U.S. patent application number 12/435857 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-08 for image display apparatus and image adjusting method.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shiki FURUI, Osamu KUMAMOTO, Yuji MOCHIZUKI, Takefumi SAKAKIBARA.
Application Number | 20090251486 12/435857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37434282 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090251486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKAKIBARA; Takefumi ; et
al. |
October 8, 2009 |
IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGE ADJUSTING METHOD
Abstract
An image display apparatus includes: an image signal processing
unit which adjusts an input grayscale values included in an input
image signal according to a predetermined grayscale characteristic;
a display unit which displays an image based on an image signal
included in an output grayscale value adjusted by the image signal
processing unit; and a grayscale characteristic changing unit which
changes a correlation between the input and output grayscale values
defined based on the grayscale characteristic.
Inventors: |
SAKAKIBARA; Takefumi;
(Matsumoto-shi, JP) ; MOCHIZUKI; Yuji;
(Shiojiri-shi, JP) ; KUMAMOTO; Osamu;
(Azumino-shi, JP) ; FURUI; Shiki; (Matsumoto-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Assignee: |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37434282 |
Appl. No.: |
12/435857 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11462172 |
Aug 3, 2006 |
7551179 |
|
|
12435857 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/596 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 9/3197 20130101;
H04N 5/57 20130101; H04N 21/4122 20130101; G09G 2320/0673 20130101;
H04N 5/202 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 9/3191 20130101;
H04N 21/4854 20130101; H04N 9/3182 20130101; G09G 3/002 20130101;
G09G 5/04 20130101; H04N 9/69 20130101; H04N 2005/745 20130101;
G09G 3/006 20130101; H04N 5/74 20130101; H04N 21/4318 20130101;
G09G 2320/0242 20130101; H04N 5/44513 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/596 |
International
Class: |
G09G 5/02 20060101
G09G005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2005 |
JP |
2005-231700 |
Aug 10, 2005 |
JP |
2005-231701 |
Aug 10, 2005 |
JP |
2005-231702 |
Claims
1. An image display apparatus comprising: an image signal
processing unit which adjusts an input grayscale values included in
an input image signal according to a predetermined grayscale
characteristic; a display unit which displays an image based on an
image signal included in an output grayscale value adjusted by the
image signal processing unit; and a grayscale characteristic
changing unit which changes a correlation between the input and
output grayscale values defined based on the grayscale
characteristic.
Description
[0001] This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/462,172
filed Aug. 3, 2006. This application claims the benefit of Japanese
Patent Application Nos. 2005-231700 2005-231701, and 2005-231702,
in which all were filed on Aug. 10, 2005. The disclosure of the
prior applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to an image display apparatus
for displaying an image represented by an image signal and an image
adjusting method for the image display apparatus.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In the related art, an image display apparatus capable of
adjusting an image represented by an image signal according to
contents of the image or projection environment has been proposed.
For example, in a projector disclosed in JP-A-2005-99620, three
types of selection items "dynamic", "natural", and "soft" are
provided, and .gamma. values corresponding to the adjusting items
are stored. The projector sets the .gamma. value according to
selected adjusting items and performs grayscale adjusting
(hereinafter, referred to a ".gamma. correction") on the image
signal.
[0006] In the related art, when the image adjusting is performed by
an image display apparatus, a small number of predetermined
selection items are selected, so that the adjusting is not smoothly
performed.
[0007] If the number of adjusting items may be increased in order
to implement the smooth image adjusting, a change of the image
involved with the image adjusting is not easy to perceive in
advance. In addition, it is difficult to determine which adjusting
items are selected to perform desired image adjusting.
SUMMARY
[0008] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
an image display apparatus capable of easily performing smooth
image adjusting according to user's preferences and an image
adjusting method for the image display apparatus.
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided
an image display apparatus comprising: an image signal processing
unit which adjusts an input grayscale values included in an input
image signal according to a predetermined grayscale characteristic;
a display unit which displays an image based on an image signal
included in an output grayscale value adjusted by the image signal
processing unit; and a grayscale characteristic changing unit which
changes a correlation between the input and output grayscale values
defined based on the grayscale characteristic.
[0010] According to such a construction, since the grayscale
characteristic changing unit which changes the grayscale
characteristic for adjusting the image signal, that is, the
correlation between the input and output grayscale values is
provided, it is possible to smoothly perform the image adjusting
according to user's preferences by changing the correlation.
[0011] The image display apparatus may further comprise an OSD unit
which displays a selection screen used to decide a to-be-used
grayscale characteristic among a plurality of the grayscale
characteristics including a custom characteristic capable of
changing the correlation so as to overlap the image; and a
manipulator which receives a selection manipulation of selecting
one of a plurality of the grayscale characteristics and a decision
manipulation of deciding the grayscale characteristic selected by
the selection manipulation in a state that the selection screen is
displayed, wherein the image signal processing unit adjusts the
image signal according to the grayscale characteristic finally
decided by the decision manipulation and adjusts the image signal
according the grayscale characteristic selected when the selection
manipulation is performed in a state that the selection screen is
overlapped.
[0012] According to such a construction, in a step where the
selection manipulation for selecting one of a plurality of the
grayscale characteristics is performed, the adjusting according to
the selected grayscale characteristic is performed on the image
signal, so that it is possible to select the to-be-used grayscale
characteristic while the adjusted image is identified. Namely, it
is possible to easily select the to-be-used grayscale
characteristic.
[0013] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the grayscale
characteristic changing unit may include: an OSD unit which
displays a selection cursor used to select a desired image portion
of the image, a characteristic identification screen including a
graph representing the correlation, and a grayscale adjusting
screen used to change the correlation so as to overlap the image;
and a manipulator which is used to perform a starting manipulation
of starting the changing of the correlation, an image selection
manipulation of selecting the image portion by using the selection
cursor, and an image decision manipulation of deciding the image
portion selected by the image selection manipulation, wherein, when
the starting manipulation is performed, the image is overlapped
with the selection cursor, wherein, when the image selection
manipulation is performed, the characteristic identification screen
is overlapped with the image signal, and an adjusting point
corresponding to the grayscale value of the selected image portion
is distinctively represented on the graph, and wherein, when the
image decision manipulation is performed, the grayscale adjusting
screen used to change the correlation at the adjusting point is
overlapped with the image.
[0014] According to such a construction, in the grayscale
characteristic changing unit, when the image selection manipulation
of selecting the image portion is performed, the adjusting point
corresponding to the grayscale value of the selected image portion
is distinctively displayed, and when the image decision
manipulation of deciding the selected image portion is performed,
the grayscale adjusting screen used to change the correlation at
the adjusting point is displayed. Therefore, the adjusting point
where the correlation is to be changed can be selected from the
image, so that it is possible to easily perform desired image
adjusting. In addition, in order to distinctively represent the
adjusting point, the adjusting point may be blinked and displayed
with a color tone different from other adjusting points.
[0015] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the grayscale
characteristic changing unit may include: an OSD unit which
displays a selection cursor used to select a desired image portion
of the image on the image; and a manipulator which is used to
performs a starting manipulation of starting the changing of the
correlation and an image selection manipulation of selecting the
image portion by using the selection cursor, wherein, when the
starting manipulation is performed, the image is overlapped with
the selection cursor, and wherein, when the image selection
manipulation is performed, an image portion having a grayscale
value substantially equal to that of the selected image portion is
blinked, and the grayscale adjusting screen is overlapped with the
image so as to change the correlation in the blinked image
portion.
[0016] According to such a construction, when the image selection
manipulation of selecting the image portion is performed, the
grayscale characteristic changing unit blinks the image portion
having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the selected
image portion, so that portions of which correlation is to changed
can be easily visually perceived.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image display apparatus for displaying an image
represented by an image signal on a display unit, comprising: a
storage unit which stores a plurality of grayscale characteristics
including a custom characteristic capable of customizing a
characteristic used to adjust a grayscale characteristic in the
image signal; an OSD unit which overlaps a selection screen used to
select one of a plurality of the grayscale characteristics with the
image signal; a manipulator which is used to perform at least a
manipulation of selecting one of the grayscale characteristics from
the selection screen and a manipulation of deciding selection
contents; and an image signal processing unit which performs an
image process including adjusting of the grayscale characteristic
on the image signal, wherein, where a manipulation of selecting the
grayscale characteristic on the selection screen is performed by
using the manipulator, the image signal processing unit adjusts the
grayscale characteristic of the image signal based on the selected
grayscale characteristic and displays an image on the display unit
based on the image signal subjected to the adjusting.
[0018] According to such a construction, the storage unit stores a
plurality of the grayscale characteristics including the custom
characteristic which can customize the characteristic used for the
image adjusting. Therefore, the image display apparatus has a large
number of selection items of the grayscale characteristic, and the
selection items can be in accordance with the user's
preferences.
[0019] When the manipulation of selecting the grayscale
characteristic in the selection screen is performed in the
manipulator, the image signal processing unit adjusts the grayscale
characteristic of the image signal based on the selected grayscale
characteristic and displays the image on the display unit based on
the image signal subjected to the adjusting. Therefore, in a step
of selecting the adjusted contents, it is possible to identify the
image including the adjusted contents in a background of the
selection screen.
[0020] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting can be performed
according to the user's preferences, so that it is possible to
identify the image including the adjusted contents in the step of
selecting the adjusted contents.
[0021] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the selection
screen may include a graph representing a correlation between input
and output grayscale levels of the selected grayscale
characteristic.
[0022] According to such a construction, the selection screen may
include a graph representing a correlation between input and output
grayscale levels of the selected grayscale characteristic, so that
the graph representing the selected grayscale characteristic can be
visually perceived.
[0023] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, in the step of selecting the adjusted
contents, it is possible to identify the graph representing the
grayscale characteristic of the image as well as the image
including the adjusted contents.
[0024] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of the
selection screen and deciding selection contents by using the
manipulator is performed, the image signal processing unit may
perform an image process on the image signal based on a grayscale
characteristic included in the custom characteristic, wherein the
OSD unit stops the overlapping of the selection screen and overlaps
a graph adjusting screen including a graph representing a grayscale
characteristic at an initial setting of the custom characteristic
with the image signal, and wherein the graph adjusting screen
includes a plurality of dot displayed portions which represent
output grayscale levels at a plurality of adjusting points disposed
according to input grayscale levels and are used to adjust the
grayscale characteristic.
[0025] According to such a construction, when the custom
characteristic is selected and decided, the graph adjusting screen
including the graph representing the grayscale characteristic at
the initial setting of the custom characteristic is displayed, and
the graph adjusting screen includes a plurality of the dot
displayed portions which represent the output grayscale levels at a
plurality of the adjusting point disposed according to the input
grayscale levels and are used to adjust the grayscale
characteristic. Therefore, due to the graph adjusting screen, it is
possible to perform the adjusting of the grayscale characteristic
while the grayscale characteristic at the initial setting of the
custom characteristic is identified.
[0026] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, it is possible to perform the image
adjusting according to the user's preferences while the grayscale
characteristic is identified by using the graph.
[0027] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of the
selection screen and deciding selection contents by using the
manipulator is performed, the OSD unit may stop the overlapping of
the selection screen and overlap a characteristic identification
screen which is a graph representing a grayscale characteristic at
an initial setting of the custom characteristic with the image
signal, wherein the image signal processing unit performs an image
process on the image signal based on a grayscale characteristic
included in the custom characteristic, and wherein, when a
manipulation of selecting one of a plurality of dot displayed
portions representing output grayscale levels at the adjusting
points in the graph is performed by using the manipulator, the OSD
unit stops the overlapping of the characteristic identification
screen and overlaps a grayscale adjusting screen which is smaller
than the image and used to adjust the output grayscale level at the
selected adjusting point with the image signal.
[0028] According to such a construction, when the custom
characteristic is selected and decided, the characteristic
identification screen which is the graph representing the grayscale
characteristic at the initial setting of the custom characteristic
is displayed. Therefore, due to the characteristic identification
screen, it is possible to identify the grayscale characteristic at
the initial setting of the custom characteristic.
[0029] In addition, when a manipulation of selecting one of a
plurality of dot displayed portions representing output grayscale
levels at the adjusting points in the graph of the characteristic
identification screen is performed, the OSD unit stops the
overlapping of the characteristic identification screen and
overlaps the grayscale adjusting screen which is smaller than the
image of the characteristic identification used to adjust the
output grayscale level at the selected adjusting point with the
image signal. Therefore, due to the grayscale adjusting screen, it
is possible to perform the adjusting of the output grayscale level
at the selected adjusting point.
[0030] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, it is possible to perform the image
adjusting according to the user's preferences after the grayscale
characteristic is identified by using the graph.
[0031] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of the
selection screen and deciding selection contents by using the
manipulator is performed, the OSD unit may stop the overlapping of
the selection screen and overlap a selection cursor which is used
to select a desired image portion on the image with the image
signal, wherein the image signal processing unit stops an image
which is subjected to an image process based on a grayscale
characteristic included in the custom characteristic, and wherein,
when a manipulation of selecting the image portion is performed by
using the selection cursor, the OSD unit overlaps a graph adjusting
screen representing output grayscale levels at a plurality of
adjusting points disposed according to input grayscale levels used
to adjust the grayscale characteristic and including a plurality of
dot displayed portions capable of adjusting the output grayscale
level with the image signal.
[0032] According to such a construction, by using the selection and
decision of the custom characteristic as a trigger, the selection
cursor is displayed, and the image is stopped. Therefore, although
the moving image is not easy to select, the selection of the image
portion by using the selection cursor can be easily performed on
the still image.
[0033] In addition, when a manipulation of selecting the image
portion is performed by using the selection cursor, the OSD unit
overlaps a graph adjusting screen representing output grayscale
levels at a plurality of adjusting points disposed according to
input grayscale levels used to adjust the grayscale characteristic
and including a plurality of dot displayed portions capable of
adjusting the output grayscale level with the image signal.
Therefore, due to the graph adjusting screen, it is possible to
perform the adjusting of the grayscale characteristic while the
grayscale characteristic is identified.
[0034] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, a desired image portion can be easily
selected, so that it is possible to perform the image adjusting
according to the user's preferences while the grayscale
characteristic is defined confirmed by using the graph.
[0035] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of the
selection screen and deciding selection contents by using the
manipulator is performed, the OSD unit may stop the overlapping of
the selection screen and overlap a selection cursor used to select
a desired image portion on the image with the image signal, wherein
the image signal processing unit stops an image which is subjected
to an image process based on a grayscale characteristic included in
the custom characteristic, and wherein, when a manipulation of
selecting the image portion is performed by using the selection
cursor, the OSD unit overlaps a grayscale adjusting screen used to
adjust an output grayscale level at an adjusting point of the
grayscale characteristic corresponding g to the selected image
portion with the image signal.
[0036] According to such a construction, by using the selection and
decision of the custom characteristic as a trigger, the selection
cursor is displayed, and the image is stopped. Therefore, although
the moving image is not easy to select, the selection of the image
portion by using the selection cursor can be easily performed on
the still image.
[0037] In addition, when a manipulation of selecting the image
portion is performed by using the selection cursor, the OSD unit
overlaps the grayscale adjusting screen used to adjust the output
grayscale level at the adjusting point of the grayscale
characteristic corresponding to the selected image portion with the
image signal. Therefore, due to the grayscale adjusting screen, it
is possible to perform the adjusting of the output grayscale level
at the selected adjusting point.
[0038] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, a desired image portion can be easily
selected, so that it is possible to perform the image adjusting
according to the user's preferences.
[0039] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when an
adjusting manipulation of adjusting a grayscale level in the graph
adjusting screen or the grayscale adjusting screen is performed,
the image signal processing unit may sequentially adjust a
grayscale value of an image portion corresponding to the adjusting
point in the image according to the output grayscale level which is
subjected to the adjusting manipulation.
[0040] According to such a construction, when an adjusting
manipulation of adjusting a grayscale level in the graph adjusting
screen or the grayscale adjusting screen is performed, the image
signal processing unit sequentially adjusts a grayscale value of an
image portion corresponding to the adjusting point in the image
according to the output grayscale level which is subjected to the
adjusting manipulation. Therefore, in the step of performing the
adjusting, it is possible to identify the image including the
adjusted contents in real-time.
