Liquid crystal shutter system for stereoscopic and other applications
First Claim
1. A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting fields of a field-sequential image, including:
- a liquid crystal cell assembly, for selectively transmitting fields of the field-sequential image in response to a drive signal;
a means for transmitting a pulse width encoded synchronization signal from a remote location to the liquid crystal cell assembly;
a receiver mounted adjacent the liquid crystal cell assembly for receiving the synchronization signal; and
a drive circuit electrically coupled to the liquid crystal cell assembly and the receiver, for generating the drive signal in response to the synchronization signal and supplying the drive signal to the liquid crystal cell assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting fields of a field-sequential image, by transmitting the field-sequential image, with a synchronization signal, to one or more remote liquid crystal cell shutter assemblies. Each shutter assembly transmits selected fields of the field-sequential image in response to a drive signal, and includes a drive circuit for receiving the synchronization signal and generating each drive signal in response to the synchronization signal so that each drive signal has transitions synchronized with image fields. The drive circuit is capable of rapidly processing short duration synchronization signals with very low power consumption. In one embodiment, two liquid crystal cell assemblies are mounted in an eyeglass frame and used as a wireless selection device for a field-sequential stereoscopic image. Preferably, the invention includes a synchronization signal receiver having a narrow angular reception range so that the receiver is sensitive to only one synchronization signal at a time, so that the invention may be employed to view several monitors without interference between different synchronization signals from the different monitors. Preferably, the inventive shutter assemblies are capable of operating in a nonoccluding state, and each inventive shutter assembly may conveniently be switched between a state suitable for stereoscopic viewing and a non-occluding state suitable for viewing a non-stereoscopic image.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting fields of a field-sequential image, including:
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a liquid crystal cell assembly, for selectively transmitting fields of the field-sequential image in response to a drive signal; a means for transmitting a pulse width encoded synchronization signal from a remote location to the liquid crystal cell assembly; a receiver mounted adjacent the liquid crystal cell assembly for receiving the synchronization signal; and a drive circuit electrically coupled to the liquid crystal cell assembly and the receiver, for generating the drive signal in response to the synchronization signal and supplying the drive signal to the liquid crystal cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting alternating ones of the fields of a field-sequential image, wherein the fields of the field-sequential image occur at a field rate, including:
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a transmitter for broadcasting a pulse width encoded synchronization signal characterizing the field-sequential image; a frame positioned away from the transmitter; a liquid crystal cell assembly mounted in the frame for selectively transmitting fields of the image in response to a drive signal, wherein the drive signal has a component with a frequency substantially equal to the field rate; a receiver mounted on the frame for receiving the synchronization signal; and a drive circuit mounted on the frame and electrically coupled to the liquid crystal cell assembly and the receiver, for generating the drive signal in response to the synchronization signal and supplying the drive signal to the liquid crystal cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A liquid crystal cell shutter system, including:
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a display assembly, including a means for transmitting a first field-sequential image and a pulse width encoded first synchronization signal characterizing the first field-sequential image; a liquid crystal cell shutter assembly positioned remotely from the display assembly; and a drive means electrically connected to the liquid crystal cell shutter assembly for generating a first drive signal in response to the first synchronization signal, wherein the first drive signal is synchronized with the first field-sequential image and the first drive signal causes the liquid crystal cell shutter assembly to select fields of the first field-sequential image, wherein the drive means generates a second drive signal in the absence of any synchronization signal, and wherein the second drive signal causes the liquid crystal cell shutter assembly to remain in a non-occluding state. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification