Patents by Inventor Helge Seetzen

Helge Seetzen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Rapid estimation of effective illuminance patterns for projected light fields
    Patent number: 9269312
    Abstract: A method for estimating an effective luminance pattern representing a distribution of projected light in a display apparatus involves determining driving values for one or more light sources arranged to project light. The light sources are solid-state light sources such as light-emitting diodes in some embodiments. The method determines an effective luminance pattern for the projected light by determining contributions to the effective luminance pattern for different components of a point spread function and then combining the contributions of the components the effective luminance pattern to yield an estimated effective luminance pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Image display
    Patent number: 9270956
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from a light source comprising an array of controllable light-emitters. The controllable-emitters and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen, Don Graham
  • Color display based on spatial clustering
    Patent number: 9224341
    Abstract: A color display has a monochrome modulator. An active area of the modulator is illuminated by an array of light sources. The light sources include light sources of three or more colors. The intensities of the light sources may be adjusted to project desired luminance patterns on an active area of the modulator. In a fast field sequential method different colors are projected sequentially. The modulator is set to modulate the projected luminance patterns to display a desired image. In a slow field sequential method, colors are projected simultaneously and the modulator is set to modulate most important colors in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Helge Seetzen
  • Locally Dimmed Nano-Crystal Based Display
    Publication number: 20150294630
    Abstract: Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Louis D. Silverstein, Helge Seetzen
  • Apparatus for providing light source modulation in dual modulator displays
    Patent number: 9099046
    Abstract: Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Louis D. Silverstein, Helge Seetzen
  • COLOR DISPLAY BASED ON SPATIAL CLUSTERING
    Publication number: 20150070409
    Abstract: A color display has a monochrome modulator. An active area of the modulator is illuminated by an array of light sources. The light sources include light sources of three or more colors. The intensities of the light sources may be adjusted to project desired luminance patterns on an active area of the modulator. In a fast field sequential method different colors are projected sequentially. The modulator is set to modulate the projected luminance patterns to display a desired image. In a slow field sequential method, colors are projected simultaneously and the modulator is set to modulate most important colors in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Helge SEETZEN
  • IMAGE DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20150043050
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from a light source comprising an array of controllable light-emitters. The controllable-emitters and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen, Don Graham
  • Enhancing dynamic ranges of images
    Patent number: 8948537
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to various aspects take as input image data in a lower-dynamic-range (LDR) format and produce as output enhanced image data having a dynamic range greater than that of the input image data (i.e. higher-dynamic range (HDR) image data). In some embodiments, the methods are applied to video data and are performed in real-time (i.e. processing of video frames to enhance the dynamic range of the video frames is completed at least on average at the frame rate of the video signal).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Allan G. Rempel, Wolfgang Heidrich, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Lorne A. Whitehead
  • Display with red, green, and blue light sources
    Patent number: 8890799
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from a light source comprising an array of controllable light-emitters. The controllable-emitters and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen, Don Graham
  • Field sequential display of color images with color selection
    Patent number: 8890795
    Abstract: A color display has a monochrome modulator. An active area of the modulator is illuminated by an array of light sources. The light sources include light sources of three or more colors. The intensities of the light sources may be adjusted to project desired luminance patterns on an active area of the modulator. In a fast field sequential method different colors are projected sequentially. The modulator is set to modulate the projected luminance patterns to display a desired image. In a slow field sequential method, colors are projected simultaneously and the modulator is set to modulate most important colors in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Helge Seetzen
  • Enhancing dynamic ranges of images
    Patent number: 8824829
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to various aspects take as input image data in a lower-dynamic-range (LDR) format and produce as output enhanced image data having a dynamic range greater than that of the input image data (i.e. higher-dynamic range (HDR) image data). In some embodiments, the methods are applied to video data and are performed in real-time (i.e. processing of video frames to enhance the dynamic range of the video frames is completed at least on average at the frame rate of the video signal).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Coporation
    Inventors: Allan G. Rempel, Wolfgang Heidrich, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Lorne A. Whitehead
  • Thin displays having spatially variable backlights
    Patent number: 8810503
    Abstract: A display has a light source layer having control inputs for controlling the light source layer to emit light such that the light output varies smoothly with position in a manner determined by the control inputs. An LCD panel or other spatial light modulator modulates light from the light source layer. The light source layer may be thin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Helge Seetzen
  • Optical Mixing and Shaping System for Display Backlights and Displays Incorporating the Same
    Publication number: 20140226134
    Abstract: A backlight for a display comprises a plurality of independently controllable light sources and inclined surfaces inclining in a radially outward direction from each light source for shaping the distribution of emitted light. The light sources may each comprise a group of differently-colored light emitters. The backlight may include light integrators configured to mix light of the differently-colored light emitters. Inclined surfaces for shaping the distribution of emitted light may be arranged around exits of the light integrators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Helge Seetzen, Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward
  • Edge-lit local dimming displays, display components and related methods
    Patent number: 8786643
    Abstract: An edge-lit display having a front modulator in the top layer of an optical package and an extractor in at least one of the top and bottom layers. A control system is connected to control the extraction mechanism to project light which approximates a desired image onto the front modulator, estimate a pattern of light incident on the front modulator, and control the front modulator based on the estimated pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Helge Seetzen
  • Apparatus for Providing Light Source Modulation in Dual Modulator Displays
    Publication number: 20140198142
    Abstract: Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Louis D. Silverstein, Helge Seetzen
  • ENHANCING DYNAMIC RANGES OF IMAGES
    Publication number: 20140168249
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to various aspects take as input image data in a lower-dynamic-range (LDR) format and produce as output enhanced image data having a dynamic range greater than that of the input image data (i.e. higher-dynamic range (HDR) image data). In some embodiments, the methods are applied to video data and are performed in real-time (i.e. processing of video frames to enhance the dynamic range of the video frames is completed at least on average at the frame rate of the video signal).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Allan G. REMPEL, Wolfgang HEIDRICH, Helge SEETZEN, Gregory John WARD, Lorne A. WHITEHEAD
  • PROJECTION DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20140152713
    Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Locally dimmed cinema projection system with reflective modulation and narrowband light sources
    Patent number: 8733960
    Abstract: A backlight for a display comprises a plurality of independently controllable light sources and inclined surfaces inclining in a radially outward direction from each light source for shaping the distribution of emitted light. The light sources may each comprise a group of differently-colored light emitters. The backlight may include light integrators configured to mix light of the differently-colored light emitters. Inclined surfaces for shaping the distribution of emitted light may be arranged around exits of the light integrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Helge Seetzen, Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward
  • RAPID IMAGE RENDERING ON DUAL-MODULATOR DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20140118425
    Abstract: A method for estimating an effective luminance pattern representing a distribution of projected light in a display apparatus involves determining driving values for one or more light sources arranged to project light. The light sources are solid-state light sources such as light-emitting diodes in some embodiments. The method determines an effective luminance pattern for the projected light by determining contributions to the effective luminance pattern for different components of a point spread function and then combining the contributions of the components the effective luminance pattern to yield an estimated effective luminance pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Apparatus and methods for color displays
    Patent number: 8711085
    Abstract: A display incorporates both narrow-band light emitters and broadband light emitters. The light emitters are controlled to display images according to image data. The narrow-band light emitters can be used to provide highly saturated primary colors. Light from the broadband light sources may be mixed with the broadband light. This can reduce metamerism failures arising from variations in the characteristics of the eyes of observers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Helge Seetzen, Trevor Davies