How feasible is an external box to convert std lcd tv to 3d?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How feasible is an external box to convert std lcd tv to 3d?

dolsen

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#63317 24-Jun-2010 10:52

from this post (not wanting to hijack the post)
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=106&topicid=62984

SepticSceptic:
Wouldn't be surprised if a few manufacturers bring out some kind of "black box" that allows a standard large screen to view some kind of pseudo 3D, albeit with a slightly reduced resolution as compared with a dedicated 3D screen.

I wonder how feasible this would be? If you had a box that takes in the hdmi 1.4, 3d signal, then, spits out say, a 720p or 1080p signal, at 50 or 60hz. Alternate the left and right image, put in some ir leds to synchronise glasses. You would probably need to have the facility to adjust the timing of the leds to a small extent to allow for delays in displaying the picture.
You would also have to turn off any 100 / 120 / 200hz etc settings in the tv, but, does this sound feasible?
If 24p is smooth enough to watch, each eye getting 25 / 30 images a sec should be ok as well.
Would be happy to pay a few hundred dollars for something like this, otherwise, no 3d for us.

I don't think the major manufactures would initially provide something like this (rather sell a new tv than a converter box), but, this would be quite handy.

richms

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#344868 24-Jun-2010 13:28

the 24Hz of a movie that is watchable has the image exposed most of the time, to switch like that would be at best 50% of the time exposed, would flicker too much I would expect.

Even the 3d glasses on a 100Hz CRT cad machine have noticable flicker making them not nice to wear.

Richard rich.ms

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#344876 24-Jun-2010 13:41

I was thinking of this after I posted my comments. I have read about 3D conversion on PC systems to convert 2D games to 3D on the fly. As usual, I can't find the thing I read, but a bit of googling bought up this :
http://www.truevision3d.com/ - sounds like it was, but not 100% if it was what I had read.
I would envisage a set top box that does the conversion - inbetween the source and the TV, and the STB would also broadcast the IR to the shutter glasses.

Maybe bit of an issue for those with integrated tuners, unless they can route HDMI out from the TV back into it again. And then we we will have issues of HDCP protection.

Gah !! back to composite connections I go ....

Jaxson

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#345168 25-Jun-2010 11:49

Ha I'd thought about this as well. Something like a clip on IR sender that sits on top of your TV. You'd probably need to add in some extra frames, so you're not getting the equivalent of 12 fps per eye. They have 50/100Hz type frame interpolation so TV's must be capable of it. Might even need to feed this in via the PC port to allow 60Hz input or something.

But yeah in essence I think it should be doable. Whether they'll do it though is another story, as they make more if you buy a whole new TV. So would have to be a third party product.

richms

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#345194 25-Jun-2010 12:56

would have to have some way to allow for the variance in delays that TVs have between the start of a frame coming in on the HDMI and when it actually displays it, so some form of feedback or calibration.

Also I expect that dynamic contrast etc would mess with it if there is a substantial change in brightness between the 2 eyes.

I can see too many reasons for it to not work for any sane consumer electronics company to try making it. Perhaps a PC based solution since that is already proven, but I dont know of any TVs that will take more than 60Hz inputs and actually display them as they come in.

Richard rich.ms

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#345274 25-Jun-2010 16:13

AHa ! Found the site that I was looking for. Had to determine what 3D up-conversion technology Samsung had licensed.
http://www.tridef.com/home.html and http://www.ddd.com/

Although this does mention the 2D to 3D up-conversion technology, the basis of displaying 3D still remains the same, minus the 2D conversion bit.

It shouldn't be too much of an issue doing the conversion externally to the TV - there will be trade-offs, and wont be as good as genuine 3D panel.

Probably the only stumbling block will be technology licensing - if Samsung have already licensed it for their TV's, there maybe an issue with allowing this technology to be used with other TV's. However, that is only for this particular product.

dolsen

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#518411 8-Sep-2011 09:27

Hey everyone, check this box out...

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1080p-hdmi-3d-video-converter-92210

from the comments,

You can watch 3D video on common TV monitor
and
- When playing on 2D TV, you shall use the included 3D glasses
- When playing on 3D TV, you shall use the shutter 3D glasses or polarized 3D glasses

not looking at buying it, but, it does seem similar to what I was describing...

Edit - it converts to anaglyph amber/blue video, not using external shutter glasses, so I guess, not that close to what I was describing.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

clevedon

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#518516 8-Sep-2011 12:51

http://www.3d-vip.com/#!products