Methods and systems for display source light management with variable delay

1. A method for synchronizing a source light illumination level signal with optional image processing in an image compensation pipeline, said method comprising:

a) creating an image histogram and an error vector to select a source light illumination level;

b) sending said selected source light illumination level to a delay process capable of selectively delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level;

c) sending said selected source light illumination level to an image compensation process;

d) determining whether an additional image processing procedure has been selected;

e) transmitting an additional-process signal to said delay process when said additional process has been selected; and

f) delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional process has been selected and not delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional process has not been selected.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said additional process is a post-compensation process.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said additional process is a frame rate conversion process.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said source light illumination level selection is based on said image.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said delay process is a buffer.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said selecting a source light illumination level comprises generating a display model.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said selecting a source light illumination level comprises weighting said image histogram with said error vector.

8. A method for synchronizing a source light illumination level signal with optional image processing in an image compensation pipeline, said method comprising:

a) creating an image histogram and an error vector for an input image;

b) generating a display model for said image based on said image histogram;

c) determining a performance metric for a plurality of source light illumination levels with said display model;

d) selecting a source light illumination level based on said performance metric;

e) sending said selected source light illumination level to a delay process capable of selectively delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level;

f) sending said selected source light illumination level to an image compensation process;

g) compensating said image for said source light illumination level with said image compensation process;

h) determining whether an additional image processing procedure has been selected;

i) transmitting an additional-process signal to said delay process when said additional process has been selected; and

j) delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional-process signal is received at said delay process and not delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional-process signal has not been received.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said additional process is a post-compensation process.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said additional process is a frame rate conversion process.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said source light illumination level selection is based on said image.

12. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said delay process is a buffer.

13. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selecting a source light illumination level comprises generating a display model.

14. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selecting a source light illumination level comprises weighting said image histogram with said error vector.

15. A method for synchronizing a source light illumination level signal with optional image processing in an image compensation pipeline, said method comprising:

a) generating an image histogram for an image to be displayed on a display device;

b) receiving image histogram data at a mapping module that associates an image characteristic to a display model attribute;

c) determining an image characteristic based on said histogram data;

d) determining a display model attribute that is associated with said image characteristic using a map and said mapping module;

e) generating a display model based on said display model attribute;

f) calculating model clipping limits for said display model;

g) calculating a display error vector for each of a plurality of source light illumination levels;

h) combining said display error vectors with said histogram data to determine distortion values for said plurality of source light illumination levels; and

i) selecting a source light illumination level based on said distortion values;

j) sending said selected source light illumination level to a delay process capable of selectively delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level;

k) sending said selected source light illumination level to an image compensation process;

l) compensating said image for said source light illumination level with said image compensation process;

m) determining whether an additional image processing procedure has been selected;

n) transmitting an additional-process signal to said delay process when said additional process has been selected; and

o) delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional-process signal is received at said delay process and not delaying transmission of said selected source light illumination level from said delay process to a display source light when said additional-process signal has not been received.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said additional process is a post-compensation process.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said additional process is a frame rate conversion process.

18. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said delay process is a buffer.