IP Library Granted Patent US 7,750,871
Granted Patent B2
US 7,750,871 · App. 11/632,477 · Granted Jul 6, 2010

Image display method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,750,871
App. No.
11/632,477
Granted
Jul 6, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image display method for allowing an image display device having a large number of pixels arrayed in a planar form to perform an image display by forming one field period from plural sub-fields for which luminance weights to be displayed are determined, and choosing plural luminances among displayable luminances as luminances for display by combining the luminance weights of the sub-fields, so that the respective pixels are controlled not to emit light or to emit light in each sub-field correspondingly to the luminances for display to be displayed. At least one threshold value is set, and when a pixel is allowed to emit light at a luminance for display at or higher than a first threshold value, which is the smallest threshold value, the pixel is controlled not to emit light constantly or to emit light constantly in a sub-field having the smallest luminance weight.

Claims (21)

1. An image display method for displaying an image comprising:

forming one field period by a plurality of sub-fields, whose luminance weights to be displayed are determined, for an image display device having a large number of pixels arrayed in a planar form;

choosing a plurality of luminances among displayable luminances as luminances for display by combining the luminance weights of the sub-fields; and

controlling the respective pixels so as to emit light or not to emit light in each sub-field, corresponding to the luminances for display to be displayed,

wherein at least one threshold value to be compared with the luminances for display is set, the at least one threshold value including a first threshold value, and

when a pixel is allowed to emit light at a luminance for display at or higher than the first threshold value, the pixel is either in a non-emission status or controlled constantly to emit light in a sub-field having a smallest luminance weight.

2. The image display method of claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the luminance weight of the sub-field having the smallest luminance weight is defined as W 1 , the first threshold value is equal to a lowest luminance for display among the luminances for display having 2W 1 +1 or greater as a difference between the luminance for display and a closest luminance for display.

3. The image display method of claim 1 , wherein;

the at least one threshold value including a plurality of threshold values from the first threshold value to Nth threshold values (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2),

when the pixel is allowed to emit light at a luminance for display at or higher than the Nth threshold value, which is larger than an N−1th threshold value, the pixel is either in a non-emission status or controlled constantly to emit light in a sub-field having an Nth smallest luminance weight.

4. The image display method of claim 3 , wherein

in a case where the luminance weight of the sub-field having the Nth smallest luminance weight is defined as W N , the Nth threshold value is equal to a lowest luminance for display among the luminances for display having 2W N +1 or greater as a difference between the luminance for display and a closest luminance for display.

5. The image display method of claim 1 , wherein

the luminances for display are set in a manner of a geometric progression at luminances higher than a specific luminance; and

the luminances for display are set in a manner of an arithmetic progression at luminances lower than the specific luminance.

6. The image display method of claim 5 , wherein,

when a ratio of the luminance for display and a closest luminance for display which is closest to the luminance for display is set as a ratio of luminances for display, the specific luminance is a lowest displayable luminance among the displayable luminances having a ratio of the displayable luminance and a closest displayable luminance which is closest to the displayable luminance, equal to or lower than the ratio of luminances for display.

7. The image display method of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one threshold value including a plurality of threshold values from the first threshold value to Nth threshold values (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2), and

the first threshold value is smallest among the plurality of threshold values.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021818/0725 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2008
From: SHOJI, HIDEHIKO; ORIGUCHI, TAKAHIKO; TAKEDA, MINORU; YAWATA, AKIRA; YAMAMOTO, HIROKO
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021106/0546 →