Complementary Color Partitioning for Lower-Energy Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing energy consumption of display devices due to higher display resolutions and high dynamic range imaging is not aligned with the global need to reduce energy consumption, particularly in consumer electronics, where displays are the most significant energy consumers.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine pairs of alternating complementary colors for input colors, where the average color of the pair is perceptually similar to the input color and consumes less energy than displaying the input color alone, using spatially or temporally alternating complementary colors to minimize energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If display resolution is increased from SD to HD, 4K, and 8K, then image quality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments each pixel into multiple sub-pixels that display alternating complementary colors. Instead of displaying a single color per pixel, each pixel is divided into sub-regions that show different colors (e.g., red and green sub-pixels for an orange pixel), leveraging human visual fusion to perceive the intended color while reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the color parameters by replacing a single input color with a pair of alternating complementary colors. By selecting colors that are complementary (opposite on the color wheel) and controlling their luminance and saturation levels, the system achieves perceptual similarity while reducing the total luminance energy required for display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If high dynamic range imaging is implemented, then image quality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms HDR color values into alternating complementary color pairs by adjusting luminance and saturation parameters. The method calculates appropriate luminance levels for each complementary color based on the input HDR values, ensuring that the combined perceptual effect matches the original high-dynamic-range image while requiring less total luminance energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If alternating complementary colors are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but image processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary color space transformations and pre-calculates the alternating complementary color pairs before display. By converting input colors to the appropriate color space and determining the complementary color pairs in advance, the system reduces real-time processing complexity during actual display operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies systematic parameter transformations using established color science models to convert between color spaces and calculate complementary colors. This approach provides a standardized, repeatable method for generating alternating complementary color pairs without requiring complex custom algorithms for each color.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method reduces energy consumption by up to half while maintaining perceptual similarity, achieved through spatially or temporally combining pixels into pairs of complementary colors, leveraging human visual fusion principles.

Implementation Method 1

leveraging human visual fusion principles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHuman visual fusion:

Data Source

PatentEP4679411A1Partitioning color transform for alternating complementary colors
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP4679411A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4679411A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4679411A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

Methods and devices propose to use alternating complementary colors to reduce the energy consumption of an image or video, based on a double color look-up table storing pairs of alternating complementary colors being associated with an information indicative of a mode representing the selection process of the pair of colors. This allows to prevent interpolation of colors of the double color look-up table that were obtained using different modes which would lead to inconsistencies in the resulting image.