Abstract:
Methods and systems for equalizing visual characteristics of images displayed on display units arranged proximate each other. The method may includes generating first and second video signals for first and second display units, respectively, displaying images on the first and second display units based on the first and second video signals, respectively, deriving first and second display correction information for the first and second display units, respectively, deriving image equalization information for the second display unit based on the first and second display correction information, respectively, adjusting the first video signal based on the first display correction information, adjusting the second video signal based on the image equalization information, and displaying images on the first and second images based on the adjusted first and second video signals.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/830,321 filed on Jul. 12, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention is related to video signal processing, and more particularly to equalizing display characteristics of display devices arranged proximate each other in various light settings.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Recent advances in flat panel display technology have made flat panel displays such as LCD (liquid crystal display) affordable and hence more desirable for display devices such as gaming consoles (e.g., slot machines, video poker machines and the like). Generally speaking, flat panel displays are lighter, less bulky, consume less power and capable of displaying more vivid and aesthetically-pleasing graphics than CRT displays.  FIG. 1  shows a gaming device  10  equipped with a flat panel display  12  such as an LCD panel, mounted within a gaming cabinet  14 , which also typically houses other components associated with the LCD panel  12  therein.  
         [0006]     One of the problems with prior art display devices is that it is often difficult or impossible to achieve uniform display characteristics (e.g., uniform gamma, brightness, contrast, color, tint, color temperature and/or the like) especially when the video devices are grouped together and arranged proximate each other, especially when the adjustments are attempted through options available through a console&#39;s user interface. It becomes even more difficult when the video devices are equipped with flat panel display devices of different makes and models because each may have its own unique inherent gamma. For example,  FIG. 2  shows gaming consoles  10 A,  10 B and  10 C grouped together and arranged proximate each other. The consoles  10 A,  10 B and  10 C may be equipped with flat panel display devices  12 A,  12 B and  12 C of different makes and models, respectively, and each console may have preset display characteristics inherently different from each other. Thus, under a uniform ambient light setting, the flat panel display devices  12 A,  12 B and  12 C may appear to non-uniform to the viewer. This may negatively impact the overall aesthetic of the grouped gaming consoles. Especially when the identical images are displayed on the panels  12 A,  12 B and  12 C, the viewers may perceive that the gaming devices  10 A,  10 B and  10 C are not displaying the same images, and thus the overall aesthetic of the console grouping is diminished.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for a method for uniformly displaying images on multiple display devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention meets the foregoing need and allows displaying images on multiple display devices with uniform visual characteristics, which results in a significant improvement in overall aesthetic of the grouped device devices and other advantages apparent from the discussion herein.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a display system includes the first display unit configured to display the first image on the first screen thereof based on the first video signal, and the second display unit located proximate the first display unit and configured to display the second image on the second screen thereof based on the second video signal. The second video signal is adjusted based on the display characteristics of the first display unit such that the first and second images displayed on the first and second screens, respectively, have substantially the same visual characteristics.  
         [0010]     The first display unit may include the first data source storing the first video data for the first display unit, the first display enhancement unit storing the first display correction information for the first display unit, the first controller configured to generate the first video signal based on the first video data and the first display correction information, and the first display device having the first screen and configured to display the first image on the first screen based on the first video signal from the first controller.  
         [0011]     The second display unit may include the second data source storing the second video data for the second display, the second display enhancement unit storing display equalization information for the second display unit; the second controller configured to generate the second video signal based on the second video data and the second display correction information, and the second display device having the second screen and configured to display the second image on the second screen based on the second video signal from the second controller. The second display enhancement unit may further store the second display correction information for the second display unit. The display equalization information may be derived from the first and second display correction information.  
         [0012]     The first display correction information may be based on the first video signal and visual characteristics of the first optimized image displayed on the first screen, and the second display correction information is based on the second video signal and visual characteristics of the second optimized image displayed on the second screen. The first and second display correction information and the display equalization information include at least one of gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature and sharpness correction values. The first display correction information and display equalization information may include at least one preset display characteristics optimized for a corresponding ambient light level. The first and second display devices may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.  
