Patent Publication Number: US-2006001893-A1

Title: Display device and image processing method therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The invention relates to a display device and image processing method therefor and, in particular, to a display device and image processing method therefor with a large dynamic range.  
      2. Related Art  
      With the arrival of a multimedia era, the use of display devices, such as a CRT display, a LCD display, a plasma display, an electroluminescent display and a projection display, has become popular more and more in every field.  
      The image projecting systems can be divided into different types, such as CRT projector, LCD projector and DLP projector. The LCD projector and the DLP projector have come into widespread use because they are suitable for high luminance and high display quality.  
      However, the dynamic range of the LCD projector and the DLP projector is not large. For instance, the actual dynamic range of a LCD projector is about 300-400:1, and the actual dynamic range of a DLP projector is about 500-600:1 (here, a device has a large dynamic range means that it is able to display an image with high contrast and many-levels of gradation). If the dynamic range of a display device is not large enough, a user cannot differentiate images if the brightness of the images is darker (such as night images).  
      To solve this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,657 disclosed a projection display system  1 , in which an illumination-light amount modulating means is provided to adjust the light amount illuminated to an optical modulator. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the light illuminated from a light source  11  is reflected by a reflector  12  and becomes a parallel light beam. After passing an integrator  13 , the parallel light beam enters a PS converter  14 , and is converted from a non-polarized light beam to a linearly-polarized light beam.  
      The linearly-polarized light beam then enters the optical device  15  having a rotatable polarizing plate. Afterwards the light beam illuminates to the LCD panel  18  via a plurality of reflection layers  16  and prisms  17 . The LCD panel  18  controls the light beam to form an image. The polarizing plate is driven by a motor (not shown in the drawing). Since the polarizing plate rotates continuously, the amount of light entering the LCD panel  18  changes accordingly. The amount of light entering the LCD panel  18  is determined according to the input image signal, and the rotation angle of the polarizing plate, which correspondents to the rotation angle of the motor, is calculated in view of the amount of light.  
      However, the image projecting system mentioned above has an additional illumination-light amount modulating means, which makes the system heavier and larger, and thus not suitable for a compact projection system. Moreover, the angle of the polarizing plate is adjusted mechanically via a motor, which limits the precision of angle adjustment.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the above-mentioned problems, the invention is to provide a display device and an image processing method therefor with an increased dynamic range.  
      To achieve the above, in one embodiment of the invention, the display device includes an image-gaining processing module, a first light source, a second light source, a modulating module, a first imager, a second imager and a combiner. The image-gaining processing module, which receives an image signal and filters out a first color image signal and a second color image signal from the image signal, generates a first color gain value depend on the first color image signal and generates a second color gain value depend on the second color image signal, and generates a first color image-gaining signal according to the first color gain value and the first color image signal and generates a second color image-gaining signal according to the second color gain value and the second color image signal. The first light source emits a first color light beam. The second light source emits a second color light beam. The modulating module is electrically connected with the first light source, the second light source and the image-gaining processing module, wherein the modulating module generates a first color control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of the light beam from the first light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the light beam from the first light source and the inverse of the first color gain value, and generates a second color control signal according to the second color gain value to control the brightness of the light beam from the second light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the light beam from the second light source and the inverse of the second color gain value. The first imager is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module, wherein the first imager receives the first color image-gaining signal and produces a first color image using the controlled light beam from the first light source. The second imager is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module, wherein the second imager receives the second color image-gaining signal and produces a second color image using the controlled light beam from the light source. The combiner receives the first color image and the second color image to form an image.  
      To achieve the above, in one embodiment of the invention, the image processing method for a display device comprises the steps of: receiving an image signal, filtering a first color image signal from the image signal, determining the maximum brightness of the first color image signal, dividing the maximum brightness of a first color imager by the maximum brightness of the first color image signal to obtain a first color gain value, multiplying the first color image signal by the first color gain value to obtain an first color image-gaining signal, generating a first color control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of a first color light beam from a first light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the first color light beam from the first light source and the inverse of the first color gain value, and sending the first color image-gaining signal to the first color imager and using the controlled light beam from the first light source to form a first color image.  
