By Eliezer Ganon Think Tank, Futurist & Publisher
How do 3D Displays Work?
The technology to view in 3D has been around for many years and stereoscopic viewing (3D viewing) has been enjoyed since the 1840's, with the invention of the stereoscope. Charles Wheatstone presented his theory of stereopsis to the Royal Society in 1838, proving that if two images were presented, one to each eye, whereby the perspective difference was the same as that normally viewed by each eye independently, then the brain would fuse these two images and interpret this as an image with visual depth. This spawned 3D viewing of photographs, whereby dual photographs with each lens offset, simulating the human eye position, and viewing the two images together in hand-held devices called stereoscopes. Figure 1 - The human brain receives slightly different images from each eye. (Source: Vision3D)
The technology evolved with computer graphics advances and stereoscopic viewing using a high refresh rate CRT monitor and 3D glasses, became a high-end viewing tool for those scientists involved in creating maps and synthesizing drugs. The technology required that the computer generate two different perspective images, as if each image were viewed by each eye separately. Presenting these two images on the screen, required high-end graphics systems, in order to present each image separately. This is typically done by sending each image to the CRT sequentially, and then having the user wear glasses, such that the 'wrong' eye is blocked from seeing an image. In this way, the left eye sees a left eye image and the right eye sees a right eye image. The brain does the rest! In order to get satisfactory 3D viewing, it is necessary to use high quality glasses, and a high refresh rate CRT - until NOW!
Sharp 3D 'Glasses Free" Display Technology
Realizing that the glasses were an impediment to adoption, Sharp research moved towards allowing realistic 3D viewing without the need for 3D glasses, otherwise known as autostereoscopic displays.
With the Sharp 3D display, two images are displayed concurrently. This images have the same disparity as if seeing naturally and the display uses revolutionary switchable parallax barrier technology to ensure each eye only sees one of these images.
The parallax barrier (see below) is a series of vertical slots which are carefully designed to focus pixels in different directions:
By ensuring the "Viewing Diamonds" are set at the same separation as the human eyes (typically 2-1/2 inches) then the image separation is performed and the right eye sees only the right eye image and the left eye sees only the left eye image.
In actuality, the Sharp Parallax Barrier is placed between the LCD and the backlight and can be switched on and off. When off, the LCD acts normally and the screen looks no different to a normal LCD Monitor.
When the Barrier is switched on then the separation occurs and the 3D viewing is activated.
The switching on/off of the parallax barrier can be performed manually (by pressing the 3D button) or by software, so that when the software needs to display in 3D, the screen automatically switches.
Sharp's 3D display gives you this effect without glasses and objects appear to leap out of the screen.
NOTE: The technology is not that clever that it will automatically change 2D images into 3D!!! That has to be done by appropriate software!
Sharp delivers two programs for 3D Display users.
SmartStereo Photo Editor
SmartStereo Photo Editor allows you to take photographs with your digital camera and then display them on the Sharp 3D Display. Simply take two photographs such that the second one is taken with the camera moved slightly to one side of the original one and SmartStereo Photo Editor will blend these two photgraphs to make them appear to pop out of the screen.
Features:
SmartStereo Photo Editor allows you to use your normal digital camera to take 3D photographs. You do this by taking two photographs (as if each photo represents what each eye would see). Simply take one photo then move the camera to the left or right and then take the second photo. When you take the second photo, try to keep the camera on the same horizontal plane (just like your eyes) and also point the camera parallel to the first one (try not to point the camera inwards towards the object you are photographing). Also don't move the camera sideways too far! But don't worry if you do make these errors, SmartStereo Photo Editor realizes that you can't be exact and will automatically correct these discrepancies. The images below show you how to take your photographs.
SmartStereo Photo Editor automatically takes care of camera misalignment. You can then select the area you want to view in 3D When you are done, the images will be saved as a stereo pair for viewing using SmartStereo Slide Show.
SmartStereo Slide Show
SmartStereo Slide Show is a 3D viewer that takes stereo pair image files and displays them in 3D on the Sharp 3D Display. The stereo pair images files may be created in SmartStereo Photo Editor or by any other software program which output images as side-by-side stereo pairs (left eye and right eye image are side-by-side within a single image file, jpeg, gif, tiff, etc.)
SmartStereo Slide Show couldn't be simpler to use! Simply open the folder containing the images you want to view, right click on the selected image (or images) and then select 3D slide show. Then view your 3D images in 3D on the Sharp 3D Display.
For additional information visit www.sharp3d.com