         [0013]     According to anther aspect of the invention, a method of equalizing visual characteristics of images displayed on a plurality of display units arranged proximate each other may include steps of generating the first and second video signals for the first and second display units, respectively, displaying images on the first and second display units based on the first and second video signals, respectively, deriving the first and second display correction information for the first and second display units, respectively, deriving image equalization information for the second display unit based on the first and second display correction information, respectively, adjusting the first video signal based on the first display correction information, adjusting the second video signal based on the image equalization information, and displaying images on the first and second display units based on the adjusted first and second video signals.  
         [0014]     The step of deriving first image correction information may include steps of adjusting display characteristics of the first display unit to optimize the image displayed on the first display, detecting visual characteristics of the optimized image displayed on the first display, comparing the detected visual characteristics of the optimized image displayed on the first display unit with the first video signal to derive the first image correction information.  
         [0015]     The step of deriving second image correction information may include steps adjusting display characteristics of the second display unit to optimize the image displayed on the second display, detecting visual characteristics of the optimized image displayed on the second display, comparing the detected visual characteristics of the optimized image displayed on the second display unit with the second video signal to derive the first image correction information.  
         [0016]     The steps of adjusting the display characteristics of the images displayed on the first and second display units may include a step of adjusting at least one of gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature and sharpness values for the first and second display units. The display characteristics may comprise at least one of gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature and sharpness correction values. The first and second display correction information may include at least one of gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature and sharpness correction values for the first and second display units. The image equalization information may include at least one of gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature and sharpness correction values for the second display unit.  
         [0017]     According to yet anther aspect of the invention, a method of equalizing visual characteristic of images displayed on display units arranged proximate each other includes generating the first and second video signals for the first and second display units, respectively, determining the first display correction information for the first display, the first display correction information being optimized for the first ambient light level, determining the second display correction information for the second display unit, determining image equalization information for the second display unit based on the first and second display correction information, adjusting the first video signal based on the first display correction information, adjusting the second video signal based on the image equalization information, and displaying the first and second images on the first and second display units, respectively, based on the adjusted first and second video signals.  
         [0018]     The method may further include a step of storing the first display correction information and the image equalization information as the first preset for the first ambient light level. The method may further include steps of installing the first and second display units in the first environment having the first ambient light level, and selecting the first preset for the first and second display units to display images optimized for the first ambient light level. The method may further include steps of determining a plurality of presets for a plurality of ambient light levels, installing the first and second display units in the second environment having the second ambient light level, and selecting one of the plurality of presets corresponding to the second ambient light level to display an image optimized for the second ambient light level.  
         [0019]     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional gaming device equipped with an LCD panel;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a group of gaming devices shown in  FIG. 1  arranged proximate each other;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows an overall structure for a display equalization scheme for multiple display devices, constructed according to the principles of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows process steps for the display equalization scheme for multiple display devices according to the principles of the invention; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows process steps for equalizing visual characteristics of images displayed on the grouped video devices of  FIG. 4  depending on an ambient light level, constructed according to the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  conceptually shows an overall structure of a display equalization scheme for multiple display devices, constructed according to the principles of the invention. The structure may include at least two display units  30 A and  30 B, that may be implemented in at least two display devices, respectively, for example, the gaming consoles  10 A,  10 B shown in  FIG. 2 . The display unit  30 A may include a data source  32 A, graphic controller  34 A, display enhancement unit  36 A, and display panel  12 A. Similarly, the display unit  30 B may include a data source  32 B, graphic controller  34 B, display enhancement unit  36 B, and display panel  12 B.  
         [0028]     The data sources  32 A,  32 B may provide video data D 1 , D 2  to the consoles  10 A,  10 B, respectively. The video data D 1 , D 2  may be the identical video data for displaying the identical images on the display panels  12 A,  12 B. For example, the data sources  32 A,  32 B may be a single data source such as a data storage at a centralized location, which may provide the identical video data D 1 , D 2  to display the identical images on the display panels  12 A,  12 B simultaneously or randomly. Alternatively, the data sources  32 A,  32 B may provide different video data D 1 , D 2  to the corresponding consoles  10 A,  10 B, respectively. For example, the data sources  32 A,  32 B may be internal data storages for the consoles  10 A,  10 B, respectively. However, when the consoles  10 A,  10 B run the same gaming program (e.g., video poker program), the video data D 1 , D 2  from the two different data sources  32 A,  32 B may result in similar images (e.g., identical screen layout, color-scheme and/or the like) being displayed on the display panels  12 A,  12 B.  
