Polarizing glasses: varieties and principles of operation

Today, there is a tacit struggle between the two technologies of displaying 3D images, which can be seen using special active or passive polarizing glasses.

The latter include any stereo glasses, which do not require the presence of a power source. There are two types of devices working on this technology: polarization and anaglyph. The main advantage of the models is their low cost. The cheapest are the anaglyphs, which are usually made of cardboard with glasses of two colors - blue and red.

Despite the fact that this method allows to get some volume effect, it is still considered not the most advanced in creating 3D effects. In anaglyph stereopairs, a certain color filter is used to produce a picture, while the rest of the information is practically lost, leaving a faded, dim image.

Polarizing 3D glasses can be divided into two subspecies: with circular and linear polarization. The latest imaging model requires the viewer to position the head in a strictly vertical position, avoiding deviations to the sides, otherwise the 3D effect may be disturbed. This is due to the fact that the method of displaying content is based on the principle that one eye can see a vertically polarized image and the other horizontally.

When the head is tilted, the lenses lose their connection with the dual method of obtaining stereopairs on the screen. Eliminate this disadvantage of polarized 3D glasses, working on circular technology. However, in this case, you need a special filter and a projector. The glasses are not widely used in this form.

Another advantage of passive devices before active is that there is no "halving" of the frame rate, because two images are simultaneously displayed to the viewer.

However, polarization glasses also have a number of disadvantages. Unlike active, in passive models the viewer can see only 540 lines of the entire resolution for each eye. Of course, this is provided that the image source issues a resolution of 1080 lines.

The advantages of eyepieces include the lack of the need for a power source, adjustment to the image transmission device, as well as cheapness. Polarizing glasses can be purchased for a few dollars, and more often the TV maker additionally puts several pairs of such products in the kit. For example, with the LG TV there are 4 pairs of glasses.

Therefore, under such conditions, a movie show for the whole family in 3D format will be much cheaper. In addition, with the use of polarized devices, the eyes do not get tired, since they do not have constantly opening and closing gates, as in active technology. In addition, these glasses have less weight, and when watching a movie, people become less tired.

Currently, using passive 3D technology, LG TVs, Toshiba (supports both principles), Vizio and other brands are produced. Samsung, Sony and Panasonic use an active image output model.