Stereo laser disc viewing system

• US 4,706,117 A
• Filed: 12/17/1985
• Issued: 11/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schoolman Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Arnold Schoolman
• Inventors: Schoolman, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US06/810,870
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 358/88, 358/91, 358/92, 358/102, 358/104, 358/3, 352/239, 352/102, 352/103, 369/32, 369/44
• US Class Current: 348/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/158 Switching image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/332 Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A portable television playback system includes a video source unit, video processing circuitry, audio processing circuitry, and a stereo viewing and sound unit. The video source unit is a television receiver, a small videocassette tape cartridge player, or a stereo optical video disc player. The viewing and sound unit has stereoscopic and stereophonic capabilities and is generally a head worn unit having right and left image display devices and right and left earphones. The video and audio processing circuits receive the signals from the video source unit and parallel the video and audio signals to drive the stereo output devices if the source is a television receiver or a videocassette tape player or perform demultiplexing functions to separate the right and left video and audio signals from the right and left multiplexed video/audio signals. The video source unit and the video and audio processing circuits are packaged in a single portable case which may be connected to the head worn viewing and sound unit by an appropriate cable for use.

Claims

1. A portable television playback system comprising:

(a) a portable video source unit outputting a television signal having a video component and an audio component;

(b) video processing circuitry receiving said television signal and deriving therefrom a right video signal and a left video signal;

(c) audio processing circuitry receiving said television signal and deriving therefrom a right audio signal and a left audio signal; and

(d) a viewing and sound unit having stereo capability including right and left video monitors and right and left sound transducers;

said viewing and sound unit displaying images represented by said right and left video signals respectively on said right and left monitors and converting said right and left audio signals respectively to right and left audible sound signals through said right and left sound transducers.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said portable video source unit is a portable video cassette tape player.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said video source unit plays a stored video medium on which is recorded right and left components of a stereoscopic visual image; and

(b) said stored video medium stores right and left components of stereophonically recorded sound.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said portable video source unit is a portable, stereo optical video disc playback unit capable of reading an optical video disc on which are stored optically recorded representations of a stereoscopic image and stereophonic sound signals.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stereo optical video disc playback unit includes:

(a) a rotary disc motor to rotate a stereo optical video disc;

(b) a right head and a left head to optically read right and left tracks on a stereo optical video disc, said right and left tracks being optical recordations of multiplexed right and left video and audio signals respectively;

(c) a head positioner motor mechanically connected to said right and left heads and operative to move said heads radially of said disc to read said right and left tracks respectively;

(d) signal processor means connected to said right and left heads and operative to convert signals read by said heads respectively to right and left multiplexed video/audio signals; and

(e) drive controller means having said disc motor, said head positioner motor, and said signal processor means connected thereto;

said controller means being operative to cause said disc motor to rotate said disc at a selected speed and to cause said head positioner motor to position said right and left heads to follow said right and left tracks respectively.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

(a) said video processing circuitry includes a stereo video demultiplexer receiving said right and left multiplexed video/audio signals and separating therefrom a right video signal and a left video signal; and

(b) said audio processing circuitry includes a stereo sound demultiplexer receiving said right and left multiplexed video/audio signals and separating therefrom a right audio signal and a left audio signal.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stereo viewing and sound unit includes:

(a) a right two dimensional image display device and a left two dimensional image display device;

(b) right and left video monitor circuits connected respectively to said right and left image display devices, respectively receiving said right and left video signals, and displaying images represented respectively by said right and left video signals on said right and left display devices; and

(c) a stereo audio power amplifier connected to said right and left sound transducers, receiving said right and left audio signals, and converting same respectively to right and left sound signals through said right and left sound transducers.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

(a) each of said right and left image display devices is a two dimensional liquid crystal display device.

9. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

(a) each of said right and left image display devices is a two dimensional color liquid crystal display device.

