Backlight Control Synchronization in Display Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid crystal display devices face challenges in synchronizing image data with backlight control signals without increasing circuit complexity, particularly due to time lags in brightness control, which affect power consumption and contrast, and motion blur issues during video signal processing.

Innovation Solution

A display device incorporating a memory for frame rate conversion, an interpolation frame generation unit, and a histogram generator to synchronize image data with backlight control signals, using frame rate conversion and light-dark field division techniques to adjust backlight brightness based on generated histograms, thereby eliminating the need for a frame memory and reducing motion blur.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If frame rate conversion is performed to reduce motion blur, then display quality improves, but device complexity increases due to requiring frame memory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frame interval into multiple sub-intervals (first field interval and second field interval) and processes image data for each sub-interval separately. This segmentation allows the system to achieve frame rate conversion effects without requiring a complete frame memory, as each sub-interval can be processed independently with reduced memory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing of image data by generating intermediate image data through interpolation between adjacent frames before display. This preliminary action includes calculating intermediate pixel values and preparing adjusted image data in advance, enabling smooth motion representation without needing to store entire frames in memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If histogram generation is used to control backlight brightness, then power consumption improves, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to time lag

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates histograms and calculates backlight control signals in advance for each sub-interval based on corresponding image data. By performing this calculation preliminarily and synchronizing it with the divided frame intervals, the system eliminates the time lag between image display and backlight adjustment, achieving both power efficiency and synchronization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the backlight control into multiple sub-intervals corresponding to field intervals, with each sub-interval having its own synchronized histogram and control signal. This segmentation allows precise temporal matching between image data and backlight brightness adjustments, eliminating synchronization errors that would occur with single-frame processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If hold-type display is used to maintain image, then display continuity improves, but motion blur increases due to retinal persistence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay continuityVSAvoidmotion blur
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic updates of display images at higher frequency by dividing each frame into multiple fields and updating each field periodically. This periodic action with increased update frequency reduces the duration of retinal persistence effects, thereby reducing motion blur while maintaining display continuity through the sequential presentation of light and dark fields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts display parameters by inserting black fields between image fields and varying the timing of field presentations. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the display timing to reduce motion blur effects while maintaining overall image continuity, transforming the static hold-type display into a more dynamic presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8446356B2Display device
Publication Date: 2013.05.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • US8446356B2 patent drawing
  • US8446356B2 patent drawing
  • US8446356B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The display device including: a display panel; a backlight; a memory for converting frame rate of an input video signal and outputting a video signal; an interpolation frame generation unit for generating an interpolation frame based on the video signal output from the memory; a histogram generator for generating a histogram based on the input video signal; and a backlight brightness calculation unit for calculating a backlight control signal, the display device further comprising: wherein image data for display, which is obtained by an N-th frame of the input video signal, and image data of the interpolation frame generated based on the N-th frame and an (N+1)-th frame of the input video signal, is input to the display panel; and wherein the backlight control signal calculated based on the histogram generated based on the image data of the N-th frame is used for displaying the image data for display.