In this paper, we proposed the 3-dimenstional (3D) analysis for calculating the optical characteristics of an autostereoscopic display with electric field driven liquid crystal (ELC) lens. From 3D analysis considering the slanting of lens, we calculate the cross-talk of each images and the distortion of viewing zone. Using geometric opics and extended Jones matrix method (EJMM), phase retardation of ELC lens according to position is calculated and then optical path difference in 3D space considering tilt and azimuth angle of incident light is gotten. Then, intensity distribution is presented in the space. Through camparing the intensity distribution using ideal lens with the ELC lens, we identify the noise and image distortion of ELC lens. As a result, this analysis is expected to provide optimum design conditions for realistic and rigorous 3D display with ELC lens.

Abstract: We propose a generic method to calculate the optical functionalities of a 3D display with a lenticular lens array. In the present work, based on the geometrical optics, it is designed considering the specifications of the display panel. For the effective simulation, we first calculate the optical functionalities of a single cylindrical lens and, by comparing with the results obtained from the conventional geometrical optics, confirm the validity of the present method. Afterwards, we obtain the full distribution of the light intensity at an optimum viewing distance by expanding the results of the single lens to the horizontal plane of the display panel. From these results, we finally confirm whether the 3D images are realized or not in the system.

In this paper a novel method based on geometrical optics proposed to calculate the optical characteristics of an electric field driven liquid crystal (ELC) lens. For an optimally designed ELC lens, effective refractive index is calculated and then ray tracing is carried out using Huygens′ principle. From the results, the intensity distribution at the optimum viewing distance (OVD) is obtained. To confirm the validity of our work, the result is compared with that calculated by the extended Jones matrix method (EJMM). As a result, it turns out that the novel method provides more simple and rigorous simulation results than the EJMM.

A rigorous electro-optical simulation and ray tracing for an electric field driven liquid crystal Fresnel lens was proposed to obtain design parameters of the electrode pattern of the Fresnel lens. The optimal design was carried out using Taguchi`s experimental method for 17.1"(368×229.5 mm) wide LCD panels with 9 views. For the calculation of the distribution of liquid crystal molecules and the optical transmission of the panel, finite difference method and extended Jones matrix method were used to deal effectively with highly nonlinear and complicated motional equations of the liquid crystal molecules and to obtain the oblique transmission characteristics of the LCD panel. As simulation results, the optimal lengths of the 3 electrodes of the Fresnel lens are 4.0 μm, 30 μm and 83 μm, respectively, and the locations of the second and third electrodes are 32.9-33.0 μm and 45.9-46.0 μm, respectively. The optimal applied voltage of the 3 electrodes are found to be 5.75 V, 7.80 V and 11.9 V, respectively.