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EP1772849B1 - Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1772849B1
EP1772849B1 EP05256255A EP05256255A EP1772849B1 EP 1772849 B1 EP1772849 B1 EP 1772849B1 EP 05256255 A EP05256255 A EP 05256255A EP 05256255 A EP05256255 A EP 05256255A EP 1772849 B1 EP1772849 B1 EP 1772849B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
region
pixels
line
static image
screen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP05256255A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1772849A1 (en
Inventor
Metin Vestek Elektronik Ar-Ge Anonim Sti Salt
Huseyin Vestek Elektronik Ar-Ge Anonim St Ozdemir
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Original Assignee
Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
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Priority to EP05256255A priority Critical patent/EP1772849B1/en
Priority to ES05256255T priority patent/ES2392970T3/es
Publication of EP1772849A1 publication Critical patent/EP1772849A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1772849B1 publication Critical patent/EP1772849B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
    • G09G2320/04—Maintaining the quality of display appearance
    • G09G2320/043—Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
    • G09G2320/046—Dealing with screen burn-in prevention or compensation of the effects thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
    • G09G5/10—Intensity circuits

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in.
  • Display devices are used in many applications, including for example television receivers, computer monitors, public display panels (at airports, railway stations, conference centres and the like), etc. Display devices can be classified broadly into two types. The first is a passive type, a typical example of which is a liquid crystal display (LCD). A passive display device does not emit the light that forms the image as such. On the contrary, a passive display device selectively filters a back-light in order to produce the required image. Active display devices on the other hand emit the light that forms the image. Examples of active display devices include cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, light emitting diode (LED) displays, vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD) and plasma display panels (PDP). Active display devices use phosphors to generate the visible light.
  • CTR cathode ray tube
  • LED light emitting diode
  • VFD vacuum fluorescent displays
  • PDP plasma display panels
  • the phosphors are excited by electrons (in for example a CRT), by ultraviolet light (for example in a plasma display panel), or another fast charged carrier (in for example an electroluminescent display). When excited, the phosphors emit light.
  • a pixel of such a display device has three sub-pixels which respectively emit red, green and blue light so that any pixel can emit any colour by appropriate driving of the three sub-pixels.
  • a particular problem with active displays that use phosphors to generate the visible light is the problem of pixel burn-in. More specifically, when a static image is displayed on (a part of) a display device, a ghost image of the static image can remain such that when the image is changed, there is nevertheless a remnant of the previously displayed static image. In for example a CRT display or a PDP, the display of a static image on the screen prematurely ages the phosphors such that those phosphors do not shine as brightly as the others on the screen. This therefore manifests itself as a dimmed ghost image on the screen.
  • the static image was of a certain colour only, such as blue for example, this means that the sub-pixels of that colour will age more prematurely, such that the ghost image will have the complementary colour (in this example yellow, being a mixture of the red and green phosphors which shine more brightly relative to the aged blue phosphors).
  • This is a particular problem in PDPs, though it also affects CRTs and other active displays. (For completeness, it is mentioned that PDPs also suffer from a short term burn-in problem in which the ghost image is a brighter image because the "burned" pixels shine more brightly. This short term burn-in tends to disappear a short time after the static image is removed.)
  • active displays Users of active displays are warned to avoid pixel burn-in, typically by taking steps to ensure that a static image is not displayed on the display device for any extended period. However, it is often the case that users forget this and in any event it is often not a practical solution.
  • active displays are often used in public venues to display a static image for a long period (for example for promotional or advertising material).
  • many television channels are transmitted with the channel logo at a fixed position on the screen, the logo being present at all times. It is in such cases simply not possible to avoid having the static image on the screen.
  • parts of the static image may be distorted in shape so as to mix up the pixels that are on, see for example EP-A-1503360 .
  • the colours and/or the contrast level of the static image can be inverted, which can be carried out periodically, but this can also be disturbing to the viewer.
  • all of the pixels in a vertical line are switched off for a short period, and then all of the pixels in another vertical line are switched off for a short period, etc., across the whole screen.
  • all pixels across the whole vertical extent of the screen are switched off sequentially.
  • Another example of avoiding burn-in is to use a screen saver, but these are not generally acceptable on television receivers or display devices used in public venues and the like.
