted from the light source. The shutter means that passes a part of the light and blocks the rest of the light, and the light that has passed through the shutter means in the first direction corresponding to the first display range or the second direction corresponding to the second display range And an electro-optical device for driving an electro-optical device that can display images having different contents in the first display range and the second display range, respectively. The first signal supply for supplying a part of the image signals constituting one screen of the image for the first display range or the second display range to the electro-optical element. Process and said first signal After the supplying step, a first light passing step for passing the light in the preceding display area on the shutter means corresponding to the preceding image displayed by the partial image signal, and the remaining image signal for the electro-optic A second signal supply step for supplying to the element; and after the second signal supply step, the light passes through a subsequent display area on the shutter unit corresponding to the subsequent image displayed by the remaining image signal. And a second light passing step.

  In the driving method of the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, when the light passes through the first region of the shutter unit, the lens unit causes the light to travel in the first direction and the second unit of the shutter unit. When the light passes through a region, the light travels in the second direction, and the first light passing step and the second light passing step correspond first to the first region and the preceding image. In a region where the regions overlap, secondly, in a region where the first region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap, and thirdly, in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the preceding image overlap. 4 may include each step of passing the light in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap.

  In the electro-optical device driving method of the present invention, the first signal supply step includes a plurality of signal supply steps up to the first, second,..., (N−1) (where N is a positive integer). The second signal supply step may correspond to an Nth signal supply step subsequent to the first signal supply step.

  In this aspect, the lens means advances the light in the first direction when the light passes through the first area in the shutter means, and when the light passes through the second area in the shutter means, The light travels in the second direction, and the first light passing step and the second light passing step are, firstly, the first region and the region corresponding to the preceding image in the first small step. After passing the light in the overlapping region, the second passes the light in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the first region and the second and subsequent sub-stages overlaps. Thirdly, the light is allowed to pass through a region where the first region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap, and fourth, the second region and the first sub-step In the region where the region corresponding to the row image overlaps, after passing the light, fifth, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the second region and the second and subsequent small stages overlap, Each of the steps may be configured to allow the light to pass through and, sixthly, pass the light in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap.

  According to the driving methods of the various electro-optical devices described above, the same functions and effects as those of the various electro-optical devices described above can be enjoyed.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, description may be made on the assumption that the two-image display device 100 according to the first embodiment is mounted in the center of a dashboard of an automobile.
The two-image display device 100 according to the first embodiment includes an illumination device 10, a liquid crystal device 20, an optical body 30, a driving device 50, and a timing control circuit 60. The illumination device 10 is installed on the back side of the liquid crystal device 20 to illuminate the liquid crystal device 20. The optical body 30 is interposed between the illumination device 10 and the liquid crystal device 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination device 10 includes a light guide plate 11 and a light source 15.
Among these, the light source 15 is, for example, a white LED (Light Emitting Diode). As shown in FIG. 1, the light source 15 has a relatively long rod shape or rectangular parallelepiped shape. The light source 15 is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along a side end of a light guide plate 11 described later. The light emitted from the light source 15 enters the light guide plate 11 from the side end thereof.

The light guide plate 11 is a light transmissive optical member having a substantially flat plate shape. The light guide plate 11 has a function of spreading the light incident from the light source 15 over the entire light guide plate 11 and emitting the light toward the liquid crystal device 20. The upper surface of the light guide plate 11 in FIG. 1, that is, the surface facing the liquid crystal device 20 is a surface from which light is emitted toward the liquid crystal device 20 and serves as a light emitting surface.
In order to assist this function, the light guide plate 11 includes a diffusion plate and a reflection plate (both not shown). Among these, the diffusion plate has a function of appropriately diffusing the light incident on the light guide plate 11. Specifically, for example, a flat plate or the like in which minute protrusions having a wedge-shaped cross section are arranged in parallel along a predetermined direction may be applicable. Further, the reflection plate is provided on the back surface of the light guide plate 11 (the lower surface in the drawing, which cannot be represented in FIG. 1). The reflector is made of a material having a relatively high light reflection performance such as aluminum. Thereby, the light which escapes from the inside of the light-guide plate 11 is enclosed in the inside.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the liquid crystal device 20 includes a first substrate 21 and a second substrate 22 that face each other. Liquid crystal (not shown) is sealed in the gap between the first substrate 21 and the second substrate 22. A liquid crystal that responds at high speed such as an OCB (Optically Compensated Bend) mode is preferably used. On the surface of the second substrate 22 facing the liquid crystal, a plurality of pixel electrodes 24 corresponding to each pixel of the image are arranged in a matrix over the X and Y directions intersecting each other. The orientation of the liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate 21 and the second substrate 22 changes according to the potential difference between each pixel electrode 24 and the counter electrode (not shown) on the surface of the first substrate 21. Therefore, the ratio (transmittance) of the amount of light transmitted to the observation side in the emitted light from the illumination device 10 is controlled for each pixel electrode 24.

