Display apparatus and method of driving the same

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0024324, filed on Mar. 18, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

1. Field of the Invention

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a display apparatus and a method of driving the display apparatus. More particularly, example embodiments of the present invention relate to a display apparatus displaying a 2-dimensional (2D) image and a 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image and a method of driving the display apparatus.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

As demand for a 3D stereoscopic images has increased in industrial fields such as cinema, gaming, and so on, a stereoscopic image display apparatus displaying the 3D stereoscopic image has been improved. The stereoscopic image display apparatus displays the 3D stereoscopic image by respectively providing 2D images different from each other to left and right eyes of an observer. Thus, the observer recognizes a pair of two different 2D images, and the pair of two different 2D images is mixed in a brain of the observer, so that the observer may perceive the 3D stereoscopic image.

A stereoscopic image display apparatus is classified as a stereoscopic type or an auto-stereoscopic type according to whether or not the observer wears special glasses. Conventionally, the auto-stereoscopic type such as a barrier type, a lenticular type and so on is used for a flat display apparatus.

In the lenticular type, the light passing through the left and right pixels is refracted using a lens, so that the 3D stereoscopic image may be displayed. The brightness in the lenticular type may be larger than that in the barrier type because most of the light passes through the lens.

The lens used in the lenticular type may be a convex lens or a Fresnel lens. A thickness of the Fresnel lens is thinner than that of the convex lens. The Fresnel lens includes a plurality of circular arcs on a surface of the Fresnel lens and a plurality of discontinuous lines formed at boundaries between the circular arcs. The Fresnel lens refracts light at the circular arcs and concentrates the light at one point.

When a lens panel operates like the Fresnel lens by applying voltages to a plurality of electrodes, the thickness of the lens decreases as the number of the electrodes increases. As the number of the electrodes increases, however, the distance between the lines applying the voltage to the electrodes decreases, so that a resistance may be increased and a disconnection of the lines may occur.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a display apparatus capable of decreasing a thickness of a lens panel and increasing a distance between lines to enhance a response rate and reliability.

Example embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of driving the display apparatus.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus includes a panel module displaying a 2-dimensional (2D) image or a 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image, a lens panel disposed over the panel module and including a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first substrate including a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of floating electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. The floating electrodes partially overlap with the first electrodes and are electrically floated. The second electrodes partially overlap with the floating electrodes. A light source module supplies light to the panel module.

In an example embodiment, a voltage applied to each of the first electrodes may be smaller than a voltage applied to each of the second electrodes.

In an example embodiment, the first substrate may include a first insulating layer formed between the first electrodes and the floating electrodes, and a second insulating layer formed between the second electrodes and the floating electrodes.

In an example embodiment, voltages of the floating electrodes may be between a voltage applied to each of their respective first electrodes and a voltage applied to each of their respective second electrodes.

In an example embodiment, the voltages of the floating electrodes may increase according as a portion of the first electrodes overlapping with the floating electrodes or a portion of the second electrodes overlapping with the floating electrodes increases.

In an example embodiment, the voltages of the floating electrodes may decrease according as a thickness of the first insulating layer or a thickness of the second insulating layer increases.

In an example embodiment, the lens panel may further include a lens driving circuit formed on at least one side of the first substrate, and a plurality of bus lines connected to the lens driving circuit and transmitting voltages to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.

In an example embodiment, at least two second electrodes may be connected to the bus lines different from each other.

In an example embodiment, the lens driving circuit may include first and second driving circuits, and the bus lines may be alternately connected to the first and second driving circuits.

In an example embodiment, the lens driving circuit may include a plurality of driving circuits, and the bus lines are connected to all of the driving circuits.

In an example embodiment, the lens panel may further include a plurality of bus lines directly connected to an external circuit substrate, and transmitting voltages to the first and second electrodes.

In an example embodiment, at least two second electrodes may be electrically connected to the bus lines different from each other.

In an example embodiment, the second electrodes may be electrically connected to substantially the same bus line.