      From the above, the display device and the image processing method therefor according to the invention filters each different color image signal (for example, red color image signal, blue color image signal and green color image signal) from the input signal, obtains each color gain value using each different color image signal, multiplies each color image signal by each related color gain value, and adjusts the brightness of each color light source to become the multiple of the inverse of the related color gain value to enhance the dynamic range of both each color image signal and the display device. In addition, because each light beam is provide by each color light source and each color image signal is sent to each color imager, each color image signal may send to the corresponding color imager immediately, then using the combiner to form the image. Comparing with the prior art, the display device according to the invention does not need additional parts such as a PS converter, a polarizing plate, and motor. Except the reducing of the overall cost, the size and weight of the device remain unchanged. Moreover, the invention increases the dynamic range using an electronic solution, thus has a higher precision than the mechanical solution in the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a display device in the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a display device according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an example of calculating the image signal A G  and the image signal A G ′ in the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a digital processing projection device according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is another schematic diagram of a first light source, a second light source and a third light source according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an image processing method for a display device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The display devices and the image processing method therefor according to the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to relevant drawings.  
     First Embodiment  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the display device  2  according to the first embodiment of the invention includes an image-gaining processing module  21 , a first light source  22 , a second light source  23 , a third light source  24 , a modulating module  25 , a first imager  26 , a second imager  27 , a third imager  28  and a combiner  29 . The image-gaining processing module  21 , which receives an image signal and filters out a first color image signal, a second color image signal and a third color image signal from the image signal. The image-gaining processing module  21 generates a first color gain value (G 1 ) depend on the first color image signal, generates a second color gain value (G 2 ) depend on the second color image signal, and generates a third color gain value (G 3 ) depend on the third color image signal. The image-gaining processing module  21  generates a first color image-gaining signal according to the first color gain value and the first color image signal, generates a second color image-gaining signal according to the second color gain value and the second color image signal, and generates a third color image-gaining signal according to the third color gain value and the third color image signal. The first light source  22  emits a first color light beam. The second light source  23  emits a second color light beam. The third light source  24  emits a third color light beam. The modulating module  25  is electrically connected with the first light source  22 , the second light source  23 , the third light source  24  and the image-gaining processing module  21 , wherein the modulating module  25  generates a first color control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of the light beam from the first light source  22  to become a multiple of the original brightness of the light beam from the first light source  22  and the inverse of the first color gain value, generates a second color control signal according to the second color gain value to control the brightness of the light beam from the second light source  23  to become a multiple of the original brightness of the light beam from the second light source  23  and the inverse of the second color gain value, and generates a third color control signal according to the third color gain value to control the brightness of the light beam from the third light source  24  to become a multiple of the original brightness of the light beam from the third light source  24  and the inverse of the third color gain value. The first imager  26  is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module  21 , wherein the first imager  26  receives the first color image-gaining signal and produces an first color image using the controlled light beam from the first light source  22 . The second imager  27  is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module  21 , wherein the second imager  27  receives the second color image-gaining signal and produces an second color image using the controlled light beam from the second light source  23 . The third imager  28  is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module  21 , wherein the third imager  28  receives the third color image-gaining signal and produces an third color image using the controlled light beam from the third light source  24 . The combiner  29  receives the first color image, the second color image and the third color image to form an image.  
      In the present embodiment, the first color image signal, the second color image signal, and the third color image signal maybe a red image signal, a blue color image signal, and a green image signal.  
      In the present embodiment, the image-gaining processing module  21  includes an image gaining module  211  and an image processing module  212 , the image gaining module  211  generates the first color gain value using the first color image signal, generates the second color gain value using the second color image signal, and generates the third color gain value using the third color image signal. The image-processing module  212  is electrically connected with the image-gaining module  211 . The image processing module  212  generates the first color image-gaining signal according to the first color gain value and the first color image signal, generates the second color image-gaining signal according to the second color gain value and the second color image signal, and generates the third color image-gaining signal according to the third color gain value and the third color image signal.  