The optical body 30 includes a lenticular lens 32 and a shutter device 33.
Among them, the shutter device 33 basically has the same configuration as the liquid crystal device 20 described above, but unlike the liquid crystal device 20, as shown in FIG. 2, for each pixel column extending along the Y direction, light is emitted for each pixel column. Basically, the transition is made between only two states, that is, whether or not it is transmitted.
In addition, the details of the shutter device 33 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of lenticular lenses 32 are arranged in the X direction. Each lenticular lens 32 extends in the Y direction. When viewed from the direction perpendicular to the light emitting surface, one lenticular lens 32 overlaps two pixel columns adjacent to each other in the X direction in the shutter device 33. That is, one lenticular lens 32 corresponds to the two pixel rows that constitute the shutter device 33.
The lenticular lens 32 advances the light emitted from the light guide 11 in the direction DR or in the direction DA according to the state of the shutter device 33. The direction DR and the direction DA are different directions. In FIG. 2, the pixel row of the shutter device 33 located in the right half of each lenticular lens 32 in the drawing is in a light-transmitting state, so that light travels along the direction DR with a solid line. ing.

  For this reason, if the light from the light source 15 passes through the lenticular lens 32 from the light guide 11 through the shutter device 33 and then travels in the direction DR, the light travels toward the driver's seat. On the other hand, if the light travels in the direction DA, it can be realized that the light travels toward the passenger seat. In short, according to the above configuration, image display in two display ranges can be performed.

  The drive device 50 drives the illumination device 10, the shutter device 33, and the liquid crystal device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the driving device 50 includes an illumination driving circuit 52, a shutter driving circuit 53, and a liquid crystal driving circuit 55. In addition, the aspect of mounting the driving device 50 is arbitrary. For example, the illumination drive circuit 52 is mounted on the illumination device 10 and the liquid crystal drive circuit 54 is mounted on the liquid crystal device 20, or the illumination drive circuit 52, the shutter drive circuit 53, and the liquid crystal drive circuit 54 are mounted on a single integrated circuit. The configuration is adopted.

The illumination drive circuit 52 controls turning on / off of the light source 15 of the illumination device 10.
The shutter drive circuit 53 controls the state transition of the shutter device 33. As described above, the shutter device 33 transitions between only two states of light transmission or non-transmission for each pixel column as described above. Details of the shutter device 33 will be described later. A description will be added again when the operation is described.

  The liquid crystal drive circuit 54 controls the state of the liquid crystal device 20. The liquid crystal driving circuit 54 may include a scanning line driving circuit and a data line driving circuit. The scanning line driving circuit issues a selection signal in units of one pixel row and defines a horizontal scanning period. The data line driving circuit supplies an image signal to the pixel row selected by the scanning line driving circuit (that is, writes the image signal). The time from the start of the supply of the image signal to the first pixel row to the supply of the image signal to the final pixel row is the vertical scanning period. As a result, for each pixel, the potential difference between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is set appropriately, and the alignment state of the liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween is appropriately adjusted.

The timing control circuit 60 controls the operation timing of the shutter drive circuit 53 and the liquid crystal drive circuit 54 described above. That is, the timing control circuit 60 controls the state transition timings of the shutter device 33 and the liquid crystal device 20 via these circuits 53 and 54, respectively.
In particular, in the first embodiment, the illumination drive circuit 52 is not controlled by the timing control circuit 60. That is, the light source 15 continues to be lit in a normal state.
The timing control circuit 60 is supplied with an input image signal SIN from an external device (not shown). In general, the input image signal SIN is a signal that designates the potential difference to be held by each pixel of the driver side image and the passenger side image having different contents.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the first embodiment is particularly characterized by the shutter device 33 and related elements. As described above, the shutter device 33 basically has the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal device 20, but more specifically has the following configuration.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the shutter device 33 includes a first substrate (not shown) and a common electrode 34 provided thereon, a second substrate (not shown), and pixel electrodes 33UR, 33UL, 33LR provided thereon and 33LL (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as “pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL” for convenience) and liquid crystal (not shown) sandwiched between the first and second substrates. Among these, like the liquid crystal device 20 described above, liquid crystal that responds at high speed, such as an OCB (Optically Compensated Bend) mode, is preferably used as the liquid crystal. It should be noted that a certain distance is set between the first substrate and the second substrate (or in other words, between the common electrode 34 and the pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL) that defines a space for containing the liquid crystal. 3, in order to show this, broken line arrows are shown in the lower right part and the lower left part in the figure (the same applies to FIGS. 6 and 8 referred later).

  The common electrode 34 has a substantially flat plate shape as shown in FIG. The common electrode 34 is connected to a drive wiring 36, and the drive wiring 36 is further connected to a shutter drive circuit 53. Thereby, the common electrode 34 is set to a predetermined potential. This potential is a common potential for the entire pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL that are suitably arranged as will be described later.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL all have the same rectangular shape in plan view. These pixel electrodes 33 to 33LL are divided into several groups as indicated by their reference numerals.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the pixel electrodes 33UR and 33UL are arranged so as to occupy an upper half region 331 (hereinafter, referred to as “preceding display region 331”). The pixel electrodes 33UR and the pixel electrodes 33UL are alternately arranged with adjacent sides extending in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the pixel electrodes 33LR and 33LL are arranged so as to occupy the lower half area 332 in the figure (hereinafter referred to as “following display area 332”). The pixel electrodes 33LR and the pixel electrodes 33LL are also alternately arranged.
In the drawing, the upper half pixel electrodes 33UR and 33UL and the lower half pixel electrodes 33LR and 33LL correspond to each other in arrangement. That is, the pixel electrode 33UR and the pixel electrode 33LR are arranged so that both sides are aligned on a predetermined straight line while adjacent sides extending in the lateral direction are adjacent to each other. The relationship between the pixel electrode 33UL and the pixel electrode 33LL is the same.

