Patent Description:
Blue light is a light source of blue in a wavelength range of <NUM> to <NUM> nanometers and has shortest wavelength and strong energy among visible lights. Prolonged exposure to blue light is known to have adverse effects on eyes, such as eye fatigue or dry eye syndrome.

Therefore, a display device such as a smartphone, a computer monitor or a TV tends to provide a blue light reduction function.

For instance, <CIT> relates to selectively reducing blue light in a display frame. The device can enter a reduced blue light (RBL) mode, where a color tone shift is performed, according to a baseline or a default level, which can be overridden by one or more RBL rules in a selective manner. These rules include various configurations, where a color temperature slider can be used specifically for content classified as "pictures", "videos", "YouTube", "Web Browser", or "chat application", whereby the color temperature indicated by the color temperature slider is used in place of the default color temperature for the classified content. Furthermore, a memory color, such as sky, foliage or skin, may be determined and used to classify the content as a picture or video. In addition, a custom (e.g., cooler) color temperature is applied to any detected memory colors. Moreover, if a memory color is detected, a specific color temperature setting for blue light reduction may be reduced for screen areas of the picture in proximity to the detected memory colors, while a full blue light reduction is implemented to screen areas of the picture that are not in proximity to the detected memory colors.

<CIT> relates to an electronic device filtering out blue light, by determining a type of content included in a to-be-displayed picture using pattern recognition, and reducing a blue light component in an area in which the to-be-displayed content is located. The content may be a text area, a video area or a picture area. Alternatively, a file type, such as a multimedia file or webpage may be used to determine the type of content of the picture.

However, since the blue light reduction function intentionally reduces a blue component, there is a disadvantage in that a screen is output in yellow as a whole. Due to this disadvantage, the blue light reduction function is being disregarded by users.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for improving blue component reduction when displaying an image.

This object is solved by the present invention as defined in the independent claims.

The present disclosure provides a display device for minimizing color distortion while executing a blue light reduction function, and a method of operating the same.

The present disclosure provides a display device for minimizing a problem that a screen is output in yellow while executing a blue light reduction function, and a method of operating the same.

The present disclosure provides a display device for minimizing user inconvenience while executing a blue light reduction function, and a method of operating the same.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to minimize reduction of a blue component with respect to a part, change of which is sensitive to users while executing a blue light reduction function.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present application comprises a display configured to display an image, and a controller configured to reduce a blue component in the image when an execution command of a blue light reduction function is received, wherein the controller detects a preset part having a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value, and performs control such that an amount of reduction of a blue component of an area corresponding to the detected part is less than that of the remaining area.

The controller reduces the blue component by moving a white point (WP), and an amount of movement of a WP in the area corresponding to the detected part is less than that of a WP in the remaining area.

The controller gradually changes a color in the vicinity of a boundary between the area corresponding to the predetermined part and the remaining area.

The controller performs control such that an amount of movement of a color in a protection area corresponding to the preset part according to execution of the blue light reduction function is different from that of a color in the remaining area.

A method of operating a display device according to an embodiment of the present application comprises displaying an image, receiving an execution command of a blue light reduction function, and reducing a blue component in the image when the blue light reduction function is executed, wherein the reducing the blue component comprises detecting a preset part having a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value, and performing control such that an amount of reduction of a blue component of an area corresponding to the detected part is less than that of the remaining area.

The reducing the blue component comprises reducing the blue component by moving a white point (WP), and an amount of movement of a WP in an area corresponding to the detected part is less than that of a WP in the remaining area.

The reducing the blue component comprises gradually changing a color in the vicinity of a boundary between an area corresponding to the preset part and the remaining area.

The method further comprising gradually changing a color in the vicinity of a boundary between an area corresponding to the preset part and the remaining area.

The method further comprising gradually changing a color in the vicinity of a boundary between an area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area.

Hereinafter, embodiments relating to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The suffixes "module" and "interface" for components used in the description below are assigned or mixed in consideration of easiness in writing the specification and do not have distinctive meanings or roles by themselves.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a display device <NUM> includes a display <NUM> and a controller <NUM>, and can further include a broadcast reception module <NUM>, an external device interface <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a user input interface <NUM>, a wireless communication interface <NUM>, a voice acquisition module <NUM>, an audio output interface <NUM>, and a power supply <NUM>.

The broadcast reception module <NUM> can include a tuner <NUM>, a demodulator <NUM>, and a network interface <NUM>.

