ADJUSTING THE BRIGHTNESS OF A DISPLAY

Abstract

A method for adjusting the brightness of a display in a vehicle, to a display system having display electronics that are configured to carry out such a method, and to a vehicle that has a corresponding display system is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a region of the display, the region being defined by a number of pixels that is less than the number of pixels of the display, and incorporating a brightness value into the selected region each pixel in the selected region being assigned the same brightness value and the brightness value being associated through a calculation rule with each pixel of the selected region.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for adjusting a brightness of a display in a vehicle, the method comprising: selecting a region of the display, the region being defined by a number of pixels less than the number of pixels of the display; and incorporating a brightness value into the selected region, wherein each pixel in the selected region is assigned the same brightness value and wherein the brightness value is associated with a calculation rule.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the calculation rule is a linear, nonlinear, zonal and/or integral association of RGB values of each pixel of the selected region with the brightness value.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises multiplying the brightness value by an additional factor, so that the additional factor is assigned to a number of pixels of the selected region, the number of pixels that are assigned to the additional factor being less than the number of pixels of the selected region.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises adjusting brightness of the selected region by varying the brightness value.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises multiplying the brightness value by an additional factor, so that the additional factor is assigned to a number of pixels of the selected region, the number of pixels that are assigned to the additional factor being less than the number of pixels of the selected region.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises adjusting brightness of the selected region by varying the brightness value.

17. A display system in a vehicle comprising: a display device comprising: a display; and display electronics, wherein the display electronics are configured to select a region of the display, the region being defined by a number of pixels less than the number of pixels of the display, and incorporate a brightness value into the selected region, wherein each pixel in the selected region is assigned the same brightness value, and wherein the brightness value is associated with a calculation rule; and a graphics unit, wherein the graphics unit is operationally connected to the display electronics via a first data channel in order to provide image and/or video information items to the display device.

18. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the region selected is stored in a fixed fashion in the display electronics.

19. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the image and/or video information items contain an information item that causes the display electronics to select the region and to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

20. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the image and/or video information items contain an information item that causes the display electronics to select the region or to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

21. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display system-comprises a second data channel, wherein the second data channel operationally connects the graphics unit to the display electronics and control information items are transmitted from the graphics unit to the display electronics via the second data channel, the control information items causing the display electronics to select the region and to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

22. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display system-comprises a second data channel, wherein the second data channel operationally connects the graphics unit to the display electronics and control information items are transmitted from the graphics unit to the display electronics via the second data channel, the control information items causing the display electronics to select the region or to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

23. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display system further comprises a brightness adjustment module, wherein the brightness adjustment module is arranged inside the vehicle so that it is operated by a passenger, wherein the brightness adjustment module is operationally connected to the display device, and wherein the brightness adjustment module is configured in such a way that a region of the display can be selected, and the brightness value is incorporated and set adjustably, by the passenger.

24. The display system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display system further comprises a brightness adjustment module, wherein the brightness adjustment module is arranged inside the vehicle so that it is operated by a passenger, wherein the brightness adjustment module is operationally connected to the display device, and wherein the brightness adjustment module is configured in such a way that a region of the display can be selected, and the brightness value is incorporated or set adjustably, by the passenger.

25. The display as claimed in claim 18, wherein the image and/or video information items contain an information item that causes the display electronics to select the region and to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

26. The display as claimed in claim 18, wherein the image and/or video information items contain an information item that causes the display electronics to select the region or to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

27. The display system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display system comprises a second data channel, the second data channel operationally connecting the graphics unit to the display electronics and control information items being transmitted from the graphics unit to the display electronics via the second data channel, the control information items causing the display electronics to select the region and to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

28. The display system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display system comprises a second data channel, the second data channel operationally connecting the graphics unit to the display electronics and control information items being transmitted from the graphics unit to the display electronics via the second data channel, the control information items causing the display electronics to select the region or to incorporate the brightness value into the selected region.

29. The display system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display system further comprises a brightness adjustment module, wherein the brightness adjustment module is arranged inside the vehicle so that it is operated by a passenger, wherein the brightness adjustment module is operationally connected to the display device, and wherein the brightness adjustment module is configured in such a way that a region of the display can be selected, and the brightness value is incorporated and set adjustably, by the passenger.

30. The display system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display system further comprises a brightness adjustment module, wherein the brightness adjustment module is arranged inside the vehicle so that it is operated by a passenger, wherein the brightness adjustment module is operationally connected to the display device, and wherein the brightness adjustment module is configured in such a way that a region of the display can be selected, and the brightness value is incorporated or set adjustably, by the passenger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Further features of the present disclosure will be evident from the following detailed description and the appended claims in conjunction with the figures, wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a method according to the disclosure for adjusting a brightness of a display in a vehicle;

[0042] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a method according to the disclosure for adjusting a brightness of a display in a vehicle;

[0043] FIG. 3 schematically shows a display system that carries out the method according to the disclosure according to FIG. 2; and

[0044] FIG. 4 schematically shows a display on which the method according to the disclosure as represented in FIG. 2 is implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] For a better understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, embodiments of the disclosure will be explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures. The same references are used in the figures for identical or functionally identical elements and are not necessarily described again for each figure. It is understood that the disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and that the described features may also be combined or modified without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a method 100 according to the disclosure for adjusting a brightness of a display in a vehicle. In a first step 101, a region of the display is selected. The region is selected in such a way that the number of pixels of the selected region is less than the number of pixels of the overall display. In principle, the selection may be made so that the selected region has an arbitrary shape, for example circular, rectangular, elliptical or polygonal.

