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Third dimension, part three: LG plans further 3D LCD technologies
LCD TVs with half resolution are on the retreat; now, screens that use shutter glasses are the favoured technology. A new technology from LG claims to combine the advantages of both.
The disadvantage of the LG TVs (and of similar JVC and Hyundai models) is that their pictures only have half as many lines during 3D operation. This is because they use a filter layer made by Arisawa that twists the light in opposite directions for alternate lines, so that half of the lines only appear in the left eye, and the other half only appear in the right. This process is known as “Xpol” polarisation. The glasses used with these TVs use circular polarisation filters like those found in RealD cinemas with DLP projectors or Sony technology. One further disadvantage is that any such polarised filters limit the colours and viewing angle.
Until now, filters have varied the polarisation only line by line; in the future, active liquid-crystal elements will take over this task.
The process therefore resembles the Z-Screen used by RealD in DLP cinemas. RealD and Nuvision had already produced similar add-on units for CRT TVs, so LG’s approach isn’t entirely new — but it’s definitely new to integrate it into an LCD panel. LG expects its Active Retarder technology to be production-ready in about two years. This will bring 3D broadcasts in pubs — and anywhere else that needs cheap glasses — to a first-class level. You can even use the glasses from your last trip to the cinema — if, of course, you aren't meant to return them after the showing. This transferability only applies to polarised glasses — or, indeed, the forthcoming 3D contact lenses.
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