KR20050016973A - Method of and system for controlling an ambient light and lighting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to and describes on-line analysis of a video signal displayed to a user on screen 110. This analysis results in the adaptation of luminescence. One or more features of the signal are filtered to convert to light emission settings of one or more light elements 102, 104, 106, 108, which may in turn include one or more light sources.

Description

Method for and system for controlling an ambient light and lighting unit

The present invention relates to a method of controlling ambient light, the method comprising: receiving a video signal by a receiver; Displaying the video signal by the display device.

The invention also relates to a system for ambient light control, the system comprising receiving means designed to receive a video signal, and conversion means designed to convert the video signal into a signal displayable by the display device.

The invention also relates to a light armature and a light emitting unit comprising such a system.

Embodiments of such methods and apparatus are generally known from television stations that receive a television signal and display the received television signal. Cables, satellites, etc. can receive television signals. Furthermore, digital video signal receivers such as set top boxes are also generally known. These set top boxes process received digital video signals, such as MPEG signals, into signals such as RGB or YUV that can be displayed by display units such as CRT displays, plasma displays, or LCD displays. The display is usually placed in a house, for example a living room. Here, other households such as light armor also exist. However, such as light armature, in general, can be manually adjusted to emphasize the content of the video signal. For example, when a romantic movie is shown, the lights can be darkened manually or when a horror movie is shown, the colors of the lights are manually adjusted to include red and dark colors.

1 illustrates an embodiment of an ambient light environment;

2 shows the main steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention;

3 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention in a schematic manner;

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method according to the generation in which the ambient light is adjusted to the content of the media signal in an improved manner. To achieve this object, the method comprises the steps of analyzing a video signal; And setting a characteristic of the ambient light based on the analyzed video signal. By analyzing the video signal, the ambient light may depend, for example, on the hue, saturation, brightness, colors, etc. of the video output. Ambient light may depend on the rate of scene changes or scene changes in the video signal. For example, ambient light can be switched on or off with each scene change, contributing to the personal experience with the video output being shown.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 2. By performing facial recognition, the content of the video signal as an image is analyzed. Depending on the face recognized, the ambient light can be adjusted. For example, when the face of a good character in a movie is recognized, ambient light uses bright colors, and when the face of an evil character in a movie is recognized, ambient light uses dark colors. If both good and evil characters are recognized in the movie, some of the ambient light uses bright colors, some of the ambient light uses dark colors, thereby creating a mix of dark and light colors.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 3. By performing the expression recognition, the setting of the ambient light can be further improved. For example, when a good character emerges in an evil mood, the ambient light may use a combination of dark colors or bright colors for a good character and dark colors for an evil mood.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 4. By displaying the main data by the display device and setting the characteristics of the ambient light in the vicinity of the display device, the ambient light further enhances the experience of the displayed main data. Experience can be enhanced, for example, by tuning the colors of ambient light used with the average color used in the displayed main data. Ambient light can also be synchronized with, for example, the distribution of colors used in the displayed main data.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 5. By setting the characteristics of the ambient light substantially simultaneously with displaying the main data by the display device, the ambient light further enhances the experience of the displayed main data. For example, in the case of a horror movie, the lights may get darker when the tension in the movie is heightened and may be brightened again when the tension in the movie is reduced. The used colors of the ambient light can also change depending on the changing content of the main data. For example, when advertisements are shown during a movie, the ambient light may change to normal white light conditions.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 6. By making the setting of the characteristic of the ambient light configurable, it is possible to control the default operation of the ambient light. For example, when ambient light only supports a limited number of colors, the supported colors can be configured.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 7. By making it possible to configure the characteristic setting of the ambient light by the user's preference, it is more possible to govern the default operation of the ambient light. For example, when the user does not want red ambient light, bright ambient light, or consumable light effects, the user may configure this preference.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system according to the preamble which responds to the substantial content of a media signal in an improved manner. To achieve this object, the system is characterized in that it further comprises processing means designed to analyze the received signal and to set the characteristics of the ambient light based on the analyzed video signal.

Embodiments of the system according to the invention are described in claims 9 and 10. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the described embodiments as illustrated by the following figures hereinafter.

Today, the experience we have while consuming media content at home is enhanced by larger screens, image enhancements, and greater sound. Examples of these are wide screen televisions, 100 Hz. Digital Scanned Image Enhancement, Dolby Surround Sound, and Philips Incredible Sound. Moreover, film and television show producers also try to influence the experience of their audience by all kinds of visual and auditory effects such as color, scene cuts.

