EP1511001A1 - Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device. - Google Patents

Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device. Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1511001A1
EP1511001A1 EP03102643A EP03102643A EP1511001A1 EP 1511001 A1 EP1511001 A1 EP 1511001A1 EP 03102643 A EP03102643 A EP 03102643A EP 03102643 A EP03102643 A EP 03102643A EP 1511001 A1 EP1511001 A1 EP 1511001A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pixel
dead
user interface
display device
image
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03102643A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Dirk Vermeylen
Paul c/o AGFA-GEVAERT Wouters
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Agfa HealthCare NV
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV, Agfa Gevaert AG filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP03102643A priority Critical patent/EP1511001A1/en
Publication of EP1511001A1 publication Critical patent/EP1511001A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2330/00—Aspects of power supply; Aspects of display protection and defect management
    • G09G2330/10—Dealing with defective pixels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2340/00—Aspects of display data processing
    • G09G2340/14—Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/006—Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to display devices.
  • the invention more particularly relates to a method and a user interface for determining whether a pixel constitutes a dead pixel in a display device.
  • Display devices more particularly flat panel display devices may have defects known as dead pixels (also called dead points or drop out pixels).
  • a dead pixel occurs when a pixel (the smallest block that makes up an image on the screen) becomes locked in a certain state.
  • a pixel could stay black or white at all times. This defect is known among manufacturers of display devices. Depending on the amount of dead pixels relative to the total amount of displayable pixels that are accepted, flat panel display devices are classified in categories.
  • dead pixels may at least confuse the radiologist or in the worst case may erroneously be taken as an abnormality or may cover an existing abnormality and make it invisible.
  • Consequentially flat panel displays are not very well accepted as a reliable display device in the field of mammographic diagnosis on screen.
  • a pixel in a displayed image is part of the image or constitutes an inherent error in the structure of a display device is detected by performing the following steps.
  • the data can be provided by the manufacturer of the display device or they can be written in a file by the service technician.
  • When an image is displayed it is detecting whether a pixel of the image in the neighborhood of a dead pixel, the location of which is retrieved from the memory, is relevant for diagnosis. A warning is generated in case a pixel relevant for diagnosis is detected in such a neighborhood.
  • a pixel in the neighborhood of a dead pixel is considered relevant for diagnosis if the pixel in the neighborhood of the dead point differs more than a preset amount from the pixel value of the dead pixel itself, which difference can be calculated in the display device.
  • a neighborhood is defined as an area on the display device with pre-defined dimensions.
  • a neighborhood is for example a circular area with a radius of a small number of pixels, for example 3 pixels.
  • a warning may be generated. Additionally or alternatively a procedure can be initiated whereby the image is shifted relative to its initial position by at least one pixel in at least one direction. In this way the pixel(s) of the image which is(are) situated on or near the location of the dead pixel can be examined. If a pixel constitutes a dead pixel it won't shift. On the contrary, if it constitutes an image pixel it will shift.
  • the direction in which the image is shifted is preferably the vertical direction. This direction is preferred over a shift in the horizontal direction because a shift in the horizontal direction might result in loss of important information at or close to the thorax edge of the mammographic image, which is very important for diagnosis.
  • the image is returned to its original position after having been shifted.
  • the method according to the present invention is applicable to various kinds of display devices among which flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal displays.
  • the method of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer program product, which is for example stored on a computer readable carrier medium such as a CD-ROM.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a user interface comprising means (for example a button) by means of which indication of dead points on the display device can be activated.
  • the dead points can for example be indicated by displaying a small circle around their location, which has to be stored in advance and can be can be retrieved from memory when needed.
  • the user interface may also provide that either automatically or on the operator's command (e.g. by actuating a button) pixels relevant for diagnosis which are situated in the neighborhood of a dead pixel are traced and indicated.
  • the dimensions of the so-called neighborhood of a dead point may be set in advance.
  • the dimensions may depend on the application.
  • a neighborhood may be a circular area with a radius of a few pixels.
  • a pixel is for example be considered relevant for diagnosis if its luminance value differs more than a predefined amount from the luminance value of a dead pixel. This can be calculated by calculating means in the display device, e.g. by the display software.
  • the user interface may comprise means for generating a warning (visual, auditive, ... ) whenever a pixel relevant for diagnosis is found in the neighborhood of a dead pixel.
  • the user interface may comprise a means, for example a button on the display screen by means of which a shift of a displayed image can be activated.
  • a shift of a displayed image For example, activation of the button may cause a shift of the displayed image by at least one pixel in a given direction, e.g. the vertical direction.
  • a given direction e.g. the vertical direction.
  • shift in the vertical direction is preferred over a shift in the horizontal direction because the latter could result in loss of information at the thorax side of the mammography which information is very important for diagnosis.
  • the user interface provides that the image automatically returns to its start position, alternatively an additional user intervention is required to return the image back into its start position.
  • means are provided for switching between display of the image in the initial position and a shifted position.
  • the present invention also relates to a display device, e.g. a flat panel display device such as a LCD display device, incorporating a user interface as described higher.
  • a display device e.g. a flat panel display device such as a LCD display device, incorporating a user interface as described higher.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
  • Controls And Circuits For Display Device (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)

Abstract

Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device.
The location of dead pixels in the display device is stored.
An image is displayed. For image pixels in a pre-defined neighborhood of a dead pixel is determined whether they are relevant for diagnosis. A warning is generated in case such a relevant pixel is detected in the neighborhood of a dead pixel.
By shifting the image relative to its initial displayed position it can be determined whether a pixel constitutes a dead pixel.

