KR20060114165A - Apparatus and method for differential controlling screen brightness - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for differently controlling brightness of a screen are provided to decrease the sensitive recognition of a user according to the brightness change of the screen. A PDP(Plasma Display Panel) module(110) displays an image. A control member(120) controls the brightness regulation of a screen to be outputted to the PDP module according to the instructions of a user. An image processing member(130) controls the brightness of the screen according to the control of the control member. A PDP driving member(140) displays the image signal inputted from the image processing member on the PDP module. The control member controls an APL(Auto Power Level) function of the image processing member according to the user's instructions.

Description

Apparatus and method for differential controlling screen brightness}

1 is a block diagram of a device for adjusting the brightness of the screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for adjusting a difference in screen brightness according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary screen illustrating a differential control process of screen brightness according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams for describing a method for adjusting a difference in screen brightness according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: differential brightness device 110: PDP module

120: control unit 130: image processing unit

140: PDP drive unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to television receivers, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method capable of differentially adjusting the brightness of a screen output to a television receiver.

Along with the rapid development of science and technology, the multimedia field that combines various types of information such as video and audio, in the rapid development of information and communication, which is also called the digital revolution, the form of storage and existence of information is becoming digital from analog. Due to the development of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) technology, which is a compression standard for moving image data to compress digital image data that requires a relatively large amount of data, the size of digital image data is gradually getting smaller. Increasingly, digital video and audio services have been applied to almost all fields such as communication and telecommunications, and digital devices for providing such services have emerged.

Among them, TV occupies an important place as an easy and effective information transmission medium in daily life, and thanks to the above digital technology, video data and audio data are compressed and transmitted by MPEG technology, which makes a large amount of information faster and more stable. With the advent of digital TV, which can be provided, more broadcasts can be easily watched at home with clearer picture quality and more vivid sound.

In addition, in order to provide a clearer screen through a television receiver, an LCD module or a PDP module has been adopted as a display device of a television receiver. In the case of such a display device, a lot of power is consumed. For example, Korean Patent Application No. 2000-0085540 proposes a technique for reducing the display device by increasing the luminance only when necessary and lowering the luminance in the remaining cases according to the characteristics of the data of each screen. The present invention proposes an automatic brightness control apparatus and method for reducing power consumption.

Briefly with respect to the domestic patent application, a liquid crystal display having a backlight receives a pixel to be displayed on the liquid crystal display, calculates an average gray level of the pixels, and adjusts a first brightness proportional to the average gray level. First control signal generating means for generating a signal, second control signal generating means for generating a second brightness control signal for adjusting the brightness of the backlight by a user's operation, and generating the first and second control signals Third control signal generating means for generating a third brightness adjustment signal in response to the first and second brightness adjustment signals output from the means, and an inverter for adjusting the brightness of the backlight in response to the third brightness adjustment signal; Include.

In the conventional brightness control device as described above, since the brightness is controlled by adjusting the brightness of the backlight, the power consumption by the backlight can be reduced, but the power consumption by the LCD panel or the PDP module itself cannot be reduced. have.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that can differentially adjust the brightness of the screen output to the television receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption by a screen by automatically adjusting the screen brightness when the screen of the television receiver is too bright.

Another object of the present invention is to automatically adjust the screen brightness of the television receiver to dim the brightness of the horizontal and vertical area of the screen by differentially adjusting, the device that can reduce the emotional recognition of the viewer according to the brightness conversion of the screen and Provide a method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for differentially adjusting the brightness of a screen in a television receiver for outputting a video screen, comprising: control means for controlling the brightness of the screen according to a user's instruction; And a first line weight positioned in an upper region on the screen, a second line weight positioned in a lower region on the screen, and a third line weight positioned in a central region on the screen, wherein the line is selected from the pixels constituting the line positioned in the center region of the screen. The weights of the pixels located on the left side, the weights of the pixels located on the right side of the line, and the weights of the pixels located in the center of the line are set, and the brightness of the screen is adjusted using the line weights and the pixel weights under the control of the control means. The control unit comprises differential image control means for controlling the screen in the left and right areas and the upper and lower areas to be darker than the screen brightness in the center area.

