A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting fields of a field-sequential image, by transmitting the field-sequential image, with a synchronization signal, to one or more remote liquid crystal cell shutter assemblies. Each shutter assembly transmits selected fields of the field-sequential image in response to a drive signal, and includes a drive circuit for receiving the synchronization signal and generating each drive signal in response to the synchronization signal so that each drive signal has transitions synchronized with image fields. The drive circuit is capable of rapidly processing short duration synchronization signals with very low power consumption. In one embodiment, two liquid crystal cell assemblies are mounted in an eyeglass frame and used as a wireless selection device for a field-sequential stereoscopic image. Preferably, the invention includes a synchronization signal receiver having a narrow angular reception range so that the receiver is sensitive to only one synchronization signal at a time, so that the invention may be employed to view several monitors without interference between different synchronization signals from the different monitors. Preferably, the inventive shutter assemblies are capable of operating in a nonoccluding state, and each inventive shutter assembly may conveniently be switched between a state suitable for stereoscopic viewing and a non-occluding state suitable for viewing a non-stereoscopic image.
A three dimensional viewing system for use with a VCR for the three-dimensional viewing of an image having right-eye and left-eye subimages in alternating sequence reproduced by the VCR wherein the VCR generates a switching pulse which is in synchronization with the alternating sequence. The three dimensional system comprises a pair of three-dimensional viewing glasses having a pair of lenses made of a liquid crystal material through which the right-eye subimage and the left-eye subimage are viewed by regulating the on/off states of the lenses; a pulse generator for generating a driving pulse adapted to activate the liquid crystal material; and a mixing circuit for multiplexing the switching pulse and the driving pulse to produce an on/off driving signal divided into a first and a second driving signals that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other wherein each of the first and the second driving signals is used to regulate the on/off states of the lenses.
Stereoscopic on-screen surgical microscope systems are disclosed. One or more stereoscopic displays are provided which are corrected to the viewpoint of the participant or observer. A switching system which may be connected to the deflection yokes of a video monitor and a stereoscopic encoder, is employed to selectively provide up-down reversal, right-left reversal, and reversal of the images viewed by each eye. A stereoscopic video camera pod is employed to retrofit a surgical microscope to provide a field of view and magnification comparable to that obtained at the microscope eyepieces.
Wireless active eyewear includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion. A gasket and shutter assembly and a circuit board are held between the front and rear portions of the frame. The non-conductive gasket has electro-optical shutters integrally formed therewith and includes conductive plugs extending therefrom which electrically contact each of the electro-optical shutters and the circuit board. The frame includes temple arms hingedly attached thereto and an on/off switch which is actuated by opening and closing the temple arms.
The invention relates to a display arrangement for displaying a three-dimensional image to an observer. The arrangement comprises a first display element (D.sub.1) arranged at a distance from the observer and a second display element (D.sub.2) arranged in the field of view between the observer (OB) and the first display element (D.sub.1) in the immediate vicinity of the observer. To produce a complete volume image in three dimensions, the image volume is sampled during a time interval corresponding to the typical integration time of the observer. After processing, the sample information is utilized partly in the first display element (D.sub.1) for displaying a first subset of image information included in the three-dimensional image and partly in the second display element (D.sub.2) for displaying a second subset of image information included in the three-dimensional image.
This invention provides achromatic liquid crystal compound retarders, achromatic polarization switches, and achromatic shutters using the liquid crystal compound retarders. It further provides achromatic variable retardance smectic liquid crystal retarders. The compound retarder of this invention comprises a central liquid crystal retarder unit and two external passive retarders positioned in series with and on either side of the liquid crystal retarder unit. The liquid crystal retarder unit comprises either (1) a rotatable smectic liquid crystal half-wave retarder or (2) first and second liquid crystal variable retarders having retardance switchable between zero and half-wave. The external passive retarders are equal in retardance and orientation to each other. Design equations determine the retardance of the external elements and their orientation relative to the central retarder to obtain a particular achromatic retardance for the compound structure.