In an example embodiment, the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the floating electrodes may form a plurality of lens units, and widths of shorter sides of the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the floating electrodes may increase as the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the floating electrodes approach a center of each of the lens units.

In an example embodiment, the width of the shorter side of each of the second electrodes may be shorter than that of each of the corresponding first electrodes.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for driving a display apparatus includes providing light from a light source module to a panel module to display an image. Voltages different from each other are applied to first electrodes and second electrodes of the lens panel, and the lens panel is disposed over the panel module. Voltages are applied to a plurality of floating electrodes of a first substrate, wherein the voltages applied depend on the voltages applied to the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The floating electrodes partially overlap with the first electrodes respectively, partially overlap with the second electrodes respectively, and are electrically floated. An arrangement of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer of the lens panel is changed, and the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and a second substrate. The image provided from the panel module is refracted in passing through the liquid crystal layer of the lens panel.

In an example embodiment, changing the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer may include forming an electric field between the first electrodes, the floating electrodes and the second electrodes of the first substrate and a common electrode of the second substrate.

In an example embodiment, the voltage applied to each of the first electrodes may be smaller than the voltage applied to each of the corresponding second electrodes, and the voltages of the floating electrodes may be between the voltage applied to the first electrode and the voltage applied to the second electrode.

In an example embodiment, at least two voltages applied to the second electrodes may be different from each other.

In an example embodiment, the voltages applied to the second electrodes may be substantially the same.

According to example embodiments of the present invention, the lens unit of the lens panel is driven as a Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, manufacturing efficiency is enhanced, and manufacturing cost is decreased.

The number of the bus lines and electrode lines formed in a peripheral area of the lens panel is decreased due to forming a plurality of electrodes electrically floated in the lens panel, so that resistors and disconnection of the bus lines or the electrode lines are decreased. In addition, a distance between the bus lines or the electrode lines is increased, so that the manufacturing process is much easier.

The lens panel receives the driving voltages from the connector like a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) without a driving circuit including chips as a driving IC chip, so that the manufacturing cost is decreased.

The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail example embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the display apparatus in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion ‘A’ in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display of a 2D image by the display apparatus in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display of a 3D stereoscopic image by the display apparatus in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a method of driving the display apparatus in FIG. 1 , when the display apparatus displays the 3D stereoscopic image;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display apparatus according to still another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel in FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel according to still another example embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion ‘B’ in FIG. 12 .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the display apparatus in FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display apparatus 1000 includes a controller 100 , a lens panel 200 , a panel module 300 and a light source module 400 .

The controller 100 receives a 2D image or a 3D stereoscopic image from outside, and controls the display apparatus 1000 to display said 2D image or said 3D stereoscopic image.

The controller 100 includes an image processor 110 , a lens controller 120 , a panel controller 130 and a light source controller 140 . The controller 100 may further include a timing controller (not shown). The timing controller controls signals from a lens controller 120 , a panel controller 130 and a light source controller 140 , and outputs the signals.

The image processor 110 generates control signals CS 1 , CS 2 and CS 3 according to a mode of the display apparatus 1000 .

The image processor 110 provides the first control signal CS 1 to the lens controller 120 . For example, the first control signal CS 1 may be a control signal deciding whether or not the lens part 100 is driven as a Fresnel lens. The image processor 110 provides the second control signal CS 2 and a 2D image or a 3D stereoscopic image to the panel controller 130 . For example, the second control signal CS 2 may be a control signal deciding whether or not the panel module 300 displays the 3D stereoscopic image. The image processor 110 provides the third control signal CS 3 to the light source controller 140 . For example, the third control signal CS 3 may be a control signal which determines a brightness of the light source module 400 . In a 2D mode, the light source controller 140 supplies the light with a first brightness. In a 3D mode, the light source controller 140 supplies the light with a second brightness which is larger than the first brightness.

The lens controller 120 provides a first driving signal DS 1 based on the first control signal CS 1 to the lens panel 200 . The first driving signal DS 1 may include driving voltages which are provided to the lens panel 200 .