[0047] In a second step 102, a brightness value is incorporated into the selected region. In this case, each pixel in the selected region is assigned the same brightness value, which is associated with each pixel of the selected region through a calculation rule. The brightness value and the calculation rule are established by the incorporation. In this way, the brightness of the selected region is established by the brightness value respectively incorporated and the calculation rule used.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of a method 200 according to the disclosure. The embodiment described in FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment described in FIG. 1 in that a multiplicity of regions, in the present case three regions 50, 60, 70, of the display 5 are selected in a first step 201 by the display electronics. A schematic representation of the display 5, on which the method described in FIG. 2 is implemented, is represented in FIG. 4. Each of the three regions 50, 60, 70 in this case has a number of pixels that is less than the total number of pixels of the display. Furthermore, the sum of the pixels of the selected three regions 50, 60, 70 is less than the total number of pixels of the display. The display in FIG. 4 therefore shows a fourth region 80, although this is not selected.

[0049] In a second step 202, a brightness value is incorporated in each of the three regions 50, 60, 70. In this case, the incorporation 202 is carried out so that a first brightness value is incorporated in the first selected region 50, a second brightness value is incorporated in the second region 60, and a third brightness value is incorporated in the third region 70. Each pixel in the selected first region 50 is assigned the first brightness value, each pixel in the selected second region 60 is assigned the second brightness value, and each pixel in the selected third region is assigned the third brightness value. Each of the three brightness values is in this case associated through a calculation rule with each pixel of the corresponding selected region 50, 60, 70 so that the brightness value is associated with all RGB values of each pixel of the corresponding selected region 50, 60, 70. For example, the first brightness value is associated through a calculation rule with all RGB values of each pixel in the first region 50, the second brightness value is associated through a calculation rule with all RGB values of each pixel in the second region 60, etc.

[0050] In the three selected regions 50, 60, 70, all RGB values are associated via a nonlinear quadratic calculation rule with the respective brightness value.

[0051] The method 200 furthermore comprises the step of multiplying 203 the brightness value by an additional factor. The additional factor is in this case only assigned to a number of pixels of the selected second region 60 that is less than the number of pixels of the selected second region 60. The additional factor is assigned exclusively to pixels that form the edge of the second region 60. In this way, the region may be separated more clearly from a surrounding fourth region 80.

[0052] The brightness values of the first region 50 and the third region 70 are established in a fixed fashion by the incorporation 202 of the brightness value. The brightness value which has been incorporated into the second region 60, however, can be set variably and, for the second region 60, the method 200 additionally comprises the step 204 of adjusting the brightness of the selected second region 60 by varying the brightness value.

[0053] FIG. 3 schematically shows a display system 1 that carries out the method according to the disclosure according to FIG. 2. The display system 1 is installed in a vehicle (not represented).

[0054] The display system 1 comprises a display device 2, a graphics unit 3, a first data channel 6 and a second data channel 7. The display device 2 in this case comprises display electronics 4 and a display 5, here a TFT display.

[0055] The TFT display. The graphics unit 3 is part of a computer unit (not represented). The graphics unit 3 is operationally connected to the display electronics 4 both via the first data channel 6, here an LVDS line (LVDS: Low Voltage Differential Signaling) and via the second data channel 7, here a serial data bus, for example an Inter-Integrated Circuit I-2-C. The second data channel 7 serves to transmit control information items from the graphics unit 3 to the display electronics 4. The first data channel 6 is used to provide the display device 2 with image and/or video information items. The image and/or video information items are processed by the display electronics 4 and shown on the display 5. The image and/or video information items contain information items relating to the RGB values that are intended to be assigned to the pixels. The regions 50, 60, 70 shown in FIG. 4 are thus formed. At this point, however, no adjustment of the brightness is yet carried out. The regions 50, 60, 70 would therefore have the same brightness.

[0056] In order to adjust the brightness of the regions 50, 60, 70, the image and/or video information items contain information items that cause the display electronics 4 to select the three regions 50, 60, 70. Via the second data channel 7, the display electronics 4 furthermore receive information items from the graphics unit 3, which cause the display electronics 4 to incorporate a corresponding brightness value into the three selected regions 50, 60, 70.

[0057] Optionally, one or more regions to be selected may be stored in a fixed fashion in the display electronics 4. Optionally, one or more regions to be selected may also be contained in control information items that are provided to the display electronics 4 via the second data channel 7 by the graphics unit 3. Optionally, the image and/or video information items may contain an information item that causes the display electronics 4 to incorporate a brightness value into one or more selected regions.

[0058] The display system 1 furthermore comprises a brightness adjustment module (not represented). The brightness adjustment module is arranged inside the vehicle and may be operated by a passenger in order to change the brightness of a region. The brightness adjustment module is for this purpose operationally connected to the display device 2. Here, the brightness adjustment module is configured so that the second region 60 of the display 5 may be selected, and the brightness value of the second region 60 may be set variably, by the passenger.