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Sony Develops High Frame Rate Single Lens 3D..

[luckyme1a]

https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200910/09-117E/

Sony Develops High Frame Rate Single Lens 3D Camera Technology

- Captures natural and smooth, high quality 3D images at 240fps -

Tokyo, Japan,October 1, 2009 - Sony Corporation today announced the development of asingle lens 3D camera technology capable of recording natural and smooth3D images of even fast-moving subject matter such as sports, at 240fps(frames per second). This technology combines a newly developed opticalsystem for single lens 3D camera which captures the left and rightimages simultaneously, together with existing high frame rate (HFR)recording technology to realize 240fps 3D filming. Sony willdemonstrate a prototype model incorporating this technology at "CEATECJAPAN 2009", to be held at Makuhari Messe convention center in ChibaCity, Japan, from October 6^th.

Newly Developed Single Lens Optical System

In existing half mirror 3D camera systems with separate lenses for theleft and right eyes, the parallax range is adjustable, enabling thedepth of the 3D images to be modified . However, when operating thezoom and focus functions of such systems, the sensitivity of the humaneye, in particular to differences in the size and rotational movement ofdual images, as well as any vertical misalignment or difference inimage quality has meant that complex technology has been required toensure that each camera lens is closely coordinated, and there are nodiscrepancies in the optical axis, image size, and focus. Theintroduction of a single lens system resolves any issues that may occuras a result of having different optical characteristics for each eye.Furthermore, by using mirrors in place of shutters, incoming light cannow be simultaneously separated into left and right images and recordedas it reaches the parallel light area (the area where diverging lightfrom the point of focus on the subject matter becomes parallel) of therelay lens. The separated left and right images are then processed andrecorded with the respective left and right image sensors. As there isno difference in time between when the left and right eye images arecaptured, it is possible for natural and smooth 3D images to becaptured, even of scenes involving rapid movement.

Optical system for single lens 3D camera

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240fps 3D Filming

Optical tests have shown that a frame rate 240fps represents the limitof human visual perception, and beyond that it becomes difficult todetect differences in terms of blur and "jerkiness" of moving images(where images that were continuous are now seen as a series of distinctsnapshots). By developing a 240fps frame rate CMOS image sensor withproperties close to the human eye, which is capable of capture naturalimages of even fast moving subject matter, Sony has succeeded in furtherenhancing the quality of 3D video images.

The combination of Sony's new single lens 3D system and its 240fps highframe rate technology has realized a single lens 3D camera system, basedon universal properties of the human eye, which enables natural andsmooth 3D images with no accommodation-vergence^*1 conflict to be recorded.
^*1accommodation: focusing the lens on the eye, vergence: aligning the direction of both eyes on the subject

Technological Features
1	New single lens optical system
	-	Captures left and right images simultaneously to deliver natural and smooth 3D images with no accommodation-vergence conflict.
	-	Eliminates the need for lens synchronization, ensuring easily accurate control of 3D zoom and focus functions.
	-	When polarized glasses are not used, viewers with still be able to see natural 2D images, as the disparity of the images for left and right eyes are within the range that human eyes can recognize as a blur.
2	240fps image capture to realize high quality motion images
	-	Realizes high quality capture of 3D content including fast-moving subject matter such as sports.

Prototype to be demonstrated at "CEATEC JAPAN 2009"

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Within the growing3D cinema industry, Sony has supported and driven the expansion of 3D byproviding a wide variety of professional equipment for the shooting,production and screening of movies in 3D. The number of digital 3Dscreens is increasing rapidly, and is expected to reach 7,000 worldwideby the end of 2009^*2 In addition to 3D movies, Sony's rangeof professional 3D products and technology is also driving the growth of3D production and distribution across a range of entertainmentindustries, from theatre and music performances to sport and beyond.Furthermore, Sony is also aiming to continue to lead the way indelivering new 3D viewing experiences by bringing 3D to the home in2010.
^*2 Source: Screen Digest (Approx. as of July, 2009)

Key Prototype Specifications

With 240fps 3.5 inch view finder

Image sensor	CMOS image sensor
System	Single panel color filter (uses two)
Spectrum	Optical mirror system
Power-supply voltage	11-17V
External size(width x height x depth)	Main body 240mmx200mmx480mm
Mass	Main body 18kg

[brodan]

This is old news.  Why bring this up now?  Sony has been working on a 3-D lens also but has not made any movement towards it since.  I quote  "Prototype to be demonstrated at "CEATEC JAPAN 2009" .  Notice its 2009.Cheers