Image formation in a segmented display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016117993-A1
Application number	US-201414521176-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for forming an image on a display in a display device including a plurality of backlight segments. Each backlight segment is capable of illuminating a respective illumination display segment of a plurality of illumination display segments. In one aspect, a controller associated with the display device is capable of decomposing an image frame into a plurality of frame segments to be displayed on the plurality of illumination display segments. The controller can determine a separate frame segment specific contributing color (FSSCC) for each frame segment based on content of the respective frame segment and a criterion limiting the color difference between a pair of FSSCCs based on the spatial proximity of the respective display regions. The controller can display the image frame according to the plurality of determined FSSCCs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of backlight segments, each backlight segment being capable of illuminating a respective display region of a plurality of display regions; and a controller configured to:
receive image data associated with an image frame;
decompose the image data into a plurality of frame segments, each frame segment to be displayed on a respective display region of the plurality of display regions;
determine a separate frame segment specific contributing color (FSSCC) for each frame segment based on:
content of the respective frame segment; and
a criterion limiting the color difference between a pair of FSSCCs based on the spatial proximity of the respective display regions; and

display the image frame according to the determined FSSCCs.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining the FSSCC, the controller is further configured to:
calculate for each frame segment one or more parameters indicative of content of the frame segment; identify a FSSCC for each frame segment based on the respective one or more parameters; and adjust the identified FSSCCs based on color differences between pairs of the identified FSSCCs associated with corresponding frame segments.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the FSSCCs, the controller is further configured to:
compare color differences between pairs of identified FSSCCs to one or more thresholds; and adjust at least one FSSCC associated with a color difference exceeding a threshold of the one or more thresholds.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the color differences are computed based on the identified FSSCCs or based on computed perceived values of the FSSCCs.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the computed perceived values of the FSSCCs are determined using a Retinex-based relative reflectance model.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining the FSSCC is further based on a criterion limiting color difference between a pair of FSSCCs associated with temporally consecutive image frames for a single frame segment.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein determining the FSSCC, the controller is further configured to enforce the color difference between the pair of FSSCCs associated with temporally consecutive image frames for a single frame segment to be smaller than a threshold.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining the FSSCCs, the controller is further configured to:
calculate for each frame segment one or more parameters indicative of content of the frame segment; and select an FSSCC for each frame segment based on the respective one or more parameters from a lookup table.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a dimming value for a light source of multiple light sources associated with a backlight segment of the plurality of backlight segments.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a light source chromaticity associated with the determined light source dimming value based on a lookup table; map pixel values of the frame segment associated with the backlight segment to color values in a gamut defined based on the determined light source chromaticity; and use the mapped pixel values to display the image data segment.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein causing the image frame to be displayed includes causing the light source to be illuminated according to the determined light source dimming value.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display including the plurality of display regions, each of the plurality of display regions including a plurality of display elements, the controller including a processor capable of communicating with the display, the processor being capable of processing image data; and a memory device capable of communicating with the processor.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a driver circuit capable of sending at least one signal to the display, the controller being capable of sending at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
an image source module capable of sending the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
an input device capable of receiving input data and communicating the input data to the processor.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer code instructions stored thereon, which when executed cause a processor to:
receive image data associated with an image frame; decompose the image data into a plurality of frame segments, each frame segment to be displayed on a respective display region of a plurality of display regions, each display region illuminated by a separate backlight segment of a plurality of backlight segments; determine a separate frame segment specific contributing color (FSSCC) for each frame segment based on content of the respective frame segment and a criterion limiting the color difference between a pair of FSSCCs based on the spatial proximity of the respective display regions; and display the image frame according to the plurality of determined FSSCCs.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein determining the FSSCC includes:
calculating for each frame segment one or more parameters indicative of content of the frame segment; identifying an FSSCC for each frame segment based on the respective one or more parameters; and adjusting the identified FSSCCs based on color differences between pairs of the identified FSSCCs associated with corresponding frame segments.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the FSSCCs includes:
comparing color differences between pairs of identified FSSCCs to one or more thresholds; and adjusting at least one FSSCC associated with a color difference exceeding a threshold of the one or more thresholds.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the color differences are determined based on the identified FSSCCs or based on computed perceived values of the FSSCCs.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the computed perceived values of the FSSCCs are determined using a Retinex-based relative reflectance model.

21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer code instructions when executed by the processor are further configured to:
determine a dimming value for a light source of multiple light sources associated with a backlight segment of the plurality of backlight segments.

22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the computer code instructions when executed by the processor are further configured to:
determine a light source chromaticity associated with the determined light source dimming value based on a lookup table; map pixel values of the frame segment associated with the backlight segment to color values in a gamut defined based on the determined light source chromaticity; and display the image data segment using the mapped pixel values.

23 . An apparatus comprising:
means for receiving image data associated with an image frame; means for decomposing the image data into a plurality

Assignees

• Pixtronix Inc

Inventors

• Buckley Edward
• Gandhi Jignesh

Classifications

• G09G2320/0666

  for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature · CPC title

• G09G2320/0646

  Modulation of illumination source brightness and image signal correlated to each other · CPC title

• G09G3/3413 Primary

  Details of control of colour illumination sources · CPC title

• G09G2320/0285

  using tables for spatial correction of display data · CPC title

• G09G2320/029

  by monitoring one or more pixels in the display panel, e.g. by monitoring a fixed reference pixel · CPC title