Display assemblies and computer programs and methods for defect compensation

Abstract

The range of embodiments includes systems, methods, and apparatus for defect compensation that may be applied to displays having multiple imaging layers, such as high dynamic range displays, and/or to stereoscopic displays, such as autostereoscopic displays.

1 . A method for processing a display image, said method comprising:
 based on the display image, generating a first image and a second image;   based on the second image and a map of pixel defects of a first imaging layer of a display assembly, calculating a second compensated image;   displaying, during a first time period and on the first imaging layer, an image based on the first image; and   displaying, during the first time period and on a second imaging layer of the display assembly, an image based on the second compensated image.   
   
   
       2 . A method for processing a display image, said method comprising:
 based on the display image, generating a first image and a second image;   based on the first image and a map of pixel defects of a first imaging layer of a display assembly, calculating a first compensated image;   based on the second image and the map of pixel defects of the first imaging layer, calculating a second compensated image;   displaying, during a first time period and on the first imaging layer, an image based on the first compensated image; and   displaying, during the first time period and on a second imaging layer of the display assembly, an image based on the second compensated image.   
   
   
       3 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein the first image includes more high-frequency content of the display image than the second image, and
 wherein the second image includes more low-frequency content of the display image than the first image.   
   
   
       4 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein, in at least one spatial dimension, the resolution of the image based on the second compensated image is less than the resolution of the image based on the first compensated image. 
   
   
       5 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein the map of pixel defects indicates locations and responses of defective pixels of the first imaging layer. 
   
   
       6 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said calculating a first compensated image and said calculating a second compensated image is based on a model of a sensitivity characteristic of a human visual system. 
   
   
       7 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said calculating a second compensated image comprises, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, and based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a pixel value at a corresponding location of the second image, calculating a pixel value for a corresponding location of the second compensated image. 
   
   
       8 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said calculating a second compensated image comprises, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, and based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a pixel value at a corresponding location of the first image, calculating a pixel value for a corresponding location of the second compensated image. 
   
   
       9 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said calculating a second compensated image comprises, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, and based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a plurality of pixel values within a neighborhood of a corresponding location of the first image, calculating a pixel value for a corresponding location of the second compensated image. 
   
   
       10 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said calculating a first compensated image comprises, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, and based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a pixel value at a corresponding location of the second image, calculating a plurality of pixel values within a neighborhood of a corresponding location of the first compensated image. 
   
   
       11 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said calculating a second compensated image comprises, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, and based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a spectral content of the first image in a neighborhood of the corresponding location, calculating a pixel value for a corresponding location of the second compensated image. 
   
   
       12 . The method for processing a display image according to  claim 2 , wherein said displaying an image based on the second compensated image includes, for each of at least one of a plurality of spatially distributed and substantially co-planar light sources, controlling the illumination level of the light source according to a pixel value at a corresponding location of the second compensated image. 
   
   
       13 . A display assembly, said assembly comprising:
 an image generator configured to generate, based on a display image, corresponding first and second images;   a first imaging layer;   a map of pixel defects of the first imaging layer;   a second imaging layer; and   a compensation calculator configured (A) to calculate, based on the first image and the map of pixel defects, a first compensated image and (B) to calculate, based on the second image and the map of pixel defects, a second compensated image,   wherein the first imaging layer is configured and arranged to display, during a first time period, an image based on the first compensated image, and   wherein the second imaging layer is configured and arranged to display, during the first time period, an image based on the second compensated image.   
   
   
       14 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second imaging layers are substantially parallel to each other. 
   
   
       15 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the second imaging layer is a spatially modulated backlight. 
   
   
       16 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein, in at least one spatial dimension, the resolution of the second imaging layer is less than the resolution of the first imaging layer. 
   
   
       17 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said compensation calculator is configured to calculate at least one among the first compensated image and the second compensated image according to a model of a sensitivity characteristic of a human visual system. 
   