The tuner <NUM> can select a specific broadcast channel according to a channel selection command. The tuner <NUM> can receive broadcast signals for the selected specific broadcast channel.

The demodulator <NUM> can divide the received broadcast signals into video signals, audio signals, and broadcast program related data signals and restore the divided video signals, audio signals, and data signals to an output available form.

The network interface <NUM> can provide an interface for connecting the display device <NUM> to a wired/wireless network including internet network. The network interface <NUM> can transmit or receive data to or from another user or another electronic device through an accessed network or another network linked to the accessed network.

The network interface <NUM> can access a predetermined webpage through an accessed network or another network linked to the accessed network. That is, it can transmit or receive data to or from a corresponding server by accessing a predetermined webpage through network.

Then, the network interface <NUM> can receive contents or data provided from a content provider or a network operator. That is, the network interface <NUM> can receive contents such as movies, advertisements, games, VODs, and broadcast signals, which are provided from a content provider or a network provider, through network and information relating thereto.

Additionally, the network interface <NUM> can receive firmware update information and update files provided from a network operator and transmit data to an internet or content provider or a network operator.

The network interface <NUM> can select and receive a desired application among applications open to the air, through network.

The external device interface <NUM> can receive an application or an application list in an adjacent external device and deliver it to the controller <NUM> or the storage <NUM>.

The external device interface <NUM> can provide a connection path between the display device <NUM> and an external device. The external device interface <NUM> can receive at least one of image and audio outputted from an external device that is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the display device <NUM> and deliver it to the controller. The external device interface <NUM> can include a plurality of external input terminals. The plurality of external input terminals can include an RGB terminal, at least one High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal, and a component terminal.

An image signal of an external device inputted through the external device interface <NUM> can be outputted through the display <NUM>. A sound signal of an external device inputted through the external device interface <NUM> can be outputted through the audio output interface <NUM>.

An external device connectable to the external device interface <NUM> can be one of a set-top box, a Blu-ray player, a DVD player, a game console, a sound bar, a smartphone, a PC, a USB Memory, and a home theater system but this is just exemplary.

Additionally, some content data stored in the display device <NUM> can be transmitted to a user or an electronic device, which is selected from other users or other electronic devices pre-registered in the display device <NUM>.

The storage <NUM> can store signal-processed image, voice, or data signals stored by a program in order for each signal processing and control in the controller <NUM>.

Additionally, the storage <NUM> can perform a function for temporarily store image, voice, or data signals outputted from the external device interface <NUM> or the network interface <NUM> and can store information on a predetermined image through a channel memory function.

The storage <NUM> can store an application or an application list inputted from the external device interface <NUM> or the network interface <NUM>.

The display device <NUM> can play content files (for example, video files, still image files, music files, document files, application files, and so on) stored in the storage <NUM> and provide them to a user.

The user input interface <NUM> can deliver signals inputted from a user to the controller <NUM> or deliver signals from the controller <NUM> to a user. For example, the user input interface <NUM> can receive or process control signals such as power on/off, channel selection, and screen setting from the remote control device <NUM> or transmit control signals from the controller <NUM> to the remote control device <NUM> according to various communication methods such as Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband (WB), ZigBee, Radio Frequency (RF), and IR.

Additionally, the user input interface <NUM> can deliver, to the controller <NUM>, control signals inputted from local keys (not shown) such as a power key, a channel key, a volume key, and a setting key.

Image signals that are image-processed in the controller <NUM> can be inputted to the display <NUM> and displayed as an image corresponding to corresponding image signals. Additionally, image signals that are image-processed in the controller <NUM> can be inputted to an external output device through the external device interface <NUM>.

Voice signals processed in the controller <NUM> can be outputted to the audio output interface <NUM>. Additionally, voice signals processed in the controller <NUM> can be inputted to an external output device through the external device interface <NUM>.

Besides that, the controller <NUM> can control overall operations in the display device <NUM>.

Additionally, the controller <NUM> can control the display device <NUM> by a user command or internal program inputted through the user input interface <NUM> and download a desired application or application list into the display device <NUM> in access to network.

The controller <NUM> can output channel information selected by a user together with processed image or voice signals through the display <NUM> or the audio output interface <NUM>.

Additionally, according to an external device image playback command received through the user input interface <NUM>, the controller <NUM> can output image signals or voice signals of an external device such as a camera or a camcorder, which are inputted through the external device interface <NUM>, through the display <NUM> or the audio output interface <NUM>.

