A new patent indicates that Apple is exploring new ways to deliver 3D images without the need for bulky headsets. In a recently granted patent titled "Driving Split Screen for Electronic Device Displays," the company suggests replacing traditional 3D images on a flat screen of an iPhone or iPad. The documents outline the issues with such content displayed on a smartphone or tablet, which can lead to motion blur, lighting compensation, or other effects that may be disturbing to viewers.
With that in mind, Apple proposes adding a separate section to the screen that sends an additional layer of pixels, creating alternating rows of pixels on the main screen. The idea is to split the image views for each eye so that the user ultimately sees a 3D representation on a large screen.
Although the technology may seem unusual, the document includes a real-world example of its use, referring to 3D glasses used in cinemas. A movie theater can provide polarized or colored glasses to viewers, allowing them to see two synchronized (and often overlapping) images, which adds 3D depth to the simultaneous images displayed. The key to the new technology lies in the arrangement of how pixels are displayed; the first row of pixels will be arranged horizontally at the top of the screen, while the second group will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. This will provide each eye with a different view of the specified image, allowing the user to perceive it as a single 3D image, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail.
