3D Glasses

Abstract

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

1 . A system for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters, comprising:
 a left shutter controller operably coupled to the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, the left shutter controller comprising:
 a first digitally controlled analog switch comprising a plurality of control inputs for controlling a mode of operation of the first digitally controlled analog switch and outputs for applying voltages across the left liquid crystal viewing shutter as a function of the mode of operation of the first digitally controlled analog switch; 
   a right shutter controller operably coupled to the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, the right shutter controller comprising:
 a second digitally controlled analog switch comprising a plurality of control inputs for controlling a mode of operation of the second digitally controlled analog switch and outputs for applying voltages across the right liquid crystal viewing shutter as a function of the mode of operation of the second digitally controlled analog switch; 
   a charge pump operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for amplifying an output voltage of a battery power supply to provide control input signals to each of the left and right shutter controllers, the charge pump comprising:
 a transistor; 
 a schottky diode operably coupled to the transistor; 
 an inductor operably coupled to the transistor and the schottky diode; and 
 a zener diode operably coupled to the schottky diode; 
   a CPU operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for controlling the operation of the left and right shutter controllers, the CPU comprising:
 a microcontroller comprising a plurality of inputs representative of sensed operating conditions of the 3D glasses, a plurality of outputs for controlling the mode of operation of the microcontrollers of the left and right shutter controllers, and a plurality of outputs for controlling the operation of the charge pump; 
   a signal sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing signals transmitted to the 3D glasses, the signal sensor comprising:
 a photodiode for sensing the transmission of signal to the 3D glasses and generating an input signal for transmission to the CPU; and 
 signal conditioning operably coupled to the photodiode for conditioning the input signals generated by the photodiode, the signal conditioning comprising:
 a plurality of operational amplifiers operably coupled to the photodiode; 
 a plurality of resistors operably coupled to the operational amplifiers; 
 a plurality of capacitors operably coupled to the operational amplifiers; and 
 a plurality of schottky diodes operably coupled to the operational amplifiers; and 
 
   a battery sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing the operational state of the battery power supply and providing the operational state of the battery power supply to the CPU.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and close the right liquid crystal viewing shutter by causing the left shutter controller to apply no voltage followed by a first voltage level across the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and causing the right shutter controller to apply a second voltage level across the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the magnitude of the first voltage level is less than the magnitude of the second voltage level, and   open the right liquid crystal viewing shutter and close the left viewing shutter by causing the right shutter controller to apply no voltage followed by a third voltage level across the right liquid crystal viewing shutter and causing the left shutter controller to apply a fourth voltage level across the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the magnitude of the third voltage level is less than the magnitude of the fourth voltage level.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for a first period of time,   close the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and open the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a left eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a right eye of the viewer,   sense a synchronization signal corresponding to the image presented to the viewer, and   use the sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter;   wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval;   wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, and   wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the right liquid crystal viewing shutter.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for a first period of time,   close the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and open the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a left eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a right eye of a viewer,   activate the signal sensor at a first predetermined time interval,   determine if the signal sensor is receiving a valid signal from a signal transmitter,   deactivate the signal sensor if the signal sensor does not receive the valid signal from the signal transmitter within a second period of time, and   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at an interval corresponding to the valid signal if the signal sensor does receive the valid signal from the signal transmitter;   wherein both of the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters remain either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from the signal transmitter.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 sense a synchronization signal, and   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to the sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for a first period of time,   close the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and open the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for a second period of time,   wherein the first period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a left eye of a viewer and the second period of time corresponds to the presentation of an image for a right eye of the viewer,   sensing an amount of power remaining in the battery power supply that provides power to the 3D viewing glasses,   determining whether the amount of power remaining in the battery is sufficient for the pair of three dimensional viewing glasses to operate longer than a predetermined time, and   indicating a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than the predetermined time;   wherein indicating a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than the predetermined time comprises opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter; and   operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         8 . A system for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters, comprising:
 a left shutter controller operably coupled to the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, the left shutter controller;   a right shutter controller operably coupled to the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, the right shutter controller;   a charge pump operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for amplifying an output voltage of a battery power supply to provide control input signals to each of the left and right shutter controllers;   a CPU operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for controlling the operation of the left and right shutter controllers;   a signal sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing signals transmitted to the 3D glasses; and   a battery sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing the operational state of the battery power supply and providing the operational state of the battery power supply to the CPU;   wherein the CPU is adapted to:   open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and close the right liquid crystal viewing shutter by causing the left shutter controller to apply no voltage followed by a first voltage level across the left liquid crystal viewing shutter and causing the right shutter controller to apply a second voltage level across the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the magnitude of the first voltage level is less than the magnitude of the second voltage level, and   open the right liquid crystal viewing shutter and close the left viewing shutter by causing the right shutter controller to apply no voltage followed by a third voltage level across the right liquid crystal viewing shutter and causing the left shutter controller to apply a fourth voltage level across the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the magnitude of the third voltage level is less than the magnitude of the fourth voltage level.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CPU is further adapted to do at least one of the following:
 use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal, viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         10 . A system for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters, comprising:
 a left shutter controller operably coupled to the left liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the left liquid crystal viewing shutter, the left shutter controller;   a right shutter controller operably coupled to the right liquid crystal viewing shutter for controlling the operation of the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, the right shutter controller;   a charge pump operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for amplifying an output voltage of a battery power supply to provide control input signals to each of the left and right shutter controllers;   a CPU operably coupled to the left and right shutter controllers for controlling the operation of the left and right shutter controllers;   a signal sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing signals transmitted to the 3D glasses; and   a battery sensor operably coupled to the CPU for sensing the operational state of the battery power supply and providing the operational state of the battery power supply to the CPU;   wherein the CPU is adapted to do at least two of the following:   open the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters by applying no voltage followed by a catch voltage to the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters;   use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the CPU is adapted to do at least three of the following:
 open the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters by applying no voltage followed by a catch voltage to the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters;   use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the CPU is adapted to do at least four of the following:
 open the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters by applying no voltage followed by a catch voltage to the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters;   use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the CPU is adapted to do at least five of the following:
 open the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters by applying no voltage followed by a catch voltage to the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters;   use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the CPU is adapted to:
 open the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters by applying no voltage followed by a catch voltage to the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutters;   use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CPU is further adapted to do at least two of the following:
 use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CPU is further adapted to do at least three of the following:
 use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CPU is further adapted to do at least four of the following:
 use a sensed synchronization signal to determine when to open the left liquid crystal viewing shutter or the right liquid crystal viewing shutter, wherein the sensed synchronization signal comprises a series of pulses at a predetermined interval, wherein a first predetermined number of pulses opens the first liquid crystal viewing shutter, and wherein a second predetermined number of pulses opens the second liquid crystal viewing shutter;   hold the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters either open or closed until the signal sensor receives a valid signal from a signal transmitter;   open and close the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters in a pattern corresponding to a sensed synchronization signal only after receiving the synchronization signal after a predetermined time period;   indicate a low-battery signal to a viewer if the three dimensional viewing glasses will not operate longer than a predetermined time using the battery power supply by opening and closing the left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters at a predetermined rate; and   operate the charge pump to accumulate electrical potential when the CPU changes the operational state of either the left or right liquid crystal viewing shutter and operate the charge pump to stop accumulating electrical potential when the level of the electrical potential equals a predetermined level.