[0041] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting can be performed
according to the user's preferences, in the step of performing the
adjusting, it is possible to identify the image including the
adjusted contents in real-time.
[0042] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of the
selection screen and deciding selection contents by using the
manipulator is performed, before a graph adjusting mode which uses
a graph and starts from the graph adjusting screen and the
characteristic identification screen or a cursor adjusting mode
which starts from the selection cursors proceeds, the OSD unit may
stop the overlapping of the selection screen and overlap a branch
screen used to select one of the graph adjusting mode and the
cursor adjusting mode with the image signal.
[0043] According to such a construction, by using the selection and
decision of the custom characteristic as a trigger, the OSD unit
overlaps the branch screen used to select one of the graph
adjusting mode and the cursor adjusting mode with the image signal.
Therefore, due to the branch screen, it is possible to select one
of the graph adjusting mode and the cursor adjusting mode.
[0044] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, it is possible to select the adjusting
method according to the user's preferences.
[0045] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a selection
record that the graph selected in the branch screen or the cursor
image adjusting mode is selected may be stored in the storage unit,
and when a manipulation of selecting the custom characteristic of
the selection screen is performed by using the manipulator, the OSD
unit overlaps the branch screen with the image signal in a state
that an image adjusting mode in the selection record stored in the
storage unit is selected.
[0046] According to such a construction, a selection record is
stored in the storage unit, and when a manipulation of selecting
the custom characteristic of the selection screen is performed by
using the manipulator, the OSD unit overlaps the branch screen with
the image signal in a state that an image adjusting mode in the
selection record stored in the storage unit is selected. The branch
screen is displayed in a state that the branch screen includes
user's selection records. Therefore, a probability that the user
performs the selection manipulation for the adjusting mode is
reduced.
[0047] Accordingly, the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention can be conveniently used.
[0048] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a size of
each of manipulation screens including the selection screen, the
graph adjusting screen, the characteristic identification screen,
the grayscale adjusting screen, and the branch screen may be 1/4 or
less of the image.
[0049] According to such a construction, the size of each of
manipulation screens including the selection screen, the graph
adjusting screen, the characteristic identification screen, the
grayscale adjusting screen, and the branch screen is 1/4 or less of
the image. Therefore, although the area covered by the manipulation
screen is excluded, the image having 3/4 or more of the entire area
can be identified.
[0050] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting can be performed while
the image state is identified.
[0051] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, each of
manipulation screens including the graph adjusting screen, the
characteristic identification screen, the grayscale adjusting
screen, and the branch screen may be disposed in an inner side of
one of four corners of the image having a substantially rectangular
shape as an initial setting, wherein the OSD unit moves the
position of the manipulation screen within an range of the image so
as not to overlap the selected image portion.
[0052] According to such a construction, each of the manipulation
screens is disposed in an inner side of one of four corners of the
image having a substantially rectangular shape as an initial
setting. Therefore, the central portion of the image is not covered
by the manipulation screens.
[0053] In addition, the OSD unit moves the position of the
manipulation screen in an inner region of the image so that the
selected image portion cannot be overlapped with the manipulation
screen. Therefore, the adjusting state of the selected image
portion which needs to be most carefully adjusted can be identified
at the time of the adjusting.
[0054] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting can be performed while
the image state is always identified.
[0055] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a grayscale
characteristic in a default initial setting of the custom
characteristic may be changed, and the grayscale characteristic may
be set to one grayscale characteristic among a plurality of the
grayscale characteristics including a linear grayscale
characteristic stored in the storage unit.
[0056] According to such a construction, the grayscale
characteristic in the default initial setting of the custom
characteristic can be changed and is set to one grayscale
characteristic among a plurality of the grayscale characteristics
including a linear grayscale characteristic stored in the storage
unit. Therefore, the grayscale characteristic according to the
user's preferences can be selected as a reference
characteristic.
[0057] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting according to the
user's preferences can be performed.
[0058] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the custom
characteristic adjusted in the graph adjusting screen or the
grayscale adjusting screen is stored in the storage unit and
displayed as one of the selection items of a plurality of the
grayscale characteristics when the selection screen is
displayed.
[0059] According to such a construction, the adjusted custom
characteristic is stored in the storage unit and displayed as one
of the selection items of a plurality of the grayscale
characteristics when the selection screen is displayed. Therefore,
the adjusted custom characteristics are stored, so that it can be
easily reproduced.
[0060] Accordingly, the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention can be conveniently used.
[0061] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the image
display apparatus is a projector including: a light source unit
which supplies light; an optical modulation device which modulates
light emitted from the light source unit into a modulated light
representing an image defined by the image signal; and a projection
lens which magnifies and projects the modulated light.
[0062] The projector projects the image on the screen, that is, the
projection plane to display the image. Therefore, the projected
image needs to be adjusted so as to be suitable for projection
environment according to brightness of the projection environment,
a color tone of the installed screen, or the like. For this reason,
a high-performance image adjusting method of performing the image
adjusting frequently is required.
[0063] According to such a construction, the image display
apparatus is a projector which modulates light emitted from the
light source unit into a modulated light representing an image
defined by an image signal by using an optical modulation device
and magnifies and projects the modulated light by using the
projection lens. Therefore, the projected image on a large-sized
screen can be subjected to the image adjusting so as to be suitable
for the projection environment based on a plurality of the
grayscale characteristics including the custom characteristic which
can be customized.
[0064] Accordingly, the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention is suitable for a projector.
[0065] According to still another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image display apparatus for displaying an image
represented by an image signal on a display unit, comprising: an
OSD unit which overlaps a selection cursor used to select a desired
image portion of the image, a characteristic identification screen
including a graph representing a correlation between input and
output grayscale levels of a grayscale characteristic at an initial
setting of the image, and a grayscale adjusting screen used to
adjust grayscales of a plurality of adjusting points in the
grayscale characteristic of the image with the image signal; a
manipulator which is used to perform at least a manipulation of
starting adjusting of the grayscale characteristic of the image, a
selection manipulation of selecting the image portion by using the
selection cursor, and a manipulation of deciding the selected image
portion; and an image signal processing unit which stops the image
and allows the OSD unit to display the selection cursor on the
display unit when image adjusting including the grayscale
characteristic adjusting is performed on the image signal and a
manipulation of performing the image adjusting is performed by
using the manipulator, wherein, when a manipulation of selecting
the image portion by using the selection cursor is performed in the
manipulator, the OSD unit overlaps the characteristic
identification screen where the adjusting point corresponding to a
grayscale of the selected image portion is blinked or a color tone
of the adjusting point is changed with the image signal, and
wherein, when a manipulation of deciding the selected image portion
is performed in the manipulator, the OSD unit overlaps the
grayscale adjusting screen of the adjusting point corresponding to
the grayscale of the selected image portion with the image
signal.
[0066] According to such a construction, when the manipulation for
the image adjusting is performed, the image signal processing unit
stops the image and displays the selection cursor for selecting the
desired image portion on the image. Even in case of a moving image
where the image portion is not easy to selection due to a change of
the image, since the image is stopped, so that the image portion
can be easily selected. In addition, the desired image portion can
be selected from the still image by using the selection cursor.
[0067] When the manipulation of selecting the image portion by
using the selection cursor is performed in the manipulator, the OSD
unit blinks the adjusting point corresponding to the grayscale of
the selected image portion or overlaps the characteristic
identification screen where the color tone of the adjusting point
is changed with the image signal. The position of the image portion
in the grayscale characteristic of the entire image is
distinctively represented on the graph. Accordingly, the adjusting
point in the grayscale characteristic of the entire image can be
identified by using the graph before the grayscale adjusting is
performed.
[0068] In addition, when the manipulation of deciding the selected
image portion is performed by using the manipulator, the OSD unit
overlaps the grayscale adjusting screen at the adjusting point
corresponding to the grayscale of the selected image portion with
the image signal. Therefore, due to the grayscale adjusting screen,
the grayscale adjusting of the selected image portion can be
performed.
[0069] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the desired adjusting portion can be
selected from the displayed image, and the image adjusting for the
selected adjusting portion can be performed after the grayscale
characteristic of the entire image is identified.
[0070] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the image
signal processing unit may comprise: a gamma correcting unit which
corrects one of a plurality of reference grayscale characteristics
defined in advance so that a grayscale characteristic unique to the
display unit is suitable for at least installation environment; and
a grayscale point adjusting unit which adjusts output grayscale
values at a plurality of adjusting points disposed according to
input levels in the reference grayscale characteristic, wherein
grayscale adjusting for the image signal in the image signal
processing unit is performed based on a grayscale characteristic
obtained by combining grayscale correction in the gamma correcting
unit and grayscale adjusting in the grayscale point adjusting unit,
and wherein, when adjusting for the output grayscale value in the
grayscale adjusting screen for the selected adjusting point is
performed, the grayscale point adjusting unit changes the output
grayscale value of the adjusting point according to adjusted
contents.
[0071] The image signal processing unit comprises: a gamma
correcting unit which corrects one of a plurality of reference
grayscale characteristics defined in advance so that a grayscale
characteristic unique to the display unit is suitable for at least
installation environment; and a grayscale point adjusting unit
which adjusts output grayscale values at a plurality of adjusting
points disposed according to input levels in the reference
grayscale characteristic. The functions are performed by individual
dedicated units. Therefore, since the dedicated constructions can
be formed, it is possible to simplify the constructions.
[0072] In addition, the grayscale adjusting to the image signal in
the image signal processing unit is performed by using the
grayscale characteristic obtained by combining the grayscale
correction in the gamma correcting unit and the grayscale adjusting
in the grayscale point adjusting unit. Therefore, due to the two
adjusting portions, a highly-accurate grayscale adjusting can be
performed.
[0073] When the adjusting of the output grayscale value in the
grayscale adjusting screen of the selected adjusting point is
performed, the grayscale point adjusting unit changes the output
grayscale value of the adjusting point according to the adjusted
contents. Therefore, the image on the background of the grayscale
adjusting screen can be updated by an image including the adjusted
contents in real-time.
[0074] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, since the highly-accurate grayscale
adjusting can be performed by using a simple grayscale adjusting
construction, the image including the adjusted contents can be
identified in real-time.
[0075] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the selection
cursor includes a pixel selection portion having a size capable of
selecting three or more plural consecutive pixels among the pixels
in the displayed unit, and wherein the adjusting point of the
grayscale characteristic corresponding to the selected image
portion is obtained by selecting an adjusting point having an input
grayscale level closest to an average value of grayscale values of
a plurality of the pixels selected by the pixel selection portion
or an average value excluding maximum and minimum values from the
grayscale values of a plurality of the pixels selected by the pixel
selection portion.
[0076] According to such a construction, the selection cursor
includes the pixel selection portion which has a size capable of
selecting three or more plural consecutive pixels among the pixels
in the display unit. Therefore, the selected portion according to
the user's intention can be determined based on the pixel data in a
plurality of the pixels having a width.
[0077] In addition, with respect to the adjusting point of the
grayscale characteristic corresponding to the selected image
portion, the adjusting point having the input grayscale level
closest to the average value of the grayscale values for a
plurality of the pixels selected by the pixel selection portion or
the average value excluding the maximum and minimum grayscale
values from the grayscale values for a plurality of the pixels
selected by the pixel selection portion is selected. Therefore,
since the influence of the pixel data including the noise can be
reduced, the adjusting point corresponding to the image portion
according to the user's intention can be selected.
[0078] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the adjusting portion according to the
user's intention can be accurately selected from the projected
image.
[0079] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the pixel
selection portion has a size capable of selecting a total of nine
pixels in a square shape where three consecutive pixels are arrayed
in each of vertical and horizontal directions.
[0080] According to such a construction, the pixel selection
portion has a size capable of selecting a total of nine pixels in a
square shape where the three consecutive pixels are arrayed in each
of the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, although the
average value is obtained from the grayscale values excluding the
pixels having the maximum and minimum grayscale values, the
effective pixel data for the seven pixels can be obtained. In
addition, since the pixel selection portion has a suitable size
over the entire image, it can be easily visually perceived. In
addition, since the pixel selection portion has a square shape, the
image portion can be easily selected.
[0081] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the adjusting portion according to the
user's intention can be easily and accurately selected from the
projected image.
[0082] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the selection
cursor further includes an annular portion which is disposed along
a circumference of the pixel selection portion to have a shape
which is one-step larger than an outer portion of the pixel
selection portion, wherein a relative position of the annular
portion to the pixel selection portion is always maintained
constant, and the annular potion together with the pixel selection
portion is moved on the still image.
[0083] According to such a construction, the selection cursor
further includes the annular portion which is disposed along the
circumference of the pixel selection portion to have a shape which
is one-step larger than an outer portion of the pixel selection
portion. In addition, a relative position of the annular portion to
the pixel selection portion is always maintained constant, and the
annular potion together with the pixel selection portion is moved
on the still image. Therefore, the selection cursor has a specific
shape having the annular portion of which size is larger by one
step than that of the pixel selection portion, and a large
selection cursor can be distinctively displayed on the image.
[0084] Accordingly, due to the distinctively displayed selection
cursor, a desired image portion can be easily selected.
[0085] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, due to the selection cursor distinctively
displayed on the image, a desired image portion can be easily
selected.
[0086] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, in the
selection manipulation for the image portion by using the selection
cursor, a position of the pixel selection portion is controlled by
the image signal processing unit so that the entire portions of the
pixel selection portion are not protruded from the still image, and
wherein, when the pixel selection portion reaches an edge of the
still image, the selection cursor is displayed in a state that a
portion of the image corresponding to the annular portion
protruding from the still image is excluded.
[0087] According to such a construction, the position of the pixel
selection portion is controlled by the image signal processing unit
so that the entire portions of the pixel selection portion are not
protruded from the still image, and when the pixel selection
portion reaches the edge of the still image, the selection cursor
is displayed in a state that a portion of the image corresponding
to the annular portion protruding from the still image is excluded.
Therefore, due to the selection cursor, the image portion to the
edge of the image can be selected from the image, and although the
edge of the image is selected, the selection cursor can be visually
perceived.
[0088] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, due to the selection cursor, the desired
image portion can be selected from all the effective image
regions.
[0089] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a color tone
of the selection cursor is set to one of white and black, and
wherein the OSD unit adjusts the color tone of the selection cursor
based on a color tone having high contrast among a color tone of
the image portion selected by the selection cursor and a color tone
of one of black and white.
[0090] According to such a construction, the OSD unit adjusts the
color tone of the selection cursor based on a color tone having
high contrast among a color tone of the image portion selected by
the selection cursor and a color tone of one of black and white.
The color tone of the selection cursor is adjusted so as to be an
easily visually perceived color tone.
[0091] Accordingly, due to the distinctively displayed selection
cursor, a desired image portion can be easily selected.
[0092] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, due to the selection cursor distinctively
displayed on the image, a desired image portion can be easily
selected.
[0093] According to further still another aspect of the invention,
there is provided an image display apparatus for displaying an
image represented by an image signal on a display unit, comprising:
an OSD unit which displays a selection cursor used to select a
desired image portion on the image; a manipulator which is used to
perform at least a manipulation of starting adjusting of the
grayscale characteristic of the image and a selection manipulation
of selecting the image portion by using the selection cursor; and
an image signal processing unit which stops the image and allows
the OSD unit to display the selection cursor when image adjusting
including the grayscale characteristic adjusting is performed on
the image signal and a manipulation of performing the image
adjusting is performed, wherein, when the image portion is selected
from the still image by the selection cursor, the image signal
processing unit blinks the selected image portion and an image
portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion in the still image.
[0094] According to such a construction, when the manipulation for
the image adjusting is performed, the image signal processing unit
stops the image and displays the selection cursor for selecting the
desired image portion on the image on the display unit. Even in
case of a moving image where the image portion is not easy to
select due to a change of the image, since the image is stopped,
the image portion can be easily selected. In addition, the desired
image portion can be selected from the still image by using the
selection cursor.
