System and method of calibrating a display system free of variation in system input resolution

• US 8,817,111 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scalable Display Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scalable Display Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Miaw, Dennis, Surati, Rajeev J., Amaratunga, Kevin, Timoner, Samson J., Johnson, Tyler M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mustafizur
• Application Number:
  US13/866,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20130314552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 348/189, 348/180, 348/181, 348/191, 348/135, 348/136, 348/745, 348/747, 348/808, 348/581
• US Class Current: 348/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/18 Image warping, e.g. rearranging pixels individually
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/02 Improving the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0693 Calibration of display systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/10 Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0414 Vertical resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0421 Horizontal resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2092 Details of a display terminals using a flat panel, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/003; specific for a CRT G09G1/165
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/02 for colour television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

This invention provides a calibration system and method for multi-unit display systems without a need for switching the system input resolution/configuration of the display system while calibrating. This serves to avoid carrying out a re-synchronization step. As such, this system and method allows for increases speed and reduced likelihood of failure. This system and method also corrects the display system by providing an arrangement that employs a minimum of required changes so as to avoid any changes that can consequently affect the output image of the display system. Calibration of the system of display units occurs free of any changes to the input resolution and this resolution is maintained in a manner that resists change unless specifically required. Moreover, this system and method enables a resolution for the overall system that differs from the sum of the input resolutions of the discrete, individual display units in the collection.

Claims

1. A method for performing calibration on a collection of one or more display units with a system input resolution different from the total resolution of the display units, the method comprising the steps of:

a. changing an input video signal to calibrate the system, free of changing a resolution of the input video signal so as to maintain a current input resolution thereof;

b. during the calibration, using a change in at least one of a plurality of settings to at least partially compensate for the maintaining of the current input resolution; and

c. calculating a new system correction using the data collected in step (b) and compensating for any artifacts introduced in step (b).

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein step of at least partially compensating includes applying a warp.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising using a warp to scale image pixels across the entire system.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising sending calibration pixels to each one of the display units at a time using a warp.

5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising blanking out each one of the display units at a time using a blend and or warp.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising blanking out each one of the display units at a time using one of an electronic shutter or a mechanical shutter.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising freezing an image on at least one of the display units during the calibration.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising adding a location of a control point to the input video signal of the system.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein the settings include warp, and step (b) further comprises maintaining values of the warp that are regularly in use in a set state, whereby a number of times that a state of the warp is changed is minimized.

10. The method as in claim 1 wherein the settings include color correction, and step (b) further comprises maintaining values of the color correction that are regularly in use in a set state, whereby a number of times that a state of the color correction is changed is minimized.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein the display units are projectors.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein the display units are flat panel displays.

13. The method as in claim 1 wherein the settings include at least one of warp, blend and OMTE parameters.

14. A system for performing calibration on a collection of one or more display units with a system input resolution different from the total resolution of the display units, the system comprising:

a. a driver that changes an input video signal during system, free of changing a resolution of the input video signal so as to maintain a current input resolution thereof;

b. means, during the calibration, for using a change in at least one of a plurality of settings to at least partially compensate for the maintaining of the current input resolution; and

c. means for calculating a new system correction using the data collected by the means for using and compensating for any artifacts introduced by the means for using.

15. The system as in claim 14 wherein the means for using is constructed and arranged to apply a warp.

16. The system as in claim 14 wherein the display units are projectors.

17. The system as in claim 14 wherein the display units are flat panel displays.

18. The system as in claim 14 wherein the settings include at least one of warp, blend and OMTE parameters.

19. The system as in claim 14 wherein the settings include warp, and the means for using a change in at least one of the plurality of settings maintains values of the warp that are regularly in use in a set state, whereby a number of times that a state of the warp is changed is minimized.

20. The system as in claim 14 wherein the settings include color correction, and the means for using a change in at least one of the plurality of settings maintains values of the color correction that are regularly in use in a set state, whereby a number of times that a state of the color correction is changed is minimized.