Planar SD2620W User manual

SD2620W
Stereoscopic Monitor
USER’S GUIDE
www.planar3d.com

Planar Systems, Inc.
1195 NW Compton Drive
Beaverton, OR 97006-1992
www.planar.com
©2008 Planar Systems, Inc. Planar and the Planar logo are registered trademarks of
Planar Systems, Inc. Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
Technical information in this document is subject to change without notice.
02/08

User’s Guide | iii
Usage Notice
To prevent the risk of fire or shock hazards, do not expose this
product to rain or moisture.
Do not open or disassemble the product, as doing so may cause
electric shock.
Follow all warnings, precautions, and maintenance as recommended in
this user’s guide to maximize the life and performance of your unit.
Do
•Turn off the monitors before cleaning.
•Use only a dry, soft cloth or clean room wipe when cleaning the LCD panel
surface or the half-mirror.
•Use a soft cloth moistened with water and/or mild detergent to clean
the display housing and stand.
•Use only high quality and safety approved AC/DC power adapters.
•Disconnect the power plug from the grounded AC outlet if the product
will not be used for a long period of time.
Don’t
•Do not touch the LCD panel or half-mirror surfaces with sharp or
hard objects.
•Do not use abrasive cleaners, waxes, or solvents for your cleaning.
•Do not operate the product under these conditions:
—In an extremely hot, cold, or humid environment
—In areas susceptible to excessive dust and dirt
—Near any appliance generating a strong magnetic field
—In direct sunlight

iv | SD2620W
Box Contents
The SD2620W shipping box contains the following components:
Bottom monitor assembly with mirror
support arms and mirror adjustment screws
Bottom cable management cover
Top monitor assembly
Top cable management cover
Beamsplitter assembly Two power cords (6-ft and 10-ft)

User’s Guide | v
Two DVI cables (6-ft and 12-ft) Two Analog VGA cables (6-ft and 10-ft)
Mirror-flip PCI card
Short DVI cables (14-in)
Product user’s guide
Captain-style glasses (2 ea)
Spring clip-style glasses (1 ea) Terminator-style glasses (2 ea)
Soft, dry cloths (3 ea)
Moistened cleaning pads (6 ea)
NOTE: Both the Captain-style and the Terminator-style glasses, for use with
the SD2620W monitor, feature the Planar logo on each side and white arm
tips. These two markers differentiate the glasses from those shipped with
other stereo monitors.

vi | SD2620W
Contents
Usage Notice .............................................................................................................iii
Box Contents.............................................................................................................iv
Stereoscopic Viewing .............................................................................................. 1
StereoMirror™ Technology .....................................................................................2
Getting Started.......................................................................................................... 4
Product Use ................................................................................................................ 9
Adjusting the Monitor's Display..........................................................................11
Target Color Coordinates......................................................................................17
Power Management...............................................................................................17
OSD Lock Out Function .........................................................................................18
Monitor Specifications...........................................................................................19
System Care..............................................................................................................21
Software Compatibility..........................................................................................21
Accessories ...............................................................................................................21
Troubleshooting......................................................................................................22
Warranty....................................................................................................................23
Product Registration ..............................................................................................23
CRT Recycling...........................................................................................................24
Important Recycle Instructions ...........................................................................24

User’s Guide | 1
T
he StereoMirror monito
r
Stereoscopic Viewing
We live in a three-dimensional world. The human visual system can process
the slightly different views of the world and translate the views into the
perception of depth. This process is called stereopsis.
In the last two centuries much effort has been devoted to the reproduction of
depth perception, primarily with photography and more recently with
computer graphic images.
Stereoscopic/3D viewing can help a viewer make faster, more accurate, and
more enjoyable interpretations of imagery. The SD2620W StereoMirror™
monitor, in particular, creates an unprecedented level of stereo/3D viewing
quality and viewer comfort.
Stereo viewing is useful for the following applications:
•Photogrammetry and
remote sensing
•Geospatial image
analysis
•Geophysical modeling
•Molecular modeling
•Computer games
•Oil and gas exploration
•Architecture and
mechanical design
•Stereo photography or
videography
•Medical imaging (not as
yet FDA 510(k)
approved)
•Surgical planning
•Teaching of anatomy
•Simulation
•Complex data analysis
For some individuals, prolonged use of any stereoscopic monitor
may cause discomfort. Take a break from stereo viewing if you
sense eye fatigue. Individuals who are unaccustomed to using
stereoscopic 3D monitors may require a period of adaptation.