The panel controller 130 provides a second driving signal DS 2 and a 2D image or a 3D stereoscopic image to the panel module 300 based on the second control signal CS 2 . The second driving signal DS 2 may include a data voltage, a vertical start signal, a reverse signal and an output enable signal which are provided to the data circuit part 320 . In addition, the second driving signal DS 2 may include a vertical start signal, a gate clock signal and an output enable signal which are provided to the gate circuit part 340 .

The light source controller 140 provides a third driving signal DS 3 to the light source module 400 based on the third control signal CS 3 . In the 3D mode, the third driving signal DS 3 may increase the brightness of the light source module 400 compared to the 2D mode.

According to the present example embodiment, the image processor 110 , the lens controller 120 , the panel controller 130 and the light source controller 140 are disposed on one substrate. Alternatively, the above-mentioned elements may be disposed on separated substrates.

The lens panel 200 includes a relatively longer side substantially parallel with a first direction D 1 and a relatively shorter side substantially parallel with a second direction D 2 . The lens panel 200 includes a plurality of lens units LU and lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b . The lens panel 200 includes a plurality of first electrodes E 1 , a plurality of second electrodes E 2 , a plurality of third electrodes E 3 and a plurality of fourth electrodes E 4 sequentially disposed, a common electrode (not shown) facing the first electrodes E 1 , the second electrodes E 2 , the third electrodes E 3 and the fourth electrodes E 4 , and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 and the common electrode. Although not shown in FIG. 2 , the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 partially overlap with each other.

The first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 extend along a third direction D 3 crossing the first and second directions D 1 and D 2 . The lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b are disposed at a side of a first substrate 210 , and electrically connected with the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 respectively. When the lens units LU are driven as the Fresnel lens, the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b supply first and fourth voltages to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 , respectively.

The lens panel 200 may be driven in a 2-dimensional (2D) mode or a 3-dimensional (3D) mode. For example, when the display apparatus 1000 displays a 3D stereoscopic image, the first voltages are applied to each of the first electrodes E 1 , and the fourth voltages are applied to each of the fourth electrodes E 4 . The second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 are electrically floated to have second and third voltages between the first and fourth voltages, respectively. Thus, an arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is changed, and the lens units LU are driven as a Fresnel lens to refract light from display panel 310 , so that an observer perceives the 3D stereoscopic image.

The panel module 300 includes the display panel 310 , a data circuit part 220 , a source printed circuit board 330 and a gate circuit part 340 . The display panel 310 includes a relatively longer side substantially parallel with a first direction D 1 and a relatively shorter side substantially parallel with a second direction D 2 crossing the first direction D 1 . The display panel 310 includes a plurality of pixels P.

The data circuit part 320 applies a data voltage to the pixel P, and is electrically connected to the source printed circuit board 330 . The gate circuit part 340 outputs a gate signal to the pixel P. The gate signal controls a charging time of the data voltage. The gate circuit part 340 may be mounted on the display panel 310 as a chip type, or directly integrated on the display panel 310 with a thin film transistor in forming the thin film transistor of the display panel.

The light source module 400 emits light to the panel module 300 . The light source module 400 includes a light source (not shown) emitting the light. The light source may include a fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode (LED). The light source module 400 may be classified into a direct-illumination type or an edge-illumination type according to a position of the light source. For the edge-illumination type, the light source 400 may further include a light guide plate. In addition, the light source module 400 may be controlled to be synchronized with the panel module 300 and the lens panel 200 .

The display apparatus 1000 may include a first connector 510 which electrically connects the controller 100 with the lens panel 200 , a second connector 520 which electrically connects the controller 100 with the panel model 300 , and a third connector 530 which electrically connects the controller 100 with the light source module 400 . Each of the first connector 510 , the second connector 520 and the third connector 530 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of FIG. 3 . In FIG. 4 , conceptual diagrams of the lens unit LU and a phase shift distribution of the lens unit LU are shown.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lens panel 200 includes the first substrate 210 , a second substrate 220 which is smaller than the first substrate 210 and faces the first substrate 210 , a liquid crystal layer 230 disposed between the first and second substrates 210 and 220 , and the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b . The lens panel 200 includes a lens area LA in which the lens units LU are disposed and a peripheral area PA formed adjacent to the lens area LA.