The present invention provides a method for differentially adjusting the brightness of a screen in a television receiver for outputting a video screen, the method comprising: setting an automatic power limit mode for automatically limiting power consumption by screen output by differentially adjusting the screen brightness First step; In the automatic power limiting mode, measuring a brightness value of a current screen; Among the line weights set by dividing the current screen brightness value and the upper, lower and center regions on the screen, the line weights of the center region and the pixels forming the line located in the center region of the screen are divided by the horizontal section of the line. Calculate the horizontal screen brightness values of the center area of the output screen using the weights of the set pixels, and darken the center area of the output screen by the calculated horizontal screen brightness values of the center area. A third step of darkening the left and right sections; And calculating screen brightness values of the upper and lower regions of the output screen by using line weights of an upper region and a lower region among the current screen brightness values and the set line weights. And adjusting the upper and lower regions of the output screen to be darker by the values, but controlling the screen brightness of the upper and lower regions to be darker than the screen brightness of the central region.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a configuration diagram of a device for adjusting a difference in screen brightness according to an embodiment of the present invention, which shows the case where the present invention is applied to a television receiver having a PDP module.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 for controlling the difference in screen brightness according to the present invention includes a PDP module 110 for displaying an image and a brightness of a screen output to the PDP module 110 according to a user's instruction. The controller 120 for controlling the adjustment, the image processor 130 for adjusting the brightness of the screen output to the PDP module 110 under the control of the controller 120, and the image input from the image processor 130 A PDP driver 140 for displaying a signal on the PDP module 110 is provided.

The PDP module 120 is driven by a voltage and a current supplied from a power source (not shown) and performs a function of displaying an image signal transmitted from the PDP driver 140. The PDP module 120 according to the brightness of the screen The power consumption of is changed, and generally consumes a lot of power when the brightness of the screen is bright compared to when the brightness of the screen is dark. Accordingly, in the present invention, when the screen being output on the PDP module 120 is relatively bright, the brightness of the screen is adjusted to be dark, thereby reducing the power consumption by the PDP module 120.

The controller 120 controls an auto power level (APL) function of the image processor 130 according to a user's input through a remote controller, that is, a command to perform an auto power limit function from the user. When input, the controller 120 controls the image processor 130 to differentially adjust the screen brightness to reduce power consumption by the PDP module 110.

The image processor 130 adjusts the screen size of the image displayed on the PDP module 110 under the control of the controller 120 and also differentially adjusts the brightness of the screen as follows.

First, as shown in Table 1, the image processor 130 is set to the weight of each line of the screen, the line weights of the upper region and the lower region of the screen is set to 0.5, the line weight located in the center region of the screen Is set to 0.8. Since the screen brightness is adjusted so that the screen brightness in the vertical direction is darkened in proportion to the magnitude of the line weight, the screen brightness of the upper and lower regions having a line weight of 0.5 is 0.5 compared to the screen of the center region having a line weight of 0.8. Is adjusted to be relatively darker.

 Line weights  Upper region      0.5  Central area      0.8  Lower region      0.5

In addition, the image processor 130 sets weights for each pixel constituting the line located in the center area of the screen as shown in Table 2 below. The weights of the pixels located on the left and right sides of the line are set to 0.2, The weight of the center pixels is set to 0.8. Since the screen brightness is adjusted so that the screen brightness in the horizontal direction is gradually darkened in the center area of the screen in proportion to the size of the pixel weight, the left and right lines having a line weight of 0.2 are 0.2 compared to the screen of the center area having a pixel weight of 0.8. The screen brightness is adjusted to be relatively darker.

 Pixel weights  Left pixel     0.2  Center pixel     0.8  Right pixel     0.2

However, in carrying out the present invention, line weights and pixel weights are not limited and set as in [Table 1] and [Table 2], and [Table 1] and [Table 2] are provided for convenience of description. It is shown by way of example.