2 | SD2620W
StereoMirror™ Technology
A StereoMirror™monitor consists of two AMLCD (Active Matrix Liquid Crystal
Display) units, oriented at a 110º angle and mounted on a specially designed
stand. A passive beamsplitter mirror bisects the angle formed between the
two monitors, and there is a fine mechanical adjustment for the mirror angle
between the two displays. One side of the glass mirror has a reflective
coating, and the other side has an anti-reflective coating to minimize
secondary reflections. The mirror has been treated with a hard top coating to
accommodate cleaning.
In general, the
objective of a
stereoscopic
display is to
efficiently
present a left
eye image
solely to the
left eye while
the right eye
image is
directed to the
right eye. This
allows the
human visual
system to
merge the two images and results in the perception of depth, or stereopsis.
In the StereoMirror™design this stereo separation is achieved using the
principle of conservation of polarization.
Liquid crystal displays operate based on the ability of liquid crystal material to
modulate plane-polarized light. The two AMLCDs in the SD2620W model
have been manufactured so that the polarized light emitted from the top
monitor is 90° rotated from that of the bottom monitor. The image from the
lower monitor is seen through the mirror, as shown in the illustration above.
When stereo pair images from the two monitors are viewed through crossed-
polarizing glasses (glasses with polarizing films mounted on the eyepieces
with their planes of polarization at a right angle to one another), the user only
sees the left eye image with the eyepiece having the 90°-oriented polarizer
and the right eye image with the eyepiece having the 0° polarizer. Light with
a perpendicular polarization is not transmitted. The result is a single, fused
stereoscopic image.
Operating principle of the StereoMirror monitor

User’s Guide | 3
A block diagram describing the process of driving a StereoMirror™monitor
with a computer is shown below. The left eye and right eye images are sent
to their respective AMLCDs independently and without any special treatment
(with the exception of accommodating for the fact that the upper monitor is
seen in a mirror; see discussion below). Presenting the stereo pair of images
requires a setup or software application that accommodates dual-monitor
stereo viewing. No additional modification is needed for use with the
StereoMirror™monitor design.
Any software application that uses the OpenGL quad-buffered stereo features
is compatible with the StereoMirror.™Quad-buffered stereo is a feature of
the OpenGL 3D graphics library that allows an application to define two
separate right/left eye viewpoints instead of the normal single monoscopic
viewpoint. The two viewpoints are defined to give the correct parallax
separation for the proper stereo effect. Once the two viewpoints have been
defined,the 3D scene is rendered identical for each of the two viewpoints.
Many commercial 3D applications already have stereo viewing modes using
the OpenGL stereo features.
Since the upper display of the monitor is seen in reflection, a mirror-flip
operation must be performed on that data path. In the current product this
is accomplished using an auxiliary signal processing board in the data path to
the upper monitor. Driving a StereoMirror™monitor is identical to driving
a pair of projection displays used to show stereoscopic images with crossed
polarizers in the two separate light paths. An off-the-shelf, dual-output
graphics card is employed to drive the two monitors, again with no
special preparation.
Driving the StereoMirror monitor
Computer and
Software Application
Dual Output
Graphics Card
Mirror-flip
PCI Card
Left Eye
Image
Right
Eye
Image Top
Monitor
Lower
Monitor
Computer and
Software Application
Dual Output
Graphics Card
Mirror-flip
PCI Card
Left Eye
Image
Right
Eye
Image Top
Monitor
Lower
Monitor

4 | SD2620W
Getting Started
Read all instructions before assembling the monitor. Improper assembly can
result in damage to the display components.
Assemble the unit
1. Remove the bottom
monitor assembly from
the shipping box and
place it on a sturdy table
or desktop. To keep the
display surface clean,
avoid touching the
screen.
2. Remove the top monitor
assembly from the
shipping box. Loosen the
two screws on the cover
of the cable management
compartment and
remove the cover.
3. Slide the aluminum
flanges of the upper
assembly into the holes
on the cross bracket of
the bottom monitor
assembly until fully
seated. Continue to
support the top monitor
assembly and tighten the
four thumb screws.