      Furthermore, the image gaining module  211  in the present embodiment generates the gain value using the image signal, which signal is provided by an image source (not shown in the drawing). The image source may be a digital image source or an analog image source. When the image source is an analog image source, the display device  2  may further include an AD converter to convert analog signals to digital signals.  
      In the present embodiment, the image gaining module  211  determines the maximum gray level of the first color image signal, and divides the maximum gray level of the imager  25  by the maximum gray level of the image signal to obtain the first color gain value. The image gaining module  211  determines the maximum gray level of the second color image signal, and divides the maximum gray level of the imager  25  by the maximum gray level of the image signal to obtain the second color gain value. The image gaining module  211  determines the maximum gray level of the third color image signal, and divides the maximum gray level of the imager  25  by the maximum gray level of the image signal to obtain the third color gain value. Alternatively, the image gaining module  211  may determine the maximum intensity of the first image signal, and divides the maximum intensity of the imager  15  by the maximum intensity of the first color image signal to obtain the first color gain value. The image gaining module  211  may determine the maximum intensity of the second image signal, and divides the maximum intensity of the imager  15  by the maximum intensity of the second color image signal to obtain the second color gain value. The image gaining module  211  may determine the maximum intensity of the third image signal, and divides the maximum intensity of the imager  15  by the maximum intensity of the third color image signal to obtain the third color gain value.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image processing module  212  is electrically connected with the image gaining module  211 , and generates an image-gaining signal according to the gain value and the image signal. In other words, the image-gaining signal equals to the multiple of the gain value and the image signal. For example, the first color image-gaining signal equals to the multiple of the first color gain value and the first color image signal.  
      In the present embodiment, the first light source  22  emits the first color light beam for image production, the second light source  23  emits the second color light beam for image production, and the third light source  24  emits the third color light beam for image production. The first light source  22 , the second light source  23  and the third light source  24  may be digital-controlled or analog-controlled light sources. For instance, the first light source  22 , the second light source  23  and the third light source  24  may be light-emitting diodes (LED), light bulbs, laser (such as a semiconductor laser), organic LEDs, ultrahigh-press mercury lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps or halogen lamps. Herein, as shown In  FIG. 5 , when the first light source  22 , the second light source  23  and the third light source  24  are light emitting diodes, the first light source  22 , the second light source  23  and the third light source  24  may combine to become a light emitting diode array. And, each color light beam from the first light source  22 , the second light source  23  or the third light source  24  is guided to the corresponding imager (the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  or the third imager  28 ) by fibers.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the display device  2  according to the present embodiment may further include a gray level processing module  20 . The gray level processing module  20  converts the image gray level signal into the image intensity signal, or converts the image intensity signal into the image gray level signal.  
      Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the modulating module  25  is electrically connected with the first light source  22 , the second light source  23 , the third light source  24  and the image gaining module  211 . The modulating module  25  generates a first color control signal to control the brightness of the first light source  22  according to the first color gain value, wherein the brightness comes out by multiplying the brightness of the original light by the inverse of the gain value. And, the modulating module  25  generates a second color control signal to control the brightness of the second light source  23  according to the second color gain value, wherein the brightness comes out by multiplying the brightness of the original light by the inverse of the gain value. And, the modulating module  25  generates a third color control signal to control the brightness of the third light source  24  according to the third color gain value, wherein the brightness comes out by multiplying the brightness of the original light by the inverse of the gain value. Here, the modulating module  25  may be a digital modulating module or an analog modulating module.  
      Moreover, the modulating module  25  may also control the open/close time of the first light source  22 , so that the brightness of the light emitted by the first light source  22  becomes the multiple of the brightness of the original light and the inverse of the first color gain value. Alternatively, the modulating module  25  may also control the open/close time of the second light source  23 , so that the brightness of the light emitted by the second light source  23  becomes the multiple of the brightness of the original light and the inverse of the second color gain value. Alternatively, the modulating module  25  may also control the open/close time of the third light source  24 , so that the brightness of the light emitted by the second light source  24  becomes the multiple of the brightness of the original light and the inverse of the third color gain value.  