The “pixel column” mentioned above refers to the integration of the pixel electrodes 33UR and 33LR or the integration of the pixel electrodes 33LR and LL arranged on the “straight line”.
Further, in the first embodiment, the “first region” referred to in the present invention is a region occupied by all the pixel columns in which all of the pixel electrodes 33UR and 33LR are united as one unit. Similarly, the “second region” refers to a region occupied by all the pixel columns in which one set of pixel electrodes 33UL and 33LL is integrated as a unit. You can see.

  As described above, the shutter device 33 is alternately arranged with the pixel electrodes 33UR, 33UL, 33UR,... 33UL in the preceding display area 331 of FIG. The pixel electrodes 33LR, 33LL, 33LR,..., 33LL are alternately arranged so as to correspond to the above. The area occupied by the pixel electrodes 33UR to LL is substantially the same as the area occupied by the common electrode 34.

In addition, the plurality of pixel electrodes 33UR arranged one by one in the upper half in the figure are commonly connected to one drive wiring 35UR as shown in FIG. The drive wiring 35UR is connected to the shutter drive circuit 53, and is set to a predetermined potential under the control of the timing control circuit 60.
As described above, in the shutter device 33 according to the first embodiment, the plurality of pixel electrodes 33UR transit between two states in which light is transmitted or not transmitted all at once.
The matters described regarding the pixel electrode 33UR apply to the remaining pixel electrodes 33UL, 33LR, and 33LL in exactly the same manner. That is, each of these is commonly connected to the drive wirings 35UL, 35LR, and 35LL, and transits between two states in which light is transmitted or not transmitted at the same time in units of the respective units.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the two-image display device 100 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 3 already referred to. In the following description, the start and end of the operations of various elements such as the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 depend on the control by the timing control circuit 60 via the driving device 50 unless otherwise specified.

  First, in the timing charts of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, “one frame” means one unit period required for one set of display of an image displayed on the driver side and an image displayed on the passenger side. Means. The repetition frequency in units of this period is 60 Hz as shown in the figure in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4, first, an image signal is written to the liquid crystal device 20. As described above, the writing of the image signal is performed for each pixel row of the liquid crystal device 20, but not for all the pixel rows but for half the pixel rows. That is, from the viewpoint of the shutter device 33 shown in FIG. 3, only writing to the pixel row corresponding to the preceding display area 331 is performed. The writing of the first pulse in FIG. 4 is performed based on the contents of the image to be displayed on the driver's seat side.
In FIG. 4, a series of writing operations for a half pixel row is represented by one pulse. That is, the width of the pulse substantially corresponds to half of the vertical scanning period. This is the same for all pulses representing image signal writing appearing in FIG.

When the writing of the image signal is completed, the response of the shutter device 33 is started simultaneously with the start of the response of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal device 20. The response of the shutter device 33 here is a response for displaying an image on the driver's seat side, and only the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33UR in the preceding display area 331 in FIG. 3 is in a light transmission state. It is a response. This is performed through appropriate setting of the potentials of all the plurality of pixel electrodes 33UR using the drive wiring 35UR. In FIG. 4, this is expressed as “driver seat side shutter 1 transmission timing”.
The responses of the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 should ideally rise vertically, but in the actual liquid crystal, a response having a constant time constant is usually made as shown in the figure. is there. Further, since the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 have basically the same configuration as described above, the response is basically the same as shown in FIG.

When the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 pass through a transient state that continues immediately after rising and reach a steady state, the light emitted from the constantly lit light source 15 and having passed through the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33UR reaches the driver. .
More specifically, the light from the light source 15 passes through the inside of the light guide plate 11 and is emitted from the light emitting surface, and reaches the shutter device 33. Here, as described above, since the shutter device 33 is in a state where only the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33UR is responding, the light is transmitted only through the portion. This light further passes through the liquid crystal device 20 while traveling along the direction DR shown in FIG. 2 when passing through the lenticular lens 32. In this way, the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver.

As a result, an image having a certain content is displayed to the driver. Here, the image having a certain content is, for example, an image related to a road map that displays the current position of the vehicle.
However, the image displayed here is limited to an image that occupies half of one image having the certain content.

After a certain period of time has elapsed since the image on the driver's seat side was displayed, the shutter device 33 puts the portion of the array position of the pixel electrodes 33UR into a light-opaque state. As a result, the period during which the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver is the period indicated by the symbol “LE I” as shown in FIG. 4 (see the hatched portion in the figure).
Incidentally, FIG. 4 shows that a certain amount of time is required until the shutter device 33 reaches a steady state even in the transition from the light transmission state to the non-transmission state.

On the other hand, the writing completion time for the pixel row corresponding to the preceding display area 331, or the time point T1 when the first response of the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 starts (both time points are the same in the first embodiment). Then, writing of the second image signal to the liquid crystal device 20 is started.
The writing of the image signal is performed on the pixel rows excluding the half of the pixel rows that have been previously written.

  When the writing of the second image signal is completed, the second response of the shutter device 33 is started simultaneously with the start of the second response of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal device 20. The response of the shutter device 33 here is a response for displaying an image on the driver's seat side, and only the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33LR in the subsequent display area 332 in FIG. Is a response. This is performed through appropriate setting of the potentials of the plurality of pixel electrodes 33LR using the drive wiring 35LR. In FIG. 4, this is expressed as “driver seat side shutter 2 transmission timing”.