The lens area LA may form the lens units LU. Each of the lens units LU has a lens axis Ax. The lens axis Ax is inclined with respect to the second direction D 2 by an inclined angle θ. The lens axis Ax of the Fresnel lens unit LU is substantially parallel with the third direction D 3 . Thus, the lens units LU of the lens panel 200 are disposed on the display panel 310 of the panel module 300 substantially parallel with each other along the lens axis Ax. In the present example embodiments, the lens axis Ax is inclined with respect to the second direction D 2 by an inclined angle θ, but not limited thereto and the lens axis Ax may be variously changed. For example, the lens axis Ax may be substantially parallel with the second direction D 2 .

When voltages are applied to the lens panel 200 , the lens panel 200 forms a phase shift distribution substantially same as the Fresnel lens which has a plurality of refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn arranged along the first direction D 1 . Each of the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn includes each of circular arcs C 1 , C 2 , C 3 . . . Cn−2, Cn−1 and Cn and each of discontinuity lines H 1 , H 2 , H 3 . . . Hn−2, Hn−1 and Hn. Each of the discontinuity lines H 1 , H 2 , H 3 . . . Hn−2, Hn−1 and Hn is formed at an end of each the circular arcs C 1 , C 2 , C 3 . . . Cn−2, Cn−1 and Cn. In a Fresnel lens, a convex lens is divided into areas having a certain thickness and adopting circular arcs of the areas. Thus, a cell gap of the liquid crystal layer of the lens panel 200 which is driven as the Fresnel lens is decreased to be 1/K of a thickness of the convex lens. Here, K is equal to n/2, and n is the number of the circular arcs included in the Fresnel lens.

The first substrate 210 includes the first base substrate 211 . The first electrode E 1 , a first insulating layer 212 , the second electrode E 2 , a second insulating layer 213 , the third electrode E 3 , a third insulating layer 214 , the fourth electrode E 4 and a fourth insulating layer 215 are sequentially formed on the first base substrate 211 . The second electrodes E 2 partially overlap with the first electrodes E 1 , respectively. The third electrodes E 3 partially overlap with the second electrodes E 2 , respectively. The fourth electrodes E 4 partially overlap with the third electrodes E 3 , respectively. Each of the refractive areas Zn includes one first electrode E 1 , one second electrode E 2 , one third electrode E 3 and one fourth electrode E 4 . The first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 are repetitively arranged in this order for each successive Zn.

The first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 may include a transparent conductive oxide material, such as an indium tin oxide (ITO), an indium zinc oxide (IZO) and so on. The first, second, third and fourth insulating layer 212 , 213 , 214 and 215 may include an insulating material transmitting visible light, such as a silicon nitride (SiNx), a silicon oxide (SiOx), and so on.

A Fresnel lens is formed by dividing a convex lens into areas having a certain thickness, and is radially symmetric with respect to the center of the Fresnel lens. Thus, each of discontinuous lines H 1 , H 2 , H 3 . . . Hn−2 and Hn−1, Hn has substantially the same length. However, each of widths W 1 , W 2 , W 3 . . . Wn−2, Wn−1 and Wn along the first direction D 1 of the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn increases as the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn approach the center of the Fresnel lens. Thus, each width of the first electrodes E 1 , each width of the second electrodes E 2 , each width of the third electrodes E 3 , and each width of the fourth electrodes E 4 increase as the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn approach the center of the Fresnel lens. In addition, the widths of the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 may be substantially same as those of the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 in counter refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn, which are symmetrical to the center of the Fresnel lens. In addition, the width of the fourth electrode E 4 may be smaller than the widths of the first, second and third electrodes E 1 , E 2 and E 3 in the same refractive area Zn, so that the fourth electrode E 4 may not overlap with the first electrode E 1 in an adjacent refractive area Zn, and the discontinuity lines H 1 , H 2 , H 3 . . . Hn−2, Hn−1 and Hn may be vertically formed with a steep slope.

