Color curve control circuit and method

Abstract

A color curve control circuit includes: a data input unit, for entering values for changing colors on the screen of a monitor; a microcomputer, for processing color signals corresponding to color temperature using stored color temperature data and a color curve control program, in order to change the colors on the screen according to signals generated by the data input unit, and for generating color gain signals and color cutoff signals; and a digital to analog converter for converting the digital color gain and cutoff signals from the microcomputer into analog signals.

1. A color curve control circuit comprising:
 a data input unit, for entering values to change the colors on the screen of a video monitor;  
 a microcomputer, for processing color signals corresponding to color temperature using stored color temperature values and a color curve control program in order to change the colors on the screen according to signals received by the data input unit, and for generating digital color gain signals and digital color cutoff signals; and  
 a digital to analog converter for converting the digital color gain signals and the digital cutoff signals from the microcomputer into analog gain signals and analog cutoff signals.  
 
     
     
       2. The circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an on screen display unit, for generating on screen display signals describing a procedure of transmitting the display values from the data input unit to the microcomputer, and changing the colors on the screen using said display values; and  
 a multiplexer for selectively supplying the on screen display signals transmitted by the on screen display unit.  
 
     
     
       3. The circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the data input unit comprises:
 temperature sensing means, for automatically sensing ambient temperature of the monitor, and generating a temperature signal which automatically changes a color of the screen according to the temperature of the monitor; and  
 a keypad through which a user enters temperature values indicating a desired color to manually change the color of the screen.  
 
     
     
       4. The circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a video pre-amplifier for generating amplified red, green and blue video signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and amplifying said red, green and blue video color signals in response to said analog gain signals;  
 an on screen display unit, for generating red, green and blue on-screen display signals describing a procedure of transmitting the display values from the data input unit to the microcomputer, and changing the colors on the screen using said display values;  
 a multiplexer for selectively supplying the amplified red, green and blue video signals and the red, green and blue on-screen display signals transmitted by the on screen display unit; and  
 a video main-amplifier for amplifying, in response to said analog cutoff signals, one of the amplified red, green and blue video signals and the red, green and blue on-screen display signals selectively supplied by said multiplexer.  
 
     
     
       5. A color curve control circuit comprising:
 a data input unit for entering temperature information;  
 a microcomputer for generating digital red, green and blue video gain signals and digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals by converting the temperature information into a digital signal, and processing color signals corresponding to the temperature information using stored color temperature data and a color curve control program;  
 a digital to analog converter for converting the digital red, green and blue video gain signals and the digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals from the microcomputer into analog red, green and blue video gain signals and analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals;  
 a first amplifier for generating amplified red, green and blue video signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and amplifying said red, green and blue video color signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video gain signals; and  
 a second amplifier for generating amplified red, green and blue video display signals, for display on a color monitor, by receiving the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by said first amplifier and amplifying said amplified red, green and blue video signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals.  
 
     
     
       6. The color curve control circuit as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an on screen display unit, for generating red, green and blue on-screen display signals describing a procedure for inputting said temperature information; and  
 a multiplexer for selectively supplying the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by said first amplifier and the red, green and blue on-screen display signals transmitted by the on screen display unit to said second amplifier.  
 
     
     
       7. The color curve control circuit as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the data input unit comprises:
 a keypad for selectively controlling said microprocessor to operate in one of an automatic mode and a manual mode, said temperature information being input by a user via said keypad during said manual mode; and  
 a temperature sensor for inputting said temperature information by sensing an ambient temperature of the color monitor during said automatic mode.  
 
     
     
       8. The color curve control circuit as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an on screen display unit, for generating red, green and blue on-screen display signals describing a procedure for inputting said temperature information during said manual mode; and  
 a multiplexer for selectively supplying the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by said first amplifier and the red, green and blue on-screen display signals transmitted by the on screen display unit to said second amplifier.  
 
