System and method for environmental adaptation of display characteristics

Abstract

A system and method for altering the characteristics of a display based on environmental data is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments provide a light sensor, an environmental processing unit which is adapted to receive electrical signals from the light sensor and generate an environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ), an image signal processor which accepts S a and an encoded image signal (S e ) and generates a pre-decoding image signal (S p ), and an image signal decoder which accepts S p and generates a decoded image signal for the display. The environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) may contain the instantaneous value of the desired display black level S b . Alternatively or additionally, the environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) may contain a signal linearity modification value.

1 . A method for altering characteristics of a display based on environmental data, the method comprising:
 accepting environmental data from a light sensor;   generating an environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) from the environmental data;   generating a pre-decoding image signal (S p ) based on incoming encoded image data (S e ) and S a ; and   decoding S p  into a decoded image signal (S d );   wherein the step of generating S p  comprises the step of determining S p  based on a linear relationship when S e  is between a gray level turn-off point (S o ) and a gray level threshold (S t ).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) contains an instantaneous value of a desired display black level S b . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) contains a signal linearity modification value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of generating the pre-decoding image signal (S p ) further comprises the steps of:
 setting S p  equal to zero when the encoded image data (S e ) is below the gray level turn-off point (S o ); and 
 determining S p  based at least partially on a linearity modifier exponent β when S e  is above the gray level threshold (S t ). 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of generating the pre-decoding image signal (S p ) further comprises the steps of:
 setting S p  equal to zero when the encoded image data (S e ) is equal to the gray level turn-off point (S o ); and 
 determining S p  based at least partially on the linearity modifier exponent β when S e  is equal to the gray level threshold (S t ). 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving programmable instructions for altering environmental processing depending on time of day. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving programmable instructions for altering environmental processing depending on display content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is an environmentally-reactive variable determined by an environmental processor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is determined by time of day. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is determined by display content. 
     
     
         11 . A method for altering characteristics of a display based on environmental data, the method comprising:
 accepting environmental data from a light sensor;   generating an environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) from the environmental data;   generating a pre-decoding image signal (S p ) based on incoming encoded image data (S e ) and S a ; and   decoding S p  into a decoded image signal (S d );   wherein the step of generating S p  comprises the step of determining S p  based on a sine curve when S e  is between a gray level turn-off point (S o ) and a gray level threshold (S t ).   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) contains an instantaneous value of a desired display black level S b . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the environmentally-reactive control signal (S a ) contains a signal linearity modification value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of generating the pre-decoding image signal (S p ) further comprises the steps of:
 setting S p  equal to zero when the encoded image data (S e ) is below the gray level turn-off point (S o ); and 
 determining S p  based at least partially on a linearity modifier exponent β when S e  is above the gray level threshold (S t ). 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of generating the pre-decoding image signal (S p ) further comprises the steps of:
 setting S p  equal to zero when the encoded image data (S e ) is equal to the gray level turn-off point (S o ); and 
 determining S p  based at least partially on the linearity modifier exponent β when S e  is equal to the gray level threshold (S t ). 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of receiving programmable instructions for altering environmental processing depending on time of day. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of receiving programmable instructions for altering environmental processing depending on display content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is an environmentally-reactive variable determined by an environmental processor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is determined by time of day. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gray level threshold (S t ) is determined by display content.