System and method for a multi-primary wide gamut color system
Inventors
DeFilippis, James M. • Mandle, Gary B.
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12148344-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. 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 systems and methods for encoding and decoding image signals using a multi-primary color system, specifically employing a six-primary color model that extends beyond the traditional red, green, and blue (RGB) primaries. This multi-primary system includes Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta, and enables the transport and display of image data using an expanded color gamut. The system is capable of formatting, encoding, transmitting, and decoding image data within a CIE xyY color space, where the data consists of two colorimetric coordinates (x and y) and luminance (Y).
A fundamental innovation is the application of a ½ gamma function to the luminance component during encoding to create a luma value, achieving data efficiency in transport and processing. The invention maintains compatibility with existing color systems and transmission equipment by providing several methods (including stacking, sequential, dual-link, and colorimetric coordinate transports) to enable backwards-compatible workflows, and by embedding metadata and/or flagging protocols that identify multi-primary content within legacy infrastructures.
The problem addressed by the invention is that prior attempts to increase display color gamuts using only three primaries, or using additional primaries internal to the display, have led to increased metameric error between viewers and have required proprietary workflows or equipment that restrict the use of multi-primary information to within the display alone. The patent specifically resolves the inability to generate, encode, transmit, and decode multi-primary image data through the entire imaging pipeline, providing systems that derive and preserve additional color primary information outside the display and throughout the workflow.
Claims Coverage
The patent presents three independent claims, each introducing inventive features regarding encoding and decoding image signals using a multi-primary (especially six-primary) color system, the application of a ½ gamma function, and processes for digital watermarking.
System for encoding and decoding image signals into xyY color space with ½ gamma luma creation
A system comprising an encoder and decoder communicating over a network, where: - The encoder and decoder each include a processor, memory, inputs, and outputs. - Image data is input to the encoder, processed, and output as CIE xyY data (with two colorimetric coordinates x and y, and luminance Y). - The encoder output is transmitted to the decoder as input. - The decoder processes the input to produce an output image signal. - Critically, a ½ gamma function is applied to the luminance component from the encoder output to create a luma value.
Watermark-enabled encoding and decoding system for xyY color space image data
A system comprising: - An encoder including a watermark engine and a decoder including a watermark detection engine and a watermark subtraction engine. - The encoder processes image data input, modifies it to include a digital watermark, and outputs CIE xyY data (x, y, Y). - This output is transmitted to the decoder. - The decoder detects and removes the digital watermark before producing the output image signal. - The decoder requires the presence of the digital watermark in processed image data from the encoder to provide decoder output.
System using gamma or ½ gamma function in encoding and decoding xyY color space data
A system comprising: - An encoder and decoder, each including processor, memory, inputs, and outputs. - The encoder processes image data input using a gamma function (which may be a ½ gamma function), outputting CIE xyY data (x, y, Y). - This encoded output is sent to the decoder. - The decoder includes a gamma to linear converter and processes the xyY input before outputting the final image signal. - Application of the gamma or ½ gamma function to luminance creates a luma value in the encoding process.
The inventive features collectively enable image signal processing with extended color gamut (multi-primary) data, efficient luminance-to-luma conversion using a ½ gamma function, and robust watermarking functions throughout the encoding and decoding chain.
Stated Advantages
The multi-primary color system allows for wider color gamuts and reduces metameric errors between viewers by using more than three primary colors.
The system maintains backwards compatibility with existing color systems and equipment, enabling gradual adoption and integration into legacy infrastructures.
Application of a ½ gamma function enables more efficient and simpler conversion between linear values and display-relevant luma, optimizing data efficiency and reducing maximum quantizing error during bit depth conversions.
The system enables the inclusion and management of digital watermarks, including invisible or non-detectable watermarks outside the display gamut, providing enhanced security and content verification.
The system supports flexible encoding, decoding, and transport over standard video interfaces and over networks, making it adaptable to a range of display and broadcast technologies.
Documented Applications
Use in electronic displays (including projectors, direct emissive displays, LCD, OLED, QD displays) supporting six-primary color reproduction to increase color gamut and accuracy.
Transmission of multi-primary color image data over standard broadcast and video interfaces (such as SDI, HDMI, Ethernet, CTA 861, SMPTE ST292, ST424, ST2082, ST2110, and ST2022 formats).
Integration with professional and consumer video workflows, including digital cinematography, television, digital signage, and any system requiring wide color gamut support.
Encoding and decoding of image signals with embedded digital watermarks for content protection and verification.
Application to distributed or cloud-based image processing and display environments, as described in networked system embodiments.
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