     
     
       9. A method of color display adjustment, comprising:
   selecting a range of temperatures according to maximum and minimum color temperature values;        entering a color temperature value within said selected range;        determining color gain and cut - off data according to said entered color temperature value, said maximum color temperature and said minimum color temperature: and        storing certain color gain and cut - off data of the determined gain and cut - off data.      
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising of converting said color gain and cut- off values to analog signals.    
     
     
       11. The method of color display adjustment of  claim 9 , further comprising of determining initial color gain and cutoff values corresponding to the color temperature range between maximum and minimum color temperature values before said entering the color temperature value.  
     
     
       12. A method of color display adjustment, comprising:
   selecting a range of temperatures according to maximum and minimum color temperature values;        inputting a user selected color temperature value within said selected range;        determining color gain and cut - off data according to said user selected value, said maximum color temperature and said minimum color temperature; and        storing color gain and cut - off data corresponding to the selected range.      
     
     
       13. A method of color display adjustment, comprising:
   receiving a color temperature value;        establishing a range of color temperatures, with the range of color temperatures being determined through both maximum and minimum color temperatures and being between maximum and minimum color temperatures;        calculating gain and cutoff values according to said range and received color temperature value; and        storing gain and cutoff values of said range.      
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising of converting said color gain and cut- off values to analog signals.    
     
     
       15. A method of color display adjustment, comprising:
   setting a range of color temperature values;        determining color gain and cutoff data corresponding to minimum and maximum color temperature values in said range of color temperature values;        storing said color gain and cutoff data;        entering a color temperature value by a user;        reading said color gain and cut - off values corresponding to said range; and        calculating color gain and cut - off values according to said entered color temperature value.      
     
     
       16. A method of obtaining color temperature data for a color curve control circuit, comprising:
   providing a range of temperatures between a maximum and a minimum temperature;        providing a gain and cutoff data according to said minimum temperature;        providing a slope of a temperature curve; and        calculating color temperature data corresponding to a selected temperature according to said slope of said temperature curve.      
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , with the slope of said temperature curve being a predetermined value set during manufacture according to properties of a video display.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , with said color temperature data being red temperature data, green temperature data, and blue temperature data.  
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , with said gain being a red gain, a green gain and a blue gain.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , with said cutoff being a red cutoff, a green cutoff, and a blue cutoff.  
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising of converting said color temperature data into an analog signal.  
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising formulas for calculating said color temperature data being:
     R   x =( R   min ×( T   —   MAX−xc )+ R   max ×( xc−T   —   MIN ))/( T   —   MAX−T   —   MIN ) ;          G   x =( G   min ×( T   —   MAX−xc )+ G   max ×( xc−T   —   MIN ))/( T   —   MAX−T   —   MIN ) ; and          B   x =( B   min ×( T   —   MAX−xc )+ B   max ×( xc−T   —   MIN ))/( T   —   MAX−T   —   MIN ) ;      
       
         wherein R 
         x 
         , G 
         x 
         , B 
         x  
         corresponds to the color temperature of a red, green, and blue color signals respectively, R 
         min 
         , G 
         min 
         , B 
         min  
         corresponding to a minimum value of the color temperature of the red, green, and blue color signals respectively, R 
         max 
         , G 
         max 
         , B 
         max  
         corresponding to a maximum value of the color temperature of the red, green, and blue color signals respectively, T 
         — 
         MAX corresponding to the maximum temperature in the range of temperature, and T 
         — 
         MIN corresponding to the minimum temperature in the range of temperature.  
       
     
     
       23. A method of adjusting color on a monitor, comprising:
   providing a slope of a temperature curve representing the gain of each color at a selected temperature;        providing both a temperature sensor detecting a temperature and a manual switch manually selecting a temperature;        inputting a temperature in accordance with one of the temperature sensor and said manual switch; and        calculating said gain of each color in response to said temperature.      
     
