Free wheeling mode of operation for 3d glasses

Abstract

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

1 . A method for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right viewing shutters, comprising:
 determining a presence or absence of a control signal for controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters generated by a display device;   if the control signal is present, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using the control signal; and   if the control signal is absent, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using another control signal not generated by the display device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a projector for a cinema. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a television. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal comprises a signal for synchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other control signal is generated by the 3D glasses. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other control signal is generated by a transmitter operably coupled to the display device. 
     
     
         7 . A system for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right viewing shutters, comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a control signal for controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters from a display device; and   a controller operably coupled to the receiver and the left and right viewing shutters;   wherein the controller is adapted to:   determine a presence or absence of the control signal for controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters;   if the control signal is present, then control the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using the control signal; and   if the control signal is absent, then control the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using another control signal not generated by the display device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the display device comprises a projector for a cinema. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the display device comprises a television. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control signal comprises a signal for synchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the receiver and the controller are housed within the 3D glasses. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the receiver and the controller are housed within a transmitter operably coupled to the display device. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program installed in a machine readable medium for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right viewing shutters, comprising:
 determining a presence or absence of a control signal for controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters generated by a display device;   if the control signal is present, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using the control signal; and   if the control signal is absent, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using another control signal not generated by the display device.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program of  claim 13 , wherein the display device comprises a projector for a cinema. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program of  claim 13 , wherein the display device comprises a television. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 13 , wherein the control signal comprises a signal for synchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device. 
     
     
         17 . A system for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right viewing shutters, comprising:
 means for determining a presence or absence of a control signal for controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters generated by a display device;   means for if the control signal is present, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using the control signal; and   means for if the control signal is absent, then controlling the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using another control signal not generated by the display device.   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right viewing shutters, comprising:
 synchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with a display of images on a display device; and   resynchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein resynchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device comprises:
 resynchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device after a prior synchronizing of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 prior to resynchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters with the display of images on the display device, synchronizing the operation of the left and right viewing shutters using a synchronization signal not generated by the display device.   
     
     
         21 . A method for transmitting a signal to shutter glasses, the method comprising: providing a command sequence having shutter timing information for opening a left shutter of the shutter glasses, closing the left shutter of the shutter glasses, opening a right shutter of the shutter glasses, and closing the right shutter of the shutter glasses; emitting a signal of the command sequence. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising offsetting the signal of the command sequence from a shutter glasses switching point. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein offsetting the signal further comprises separating by a distance in time a command of the command sequence and an action associated with the command. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the command sequence further comprises the command sequence indicating which of the left shutter and the right shutter to open or close and when to open or close that shutter. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the command sequence further comprises the command sequence having instructions for relating timing of a display action with timing of at least one of opening the left shutter of the shutter glasses, closing the left shutter of the shutter glasses, opening the right shutter of the shutter glasses, and closing the right shutter of the shutter glasses. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the command sequence further comprises the command sequence having shutter action sequence information. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the command sequence further comprises the command sequence having shutter action duration information. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the command sequence further comprises the command sequence having shutter glasses mode information. 
     
     
         29 . A method for processing a signal of a command sequence, the method comprising: receiving a signal of a command of the command sequence, the command having shutter timing information for one of opening a left shutter of the shutter glasses, closing the left shutter of the shutter glasses, opening a right shutter of the shutter glasses, and closing the right shutter of the shutter glasses; signal processing the signal of the command to determine logic 1's in the command; using the command to initialize an action including one of opening the left shutter of the shutter glasses, closing the left shutter of the shutter glasses, opening the right shutter of the shutter glasses, and closing the right shutter of the shutter glasses. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the signal processing comprises one or more of amplifying the signal, filtering the signal, and level detecting the signal. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein using the command further comprises performing the action associated with the command after a distance in time passes from receiving the signal of the command. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein using the command further comprises determining from the command sequence which of the left shutter and the right shutter to open or close and when to open or close that shutter. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein using the command further comprises relating timing of a display action with timing of at least one of opening the left shutter of the shutter glasses, closing the left shutter of the shutter glasses, opening the right shutter of the shutter glasses, and closing the right shutter of the shutter glasses.