JP2001005437A - Monitor adjusting device for information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and effectively control a display condition of a monitor according to a change in an environment without adding new hardware. SOLUTION: A video camera 100 is connected to a personal computer 110 through a communication bus. The video camera 100 is started at a fixed time interval by timer setting, etc., and an ambient environmental image is picked up, and an image pickup signal is inputted to the graphic accelerator circuit 111 of the personal computer 110. The graphic accelerator 111 detects ambient brightness and color temp. to control a display of an LCD display. Then, the differences between the ambient brightness and color temp. and the brightness and the color temp. of the LCD display are controlled so as to be fixed as much as possible, and the ease of viewing according to the use environment is kept.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a monitor adjustment device for performing monitor adjustment in various information processing systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a desktop or notebook type personal computer, the setting of the brightness and color temperature of a CRT monitor or an LCD monitor depends on the illuminance, color temperature, etc. of the place where the personal computer is used. In this case, the user individually adjusts the volume manually.

[0003]

However, for example, in the case of a desktop personal computer, in most cases, once installed, it is fixedly used at that location. It may change depending on the influence of external light entering from above, or the state of indoor lighting (for example, when there are a plurality of fluorescent lamps or when using a dimmable light). Further, in a notebook-type personal computer, since it can be easily carried, the place where the notebook-type personal computer is used changes, so that the illuminance, color temperature, and the like during use vary.

[0004] For this reason, the user sets the brightness of the monitor to be bright when the user uses the monitor, for example, in a bright room or outdoors, and sets the monitor to be dark in a dark room or outdoors with little illumination. By keeping the difference between the ambient brightness and the brightness of the monitor as constant as possible, the stress on the eyes can be relieved even a little, making the PC easier to use, but set every time the environment changes. Must be changed, which is very troublesome.

It is also conceivable to construct a system in which a personal computer automatically sets a monitor in accordance with the environment without bothering the user. However, a sensor for detecting a change in the environment and a sensor for detecting the change in the environment have been proposed. It is necessary to add new hardware for exchanging information between the sensor and the personal computer side, which increases the cost.In addition, since the sensor alone has little information to detect, it is not possible to perform such advanced processing. Have difficulty. Such a problem similarly occurs in a computer system other than a personal computer and an information processing system such as various monitor devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide a monitor adjustment system for an information processing system capable of automatically and effectively controlling the display conditions of a monitor according to a change in environment without adding new hardware. It is to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information processing system having a monitor for displaying various information and an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject. By doing
An image pickup signal of the image pickup apparatus is analyzed, and a predetermined display condition of the monitor is adjusted based on a result of the analysis.

In the monitor adjustment device of the information processing system according to the present invention, the surrounding environment is imaged by the imaging device originally provided in the information processing system. Then, the imaging signal from the imaging device is analyzed to determine conditions such as the brightness around the monitor being used. Then, a predetermined display condition of the monitor is adjusted based on the analysis result. Therefore, it is possible to automatically and effectively control the display conditions of the monitor according to changes in the environment without adding new hardware, and it is possible to maintain the monitor in an easily viewable state.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to the present invention will be described below.
In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a notebook personal computer will be described as an example. The notebook computer is provided with a video camera in advance, and the microcomputer for controlling the video camera and the CPU serving as the center of the personal computer communicate with peripheral microcomputers such as a keyboard of the personal computer that control peripherals and an I2C bus. Connected by bus. The connection and processing of the CPU and peripheral microcomputers, excluding the video camera, are known contents, and are not directly related to the present invention, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to the present embodiment. The left block shows a video camera 100 and the right block shows a personal computer 110. Since each configuration itself is known, it will be briefly described. In the video camera 100, an electric signal of an image photoelectrically converted by the lens / CCD block 101 is input to a sample / hold / AGC / A / D converter circuit 102. Sample hold
The AGC / A / D converter circuit 102 performs noise removal (CDS), signal amplification (AGC) to an appropriate signal level, and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on the input signal, and performs camera signal processing as a digital signal. Circuit 1
03 is input.

In the camera signal processing circuit 103, the input digital signal is subjected to video signal processing, transmitted to the personal computer 110 as a video digital signal, and input to the graphic accelerator circuit 111. In this system, Zoomed V is used as a video digital signal.
A signal conforming to the video (ZV) format is used. The camera signal processing circuit 103 is connected to a camera control microcomputer 104. The camera control microcomputer 104 takes in luminance detection information and color detection information from the camera signal processing circuit 103 and controls exposure (AE). ,
It performs automatic white balance (AWB) control and performs various processes necessary for operating the camera signal processing circuit 103. Note that the AE control and AWB control performed by the camera control microcomputer 104 are the same as the control performed by a general camcorder, and thus the details are omitted.