     
       24. A method, comprising:
   entering values to change the colors on the screen of a video monitor;        processing color signals corresponding to color temperature using stored color temperature values and a color curve control program in order to change the colors on the screen according to signals received by the entering values, and generating digital color gain signals and digital color cutoff signals; and        converting the digital color gain signals and the digital cutoff signals from the processing color signals into analog gain signals and analog cutoff signals.      
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
   generating on - screen display signals describing a procedure of transmitting the display values from entering values to processing the values, and changing the colors on the screen using said display values; and        supplying selectively the on - screen display signals for display.      
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24 , with the entering values further comprising:
   automatically sensing ambient temperature of the video monitor, and generating a temperature signal automatically changing a color of the screen according to the temperature of the video monitor; and        entering manually temperature values indicating a desired color to change the color of the screen.      
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
   generating amplified red, green and blue video color signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and amplifying said red, green and blue video color signals in response to said analog gain signals;        generating red, green and blue on - screen display signals describing a procedure of transmitting the display values from the entering the values to the processing the color signals, and changing the colors on the screen using said display values;        supplying selectively the amplified red, green and blue video signals and the red, green and blue on - screen display signals transmitted by the generating red, green and blue on - screen display signals; and        amplifying, in response to said analog cutoff signals, one of the amplified red, green and blue video signals and the red, green and blue on - screen display signals selectively supplied.      
     
     
       28. A method, comprising:
   entering temperature information;        generating digital red, green and blue video gain signals and digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals by converting the temperature information into a digital signal, and processing color signals corresponding to the temperature information using stored color temperature data and a color curve control program;        converting the digital red, green and blue video gain signals and the digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals from a microcomputer into analog red, green and blue video gain signals and analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals;        generating amplified red, green and blue video signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and amplifying said red, green and blue video color signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video gain signals; and        generating amplified red, green and blue video display signals, for display on a color monitor, by receiving the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by the generating amplified red, green and blue video signals and amplifying the amplified red, green and blue video signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals.      
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
   generating red, green and blue on - screen display signals describing a procedure for inputting said temperature information; and        supplying selectively the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by said generating amplified red, green and blue video signals and the red, green and blue on - screen display signals transmitted to said generating amplified red, green and blue video display signals.      
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , with the entering temperature information further comprising of selecting a manual mode for manually inputting the temperature information.  
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
   generating red, green and blue on - screen display signals describing a procedure for inputting said temperature information during said manual mode; and        selectively supplying the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by said generating amplified red, green and blue video signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and the red, green and blue on - screen display signals transmitted by the generating red, green and blue on - screen display signals to said generating amplified red, green, and blue video display signals, for display on a color monitor.      
     
     
       32. A method, comprising:
   setting a temperature range within a predetermined range;        determining the gains and cutoff values of a plurality of color data signals, each one of the color data signals being a distinct spectral component, said plurality of color data signals forming a color video image when combined, the plurality of color data signals including a first color data signal, a second data signal, and a third data signal corresponding to a minimum temperature value and maximum temperature value in said set temperature range;        storing the determined gains and cutoff values of the plurality of color data signals;        entering a color temperature within said set temperature range; and        reading gains and cutoff values of the first, second, and third color data signal corresponding to said set temperature range.      
     
