3D TV Area

Stereoscopic vision, stereopsis and stereovision are different names for a single phenomenon. However, stereovision is the most suggestive of the lot. Put simply, it means ‘two different images fusing together in the brain to produce a resultant image that is a sum of the two components in terms of the information they carry.’ Derived from the Greek term stereos, the word ‘stereo’ means solid and firm. This is in an indication towards the three dimensions of the solid objects all around us. Humans have a very interesting eye structure and placement.

The two eyes are situated slightly offset from each other. This means that each eye sees the same scene in a particular way. Though the two images perceived by the two eyes are of the same scene, they are actually complements of each other. The angular shift between the two images distinguishes one from another. The brain acts intelligently and adds the two slightly varying images together to create a perception of a 3D image. This is called stereoscopic vision, or simply stereovision. Stereo vision scores over two dimensional images by including an additional dimension of depth, which makes it extremely informative as well as comfortable to the sense of vision. Bring to your mind the scene of a monkey leaping from one tree branch to another. Take the stereoscopic capability out of its biological makeup and we would have a situation where it would perceive all branches at an equal distance. In such a scenario, its each leap would be full of danger! The stereoscopic 3D concept, when considered with respect to the modern day televisions, opens up a fascinating arena for the human race. We have all been used to watching two dimensional images on our televisions; though the T.V. producing these images is witnessed in 3D.

Stereoscopy makes it a possibility for the TV to churn out three dimensional images. A television set that is able to produce and project 3D images is known as a 3D TV. Electronics companies have been actively researching the issue of creating efficient 3D TVs for the past decades, and the year 2010 has been a milestone in this journey with the launch of several 3D televisions that create 3D images with lifelike precision in your house. Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba are the major players who have tapped the powers of stereoscopic 3D technology to prototype and manufacture fully functional 3D equipment. Whereas Samsung thrives on the HDTV market, Sony also looks at the lucrative 3D gaming segment to maximize its profits and expand its market presence. Sony added a firmware update to the PS3 in October and enabled users to enjoy 3D games. 3D stereoscopic technology powers all these fascinating gadgets. The 3D TV replicates the simplistic stereovision definition we discussed in the beginning of the article for its working. The television is designed in such a way that it is able to create two slightly varying images of the same frame; one for the left eye and the other for the right eye. These images are exactly like the ones produced by the left and right eyes when they see any scene, i.e., with an angular shift.

The television must also be able to produce these complementary image streams at a very fast rate, so much so that the eyes are not able to sense the shifts. Good 3D TVs work at rates as high as 120 Hz. In extremely non technical terms, it means that the TV is able to produce 120 images in a single second, 60 each for the two eyes. Normal televisions do not work at such a high rate and this is the major difference between any ordinary television and one that is capable of showing 3D content. The next requirement for creating 3D vision from the TV is that the ‘left’ frame produced by the TV be fed to the left eye, and the ‘right’ frame to the right eye. Obviously, the television’s circuitry cannot control the eye reception of the watcher. This is where we introduce a special device, called 3D shutter glass. This is the device that ensures the proper feeding of the appropriate image streams to the eyes. Its name is derived from the fact that it shutters at the TV’s refresh rate (the rate at which the TV produces images). Thus, the left image stream is received by the left eye only, as at that moment, the glass shutters the right eye off.

Similarly, at the moment the TV produces the image stream for the right eye, the glass shutters the left eye off, ensuring that only the right eye receives the images. The two image streams superimpose in the brain and this creates the impression of the frame being visible in three dimensions, i.e., having length, breadth and depth. Shutter glasses are the more sophisticated 3D lenses available. The yester years saw researchers experiment with anaglyphic glasses (the ones that make use of passive red-cyan lens) and polarization 3D glasses (these utilize passive polarized lens). The LCD shutter glasses are the most efficient of the lot. In fact, most theatres that showcased the 3D Avatar used shutter glasses. Talking of 3D movies, stereoscopy again takes the cake as its principles are utilized in creating the 3D content in question. Two cameras are mounted side by side, separated by the same distance as that between the two eyes of human beings. Everything follows from here on. Even the massive product launches lined up for the next year let stereoscopic 3D take the center stage. This cements the indelible imprints of stereoscopy on modern television technology. The next step, the auto stereoscopic 3D television promised by Philips, aims at doing away with the need of wearing the special 3D shutter glasses. Stereoscopy has always been, and always will be at the helm of affairs in 3D technology of present and future.