Systems and methods for compensating brightness uniformity of backlit image displays

1. A method of compensating brightness uniformity of display for an information handling system, comprising:

providing a transmissive display panel and one or more main backlight lamps configured to provide light to said transmissive display panel;

providing one or more auxiliary backlight lamps configured to supplement light provided by said main backlight lamps to light said transmissive display panel;

lighting an area of said transmissive display panel with said main backlight lamps; and

providing light from said auxiliary backlight lamps to supplement light provided by said main backlight lamps to light said area of said transmissive display panel;

wherein said area of said transmissive display panel is lit with a first brightness uniformity by said main backlight lamps alone, said first brightness uniformity being defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across a given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps alone divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps alone; and

wherein said area of said transmissive display panel is lit with a second brightness uniformity by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together, said second brightness uniformity being defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together; and

wherein said second brightness uniformity is greater than said first brightness uniformity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmissive display panel comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel; wherein said main backlight lamps comprise cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs); and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more edge area locations of said transmissive display panel; or wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more interior area locations of said transmissive display panel; or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a light pipe area configured to provide light to said transmissive display panel; wherein said main backlight lamps extend from at least one external edge of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps also extend from said same at least one external edge of said light pipe area in a position adjacent said main backlight lamps.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said main backlight lamps comprise at least two main backlight lamps extending from said at least one external edges of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight also extending from said same at least one external edge of said light pipe area adjacent and in-between said at least two main backlight lamps.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said main backlight lamps comprise at least two main backlight lamps extending from said at least one external edges of said light pipe area toward an interior area of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight disposed at a location adjacent an interior area of said transmissive display panel and in-between said at least two main backlight lamps.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing multiple light metering sensors configured to monitor brightness at said multiple brightness points of said transmissive display panel; measuring brightness data corresponding to said first brightness uniformity at said multiple brightness points of said transmissive display panel; and adjusting brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based at least in part on said measured brightness data and one or more auxiliary backlight control components to light said transmissive display panel with said second brightness uniformity, and without regard to the overall brightness level of the transmissive display panel.

8. The method of claim said method comprising:

lighting said transmissive display panel with said one or more main backlight lamps;

then measuring a brightness of said lighted transmissive display panel at multiple brightness points across the display area of said transmissive display panel;

then determining said first brightness uniformity value based on said measured brightness of said transmissive display panel; and

then increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based at least in part on said determined first brightness uniformity value.

9. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein said method comprises measuring brightness of said transmissive display panel at multiple points across the display area of said transmissive display panel; determining said first brightness uniformity value of said transmissive display panel by determining the minimum measured brightness value of all measured brightness points divided by the maximum measured brightness of all measured brightness points; and adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps to achieve said second brightness uniformity value for said transmissive display panel that is greater than said first brightness uniformity value.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing multiple light metering sensors as integral components of a display device that comprises said transmissive display panel; and iteratively performing in real time said steps of measuring brightness of said transmissive display panel at said multiple brightness points using said integral light metering sensors, determining a first brightness uniformity value, and increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing multiple external light metering sensors as external components of a display device that comprises said transmissive display panel; and measuring brightness of said transmissive display panel at said multiple brightness points using said external light metering sensors.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising outputting said determined first brightness uniformity value to a user; and increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based on input received from said user.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more interior area locations of said transmissive display panel.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said main backlight lamps extend across a width of said display panel in parallel relationship to each other, and wherein said multiple auxiliary backlights are mounted in a position in an interior area of said display panel so as to emit light in-between each pair of backlight lamps.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

a transmissive display panel and one or more main backlight lamps configured to provide light to an area of said transmissive display panel; and

one or more auxiliary backlight lamps configured to supplement light provided by said main backlight iamps to light said transmissive display panel;

wherein said area of said transmissive display panel is lit with a first brightness uniformity by said main backlight lamps alone, said first brightness uniformity being defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across a given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps alone divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps alone; and

wherein said area of said transmissive display panel is lit with a second brightness uniformity by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together, said second brightness uniformity being defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit by said main backlight lamps and said auxiliary backlight lamps together; and

wherein said second brightness uniformity is greater than said first brightness uniformity.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein said transmissive display panel comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel; wherein said main backlight lamps comprise cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs); and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).

17. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more edge area locations of said transmissive display panel; wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more interior area locations of said transmissive display panel; or a combination thereof.

