Method and apparatus for HDR on-demand attenuation control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10109228-B2
Application number	US-201514985279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

In a method of attenuating image brightness in a high dynamic range (HDR) display device, the method includes: receiving, by a processor, an incoming data stream comprising image data; detecting, by the processor, a trigger for attenuating a brightness level of a first image corresponding to the image data; generating, by the processor, output image data for a second image based on the first image, wherein the second image has a different average brightness level than the first image; and displaying, by the processor, the second image on the HDR display device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attenuating image brightness in a high dynamic range (HDR) display device, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, an incoming video data stream comprising image data;
detecting, by the processor, a trigger from the incoming video data stream for attenuating a brightness level of a first image corresponding to the image data, wherein the trigger is indicative of a commercial break;
generating, by the processor, output image data for a second image based on the first image, wherein the second image has a lower average brightness level than the first image; and
displaying, by the processor, the second image on the HDR display device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the trigger comprises:
monitoring, by the processor, metadata of the incoming video data stream; and
identifying, by the processor, a change in a characteristic of the metadata corresponding to the commercial break.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the trigger further comprises:
receiving, by the processor, an indicator from a sensor indicating a user-supplied input to request a subdued display mode.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is configured to receive a signal from a remote control operated by a user as the user-supplied input.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is configured to receive a voice command from a user as the user-supplied input.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image comprises a composite of the first image and a third image, wherein the first image is located at a sub-region of a display area smaller than an entirety of the display area and the third image is located outside the sub-region.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising retrieving, by the processor from a memory, the third image, wherein the third image has a different average brightness than the first image.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising retrieving, by the processor from an external source, an advertisement for display as the third image.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the trigger further comprises:
receiving, by the processor from a camera, an image of an environment in proximity to the HDR display device; and
detecting, by the processor, a lack of user attentiveness based on the image of the environment.

10. A system for attenuating image brightness, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive an incoming video data stream comprising image data;
detect a trigger for attenuating a brightness level of a first image corresponding to the image data, wherein the trigger corresponds to a commercial break;
generate output image data for a second image based on the first image, wherein the second image has a lower average brightness level than the first image; and
transmit a signal to display the second image.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
monitor metadata of the incoming video data stream; and
identifying, by the processor, a change in a characteristic of the metadata corresponding to the commercial break.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
receive an indicator from a sensor indicating a user-supplied input to request attenuation of the brightness level.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is configured to receive a signal from a remote control operated by a user as the user-supplied input.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second image comprises a composite of the first image and a third image, wherein the first image is located at a sub-region of a display area smaller than an entirety of the display area and the third image is located outside the sub-region.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve, from the memory, the third image, wherein the third image has a different average brightness than the first image.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve, from an external source, an advertisement for display as the third image.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
receive, from a camera, an image of an environment in proximity to an HDR display device; and
detect a lack of user attentiveness based on the image of the environment.

18. A high dynamic range (HDR) display device comprising:
an HDR display panel;
a processor coupled to the HDR display panel; and
a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive an incoming video data stream comprising image data;
detect a trigger for attenuating a brightness level of a first image corresponding to the image data, wherein the trigger corresponds to a commercial break;
generate output image data for a second image based on the first image, wherein the second image has a lower average brightness level than the first image; and
display the second image on the HDR display panel.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hoffman David M
• Zamora David

Classifications

• G09G2320/0271

  Adjustment of the gradation levels within the range of the gradation scale, e.g. by redistribution or clipping · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G09G2360/16

  Calculation or use of calculated indices related to luminance levels in display data · CPC title

• G09G2370/08

  Details of image data interface between the display device controller and the data line driver circuit · CPC title

• G09G2360/141

  the light conveying information used for selecting or modulating the light emitting or modulating element · CPC title