         [0029]     After receiving the video data D 1  from the data source  32 A, the graphic controller  34 A may generate a video signal S 1  based on the video data D 1 , and send the video signal S 1  to the display panel  12 A, which displays an image representing the video signal S 1  on the screen thereof. In order to optimize the image displayed on the display panel  12 A, the graphic controller  34 A may access the display enhancement unit  36 A to obtain display correction information C 1 , adjust video signal S 1  based on the display correction information C 1  and provide an adjusted video signal S′ 1  to the display panel  12 A. The display correction information C 1  may include one or more presets of display correction values (e.g., gamma, brightness, contrast, color, tint, color temperature and/or the like), which may be selected in conjunction with corresponding luminance settings suitable for different lighting levels such as, for example, dark, average and bright lighting levels. The display correction information C 1  may be determined by comparing the display correction information C 1  and visual characteristics V 1  of the image displayed on the display panel  12 A, which will be discussed below in detail. The display enhancement unit  36 A may include a data storage such as EPROM or the like to store the display correction information C 1 .  
         [0030]     The display unit  30 B may be configured and operate in a substantially similar manner to the display unit  30 A. However, since the inherent display characteristics and/or preset display characteristic values of the display panel  12 B may be different from those of the display panel  12 A, a video signal S 2  from the graphic controller  34 B may require adjustment, different from the adjustment made to video data D 1 , in order to display an image having substantially the same visual characteristics with the image displayed on the panel  12 A. Such adjustment may be even more critical when the video data D 1  and D 2  are intended for displaying the identical or similar images.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart describing the processing steps for equalizing visual characteristics of multiple display devices, such as the display devices  10 A,  10 B shown in  FIG. 3 , constructed according to the principles of the invention. At step  410 , the graphic controller  34 A of the display unit  30 A may generate the video signal S 1  based on the video data D 1  received from the data source  32 A. Similarly, at step  440 , the graphic controller  34 B of the display unit  30 B may generate the video signal S 2  based on the video data D 2  received from the data source  32 B. At the steps  412 ,  442 , the display panels  12 A,  12 B may display images representing the video signals S 1 , S 2 , respectively, on their respective screens. At steps  414 ,  444 , the user may adjust display settings (e.g. gamma, brightness, color, contrast, color temperature, refresh rate and/or the like) to optimize the images displayed on the display panel  12 A,  12 B. The display settings may be adjusted using an on-screen display (OSD) menu feature implemented to the display panels  12 A,  12 B. Additionally or alternatively, the display settings may be adjusted using control buttons provided to the display units  30 A,  30 B. While optimizing the images displayed on the display panels  12 A,  12 B, the user may also equalize the display characteristics of the images displayed on the display units  30 A,  30 B.  
         [0032]     At steps  416 ,  446 , the visual characteristics V 1 , V 2  (e.g., gamma, brightness, contrast, color, tint, color temperature and/or the like) of the optimized images displayed on the display panel  12 A,  12 B, respectively, may be detected using, for example, a software program, such as COLORFACTS™ from Milori, Inc. of Lawrenceville, N.J. or an apparatus performing the same functions. At step  418 , display correction information C 1  for the display unit  30 A may be derived based on the visual characteristics V 1  and the video signal S 1 . For example, the display correction information C 1  may be derived by comparing the visual characteristics V 1  of the optimized image displayed on the display panel  12 A with the video signal S 1  to determine the differences in the visual characteristics between the optimized image displayed on the display panel  12 A and the unaltered video signal S 1  from the graphic controller  34 A. Similarly, at step  448 , display correction information C 2  for the display unit  30 B may be derived based on the visual characteristics V 2  and the video signal S 2 . At step  422 , once the display correction information C 1  is stored, the graphic controller  34 A may access the display enhancement unit  36 A at anytime to adjust the video signal S 1  based on the display correction information C 1  and generate an adjusted video signal S′ 1 . At step  424 , the adjusted video signal S′ 1  may be provided to the display panel  12 A, which may display an image representing the adjusted video signal S′ 1  on the screen thereof.  