Moreover, the controller <NUM> can control the display <NUM> to display images and control broadcast images inputted through the tuner <NUM>, external input images inputted through the external device interface <NUM>, images inputted through the network interface, or images stored in the storage <NUM> to be displayed on the display <NUM>. In this case, an image displayed on the display <NUM> can be a still image or video and also can be a 2D image or a 3D image.

Additionally, the controller <NUM> can play content stored in the display device <NUM>, received broadcast content, and external input content inputted from the outside, and the content can be in various formats such as broadcast images, external input images, audio files, still images, accessed web screens, and document files.

Moreover, the wireless communication interface <NUM> can perform a wired or wireless communication with an external electronic device. The wireless communication interface <NUM> can perform short-range communication with an external device. For this, the wireless communication interface <NUM> can support short-range communication by using at least one of Bluetooth™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, and Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) technologies. The wireless communication interface <NUM> can support wireless communication between the display device <NUM> and a wireless communication system, between the display device <NUM> and another display device <NUM>, or between networks including the display device <NUM> and another display device <NUM> (or an external server) through wireless area networks. The wireless area networks can be wireless personal area networks.

Herein, the other display device <NUM> can be a mobile terminal such as a wearable device (for example, a smart watch, a smart glass, and a head mounted display (HMD)) or a smartphone, which is capable of exchanging data (or inter-working) with the display device <NUM>. The wireless communication interface <NUM> can detect (or recognize) a communicable wearable device around the display device <NUM>. Furthermore, if the detected wearable device is a device authenticated to communicate with the display device <NUM>, the controller <NUM> can transmit at least part of data processed in the display device <NUM> to the wearable device through the wireless communication interface <NUM>. Accordingly, a user of the wearable device can use the data processed in the display device <NUM> through the wearable device.

The voice acquisition module <NUM> can acquire audio. The voice acquisition module <NUM> may include at least one microphone (not shown), and can acquire audio around the display device <NUM> through the microphone (not shown).

The display <NUM> can convert image signals, data signals, or OSD signals, which are processed in the controller <NUM>, or images signals or data signals, which are received in the external device interface <NUM>, into R, G, and B signals to generate driving signals.

Furthermore, the display device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is just one embodiment of the present disclosure and thus, some of the components shown can be integrated, added, or omitted according to the specification of the actually implemented display device <NUM>.

That is, if necessary, two or more components can be integrated into one component or one component can be divided into two or more components and configured. Additionally, a function performed by each block is to describe an embodiment of the present disclosure and its specific operation or device does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, unlike <FIG>, the display device <NUM> can receive images through the network interface <NUM> or the external device interface <NUM> and play them without including the tuner <NUM> and the demodulator <NUM>.

For example, the display device <NUM> can be divided into an image processing device such as a set-top box for receiving broadcast signals or contents according to various network services and a content playback device for playing contents inputted from the image processing device.

In this case, an operating method of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure described below can be performed by one of the display device described with reference to <FIG>, an image processing device such as the separated set-top box, and a content playback device including the display <NUM> and the audio output interface <NUM>.

The audio output interface <NUM> receives the audio processed signal from the controller <NUM> and outputs the sound.

The power supply <NUM> supplies the corresponding power throughout the display device <NUM>. In particular, the power supply <NUM> supplies power to the controller <NUM> that can be implemented in the form of a System On Chip (SOC), a display <NUM> for displaying an image, and the audio output interface <NUM> for outputting audio or the like.

Specifically, the power supply <NUM> may include a converter for converting an AC power source into a DC power source, and a DC/DC converter for converting a level of the DC source power.

Then, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a remote control device is described according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and <FIG> is a view illustrating an actual configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, referring to <FIG>, a remote control device <NUM> can include a fingerprint recognition module <NUM>, a wireless communication interface <NUM>, a user input interface <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, an output interface <NUM>, a power supply <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a voice acquisition module <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the wireless communication interface <NUM> transmits/receives signals to/from an arbitrary any one of display devices according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure.

The remote control device <NUM> can include an RF module <NUM> for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> according to the RF communication standards and an IR module <NUM> for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> according to the IR communication standards. Additionally, the remote control device <NUM> can include a Bluetooth module <NUM> for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> according to the Bluetooth communication standards. Additionally, the remote control device <NUM> can include an NFC module <NUM> for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> according to the Near Field Communication (NFC) communication standards and a WLAN module <NUM> for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> according to the Wireless LAN (WLAN) communication standards.