A camera control microcomputer 104 includes CCD electronic shutter speed control information for performing AE control, AGC
It has amplifier gain control division, and the luminance level of the subject imaged by the camera can be calculated from these pieces of information. This calculation is performed, for example, by the following Expression 1. Luminance level = Detection output / (CCD electronic shutter speed × AGC amplifier gain × CCD photoelectric conversion efficiency) Expression 1 Also, the camera control microcomputer 104 performs color difference information (R-Cont, B) for performing AWB control. −Cont), and the color temperature of the light source of the subject can be determined based on this value. In this system, the camera control microcomputer 104 has a port for an I2C bus. This port is connected to the I2C bus line 11 in the personal computer 110.
6 is set to be recognized as a slave peripheral when viewed from the personal computer 110 side.

The I2C bus line 116 is controlled by an I2C bus host control microcomputer 113.
It is connected to the ISA bus line 115, and can be handled from the application software of the personal computer 110 in the same manner as the transfer of data by I / O control. Also, the graphic accelerator circuit 111
The LCD panel 11 is connected to the PCI bus line 114 and
2 is controlled. Note that the display using the LCD panel 112 of the notebook type personal computer in this example has a fluorescent lamp type backlight, and the brightness of the LCD panel is set according to the user's preference by key input of a keyboard. It is assumed that the setting can be performed in 15 steps.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the application software according to the present embodiment. The application software 201 operates on a basic operating system (OS). From the viewpoint of the application software 201, the current brightness control value of the LCD display and the brightness setting value from the keyboard by the user are stored in the LCD brightness control value backup unit 203 in the memory space 202 and the keyboard, respectively. It is stored in the brightness setting value backup unit 204. In actual LCD control, the brightness level information from the keyboard input is obtained from the keyboard brightness setting value 207 in the I / O data space 205, and the brightness level information from the camera is obtained from the camera in the I / O data space 205. By obtaining from the luminance level information value 208, the LCD control value 206 in the I / O data space 205 is set and performed. The keyboard brightness setting value backup unit 204 is rewritten according to a change in the keyboard brightness setting value 207. Also,
The LCD brightness control value backup unit 203 is rewritten using the camera brightness level information value 208. Hereinafter, the algorithm will be described.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control chart based on the LCD brightness control algorithm. The horizontal axis (X) in FIG. 3 indicates the brightness of the subject corresponding to the camera brightness level information in 15 levels, and the larger the number, the more the environment is used in a bright environment. Here, the information obtained from the camera is luminance level information. The lens used in the camera of this system has a very wide angle, and the detector for AE control uses the entire effective image of the CCD image sensor. , The luminance level is roughly treated as illuminance information of the shooting environment. The vertical axis (Y) indicates the LCD brightness control value in 15 levels, and the larger the number, the brighter the LCD.

The standard line 301 on the control chart is used by the user to set the brightness of the LCD to 15 intermediate values (8).
Shows the case where it is set to. That is, this is the case where the keyboard brightness setting value is (8). In the standard line 301, the LCD brightness control value is determined at an inclination as shown in the figure according to the brightness level information. For example, when the subject is bright, that is, when the object is used under high illuminance, the luminance level is (15), and at that time, the brightness control value of the LCD is set to (15). Also, in a situation where the subject is dark, that is, when used under low illuminance, the luminance level becomes (1), and at that time, the brightness control value of the LCD is set to (1). By these controls, the difference between the used illuminance condition and the brightness of the LCD is kept almost constant. When the user changes the keyboard brightness setting during use, the line is changed as shown by the broken line in FIG. If the setting is bright, the line is changed upward, and if the setting is dark, the line is changed downward. The upper limit line 3 is set in the brightest setting of the LCD brightness set by the user.
02, and the darkest setting is the lower limit line 303.

The setting of the inclination, the upper limit, and the lower limit are merely examples, and are all implemented by software.
It can be set freely by rewriting the program. As an example, FIG. 4 shows an LCD brightness control chart when the user selects an LCD energy saving mode (a mode in which the amount of battery used in the LCD backlight is saved). In FIG. 4, the upper limit of the LCD brightness setting is limited (restricted) by the LCD brightness control value (8), and the LCD brightness control value of the standard line 401, the upper limit line 402, and the lower limit line 403 is (8). ). In the above example, camera 1
Although the I2C bus is used for communication between the personal computer 110 and the personal computer 110, similar control can be realized by using a communication unit that transmits information from the camera 100 to the personal computer 110, such as USB and IEEE1394. Also, the camera 100 does not need to be separate from the personal computer 110,
It may be a camera built in a portable personal computer body.

FIG. 5 shows a personal computer 11 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for performing color temperature adjustment at 0. A graphic accelerator 502 (corresponding to 111 in FIG. 2) for driving an LCD display built in the personal computer 110 has a circuit for correcting an RGB video signal based on color temperature information. Hereinafter, the graphic accelerator 502 will be described. First, video signal data is transmitted from the PCI bus 501 to the PCI-I
/ O circuit 503. Similarly, the color temperature correction data is input from the application software to the PCI-I / O circuit 503 via the PCI bus 501.

The color temperature correction data is calculated using R-Cont and B-Cont, which are color temperature information obtained from a camera in application software. The video signal data is processed by the signal processing circuit 504 on the LCD.
An RGB digital signal for displaying on a display is output, and is displayed on an LCD display via an LCD-I / O circuit 507. In this system, the signal processing circuit 504
An R signal correction circuit 505 and a B signal correction circuit 506 are provided for the output R signal and B signal. The color temperature correction data is data for correcting the R signal and the B signal, and is transmitted from the PCI-I / O circuit 503 to the R signal correction circuit 5.
05, transmitted to the B signal correction circuit 506.

