KR101121603B1 - Set-top box, stereographic broadcasting receiving system and shutter glass for displaying stereographic images in conventional two-dimensional display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a set-top box for displaying a three-dimensional stereoscopic image on a two-dimensional display apparatus such as a television and a monitor, and a stereoscopic television broadcasting system and method using the same. The broadcasting station alternately transmits the left image and the right image at half the normal frame rate. As a result, the sum of the left image and the right image results in a normal frame rate. The set-top box receiving the signal converts the signal into a signal suitable for the connected 2D broadcasting display device and generates a synchronization signal for the shutter glasses. The user synchronizes the timing of displaying the left and right images on the display device with the on / off timing of the shutter glasses by adjusting the delay time of the synchronization signal using the input means provided on the set-top box remote controller or the input means provided on the shutter glasses.

Description

Set-top box, stereographic broadcasting receiving system and shutter glasses for displaying stereographic images in conventional two-dimensional display device}

The present invention relates to a set-top box, a stereoscopic image broadcasting receiving system, and shutter glasses for displaying a stereoscopic image in a two-dimensional display device, and more particularly, to a two-dimensional display such as a conventional television or monitor for displaying a two-dimensional image. The present invention relates to a set-top box, a stereoscopic image broadcasting reception system, and shutter glasses for stereoscopic image display in a two-dimensional display apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional stereoscopic image.

The 3D stereoscopic image may be implemented by making a left image and a right image by using binocular disparity between the left eye and the right eye, so that each image is only visible to the corresponding eye.

As a method for this, there is a method of using polarizing glasses. This inputs the images taken by the left and right cameras to the left and right projectors respectively, and attaches different polarization filters in front of the left and right projectors to project the image passing through them. The right eye only sees the right image, which is commonly used in 3D cinemas.

On the other hand, there is also a 'shutter glasses type' used in the recently commercialized stereoscopic TV. This is implemented by alternately displaying the left image and the right image, and generating a synchronization signal accordingly, such that the shutter glasses are alternately opened in accordance with the synchronization signal. That is, when the left image comes out, the left glasses are opened, and when the right image comes out, the right glasses are opened. The shutter type is mainly used for a personal computer (PC) or a TV.

In addition, stereoscopic TVs without glasses are being developed. This requires the use of special display devices such as lenticular displays, integral imaging, holography, and the like.

However, for the currently introduced shutter glasses type stereoscopic TV, the left image and the right image should be transmitted through the existing broadcasting channel. To this end, the broadcasting station attaches the left image L1 and the right image R1, which have the horizontal resolution reduced in half, into one image as shown in FIG. 1A and transmits them at a normal frame rate. On receiving the stereoscopic TV, the stereoscopic TV is separated and the image (L1 ', R1', L2 ', R2') is doubled as the horizontal resolution as shown in FIG. 1B, and then the left image is doubled at the speed of the frame transmitted from the broadcasting station. (L1 ', L2', ..) and the right image (R1 ', R2', ...) are displayed alternately.

For example, if a broadcasting station transmits images with 540 pixels of horizontal resolution of the left and right images, and 1080 pixels per second at a total horizontal resolution of 1080 pixels, on a stereoscopic TV, the horizontal resolution of left and right images is 1080 pixels, respectively. After increasing, the left image and the right image are displayed alternately at a speed of 120 frames per second.

In addition, the stereoscopic TV alternately displays the left image and the right image and outputs a synchronization signal in synchronization with this, and the shutter glasses realize a stereoscopic image by alternately opening the shutter in accordance with the synchronization signal.

In the conventional stereoscopic TV system, since the image signal received from a broadcasting station should be displayed on the screen at twice the frame rate per second, it is impossible to implement the conventional 2D flat TV. Therefore, consumers have to purchase a separate stereoscopic TV in order to enjoy stereoscopic TV images, which is an obstacle to expanding the base of stereoscopic TV broadcasting. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a set-top box, a stereoscopic image broadcasting reception system, and shutter glasses, which enable stereoscopic broadcasting to be enjoyed even in a conventional two-dimensional display apparatus such as a TV or a PC monitor.

The broadcasting station alternately transmits the left image and the right image at half the normal frame rate. As a result, the sum of the left image and the right image results in a normal frame rate. The set-top box receiving the signal converts the signal into a signal suitable for the connected 2D broadcasting display device and generates a synchronization signal for the shutter glasses. The user synchronizes the timing of displaying the left and right images on the display device with the on / off timing of the shutter glasses by adjusting the delay time of the synchronization signal using the input means provided on the set-top box remote controller or the input means provided on the shutter glasses.

