Synchronized stereoscopic display system

• US 5,245,319 A
• Filed: 02/02/1993
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: CRAY Incorporated (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Kilian, Alan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOLL, KARA FARNANDEZ
• Application Number:
  US08/013,165
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 358/88, 358/92, 358/91, 359/462, 359/464, 340/787, 340/705
• US Class Current: 345/9
• 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 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A system for stereographic display in a computer system having a display medium has an image data file having data for right and left eye images encoded with visible signal data, so that when the right and left eye images are displayed on the display medium the corresponding visible signal is also displayed. A sensor senses the displayed visible signal and is coupled to glasses or goggles having right and left eye shutters. The right and left eye shutters open and close in response to the visible signal sensed.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a display medium and means for displaying images of an image data file, a system for stereographic display comprising:

an image data file having data for right and left eye images displayed in discrete, normally alternating frames wherein the frames are displayed at successive instances in time to form a motion picture, the right and left eye image data encoded with visible signal data so that when the right and left eye image frames are displayed on the display medium a corresponding visible signal is displayed therewith in a predetermined position, the visible signal having two states, a first state corresponding to a right eye image frame and a second state corresponding to a left eye image frame, the visible signal covering a certain area of the display medium;

a photosensor positioned over said certain area of the display medium for sensing the displayed visible signal, the photosensor generating an image output signal having first and second states corresponding respectively to the first and second states of the visible signal and the respective right eye image frames and left eye image frames, wherein the image output signal changes state from one instance in time to the next based upon the change in display of a right eye image frame to a left eye image frame and vice versa, and holds the same state from one instance in time to the next when the same image frame is displayed at successive instances in time so that the output signal at all times corresponds directly to whether the displayed image frame is for a right eye image or for a left eye image and does not depend on the regular alternation between right and left eye image frames;

observation means for observing the right and left eye images, the observation means having right and left eye shutter means for opening and closing right and left eye visual pathways in response to respective first and second control signals, one for each shutter means; and

control circuit means independent of said display medium and receiving only said image output signal from the photosensor means for generating, in direct response to said image output signal, said first and second control signals to control said right and left shutter means, respectively, so that the right eye shutter means opens when the image output signal corresponds to the right eye image and the left eye shutter means opens when the image output signal corresponds to the left eye control, image whereby said control circuit means generates said first and second control signals without regard to the alternation of frame images on said display medium and without regard to a detection of any interlace scanning used in the display medium.

2. The system of claim 1 further wherein the photosensor is positioned over said certain area with a suction cup attached to the surface of the display medium.

3. The system of claim 1 further wherein the control circuit means includes a comparator receiving said image output signal and comparing it against a reference signal to determine whether said image output signal corresponds to said first or said second state, the comparator producing an output signal having corresponding first and second states and used to control the generation of said first and second control signals.

4. The system of claim 3 further wherein said control circuit means includes a driver circuit receiving said output signal from said comparator and generating said first and second control signals in response to the output signal of said comparator.

5. In a computer system having a display medium and means for displaying images of an image data file, a method for stereographic display which does not depend on the regular alternation of frame images, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an image data file having data for right and left eye images to be displayed in discrete, normally alternating frames wherein the frames are displayed at successive instances in time to form a motion picture;

(b) encoding the right and left eye image data with visible signal data so that when the right and left eye image frames are displayed on the display medium a corresponding visible signal is displayed therewith in a predetermined position on the display medium, the visible signal having two states, a first state corresponding to a right eye image frame and a second state corresponding to a left eye image frame, the visible signal covering a certain area of the display medium;

(c) displaying the frames of the encoded image data file with said means for displaying, said frames normally displayed so that they alternate back and forth from an image frame for the right eye to an image frame for the left eye, but from time to time displaying an image frame for the same eye two or more times in a row when said means for displaying does not have sufficient computer system resources to change the image frame to the next successive alternate eye image;

(d) providing a photosensor and positioning said photosensor over said certain area of the display medium for sensing the displayed visible signal, the photosensor generating an image output signal having first and second states corresponding respectively to the first and second states of the visible signal and the respective right eye image frames and left eye image frames, wherein the image output signal changes state from one instance in time to the next based upon the change in display of a right eye image frame to a left eye image frame and vice versa, and holds the same state from one instance in time to the next when the same image frame is displayed at successive instances in time so that the output signal at all times corresponds directly to whether the displayed image frame is for a right eye image or for a left eye image and does not depend on the regular alternation between right and left eye image frames;

(e) providing observation means for observing the right and left eye images, the observation means having right and left eye shutter means for opening and closing right and left eye visual pathways in response to respective first and second control signals, one for each shutter means; and

(f) using said image output signal and no other signals from said computer system or display medium to generate said first and second control signals, said first and second control signals changing in direct response to the change in state of said image output signal so that the right eye shutter means opens when the image output signal corresponds to the right eye image and the left eye shutter means opens when the image output signal corresponds to the left eye image, and so that said first and second control signals are generated without regard to the alternation of frame images on said display medium and without regard to a detection of any interlace scanning used in the display medium.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of positioning the photosensor over said certain area with a suction cup attached to the surface of the display medium.

7. The system of claim 5 further including the step of comparing said image output signal against a reference signal to determine whether said image output signal corresponds to said first or said second state.