Local Dimming Algorithm for Vehicle Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) methods in vehicle displays require significant computational power and memory, leading to high costs and integration challenges, especially when using traditional computation methods to determine zone status, which is inefficient and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
An image processing algorithm is applied to determine new pixel values, map them bilinearly, and repeat the process until an approximation value is reached, dividing the image into zones with associated LEDs, using a processor to make illumination decisions based on luminance data, reducing computational load without additional hardware costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional computation methods are used to determine zone status by reading every pixel in the entire image, then accurate illumination decisions can be made, but significant computational load is placed on the processor and memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display image into multiple zones, each associated with one or more LEDs. Instead of processing every pixel individually, the system processes one zone at a time, determining illumination status for each zone independently. This segmentation reduces the computational load from processing all pixels simultaneously to processing subsets of pixels in sequential zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies bilinear scaling to approximate pixel values in a zone rather than using exact original pixel data. This partial action approach uses interpolated values from surrounding pixels to estimate zone luminance, reducing processing requirements while maintaining sufficient accuracy for illumination decisions. The approximation is acceptable because the goal is binary on/off decisions, not precise luminance measurement.
2Productivity
If a custom ASIC is developed to perform FALD calculations separately, then processing power requirements are met, but significant cost is added to the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the FALD processing algorithm to be integrated within existing display control processors, making the processor multi-functional. The same processor that controls display rendering and other functions also performs FALD zone status determination. This eliminates the need for dedicated ASIC hardware and reduces overall system cost while maintaining real-time processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its existing computational resources and memory to perform FALD processing without requiring external specialized hardware. The processor leverages its own capabilities and existing memory structures to execute the zone processing algorithm, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding additional hardware costs.
3Measurement precision
If every pixel in the entire image is read to determine zone status, then accurate illumination decisions are made, but far too much data is processed in real time on a low cost embedded system on a chip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data into zone-specific subsets, processing only the pixels within each active zone at the time of illumination decision. This reduces data volume from the entire image (720×1920 pixels) to smaller zone portions, making real-time processing feasible on low-cost embedded systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary pixel data from each zone for illumination decision-making, rather than processing the complete image data set. By extracting and processing only zone-relevant pixels, the system reduces data processing volume while maintaining the accuracy needed for proper illumination control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing full array local dimming to a display comprises performing an image processing algorithm with a processor having instructions for: determining a new pixel value for each of a plurality of pixels of the image, mapping the new pixel value to a prior pixel value for each of the plurality of pixels, scaling the image of the zone bilinearly, repeating the determining mapping and scaling until an approximation value is reached, compiling the repeated results into a data set. The method also includes dividing an image for the display having into a plurality of zones each having at least one LED associate therewith and making an illumination decision from the data set, where the illumination decision is for the at least one LED associated with one of the plurality of zones.