JP2015515014A - A method for improving the visual quality of images covered by translucent functional surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to increase the luminous intensity of an image and thus the visual quality while maintaining the performance of a functional surface. In a method for improving the visual rendering of an image (1) when placed on the back side of a translucent functional surface (2), a characteristic of a part of the original image (1), In particular, the visual rendering of the image (3) modified and placed on the back side of the translucent functional surface (2), correcting its intensity, its contrast, its gamma and its color saturation, 2) Closest to the rendering of the original image (1) when viewed alone without. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention may be applied to, for example, photovoltaic films or tactile surfaces (called “touch screens” in English), or any other functional surface that is placed in front of an image and is not completely transparent to visible light. Relates to a method for improving the visual quality of a printed or digital image that is covered by a translucent functional surface such as.

  A translucent functional surface, such as a photovoltaic film, that is placed on the surface of the image is generally contained within the surface itself or dispersed on this surface to create a completely transparent space between components. Use components that are not completely transparent. The light intensity of the image perceived by the observer through these semi-transparent surfaces is then a function of the transparency of the functional surface. Since it is advantageous to maximize the luminous intensity, it is required to increase the transparency of the functional surface. However, this often sacrifices the functionality of this surface.

  Thus, for example, a translucent photovoltaic film is composed of opaque solar cells dispersed in parallel strips separated by a transparent space, and thus the opaque cell surface and transparency. The ratio with the surface of the space determines the available electrical output. At this time, if it is desired to increase the electrical output of the translucent photovoltaic film, it is necessary to increase the density of the solar cells on the surface of the film and thus decrease the transparency.

  This example well shows that the performance of the translucent functional surface placed on the image is often a function of the degradation of the light intensity of the image accepted by the observer. This compromise between functional performance and image brightness is subjective because it depends on variable parameters such as image characteristics, ambient brightness and observer visual perception.

  The term “functional surface” is defined herein as a rigid or flexible surface that is not completely transparent to visible light and has electrical, electronic, mechanical or optical functionality.

  The term “image” refers to an image printed on any type of media, an electronic image composed of pixels, backlit or not backlit and thus utilizing ambient light, and optionally on a reflective surface Any type of image is included, including translucent pixels placed in the. The term “image” also includes any “object” surface having a surface that may be of any shape.

  The arrangement of the functional surface as defined on one image induces a decrease in the intensity of the image.

  It is an object of the present invention to increase the brightness of an image and thus its visual quality while maintaining functional surface performance.

  Another object of the present invention is to correlate and increase the performance of the functional surface while preserving most of the visual quality of the image.

  A main object of the present invention is to modify at least one of the visual characteristics of the original image in a method for improving the visual rendering of the original image intended to be placed behind a translucent functional surface, The visual rendering of this image when the processed image thus modified is placed behind the translucent functional surface is the visual rendering of the original image when viewed directly without the translucent functional surface The method is characterized by processing of an original image, particularly information processing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the processing method, the method comprises:
-Displaying an original image not covered by a functional surface and analyzing the entire visual properties of said original image;
-Covering the original image with a translucent functional surface and displaying the thus-coated original image to construct a processing target image;
-Modifying the display control parameters of the processing target image and comparing the visual characteristics of the original image and the processing target image;
-After modification of the display control parameter of the image to be processed, if the visual characteristic of the original image and the visual characteristic of the image thus processed are substantially equal, the value of the display control parameter and / or Saving the processed image and displaying the processed image;
including.

  Other features of the method according to the invention are set out in the claims.

  The invention likewise features an image processed by the method according to the invention, in particular for mobile phones, e-magazines or e-books, computer screens, technical or scientific control screens, transportation vehicles Another object is an image display device such as an instrument panel or a vehicle body.

  The invention also applies to any object whose visual appearance has been modified using the method according to the invention, in particular a tile, a wall of a house or building, a table, a clothing fabric or generally all other objects. Related.

  The device according to the invention consists of an image on which a translucent functional surface has been previously positioned. The translucent functional surface may be, for example, a silicon deposition, a photosensitive thin layer such as CIGS (copper indium gallium selenium), an organic solar cell, or a conductor network including a capacitive effect conductor. And / or planar or curved rigid or flexible crystalline materials on which electrical, mechanical or optical components are deposited, such as a stack of microlens networks or prism networks or polarizing filter networks A plate made of glass or organic glass.

