Dynamic backlight adaptation for video images with black bars

A computer-program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein for determining an intensity setting of a light source, the computer-program mechanism comprising:

• instructions for calculating a brightness metric associated with a video image;
• instructions for identifying a subset of the video image based on the brightness metric, wherein the subset of the video image includes spatially varying visual information in the video image;
• and
• instructions for determining the intensity setting of the light source based on a first portion of the brightness metric associated with the subset of the video image, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image.

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• an input interface configured to receive video signals associated with a video image and a brightness setting of a light source which is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image;
• an extraction circuit electrically coupled to the input interface, the extraction circuit operative to calculate a brightness metric associated with the video image based on the received video signals;
• an analysis circuit electrically coupled to the extraction circuit, the analysis circuit configured to analyze the brightness metric to identify a subset of the video image, wherein the subset of the video image includes spatially varying visual information in the video image;
• an intensity circuit electrically coupled to the analysis circuit, the intensity circuit configured to determine an intensity setting of the light source based on the brightness setting and a first portion of the brightness metric associated with the subset of the video image;
• and
• an output interface electrically coupled to the intensity circuit, the output interface configured to output the intensity setting of the light source.

An integrated circuit, comprising one or more sub-circuits, wherein the one or more sub-circuits are configured to:

• calculate a brightness metric associated with a video image;
• identify a subset of the video image based on the brightness metric, wherein the subset of the video image includes spatially varying visual information in the video image;
• and
• determine the intensity setting of the light source based on a first portion of the brightness metric associated with the subset of the video image, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image.

A method for determining an intensity of a light source, comprising:

• calculating a brightness metric associated with a video image;
• identifying a subset of the video image based on the brightness metric, wherein the subset of the video image includes spatially varying visual information in the video image;
• and
• determining the intensity setting of the light source based on a first portion of the brightness metric associated with the subset of the video image, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image.

A computer system to determine an intensity setting of a light source, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory;
• a program module, wherein the program module is stored in the memory and configurable to be executed by the processor, the program module including:
• instructions for calculating a histogram of brightness values associated with a video image;
• instructions for identifying a picture portion of the video image based on the histogram;
• and
• instructions for determining the intensity setting of the light source based on a portion of the histogram associated with the picture portion of the video image, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image.

A computer system configured to execute instructions to determine an intensity setting of a light source, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• an instruction fetch unit within the processor configured to fetch:
• instructions for calculating a histogram of brightness values associated with a video image;
• instructions for identifying a picture portion of the video image based on the histogram;
• and
• instructions for determining the intensity setting of the light source based on a portion of the histogram associated with the picture portion of the video image, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video image;
• and
• an execution unit within the processor configured to execute the instructions for calculating the histogram, the instructions for identifying the picture portion of the video image, and the instructions for determining the intensity setting of the light source.

A portable device, comprising:

• a display;
• a light source configured to output light based on an intensity setting;
• an attenuation mechanism configured to modulate the output light incident on the display, wherein the display is configured to display a video image;
• and
• one or more integrated circuits, comprising:
• an input interface configured to receive video signals associated with the video image and a brightness setting of the light source;
• an extraction circuit electrically coupled to the input interface, the extraction circuit operative to calculate a brightness metric associated with the video image based on the received video signals;
• an analysis circuit electrically coupled to the extraction circuit, the analysis circuit configured to analyze the brightness metric to identify a subset of the video image, and wherein the subset of the video image includes spatially varying visual information in the video image;
• an intensity circuit electrically coupled to the analysis circuit, the intensity circuit configured to determine an intensity setting of the light source based on the brightness setting and a first portion of the brightness metric associated with the subset of the video image;
• and
• an output interface electrically coupled to the intensity circuit, the output interface configured to output the intensity setting of the light source.