Vizio Working On Passive 3D HDTV

Just as 3D HDTVs are becoming more popular, 3D glasses are also being sold everywhere. These glasses are battery-operated and cost as much as $200 per pair – an expensive purchase which Vizio is planning on eliminating with its production of a passive 3D HDTV.

Indeed, Vizio is planning on making a 65-inch passive 3D HDTV, which is the first in the United States. Earlier, JVC released a 46-inch passive 3D monitor – not an HDTV – while LG passive 3D HDTVs are currently only available in Korea.

What exactly is a passive 3D HDTV? With a passive 3D HDTV, the images for the left and right eye are projected at the same time into a single space on the display and it is up to the glasses to separate the intended images for each. On the other hand, with an active shutter 3D HDTV, the images are alternately (not simultaneously) displayed, though very quickly for a continuous motion, and the glasses have lenses that automatically open and shut or go from opaque to transparent in perfect synchronization with the display.

Because passive 3D technology mainly lies with the display, the glasses do not have to be expensive – they are the common red and blue cardboard glasses handed out in movie theaters that you can make yourself.

Passive 3D HDTVs cannot offer the full resolution, though – only 1920×540 per eye – which is why companies are focusing more on making active 3D displays, but nevertheless can provide a satisfactory viewing experience for less.

Vizio is also set to deliver a full suite of active 3D HDTVs this year – its XVT Pro models which come in 47, 55, 58 and 72-inch screen sizes, with full LED backlight, full 3DHD technology, WiFi capability and wireless HDMI which were announced at CES in January.