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to display devices. The invention more particularly relates to a method and a user interface for determining whether a pixel constitutes a dead pixel in a display device.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Display devices, more particularly flat panel display devices may have defects known as dead pixels (also called dead points or drop out pixels). A dead pixel occurs when a pixel (the smallest block that makes up an image on the screen) becomes locked in a certain state.
  • For example, a pixel could stay black or white at all times. This defect is known among manufacturers of display devices. Depending on the amount of dead pixels relative to the total amount of displayable pixels that are accepted, flat panel display devices are classified in categories.
  • For medical applications where a flat panel display is used for displaying a medical image and for performing a diagnosis on the displayed image, only a small number of dead pixels are acceptable since the occurrence of dead pixels may have an influence on the diagnosis.
  • Especially in mammography where the size of the lesion, e.g. a microcalcification, to be detected on a displayed mammographic image is of the same order of magnitude as that of a dead pixel, dead pixels may at least confuse the radiologist or in the worst case may erroneously be taken as an abnormality or may cover an existing abnormality and make it invisible. Consequentially flat panel displays are not very well accepted as a reliable display device in the field of mammographic diagnosis on screen.
  • Therefore it would be desirable that the radiologist might be able to determine whether or not a pixel constitutes a dead pixel.
  • It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image is part of the image information itself or constitutes an inherent error in the display device such as a dead pixel.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The above-mentioned objects are realised by a method having the specific steps set out in claim 1.
  • In accordance with the present invention, whether a pixel in a displayed image is part of the image or constitutes an inherent error in the structure of a display device is detected by performing the following steps.
       First the location of erroneous pixels is stored in a file which can be stored in a memory device. The data can be provided by the manufacturer of the display device or they can be written in a file by the service technician.
       When an image is displayed it is detecting whether a pixel of the image in the neighborhood of a dead pixel, the location of which is retrieved from the memory, is relevant for diagnosis.
       A warning is generated in case a pixel relevant for diagnosis is detected in such a neighborhood.
  • In the context of the present invention a pixel in the neighborhood of a dead pixel is considered relevant for diagnosis if the pixel in the neighborhood of the dead point differs more than a preset amount from the pixel value of the dead pixel itself, which difference can be calculated in the display device.
  • In the context of this invention a neighborhood is defined as an area on the display device with pre-defined dimensions. A neighborhood is for example a circular area with a radius of a small number of pixels, for example 3 pixels.
  • If a relevant pixel is detected in the neighborhood of a dead pixel, a warning (visual, auditive etc.) may be generated.
       Additionally or alternatively a procedure can be initiated whereby the image is shifted relative to its initial position by at least one pixel in at least one direction. In this way the pixel(s) of the image which is(are) situated on or near the location of the dead pixel can be examined. If a pixel constitutes a dead pixel it won't shift. On the contrary, if it constitutes an image pixel it will shift.
  • For mammographic application, the direction in which the image is shifted is preferably the vertical direction.
       This direction is preferred over a shift in the horizontal direction because a shift in the horizontal direction might result in loss of important information at or close to the thorax edge of the mammographic image, which is very important for diagnosis.
  • Preferably the image is returned to its original position after having been shifted.
  • The method according to the present invention is applicable to various kinds of display devices among which flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal displays.
  • The method of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer program product, which is for example stored on a computer readable carrier medium such as a CD-ROM.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a user interface comprising means (for example a button) by means of which indication of dead points on the display device can be activated. The dead points can for example be indicated by displaying a small circle around their location, which has to be stored in advance and can be can be retrieved from memory when needed.
  • The user interface may also provide that either automatically or on the operator's command (e.g. by actuating a button) pixels relevant for diagnosis which are situated in the neighborhood of a dead pixel are traced and indicated.
  • The dimensions of the so-called neighborhood of a dead point may be set in advance. The dimensions may depend on the application. For example, a neighborhood may be a circular area with a radius of a few pixels.
  • A pixel is for example be considered relevant for diagnosis if its luminance value differs more than a predefined amount from the luminance value of a dead pixel. This can be calculated by calculating means in the display device, e.g. by the display software.
  • The user interface may comprise means for generating a warning (visual, auditive, ... ) whenever a pixel relevant for diagnosis is found in the neighborhood of a dead pixel.
  • The user interface may comprise a means, for example a button on the display screen by means of which a shift of a displayed image can be activated. For example, activation of the button may cause a shift of the displayed image by at least one pixel in a given direction, e.g. the vertical direction.
       As described higher, for mammography applications shift in the vertical direction is preferred over a shift in the horizontal direction because the latter could result in loss of information at the thorax side of the mammography which information is very important for diagnosis.
  • In one embodiment the user interface provides that the image automatically returns to its start position, alternatively an additional user intervention is required to return the image back into its start position.
  • In another embodiment means are provided for switching between display of the image in the initial position and a shifted position.
  • The present invention also relates to a display device, e.g. a flat panel display device such as a LCD display device, incorporating a user interface as described higher.

