System and method for a multi-primary wide gamut color system
Inventors
Bogdanowicz, Mitchell J. • Carbonara, Corey P. • Korpi, Michael F. • DeFilippis, James M. • Mandle, Gary B.
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11475819-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-18
Expiration Date
2039-10-21
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Abstract
The present invention includes systems and methods for a multi-primary color system for display. A multi-primary color system increases the number of primary colors available in a color system and color system equipment. Increasing the number of primary colors reduces metameric errors from viewer to viewer. One embodiment of the multi-primary color system includes Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta primaries. The systems of the present invention maintain compatibility with existing color systems and equipment and provide systems for backwards compatibility with older color systems.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for a multi-primary wide gamut color system for display technologies. Rather than being limited to three standard primaries (red, green, blue), the system increases the number of available primary colors—such as Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta—within both color system equipment and displays. This is achieved by representing image data as a set of values in the CIE Yxy color space, comprising luminance (Y) and two independent colorimetric coordinates (x and y), with provisions for the grayscale and chromaticity information to be independently processed and transported.
The problem addressed is that current RGB-based displays, despite efforts to expand their color gamuts, suffer from limitations in range, brightness, and especially from metameric errors—perceptual discrepancies experienced between different viewers viewing the same color due to individual differences in cone distribution and spectral sensitivity. Existing multi-primary approaches are often proprietary and limited only to the display, lacking a complete system pipeline including acquisition, processing, and transport beyond the display’s internal circuitry.
The innovation includes a complete system comprising a GPU, display engine, display controller, and multiple display devices, where image data is rendered, a non-linear transfer function is applied to luminance, and the result is processed and transmitted as Yxy data. Various encoding and transport schemes are described to enable backward compatibility and integration with legacy systems, while allowing expanded primary color gamut and improved color reproduction accuracy. The invention also defines methods for mapping the multi-primary signals onto standardized transport formats and describes hardware architectures and processes for display device adaptation, including video walls and projector systems.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims, each focusing on a system for displaying image data using a multi-primary color system with values in the CIE Yxy color space. Each claim details specific elements and processing stages within the system.
Multi-primary color system using CIE Yxy color space data
A system for displaying image data that includes: - At least one graphics processing unit (GPU), a display engine, at least one display controller, and a plurality of display devices. - Image data represented as a set of primary color signals corresponding to values in the CIE Yxy color space—specifically, luminance (Y) and two independent colorimetric coordinates (x and y). - The GPU renders image data, which is then transmitted to the display engine. - The display engine applies at least one non-linear transfer function to luminance (Y) for luma (Y′) creation. - The display controller receives processed Yxy data comprised of a luma channel and the two chromaticity channels, scales the data for display, and transmits it to each display device. - The plurality of display devices is operable to display the resulting image display data.
Image display signal partitioning based on device location
A system as above, but the display controller is configured so that the image display signal transmitted to each display device includes only a portion of the image display data. - The portion of data is determined, for example, by the location of each device. - The system supports mapping, cropping, timing, and calibration signals within the image display signal for flexible multi-device presentations.
Ability to display multiple images across a plurality of devices
An extension of the above, where the image display data transmitted to the plurality of display devices can include a plurality of images—enabling each device to potentially display different content or multiple images within the same system. - The system is operable to handle and distribute multiple images in a coordinated manner.
The inventive features cover a multi-primary display system based on CIE Yxy color space processing and transport, providing advanced color representation and flexible image signal distribution to multiple display devices.
Stated Advantages
Increases the number of primary colors, reducing metameric errors from viewer to viewer.
Maintains compatibility and provides systems for backwards compatibility with existing color systems and equipment.
Enables display devices to show a wider range of colors—expanding the gamut beyond current RGB standards.
Allows independent processing and transport of luminance and colorimetric coordinates (x and y), improving color reproduction accuracy.
Supports efficient transport of multi-primary data using existing standardized video interfaces and sampling methods.
Provides the capability to map and crop image data for use across multiple display devices, such as video walls.
Supports use in high dynamic range and wide color gamut imagery by allowing representation of colors outside ITU-R BT.2020 gamut.
Documented Applications
Display systems and video walls utilizing multi-primary color data to enable wide-gamut color reproduction.
Projector and display device architectures, including LCD, LED, OLED, Quantum Dot, and microLED displays, modified or designed to support six or more primary channels.
Integration with professional and consumer video standards (SDI, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet) for transport of multi-primary or Yxy-formatted color data.
Real-time and near real-time color correction, color grading, and virtual production using multi-primary color data for improved rendering of virtual sets on video walls.
Video wall systems with controllers that manage partitioning, mapping, and synchronization of multi-primary display data across multiple screens or projectors.
Light field display systems supporting three-dimensional visualizations using expanded color gamuts.
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