[0095] In addition, when the image portion is selected from the
still image by the selection cursor, the image signal processing
unit blinks the selected image portion of the still image and the
image portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion. Therefore, these image portions are
displayed so as to be distinguished from other image portions.
Therefore, the selected image portion can be distinctively visually
perceived. In addition, even in a case where unexpected portion is
selected, the portion can be identified at a glance.
[0096] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, a desired image adjusting portion can be
selected from the displayed image, so that the selected image
portion can be distinctively visually perceived.
[0097] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the blinking
of the image portion selected by the selection cursor and the image
portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion is performed by periodically increasing and
decreasing the output grayscale value at the adjusting point having
the input grayscale level closest to the grayscale value of the
selected image portion among a plurality of the adjusting points
corresponding to the input grayscale level in the grayscale
characteristic of the image signal representing the still
image.
[0098] According to such a construction, the blinking of the image
portion selected by the selection cursor and the image portion
having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the selected
image portion is performed by periodically increasing and
decreasing the output grayscale value at the adjusting point having
the input grayscale level closest to the grayscale value of the
selected image portion among a plurality of the adjusting points
corresponding to the input grayscale level in the grayscale
characteristic of the image signal representing the still image.
Therefore, the selected image portion and the image portion having
a grayscale substantially equal to that of the selected image
portion can be blinked by using such a simple method of increasing
and decreasing the output grayscale value at the one adjusting
point.
[0099] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the selected image portion and the image
portion selected together with the selected image portion can be
visually perceived and identified by using such a simple
method.
[0100] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the image
signal processing unit includes a gamma correcting unit which
corrects one reference grayscale characteristic among a plurality
of the reference grayscale characteristics defined in advance in
order to match the grayscale characteristics unique to the display
unit with a visual characteristic of a human and a grayscale point
adjusting unit which adjusts the output grayscale value for a
plurality of the adjusting points disposed according to the input
levels in the reference grayscale characteristic, wherein grayscale
adjusting for the image signal in the image signal processing unit
is performed based on a grayscale characteristic obtained by
combining grayscale correction in the gamma correcting unit and
grayscale adjusting in the grayscale point adjusting unit, and
wherein the blinking of the selected image portion selected by the
selection cursor and an image portion having a grayscale
substantially equal to that of the selected image portion is
performed by the grayscale point adjusting unit.
[0101] According to such a construction, the image signal
processing unit includes a gamma correcting unit which corrects one
reference grayscale characteristic among a plurality of the
reference grayscale characteristics defined in advance in order to
match the grayscale characteristics unique to the display unit with
a visual characteristic of a human and a grayscale point adjusting
unit which adjusts the output grayscale value for a plurality of
the adjusting points disposed according to the input levels in the
reference grayscale characteristic. The functions are performed by
individual dedicated units. Therefore, since the dedicated
constructions can be formed, it is possible to simplify the
constructions.
[0102] In addition, the blinking of the selected image portion
selected by the selection cursor and an image portion having a
grayscale substantially equal to that of the selected image portion
is performed by the grayscale point adjusting unit. Therefore, the
image portion can be blinked without influence to the reference
grayscale characteristic.
[0103] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the selected image portion and the image
portion selected together with the selected image portion can be
visually perceived and identified by using such a simple
construction.
[0104] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, increment and
decrement amounts of the output grayscale value which is
periodically increased and decreased at the adjusting point are
.+-.10% or less of the full scale of the output grayscale value in
the grayscale characteristic.
[0105] An output grayscale value of a general image display
apparatus is displayed with 8 to 10 bits, so that 256 to 1024
output grayscale values are generated. When a portion of the screen
is visualized by the blinking of the image portion, if the blinking
level is periodically increased and decreased from the "zero" level
to "maximum" level according to the full scale of the output
grayscale level, since the contrast is too high, the image is
flickered, so that observer's eyes become fatigued. In addition,
since the response of the display unit cannot be caught up with, an
inharmonious image may be formed.
[0106] According to such a construction, the increment and
decrement amounts of the output grayscale value which is
periodically increased and decreased at the adjusting point are
.+-.10% or less of the full scale of the output grayscale value in
the grayscale characteristic. Therefore, due to such a suitable
contrast, the image portion can be visually perceived without the
fatigue of the observer's eyes. In addition, the response of the
display unit can be sufficiently caught up with.
[0107] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the selected image portion can be
distinctively visually perceived without unpleasant feeling.
[0108] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a blinking
period of the selected image portion selected by the selection
cursor and the image portion having a grayscale substantially equal
to that of the selection image portion is in a range of from 0.5 Hz
to 3 Hz.
[0109] In general, with respect to the visual characteristic of a
human, it is known that, if the blinking period exceeds 3 Hz,
unpleasant feeling caused from the flickering of the image is
increased.
[0110] According to such a construction, the blinking period of the
selected image portion selected by the selection cursor and the
image portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selection image portion is in a range of from 0.5 Hz to 3 Hz.
Therefore, unpleasant feeling caused from the flicker can be
prevented, and the image portion can be distinctively visually
perceived.
[0111] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the selected image portion can be
distinctively visually perceived without unpleasant feeling.
[0112] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the OSD unit
may overlap a graph adjusting screen including a graph representing
a grayscale characteristic of the image and smaller than the image
with the image signal and blink a dot displayed portion
corresponding to the selected image portion among a plurality of
the dot displayed portions representing output grayscale levels at
a plurality of adjusting points disposed according to input
grayscale levels used to adjust the grayscale characteristic in the
graph adjusting screen or change a color tone of the dot displayed
portion.
[0113] According to such a construction, the OSD unit overlaps the
graph adjusting screen with the image signal and blinks the dot
displayed portion corresponding to the selected image portion among
a plurality of the dot displayed portions representing output
grayscale levels at a plurality of adjusting points disposed
according to input grayscale levels used to adjust the grayscale
characteristic in the graph adjusting screen or changes a color
tone of the dot displayed portion. Therefore, a current grayscale
characteristic can be visually perceived by using the graph, and a
selected portion of the graph can be distinctively understood.
[0114] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, a current grayscale characteristic can be
visually perceived by using the graph, and a selected portion of
the graph can be distinctively understood.
[0115] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, the OSD unit
overlaps a characteristic identification screen which is a graph
representing a grayscale characteristic of the image and smaller
than the image with the image signal and blinks a dot displayed
portion corresponding to the selected image portion among a
plurality of the dot displayed portions representing output
grayscale levels at a plurality of adjusting points disposed
according to input grayscale levels of the grayscale characteristic
in the characteristic identification screen or changes a color tone
of the dot displayed portion.
[0116] According to such a construction, the OSD unit overlaps a
characteristic identification screen which is a graph representing
a grayscale characteristic of the image and smaller than the image
with the image signal and blinks a dot displayed portion
corresponding to the selected image portion among a plurality of
the dot displayed portions representing output grayscale levels at
a plurality of adjusting points disposed according to input
grayscale levels of the grayscale characteristic in the
characteristic identification screen or changes a color tone of the
dot displayed portion. Therefore, a current grayscale
characteristic can be visually perceived by using the graph, and a
selected portion of the graph can be distinctively understood.
[0117] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, a current grayscale characteristic can be
visually perceived by using the graph, and a selected portion of
the graph can be distinctively understood.
[0118] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a blinking
period of the dot displayed portion in the graph adjusting screen
or the characteristic identification screen is in synchronization
with a blinking period of the selected image portion selected by
the selection cursor.
[0119] According to such a construction, a blinking period of the
dot displayed portion in the graph adjusting screen or the
characteristic identification screen is in synchronization with a
blinking period of the selected image portion selected by the
selection cursor. Therefore, it can be visually perceived that the
selected image portion and the dot displayed portion at the
adjusting point corresponding to the characteristic identification
screen are equal to each other. In addition, the periods are
synchronized with each other, so that the visually unpleasant
feeling can be prevented.
[0120] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, it can be visually represented that the
selected image portion corresponds to the dot displayed
portion.
[0121] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a plurality
of the adjusting points are distributed so that a half or more of a
total number of the adjusting points are distributed to a range of
from a low grayscale to an intermediate grayscale in the input
grayscale level.
[0122] Human eyes are sensitive to a dark color. In addition, the
adjusting in the high grayscale range in the grayscale
characteristic may be performed by "brightness" adjusting, that is,
gain adjusting which is provided to a general image display
apparatus.
[0123] According to such a construction, a plurality of the
adjusting points are distributed so that a larger number of the
adjusting points are distributed to a range of from the low
grayscale value to the intermediate grayscale value at the input
side. Therefore, in the image display apparatus, a large number of
the adjusting points are provided to the grayscale range needed to
improve the "image quality" which the user highly expects in the
grayscale adjusting.
[0124] Accordingly, in the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention, the image adjusting according to the
user's preferences can be performed.
[0125] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, a
predetermined output grayscale amount defined for each of the
selected adjusting points is defined as one step, and the graph
adjusting screen includes plus and minus buttons used to increase
and decrease the grayscale value step by step, and wherein the
predetermined output grayscale amount is set so that a larger
amount is provided to the adjusting points in a low grayscale range
than the adjusting points in a high grayscale range.
[0126] In general, in such image adjusting as grayscale adjusting,
the frequency and amount of adjusting in the high grayscale range
are small, but the frequency and amount of adjusting in the low
grayscale range are large.
[0127] According to such a construction, predetermined output
grayscale amounts are so set that a larger amount is provided to
the adjusting points in the low grayscale range than the adjusting
points in the high grayscale range. The adjusting amount per one
step in the graph adjusting screen is set to the adjusting amounts
satisfying the needed usage.
[0128] Accordingly, the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention can be conveniently used.
[0129] In the aforementioned image display apparatus, when a
manipulation of deciding the adjusting point selected in the
characteristic identification screen by using the manipulator is
performed, the OSD unit stops the overlapping of the characteristic
identification screen and overlaps a grayscale adjusting screen
used to adjust an output grayscale level of the selected adjusting
point with the image signal, wherein a predetermined output
grayscale amount defined for each of the selected adjusting points
is defined as one step, and the grayscale adjusting screen includes
plus and minus buttons used to increase and decrease the grayscale
value step by step, and wherein the predetermined output grayscale
amount is set so that a larger amount is provided to the adjusting
points in a low grayscale range than the adjusting points in a high
grayscale range.
[0130] According to such a construction, predetermined output
grayscale amounts are so set that a larger amount is provided to
the adjusting points in the low grayscale range than the adjusting
points in the high grayscale range. The adjusting amount per one
step in the grayscale adjusting screen is set to the adjusting
amounts satisfying the needed usage.
[0131] Accordingly, the image display apparatus according to the
aspect of the invention can be conveniently used.
[0132] According to further still another aspect of the invention,
there is provided an image adjusting method for an image display
apparatus including a display unit which displays an image
represented by an image signal, a storage unit which stores a
plurality of grayscale characteristics used to adjust a grayscale
characteristic in the image signal, an OSD unit which overlaps a
selection screen which is used to select one of a plurality of the
grayscale characteristics and smaller than the image with the image
signal, a manipulator which is used to perform at least a
manipulation of selecting one of the grayscale characteristics from
the selection screen and a manipulation of deciding selection
contents, and an image signal processing unit which performs an
image process including adjusting of the grayscale characteristic
on the image signal, the image adjusting method comprising: when a
manipulation of selecting the grayscale characteristic is performed
in the selection screen, adjusting the grayscale characteristic of
the image signal based on the selected grayscale characteristic;
displaying the image on the display unit according to the image
signal which is subjected to the adjusting.
[0133] The aforementioned image adjusting method comprise: when a
manipulation of selecting the grayscale characteristic is performed
in the selection screen, adjusting the grayscale characteristic of
the image signal based on the selected grayscale characteristic;
displaying the image on the display unit according to the image
signal which is subjected to the adjusting. Therefore, in a step of
selecting the adjusted contents, it is possible to identify the
image including the adjusted contents in a background of the
selection screen.
[0134] Accordingly, in the image adjusting method for the image
display apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is
possible to identify the image including the adjusted contents in
the step of selecting the adjusted contents.
[0135] According to further still another aspect of the invention,
there is provided an image adjusting method for an image display
apparatus including a display unit which displays an image
represented by an image signal, an OSD unit which overlaps a
selection cursor used to select a desired image portion of the
image, a characteristic identification screen including a graph
representing a correlation between input and output grayscale
levels of a grayscale characteristic at an initial setting of the
image, and a grayscale adjusting screen used to adjust grayscales
of a plurality of adjusting points in the grayscale characteristic
of the image with the image signal, a manipulator which is used to
perform at least a manipulation of starting adjusting of the
grayscale characteristic of the image, a selection manipulation of
selecting the image portion by using the selection cursor, and a
manipulation of deciding the selected image portion, and an image
signal processing unit which performs an image process including
adjusting of the grayscale characteristic on the image signal, the
image adjusting method comprising: when a manipulation of
performing the image adjusting is performed, stopping the image and
displaying the selection cursor on the display unit; when a
manipulation of selecting the image portion by using the selection
cursor is performed, overlapping the characteristic identification
screen where the adjusting point corresponding to a grayscale of
the selected image portion is blinked or a color tone of the
adjusting point is changed with the image signal; and when a
manipulation of deciding the selected image portion is performed,
overlapping the grayscale adjusting screen of the adjusting point
corresponding to a grayscale of the selected image portion with the
image signal.
[0136] In the aforementioned image adjusting method, when the
manipulation for the image adjusting is performed, the image is
stopped, and the selection cursor is displayed on the image. Even
in case of a moving image where the image portion is not easy to
select due to a change of the image, since the image is stopped, so
that the image portion can be easily selected. In addition, the
desired image portion can be selected from the still image by using
the selection cursor.
[0137] When the manipulation of selecting the image portion by
using the selection cursor is performed, the adjusting point
corresponding to the grayscale of the selected image portion is
blinked, or the characteristic identification screen where the
color tone of the adjusting point is changed is overlapped with the
image signal. The position of the image portion in the grayscale
characteristic of the entire image is distinctively represented on
the graph. Accordingly, the adjusting point in the grayscale
characteristic of the entire image can be identified by using the
graph before the grayscale adjusting is performed.
[0138] In addition, when the manipulation of deciding the selected
image portion is performed, the grayscale adjusting screen at the
adjusting point corresponding to the grayscale of the selected
image portion is overlapped with the image signal. Therefore, due
to the grayscale adjusting screen, the grayscale adjusting of the
selected image portion can be performed.
[0139] Accordingly, in the image adjusting method for the image
display apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the
desired adjusting portion can be selected from the displayed image,
and the image adjusting for the selected adjusting portion can be
performed after the grayscale characteristic of the entire image is
identified.
[0140] According to further still another aspect of the invention,
there is provided an image adjusting method for an image display
apparatus including a display unit which displays an image
represented by an image signal, an OSD unit which overlaps a
selection cursor which is used to select a desired image portion on
the image with the image signal, a manipulator which is used to
perform at least a manipulation of starting adjusting of the
grayscale characteristic of the image and a selection manipulation
of selecting the image portion by using the selection cursor, and
an image signal processing unit which stops the image and allows
the OSD unit to display the selection cursor when image adjusting
including the grayscale characteristic adjusting is performed on
the image signal and a manipulation of performing the image
adjusting is performed, the image adjusting method comprising:
receiving a manipulation which is used to select the image portion
in the still image by using the selection cursor; and blinking the
selected image portion and an image portion having a grayscale
substantially equal to that of the selected image portion in the
still image.
[0141] The aforementioned image adjusting method comprises:
receiving a manipulation which is used to select the image portion
in the still image by using the selection cursor; and blinking the
selected image portion and an image portion having a grayscale
substantially equal to that of the selected image portion in the
still image. Therefore, these image portions are displayed so as to
be distinguished from other image portions. Therefore, the selected
image portion can be distinctively visually perceived. In addition,
even in a case where unexpected portion is selected, the portion
can be identified at a glance.
