Adaptive image display

• US 7,460,179 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, William J., Dixon, Brian S, Pate, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke; Brian P.
• Application Number:
  US10/388,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 348602-603, 348742-743, 348/177, 348/179, 348/191, 348/657, 345/590
• US Class Current: 348/602
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/008 in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3182 Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/73 Colour balance circuits, e.g. white balance circuits or colour temperature control camera processing pipelines for colour balance H04N23/88

Abstract

A display system may include an identifier configured to identify an image display condition associated with the display of an image produced by the display system, an apparatus configured to produce a plurality of differently colored images, and a display device. The images have color characteristics based on image information and the identified display condition. Differently colored images may be directed along associated portions of an optical path. The display device may be coupled to the apparatus and may be configured to display a color image formed of the differently colored images.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

an identifier configured to identify an image display condition associated with the displaying of an image produced by the display system, wherein the identifier includes a pre-display image-content analyzer;

apparatus configured to modify image information based on at least one color correction factor and produce a plurality of differently colored images having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition, with differently colored images directed along associated portions of an optical path, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor is selected based on the identified display condition; and

a display device coupled to the apparatus and configured to display a color image formed of the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed color image are perceivable by human vision.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a source of differently colored light and is configured to apply different levels of energy to the light source during the production of differently colored light based on the identified display condition.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a color filter that, when in the optical path, changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, the apparatus being configured to be selectively operable between a first filter state in which the optical path impinges the filter and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, the apparatus being further configured to change the filter state in response to the identified display condition.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a source of differently colored lights and at least one light modulator, the at least one light modulator being configured to modulate the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a light source configured to direct light along the optical path;

a sequential color producer disposed in the optical path and configured to produce, selectively, light of sequentially different colors, with different colors directed along the associated portions of the optical path; and

a spatial light modulator for modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information, and wherein the apparatus is further configured to produce the sequential different colors based on the identified display condition.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the color producer includes first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions that, when rotated successively through the optical path, produce the sequentially different colors, and wherein the apparatus is configured to operate selectively at least one of the first and second color wheels based on the identified display condition.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the first color wheel is configured to be selectively operable between a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges the first color wheel and a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinge the first color-wheel, and wherein the apparatus is further configured to change the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

8. The display system of claim 7, wherein the second color wheel is in a fixed position in the optical path.

9. The display system of claim 7, wherein the optical path does not impinge the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color- wheel state and the optical path does impinge the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-wheel state.

10. The display system of claim 6 operable in a state in which the first and second color wheels are positioned in the optical path with one color wheel in a selectable orientation relative to the other color wheel.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the colored filter regions of the first and second color wheels include, in circumferential sequential order, a red region, a white region, a green region,. a white region, a blue region, and a white region.

12. The display system of claim 11, further operable in a state in which the red, green and blue regions of each color wheel are each axially aligned, during rotation, with a corresponding white region of the other color wheel.

13. The display system of claim 12 further operable in a first state in which color regions of the first and second color wheels having the same color pass through the optical path sequentially, and in a second state in which only color regions of the first and second color wheels having different colors pass through the optical path sequentially.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the pre-display image content analyzer is configured to identify at least one of an image-source type, a number of unique colors in the image information prior to display, a frequency of unique colors in the image information prior to display, an average pixel intensity in the image information prior to display, and a frame-to-frame image-content change in the image information prior to display.

15. The display system of claim 14 wherein the image-content analyzer is configured to identify an image-source type that is at least one of graphics, video, still photos, broadcast television and video games.

16. An image projector comprising:

an identifier configured to identify an image display condition associated with the displaying of an image produced by the image projector, wherein the identifier includes a pre-display image-content analyzer;

apparatus configured to modify image information based on at least one color correction factor and produce a plurality of differently colored images having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition, with differently colored images directed along associated portions of an optical path, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor is selected based on the identified display condition; and

a display device coupled to the apparatus and configured to project the produced differently colored images along the optical path to produce, when displayed, a color image formed of the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed color image are perceivable by human vision.

17. The projector of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes a source of differently colored light and is configured to apply different levels of energy to the source during the production of differently colored lights based on the identified display condition.

18. The projector of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes a color filter that, when in the optical path, changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, the apparatus being configured to be selectively operable between a first filter state in which the optical path impinges the filter and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, the apparatus being further configured to change the filter state in response to the identified display condition.

19. The projector of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes a source of differently colored lights and at least one light modulator, the at least one light modulator configured to modulate the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition.

20. The projector of claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes a light source configured to direct light along the optical path;

a sequential color producer disposed in the optical path and configured to produce, selectively, light of sequentially different colors, with different colors directed along the associated portion of the optical path; and

a spatial light modulator for modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information, the apparatus being further configured to produce the sequential different colors based on the identified display condition.