When the liquid crystal device 20 and the shutter device 33 pass through the transient state that continues immediately after rising and reach a steady state, the light that has passed through the portion where the pixel electrode 33LR is arranged also reaches the driver.
As a result, an image occupying the remaining half of the image having the certain content is displayed for the driver.
Subsequently, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the image on the driver's seat side was displayed, the shutter device 33 places the portion of the array position of the pixel electrode 33LR in a light-opaque state. As a result, the period during which the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver is the period indicated by the symbol “LE II” as shown in FIG. 4 (see the hatched portion in the figure).

  In the above operation, the period during which light passes through the portion of the pixel electrodes 33UR and 33LR, that is, the light emission periods LEI and LEII partially overlap, but the remaining portions do not overlap. In particular, since the light emission period LE I starts immediately after the writing to the half of the pixel rows is completed, the light emission period LE I starts and the light emission period LE II. The period during which the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver is relatively prolonged by the period ZI between the starting point and

  With the above operation, one screen image on the driver's seat side is displayed.

  Subsequently, an operation relating to the image display on the passenger seat side is performed, and this is basically the same as the operation relating to the image display on the driver seat side described above. Therefore, explanations that result in repeating the same will be omitted, but points that differ between the two or points that should be noted with respect to the former are listed below.

(I) The first image signal writing operation to the liquid crystal device 20 can be started without waiting for the end of the light emission period LE II. That is, in FIG. 4, both time points happen to be almost simultaneous, but the start time T3 of the write operation (and various operation timings thereafter) in FIG. 4 is the end time T4 of the light emission period LE II. May be brought forward. However, the limit of this advance is the end time T5 of the light emission period LE I (note that the expression “advance” is used here, but if the length of one frame period is fixed, “ It can be said that the expression “delayed at time T3” is more accurate, but they both express the same event from different viewpoints, and say substantially the same thing. The same applies to the expression “advanced” that appears in the following description.)
Note that the same can be said for the image display on the passenger seat side after the image display on the passenger seat side is performed again.

(Ii) The first response of the shutter device 33 is a response for displaying an image on the passenger seat side, and only the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33UL in the preceding display area 331 in FIG. It is a response that becomes a state. In FIG. 4, this is expressed as “passenger side shutter 1 transmission timing”.
(Iii) The light from the light source 15 travels along the direction DA shown in FIG. 2 when passing through the lenticular lens 32 (see the broken line in FIG. 2).

(Iv) The writing operation of the second image signal to the liquid crystal device 20 is started at time T2 in FIG.
(V) The second response of the shutter device 33 is a response for displaying an image on the passenger seat side, and only the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33LL in the subsequent display area 332 in FIG. This is a response to a light transmission state. In FIG. 4, this is expressed as “passenger side shutter 2 transmission timing”.

  As described above, also in such an image display on the passenger seat side, a period in which light passes through the arrangement positions of the pixel electrodes 33UL and 33LL, that is, one of the light emission periods LE III and LE IV, respectively. The parts do not overlap, and the period during which the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver is relatively prolonged by the amount of the period ZII between the start point of the issuing period LE III and the start point of the light emission period LE IV. This is the same as in the case of the image display on the driver's seat side described above.

Thereafter, the image display on the driver's seat side and the image display on the passenger seat side are alternately and repeatedly performed.
However, in this repetition, the polarity of the potential for driving the shutter device 33 is reversed in units of one frame period as shown in FIG. That is, when the potential of the common electrode 34 is set to the plus side during the first frame period, this is repeated thereafter, such as being set to the minus side during the next frame period. (Note that according to this, the polarities of the drive wirings 35UR, 35LR, 35UL, and 35LL are also inverted in units of one frame period. See FIG. 5).
By utilizing such polarity reversal, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the liquid crystal constituting the shutter device 33 as much as possible.

According to the two-image display device 100 of the present embodiment as described above, the following effects are achieved.
That is, in the two-image display device 100 of the first embodiment, as described above, the light from the light source 15 reaches the driver or passenger relatively long for the period ZI or the period ZII shown in FIG. Therefore, a sufficient amount of light can be secured without specially preparing a light source having a relatively high luminance or a light source having a complicated structure.
Therefore, according to the first embodiment, illumination by the light source 15 can be performed with relatively high efficiency. In addition, according to the first embodiment, a high-quality image can be displayed with a lower cost and a simpler configuration.

This point can be understood more clearly with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 which are conventional examples. That is, the shutter device shown in FIG. 6 includes a common electrode 94 and a structure in which long electrodes 93R and 93L for displaying images on the driver side and the passenger side are simply arranged alternately. It has. The long electrodes 93R and 93L are connected to the drive wirings 95R and 95L, respectively, and each of them creates a light transmission state or a non-transmission state at the same time.
In the shutter device having such a structure, the operation is performed as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 7, the response of the liquid crystal device and the response of the shutter device start only after the image writing to the liquid crystal device is performed for all the pixel rows. Then, the light emission period LE in this case (see the hatched portion in FIG. 7) is the light emission period LE I (or LE II, LE III or LE shown in FIG. 4) even if the maximum possible time is estimated. It is only possible to be equal to IV) and cannot be further. That is, it is confirmed that the light emission period is longer in the first embodiment by at least the periods ZI and ZII in FIG.

