Abstract: A stereo-image displaying apparatus including an adjustable light source module, a spatial modulator, and an image display panel is provided. The adjustable light source module is adapted for emitting a plurality of first illumination beams and a plurality of second illumination beams that are staggered along a first axis. The spatial modulator and the image display panel are sequentially disposed on the light path of the first and second illumination beams. The first illumination beam passes through the spatial modulator so that the image display panel displays a first view field image in a first frame period. The second illumination beam passes through the spatial modulator so that the image display panel displays a second view field image in a second frame period. Moreover, a method for reducing stereo-image cross-talk is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three-dimensional image viewing of an image display employs a pair of viewing glasses having left and right side lenses for alternate left-eye and right-eye image viewing by alternately blocking and passing left and right-eye image views from the image display. An image monitor is used to detect lens sync control information interleaved or embedded with image frames of the image display. The lens sync control information detected by the image monitor is decoded into left and right lens control signals for alternately blocking and passing of left and right-eye image views by the left and right side lenses, respectively, in order to generate three-dimensional image viewing.

Abstract: A projection display device D includes an acquiring means 2 that acquires a pixel value Cg and a depth value Cz for each of a plurality of pixels constituting an image, a light output means 3 that outputs pixel display light Ld per pixel according to the pixel value, a light guide body 5 that guides the pixel display light Ld to a position corresponding to the pixel on a projection surface 8, and changes the light path length of the pixel display light Ld to the projection surface 8 according to the depth value Cz of the pixel. The light guide body 5 includes a reflector 51 that has mirror surfaces 511a opposing each other. The light path length control means 3 changes the number of times the pixel display light is reflected by the mirror surfaces 511a of the reflector 51 according to the depth value Cz of the pixel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a dynamic parallax barrier autostereoscopic system and method for one and multiple users with user tracking. One example embodiment of the invention is a dynamic parallax barrier autostereoscopic virtual reality display system includes a display including a front display plane and a rear display plane. The front display plane dynamically generates barrier strips with transparent regions therebetween. The rear display plane generates images viewable through the transparent regions to create a virtual reality effect for a user or users.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a first and second cell wall structure; at least one liquid crystal material disposed within a space between the first and second cell wall structures; and polymer micro-structures, wherein the micro-structures are formed by polymerizing a prepolymer, and wherein said micro-structures have a shape and spatial location determined by said liquid crystal material. Permanent polymer micro-structures are formed from a liquid crystal with a non-uniform spatially modulated director field. The polymer structures have the shape and spatial location dictated by the non-uniform director field of the liquid crystal. The micro-structures are a backbone that restores the liquid crystal director field that existed during the polymerization process even when other factors, such as electric field, temperature, or surface anchoring, do not favor this restoration.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating and rendering stereoscopic or dual-view images are provided. In one embodiment, a method rendering stereoscopic images includes alternating, on a display, left and right perspectives of an image. Each of the left and right perspectives corresponds to a respective array of pixels on the display such that the left perspective is offset from a right perspective by less than a pixel width. The method further includes shuttering a portion of the light provided from the display in sequence with the alternating of the left and right perspectives if the image.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three-dimensional stereo image, a left-eye image defined by multiple left-eye strip pixels and a right-eye image defined by multiple right-eye strip pixels are displayed such that the left-eye pixels and the right-eye pixels are arranged alternately from the left to the right in a width direction. The left-eye image and the right-eye image are guided separately to the left eye and the right eye of an observer. Then, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are shifted by one pixel in an oscillating manner, and the left-eye image and the right-eye image are deflected synchronized with the one-pixel shifting operation.

Abstract: A 3D stereo display method and a device thereof. Two sets of shutters are disposed in a display. The shutters are complimentarily interlaced with each other. The opening/closing of the two sets of shutters are controlled by time interval concept. When the display frequency is odd frequency, one set of shutters is activated. When the display frequency is even frequency, the other set of shutters is activated. The two sets of shutters are continuously opened and closed according to the variation of the frequency so that in odd and even frequencies, the left and right eyes can respectively see independent images formed of different subpixels. Therefore, a 3D display effect is presented to bare eyes without reducing resolution.

Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.

Abstract: A video code is embedded into the active video area of a stereo subfield. The video code is detected using an electronic circuit and used to maintain synchrony of the selection device with perspective images. Preferably, the video code is a predetermined sequence of colors.

