Films enabling autostereoscopy

Abstract

A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel and a directional backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel. A double sided prism film is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the directional backlight. The prism film includes a first surface having a series of cylindrical lenses adjacent the liquid crystal display panel and a second surface, opposite the first surface, having a series of non-contiguous prisms adjacent the directional backlight. Each of the non-contiguous prisms is separated from adjacent prisms by a transmissive flat portion or an opaque portion.

1 . A double sided optical film, comprising:
 a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first surface;   a first plurality of microreplicated features on the first surface of the substrate; and   a second plurality of non-contiguous microreplicated features on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the second plurality of microreplicated features have a particular type of configuration with the first plurality of microreplicated features; and   a material, different from the substrate, between the second plurality of non-contiguous microreplicated features, wherein the material is selected to provide a particular optical effect when the film is in use.   
     
     
         2 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the material between the second plurality of non-contiguous microreplicated features is opaque. 
     
     
         3 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the material between the second plurality of non-contiguous microreplicated features has an index of refraction different from an index of refraction of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of microreplicated features each have a constant pitch. 
     
     
         5 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of microreplicated features each have a differential pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the type of configuration comprises centers of the first plurality of microreplicated features being aligned with centers of the second plurality of microreplicated features. 
     
     
         7 . The optical film of  claim 1 , wherein the type of configuration comprises centers of the first plurality of microreplicated features being offset from centers of the second plurality of microreplicated features. 
     
     
         8 . A double sided optical film, comprising:
 a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of lenses on the first surface of the substrate; and   a plurality of non-contiguous prisms on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the prisms have a particular type of configuration with the lenses; and   a material, different from the substrate, between the non-contiguous prisms, wherein the material is selected to provide a particular optical effect when the film is in use.   
     
     
         9 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the material between the prisms is opaque. 
     
     
         10 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the material between the prisms has an index of refraction different from an index of refraction of the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the lenses and the prisms each have a constant pitch. 
     
     
         12 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the lenses and the prisms each have a differential pitch. 
     
     
         13 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the type of configuration comprises centers of the lenses being aligned with centers of the prisms. 
     
     
         14 . The optical film of  claim 8 , wherein the type of configuration comprises centers of the lenses being offset from centers of the prisms.