Multi-Screen Display Tone Mapping for Power and Contrast

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-screen displays consume excessive power and cause user discomfort due to high light output, leading to increased eye strain and inefficiencies in power management.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that determines a tone mapping curve to reduce luminance and enhance saturation, thereby optimizing power consumption and contrast ratio across multiple display panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the plurality of display apparatuses output images with high luminance to form a large screen, then the brightness and visibility of the display is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the luminance of display apparatuses based on their position in the multi-screen configuration. The image processing apparatus calculates position information for each display and determines adjusted luminance values that reduce overall power consumption while maintaining visibility. This involves changing the luminance parameter of different display regions according to their spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the plurality of display apparatuses increase light output to form a large screen, then the display area and visibility are improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to eye strain and dazzle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoideye strain
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different luminance characteristics to different regions of the multi-screen display. The image processing apparatus determines position information for each display apparatus and adjusts the luminance output accordingly, creating spatial variations in brightness that reduce overall eye strain while maintaining adequate visibility across the entire display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If the luminance of displayed images is reduced to lower power consumption, then the power consumption decreases, but the contrast ratio and image quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcontrast ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically adjusting multiple parameters including luminance, saturation, and contrast. The image processing apparatus calculates adjusted luminance values based on display position and applies tone mapping curves that preserve contrast ratio while reducing overall luminance. This involves coordinated changes in saturation and contrast parameters to maintain image quality despite reduced power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces tone mapping curves as an intermediary mechanism between the original image data and the displayed output. These curves serve as a transformation function that adjusts luminance, saturation, and contrast parameters to achieve reduced power consumption while maintaining acceptable contrast ratio and image quality. The tone mapping acts as a mediator that balances power efficiency with visual performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces power consumption and improves the contrast ratio of multi-screen displays, enhancing user experience by minimizing eye strain and optimizing energy usage.

Implementation Method 1

determines a tone mapping curve based on the total power consumption of the plurality of display apparatuses and the power consumption of the display apparatus consuming maximum power among the plurality of display apparatuses; applies the determined tone mapping curve to image frame data to generate first image frame data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTone mapping:

Implementation Method 2

increases saturation of the first image frame data tone-mapped by the luminance controller to generate second image frame data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelmholtz-Kohlrausch effect:

Data Source

PatentEP3506079B1Image processing apparatus, image processing method and multi-screen display
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3506079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506079B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506079B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image processing apparatus for minimizing a collective amount of power consumed by a plurality of display apparatuses of a multi-screen system to display an image of the multi-screen system, and for optimizing hue and luminance of the image of the multi-screen system.