IP Library Granted Patent US 11,199,744
Granted Patent B2
US 11,199,744 · App. 16/829,752 · Granted Dec 14, 2021

Method and apparatus for adjusting pixel contrast to enable privacy display legibility

Inventors: Stefan Peana (Austin, TX); Asim M. Siddiqui (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G02F1/133606G02F1/1323G02F1/133611G09G3/3426G09G3/3659H04M1/72463G02F1/133601G02F1/133618G02F1/133626G09G2358/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,199,744
App. No.
16/829,752
Granted
Dec 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information handling system includes a display device, a camera, and a processor. The camera captures an image including first and second observers in a field of view in front of the display device. Based on the captured image, the processor determines a first location of the first observer and a second location of the second observer. Based on the first and second locations, the processor determines a first set of pixels located within a primary field of view for the first observer, and a second set of pixels located within a second field of view for the second observer. The processor calculates a viewing legibility adjustment for the second set of pixels. Based on the viewing legibility adjustment, the processor adjusts a contrast ratio for the second set of pixels to below a viewing threshold level.

Claims (47)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a display device;

an ambient light sensor to detect an ambient brightness level;

a camera to capture an image including first and second observers in a field of view in front of the display device; and

a processor to communicate with the camera, with the ambient light sensor, and with the display device, the processor to determine a first location of the first observer, to determine a second location of the second observer, to determine first and second sets of pixels of the display device based on the first and second locations, wherein the first set of pixels are located within a primary field of view for the first observer, and the second set of pixels are located within a second field of view for the second observer, to receive the ambient brightness level from the ambient light sensor, to calculate a viewing legibility adjustment for the second set of pixels based on the ambient brightness level, and to adjust, based on the viewing legibility adjustment, a contrast ratio for the second set of pixels to below a viewing threshold level.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first display of the display device to generate an image viewable by the first observer; and

a second display of the display device including a plurality of vertical pixel columns, wherein the vertical pixel columns control an amount of light output from the display device.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein a transmissibility of each of the vertical pixel columns are controlled by a voltage level applied across each of the vertical pixel columns.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the processor further to calculate a dynamic legibility off angle based on the second location of the second observer, and to determine, based on the dynamic legibility off angle, a first transmissibility of a first vertical pixel column, a second transmissibility of a second vertical pixel column, and a third transmissibility of a third vertical pixel column.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:

pixel adjustment circuitry to communicate with a display of the display device and with the processor, the pixel adjustment circuitry to lower a black or color component for pixels within the second set of pixels, wherein the lowering of the black or color component decreases the contrast ratio for the pixels from a first contrast ratio to a second contrast ratio, wherein the second contrast ratio is below the viewing threshold level.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a graphics processing unit of the information handling system.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a timing controller of the information handling system.

8. A method comprising:

capturing an image including first and second observers in a field of view in front of a display device of an information handling system;

based on the captured image, determining, by a processor, a first location of the first observer and a second location of the second observer;

based on the first and second locations, determining first and second sets of pixels of the display device, wherein the first set of pixels is located within a primary field of view for the first observer, and the second set of pixels is located within a second field of view for the second observer;

detecting an ambient brightness level;

providing the ambient brightness level to the processor;

calculating, by the processor, a viewing legibility adjustment for the second set of pixels based on the ambient brightness level; and

based on the viewing legibility adjustment, adjusting a contrast ratio for the second set of pixels to below a viewing threshold level.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating, at a first display of the display device, an image viewable by the first observer; and

controlling a transmissibility of a plurality of vertical pixel columns within a second display of the display device, wherein the vertical pixel columns include first, second, and third vertical pixel columns.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

based on the second location of the second observer, calculating a dynamic legibility off angle and to determine; and

based on the dynamic legibility off angle, calculating a first transmissibility of a first vertical pixel column of a plurality of a second display, a second transmissibility of a second vertical pixel column, and a third transmissibility of a third vertical pixel column.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmissibility of each of the vertical pixel columns are controlled by a voltage level applied across each of the vertical pixel columns.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

lowering a black or color component for pixels within the second set of pixels, wherein the drop of the black or color component decreases the contrast ratio for the pixels from a first contrast ratio to a second contrast ratio, wherein the second contrast ratio is below the viewing threshold level.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method for adjusting legibility of an image on a display device of an information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing an image including first and second observers in a field of view in front of the display device of the information handling system;

based on the captured image, determining a first location of the first observer and a second location of the second observer;

based on the first and second locations, determining first and second sets of pixels of the display device, wherein the first set of pixels is located within a primary field of view for the first observer, and the second set of pixels is located within a second field of view for the second observer;

detecting an ambient brightness level;

utilizing the ambient brightness level to calculate a viewing legibility adjustment for the second set of pixels; and

based on the viewing legibility adjustment for the second set of pixels, adjusting a contrast ratio for the second set of pixels to below a viewing threshold level.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating, on a first display of the display device, an image viewable by the first observer; and

controlling a transmissibility of a plurality of vertical pixel columns within a second display of the display device, wherein the vertical pixel columns include first, second, and third vertical pixel columns.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising:

based on the second location of the second observer, calculating a dynamic legibility off angle and to determine; and

based on the dynamic legibility off angle, calculating a first transmissibility of a first vertical pixel column of a plurality of a second display, a second transmissibility of a second vertical pixel column, and a third transmissibility of a third vertical pixel column.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the transmissibility of each of the vertical pixel columns are controlled by a voltage level applied across each of the vertical pixel columns.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

lowering, by pixel adjustment circuitry, a black or color component for pixels within the second set of pixels, wherein the drop of the black or color component decreases the contrast ratio for the pixels from a first contrast ratio to a second contrast ratio, wherein the second contrast ratio is below the viewing threshold level.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0081) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0441 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0917) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0509 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052852/0022) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052771 FRAME 0906 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052852/0022 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052771/0906 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: PEANA, STEFAN; SIDDIQUI, ASIM M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 052226/0472 →