Claims (17)

  1. A method of detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image is part of the image or constitutes a dead pixel of the display device characterised by
    retrieving the location of dead pixels from a memory in which they were stored in advance,
    detecting whether displayed pixels in a pre-defined neighborhood of a dead pixel are relevant for diagnosis.
  2. A method according to claim 1 wherein a warning is generated in case a relevant displayed pixel is detected in a neighborhood of a dead pixel.
  3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the displayed image is shifted relative to its initial position on the display device by at least one pixel in at least one direction.
  4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said direction is the vertical direction.
  5. A method according to claim 3 or 4 additionally comprising the step of displaying the image again in said initial position.
  6. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the difference is calculated of the luminance value of a pixel in the neighborhood of a dead pixel and the luminance value of said dead pixel and wherein a pixel is relevant for diagnosis if said difference exceeds a set value.
  7. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein said display device is a flat panel display device.
  8. A computer program product adapted to carry out the steps of any of claims 1 to 7 when run on a computer.
  9. A computer readable carrier medium comprising computer executable program code adapted to carry out the steps of any of claims 1 to 7.
  10. A user interface for a display device comprising means for activating indication of dead pixels on said display device.
  11. A user interface according to claim 10 comprising means for determining and indicating whether a pixel relevant for diagnosis is situated in the neighborhood of a dead pixel.
  12. A user interface according to claim 11 wherein said means for determining and indicating whether a pixel relevant for diagnosis is situated in the neighborhood of a dead pixel comprise means for calculating whether the luminance value of a pixel in a neighborhood of a dead pixel differs by more than a predefined amount from the luminance value of a dead pixel.
  13. A user interface according to claim 11 comprising means for generating a warning in case a pixel relevant for diagnosis is found in said neighborhood.
  14. A user interface according to claim 11 comprising means for displaying an image in a second position obtained by shifting the image relative to an initial displayed position by at least one pixel in at least one direction.
  15. A user interface according to claim 14 comprising means for switching between display of said image in said initial position and said second position.
  16. A user interface according to claim 14 wherein said direction is the vertical direction.
  17. A display device comprising a user interface according to any of claims 10 - 16.
EP03102643A 2003-08-25 2003-08-25 Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device. Withdrawn EP1511001A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03102643A EP1511001A1 (en) 2003-08-25 2003-08-25 Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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EP03102643A EP1511001A1 (en) 2003-08-25 2003-08-25 Method and user interface for detecting whether a pixel in a displayed image constitutes a dead pixel of a display device.

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EP1511001A1 true EP1511001A1 (en) 2005-03-02

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2963640A1 (en) * 2014-07-04 2016-01-06 ALSTOM Transport Technologies Method for displaying information on a screen of a displaying system and displaying system
US20170242676A1 (en) * 2016-02-18 2017-08-24 Airbus Operations (S.A.S.) Control system enabling comparison between two character strings and method of installing a new configuration in an aircraft

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001008928A (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-01-16 General Electric Co <Ge> Method and apparatus for displaying images
JP2001265312A (en) * 2000-03-23 2001-09-28 Ricoh Co Ltd Defective pixel management device and window management device for display device
EP1424673A1 (en) * 2002-11-29 2004-06-02 Barco N.V. Method and device for avoiding image misinterpretation due to defective pixels in a matrix display

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001008928A (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-01-16 General Electric Co <Ge> Method and apparatus for displaying images
US6661456B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2003-12-09 General Electric Company Imaging of pixel defects in digital detectors
JP2001265312A (en) * 2000-03-23 2001-09-28 Ricoh Co Ltd Defective pixel management device and window management device for display device
EP1424673A1 (en) * 2002-11-29 2004-06-02 Barco N.V. Method and device for avoiding image misinterpretation due to defective pixels in a matrix display

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 26 1 July 2002 (2002-07-01) *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2963640A1 (en) * 2014-07-04 2016-01-06 ALSTOM Transport Technologies Method for displaying information on a screen of a displaying system and displaying system
US20170242676A1 (en) * 2016-02-18 2017-08-24 Airbus Operations (S.A.S.) Control system enabling comparison between two character strings and method of installing a new configuration in an aircraft

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