Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.

Abstract: Display devices and image rendering processes increase the resolution of displayed images in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The increased resolution is obtained on LCD display devices or other display devices having separately controllable pixel sub-components. Assuming the display devices have vertical stripes, much of the increased resolution in the horizontal direction is obtained by mapping spatially different sets of one or more samples to the individual pixel sub-components. In this way, the pixel sub-components are treated as separate luminous intensity sources. The improved resolution in the vertical dimension is achieved by increasing the pixel sub-component density in the vertical dimension. To accommodate the increased number of pixel sub-components, image data compression can be performed if bandwidth limitations are present. The image data compression involves controlling sets of vertically adjacent pixels using red, green, and blue luminous intensity values and a bias value.

Abstract: Displaying image data with sub-pixel precision on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components, such as those used in liquid crystal display devices. Samples of the image data are obtained, and spatially different sets of one or more of the samples are mapped to individual pixel sub-components as opposed to mapping sets of samples to entire pixels. Luminous intensity values based on the mapped sets of samples are generated and used to control the operation of the separately controllable pixel sub-components. The image is thereby displayed on the display device, with different portions of the image being represented by different pixel sub-components, resulting an image with sub-pixel resolution. The image data can represent a text character, in which case the stem width of a stem of the text character can have a value that is not an integer multiple of the width of a full pixel.

Abstract: Display apparatus, and methods for displaying images, e.g., text, on gray scale and color monitors are described. Gray scale displays implemented in accordance with the present invention include displays having a resolution in a first dimension, e.g., the horizontal dimension, which is several time the resolution in a second dimension, e.g., the vertical dimension. Various other displays of the present invention are capable of operating as both gray scale and color display devices. In one such display, the color filter used to implement a color portion of the display is omitted from another, e.g., gray scale portion of the same display. In such an embodiment, text, e.g., captions, are displayed using the gray scale portion of the display while color images, e.g., graphics, are displayed on the color portion of the display. In another display of the present invention, a color filter with filter cells that can be switched between a color and a clear mode of operation are employed. When images, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display, e.g., as separate luminous intensity elements, are described. Each pixel of a color LCD display is comprised of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The invention takes advantage of the ability to control individual RGB pixel sub-elements to effectively increase a screen's resolution in the dimension perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped, e.g., the RGB pixel sub-elements are arranged lengthwise. In order to utilize the effective resolution which can be obtained by treating RGB pixel sub-components separately, scaling or super sampling of digital representations of fonts is performed in one dimension at a rate that is greater than the scaling or sampling performed in the other dimension. In some embodiments where weighting is used in determining RGB pixel values, e.g.

Abstract: Display apparatus, and methods for displaying images, e.g., text, on gray scale and color monitors where each pixel includes multiple pixel sub-components are described. Filtering and/or displaced sampling is used to generate pixel sub-component luminous intensity values. As a result of treating pixel sub-components as distinct light emitters corresponding to different image portions, resolution is enhanced but color errors may be introduced into the image being displayed. Various techniques for detecting noticeable and/or distracting color errors are described. In addition, various techniques for correcting, compensating for, or reducing color errors are described. In one particular embodiment, red, green and blue pixel sub-component luminous intensity values are examined and compared to a range of luminous intensity values which is determined as a function of utilized foreground and background pixel colors.

