Moire reduction in an autostereoscopic display device

A method for operating an autostereoscopic display device having reduced moire effects, the method comprising:

• forming an image with a display panel;
• using a lenticular lens to direct light from the display panel to a viewing area, the lenticular lens having a curved lens surface that is shaped to define an array of semi-cylindrical lenses;
• passing the light through a transparent substrate spaced apart from the lenticular lens and having a planar substrate surface;
• and
• passing the light through a liquid crystal medium disposed between the curved lens surface and the planar substrate surface, the liquid crystal medium having molecules that are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to a controllable voltage, a refractive index of the liquid crystal medium substantially matching a refractive index of the lenticular lens when the molecules are in the first orientation, the refractive index of the liquid crystal medium differing from the refractive index of the lenticular lens when the molecules are in the second orientation,
• at least one of the curved lens surface or the planar substrate surface including a nanorelief structure, the nanorelief structure comprising valleys between ridges, the valleys being filled with the molecules of the liquid crystal medium, the nanorelief structure being configured to scatter the light from the display panel when the molecules are in the second orientation and thereby reduce moire effects perceptible from the viewing area in the light from the display panel.

An autostereoscopic display system, comprising:

• a display panel;
• a lenticular lens configured to direct light from the display panel to a viewing area, the lenticular lens having a curved lens surface that is shaped to define an array of semi-cylindrical lenses, the lenticular lens having a planar lens surface opposite the curved lens surface;
• a transparent substrate spaced apart from the lenticular lens and having a planar substrate surface;
• a liquid crystal medium disposed between the curved lens surface and the planar substrate surface, the liquid crystal medium having molecules that are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to a controllable voltage, a refractive index of the liquid crystal medium substantially matching a refractive index of the lenticular lens when the molecules are in the first orientation, the refractive index of the liquid crystal medium differing from the refractive index of the lenticular lens when the molecules are in the second orientation, wherein when the molecules are in the first orientation, the autostereoscopic display system is in a two-dimensional (2D) mode, wherein when the molecules are in the second orientation, the autostereoscopic display system is in a three-dimensional (3D) mode;
• a pair of electrodes configured to apply the controllable voltage across the liquid crystal medium, the pair of electrodes being substantially planar, substantially parallel, and located such that the lenticular lens, the liquid crystal medium, and the transparent substrate are disposed between the electrodes, the pair of electrodes including a first electrode that contacts the planar lens surface, the pair of electrodes including a second electrode that contacts the planar substrate surface;
• a voltage supply configured to supply the controllable voltage to the pair of electrodes;
• processing circuitry configured to cause the voltage supply to switch the controllable voltage between a first voltage, at which the molecules are in the first orientation, and a second voltage, at which the molecules are in the second orientation;
• and
• a nanorelief structure disposed on at least one of the curved lens surface or the planar substrate surface, the nanorelief structure comprising valleys between ridges, the valleys being filled with the molecules of the liquid crystal medium, the nanorelief structure being configured to scatter the light from the display panel when the molecules are in the second orientation and thereby reduce moire effects perceptible from the viewing area in the light from the display panel.