By David Pierce on April 17, 2012 04:10 pm

3D’s still a bit of a novelty, and hasn’t really caught on in a mainstream way outside of movie theaters and amusement parks. Dolby’s showing off a prototype 3D display at NAB that might change that, though. We got a chance to watch some footage on the glasses-free 3D TV at NAB, and everything we saw from Captain America to The Art of Flight looked fantastic. Viewing angles were particularly impressive: even from far off to the side, the 3D effect was still present, and the picture was so crisp and clean that it almost took a minute to realize we were looking at 3D footage.

Dolby is working with Philips to manufacture the displays, which use a sheet of undulated plastic to deflect pixels in various directions — there are 26 different viewing angles in all. Because the image is being sent in so many directions at once, the display has to be incredibly high-resolution to look good (the prototype was a quad-HD TV), which is why Dolby reps said the same impressive viewing angles are going to be harder to achieve on smaller devices like smartphones. The companies are waiting for the higher-res displays to be more mainstream, and less expensive.

 It sounds like that’s about the only obstacle, though, and based on what we saw the technology is very much ready for public consumption. Dolby was also showing its 3D tech on a handful of smartphones and tablets, along with Dolby software that allows you to control the depth of the 3D effect; what looks good from ten feet away can overwhelm your eyes from one foot while you hold your phone, and in the company’s demo being able to scale back the effect made a huge difference in comfort.

 The display we saw at NAB is a ways off from consumer availability (though “2013″ was mentioned a couple of times), but even as it stands today, it’s among the first TVs we’d want to gather around with our friends and watch a movie in 3D.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB – News) and Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) today unveiled Dolby^® 3D, a 3D HD format and suite of technologies designed to deliver full HD 3D content to 3D-enabled devices, including glasses-free displays. Dolby 3D is being demonstrated at the NAB Show^® (April 16–19, 2012) at booth SU1212.

The two leading companies have undertaken the joint project to improve the 3D viewing experience on displays of all sizes, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and televisions. Dolby 3D is a complete system designed to work throughout the chain to deliver clear glasses-free 3D content that operates over existing distribution systems.

“Philips^® has a long history in 3D technologies and video innovation, and Dolby has a proven track record of enabling technologies to enhance entertainment experiences. Together, we identified a business need where we could bring a unique offering to the market that improves the end-user experience,” said Ruud Peters, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Philips. “By unveiling Dolby 3D, we introduce a 3D HD format capable of powering glasses-free 3D displays of any size, enabling broadcasters, operators, content aggregators, and device manufacturers to deliver HD-quality 3D on any device.”

Ramzi Haidamus, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Dolby Laboratories, stated: “We believe that Dolby 3D can help drive the adoption of 3D—creating a comfortable, customizable, truly enjoyable glasses-free 3D viewing experience while enhancing 3D display performance. Armed with the innovative glasses-free 3D display technology from Philips, based on years of extensive research and development in the field, we plan to bring the same philosophy to 3D that Dolby has brought to the audio space—integrating our technologies and strengths throughout the entire content chain. Consumers will know that when they see Dolby 3D content on a 3D-enabled device, it will look its very best.”

“Dolby and Philips are committed to taking the 3D experience to the next level and delivering a high-quality solution for all 3D display devices, including today’s glasses-based devices and tomorrow’s glasses-free displays. Working on cutting-edge technology with two leading companies is very exciting, and I’m thrilled to lead this unique joint effort,” said Guido Voltolina, General Manager of the joint project.

The focus of the project will be to work with original equipment manufacturers of display panels and entertainment devices to enhance the performance of 3D consumer devices to make viewing of 3D content just as convenient and appealing as viewing of 2D content on a high-quality screen is today. This project is uniquely positioned to enable the industry’s adoption of 3D by working on standardization and licensing of the technology.

The Dolby 3D experience will seamlessly integrate into the use cases and viewing patterns of consumers on the go and in the home, making the use of 3D devices an enjoyable daily experience. Content owners and broadcast operators have the unique opportunity to differentiate their offerings by encoding 3D titles in Dolby 3D for maximum fidelity on Dolby 3D enabled devices while maintaining compatibility with existing 3D products. The system will enable a 3D HD format, including tools for 3D content creation and real-time 3D content conversion.