Abstract: In n page unit printing, a completion time of print preparation for page m+1 is estimated from the time spent for print preparation for pages up to page m among n pages. If the estimated time can make m+1 unit printing effective, print preparation for page m+1 is waited for. If the estimated time can not make m+1 unit printing effective, m page unit printing is immediately performed up to page m, without waiting for the completion of print preparation of page m+1.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image photographing optical system includes a pair of front optical components of negative refractive power, a combining optical element for superposing respective optical axes of the pair of front optical components on each other, a rear optical component disposed such that the superposed optical axes coincide with an optical axis of the rear optical component, a pair of shutters capable of independently controlling amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from an object, and a pair of deflection mirrors arranged to deflect light fluxes coming from the pair of front optical components and to guide the deflected light fluxes to the combining optical element, wherein the optical system forms parallactic images in a time-series manner by causing the pair of shutters to alternately change the amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from the object.

Abstract: An optical device includes a transparent material layer having a desired curved surface configuration, a layer including a variable refractive index material having a dielectric constant anisotropy, at least two transparent electrodes arranged to sandwich the transparent material layer and the variable refractive index material, and a driving device supplying a voltage including driving frequencies f1 and f2 between the transparent electrodes. The difference &Dgr;∈ in the dielectric constant of the variable refractive index material due to the anisotropy is positive at one of the driving frequencies and negative at the other driving frequency.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display device that is capable of displaying a stereoscopic image without a deterioration of resolution. The apparatus differentiates color signals with respect to the same pixel zone every desired time interval to obtain a blinking light source effect. Accordingly, the deterioration of resolution can be minimized.

Abstract: An intelligent system and process for producing and displaying stereoscopically-multiplexed images of either real or synthetic 3-D objects, for use in realistic stereoscopic viewing thereof. The system comprises a subsystem for acquiring parameters specifying the viewing process of a viewer positioned relative to a display surface associated with a stereoscopic display subsystem. A computer-based subsystem is provided for producing stereoscopically-multiplexed images of either the real or synthetic 3-D objects, using the acquired parameters. The stereoscopically-multiplexed images are on the display surface, for use in realistic stereoscopic viewing of either the real or synthetic 3-D objects, by the viewer.

Abstract: A thin stereoscopic display which enables plural persons to simultaneously observe stereoscopic images includes a color liquid crystal plate for displaying stereo-pairs composed of left and right eye perspectives in time-interlaced manner, a monochrome liquid crystal TV display disposed behind the color liquid crystal plate for displaying binary and inverted binary images a right or left half of the face of each observer so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of the color liquid crystal plate, and an arrayed convex lens disposed between the color liquid crystal plate and the monochrome liquid crystal TV display so as to focus the observers' optical images on the screen of the monochrome liquid crystal TV display in geometrical agreement with the observers' face images displayed thereby.

Abstract: A multiview three-dimensional image display apparatus comprises: a light source, a shutter plate for selectively passing light from the source; a diffuser immediately adjacent the shutter plates an optical element in front of the diffuser for forming a viewing zone; and a transparent display immediately adjacent the optical element for displaying multiview images thereon, wherein the multiview images are displayed based on a time-multiplexing technique and the viewing zone is formed in front of the transparent display. The apparatus can be readily modified into a multiview apparatus that includes a plurality of light sources. Since a plurality of viewing zones can be simultaneously formed in the apparatus, it is possible for multiple viewers to simultaneously observe the same three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are used with a display. A physical relationship between the display and a viewer of the display is determined, and the physical relationship is monitored to detect when the relationship substantially changes. In response to the detection, the display is automatically positioned to compensate for the change.

Abstract: This invention provides a stereoscopic display apparatus which can discriminate image signals for the right and left eyes and can normally display an image without adding any special signals for discriminating the image signals for the right and left eyes. The basic principle of a stereoscopic display apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C. When the optical axes 210 and 211 of the photographing lenses are set to be parallel to each other, the position of the object image 201l in the field frame 212 is near the left end, and the position of the object image 201 in the field frame 213 is near the right end. In order to detect a relative positional relationship, in the right-and-left direction, of the object on the basis of the signal waveforms shown in FIG.