Additionally, the remote control device <NUM> can transmit signals containing information on a movement of the remote control device <NUM> to the display device <NUM> through the wireless communication interface <NUM>.

Moreover, the remote control device <NUM> can receive signals transmitted from the display device <NUM> through the RF module <NUM> and if necessary, can transmit a command on power on/off, channel change, and volume change to the display device <NUM> through the IR module <NUM>.

The user input interface <NUM> can be configured with a keypad button, a touch pad, or a touch screen. A user can manipulate the user input interface <NUM> to input a command relating to the display device <NUM> to the remote control device <NUM>. If the user input interface <NUM> includes a hard key button, a user can input a command relating to the display device <NUM> to the remote control device <NUM> through the push operation of the hard key button. This will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the remote control device <NUM> can include a plurality of buttons. The plurality of buttons can include a fingerprint recognition button <NUM>, a power button <NUM>, a home button <NUM>, a live button <NUM>, an external input button <NUM>, a voice adjustment button <NUM>, a voice recognition button <NUM>, a channel change button <NUM>, a check button <NUM>, and a back button <NUM>.

The fingerprint recognition button <NUM> can be a button for recognizing a user's fingerprint. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fingerprint recognition button <NUM> can perform a push operation and receive a push operation and a fingerprint recognition operation. The power button <NUM> can be button for turning on/off the power of the display device <NUM>. The power button <NUM> can be button for moving to the home screen of the display device <NUM>. The live button <NUM> can be a button for displaying live broadcast programs. The external input button <NUM> can be button for receiving an external input connected to the display device <NUM>. The voice adjustment button <NUM> can be button for adjusting the size of a volume outputted from the display device <NUM>. The voice recognition button <NUM> can be a button for receiving user's voice and recognizing the received voice. The channel change button <NUM> can be a button for receiving broadcast signals of a specific broadcast channel. The check button <NUM> can be a button for selecting a specific function and the back button <NUM> can be a button for returning to a previous screen.

If the user input interface <NUM> includes a touch screen, a user can touch a soft key of the touch screen to input a command relating to the display device <NUM> to the remote control device <NUM>. Additionally, the user input interface <NUM> can include various kinds of input means manipulated by a user, for example, a scroll key and a jog key, and this embodiment does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The sensor <NUM> can include a gyro sensor <NUM> or an acceleration sensor <NUM> and the gyro sensor <NUM> can sense information on a movement of the remote control device <NUM>.

For example, the gyro sensor <NUM> can sense information on an operation of the remote control device <NUM> on the basis of x, y, and z axes and the acceleration sensor <NUM> can sense information on a movement speed of the remote control device <NUM>. Moreover, the remote control device <NUM> can further include a distance measurement sensor and sense a distance with respect to the display <NUM> of the display device <NUM>.

The output interface <NUM> can output image or voice signals corresponding to a manipulation of the user input interface <NUM> or corresponding to signals transmitted from the display device <NUM>. A user can recognize whether the user input interface <NUM> is manipulated or the display device <NUM> is controlled through the output interface <NUM>.

For example, the output interface <NUM> can include an LED module <NUM> for flashing, a vibration module <NUM> for generating vibration, a sound output module <NUM> for outputting sound, or a display module <NUM> for outputting an image, if the user input interface <NUM> is manipulated or signals are transmitted/received to/from the display device <NUM> through the wireless communication interface <NUM>.

Additionally, the power supply <NUM> supplies power to the remote control device <NUM> and if the remote control device <NUM> does not move for a predetermined time, stops the power supply, so that power waste can be reduced. The power supply <NUM> can resume the power supply if a predetermined key provided at the remote control device <NUM> is manipulated.

The storage <NUM> can store various kinds of programs and application data necessary for a control or operation of the remote control device <NUM>. If the remote control device <NUM> transmits/receives signals wirelessly through the display device <NUM> and the RF module <NUM>, the remote control device <NUM> and the display device <NUM> transmits/receives signals through a predetermined frequency band.

The controller <NUM> of the remote control device <NUM> can store, in the storage <NUM>, information on a frequency band for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the display device <NUM> paired with the remote control device <NUM> and refer to it.

The controller <NUM> controls general matters relating to a control of the remote control device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can transmit a signal corresponding to a predetermined key manipulation of the user input interface <NUM> or a signal corresponding to a movement of the remote control device <NUM> sensed by the sensor <NUM> to the display device <NUM> through the wireless communication interface <NUM>.

Additionally, the voice acquisition module <NUM> of the remote control device <NUM> can obtain voice.

