Method and arrangement for improving image quality on a display of an imaging device

• US 20040100478A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bianchi, Mark J., Brake, Wilfred F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/066 for control of contrast
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

In the method and arrangement, a value of at least one image parameter of a liveview scene that is displayed on an imaging device display is determined. Based on the determined image parameter value, compensation value for the image parameter is determined, and the value of the image parameter is changed in accordance with the compensation value.

Claims

1. A method of improving image quality on a display of an imaging device having at least one adjustable parameter, comprising the steps of:

determining a value of at least one image parameter of a liveview scene that is displayed on the imaging device display;

determining a compensation value for the adjustable parameter based on the determined image parameter value; and

changing the value of the adjustable parameter in accordance with the determined compensation value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining a value of at least one image parameter further includes measuring at least one or more of a color hue parameter, a brightness parameter and a contrast parameter of the liveview scene.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one adjustable parameter includes at least one or more settings for color hue, brightness and contrast that are initially set in the imaging device when the imaging device is energized.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of determining a compensation value further includes:

deriving a new setting for one of more of the color hue, brightness and contrast settings based on the determined image parameter value, and

determining a compensation value from the newly derived setting.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said changing step further includes adjusting at least one of the default color hue, brightness and contrast settings using the control values.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the newly derived settings.

7. An arrangement for improving image quality on a display of an imaging device having at least one adjustable parameter, comprising the steps of:

means for determining a value of at least one image parameter of a liveview scene displayed on the imaging device display;

means for determining a compensation value for the adjustable parameter based on the determined image parameter value; and

means for changing the value of the adjustable parameter in accordance with the determined compensation value.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein said means for determining a value of at least one image parameter further includes a charge coupled device for capturing the liveview scene and a processor for calculating at least one or more of a color hue parameter, a brightness parameter and a contrast parameter of the captured liveview scene.

9. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein said at least one adjustable parameter includes at least one or more settings for color hue, brightness and contrast that are initially set in the imaging device when the imaging device is energized.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said means for determining a compensation value further includes a processor deriving at least one new setting for one of more of the color hue, brightness and contrast settings based on the determined image parameter value, and calculating a compensation value based on the newly derived setting.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means for changing further includes the processor writing the calculated compensation value to a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller, and the LCD controller adjusting at least one of the color hue, brightness and contrast settings using the calculated compensation value to improve the image quality of the liveview image.

12. The arrangement of claim 10, further comprising:

means for storing the newly derived settings.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said means for storing further includes a look-up table (LUT) for storing the newly derived settings.

14. A method of correcting a color hue setting in an imaging device for improving image quality of a liveview scene displayed on a display of the imaging device, comprising the steps of:

determining a color hue setting of the imaging device;

measuring a color hue value of the displayed liveview scene;

calculating a compensation value based on the measured color hue value; and

adjusting the color hue setting in accordance with the calculated compensation value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said calculating step further includes:

using an auto-white balance algorithm to determine a plurality of new color hue values based on each measured hue color hue value,

storing the auto-white balance algorithm-determined color hue values in memory,

associating a liquid crystal display (LCD) hue correction value with each stored auto-white balance algorithm-determined color hue value, the LCD hue correction value representing the compensation value,

comparing a subsequently measured color hue value to the stored auto-white balance algorithm-determined color hue values, and

selecting the LCD hue correction value of the auto-white balance algorithm-determined color hue value that is closest to the measured color hue value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjusting step further includes applying the selected LCD hue correction value to the color hue setting to improve image quality of the liveview scene.

17. A method of correcting brightness and contrast settings in an imaging device for improving image quality of a liveview scene displayed on a display of the imaging device, comprising the steps of:

determining one or more of a brightness setting and a contrast setting of the imaging device;

measuring one or more of a brightness value and a contrast value of the displayed liveview scene;

calculating a compensation value based on the measured value; and

adjusting one or more of a brightness setting and a contrast setting in accordance with the calculated compensation value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said calculating step further includes referring to a histogram to determine said compensation value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said measured value is selected from a group comprising one or more of a dynamic range of the displayed liveview image, a key of the displayed liveview image and an average brightness value of the displayed liveview image.