      The way of obtaining the first color gain value and the first color image-gaining signal will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . First, the first color image gray level signal is converted to the first color image intensity signal. Then, the image gaining module  212  determines the maximum intensity of the first color image intensity signal, that is, 0.0290 I 0 . Then, the maximum intensity of the imager  25  (I 0 ) is divided by the maximum intensity of the first color image intensity signal (0.0290 I 0 ) to obtain the first color gain value G 1  (=34.49). Then, the image processing module  212  generates the first color image intensity-gaining signal according to the first color gain value G 1  (=34.49) and the first color image intensity signal. Lastly, the first color image intensity-gaining signal is converted to the first color image gray level-gaining signal.  
      Of course, the way of obtaining the second (third) color gain value and the second (third) color image-gaining signal is same as the above.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3  again, the gray level processing module  20  converts the first color image gray level signal to the first color image intensity signal by the following formula: 
 
 A   1   =I   0 ×( A   G ) γ   (1) 
 
      wherein I 0  is the intensity value, A G  is the first color image gray level signal, A I  is the first color image intensity signal, and γ is an arbitrary number (for example, γ is 2.2 for a CRT display).  
      Please refer to  FIG. 3  again, in the present embodiment, the gray level processing module  20  converts the first color image intensity-gaining signal to the first color image gray level-gaining signal using the following formula: 
 
 A   G ′=( A   I   ′/I   0 ) 1/γ   (2) 
 
 wherein I 0  is the intensity value, A G ′ is the first color image gray level-gaining signal, A I ′ is the first color image intensity-gaining signal and γ is an arbitrary number (for example, γ is 2.2 for a CRT display). 
 
      Of coerce, the gray level processing module  20  may convert the first color image gray level-gaining signal to the first color image intensity-gaining signal or converts the first color image intensity signal to the first color image gray level signal using the above formula (1) or (2).  
      Please refer to  FIG. 2 , the first imager  26  is electrically connected with the image-gaining processing module  21 . The first imager  26  receives the first color image-gaining signal, and produces a first color image using the adjusted light beam from the first light source  22 . The second imager  27  receives the second color image-gaining signal, and produces a second color image using the adjusted light beam from the second light source  23 . The third imager  28  receives the third color image-gaining signal, and produces a third color image using the adjusted light beam from the third light source  24 . The first color image, the second color image and the third color image form the image. This image substantially equals to the image signal.  
      In addition, the combiner  29  receives the first color image, the second color image and the third color image to form an image. The image substantially equals to the image signal.  
      In the present embodiment, the display device  2  includes, but not limited to, a DLP projector, a transparent type projector, a reflection type projector, or an LCD display.  
      In the present embodiment, the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  and the third image  28  respectively includes a display screen when the display device  2  is a projection display device. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the display device  2  is a DLP projector, the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  and the third image  28  respectively further includes a DMD (digital micro-mirror device). Furthermore, when the display device  2  is a transparent type LCD projector, the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  and the third image  28  respectively further includes an LCD light valve. When the display device  2  is a reflection type LCD projector, the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  and the third image  28  respectively further includes an LCD reflection panel. As shown in  FIG. 5 , certainly the display device  2  may be an LCD display, wherein the first imager  26 , the second imager  27  and the third image  28  is respectively an LCD panel.  
      The display device  2  according to the present embodiment further includes a focus unit  291 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The focus unit  291  focuses the light beam emitted by the first light source  22 , the second light source  23  or the third light source  24 . Here, the focus unit  291  is provided on the light path.  
      The display device  2  according to the present embodiment further includes an optical guide  292 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The optical guide  292  is provided on the light path to make uniform the light emitted from the first light source  22  (or the second light source  23 , the third light source  24 ). The optical guide  292  also has the function of light guiding or changing the direction of light.  
     Second Embodiment  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the image processing method for a display device according to the second embodiment of the invention is receiving an image signal (SO  1 ), filtering a first color image signal from the image signal (S 02 ), determining the maximum brightness of the first color image signal (S 03 ), dividing the maximum brightness of a first color imager by the maximum brightness of the first color image signal to obtain a first color gain value (S 04 ), multiplying the first color image signal by the first color gain value to obtain an first color image-gaining signal (S 05 ), generating a first color control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of a first color light beam from a first light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the first color light beam from the first light source and the inverse of the first color gain value (S 06 ), and sending the first color image-gaining signal to the first color imager and using the controlled light beam from the first light source to form a first color image (S 07 ).  
