# US 10,481,406 B2 · Multi-view display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,406 B2 - Document ID: US10481406B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/696,238 - Filed: 2017-09-06 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-22 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Fetze Pijlman; Jan Van Der Horst - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481406B2 ## CPC - G02B 30/27: involving lenticular arrays - G02F 1/133526: {Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses} - G02F 1/13471: {in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells (G02F1/13475 takes precedence)} - G02F 1/29: for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection - G02B 3/12: Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses - H04N 13/305: using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses - H04N 13/356: having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes - H04N 13/359: Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A multi-view display is switchable between single view and multi-view modes, and uses lenticular means (9) arranged over the display panel which comprise birefringent electro-optic material (62) adjacent a non-switchable optically transparent layer (60). The non-switchable optically transparent layer (60) has a refractive index (n) substantially equal to the extra ordinary refractive index of the birefringent electro-optic material (62). In the single view mode, the birefringent electro-optic material (62) defines a non-switched state, and the polarization (64) of the light output from the display panel and incident on the lenticular means is linear and aligned with the optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material (62) at the surface where the display output light is received. In the multi-view mode, the birefringent electro-optic material (62) defines a switched state in which the optical axis is aligned perpendicularly to the display output surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a switchable display device, the method comprising: providing a display panel, and a non-switchable optically transparent layer; and providing a birefringent electro-optic material disposed between the display and the non-switchable optically transparent layer, wherein the non-switchable layer comprises a flat side and a lens side, wherein the flat side is farther from the display panel than the lens side, wherein the lens side comprises a plurality of lenticular lens elements, wherein each lens element is convex, wherein the non-switchable optically transparent layer is disposed over the display panel, wherein the non-switchable optically transparent layer has a refractive index substantially equal to the extra ordinary refractive index of the birefringent electro-optic material, wherein a polarization direction of light from the display output side of the display panel and incident on the non-switchable optically transparent layer is linear, in the single view mode, placing the birefringent electro-optic material in a first state in which an optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material is aligned with the polarization direction of the light from the display panel at a surface where the light enters the birefringent electro optic material; and in the multi-view mode, placing the birefringent electro-optic material in a second state in which the optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material is aligned perpendicularly to a surface of the display panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the birefringent electro-optic material is switched between the first state and the second state by a selective application of an electric field to at least part of the birefringent electro-optic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein in the single view mode the optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material at a surface of the non-switchable optically transparent layer is aligned with elongate axes of the lenticular lens elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the birefringent electro-optic material comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-switchable optically transparent layer comprises a birefringent material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-switchable optically transparent layer comprises an isotropic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarization orientation of the light from the display output side of the display panel at the surface that enters the birefringent electro-optic material is parallel to the elongate axis of the lenticular lens elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a polarizer between the display output side and the non-switchable optically transparent layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising an autostereoscopic display device, wherein the single view mode comprises a two-dimensional mode, and the multi-view mode comprises a three-dimensional mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising a dual view display device, wherein the single view mode comprises a two-dimensional mode in a full field of view of the display, and the multi-view mode comprises two at least partly separated two-dimensional modes at different parts of the full field of view of the display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarization orientation of the light from the display output side of the display panel at the surface that enters the birefringent electro-optic material is in a display column direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarization orientation of the light from the display output side of the display panel at the surface that enters the birefringent electro-optic material is in a display row direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarization orientation of the light from the display output side of the display panel at the surface that enters the birefringent electro-optic material is at 45 degrees to the display row and column directions. ### Claim 15 A method of controlling a switchable display device, the method comprising: providing a display panel, and a non-switchable optically transparent layer; and providing a birefringent electro-optic material disposed between the display and the non-switchable optically transparent layer, wherein the non-switchable layer comprises a flat side and a lens side, wherein the flat side is farther from the display panel than the lens side, wherein the lens side comprises a plurality of lenticular lens elements, wherein each lens element is convex, wherein the non-switchable optically transparent layer has a refractive index substantially equal to the extra ordinary refractive index of the birefringent electro-optic material, wherein a polarization direction of light from the display output side of the display panel and incident on the non-switchable optically transparent layer is linear, in the single view mode, placing the birefringent electro-optic material in a first state in which an optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material is aligned with the polarization direction of the light from the display panel at a surface where the light enters the birefringent electro optic material; and in the multi-view mode, placing the birefringent electro-optic material in a second state in which the optical axis of the birefringent electro-optic material is aligned perpendicularly to a surface of the display panel.