     
       33. A method, comprising:
   setting a temperature range;        determining the gains and cutoff values of a plurality of color data signals, each one of the color data signals being a distinct spectral component, said plurality of color data signals forming a color video image when combined, the plurality of color data signals including a first color data signal, a second data signal, and a third data signal corresponding to a minimum temperature value and maximum temperature value in said set temperature range;        entering a temperature; and        reading gains and cutoff values of the first, second, and third color data signal corresponding to said temperature range,        further comprising of determining xc corresponding to the input temperature from the following formula with color curve slope of value S:        xc=T −( x−T   —   len )×( x+T   —   len ) ×S;          with T corresponding to a predetermined temperature, x corresponding to a temperature substituted for a medium temperature, T   —   len corresponding to the range of temperatures, and S corresponding to the slope of the temperature curve.      
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising of determining color temperature data for each one of the first, second, and third color data signals according to the following formula:
     A   x =( A   min ×( T   —   MAX−xc )+ A   max ×( xc−T   —   MIN ))/( T   —   MAX−T   —   MIN ) ;        wherein A   x    corresponds to the color temperature of one of the color data signals, A   min    corresponds to a minimum value of the color temperature of one of the color data signals, A   max    corresponding the a maximum value of the color temperature of one of the color data signals, T   —   MAX corresponding to the maximum temperature in the range of temperature, T   —   MIN corresponding to the minimum temperature in the range of temperature.      
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , further comprising of determining gain and cutoff values of each one of the video components according to A x    with respect to the inputted temperature.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , further comprising of converting the gain and cutoff values from digital to analog.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , further comprising of determining whether the color displayed on the screen is the desired color according to the gain and cutoff values.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , with the first color data signal being a red video signal, the second color data signal being a blue video signal, and the third color data signal being a green video signal.  
     
     
       39. A color curve control circuit, comprising:
   a data input unit selectively entering values to change the colors on the screen of a video monitor; and        a microcomputer processing color signals corresponding to color temperatures including a color curve control program generating digital color gain signals and digital color cutoff signals using a selected range of color temperatures according to signals received by said data input unit.      
     
     
       40. The color curve control circuit of  claim 39 , further comprising a digital to analog converter for converting the digital color gain signals and the digital cutoff signals from the microcomputer into analog gain signals and analog cutoff signals.  
     
     
       41. The circuit according to  claim 39 , further comprising an on- screen display unit, for generating on - screen display signals describing a procedure of transmitting the display values from the data input unit to the microcomputer, and changing the colors on the screen using said display values.    
     
     
       42. The circuit according to  claim 41 , further comprising a multiplexer for selectively supplying the on- screen display signals transmitted by the on - screen display unit.    
     
     
       43. The circuit according to  claim 39 , further comprising an on- screen display unit generating red, green, and blue on - screen display signals to display on the screen from data transmitted from the microcomputer.    
     
     
       44. The circuit according to  claim 43 , further comprising a multiplexer selecting either the red, green, and blue video signals from a video pre- amplifier or the red, green and blue on - screen display signals from the on - screen display unit in response to an enable signal from the on - screen display unit.    
     
     
       45. The circuit according to  claim 39 , with the microcomputer generating on- screen display values for an on - screen display unit, the on - screen display values including information on the color temperature signal selected by a user for transmission to the on - screen display unit to be displayed and viewed by the user.    
     
     
       46. The circuit according to  claim 39 , further comprising an on- screen display unit displaying the color temperature selected by a user through said data input unit, the on - screen display unit receiving horizontal and vertical sync signals, from the data inputted from the microprocessor to the on - screen display unit, the on - screen display unit outputting on - screen display signals for each of the color signals, and an on - screen display enable signal in synchronization with the horizontal and vertical sync signal.    
     
     
       47. The circuit according to  claim 46 , with the on- screen display enable signal being generated only when a color correction mode is selected by a user using a data input unit.    
     
     
       48. The circuit according to  claim 46 , with the color signals being displayed according to a current gain and cutoff signals when there is no on- screen display enable signal.    
     
     
       49. The circuit according to  claim 39 , further comprising a plurality of first amplifier units for each color component of the color signals, the color signals being amplified to the levels of the gain signals in each color component of the color signals from the digital to analog converter.  
     
     
       50. An apparatus, comprising:
   a data input unit selectively entering values manually or automatically to change the colors on the screen of a video monitor;        a microcomputer processing a plurality of color data signals by using color temperature data corresponding to the plurality of color data signals, the color temperature data computed by said microcomputer according to a selected range of color temperatures and the signals received from the data input unit; and        a digital to analog converter for converting digital color gain signals and digital cutoff signals from the microcomputer into analog gain signals and analog cutoff signals.      
     