In the state where the line weights and the pixel weights are set as described above, if the brightness value of the screen currently output to the PDP module 110 is greater than a predetermined reference brightness value, the image processing unit 130 determines the line weight and the weight value of the table [Table 1]. The screen weight in the horizontal direction is differentially adjusted in the center area of the screen using the pixel weights of Table 2, and the screen brightness in the vertical direction is darkened using the line weights in Table 1 Adjust the brightness.

The PDP driver 140 displays a video signal output from the image processor 130 on the PDP module 110. The image data scaled by the image processor 130, that is, the screen brightness value, is displayed. The driving signal corresponding to the adjusted brightness of the image data is output to the PDP module 110.

A process of automatically adjusting the screen brightness differentially according to the screen brightness of the PDP module 110 by the screen brightness adjusting apparatus of the present invention having the configuration and function as described above will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. .

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of adjusting a screen brightness differential according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a process of differentially adjusting screen brightness of a PDP module in a television receiver having a PDP module.

Referring to FIG. 2, first, when a user presses a menu button on a remote controller, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 120 selects a predetermined top-level menu item including an auto power level (APL) item. 110, when the user presses a button on the remote control to select the automatic power limit item, the controller 120 controls the screen brightness differentially to automatically limit the power consumption by the PDP module 110. Automatic power limit mode "is set (S201).

After the automatic power limiting mode is set, the controller 120 controls the image processor 130 to differentially adjust the screen brightness. Accordingly, the image processor 130 measures the brightness values (ie, brightness Y values) of all the pixels constituting the screen (S202), and calculates an average value of the brightness values of the measured pixels through an average value. The brightness value of the current screen is found (S203).

In the brightness measurement processes S202 and S203, when the image data is input, the image processor 130 adjusts the brightness of the screen by using the luminance (Y) data and adjusts the color of the screen by using the UV data. Since the brightness value Y is adjusted for each pixel, the image processor 130 knows the brightness value Y of all the pixels constituting the screen, and measures the brightness values of the pixels. When the brightness values of each pixel of the screen are all measured as described above, the image processor 130 calculates an average value of the brightness values of each pixel, and the calculated average value is the brightness value of the screen.

When the brightness value of the screen is confirmed, the image processor 130 determines whether the brightness value of the current screen is higher than a predetermined reference brightness value (S204). If the brightness value of the current screen is low as a result of the determination, the image processor 130 In operation S205, the brightness of the screen output to the PDP module 110 is adjusted according to a predetermined screen brightness value without performing the automatic power limit mode.

In the brightness adjustment process (S205), when the brightness value of the current screen is lower than the predetermined reference brightness value, the screen is relatively dark and power consumption by the PDP module 110 is relatively low. In order to reduce power consumption, the screen brightness is adjusted according to the screen brightness value set by the user or the screen brightness value set by default without adjusting the brightness of the screen.

As a result of the determination in the determination process (S204), if the brightness value of the current screen is high, the image processor 130 checks the positions of the lines constituting the current screen as shown in FIG. 4A (S206). In the case of the central region, the weights of the lines located in the central region are determined by searching the weight for each line set as shown in [Table 1] (S207).

In operation S208, the image processor 130 searches for the weight for each pixel set as shown in [Table 2] to determine the weight of the pixels forming the line of the center region where the weight is determined.

After the weight of the line and the weight of the pixels constituting the line are determined, the image processor 130 calculates the brightness value of the output screen by substituting the line weight and the pixel weight determined in Equation 1 below. S209), the brightness of the center area is differentially darkened according to the calculated brightness value of the output screen (S210).

Brightness value of output screen = Brightness value of input screen × line weight × pixel weight

Here, the brightness value of the input screen is the brightness value of the screen measured in the processing of the image data input to the image processor 130, that is, the brightness value measuring process S203, and the brightness value of the output screen is the image processor 130. ) Is the brightness value output to the PDP module 110 as the brightness value of the screen calculated through Equation (1).

