Multi-window picture adjustment arrangement for a video display

• US 6,556,253 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Muchenberger, Manfred, Megied, Magdy
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/599,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.545, 348/564, 348/563, 348/565, 348/673, 348/678, 348/569, 348/687, 348/688
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/002 Intensity circuits G09G1/06 - G09G1/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/59 in dependence upon beam current of cathode ray tube

Abstract

In a multi-window arrangement, the light output attributable to each window in a multiple window display is calculated, for example, in accordance with the video signal that provides the picture information for display in the window and in accordance with the window area. When the total light output contributed by all the windows exceeds a predetermined level, a loop controller automatically reduces, for example, the contrast and the brightness in selected windows, in accordance with a rule, in a loop control manner. The result is that the total light output drops below the predetermined level.

Claims

1. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a display device for displaying an image;

a source of a plurality of input video signals containing picture information for display in a plurality of windows including a window having a selectable size to form said image; and

a signal processor responsive to said plurality of input video signals for applying the picture information for display in said plurality of windows, said signal processor automatically varying at least one of a brightness characteristic and a contrast characteristic of a first output video signal, associated with a first of said windows, relative to that of a second output video signal, associated with a second of said windows, when a magnitude of a light output of said image is outside a range of values, the variation being adjusted in accordance with said size selection.

2. A video display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal processor is responsive to said input video signals for deriving said light output magnitude via a signal path that excludes said display device.

3. A video display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display device comprises a cathode ray tube and wherein said signal processor comprises a comparator responsive to a beam current of said cathode ray tube for determining said light output magnitude.

4. A video display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein variation of said at least one characteristic associated with an active window is prevented.

5. A video display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal processor is responsive to said input video signal for deriving said light output magnitude via a signal path that excludes said display device.

6. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a display device for displaying an image;

a source of a plurality of input video signals containing picture information for display in a plurality of windows including a window at an inactive state and a window at an active state to form said image; and

a signal processor responsive to said plurality of input video signals for applying the picture information for display in said plurality of windows, said signal processor automatically varying at least one of a brightness characteristic and a contrast characteristic of a first output video signal, associated with a first of said windows, relative to that of a second output video signal associated with a second of said windows, when both a light output of said image is outside a range of values and said first window is at said inactive state.

7. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a display device for displaying an image;

a source of a plurality of input video signals containing picture information for display in a plurality of windows to form said image; and

a signal processor responsive to said plurality of input video signals for applying the picture information for display in said plurality of windows, said signal processor automatically varying at least one of a brightness characteristic and a contrast characteristic of a first output video signal, associated with a first of said windows, relative to that of a second output video signal, associated with a second of said windows, when a magnitude of a light output of said image is outside a range of values, said signal processor deriving said light output magnitude via a signal path that excludes said display device.

8. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said display device comprises a flat panel display.

9. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is excessive, and said at least one characteristic exceeds a minimum level, said at least one characteristic of said first output video signal is reduced in a manner to reduce the light output magnitude.

10. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is excessive, said first output video signal is selected, among a second plurality of said output video signals on a basis of a contribution to the light output magnitude of said first output video signal being higher than a contribution to the light output magnitude of each of said second plurality of said output video signals.

11. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is excessive, and a minimum level of said contrast characteristic has not been reached, said contrast characteristic is reduced before any reduction in said brightness characteristic occurs, and only after said minimum level of said contrast characteristic has been reached, said brightness characteristic is reduced.

12. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is not excessive, said at least one characteristic of said first output video signal is increased in a manner to increase the light output, until said at least one characteristic does not exceed a maximum level.

13. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is not excessive, said first output video signal is selected among a second plurality of said output video signals for increasing said at least one characteristic thereof on a basis of said brightness characteristic of said first output video signal being lower than that of each of said second plurality of said output video signals.

14. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the light output magnitude is not excessive, and as long as a maximum level of said brightness characteristic has not been reached, said brightness characteristic is increased before any increase in said contrast characteristic occurs, and after said maximum level of said brightness characteristic has been reached, said contrast characteristic is increased.

15. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said signal processor varies the contrast characteristic by multiplying a value of said first input video signal with a first multiplicand and the brightness characteristic by adding a value of a first summand.

16. A video display apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said signal processor operates in a loop control manner.