     
       51. The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising:
   a first amplifier for amplifying the plurality of color data signals according to the respective gain signals for each on the color data signals;        an on - screen display unit generating an on - screen display signal for each of the plurality of color data signals and an on - screen display enable signal;        a multiplexer selectively supplying the amplified color data signals from the first amplifier and the plurality of on - screen display signals from the on - screen display unit; and        a second amplifier for amplifying the plurality of color data signals amplified by the first amplifier or the plurality of on - screen display signals, transmitted by the multiplexer, according to the cut off levels for each of the plurality of color data signals generated by the digital to analog converter.      
     
     
       52. The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising an on- screen display unit generating an on - screen display signal for each one of the plurality of color data signals and an on - screen display enable signal.    
     
     
       53. The apparatus of  claim 51 , with the on- screen display signals for each one of the plurality of color data signals being transmitted to the second amplifier in response to the on - screen display enable signal.    
     
     
       54. The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising an on- screen display unit generating an on - screen display signal including information on the color temperature signal selected by the user.    
     
     
       55. The apparatus of  claim 51 , with the multiplexer being turned on by the on- screen display enable signal to transmit the on - screen display signals from amplifiers of the multiplexer to the second amplifying unit.    
     
     
       56. The apparatus of  claim 55 , with the on- screen display enable signal being generated when the data input unit selectively enters values to change the colors on the screen of the video monitor.    
     
     
       57. The apparatus of  claim 51 , with the multiplexer further comprising a plurality of operational amplifiers, each one of the plurality of operational amplifiers corresponding to an on- screen display signal for a corresponding one of the color data signals.    
     
     
       58. The apparatus of  claim 51 , with the second amplifier amplifying the plurality of color data signals or the on- screen display signals according to the levels of the color cutoff signals for each of the color data signals transmitted by the digital to analog converter.    
     
     
       59. The apparatus of  claim 50 , with the microcomputer including a color curve program adjusting the color using a color curve with the range of temperatures established according to a preset maximum temperature and minimum temperature.  
     
     
       60. The apparatus of  claim 50 , with the microcomputer computing the color temperature data by using a maximum and minimum temperatures of the selected range of color temperatures.  
     
     
       61. A method of displaying color adjustment in a display monitor stored in a microcomputer, comprising:
   receiving a user selected color temperature value;        determining a color temperature data according to a user selected color temperature value, a corresponding color curve and a predetermined range of color temperature values; and        determining color gain and cut - off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature value according to said color temperature data.      
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 61 , further comprising of converting said color gain and cut- off values to analog signals.    
     
     
       63. An apparatus, comprising a microcomputer including a memory for storing instructions for displaying and adjusting color in a display monitor with an associated color curve, a predetermined range of color temperatures with a maximum value and minimum value, the instructions comprising of receiving a user selected color temperature value, determining a color temperature data based on said user selected color temperature value, said associated color curve and said predetermined range, determining color gain and cut-off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature value based on said color temperature data.  
     
     
       64. An apparatus, comprising a microcomputer storing instructions for displaying and adjusting color in a display monitor with an associated color curve, a predetermined range of color temperatures with a maximum value and minimum value, the instructions comprising of receiving a user selected color temperature value, determining a color temperature data based on said user selected color temperature value, said associated color curve and said predetermined range, determining color gain and cut- off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature value based on said color temperature data.    
     
     
       65. An apparatus, comprising of a unit storing instructions for displaying and adjusting color in a display monitor with an associated color curve, a predetermined range of color temperatures with a maximum value and minimum value, the instructions comprising of receiving a user selected color temperature value, determining a color temperature data based on said user selected color temperature value, said associated color curve and said predetermined range, determining color gain and cut- off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature value based on said color temperature data.    
     