1 illustrates an embodiment of an ambient light environment. Here, 100 illustrates a living room in which light elements 102, 104, 106, 108 and 112 are located. The light elements can include LED illumination cells of different colors, such as red, green, and blue. Other colors and other light emitting sources such as halogen can be used. The light element 112 is located under the couch 114. The television 110 receives and processes the television signal and the processed television is shown on its screen. The television 110 may be an analog television signal receiver or a digital television signal receiver. Television signals may be received via satellite dish antennas, cables, storage devices, the Internet, and the like. Moreover, the television signal may generally be a video signal or image that may be stored on a VCR, CD, DVD, game machine, PC, or the like. Living room 100 also includes other furniture, such as chairs 116, 118 and 120 and table 122. The locations of the furniture and the furniture shown are meaningful only as an example to illustrate the invention, which is combined only with video, games, audio, etc. to allow for the recognition and change of both mood and light effects. For example, if someone invites his friends to his home to watch a DVD, their experience while watching the DVD is enhanced. In this case, a science fiction movie is watched and the dark purple clarity emphasizes the eerie mood of the initial scenes. In the movie, a thunderstorm begins, and ambient light flashes simultaneously with the thunderstorm lightning in the movie. As the thunderstorm subsides, a green twinkling light under the couch begins to indicate that aliens are near the characters in the film.

2 shows the main steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Within step S200, by way of example, a television signal is received. The television signal is a digital television signal. The television signal may also be an analog television signal or an image signal such as a JPEG image instead of the television signal.

Within step S202, the television signal is analyzed. The television signal is analyzed at various locations in the path of the video signal displayed to the user, within an output device, for example on a television set, or using a dedicated device on a scart running between the television set and the DVD player. do. Within the analysis, the signal is analyzed as calculating the average color for the received video signal. The average color is calculated for each image frame that can be displayed by a display device such as a television screen. Instead of calculating the average color, the color at the corners of the most prominent color, image frame, etc. can also be calculated. As a result, the calculated color can be used to set the light of the light elements to adapt this color to enhance the atmosphere. For example, setting green ambient light around a display device when displaying a documentary about rainforests, or setting ambient light to reflect the losing sun and extend the colors of the sun across the living room. . In case the corners of the image frames are used to determine the color, the light elements at the corner of the display device can replace the color of the corners. Moreover, the distribution of colors on the image can be used to determine the ambient light effect. For example, when the light is in an image frame or in successive image frames that appear to be coming from the viewer's left, right, or back, the light element at the left, right, or back should be brighter in conclusion. Thus, the determined color setting may affect ambient light settings such as hue, saturation, contrast, brightness, focus, diffusivity, direction, etc. of the light element. Optionally, these light element settings can be fine tuned in the following steps.

Within step 204, the image frame may also be analyzed for objects that can be recognized, for example, balls, people or faces. The presence of objects in the video signal can be used to further improve the settings of the ambient light. If a face is recognized, the facial expression can also be analyzed. This look is used to enhance the mood of the movie by the ambient light settings. For example, when there are many bright colors in the scene, it reflects a sunny day but the ambient light also reflects the fight in dark colors because the characters play the scene about the fight.

Within step 206, the configuration of the ambient light environment is considered to determine the light element settings. The configuration may include, for example, the location of the light elements, available colors, available orientations of the light elements, and the like. The position of the light elements can be used to determine the position of the light elements relative to the display device 110. The light elements very close to the display device 110 should not be too bright to prevent the displayed images from being viewed correctly anymore. On the other hand, light elements remote from the display device 110 should not be used because their brightness does not contribute to the ambient light. The location can also be used, for example, to determine the light elements that should be involved in producing the desired luminous effect. The configuration information can also be used to determine different contrasts and colors of different light elements to achieve the optimal effect of the combined light sources. For example, in the case of a particular program such as a health program or a sports program shown on a display device, a combination of the following colors may be used that affect health and mood,

Good morning: R99% + G99% + B99%

Relax: R20% + G50% + B80%

Energy: R99% + G40% + B0%

Working: R60% + G50% + B50%

Idea: R40% + G60% + B0%

Balance: R40% + G0% + B99%

Relation: R40% + G99% + B50%

Play: R99% + G0% + B99%

Love: R99% + G0% + B0%

Dream: R0% + G0% + B99%

Here, R represents red, G represents green, and B represents blue. Another example is to configure the sensitivity to changes in the content. Many scene cuts can result in consumable luminous effects. By lowering the sensitivity, the system responds to larger changes over a longer period of time. For example, when a DVD or VCR movie is played, fast forwarding the scenes changes the luminescence to the neutral light setting. Another example is to construct a balance, in which case multiple light sources diverge luminescence to a particular light source. Polarization and scene contrast are examples and reflect the system's ability to raise or lower the mood for predefined events, such as highlighting a goal of a preferred football club over goals of an unfavorable football club. Scene contrast reflects the system's ability to vary ambient light in successive scenes and the like.