Abstract: Temporally interlaced first and second sequential pluralities of image frames are displayed and alternately directed along respected first and second optical paths to distinct viewing locations, for example the left and right eyes of a viewer, wherein the image frames of one of the sequential pluralities represent mirror images of the object being imaged. In one aspect, both sets of sequential pluralities of image frames are simultaneously distributed to both optical paths and first and second shutters are controlled in synchronism with the image display so as to display the respective sequential pluralities of image frames only at the corresponding viewing locations. In another aspect, respective first and second sequential pluralities of image frames are switched between the first and second optical paths by synchronously switching the polarization state of the image display and by a polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus having a light source that defines at least one right and left light-cells which provide plural pairs of right and left lights. A spatial modulator, spaced apart from the light source, spatially modulates the right and left lights from the light source so as to focus the right and left lights on the eyes of at least one viewer. A display mode changer is capable of automatically changing the display mode of the image display between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode. The display is automatically changed in accordance with the location of the viewer or in response to an instruction from the viewer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing the closed captioned aspect of a video signal for specific undesirable words or phrases and then muting the audio portion of those words or phrases while not affecting the video portion therein while simultaneously modifying the closed captioned signal in order to display only acceptable words or phrases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the personal identification numbers of customers as well as customer authorization access to an interactive information distribution system. The apparatus comprises an interactive session manager containing a central processing unit that is programmed to implement the method includes. The method of the present invention is a personal identification number (PIN) assignment routine for assigning various types of PINs to various customers of the information distribution system. The method also includes an access authorization routine for restricting access to only those customers with authorized access to particular services.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributed conditional access (CA) control on a serial communication network. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a CA subsystem over a 1394 network, the CA subsystem comprising a receiver unit for receiving a digital broadcast signal (DBS) and OOB data from an external source, where the DBS and OOB data are transmitted from the external source to the receiver unit in different broadcast frequencies. The receiver unit comprises a main tuner subunit coupled to receive the DBS, which can be encrypted with respect to a first encryption scheme. The receiver unit also comprises an OOB tuner subunit coupled to receive the OOB data for decrypting the DBS with respect to the first encryption scheme. The CA subsystem also comprises a CA control unit coupled to the receiver unit, which in turn comprises a CA subunit coupled to receive the DBS and OOB data.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes an image source that scans about two axes. To offset motion about a first of the axes during sweeps about the second axis, the apparatus includes a structure to produce offsetting motion about the first axis at a scanning rate equal to the twice-scanning rate about the second axis. The offsetting scan can be a ramp or other motion. In one embodiment, the offsetting motion is a resonant sinusoid. The offsetting motion may be produced by an auxiliary scanner such as a mechanical scanner, a piezoelectric scanner, a MEMs scanner or other scanner. Because the offsetting motion is very small, the auxiliary scanner can function with a very small scan angle.

Abstract: For the display of certain video scenes, in a case when first restrict data has a stricter restrict level than second restrict data, an on-screen circuit (5) operating in accordance with the output of a comparator (3) alters the display on the TV screen (6) to a single predetermined color, cutting out the video scene. Alternatively, in the case when first restrict data has a more lenient restrict level than second restrict data, the on-screen circuit (5) operating in accordance with the output of a comparator (3) displays the video scene unaltered. Furthermore, the extent of the difference between restrict levels of first and second restrict data can be checked on the TV screen (6) by means of data set in attribute register (9), making it possible to prevent overly deviant restrict level settings.

Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver retrofit apparatus that receives broadcast signals, detects rating or category codes therein and compares the detected codes to a setting set in the retrofit device. If the comparison indicates that the incoming signal has a rating greater than that set or is of an undesired category the broadcast signal is blocked or an audio or visual alert is given. The retrofit device may be tamper-resistant to prevent disabling the device.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting the viewing of television programs on a television receiver includes an RF probe which is positioned on the exterior of the receiver housing in close proximity to the intermediate frequency amplifier of the receiver to pick up the intermediate frequency signal therein. A demodulator circuit derives a composite video signal from the intermediate frequency signal. A closed captioning chip and decoder derive channel and/or program information from line 21 of the composite signal, which information is periodically stored in a memory with associated time, date and viewer ID information. The stored viewing information is periodically transmitted by modem to a central monitoring location for analysis. In an alternative embodiment the viewing information is transferred to a removable memory card which is mailed to the central monitoring location.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting television receiving apparatus from displaying those television channels which are not authorized for viewing, such as unsubscribed television channels and channels with programs which satisfy predetermined content ratings criteria. Television channel information associated with television channels that are receivable by the television receiving apparatus, such as rating data representing the contents of the programs on the television channel, is obtained. A rating code representing the content ratings criteria of those channels which a viewer wishes to inhibit from being displayed also is obtained. When either channel up or channel down buttons are operated by the viewer, the rating data associated with the next television channel is compared with the rating code to determine if that television channel satisfies the predetermined content ratings criteria.

Abstract: A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects ("M&E") track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for allowing rating level control of the viewing of a program. The apparatus includes a device for entering a desired rating level for controlling the viewing of a program, a device for extracting rating data from a program video segment, the rating data indicating a rating level of the program video segment, and a device for extracting text data representative of the content of the program video segment from the program video segment. The apparatus includes a device for determining whether the extracted rating data indicates that the program video segment has an acceptable rating level for viewing with regard to the entered desired rating level and a device for blocking the playing of the program video segment if it is determined that the extracted rating data indicates that the program video segment has an unacceptable rating level for viewing with regard to the entered desired rating level.

