Image Processing Apparatus Local Dimming Control

Solution Overview

Problem

When displaying the same source image on multiple liquid crystal displays with different backlight control units during local dimming control, it is challenging to perform appropriate backlight control per area, leading to increased power consumption and image quality deterioration.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus determines target resolutions for each source image based on the backlight control unit sizes of the displays, converting the image resolutions to match the common multiples of the backlight control unit sizes, allowing for synchronized local dimming control across displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the same source image is displayed on multiple displays with different backlight control unit sizes, then the display system can show content on multiple screens, but appropriate local dimming control cannot be performed leading to increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay compatibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display area into multiple backlight control units with different resolutions, and processes each segment independently by converting source images to resolutions that are common multiples of the control unit sizes. This allows each display to optimize its backlight control for its specific hardware configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resolution parameter of source images before display, converting them to target resolutions that are common multiples of the backlight control unit sizes. This parameter transformation enables proper alignment between image content and backlight control boundaries, allowing effective local dimming across displays with different control unit configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the same source image is displayed on multiple displays with different backlight control unit sizes, then the display system can show content on multiple screens, but appropriate local dimming control cannot be performed leading to image quality deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay compatibilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display area into multiple backlight control units with different resolutions, and processes each segment independently by converting source images to resolutions that are common multiples of the control unit sizes. This allows each display to optimize its backlight control for its specific hardware configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resolution parameter of source images before display, converting them to target resolutions that are common multiples of the backlight control unit sizes. This parameter transformation enables proper alignment between image content and backlight control boundaries, allowing effective local dimming across displays with different control unit configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by stationary object

If local dimming control is performed on displays with different backlight control unit sizes, then power consumption can be reduced per display, but synchronized control across multiple displays becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacklight power consumptionVSAvoidcontrol synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal processing framework that handles multiple display types with different backlight control unit sizes through a common method: converting source images to resolutions that are common multiples of all involved control unit sizes. This universal approach simplifies synchronized control across diverse display configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resolution parameter of source images before display, converting them to target resolutions that are common multiples of the backlight control unit sizes. This parameter transformation enables proper alignment between image content and backlight control boundaries, allowing effective local dimming across displays with different control unit configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10497149B2Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus according to one embodiment determines target resolutions of a plurality of source images based on a first horizontal direction size and a first vertical direction size which are a horizontal direction size and a vertical direction size of a backlight control unit of a first display, and a second horizontal direction size and a second vertical direction size which are a horizontal direction size and a vertical direction size of a backlight control unit of a second display, and converts the resolution of each of a plurality of source images such that the resolution of each of a plurality of source images becomes the target resolution.