Method and apparatus for displaying two-dimensional or three-dimensional image sequence while adjusting frame rate

A system for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) image, the system comprising:

• an image supply source which supplies an input image sequence at a first frame rate;
• an image display determination unit which determines whether the input image sequence having the first frame rate is a 2D image sequence or is a 3D image sequence;
• a 2D frame rate conversion unit which receives the input image sequence and generates a 2D output image sequence having a second frame rate if the image display determination unit determines that the input image sequence is the 2D image sequence, wherein the 2D output image sequence comprises the input image sequence and a 2D intermediate image generated from the input image sequence;
• a 3D frame rate conversion unit which receives the input image sequence and generates a 3D output image sequence having a third frame rate if the image display determination unit determines that the input image sequence is the 3D image sequence, wherein the 3D output image sequence repeatedly comprises at least one left-viewpoint image and at least one right-viewpoint image of the input image sequence, a left-viewpoint intermediate image, and a right-viewpoint intermediate image in consideration of an order of the at least one left-viewpoint image and the at least one right-viewpoint image, the left-viewpoint intermediate image is determined from at least one left-viewpoint image in a left-viewpoint image sequence included in the input image sequence, and the right-viewpoint intermediate image is determined from the at least one right-viewpoint image in a right-viewpoint image sequence included in the input image sequence;
• a display panel which displays the 2D output image sequence or the 3D output image sequence;
• and
• a panel driving controller which drives the display panel to display the 2D output image sequence or the 3D output image sequence in synchronization with the second frame rate or the third frame rate, respectively
• wherein the 3D frame rate conversion unit further increases a frame rate of the 3D output image sequence by inserting a black image between every two adjacent images in the output image sequence.

A method of displaying a two-dimensional 2D or a three-dimensional (3D) image, the method comprising:

• determining whether an input image sequence having a first frame rate is a 2D image sequence or a 3D image sequence;
• generating a 2D output image sequence having a second frame rate if it is determined that the input image sequence is the 2D image sequence, wherein the 2D output image sequence comprising the first input image sequence and a 2D intermediate image generated from the first input image sequence;
• and
• generating a 3D output image sequence at a third frame rate if it is determined that the input image sequence is the 3D image sequence, wherein the 3D output image sequence repeatedly comprises at least one left-viewpoint image and at least one right-viewpoint image of the input image sequence, a left-viewpoint intermediate image, and a right-viewpoint intermediate image in consideration of an order of the at least one left-viewpoint image and the at least one right-viewpoint image, the left-viewpoint intermediate image is determined from the at least one left-viewpoint image in a left-viewpoint image sequence included in the input image sequence, and the right-viewpoint intermediate image is determined from the at least one right-viewpoint image in a right-viewpoint image sequence included in the input image sequence
• wherein a frame rate of the 3D output image sequence is further increased by inserting a black image between every two adjacent images in the output sequence.