Abstract: The invention is a method for creating a micropolarizer, including providing a first plate having a first and a second surface, providing a second plate having a first and a second surface. Then coating a polyimide on each of the first surface of the two plates followed by rubbing the polyimide coated upon the first surface of the first plate along a predetermined direction and rubbing the polyimide coated upon the first surface of the second plate along a direction having a predetermined angle in relation to the predetermined direction. An alignment process includes aligning the first plate and the second plate having the first surface of the first plate and the first surface of the second plate facing each other thereby creating a space there between. In conclusion there is a filling of a liquid crystal material in the space whereby a cell, or film is created.

Abstract: A line blanker system for converting a stereoscopic image into a line-blanked stereoscopic image suitable for stereoscopic viewing on a standard non-interleaved display device is provided. The system includes a method for controlling the line blanker. According to the invention, one can enable and disable the line blanker, identify the first line of the image being processed and determine whether the first line is for viewing by the left eye or the right eye of a viewer. In addition, the invention includes a line doubler. The line doubler provides enhanced brightness and resolution by replacing the blanked line with a double of the line immediately adjacent to the blanked line.

Abstract: A digital micro-mirror device (DMD) format conversion system for outputting a stereoscopic encoded optical signal using a DMD and a color wheel is provided. The DMD format conversion system includes a 3D data formatter for receiving an input signal and a DMD data formatter for receiving an output signal having stereoscopic image information and control information from the 3D data formatter and for outputting a DMD output signal having stereoscopic image information and control information. A color wheel control signal and output digital micro-mirror device data are synchronized based on an output frame rate generated by the 3D data formatter independent of the original input frame rate.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a new and inexpensive method for stereoscopic demultiplexing from a single computer data source. The invention provides a means to switch the routing of left and right image data, if necessary. Additionally the invention provides for an internal swap of the green data signal between the two channels permitting the device to be used with polarized output projection systems in which the green light output is polarized orthogonally to the red and blue light output.

Abstract: The invention is an improved kiosk for a 3D display. A clear plastic or transparent band surrounds a ?Pol based 3D stereo flat panel LCD display system. The radius of the band is designed to provide the optimum viewing distance from all angles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing inexpensive and accurate electrical synchronization between the individual cameras within a 3D or stereoscopic video camera is disclosed. The method and apparatus use a common clock pulse to both cameras and a frame reset pulse generated by one camera to provide a frame reset for the second camera. By using these pulses, it is possible to fully synchronize the two camera, a multiplexer and an RGB encoder to produce a totally in synchronization 3D or stereoscopic video signal without using expensive gen-lock techniques. In addition a method and apparatus for providing mechanical adjustment for the convergence of the horizontal axes of the cameras with a 3D or stereoscopic video camera is explained. It addition, the basic techniques used in the convergence is also shown for achieving an inexpensive and accurate method and apparatus for matching the tilt position of the individual cameras is shown.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention permits a user to load two images into a computer system so that two images may be combined into a stereoscopic image pair. An additional embodiment permits a user to load a single 2D image into the system to be combined into a stereoscopic image pair. An additional embodiment permits a user load a single 2D image to be loaded into a computer to be morphed into a stereoscopic image pair. The term “morphing is derived from the term metamorphis. Morphing refers to the process of gradually changing one visual image to another or merging two or more images into a single image.

Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystal (LC) phase-retarders and linear polarizers and methods and apparatus for making the same. The liquid crystal phase-retarder is realized by a liquid crystal film structure having one or more phase retardation regions formed therein. Each phase retardation region has an optical axis specified by the direction and depth of orientation of liquid crystal molecules along the surface of the liquid crystal film structure. The liquid crystal linear polarizer is realized by a liquid crystal film structure having a chiral phase region within which liquid crystal molecules are cholesterically ordered. One or more nematic phase regions are formed along the surface of the liquid crystal film structure within which liquid crystal molecules are oriented along a direction and to a surface depth sufficient to realize one or more phase retardation regions therein having optical axes along the direction of liquid crystal molecule orientation.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment addresses the problem of delivering stereoscopic media in electronic form (images, videos, animations, object models, etc.). First, it provides a single format with independent right and left channels to represent the stereoscopic media. Second, it provides a means of displaying stereoscopic media inside a movable windowed area while eliminating pseudostereo conditions during movement. Third, it provides automatic and manual optimization adjustments (parallax shift adjustment, brightness control, color adjustment, and cross-talk reduction) to the stereoscopic media based on viewing hardware, monitor size, and media content for optimal viewing quality. Fourth, it provides seamless support for monoscopic (2D) viewing modes allowing delivery of said stereoscopic media in a normal 2D viewing mode.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the invention permits an extension of battery life through detection of the display synchronization signals of a computer and a power management system. The power management system also eliminates need for batteries through use of a 5V power source from pin 9 of the VGA port. A second embodiment improves the ease of use and the utility of the 3D system through removable glasses with improvements over the previous design. These embodiments have improved manufacturability through the use of design that is tolerant of poor quality, low cost components with low electrical tolerances.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment a stereoscopic LCD shutter glass driver system requires only a total of 3 CMOS integrated circuit chips in order to convert horizontal and vertical sync signals into LCD shutter glass drive signals. A negative charge pump is used increase the LCD drive voltage thereby reducing 3D crosstalk in the image. The video signal input is shown with a passthrough connection intended for direct hook-up to a television or CRT monitor. A first flip flop detects vertical and horizontal sync and is used to drive the charge pump. A stable, predictable field ID signal is produced by the flip flop whose two complimentary outputs act as inputs to a second flip flop chip which produces the drive signals for the LCD shutter glasses. A third flip flop produces a LCD “common” signal that is sent to both LCD shutters. The second flip flop produces a drive signal for each LCD shutter. A field swap between the two shutters is implemented with a switch located at the output of the third flip flop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of viewing pairs of perspective images of 3-D objects (i.e. stereoscopic image pairs) displayed from a CRT display surface in a time-multiplexed or field-sequential manner, and more particularly to a universal method of generating control signals for synchronously changing the optical state of liquid crystal (LC) shutter panels through which the time-multiplexed perspective images can be sequentially viewed in a substantially flicker-free manner by the left and right eyes of a human viewer, independent of whether the images are displayed on NTSC, PAL, VGA or SVGA styled CRT display devices.