A first alignment layer 216 is formed on the fourth insulating layer 215 . The first alignment layer 216 has a first alignment direction, such that an initial alignment of the liquid crystal layer 230 is not twisted.

The second substrate 220 includes a second base substrate 221 , a common electrode 222 and a second alignment layer 223 .

The common electrode 222 is formed on the second base substrate 221 . The common electrode 222 may include a transparent conductive oxide material, such as an indium tin oxide (ITO), an indium zinc oxide (IZO), and so on.

The second alignment layer 223 is formed on the second base substrate 221 on which the common electrode 221 is formed. The second alignment layer 223 has a second alignment direction, such that an initial alignment of the liquid crystal layer 230 is not twisted.

The liquid crystal layer 230 includes liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in an anti-parallel alignment structure or a vertical alignment structure.

When appropriate driving voltages are applied to the lens panel 200 , the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules are changed to have a phase shift distribution substantially similar to a Fresnel lens.

For example, the first voltages provided from the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b are applied to the first electrodes E 1 , respectively. All of the first electrodes E 1 may receive the first voltages substantially the same as each other. Each of the first voltages may be a ground voltage.

The fourth voltages provided from the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b are applied to the fourth electrodes E 4 , respectively. Each of the fourth electrodes E 4 forming each of the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn may receive fourth voltages slightly different from each other. Thus, fourth voltages are adjusted according to positions of the fourth electrodes E 4 , adjacent electrodes and other elements to enhance characteristics of the lens units LU. In addition, the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn are symmetric with respect to the center of the Fresnel lens, so that the fourth electrodes E 4 symmetrically located with respect to the center of the Fresnel lens may receive fourth voltages that are substantially the same. For example, the fourth electrode E 4 included in the first refractive area Z 1 and the fourth electrode E 4 included in the N-th refractive area Zn, opposite to Z 1 , may receive fourth voltages substantially the same as each other.

The second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 are electrically floated. The second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 have voltages between the first voltage of the first electrode E 1 and the fourth voltage of fourth electrode E 4 , respectively. The voltages of the second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 may be adjusted based on overlapping areas between the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 and thicknesses of the first, second, third and fourth insulating layer 212 , 213 , 214 and 215 . For example, the voltages of the second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 electrically floated increase as the overlapping areas between the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 increase. In addition, the voltages of the second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 electrically floated decrease as the thicknesses of the first, second, third and fourth insulating layer 212 , 213 , 214 and 215 increase.

Therefore, the voltages of the first, second, third and fourth electrodes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 sequentially increase. For example, in one refractive area Zm, when the first electrode E 1 receives about 0V and the fourth electrode E 4 receives about 5V, the second electrode E 2 has about 2.15V and the third electrode E 3 has about 3.6V. However, in the region Zm+1 adjacent to rejoin Zm, the first and fourth electrode E 1 and E 4 have their voltages discontinuously decreased. Thus, the liquid crystal molecules disposed over each of the first electrodes E 1 are vertically arranged, and the liquid crystal molecules disposed over each of the fourth electrodes E 4 are horizontally arranged, so that the lens unit LU has a phase shift distribution substantially similar to the circular arcs C 1 , C 2 , C 3 . . . Cn−2, Cn−1 and Cn of the Fresnel lens. In addition, the lens unit LU has a phase shift distribution substantially the same as the discontinuity lines H 1 , H 2 , H 3 . . . Hn−2, Hn−1 and Hn of the Fresnel lens by the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 adjacent to each other. Thus, the lens panel 200 performs as a Fresnel lens.

