Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Intensity or color driving control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-09
2004-03-30
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Intensity or color driving control
C348S180000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06714211
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor calibration method, monitor calibration equipment, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the monitor calibration method, all of which aid the viewer in detecting the black point of a monitor display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, monitors such as CRT display-type monitors have a nonlinear display relationship between the RGB input value and the brightness, as shown in FIG.
1
. Any input value below a certain input value BP has a brightness of zero and is therefore not visible to humans. This input value BP is referred to as the black point.
The black point can be changed by adjusting functions such as brightness on the monitor itself. The black point also fluctuates due to deterioration of the monitor caused by aging and to slight differences in human vision. By finding the black point in order to learn the relationship between the input values and the images displayed on the monitor, the same color tones as those displayed on the monitor can be reproduced by a color printer or other device based on the discovered relationship.
A black point detection method has been proposed in the art, wherein, as shown in
FIG. 2
, the solid black display area Bk with an RGB value of 0 and a gray display are Gy with a variable RGB input value greater than 0 are displayed side by side on a monitor. A maximum RGB input value at which the display areas Bk and the disply area Gy cannot be distinguished is searched for by increasing and decreasing the RGB input value for the gray display are Gy. The black point is set to this maximum RGB value.
However, determining the black point according to the method described above results in a wide range of measurements, indicating that the method is insufficiently precise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitor calibration method, monitor calibration equipment, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the monitor calibration method, all of which can aid the viewer in measuring the black point of a monitor display with great precision. The following is a description of the features and benefits of the present invention.
The monitor calibration method of the present invention aids a viewer in detecting the black point of a monitor by displaying a solid black display area and a gray display area adjacent to one another and gradually changing the brightness of the gray display area from light to dark or from dark to light, wherein at least one portion of the solid black display area is interposed in the gray display area and at least one portion of the gray display area is interposed in the solid black display area. Here the solid black display area is an area in which the pixels are displayed in solid black, that is, with an input value of 0. The gray display area is an area in which the pixels are displayed with an input value greater than or equal to 0. However, it is not necessary to include 0 in the possible range of input values for the gray display area.
In a monitor calibration method of the prior art, shown in
FIG. 2
, the gray display area Gy is sandwiched by the solid black display area Bk. However, the solid black display area Bk is not sandwiched by the gray display area Gy.
In the present invention, at least one portion of the solid black display area is interposed in the gray display area and at least one portion of the gray display area is interposed in the solid black display area. In other words, at least a portion of each area is sandwiched by the other area. The difference in brightness seen in the gray display area sandwiched by the solid black display area appears differently from the difference in brightness seen in the solid black display area sandwiched by the gray display area. By looking at both appearances simultaneously, even a subtle difference in brightness between the two display areas is visually striking. Hence, a very accurate black point can be determined.
One example for sandwiching at least one portion of each area by the other area is for the solid black display area and the gray display area to be stripe-shaped and arranged alternately. Further, if the alternately arranged stripes of the solid black display area and the gray display area have a width of between {fraction (1/72)} and ¼ inch, and in particular a width of between {fraction (1/36)} and ⅛ inch, a very accurate black point can be determined.
The monitor calibration method of the present invention aids a viewer in detecting the black point of a monitor by displaying a solid black display area and a gray display area adjacent to one another and gradually changing the brightness of the gray display area from light to dark or from dark to light, wherein one portion of either the solid black display area or the gray display area is surrounded by the other display area.
In the prior art shown in
FIG. 2
, neither the gray display area Gy nor the solid black display area Bk is surrounded by the other display area. In the present invention, however, one portion of either the solid black display area or the gray display area is surrounded by the other display area. For this reason, a display area abuts another display area not only on the left and right (nor only up and down), but left and right, up and down, and diagonally. Hence, even a subtle difference between the two display areas is visually striking, and a very accurate black point can be determined.
Further, the display area that is surrounded by the other display area can be formed in a specific shape, such as the shape of a star, alphanumeric characters, or the like. It is desirable if the shape formed by this display area contains portions having a width of between {fraction (1/72)} and ¼ inch, and particularly contains portions having a width of between {fraction (1/36)} and ⅛ inch. Accordingly, a very accurate black point can be determined. The more portions of the display area that have this size of width, the more accurate the black point determination will be.
In addition to the above-described monitor calibration method, it is possible to include a process in which the brightness of the solid black display area and the gray display area are periodically exchanged, while the brightness of the gray display area is gradually changed from light to dark or from dark to light.
Through this process, the borders between the solid black display area and the gray display area will always be emphasized so that even a subtle difference in brightness between the two display areas is visually striking. Hence, a very accurate black point can be determined.
Alternatively, it is possible to perform a process in which the gray display area is periodically displayed in solid black, while the brightness of the gray display area is gradually changed from light to dark or from dark to light. Hence, because the gray display area is switched back and forth between displaying solid black and displaying gray, while the brightness of the gray is gradually changing, the borders between the solid black display area and the gray display area will always be emphasized so that even a subtle difference in brightness between the two display areas is visually striking. Hence, a very accurate black point can be determined.
The monitor calibration method of the present invention aids a viewer in detecting the black point of a monitor by displaying a first gray display area and a second gray display area adjacent to one another and changing the brightnesses of the two display areas from light to dark while either maintaining the difference in the two brightnesses or decreasing the difference between the two brightnesses, or changing the brightnesses of the two display areas from dark to light while either maintaining the difference in the two brightnesses or increasing the difference between the two brightnesses.
Therefore, instead of a solid black display area, two gray display areas with different
Hibino Masaaki
Hori Masaaki
Kobayakawa Koji
Ohara Kiyotaka
Ueda Masashi
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Chow Dennis-Doon
LandOfFree
Method and equipment for monitor calibration and storage... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and equipment for monitor calibration and storage..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and equipment for monitor calibration and storage... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3185391