  • EP-A-1489589 discloses a display device in which pixels that are in a region on a screen that is outside an image displayed on the screen are given a luminance level that is the average of the luminance level in the image region. In this way, any degradation of the pixels across the screen can be made more uniform.
  • Document JP10-161629 discloses a method of preventing burn-in of the pixels of a display device.
  • a first aspect of the present invention is defined in claim 1; an alternative solution is defined in claim 5.
  • the smallest (reasonable) region in which the static image fits is identified. Then it is determined whether the static image has been on for a period of time that might lead to pixel burn-in. Such period may be set depending on a number of factors, including for example the known burn-in period of the screen (which depends in part on the type and quality of the screen), the brightness level of the pixels concerned, etc. If that period of time has elapsed, then a burn-in protection method can be carried out to protect the pixels in that region. In this way, there is for example no shifting around of the entire image. The smallest possible part of the screen is treated to avoid burn-in, which therefore minimises the possibility that the viewer might detect the operation of any burn-in protection.
  • the finding step comprises: (a) notionally dividing the screen into a plurality of regions; (b) determining whether said static image fits within one of the regions; and, (c) if said static image does not fit within one of said regions, notionally dividing the screen into a plurality of regions larger than the previous regions and returning to step (b) using the larger regions, else proceeding to step (d); and, (d) when said static image does fit within one of the regions, reducing the brightness level of pixels within the region within which the static image fits.
  • the brightness level of said pixels is temporarily reduced.
  • the brightness level of said pixels may for example be reduced for a random period of time, which may be randomly set at different periods, or the brightness level of said pixels may be reduced for a fixed period of time.
  • the brightness level of said pixels may be reduced to zero.
  • Said pixels for which their brightness level is reduced may be selected randomly by:
  • said pixels form a line, said line being swept across said region by temporarily reducing the brightness levels of pixels in a line in sequence across said region.
  • Said line of pixels extends fully across said region in a direction transverse to the direction of sweeping of the line.
  • said line of pixels may extend partly across said region in a direction transverse to the direction of sweeping of the line, the method comprising sweeping said line in a first direction across said region by temporarily reducing the brightness levels of pixels in a line in sequence across said region, displacing the line in a direction transverse to the direction of sweeping of the line, and sweeping the displaced line back in a second direction across said region by temporarily reducing the brightness levels of pixels in a line in sequence across said region. This helps to reduce the possibility of the viewer noticing that the brightness of pixels is being reduced.
  • the screen 1 may be the screen of a plasma display panel or a cathode ray tube display.
  • the screen 1 is notionally divided into a plurality of regions 2.
  • the screen 1 may be notionally divided into regions 2 of different sizes during different points in the method.
  • the division of the screen 1 can be by virtue of a first grid, grid-I, having 16 regions 2; a second grid, grid-II, having 32 regions 2 all smaller than the regions 2 of grid-I; a third grid, grid-III, having 64 regions 2 all smaller than the regions 2 of grid-II; and a fourth grid, grid-IV, having 128 regions 2 all smaller than the regions 2 of grid-III.
  • the grids may have more or less regions 2 than in the examples shown.
  • all regions 2 are of the same size and shape and are rectangular. In general, however, the regions 2 within a grid may be of different shapes and need not be the same size. For example, it may be desirable to have regions 2 of a different size at the top right hand or top left hand corner of the screen 1 as that is the area where a channel logo is often displayed, or the regions 2 may be of a different size and shape at the lower part of the screen 1 where often a scrolling text (for example displaying latest news, share prices and the like) is displayed within a static border.
  • a scrolling text for example displaying latest news, share prices and the like
  • the division of the screen 1 into regions 2 is notional.
  • the size, shape and number of regions 2 within each grid can be predefined by the manufacturer of the display device or can be determined by a software-implemented algorithm according to the size and position of any static image.
  • the screen 1 is monitored so that it can be detected when a static image has been displayed on a part of the screen for a predetermined period of time.
  • the particular period of time that should be set depends on a number of factors, including for example the quality of the screen 1 and the brightness and contrast levels of the pixels in the screen 1.
  • the drive signals to the individual pixels can be appropriately monitored by a controller or processor.
  • grid-III having its larger regions 2 is used instead.
  • grid-II with its even larger regions 2 is used. Then, grid-I can be used if the static image does not fit within the regions 2 of grid-II.
  • a counter is provided for at least the region 2 in which the static image entirely fits.
  • counters may be provided for all regions 2 in the grids.
  • the method may operate to detect plural static images at different positions on the screen 1, possibly with regions 2 of different sizes being selected according to the size of the respective static images, and separate counters may be allocated to those regions.