According to the present example embodiment, the electrodes electrically floated are formed in two layers. Alternatively, the electrodes electrically floated may be formed in three or more layers.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion ‘A’ in FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5 , the peripheral area PA of the lens panel 200 is not covered with the second substrate 220 . In the peripheral area PA, the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b , a plurality of bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, a plurality of first electrode lines CL 1 and a plurality of fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n are formed. Here, K is equal to n/2, and n is the number of the circular arcs included in the Fresnel lens. However, a line structure illustrated in FIG. 5 is an example embodiment of the present invention, and alternatively, the bus lines and the electrode lines may be changed.

The bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk may extend along the first direction D 1 , and the first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n may extend along the second direction D 2 . The first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n partially overlap with the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, and may be alternately arranged along the first direction D 1 . The first electrode lines CL 1 extend from each of the first electrodes E 1 , and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n extend from each of the fourth electrodes E 4 .

The first electrode lines CL 1 are connected to the k-th bus line BLk through contact holes CT. The k-th bus line BLk may transmit ground voltage.

Each of the fourth electrodes E 4 forming each of the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn receive the fourth voltages slightly different from each other, so that each of the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n is connected to the first, second and third bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 , BL 3 . . . , respectively. In addition, the refractive areas Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 . . . Zn−2, Zn−1 and Zn are distributed symmetrically with respect to the center of the Fresnel lens, so that the fourth electrode lines CL 41 and CL 4 n connected to the fourth electrodes E 4 symmetrically located are connected to the same bus line BL 1 .

In the 3D mode, the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b respectively supply the first and fourth voltages to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 through the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, the first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n . Each of the lens driving circuit parts 240 a and 240 b are alternately connected to the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk. For example, the first lens driving circuit part 240 a may be connected to the odd-numbered bus lines BL 1 , BL 3 . . . and the second lens driving circuit part 240 b may be connected to the even-numbered bus lines BL 2 , BL 4 . . . .

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display of a 2D image by the display apparatus in FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 , the light source module 400 generates light.

The light generated from the light source module 400 is provided to the display panel 310 . Thus, the display panel 310 displays the 2D image.

The light passing through the display panel 310 is provided to the lens panel 200 . In this case, the driving voltages are not provided to the lens panel 200 . The liquid crystal molecules of the lens panel 200 maintain an initial alignment state, and the light passing through the display panel 310 is transmitted without refraction by the lens panel 200 .

Thus, the display apparatus 1000 may display the 2D image.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display of a 3D stereoscopic image by the display apparatus in FIG. 1 . FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a method of driving the display apparatus in FIG. 1 when the display apparatus displays the 3D stereoscopic image.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7 , the light source module 400 generates light.

The light generated from the light source module 400 is provided to the display panel 310 . Thus, the display panel 310 displays the 3D stereoscopic image (step S 110 ).

The light passing through the display panel 310 is provided to the lens panel 200 . To display the 3D stereoscopic image, the first and fourth voltages are respectively provided to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 of the lens panel 200 (step S 120 ). The first and fourth voltages may be different from each other.

The second and third electrodes E 2 and E 3 electrically floated have voltages between the first and fourth voltages by the first and fourth voltages applied to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 (step S 130 ).

The liquid crystal molecules of the lens panel 200 are rearranged to have a phase shift distribution as the Fresnel lens, and each of the lens units LU is driven as the Fresnel lens (step S 140 ). Thus, the light passing through the display panel 310 is refracted by the lens panel 200 (step S 150 ).

Thus, the display apparatus displays the 3D stereoscopic image.

According to the present example embodiment, the lens unit of the lens panel is driven as a Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, manufacturing efficiency is improved, and manufacturing cost is reduced.

The number of the bus lines and electrode lines formed in a peripheral area of the lens panel is decreased due to forming a plurality of electrodes electrically floated in the lens panel, so that resistors and disconnection of the bus lines or the electrode lines are decreased. In addition, the spacing between the bus lines or the electrode lines is increased, so that the manufacturing process is much easier.