User’s Guide | 5
4. Thread the cables from
the top monitor through
the rectangular hole in
the cross bracket.
5. Replace the top and
bottom cable covers,
if desired.
6. Remove the beamsplitter
from the shipping case.
With the StereoMirror™
logo oriented to the lower
right, insert the pins
located on either side of
the mirror frame into the
corresponding slots on
the mirror support arms.
The pins should rest in
the fully forward position
of the mounting arm
slots.

6 | SD2620W
Select a graphics card
The SD2620W unit requires a dual-output graphics card to drive the two
monitors with a DVI signal. For professional applications that use OpenGL
quad-buffered stereo, the graphics card should support OpenGL stereo as
well. Typically, the two monitors should be in clone mode for these
applications with stereo enabled.
There are several compatible graphics card families. The NVIDIA Quadro FX
line is recommended for OpenGL stereo applications. The NVIDIA GeForce
line offers dual-DVI output graphics cards that work well for PC gaming and
DirectX applications.
Visit www.planar3d.com for more details on graphics cards, software
configuration, and using side monitors with the SD2620W unit.
Install the mirror-flip PCI card
Proper ESD (electrostatic discharge) handling precautions should
be exercised when installing the mirror-flip PCI card. Consult the
computer manual for proper installation of graphics cards.
Because the viewer will see a
reflection of the top monitor, this
image needs to be flipped on the
horizontal axis. A mirror-flip PCI card is
included with the SD2620W unit. Plug
this card into a free PCI slot in your
computer. There are no drivers to load
with the card.
1. Remove the blank bracket from
an available PCI slot.
2. Insert the mirror-flip PCI card into
the slot, align the connector pins,
and press the board down until it
is firmly seated.
3. Secure the mounting bracket.
Mirro
r
-
flip PCI card installe
d

User’s Guide | 7
Connect the cables
The SD2620W unit comes with one 6-foot DVI cable, one 12-foot DVI cable,
and one 14-inch DVI cable.
1. Plug one end of the 6-foot DVI
cable into the primary port of
the dual-channel DVI graphics
card. Plug the other end into
the bottom monitor of the
SD2620W unit.
2. Plug one end of the 14-inch DVI
cable into the secondary output
of the dual-channel graphics
card. Plug the other end into
the input port (labeled “IN”) of
the mirror-flip PCI card.
3. Plug one end of the 12-foot DVI
cable into the output port of the
mirror-flip PCI card (labeled
“OUT”). Plug the other end
into the top monitor of the
SD2620W unit.
The two monitors must be connected with an off-the-shelf video
cable to comply with FCC regulations. Ferrite-core interface cables
are provided. This device will not be in compliance with FCC
regulations when a non-ferrite-core video cable is used.
Short DVI cable installe
d

8 | SD2620W
Connect the power cords
Two power cords are shipped with the unit. Use only the power cords
supplied with the unit.
1. Plug the 10-foot cord into the AC power jack of the top monitor.
Plug the 6-foot cord into the bottom monitor. Then plug the power
connectors into a grounded outlet.
2. Turn on the power toggle switch on the back and the soft power switch
on the front bezel of each of the two LCD monitors.
3. Power up the computer.
Check the alignment
Although the SD2620W unit is aligned during manufacturing, it may require
realignment after reassembly at your site. There are two fine adjustment
screws located on the mirror support arms. Rotating these screws raises or
lowers the beamsplitter mirror. Adjust the screws so that the corners of the
reflected image of the upper monitor are aligned with the corners of the
transmitted image from the lower monitor.
You may want to use a test image during the alignment process. A sample
is available at www.planar3d.com.
Perfect alignment between the two images is not required for stereo viewing.
The human visual system is typically adept at "fusing" two images that are
slightly shifted relative to each other. This is especially true for horizontal
alignment. In a careful manner, try to achieve vertical alignment as closely as
possible. Coarse vertical misalignment can cause eye fatigue or headaches
since the eyes are accustomed to seeing stereo images from the same
vertical position.

