Patents by Inventor Robin Atkins

Robin Atkins 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).

  • Patent number: 9961237
    Abstract: A display management processor receives an input image with enhanced dynamic range to be displayed on a target display which has a different dynamic range than a reference display. The input image is first transformed into a perceptually-quantized (PQ) color space, preferably the IPT-PQ color space. A color volume mapping function, which includes an adaptive tone-mapping function and an adaptive gamut mapping function, generates a mapped image. A detail-preservation step is applied to the intensity component of the mapped image to generate a final mapped image with a filtered tone-mapped intensity image. The final mapped image is then translated back to the display's preferred color space. Examples of the adaptive tone mapping and gamut mapping functions are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 9959837
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensin Corporation
    Inventors: Jon Scott Miller, Scott Daly, Mahdi Nezamabadi, Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 9955145
    Abstract: A 3D projector system includes a locally modulated polarizer mounted in front of a projector. The polarizer is controllable to produce different polarization states for local regions of the projector images. Combinations of polarizer states and projector images can be used to produce left and right images which have reduced intensity differences between subsequent frames. This may reduce flickering and viewer eye fatigue. This may also reduce unwanted crosstalk between left and right eye viewpoints and increase image contrast and dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20180098046
    Abstract: Given existing color remapping information (CRI) messaging variables, methods are described to communicate color volume information for a targeted display to a downstream receiver. Bits 7:0 of the 32-bit colour_remap_id are used to extract a first value. If the first value is not a reserved value, then the first value is used as an index to a look-up table to generate a first luminance value for a targeted display, otherwise a second value is generated based on bits 31:9 in the colour_remap_id messaging variable and the first luminance value for a targeted display is generated based on the second value. The methods may be applied to communicate via CRI messaging a minimum luminance value, a maximum luminance value, and color primaries information of the targeted display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Walter J. Husak, Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Tao Chen
  • Patent number: 9936199
    Abstract: Compared to traditional gamma-coded video, perceptually quantized video provides greater flexibility for the transmission and display management of high-dynamic range video, but it does not compresses as efficiently using existing standard codecs. Techniques are described to improve the coding efficiency of perceptually coded video by applying a color cross-talk transformation after the RGB/XYZ to LMS transformation. Such a transform increases luma and chroma correlation for color appearance models, but improves perceptual uniformity and overall coding efficiency for wide color gamut, HDR, signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Froehlich, Robin Atkins, Qiuwei Wang, Guan-Ming Su, Peng Yin
  • Publication number: 20180091803
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory John Ward, Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20180082429
    Abstract: Motion characteristics related to the images are determined. A motion characteristics metadata portion is generated based on the motion characteristics, and is to be used for determining an optimal FRC operational mode with a downstream device for the images. The images are encoded into a video stream. The motion characteristics metadata portion is encoded into the video stream as a part of image metadata. The video stream is transmitted to the downstream device. The downstream receives the video stream and operates the optimal FRC operational mode to generate, based on the images, additional images. The images and the additional images are rendered on a display device at an image refresh rate different from an input image refresh rate represented by images encoded in the video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Anustup Kumar Atanu Choudhury, Tao Chen, Robin Atkins, Samir N. Hulyalkar
  • Publication number: 20180082658
    Abstract: Methods for designing metamerically stable RGBW displays are presented. Display parameters are selected so that given a reference spectral power distribution (SPD) for the white color primary (e.g., one based on D65), and a test spectral power distribution for the white color primary, deviations in color appearance measurements between the two SPDs among N different observers are minimized. Given a display with a metamerically stable white (W), given linear input R, G, and B values, output R, G, B, and W values are generated to optimize metameric stability instead of reducing power consumption or to increase total brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Patent number: 9916638
    Abstract: An existing metadata set that is specific to a color volume transformation model is transformed to a metadata set that is specific to a distinctly different color volume transformation model. For example, source content metadata for a first color volume transformation model is received. This source metadata determines a specific color volume transformation, such as a sigmoidal tone map curve. The specific color volume transformation is mapped to a color volume transformation of a second color volume transformation model, e.g., a Bézier tone map curve. Mapping can be a best fit curve, or a reasonable approximation. Mapping results in metadata values used for the second color volume transformation model (e.g., one or more Bézier curve knee points and anchors). Thus, devices configured for the second color volume transformation model can reasonably render source content according to received source content metadata of the first color volume transformation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Yeung, Patrick Griffis, Thaddeus Beier, Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 9912939
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory John Ward, Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 9894314
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for distributing video data provide video data containing two or more different versions of video content. The different versions may be optimized for display on different displays and/or for viewing under different ambient conditions. Video data optimized for display on a particular display under particular ambient conditions may be obtained by one or more of selecting one of the versions of video content and combining two or more of the versions of the video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20180041759
