GB2343315A

GB2343315A - Three dimensional television

Info

Publication number: GB2343315A
Application number: GB9816746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Nicol
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-01
Filing date: 1998-08-01
Publication date: 2000-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-01
Also published as: GB2343315A8; GB9816746D0; GB2343315B

Abstract

A tnree-dimensional television system including a stereo television camera and a two-channel link to a stereo-visual image-producing means. The image being viewed through polarized spectacles.

Description

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION Field of this Invention THIS PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO A MEANS FOR THE RECORDING OF THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION PICTURES AND SOUND AND A MEANS OF REPLAYING SUCH PICTURES AND SOUND TO EITHER INDIVIDUAL VIEWERS OR GROUP AUDIENCES.

THIS PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION FOR EITHER DOMESTIC (I. E. NON-BROADCAST) PURPOSES OR BROADCAST PURPOSES.

Background to this Invention -Already in the'public domain'is apparatus for the recording of two video and audio channels simultaneously on one twin-track video tape; -already in the'public domain'are Virtual Reality headsets to replay left and right video and audio signals; -similarly, facilities already exist for three dimensional projection of cinematographic film-using polarisation-on to a curved metallic screen; -the launch, later this year, of digital television broadcasts should make available the additional channels necessary to accommodate the broadcast version of this invention.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION I Domestic (i. e. non-broadcast) Version (i) The first aspect of this invention provides for a domestic camcorder to be equipped with a plurality of lenses which would be spaced apart an equivalent distance to that of the human eyes. One lens would capture the image or objects within sight of the left eye and the other, the image or objects within sight of the right eye. The said images would be recorded separately, but would be synchronised to each other on a twin-track video tape within the said camcorder. Stereo sound would be recorded as it is at present.

(ii) The second aspect of this invention provides for a means to replay images to individual viewers. This aspect comprises a virtual reality headset with two screens which is linked to the twin-track video tape within the said camcorder (or within a separate twin-track video cassette recorder). In this case, the left view would be relayed from the said twin-track video tape to the left screen and the right view to the right screen. Stereo sound would be relayed to the left and right headphones incorporated in the virtual reality headset.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION N (iii) The third aspect of this invention provides a means to project images on to a curved metallic screen for viewing by group audiences. This aspect comprises a video projector equipped with a plurality of lenses which is linked to the twin-track video tape within the said camcorder (or within a separate twin-track video cassette recorder).

(mu) In this aspect of the invention, Polaroid @ filters (one vertical, the other horizontal) would be used on the lenses of the projector and the audience pr-i) would wear Polaroid. spectacles with matching polarisation. Stereo sound would be provided by use of current sound technology.

II Broadcast Yersion : (i) The first aspect of this invention provides for a broadcast-standard television camera to be equipped with a plurality of lenses which would be spaced apart an equivalent distance to that of the human eyes. One lens would capture the image or objects within sight of the left eye and the other, the image or objects within sight of the right eye. The said images would then be broadcast separately (either by satellite, cable or terrestrial means) using two discrete channels-and would be received by a digital television receiver on two separate channels. Stereo sound would be recorded and broadcast as it is at present.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION (ii) The second aspect of this invention provides a means to replay broadcast images to individual viewers. This aspect comprises a virtual reality headset with two screens which is linked to the digital television receiver.

In this case, the separate left and right views broadcast on two discrete channels would be relayed to the left and right screens of the virtual reality headset. Stereo sound would be relayed to the left and right headphones in the headset.

(iii) The third aspect of this invention provides a means to project broadcast images on to a curved metallic screen for viewing by group audiences. This aspect comprises a video projector equipped with a plurality of lenses which is linked to the digital television receiver.

In this case, the separate left and right views broadcast on two discrete channels would be projected by the left and right lenses of the video projector to overlap on a curved metallic screen. In this aspect of the o) invention, Polaroidfilters (one vertical, the other horizontal) would be used on the lenses of the video projector and the audience would wear Polaroid (fun) spectacles with matching polarisation. Stereo sound would be provided by use of current sound technology.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION IILSchematic Diagrams A specific embodiment of this invention will now be more particularly described by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1-is a schematic diagram illustrating the Domestic (i. e. non-broadcast) version of this invention.

Figure 2-is a schematic diagram illustrating the Broadcast version of this invention.

Figure 3-is a schematic diagram, illustrating the alternative version of this invention.

IY Alternative : (i) The first aspect of this alternative version of the invention provides for a camcorder with one conventional lens plus a special adaptor equipped with a plurality of lenses which would be spaced apart an equivalent distance to that of the human eyes.

One lens of the adaptor-which would be attached in front of the camera lens-would capture the image or objects within sight of the left eye and the other, the image or objects within sight of the right eye.

