Display Control Apparatus Managing Luminance and Gradation Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video systems compress the dynamic range of images, leading to unnatural gradation characteristics, especially at high luminance levels, and often fail to control monitor luminance for external displays, resulting in unintentionally darkened images when displaying images with linearized gradation characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A display control apparatus that captures images with two different gradation characteristics, allowing for higher luminance settings when displaying images with a higher gradation quality on high-luminance sides, and includes a control unit to adjust the display unit's luminance accordingly, ensuring natural gradation across all luminance levels and improving visibility on external monitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the gradation characteristic is linearized with respect to luminance to achieve natural gradation, then the natural gradation is attained, but the intermediate luminance and low luminance are darkened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by switching between two different gamma characteristics (first gamma characteristic and second gamma characteristic) depending on the luminance level. The processing unit selects the first gamma characteristic for standard display and the second gamma characteristic for high-luminance priority display, thereby adjusting the gradation parameters to achieve natural gradation without darkening intermediate and low luminance regions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging apparatus compresses contrast in the region from intermediate luminance to high luminance to secure practical input dynamic range, then the practical input dynamic range is secured, but the gradation characteristic becomes unnatural with contrast compressed at high-luminance portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gamma characteristic adjustable and switchable based on display conditions. The processing unit can dynamically select between the first gamma characteristic (for standard dynamic range) and the second gamma characteristic (for extended high-luminance dynamic range), allowing the system to adapt to different display requirements while maintaining natural gradation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the luminance of external monitor cannot be controlled from reproduction apparatus side, then the external monitor can be used with standard settings, but the video image is unintentionally darkened when displaying with linearized gradation characteristic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the video signal with appropriate gamma correction before output to external monitors. The processing unit applies the second gamma characteristic (high-luminance priority) when detecting external monitor output, thereby compensating in advance for the inability to control external monitor luminance and preventing darkened display.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display a first type of image captured with a first gradation characteristic and a second type of image captured with a second gradation characteristic having a higher gradation quality on a high-luminance side than the first gradation characteristic, and a control unit configured to perform control such that luminance of a display unit is set to second luminance higher than first luminance of a case where the first type of image is displayed, in a case where the second type of image is displayed.