    Abstract: A content-adaptive quantizer processor receives an input image with an input bit depth. A noise-mask generation process is applied to the input image to generate a noise mask image which characterizes each pixel in the input image in terms of its perceptual relevance in masking quantization noise. A noise mask histogram is generated based on the input image and the noise mask image. A masking-noise level to bit-depth function is applied to the noise mask histogram to generate minimal bit depth values for each bin in the noise mask histogram. A codeword mapping function is generated based on the input bit depth, a target bit depth, and the minimal bit depth values. The codeword mapping function is applied to the input image to generate an output image in the target bit depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicants: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB, Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jan FROEHLICH, Guan-Ming SU, Robin ATKINS, Scott DALY, Jon Scott MILLER
  • Publication number: 20180025464
    Abstract: An existing metadata set that is specific to a color volume transformation model is transformed to a metadata set that is specific to a distinctly different color volume transformation model. For example, source content metadata for a first color volume transformation model is received. This source metadata determines a specific color volume transformation, such as a sigmoidal tone map curve. The specific color volume transformation is mapped to a color volume transformation of a second color volume transformation model, e.g., a Bézier tone map curve. Mapping can be a best fit curve, or a reasonable approximation. Mapping results in metadata values used for the second color volume transformation model (e.g., one or more Bézier curve knee points and anchors). Thus, devices configured for the second color volume transformation model can reasonably render source content according to received source content metadata of the first color volume transformation model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond YEUNG, Patrick GRIFFIS, Thaddeus BEIER, Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20180018932
    Abstract: A processor receives input video data of a video dynamic range and input dynamic metadata. It also receives: input graphics data of a graphics dynamic range and input static metadata, display identification data from a target display over a video interface, and a blending priority map characterizing a per-pixel priority of output pixels in an image generated by blending the input video data and the input graphics data. A video mapping function and a graphics mapping function which map data from the input video and graphics dynamic ranges to the target dynamic range are generated based on the dynamic and static metadata. Then, the input and graphics data are blended based on the blending priority map and a per-pixel decision to map pixels to the target dynamic range using either the video mapping function or the graphics mapping function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20180013927
    Abstract: A display management processor receives an input image with enhanced dynamic range to be displayed on a target display which has a different dynamic range than a reference display. The input image is first transformed into a perceptually-quantized (PQ) color space, preferably the IPT-PQ color space. A color volume mapping function, which includes an adaptive tone-mapping function and an adaptive gamut mapping function, generates a mapped image. A detail-preservation step is applied to the intensity component of the mapped image to generate a final mapped image with a filtered tone-mapped intensity image. The final mapped image is then translated back to the display's preferred color space. Examples of the adaptive tone mapping and gamut mapping functions are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20180007374
    Abstract: Downsampled video content is generated in a subsampling color space from linearized video content in the subsampling color space. The linearized video content represents a first spatial dimension, whereas the downsampled video content represents a second spatial dimension lower than the first spatial dimension. Opponent channel data is derived in a transmission color space from the downsampled video content. Output video content is generated from luminance data in the linearized video content and the opponent channel data in the transmission color space. The output video content may be decoded by a downstream recipient device to generate video content in an output color space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Jaclyn Anne PYTLARZ
  • Patent number: 9842385
    Abstract: An image processor receives an input image with enhanced dynamic range to be displayed on a target display which has a different dynamic range than a reference display. After optional color transformation (110) and perceptual quantization (115) of the input image, a multiscale mapping process (120) combines linear (125) and non-linear (130) mapping functions to its input to generate first (127) and second (132) output images, wherein the first and second output images may have a different dynamic range than the first image. A frequency transform (135, 140), such as the FFT, is applied to the first and second output images to generate first (137) and second (142) transformed images. An interpolation function (145) is applied to the first and second transformed images to generate an interpolated transformed image (147). An inverse transform function (150) is applied to the interpolated transformed image to generate an output tone-mapped image (152).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20170316758
    Abstract: An HDR display is a combination of technologies including, for example, a dual modulation architecture incorporating algorithms for artifact reduction, selection of individual components, and a design process for the display and/or pipeline for preserving the visual dynamic range from capture to display of an image or images. In one embodiment, the dual modulation architecture includes a backlight with an array of RGB LEDs and a combination of a heat sink and thermally conductive vias for maintaining a desired operating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Patent number: 9779688
    Abstract: Techniques for editing visual content by anchoring visual adaptation are disclosed. At least one anchor pattern is presented on a display surround. The perceptibility of the at least one anchor pattern is dependent on visual adaptation. The visual content is edited during the presentation of the at least one anchor pattern. For specific embodiments, the presentation, whether continuous or periodic, can include illumination, emission, reflection, rear projection, forward projection, or the like. A plurality of the patterns can be disposed around a reference display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20170263211
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon Scott MILLER, Scott DALY, Mahdi NEZAMABADI, Robin ATKINS