The set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcast receiver that receives and demodulates a stereoscopic video broadcast signal in which a left image and a right image are alternately converted, and converts a demodulated signal from a transceiver to a signal suitable for a set display device. And a synchronizing signal generating unit for generating a synchronizing signal for controlling the on / off of the shutter glasses in accordance with the signal from the TV signal output unit. The apparatus may further include a remote controller having an input unit and a wireless signal output unit, a remote controller signal receiving unit for receiving the set top box control signal from the remote controller, and a controller for controlling the function of the set top box according to the signal from the remote controller signal receiving unit. have.

According to an embodiment, the remote controller may further include a synchronization adjusting means for adjusting the delay time of the synchronization signal, and the controller may adjust the delay time of the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generator according to the operation of the synchronization control means. The synchronization signal generator is controlled.

The synchronization signal generator may be configured in the set-top box, but may be configured in the form of a USB dongle to be connected to the USB terminal of the existing set-top box, or may be configured as a separate device to generate the synchronization signal from the component Y signal of the set-top box. It may be configured to.

The set-top box stores the adjusted delay time in nonvolatile memory and uses the delay time stored in the nonvolatile memory for the next operation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the left side alternately appears in accordance with a synchronization signal receiver for wirelessly receiving a synchronization signal, synchronization control means for delaying the synchronization signal received at the synchronization signal receiver, and an output from the synchronization control means. A shutter eyeglass having a left eye shutter that opens and closes so that only the left image of the stereoscopic image composed of the image and the right image is visible, and a right eye shutter that opens and closes so that only the right image of the stereoscopic image is visible in accordance with the output from the synchronization adjusting means. have.

Synchronization control means may be composed of a single button, and each time the button is pressed, the delay time is continuously increased by a predetermined unit and can be configured to start again from 0 msec when the maximum delay time is reached. Alternatively, the synchronization adjusting means may be configured in a volume so as to delay the synchronization signal by a delay time determined according to the volume value.

Stereoscopic broadcasting can also be enjoyed in conventional two-dimensional display devices such as TVs and PC monitors.

FIG. 1A is a conceptual diagram illustrating a format of a stereoscopic video signal transmitted from a conventional stereoscopic TV broadcasting system, and FIG. 1B illustrates a format of displaying left and right images on a screen in a stereoscopic TV receiving the stereoscopic video signal of FIG. 1A. Conceptual diagram.
Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall configuration of a stereoscopic TV broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a format of a stereoscopic image signal according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of a set top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 illustrates a relationship between a Vsync signal and a synchronization signal.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a configuration example of a system of the present invention for displaying a stereoscopic image in a two-dimensional display device.

The broadcasting station 100 broadcasts a stereoscopic image signal S1 in which the left images L1 ", L2", ...) and the right images R1 ", R2", ... are alternately displayed at a normal frame rate. That is, in the case of a broadcasting system that transmits two-dimensional images at 60 frames per second (f = 1/60 seconds), a left image of 30 frames per second and a right image of 30 frames per second appear alternately to form a total of 60 frames per second. Done. The broadcasting station 100 may be a broadcasting station for various broadcasting such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, satellite or terrestrial DMB broadcasting, cable broadcasting, IP TV broadcasting, etc., and the present invention is not limited to a specific broadcasting type.

On the other hand, in the case of digital broadcasting, the left and right image information may be inserted into a specific region of the image compressed signal to be transmitted. For example, when the MPEG video compression method is used, information on whether the current frame is the left video or the right video may be inserted in the user area of the MPEG.

The set top box 200 receives the stereoscopic image signal S1 from the broadcasting station 100, converts the stereoscopic image signal S1 into an image signal S2 suitable for the display apparatus 300, and outputs the converted image signal S2 to the display apparatus 300. That is, the set-top box 200 receives satellite broadcast, cable broadcast, IP-TV broadcast, and the like and converts the signal into a signal that can be seen by the display device 300 such as a television receiver, a PC monitor, and the like. A signal S1 is received and output as a video signal S2. The video signal S2 may be a composite signal, and various signal types, such as an S-Video signal and a component signal such as RGB, are possible, and the present invention is not limited to a specific signal type.

