3-d display using led pixel layers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016240118-A1
Application number	US-201615003724-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Microscopic LED dice are printed in groups, to form pixels, on a thin transparent substrate, and the LEDs in each pixel are sandwiched between two transparent conductor layers to connect the LEDs in parallel. This forms a single 2-dimensional pixel layer that is substantially transparent, where the pixels are individually addressable. Multiple pixel layers are stacked with an index-matched spacer layer therebetween to form a 3-dimensional array of pixels. If the 3-D display is formed as a cube, the viewing window may be the top pixel layer. All pixel layers are simultaneously viewable through the viewing window since each layer is transparent. Accordingly, 3-dimensional images may be displayed. In another embodiment, one or more LED pixels layers are folded, like an accordion, to achieve a stereoscopic effect so that the left and right eyes see different images to convey depth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display device for displaying three-dimensional images comprising:
a plurality of stacked pixel layers, each pixel layer comprising a substantially transparent layer containing addressable light emitting diodes (LEDs) grouped into pixels; and a controller for supplying currents to selected pixels in the stacked pixel layers such that energized pixels in the different pixel layers are simultaneously viewable through a viewing window of the display device to create a three-dimensional image.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the LEDs in each pixel layer are microscopic and printed as an LED ink over a first transparent conductor layer in each pixel layer.

3 . The device of claim 2 wherein the LEDs in each pixel are electrically connected in parallel by the first transparent conductor layer and a second transparent conductor layer sandwiching the LEDs in each pixel.

4 . The device of claim 3 wherein each pixel contains a random number of LEDs as a result of printing the LEDs using the LED ink.

5 . The device of claim 3 wherein the pixels in each pixel layer form a 2-dimensional matrix of pixels.

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the pixels include red, green, and blue pixels.

7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the pixel layers have surfaces with a first index of refraction, the device further comprising spacer layers between the pixel layers that have surfaces with a second index of refraction substantially equal to the first index of refraction to reduce reflections.

8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the pixel layers comprise first pixel layers that emit blue light, second pixel layers that emit green light, and third pixel layers that emit red light.

9 . The device of claim 1 wherein each pixel layer comprises first pixels that emit blue light, second pixels that emit green light, and third pixels that emit red light.

10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the pixels include red, green, and blue pixels, wherein the green pixels employ a first wavelength converting material that converts blue LED light to green light, and wherein the red pixels employ a second wavelength converting material that converts blue LED light to red light.

11 . The device of claim 1 further comprising opaque walls around each pixel to reduce lateral cross-talk between pixels.

12 . The device of claim 1 wherein pixels in adjacent pixel layers are offset from one another.

13 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller blocks pixels from being energized that are behind one or more energized pixels.

14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller energizes the pixels to create a dynamically changing image.

15 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller energizes the pixels to create a static image.

16 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a permanent interconnection between selected pixels and a power source to display a fixed image.

17 . The device of claim 1 further comprising row and column address lines electrically coupled to the pixels to activate selected pixels.

18 . The device of claim 1 wherein the stacked pixel layers form a rectangular prism.

19 . The device of claim 1 wherein the stacked pixel layers form a cube.

20 . A display device comprising:
a first pixel layer comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) grouped into addressable pixels, the first pixel layer being folded to create a plurality of first angled segments and a plurality of second angled segments, where the first angled segments are primarily viewable by a viewer's left eye, and where the second angled segments are primarily viewable by a viewer's right eye, wherein LEDs in the first angled segments and the second angled segments are energized to achieve a 3-D stereoscopic effect when viewed by the viewer's left and right eyes simultaneously.

21 . The device of claim 20 wherein the first pixel layer is molded to be folded.

22 . The device of claim 20 wherein there are multiple LEDs in each pixel,
wherein the LEDs are microscopic and printed as an LED ink, and
wherein the LEDs in each pixel are electrically connected in parallel by sandwiching the LEDs in each pixel between two conductor layers.

23 . The device of claim 22 wherein each pixel contains a random number of LEDs as a result of printing the LEDs using the LED ink.

24 . The device of claim 20 wherein the pixels in the first pixel layer form a 2-dimensional matrix of pixels.

25 . The device of claim 20 wherein the first angled segments have a plurality of different depths, and wherein the second angled segments have a plurality of different depths such that depth of a displayed image is conveyed by both the 3-D stereoscopic effect and a plurality of physical depths of the first angled segments and the second angled segments.

26 . The device of claim 25 wherein the first pixel layer is transparent, the device further comprising at least a transparent second pixel layer underlying the first pixel layer, and a third pixel layer underlying the second pixel layer, the second pixel layer and the third pixel layer having associated angled segments vertically aligned with the first angled segments and the second angled segments to add physical depth to a displayed image.

27 . The device of claim 20 wherein the plurality of first angled segments and the plurality of second angled segments form angled walls of cells in the pixel layer.

28 . The device of claim 27 wherein the cells are concave.

29 . The device of claim 27 wherein the cells are convex.

Assignees

• Nthdegree Tech Worldwide Inc

Inventors

• Ray Alexander
• Oraw Bradley
• Nathan Joseph
• Shotton Neil
• Blanchard Richard

Classifications

• G02B30/26

  of the autostereoscopic type · CPC title

• G09G2300/023

  Display panel composed of stacked panels · CPC title

• G09G3/003 Primary

  to produce spatial visual effects · CPC title

• G09G2300/0452

  Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components · CPC title

• G02B30/52

  the three-dimensional [3D] volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of two-dimensional [2D] planes, e.g. depth sampling systems · CPC title