  The translucent functional surface with functional components is the generation of photovoltaic energy, tactile detection, transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves, temperature sensor, microphone, electrical energy storage battery, detection of metal objects, detection of ionizing radiation, It has one or more functions of magnetic field detection and optical waveguide functions.

  Functional components can be opaque or translucent and / or colored. These components are distributed over a portion of the plate or over its entire surface, leaving a transparent zone through which the emitted light emitted by the image passes. The plate therefore absorbs a portion of the light passing through it so that the image transmitted through the plate is viewed by the viewer as having a lower intensity than the original image, i.e. the image viewed without the covering plate. Reflected in.

  In order to compensate for this loss of luminous intensity, the present invention assumes that the original image is modified before it is viewed through the functional surface. This correction results from data compression such as brightness, high brightness, contrast, white balance and color balance, tone, halftone, color saturation, gamma percentage, resolution, eg JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BITMAP, PNG mode Of information loss, it consists of changing at least one of its fundamental visual characteristics. This modification of the original image aims to partially compensate for the light intensity loss due to the superimposition of the translucent functional plates and changes in other parameters of the image.

  According to the invention, image correction is preferably performed using a method implemented by information processing on the original digital code of the image. This modification can be performed using image processing software that functions on a computer with a display screen.

  For this reason, both the original image and the original image are displayed on the screen so that the observer can visually compare them. On the original image being corrected, a functional surface (real surface or virtual, ie, a surface simulated by information processing) having the same optical characteristics as the functional surface actually used is arranged. Thus, the appearance of the image being processed is modified by this simulation, and this simulation allows the image to be compared visually with the original image. Thereafter, one or more parameters of the image being processed, such as its intensity, contrast and / or color saturation, are varied to determine the most appropriate modification to make the image most similar to the original image. This comparison can be done visually by an observer controlling the computer, or it can be done by optical instruments and / or software that allows automated comparative measurements by means of two image display devices.

  In short, this method improves the visual rendering of the image when it is placed behind the translucent functional surface. This method increases the intensity of the visual rendering of the processed image in such a way that the original image is closest to the rendering of the original image when viewed alone and directly, i.e. without overlay of functional surfaces. It is characterized by the processing by the information processing of the original image, which is particularly from

  The method also includes another step which is a digital storage step and / or a paper printing step of the modified image characteristics and modification parameters used to obtain the final modified image.

  The method also includes an electronic automation step by information processing of the corrections made to all images that the viewer subsequently visualizes, especially in the case of LCD, LED, OLED type electronic displays. Yes.

  For all images to be processed, the protocol for converting an original image into a processed image is a series of numerical operations performed based on coding based on information processing of colors of a plurality of pixels constituting the image (so-called source image source code). It is. These numerical operations are multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction of fixed values or variable values. These numerical operations are aimed at modifying the visual characteristics of the pixels, which is exactly the object of the present invention. This series of numerical operations is performed by logic known in the information processing language under the name of logical interface, “driver”, conversion protocol, controller, coding or decoding interface, conversion algorithm. The digital processing of the image can be performed very quickly just before the display of the image, so that only the original image can be stored, not its modified version, which is stored only in the virtual buffer memory Therefore, it is possible to save the place of the display unit on the storage device. The logical interface for image processing takes the form of an independent “executable file” dedicated to these tasks. However, this interface is a specific process that should be integrated into other known image processing interfaces such as JPEG, Gif, Tiff, Png, or Zip type image coding interfaces whose main function is to compress digital image data. It may be built in as a module.

  The conversion or processing protocol from the original image to the processed final image may be the same for all images or may be distinguished between multiple images of a video sequence.

  The adjustment parameters of the process applied to each original image are entered manually, for example to adapt to the optical properties of the functional surface, or automatically entered, for example to adapt to the optical properties of the ambient light. In this latter case, the characteristics of the ambient light can be measured by said functional surface with photosensors known to the person skilled in the art, in particular solar cells for measuring the intensity and global intensity of each color of ambient light. . Similarly, this image processing automation can be performed for all the images constituting the video sequence.

  One or more images thus modified in accordance with the method of the present invention may be used for mobile phones, electronic magazines or books, computer screens, technical or scientific control screens, automobiles, airplanes, trains and other transportation. It can be displayed on a display device such as an instrument panel screen in an automobile, an advertising display screen, a road facility screen, or the like. This makes it possible to improve the display characteristics of the images on these devices for the viewer, despite the semi-transparent functional surface being interposed between the image and the viewer.

