Backlight Adjustment for Mobile Displays Using Image Brightness Headroom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless handheld mobile communication devices consume excessive battery power due to backlight systems that do not account for the current features of images being displayed, leading to inefficient brightness adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that identify the highest brightness value in an image, determine brightness headroom, and adjust the backlight level accordingly, using a ratio of the highest brightness value to the maximum display brightness, while also considering ambient light conditions to optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the backlight system operates at high brightness levels continuously, then the display provides sufficient brightness for all images, but the battery power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight brightness is made dynamic by continuously analyzing the brightness values of displayed images and adjusting the backlight level accordingly. The system transitions from a static high-brightness operation to a dynamic adaptation scheme where the backlight intensity varies based on the actual content being displayed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sufficient brightness and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the backlight brightness parameter based on the analyzed brightness characteristics of the displayed image. By calculating the maximum brightness value in the image and comparing it with the display's maximum capability, the system determines an optimal backlight level that provides adequate illumination while minimizing power consumption, thus resolving the energy-brightness tradeoff.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the backlight level is reduced to save power, then battery life extends, but the perceived image quality and brightness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the brightness characteristics of the displayed image are continuously monitored and analyzed. This feedback information is used to adjust the backlight level dynamically, ensuring that the perceived image quality remains adequate while optimizing power consumption. The feedback loop prevents excessive dimming that would degrade image quality while still achieving energy savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the image brightness values before adjusting the backlight level. By pre-calculating the maximum brightness in the image and determining the appropriate backlight adjustment in advance, the system ensures that image quality is maintained while power consumption is optimized, avoiding reactive adjustments that might compromise display quality.
3Reliability
If the backlight system activates for all images regardless of content, then consistent display performance is maintained, but power is wasted on already bright images
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality assessment by analyzing the specific brightness characteristics of each displayed image content. Instead of treating all images uniformly, the system evaluates the actual brightness values in the image data and applies differential backlight control based on the local brightness requirements of the content, thereby eliminating energy waste on already bright images while maintaining display performance where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a device and method for adjusting a backlight for a display for an electronic device. The method comprises: identifying a highest brightness value for a pixel in an image to be generated on the display; determining a brightness headroom value for the image based on a difference between the highest brightness value and a maximum brightness level for the display; and if the brightness headroom value is determined to be larger than a predetermined threshold, then when an adjusted image based on the image is generated on the display having a brightness based on the brightness headroom, generating an adjusted backlight level for the backlight, the adjusted backlight level being based on a ratio of the highest brightness value to the maximum brightness level.