The mobile phone is quickly evolving from a communications device to an application platform and in the process has become the focus for the development of new technologies. The most challenging technical issues for commercializing a 3D phone are a stereoscopic display technology which is suitable for mobile applications as well as a means for driving the display using the limited capabilities of a mobile handset. In this paper we describe a prototype 3D mobile phone which was developed on a commercially available mobile hardware platform. The demonstration handset was retrofitted with a Polarization Activated MicrolensTM array that is 2D/3D switchable and provides both class-leading low crosstalk levels, and suitable brightness characteristics and viewing zones for operation without compromising battery running time. This next generation autostereoscopic display technology, which combines the advantages in brightness of a lenticular 3D display with the 2D/3D switching capability of parallax barrier, is deployed on a 2.2" landscape QVGA TFT LCD base panel. The stereoscopic content solution is an essential component of a commercially viable 3D handset. We describe how a range of stereoscopic software solutions have been developed on the phone's existing application processor without the need for custom hardware.
Mobile TV is now a commercial reality, and an opportunity exists for the first mass market 3DTV products based on cell
phone platforms with switchable 2D/3D autostereoscopic displays. Compared to conventional cell phones, TV phones
need to operate for extended periods of time with the display running at full brightness, so the efficiency of the 3D
optical system is key. The desire for increased viewing freedom to provide greater viewing comfort can be met by
increasing the number of views presented. A four view lenticular display will have a brightness five times greater than
the equivalent parallax barrier display. Therefore, lenticular displays are very strong candidates for cell phone 3DTV.
Selection of Polarisation Activated MicrolensTM architectures for LCD, OLED and reflective display applications is
described. The technology delivers significant advantages especially for high pixel density panels and optimises device
ruggedness while maintaining display brightness. A significant manufacturing breakthrough is described, enabling
switchable microlenses to be fabricated using a simple coating process, which is also readily scalable to large TV panels.
The 3D image performance of candidate 3DTV panels will also be compared using autostereoscopic display optical
output simulations.
One recently reported approach to flat panel autostereoscopic 3D displays under investigation at Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd. (SLE) uses a high precision patterned optical half wave retarder combined with a re-configurable output polarizer to 'develop' a parallax barrier structure attached to an LCD display panel. Such a barrier is invisible without the polarizer and thus a 2D/3D configurable display can be formed. A discussion of cross talk and white level variation in the 3D mode will be made with reference to Fresnel diffraction in the display. A model will be presented and justified in the light of the panel geometry. This model will be compared with measured cross talk, window structure and white level variation in such a 2D/3D configurable system. The implications that the shape of the transmitting profile has on 3D-display cross talk will be discussed.
KEYWORDS: LCDs, 3D displays, Wave plates, Autostereoscopic displays, Eye, Polarization, Tolerancing, Near field diffraction, Image quality, 3D image processing
An analysis of the basic approaches to flat panel autostereoscopic 3D display is presented, together with a discussion of the application of LCDs in this field. We show that of particular importance in the design of parallax barrier type displays is the diffractive performance of the barriers. A near field diffraction model is used to analyze the detailed illumination structure of the output and can be used to assess viewing freedom and cross talk considerations. A comparison between front and rear parallax barrier displays is given, and compared with experimental result. Recent progress in the design of low cost flat panel 3D displays including a novel viewer position indicator and 2D/3D reconfigurable systems using novel patterned retarder elements are described. We describe the performance and manufacturing considerations for these elements.
This paper presents an examination of the requirements for observer tracking autostereoscopic 3D display systems. The optical requirements for the imaging of autostereoscopic viewing windows in order to maintain high image quality over a large range of observer positions are described. A number of novel displays based on LCD (liquid crystal display) technology have been developed and demonstrated at Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd (SLE). This includes an electronically switchable illuminator for the macro-optic twin-LCD display; and a compact micro-optic twin-LCD display which maintains image quality while extending display size and viewing freedom. Work has also been in progress with flat panel displays to improve window quality using a new arrangement of LCD pixels. This has led to a new means to track such a display with no moving parts.
This paper presents a new autostereoscopic display system based on conventional Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display technology giving bright, high quality, full color and high resolution 3D images over a wide viewing range without special glasses. In addition, 3D image look-around and multiple viewers are possible. Methods of obtaining improved image quality are described as well as interfacing with conventional video and computer image generation sources. The system is suitable for a number of professional and domestic 3D applications.
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