Above-and-below stereoscopic format with signifier

• US 20030007070A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Redebt, LLC
• Inventors: Lipton, Lenny, Halnon, Jeffrey James
• Granted Patent: US 7,184,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding

Abstract

A video code is embedded into the active video area of a stereo subfield. The video code is detected using an electronic circuit and used to maintain synchrony of the selection device with perspective images. Preferably, the video code is a predetermined sequence of colors.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic video system having a graphics controller providing video output to a monitor and a user observing the monitor through a selection device, wherein the video output is a plurality of video fields each have a top subfield and a bottom subfield with a blanking area therebetween, and wherein the top subfield includes an active video area providing image content of one perspective and the bottom subfield includes an active video area providing image content of another perspective, and wherein the blanking area provides a sync pulse to refresh the monitor, the improvement comprising:

embedding a video code into the active video area of a subfield, wherein the video code signifies the order of the perspective images;

detecting the video code; and

controlling the selection device based on the video code detection.

2. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 1, wherein the video code is a predetermined sequence of colors inserted on at least one line of the active video area.

3. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein the video code is isolated in the active video area.

4. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein the sequence is the only video content on the line.

5. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein the sequence is located in a predetermined location on the line.

6. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 5, wherein the sequence is located in the beginning of the line.

7. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein a preset number of blank lines precedes the line containing the sequence.

8. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein a preset number of blank lines follows the line containing the sequence.

9. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein the sequence is repeated on more than one line of the video area.

10. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 1, comprising embedding the video code redudantly into the active video area of a subfield.

11. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 1, comprising embedding the video code redudantly into the active video area of successive subfields.

12. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 1, wherein the video code is a plurality of predetermined sequences of colors inserted on at least one line of the active video area.

13. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 2, wherein the predetermined sequence includes one color as a clock pulse and additional colors as data pulses.

14. A stereoscopic video system as in claim 13, wherein the sequency is an alternating stream of blue pixels acting as the clock pulse with occasional other color spots.

15. A stereoscopic video system wherein a user observes a monitor through a selection device, comprising:

a graphics controller providing video output to the monitor in the form of video fields each having a top subfield and a bottom subfield with a blanking area therebetween, wherein the top subfield includes an active video area written with image content of one perspective and the bottom subfield includes an active video area written with image content of another perspective, and wherein the blanking area is written with a first sync pulse to drive a refresh of the monitor, and wherein a video code is written into the active video area of at least one subfield, said video code identifying the perspective images; and

an electronic circuit coupled to detect the video code in the video output and then initiate insertion of a second sync pulse at a location in the video field.