The fourth electrodes respectively receive the fourth voltages slightly different from each other, and the fourth voltages are adjusted according to positions of the fourth electrodes, adjacent electrodes and other elements to enhance a characteristic of the lens unit.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel according to another example embodiment of the present invention.

A lens panel according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as the lens panel according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 except for a peripheral area of the lens panel, so that the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as those described in the previous example embodiment and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the lens panel 600 includes the first substrate 610 , a second substrate 620 which is smaller than the first substrate 610 and faces the first substrate 610 , a liquid crystal layer (not shown) disposed between the first and second substrates 610 and 620 , and the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b.

The lens panel 600 includes a lens area LA in which the lens units LU are disposed and a peripheral area PA adjacent to one side of the lens area LA. When voltages are applied to the lens panel 600 , the lens panel 600 forms a phase shift distribution substantially same as the Fresnel lens which has a plurality of refractive areas.

The peripheral area PA includes the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b , a plurality of bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, a plurality of first electrode lines CL 1 and a plurality of fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n . Here, K is equal to n/2, and n is the number of the circular arcs included in the Fresnel lens. However, a line structure illustrated in FIG. 9 is an example embodiment of the present invention, and alternatively, the bus lines and the electrode lines may be changed.

A method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIG. 7 , and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

In the 3D mode, the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b respectively supply the first and fourth voltages to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 through the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, the first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n . Each of the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b are connected to all bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk. Thus, the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk receive the first and fourth voltages from the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b connected to both ends of the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk at the same time. The fourth voltage is larger than the first voltage. Each of the first voltages may be the ground voltage.

According to the present example embodiments, the lens unit of the lens panel is driven as a Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, its manufacturing efficiency is enhanced, and its manufacturing cost is reduced.

The number of bus lines and electrode lines formed in a peripheral area of the lens panel may be reduced due to forming a plurality of electrodes electrically floated in the lens panel, so that resistors and disconnection of the bus lines or the electrode lines are decreased. In addition, the spacing between the bus lines or the electrode lines is increased, so that their manufacturing process is much easier.

The fourth electrodes respectively receive the fourth voltages slightly different from each other, and the fourth voltages are adjusted according to positions of the fourth electrodes, adjacent electrodes and other elements to enhance a characteristic of the lens unit.

The bus lines receive the first and fourth voltages from the lens driving circuit connected to both ends of the bus lines at the same time, so that the signal delay is decreased. Thus, even though a size of the display apparatus increases, the display quality is prevented from being deteriorated.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display apparatus according to still another example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel in FIG. 10 .

A lens panel according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as the lens panel according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 except for a peripheral area of the lens panel, so that the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as those described in the previous example embodiment and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 , the lens panel 700 includes a first substrate 710 , a second substrate 720 which is smaller than the first substrate 710 and faces the first substrate 710 , and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) disposed between the first and second substrates 710 and 720 . The first substrate 710 is connected to the first connector 510 to receive the driving voltages.

The first substrate 710 includes a lens area LA in which the lens units LU are disposed, and a peripheral area PA adjacent to one side of the lens area LA. When voltages are applied to the lens panel 700 , each of the lens unit LU forms a phase shift distribution substantially same as the Fresnel lens which has a plurality of refractive areas.

The peripheral area PA of the lens panel 700 is not covered with the second substrate 720 . The peripheral area PA includes a plurality of bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, a plurality of first electrode lines CL 1 and a plurality of fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n . Here, K is equal to n/2, and n is the number of the circular arcs included in the Fresnel lens. However, a line structure illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is an example embodiment of the present invention, and alternatively, the bus lines and the electrode lines may be changed variously.

A method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as the method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 , and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

In the 3D mode, the first connector 510 supplies the first and fourth voltages to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 through the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk, the first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 41 , CL 42 . . . CL 4 n . Each of the lens driving circuit parts 640 a and 640 b are connected to all bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk. The first connector 510 may be directly connected to the bus lines BL 1 , BL 2 . . . BLk. The first connector 510 may be a FPCB.

