Image processing device

• US 7,808,556 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Simkine, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke; Brian P
• Application Number:
  US10/983,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 348/722, 348/744, 348602-603, 348659-661, 348/180, 348/182, 348/184, 348/189
• US Class Current: 348/602
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/58 in dependence upon ambient light
• 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

The invention provides a video system comprising at least one input for receiving incoming video data and at least one output for delivering outgoing video data to a display device. The system further comprises at least one processor for converting the incoming video data into outgoing video data as a function at least of one item of information delivered by a detecting element. According to an embodiment of the invention, the detecting element is suitable for measuring at least one colorimetric characteristic of an image produced by the display device. According to another embodiment of the invention, the processor converts incoming video data into outgoing video data as a function at least of one item of information delivered by a user. In one embodiment of the invention, the information delivered by the user represents a desired calorimetric response for different incoming data.

Claims

1. A video system comprising:

at least one input for receiving incoming video data, said incoming video data described by first colorimetric data;

at least one output for delivering outgoing video data to a display device, said outgoing data characterized by second colorimetric data;

at least one detecting element for detecting at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic of an image displayed on said display device;

at least one processor for converting said incoming video data into outgoing video data as a function of said at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic;

a user control communicating with said at least one processor to allow said user to cause said processor to convert incoming video data into outgoing video data as a function of a color characteristic different from said at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic;

an indicator in communication with said at least one processor and responsive to the at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic for continuously indicating an ambient light condition of said video system; and

display means, in communication with said at least one processor and responsive to the at least one processor determining a level of projection quality based upon the first colorimetric data and the at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic, for indicating a step for improving the level of projection quality, said step for improving related at least to an adjustment of said ambient light condition.

2. The video system of claim 1 wherein said at least one processor converts incoming data characterized by said first colorimetric data into outgoing data characterized by said second colorimetric data different from the first colorimetric data as a function of said at least one displayed colorimetric characteristic.

3. The video system of claim 1 wherein said first and second colorimetric data comprise first and second color spaces respectively.

4. The video system of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing including at least two connectors coupled to said at least one processor for transmitting said incoming video data and said outgoing video data.

5. The video system of claim 1 wherein said at least one detecting element comprises a sensor.

6. The video system of claim 5 wherein said sensor is configured to measure red, green and blue levels of said image.

7. The video system of claim 1 wherein said at least one detecting element is movable in relation to said at least one processor.

8. The video system according to claim 1 further comprising a selector for selecting among a plurality of processing options for said incoming video data, in response to a rendering desired by a user.

9. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one processor is configured to send reference data to said display device, said reference data corresponding to a reference image and permitting the display of at least one image on said display device, and said at least one processor is configured to determine the response of said display device as a function at least of one item of information transmitted by said at least one detecting element when the image is displayed.

10. The video system of claim 1 wherein said at least one detecting element communicates with said processor by a wireless link.

11. A home theater system, comprising:

a video source;

a projection system comprising a projector and a screen;

a video processor for receiving data from said video source and transmitting the data, after processing, to said projector;

at least one detecting element for performing a first luminosity measurement with respect to the screen while the projector is not projecting anything and a second luminosity measurement with respect to the screen with the projector projecting an image on the screen, said processor determining a relationship on the screen between the first and second luminosity measurements due to a projected image and determining an acceptable level of ambient lighting based on the second luminosity measurement of the projector; and

a display means, in communication with said video processor and responsive to the video processor determining a level of projection quality based on the first and second luminosity measurements, for indicating a step for improving the level of projection quality, said step for improving related at least to an adjustment of said ambient light condition.

12. The home theater system according to claim 11, wherein the first luminosity measurement comprises an ambient luminosity on the screen.

13. The home theater system according to claim 11, wherein the second luminosity measurement comprises luminosity due to a projected image on the screen.

14. The home theater system according to claim 13, wherein the projected image comprises a test image.

15. The home theater system according to claim 11, wherein said adjustment of the ambient light condition includes at least one of darkening a projection room, changing a contrast of the projector, and changing a luminosity of the projector.

16. The home theater system according to claim 11, wherein the processor determines an acceptable level of ambient lighting based upon the second luminosity measurement of the projector.