   
       18 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein, for each of at least one of the defective pixels indicated in the map of pixel defects, said compensation calculator is configured to calculate a pixel value for a corresponding location of the second compensated image, based on (A) a location and response of the defective pixel and (B) a plurality of pixel values within a neighborhood of a corresponding location of the first image. 
   
   
       19 . The display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said display assembly includes a backlight, and
 wherein said second imaging layer is disposed between said first imaging layer and said backlight.   
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for processing a display image, said apparatus comprising:
 means for generating, based on the display image, a first image and a second image;   means for calculating a first compensated image based on the first image and a map of pixel defects of a first imaging layer of a display assembly;   means for calculating a second compensated image based on the second image and the map of pixel defects of the first imaging layer;   means for producing, during a first time period and based on the first compensated image, a first display signal describing an image having a resolution substantially equal to that of the first imaging layer; and   means for producing, during the first time period and based on the second compensated image, a second display signal describing an image having a resolution substantially equal to that of a second imaging layer of the display assembly.   
   
   
       21 . A computer program product stored on a machine-readable physical medium and including:
 machine-executable instructions for causing at least one array of logic elements to generate, based on a display image, a first image and a second image;   machine-executable instructions for causing at least one array of logic elements to calculate a first compensated image based on (A) the first image and (B) a map of pixel defects of a first imaging layer of a display assembly;   machine-executable instructions for causing at least one array of logic elements to calculate a second compensated image based on (A) the second image and (B) the map of pixel defects of the first imaging layer;   machine-executable instructions for causing at least one array of logic elements to produce, during a first time period and based on the first compensated image, a first display signal describing an image having a resolution substantially equal to that of the first imaging layer; and   machine-executable instructions for causing at least one array of logic elements to produce, during the first time period and based on the second compensated image, a second display signal describing an image having a resolution substantially equal to that of a second imaging layer of the display assembly.   
   
   
       22 . A stereoscopic display assembly configured to receive a first image and a second image, said assembly comprising:
 a display panel having a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels;   a map of pixel defects of the first set of pixels of the display panel;   a view splitter configured to (A) pass more light from the first set of pixels in a first direction than in a second direction and (B) pass more light from the second set of pixels in the second direction than in the first direction; and   a compensation calculator configured to calculate a compensated image based on (A) the second image and (B) the map of pixel defects,   wherein the display panel is configured (A) to display on the first set of pixels, during a first time period, an image based on the first image and (B) to display on the second set of pixels, during the first time period, an image based on the compensated image, and   wherein, for each of at least one defective pixel among the first set of pixels as indicated in the map of pixel defects, said compensation calculator is configured to calculate, based on a location and response of the defective pixel, a pixel value for a corresponding location of the compensated image.   
   
   
       23 . A stereoscopic display assembly configured to receive a first image and a second image, said assembly comprising:
 a display panel configured and arranged (A) to display, on a first set of pixels of the display panel, an image based on the first image and (B) to display, on a second set of pixels of the display panel, an image based on the second image;   a map of pixel defects of the display panel;   a view splitter configured (A) to pass more light from the first set of pixels in a first viewing direction than in a second viewing direction and (B) to pass more light from the second set of pixels in the second viewing direction than in the first viewing direction; and   a controller configured to control said view splitter, based on a location and response of each of at least one defective pixel of the display panel as indicated in the map of pixel defects, to vary the proportion of light passed in the first and second viewing directions at a corresponding location of said view splitter.   
   
   
       24 . The stereoscopic display assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said view splitter includes a parallax barrier. 
   
   
       25 . The stereoscopic display assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said view splitter includes an array of lenses. 
   
   
       26 . The stereoscopic display assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said view splitter includes an array of controllable lenses. 
   
   
       27 . The stereoscopic display assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein at least one of said array of controllable lenses comprises a material whose index of refraction is electrically controllable. 
   
   
       28 . The stereoscopic display assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said view splitter includes a pair of filters, each filter having a response that differs significantly from the response of the other filter with respect to at least one among (A) a polarization direction and (B) a visible wavelength.