Apple has been granted a patent on a way to project 3D images without the use of glasses. The picture above is super easy to understand but on the off chance you don't get it: pixels will be projected on reflective and textured surfaces. The reflected pixels are then bounced into your left and right eyes. Voila, stereoscopic effect.
Apple and I clearly have something in common, we think 3D glasses look silly. Their technology will rely on "inexpensive auto-stereoscopic 3D displays that allow the observer complete and unencumbered freedom of movement," which means no glasses and you don't have to sit still to enjoy. It will also be capable of sensing multiple eyes so more than one person can watch the 3D projection at once.
The patent also delves into why other 3D technology isn't good enough. It calls out the current systems being used by auto-stereoscopic phones and presumably the Nintendo 3DS. Sharp and Toshiba plan on releasing glasses-less 3D TVs in Japan by the end of the year. The problem with their technology, according to the patent, is that a need still exists for the viewer to remain stationary. Apple's goal is to offer consumers affordable and practical 3D technology.
The patent was originally filed back in 2006 and has just been approved so don't expect any groundbreaking product from them anytime soon. I'm glad Apple is taking on 3D technology though. Do you think they will challenge the Nintendo 3DS and make their own 3D gaming device?
Source: CNET
Comments
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JScace
Apples going to be bouncing pixels into my eyes......I think not. hey I got an idea how about apple making a product that IDK can make a phone call and can support Flash. Even the WOZ was hating on apple saying that Google's going to do to them what Microsoft did to them in the 90's. Oh and you fricks out there saying oooh everybody has an iphone or a imac or that free thing that comes with all of their products.....um....oh yea iAIDS, theres 6 billion people on earth and not everyone gives a crap about apples useless crap. Like Satoru Iwata who said apple is the enemy of the future. Oh and if your reading this and are getting angry with me because of what I've been saying about apple.....well then your a dick rider. Yep, you ride steve jobs dick. You ride it every time you finger bang your phone.
Viper12
and of course it'll be made of solid aluminum, painted white, have a clear plastic sprayed on top and be WAY overpriced
darkeldar100
they're not going to make a 3D gaming device. most likely they're gonna integrate this into iphone, itouch, and ipad.
not that out doing Nintendo is their primary objective. iPod Touch already outsells DS
CLFresh
So if it comes out in Japan at the end of the year we'll probably see it... in about a year and a half. lol At the tools that bought 3D tvs already. Does it not make sense that eventually there will be glasses-less 3D tv? Why do people find it so fun to waste money on something just because it's new. I'm still undecided on if 3D will really be here to stay or not. A lot of 3D content I've seen is like a pop-up book instead of true 3D. It just looks like there's 3 layers and whatever is closer has the closest layer while the furthest has the furthest layer. I'll keep my Panasonic plasma until they get cheap and once I see if this trend is staying or not.
Dabomb2830
Just like the DS revolutionizing the touch screen and The 3DS doing glasses less 3d, apple takes those concepts and makes it a thousand times better.
Hitman_Mr.47
NO, go away 3D. Just go away!
I hate all this unnecessary advancement in technology. It is pointless, and frankly, it's scary.
ZeroOverOne
umm... from what i see in the diagram this wont be in any hand held media or living room tv format.
ZeroOverOne
umm... from what i see in the diagram this wont be in any hand held media or living room tv format.
QuickKick89
I think we have our iPhone 5!!!
kingn8link
Nintendo and Apple both have the right idea: glassesless (say that ten times fast) 3D systems.
Both the 3DS and the Apple i3D (tentative title) will definitely establish a more practical form of the medium.
Respected_death
Never! Just let Apple be Apple.
principe51
is about time people have been waiting for this for years
FrenchBread147
It's nice that it takes the government 4 years to approve a patent. Way to go bureaucracy.
Robnoah
"The Island" movie comes to mind of the technology that clones people for body parts and no one knew this technology existed.
Apple too knows and has be developing a new technology for the next iPad3D with projector & the Apple holographic TV coming soon! A technology development being designed on a secret island with the newest advancements.
Watch out Android it is showtime and you are missing the boat. Games are going to be so addictive with Apple's new expansion in full 3D Games Apps for the iPod, iPhone and iPad products that will be beamed to the players eyes...!
cardinalsfan1122
if anyone can make the perfect 3d it will be Apple, but the price will be unbelievable. Well you can't be perfect.
KissMyWookie
The description of how it works does not match the diagram.
The diagram has a sensor, monitoring the reflected light and spotting where the user's shadow is in relation to the screen, then sending this "feedback" to the DSP to adjust the image relatively.
lowkevmic
I am officially over technology for the time being. With new crap that we really don't need coming out like every other week, we've reached a point of oversaturation in my opinion. There is no such thing as early adopters, because as soon as some new technology is released, we'll wait for the price to go down, then something newer and cooler is relased that sort of defeated the purpose of waiting to buy the first cool thing just 6 months prior. I'm stil wating for the price to go down with 3D tv's now theres some new apple...Wait...Did you say Apple??....Nevermind, I'll pass.
boohoodman
knowing apple it is going to be over priced and you can get the same tv for $1000 less from other companies. you really pay $1000's of dollars for the little apple on your stuff
JohnnyBuku
^^^^ Agreed - it can only cast one set of offset images tracking only one set of eyeballs.
Octopimp_Fan
This set up isn't practicle. It won't work for multiple people either.
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