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-11869408-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-09
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 is directed to a system and method for implementing a multi-primary color display system, specifically for display devices and environments such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality. The system increases the number of primary colors available, using more than the conventional three (RGB); for example, systems are described using six primaries (red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, and magenta). The core of the approach is to process, transport, and display image data using values in the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) Yxy color space, which consists of one luminance value (Y) and two colorimetric coordinates (x and y). The two colorimetric coordinates are independent from luminance, allowing for flexible and accurate color reproduction.
Image data—including signals corresponding to these primary colors—is encoded and decoded through an image data converter with a digital interface, allowing transportation of processed Yxy data on three channels. The system is compatible with headsets configured for VR, AR, and mixed reality, facilitating the display of wide-gamut, multi-primary color information. This design allows processed Yxy data to be supplied to the headset for display, maintaining flexibility, and enabling full or subsampled data transmission.
The background describes problems with existing color systems, particularly the limitations of conventional RGB-based systems in replicating a wide range of colors and the inherent metameric errors that result from individual variations in how viewers perceive displays. Prior systems that have attempted to expand the color gamut have not provided for multi-primary color information to be processed and transported outside of the display itself, have resulted in increased complexity, or lacked backward compatibility. This invention addresses the need for a complete system in which multi-primary color information is handled throughout the imaging pipeline and is compatible with varying color gamuts and equipment.
Claims Coverage
The patent covers three independent inventive features corresponding to the main independent claims.
System for displaying a primary color system using Yxy color space and a headset
A system is provided that includes: - A set of image data including a set of primary color signals, where these signals correspond to values in CIE Yxy color space (luminance Y and colorimetric coordinates x and y). - An image data converter with a digital interface capable of encoding and decoding the set of values in the CIE Yxy color space. - A headset configured for virtual reality, augmented reality, and/or mixed reality environments that communicates with the image data converter. - Encoding and decoding processes include transportation of processed Yxy data on three channels. - The image data converter can convert the set of image data for display on the headset.
System for displaying a primary color system with remote device integration
A system is provided that includes: - A set of image data including primary color signals as values in CIE Yxy color space (luminance Y and colorimetric coordinates x and y). - An image data converter with a digital interface to encode and decode Yxy color space values. - A headset configured for VR, AR, and/or mixed reality environments. - At least one remote device with an augmented reality and/or virtual reality application, in communication with the headset and image data converter. - Encoding and decoding include transportation of processed Yxy data on three channels. - The image data converter is able to convert the set of image data for display on the headset.
Method for displaying a primary color system using Yxy color space
A method is provided that includes: 1. Providing a set of image data with primary color signals corresponding to values in CIE Yxy color space (luminance Y and colorimetric coordinates x and y). 2. Encoding the image data in CIE Yxy color space with a digital interface of an image data converter, where the image data converter communicates with a headset configured for VR, AR, and/or mixed reality environments. 3. Processing the set of image data in the CIE Yxy color space. 4. Decoding the set of image data in the CIE Yxy color space using the digital interface of the image data converter. 5. Converting the set of image data for display on the headset. - The encoding and decoding process includes transportation of processed Yxy data on three channels.
The inventive features collectively enable the transport, conversion, and display of multi-primary color signals in the Yxy color space for VR/AR/mixed reality headsets, including interaction with remote devices and methods of encoding, processing, and decoding image data.
Stated Advantages
Expands the number of primary colors available in a color system, reducing metameric errors between viewers.
Allows compatibility and backward compatibility with existing color systems and equipment.
Enables flexible, efficient transport and representation of wide-gamut color information via Yxy encoding on three channels.
Supports both full sampling and subsampling of color data, optimizing for transport and display requirements.
Provides a full pipeline for handling multi-primary color signals—including acquisition, encoding, transport, and display—rather than being limited to proprietary or display-internal processing.
Simplifies conversion and transport to different color gamuts and display technologies, supporting multi-primary and legacy RGB displays.
Documented Applications
Display systems for virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality headsets using wide-gamut, multi-primary color formats.
Multi-primary color system displays, including OLED, LCD, direct emissive assembled display, quantum dot displays, and various projector-based systems.
Single device acquisition, processing, and display of multi-primary image data for devices such as cameras, smartphones, tablets, computers, monitors, wearable devices, and AR/VR headsets.
Integration with AR/VR applications running on remote devices for communication, feedback, and personalized user profiles.
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