The voice acquisition module <NUM> can include at least one microphone <NUM> and obtain voice through the microphone <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view of utilizing a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates that a pointer <NUM> corresponding to the remote control device <NUM> is displayed on the display <NUM>.

A user can move or rotate the remote control device <NUM> vertically or horizontally. The pointer <NUM> displayed on the display <NUM> of the display device <NUM> corresponds to a movement of the remote control device <NUM>. Since the corresponding pointer <NUM> is moved and displayed according to a movement on a 3D space as show in the drawing, the remote control device <NUM> can be referred to as a spatial remote controller.

<FIG> illustrates that if a user moves the remote control device <NUM>, the pointer <NUM> displayed on the display <NUM> of the display device <NUM> is moved to the left in correspondence thereto.

Information on a movement of the remote control device <NUM> detected through a sensor of the remote control device <NUM> is transmitted to the display device <NUM>. The display device <NUM> can calculate the coordinates of the pointer <NUM> from the information on the movement of the remote control device <NUM>. The display device <NUM> can display the pointer <NUM> to match the calculated coordinates.

<FIG> illustrates that while a specific button in the remote control device <NUM> is pressed, a user moves the remote control device <NUM> away from the display <NUM>. Thus, a selection area in the display <NUM> corresponding to the pointer <NUM> can be zoomed in and displayed largely.

On the other hand, if a user moves the remote control device <NUM> close to the display <NUM>, a selection area in the display <NUM> corresponding to the pointer <NUM> can be zoomed out and displayed reduced.

On the other hand, if the remote control device <NUM> is away from the display <NUM>, a selection area can be zoomed out and if the remote control device <NUM> is close to the display <NUM>, a selection area can be zoomed in.

Additionally, if a specific button in the remote control device <NUM> is pressed, the recognition of a vertical or horizontal movement can be excluded. That is, if the remote control device <NUM> is moved away from or close to the display <NUM>, the up, down, left, or right movement can not be recognized and only the back and fourth movement can be recognized. While a specific button in the remote control device <NUM> is not pressed, only the pointer <NUM> is moved according to the up, down, left or right movement of the remote control device <NUM>.

Moreover, the moving speed or moving direction of the pointer <NUM> can correspond to the moving speed or moving direction of the remote control device <NUM>.

Furthermore, a pointer in this specification means an object displayed on the display <NUM> in correspondence to an operation of the remote control device <NUM>. Accordingly, besides an arrow form displayed as the pointer <NUM> in the drawing, various forms of objects are possible. For example, the above concept includes a point, a cursor, a prompt, and a thick outline. Then, the pointer <NUM> can be displayed in correspondence to one point of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis on the display <NUM> and also can be displayed in correspondence to a plurality of points such as a line and a surface.

Meanwhile, blue light may be generated on the display <NUM>. Blue light is a light source of blue in a wavelength range of <NUM> to <NUM> nanometers and has shortest wavelength and strong energy among visible lights. Prolonged exposure to blue light is known to have adverse effects on eyes, such as eye fatigue or dry eye syndrome.

Therefore, the display device <NUM> may provide a blue light reduction function. That is, the display device <NUM> may reduce blue light generated on the display <NUM> when the blue light reduction function is executed.

Specifically, the controller <NUM> may reduce output of a blue color on the display <NUM>, when executing the blue light reduction function. The controller <NUM> may reduce output of a blue color by controlling a color temperature. The controller <NUM> may reduce output of a blue color by moving a white point (WP).

Next, the principle of reducing output of the blue color through color temperature control (or white point movement) will be described with respect to the drawings. Meanwhile, although a description is based on a RGB color space in the present specification, this is merely an example for convenience of description and thus the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Based on the RGB color space, each pixel expresses a color through a combination of R, G and B. In addition, each pixel may be implemented by an R subpixel, a G subpixel and a B subpixel, the R component may mean output of R subpixels, the G component may mean output of G subpixels and the B component may mean output of B subpixels.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a change in RGB according to a change in color temperature.

Accordingly, when the color temperature is reduced, blue light decreases and yellow increases.

<FIG> shows a change in output image as a color temperature is reduced in the related art.

Referring to <FIG>, when the color temperature is reduced and the white point moves as shown in <FIG>, the blue color is generally reduced, but color distortion occurs. For example, an area A1 or A2 of <FIG> has a white color but is output in yellow. In addition, an area A3 of <FIG> is a part of human skin and may be output in yellow as yellow becomes strong. In addition, an area A4 has a blue color but is expressed in another color such as a blue green color due to reduction of the blue color.

