Method and system for real time correction of an image

• US 7,038,186 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barco NV
• Original Assignee: Barco NV
• Inventors: De Paepe, Ludo, De Brabander, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US11/119,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/227.11, 250/214.C, 345 87- 89, 345/207, 345/690, 345/697, 324/753, 324/770
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/029 by monitoring one or more pixels in the display panel, e.g. by monitoring a fixed reference pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/04 Maintaining the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for real time correction of light output and/or color of an image displayed on a display device. The system comprises:

• • a display device (1) comprising an active display area (6) for displaying the image, an image forming device (2) and an electronic driving system (4) for driving the image forming device (2),
  • an optical sensor unit (10) comprising an optical aperture (21) and a light sensor (22) having an optical axis, to make optical measurements on a light output from a representative part of the active display area (6) of the image forming device (2) and generating optical measurement signals (11) therefrom,
  • a feedback system (12) receiving the optical measurement signals (11) and on the basis thereof controlling the electronic driving system (4).

The optical aperture (21) of the optical sensor unit (10) has an acceptance angle such that at least 50%, alternatively 60%, alternatively 70%, alternatively 75% of the light received by the sensor (22) comes from light travelling within 15° of the optical axis of the light sensor (22).

Claims

1. A system for real time correction of light output and/or color of an image displayed on an LCD display device, the system comprising:

an LCD display device comprising an active display area for displaying the image,

an LCD panel, and an electronic driving system for driving the LCD panel,

an optical sensor unit comprising an optical aperture and a light sensor having an optical axis, to make optical measurements on a light output from a representative part of the active display area of the LCD panel and generating optical measurement signals therefrom,

a feedback system receiving the optical measurement signals and on the basis thereof controlling the electronic driving system,

wherein the optical sensor unit comprises a housing, the housing of the optical sensor unit standing out above the active display area by a distance of 5 mm or less.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor unit comprises a light guide between the optical aperture and the light sensor, the light guide being adapted for attenuating light incident on the optical aperture such that light arriving at an angle with the optical axis of the light sensor which is 10°

or greater is attenuated by at least 25% light arriving at an angle of 20°

or greater is attenuated by at least 55% and light arriving at an angle of 35°

or greater is attenuated by at least 85%, and wherein the optical aperture of the optical sensor unit masks a portion of the active display area, while the light sensor does not mask any part of the active display area.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the optical measurements are luminance measurements.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein light output correction comprises luminance and/or contrast correction.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the light guide is a light pipe.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the light pipe is coated in order to shield ambient light.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the coating does not penetrate into the material of the light pipe.

8. A system according to claim 2, wherein the light guide is an optical fibre.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the representative part of the active display area of the image forming device is less than 1% of the area of the active display area of the image forming device, preferably less than 0.1%, still more preferred less than 0.01%.

10. A method for real time correction of light output and/or color of an image displayed on an LCD display device, comprising:

displaying the image on an active display area on the LCD display device,

making optical measurements on light emitted from a representative part of the active display area and generating optical measurement signals therefrom,

controlling the display of the image on the active display area in accordance with the optical measurement signals,

wherein the step of making optical measurements comprises collecting light on the representative part of the active display area and guiding the collected light towards a light sensor, the guiding comprising guiding over a distance, the distance having a height above the active display area of 5 mm or less.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of making optical measurements comprises attenuating light travelling at angles with a normal to the active display area which are equal to or larger than 10°

by at least 25%, attenuating light travelling at angles with a normal to the active display area which are equal to or larger than 20°

by at least 55%, and attenuating light travelling at angles with a normal to the active display area which are equal to or larger than 35°

by at least 85%, and

wherein the step of making optical measurements comprises transmitting light from within the active display area to outside the active display area.

12. A method according to claim 10, for carrying out luminance measurements.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein light output correction comprises luminance and/or contrast correction.