Local-Dimming Display Backlight Control via Preview Image Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for efficient and cost-effective methods to control local-dimming backlights in displays to achieve high-quality images, as existing technologies face challenges in providing good image quality while minimizing hardware costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a display apparatus that processes image data into two parts: a lower dynamic range version and a second part containing ratio data, which are used to generate control signals for both the spatial light modulator and the backlight, allowing for efficient and cost-effective control of individually controllable backlight elements to achieve high dynamic range images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex hardware is used to control backlight elements, then image quality is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a low-resolution preview image as a simplified copy or representation of the full-resolution image to generate backlight control signals. This allows the system to derive backlight control information from a downscaled version of the image, reducing computational complexity while maintaining effective local dimming control across the display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the backlight control into two distinct components: a first modulation layer that applies local dimming based on preview image analysis, and a second modulation layer that handles fine-grained pixel control. This segmentation allows each layer to operate at appropriate resolution levels, simplifying the overall control architecture while achieving high-quality image output.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution image processing is used for backlight control, then image quality is improved, but computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by generating a low-resolution preview image and deriving backlight control signals from this preview before applying the final high-resolution image processing. This preliminary action at reduced resolution significantly reduces computational complexity and processing time, while the results are then applied to the full-resolution display through the two-layer modulation approach.
3Illumination intensity
If local dimming control is implemented, then contrast ratio is improved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal two-layer modulation architecture where the first modulation layer handles local dimming control based on preview image analysis, and the second modulation layer handles fine-grained pixel control. This multi-functional approach allows a single display system to achieve both local dimming contrast enhancement and high-resolution image quality without requiring separate dedicated hardware systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Displays, display components, image and video processing apparatus and related methods are described. A method for driving local-dimming displays comprises generating control values for driving pixels of a spatial light modulator from one image data component and generating control values for driving backlight elements from a second image data component. The first and second image data components may respectively comprise a tone map and a ratio image. Control values for the spatial light modulator and/or backlight may be obtained using cost effective hardware.