3D VIDEO CONVERSION
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a primary stream of video frames derived from 3D video game console can be packed into time multiplexed format in which left eye and right eye images are packed into a single frame. The stream of frames can be coupled into first and second image processors. The first image processor zooms and vertically shifts the left eye image from each frame in the primary stream to produce a first output stream of left eye images. The second image processor zooms and vertically shifts the right eye image from each frame in the primary stream to produce a second output stream of left eye images. The first and second output streams can be fed into a 3D video recording device and stored in a dual image video format. Alternatively, the first and second output streams can be fed into a dual image video projection device for real-time projection of 3D video from the game console.
1 . A method for converting time multiplexed three-dimensional (3D) video to a dual image format, comprising:
a) coupling a primary stream of video images from a source to first and second video image processors, wherein the primary stream of video frames is in a time multiplexed format in which a left eye image and a right eye image are packed into a single frame;
b) zooming and vertically shifting the left eye image from each frame in the primary stream with the first image processor to produce a first output stream of left eye images;
c) zooming and vertically shifting the left eye image from each frame in the primary stream with the second image processor to produce a second output stream of right eye images;
d) coupling the first and second output streams into a 3D video recording device for storage in a dual image video format or coupling the first and second output streams into a dual image video projection device for real-time projection of 3D video from the source.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the source is a video game console.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein a) includes splitting the primary stream into first and second primary streams with a splitter and coupling the first primary stream to the first image processor and coupling the second primary stream to the second image processor.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein a) includes coupling the primary video stream into one of the first or second image processor and coupling the primary stream from the one of the first or second image processor to the other of the second or first image processor.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting an audio signal output from the source that is separate from the primary stream and coupling the audio signal output to an audio input of the recording device or an audio system associated with the video projection device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising time synchronizing the first and second output streams.
7 . A system for converting time multiplexed three-dimensional (3D) video to a dual image format, comprising:
a) a first video image processor configured to receive a primary stream of video frames from a source in a time multiplexed format in which a left eye image and a right eye image are packed into a single frame,
wherein the first video image processor is configured to zoom and vertically shift the left eye image from each frame in the primary stream with the first image processor to produce a first output stream of left eye images; and
b) a second video image processor configured to receive the primary stream;
wherein the first video image processor is configured to zoom and vertically shift the left eye image from each frame in the primary stream to produce a first output stream of left eye images
wherein the second video image processor is configured to zoom and vertically shift the right eye image from each frame in the primary stream to produce a second output stream of left eye images.
8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a 3D video recording device coupled to the first and second video image processors and configured to receive the first and second output streams and store the first and second output streams in a dual image video format.
9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a 3D video projection device coupled to the first and second video image processors and configured to receive the first and second output streams and projecting left and right eye images from the source in real time.
10 . The system of claim, further comprising the source of the primary stream of video frames, wherein the source is coupled to the first and second video image processing devices.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the source is a video game console.
12 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a splitter configured to receive the primary stream into first and second primary streams and couple the first primary stream to the first image processor and couple the second primary stream to the second image processor.
13 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second image processors are coupled to each other in such a way that one of the first or second image processor can receive the primary stream and transmit the primary stream to the other of the second or first image processor.
14 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising an audio decoder configured to extract an audio signal output from the source that is separate from the primary stream and couple the audio signal output to an audio input of a recording device or an audio system associated with a video projection device.
15 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a video signal synchronizing device coupled to the first and second video image processors and configured to time synchronize the first and second output streams.