[0142] Accordingly, in the image adjusting method for the image
display apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, a
desired image adjusting portion can be selected from the displayed
image, so that the selected image portion can be distinctively
visually perceived.
[0143] In a case where the image adjusting method for the
aforementioned image display apparatus is carried out in a computer
provided to the image display apparatus, the invention may be
implemented with a program for executing the functions of the image
display apparatus or a computer-readable recording medium where the
program is recorded. As a recording medium, there are a flexible
disk, a CD-ROM, an optical magnetic disk, an IC-card, a ROM
cartridge, a punch card, a printed material having printed symbols
such as barcodes, an internal storage device (RAM, ROM, or other
memories) of an image display apparatus, an external storage
device, or other computer-readable media.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0144] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like
elements.
[0145] FIG. 1 is a view showing a usage of a projector according to
a first embodiment of the invention.
[0146] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a construction of the
projector.
[0147] FIG. 3A is a view an example of an input output
characteristic of a grayscale point adjusting unit, and FIG. 3B is
a table showing a grayscale amount per one step at each adjusting
point.
[0148] FIG. 4A is a graph showing an example of a VT characteristic
of a liquid crystal light valve, and FIG. 4B is a graph showing an
example of an input output characteristic of a gamma correcting
unit.
[0149] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view showing a selection cursor
according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a view showing an
example of a selection status of a image portion obtained by using
the selection cursor.
[0150] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining operations of a
projector at a time of performing gamma adjusting.
[0151] FIG. 7A is a view showing an example of a selection screen,
and FIG. 7B is an example of a branch screen.
[0152] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining operations of
customizing a grayscale characteristic in a cursor adjusting
mode.
[0153] FIG. 9A is a view showing an example of a characteristic
identification screen, and FIG. 9B is a view showing an example of
a grayscale adjusting screen.
[0154] FIG. 10A is a view showing an example of a characteristic
identification screen, and FIG. 10B is a view showing an example of
a continuation identification screen.
[0155] FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a manipulation
screen displayed to overlap an image.
[0156] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining operations of
customizing a grayscale characteristic in a graph adjusting
mode.
[0157] FIG. 13A is a view showing an example of a characteristic
identification screen, FIG. 13B is a view showing an example of a
grayscale adjusting screen, and
[0158] FIG. 13C is a view showing another example of a
characteristic identification screen.
[0159] FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining operations of a
projector at a time of performing gamma adjusting according to a
second embodiment.
[0160] FIG. 15A is a view showing an example of a selection screen,
and FIG. 15B is an example of a branch screen.
[0161] FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining operations of
customizing a grayscale characteristic in a cursor adjusting
mode.
[0162] FIGS. 17A and 17B are views showing examples of a graph
adjusting screen, and FIG. 17C is a view showing an example of a
continuation identification screen.
[0163] FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining operations of
customizing a grayscale characteristic in a graph adjusting
mode.
[0164] FIGS. 19A and 19B are views showing examples of a graph
adjusting screen.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0165] Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
Overviews of Projector
[0166] FIG. 1 is a view showing a usage of a projector according to
a first embodiment of the invention. The projector 100 as an image
display apparatus projects an image on a screen SC based on image
signals supplied from an image signal supply unit 200 such as a
personal computer.
[0167] In order to increase image representing performance
according to image contents or projection configuration, the
projector 100 has two image adjusting functions and can adjust a
grayscale value included in the image signal supplied from the
image signal supply unit 200. The one of the image adjusting
functions of the projector 100 is a "gamma" adjusting function for
selecting a reference .gamma. characteristic, that is, a basic
grayscale characteristic among a plurality of selection items
stored in advance. The other is a "color mode" adjusting function
for selecting a desired color mode among a plurality of selection
items such as "natural", "dynamic", and "theater" in order to
allocate a characteristic accent to the reference .gamma.
characteristic.
[0168] "Custom" characteristic is included in the reference .gamma.
characteristic. At a time of performing "gamma" adjusting, when the
"custom" characteristic is selected, a mode proceeds. In the mode,
a grayscale characteristic", that is, an output grayscale value
with respect to an input grayscale value can be customized with
respect to each of a plurality of specific input grayscale values
(hereinafter, referred to as adjusting points). Namely, in the
"custom" characteristic, the reference .gamma. characteristic, that
is, the grayscale characteristic which is a correlation between the
input and output grayscale values can be customized.
[0169] In order to designate a to-be-customized adjusting point,
the projector 100 has a function of selecting a desired image
portion in a projected image and can adjust the output grayscale
value of an adjusting point corresponding to the grayscale value of
the selected image portion.
[0170] For example, in FIG. 1, a lower left image portion of a
projected image projected on the screen SC is selected by a
selection cursor 51 for selecting an image portion. In this state,
when a manipulation of deciding the selected image portion is
performed, the projector 100 can adjust an output grayscale value
of an image portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that
of the selected image portion.
[0171] In addition to the "cursor" adjusting mode where adjusting
starts from selecting a desired image portion by using the
aforementioned selection cursor 51, the "gamma" adjusting function
has a "graph" adjusting mode where the grayscale adjusting is
performed by displaying a graph representing grayscale
characteristics over the entire grayscale range and selecting a
to-be-adjusted adjusting point among a plurality of the adjusting
points included in the graph. In the "graph" adjusting mode, an
output grayscale value corresponding to the selected adjusting
point can be adjusted.
[0172] The selection of these functions and adjusting modes and the
manipulation of the projector 100 including the adjusting
manipulation are performed by a manipulator 1 disposed on a top of
the projector 100 mounted on a table or a remote controller 2.
[0173] The projector 100 is not limited to one mounted on a table.
Alternatively, the projector 100 may be disposed on a ceiling and
manipulated by the remote controller 2.
Construction of Projector
[0174] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a construction of the
projector according to the embodiment of the invention. A schematic
construction of the projector 100 for implementing the image
adjusting functions such as "gamma" adjusting is described with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0175] The projector 100 is a so-called "three-plate type liquid
crystal projector" which extracts three primary light components
such as red, green, and blue light components from light radiated
by a lamp 3 as a light source unit, modulating the color components
by using liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B as display
units corresponding the respective colors light in accordance with
the image signals, and magnifying and projecting a modulated full
color light (recombined light) by using a projection lens 7 on the
screen SC. The liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B are
optical modulation devices corresponding to red, green, and blue
light and constitute an optic system 4.
[0176] The projector 100 includes the manipulator 1, the remote
controller 2, the lamp 3, the optic system 4, the projection lens
7, a controller 10, a manipulation receiving unit 11, a power
supply unit 12, a lamp driving unit 13, a storage unit 14, an AD
converter 15, an image signal processing unit 16, an image signal
correcting unit 25, a liquid crystal panel driving unit 26, and the
like.
[0177] The manipulator 1 has a plurality of manipulation buttons
for manipulating the projector 100. A plurality of the manipulation
buttons includes a "Power Supply" button for starting or shutting
down the projector 100, a "Menu" button for displaying various
manipulation menus (manipulation screen), a "Select" button for
deciding a selected content, an "Esc" button for returning to a
one-screen-before manipulation screen, and ".uparw.", ".dwnarw."
".fwdarw." and ".rarw." buttons for selecting the selection items
or performing one-step increment or decrement. In addition,
".uparw." and ".dwnarw." buttons are described as a set of "up" and
"down" buttons, and ".fwdarw." and ".rarw." buttons are described
as a set of "left" and "right" buttons. The "up" and "down" buttons
and the "left" and "right" buttons functions plus and minus buttons
according to types of manipulation screens, respectively.
[0178] The remote controller 2 is a device for manipulating the
projector 100 in a remote manner and includes a ".gamma. adjusting"
button for commanding the "gamma" adjusting as well as a plurality
of the manipulation buttons same as those of the manipulator 1.
[0179] The lamp 3 may be a high pressure mercury lamp, a metal
halide lamp, a halogen lamp, or other discharging lamps capable of
obtaining high luminescence.
[0180] The optic system 4 includes an integrated optic system (not
shown) for modulating light radiated from the lamp 3 into light
having a stabilized luminescence distribution, an extraction optic
system (not shown) for extracting primary color components of red,
green, and blue from the light having a stabilized luminescence
distribution and supplying the color components the liquid crystal
light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B corresponding to the colors, and a
recombination optic system (not shown) for recombining the
modulated color components according to the image signals
corresponding to the colors in the liquid crystal light valves.
[0181] The projection lens 7 magnifies the modulated full color
light emitted from the optic system 4 and projects a full color
image on the screen SC.
[0182] The controller 10 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and
communicates signals through a bus line Bus with other units.
[0183] When manipulation is performed by the manipulator 1 or the
remote controller 2, the manipulation receiving unit 11 receives
the associated manipulation and transmits manipulation signals as
triggers for various operations to the controller 10.
[0184] The power supply unit 12 transforms, rectifies, and smoothes
an AC power supplied from an external power supply 210 in a
built-in AC/DC converter (not shown) and supplies a stabilized DC
voltage to units of the projector 100.
[0185] The lamp driving unit 13 includes an igniter circuit (not
shown) which is supplied with a power from the power supply unit 12
and generates a high voltage to form a discharge path in order to
ignite the lamp 3 and a ballast circuit which maintains a
stabilized ignition state after the ignition.
[0186] The storage unit 14 is constructed with, for example, flash
memories, FeRAMs (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory), or other
data-rewritable non-volatile memories. The storage unit 14 stores
an starting program which defines procedures and contents for
starting the projector 100, a "grayscale characteristic adjusting
program" for correcting the grayscale values of the image signals
according to preference, other programs for controlling the
operations of the projector 100, and associated data. The
associated data include a plurality of .gamma. correction data
corresponding to VT characteristics representing a correlation
between input voltage levels and transmittance of light measured
with respect to the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B in a
production stage of the projector 100.
[0187] The AC converter 15 is an AC converter including a decoder
(not shown). The AD converter 15 matches various formats of analog
image signals Vin supplied from the image signal supply unit 200
with a signal type in a decoder as needed, performs AD conversion
based on a sampling clock SCLK, and outputs converted digital RGB
signals as image signals Din. The sampling clock SCLK is generated
based on a synchronization signal SYNC included in the image
signals Vin in a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit of the image
signal processing unit 16 and supplied to the AD converter 15. The
AD conversion of the image signals is performed in order to perform
various image signal processes with the image signals Vin.
[0188] The image signal processing unit 16 is an image process
having a scaler function and the like and generates digital image
signals Dcs by performing various image processes such as scaling
of the image signals Din and adjusting of the grayscale values. The
image signal processing unit 16 is provided with a frame memory 17
and an OSD memory 18.
[0189] The frame memory 17 is constructed with, for example, DRAMs
(Dynamic Random Access Memories), and it is a three-layered memory
plane which stores image data corresponding to image signals with
respect to red, green, and blue colored light.
[0190] The OSD memory 18 is an image memory which stores OSD image
data representing OSD images such as various manipulation screens
and a selection cursor which are displayed so as to be overlapped
with the projected image.
[0191] The image signal processing unit 16 includes scaler unit 19,
an OSD unit 20, a grayscale point adjusting unit 21, a gamma
correcting unit 22, a CPU unit 23, and the like.
[0192] The scaler unit 19 records the image data in accordance with
the image signals Din in the frame memory 17 with respect to the
RGB color signals with resolutions of the image signals and
performs a scaling process of converting and reading out the image
data with resolutions which the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G,
and 5B can display with and generating image signals matching with
a resolution of a display unit. In addition, a trapezoid correction
process for approximating a shape of an effective image projected
on the screen SC to a rectangular shape is performed together with
the scaling process.
[0193] The OSD unit 20 performs an OSD (On Screen Display) process
for overlapping the OSD images such as a manipulation screen on the
projected image. The OSD process is performed in a step where the
image data corresponding to the RGB colored light is recorded in
the frame memory 17, and the OSD unit 20 reads out the OSD image
data representing the manipulation screen or the like from the OSD
memory 18 and overlaps the read-out OSD image data in the frame
memory 17.
[0194] The grayscale point adjusting unit 21 and the gamma
correcting unit 22 are one-dimensional lookup tables (hereinafter,
referred to as a "LUT") disposed in an RAM area of firmware and
adjusts the grayscale values included in the image signals Din. In
addition, a front stage of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21 is
provided with an "RGB-YUV" converter (not shown) which converts the
RGB signals into YUV signals, and a rear stage of the gamma
correcting unit 22 is provided with a "YUV-RGB" converter (not
shown) which converts the YUV signals into the "RGB signals. In the
grayscale point adjusting unit 21 and the gamma correcting unit 22,
adjusting is performed by using the Y signal of the YUV
signals.
[0195] The CPU unit 23 is a CPU which controls the image signal
processing unit 16 as an image processor and controls a series of
the aforementioned image processes by using the frame memory 17 and
the OSD memory 18. Alternatively, the CPU unit 23 also has the
functions of the controller 10 such as starting of the projector
100, projecting of the image, shutting down, or whole controlling.
In such a construction, the controller 10 may be omitted.
[0196] The image signal correcting unit 25 is a three-dimensional
LUT and generates digital image signals by performing a color
matching process for suitably representing the image with the image
signals in a color reproducing region (GAMUT) which the liquid
crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B can display with respect to the
image signals Dcs input from the image signal processing unit 16 or
a color irregularity correction process for correcting a color
irregularity unique to the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and
5B. The image signal correcting unit 25 includes a DA converter
(not shown) and generates analog image signals Vout by performing
DA conversion on the digital image signals in the DA converter.
[0197] The liquid crystal panel driving unit 26 supplies the image
signals Vout input from the image signal correcting unit 25 and
driving voltages with respect to the liquid crystal light valves
5R, 5G, and 5B and irradiates the liquid crystal light valves 5R,
5G, and 5B with the image.
Image Signal Adjusting and Correcting Methods
[0198] FIG. 3A is a graph showing an example of input output
characteristics in the LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit
21. FIG. 4A is a graph showing an example of a VT characteristic of
a liquid crystal light valve, and FIG. 4B is a graph showing an
example of an input output characteristic of an LUT of the gamma
correcting unit 22.
[0199] The image signal adjusting of the grayscale point adjusting
unit 21 and the image signal adjusting of the gamma correcting unit
22 as characterized portions of the embodiment of the invention are
described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A, 4A, and 4B.
[0200] In the projector 100, the image signal adjusting is divided
into the adjusting of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21 as a
first step and the adjusting of the gamma correcting unit 22 as a
second step. Therefore, the image signals Dcs output from the image
signal processing unit 16 are subjected to a combination of the
adjusting of the first and second steps.
[0201] The first step is grayscale adjusting for each adjusting
point in the grayscale point adjusting unit 21. The grayscale point
adjusting unit 21 performs "color mode" adjusting and "custom"
characteristic adjusting in "gamma" adjusting.
[0202] An X axis of the graph shown in FIG. 3A is provided with a
plurality of adjusting points "grayscale 1 to 9" corresponding to
specific input grayscale values. In addition, dot display portions
D1 to D9 representing output grayscale values at the adjusting
points "grayscale 1 to 9" are provided. The larger the grayscale
value is, the brighter image is represented.
[0203] The LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21 having the
input output characteristic of graph shown in FIG. 3A outputs
10-bit output grayscale values in one-to-one correspondence with
the 10-bit input gray values. In an initial setting of the LUT, a
conversion characteristic is set to "y=x" when the X-axis input
grayscale value and the Y-axis output grayscale value are denoted
by "X" and "Y". The setting corresponds to a .gamma. value of 1.0
which is "natural" in terms of a color mode in the "color mode"
adjusting.
[0204] The "grayscale correction data" defining the output
grayscale values of the adjusting points "grayscale 1 to 9" are
stored in the storage unit 14 for each color mode, and the
"grayscale correction data" of the selected color mode is set to
the LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21.
[0205] In addition, in the "custom" characteristic adjusting of the
"gamma" adjusting, the output grayscale values of the adjusting
points "grayscale 1 to 9" can be changed into desired values, and
the customized "grayscale correction data" is set to the LUT of the
grayscale point adjusting unit 21.