  • a burn-in protection method is carried out on the pixels in the region 2 in which the static image is located.
  • each block 10 may consist of a single pixel or plural pixels, which may be arranged in square arrays of 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 pixels, etc., or which may in general be of any size and shape However, it is preferred to keep the size of the blocks 10 small so as to minimise the possibility of the viewer noticing operation of the burn-in method.
  • the brightness level of the pixel or pixels in the block 10 is then reduced, preferably to zero, by appropriate control of the drive signals sent to the pixels in the block 10.
  • the position of the block 10 for which the brightness level is reduced may be selected randomly.
  • the duration of the reduced brightness level may be set randomly (up to a predetermined maximum period of time for example) or may be a predetermined fixed time period. In general, the period for which the brightness level is reduced may be set depending on the type and quality of the screen, the brightness level being applied to the pixel during display of the static image, etc. After that period of time has expired, the brightness level of the pixel or pixels in the block 10 is returned to its level required to display the static image.
  • Another block 10 is then randomly selected for the brightness level of its pixel or pixels to be reduced.
  • Several blocks 10 in the region 2 can be selected to have the brightness levels of their pixels reduced simultaneously. In general, therefore, over a period of time, the brightness levels of all pixels in the region 2 are reduced, which avoids burn-in of the static image in
  • the pixels for which the brightness levels are reduced are selected methodically.
  • a series of pixels in a line 20, which in this example is vertically orientated with respect to the region 2 are selected to have their brightness level reduced.
  • the brightness level of the pixels in that line 20 is reduced (preferably to zero) for a short period of time and their brightness level then returned to the level necessary to display the static image.
  • pixels in an adjacent line are selected to have their brightness levels reduced temporarily, etc. In this way, the line effectively sweeps across the region 2 so that in turn, all pixels have their brightness level reduced over time.
  • the line 20 fits entirely across the region 2.
  • the line 20 in this example sweeps from left to right and then from right to left, etc. In this way, over a short period of time, the brightness levels of all pixels in the region 2 is methodically and temporarily reduced.
  • a short line 30 of pixels is selected that extends only part way across the region 2.
  • this short line 30 can be swept in one direction across a first row 31 in the region 2.
  • the row 31 contains several rows of pixels. Having reached one edge of the region 2, the line 30 then returns to sweep across a second row 32 of pixels, etc., so that ultimately in a sufficient period of time the line 30 sweeps across the whole of the region 2 such that all pixels in the region 2 have their brightness levels temporarily reduced.
  • Using the short line 30, which is swept back and forth over relatively smaller areas than the long line 20 of the example described above helps to reduce the possibility of the viewer noticing that pixels are being switched off or are having their brightness reduced.
  • the line 20 of the example shown in Figure 3 may have a width of only one pixel or plural pixels.
  • FIG. 6 shows schematically the steps of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the screen of the display device is scanned continually to look for display of a static image of any part of the screen.
  • step 2 if a static image is detected, the result true leads to step 3 in which the screen is divided into the small regions 2, which is done successively until the smallest region 2 in which the static image fits is identified.
  • step 4 one or more counters for the region(s) 2 are started.
  • step 5 if motion in the region 2 or pixels within the region 2 is detected before the counter reaches a predetermined value, the burn-in protection method is not required. Otherwise, a burn-in protection method is activated in step 6.
  • step 7 it is preferred that monitoring is still carried out to determine whether motion in the region 2 or in particular pixels within the region 2 is detected. If motion is detected, then the burn-in protection method can be switched off, and the process returned to step 1.
  • the preferred method can be implemented in one or more processors associated with the display screen.
  • the method may be implemented in software or hardware or a combination of software and hardware.
  • the method may be implemented in software running on a general purpose computer that is used to drive the display screen.
  • the method can be embodied in one or more processors associated with the television receiver apparatus.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Controls And Circuits For Display Device (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
EP05256255A 2005-10-06 2005-10-06 Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in Active EP1772849B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05256255A EP1772849B1 (en) 2005-10-06 2005-10-06 Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in
ES05256255T ES2392970T3 (es) 2005-10-06 2005-10-06 Método y aparato para prevenir el quemado de píxeles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05256255A EP1772849B1 (en) 2005-10-06 2005-10-06 Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1772849A1 EP1772849A1 (en) 2007-04-11
EP1772849B1 true EP1772849B1 (en) 2012-08-15

