Glasses-free 2D/3D switchable display using an integrated single light-guide plate (LGP) with a trapezoidal light-extraction (TLE) film

A 10.1-inch 2D/3D switchable display using an integrated single light-guide plate (LGP) with a trapezoidal light-extraction (TLE) film was designed and fabricated. The integrated single LGP was composed of inverted trapezoidal line structures made by attaching a TLE film on its top surface and cylindrical lens structures on its bottom surface. The top surface of the TLE film was also bonded to the bottom surface of an LCD panel to maintain a 3D image quality, which can be seriously deteriorated by the gap variations between the LCD panel and the LGP. The inverted trapezoidal line structures act as slit apertures of parallax barriers for 3D mode. Light beams from LED light sources placed along the left and right edges of the LGP bounce between the top and bottom surfaces of the LGP, and when they collide with the inclined surfaces of the inverted trapezoidal structures, they are emitted toward the LCD panel. Light beams from LED light sources arranged on the top and bottom edges of the LGP are emitted to the lower surface while colliding with the cylindrical lens structures, and are reflected to the front surface by a reflective film for 2D mode. By applying the integrated single LGP with a TLE film, we constructed a 2D/3D switchable display prototype with a 10.1-inch tablet panel of WUXGA resolution (1,200x1,920). Consequently, we showed light-field 3D and 2D display images without interference artifacts between both modes, and also achieved luminance uniformity of over 80%. This display easily generates both 2D and 3D images without increasing the thickness and power consumption of the display device.