Variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) display system and method of operating the same

• US 9,118,911 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lambert, David K., Kuhlman, Frederick F., Sarma, Dwadasi H. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor
• Application Number:
  US13/761,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20140218487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 348 51- 59, 345/419, 600/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/128 Adjusting depth or disparity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/359 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/002 Eyestrain reduction by processing stereoscopic signals or controlling stereoscopic devices

Abstract

A variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) display system and method of processing a variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) image shown on a display to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The system includes a motion detector configured to determine a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and an image processor configured to adjust incrementally a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The method includes determining a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and adjusting a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display incrementally based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display.

Claims

1. A variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) display system, said system comprising:

a motion detector configured to determine a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, wherein a motion signal is filtered by a weighting factor that depends on frequency to determine the motion value; and

an image processor configured to adjust incrementally a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disparity amount is continuously variable from one (1) to zero (0).

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disparity amount is set to zero (0) when the motion value is greater than a motion threshold.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an input control configured to be operated by the person to adjust a disparity gain that influences the disparity amount.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disparity amount is also based on a prior disparity amount.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motion value is based on a motion frequency.

8. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the display is installed in a vehicle.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the motion value is based on a vehicle acceleration.

10. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the motion value is based on a vehicle tilt.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the root mean square value of a time varying analog signal is obtained to determine the motion value.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the root mean square average of a time varying analog signal over a period of time is obtained to determine a motion value.

13. A method of processing a three-dimensional (3D) image shown on a display to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display, said method comprising:

determining a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, wherein determining the motion value includes filtering a motion signal by a weighting factor that depends on frequency; and

adjusting a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display incrementally based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the disparity amount is continuously variable from one (1) to zero (0).

15. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein adjusting the disparity amount includes setting the disparity amount to zero (0) when the motion value is greater than a motion threshold.

16. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the method includes receiving an indication of a disparity gain from an input control, and further adjusting the disparity amount based on the disparity gain.

17. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein adjusting the disparity amount includes filtering the disparity amount based on a prior disparity amount.

18. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the method includes receiving a motion signal from an accelerometer.

19. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the motion signal is received from an accelerometer.

20. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining the motion value includes determining a vehicle acceleration.

21. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining the motion value includes determining a vehicle tilt.

22. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining the motion value includes obtaining the root mean square value of a time varying analog signal.

23. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining the motion value includes averaging over a period of time.