DDD.L Regulatory News (DDD)

20 Jul 2009 07:30



DDD AWARDED 3D ENCODING & TRANSMISSION PATENT IN US

Santa Monica, California (July 20th, 2009) - DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces that it has received notification from the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") that DDD's Dynamic Depth Cueing ("DDC") 3D encoding and transmission patent has been granted in the United States.

The new US patent extends DDD's coverage of technologies that allow the conversion of existing 2D content libraries to 3D and their delivery in a format that remains compatible with today's 2D digital delivery formats. When the Dynamic Depth Cueing patent was initially submitted to the USPTO, the Company was required to subdivide the patent into claims relating to the conversion of 2D content to 3D and the claims relating to the encoding and delivery of 3D content in a 2D compatible format. The 2D to 3D conversion patent was granted in 2002 under US patent number 6,477,267.

The DDC patents have important ramifications for enabling a range of mass market 3D applications including the conversion of existing film and video libraries for viewing on the emerging 3D consumer devices supplied via a single broadcast signal, digital media stream or optical media disc that can also be viewed in 2D on conventional displays. 

The Dynamic Depth Cueing transmission patent enables 3D depth data to be discretely embedded alongside its corresponding 2D image. This results in an efficient method of delivering 3D content to consumers that can be viewed in 2D or 3D depending on the consumer's preference. DDC encoded content is compatible with a broad range of 3D display technologies including passive polarized, electronic shutter glasses and the emerging glasses-free displays.

Dr. Julien Flack, Chief Technology Officer of DDD said: "With the growing number of consumer devices in the PC and TV markets and the first 3D broadcasts now occurring, we expect that the efficient delivery of 3D enabled content will become an increasingly important consideration for broadcasters and telecommunications companies seeking to offer 3D to their viewers. The DDC format facilitates a seamless transition from 2D to 3D that is analogous to the transition from black and white to colour that took place several decades ago."

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About DDD

DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with applications for 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing with and without glasses; simple integration of computer games applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD's shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market (AIM: DDD). 

Background

* A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays is being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images both with and without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included in mobile phones in Japan and Korea, desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan and HDTVs in North America, Japan and Europe.

* DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2D) software applications and content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD's solutions also enable automatic conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D without any pre-processing of the 2D image.

* DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef® and DDD Mobile™ brand names, to consumer electronics manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to their end users. DDD also licenses its software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel. DDD's customers include Sharp Corporation, Samsung, Wistron Corporation and Arisawa Manufacturing Company.

* In December 2008, DDD entered into an agreement with Wistron Corporation to license DDD's 3D video and game conversion solutions for use in PC and TV products manufactured by Wistron.

* In August 2008 DDD extended the agreement with Hyundai IT to develop the embedded 3-D HDTV processor for the Hyundai IT 32" 3-D LCD TV that is used with the BS11 3-D television TV network available in Japan.

* In February 2008 Samsung and DDD entered into an development and license agreement to integrate DDD's TriDef 3D real time 2D to 3D conversion solution and 3D image processing architecture in a custom 3D image processing chip that will form the basis of Samsung's next generation 3D HDTVs.

* In February 2008 Samsung and DDD entered into an agreement to supply DDD's TriDef 3D Experience software solution as part of Samsung's 3-D accessory pack for their range of 3-D ready plasma and DLP rear projection HDTVs.

* In February 2008 DDD delivered the first embedded 3-D HDTV processor for the Hyundai IT 46" 3-D LCD TV that is based on Arisawa Manufacturing's X-Pol 3-D materials. The TriDef Core processor decodes the 3-D television signal being broadcast to consumers in Japan on the BS11 TV network as well as converting high definition 2-D content to 3-D automatically.

* In September 2007 Samsung launched a range of 3-D Ready DLP® rear projection HDTVs in North America. DDD's TriDef 3D Experience software solution enables a range of popular entertainment to be enjoyed in 3-D and is available in various accessory packs including 3-D glasses. The 3-D accessory packs are available online from DDD.com and other retail and distribution channels. DDD also supplies software that allows popular PC games to be played in 3-D on the new HDTVs.

* In July 2007 Samsung released the SCH-B710 'glasses-free' 3D mobile telephone in South Korea. DDD entered into a development and license agreement with Samsung Electronics allowing Samsung to include DDD's 3D mobile telephone software solution in Samsung's SCH-B710 3D mobile telephone. The license agreement yields a royalty to DDD for each handset manufactured. Samsung renewed its exclusive rights for DDD's real time 2D to 3D conversion capabilities for use on 3D mobile phones in Korea in October 2006.

More information is available at www.DDD.com.

Trademarks:

DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments. TriDef and DDD Mobile are trademarks of DDD Group plc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.