         [0033]     In order to equalize the visual characteristics of the images displayed on the display panels  12 A,  12 B, the display correction information C 1  may be provided to the display unit  30 B and compared to the display correction information C 2  of the display unit  30 B to derive image equalization information I E  for the display unit  30 B. For example, the image equalization information I E  may include display characteristics correction values such as gamma, brightness, contrast, tint, color, color temperature correction values or the like that may be used to adjust the video signal V 2  such that the image displayed on the display panel  12 B may have substantially the same visual characteristics as the those of the image displayed on the display on the display panel  12 A. At step  452 , the image equalization information I E  may be stored in a data storage, such as an internal data storage of the display enhancement unit  36 B. At step  454 , the controller  34 B may adjust the video signal S 2  based on the image equalization information I E  and generate an adjusted video signal S″ 2 . At step  456 , the display panel  12 B may display an image representing the adjusted video signal S″ 2  on the screen thereof. Thus, according to the invention, the visual characteristics of the images displayed on two proximate display units are equalized regardless of the inherent differences in display characteristics between the grouped display devices.  
         [0034]     The ambient light level of the environment where the display devices  10 A,  10 B are installed may vary. Thus, the display units  30 A,  30 B may be provided with one or more presets of predetermined video signal correction values, which may be selected to optimize the display characteristics for various ambient lighting levels such as, for example, dark, average and bright ambient lighting levels. In configuring the display units  30 A, 30 B for a specific ambient luminance setting, it may be necessary to adjust the display characteristics of both of the display units  30 A, 30 B such that the display units  30 A, 30 B may display images of the same display characteristics that are also optimized for a specified ambient lighting level.  FIG. 5  shows a flow chart describing the processing steps of equalizing the display characteristics of multiple LCD devices for one or more ambient lighting levels, constructed according to the principles of the invention.  
         [0035]     At step  510 , to optimize the image displayed on the first display unit  30 A in the first ambient light level, the display correction information C 1  may be determined specifically for the first ambient light level. The display correction information C 1  may be determined by performing the steps  410 ,  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418  of  FIG. 4  in the first ambient light level. Similarly, at step  520 , the display correction information C 2  may be determined specifically for the second display unit  30 B in the first ambient light level. At step  530 , image equalization information I E  for the second display unit  30 B for the first ambient light level may be determined based on the display correction information C 1  and C 2 . At step  540 , the display correction information C 1  and the image equalization information I E  may be stored in the image enhancement units  36 A,  36 B, respectively as a preset for the first ambient light level. The steps  510 ,  520 ,  530  may be repeated to create more presets for different ambient light levels. At step  550 , the display unit  30 A,  30 B may be installed in an environment having the first ambient light level. At step  560 , the preset may be selected to display images having substantially the same display characteristics that are also optimized for the first ambient light level. Thus, according to the invention, it is possible to display images of substantially the same display characteristics that are optimized for a specific ambient light level on multiple display devices.  
         [0036]     In an embodiment, more than one preset may be created and selected for various ambient light conditions (e.g., LOW, MED LOW, STANDARD, MED HIGH and HIGH). The presets may be selected by way of a touch screen menu or the like. The presets may be alternately selected by way of, for example, buttons, a control pad or the like. The buttons may be mounted within the cabinet  14  shown in  FIG. 1  for limited access only by an authorized operator. The buttons may allow the operator to select and adjust various display functions by way of an on-screen menu that appears during the adjustment process. For example, the buttons may include a “mode” button that calls up a number of mode descriptors on the LCD display, one or more of which may correspond to the appropriate preset to the lighting condition in which the console is installed. While the present invention, in one embodiment, is particularly well suited for use with LCD devices as will be explained herein, the devices and methods described may be used with other video displays, such as plasma, FED, and OLED displays with similar benefits.  
         [0037]     While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention.