GB2482662A

GB2482662A - 3d video signal format conversion

Info

Publication number: GB2482662A
Application number: GB1012601.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Suniel Singh Mudhar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-28
Filing date: 2010-07-28
Publication date: 2012-02-15
Also published as: GB201012601D0

Abstract

A system for converting a received 3d video signal into a format displayable upon a 2d television receiver comprises an input 1 for receiving a 3d video signal and video separating means 3 for extracting left and right eye images from the 3d video signal. A video multiplexer 5 produces a time-division multiplexed 2d video signal in which said left and right images are alternately sequenced in the signal stream. The multiplexed signal is output 6 to a display which alternately displays the left and right images, which are viewable using active shutter glasses synchronised to the display via local transmission of an infrared/wireless synchronisation signal 10. A system clock adjustment 7 may be effected manually or automatically to synchronise the shutter glasses with the 2d video signal. The system may also include monitoring 14 of display screen flicker characteristics to automatically calculate the necessary adjustment to display properties to achieve optimum viewing parameters. The system enables a variety of 3d video signal formats to be decoded and viewed upon a standard 2d display by signal processing and synchronisation with active shutter glasses.

Description

1. This invention relates to an Electronic Interface Unit [Figure 1] connected between a television set and consumer electronics to allow the translation of 3D video content to be decoded and recoded to a format that is suitable for displaying on a Television receiver. The Electronic Interface Unit (Figure 1] has the ability to output synchronizing pulses in both Infra-Red (invisible light) and Wireless (radio transmission) that is used to synchronize the Active Shutter Glasses available from 3 party vendors.

2. The 3D video content is extracted from the IIDMI input and fed in to the Electronic Interface Unit [Figure 1] via the 3D Video Input (1]. Under normal operation the 3D Video Input (1] content is passed through the Input Switcher (2] and directly to the Video Separator [3]. The incoming 3D video signal is split into left eye and right eye components before being passed onto the Memory Delay Switch [4a, 4b]. The Memory Delay Switch (4a, 4b] serves to modify the video input to alter its switching frequency as well as add any pre and/or post processing to the video data. The two signals are then passed onto the Video Multiplexor [5] which combines the two video signals. The modified video signal is then sent to an HDMI output via the 3D Video OUTPUT [6].

3. The switching frequency between video left [Vieft] and video right [Vright] is controlled by an adjustable Clock [81 whose frequency is either user adjustable via the Adjust [7] control or done automatically under software control with or without user intervention.

4. Sync Out [9] is provided to output the Clock [8] pulses to an JR / RF Out [10] transmitter, which outputs the signal via Infra-Red or wireless. The transmitter [10] will transmit a signal which is used to synchronize one or more pairs of Active LCD Shutter Glasses. This signal will also be used to synchronize other devices such as a polarized video screens.

5. The Calibration Switch [11] is used to disconnect the 3D Video Input [1] and connect the 3D Video Still [12] input to the Video Separator [3] via the Input Switcher [2]. The 3D Video Still [12) outputs a calibration 3D Video image at a set frequency. This 3D video image is then processed as normal via the Video Separator [3], Memory Delay Switch [4a, 4b] and the Video Multiplexer (5] before being sent out to the display unit via the 3D Video Output [6]. The user is then able to adjust the output of the 3D Video Output [6] signal to calibrate their display panel for optimum viewing of 3D content.

6. A further improvement to the above [paragraph 5] an automatic version of the above design would include a feedback circuit Screen Flicker Monitor [14] and the Frequency Selector [13] to achieve the same function with little or no user intervention.

7. The method described above and referenced by Figure 1 is a simple explanation as to the function of the 3D Active Video Translator which is designed for the purpose allowing a domestic TV that does not have the ability to receive and display 3D video content already built in, to view the content.

8. The 3D Active Video Translator is also designed to allow the viewing of 3D video content on a domestic or none domestic video display system including video projectors.

1. With the introduction of new domestic television sets that allow the viewing of 3D Video content; the consumer is expected to upgrade a recently brought television set that does not have the ability to receive the new 3D content.

2. Furthermore with the different manufacturers and producers of 3D content having their own format and specifications, the consumer is left in a piggy-in-the-middle' scenario. This invention is an attempt to create a universal interface that will allow the input of any 3D content and then to display that content on a domestic television set which has not been built to receive 3D material directly.