18. The information handling system of claim 15 , further comprising a light pipe area configured to provide light to said transmissive display panel; wherein said main backlight lamps extend from at least one external edge of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lights also extend from said same at least one external edge of said light pipe area in a position adjacent said main backlight lamps.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 , wherein said main backlight lamps comprise at least two main backlight lamps extending from said at least one external edges of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight also extending from said same at least one external edge of said light pipe area adjacent and in-between said at least two main backlight lamps.

20. The information handling system of claim 18 , wherein said main backlight lamps comprise at least two main backlight lamps extending from said at least one external edges of said light pipe area toward an interior area of said light pipe area; and wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight disposed at a location adjacent an interior area of said transmissive display panel and in-between said at least two main backlight lamps.

21. The information handling system of claim 15 , further comprising multiple light metering sensors configured to monitor brightness at said multiple brightness points of said transmissive display panel corresponding to said first brightness uniformity at said multiple brightness points of said transmissive display panel; and one or more auxiliary backlight control components configured to adjust brightness of said one or more auxiliary lights based at least in part on said measured brightness data from said one or more light metering sensors to light said transmissive display panel with said second brightness uniformity, and without regard to the overall brightness level of the transmissive display panel.

22. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

one or more auxiliary backlight control components configured to increase a brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps.

23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising:

multiple light metering sensors coupled to said one or more auxiliary backlight control components, said multiple light metering sensors being integral components of a display device that comprises said transmissive display panel, and being configured to measure a brightness of said transmissive display panel at multiple brightness points;

wherein said one or more auxiliary backlight control components are configured to increase a brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based on brightness of said transmissive display panel measured at said multiple brightness points by said one or more light metering sensors.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein said one or more auxiliary backlight control components are configured to iteratively and in real time increase a brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based on brightness of said transmissive display panel measured at said one or more points by said multiple light metering sensors.

25. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein said auxiliary backlight lamps comprise at least one auxiliary backlight positioned to emit light at one or more interior area locations of said transmissive display panel.

26. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein each of said main backlight lamps extend across a width of said display panel in parallel relationship to each other, and wherein said multiple auxiliary backlights are mounted in a position in an interior area of said display panel so as to emit light in-between each pair of backlight lamps.

27. A method of compensating brightness uniformity of a display for an information handling system, comprising:

providing a transmissive display panel, one or more backlights configured for lighting said transmissive display panel, and one or more auxiliary backlight lamps configured for selectably lighting said transmissive display panel;

lighting said transmissive display panel with one or more main backlight lamps; and

increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps;

wherein the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel is defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across a given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit; and

where the method further comprises:

lighting said transmissive display panel with said one or more main backlight lamps,

then measuring a brightness of said lighted transmissive display panel at multiple brightness points across the display area of said transmissive display panel to identify the location of one or more areas of reduced brightness when the transmissive display panel is lit by the one or more main backlight lamps alone,

then positioning the one or more auxiliary backlights in locations to compensate for the one or more identified areas of reduced brightness,

then determining a first brightness uniformity value based on said measured brightness of said transmissive display panel by determining the minimum measured brightness value of all measured brightness points divided by the maximum measured brightness of all measured brightness points, and

then increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based at least in part on said determined first brightness uniformity value.

28. A method of compensating brightness uniformity of a display for an information handling system, comprising:

providing a transmissive display panel, one or more backlights configured for lighting said transmissive display panel, and one or more auxiliary backlight lamps configured for selectably lighting said transmissive display panel;

lighting said transmissive display panel with one or more main backlight lamps; and

increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps;

wherein the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel is defined as a minimum measured brightness value of multiple brightness points measured across a given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit divided by a maximum measured brightness value of multiple measured brightness points measured across the given area of the transmissive display panel when the transmissive display panel is lit; and

where the method further comprises:

lighting said transmissive display panel with said one or more main backlight lamps until said transmissive display panel develops one or more areas of reduced brightness over time when the transmissive display panel is lit by the one or more main backlight lamps alone due to aging of the main backlight lamps,

then measuring a brightness of said lighted transmissive display panel at multiple brightness points across the display area of said transmissive display panel to identify the location of the developed one or more areas of reduced brightness when the transmissive display panel is lit by the one or more main backlight lamps alone,

then positioning the one or more auxiliary backlights in locations to compensate for the one or more identified developed one or more areas of reduced brightness,

then determining a first brightness uniformity value based on said measured brightness of said transmissive display panel by determining the minimum measured brightness value of all measured brightness points divided by the maximum measured brightness of all measured brightness points, and

then increasing the brightness uniformity of said transmissive display panel by selectably adjusting the brightness of said one or more auxiliary backlight lamps based at least in part on said determined first brightness uniformity value.