The image signal S2 output from the set top box 200 to the display apparatus 300 also has a form in which the left image and the right image are alternately displayed at a normal frame rate as shown in FIG. 3. When the stereoscopic image signal S1 from the broadcasting station 100 is included in the left and right screen information, the left and right image information may be inserted into the V-blanking of the component output Y signal and transmitted. Left and right image information is not necessary, but using this can reduce the delay time for synchronization.

The display apparatus 300 may be an analog and digital TV, a monitor, or the like for a conventional two-dimensional image. Of course, a stereoscopic TV capable of displaying a conventional two-dimensional broadcast image may also be applied.

The display apparatus 300 receives the image signal S2 from the set top box 200 and displays the image signal on the screen as it is. That is, the left image and the right image are displayed alternately at a normal frame rate.

The user wears the shutter glasses 400 to watch the displayed image. In order for the shutter glasses 400 to operate normally, a synchronization signal Sync is required for opening and closing the left glasses and the right glasses. In the present invention, the set top box 200 provides the synchronization signal Sync.

The viewer controls the function of the set-top box 200 by using the remote controller 260 provided with the set-top box 200. In one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the function of the conventional set-top box 200 may be configured to control the function related to the selection of the 3D mode or the generation of the synchronization signal (Sync) with the remote control 260.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for adding a synchronization signal generation function for shutter glasses to the set top box will be described.

4 is a view showing the internal configuration of the set-top box 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The set top box 200 includes a broadcast receiver 220 for receiving a broadcast. The broadcast may include various broadcasts such as satellite broadcasts, cable broadcasts, and IP-TV broadcasts, and the present invention is not limited to a specific broadcast format. The controller 210 controls the entire operation of the set-top box 200 according to the control information of the user received through the remote controller signal receiver 250. As a function that can be controlled by the remote controller 260, a function related to generation of a sync signal may be controlled in addition to the normal functions such as turning on / off of a device and selecting a channel.

The set top box 200 may operate in a 2D mode and a 3D mode. In the 2D mode, the operation is performed in the same manner as the conventional set-top box, and in the 3D mode, the operation is performed as in the embodiment of the present invention.

The TV signal output unit 230 converts the broadcast signal of the selected channel received through the broadcast receiver 220 into a video and audio signal suitable for the display apparatus 300 under the control of the controller 210 and outputs the converted video signal. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the 3D video signal received by the broadcast receiver 220 and the video signal output from the TV signal output unit 230 take the form shown in FIG. 3.

The synchronization signal generator 240 generates a synchronization signal Sync for the shutter glasses 400 in accordance with the signal from the TV signal output unit 230. Synchronization signal (Sync) generation may use Vsync among the signal from the TV signal output unit 230. The synchronization signal Sync is output as an infrared or Bluetooth signal. The synchronization signal may be generated for the left and right glasses, respectively, or for only one of the left and right glasses. In addition, a synchronization signal may be generated every frame, for example, a synchronization signal may be generated in one or two frames, and three or four frames may be paused, followed by a synchronization signal in five or six frames. It may generate a signal.

Synchronization signal generation unit 240 may be configured in the set-top box 200, but may be configured in the form of a USB dongle (dongle) to be connected to the existing set-top box, or manufactured as a separate device of the existing set-top box It is also possible to implement to be connected to the component Y signal terminal. In case of manufacturing in the form of USB dongle, it can detect the Vsync signal output through the USB terminal and output the sync signal by infrared or Bluetooth method. When the synchronization signal generator 240 is manufactured as a separate device and connected to the component Y signal terminal of the existing set-top box, the synchronization signal generator 240 generates a synchronization signal according to the component Y signal of the existing set-top box. Infrared or Bluetooth output, and because the power can not be supplied from the set-top box requires a separate power supply.

However, a difference occurs between the time point at which the image signal S2 is output from the set top box 200 to the display device 300 and the time point at which the image is actually displayed on the display device 300. This is because it takes time for the display apparatus 300 to process the image signal S2 and display it on the screen. In addition, since the delay time may be different for each type of display apparatus, the synchronization signal output from the set-top box 200. It may be difficult to match Sync to the timing at which the screen is output on the display device 300.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for matching the synchronization signal Sync to the timing at which the screen is actually output from the display apparatus 300 will be described.

