Device for displaying 3d content on low frame-rate displays

Abstract

A video conversion device that converts 3D content for viewing on low frame-rate display devices can include a video signal input device for receiving a 3D content, and a video signal output device for sending an output video signal to a display device. The video conversion device can also include processing units that convert 3D content to an output signal adapted for the display device. The processing units can also generate a shuttering signal, which instructs a shuttering device to occlude a user's view of the output signal, and a transmitter for transmitting the shuttering signal. Additionally, an accessory device that enables a computing system to convert and send 3D content can include a computing system interface device, and a shuttering signal transmitter. The accessory device can also include instructions for converting a 3D video signal for a display device, and for generating a shuttering signal.

1 . A video conversion device adapted to receive a three-dimensional (3D) video signal from a media device in any of a plurality of 3D formats, convert the 3D video signal to an output video signal adapted for display on a low frame-rate destination display device, and to send the output video signal to the low frame-rate destination display device while also sending a shuttering signal that instructs a stereographic shuttering device to shutter a user's view of the low frame-rate destination display device during display of the output video signal, the video conversion device comprising:
 a video signal input interface device adapted to receive a 3D video signal;   one or more processing units programmed to:
 convert the 3D video signal to an output video signal that is adapted for display on a destination display device; and 
 generate a shuttering signal configured to instruct a stereographic shuttering device to shutter a user's view of the output video signal; 
   a video signal output interface device adapted to send the output video signal to the destination display device; a shuttering signal transmitter device adapted to transmit the shuttering signal to the stereographic shuttering device;   a decoder adapted to decode the 3D video signal from a plurality of 3D formats; and   an encoder adapted to encode left perspective image data and right perspective image data into an sequence of one or more left perspective video frames that alternate with one or more right perspective video frames.   
     
     
         2 . The video conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing units are programmed to convert the 3D video signal to the output video signal by generating a sequence of one or more first video frames that include first image data for viewing with a first eye alternating with one or more second video frames that include second image data for viewing with a second eye. 
     
     
         3 . The video conversion device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processing units are programmed to generate the alternating one or more first video frames and one or more second video frames at a frame rate adapted for the destination display device. 
     
     
         4 . The video conversion device of  claim 3 , further comprising a user input device adapted to receive user input for use in detecting physical characteristics of the destination display device. 
     
     
         5 . The video conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing units comprise one or more Field-Programmable Field Arrays (FPGAs). 
     
     
         6 . The video conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing units are programmed to generate the shuttering signal by generating at least one shuttering instruction that instructs the stereographic shuttering device to concurrently shutter both of the user's eyes during a display of an inter-frame transition, during which at least a portion of left perspective image data and at least a portion of right perspective image data will be displayed concurrently at the destination display device during a display of the output video signal. 
     
     
         7 . The video conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the video signal input interface device comprises a digital interface device, and wherein the video signal output interface device comprises an analog interface device. 
     
     
         8 . The video conversion device of  claim 7 , further comprising a digital to analog video converter, which converts digital video content to analog video content. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The video conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttering signal transmitter device comprises an infra-red (IR) transmitter device. 
     
     
         11 . An accessory device that is adapted to transmit a shuttering signal to a stereographic shuttering device, enable a computing system to convert three-dimensional (3D) content from a variety of 3D formats to a output format adapted to a display device, and send the output content to the display device, comprising:
 an interface device adapted to communicatively interface with a computing system;   a shuttering signal transmission device adapted to transmit a shuttering signal to a stereographic shuttering device; and   one or more computerized storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a method, comprising the acts of:
 converting a 3D video signal to a format adapted for display on a destination display device; 
 generating the shuttering signal, which includes at least one shuttering instruction instructing the stereographic shuttering device to shutter at least one inter-frame transition between first eye 3D content and second eye 3D content from a user's view; and 
 instructing the shuttering signal transmission device to send the shuttering signal to the stereographic shuttering device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are included in the accessory device. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors comprise one or more software-programmable processors. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the interface device comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. 
     
     
         15 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the accessory device is contained within a housing that is sized and configured to be held in a user's hand. 
     
     
         16 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the shuttering signal transmission device comprises an infra-red (IR) transmission device. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory device of  claim 11 , wherein the shuttering signal transmission device comprises a Bluetooth transmission device. 
     
     
         18 . One or more computer storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to implement a method of configuring the computer system to convert three-dimensional (3D) video content for a low frame-rate display device, the method comprising the acts of:
 converting an input 3D video signal to an output video signal which includes an alternating sequence of one or more first video frames that include a first image for viewing by a first eye and one or more second video frames that include a second image for viewing by a second eye; and   generating an inter-frame shuttering signal configured to instruct a shuttering device to concurrently shutter both the first eye and the second eye during a display of an inter-frame 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 displayed concurrently.   
     
     
         19 . The computer storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining an optimal frame rate for the low frame-rate display device; and   generating or transmitting the output video signal to the low frame-rate display device at the determined optimal frame rate.   
     
     
         20 . The computer storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting the output video signal to the low frame-rate display device; and   transmitting the inter-frame shuttering signal to the shuttering device.