Method and device for avoiding image misinterpretation due to defective pixels in a matrix display

• US 20040174320A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barco NV
• Original Assignee: Barco NV
• Inventors: Kimpe, Tom, Matthijs, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/10 Dealing with defective pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for avoiding misinterpretation of images due to defective pixels present in matrix addressed electronic displays during display time. This may be very important e.g. in the medical world. The method comprises obtaining information on the presence of the defective pixels in the display, and modulating the operation of the display so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels on the actual display having defect pixels, or adapting the image content of the defective pixels or of pixels in the neighbourhood of the defective pixels so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pix is in a copy of the displayed image. Such copy may be a hard copy or an electronic copy.

A corresponding device is also provided.

Claims

1. - Method for avoiding misinterpretation of an image displayed on a matrix display due to defective pixels in the matrix display, the method comprising:

obtaining information on the presence of the defective pixels in the display, and

modulating the operation of the display so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels on the actual display having defect pixels, or adapting the image content of the defective pixels or of pixels in the neighbourhood of the defective pixels so, as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels in a copy of the displayed image.

2. - Method according to claim 1, wherein, the copy is a hard copy or an electronic copy.

3. - Method according to claim 1, wherein the information is obtained from data previously stored in a memory device.

4. - Method according to claim 3, comprising, while displaying the image on the matrix display, supplying information on defective pixels to a user, based on the stored data.

5. - Method according to claim 1, wherein, indicating, emphasising or warning for the presence of at least one defective pixel comprises visually marking the at least one defective pixel on the display.

6. - Method according to claim 1, furthermore comprising shifting the displayed image so that defective pixels are not located in a region of interest.

7. - Method according to, claim 1, furthermore comprising shifting the displayed image so that a defective pixel is located in a flat image area.

8. - Method according to claim 1, wherein the information on the presence of defective pixels is obtained by means of an image capturing device.

9. - A device for avoiding misinterpretation of an image displayed on a matrix display due to defective pixels in the matrix display, the device comprising:

an information retrieval device for obtaining information on the presence of the defective pixels in the display, and

a modulating device for modulating the operation of the display so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels on the actual display having defect pixels, or for adapting the image content of the defective pixels or of pixels in the neighbourhood of the defective pixels so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels in a copy of the displayed image.

10. - A device according to claim 9, wherein the information retrieval device comprises a memory device where defective pixel information data is stored.

11. - A device according to claim 10, comprising an information supply device for supplying information on defective pixels to a user, based on the stored data, while displaying the image on the matrix display

12. - A device according to claim 9, furthermore comprising marking means for visually marking the defective pixels oh the display.

13. - A device according to claim 9, furthermore, comprising a shifting device for shifting the displayed image so that defective pixels are not located in a region of interest.

14. - A device according to claim 9, furthermore comprising a shifting device for shifting the displayed image so that a defective pixel is located in a flat image area

15. - A control unit for use with a device for avoiding misinterpretation of an image displayed on a matrix display, due to defective pixels in the matrix display, the control unit being adapted for controlling the obtaining of information on the presence and characteristics of the defect pixels in the display, and for controlling modulation of the operation of the display so as to indicate emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels on the actual display having defect pixels, or adaptation of the image content of the defective pixels or of pixels in the neighbourhood of the defective pixels so as to indicate, emphasise or warn for the presence of said defective pixels in a copy of the displayed image.