1) How to adjust the sync signal of the set-top box using the remote control

In the 3D mode, the set top box 200 automatically switches the output to a non-interlaced method (for example, 720p or 1080p). In the case of 1280 * 720p at 60 frames per second, H (Horizontal) and V (Vertical) blanking are included and the total frequency is 1650 * 750 * 60 = 74.25 MHz. Therefore, the Vsync interval is 30 * 1650 * (1 / 74.25M) = 0.66 msec in one frame time of 16.66 msec (= 1/60 sec). Since one frame is 16.66 msec and the left image and the right image are repeated, a maximum of two frames must be delayed to synchronize one image, so a time adjustment of 2 x 16.66 msec = 33.33 msec is required.

That is, as shown in Figure 5, the Vsync signal of the set-top box appears every 1/60 seconds, the synchronization signal for the left image (or the right image) should appear every 1/30 seconds. However, since there may be a delay time (N msec) between the time when the Vsync signal provided to the display apparatus 300 appears and the time until the image appears on the screen of the display apparatus, the synchronization signal provided to the shutter glasses 400. (Sync) should be delayed by N msec from the time when Vsync signal appears. This delay time is at most 1/30 sec, that is, 33.33 msec.

Synchronization control may be adjusted to the state that the 3D is best seen by pressing the synchronization control button of the remote control 260 in the state wearing the shutter glasses 400 after the user switches to the 3D mode. The sync button can be configured as two buttons to reduce or increase the delay time, or as a button to set the delay time between 0 msec and 33.33 msec each time this button is pressed. It can also be configured to continue to increase (or decrease) by msce and then start again at 0 msec (or maximum delay) once the maximum delay (or 0 msec) is reached. In this case, it is also possible to set the default delay time to 0 msec, the maximum delay time, or the optimal value statistically obtained. It is also possible to configure in the form of volume, jog dial or the like instead of the button. In addition, it is also possible to implement to synchronize more precisely by using the other synchronization control means after synchronizing roughly using one synchronization control means.

When the user presses the synchronization control button, the control unit 210 received through the remote control signal receiver 250 adjusts the delay time N between the synchronization signal Sync and Vsync indicated by a dotted line in the drawing accordingly. If the user stops adjusting at the point that the user determines is most appropriate, the delay time at that point is determined. The delay time set as described above is stored in the inactive memory of the set-top box 200 and the next time, the synchronization signal Sync is output according to the delay time set according to the Vsync signal.

2) How to put the synchronization signal delay adjusting means in the shutter glasses

In general, the shutter glasses 400 open and close so that only the left image of the stereoscopic image, which consists of the left and right images alternately in accordance with the synchronization signal receiver for receiving the synchronization signal wirelessly and the output from the synchronization signal receiver, is visible. And a left eye shutter which is opened and closed so that only the right image of the stereoscopic image is visible in accordance with the output from the synchronization signal receiver. In the present embodiment, the shutter glasses 400 have a means for adjusting the delay time of the synchronization signal, and the user uses this to set a state in which the stereoscopic image appears to be the most optimal state.

That is, a synchronization adjusting means is provided on one side of the shutter glasses 400, and when the user operates the synchronization adjusting means, opening and closing of the left eye shutter and the right eye shutter of the shutter glasses 400 are performed from the input synchronization signal Sync accordingly. It is to adjust the delay time to control.

For example, when the left image and the right image appear alternately at a rate of 60 frames per second (left image 30 frames, right image 30 frames), the set-top box displays a left or right synchronization signal as shown in FIG. Is outputted once every two times, and the shutter glasses 400 receiving the synchronization signal delay the synchronization signal by a delay time (N msec) according to the operation of the user's synchronization control means, and the delayed synchronization signal indicated by a dotted line. In accordance with the on-off operation of the glasses.

Synchronization control means provided in the shutter glasses may be configured to reduce or increase the delay time by configuring two buttons, or by configuring one button each time the delay time from 0 msec to 33.33 msec It can also be configured to continuously increase (or decrease) by (e.g., 1 msce) and start again at 0 msec (or maximum delay) once the maximum delay (or 0 msec) is reached. In this case, it is also possible to set the default delay time to 0 msec, the maximum delay time, or the optimal value statistically obtained. It is also possible to configure in the form of a volume or a slide volume instead of a button. In this case, the synchronization signal can be delayed by a delay time determined according to the volume value operated by the user. In addition, it is also possible to implement to synchronize more precisely by using the other synchronization control means after synchronizing roughly using one synchronization control means.

The present invention has been described above using several embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may be variously modified and modified. Of course.