  In particular, in the case of FIG. 7, during a period in which the liquid crystal device is used for displaying an image on the driver's seat side, writing of an image signal for display on the passenger seat side may be started with respect to the liquid crystal device. Can not. In FIG. 7, in order to start the writing, it is necessary to once close the shutter that is actually open.

Compared with such a conventional example, the superiority of the first embodiment is more conspicuous.
First, as already described, in the first embodiment, immediately after the writing to half of the pixel rows is completed, the pixel electrode 33UR (or the previous display region 331 corresponding to the half pixel row) (or 33UL) is placed in a light transmission state, so that the light emission period is extended by the period ZI (or ZII).

  Further, as described as (i) above, in the first embodiment, even when the portion of the arrangement position of the pixel electrode 33LR (or 33LL) in the subsequent display area 332 is in a light transmissive state, It is possible to write the image signal relating to the image to be displayed on the liquid crystal device 20. This is nothing but the effect that the preceding display area 331 and the subsequent display area 332 are physically separated in the shutter device 33.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment has a characteristic change in the configuration of the shutter device and the specific operation mode of the two-image display device 100 using the shutter device, compared with the first embodiment described above. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, below, description about the point which both are the same is abbreviate | omitted.

The two-image display device 100 of the second embodiment includes a shutter device 330 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the common electrode 34, its drive wiring 36, and liquid crystal (not shown) are provided as compared with FIG.
What is changed is that dot pixel electrodes 33DR and 33DL are provided instead of the pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL.

As shown in FIG. 8, each of the dot pixel electrodes 33DR and d33DL has a rectangular shape that is almost a square in plan view. Each size corresponds to the size of each pixel of the liquid crystal device 20.
The dot pixel electrodes 33DR and 33DL are arranged in a matrix. More specifically, when viewed along the left-right direction in the figure, the dot-shaped pixel electrodes 33DR and the dot-shaped pixel electrodes 33DL are alternately arranged. On the other hand, when viewed along the vertical direction in the figure, Only the dot pixel electrode 33DR is arranged, and only the dot pixel electrode 33DL is arranged for the other one row.
It should be noted that the name “n” is given only for each row of the dot-like pixel electrodes 33DR (or 33DL) sequentially arranged in the vertical direction in the drawing (see FIG. 8) for convenience of later explanation.

  The “pixel row” in the second embodiment refers to the integration of the plurality of dot pixel electrodes 33DR or 33DL arranged in a row as described above (see the broken line in FIG. 8). In the second embodiment, the “first region” referred to in the present invention refers to a region occupied by all the pixel rows that are all collected in a unit of a pixel row composed of a plurality of dot-like pixel electrodes 33DR arranged in a row. Correspondingly, the “second region” is considered to be the region occupied by all the pixel rows in which all the pixel rows are composed of a plurality of dot pixel electrodes 33DL arranged in a row as a unit. Can do.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of dot-like pixel electrodes 33DR arranged one by one, which are seen when focusing on a certain line extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 8, are commonly connected to one drive wiring 35DR. Has been. The drive wiring 35DR is connected to a wiring drive circuit 38, and the wiring drive circuit 38 is further connected to a shutter drive circuit 53. Accordingly, the drive wiring 35DR or the dot pixel electrode 33DR is set to a predetermined potential under the control of the timing control circuit 60.
As described above, in the shutter device 330 according to the second embodiment, a transition is made between two states in which the plurality of dot-like pixel electrodes 33DR existing in one line transmit or do not transmit light all at once.
The matters described above regarding the dot pixel electrode 33DR apply to the remaining dot pixel electrode 33DL in exactly the same manner. That is, the dot-like pixel electrodes 33DL arranged in a single jump, which are seen when attention is paid to a certain line in the horizontal direction in the figure, are also commonly connected to the drive wiring 35DL, and this one line is used as a unit. , Transition between two states of transmitting or not transmitting light all at once.

The two-image display device 100 having the above configuration operates according to the timing chart shown in FIG.
In short, in FIG. 9, the writing of the image signal to the half pixel rows of all the pixel rows of the liquid crystal device 20 in the light emission periods LE I and LE II (or the light emission periods LE III and LE IV) in FIG. Instead of being provided for each, the light emission periods LE (1) to LE (n) (or the light emission periods LE (n + 1) to LE (2n)) write image signals to the pixel rows for one line. It shows that it is provided every time it is completed.
Note that the writing of the image signal related to the last pixel row on the driver's seat side (or the passenger seat side) is ¼ time of one frame period when the writing of the image signal related to the first pixel row is started. This is done when the lapses.

According to such an operation, the response of the shutter device 330 shown in FIG. 9 is a response for displaying an image on the driver's seat side, and the dot-shaped pixel electrode 33DR existing in one line in FIG. A dot-like pixel electrode which is a response in which only the portion of the arrangement position is in a light transmission state or a response for displaying an image on the passenger seat side and which exists in a certain line in FIG. This means that only the portion of the 33DL array position is a response to enter a light transmission state. This is performed through appropriate setting of the potentials of all of the plurality of dot pixel electrodes 33DR or 33DL existing in one line using the wiring drive circuit 38 and the drive wiring 35DR or 35DL.
In FIG. 9, each case caused by these is “driver seat side line shutter i1 transmission timing” (i1 is any one of 1, 2,..., N. The same applies hereinafter) or “passenger seat side line shutter”. i2-n transmission timing "(i2 is any one of n + 1, n + 2,..., 2n, and so on).