In the related art, as the colors of the color gamut move throughout the image by reducing the color temperature, the blue color is effectively reduced, but the other colors may be distorted.

In particular, since human skin or a white color is a memory color, users may sensitively recognize a change in such colors and feel uncomfortable. In addition, when a blue color is a preferred color, a user may feel uncomfortable due to a change in preferred color. For this reason, users tend to avoid use of the blue light reduction function.

Therefore, the present disclosure provides a blue light reduction function capable of minimizing user inconvenience. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a blue light reduction function capable of minimizing a change in memory color or preferred color.

<FIG> is a control block diagram illustrating a blue light reduction function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a color detected as a protection area by a color protection unit of <FIG>.

The display device <NUM> includes a color protection unit <NUM> and may additionally include WP controller <NUM>. The color protection unit <NUM> is one component of the controller <NUM>.

The color protection unit <NUM> obtains a protection area in which a color change is minimized when executing the blue light reduction function.

The protection area is an area in which a color change is minimized when performing the blue light reduction function. The color protection unit <NUM> may preset the protection area. The color protection unit <NUM> sets an area having a specific part or a specific color as the protection area. The color protection unit <NUM> may detect a preset part or color and obtain an area corresponding to the detected part or color as the protection area.

The preset part may include a part corresponding to human skin, a part having a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value or a part corresponding to a background image, but this is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The preset color may include a white color or a blue color, but this is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The color protection unit <NUM> includes a low blue protection unit <NUM>, and may further include a base protection unit <NUM>, a skin protection unit <NUM> or a white protection unit <NUM>. Each of the low blue protection unit <NUM>, the base protection unit <NUM>, the skin protection unit <NUM> and the white protection unit <NUM> detect a protection area in which a color change will be minimized.

The low blue protection unit <NUM> detects an area composed of pixels having a B value equal to or less than the preset reference value (e.g., a first reference value). In the case of a pixel having a small B value among RGB signals, the blue color in the pixel is mixed to express another color. The low blue protection unit <NUM> detects a low blue area such that the corresponding color is accurately expressed by mixing the blue color as intended. In addition, since the amount of blue light emitted from the pixel having the small B value is very small compared to the total amount of blue light, the low blue protection unit <NUM> detects a low blue area to minimize a color change in the low blue area.

The base protection unit <NUM> may detect an area having a blue color. For example, the base protection unit <NUM> may detect an area composed of pixels having a B value equal to or greater than a preset reference value (e.g., a second reference value). A pixel having a large B value is intended to be expressed by a blue color and is to minimize a serious color distortion problem when it is expressed in another color in order to reduce blue light. Accordingly, the base protection unit <NUM> may detect pixels having a B value equal to or greater than the preset reference value, that is, an area having a blue color, to minimize a color change in a blue color area. The area having the blue color is a color area such as a base area shown in <FIG>, but this is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The skin protection unit <NUM> may detect a part corresponding to human skin. The skin protection unit <NUM> may pre-store an RGB range (e.g., a first RGB range) recognized as a human skin color. Accordingly, the skin protection unit <NUM> may detect a part corresponding to the pre-stored RGB range as a part corresponding to human skin. The part corresponding to human skin may be a color area such as a skin area of <FIG>, but this is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The white protection unit <NUM> may detect an area corresponding to a white color. Similarly, the white protection unit <NUM> may pre-store an RGB range (e.g., a second RGB range) recognized as a white color. Accordingly, the white protection unit <NUM> may detect a part corresponding to the pre-stored RGB range as an area corresponding to a white color. The area corresponding to the white color may be a color area such as a white area of <FIG>, but is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, although not shown in <FIG>, the color protection unit <NUM> may further include a background protection unit (not shown). The background protection unit (not shown) may detect a part corresponding to a background image. For example, the background protection unit (not shown) may detect an object in an image through object detection, and detect a part corresponding to a background image based on the detected object. When the color of the background image is changed, users may sensitively recognize it. Therefore, in order to minimize this, the background protection unit (not shown) may detect the part corresponding to the background image. Meanwhile, performing object detection in order to detect the part corresponding to the background image is only an example, and there may be various methods of detecting the part corresponding to the background image.

As described above, the color protection unit <NUM> detects a part corresponding to a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value, and may further detect an area corresponding to human skin, an area corresponding to a white color or a blue color and a part corresponding to a background image.

