Displaying 3d content on low frame-rate displays

Abstract

Displaying three-dimensional (3D) video content to low frame-rate display devices can involve sending 3D video content to a display device. One implementation includes sending a first image for viewing by a user's first eye to the display device via first video frame(s) and sending a second image for viewing by the user's second eye via second video frame(s). Additionally, the implementation includes transmitting an inter-frame blanking signal to a blanking device. The inter-frame blanking signal instructs the blanking device to blank concurrently both of the user's eyes during a transition period of the display device. During the transition period, the display device concurrently displays both a portion of the first video frame(s) and a portion of the second video frame(s).

1 . At a computer system, the computer system including one or more processors and a memory, a method of sending three-dimensional content to a display device, the method comprising the acts of:
 sending one or more first video frames that include a first image for viewing by a user's first eye to a display device;   transmitting an inter-frame blanking signal to a blanking device that instructs the blanking device to concurrently blank both of the user's first eye and the user's second eye during a display of a transition during which at least a portion of the one or more first video frames and at least a portion of the one or more second video frames are to be displayed concurrently at the display device; and   sending the one or more second video frames that include a second image for viewing by the user's second eye to the display device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inter-frame blanking signal instructs the blanking device to blank both of the user's first eye and the user's second eye during less than an entire display of the transition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 sending one or more first video frames comprises sending a plurality of interlaced first video frames, and   sending the one or more second video frames comprises sending a plurality of interlaced second video frames.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 sending one or more first video frames comprises sending a single progressive first video frame; and   sending the one or more second video frames comprises sending a single progressive second video frame.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the inter-frame blanking signal based on one or more physical characteristics of the display device, including an inter-frame overlap interval of the display device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the inter-frame overlap interval includes a time period corresponding to the display of the transition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the one or more first video frames and sending the one or more second video frames comprises sending the one or more first video frames and the one or more second video frames at a frame-rate customized to the display device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more first video frames include image data for only the first image; and   the one or more second video frames include image data for only the second image.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inter-frame blanking signal also instructs the blanking device to blank the user's first eye during individual display of the second image at the display device and to blank the user's second eye during individual display of the first image at the display device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the one or more first video frames and generating the one or more second video frames based on one or more physical characteristics of the display device, including a frame-rate and a frame size of the display device. 
     
     
         11 . At a computer system, the computer system including one or more processors and a memory, a method of tailoring and sending three-dimensional (3D) content to a display device while synchronously sending an inter-frame blanking signal to a blanking device, the method comprising the acts of:
 receiving a 3D input signal including one or more input video frames that include a first image for viewing by a user's first eye and a second image for viewing by the user's second eye;   determining frame-rate capabilities of a display device;   generating a 3D output signal for the display device, comprising one or more first output video frames including the first image and one or more second output video frames including the second image;   transmitting the 3D output signal to the display device at a frame-rate based on the determined frame-rate capabilities; and   transmitting a blanking instruction to a blanking device which directs the blanking device to blank the user's view of the display device while the display device transitions between the one or more first output video frames and the one or more second output video frames.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the blanking instruction is a first blanking instruction, the method further comprising:
 transmitting a second blanking instruction to the blanking device which directs the blanking device to blank the user's first eye view of the display device while the display device uniquely displays the one or more second output video frames; and   transmitting a third blanking instruction to the blanking device which directs the blanking device to blank the user's second eye view of the display device while the display device uniquely displays the one or more first output video frames.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining frame size capabilities of the display device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein generating the 3D output signal for the display device comprises generating the one or more first output video frames and the one or more second output video frames at a frame size based on the determined frame size capabilities. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a frame overlap interval of the display device, during which the display device transitions between the display of two or more video frames. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more input video frames comprise a single video frame. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more input video frames comprise a plurality of video frames. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining frame-rate capabilities of the display device comprises receiving frame-rate capabilities directly from the display device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining frame-rate capabilities of the display device comprises receiving manual user input. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for implementing a method for sending three-dimensional content to a display device, the computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer program product comprising one or more computer storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computer system, cause one or more processors of the computer system to perform the method, comprising the acts of:
 sending one or more first video frames that include a first image for viewing by a user's first eye to a display device;   transmitting an inter-frame blanking signal to a blanking device that instructs the blanking device to concurrently blank both of the user's first eye and the user's second eye during a display of a transition during which at least a portion of the one or more first video frames and at least a portion of the one or more second video frames are to be displayed concurrently at the display device; and   sending the one or more second video frames that include a second image for viewing by the user's second eye to the display device.