Bendable liquid crystal polarization switch for direct view stereoscopic display
A system for stereoscopic display and a bendable polarization switch for use with a system for stereoscopic display provide alternately polarized left and right eye images. Viewers then wear polarization analyzing eyewear to correctly see the different images. More specifically, a bendable polarization switch may be laminated to the front of a system for stereoscopic display. The bendable polarization switch may be used with a modulator configuration that is compatible with various performance requirements in a manner that is a low-cost manufacturing friendly solution. Further, the bendable polarization switch is a robust polarization switch technology that is reliable in an environment where mechanical stresses are inevitably applied during product lifetime
1 . A flat panel display assembly operable to display stereoscopic imagery, comprising:
a backlight unit operable to provide light;
an input polarizer operable to polarize the light provided by the backlight unit;
a liquid crystal modulation panel positioned to receive the light from the input polarizer and operable to modulate the light received from the input polarizer;
an output polarizer operable to block a portion of the modulated light from the liquid crystal modulation panel and to pass another portion of the modulated light from the liquid crystal;
a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the output polarizer opposite the liquid crystal modulation panel; and
a bendable polarization switch operable to receive light from a surface of the output polarizer opposite the liquid crystal modulation panel.
2 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the bendable polarization switch and output polarizer are laminated together using a pressure roller and are laminated to the output of the liquid crystal modulation panel.
3 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the outer polarizer opposite the liquid crystal modulation panel.
4 . The flat panel display of claim 3 , wherein the bendable polarization switch is laminated to the surface of the output polarizer opposite the liquid crystal modulation panel using the pressure sensitive adhesive layer.
5 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the bendable polarization switch is laminated to the surface of the output polarizer using a pressure roller.
6 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal modulation panel comprises an active matrix liquid crystal panel.
7 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is index matched to both an output of the output polarizer and an input of the bendable polarization switch.
8 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-glare layer disposed on an outer surface of the bendable polarization switch.
9 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the bendable polarization switch comprises:
first and second bendable substrate retarder layers; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second bendable substrate retarder layers.
10 . The flat panel display of claim 9 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a polymer stabilized liquid crystals.
11 . The flat panel display of claim 9 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises:
liquid crystal fluid portions operable to convert an electric field amplitude to a polarization state; and
spacers for maintaining local spacing of liquid crystal fluid portions.
12 . The flat panel display of claim 11 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises first and second barrier layers, the first barrier layer disposed between the first bendable substrate retarder layer and the liquid crystal layer and the second barrier layer disposed between the second bendable substrate retarder layer and the liquid crystal layer.
13 . The flat panel display of claim 12 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises transparent conductive coatings disposed on either side of the liquid crystal layer between the first and second barrier layers, the transparent conductive coatings operable to address the liquid crystal layer.
14 . The flat panel display of claim 13 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises alignment layers disposed on either side of the liquid crystal layer between the transparent conductive coatings.
15 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the bendable polarization switch comprises:
first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers; and
a bendable retarder layer.
16 . The flat panel display of claim 15 , wherein the bendable retarder layer comprises a thin retarder film, and wherein the bendable retarder layer is laminated to one of the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers using a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.
17 . The flat panel display of claim 15 , wherein the bendable retarder layer comprises a chemical coating layer applied on one of the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers.
18 . The flat panel display of claim 1 , wherein the bendable polarization switch comprises flexible glass.
19 . A bendable polarization switch, comprising:
first and second bendable substrate retarder layers; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second bendable substrate retarder layers.
20 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 19 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a polymer stabilized liquid crystals.
21 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 19 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises:
liquid crystal fluid portions operable to convert an electric field amplitude to a polarization state; and
spacers for maintaining local spacing of liquid crystal fluid portions.
22 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 21 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises first and second barrier layers, the first barrier layer disposed between the first bendable substrate retarder layer and the liquid crystal layer and the second barrier layer disposed between the second bendable substrate retarder layer and the liquid crystal layer.
23 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 22 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises transparent conductive coatings disposed on either side of the liquid crystal layer between the first and second barrier layers, the transparent conductive coatings operable to address the liquid crystal layer.
24 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 23 , wherein the bendable polarization switch further comprises alignment layers disposed on either side of the liquid crystal layer between the transparent conductive coatings.
25 . A bendable polarization switch, comprising:
first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers; and
a bendable retarder layer.
26 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 25 , wherein the bendable retarder layer comprises a thin retarder film, and wherein the bendable retarder layer is laminated to one of the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers using a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.
27 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 25 , wherein the bendable retarder layer comprises a chemical coating layer applied on one of the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers.
28 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 25 , further comprising an anti-glare layer disposed on an outer surface of the bendable polarization switch.
29 . The bendable polarization switch of claim 25 , further comprising:
a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on one of the first and second bendable isotropic substrate layers; and
a release liner disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive layer opposite the one of the first and second bendable isotropic layer, wherein the release liner is operable to be removed revealing the pressure sensitive adhesive layer.