Parallax barrier with independently controllable regions

Abstract

A reconfigurable parallax barrier panel comprising an electro-optic material has a first region, a second region and a first compensation region. First electrodes are addressable to define, in the first region of the panel, a parallax barrier array selected from a plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays, and second electrodes are addressable define, in the second region of the panel, independently of the first parallax barrier array, a parallax barrier array selected from the plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays. Electrodes of the first compensation region are addressable to define, dependent on the first parallax barrier array and on the second parallax barrier array, at least one slit and/or at least one barrier between the first region and the second region. Where the first electrodes are addressed to define a first one of the predetermined parallax barrier arrays in the first region and the second electrodes are addressed to define a second, different one of the predetermined parallax barrier arrays in the second region, the electrodes of the first compensation region may define the at least one slit and/or at least one barrier to at least partially obscure any line artefact at the transition between the first one of the predetermined parallax barrier arrays and the second one of the predetermined parallax barrier arrays.