Press Contacts

• Dolby press contact: Daniel Schneider, Public Relations Manager, Dolby Laboratories, +1-415-558-0738, daniel.schneider@dolby.com

• Philips press contact: Bjorn Teuwsen, Director of Communications, Philips Intellectual Property & Standards, +31-40-27-40588, bjorn.teuwsen@philips.com

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB – News) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity.” Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 122,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.6 billion in 2011, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Philips is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. NAB Show is a registered trademark of the National Association of Broadcasters. S12/25548 DLB-G

Dolby Laboratories
Daniel Schneider, +1-415-558-0738
daniel.schneider@dolby.com

or

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards
Bjorn Teuwsen, +31-40-27-40588
bjorn.teuwsen@philips.com

For Immediate release – 03/27/2012

The lack of content for glasses-free 3D screens solved by Stereobank and Dimenco
Stereobank, the major stereoscopic 3D stock footage library, and Dimenco, the leading technology
company in stereoscopic content conversion for auto-stereoscopic (glasses-free 3D) screens, announced today that they are joining forces to make the largest 3D content library finally available for the Glassesfree 3D business.

3D Content is not an issue anymore

Paris, March the 26th – Stereobankʼs vast library of 3D stock footage is now available for Autostereoscopic 3D screens (no glasses needed) thanks to Dimenco’s conversion services. It opens a wide range of new applications for the Glasses-free 3D Digital signage business. The comprehensive library includes a wide range of 3D footage about food, sport, lifestyle, wildlife, aerials, exotic world locations, slow-motion, … available without delay. ʻWatching this footage on a 3D screen without glasses was like looking at the world through a window. Stereobank’s 3D footage is definitely adapted to any 3D screen technology.’ Morgan David de Lossy from Stereobank.

Stereoscopic to Autostereoscopic conversion

Auto-stereoscopic displays, in comparison with glasses based displays (2-views), require multiple viewing points to create a non-glasses based 3D experience. To realize this, Dimenco has developed proprietary software tools to extract from stereo accurate depth-maps. These can be either sent to auto-stereoscopic displays that have integrated the Dimenco Rendering Core (2D-plus-Z) or render multiple viewing points (5-28) and make this content available to any auto-stereoscopic display available in the market.

Dimenco, as the leading European content conversion company (2D to Stereo and Stereo to Auto-
Stereo), concludes that the best result shown on an auto-stereoscopic display is created by using native stereo-content converted to auto-stereoscopic content. “Our unique partnership with Stereobank makes their extensive library of 3D content available for any auto-stereoscopic display, providing the market a sensible and cost-effective way to provide an immersive 3D experience without the need to wear special glasses.” says Maarten Tobias CEO of Dimenco.

Specific 3D footage for Digital Signage campaigns


Finding the right creative 3D footage for a stunning Digital Signage campaign is now easier than ever.
Dimenco and Stereobank’s experts guide customers through a wide range of 3D clips with a spectrum of 3D specs able to fill any need. From HD to 4k at frame rates ranging from 23.98 fps to 2000fps and the possibility to shift parallaxes from existing content clips to playback on any 3D display size.

Experience glasses-free 3D screens at NAB 2012

Meet Stereobank’s team on booth L108 at the NAB show in Las Vegas 16 -19 april 2012, watch the
coolest 3D footage without glasses on one of the best Autostereoscopic displays of the market.

About Stereobank

Stereobank, founded in 2010, is a stock footage marketplace dedicated to stereoscopic 3D video. the
founders, experts in 3D and with complementary profiles are Morgan David de Lossy, a successful stock producer, and Benjamin Carlu, an engineer with expertise in online video processing. Stereobank started as an exchange platform for Stereoscopic 3D rushes between professional stereographers. In less than a year the company became the major 3D stock footage library fulfilling the recent need of the media industry for high quality 3D content.
More information can be found at: www.stereobank.com

About Dimenco

Dimenco is an independent company, which was founded in 2010 by a group of ambitious people that all share the same passion for 3D technology. The company offers end-to-end 3D solutions which includes 3D displays, components, rendering solutions, software and 3D post-production services, including content conversion and depth enhancement. Furthermore, they provide consultancy services to several leading industry players. Dimenco acquired a 3D technology license from Philips, enabling them to commercially use and further develop this technology.
More information can be found at: www.dimenco.eu

www.stereobank.com
For press information: pr@stereobank.com
For sales information: sales@stereobank.com

download press release

Dimenco recently installed high-end LCD equipment to increase its efforts in the field of LC switchable (2D/3D) displays. This specific equipment enables Dimenco to make switchable prototypes and small series up to 42” inch. Dimenco is proud to mention that it will scale up its research and development capacity focused around this technology.