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EP05256255A Active EP1772849B1 (en) 2005-10-06 2005-10-06 Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in

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EP (1) EP1772849B1 (es)
ES (1) ES2392970T3 (es)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9454925B1 (en) 2014-09-10 2016-09-27 Google Inc. Image degradation reduction
US12051364B2 (en) 2022-05-06 2024-07-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) burn-in prevention based on stationary pixel and luminance reduction
US12211434B2 (en) 2021-08-13 2025-01-28 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Detecting stationary regions for organic light emitting diode (OLED) television (TV) luminance reduction
US12260526B2 (en) 2021-08-13 2025-03-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Self-emitting display (SED) burn-in prevention based on stationary luminance reduction

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8115708B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2012-02-14 Intel Corporation System and method for the prevention of display burn-in
CN105916056B (zh) * 2016-05-04 2018-11-23 深圳Tcl数字技术有限公司 背光自适应调节方法及装置
WO2020031325A1 (ja) * 2018-08-09 2020-02-13 Ｎｅｃディスプレイソリューションズ株式会社 画像表示装置および画像表示方法
WO2022093174A1 (en) * 2020-10-26 2022-05-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Turn on and off screen pixel sets

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10161629A (ja) * 1996-12-03 1998-06-19 Nippon Avionics Co Ltd ディスプレイ装置の表示制御方法
WO1999053472A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 1999-10-21 Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. Display control device with modes for reduced power consumption
EP1056261A2 (en) * 1999-05-27 2000-11-29 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Display control for an electronic device
US20030090488A1 (en) * 2001-11-14 2003-05-15 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Apparatus and method for attenuating luminance of plasma display panel

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100386792C (zh) * 2002-03-04 2008-05-07 三洋电机株式会社 有机电致发光显示装置及其应用

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10161629A (ja) * 1996-12-03 1998-06-19 Nippon Avionics Co Ltd ディスプレイ装置の表示制御方法
WO1999053472A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 1999-10-21 Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. Display control device with modes for reduced power consumption
EP1056261A2 (en) * 1999-05-27 2000-11-29 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Display control for an electronic device
US20030090488A1 (en) * 2001-11-14 2003-05-15 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Apparatus and method for attenuating luminance of plasma display panel

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9454925B1 (en) 2014-09-10 2016-09-27 Google Inc. Image degradation reduction
US12211434B2 (en) 2021-08-13 2025-01-28 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Detecting stationary regions for organic light emitting diode (OLED) television (TV) luminance reduction
US12260526B2 (en) 2021-08-13 2025-03-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Self-emitting display (SED) burn-in prevention based on stationary luminance reduction
US12051364B2 (en) 2022-05-06 2024-07-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) burn-in prevention based on stationary pixel and luminance reduction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1772849A1 (en) 2007-04-11
ES2392970T3 (es) 2012-12-17

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