FIG. 6 shows the RC obtained from the camera 100.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between ont, B-Cont data and a color temperature of a subject. From the R-Cont and B-Cont data, it is possible to estimate the color temperature information of the subject under the light source, that is, the approximate color temperature of the illumination in the environment where the personal computer is used. As shown, when the R-Cont is large and the B-Cont is small, the color temperature of the subject is high, and when the R-Cont is small and the B-Cont is large, the color temperature of the subject is low.

By using this relationship, when the color temperature of the subject is high, that is, when the color temperature of the lighting in the environment where the personal computer is used is high, the lighting feels bluish, and the color temperature of the LCD display is also blue (B). ) Direction, and when the color temperature of the subject is low, that is, when the color temperature of the lighting in the environment where the personal computer is used is low, the color temperature of the LCD display is also red ( By correcting in the R) direction, the difference between the color temperature of the illumination and the color temperature of the LCD display is reduced, and a natural and less uncomfortable screen display is performed.

In the personal computer system according to the present embodiment, when the power of the camera is turned off by the user, the timer function is used to set a predetermined time interval or a time interval set by the user. The power of the camera is automatically turned on, the camera is started and the image is taken, and the brightness level and the color temperature information are obtained. By such an operation, power consumption by operating the camera is minimized.

In the above-described personal computer system according to the present embodiment, the personal computer automatically sets the monitor to be brighter when used in a bright room or outdoors, for example, without bothering the user. Also, in a dark room or outdoors with little lighting, setting the monitor to be darker will keep the difference between the brightness of the monitor and the brightness of the monitor as constant as possible, thereby relieving the stress on the eyes as much as possible. It is possible to maintain the personal computer in an easy-to-use state. Also, by automatically setting the difference between the color temperature of the lighting and the color temperature of the monitor,
Natural screen display with less discomfort can be performed. In addition, even if the camera is turned off because of the timer function, the monitor adjustment function operates automatically and the camera operates only for a minimum time, so it can be operated with almost no effect of power consumption by the camera .

Although an example in which the present invention is applied to a notebook personal computer has been described above, the present invention can be widely applied to a system including various information processing terminals other than a personal computer in addition to a desktop personal computer. Further, the imaging device is not limited to a video camera, and for example, a digital still camera may be used.

[0025]

As described above, in the monitor adjustment device of the information processing system according to the present invention, the surrounding environment is imaged by the imaging device originally provided in the information processing system.
An image pickup signal of the image pickup apparatus is analyzed, and a predetermined display condition of the monitor is adjusted based on the result of the analysis. Therefore, it is possible to automatically and effectively control the display conditions of the monitor in response to changes in the environment without adding new hardware for measuring the environment, and troublesome for the user. Therefore, there is an effect that the state in which the monitor is easy to see can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of application software in the personal computer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control chart based on an LCD brightness control algorithm in the personal computer system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a control chart based on an LCD brightness control algorithm in the personal computer system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example for performing color temperature adjustment in the personal computer system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between R-Cont and B-Cont data obtained from a camera of the personal computer system shown in FIG. 1 and a color temperature of a subject.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 video camera, 101 lens / CCD block, 102 sample hold AGC A / D
Converter circuit 103 Camera signal processing circuit 103
4 ... microcomputer for camera control, 110 ... personal computer, 1
11 ... Graphic accelerator circuit, 112 ...
LCD panel, 113 ... I2C bus host control microcomputer, 114 ... PCI bus line, 115 ...
ISA bus line, 116 ... I2C bus line.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system having a monitor for displaying various information and an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject, wherein an image of a surrounding environment is picked up by the image pickup device, and an image pickup signal of the image pickup device is analyzed. A monitor adjustment device for an information processing system, wherein a predetermined display condition of the monitor is adjusted based on the analysis result. 2. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined display condition is brightness of a monitor screen, and the brightness of the monitor screen is controlled based on brightness information obtained from an image pickup signal by the image pickup device. The monitor adjustment device of the information processing system according to claim 1. 3. The predetermined display condition of the monitor is a color temperature of a monitor screen, and a control value of an RGB signal used for display of the monitor screen is corrected based on color information obtained from an image pickup signal by the image pickup device. 2. The monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the color temperature of the monitor screen is controlled. 4. An operator arbitrarily sets a predetermined display condition of the monitor, and compares the set value by the setting unit with an analysis result of an image pickup signal by the image pickup apparatus to thereby provide the monitor. 2. A monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined display condition is adjusted. 5. The monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is built in a unit constituting the information processing system. 6. The monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is connected to a unit constituting the information processing system via a communication unit. 7. When the power supply of the imaging device is turned off, the power supply of the imaging device is turned on at a preset timing, and the operation of capturing a display image on the monitor is automatically performed. 2. The monitor adjustment device for an information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising control means for turning off a power supply of the imaging device.