  As is clear from the above-described matters, in FIG. 9, unlike FIG. 4, “writing operation for one row of pixel rows” is represented by one pulse. That is, the width of the pulse substantially corresponds to a period obtained by dividing the vertical scanning period by the number of all pixel rows. This is the same for all pulses representing image signal writing appearing in FIG.

From the above, it is apparent that the second embodiment can obtain the operation and effect which are not substantially different from those of the first embodiment.
That is, also in the second embodiment, in the above operation, the period during which light passes through the portion of the array position of each dot-like pixel electrode 33DR for each row, that is, the light emission periods L (1), L (2), ..., L (n) partially overlap, but the remaining portions do not overlap. Thus, the periods Z (1), Z () in which light emission is performed in a cumulative manner between the start time of the light emission period LE (i1-1) and the start time of the light emission period LE (i1). 2), ..., Z (n) are provided. Therefore, in the second embodiment, during the half frame period, the time for the light from the light source 15 to reach the driver is relative to the period Zd (= Z (1) + Z (2) +... + Z (n)). Is prolonged for a long time.

  The matters described above can be applied to the dot-like pixel electrode 33DL in exactly the same manner. That is, based on the non-overlapping portions of the light emission periods LE (n + 1), LE (n + 2),..., LE (2n), the start time of the light emission period LE (i2-1) and the start time of the light emission period LE (i2). Are cumulatively provided with periods Z (n + 1), Z (n + 2),..., Z (2n) in which light emission is performed in advance. Therefore, during the half frame period, the time for the light from the light source 15 to reach the passenger is relatively prolonged by the period Za (= Z (n + 1) + Z (n + 2) +... + Z (2n)). .

As described above, even in the second embodiment, a sufficient amount of light can be secured without specially preparing a light source with relatively high brightness.
Therefore, according to the second embodiment, illumination by the light source 15 can be performed with relatively high efficiency. Also according to the second embodiment, a high-quality image can be displayed with a lower cost and a simpler configuration.
In particular, in the second embodiment, the timing at which light transmission in the shutter device 330 is realized during each frame period is further advanced compared to the first embodiment, so that each of the effects described above can be achieved. This is more effective than the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, when the operation related to the image display on the driver's seat side shifts to that on the passenger seat side, the start time T11 of the latter first image signal writing operation is the light emission period LE ( n) is advanced from the end point T12. More specifically, the advance period is set so as to go back to the end point of the light emission period LE (2) beyond the time point T12. This is possible after the first line image is sufficiently displayed (that is, when the length of the light emission period LE1 is sufficiently secured). This is because even if writing of a new image signal for the line is started, the quality of the entire image is hardly affected.
Needless to say, this also increases the effectiveness of the above-described effect.

Although the embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, the electro-optical device and the driving method thereof according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.
(1) In each of the above embodiments, the light emission period LE I starts after the writing of the image signal to half of all the pixel rows is completed (first embodiment), or one row of pixel rows. After the writing is completed, the light emission period LE (1) starts (second embodiment), but the present invention is not limited to these forms. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which all pixel rows are divided into three equal parts, and light emission periods are started as soon as writing of image signals to the pixel rows constituting each of the three groups is completed.
In short, it is basically free to decide when to start the light emission period, in other words, how many pixel rows of all the pixel rows should start the light emission period when writing of the image signal is completed. sell. In some cases, there is no particular problem even if a form in which all pixel rows are divided unevenly is employed.

(2) In each of the above embodiments, the common electrode 34 has a flat plate shape, and is common to all of the pixel electrodes 33UR to 33LL (first embodiment) or all of the pixel electrodes 33DR and 33DL (second embodiment). Although the potential is provided, the present invention is not limited to this mode. The common electrode may also be segmented by any suitable form.
For example, regarding the first embodiment, the common electrode may be provided in the form or shape divided in the same manner as the pixel electrodes 33UR, 33UL, 33LR, and 33LL. According to this, in a region where light is transmitted on the pixel electrode side, a positive potential is set for the pixel electrode, a negative potential is set for the opposing electrode, and light is blocked on the pixel electrode side. In, a positive or negative potential may be set for both the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode. Here, “positive” or “negative” means positive or negative in relation to a predetermined potential as a reference (for example, ground potential).
By doing in this way, the electric power consumed in order to drive a pixel electrode and the electrode which opposes can be reduced. In addition, the potential relationship between the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode may be inverted in accordance with the cycle for controlling the shutter device so that the potential relationship between the pixel electrode and the facing electrode does not become a DC voltage.

(3) In each of the above embodiments, an example in which the “electro-optical device” according to the present invention is applied exclusively to a two-image display device is described, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, a stereoscopic display device can be configured by having almost the same configuration and driving method as those of the two-image display device 100 described above. In this case, an operation is performed in which light traveling in the direction DR in FIG. 2 configures an image for the left eye, and light traveling in the direction DL configures an image for the right eye. In such a case, the “first display range” and the “second display range” referred to in the present invention are positioned as two display ranges for providing two “parallax”.
The present invention is naturally applicable to such a stereoscopic display device.