The said images would be recorder separately, but would be synchronised to each other on a twin-track video tape within the said camcorder. Stereo sound would be recorded as it is at present.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION (ii) The second aspect of this alternative version of the invention provides a means to replay images to individual viewers. This aspect comprises a virtual reality headset and is identical to the methodology used in I (ii) above.

(iii) The third aspect of this alternative version of the invention provides a means to project images on to a curved metallic screen for viewing by group audiences. This aspect comprises a video projector with one conventional lens plus a special adaptor equipped with a plurality of lenses which is linked to the twin-track video tape within the said camcorder.

In this case, the separate left and right views would be picked up and projected by the left and right lenses of the special adaptor-which would be attached in front of the video projector lens.

C) 2T-) In this aspect of the invention, Polaroidfilters (one vertical, the other horizontal) would be used on the lenses of the special adaptor and the audience would wear Polaroid spectacles with matching polarisation.

Stereo sound would be provided by use of current sound technology.

According to Figure 1, View la, there is shown a schematic layout of the apparatus appropriate to the domestic or non-broadcast version of three dimensional television.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION A recording camera 10 (camcorder) with a plurality of lenses, one which captures the left view and one which captures the right view and including a plurality of microphones for stereo-sound is linked to a twin-track video tape recorder 11 and twin-track tape 12. Figure 1, View lb illustrates schematically the twin-track video tape recorder 11 and twin-track tape 12 linked to a virtual reality headset 13.

Figure 1, View Ic shows schematically the twin-track tape 12 linked to a video projector 14 which projects the images on to a curved metallic screen 15 which images are viewed by persons wearing spectacles 16 which have Polaroid properties.

Referring now to Figure 2, View 2a, there is shown schematically, a broadcast three dimensional television system comprising a conventional broadcast standard television camera 17 equipped with a plurality of lenses which would transmit through broadcast aerial 18 to a digital television receiver 19 using a plurality of discrete channels.

Figure 2, View 2b, shows schematically the digital television receiver 19 linked to an encoder tuner 20 which relays the images and stereo sound to the virtual reality headset 21.

Figure 2, View 2c shows schematically the digital television receiver 19 linked via an encoder tuner 20 to a twin-lens television projector 14 which projects the images on to a curved metallic screen 15 which images would be Tam viewed by persons wearing Polaroid spectacles 16 with matching polarisation.

THREE DIMENSIONAL TELEVISION Reference is now made to Figure 3, View 3a which illustrates schematically an alternative three dimensional television arrangement comprising a recording camera (camcorder) equipped with an adaptor 23 having a plurality of lenses which are matched to the left and right eyes of the viewer. The images and sound are transferred to a twin-track video tape recorder 11 within the camcorder and the twin-track tape 12.

Figure 3, View 3b shows schematically the twin-twin track tape 12 being relayed direct to a virtual reality headset 21, including sound.

Figure 3, View 3c shows schematically the twin-track video tape 12 linked to a television projector 14 equipped with an adaptor 23, having a plurality of lenses, which projects images on to a curved metallic screen 15 which are viewed by persons wearing Polaroid (@@@) spectacles 16 with matching polarisation.

It should be stressed herein that the apparatus included in this specification is mainly already in the public domain and no claim is entered for originality.

The inventiveness lies in the adaptation of the various items of apparatus to produce three dimensional television.

Claims

Claims l. A three-dimensional television system including a television camera having first and second imaging lens systems spaced apart by a distance, equivalent to that of the human eyes, a first recording channel adapted to record signals from the left hand imaging lens system, a second recording channel adapted to record signals from the right-hand imaging lens system and means for recording corresponding sound signals, the first and second image recording channels and means for recording sound signals all being synchronised, and an image-reproducing means for utilising the synchronised signals from the first and second recording channels of the television camera to present to a viewer left and right-hand images of a scene viewed by the television camera so as to produce the illusion of a three dimensional image of the said scene.
2. A television system according to Claim 1 wherein the image-reproducing means is remote from the television camera and there is included an image signal transmission link between the camera and the image-reproducing means adapted to convey the synchronised left and right-hand channel images and sound signals from the camera to the image-reproducing means.
3. A television system according to claim I or Claim 2 wherein the image reproducing means is adapted also to reproduce the sound signals from the television camera.
4. A television system according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the image reproducing means comprises a virtual reality head-set having two screens, the left-hand one of which is linked to the left-hand image recording channel of the television camera and vice versa.
5. A television system according to Claim 4 wherein the virtual reality head-set includes left and right-hand sound-reproducing means.
6. A television system according to any of Claims I to 3 wherein the image reproducing means comprises a projector adapted to project two orthogonally polarised image-forming beams of light corresponding to the left-hand and right hand image signals produced by the television camera for viewing through correspondingly polarised spectacles.
7. A television system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.