Key design issues for autostereoscopic 2-D/3-D displays

Flat-panel 2-D/3-D autostereoscopic displays are now being commercialized in a variety of applications, each with its own particular requirements. The autostereoscopic display designer has two key considerations to address in order to meet customer needs - the optical output of the display ( defined by the output window structure) and the choice of optical components. Window structure determines 3-D image resolution, achievable lateral and longitudinal viewing freedom, crosstalk, and 3-D fringe contrast. Optical-component selection determines the quality of the imaging of such windows, viewing distances, device ruggedness, thickness, and brightness. Trade-offs in window design are described, and a comparison of the leading optical component technologies is given. Selection of Polarisation Activated Microlenses(TM) architectures for LCD and OLED applications are described. The technology delivers significant advantages particularly for minimising nominal viewing distances in high pixel density panels and optimizing device ruggedness while maintaining display brightness.