      In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the image processing method for a display device according to the present embodiment of the invention may further include the step of: filtering a second color image signal from the image signal, determining the maximum brightness of the second color image signal, dividing the maximum brightness of a second color imager by the maximum brightness of the second color image signal to obtain a second color gain value, multiplying the second color image signal by the second color gain value to obtain an second color image-gaining signal, generating a second color control signal according to the second color gain value to control the brightness of a second color light beam from the second light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the second color light beam from the second light source and the inverse of the second color gain value, sending the second color image-gaining signal to the second color imager and using the controlled light beam from the second light source to form a second color image(S 08 ).  
      In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the image processing method for a display device according to the present embodiment of the invention may further include the step of: filtering a third color image signal from the image signal, determining the maximum brightness of the third color image signal, dividing the maximum brightness of a third color imager by the maximum brightness of the third color image signal to obtain a third color gain value, multiplying the third color image signal by the third color gain value to obtain an third color image-gaining signal, generating a third color control signal according to the third color gain value to control the brightness of a third color light from a third light source to become a multiple of the original brightness of the third color light beam from the third light source and the inverse of the third color gain value, sending the third color image-gaining signal to the third color imager and using the controlled light beam from the third light source to form a third color image, the first color image, the second color image and the third color image combine to the image (S 09 ).  
      In step S 01 , receiving the image signal. Herein, the image signal can be represented by gray level or intensity.  
      In step S 02 , filtering the first color image signal (for example, red image signal) from the image signal.  
      In step S 03 , determining the maximum brightness of the first color image signal. Herein, the image signal is provided by an image source.  
      In step S 04 , dividing the maximum brightness of the imager by the maximum brightness of the first color image signal to obtain the first color gain value. Herein, the maximum brightness of the imager can be represented by gray level or intensity.  
      In step S 05 , multiplying the first color image signal by the first color gain value to obtain the first color image-gaining signal.  
      In step S 06 , generating the first color control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of the first color light beam from the first light source to become the multiple of the original brightness of the first color light beam from the first light source and the inverse of the gain value. Herein, a modulating module same as the modulating module of the first embodiment may generate the control signal according to the first color gain value to control the brightness of the first color light from the first light source to become the multiple of the original brightness of the first color light beam from the first light source and the inverse of the first color gain value.  
      In step S 07 , sending the first color image-gaining signal to the first imager and using the controlled light beam from the first light source to form the first color image. In other words, an first imager same as the first imager of the first embodiment receives the first color image-gaining signal, and produces the first color image using the adjusted light beam from the first light source.  
      In addition, step S 08  and step S 09  repeats the step from step S 01  to step S 07 , so the detailed descriptions are omitted here for concise purpose.  
      From step S 01  to step S 09 , the first color image, the second color image and the third color image to form an image. The image substantially equals to the image signal.  
      From the above, the display device and the image processing method therefor according to the invention filters each different color image signal (for example, red color image signal, blue color image signal and green color image signal) from the input signal, obtains each color gain value using each different color image signal, multiplies each color image signal by each related color gain value, and adjusts the brightness of each color light source to become the multiple of the inverse of the related color gain value to enhance the dynamic range of both each color image signal and the display device. In addition, because each light beam is provide by each color light source and each color image signal is sent to each color imager, each color image signal may send to the corresponding color imager immediately, then using the combiner to form the image. Comparing with the prior art, the display device according to the invention does not need additional parts such as a PS converter, a polarizing plate, and motor. Except the reducing of the overall cost, the size and weight of the device remain unchanged. Moreover, the invention increases the dynamic range using an electronic solution, thus has a higher precision than the mechanical solution in the prior art.  
      The description should not be construed in a limiting sense. Any modifications and changes within the spirit and scope of the invention should be included in the appended claims.