Methods and apparatuses for viewing three dimensional images

• US 10,085,014 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Venture Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Virginia Venture Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Abeloe, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Hee-Young
• Application Number:
  US15/433,783
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 348 51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/354 for displaying sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/373 for tracking forward-backward translational head movements, i.e. longitudinal movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods for viewing stereoscopic television are described. The methods generate stereoscopic views from 3D content; synchronize with external view ware (e.g., shuttered glasses) to include shutter information and viewing geometry; sequence 3D content for multiple viewers at multiple perspective views; and output to a display component for viewing.

Claims

1. A system for viewing stereoscopic images, comprising:

an image engine that generates a plurality of stereoscopic scenes for viewing on a single display, each stereoscopic scene comprising a plurality of at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images, wherein each of said at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images represents a different perspective view of said each stereoscopic scene, and each pair of the at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images is displayed at an individual frequency;

a signal sync processor that assigns each pair of the at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images to an individual frequency consistent with each of at least two viewing devices;

a glasses interface that receives information from at least two viewing devices; and

a signal generator that transmits a perspective view selector that contains identification and synchronization information of each of said plurality of at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images of each scene that are available for viewing on the display.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the at least two viewing devices, wherein the at least two viewing devices are configured to receive the perspective view selector and use the perspective view selector to view a plurality of pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images on the display representing one perspective view of said each stereoscopic scene based on the position of each of the at least two viewing devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images representing a different perspective view of said each stereoscopic scene include a first perspective view as seen from a right side of said each stereoscopic scene and second perspective view as seen from a left side of said each stereoscopic scene.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images representing a different perspective view of said each stereoscopic scene include a first perspective view and a second perspective view, and wherein each of said first perspective view and said second perspective view each being a perspective view as seen from one of a left side of said each stereoscopic scene, a right side of said each stereoscopic scene, a front of said each stereoscopic scene, a top of said each stereoscopic scene, or a bottom of said each stereoscopic scene.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said image engine is configured to generate at least ten stereoscopic scenes per second.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the display, the display in communication with said image engine and configured to receive and display said plurality of stereoscopic scenes.

7. A system for viewing stereoscopic images, comprising:

an image engine that generates a plurality of stereoscopic scenes, each said scene comprising at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images and each of said at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images representing one of a plurality of different perspective views of said scene;

a signal sync processor that assigns each pair of the at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images to an individual frequency consistent with each of at least two viewing devices;

a signal generator that transmits a perspective view selecting signal that contains information for said each of said at least two pairs of stereoscopic conjugate images representing one of a plurality of different perspective views of said scene; and

at least two viewing devices, each viewing device comprising

a pair of glasses each having a shuttering mechanism that synchronizes with displayed pairs of images, shown on the display at an assigned frequency, corresponding to one of the perspective views,

wherein each of said at least two viewing devices independently selects one of said plurality of different perspective views displayed on the display device based on the position of said each viewing device.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a receiver that receives said perspective view selecting signal and selects only one perspective view of said pair of stereoscopic conjugate images for viewing on the display device.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising the display device, the display device in communication with said image engine and configured to receive and display said plurality of stereoscopic scenes.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the position of each said each viewing device is the position of each of said viewing device relative to the display device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said information of the perspective view selecting signal includes identification and synchronization information.