Image Display Viewing System and Image Display Device

• US 20110074935A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Atsushi, Oda, Kyoichiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,509,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing

Abstract

Systems, methods, and display apparatuses consistent with the invention may generate control signals to control n light-passing devices such that the n light-passing devices each are sequentially operated between ON and OFF states, and such that each of the n light-passing devices are in the ON state no less than 1/n of the viewing period. This may allow different images to be viewed through different light-passing devices. The embodiments may be used, for example, to present a three-dimensional image to a viewer or to present different videos to different viewers.

Claims

1. A system for controlling viewing shutters, comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to generate shutter control information including;

information specifying an open period, of a first viewing shutter, that is greater than a display period of a first image, and

information specifying an open period, of a second viewing shutter, that is greater than a display period of a second image; and

a communication unit for transmitting the shutter control information to the viewing shutters.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the open period of the first viewing shutter and the open period of the second viewing shutter are less than 60% of a viewing period in which the first image and the second image are displayed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory stores instructions for causing the processor to:

generate display control information for;

inhibiting display of the first image during the open period of the second viewing shutter; and

inhibiting display of the second image during the open period of the first viewing shutter.

4. A method for generating viewing shutter control signals comprising:

generating, by a processor, shutter control information including;

information specifying an open period, of a first viewing shutter, that is greater than a display period of a first image, and

information specifying an open period, of a second viewing shutter, that is greater than a display period of a second image; and

transmitting signals carrying the shutter control information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the first image is associated with the first viewing shutter, and

the second image is associated with the second viewing shutter.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising sequentially displaying the first and second images during a viewing period.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the open period of the first viewing shutter and the open period of the second viewing shutter are less than 60% of the viewing period.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising generating display control information for:

inhibiting display of the first image during the open period of the second viewing shutter; and

inhibiting display of the second image during the open period of the first viewing shutter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein inhibiting display of the first and second images comprises controlling a backlight of a display.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein inhibiting display of the first and second images comprises closing a shutter of a display device displaying the first and second images.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second images present a three-dimensional image to a viewer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the shutter control information comprises transmitting the shutter control information to shutter glasses worn by the viewer.

13. The method of claim 4 comprising displaying, on a common display device, a plurality of first images constituting a first video and a plurality of second images constituting a second video;

wherein;

the first viewing shutter is associated with a first viewing device worn by a first viewer;

the second viewing shutter is associated with a second viewing device worn by a second viewer.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second images are displayed on one of a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display, a plasma display panel, a digital light processing display, a light-emitting diode display, or an electroluminescence display.

15. Display apparatus for displaying images to light-passing devices operable between ON and OFF states, comprising:

a light source;

a display device sequentially generating n images during a viewing period, wherein n is an integer greater than 1;

a first control system for generating control signals to control n of the light-passing devices such that the n light-passing devices each are sequentially operated between ON and OFF states; and

a second control system for controlling the light source such that light from the light source passing through the n light-passing devices is below a predetermined level during time periods when more than one of the n light-passing devices is in the ON state.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the ON state passes light, and

the OFF state inhibits light from passing.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first control system generates control signals such that each of the n light-passing devices are in the ON state no less than 1/n of the viewing period.

18. Display apparatus for displaying images to light-passing devices operable between ON and OFF states, comprising:

a light source;

a display device sequentially generating n images during a viewing period, wherein n is an integer greater than 1; and

a control system for generating control signals to control n of the light-passing devices such that the n light-passing devices each are sequentially operated between ON and OFF states, wherein the control system generates control signals such that each of the n light-passing devices are in the ON state no less than 1/n of the viewing period.

19. Display apparatus for displaying images to light-passing devices operable between ON and OFF states, comprising:

a light source;

a display device sequentially generating n images during a viewing period, wherein n is an integer greater than 1; and

a control system for controlling the light source such that light from the light source passing through n of the light-passing devices is below a predetermined level during time periods when more than one of the n light-passing devices is in the ON state.