ZERO-D DIMMING FOR 3D DISPLAYS

• US 20110141244A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: VOS, MARTIN J., CASNER, GLENN E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,520,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0233 Improving the luminance or brightness uniformity across the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A method of zero-D dimming backlights for 3D or multi-view displays using right and left image data. The method receives right and left pixel luminance values for the right and left image data, and it remaps the right and left pixel luminance values using a factor based upon an average luminance value or based upon a luminance percentile value or a modified factor that further includes the absolute difference between left and right pixel luminance values. The factor or modified factor are selectively used to remap particular right and left pixel luminance values based upon a disparity consideration. The method results in power savings by dimming the backlight without perceptible or substantial loss in brightness of the display.

Claims

1. A method of zero-D dimming for a display using right and left image data, comprising,

receiving right image data having right pixel luminance values;

receiving left image data having left pixel luminance values; and

modifying the right and left pixel luminance values using a first factor based upon an average or a percentile statistics based luminance value (L_a) and using a second factor based upon differences between the right pixel luminance values and the left pixel luminance values,

wherein the modifying step includes selectively using the first factor or second factor based upon a disparity consideration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first factor includes L_s/L_a, where L_s is a converted luminance value based upon L_a.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein L_a is an average based luminance value or percentile based value of the right and left image data having a luminance disparity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second factor includes the absolute difference |L_r−

L_l|, where L_r is one of the right pixel luminance values and L_l is one of the left pixel luminance values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying step includes selectively using the first factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is not greater than L_a.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying step includes selectively using the second factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is greater than L_a.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes receiving the right and left image data for a 3D display.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes receiving the right and left image data for a multi-view display.

9. A system for zero-D dimming a display using right and left image data, comprising a controller configured to:

receive right image data having right pixel luminance values;

receive left image data having left pixel luminance values; and

modify the right and left pixel luminance values using a first factor based upon an average or a percentile statistics based luminance value (L_a) and using a second factor based upon differences between the right pixel luminance values and the left pixel luminance values,

wherein the modifying includes selectively using the first factor or second factor based upon a disparity consideration.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first factor includes L_s/L_a, where L_s is a converted luminance value based upon L_a.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second factor includes the absolute difference |L_r−

L_l|, where L_r is one of the right pixel luminance values and L_l is one of the left pixel luminance values.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to selectively use the first factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is not greater than L_a.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to selectively use the second factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is greater than L_a.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to receive the right and left image data for a 3D display.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to receive the right and left image data for a multi-view display.

16. A 3D display having zero-D dimming, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel;

a backlight having light sources capable of being modulated between right image data and left image data;

a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight; and

a controller, coupled to the backlight, configured to;

receive the right image data having right pixel luminance values;

receive the left image data having left pixel luminance values; and

modify the right and left pixel luminance values using a first factor based upon an average or a percentile statistics based luminance value (L_a) and using a second factor based upon differences between the right pixel luminance values and the left pixel luminance values,

wherein the modifying includes selectively using the first factor or second factor based upon a disparity consideration.

17. The 3D display of claim 16, wherein the first factor includes L_s/L_a, where L_s is a converted luminance value based upon L_a.

18. The 3D display of claim 16, wherein the second factor includes the absolute difference |L_r−

L_l|, where L_r is one of the right pixel luminance values and L_l is one of the left pixel luminance values.

19. The 3D display of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to selectively use the first factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is not greater than L_a.

20. The 3D display of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to selectively use the second factor to modify one of the right and left pixel luminance values (L_r and L_l) for a particular frame of the right and left image data if the pixel value L_r or L_l is greater than L_a.