The WP controller <NUM> may control the white point of the image. Specifically, the WP controller <NUM> may control the white point of at least one area of the image. When the image is divided into a plurality of areas, the WP controller <NUM> may control the WP of each of the plurality of areas. For example, the WP controller <NUM> may control the location of the WP of an area detected by the color protection unit <NUM> to be different from that of the WP of an area which is not detected by the color protection unit <NUM>. The WP controller <NUM> may individually control the WP such that the amount of reduction of a blue component of the protection area detected by the color protection unit <NUM> is less than that of the remaining area.

For example, the WP controller <NUM> may perform control such that the WP of the protection area detected by the base protection unit <NUM>, the skin protection unit <NUM>, the white protection unit <NUM> or the background protection unit (not shown) is different from that of the remaining area.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of a method of differently controlling a WP by a controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The controller <NUM> may change the WP of an area corresponding to a preset part or color from a first WP WP1 to a second WP WP2 as shown in (a) of <FIG>, and change the WP of the remaining area from the first WP WP1 to a third WP WP3 as shown in (b) of <FIG>. That is, the controller <NUM> may differently move the location of the white point WP depending on whether it is a preset part or color. The second WP WP2 may be closer to a blue vertex than the third WP WP3.

Therefore, the amount of reduction of the blue component in an area corresponding to the preset part or color may be controlled to be less than that of the blue component in the remaining area.

Meanwhile, the WP of the area detected by the low blue protection unit <NUM> may be differently controlled as described above. However, in this case, since color distortion is highly likely to occur and thus the controller <NUM> may change the WP of the area detected by the low blue protection unit <NUM> to be equal to that of the remaining area and separately control the amount of reduction of the B value. For example, the controller <NUM> changes at least one of the R value, G value and B value of each pixel according to change in WP, and may apply a protection rate such that the change of the B value is minimized. That is, the controller <NUM> may calculate the amount of movement of RGB for each pixel while changing the WP to the third WP as shown in (b) of <FIG> in the case of the low blue area. At this time, in the case of the B value, the calculated amount of movement may be small by applying the protection rate.

The protection rate may be a constant for reducing the amount of reduction of the B value. The protection rate may be applied to only a pixel having a B value less than a preset reference value. That is, the protection rate may be applied to a pixel in a row blue area. In addition, as the B value decreases, the protection rate may increase.

<FIG> is a view showing a protection rate applied to a low blue area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

When a horizontal axis is a B value and a vertical axis is a protection rate, the protection rate of <NUM> is applied to a pixel having a B value equal to or greater than a preset reference value, such that the B value is reduced according to movement of the WP.

Meanwhile, the controller <NUM> may apply a protection rate greater than <NUM> and equal to or less than <NUM> to a pixel having a B value less than a preset reference value, thereby reducing the B value to be less than the amount of reduction according to movement of the WP.

For example, the controller <NUM> may reduce the B value from <NUM> to <NUM> as the WP of a specific area is changed. That is, the amount of reduction of the B value according to change of the WP may be <NUM>. However, when the area corresponds to a low blue area, the controller <NUM> may control the amount of reduction of the B value to <NUM> or less according to the protection rate. That is, the controller <NUM> may control the B value to a value between <NUM> to <NUM>.

In summary, the controller <NUM> may apply the protection rate, such that the amount of reduction of the B value according to change of the WP is <NUM> but the amount of reduction of the B value in the low blue area is <NUM> or less.

Therefore, the controller <NUM> can increase reproducibility of an intended color in the low blue area.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The controller <NUM> may receive an execution command of a blue light reduction function (S10).

For example, the display <NUM> may display a menu for receiving whether the blue light reduction function is executed. The controller <NUM> may receive a command for selecting whether the blue light reduction function is executed through the menu displayed on the display <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may receive the execution command of the blue light reduction function through the user input interface <NUM>.

When the execution command of the blue light reduction function is received, the controller <NUM> may reduce a blue component in an image. That is, the controller <NUM> may reduce the B value of each pixel configuring the image.

Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure, the controller <NUM> may detect a preset part or a preset color and perform control such that the amount of reduction of a blue component of an area corresponding to the detected part or color is different from that of the remaining area. Specifically, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the amount of reduction of a blue component of an area corresponding to the detected part or color is less than that of the remaining area. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail.

When the execution command of the blue light reduction function is received, the controller <NUM> may detect the preset part or color (S20).

The preset part or color may be the above-described protection area. That is, the protection area may include a blue area (an area having a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value), an area corresponding to a blue color, an area corresponding to a white color, an area corresponding to human skin or an area corresponding to a background image.