[0206] In addition, although the "custom" characteristic adjusting
is performed in the grayscale point adjusting unit 21, the
adjusting manipulation is performed not in a manipulation screen
where a selection manipulation of the color mode is performed but
in a manipulation screen of the "gamma" adjusting.
[0207] The second step is adjusting for correcting grayscale
characteristics unique to the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G,
and 5B in the gamma correcting unit 22. In the later description,
the image signal adjusting of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21
is referred to as "grayscale point adjusting", and the adjusting
for correcting the grayscale characteristics unique to the liquid
crystal light valves in the gamma correcting unit 22 is referred to
as ".gamma. correction".
[0208] In the graph shown in FIG. 4A, the vertical axis is
represented in units of 8 bit by voltages applied to the liquid
crystal light valves, and the horizontal axis is represented by
transmittance of light. As shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid crystal
light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B have unique grayscale characteristics
(referred to as voltage-to-transmittance characteristics, that is,
VT characteristics).
[0209] The gamma correcting unit 22 performs correcting in the LUT
so that the grayscale characteristics unique to the liquid crystal
light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B become the input output characteristics
represented as the reference 7 characteristic in the graph shown in
FIG. 4A. For the reason, the LUTs provided to the liquid crystal
light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B of the gamma correcting unit 22 is set
to ".gamma. correction data" having the input output characteristic
for converting the grayscale characteristics unique to the liquid
crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B in to the reference .gamma.
characteristic (for example, a .gamma. value of 2.2) as shown in
FIG. 4B.
[0210] The projector 100 has five selection items of .gamma. values
in a range of from 2.0 to 2.4 (0.1 interval) as the reference
.gamma. characteristic. In the production step for the projector
100, after the grayscale characteristics of the liquid crystal
light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B are measured, the .gamma. correction
data corresponding to the reference .gamma. characteristic are set
in advance and stored in the storage unit 14.
[0211] Since the image signal adjusting of the projector 100
includes the "grayscale point adjusting" of the grayscale point
adjusting unit 21 as the first step and the ".gamma. correction" of
the gamma correcting unit 22 as the second step, the image signal
Dcs output from the image signal processing unit 16 has a grayscale
value obtained by combining the adjusted contents of the first and
second steps. In terms of a graph, the grayscale characteristic is
obtained by combining the reference .gamma. characteristic of the
".gamma. correction" shown in FIG. 4A and the grayscale
characteristic of the "grayscale point adjusting" shown in FIG.
3A.
[0212] Alternatively, the image signal adjusting may be performed
in an order of the adjusting the gamma correcting unit 22 and the
adjusting of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21.
[0213] In such a construction, various types of adjusting may be
implemented by using various combinations of a "natural",
"dynamic", or "theater" mode in the reference .gamma.
characteristic having a .gamma. value of 2.0 and the color modes in
the reference .gamma. characteristic having a .gamma. value of
2.3.
[0214] Now, the "grayscale point adjusting" of the grayscale point
adjusting unit 21 as the first step is described more in
detail.
[0215] In the graph shown in FIG. 3A, there are nine adjusting
points (grayscale 1 to 9), and six points thereof are set to the
intermediate grayscale value, that is, the grayscale value 511 or
less.
[0216] In addition, one point (grayscale 7) among the remaining
three points is set to a substantially intermediate grayscale value
such as the grayscale value 512, so that about 78% of the adjusting
points are set to be in an input grayscale range of from a low
grayscale to an intermediate grayscale. According to an empirical
result, more adjusting points are provided to a grayscale range
having more adjusting frequencies.
[0217] In order to select an adjusting point among a plurality of
the adjusting points and adjust the output grayscale value, the
"custom" characteristic among the selection items of the "gamma"
adjusting is selected, and a to-be-adjusted image portion or
adjusting point is designated in the "cursor" adjusting mode or the
"graph" adjusting mode.
[0218] For example, in the "cursor" adjusting mode, when a lower
left image portion of the image projected on the screen SC shown in
FIG. 1 is selected by the selection cursor 51, the adjusting point
(for example, grayscale 4) closest to the grayscale value of the
selected image portion in the graph shown in FIG. 3A is
selected.
[0219] The adjusting of the output grayscale value at the selected
adjusting point is performed by using "up" and "down" buttons or
"left" and "right" buttons functioning as "plus and minus" buttons
in the manipulator 1 or the remote controller 2. For example, in
the grayscale adjusting screen G4 shown in FIG. 9B, the "left" and
"right" buttons function as the plus and minus" buttons, and in the
grayscale adjusting screen G12 shown in FIG. 17A, the "up" and
"down" buttons function as the plus and minus" buttons.
[0220] The grayscale amount per one step in the one-time increment
and decrement manipulation using the plus and minus buttons is as
follows. For example, when the plus button is manipulated one time
from the adjusting point "grayscale 4", the output grayscale value
is increased by one step amount "4 counts" as a predetermined
grayscale value. Similarly, when the minus button is manipulated
one time, the output grayscale value is decreased by one step
amount "4 counts". In addition, the plus or minus button is
continuously pushed, so that the output grayscale value is
continuously increased or decreased according to a continuously
pushing time.
[0221] The adjusting grayscale amount as a predetermined grayscale
amount per one step in the one-time increment and decrement
manipulation at the adjusting points is defined in advance.
[0222] FIG. 3B is a table showing a grayscale amount per one step
at each adjusting point shown in FIG. 3A.
[0223] As shown in FIG. 3B, the grayscale amounts at the adjusting
points are set to one step amount "2 counts" for the adjusting
points "grayscale 8, 9" in a high grayscale range and one step
amount "4 counts" for the adjusting points in low and intermediate
grayscale ranges, so that a larger adjusting amount is set to the
low and intermediate grayscale ranges than the high grayscale
range.
[0224] The adjusting amount are set based on the empirical result
that the adjusting amount of the grayscale value in the high
grayscale range is smaller than those in the low and intermediate
ranges.
Details of Selection Cursor
[0225] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view showing an example of the
selection cursor. FIG. 5B is a view showing an example of a
selection status of an image portion selected by using the
selection cursor.
[0226] Now, the selection cursor 51 used for the "cursor" adjusting
mode is described in detail. FIG. 5A is an enlarged view showing
the selection cursor 51 which selects a lower left image portion in
the image projected on the screen SC shown in FIG. 1.
[0227] The selection cursor 51 includes a pixel selection portion
52 and an annular portion 53.
[0228] The pixel selection portion 52 represents a selection region
where a desired image portion is to be selected in the image and
selects pixels included in the selection region among effective
display pixels of the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G, and 5B,
that is, the display units. In case of the pixel selection portion
52, nine pixels P1 to P9 including three consecutive pixels in each
of the vertical and horizontal directions becomes the selection
region. The number of pixels is not limited to 9, but it may be the
number of pixels which include three or more consecutive pixels in
each of the vertical and horizontal directions.
[0229] The annular portion 53 is disposed so as to surround the
pixel selection portion 52 and set to have the same color tone as
that of the pixel selection portion 52. The annular portion 53
always moves together with the pixel selection portion 52, and a
positional relation therebetween is always maintained to be
constant.
[0230] Since the construction is characteristic in that the pixel
selection portion 52 is surrounded by the annular portion 53,
although a size of the selection cursor 51 is small, a position of
the selection cursor 51 in the image on the screen SC shown in FIG.
1 can be distinctively identified.
[0231] The selection cursor 51 is overlapped by the OSD unit 20 in
a state that the image data for the RGB signals are recorded in the
frame memory 17 in the scaling process of the scaler unit 19. The
position of the selection cursor 51 are identified by the CPU 23
based on the moving amount from an initial setting address in the
address of the frame memory 17 according to the "up" and "down"
buttons and "left" and "right" buttons. The initial setting
position of the selection cursor 51 is a substantially central
portion of the image.
[0232] The grayscale value of the pixel selected by the selection
cursor 51 is obtained as luminescence signal data (Y signal data)
by calculating the image data of the selected pixel in the frame
memory 17 where the image data for the RGB signals are recorded.
More specifically, the luminescence signal data is obtained through
such a calculation as "Y=0.299R+0.587G+0.144B".
[0233] The projector 100 identifies an average value of the
grayscale values excluding the maximum and minimum grayscale values
from the obtained grayscale values (Y signals) of the nine pixels
as the grayscale value of the selected image portion. The process
is performed in order to remove extraneous pixel components caused
from noises in the image. Alternatively, an average value of the
grayscale values of all the selected pixels may be identified as
the grayscale value of the selected image portion.
[0234] FIG. 5B shows another example of the selection cursor which
selects edges of an image V. When the position of the selection
cursor 51 reaches the edge of the image V, the CPU unit 23 controls
the entire portions of the pixel selection portion 52 not to
protrude from the image V. In the figure, the image V is shown to
be a bright image having all the grayscale values close to a white
color.
[0235] The selection cursors 51i and 51j select the lower left
portions of the image V. For the convenience of description, the
selection cursors 51i and 51j are displayed to be disposed on the
same screen. However, in an actual case, only the one of the
selection cursors is displayed.
[0236] The pixel selection portion 52 of the selection cursor 51i
selects nine pixels in the lowest end of the lower left portion of
the image V. In such a construction, the annular portion 53 is
displayed on only the inner portion of the image V.
[0237] Similarly, the selection cursor 51j which selects the pixels
in the lower left portion of the image V is displayed on only the
inner portion of the image V.
[0238] In such a construction, even in a case where the edge of the
image V is selected by the selection cursor, since a shape of the
annular potion 53 is displayed within the image V, the selection
cursor can be distinctively identified.
[0239] Both of the selection cursors 51i and 51j which are
displayed on the bright image V close to a white color have a black
tone. On the other hand, in the image on the screen SC shown in
FIG. 1, the selection cursor 51 has a white color.
[0240] The color tone of the selection cursor is controlled by the
CPU unit 23 so that the color tone becomes one of white and black
tones and the contrast to the selected image portion becomes larger
according to the grayscale of the selected image portion.
Procedures of First Image Adjusting Process 1
[0241] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the
projector 100 at a time of performing the "gamma" adjusting. FIG.
7A is a view showing an example of the selection screen, and FIG.
7B is a view showing an example of a branch screen.
[0242] Now, the operations according to the first embodiment at the
time of performing the "gamma" adjusting are described with
reference to mainly FIG. 6 and additionally FIGS. 7A, 7B, and
2.
[0243] The projector 100 is constructed with such a configuration
as shown in FIG. 1 and manipulated by the remote controller 2.
[0244] In Step S1, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation for performing the "gamma" adjusting
according to a manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the manipulation for performing the "gamma"
adjusting, the process proceeds to Step S2. Where there is not
manipulation, the manipulation is waited for. The "grayscale
adjusting program" of the storage unit 14 is started by the
manipulation, and the following processes are performed according
toe the procedures and contents of the grayscale adjusting defined
in the program.
[0245] In Step S2, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the selection screen G1 shown in FIG.
7A with the image signal.
[0246] Five .gamma. values of from 2.0 to 2.4 as selection items of
the grayscale characteristic and "custom" and "reset" as seven
selection items of the custom characteristic are displayed on the
selection screen G1. A graph representing the selected grayscale
characteristics is displayed on the right side of the selection
items. The selection screen G1 shows a state that the "custom" is
selected, and a graph at the right side of the screen shows the
grayscale characteristics.
[0247] The graph of the selection screen G1 shows the grayscale
characteristics obtained by combining the ".gamma. correction" and
the adjusting characteristics of the "grayscale point adjusting".
However, the straight line denotes the reference .gamma.
characteristic having a .gamma. value of 2.2. In the initial
setting of the projector 100, since the reference .gamma.
characteristic has a .gamma. value of 2.2, the scale axis of the
graph is set to be represented by a straight line when the .gamma.
value is 2.2. In the initial setting of the custom characteristic,
the reference .gamma. characteristic is also set to have a .gamma.
value of 2.2.
[0248] In addition, in various manipulation screens described
later, graphs thereof may be set the same scale axis.
[0249] Under the selection screen G1, the manipulation button names
corresponding to the manipulator 1 or the remote controller 2 for
manipulating the selection screen G1 are displayed. More
specifically, "Esc button" for returning the manipulation step to
one-step-before manipulation step, "Up Down button" for selecting
the grayscale characteristic, "Select button" for deciding the
selected grayscale characteristic, and "Menu button" for ending the
adjusting are displayed. In the other manipulation screens
described later, such manipulation guiding display has the same
meaning.
[0250] In the later description, when a new manipulation screen is
displayed, the previously displayed manipulation screens are
closed. In addition, after the manipulation screen is displayed, if
any manipulation is not performed for a predetermined time
interval, for example, two minutes, the manipulation screen, and
the adjusting is treated to end.
[0251] In Step S3, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection manipulation of selecting one characteristic
from the selection items of the grayscale characteristics on the
selection screen G1 based on the manipulation signal from the
manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is a selection
manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S4. When there is no
selection manipulation, the manipulation is waited for.
[0252] In Step S4, the controller 10 sets the .gamma. correction
data of the selected grayscale characteristic to the LUT of the
gamma correcting unit 22 and project the image adjusted according
to the grayscale characteristic. In the step, the image projected
on a background of the selection screen G1 becomes the image
adjusted according to the selected grayscale characteristic.
[0253] In Step S5, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a decision manipulation of deciding the selected grayscale
characteristic based on the manipulation signal from the
manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the decision
manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S6. When there is no
decision manipulation, the process returns to Step S3, so that the
selection manipulation is received unit the decision manipulation
is performed.
[0254] In Step S6, the controller 10 determines whether or not the
decided grayscale characteristic is the "custom" characteristic.
When there is the "custom" characteristic, the process proceeds to
Step S7. When there is no "custom" characteristic, the process
proceeds to Step S10. In addition, when there is the "custom"
characteristic, the operations of from an operation of proceeding
to a process for changing the grayscale characteristic, that is, a
correlation between the input grayscale value and the output
grayscale value to an manipulation of selecting and deciding the
"custom" characteristic correspond to a starting manipulation for
starting changing the correlation.
[0255] In Step S7, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the branch screen G2 shown in FIG. 7B
with the image signal.
[0256] A selection items for selecting one of the "cursor"
adjusting mode represented by "adjust based on an image" and
"graph" adjusting mode represented by "adjust based on a graph" is
displayed on the branch screen G2. The branch screen G2 shows a
state that the "cursor" adjusting mode is selected.
[0257] In Step S8, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection decision manipulation of selecting and
deciding the "cursor" adjusting mode based on the manipulation
signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the
selection decision manipulation, the process proceeds to a
subroutine of "cursor" adjusting mode. When there is no selection
decision manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S9.
[0258] In Step S9, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection decision manipulation of selecting and
deciding the "graph" adjusting mode based on the manipulation
signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the
selection decision manipulation, the process proceeds to a
subroutine of the "graph" adjusting mode. When there is not
selection decision manipulation, the process returns to Step S7 and
waits for the selection and decision manipulations.
[0259] Next, a case where the decided grayscale characteristic is
not the "custom" characteristic in Step 6 is described.
[0260] In Step S10, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to close the selection screen G1 in a state the
.gamma. correction data of the selected and decided grayscale
characteristic is set to the LUT of the gamma correcting unit 22,
so that the "gamma" adjusting ends.
[0261] In addition, the record that the cursor" adjusting mode or
the "graph" adjusting mode is selected and decided is stored in the
storage unit 14, and at the time of the next manipulation, in Step
S7, the branch screen is displayed in a state that the stored
adjusting mode is selected.
[0262] In addition, when the selected grayscale characteristic is
the "custom" characteristic, Step S6 is not limited to displaying
of the branch screen G2. Alternatively, it may be a process routine
of directly performing one of "graph" and "cursor" adjusting
modes.
