EP0625861A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Spatial light modulator and directional display
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1994-05-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A spatial light modulator 1 of the LCD type comprises picture elements 20, 21 arranged as rows extending horizontally and columns extending vertically. The picture elements are arranged in groups such that the picture elements of each group are substantially contiguous with each other in the horizontal direction. It is thus possible to provide continuous horizontal parallax of the 2D views and an increased number of such 2D views, for instance by converting to directional information by means of a lenticular screen 6.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham John Woodgate
- 👤 David Ezra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/31; H04N13/305; H04N13/324; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133509; G02F1/133514
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of picture elements (20, 21) arranged as rows extending in a first direction and columns extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and having opaque regions (5) masking conductors and/or drive devices within the spatial light modulator, the picture elements being arranged in groups of N, where N is an integer greater than one, characterised in that the picture elements (20, 21) of each group are substantially contiguous with each other in the first direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the picture elements (20, 21) of each group are disposed in respective adjacent rows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the picture elements (20, 21) has the shape of a parallelogram with a first pair of parallel sides extending in the first direction and a second pair of parallel sides extending in the second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of the picture elements (20, 21) comprises a plurality of sub-elements (2, 3, 4) of different colours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the picture elements (20, 21) of each group are offset in the second direction with respect to neighbouring picture elements by an amount which is less than the dimension of the picture elements in the second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the groups of picture elements are substantially contiguous with each other in the first direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising a liquid crystal device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A spatial light modulator as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the liquid crystal device is a thin film transistor twisted nematic type display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A directional display characterised by including a modulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A display as claimed in Claim 9, characterised by comprising a first lenticular screen (6) having a plurality of elongate cylindrically converging lenses which extend in the second direction and each of which is aligned with N columns of picture elements (20, 21).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A display as claimed in Claim 9, characterised by comprising a first parallax barrier (36) having a plurality of slits which extend in the second direction and each of which is aligned with N columns of picture elements (20, 21).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A display as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, characterised by comprising a second lenticular screen (32) having a plurality of elongate cylindrically converging lenses which extend in the second direction and each of which is aligned with a respective column of picture elements (20, 21).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A display as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, characterised by comprising a second parallax barrier (35) having a plurality of slits which extend in the second direction and each of which is aligned with a respective column of picture elements (20, 21).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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