User’s Guide | 9
Product Use
Operating in 2D mode
Your SD2620W unit can operate
either as a 3D stereoscopic monitor or in
the standard 2D mode. Converting to 2D
viewing can be accomplished by either
turning off the power to one of the
monitors or by putting the mirror into
the locked upright position. To move
the mirror to the raised position, use two
hands to slide it up the mirror support
arms and then raise it until it drops into
the locked position. To lower the mirror,
use two hands to lift it out of the locked
slot and then lower it down onto the fine
adjustment screws.
The mirror should not be forced down. This can break the glass
and damage the mirror frame. The mirror must be pulled forward
before lowering.
User controls and OSD menu
The two monitors have a power switch on the right side of the bottom bezel
and a power toggle switch on the back. The LED indicator next to the Power
button shows the monitor power status. When the LED is green, the power
is on. When the LED is amber, the monitor is in power-saving mode. The
monitor is off when the LED indicator is dark.
StereoMirror in 2D mod
e
Controls and LED indicato
r

10 | SD2620W
The Source button allows you to select VGA or DVI input. The Menu button
activates the OSD (on-screen display) main menu. Use the Exit button to
close the OSD menu; this is also a DV mode hot key. The Auto button is a hot
key for auto adjusting the display. A four direction (4D+1) button allows you
to move up, down, left, and right within the menu systems. Press the four
direction button to enter or exit menus.
4D+1 key function definition
This table lists the function definitions of the four direction (4D+1) button.
PUSH KEY DIRECTION HOT KEY MENU
Up Contrast + Cursor Up
Down Contrast – Cursor down
Right Brightness + Cursor right / Volume +
Left Brightness – Cursor left / Volume –
Center Item Enter / Exit

User’s Guide | 11
Adjusting the Monitor's Display
The monitor has four function control buttons by which you can select
among functions shown on the OSD menu. The menu has been designed for
easy user-viewing environments.
OSD function menu
To activate the OSD main menu, press the
Menu button. The menu diagram pops up
on the screen as shown. Use the 4D+1 key
to navigate to the function you want to
adjust. Push the 4D+1 key to enter a
submenu and adjust the value. Push the
4D+1 key again to exit the submenu. Press
the Exit button to close the OSD menu at
any time. Press the Menu key to return to
the main menu.
Firmware revision may have been updated into the latest
version while the version number shown on the information
item in the OSD menu may have remained version 1.

12 | SD2620W
Function description
Tables on the following pages describe all the functions on the OSD menus.
MENU FUNCTION FUNCTION DESCRIPTION
DV MODE This DV mode display setting
can be selected by OSD
(STANDARD/TEXT/sRGB/
MOVIE/GAMING/PHOTO)
Default setting: TEXT
BRIGHTNESS Adjust the brightness.
Factory setting: 100.0%
CONTRAST Adjust the image contrast.
Factory setting:50.0%
SHARPNESS Adjust the sharpness.
Factory setting: 50%
AUTO
CONTRAST
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the CONTRAST to the
optimal value for the video-
input level automatically.
AUTO ADJUST
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the H.POSITION,
V.POSITION, H-SIZE, and
FINE to the optimal value
automatically.

User’s Guide | 13
MENU FUNCTION FUNCTION DESCRIPTION
EXPANSION
MODE
This function allows you to
choose from different display
modes:
•Full: Expands all resolution to
full screen.
•Aspect: Enlarges native
resolution to either
horizontal or vertical limit.
•Real: Displays native
resolution.
•Default setting: FULL.
LEFT/RIGHT
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the horizontal image
position.
DOWN/UP
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the vertical image
position.
CLOCK
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the sync frequency of
internal pixel clock.
PHASE
(Analog Input
only)
Adjust the value for improve
display focus.

14 | SD2620W
MENU FUNCTION FUNCTION DESCRIPTION
COLOR
TEMPERATURE
Choose different color
temperature
(9300K, 7500K, sRGB, USER).
Default is USER.
USER mode adjustable.
Adjust the contrast and
brightness of each color of
the white balance.
RED
GREEN
BLUE
GAIN
Allows you to adjust the
Red/Green/Blue color gain.
RED
GREEN
BLUE
OFFSET
Allows you to adjust the
Red/Green/Blue color offset.
SATURATION Adjust color depth: Increasing
this value makes pictures more
colorful; decreasing makes
pictures less colorful.
Adjustable value from -100 to
100.
Factory setting: 0