2D/3D switchable displays through PDLC reverse mode parallax barrier

In this paper, we present a new type of parallax barrier, for switchable 2D/3D display vision, obtained by using a Reverse Mode Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal display (RV-PDLC). The parallax barrier was prepared by sandwiching the RV-PDLC film between two ITO conductive glass supports. Strips of ITO were removed from one of the supports, in order to alternate conductive to not conductive strips. In this way the RV-PDLC films could be electrically switched in a parallax barrier able to turn a 2D image in a 3D one. The RV-PDLC barrier was obtained in tree steps: (1) a nematic diacrylate monomer (NDM) was dissolved in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) in the presence of a small quantity of radical polymerisation initiator; (2) the mixture was homeotropically aligned between the glass conductive supports, previously treated with an aligning chemical; (3) the liquid crystal monomer was polymerised by UV curing. A 2D/3D switchable device was finally obtained by coupling the parallax barrier with a 2D tablet display.