Dimenco recently acquired a custom made diamond turning lathe for making copper moulds. This enables Dimenco to offer prototyping of lenticular displays completely in-house, against competitive pricing and quick turn-around time. The unique feature of this specific piece of equipment is that is uses a copper plate which is attached to a drum. The optical structure is carved with a chisel into the copper mould, which can be removed from the drum and attached to an aluminum carrier plate. The maximum size of the copper master is 1580x1250mm. After the copper master is removed it can be used for plate replication to finalize the prototype lens.

The 110-inch 3D videowall grabs people’s attention with stunning 3D multimedia presentations. It is ideally suited for high impact messaging in public spaces at events, reception areas and theme parks. Thanks to its big size and immersive 3D effects, the viewer becomes part of the 3D experience.

The 3D videowall is a large 110-inch diagonal multi-screen 3D display wall in a 2×2 multi-display set-up based on 4x 55-inch ultra-slim bezel 3D Displays. Each display has FHD (1920×1080) resolution, so the total resolution is 3840×2160 pixels.

Although the 3D videowall at ISE is a first demonstrator, it will be available in a modular configuration. A 3D videowall comes as a complete end-to-end solution including 3D displays, mounting rig, play-out hardware and software, control software and dedicated 3D content creation tools.

For the 2×2 set-up play-out is being done by a single computer that addresses the videowall as a mosaic of in total QFHD resolution. For a larger set-up a different set-up might be chosen, e.g. with synchronized play-out hardware for each display.

For more information, please contact Dimenco Displays at info@dimencodisplays.com.

  Dimenco enables manufacturers for non-glasses 3D displays
 

The nowadays available, mostly professional used, glasses free 3D displays heavily depend on specially prepared content. Since an auto stereoscopic display exhibits multiple views, content processing is an inseparable part of auto stereoscopic technology. Because processing for auto stereoscopic displays is new in the domain of image processing, the amount of available solutions in the market is limited.

Today Dimenco announces the offering of the Trisendo development board including IP cores to the market. The board can be equipped with two versions of the IP Core. The first core is targeted for broadcast applications based on stereo input format; the second core is based on 2D+Z input content and benefits the signage and professional market.

“A manufacturer is looking for the best image quality and wants to be in full control of it, however starting from scratch is infeasible and would always lead to lagging behind competition, therefore we see great interest in this configurable development board where 7 years of development is bundled together.” says Pieter de Jong head of development of Dimenco.

During CES 2012 Dimenco has launched the stereo conversion, which created much enthusiasm. This is now becoming available. As a proof of quality, the Philips Signage Division (MMD) has selected the Dimenco Cores for all of their commercial 23”, 42” and 55” auto stereoscopic displays.

The reference board is developed by Lancero, which has an impressive background in innovative projects based on Altera FPGAs. The board is equipped with a low-cost, low power Cyclone FPGA which allows a very cost effective introduction into the market. This board enables a quick start-up and short design-in cycle into a glasses free 3D TV or display.

The 2 versions of development boards include :

• Development board with IP Core Premium:     

For conversion of stereo and 2D+Z into multiview

• Development board with IP Core:         

For conversion of 2D+Z into multiview

The off the shelf and fully configurable Cores include the following key features as:

• Soft cone transitions
• Viewing distance adjustment
• Anti-cross talk filter
• Time stable conversion of stereo data.
• Support for QFHD panels.

About Altera

Altera® programmable solutions enable system and semiconductor companies to rapidly and cost-effectively innovate, differentiate and win in their markets. Find out more about Altera’s FPGA, CPLD and ASIC devices at www.altera.com.

