IP Library Granted Patent US 12,592,187
Granted Patent B2
US 12,592,187 · App. 18/780,154 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Zonal attenuation compensation

Inventors: Hyunchul Kim (San Jose, CA); Chien-Hui Wen (Cupertino, CA); Ken Kok Foo (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
G09G3/3208G06T7/11G06T7/136G09G2320/0686G09G2330/021
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,592,187
App. No.
18/780,154
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This document describes systems and techniques directed at zonal attenuation compensation. In aspects, a system includes a graphics processing unit configured to provide image data to a display panel. A zonal attenuation module is configured to combine a zonal attenuation mask with the image data to generate masked image data, the masked image data having a reduced brightness for portions of data corresponding to one or more regions on the display panel based on the zonal attenuation mask. An inverse zonal attenuation module is configured to apply an inverse zonal attenuation mask to the masked image data to reduce a brightness for additional portions of data corresponding to one or more additional regions on the display panel effective to offset increased brightness in the one or more additional regions on the display panel.

Claims (44)

1 . A system comprising:

a graphics processing unit configured to provide image data to a display panel;

a zonal attenuation module configured to combine a zonal attenuation mask with the image data to generate masked image data, the masked image data having a reduced brightness for portions of data corresponding to one or more regions on the display panel; and

an inverse zonal attenuation module configured to apply an inverse zonal attenuation mask to the masked image data to reduce a brightness for additional portions of data corresponding to one or more additional regions on the display panel effective to offset a potential increased brightness in the one or more additional regions on the display panel, the reduction of brightness effective to offset the potential increased brightness resulting from the zonal attenuation mask diverting electric current from the one or more regions to the one or more additional regions.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein attributes of the inverse zonal attenuation mask are based on at least one of a detected brightness value and a detected gray level of the masked image data.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the zonal attenuation module is configured to select the inverse zonal attenuation mask from a plurality of previously-generated inverse zonal attenuation masks, each of the plurality of inverse zonal attenuation masks being generated for at least one of a specified brightness value and a specified gray level in ranges that may be detectable in the masked image data.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of previously-generated inverse zonal attenuation masks are generated based on blank images presented on a sample display panel for at least one of a plurality of brightness values and a plurality of gray levels.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation module is configured to generate the inverse zonal attenuation mask based on actual loading of the display panel based on content of the image data.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation mask is generated based on:

segmenting the masked image data into one or more segments based on at least one of brightness and gray levels within the segments; and

selectively applying the inverse zonal attenuation mask based on a brightness of the one or more segments.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation module is configured to selectively apply the inverse zonal attenuation mask to any of the one or more additional regions having a brightness level that exceeds a brightness threshold value.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the display panel includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel;

the one or more regions on the display panel comprise opposing end regions of the OLED display;

the one or more additional regions comprise a central region of the OLED display panel; and

the OLED display panel is characterized by nonlinear loading that generates an increased brightness at the central region as a result of the brightness being reduced at the opposing end regions of the OLED display panel from an application of the zonal attenuation mask.

9 . A computing device comprising:

a display panel; and

a display subsystem including:

a graphics processing unit configured to provide image data to a display panel;

a zonal attenuation module configured to combine a zonal attenuation mask with the image data to generate masked image data, the masked image data having a reduced brightness for portions of data corresponding to one or more regions on the display panel based on the zonal attenuation mask; and

an inverse zonal attenuation module configured to apply an inverse zonal attenuation mask to the masked image data to reduce a brightness for additional portions of data corresponding to one or more additional regions on the display panel effective to offset a potential increased brightness in the one or more additional regions on the display panel, the reduction of brightness effective to offset the potential increased brightness resulting from the zonal attenuation mask diverting electric current from the one or more regions to the one or more additional regions.

10 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein attributes of the inverse zonal attenuation mask are based on at least one of a detected brightness value and a detected gray level of the masked image data.

11 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the zonal attenuation module is configured to select the inverse zonal attenuation mask from a plurality of previously-generated inverse zonal attenuation masks, each of the plurality of inverse zonal attenuation masks being generated for at least one of a specified brightness value and a specified gray level in ranges that may be detectable in the masked image data.

12 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of previously-generated inverse zonal attenuation masks are generated based on blank images presented on a sample display panel for at least one of a plurality of brightness values and a plurality of gray levels.

13 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation module is configured to generate the inverse zonal attenuation mask based on actual loading of the display panel based on content of the image data.

14 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation mask is generated based on:

segmenting the image data into one or more segments based on at least one of brightness and gray levels within the segments; and

selectively applying the inverse zonal attenuation mask based on brightness of the one or more segments.