(4) In the present invention, it is assumed that there are two display ranges. However, when a multi-display range display having two or more display ranges is performed, the extended interpretation can be easily performed. Therefore, basically, it must be considered applicable. The wording defining the present invention should not be directly or blindly bound to the wording in view of the fact that it is chosen to facilitate its understanding and grasping.

(5) In each of the above embodiments, the case where the two-image display device 100 is mounted on an automobile has been described in mind. However, as disclosed in the following <Application Examples>, the present invention includes various types. The present invention can be applied to an electronic device, and is not limited to an automobile mounting form.

The “electro-optical device” in the present invention refers to a device that can display a predetermined image by including an electro-optical element. Here, the “electro-optical element” is an element whose optical characteristics such as transmittance and luminance change when an electric signal (current signal or voltage signal) is supplied. The predetermined image can be displayed by arranging a plurality of electro-optical elements in an appropriate manner and appropriately controlling them.
Specific devices or embodiments that fall under the concept of the “electro-optical device” are as follows, for example.
That is, a display panel using a light emitting element such as an inorganic EL (ElectroLuminescent), an organic EL, or a light emitting polymer, and a microcapsule including a colored liquid and white particles dispersed in the liquid is used as an electro-optical material. Electrophoretic display panel, twist ball display panel using twist balls painted in different colors for areas of different polarities as electro-optical material, toner display panel using black toner as electro-optical material, or helium And a plasma display panel using a high pressure gas such as neon as an electro-optical material.
In these cases, when the “electro-optical element” itself has a light emitting function, the “electro-optical element” also serves as the “light source” in the present invention.

<Application example>
Next, an electronic apparatus using the two-image display device 100 according to the present invention will be described. 10 to 13 show a form of an electronic apparatus that employs the two-image display device 100 according to any one of the forms described above.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile personal computer that employs the display device 100. The personal computer 2000 includes a two-image display device 100 that displays various images, and a main body 2010 on which a power switch 2001 and a keyboard 2002 are installed.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile phone to which the two-image display device 100 is applied. The cellular phone 3000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 3001, scroll buttons 3002, and a two-image display device 100 that displays various images. By operating the scroll button 3002, the screen displayed on the two-image display device 100 is scrolled.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a personal digital assistant (PDA) to which the two-image display device 100 is applied. The portable information terminal 4000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 4001, a power switch 4002, and the display device 100 that displays various images. When the power switch 4002 is operated, various information such as an address book and a schedule book are displayed on the two-image display device 100.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a car navigation device to which the two-image display device 100 is applied. The car navigation device 5000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 5001 and a two-image display device 100 that displays various images. When the operation button 5001 is operated, various information (hereinafter referred to as “operation related information”) such as a road map including route information, traffic jam information, or recommended sightseeing spots is displayed on the two-image display device 100. .
In the car navigation device 5000, the two-image display device 100 can be used to display a moving image based on a DVD, a video tape, a television reception signal, or the like.
Since the car navigation device 5000 is equipped with the two-image display device 100 according to the above-described various embodiments, an image displayed to the driver sitting in the driver seat 5100 and a passenger sitting in the passenger seat 5200 are displayed. The image displayed for can be different. In this case, preferably (especially during operation of the vehicle), an image related to the operation-related information is displayed on the driver's seat 5100 side, and the moving image or the like is displayed on the passenger seat 5200 side.

  Note that electronic devices to which the two-image display device 100 according to the present invention is applied include, in addition to the devices illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, a digital still camera, a television, a video camera, a pager, an electronic notebook, electronic paper, and a calculator. , Word processors, workstations, videophones, POS terminals, printers, scanners, copiers, video players, devices equipped with touch panels, and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the two-image display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the structure of the two-image display apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of a shutter apparatus. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the two-image display apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the drive method with voltage polarity reversal in a shutter apparatus. It is a top view which shows the structure of the conventional shutter apparatus. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the two-image display apparatus provided with the shutter apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of the shutter apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the two-image display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the form (personal computer) of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the form (cellular phone) of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the form (mobile information terminal) of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the form (car navigation apparatus) of the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Two image display apparatus, 10 ... Illuminating device, 11 ... Light guide, 15 ... Light source, 20 ... Liquid crystal device, 21 ... 1st board | substrate, 22 ... 2nd board | substrate, 24 ... Pixel Electrode 30... Optical body 32. Lenticular lens 33 33 330 Shutter device 331 Leading display area 332 Trailing display area 33UR, 33LR, 33UL, 33LL Pixel electrode 33DR 33DL: dot pixel electrode, 34: common electrode, 35UR, 35LR, 35UL, 35LL, 35DR, 35DL ... drive wiring, 36 ... drive wiring (for common electrode), 50 ... drive device, 52 ... ... Lighting drive circuit, 53 ... Shutter drive circuit, 54 ... Liquid crystal drive circuit, 60 ... Timing control circuit, 5000 ... Car navigation device,
LE I, LE II, LE III, LE IV ....... light emission period, LE (1), LE (2),..., LE (2n).

