Synchronization for 3D Glasses

Abstract

A viewing system for viewing video displays having the appearance of a three dimensional image.

1 . A system for providing three dimensional video images, comprising:
 a pair of glasses comprising a first lens having a first liquid crystal shutter and a second lens having a second liquid crystal shutter, the liquid crystal shutters each having a liquid crystal and an opening time of less than one millisecond,   a control circuit that alternately opens the first and second liquid crystal shutters,   wherein the liquid crystal orientation is held at a point of maximum light transmission until the control circuit closes the shutter, and   a synchronization device operably coupled to the control circuit, comprising:   a signal receiver for sensing a synchronization signal corresponding to an image presented to a user of the glasses, and   a control circuit adapted to open the first liquid crystal shutter or the second liquid crystal shutter during a period of time in which the image is presented as a function of the synchronization signal transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal transmitter, wherein the signal transmitter projects the synchronization signal toward a reflector, wherein the synchronization signal is reflected by the reflector, and wherein the signal receiver detects the reflected synchronization signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the reflector comprises a movie theater screen. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the signal transmitter receives a timing signal from an image projector. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal is encrypted. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data for the control circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the series of pulses and the configuration data are encrypted. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a synchronous serial data signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization signal is sensed between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a three dimensional video image, the method comprising:
 having a pair of three dimensional viewing glasses comprising a first liquid crystal shutter and a second liquid crystal shutter,   opening the first liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the first liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a first period of time,   closing the first liquid crystal shutter and then opening the second liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the second liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a first eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a second eye of the viewer,   transmitting a synchronization signal corresponding to the image presented to the viewer,   sensing the synchronization signal, and   using the synchronization signal to determine when to open the first liquid crystal shutter or the second liquid crystal shutter.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising projecting the synchronization signal toward a reflector, reflecting the synchronization signal off of the reflector, and detecting the reflected synchronization signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising reflecting the synchronization signal off of a movie theater screen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a timing signal from an image projector. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising encrypting the synchronization signal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data for the control circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising encrypting at least one of the series of pulses and the configuration data. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal comprise a synchronous serial data signal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the synchronization signal is sensed between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters. 
     
     
         26 . A system for providing three dimensional video images, comprising:
 a pair of glasses comprising a first lens having a first liquid crystal shutter and a second lens having a second liquid crystal shutter, the liquid crystal shutters having a liquid crystal and an opening time of less than one millisecond,   a control circuit that alternately opens the first and second liquid crystal shutters,   wherein the liquid crystal orientation is held at a point of maximum light transmission until the control circuit closes the shutter, and   a synchronization system comprising:   a reflection device located in front of the pair of glasses,   a signal transmitter sending a synchronization signal towards the reflection device, the synchronization signal corresponding to an image presented to a user of the glasses,   a signal receiver sensing the synchronization signal reflected from the reflection device, and   a control circuit adapted to open the first shutter or the second shutter during a period of time in which the image is presented.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the reflector comprises a movie theater screen. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the signal transmitter receives a timing signal from an image projector. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal is encrypted. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data for the control circuit. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the series of pulses and the configuration data are encrypted. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal comprise a synchronous serial data signal. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the synchronization signal is sensed between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters. 
     
     
         38 . A computer program installed on a machine readable medium for providing a three dimensional video image to a user of 3D viewing glasses having first and second liquid crystal viewing shutters, the computer program comprising:
 opening the first liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the first liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a first period of time,   closing the first liquid crystal shutter and then opening the second liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the second liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a first eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a second eye of the viewer,   sensing a synchronization signal corresponding to an image presented to the viewer, and   using the sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the first or the second liquid crystal shutter.   
     
     
         39 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light. 
     
     
         40 . The computer program of  claim 38 , further comprising projecting the synchronization signal toward a reflector, reflecting the synchronization signal off of the reflector, and detecting the reflected synchronization signal. 
     
     
         41 . The computer program of  claim 40 , wherein the reflector comprises a movie theater screen. 
     
     
         42 . The computer program of  claim 40 , further comprising receiving a timing signal from an image projector. 
     
     
         43 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         44 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         50 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter. 
     
     
         51 . The computer program of  claim 38 , further comprising encrypting the synchronization signal. 
     
     
         52 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data for the control circuit. 
     
     
         53 . The computer program of  claim 52 , further comprising encrypting at least one of the series of pulses and the configuration data. 
     
     
         54 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse. 
     
     
         55 . The computer program of  claim 38 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a synchronous serial data signal. 
     
     
         56 . The computer program of  claim 38 , further comprising sensing the synchronization signal between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters. 
     
     
         57 . A system for providing a three dimensional video image, the method comprising:
 means for having a pair of three dimensional viewing glasses comprising a first liquid crystal shutter and a second liquid crystal shutter,   means for opening the first liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   means for holding the first liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a first period of time,   means for closing the first liquid crystal shutter and then opening the second liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   means for holding the second liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a first eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a second eye of the viewer,   means for sensing a synchronization signal corresponding to the image presented to the viewer, and   means for using the sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the first or the second liquid crystal shutter.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising means for transmitting the synchronization signal toward a reflector. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the reflector comprises a movie theater screen. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for receiving a timing signal from an image projector. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval and wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising means for encrypting the synchronization signal. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data for the control circuit. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , further comprising means for encrypting at least one of the series of pulses and the configuration data. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the synchronization signal comprises a synchronous serial data signal. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising means for sensing the synchronization signal between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters. 
     
     
         71 . A method for providing a three dimensional video image, the method comprising:
 having a pair of three dimensional viewing glasses comprising a first liquid crystal shutter and a second liquid crystal shutter,   opening the first liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the first liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a first period of time,   closing the first liquid crystal shutter and then opening the second liquid crystal shutter in less than one millisecond,   holding the second liquid crystal shutter at a point of maximum light transmission for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a first eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a second eye of the viewer,   projecting an encrypted synchronization signal toward a reflector,   reflecting the encrypted synchronization signal off of the reflector,   detecting the reflected encrypted synchronization signal,   decrypting the detected encrypted synchronization signal, and   using the detected synchronization signal to determine when to open the first liquid crystal shutter or the second liquid crystal shutter,   wherein the synchronization signal comprises an infrared light,   wherein the synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses and configuration data,   wherein a first predetermined series of pulses opens the first liquid crystal shutter,   wherein a second predetermined series of pulses opens the second liquid crystal shutter,   wherein the synchronization signal comprises at least one data bit preceded by at least one clock pulse,   wherein the synchronization signal comprise a synchronous serial data signal, and   wherein the synchronization signal is detected between the presentation of images for the first and second liquid crystal shutters.