‘World’s first’ 2d to 3d video conversion chip for handheld devices

According to Dialog, the IC analyses each 2d video frame and creates a layered depth map, isolating foreground and background objects. From this, each original image pixel is mapped into left and right eye pixels that, when viewed through a parallax barrier filter on the display module, renders the 3d image directly. The DA8223 integrates the complete 3d conversion process which means that, unlike traditional software based solutions, there is no extra load on the host application processor and no external memory requirement. "The DA8223 is the first hardware based 2d to 3d conversion technology optimised for portable devices," said Mark Tyndall, vp at Dialog. "It requires virtually no software development and uses a tiny fraction of the battery and compute power of competing application processor based software approaches." Supporting still images and video at 60fps, and able to display 3d content in both portrait and landscape formats in real time, the DA8223 is said to be compatible with the widest range of 3d capable displays, from 3.8inch smartphones up to 10inch tablet pc's. The 5x5mm 81 ball UFBGA chip can be mounted on the pcb, between the application processor and 3d display, or on the display module as a chip on flex. Products with the technology are expected to be in mass production by late 2011.