If the image is constituted by the surface of an object for use with the present invention, this object can change the visual appearance, in particular, tiles, residential or building walls, tables, clothing fabrics and generally It can be any object.
The present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the following three drawings.

The principle of superimposing the translucent functional surface (2) on the original image (1) is shown. The original image (1) covered by the translucent functional surface (2) is shown. Figure 2 shows an image (3) modified by the processing method of the invention and covered by a functional surface (2).

  FIG. 1 shows a digital original image (1) displayed on an LCD-type backlit screen and a translucent functional surface (2) having, for example, 70% transparency. The original image (1) is shown in black and white to facilitate the reproduction of this explanatory document, but the image (1) may be in color.

  The translucent functional surface (2) is represented here in the form of parallel black bands separated by a transparent band to create a transparent visual impression, but the functional surface (2) is in particular If the dimensions of the functional component are smaller than the resolving power of the eye, or if the functional surface (2) uses an optical process to obscure the functional component, the shape of the surface with uniform transparency is obtained. Can be presented. At this stage, the original image (1) has not yet been corrected, and its correction parameters, schematically shown in (4) by a series of control slide scales, are zero for luminosity, zero for contrast, and The gamma value is 1.

  Reference is now made to FIG. 2 showing the original image (1) completely covered by the translucent functional surface (2). As a result, the brightness of the original image (1) is 30% because 30% of the light intensity of the original image (1) is absorbed by the functional surface (2) under the assumption that the functional surface exhibits 70% transparency. Looks like it's getting lower. The original image (1) has not yet been corrected at this stage, and its correction parameter (4) is still zero for luminous intensity, zero for contrast, and 1 for gamma value.

  At this stage, the user of the method according to the invention finds different correction parameters of the image (luminosity, contrast, gamma, ...) so as to find an appearance similar to the original appearance of the image not covered by the functional surface (2). ) Manually modified and optimized, then saved modified parameters that provide the best results.

  Of course, these image comparison and optimization operations can be automated as well, comparing the visual rendering of the original image (1) and the visual rendering of the image covered by the functional surface (2), And optimizing the control parameters (4) of the coated image to minimize the difference in appearance between the uncoated original image (1) and the modified image (3) coated by the functional surface It can be implemented with appropriate software.

  Thus, FIG. 3 shows the original image (1) completely covered by the translucent functional surface (2), but now the characteristics of the image (1) have been modified (5): In this example, the luminous intensity is increased by 32%, the contrast is increased by 15%, and the gamma coefficient is 2.39 instead of 1. Although the corrected image (3) is covered by the functional surface (2), an appearance and luminous intensity quality close to the original image (1) is thus found. In order to simulate the increase in luminous intensity of the corrected image (3), the width of the black band on the functional surface (2) is reduced in FIG.

  Further, it should be understood that digital processing of the original image (1) when the original image is a backlit image does not modify its backlit output. In fact, the luminous intensity of each pixel that is backlit is increased or decreased by adjusting the transparency of each pixel, for example, in the case of LCD technology, by adjusting the polarization angle of the polarizing filter. When the functional surface (2) is a photovoltaic film that captures ambient light energy, the increase in light intensity of the original image (1) does not consume any energy, and thus the energy of the photovoltaic surface There is no decrease in performance.

A specific example will now be described:
A parallel strip of thin amorphous silicon photovoltaic layers with the original image (1) printed on a square sheet of 1 meter per side, 4 mm thick, 1 mm wide and 3 mm apart. This must be covered by a glass photovoltaic plate (2) of the same size, composed of a network of Therefore, the coverage of the photovoltaic surface is 25%, and thus, taking into account the conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic plate, an electrical output of about 15 watts will be generated in fine weather.

  However, an observer viewing the original image (1) via the photovoltaic plate (2) will have an original image (1) having a light intensity reduced by about 25% due to the photovoltaic band blocking the light that the image sends. You will see.

  According to the invention, the original image (1) is then subjected to one process, for example a process by information processing which uses the control parameter (4) to increase its luminous intensity by 25% and increase its contrast by 15%. Thus, the image (3) thus modified and thus placed on the back side of the photovoltaic plate (2) has its visual appearance closest to the original image (1).

  This control parameter adjustment operation is performed by the user on a computer screen that simultaneously displays the original image (1) and the image being corrected (3). This modified image (3) is covered by a virtual reality technique with a translucent image composed of black strips of the same dimensions as the photovoltaic plate (2), thus the light intensity performed on the original image (1) And by modifying the contrast, the visual rendering observed when the real image (3) is behind the translucent plate (2) can be immediately visualized by simulation.