Abstract: The resolution of text rendered on a display device having sub-pixel elements, such as an RGB LCD for example, and in particular, on a display device having horizontal striping is enhanced by (i) overscaling (or oversampling) character outline information in the vertical (or Y) direction, and (ii) filtering displaced information from the overscaled (or oversampled) character outline information. Metrics associated with character outline information may be appropriately adjusted. The vertical (or Y) position of the baseline of adjacent characters may be constrained by forcing the first pixel above the baseline to be composed of a full number N of scan conversion source samples, where N corresponds to an overscaling (or oversampling) factor. Groups of scan conversion source samples may be converted into packed pixel index values. Color values may be selectively filtered when the differences in the intensity of adjacent sub-pixel elements would otherwise be irritating to view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display, e.g., as separate luminous intensity elements, are described. Each pixel of a color LCD display is comprised of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The invention takes advantage of the ability to control individual RGB pixel sub-elements to effectively increase a screen's resolution in the dimension perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped, e.g., the RGB pixel sub-elements are arranged lengthwise. In order to utilize the effective resolution which can be obtained by treating RGB pixel sub-components separately, scaling or super sampling of digital representations of fonts is performed in one dimension at a rate that is greater than the scaling or sampling performed in the other dimension. In some embodiments where weighting is used in determining RGB pixel values, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying an image by uttilizing pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display as separate luminous intensity elements. By treating the pixel sub-components independently, increased resolution is achieved in the dimension that is perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped. To take advantage of the increased resolution, the image is processed by first scaling the image data in one dimension at a rate that is greater than the scaling of the image data in another dimension. The pixel sub-components are then independently determined from different portions of the scaled image data though scan conversion, which may involve the use of different weights for each color component. Color distortions such as color fringing is compensated by treating eachi pixel sub-component independently. For horizontally flowing text, applications, screens with vertical striping are preferred.

Abstract: Color processing operations can be used to reduce color artifacts in images displayed on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components. Different regions of image data are mapped to the individual pixel sub-components of the pixels. In the absence of performing the color processing operations, distracting color artifacts can be generated in the displayed image as a result of the pixel sub-components being treated as independent luminous intensity sources. Color artifacts can be reduced by comparing the difference between the luminous intensity values of adjacent red and green pixel sub-components with a threshold value and adjusting the luminous intensity values so as to reduce the difference if it exceeds the threshold value. Color artifacts can also be reduced by performing a gray scaling operation on pixels having an overall luminance that is less than the luminance associated with a foreground color and also less than the luminance associated with a background color.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for sampling image data and mapping the samples to pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display so that each pixel sub-component has a different portion of the image mapped thereto and at least one of the pixel sub-components has two or more samples mapped thereto. The methods can be used with conventional color LCD displays that include pixels consisting of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The separately-controllable nature of individual RGB pixel sub-components is used to effectively increase a screen's resolution in one dimension. A scan conversion process maps samples of the image data to individual pixel sub-components, including mapping two or more samples to at least one of the pixel sub-component. As a result, each of the pixel sub-components represents a different portion of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for sampling image data that includes foreground/background color information and mapping the samples to pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display so that each pixel sub-component has a different portion of the image mapped thereto. The methods can be used with conventional color LCD displays that include pixels consisting of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The separately-controllable nature of individual RGB pixel sub-components is used to effectively increase a screen's resolution in the dimension perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped. A scan conversion process maps samples of the image data to individual pixel sub-components, resulting in each of the pixel sub-components representing a different portion of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sampling image data and mapping the samples to pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display so that each pixel sub-component has a different portion of the image mapped thereto. The methods can be used with conventional color LCD displays that include pixels consisting of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The pixel sub-components can be arranged on the display device to form horizontal or vertical stripes of individual colors. The separately-controllable nature of individual RGB pixel sub-components is used to effectively increase a screen's resolution in the dimension perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped. A scan conversion process maps samples of the image data to individual pixel sub-components, resulting in each of the pixel sub-components representing a different portion of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing pixel sub-components which form a pixel element of an LCD display, e.g., as separate luminous intensity elements, are described. Each pixel of a color LCD display is comprised of three non-overlapping red, green and blue rectangular pixel sub-elements or sub-components. The invention takes advantage of the ability to control individual RGB pixel sub-elements to effectively increase a screen's resolution in the dimension perpendicular to the dimension in which the screen is striped, e.g., the RGB pixel sub-elements are arranged lengthwise. In order to utilize the effective resolution which can be obtained by treating RGB pixel sub-components separately, scaling or super sampling of digital representations of fonts is performed in one dimension at a rate that is greater than the scaling or sampling performed in the other dimension. In some embodiments where weighting is used in determining RGB pixel values, e.g.