Image adaptation phase-in

• US 7,742,032 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Wyatt, David, Diefenbaugh, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sitta; Grant D
• Application Number:
  US11/026,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345/690
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0247 Flicker reduction other than flicker reduction circuits used for single beam cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0653 Controlling or limiting the speed of brightness adjustment of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0673 for control of gamma adjustment, e.g. selecting another gamma curve
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention can phase in image adaptations for display devices by determining a next incremental step among a plurality of incremental steps from an initial image state of a display device to a target image state, and then implementing the next incremental step.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method comprising:

determining a next incremental step among a plurality of incremental steps from an initial image state of a display device to a target image state;

implementing the next incremental step;

identifying for the display device a minimum luma-per-second constraint, a maximum luma-per-increment constraint, and a refresh rate;

calculating a luma difference between the initial image state and the target image state;

calculating a target number of increments as the luma difference divided by the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

rounding the target number of increments up to an integer to get an actual number of increments;

setting an actual increment size to the luma difference divided by the actual number of increments;

setting an actual number of frames-per-increment to the refresh rate times the maximum luma-per-increment constraint divided by the minimum luma-per-second constraint rounded up to a next integer if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is less than the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

setting the actual number of frames-per-increment to one if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is greater than the maximum luma-per-second constraint; and

defining one of the plurality of incremental steps for each of the actual number of increments, with each subsequent one of the plurality of incremental steps separated by the actual increment size and the actual number of frames-per-increment.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

repeating the determining and implementing until the target image state is reached or the repeating is interrupted.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

interrupting the repeating in response to a new target state;

setting the initial image state to a current state;

setting the target image state to the new target state; and

re-initiating the determining and implementing.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying that an image adjustment from the initial image state to the target image state exceeds a threshold; and

initiating the determining and implementing in response to the image adjustment exceeding the threshold.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein determining the next increment step among the plurality of incremental steps comprises determining a backlight adjustment.

6. The processor-implemented method of claim 5 wherein determining the next incremental step among the plurality of increment steps further comprises generating an image data adjustment based on the backlight adjustment.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the next incremental step comprises a backlight adjustment and image data adjustments, and wherein implementing the next incremental step comprises:

identifying a particular vertical blanking interval for the display device;

adjusting a backlight of the display device with the backlight adjustment during the particular vertical blanking interval; and

applying the image data adjustments during the particular vertical blanking interval.

8. The processor-implemented method of claim 7 wherein the image data adjustments comprise color look-up table data, and wherein applying the image data adjustments comprises:

loading the color look-up table data into image correction hardware for the display device.

9. The processor-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the target image state comprises a screen saver state, and wherein repeating the determining and implementing comprises a pre-screen saver mode for the display device, the method further comprising:

receiving an indication of user inactivity; and

initiating the pre-screen saver mode in response to receiving the indication.

10. The processor-implemented method of claim 9 wherein receiving the indication comprises:

measuring a time period since a user presence detection; and

generating the indication when the time period reaches a pre-screen saver threshold.

11. The processor-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

interrupting the pre-screen saver mode in response to a user presence detection; and

returning to the initial image state.

12. A machine readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions that, when executed, implement a method comprising:

determining a next incremental step among a plurality of incremental steps from an initial image state of a display device to a target image state;

implementing the next incremental step;

identifying for the display device a minimum luma-per-second constraint, a maximum luma-per-increment constraint, and a refresh rate;

calculating a luma difference between the initial image state and the target image state;

calculating a target number of increments as the luma difference divided by the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

rounding the target number of increments up to an integer to get an actual number of increments;

setting an actual increment size to the luma difference divided by the actual number of increments;

setting an actual number of frames-per-increment to the refresh rate times the maximum luma-per-increment constraint divided by the minimum luma-per-second constraint rounded up to a next integer if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is less than the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

setting the actual number of frames-per-increment to one if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is greater than the maximum luma-per-second constraint; and

defining one of the plurality of incremental steps for each of the actual number of increments, with each subsequent one of the plurality of incremental steps separated by the actual increment size and the actual number of frames-per-increment.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

repeating the determining and implementing until the target image state is reached or the repeating is interrupted.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

interrupting the repeating in response to a new target state;

setting the initial image state to a current state;

setting the target image state to the new target state; and

re-initiating the determining and implementing.

15. The machine readable medium of claim 12 wherein determining the next incremental step among the plurality of incremental steps comprises determining a backlight adjustment.

16. The machine readable medium of claim 15 wherein determining the next incremental step among the plurality at increment steps further comprises generating an image data adjustment based on the backlight adjustment.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 12 wherein the next incremental step comprises a backlight adjustment and image data adjustments, and wherein implementing the next incremental step comprises:

identifying a particular vertical blanking interval for the display device;

adjusting a backlight of the display device with the backlight adjustment during the particular vertical blanking interval; and

applying the image data adjustments during the particular vertical blanking interval.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 13 wherein the target image state comprises a screen saver state, and wherein repeating the determining and implementing comprises a pre-screen saver mode for the display device, the method further comprising:

receiving an indication of user inactivity; and

initiating the pre-screen saver mode in response to receiving the indication.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

interrupting the pre-screen saver mode in response to a user presence detection; and

returning to the initial image state.

20. A system comprising:

a notebook computer;

a display device on the notebook computer; and

phase-in logic, said phase-in logic to

determine a next incremental step among a plurality of incremental steps from an initial image state of a display device to a target image state;

implement the next incremental step;

identity for the display device a minimum luma-per-second constraint, a maximum luma-per-increment constraint, and a refresh rate;

calculate a luma difference between the initial image state and the target image state;

calculate a target number of increments as the luma difference divided by the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

round the target number of increments up to an integer to get an actual number of increments;

set an actual increment size to the luma difference divided by the actual number of increments;

set an actual number of frames-per-increment to the refresh rate times the maximum luma-per-increment constraint divided by the minimum luma-per-second constraint rounded up to a next integer if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is less than the maximum luma-per-increment constraint;

set the actual number of frames-per-increment to one if the minimum luma-per-second constraint divided by the refresh rate is greater than the maximum luma-per-second constraint; and

define one of the plurality of incremental steps for each of the actual number of increments, with each subsequent one of the plurality of incremental steps separated by the actual increment size and the actual number of frames-per-increment.

21. The system of claim 20, the phase-in logic further to:

repeatedly determine and implement next incremental steps from the plurality of incremental steps until the target image state is reached or an interrupt occurs.

22. The system of claim 21, the phase-in logic further to:

interrupt the repeating in response to a new target state;

set the initial image state to a current state;

set the target image state to the new target state; and

re-initiate the determining and implementing.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the next incremental step comprises a backlight adjustment.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the next incremental step further comprises an image data adjustment based on the backlight adjustment.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the target image state comprises a screen saver state, and wherein repeatedly determining and implementing next incremental steps comprises a pre-screen saver mode for the display device, the phase-in logic further to:

receive an indication of user inactivity; and

initiate the pre-screen saver mode in response to receiving the indication.