Abstract: A receiver which is tunable to any of a plurality of modulated carrier signals, said receiver comprising a tuner local oscillator the frequency of which is determined by a control circuit responsive to a user input indicating the selection of a modulated carrier signal to which the receiver should tune, and a non-volatile memory connected to said control circuit for storing information, and a real time clock connected to said control circuit for providing current time, said control circuit being responsive to a user entered channel viewing matrix which is stored in said non-volatile memory and is compared to information provided by said real time clock, said user entered channel viewing matrix defining times of certain channels of which said control circuit will be prohibited from allowing said receiver to tune, said control circuit comprising a control means for automatically changing channels to the next valid channel if the current channel is or becomes invalid, and a data entry means for entering informat

Abstract: A television receiver is described for receiving and displaying to a viewer a program content rated television program transmission which includes a data signal. The receiver includes a circuit for separating the data signal from the television program signal. The rating derivation circuit derives the program rating from the data signal. A selection circuit is used to store program rating viewing authorizations for viewers. Means are provided to compare the derived program rating with the stored viewing authorization and to generate a blanking control signal. A monitoring circuit monitors the integrity of at least a portion of the data signal, calculates an error rate for the data signal and generates a rating error default control signal when the error exceeds a predetermined threshold. A no code detection circuit generates a no code default control signal when the data signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A technique for the blocking of individual programs and/or portions of programs transmitted in a source signal, e.g., a cable television signal. In particular, individual programs and/or portions of programs within a class of programs are blocked, while allowing for the viewing of certain other programs even within the same programming class. The transmitted source signal contains individual programs having a transparent program identifier and/or transparent content identifier associated with individual programs in the source signal transmission. As the source signal enters, e.g., a particular subscriber location, the source signal is monitored in accordance with a program viewing profile defined by the subscriber. That is, particular ones of the programs and/or portion thereof available in the source signal transmission supplied to the subscriber can either be unblocked, i.e., viewable, or blocked, i.e., unviewable, at the discretion of the subscriber.

Abstract: The present invention is a controller for selectively blocking cable television programming provided by a cable converter that is contained within the controller. The cable converter downconverts an input signal and provides one or more channels as an output to a viewing screen. The controller includes an input unit that transmits at least one command and a transmitter that transmits at least one remote control signal to the cable converter. The controller further includes a processor coupled to the input unit and the transmitter. The processor is adapted to block viewing of at least one selected channel when configured to operate in a first state. The processor controls the transmitter to transmit the at least one remote control signal to the cable converter to change from a first channel to a second channel in response to said at least one command from said input unit when said processor is configured to operate in a second state.

Abstract: A video receiver capable of blocking access to specified video programs. The video receiver includes, a counter for counting time periods of prosecuting the designation of a proper rating rank to video programs to be blocked access thereto, a storage device for storing the count of times, and a display device for displaying the count of times stored in the storage device.

Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver retrofit apparatus that receives broadcast signals, detects rating or category codes therein and compares the detected codes to a setting set in the retrofit device. If the comparison indicates that the incoming signal has a rating greater than that set or is of an undesired category the broadcast signal is blocked or an audio or visual alert is given. The retrofit device may be tamper-resistant to prevent disabling the device.

Abstract: A censoring assembly is adapted for use with a television tuner outputting a signal having a closed caption component signal. A closed caption decoding device produces a video signal having no closed caption component and converts the closed caption component into an uncensored text data signal. A censor device deletes words contained within the uncensored text data signal found in a list of offensive words, creating a censored text data signal, and may also turn off the audio signal for a timed period. The list of offensive words is generally pre-loaded with such words and phrases, but the censor device typically contains support for allowing the user to add objectionable words and for the down-loading of objectionable words from a remote location. A closed caption generator inputs the video signal having no closed caption component and the censored text data signal and generates a video signal having a censored closed caption component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for parental control of television programs. Program schedule information including program titles are stored in a memory and displayed on a monitor. Compressed code is entered for the programs to be blocked. Alternatively, one or more program titles are selected from the displayed program schedule information for blocking by a parental control circuitry connected to a controller.

Abstract: A cordless remote control for a receiver, more particularly for a television set, comprising a reader for a data medium, said data medium containing information for the activating the remote control and/or at least one program channel of said receiver.

Abstract: A system featuring an interface unit connected to a programmable unit is described. The interface unit is capable of containing a time-sensitive key. The programmable unit is allowed to receive digital content from the interface unit upon establishing that the time-sensitive key is also contained therein.

