System and method for a six-primary wide gamut color system
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12148342-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-19
Expiration Date
2039-10-21
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Abstract
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. A six-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 relates to a system and method for a six-primary wide gamut color system for display, which extends current three-primary RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color systems by adding three additional color primaries: cyan (C), yellow (Y), and magenta (M). The system operates by processing a set of image data that includes both RGB and CYM channel data, permitting a broader range of colors and reducing metameric errors between viewers. This system employs an image data converter with a digital interface, enabling encoding and decoding of the image data, as well as the modification of bit levels for compatibility with various display devices.
The background describes limitations in existing color display systems: expanding RGB primaries to increase color gamut often introduces metameric errors and inefficiencies, with displays not matching the human eye’s sensation of color. Existing multi-primary systems have only supported additional color processing internally to the display and lack a workflow for acquiring, transporting, and processing extra color primaries throughout the entire signal chain. There is a need for an externally-supported six-primary system that is compatible across acquisition, transport, storage, and display.
The system presented in the invention comprises methods for packaging, mapping, and transporting six-primary color data through standardized transport formats while maintaining compatibility with legacy equipment. Features include the use of at least one transfer function (TF) for quantization, modifiable Session Description Protocol (SDP) parameters, and methods for mapping both sets of color channels into existing video infrastructure. The system supports real-time or near real-time conversion, includes electronic luminance components derived from the image data, and maintains a combined bit level equal to the original bit level for transferred image data.
Claims Coverage
The claims of this patent set forth three main inventive features across three independent claims, focusing on multi-primary color display conversion using new data handling methods, bit-level and color channel mapping, and standardized interoperability.
System for converting a multi-primary color system for display using an image data converter and standardized transport format
This feature describes: - A set of image data containing an original bit level and color channel data. - An image data converter that can convert the image data for display and communicate with at least one display device. - The ability of the converter to modify the original bit level, producing an updated bit level. - Reception of combined color channel data by a standardized transport format, with the combined bit level equal to the original bit level. This approach enables multi-primary color system data conversion for display while ensuring compatibility through standardized transport.
System for converting a multi-primary color system with first and second sets of color channel data
This feature includes: - Image data comprising a first set (e.g., red, green, blue) and a second set (e.g., cyan, yellow, magenta) of color channel data, with an original bit level. - An image data converter operable to convert the image data for at least one display device. - The image data converter’s ability to change the original bit level and combine both color channel sets, maintaining a combined bit level equal to the original. This design allows simultaneous handling of multiple color primary data sets in a standard bit-depth configuration for display output.
System for multi-primary color conversion using at least one transfer function and combined sets of image data
This inventive feature consists of: - Image data containing an original bit level and at least two sets of color channel data. - An image data converter and at least one transfer function (TF) to quantize the original bit level to a lower bit level, creating a new bit level. - A standardized transport format that receives the combined sets of image data at a bit level equal to the original. Additional elements can include red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, and magenta color primary values; a digital interface for encoding/decoding (including color difference component handling and up-/down-sampling); and further interoperability with legacy systems.
In summary, the patent claims cover a system for converting and displaying multi-primary (six-primary) color data, using an image data converter capable of bit-level modification, the inclusion of both RGB and CYM color channel data, and standardized data transport formats that ensure compatibility with current video infrastructure.
Stated Advantages
Extends current color gamuts to a wider usable color gamut than currently offered, allowing for more accurate and expansive color reproduction.
Minimizes metameric errors so that viewer-to-viewer color sensation discrepancies are greatly reduced.
Maintains compatibility and backward compatibility with existing color systems and legacy equipment through standardized transport and data handling.
Supports acquisition, transport, storage, and display of six-primary color data throughout the entire signal chain, not limited to internal display processing.
Allows for real-time or near real-time conversion and processing, facilitating efficient workflow and broad applicability.
Documented Applications
Use in electronic displays such as projectors (LCD, DLP, LCOS, LED), monitors (OLED, LCD), and direct emissive assembled displays for six-primary color imaging.
Acquisition and imaging systems, including cameras modified for six-primary color filters, for content creation and capture.
Conversion, transport, and storage of multi-primary color data using standardized video infrastructure (e.g., SMPTE ST292, ST424, ST2082, ST2110, CTA-861, HDMI, SDI, RTP/IP).
Applications in video and media workflows that require wide color gamut and low color viewing variability, such as broadcasting, filmmaking, and digital cinema.
Interoperation with legacy (three-primary) RGB display systems, providing seamless fallback or compatibility.
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