HDR to SDR Image Conversion for Non-HDR Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display devices that do not support High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology struggle to accurately display HDR images, and existing solutions do not effectively adapt HDR images for display on non-HDR devices or recorders that support HDR but connected to non-HDR displays.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine whether to reproduce a high quality image as is or generate a lower quality image from the high quality image based on conversion determination information, allowing suitable image reproduction on non-HDR display devices by including HDR and Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) images along with conversion information, which enables the generation of a converted SDR image from the HDR image when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If HDR images are reproduced on non-HDR display devices, then image quality is degraded, but converting HDR to SDR increases processing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-converting HDR images to SDR format and storing multiple versions (original HDR and converted SDR) in the recording medium. This allows the reproduction device to select the appropriate version based on display device capabilities, avoiding the need for real-time conversion processing during playback while ensuring compatibility with non-HDR displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If HDR images are stored in recording medium, then storage space is consumed, but without conversion information HDR images cannot be displayed on non-HDR devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay compatibilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image data into multiple versions (HDR and SDR) and stores them separately in the recording medium. Each version is tagged with metadata indicating its format, allowing the reproduction device to select and reproduce only the appropriate version for the connected display device, thereby maintaining display compatibility while managing storage space efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If real-time conversion from HDR to SDR is performed, then compatibility with non-HDR devices is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates real-time conversion by performing the HDR to SDR conversion in advance during the image creation phase. Both converted versions are stored in the recording medium with appropriate metadata tags, enabling the reproduction device to simply select and reproduce the suitable version without any computational conversion overhead during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3522527B1Reproduction method, creation method, reproduction device, and creation device
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3522527B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3522527B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3522527B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a reproducing method for reproducing suitable images on a display device. The reproducing method includes: an obtaining step of obtaining a high quality image and a first low quality image that are still images showing an identical scene, and conversion determination information; a first determining step of determining whether or not the display device can display the high quality image; a first reproducing step of reproducing the high quality image when the display device can display the high quality image; a second determining step of determining whether or not to generate a second low quality image by using the conversion determination information when the display device cannot display the high quality image; a second reproducing step of reproducing the first low quality image when it is determined not to generate the second low quality image; and a third reproducing step of generating the second low quality image from the high quality image and reproducing the second low quality image when it is determined to generate the second low quality image.