15 . The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the inverse zonal attenuation module is configured to selectively apply the inverse zonal attenuation mask to any of the one or more segments having a brightness level that exceeds a brightness threshold value.

16 . A method comprising:

receiving masked image data, the masked image data including image data combined with a zonal attenuation mask resulting in a reduced brightness for portions of data corresponding to one or more regions of a display panel based on the zonal attenuation mask;

determining a brightness of additional portions of data corresponding to one or more additional regions of the display panel, the brightness including an increased brightness in the one or more additional regions of the display panel resulting from the zonal attenuation mask diverting electric current from the one or more regions to the one or more additional regions;

selecting an inverse zonal attenuation mask configured to at least partially reduce the increased brightness in the one or more additional regions of the display panel; and

combining the inverse zonal attenuation mask with the masked image data to generate adjusted image data.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the inverse zonal attenuation mask to at least partially reduce the increased brightness based on at least one of a brightness and a gray level of the masked image data.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

generating a plurality of inverse zonal attenuation masks, each of the zonal attenuation masks corresponding to at least one of brightness value and a gray level of sample image data; and

in response to receiving the masked image data, retrieving one of the plurality of inverse zonal attenuation masks previously generated based on at least one of a brightness and a gray level of the masked image data.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

segmenting the masked image data into one or more segments based on at least one of brightness and gray levels within the segments; and

selectively applying the inverse zonal attenuation mask based on brightness of the one or more segments.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising selectively applying the inverse zonal attenuation mask to one or more segments of the masked image data depending on whether a brightness level of the one or more segments exceeds a threshold value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2024
From: KIM, HYUNCHUL; WEN, CHIEN-HUI; FOO, KEN KOK
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 068075/0449 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63516739 · Jul 31, 2023
Related Publication 20250046241A1 · Feb 6, 2025
References Cited (49)
US 10997914B1 · Hwang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20080204438A1 · Song et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20130135272A1 · Park · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140267370A1 · Albrecht et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140267448A1 · Albrecht et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150348246A1 · Lim et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20180137332A1 · Andersen et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180350313A1 · Nambi et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200279519A1 · Orio et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200403186A1 · Choi et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210005158A1 · Huang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210201849A1 · Choi et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220101531A1 · Zhang et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220277707A1 · Choi · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220391086A1 · Westerman · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230222950A1 · Zhang · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230274678A1 · Wen et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230306912A1 · Wen et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240105142A1 · Jeon et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240161548A1 · Kim et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240193985A1 · Sammoura et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240264740A1 · Zou et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240298509A1 · Gong et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240404479A1 · Shehata · 2024 [cited by examiner]
CN 103488364A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 107211076 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 108447456A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 110310596A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 112288661A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 115035851A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 117351895A · 2024 [cited by applicant]
KR 102438248 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
TW 201417076A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
TW 202318385A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
TW 202404343A · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015188595A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020192051A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Bai, et al., “On-Pixel Ratio-Based Adjustment of Local High Brightness Control”, Oct. 8, 2024, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Eltoft, et al., “Adaptive Maximum Fingerprint Touch-Size Threshold for Reduced Unintended Authentication Attempts and Reduced Spoof Accept Rate”, Technical Disclosure Commons, https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/7586… [cited by applicant]
Mienko, et al., ““Ultra-dark” OLED Panel Combining Polarization and Masking Layers”, Technical Disclosure Commons, https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/7923, Mar. 18, 2025, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Hsu, Tai-Yuan, “Histogram-Based Local Tone Mapping Algorithm for a Data Processing Unit”, Technical Disclosure Commons, https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/6151, Aug. 18, 2023, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Lee, et al., “Illumination-Level Adaptive Color Reproduction Method with Lightness Adaptation and Flare Compensation for Mobile Display”, Jan. 2007, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Li, et al., “Advanced Metrology for Display Uniformity Performance Judgement”, Technical Disclosure Commons, https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/7119, Jun. 21, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Li, et al., “Advanced Prediction Model for Variable Refresh Rate Compensation Compensation”, May 29, 2024, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Li, et al., “Smart Mathematical Model for Variable Refresh Rate Prediction Algorithm”, Technical Disclosure Commons, https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/7047, May 29, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Ou, Yafei, “Real-time Tone Mapping: A Survey and Cross-Implementation Hardware Benchmark”, May 22, 2022, 21 pages. [cited by applicant]
Thai, et al., “HDR Image Tone Mapping Histogram Adjustment with Using An Optimized Contrast Parameter”, Jan. 5, 2020, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Zhao, et al., “Learning Tone Curves for Local Image Enhancement”, May 30, 2022, 15 pagss. [cited by applicant]
“Foreign Office Action”, TW Application No. 113128066, Oct. 28, 2025, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]