21. The projector of claim 20, wherein the color producer includes first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions that, when rotated successively through the optical path, produce the sequentially different colors, the apparatus being further configured to operate selectively at least one of the first and second color wheels based on the identified display condition.

22. The projector of claim 21, wherein the first color wheel is configured to be selectively operable between a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges the first color wheel and a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinge the first color-wheel, and wherein the apparatus is further configured to change the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

23. The projector of claim 22, wherein the second color wheel is in a fixed position in the optical path.

24. The projector of claim 22, wherein the optical path does not impinge the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color-wheel state and the optical path does impinge the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-wheel state.

25. The projector of claim 16, wherein the pre-display image content analyzer is configured to identify at least one of an image-source type, a number of unique colors in the image information prior to display, a frequency of unique colors in the image information prior to display, an average pixel intensity in the image information prior to display, and a frame-to-frame image-content change in the image information prior to display.

26. The projector of claim 25 wherein the image-content analyzer is configured to identify an image-source type that is at least one of graphics, video, still photos, broadcast television and video games.

27. A method of producing a displayed image comprising:

receiving image information representing an image to be displayed;

identifying a display condition associated with displaying of an image produced from the received image information, wherein identifying includes analyzing the image information to determine one or more image attributes prior to display;

modifying the image information based on at least one color correction factor, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor is selected based on the identified display condition;

producing, a plurality of differently colored images representative of a composite image having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition, in which producing includes directing light along an optical path;

directing differently colored images along associated portions of the optical path; and

displaying the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed colored images are perceivable by human vision.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein producing includes producing white light, and varying the amount of white light produced based on the identified display condition.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein producing includes one or more of:

producing differently colored light with a light source and applying different levels of energy to the light source during the producing of differently colored light based on the identified display condition;

selectively operating in a first filter state in which the optical path impinges a filter that when in the optical path changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, and changing the filter state in response to the identified display condition;

producing differently colored lights and modulating the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition; and

producing, selectively, light of sequentially different colors based on the identified display condition, with different colors directed along associated portions of the optical path, and modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein producing differently colored images includes producing light of sequentially different colors, and wherein producing light of sequentially different colors includes selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions successively through the optical path, based on the identified display condition.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein selectively rotating includes selectively operating in a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges colored filter regions of the first color wheel and in a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the first color-wheel, and changing the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein selectively rotating includes directing light through the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first and second color-wheel states.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein selectively rotating operating such that the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color-wheel state and the optical path does impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-wheel state.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein analyzing the image information includes identifying at least one of a number of unique colors in the image information prior to display, a frequency of a unique color, an average pixel intensity in the image information prior to display, a frame-to-frame image content change in the image information prior to display, and an image source type.

35. An article comprising:

a storage medium having a plurality of machine-readable instructions, wherein, when the instructions are executed, the instructions provide for;

receiving image information associated with an image to be displayed;

identifying an image display condition associated with displaying of an image produced from the received image information, wherein the instructions providing for identifying an image display condition further provide for analyzing the image information to determine one or more pre-display image attributes;

modifying the image information based on at least one color correction factor, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor Is selected based on the identified display condition;

producing a plurality of differently colored images representative of a composite image, and having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition;

directing differently colored images along associated portions of an optical path; and

displaying the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed color images are perceivable by human vision.

36. The article of claim 35, wherein the instructions providing for producing a plurality of differentially colored images further provide for one or more of:

producing differently colored light with a light source and applying different levels of energy to the light source, during the producing differently colored light, based on the identified display condition;

selectively operating in a first filter state in which the optical path impinges a filter that when in the optical path changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, and changing the filter state in response to the identified display condition;

producing differently colored lights and modulating the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition; and

producing, selectively, light of sequentially different colors based on the identified display condition, with different colors directed along associated portions of the optical path, and modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information.

37. The article of claim 36, wherein the instructions providing for producing light of sequentially different colors includes selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions successively through the optical path, based on the identified display condition.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the instructions providing for selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels further provide for selectively operating in a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges colored filter regions of the first color wheel and in a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the first color-wheel, and changing the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

39. The article of claim 38, wherein the instructions providing for selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels further provide for directing light through the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first and second color-wheel states.

40. The article of claim 38, wherein the instructions providing for selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels further provide for operating such that the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color-wheel state and the optical path does impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-wheel state.