Abstract: A cable television services security system includes a two-way communication system for transmitting a broadcast signal from a headend to subscribers and subscriber viewing information from a channel identifier located within a subscriber's home back to the headend. An addressable switch located outside of the subscriber's home compares the channel being viewed by the subscriber with a subscriber privilege code. If the subscriber is not authorized to view the channel, the broadcast signal being transmitted to the subscriber is interrupted.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a transmitting system of which data is difficult to be tapped and which is suitable for flexibly determining a watching and listening fee. In order to achieve the object, there is provided a combination of a transmitting method comprising steps of, transmitting encoded data which has been encoded, to a receiving side, changing the encoding in a predetermined unit, and performing recording according to requirement, from the receiving side of information concerning decoding of the encoded data, and a receiving method comprising steps of, receiving the encoded data which has been encoded, from a transmitting side, requiring the information concerning the decoding of the encoded data, to the transmitting side, and decoding the encoded data by using the obtained information concerning the decoding.

Abstract: A television system (TV) which enables a user to view display represented by a television signal as well as to access data network applications. The TV includes an on-screen-display (OSD) controller which stores the network application data and other display entities in a memory module as separate bit maps. A single image for display on a TV display screen is generated by overlaying all the display entities (including television signal, network application data, pointer, and low resolution data) according to a predetermined priority. Display entities (other than TV signal) are stored in separate portions of the memory module as independent surfaces to enable the displays of individual display entities to be generated and modified according to the individual display entity requirements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image displaying device which can control the usage of the image displaying device according to some predetermined time-related events. The image displaying device comprises a screen for displaying an image frame, an image display circuit for displaying image signals on the screen to form the image frame, a clock circuit for generating clock signals containing time of day information in it, a control circuit for controlling usage of the image display circuit according to the clock signals, and an on-screen display circuit electrically connected between the control circuit and the image display circuit for displaying a warning message on the screen through the image display circuit to prevent the image display circuit from normally displaying the image signals on the screen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a three-dimensional display device so adapted that an uncomfortable feeding in a case where a right eye image and a left eye image on a screen are replaced with each other in correspondence to the position of the head of a viewer can be eliminated, to laterally move the position of a shading barrier to laterally move a normal view position or a reversed view position upon selectively turning liquid crystal shutters provided in both ends in the lateral direction of a slit of the shading barrier on and off by barrier movement means when the head of the viewer is in a moire position between the normal view position and the reversed view position.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting unauthorized utilization of a cable television decoder. The decoder is utilized to receive cable television signals. The decoder is one of a plurality of receivers of different types. A local oscillator frequency being utilized by the decoder to receive the channel is determined. A type is then determined for the decoder utilizing the determined local oscillator frequency. The channel being received is also determined utilizing the determined local oscillator frequency. In response to the determination of type of decoder and channel being received, a determination is made whether receipt of the channel is authorized for this decoder.

Abstract: A received television program is blocked out when a rating of the program is not within a scope of a preset rating. A rating signal is extracted from a video signal of the television program, and the rating signal is decoded to detect the rating of the program. The rating of the program is compared with the preset rating and an automatic frequency control (AFC) circuit is forced into an inoperative state to block out an output of the received television program when the comparison shows that the rating of the detected program is not within the scope of the preset rating. Accordingly, the blocking-out function against improper programs can be achieved by detecting the rating of the received program and by making the AFC circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A system processes a video signal that includes a plurality of signal components representing respective ones of a plurality of video programs such as various pay-TV programs. Each of the signal components is processed, e.g., descrambling a pay-TV program, by one of a plurality of series connected high speed signal processing integrated circuit (IC) cards, or "smart" cards. An output signal from the last smart card in the series connection includes a plurality of processed signal components. The plurality of processed signal components are processed further to produce a signal suitable for producing a displayed image that includes multiple image portions, such as a picture-in-picture (PIP) or picture-outside-picture (POP) image in a television system. Each portion of the image is produced in response to one of the processed signal components.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus for use in a cable television system which provides a plurality of channels capable of being tuned for display at a television receiver is provided. The apparatus includes a memory for storing data for generating a plurality of predetermined character screens and for storing deauthorization data, a character generator for generating character screens from the stored character screen data at the television receiver, a deauthorization mechanism responsive to the deauthorization data in the memory for deauthoring selected ones of the plurality of channels, and a controller for controlling the memory and the character generator, and for composing at least one predetermined character screen for display at the television receiver in accordance with the deauthorization of a channel by the deauthorization mechanism.