Sharp, a popular maker of consumer electronics and personal computers, has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first commercial monitor that is capable of displaying three-dimensional images without the need of special 3D glasses or any other additional devices.

World’s First 3D Monitor Unveiled

The Sharp LL-151-3D monitor is a 3D LCD display that can be switched between 2D and 3D display modes with the touch of a button (or through the unit’s USB automatic switching that recognizes your content), making the monitor flexible for use in standard 2D and enhanced 3D applications.

The display features a 15” 1024x768 panel with 370-nit brightness and 500:1 contrast ratio, is compatible with both analog and digital video inputs, equipped with built-in stereo speakers and can be adjusted according to users’ requirements.

The Sharp LL-151-3D features a color management function compatible with the “sRGB” international standard for color reproduction. By performing color conversions with “ICC profile” that adjust to liquid crystal characteristics, the LL-151-3D displays pictures with natural tones, and color matching is achieved with sRGB compatible peripheral equipment.

The Sharp LL-151-3D will come complete with a software bundle to support its 3D and multimedia capability, which includes The SHARP SmartStereo Photo Editor, and SHARP SmartStereo Camera Calculator.

Sharp’s target with this unique monitor will include market segments that are already familiar with 3D solutions using Shutter Glasses and page sequential display mode, which are widely supported on PC using both Windows and Linux. Users of graphics cards that currently support OpenGL 3D displays with glasses (such as the NVIDIA Quadro cards) will be able to shed their Shutter Glasses and enjoy in the freedom of the Sharp LL-151-3D display right away. Target markets will include drug discovery, medical imaging, dental, mapping/GIS, oil & gas, CAD and other design applications, entertainment, education and others. The LL-151-3D will also appeal to the gamer that is looking to bring the greatest amount of realism to their gaming experience without the need for special glasses.

The LL-151-3D is available in black and features a long life, approximately 50 000 hours, backlight. Available immediately, the LL-151-3D has an estimated street price of $1499 in the USA.

Sharp’s 3D LCD Technology In-Depth

Developed jointly by Sharp Corporation and Sharp Laboratories Europe (SLE), Sharp’s TFT 3D LCD Technology is set to revolutionize the visual experience by offering a realistic sense of depth and presence that hasn’t been previously available in LCD displays. The TFT 3D LCD, which can be easily switched between 2D and 3D display modes, allows the LL-151-3D monitor to display dynamic 3D images for realistic visualization of complex geometry.

“Sharp’s TFT 3D LCD technology works on the principle of displaying left and right eye views that are separated so that the left eye sees only the left eye image, and the right eye sees only the right eye image,” explained Ian Matthew, 3D Business Development Manager for Sharp Systems of America.

“Since these images have perspective and are offset in the same way that the human eye normally sees the two images, the brain naturally interprets the image disparity and creates a “sense of depth” effect. The result is a 3D, “out of screen” display, that provides users with a visual experience previously unattainable without polarized or liquid crystal shuttering lenses,” Mr. Matthew added in the statement.

Using a parallax barrier, light from the LCD is divided so that different patterns reach the viewer’s left and right eyes. The direction in which light leaves the display is controlled so that the left and right eyes see different images. When centered in front of the display, each eye receives the correct visual information for the brain to process. This makes it possible for the image on the screen to appear in three dimensions without the user having to wear special goggles.