Apparatus and method for checking the integrity of visual display information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138968-A1
Application number	US-201314899430-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2013
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for checking the integrity of visual display information and has particular application to checking images displayed in an automotive vehicle, such images containing safety critical information. The image intensity is checked only to an extent commensurate with a human being able to interpret its correct meaning. Hence, images which are defective in some way yet still recognisable by the human eye are not classified as failures. In one embodiment, a part of the image containing safety critical information is segmented into smaller areas and the luminance of pixels in each segmented area is compared with a threshold brightness level and a threshold darkness level. A histogram for each area is generated and compared with a reference.

First claim

1 . Apparatus for checking the integrity of visual display information wherein the visual display information represents an image comprising a plurality of pixels, the apparatus being arranged to; segment at least a part of the image into a plurality of segmented areas, for each segmented area, compare a at least one attribute of each pixel therein with at least one predetermined value, for each segmented area, determine a number of pixels which meets one or more predetermined criteria based on the comparison with said at least one predetermined value, for each segment, compare the determined number of pixels which meets one or more predetermined criteria with one or more reference values, and generate an error signal if the determined number of pixels which meets the one or more predetermined criteria in one or more segmented areas, fails to match one or more of said reference values.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute of a pixel comprises a luminance.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute of a pixel comprises a colour.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a first predetermined value is a brightness level and a second predetermined value is a darkness level.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a segmented area is four-sided.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a segmented area is circular.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the segmented areas are adjacent to one another.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is arranged generate a histogram for each segmented area, said histogram comprising a number of pixels within each segmented area which meet one or more predetermined criteria.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the image which is segmented relates to safety critical information.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is implemented in an integrated circuit device.

11 . A vehicle comprising the apparatus of claim 1 .

12 . A method for checking the integrity of visual display information wherein the visual display information represents an image comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising; segmenting at least a part of the image into a plurality of segmented areas, for each segmented area comparing at least one attribute of each pixel therein with at least one predetermined value, for each segmented area, determining a number of pixels which meet one or more predetermined criteria based on the comparison with said at least one predetermined value, for each segment, comparing the determined number of pixels which meet one or more predetermined criteria with one or more reference values, and generating an error signal if the determined number of pixels which meet the one or more of said predetermined criteria in one or more segmented areas fail to match one or more of said reference values.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein determining a number of cells which meet one or more predetermined criteria comprises generating a histogram.

14 . A tangible computer program product having executable code stored therein to perform a method for checking the integrity of visual display information in accordance with claim 12 .

Assignees

• Staudenmaier Michael
• Aubineau Vincent
• Von Wendorff Wilhard
• Freescale Semiconductor Inc

Inventors

• Staudenmaier Michael
• Aubineau Vincent
• Von Wendorff Wilhard

Classifications

• G09G3/006 Primary

  Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays (testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309) · CPC title

• G09G2380/10

  Automotive applications · CPC title

• G01J3/50

  using electric radiation detectors · CPC title

• G09G2380/12

  Avionics applications · CPC title

• G01J1/42 Primary

  using electric radiation detectors (optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10) · CPC title