Procedures of First Image Adjusting Process 2: Cursor Adjusting
Mode
[0263] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining operations at a time of
customizing the grayscale characteristic in the "cursor" adjusting
mode. FIG. 9A is a view showing an example of a characteristic
identification screen, and FIG. 9B is a view showing an example of
a grayscale adjusting screen. FIG. 10A is a view showing an example
of the characteristic identification screen, and FIG. 10B is a view
showing an example of a continuation identification screen.
[0264] Now, the operations at the time of customizing the grayscale
characteristic in the "cursor" adjusting mode are described with
reference to mainly FIG. 8 and additionally FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B,
and 2.
[0265] In Step S21, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the image. This is because a moving
image is not easy to select an image portion thereof.
[0266] In Step S22, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the "selection cursor" with the image
signal. The state is the same as that of the selection cursor 51 on
the image in the screen SC shown in FIG. 1.
[0267] In Step S23, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is an image selection manipulation of selecting a
predetermined image portion by the "selection cursor" based on the
manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When
there is the image selection manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S24. When there is no image selection manipulation, the image
selection manipulation is waited for.
[0268] In Step S24, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to blink the selected image portion and an image
portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion and overlap the characteristic
identification screen G3 shown in FIG. 9A with the image
signal.
[0269] In the process, firstly, the controller 10 reads out the
image data for the RGB colors of the selected image portion
selected by the "selection cursor" from the frame memory 17 and
obtains the luminescence signal data (Y signal data) from the image
data of the pixels. Next, the controller obtains an average value
of the Y signal data excluding the maximum and minimum grayscale
values from the Y signal data of the pixels. Next, the adjusting
point closet to the obtained Y signal data is selected as the
to-be-adjusted adjusting point.
[0270] In addition, the blinking of the image portion is performed
by changing the output grayscale value of the selected adjusting
point in the "grayscale correction date" of the grayscale point
adjusting unit 21 (LUT) in a period of 1 Hz at plus 32 counts and
minus 32 counts of the initial output grayscale value.
[0271] In addition, on the characteristic identification screen G3,
a state that the adjusting point "grayscale 2" is selected is
displayed, and a dot displayed portion D2 of the adjusting point
"grayscale 2" is blinked in synchronization with the blinking cycle
of the image portion. The method of displaying the dot displayed
portion is not limited to the blinking thereof. Alternatively, a
method of changing the color tone of the dot displayed portion into
other color tones such as orange different from those of the other
dot displayed portions may be used.
[0272] In Step S25, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is an image decision manipulation of deciding the selected
image portion, that is, the selected adjusting point based on the
manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When
there is the image decision manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S26. When there is no image decision manipulation, the image
decision manipulation is waited for.
[0273] In Step S26, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop blinking of the image portion and
overlap the grayscale adjusting screen G4 shown in FIG. 9B with the
image signal. In addition, Step S24 may be a process routine of
displaying the grayscale adjusting screen G4 instead of the
characteristic identification screen G3. In such a procedure, the
determination of the image decision manipulation in Step S25 is not
needed, and the blinking of the image portion is stopped by using
the adjusting manipulation to the grayscale adjusting screen G4 as
a trigger.
[0274] In Step S27, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of adjusting the output grayscale value
based on the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the adjusting manipulation, the process
proceeds to Step S28. When there is no adjusting manipulation, the
adjusting manipulation is waited for.
[0275] In step S28, the controller 10 sequentially corrects the
"grayscale correction data" according to the adjusting
manipulation, sets the corrected "grayscale correction data" to the
LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21, and performs the
adjusting of the image signal based on the grayscale
characteristic. In this step, the image projected on a background
of the grayscale adjusting screen G4 becomes the image adjusted in
real-time according to the grayscale characteristic corresponding
to the adjusted contents.
[0276] In Step S29, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the adjusted contents based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the decision manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S30. When there is no decision manipulation, the process
returns to Step S27 and receives the adjusting manipulation until
there is the decision manipulation.
[0277] In Step S30, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the characteristic identification
screen G5 shown in FIG. 10A with the image signal. On the
characteristic identification screen G5, a graph representing the
grayscale characteristic subjected to the grayscale point adjusting
is displayed.
[0278] In Step S31, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the adjusting result based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the decision manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S32. When there is no decision manipulation, the decision
manipulation is waited for. When there is the decision
manipulation, the adjusted contents are stored as the "grayscale
correction data" of the "custom" characteristic in the storage unit
14. In addition, a manipulation screen for naming the previously
adjusted "custom" characteristics is displayed. For example, there
may be provided a process routine for naming the characteristics,
for example, "custom 1", "custom B" and storing the
characteristics.
[0279] In Step S32, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the continuation identification
screen G6 shown in FIG. 10B with the image signal. On the
continuation identification screen G6, an identification indicator
for determining whether or not the adjusting of the "cursor"
adjusting mode is continued is displayed.
[0280] In Step S33, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of continuing the adjusting based on the
manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When
there is the continuation manipulation, the process returns to Step
S22 and continues the adjusting of the "cursor" adjusting mode by
using the previously adjusted "grayscale correction data" as base
data. When there is no continuation manipulation, the continuation
identification screen G6 is closed, so that the adjusting of the
"cursor" adjusting mode ends.
[0281] FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of the manipulation
screen displayed so as to overlap the image. Now, the displayed
positions of the characteristic identification screen and the
grayscale adjusting screen are described.
[0282] In Step S24, the characteristic identification screen G3
shown in FIG. 9A is overlapped with the image signal by using the
image signal manipulation as a trigger. However, with respect to
the displayed position of the characteristic identification screen
G3, the characteristic identification screen G3 is displayed at a
lower right portion of the screen as shown in FIG. 11. This is
because the image signal processing unit 16 controls the
characteristic identification screen G3 not to be overlapped with
the image portion selected by the selection cursor 51. For the
convenience of description, in FIG. 11, the selection cursor 51
together with the characteristic identification screen G3 are
displayed on the same screen. However, as described above, in an
actual case, both are not displayed on the same screen.
[0283] In addition, the displayed positions in the initial setting
of the manipulation screens such as the branch screen G2, the
characteristic identification screens G3, G5, G7, and G9, the
grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8 are set at the lower left
portion of the image. However, the displayed positions on the
characteristic identification screens G3, G5, G7, and G9 and the
grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8 are controlled so as not to
be overlapped with the selected image portion or the image portion
corresponding to the selected adjusting point. In addition, the
sizes of the manipulation screens are set to be 1/4 or less of the
image area like the characteristic identification screen G3.
[0284] Now, the reasons that, in Step S24, the blinking of the
image portion is performed by increment and decrement of .+-.32
counts of the output grayscale value and the blinking period is set
to be 1 Hz are described.
[0285] An output grayscale value of a general image display
apparatus is displayed with 8 to 10 bits, so that 256 to 1024
output grayscale values are generated. When a portion of the screen
is visualized by the blinking of the image portion, if the blinking
level is periodically increased and decreased from the "zero" level
to "maximum" level according to the full scale of the output
grayscale level, since the contrast is too high, the image is
flickered, so that observer's eyes become fatigued. In addition,
since the response of the display unit cannot be caught up with, an
inharmonious image may be formed. In order to prevent this
phenomenon, the blinking of the selected image portion is
preferably performed with a grayscale amount of .+-.10% or less of
the full scale of the output grayscale value.
[0286] Therefore, although the increment and decrement amounts of
the output grayscale value are set to be .+-.32 counts, the amounts
are not limited thereto. Alternatively, the grayscale amount of
.+-.10% or less of the full scale of the output grayscale value may
be used.
[0287] The reason that the blinking period is set to 1 Hz is that,
with respect to the visual characteristic of a human, it is known
that, if the blinking period exceeds 3 Hz, unpleasant feeling
caused from the flickering of the image is increased. Therefore,
the blinking period is not limited to 1 Hz, but it may be in a
range of from 0.5 Hz to 3 Hz.
Procedures of Image Adjusting Process 3: Graph Adjusting Mode
[0288] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining operations at a time
of customizing the grayscale characteristic in the "graph"
adjusting mode. FIGS. 13A and 13C are view showing an example of a
characteristic identification screen, and FIG. 13B is a view
showing an example of a grayscale adjusting screen.
[0289] Now, the operations at the time of customizing the grayscale
characteristic in the "graph" adjusting mode are described with
reference to mainly FIG. 12 and additionally FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C,
and 2.
[0290] In Step S41, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the image.
[0291] In Step S42, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the characteristic identification
screen G7 shown in FIG. 13A with the image signal. On the
characteristic identification screen G7, the adjusting point
"grayscale 1" is displayed in a selected state, and the image
portion corresponding to the adjusting point "grayscale 1" is
blinked in a period of 1 Hz. In the dot displayed portion D1 having
the adjusting point "grayscale 1" is synchronously blinked.
[0292] With respect to the method of displaying the dot displayed
portion, a method of changing the color tone of the dot displayed
portion into other color tones such as orange different from those
of the other dot displayed portions may be used.
[0293] In Step S43, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of selecting the adjusting point based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the selection manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S44. When there is no selection manipulation, the selection
manipulation is waited for.
[0294] In Step S44, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to blink the image portion corresponding to the
selected adjusting portion in a period of 1 Hz. In addition, the
dot displayed portion of the selected adjusting point on the
characteristic identification screen G7 is also synchronously
blinked. In addition, the blinking of the image portion is
performed by changing the output grayscale value of the selected
adjusting point in the "grayscale correction date" of the grayscale
point adjusting unit 21 (LUT) in a period of 1 Hz at plus 32 counts
and minus 32 counts of the initial output grayscale value.
[0295] In Step S45, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the selected adjusting point
based on the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the decision manipulation, the process
proceeds to Step S46. When there is no decision manipulation, the
process returns to Step S43 and receives the selection manipulation
unit the decision manipulation is performed.
[0296] In Step S46, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the blinking of the image portion and
overlap the grayscale adjusting screen G8 shown in FIG. 13B with
the image signal. Alternatively, Step S44 may be a process routine
of closing the characteristic identification screen G7 and
displaying the grayscale adjusting screen G8. In such a procedure,
the determination of the selection decision manipulation in Step
S45 is not needed, and the blinking of the image portion is stopped
by using the adjusting manipulation to the grayscale adjusting
screen G8 as a trigger.
[0297] In Step S47, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of adjusting the output grayscale value
based on the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. Where there is the adjusting manipulation, the process
proceeds to Step S48. When there is no adjusting manipulation, the
adjusting manipulation is waited for.
[0298] In step S48, the controller 10 sequentially corrects the
"grayscale correction data" according to the adjusting
manipulation, sets the corrected "grayscale correction data" to the
LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21, and performs the
adjusting of the image signal based on the grayscale
characteristic. In such a construction, the projected image
adjusted according to the corrected grayscale characteristic is
displayed on a background of the grayscale adjusting screen G8.
[0299] In Step S49, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the adjusted contents based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the decision manipulation, the process returns to
Step S42. When there is no decision manipulation, the process
returns to Step S47 and receives the adjusting manipulation until
the decision manipulation is performed.
[0300] In addition, when there is the decision manipulation, the
manipulation screen displayed in Step S42 becomes the
characteristic identification screen G9 shown in FIG. 13C. In the
characteristic identification screen G9, the output grayscale value
of, for example, the adjusting point "grayscale 5" is the grayscale
value including the previously performed adjusted contents. In
addition, the adjusted contents are stored as the "grayscale
correction data" of the "custom" characteristic in the storage unit
14 in advance. In addition, a manipulation screen for naming the
previously adjusted "custom" characteristics is displayed. For
example, there may be provided a process routine for naming the
characteristics, for example, "custom 1", "custom B" and storing
the characteristics.
[0301] In the embodiment, the OSD unit 20 which overlaps the branch
screen G2, the characteristic identification screens G3, G7, and
G9, the grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8, and the selection
cursor 51 on the projected image after the "custom" characteristic
is selected among a plurality of the grayscale characteristics
displayed on the selection screen G1, the manipulator 1 which
receives the manipulations according to the screens, and the
controller 10 which controls the OSD unit 20 and the manipulator 1
and corrects the "grayscale correction data" according to the
manipulation contents of the manipulator 1 correspond to the
grayscale characteristic changing unit according to the embodiment
of the invention.
[0302] According to the aforementioned embodiment, the following
advantages can be obtained.
[0303] (1) The storage unit 14 stores a plurality of the grayscale
characteristics including the custom characteristic which can
customize the characteristic used for the image adjusting.
Therefore, since there are a large number of the selection items of
the grayscale characteristic, the projector 100 can cope with the
selection items corresponding to the user's various
preferences.
[0304] When the grayscale characteristic of the selection screen G1
is performed, the image signal processing unit 16 adjusts the image
signal according to the selected grayscale characteristic, so that
the image is projected according the adjusted image signal.
Therefore, the image including the adjusted contents on the
background of the selection screen G1 can be identified in the step
of selecting the adjusted contents, that is, the step before the
adjusted contents are decided.
[0305] Therefore, in the projector 100, since the image adjusting
can be performed according to the user's preferences, the image
including the adjusted contents can be identified in the step of
selecting the adjusted contents.
[0306] (2) The graph representing a correlation between the input
and output grayscale levels of the selected grayscale
characteristics is included in the selection screen G1. Therefore,
the graph representing the selected grayscale characteristic can be
visually perceived.
[0307] Accordingly, in the projector 100, in addition to the image
including the adjusted contents, the graph representing the
grayscale characteristic can be identified in the step of selecting
the adjusted contents.
[0308] (3) In the OSD unit 20, the branch screen G2 which is used
to select one of the graph adjusting mode and the cursor adjusting
mode by using selecting and deciding the custom characteristic as a
trigger is overlapped with the image signal. Therefore, due to the
branch screen G2, one of the graph adjusting mode and the cursor
adjusting mode can be selected.
[0309] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the adjusting method can
be selected according to the user's preferences.
[0310] (4) The record that the cursor" adjusting mode or the
"graph" adjusting mode is selected and decided is stored in the
storage unit 14, and at the time of the next manipulation, the
branch screen G2 is displayed in a state that the adjusting mode
for the selected record is selected. Therefore, a probability that
the user performs the selection manipulation for the adjusting mode
is reduced.
[0311] Accordingly, the projector 100 can be conveniently used.
[0312] (5) When the custom characteristic is selected, in any
adjusting mode of the "cursor" adjusting mode and the "graph"
adjusting mode, the characteristic identification screen, that is,
a graph smaller than the image representing the grayscale
characteristic in the initial setting of the custom characteristic
is displayed. Therefore, due to the characteristic identification
screen, the grayscale characteristic in the initial setting of the
custom characteristic can be identified.
[0313] In addition, in the graph" adjusting mode, when a
manipulation of selecting one among a plurality of the dot
displayed portions representing the output grayscale levels for the
adjusting points in the graph on the characteristic identification
screen G7 is performed, the OSD unit 20 stops the overlapping of
the characteristic identification screen G7 and overlaps the
grayscale adjusting screen G8 smaller than the still image of which
output grayscale level of the selected adjusting point is to be
adjusted with the image signal. Therefore, due to the grayscale
adjusting screen G8, the adjusting of the output grayscale level of
the selected adjusting point can be performed.
[0314] Accordingly, in the projector 100, after the grayscale
characteristic is identified by using the graph, the image
adjusting can be performed according to the user's preferences.
[0315] (6) When the "cursor" adjusting mode is selected and
decided, the selection cursor 51 is displayed, and the image is
stopped. Therefore, although the moving image is not easy to
select, the selection of the image portion by using the selection
cursor 51 can be easily performed on the still image.
[0316] In addition, when the manipulation of selecting the image
portion is performed by using the selection cursor 51, after the
decision manipulation of the selected image portion is performed,
the OSD unit 20 overlaps the grayscale adjusting screen G4 smaller
than the still image of which output grayscale level at the
adjusting points corresponding to the selected image portion is to
be adjusted with the image signal. Therefore, due to the grayscale
adjusting screen G4, the adjusting of the output grayscale level at
the selected adjusting point can be performed.
[0317] Accordingly, in the projector 100, since a desired image
portion can be easily selected, the image adjusting can be
performed according to the user's preferences.