The controller <NUM> may perform control such that the amount of reduction of the blue component of the area corresponding to the detected part or color is less than that of the remaining area (S30).

According to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may reduce the blue component by moving a white point (WP). Specifically, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the amount of reduction of the blue component of the area corresponding to the detected part or color is less than that of the remaining area, by changing the WP of the area corresponding to the detected part or color to be different from that of the remaining area. That is, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the amount of movement of a color in the protection area corresponding to the preset part or color according to execution of the blue light reduction function is different from that of the color in the remaining area. Therefore, the amount of movement of the WP in the area corresponding to the part or color detected in step S20 may be less than that of the WP in the remaining area.

According to another embodiment, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the amount of reduction of the blue component of the area corresponding to the detected part or color is less than that of the remaining area, by applying a protection rate such that the amount of reduction of the B value of the area corresponding to the detected part or color is less than that of the remaining area.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiments may be combined.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that a color is gradually changed in the vicinity of a boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area (S40).

<FIG> is a view showing the vicinity of a boundary between an area corresponding to a preset part or color and the remaining area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The vicinity of the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area may include pixels corresponding to the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area and the corresponding pixel ± n pixels (e.g., n being <NUM>).

For example, the vicinity of the boundary of the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area may be first to fourth blocks B1, B2, B3 and B4 shown in <FIG>, but this is only an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The controller <NUM> may adjust the RGB value of the corresponding pixel such that a color is gradually changed in the vicinity of the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area. That is, the color may be rapidly changed in the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area. That is, the color may be rapidly changed in the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area. Therefore, in order to suppress such a rapid change, the controller <NUM> may generate soft transition. The controller <NUM> may gradually change the color in the vicinity of the boundary between the area corresponding to the preset part or color and the remaining area.

In some embodiments, step S40 may be omitted.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the WP of the image may be adaptively moved for each area, instead of global movement. That is, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, local adaptive WP movement may be performed instead of global WP. Local adaptive WP movement of the present disclosure may be confirmed through output of the image shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view showing an image in which movement of a white point is confirmed for each area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The controller <NUM> may receive an image including at least one of a skin color, a white color, a low blue color or a blue color and at least one of the other colors, and, in this case, perform control such that the WP of the skin color, the white color, the low blue color or the blue color is different from that of the other color. Here, the low blue color has a B value equal to or less than a preset reference value and has an R value and a G value less than the B value.

As a specific example, the controller <NUM> may receive an image including a skin color, a white color, a low blue color, a yellow color, a red color, a magenta color, a green color, a cyan color and a blue color, but this is merely an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, when the image shown in <FIG> is input while the blue light reduction function is executed, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the WP of each of the skin color, the white color, the low blue color and the blue color is different from that of each of the yellow color, the red color, the magenta color, the green color and the cyan color. Different WPs may mean that the locations of the WPs are different.

According to another embodiment, when the image shown in <FIG> is input while the blue light reduction function is executed, the controller <NUM> may perform control such that the WP of each of the skin color, the white color and the blue color is different from that of each of the low blue color, the yellow color, the red color, the magenta color, the green color and the cyan color, and, at the same time, apply a protection rate to the B value of the low blue color, thereby reducing the amount of reduction of the B value.

According to the above-described various embodiments, it can be seen that the WP of at least a partial area is different from that of the other area. That is, it can be seen that, when the WP of the at least partial area is changed to be different from that of the other area, the amount of reduction of the blue component of a specific area is less than that of the remaining area.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since a change in specific part or color is minimized while a blue light reduction function is executed, and a blue component is reduced in the remaining part, it is possible to reduce blue light while minimizing color distortion.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since a change in part or color, change of which is sensitive to users, is minimized, it is possible to reduce blue light while minimizing user inconvenience.

The present disclosure may be embodied as computer-readable code on a medium having a program recorded thereon. The computer-readable recording medium may be all types of recording devices that can store data which can be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable medium may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, and an optical data storage device.

Claim 1:
A display device comprising:
a display configured to display an image; and
a controller configured to reduce a blue component in the image in response to receiving an execution command of a blue light reduction function,
characterized in that:
the controller is further configured to:
detect a protection area forming part of the image and being composed of pixels having a B value among RGB signals equal to or less than a preset reference value, and
perform said reduction of the blue component in the image such that an amount of reduction of the blue component of the protection area is less than that of the remaining area.