In the present invention, since the weight for each pixel is set differentially according to the position of the pixels constituting one line as shown in [Table 2], the weight for each pixel of the line to which the line weight is applied in [Equation 1] The brightness value of the output screen is calculated by substituting the weight value for each pixel, as shown in Table 2, in order, and the screen brightness value of the central area may be calculated. It is desirable to simultaneously calculate the screen brightness values of the central area by substituting the weight for each pixel in Equation 1 at the same time and performing a plurality of calculation processes simultaneously.

For example, as shown in [Table 1], the weight of the line located in the center area is set to 0.8, and as shown in [Table 2], the weight of the left pixels and the center pixels of the pixels forming the line located in the center area. If the weights and the weights of the right pixels are set to 0.2, 0.8 and 0.2, respectively, and the brightness value of the input screen is 100, the image processor 130 may express the brightness value 100 and the line weight of the input screen in Equation 1 above. The brightness value of the output screen is calculated by substituting 0.8 and pixel weights 0.2, 0.8 and 0.2, respectively.

When the screen brightness value of the center area is calculated in this way, the screen brightness value on the left is 16, the screen brightness value on the center is 64, and the screen brightness value on the right is 16 in the center area, as shown in FIG. 4B. Among the screens of the area, the screen brightness at the center is slightly darker, whereas the screen brightness at the left and right is relatively dark.

As such, when the screen is very bright, in order to reduce power consumption by the PDP module 110, the image processing unit 130 adjusts the screen brightness of the central area as a whole, but the screen brightness of the left and right compared to the screen brightness of the center By adjusting the relative darker, the viewer does not feel the emotional discomfort caused by the change in the brightness of the screen.

If the location of the check result line in the check process (S206) is the upper region and the lower region, the weights of the lines located in the upper region and the lower region are determined by searching the set weight for each line as shown in [Table 1]. (S211). After the weight of the line is determined, the image processor 130 calculates the brightness value of the output screen by substituting the line weight determined in the following [Equation 2] (S212), and the upper side according to the calculated brightness value of the output screen. Differently darken the screen brightness of the region and the lower region (S213).

Brightness value of output screen = Brightness value of input screen × line weight

Here, the brightness value of the input screen is the brightness value of the screen measured in the process of processing the image data input to the image processor 130, that is, the brightness value measuring process S203, and the brightness value of the output screen is the image processor ( 130 is a brightness value output to the PDP module 110 as a brightness value of the screen calculated through Equation 2.

In the present invention, the line weights of the upper region and the lower region are set lower than the line weights of the central region as shown in [Table 1], but the line weights of the upper region and the lower region are set equal to each other. Is not set.

For example, when the weights of the lines located in the upper region and the lower region are set to 0.5, and the brightness value of the input screen is 100, as shown in [Table 1], the image processor 130 may use the equation (2). The brightness value of the output screen is calculated by substituting the brightness value 100 and the line weight 0.5 of the input screen. In this case, since the calculated one output screen brightness value is 50, the screen brightness in the horizontal direction is uniformly darkened in the upper and lower regions as shown in FIG. 4C.

In addition, since the line weight of the center region is set to 0.8 and the line weight of the lower region and the upper region is set to 0.5 in [Table 1], the brightness of the screen through [Equation 1] and [Equation 2]. Although the brightness of the center screen in the center area is darkened and the brightness of the center screen in the upper area and the lower area is darkened by the output screen brightness value calculated by calculating the value, the upper area and By adjusting the brightness of the screen in the lower region relatively darker, the viewer does not feel the emotional discomfort caused by the change in the brightness of the screen.

Although the technical spirit of the present invention has been described in detail according to the above preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the above embodiment is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

As described above, in the present invention, the brightness of the television receiver is automatically adjusted so that the brightness of the television receiver is dimmed. Thus, the brightness of the entire screen is kept dark while maintaining the viewer's perceived brightness by darkening the brightness of the entire screen. In addition, by reducing the power consumption by the screen can improve the product's commerciality.