[0318] (7) When the adjusting manipulation of the grayscale levels
on the grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8 is performed, the
image signal processing unit 16 sequentially adjusts the grayscale
value of the image portion corresponding to the adjusting point of
the still image according to the output grayscale level which is
subjected to the adjusting manipulation. Therefore, the image
including the adjusted contents can be identified in real-time in
the step of performing the adjusting.
[0319] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the image adjusting can
be performed according to the user's preferences, and the image
including the adjusted contents can be identified in real-time in
the step of performing the adjusting.
[0320] (8) A plurality of the adjusting points of the custom
characteristic are distributed so that a larger number of the
adjusting points are distributed to a range of from the low
grayscale value to the intermediate grayscale value at the input
side. Therefore, in the projector 100, a large number of the
adjusting points are provided to the grayscale range needed to
improve the "image quality" which the user highly expects in the
grayscale adjusting.
[0321] In addition, predetermined output grayscale amounts for the
adjusting points are set so that a larger amount is provided to the
adjusting points in the low grayscale range than the adjusting
points in the high grayscale range. The adjusting amounts per one
step in the graph adjusting screen and the grayscale adjusting
screens G4 and G8 are set to the adjusting amounts satisfying the
needed usage.
[0322] Accordingly, the projector 100 can be easily used, so that
the image adjusting can be performed according to the user's
preferences.
[0323] (9) The sizes of the manipulation screens including the
selection screen G1, the characteristic identification screens G3,
G5, G7, and G9, the grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8, and the
branch screen G2 are set to be 1/4 or less of the image. Therefore,
although the area covered by the manipulation screen is excluded,
the image having 3/4 or more of the entire area can be identified.
In addition, the manipulation screen is disposed in an inner side
of one of four corners of the image having a substantially
rectangular shape as the initial setting. Therefore, the central
portion of the image cannot be covered by the manipulation
screen.
[0324] In addition, the OSD unit moves the position of the
manipulation screen in an inner region of the image so that the
selected image portion cannot be overlapped with the manipulation
screen. Therefore, the adjusting state of the selected image
portion which needs to be most carefully adjusted can be identified
at the time of the adjusting.
[0325] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the image adjusting can
be performed while the image state is always identified.
[0326] (10) The grayscale characteristic in the default initial
setting of the custom characteristic can be changed and is set to
one grayscale characteristic among a plurality of the grayscale
characteristics stored in the storage unit 14. Therefore, the
grayscale characteristic according to the user's preferences can be
selected as a reference characteristic.
[0327] In addition, the adjusted custom characteristic is stored in
the storage unit 14, and when the selection screen G1 is displayed
at the time of the next manipulation, the adjusted custom
characteristic is displayed as one of the selection items of a
plurality of the grayscale characteristics. Therefore, the adjusted
custom characteristics are stored, so that it can be easily
reproduced.
[0328] Accordingly, the projector 100 can be easily used, so that
the image adjusting can be performed according to the user's
preferences.
[0329] (11) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, when the manipulation
for the image adjusting is performed, the image signal processing
unit 16 stops the image and displays the selection cursor 51 for
selecting the desired image portion on the image. Even in case of a
moving image where the image portion is not easy to selection due
to a change of the image, since the image is stopped, so that the
image portion can be easily selected. In addition, the desired
image portion can be selected from the still image by using the
selection cursor 51.
[0330] When the manipulation of selecting the image portion by
using the selection cursor 51 is performed, the OSD unit 20 blinks
the adjusting point corresponding to the selected image portion or
overlap the characteristic identification screen G3 where the color
tone of the adjusting point is changed with the image signal.
Therefore, the grayscales of the image portions over the entire
grayscale range are distinctively represented on the graph.
Accordingly, the to-be-adjusted adjusting point can be identified
by using the graph before the grayscale adjusting is performed.
[0331] In addition, when the manipulation of deciding the selected
image portion is performed, the OSD unit 20 overlaps the grayscale
adjusting screen G4 at the adjusting point corresponding to the
grayscale of the selected image portion with the image signal.
Therefore, due to the grayscale adjusting screen G4, the grayscale
adjusting of the selected image portion can be performed.
[0332] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the desired adjusting
portion can be selected from the projected image, and the image
adjusting for the selected adjusting portion can be performed after
the grayscale characteristic is identified.
[0333] (12) The image signal processing unit 16 includes a gamma
correcting unit 22 which corrects one reference .gamma.
characteristic among a plurality of the reference .gamma.
characteristics defined in advance in order to match the grayscale
characteristics unique to the liquid crystal light valves 5R, 5G,
and 5B with the visual characteristics of a human and a grayscale
point adjusting unit 21 which adjusts the output grayscale values
for a plurality of the adjusting points disposed according to the
input levels of the reference .gamma. characteristic. The functions
are performed by individual dedicated units. Therefore, since the
dedicated constructions can be formed, it is possible to simplify
the constructions.
[0334] In addition, the grayscale adjusting to the image signal in
the image signal processing unit 16 is performed by using the
grayscale characteristic obtained by combining the .gamma.
correction in the gamma correcting unit 22 and the grayscale point
adjusting in the grayscale point adjusting unit 21. Therefore, due
to the two adjusting portions, a highly-accurate grayscale
adjusting can be performed.
[0335] When the adjusting of the output grayscale value in each of
the grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8 of the selected adjusting
point is performed, the grayscale point adjusting unit 21 changes
the output grayscale value of the adjusting point according to the
adjusted contents. Therefore, the image on the background of each
of the grayscale adjusting screens G4 and G8 can be updated by an
image including the adjusted contents in real-time.
[0336] Accordingly, in the projector 100, since the highly-accurate
grayscale adjusting can be performed by using a simple grayscale
adjusting construction, the image including the adjusted contents
can be identified in real-time.
[0337] (13) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the selection cursor 51
includes the pixel selection portion 52 which has a size capable of
selecting a plurality of the three or more consecutive pixels in
the liquid crystal light valves. Therefore, the selected portion
according to the user's intention can be determined based on the
pixel data in a plurality of the pixels having a width.
[0338] In addition, with respect to the adjusting point
corresponding to the selected image portion, the adjusting point
having the input grayscale level closest to the average value of
the grayscale values for a plurality of the pixels selected by the
pixel selection portion or the average value excluding the maximum
and minimum grayscale values from the grayscale values for a
plurality of the pixels selected by the pixel selection portion is
selected. Therefore, since the influence of the pixel data
including the noise can be reduced, the adjusting point
corresponding to the image portion according to the user's
intention can be selected.
[0339] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the adjusting portion
according to the user's intention can be accurately selected from
the projected image.
[0340] (14) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the pixel selection
portion 52 has a size capable of selecting, preferably, a total of
nine pixels in a square shape where the three consecutive pixels
are arrayed in each of the vertical and horizontal directions.
Therefore, although the average value is obtained from the
grayscale values excluding the pixels having the maximum and
minimum grayscale values, the effective pixel data for the seven
pixels can be obtained. In addition, since the pixel selection
portion has a suitable size over the entire image, it can be easily
visually perceived. In addition, since the pixel selection portion
has a square shape, the image portion can be easily selected.
[0341] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the adjusting portion
according to the user's intention can be easily and accurately
selected from the projected image.
[0342] (15) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the selection cursor 51
further includes the annular portion 53 which is disposed along the
circumference of the pixel selection portion 52 to have a shape
which is one-step larger than an outer portion of the pixel
selection portion 52. In addition, a relative position of the
annular portion 53 to the pixel selection portion 52 is always
maintained constant, and the annular potion together with the pixel
selection portion 52 is moved on the still image. Therefore, the
selection cursor 51 has a specific shape having the annular portion
53 of which size is larger by one step than that of the pixel
selection portion 52, and a large selection cursor can be
distinctively displayed on the image.
[0343] In addition, the image signal processing unit 16 adjusts the
color tone of the selection cursor 51 based on a color tone having
high contrast among a color tone of the image portion selected by
the selection cursor 51 and a color tone of one of black and white.
Therefore, the color tone of the selection cursor 51 can be easily
visually perceived.
[0344] Accordingly, due to the distinctively displayed selection
cursor 51, a desired image portion can be easily selected.
[0345] Accordingly, in the projector 100, since the selection
cursor is distinctively displayed on the image, the desired image
portion can be easily selected.
[0346] (16) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, when the selection
manipulation of the image portion is performed by using the
selection cursor 51, the position of the pixel selection portion 52
is controlled by the image signal processing unit 16 so that the
entire portions of the pixel selection portion 52 are not protruded
from the still image, and when the pixel selection portion 52
reaches the edge of the still image, the selection cursor 51 is
displayed in a state that a portion of the image corresponding to
the annular portion 53 protruding from the still image is excluded.
Therefore, due to the selection cursor 51, the image portion in the
edge of the image can be selected from the image, and although the
edge of the image is selected, the selection cursor 51 can be
visually perceived.
[0347] Accordingly, in the projector 100, due to the selection
cursor, the desired image portion can be selected from all the
effective image regions.
[0348] (17) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the image signal
processing unit 16 stops the image and displays the selection
cursor 51 for selecting the desired image portion on the display
unit. Even in case of a moving image where the image portion is not
easy to selection due to a change of the image, since the image is
stopped, so that the image portion can be easily selected. In
addition, the desired image portion can be selected from the still
image by using the selection cursor 51.
[0349] In addition, when the image portion is selected from the
still image by the selection cursor 51, the image signal processing
unit 16 blinks the selected image portion of the still image and
the image portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of
the selected image portion. Therefore, these image portions are
displayed so as to be distinguished from other image portions.
Therefore, the selected image portion can be distinctively visually
perceived. In addition, even in a case where unexpected portion is
selected, the portion can be identified at a glance.
[0350] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the desired image
grayscale portion can be selected from the displayed image, and the
selected image portion can be distinctively visually perceived.
[0351] (18) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the blinking of the
image portion selected by the selection cursor 51 and the image
portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion is performed by periodically increasing and
decreasing the output grayscale value at the adjusting point having
the input grayscale level closest to the grayscale value of the
selected image portion among a plurality of the adjusting points
corresponding to the input grayscale level of the image signal
representing the still image. Therefore, the selected image portion
and the image portion having a grayscale substantially equal to
that of the selected image portion can be blinked by using such a
simple method of increasing and decreasing the output grayscale
value at the one adjusting point.
[0352] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the selected image
portion and the image portion selected together with the selected
image portion can be visually perceived and identified by using
such a simple method.
[0353] (19) The image signal processing unit 16 includes a gamma
correcting unit 22 which corrects one reference grayscale
characteristic among a plurality of the reference grayscale
characteristics defined in advance in order to match the grayscale
characteristics unique to the display unit with the visual
characteristic of a human and a grayscale point adjusting unit 21
which adjusts the output grayscale value for a plurality of the
adjusting points disposed according to the input levels in the
reference grayscale characteristic, and each of the gamma
correction unit and the grayscale point adjusting unit is
constructed with one-dimensional LUT. Each of the gamma correction
unit and the grayscale point adjusting unit has a simple
construction having dedicated functions. Accordingly, the
correction data set to each of the LUTs may be constructed to be
not large complex data but simple data.
[0354] In addition, the blinking of the image portion selected by
the selection cursor 51 and the image portion having a grayscale
substantially equal to that of the selected image portion is
performed by the grayscale point adjusting unit 21. Therefore, the
image portion can be blinked without influence to the reference
grayscale characteristic.
[0355] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the selected image
portion and the image portion selected together with the selected
image portion can be visually perceived and identified by using
such a simple construction.
[0356] (20) The increment and decrement amounts of the output
grayscale values used to blink the image portion at the adjusting
point corresponding to the selected image portion selected by the
selection cursor 51 in the "cursor" adjusting mode or at the
selected adjusting point in the "graph" adjusting mode are set to
be .+-.10% or less of the full scale of the output grayscale value
of the grayscale characteristic. Therefore, due to such a suitable
contrast, the image portion can be visually perceived without the
fatigue of the observer's eyes. In addition, the response of the
display unit can be sufficiently caught up with.
[0357] In addition, the blinking period of the image portion is set
to be in a range of from 0.5 Hz to 3 Hz or less. Therefore,
unpleasant feeling caused from the flicker can be prevented, and
the image portion can be distinctively visually perceived.
[0358] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the selected image
portion can be distinctively visually perceived without unpleasant
feeling.
[0359] (21) In the "cursor" adjusting mode, the blinking period of
the image portion selected by the selection cursor 51 or the
blinking period of the image portion corresponding to the selected
adjusting portion in the "graph" adjusting mode is in
synchronization with the blinking period of the dot displayed
portions of the characteristic identification screens G3 and
G7.
[0360] Therefore, it can be visually perceived that the selected
image portion and the dot displayed portion at the adjusting points
corresponding to the characteristic identification screens G3 and
G7 are equal to each other. In addition, the periods are
synchronized with each other, so that the visually unpleasant
feeling can be prevented.
[0361] In the image display apparatus according to the embodiment
of the invention, it can be visually represented that the selected
image portion corresponds to the dot displayed portion.
Second Embodiment
Procedures of Second Image Adjusting Process 1: Up to Branch
Screen
[0362] FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the
projector 100 at a time of performing the "gamma" adjusting. FIG.
15A is a view showing an example of the selection screen, and FIG.
15B is a view showing an example of the branch screen.
[0363] Now, the operations of the process up to the branch screen
according to the second embodiment in the image adjusting performed
by the projector 100 according to the first embodiment are
described with reference to mainly FIG. 14 and additionally FIGS.
15A, 15B, and 2. The same elements as those of the first embodiment
are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant
description is omitted.
[0364] The procedures and the manipulation screens in the process
of the image adjusting according to the second embodiment are
different from those of the process of the image adjusting
according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the "grayscale
adjusting program" for defining the procedures and contents of the
image adjusting according to the second embodiment has functions
different from those of the program according to the first
embodiment. In addition, some of the manipulation screens stored in
the OSD memory 18 are different from the manipulation screens
according to the first embodiment. In addition, the reference
.gamma. characteristic in the "custom" characteristic is set to
have a .gamma. value of 2.4 by the manipulation of the manipulator
1 in advance.
[0365] The projector 100 is constructed with such a configuration
as shown in FIG. 1 and manipulated by the manipulator 1.
[0366] In Step S51, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation for performing the "gamma" adjusting
according to a manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the manipulation for performing the "gamma"
adjusting, the process proceeds to Step S52. Where there is not
manipulation, the manipulation is waited for. The "grayscale
adjusting program" of the storage unit 14 is started by the
manipulation, and the following processes are performed according
toe the procedures and contents of the grayscale characteristic
defined in the program.
[0367] In Step S52, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the selection screen G10 shown in
FIG. 15A with the image signal.
[0368] The selection screen G10 is the same as the selection screen
G1 shown in FIG. 7A. On the selection screen G10, a state that the
"custom" characteristic is selected is displayed, but the graph is
a curved line unlike the graph displayed on the selection screen
G1. This is because the reference .gamma. characteristic in the
"custom" characteristic is set to have a .gamma. value of 2.4, and
the .gamma. value of 2.4 is represented on the scale of the graph
having the .gamma. value of 2.2 as a reference straight
characteristic.
[0369] In Step S53, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection manipulation of selecting one characteristic
from the selection items of the grayscale characteristics on the
selection screen G10 based on the manipulation signal from the
manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is a selection
manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S54. When there is no
selection manipulation, the manipulation is waited for.
[0370] In Step S54, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to update the selection screen G10 according to
the adjusted contents. The updated contents of the selection screen
S10 includes selecting and displayed the indication (for example,
2.3) representing the selected grayscale characteristic at the
lower left side of the screen. In this step, the grayscale
adjusting of the background image is not performed.
[0371] In Step S55, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a decision manipulation of deciding the selected grayscale
characteristic based on the manipulation signal from the
manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the decision
manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S56. When there is no
decision manipulation, the process returns to Step S53, so that the
selection manipulation is received unit the decision manipulation
is performed.
[0372] In Step S56, the controller 10 determines whether or not the
decided grayscale characteristic is the "custom" characteristic.