     
       66. A method of displaying color adjustment in a display monitor having an associated color curve and a predetermined range of color temperatures with a maximum value and a minimum value provided by a stored program, said method comprising:
   receiving a user selected color temperature value;        determining a color temperature data based on said user selected color temperature value, said associated color curve and said predetermined range;        determining color gain and cut - off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature based on said color temperature data; and        converting said color gain and cutoff values to analog signals.      
     
     
       67. A method, comprising:
   receiving a user selected color temperature value;        determining a color temperature data based on said user selected color temperature value, a associated color curve and a predetermined range;        determining color gain and cut - off values corresponding to said user selected color temperature value based on said color temperature data; and        converting said color gain and cutoff values to analog signals.      
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 67 , with said steps being implemented by a stored program.  
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 68 , with said program being stored in a memory.  
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 68 , with said program being stored in a memory of a microcomputer.  
     
     
       71. The method of  claim 68 , with said program being stored in a storage medium comprised from a microcomputer.  
     
     
       72. A color curve circuit, comprising:
   a data input unit, for entering values to change colors appearing on a screen of a video monitor;        a microcomputer, for processing color signals corresponding to color temperatures by using stored color temperature values and a color curve control program in order to change said colors appearing on the screen according to signals received by the data input unit, and for generating color gain signals and color cutoff signals.      
     
     
       73. A method of color display adjustment of the color curve control unit of  claim 1 , comprising:
   selecting a range of temperatures according to maximum and minimum color temperature values;        inputting a user selected value; and        determining color gain and cut - off data according to said user selected value, said maximum color temperature and said minimum color temperature.      
     
     
       74. A method of obtaining color temperature data for a color curve control circuit of  claim 1 , comprising:
   providing a range of temperatures between a maximum and a minimum temperature;        providing a gain and cutoff data according to said minimum temperature;        providing a slope of a temperature curve; and        calculating color temperature data corresponding to a selected temperature according to said slope of said temperature curve.      
     
     
       75. A method of the color curve control circuit of  claim 1 , comprising:
   entering values to change the colors on the screen of a video monitor;        processing color signals corresponding to color temperature using stored color temperature values and a color curve control program in order to change the colors on the screen according to signals received by the entering values, and generating digital color gain signals and digital color cutoff signals; and        converting the digital color gain signals and the digital cutoff signals from the processing color signals into analog gain signals and analog cutoff signals.      
     
     
       76. A method of the color curve control circuit of  claim 5 , comprising:
   entering temperature information;        generating digital red, green and blue video gain signals and digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals by converting the temperature information into a digital signal, and processing color signals corresponding to the temperature information using stored color temperature data and a color curve control program;        converting the digital red, green and blue video gain signals and the digital red, green and blue video cutoff signals from a microcomputer into analog red, green and blue video gain signals and analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals;        generating amplified red, green and blue video signals by receiving red, green and blue video color signals from a computer and amplifying said red, green and blue video color signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video gain signals; and        generating amplified red, green and blue video display signals, for display on a color monitor, by receiving the amplified red, green and blue video signals generated by the generating amplified red, green and blue video signals and amplifying the amplified red, green and blue video signals in response to said analog red, green and blue video cutoff signals.      
     
     
       77. A method of the color curve control circuit of  claim 1 , comprising:
   setting a temperature range;        determining the gains and cutoff values of a plurality of color data signals, each one of the color data signals being a distinct spectral component, said plurality of color data signals forming a color video image when combined, the plurality of color data signals including a first color data signal, a second data signal, and a third data signal corresponding to a minimum temperature value and maximum temperature value in said set temperature range;        entering a temperature; and        reading gains and cutoff values of the first, second, and third color data signal corresponding to said temperature range.      
     
     
       78. The color curve control circuit of  claim 1 , comprising:
   said data input unit selectively entering values to change the colors on the screen of said video monitor; and        said microcomputer processing color signals corresponding to color temperatures including a color curve control program generating digital color gain signals and digital color cutoff signals using a selected range of color temperatures according to signals received by said data input unit.