Claims (14)

An electro-optical device that includes an electro-optical element that receives a supply of an image signal and changes a light emission mode or a light transmission mode, and can display different images in a first display range and a second display range. ,
A light source;
Shutter means for passing a part of the light emitted from the light source and blocking the rest of the light;
Lens means for refracting the light so as to travel in the first direction corresponding to the first display range or the second direction corresponding to the second display range;
Signal supply means for supplying an image signal for the first display range or the second display range to the electro-optic element;
With
The shutter means includes
In the first stage when the supply of a part of the image signals constituting one screen of the image for the first display range or the second display range by the signal supply means is finished, the part Passing the light in a region corresponding to the preceding image displayed by the image signal of
Passing the light in a region corresponding to the succeeding image displayed by the remaining image signal in the second stage after the supply of the remaining image signal is finished;
An electro-optical device. The shutter means includes a liquid crystal element,
Depending on the alignment state of the liquid crystal constituting the liquid crystal element, the light is allowed to pass through or shielded.
The electro-optical device according to claim 1. The lens means includes
When the light passes through the first region of the shutter means, the light travels in the first direction, and when the light passes through the second region of the shutter means, the light travels in the second direction. Let
The shutter means includes
First, in a region where the region corresponding to the first region and the preceding image overlaps,
Second, in the region where the first region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap,
Third, in the region where the second region and the region corresponding to the preceding image overlap,
Fourth, in the region where the second region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap,
Pass the light respectively,
The electro-optical device according to claim 1 or 2. The shutter means has a shape having a certain area in plan view,
The areas corresponding to the preceding image and the succeeding image each halve the area,
The electro-optical device according to claim 3. The first stage includes a plurality of sub-stages up to the first, second,..., (N−1) (where N is a positive integer).
The second stage corresponds to the Nth stage following the first stage.
The electro-optical device according to claim 1 or 2. The preceding image and the succeeding image in each of the first, second,..., (N-1) th sub-stages correspond to images of one line on the screen, respectively.
The electro-optical device according to claim 5. The lens means includes
When the light passes through the first region of the shutter means, the light travels in the first direction, and when the light passes through the second region of the shutter means, the light travels in the second direction. Let
The shutter means includes
First, after passing the light in a region where the first region and a region corresponding to the preceding image in the first small stage overlap,
Second, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the first region and the second and subsequent sub-stages overlap, respectively, the light is allowed to pass through,
Third, in the region where the first region and the region corresponding to the subsequent image overlap, the light is allowed to pass through,
Furthermore,
Fourth, after passing the light in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the preceding image in the first small stage overlap,
Fifth, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the second region and the second and subsequent small stages overlap, respectively, the light is allowed to pass through,
Sixth, the light is allowed to pass through a region where the second region and a region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap.
The electro-optical device according to claim 5 or 6. The first region and the second region each extend in a stripe shape, and
These first regions and second regions are arranged alternately.
The electro-optical device according to claim 3, wherein the electro-optical device is provided.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light source continues to be lit in a normal state. The electro-optical device according to claim 1.
An electronic device characterized by that. An electro-optic element that receives a supply of an image signal and changes its light emission mode or light transmission mode, shutter means that allows a part of light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough and blocks the rest of the light, and the shutter Lens means for refracting the light so as to travel in the first direction corresponding to the first display range or the second direction corresponding to the second display range;
An electro-optical device driving method for driving an electro-optical device capable of displaying different images in the first display range and the second display range,
A first signal supplying step of supplying a part of the image signal constituting one screen of the image for the first display range or the image for the second display range to the electro-optic element;
A first light passing step of passing the light in a preceding display area on the shutter means corresponding to a preceding image displayed by the partial image signal after the first signal supplying step;
A second signal supply step of supplying the remaining image signal to the electro-optic element;
A second light passing step of passing the light in a subsequent display area on the shutter means corresponding to the subsequent image displayed by the remaining image signal after the second signal supplying step;
A method for driving an electro-optical device. The lens means includes
When the light passes through the first region of the shutter means, the light travels in the first direction, and when the light passes through the second region of the shutter means, the light travels in the second direction. Let
The first light passing step and the second light passing step are:
First, in a region where the region corresponding to the first region and the preceding image overlaps,
Second, in the region where the first region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap,
Third, in the region where the second region and the region corresponding to the preceding image overlap,
Fourth, in the region where the second region and the region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap,
Pass the light respectively,
Including each process
The method of driving an electro-optical device according to claim 11. The first signal supply step includes a plurality of signal supply steps up to the first, second,..., (N−1) (where N is a positive integer).
The second signal supply step corresponds to an Nth signal supply step following the first signal supply step.
The method of driving an electro-optical device according to claim 11. The lens means includes
When the light passes through the first region of the shutter means, the light travels in the first direction, and when the light passes through the second region of the shutter means, the light travels in the second direction. Let
The first light passing step and the second light passing step are:
First, after passing the light in a region where the first region and a region corresponding to the preceding image in the first small stage overlap,
Second, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the first region and the second and subsequent sub-stages overlap, respectively, the light is allowed to pass through,
Third, in the region where the first region and the region corresponding to the subsequent image overlap, the light is allowed to pass through,
Furthermore,
Fourth, after passing the light in a region where the second region and the region corresponding to the preceding image in the first small stage overlap,
Fifth, in the region where the region corresponding to the preceding image in each of the second region and the second and subsequent small stages overlap, respectively, the light is allowed to pass through,
Sixth, the light is allowed to pass through a region where the second region and a region corresponding to the succeeding image overlap.
Including each process
The method of driving an electro-optical device according to claim 13.

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