System and method for adjusting the illumination characteristics of an output device

• US 5,786,803 A
• Filed: 09/20/1994
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Devine, Jesse Michael, Hernandez, Mathew, Cappels, Richard D. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, JULIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/309,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 345/22, 345/153, 345/207, 348/184, 348/185, 348/189
• US Class Current: 345/600
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/58 in dependence upon ambient light

Abstract

A system for correcting an output device for the effects reflected ambient illumination comprises an output device, a calibration memory, a reflectivity memory, a system memory, a processor, an input device, a video card, a color display memory, and a reflection device of known reflectivity. The color display memory stores a first graphical interface and a second graphical interface. The first graphical interface displays a range of intensities of outputs that the display device can generate. The second graphical interface displays a range of hues that the display device can generate. The reflection device defines an aperture. The reflection device is compared to the first graphical interface and the second graphical interface by viewing the interfaces through the aperture. The present invention includes a method for compensating an output device for reflected ambient illumination. The system receives a first input of an intensity of the first graphical interface that appears to match the ambient illumination reflected from the reflection device; the system then receives a second input of a hue of the second graphical interface that appears to match the ambient illumination reflected from the reflection device. The system determines the intensity and hue of the ambient illumination reflected from the output device by matching the intensity and hue of the ambient illumination reflected from the reflection device with the output of the output device. The system then adjusts the outputs of the output device to compensate for the reflected ambient illumination.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting color and intensity to compensate for reflected ambient illumination, the system comprising:

an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device;

a processor, having inputs and outputs, an output of the processor coupled to the output device;

a compensator, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for adjusting an output signal from the processor to the output device to compensate the output device for the effects of ambient illumination; and

a reflection device having pre-determined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device, the reflection device defining an aperture having a diameter less than 1.75 centimeters.

2. A system for adjusting color and intensity to compensate for reflected ambient illumination, the system comprising:

an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device;

a processor, having inputs and outputs, an output of the processor coupled to the output device;

a compensator, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for adjusting an output signal from the processor to the output device to compensate the output device for the effects of ambient illumination; and

a reflection device having pre-determined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device, the reflection device defining an aperture having a diameter less than 1.75 centimeters and comprising a handle and a disk portion, coupled to the handle.