3. With improvements in television technology and indeed the increase in the refresh rate of the video display panels, this invention will allow the reception of any 3D video content and modify it to take advantage of this increase in refresh rates or the maximum refresh rate that the video display system can handle, by altering the display time of the left eye and right eye pictures at the maximum frequency that can be handled by the video display panel, thereby allowing the viewing of full 3D content on a television set or any video display system including video projection systems and computer monitors.

4. The ability of the Active Shutter Glasses frequency and or operation being user adjustable (2, Claims], will allow the Active Shutter Glasses to be used on 3 party 3D systems that use Active Shutter technology. The Active Shutter Glasses will be able to tune-in-to' the frequency of the 3rd party sync signals.

5. 3D Technology is new and no set standard is adhered to by the manufactures. This interface will allow Active Shutter Glasses from different manufactures to operate correctly by providing a dedicated sync signal compatible with third party Active Shutter frequency.

6. This invention is designed to be portable in that either the Active Shutter Glasses and or this invention can be disconnected as a portable unit and connected to a third party 3D home entertainment system in which case it will automatically tune into the 3D sync signal received from the third party 3D equipment.

7. So that existing 2D equipment -such as Digital cameras, video camera etc. -do not become obsolete in view of the rise in popularity of new 3D consumer products, this invention will allow the connection of these 20 consumer products and allow the end user to create their own 3D content with the aid of 2 or more video inputs provided by this invention.

8. Furthermore with various broadcasting authorities and film organizations confirming support for the new 3D technology -in its various forms -this invention will allow the capture of this 3D content to be stored internally or onto a removable drive. The internal / external storage ability of this invention will allow users to store their own 3D content.

9. This invention allows service providers as well as 3D content producers to be creative with their 3D transmissions or format without the fear that it will be incompatible with the end-user product.

ANNEX

Claims

Claims 1. The 3D Active Video Translator will allow the viewing of any 3D video content on a domestic Television that does not have the ability to do so internally.
2. A variable speed Active Shutter Glasses that is tunable to any user selectable frequency.
3. A variable speed Active Shutter Glasses that is tunable to third party Sync signals.
4. The 3D Active Video Translator has the ability to communicate with and correctly operate third party Active Shutter Glasses.
5. A sync out function that can be used to polarize a video display screen and thus allow the use of Polarized Glasses as appose to Active Shutter Glasses.
6. The 3D Active Video Translator allows the viewer to view any 3D video content analog or digital on a television receiver or any video display system that does not have a means of doing so under normal operating conditions or is unable to do so without modifying the incoming 3D Video signal data and manipulating the 3D Video signal data in such away so that it can be viewed on a standard video screen such as a domestic television set, computer screens, video screens, video projectors, video goggles etc. and anywhere else where a viewer is able to view a video display either still or containing motion.
7. The 3D Active Video Translator has the ability to alter the switching frequency of the Left and Right Video images (motion or still) of any 3D content that is available at the input of the 3D Active Video Translator to the maximum frequency the video display system can operate at such as Video monitors, consumer and none consumer Television screens, video projectors and anywhere where there is a requirement to visually display such content.
8. The 3D Active Video Translator will have 2 or more separate video inputs to allow the user to produce their own 3D content.
9. The 3D Active Video Translator has the ability to directly operate any Active Shutter Glasses.
10. The 3D Active Video Translator has the ability to directly operate any polarizing video screen.
11. The 3D Active Video Translator has the ability to capture modify and store any video content broadcasted or user created directly to a fixed or removable storage device.
12. The 3D Active Video Translator will allow users to create their own 3D content from consumer electronics such as Digital photography and or digital video cameras.
13. The 3D Active Video Translator will allow the user to create their own 3D content from consumer electronics such as Digital photography and or digital video cameras that do not have the ability to create 3D content directly.
14. The 3D Active Video Translator will allow transmission and reception of data over the IP network and fully support the HDMI format.
15. This invention will allow the reception of any 3D video content -transmitted or recorded -and modify that content for optimum display on an output device such as a video display panel -display panel to mean a television set or any video display system including video projection systems and computer monitors -by displaying the 3D content at the maximum rate that the display panel or device is able to handle.