41. The article of claim 35, wherein the instructions providing for analyzing the image information further provide for determining at least one of a number of unique colors in the pre-display image information, a spatial frequency analysis of the unique colors in the pre-display image information, average pixel intensity in the pre-display image information, frame to frame image content change in the pre-display image information, and image source type.

42. The article of claim 41, wherein the instructions providing for producing a plurality of differentially colored images further provide for varying an amount of white light generated.

43. An image display system comprising:

means for identifying an image display condition associated with the displaying of an image produced from received image information, wherein the means for identifying is further for analyzing the image information to determine one or more pre-display image attributes;

means for modifying the image information based on at least one color correction factor, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor is selected based on the identified display condition; and

means for producing a plurality of differently colored images having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition, and directing differently colored images along associated portions of an optical path for displaying the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed colored image are perceivable by human vision.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for producing is further for producing white light, and varying the amount of white light produced based on the identified display condition.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for producing a plurality of differently colored images is further for one or more of:

producing differently colored light with a light source and applying different levels of energy to the light source during the producing of differently colored light based on the identified display condition;

selectively operating in a first filter state in which the optical path impinges a filter that when in the optical path changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, and changing the filter state in response to the identified display condition;

producing differently colored lights and modulating the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition; and

producing selectively light of sequentially different colors based on the identified display condition, with different colors directed along associated portions of the optical path, and modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for producing differently colored images is further for producing light of sequentially different colors by selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions successively through the optical path, based on the identified display condition.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for producing differently colored images is further for selectively operating the first color wheel in a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges colored filter regions of the first color wheel and in a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinges colored filter regions of the first color-wheel, and changing the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for producing differently colored images directs light through the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first and second color-wheel states.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for producing differently colored images further includes operating the second color wheel such that the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color-wheel state and the optical path does impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-Wheel state.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein pre-display image attributes include at least one of a number of unique colors in the pre-display image information, a frequency of a unique color in the pre-display image information, an average pixel intensity in the pre-display image information, a frame-to-frame image content change in the pre-display image information, and an image source type.

51. An image projector comprising:

means for identifying an image display condition associated with the displaying of an image by the image projector, wherein the means for identifying is further for analyzing the content of an image prior to display of the image, wherein the identified display condition is a pre-display image-content attribute, the identifying means is further for identifying one or more pre-display image-content attributes, and for providing an indication of the one or more pre-display image-content attributes to the means for producing,

means for modifying image information based on at least one color correction factor, wherein the color correction factor comprises one of a color matrix, an exponential relationship, and a look-up table, and wherein the color correction factor is selected based on the identified display condition;

means for producing a plurality of differently colored images having color characteristics based on the modified image information and the identified display condition, with differently colored images directed along associated portions of an optical path; and

means coupled to the means for producing for projecting the produced differently colored images along the optical path to produce, when displayed, a color image formed of the differently colored images, wherein the color characteristics in the displayed color image are perceivable by human vision.

52. The projector of claim 51, wherein the means for producing a plurality of differently colored images is further for one or more of:

producing differently colored light with a light source and applying different levels of energy to the light source during the producing of differently colored light based on the identified display condition;

selectively operating in a first filter state in which the optical path impinges a filter that when in the optical path changes a color characteristic of the displayed color image, and a second filter state in which the optical path does not impinge the filter, and changing the filter state in response to the identified display condition;

producing differently colored lights and modulating the differently colored lights to form differently colored images based on the identified display condition; and

producing selectively light of sequentially different colors based on the identified display condition, with different colors directed along associated portions of the optical path, and modulating the light of different colors according to the received image information.

53. The projector of claim 52, wherein the means for producing differently colored images is further for producing light of sequentially different colors by selectively rotating at least one of first and second color wheels having differently colored filter regions successively through the optical path, based on the identified display condition.

54. The projector of claim 53, wherein the means for producing differently colored images is further for selectively operating the first color wheel in a first color-wheel state in which the optical path impinges colored filter regions of the first color wheel and in a second color-wheel state in which the optical path does not impinges colored filter regions of the first color-wheel, and changing the color-wheel state in response to the identified display condition.

55. The projector of claim 54, wherein the means for producing differently colored images directs light through the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first and second color-wheel states.

56. The projector of claim 54, wherein the means for producing differently colored images further includes operating the second color wheel such that the optical path does not impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the first color-wheel state and the optical path does impinge colored filter regions of the second color wheel when the first color wheel is in the second color-wheel state.

57. The image projector of claim 51, wherein pre-display image attributes include at least one of a number of unique colors in the pre-display image information, a frequency of a unique color in the pre-display image information, an average pixel intensity in the pre-display image information, a frame-to-frame image content change in the pre-display image information, and an image source type.