According to the present example embodiments, each of the lens units of the lens panel is driven as the Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, manufacturing efficiency is enhanced, and manufacturing cost is decreased.

The number of the bus lines and electrode lines formed in a peripheral area of the lens panel is decreased due to forming a plurality of electrodes electrically floated in the lens panel, so that resistors and disconnection of the bus lines or the electrode lines are decreased. In addition, the spacing between the bus lines or the electrode lines is increased, so that the manufacturing process is much easier.

The lens panel receives the driving voltages from the connector like a FPCB without a driving circuit including chips such as a driving IC chip, so that the manufacturing cost is decreased.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a lens panel according to still another example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion ‘B’ in FIG. 12

A lens panel according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as the lens panel according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 except for a peripheral area of the lens panel, so that the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as those described in the previous example embodiment and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 , the lens panel 800 includes a first substrate 810 , a second substrate 820 which is smaller than the first substrate 810 and faces the first substrate 810 , and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) disposed between the first and second substrates 810 and 820 . The first substrate 810 is connected to the first connector 510 to receive the driving voltages.

The first substrate 810 includes a lens area LA having the lens units LU and a peripheral area PA adjacent to one side of the lens area LA. When voltages are applied to the lens panel 800 , each of the lens unit LU forms a phase shift distribution substantially same as the Fresnel lens which has a plurality of refractive areas.

The peripheral area PA of the lens panel 800 is not covered with the second substrate 820 . The peripheral area PA includes first and second bus lines BL 1 and BL 2 , a plurality of first electrode lines CL 1 and a plurality of fourth electrode lines CL 4 . Here, K is equal to n/2, and n is the number of the circular arcs included in the Fresnel lens.

The first electrode lines CL 1 are connected to the first bus line BL 1 through contact holes CT. The first electrodes E 1 may receive the first voltages substantially the same with each other through the first electrodes lines CL 1 . For example, the first electrodes E 1 may receive the ground voltage through the first electrodes lines CL 1 and the first bus line BL 1 .

The fourth electrode lines CL 4 are connected to the second bus line BL 2 through contact holes CT.

A method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the present example embodiment is substantially the same as a method for displaying the 3D stereoscopic image of the display apparatus according to the previous example embodiment described referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 , and thus any repetitive explanation concerning the above elements will be omitted or briefly described.

In the 3D mode, the first connector 510 supplies the first and fourth voltages to the first and fourth electrodes E 1 and E 4 through the first and second bus lines BL 1 and BL 2 , the first electrode lines CL 1 and the fourth electrode lines CL 4 respectively. The fourth electrodes E 4 receive the fourth voltages substantially the same with each other, and the fourth voltage is larger than the first voltage.

The first connector 510 may be directly connected to the first and second bus lines BL 1 and BL 2 . The first connector 510 may be a FPCB.

According to the present example embodiments, the lens unit of the lens panel is driven as the Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, manufacturing efficiency is enhanced, and manufacturing cost is reduced.

The number of the bus lines and electrode lines formed in a peripheral area of the lens panel is decreased due to forming a plurality of electrodes electrically floated in the lens panel, so that resistors and disconnection of the bus lines or the electrode lines are decreased. In addition, the spacing between the bus lines or the electrode lines may be increased, so that the manufacturing process is much easier.

The lens panel receives the driving voltages from a connector like a FPCB without a driving circuit including chips such as a driving IC chip, so that manufacturing cost is decreased.

According to the present invention, the lens unit of the lens panel is driven as a Fresnel lens, so that a cell gap of the lens panel is decreased. Thus, its manufacturing efficiency is enhanced, and its manufacturing cost is decreased.

Some electrodes of the lens panel maintain an electrically floated state, and voltages of the electrically floated electrodes are formed by adjusting overlapping areas between the electrodes and thicknesses of the insulating layers.

Accordingly, the number of the lines applying voltages to the lens panel is decreased, so that the manufacturing process may be simplified, and the manufacturing cost may be decreased. Thus, the display apparatus may be efficiently manufactured.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.