10. A system as set forth in claim 7 including:

(a) head harness means for wearing on the head of a user of said system;

(b) said image display devices being mounted on said harness in spaced apart relation;

(c) right and left optical transmission means mounted on said harness and including right and left lenses to respectively convey images from said image display devices to the right and left eyes of said user at comfortable focal distances; and

(d) said right and left sound transducers including right and left earphones mounted on said harness and positioned respectively at the right and left ears of said user wearing said harness.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

(a) each of said right and left image display devices is a two dimensional liquid crystal display device.

12. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

(a) each of said right and left image display devices is a two dimensional color liquid crystal display device.

13. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

(a) each of said right and left image display devices is a miniature color cathode ray tube; and

(b) each of said right and left optical transmission means includes an image reflector to reflect an image from said tube toward the respective eye of said user.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said image reflector includes:

(a) a prism having at least one reflective surface.

15. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said image reflector includes:

(a) a Porro prism having two internally reflective surfaces.

16. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

(a) said portable video source unit is a portable, stereo optical video disc playback unit capable of playing an optical disc on which are stored optically recorded representations of a stereoscopic image.

17. A portable television playback system comprising:

(a) a portable, stereo optical video disc unit capable of reading an optical video disc on which are stored optically recorded representations of a stereoscopic image and stereophonic sound signals and outputting right and left multiplexed video/audio signals;

(b) video processing circuitry receiving said multiplexed video/audio signals and separating therefrom respective right and left video signals;

(c) audio processing circuitry receiving said multiplexed video/audio signals and separating therefrom respective right and left audio signals;

(d) head harness means for wearing on the head of the user of said system;

(e) a right image display device and a left image display device, each of said image display devices being a two dimensional color liquid crystal display device and being mounted on said harness for viewing by a respective eye of said user;

(f) right and left video monitor circuits connected respectively to said right and left display devices, respectively receiving said right and left video signals, and displaying images represented respectively by said right and left signals on said right and left display devices;

(g) right and left earphones mounted on said harness and positioned respectively at the right and left ears of said user wearing said harness; and

(h) a stereo audio power amplifier connected to said right and left earphones, receiving said right and left audio signals, and converting same respectively to right and left sound signals through said right and left earphones.

18. A stereo optical video disc playback unit comprising:

(a) a rotary disc motor to rotate a stereo optical video disc;

(b) a right head and a left head to optically read right and left tracks on a stereo optical video disc, said right and left tracks being optical recordations of multiplexed right and left video and audio signals respectively;

(c) a head positioner motor mechanically connected to said right and left heads and operative to move said heads radially of said disc to read said right and left tracks respectively;

(d) signal processor means connected to said right and left heads and operative to convert signals read by said heads respectively to right and left multiplexed video/audio signals;

(e) drive controller means having said disc motor, said head positioner motor, and said signal processor means connected thereto;

said controller means being operative to cause said disc motor to rotate said disc at a constant selected speed and to cause said head positioner motor to position said right and left heads to follow said right and left tracks respectively;

(f) a stereo video demultiplexer connected to said signal processor means and separating from said right and left multiplexed video/audio signals respective right and left video signals; and

(g) a stereo sound demultiplexer connected to said signal processor means and separating from said right and left multiplexed video/audio signals respective right and left audio signals.

19. A unit as set forth in claim 18 wherein:

(a) said stereo optical video disc has opposite recorded sides with said right tracks recorded on one side thereof and said left tracks recorded on the other side; and

(b) said right and left heads are positioned in opposition to read said right and left tracks on said opposite sides.

20. A unit as set forth in claim 18 wherein:

(a) said unit is portable.

21. In an optical video disc playback unit including a head positioned and movable to read an optically recorded signal on one side of an optical video disc, the improvement comprising:

(a) a pair of heads positioned in spaced apart relation on a single head positioner member which is movable is to simultaneously position said heads to read a first and a second track optically recorded at different positions on an optical video disc.

22. A unit as set forth in claim 21 wherein:

(a) said first and second tracks are right and left components of a stereoscopically recorded image.