Abstract: Several embodiments of image processing systems and methods are disclosed herein whereby at least one characteristic of an image displayed on a target display is changed according to information regarding the viewer's position—e.g. distance to the target display, the visual angle the target display's subtends of the viewer's field of view. In one embodiment, luminance and/or contrast may be changed depending on the information regarding viewer's position relative to the target display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating and applying scene-stable metadata for a video data stream are disclosed herein. A video data stream is divided or partitioned into scenes and a first set of metadata may be generated for a given scene of video data. The first set of metadata may be any known metadata as a desired function of video content (e.g., luminance). The first set of metadata may be generated on a frame-by-frame basis. In one example, scene-stable metadata may be generated that may be different from the first set of metadata for the scene. The scene-stable metadata may be generated by monitoring a desired feature with the scene and may be used to keep the desired feature within an acceptable range of values. This may help to avoid noticeable and possibly objectionably visual artifacts upon rendering the video data.

Abstract: Video data with enhanced dynamic range are color graded for a first and a second reference display with different dynamic range characteristics to generate a first color-graded output, a second color graded output, and associated first and second sets of metadata. The first color-graded output and the two sets of metadata are transmitted from an encoder to a decoder to be displayed on a target display which may be different than the second reference display. At the receiver, a decoder interpolates between the first and second set of metadata to generate a third set of metadata which drives the display management process for displaying the received video data onto the target display. The second set of metadata of metadata may be represented as delta metadata values from the first set of metadata values.

Abstract: Image data may be color graded, distributed and viewed on target displays. Mappings that preserve mid-range points and mid-range contrast may be applied to view the image data for color grading and to prepare the image data for display on a target display. The image data may be expanded to exploit the dynamic range of the target display without affecting mid-tone values.

Abstract: High dynamic range 3D images are generated with relatively narrow dynamic range image sensors. Input frames of different views may be set to different exposure settings. Pixels in the input frames may be normalized to a common range of luminance levels. Disparity between normalized pixels in the input frames may be computed and interpolated. The pixels in the different input frames may be shifted to, or stay in, a common reference frame. The pre-normalized luminance levels of the pixels may be used to create high dynamic range pixels that make up one, two or more output frames of different views. Further, a modulated synopter with electronic mirrors is combined with a stereoscopic camera to capture monoscopic HDR, alternating monoscopic HDR and stereoscopic LDR images, or stereoscopic HDR images.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided to map a video range of image data to the video range of a display. Embodiments apply a weighted combination of values in input image data streams to generate image data having a range which matches the display capabilities. The weighted combination may be determined based on relative capabilities of the display and input image data. The video range of the image data and display may be a range of colours (gamut) and/or luminance (dynamic range).

Abstract: An illuminator for a reflective display (10) incorporates a light guide (14) having substantially transparent front and rear planar surfaces which overlap the display's viewing surface when the surfaces are substantially parallel and adjacent to the viewing surface. A light source (16) emits light into the light guide. A plurality of light redirecting structures (30) is distributed on the light guide's rear surface. The structures are shaped to redirect through the light guide toward the viewing surface light rays which encounter the structures. Most light rays emitted into the light guide by the light source which do not encounter any of the structures are confined within the light guide by total internal reflection. Most light rays emitted into the light guide by the light source which encounter any of the structures are re directed through the light guide toward the viewing surface, substantially uniformly illuminating the display in a low ambient light environment.

Abstract: An encoder receives an input enhanced dynamic range (EDR) image to be coded in a layered representation. Input images may be gamma-coded or perceptually-coded using a bit-depth format not supported by one or more video encoders. The input image is remapped to one or more quantized layers to generate output code words suitable for compression using the available video encoders. Algorithms to determine optimum function parameters for linear and non-linear mapping functions are presented. Given a mapping function, the reverse mapping function may be transmitted to a decoder as a look-up table or it may be approximated using a piecewise polynomial approximation. A polynomial approximation technique for representing reverse-mapping functions and chromaticity translation schemes to reduce color shifts are also presented.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for displaying full resolution, high definition (HD) three-dimensional (3D) images in a liquid crystal display (LCD) device by alternating polarization (or spectrum) of pixels present in a 4K LCD device. A first method comprises spatially dividing pixels by alternating polarization of pixels present in a 4K LCD device utilizing vertical, horizontal and checkerboard interlacing techniques. Another method comprises spatially alternating two sets of narrow band-pass color filters RGB1 and RGB2. RGB1 and RGB2 are balanced to minimize need for color balancing processing.

Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.

Abstract: A 3D display incorporates laser or saturated light sources to produce 3D images. The images may be produced on an LCD display or projector. Ambient light is filtered out through viewing glasses having passbands corresponding to the light sources. The light sources may include 2 sets of primary lights (one for each of 2 3D viewing channels) and a third set of primaries common to both channels. The display may be configured for a 2D display mode and a bandpass filter may be placed on a display surface to reduce reflections. The display may be a locally modulated or constant backlit LCD display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for ensuring consistency in the appearance of video data displayed on displays having different capabilities than a target display. Some embodiments comprising modifying at least one pixel of input video data such that the modified pixel represents the appearance of the at least one pixel when displayed by a target display. In some embodiments, modifying the at least one pixel comprises replacing an original pixel value of the at least one pixel with a replacement pixel value representing a modeled display of the original pixel value by the target display.

Abstract: Input video signals characterized by a source electro-optical transfer function (EOTF) are to be blended and displayed on a target display with a target EOTF which is different than the source EOTF. Given an input set of blending parameters, an output set of blending parameters is generated as follows. The input blending parameters are scaled by video signal metrics computed in the target EOTF to generate scaled blending parameters. The scaled blended parameters are mapped back to the source EOTF space to generate mapped blending parameters. Finally the mapped blending parameters are normalized to generate the output blending parameters. An output blended image is generating by blending the input video signals using the output blending parameters. Examples of generating the video signal metrics are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided to map a video range of image data to the video range of a display. Embodiments apply a weighted combination of values in input image data streams to generate image data having a range which matches the display capabilities. The weighted combination may be determined based on relative capabilities of the display and input image data. The video range of the image data and display may be a range of colors (gamut) and/or luminance (dynamic range).

Abstract: A projection display system includes a spatial modulator that is controlled to compensate for flare in a lens of the projector. The spatial modulator increases achievable intra-frame contrast and facilitates increased peak luminance without unacceptable black levels. Some embodiments provide 3D projection systems in which the spatial modulator is combined with a polarization control panel.

Abstract: A projector system includes an imaging device operable to direct light to a reflective screen, and an active light steering element placed in the light path between the imaging device and the screen. The steering element is operable to sequentially scan the light across the screen. The steering element may be used to temporally multiplex images at different viewpoints. The steering element enables trade-offs to be made between spatial, temporal, color and/or viewpoint resolutions of the images displayed by the imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system for merging graphics and high dynamic range video data is disclosed. In a video receiver, if needed, video and graphics are translated first into the IPT-PQ color space. A display management process uses metadata to map the input video data and the graphics from their own color volume space into a target blending color volume space by taking into consideration the color volume space of the target display.

Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.

Abstract: High dynamic range 3D images are generated with relatively narrow dynamic range image sensors. Input frames of different views may be set to different exposure settings. Pixels in the input frames may be normalized to a common range of luminance levels. Disparity between normalized pixels in the input frames may be computed and interpolated. The pixels in the different input frames may be shifted to, or stay in, a common reference frame. The pre-normalized luminance levels of the pixels may be used to create high dynamic range pixels that make up one, two or more output frames of different views. Further, a modulated synopter with electronic mirrors is combined with a stereoscopic camera to capture monoscopic HDR, alternating monoscopic HDR and stereoscopic LDR images, or stereoscopic HDR images.

Abstract: Image data may be color graded, distributed and viewed on target displays. Mappings that preserve mid-range points and mid-range contrast may be applied to view the image data for color grading and to prepare the image data for display on a target display. The image data may be expanded to exploit the dynamic range of the target display without affecting mid-tone values.