Claims (14)

An apparatus for differentially adjusting the brightness of a screen in a television receiver for outputting a video screen, Control means for controlling brightness adjustment of a screen according to a user's instruction; And The first line weight of the line located in the upper area on the screen, the second line weight of the line located in the lower area on the screen, and the third line weight of the line located in the center area on the screen are set, and the line located in the center area of the screen is set. Among the pixels, weights of pixels located on the left side of the line, weights of pixels located on the right side of the line, and weights of pixels located in the center of the line are set, and the line weights and pixel weights are used under the control of the control means. Image processing means for controlling the brightness of the screen to be differentially controlled, but to make the screen of the left and right areas and the screen of the upper and lower areas become darker than the screen brightness of the center area. Differential control device of the screen brightness including. The method of claim 1, And the first to third line weights are divided into position areas on the screen and built as a table. The method of claim 2, And the first line weight and the second line weight are smaller than the line weight. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The weights of the pixels are divided into horizontal section of the line located in the center area of the screen is built in a table, characterized in that to build a table. The method of claim 4, wherein And the weights of the pixels positioned in the left and right sections of the line are less than the weights of the pixels located in the center section of the line. A method for differentially adjusting the brightness of a screen in a television receiver for outputting a video screen, A first step of setting an automatic power limiting mode for automatically limiting screen brightness to automatically limit power consumption by screen output; In the automatic power limiting mode, measuring a brightness value of a current screen; A horizontal section of a line among pixels forming a line weight of a center region and a line positioned in a center region of a screen among the line weights divided into the current screen brightness value and an upper region, a lower region and a center region on a vertical screen Calculate the horizontal screen brightness values of the central area of the output screen using the weights of the pixels set separately, and adjust the center area of the output screen to be darker by the calculated horizontal screen brightness values of the center area. Adjusting the left and right sections darker than the sections; And The screen brightness values of the upper and lower regions of the output screen are calculated using the line weights of the upper region and the lower region of the vertical screen among the current screen brightness value and the set line weights. The fourth step of darkening the upper and lower areas of the output screen by the screen brightness values, but adjusting the screen brightness of the upper and lower areas to be darker than the screen brightness of the center area on the vertical screen. Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness comprising a. The method of claim 6, The first step is, A first step of displaying a predetermined top-level menu item including an automatic power limit item on a screen according to a user's instruction; And Step 1-2 of setting the automatic power limit mode as the automatic power limit item is selected among the predetermined top menu items. Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness comprising a. The method of claim 6, A fifth step of determining whether the measured current screen brightness value is greater than a predetermined reference brightness value; A sixth step of performing the third and fourth steps if the current screen brightness value is large as a result of the determination; And A seventh step of adjusting the brightness of the output screen according to a predetermined screen brightness value without performing the automatic power limit function if the current screen brightness value is small as a result of the determination; Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness further comprising. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, In the third step, the brightness value of the output screen is calculated by multiplying the current screen brightness value, the line weight of the center region and the weight of the pixels located on the left side of the line, and the screen brightness value of the left section of the horizontal screen of the center region. Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness, characterized in that obtaining. The method of claim 9, In the third step, the brightness value of the output screen is calculated by multiplying the current screen brightness value, the line weight of the center area and the weight of the pixels located on the right side of the line, and the screen brightness value of the right section of the horizontal screen of the center area. Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness, characterized in that obtaining. The method of claim 10, In the third step, the brightness value of the output screen is calculated by multiplying the current screen brightness value, the line weight of the center area and the weight of the pixels located in the center of the line, and the screen brightness value of the center section on the horizontal screen of the center area. Differential adjustment method of the screen brightness, characterized in that obtaining. The method of claim 11, In the fourth step, the brightness value of the output screen is calculated by multiplying the current screen brightness value and the line weight of the upper region, the screen brightness value of the upper region in the vertical screen, characterized in that to obtain the screen brightness value. The method of claim 12, In the fourth step, the brightness value of the output screen is calculated by multiplying the current screen brightness value and the line weight of the lower area, the screen brightness value of the lower area on the vertical screen to obtain a differential brightness control method. The method of claim 13, In the fourth step, the screen brightness in the horizontal direction is uniformly dark in the upper region and the lower region of the screen, characterized in that the differential brightness adjustment method.

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