Segmented directional backlight and related methods of backlight illumination

Abstract

Backlit display systems, such as those employed with LED backlit displays, including those configured for autostereoscopic operation, may employ synchronization between the backlight and the presentation of sequential left and right eye images at a frame rate exceeding approximately 100 Hz. To successfully directionally illuminate isolated frames, the disclosed principles provide for segmenting the directional illumination and introducing a phase shifted, synchronized, pulsed drive scheme for the illumination segments. Accordingly, the principles disclosed herein are directed to segmented directional illumination systems and related techniques for segmented directional backlight illumination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing illumination in an electronic stereoscopic display system having a sequentially scanning display, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of directional illumination segments, each corresponding to a plurality of display segments of the sequentially scanning display, contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan;   illuminating one or more first illumination segments in synchronization with first-eye imagery provided by corresponding one or more of the plurality of display segments such that the one or more first illumination segments illuminate the corresponding display segments in a first direction;   illuminating one or more second illumination segments in synchronization with second-eye imagery provided by corresponding one or more of the plurality of display segments such that the one or more second illumination segments illuminate the corresponding display segments in a second direction, the illuminated one or more illumination segments thereby directionally illuminating the corresponding one or more display segments having the first-eye or second-eye imagery.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first-eye and second-eye imagery is left eye and right eye imagery, and wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments further comprises providing left eye and right eye directional illumination to the corresponding one or more display segments in synchronization with selected left eye and right eye imagery. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein illuminating further comprises providing left eye directional illumination to one or more of a plurality of viewer left eyes and right eye directional illumination to one or more of a plurality of viewer right eyes in synchronization with selected left eye and right eye imagery. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments comprises illuminating with two or more of a plurality of illumination units corresponding to each of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments with two or more of a plurality of illumination units further comprises illuminating each of the one or more illumination segments at the same end. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein illuminating with two or more of the plurality of illumination units further comprises illuminating with at least one of the two or more illumination units at a first end of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments, and illuminating with at least another one of the two or more illumination units at a second, opposing end of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments further comprises illuminating the one or more illumination segments at a first end of the one or more illumination segments, and reflecting illumination from a corresponding curved second end, opposite each first end, of the one or more illumination segments. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing a stereoscopic display of an image, the method comprising:
 providing a sequentially scanning display using a plurality of liquid crystal display segments, the sequentially scanning display comprising left eye and right eye imagery of an image;   arranging a plurality of directional illumination segments, each corresponding to one of the plurality of liquid crystal display segments, contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan; and   illuminating one or more of the plurality of directional illumination segments such that the one or more directional illumination segments illuminate corresponding display segments in a first or second direction in synchronization with corresponding left eye and right eye imagery provided by corresponding one or more of the plurality of display segments, the illuminated one or more directional illumination segments thereby directionally illuminating the corresponding one or more liquid crystal display segments having the selected left eye and right eye imagery.   
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein illuminating further comprises providing left eye directional illumination to one or more of a plurality of viewer left eyes and right eye directional illumination to one or more of a plurality of viewer right eyes in synchronization with selected left eye and right eye imagery. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments comprises illuminating with two or more of a plurality of illumination units corresponding to each of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments with two or more of a plurality of illumination units further comprises illuminating each of the one or more illumination segments at the same end. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein illuminating with two or more of the plurality of illumination units further comprises illuminating with at least one of the two or more illumination units at a first end of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments, and illuminating with at least another one of the two or more illumination units at a second, opposing end of the one or more of the plurality of illumination segments. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein illuminating one or more of the plurality of illumination segments further comprises illuminating the one or more illumination segments at a first end of the one or more illumination segments, and reflecting illumination from a corresponding curved second end, opposite each first end, of the one or more illumination segments.