Patent ID: 7782405

Claim:
A method for selecting a display source light illumination level, said method comprising: a) processing an image, I with a reference display model thereby creating a reference image, I r ; b) selecting a first source light illumination level, P 1 , that is less than a maximum source light illumination level, W; c) estimating the dynamic range of a modified image, I′ created by modifying said image I, to compensate for said first source light illumination level using an actual display model wherein said modified image, I′ has a limited dynamic range bounded by a first minimum dynamic range limit and a first maximum dynamic range limit; d) calculating a first distortion parameter by comparing the part of said reference image that falls below said first minimum dynamic range limit to said first minimum dynamic range limit and the part of said reference image that falls above said first maximum dynamic range limit to said first maximum dynamic range limit; e) selecting a second source light illumination level, P 2 ; f) estimating the dynamic range of a second modified image, I 2 ′ created by modifying said image I, to compensate for said second source light illumination level using said actual display model wherein said modified image, I 2 ′ has a limited dynamic range bounded by a second minimum dynamic range limit and a second maximum dynamic range limit; g) calculating a second distortion parameter by comparing the part of said reference image that falls below said second minimum dynamic range limit to said second minimum dynamic range limit and the part of said reference image that falls above said second maximum dynamic range limit to said second maximum dynamic range limit; and h) selecting one of said first source light illumination level, P 1 and said second source light illumination level, P 2 based on said first and second distortion parameters.