About Lancero

Lancero is a solutions and consultancy services provider for leading-edge FPGA, IP Cores, SoC and Linux technologies. At Lancero we strongly believe in a true systems-level approach to solutions, thinking beyond boundaries, to help you use complex technologies in the easiest way. Solutions are Lancero SGDMA for PCI Express, Memory Controllers and DisplayPort IP cores and board support for i.MX ARM Cortex-A8 Linux. Lancero was founded in 2009 from two companies Logic & More and Sidebranch, with an accumulated experience of 25 years in exiting embedded projects. More information can be found at: www.lancero.biz

About Dimenco

Dimenco is an independent company, which was founded in 2010 by a group of ambitious people that all share the same passion for 3D technology. The company offers end-to-end 3D solutions which includes 3D displays, components, rendering solutions, software and 3D post-production services, including content conversion and depth enhancement. Furthermore, they provide consultancy services to several leading industry players. Dimenco acquired a 3D technology license from Philips, enabling them to commercially use and further develop this technology. More information can be found at: www.dimenco.eu

Message for journalists and editors (not for publication)

More information can be given by Maarten Tobias, CEO of Dimenco.

Dimenco De Run 4281 5503 LM Veldhoven The Netherlands. Ph. +31 6 343 20 600. maarten@dimenco.eu. http://www.dimenco.eu.

Pressrelease – IP Cores 2012-01-28

Altera is showcased a suite of embedded fpga solutions at Embedded World 2012 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Altera’s booth – in Hall 4, Stand 33 – is playing host to demonstrations of fpgas used as coprocessors and system on chip (SoC) solutions targeting video analytics, motor control and 2D/3D display applications.

Altera’s fpga based embedded solutions include a range of development tools, IP, and development boards with reference designs that help to dramatically increase embedded system performance and significantly reduced development time.

Demonstrations:
Altera’s on stand demonstrations showcasing fpga technologies include:

Video analytics demonstration
Altera’s Cyclone® IV fpga development kit delivers the world’s first FPGA-based 1080p30 high-definition (HD) video analytics solution.

Cyclone fpga devices and Eutecus video analytics IP enables compact, cost- effective solutions for automated security and surveillance.

SoC FPGA Virtual Target demonstration
The SoC FPGA Virtual Target demonstration shows how developers can start immediate device-specific embedded software development targeting Altera’s SoC fpgas. The SoC FPGA Virtual Target boots Linux and VxWorks OSs and leverages familiar tools in order to provide an unparalleled level of target control and target visibility that are critical for complex multicore processor systems development.
Altera is also demonstrating the SoC FPGA Virtual Target’s fpga -in-the-loop extension which lets users add custom peripherals and hardware accelerators to the processor subsystem, create device drivers for them, and integrate with application software prior to final hardware availability.

Accelerated motor control development with DSP Builder tool
MathWorks MATLAB environment is commonly used to evaluate motor control algorithms, and the Altera DSP Builder tool can be used to quickly and easily convert these algorithms into a working fpga configuration.
Quickly validate and compare the performance of your algorithms in a real system, such as fixed- and floating -point implementations.

2D-3D display up-conversion
Leverage the processing performance of a Cyclone IV GX fpga and IP from Dimenco B.V. to transform a standard 2D display into a 3D image that can be viewed without glasses.

More information:
Product document

Author
Chris Shaw

Finally, you can enjoy in-your-face 3D entertainment without 3D glasses. And it’s all thanks to Toshiba’s Qosmio F755 with Glasses-Free 3D technology.

Want to find out how 3D works? Check our display technology section.

Triaxes demostrated an AS3D Adaptive Steaming on a Dimenco 55″ Autostereoscopic Display during the CSTB 2012 in Moscow.

Adaptive multi-screen encoding solution is aimed at cable and digital TV providers (3D inclusive), system integrators, broadcasters and organizers of video conferences. Solution is based on Elecard system with Triaxes NetJet software integrated.

Features

• The quality of picture changes smoothly in real-time mode according to current bandwidth and connection speed
• All the changes remain unnoticed for the users
• Encoding of  the media content for a wide range of devices (3D inclusive) at time