Multi-view autostereoscopic image display and method of controlling optimal viewing distance thereof

A multi-view autostereoscopic image display comprising:

• a display panel configured to display multi-view image data;
• a display panel driver configured to write the multi-view image data;
• a 3D optical element configured to write the optical axes of the multi-view image data;
• a 3D optical element driver configured to synchronize with pixel data to be written in a pixel array of the display panel in a 3D mode under control of a viewing distance extension controller and shift the 3D optical element by a predetermined distance every frame period among a plurality of frame periods;
• a viewing distance sensing unit configured to write the positions of both eyes of a viewer;
• and the viewing distance extension controller configured to:
• compare the positions of both eyes of the viewer with positional, size, and shape information of predefined viewing zones stored in a look-up table according to a determined movement direction and movement distance of the viewer based on a change in the positions of the viewing zones where both eyes of the viewer are located, detect, based on the determined movement direction and movement distance of the viewer, viewing zones where both eyes of the viewer are located, provide first, second, and third view image data for at least two rear viewing zones, determine a pixel array including the second view image data and the third view image data in a specific rear viewing zone among the at least two rear viewing zones, selectively convert the second view image into the first view image data for a right part of the pixel array, and convert the second view image data into the third view image data for an extended left part of the pixel array, according to the detected viewing zones based on the determined movement direction and movement distance of the viewer, by generating timing control signals for controlling operation timings of the display panel driver and the 3D optical element driver, and establish, based on a determined ratio, a new coordinate system of the viewing zones, via an axial rotation of the viewing zones, by shifting each view image data of the multi-view image data by I views, where I is a positive integer, and storing the new coordinate system in the look-up table, wherein the operation timings of the display panel driver and the 3D optical element driver are controlled to be synchronized with each other, and the pixel data to be written is shifted in the pixel array and the 3D optical element synchronized with the generated timing control signals, and wherein a difference in view between view images seen in the viewing zones located along a first viewing distance is equal to, or greater than, a difference in view between view images seen in the rear viewing zones located along a second viewing distance.