When there is the "custom" characteristic, the process proceeds to
Step S58. When there is no "custom" characteristic, the process
proceeds to Step S57. In addition, when there is the "custom"
characteristic, the operations of from an operation of proceeding
to a process for changing the grayscale characteristic, that is, a
correlation between the input grayscale value and the output
grayscale value to an manipulation of selecting and deciding the
"custom" characteristic correspond to a starting manipulation for
starting changing the correlation.
[0373] In Step S57, the controller 10 sets the .gamma. correction
data of the selected grayscale characteristic to the LUT of the
gamma correcting unit 22 and project the image adjusted according
to the grayscale characteristic. Next, the process returns to Step
S53, so that a manipulation of selecting the grayscale
characteristic is waited for again. In the step, the image
projected on a background of the selection screen G10 becomes the
image adjusted according to the selected grayscale characteristic,
and the graph representing the selected grayscale characteristic is
displayed on the selection screen G10. In order to end the
adjusting, the "Menu" button of the manipulator 1 or the remote
controller 2 is pushed according to the display in the lower
portion of the selection screen G10.
[0374] Next, a case of the "custom" characteristic in Step S56 is
described.
[0375] In Step S58, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the branch screen G11 shown in FIG.
15B with the image signal. The branch screen G11 is the same as the
branch screen G2 shown in FIG. 7B. On the branch screen G11, the
graph adjusting mode is selected.
[0376] In Step S59, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection decision manipulation of selecting and
deciding the "cursor" adjusting mode based on the manipulation
signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the
selection decision manipulation, the process proceeds to a
subroutine of "cursor" adjusting mode. When there is no selection
decision manipulation, the process proceeds to Step S60.
[0377] In Step S60, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a selection decision manipulation of selecting and
deciding the "graph" adjusting mode based on the manipulation
signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When there is the
selection decision manipulation, the process proceeds to a
subroutine of the "graph" adjusting mode. When there is not
selection decision manipulation, the process returns to Step S58
and waits for the selection and decision manipulations.
Procedures of Second Image Adjusting Process 2: Cursor Adjusting
Mode
[0378] FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining operations at a time
of customizing the grayscale characteristic in the "cursor"
adjusting mode. FIGS. 17A and 17B are views showing an example of
the graph adjusting screen, and FIG. 17C is a view showing an
example of a continuation identification screen.
[0379] Now, the operations in the "cursor" adjusting mode of the
image adjusting of the projector 100 according to the second
embodiment are described with reference to mainly FIG. 16 and
additionally FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 2.
[0380] In Step S71, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the image. This is because a moving
image is not easy to select an image portion thereof.
[0381] In Step S72, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the "selection cursor" with the image
signal. This state is the same as that of the selection cursor 51
on image in the screen SC shown in FIG. 1.
[0382] In Step S73, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is an image selection manipulation of selecting a
predetermined image portion by the "selection cursor" based on the
manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When
there is the image selection manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S74. When there is no image selection manipulation, the image
selection manipulation is waited for.
[0383] In Step S74, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to blink the selected image portion and an image
portion having a grayscale substantially equal to that of the
selected image portion and overlap the graph adjusting screen G12
shown in FIG. 17A with the image signal.
[0384] In the process, firstly, the controller 10 reads out the
image data for the RGB colors of the selected image portion
selected by the "selection cursor" from the frame memory 17 and
obtains the luminescence signal data (Y signal data) from the image
data of the pixels. Next, the controller obtains an average value
of the Y signal data excluding the maximum and minimum grayscale
values from the Y signal data of the pixels. Next, the adjusting
point closet to the obtained Y signal data is selected as the
to-be-adjusted adjusting point.
[0385] In addition, the blinking of the image portion is performed
by changing the output grayscale value of the selected adjusting
point in the "grayscale correction date" of the grayscale point
adjusting unit 21 (LUT) in a period of 1 Hz at plus 32 counts and
minus 32 counts of the initial output grayscale value.
[0386] In addition, on the graph adjusting screen G12, a state that
the adjusting point "grayscale 3" is selected is displayed, and a
dot displayed portion D3 of the adjusting point "grayscale 3" has
such a color tone as orange different from the color tone (white)
of other dot displayed portions. Alternatively, a method of
displaying the dot displayed portion may be an inverted blinking of
the dot displayed potion in synchronization with the blinking of
the image portion.
[0387] On the graph adjusting screen G12, a text, "the orange
colored portion is a to-be-adjusted object. Please adjust the
grayscale." is displayed to urge the adjusting, and an indicator 55
for identifying the adjusting state of the adjusting point
corresponding to the selected image portion is additionally
disposed. The indicator 55 enlarges the displayed adjusting state
involved with the moving-up and moving-down of the dot displayed
portion of the selected adjusting point according to the
adjusting.
[0388] In addition, the position and size of the graph adjusting
screen G12 displayed on the image are the same as those of the
characteristic identification screen G3 shown in FIG. 11 and
controlled so as not to overlap the image portion selected by the
selection cursor 51 by the image signal processing unit 16.
[0389] In step S75, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of adjusting the output grayscale value
based on the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the adjusting manipulation, the process
proceeds to Step S76. When there is no adjusting manipulation, the
adjusting manipulation is waited for.
[0390] In Step S76, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the blinking of the image portion,
sequentially corrects the "grayscale correction data" according to
the adjusting manipulation, sets the corrected "grayscale
correction data" to the LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit
21, and performs the adjusting of the image signal based on the
grayscale characteristic. In addition, the graph adjusting screen
is updated, and as shown in the graph adjusting screen G13 of FIG.
17B, the graph representing the adjusted contents is displayed, so
that a text, "please check the adjusting result" is displayed. In
this step, the image projected on a background of the grayscale
adjusting screen G13 becomes the image adjusted in real-time
according to the grayscale characteristic corresponding to the
adjusted contents.
[0391] In Step S77, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the adjusted contents based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the decision manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S78. When there is no decision manipulation, the process
returns to Step S75 and receives the adjusting manipulation until
there is the decision manipulation.
[0392] In addition, when there is the decision manipulation, the
adjusted contents are stored as the "grayscale correction data" of
the "custom" characteristic in the storage unit 14.
[0393] In Step S78, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the continuation identification
screen G14 shown in FIG. 17C with the image signal. On the
continuation identification screen G14, an identification indicator
for determining whether or not the adjusting of the "cursor"
adjusting mode is continued is displayed.
[0394] In Step S79, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of continuing the adjusting based on the
manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11. When
there is the continuation manipulation, the process returns to Step
S72 and continues the adjusting of the "cursor" adjusting mode by
using the previously adjusted "grayscale correction data" as base
data. When there is no continuation manipulation, the continuation
identification screen G14 is closed, so that the adjusting of the
"cursor" adjusting mode ends.
Procedures of Image Adjusting Process 3: Graph Adjusting Mode
[0395] FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining operations at a time
of customizing the grayscale characteristic in the "graph"
adjusting mode. FIGS. 19A and 19B are views showing an example of
the graph adjusting screen.
[0396] Now, the operations at the time of customizing the grayscale
characteristic in the "graph" adjusting mode are described with
reference to mainly FIG. 18 and additionally FIGS. 19A, 19B, and
2.
[0397] In Step S81, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to stop the image. This is because a moving
image is not easy to select an image portion thereof.
[0398] In Step S82, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to overlap the graph adjusting screen G15 shown
in FIG. 19A with the image signal. On the graph adjusting screen
G15, the adjusting point "grayscale 1" is displayed in a selected
state, and the image portion corresponding to the adjusting point
"grayscale 1" is blinked in a period of 1 Hz. In addition, a dot
displayed portion D1 of the adjusting point "grayscale 1" has such
a color tone as orange different from the color tone (white) of
other dot displayed portions.
[0399] On the graph adjusting screen G15, a manipulation guidance
text is displayed, and an indicator 55 for identifying the
adjusting situation of the selected adjusting point is additionally
provided.
[0400] In Step S83, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of selecting the adjusting points based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the selection manipulation, the process proceeds to
Step S84. When there is no selection manipulation, the selection
manipulation is waited for.
[0401] In Step S84, the controller 10 allows the image signal
processing unit 16 to blink the image portion corresponding to the
selected adjusting portion in a period of 1 Hz. In the graph
adjusting screen, the color tone of the dot displayed portion of
the selected adjusting point is charged into orange. In addition,
the blinking of the image portion is performed by changing the
output grayscale value of the selected adjusting point in the
"grayscale correction date" of the grayscale point adjusting unit
21 (LUT) in a period of 1 Hz at plus 32 counts and minus 32 counts
of the initial output grayscale value.
[0402] In step 85, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of adjusting the output grayscale value
based on the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving
unit 11. When there is the adjusting manipulation, the process
proceeds to Step S86. When there is no adjusting manipulation, the
adjusting manipulation is waited for.
[0403] In step S86, the controller 10 sequentially corrects the
"grayscale correction data" according to the adjusting
manipulation, sets the corrected "grayscale correction data" to the
LUT of the grayscale point adjusting unit 21, and performs the
correction of the image signal based on the grayscale
characteristic. Next, the graph adjusting screen is updated again,
and the graph representing the adjusted contents is displayed. In
this step, the image projected on a background of the graph
adjusting screen becomes the image adjusted in real-time according
to the grayscale characteristic corresponding to the adjusted
contents.
[0404] In Step S87, the controller 10 determines whether or not
there is a manipulation of deciding the adjusted contents based on
the manipulation signal from the manipulation receiving unit 11.
When there is the decision manipulation, the graph adjusting screen
G16 is closed, so that the adjusting ends. When there is no
decision manipulation, the process returns to Step S83 and receives
the selection and adjusting manipulations until the decision
manipulation is performed.
[0405] The graph adjusting screen G16 shown in FIG. 19B represents
a state that a plurality of the selection and adjusting
manipulation are performed. Since the output grayscale values of
adjusting points "grayscale 2 to 7" are adjusted by using a
plurality of the adjusting, the customized grayscale characteristic
becomes different from the grayscale characteristic as a base of
the graph adjusting screen G15.
[0406] In the embodiment, the OSD unit 20 which overlaps the branch
screen G11, the graph adjusting screens G12, G13, G15, and G16, and
the selection cursor 51 on the projected image after the "custom"
characteristic is selected among a plurality of the grayscale
characteristics displayed on the selection screen G10, the
manipulator 1 which receives the manipulations according to the
screens, and the controller 10 which controls the OSD unit 20 and
the manipulator 1 and corrects the "grayscale correction data"
according to the manipulation contents of the manipulator 1
correspond to the grayscale characteristic changing unit according
to the embodiment of the invention.
[0407] According to the aforementioned invention, the following
advantages as well as the advantages of the first embodiment can be
obtained.
[0408] (1) When the custom characteristic is selected, in any
adjusting mode of the "cursor" adjusting mode and the "graph"
adjusting mode, the graph adjusting screens G12 and G15 including
the graph representing the initial setting of the custom
characteristic are displayed, and the graph adjusting screens G12
and G15 represent the output grayscale levels at a plurality of the
adjusting points disposed according to the input grayscale levels
and have a plurality of the dot displayed portions for adjusting
the grayscale characteristic. Therefore, due to the graph adjusting
screens G12 and G15, the grayscale characteristic can be adjusted
while the grayscale characteristic in the initial setting of the
custom characteristic is identified.
[0409] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the image adjusting can
be performed according to the user's preferences while the
grayscale characteristic is identified by using the graph.
[0410] (2) The image signal processing unit 16 blinks the image
portion corresponding to the selected adjusting point in a period
of 1 Hz and changes the color tone of the dot displayed portion at
the selected adjusting point on the graph adjusting screens G12 and
G15 into orange. Therefore, it can be visually perceived that the
blinking image portion corresponds to the orange colored grayscale
point in the grayscale characteristic.
[0411] Accordingly, in the projector 100, it can be visually
represented that the selected image portion corresponds to the dot
displayed portion.
[0412] (3) When the adjusting manipulation of the grayscale levels
on the graph adjusting screens G12 and G15 is performed, the image
signal processing unit 16 sequentially adjusts the grayscale value
of the image portion corresponding to the adjusting portion of the
still image according to the output grayscale level which is
subjected to the adjusting manipulation. The image including the
adjusted contents can be visually identified in the step of
performing the adjusting.
[0413] In addition, due to the graphs of the graph adjusting
screens G12 and G15 and the indicator 55, the adjusting state of
the grayscale characteristic can be identified in real-time.
[0414] Accordingly, in the projector 100, the image including the
adjusting state and the adjusted state of the grayscale
characteristic can be identified in real-time in the step of
performing the adjusting.
[0415] (4) The manipulation screens displayed in the "graph"
adjusting mode are only the graph adjusting screens G15 and G16,
and all the adjusting manipulations can be implemented by using one
type of the manipulation screen. Therefore, the manipulation can be
effectively performed.
[0416] In addition, after the adjusting for one adjusting point is
completed, the decision manipulation, the continuation
identification manipulation, or the like is not needed, so that the
adjusting at the other adjusting points can be continuously
performed. Therefore, the adjusting efficiency can be improved. In
addition, since the adjusted grayscale characteristic can be
visually perceived in real-time by using the graph and the image,
the adjusting state can be easily identified.
[0417] Accordingly, the projector 100 can be conveniently used, and
the image adjusting can be performed according to the user's
preferences.
[0418] The invention is not limited to the aforementioned
embodiments, but various modification and changes of the
aforementioned embodiments are available. Hereinafter, modified
examples of the invention are described.
Modified Example 1
[0419] Modified Example 1 is described with reference to FIG. 2. In
the aforementioned embodiments, the selection of the image portion
or the adjusting of the output grayscale value in the cursor
selection mode is performed by using the "up" and "down" buttons or
the "left" and "right" buttons of the manipulator 1 or the remote
controller 2. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For
example, a track ball as a pointing device is provided to the
remote controller 2, and a device driver corresponding to the track
ball is stored in the storage unit 14. By manipulating the track
ball, the selection of the image portion or the adjusting operation
for the output grayscale value may be performed.
[0420] In such a construction of the projector 100, the adjusting
manipulation can be efficiently performed.
Modified Example 2
[0421] Modified Example 2 is described with reference to FIG. 2. In
the aforementioned embodiments and the modified example, the
"grayscale point adjusting" and the ".gamma. correction" is
performed by using the Y signal among the YUV signals. However, the
invention is not limited thereto.
[0422] For example, a luminescence table which is used to apply
luminescence date for each of the color signals based on the pixel
data for RGB signals is provided in the storage unit 14, and the
"grayscale point adjusting" and the ".gamma. correction" may be
performed by using the luminescence data for the RGB signals.
[0423] In such a construction, advantages same as those of the
aforementioned embodiments and modified example can be
obtained.
Modified Example 3
[0424] Modified Example 3 is described with reference to FIG. 2. In
the aforementioned embodiments and the modified examples, the
projector 100 is exemplified as a three-plate type liquid crystal
projector using three plates of the liquid crystal light valves 5R,
5G, and 5B as optical modulation devices. The invention is not
limited thereto.
[0425] For example, the projector may be a single-plate type liquid
crystal light valve which is constructed by regularly disposing
red, green, and blue color filters in a lattice shape and
extracting modulated light having a full color with a single plate.
In addition, the projector may be constructed with a reflective
liquid crystal display apparatus or a tilt mirror device. In
addition, the projector may be a rear type projector having such an
optical modulation device and the screen.
[0426] In such a construction, advantages same as those of the
aforementioned embodiments and modified example can be
obtained.
Modified Example 4
[0427] Modified Example 4 is described with reference to FIG. 2. In
the aforementioned embodiments and the modified examples, the image
display apparatus is exemplified as the projector. The invention is
not limited thereto. Any image display apparatus for displaying an
image displayed according to input image signals on a display unit
may be used.
[0428] For example, CRT displays, liquid crystal displays, plasma
displays, organic EL displays, field emission displays or the like
may be used, and advantages same as those of the aforementioned
embodiments and modified example can be obtained.
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