  Once the correction is made, image (3) is recorded in the information processing file and then printed with the desired dimensions. Since the effective photovoltaic surface (2) remains the same, this surface produces the same electrical output of 15 watts, but this time the modified printed view seen through the translucent plate (2) The image (3) is much closer to the original image (1) than when the original image is not corrected.

  Of course, if the original image is not a printed image but an image displayed on the screen, the display device displays the corrected image after processing and the functional surface is on top The appearance of the modified image is very close to the appearance of the unprocessed original image without a functional surface.

  In short, the present invention sufficiently satisfies the defined purpose since the visual quality of the original image (1) can be increased when it is placed behind the translucent functional surface (2). is there.

1 Original image 2 Translucent functional surface 4 Correction parameter

Claims (18)

  In a method for improving the visual rendering of an original image (1) intended to be placed behind a translucent functional surface (2), at least one of the visual characteristics of the original image (1) is modified. The visual rendering of this processed image (3) thus modified when placed on the back side of the translucent functional surface (2) is directly observed without the translucent functional surface (2) A method characterized by the processing of the original image (1) comprising making it substantially close to the visual rendering of the original image (1) when done. Displaying the original image (1) not covered by the functional surface and analyzing the entire visual characteristics of the original image;
-Covering the original image with a translucent functional surface and displaying the thus-covered original image to form a processing target image (3);
Modifying the display control parameter (4) of the processing target image (3) and comparing the visual characteristics of the original image (1) and the processing target image (3);
-If the visual characteristics of the original image (1) and the visual characteristics of the image to be processed (3) are substantially equal, the values of the display control parameters (4) are saved and the processed image with these parameter values ( 3) displaying step;
The method of claim 1, comprising:   The original image (1) is a printed image or an electronic image including translucent pixels that are not subjected to backlighting disposed on a reflective surface or the surface of an object of any shape, and backlighting Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is an electronic image made up of pixels that have or have not been received.   Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the original image (1) is displayed on a screen of LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, optical fiber or laser projection type.   Translucent functional surface (2) generates photovoltaic energy, tactile detection, transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves, temperature sensor, microphone, electric energy storage battery, metal object detection, ionizing radiation detection, magnetic field detection, light The method according to claim 1, wherein the method has one or more of the functions of a waveguide.   The visual characteristics of the original image (1) that may be modified are color spectrum, luminosity, high brightness, contrast, white balance and color balance, tone and halftone, color saturation, gamma value, resolution 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is picked up from within.   Using the software that displays on the computer screen the image to be processed (3) being corrected and the original image (1) at the same time, the translucent functional surface (2) or a visual simulation thereof being placed forward. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the image (1) is performed by information processing.   Processing of the original image (1) by information processing is automatically performed by electronic and optical equipment that compares the visual characteristics of the original image (1) with the visual characteristics of the image to be processed (3) being modified. The method according to claim 7, wherein:   The parameters of the corrections made to the original image (1) are stored, and these parameters are reused for correction, so that the same original image (1) can be processed on another display device or other medium after processing 9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the step of displaying is included.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the image by the information processing is applied to all images constituting a visual moving image or a video sequence.   The process according to the information processing is carried out by a logic interface for correcting the source code of each original image (1), which logic interface is of the conversion protocol, algorithm or controller type. The method according to any one of 10 above.   12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the logic interface for modifying the source code of the original image (1) is built into the image coding / decoding interface which forms part of the display device.   The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the image coding and decoding interface used by the display device is of the JPEG, GIF, TIFF, ZIP or PNG type.   12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the conversion protocol is the same for all images to be processed and / or includes adjustment parameters entered manually from the keyboard or automatically from the measuring sensor. .   15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the adjustment parameters of the conversion protocol are adapted to the optical properties of the functional surface and / or the optical properties of the ambient light.   The optical properties of the ambient light are measured by a functional surface (2) having a solar cell type photosensor for measuring the intensity of different colors and the global intensity of ambient light, according to claim 15 The method described.   17. Mobile phone, e-magazine or e-book, computer screen, technical or scientific control, characterized in that it displays an image (3) processed by the method according to any one of claims 1-16 Image display devices such as screens, instrument panels for transportation vehicles, and vehicle bodies.   17. An object, such as a tile, a house or building wall, a table, a clothing fabric or any other object, whose visual appearance has been modified by the method according to any one of claims 1-16.

Images