Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-19
2001-04-17
Mengistu, Amare (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219026
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to an image display device, including
an input for receiving an image information item,
an expansion unit for expanding the image information item into a first and a second pixel drive item, which expansion unit has a general range of available pixel drive values from which it takes the first pixel drive item dependent on the image information item and a dependent range of available pixel drive values from which it takes the second pixel drive item dependent on the image information item, the dependent range being dependent on the actual pixel drive value of the first pixel drive item, and
a display panel which produces a first and a second pixel reproduction under the control of the first and the second pixel drive item, respectively.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
An image display device of this kind is known from an article by P. Chesnais and W. Plesniak: “Color coding stereo pairs for non-interlaced display”, published in 1988, pp. 114 to 118 of the proceedings of the SPIE volume 901 “Image Processing, Analysis, Measurement, and Quality” (G. W Hughes, P. E. Mantey, B. E. Rogowitz, editors).
The device described in the cited publication generates a stereo pair, that is to say a first image for viewing by the right eye and a second image for viewing by the left eye. The display panel produces the light alternately for the right eye and the left eye. An image information item represents a light intensity for both eyes and serves as an index in a table of color pairs. A first component of the indexed color pair serves as the first pixel drive item for use in the image for the right eye and, the second component of this color pair serves as the second pixel drive item for use in the image for the left eye.
Using a look-up table, the image information item is converted into the first pixel drive item. The content of the look-up table is replaced in the blanking interval between successive images. Subsequently, the image information item is converted into the second pixel drive item by means of the look-up table. The look-up table thus serves for converting the image information item alternately into the first and the second pixel drive item for the image for the right eye and the left eye, respectively.
The information content of the image information item is less than the sum of the individual information content of the first and the second pixel drive item. Because of the correlation between the images for the two eyes, however, images without disturbing artefacts can nevertheless be generated for both eyes.
However, strong correlations also exist between spatially neighbouring pixels in a single image. That aspect, however, is not mentioned in the publication by P. Chesnais et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is inter alia an object of the invention to provide image display control in which the amount of information required for controlling the content of an image is limited.
To this end, the display device according to the invention is characterized in that the display panel produces the first and the second pixel reproduction on a first and a second pixel which are direct neighbours. The correlation between the values of pixel drive items for neighbouring pixels is thus utilized. The amount of information required to control neighbouring pixels with minimum artefacts is less than the sum of the individual amounts of information required for individual driving of the pixels. Thus, on average less information is required per pixel.
An embodiment of the display device according to the invention is arranged to display successively a first and a second raster of image lines in a spatially interlaced fashion, the first and the second pixel being associated with the first and the second raster, respectively. An ample period of time thus elapses between the generation of the first and the second pixel drive item. Consequently, the expansion unit can be readily switched over so that it successively generates the first and the second pixel drive item.
The expansion unit in an embodiment of the display device according to the invention includes a look-up table for deriving a look-up signal from the image information item in conformity with a programmable relation, and also includes programming means for reprogramming the programmable relation between the display of the first and the second raster, the expansion unit forming the first and the second pixel drive item from the look-up signal in the same way, except for the reprogramming, before and after the reprogramming, respectively. The ample period of time elapsing between the generation of the first and the second pixel drive item is thus used to reprogram the look-up means. Thanks to the reprogramming, no additional hardware facilities are required for generating the two pixel drive items.
The dependent range in an embodiment of the display device according to the invention is limited essentially to interpolated values, each interpolated between a respective pixel drive value from the general range and the actual pixel drive value.
In given applications the value of a part of the pixel drive items is obtained by interpolation between the values of neighbouring pixel drive items. This is the case, for example when an image is displayed on an image display panel suitable for a resolution higher than that specified for the image.
If the pixel drive items wherebetween interpolation takes place can only assume a limited number of N pixel drive values, for example N=16 different color values, in the case of linear interpolation the number of feasible pixel drive values for the interpolated pixel drive items will be comparatively higher (generally N(N+1)/2 if the interpolations between different color values do not coincide anywhere). If this value were individually coded, the amount of information required would be greater than that required for the coding of the values of the pixel drive items wherebetween interpolation takes place.
According to the invention, however, the amount of information required is limited by utilizing the knowledge of the actual value of at least one of the pixel drive items wherebetween interpolation takes place. This is advantageous notably in the case of interlacing where the image lines of one raster are formed by interpolation of the image lines of the other raster, because in this manner annoying line flicker is prevented.
Interpolation in the display device according to the invention corresponds to averaging. Therefore, in such an embodiment of the display device according to the invention each interpolated value corresponds to a mean value of the respective pixel drive value from the general range and the actual pixel drive value.
The invention is used preferably for pixel drive values controlling different color tones.
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“Color Coding Stereo Pairs for Non-Interlaced Display” By P. Chesnais and W. Plesnaik, Published in 1988, pp. 114-118 of the Proceedings of the SPIE vol. 901 “Image Processing, Analysis, Measurement, and Quality” (G.W. Hughes, P.E. Mant
Mengistu Amare
Thorne Gregory L.
U.S. Philips Corporation
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