100 stations
200 set top boxes
210 control unit
220 broadcasting receiver
230 TV signal output
240 synchronization signal generator
250 Remote control signal receiver
260 remote control
300 display
400 Shutter Glasses

Claims (22)

delete A broadcast receiver which receives and demodulates a stereoscopic video broadcast signal in which left and right images are alternately displayed;
A TV signal output unit for converting the demodulated signal from the broadcast receiver into a signal suitable for the set display device and outputting the signal;
A synchronization signal generation unit for generating a synchronization signal for controlling on / off of the shutter glasses in accordance with a signal from the TV signal output unit;
A remote control having an input means and a wireless signal output means,
A remote control signal receiver for receiving a set top box control signal from the remote controller;
The control unit for controlling the function of the set-top box according to the signal from the remote control signal receiving unit,
The remote control is further provided with a synchronization control means for adjusting the delay time of the synchronization signal,
The control unit controls the synchronization signal generator to adjust the delay time of the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generator in accordance with the operation of the synchronization control means. The set top box of claim 2, wherein the sync signal generator is configured in the form of a USB dongle to be connected to a USB terminal of an existing set top box. The set top box of claim 2, wherein the sync signal generator is configured as a separate device, and is configured to generate a sync signal from the component Y signal of the set top box. The set top box of claim 2, wherein the set top box stores the adjusted delay time in the nonvolatile memory and uses the delay time stored in the nonvolatile memory in a next operation. The set top box according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the stereoscopic image broadcasting signal alternately shows a left image and a right image, which are 30 frames per second, to form a total of 60 frames per second. The set top box according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein information about left and right images is inserted into a specific region of the 3D video signal. The set-top box according to claim 7, wherein the 3D video signal is a video compressed in MPEG, and the information about the left and right video is inserted in a user region of the MPEG. The set top box of claim 7, wherein the set top box extracts information about the left and right images and inserts the information into the V blanking of the Y signal of the signal output to the display device. delete A set-top box which receives a stereoscopic image broadcasting signal in which the left image and the right image are alternately received, converts the signal into a signal suitable for a display device, and generates a synchronization signal for controlling on / off of the shutter glasses according to the signal;
Shutter glasses for turning on and off the left and right glasses respectively according to the synchronization signal;
And the shutter glasses are provided with synchronization adjusting means for adjusting a delay time from turning the left and right glasses on and off from the synchronization signal. The method of claim 11,
The synchronization control means is composed of a single button, each time the button is pressed continuously increases the delay time by a predetermined unit and reaches a maximum delay time is configured to start again from 0 msec again. The method of claim 11,
And the synchronization adjusting means comprises a volume, and delays the synchronization signal by a delay time determined according to the volume value. The system of claim 11, wherein the sync signal generator is configured in the form of a USB dongle to be connected to a USB terminal of an existing set-top box. The system of claim 11, wherein the sync signal generator is configured as a separate device, and is configured to generate a sync signal from the component Y signal of the set-top box. The stereoscopic image broadcast receiving system according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the stereoscopic image broadcasting signal alternately shows a left image and a right image, which are 30 frames per second, to form a total of 60 frames per second. The stereoscopic image broadcast receiving system according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein information about left and right images is inserted into a specific region of the stereoscopic image broadcast signal. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the stereoscopic video broadcasting signal is a video compressed in MPEG, and the information about the left and right video is inserted in a user region of MPEG. The stereoscopic image broadcasting receiving system according to claim 17, wherein the set top box extracts the information about the left and right images and inserts the information into the V blanking of the Y signal of the signal output to the display device. A synchronization signal receiver for wirelessly receiving a synchronization signal;
Synchronization control means for delaying the synchronization signal received by the synchronization signal receiver;
A left eye shutter which is opened and closed so that only the left image of the stereoscopic image, which is composed of alternating left and right images, is visible in accordance with the output from the synchronization adjusting means;
In accordance with the output from the synchronization adjusting means, the right eye shutter opens and closes so that only the right image of the stereoscopic image, which consists of alternating left and right images, is visible.
Shutter glasses having a. The method of claim 20,
The synchronization control means is composed of one button, the shutter glasses are configured to continue to increase the delay time by a predetermined unit every time the button is pressed and to start again from 0 msec when reaching the maximum delay time. The method of claim 20,
The synchronization control means is configured to the volume, the shutter glasses to delay the synchronization signal by a delay time determined according to the volume value.

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