Mitsubishi, which has been manufacturing 3D-capable TVs well before the current craze, found itself in a complicated situation with the new 3D Blu-ray spec.

Mitsubishi’s method of interpreting a 3D signal is not compatible with the 3D Blu-ray spec. To address this problem, Mitsubishi showed at CES 2010 a 3D Blu-ray adapter (3DC-1000) that takes the HDMI output of a 3D Blu-ray player and converts it to a signal the Mitsubishi TV understands.

Mitsubishi 3D TVs create 3D images by generating two separate checkerboard pattern fields that, when viewed though active shutter LCD glasses, deliver the 3D experience.

Mitsubishi says the adapter only will work with 3D Blu-ray players, but it’s only a small leap to imagine the adapter may also work with cable and satellite settop boxes once those start transmitting 3D signals on networks such as ESPN and Discovery.

The Mitsubishi 3DC-1000 3D adapter will be available in late spring of 2010. No pricing was announced.

Grant Clauser - Technology and Web Editor, Electronic House

Grant Clauser has been covering home electronics for more than 10 years with editorial roles in several consumer and trade magazines. He's done ISF-level damage to hundreds of reviewed products and has had audio training from Home Acoustics Alliance and Sencore. He's also the author of the book The Trouble with Rivers. Follow him on Twitter @geclauser.