Within the next step S208, other preferences of light settings, such as user preferences, can be considered. These preferences can be used to influence the amplification of the contrast by the mood of the content and the luminous effects of the atmosphere. The preferences can, for example, make the luminous effect stronger or weaker to make the horror movie less scary. User preferences can also be used to determine if the user has watched a movie. For example, ambient light effects are intensified each time a user watches a movie. Moreover, user preferences can be used to determine the desired luminous effects and, for example, light effects on thunderstorms can be omitted when the user does not want to emphasize thunderstorms.

Within the final step S210, while the television signal is displayed simultaneously by the display device, the light settings are transmitted to different light elements. In general, along with displaying television signals, audio is also played. Preferably, the luminous effect is synchronized with the displayed television signal and the audio signal. Since the audio signal can be reproduced with surround effects, as is known, the light effect is preferably more synchronized with the audio in terms of space and time. For example, the sound explosion at the right rear of the viewer should be supported by the light element emitted by the light elements located on the right side.

In the way described among others, the following effects can be achieved: Consider a science fiction film in which an alien spacecraft casts a shadow over the city. This is enhanced by extending this movement of the film with ambient light. If the spacecraft starts at the rear of the viewer, the two light elements at the back darken first. Sub light and the light elements in the front then darken, and finally the spaceship can move over the city on the television screen. As the spaceship starts off the screen and moves upwards towards the viewer, the two light elements on the front darken first, then the light elements on the sub light and the back dark, and finally on the front light elements, sub light and after The light elements light up again, making it appear that the spaceship is flying.

The order in the described embodiments of the method of the present invention is not essential, and a person skilled in the art can change the order of the steps and multiply threading models without departing from the concept as intended by the present invention. Steps may be performed using processor systems, or multiple processes.

3 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention in a schematic manner. System 300 includes memories 302, 304, 308, and 310. Memory 302 includes computer readable code designed to receive and decode digital video signals, such as MPEG signals. Memory 304 includes computer readable code designed to analyze digital video signals for patterns and objects and to set light settings of light elements 314 and 316 in accordance with what has been described above. Light element 314 includes one halogen light source, light element 316 is LED light and includes three light sources, red, green and blue. Memory 308 includes computer readable code designed to synchronize the received video signal with the light settings. Memory 310 includes computer readable code designed to convert the video signal into a displayable signal such as RGB for display 312 such as CRT. The memories may communicate with each other via a software bus using the processing power of the central processing unit, both of which are not shown. The system is described by way of example as a software system. However, combinations of software and hardware such as dedicated hardware or programmable hardware designed to perform the mentioned method steps are also included. Moreover, digital video signals are used as examples, and analog video signals may also be used.

The above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, to extend luminescence to more specific purpose light sources, use flood luminescence to brighten the walls for the purpose of creating an atmosphere, and for various purposes for the purposes of light effects at certain places in a room. Provides algorithms for harmonizing the output of these sources, such as using dots located at, or sub-lights located under the sofa. Reference signs placed between parentheses in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprises" does not exclude the presence of elements and steps other than the claims listed in the claims. Singular expressions before an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of a suitably programmed computer, by means of several distinct elements. In the system claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be realized by similar or identical items of computer readable software or hardware. The simple fact that some means are re-cited in mutually dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (11)

Receiving a video signal by a receiver; A method for controlling ambient light, comprising: displaying the video signal by a display device, the method comprising: Analyzing the video signal; And setting the characteristic of the ambient light based on the analyzed video signal. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the video signal comprises face recognition. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein analyzing the video signal comprises expression recognition. The ambient light control method according to claim 1, comprising setting a characteristic of the ambient light in the vicinity of the display device. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein setting the characteristic of the ambient light is substantially synchronized with displaying the main data by the display device. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the characteristic of the ambient light is configurable. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the characteristic of the ambient light is configurable by user preference. Receiving means designed to receive a video signal; A system for controlling ambient light, comprising conversion means designed to convert the video signal into a signal displayable by a display device, And processing means designed to analyze the received video signal and to set a characteristic of the ambient light based on the analyzed video signal. 9. An ambient light control system according to claim 8, wherein said processing means is designed to set a characteristic of said ambient light in the vicinity of said display device. 10. The ambient light control system according to claim 9, comprising synchronization means designed to synchronize the display of the main data with the setting of the characteristic of the ambient light. A light emitting unit comprising a light armature and a system according to claim 8.