Display output-light monitoring/control.
An apparatus displaying content to a viewer by adjusting parameters of the content or display devices based on environmental or display device changes. The apparatus includes a display device with a screen providing digital content. A thematic overlay is provided over the display screen to provide diffuse reflection of light striking the front surface. The output light is a combination of the displayed content from the screen and reflection of light from the thematic overlay. The apparatus includes a digital signage benchmarking tool with an output sensing element a benchmarking module processing the sensed output light to generate output light-based data. The apparatus includes a feedback control module modifying a parameter of the display device based on the output light-based data to modify chromaticity or illumination levels of the display device. The feedback control module operates to modify the digital content to provide the displayed content having an adjusted chromaticity.
BACKGROUND(1) 1. Field of the Description(2) The present description relates, in general, to displays such as those used to provide digital signage, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for enhancing backlighting levels (or illumination levels) and/or content provided (e.g., display content or displayed content) with digital signs (or signage) including, but not limited to, digital signage in which a display device or source of the content is camouflaged or disguised to limit or eliminate detection by a viewer (e.g., a translucent texture layer, a thematic overlay, a monitor-camouflaging sheet, or the like may be positioned over a monitor or display screen to hide its presence to viewers).(3) 2. Relevant Background(4) In many settings, information and images are continuously being presented to viewers or people passing by a location. For example, shopping malls and airport terminals are filled with displays providing information and advertisements. Many of these displays are built up around conventional television monitors and displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma display devices. These displays have become a standard tool for advertisement, reprogrammable signage, information stations, and menu boards (which together may be called “digital signage”).(5) One of the reasons these display devices have become ubiquitous is the ease of changing content and/or messaging on the display quickly and effortlessly, which may equate to reduced costs, effic
1. An apparatus for displaying content to a viewer in a viewing space, comprising: a display device with a display screen providing digital content as displayed content on a surface of the display screen; and a display control assembly comprising an output sensing element sensing output light from the display screen, wherein the display control assembly processes the sensed output light to generate output light-based data and modifies an operating parameter of the display device based on the output light-based data to modify a characteristic of the displayed content, wherein the display control assembly further comprises a control image element displaying a reference card image with a pattern of colored objects, wherein the output sensing element comprises a sensor or camera concurrently capturing color response samples from the reference card image and the displayed content from the surface of the display screen, and wherein the output light-based data includes a response profile generated by comparing the color response samples associated with the reference card image and the displayed content, whereby the operating parameter of the display device is modified to cause the color response samples from the displayed content to match the color response samples associated with the reference card image.
7. An apparatus for displaying content to a viewer in a viewing space, comprising: a display device with a display screen providing digital content and a light source transmitting light through the display screen such that the digital content is visible as displayed content on a surface of the display screen; a thematic overlay positioned over the display screen, wherein the thematic overlay includes a rear surface facing the display screen and a front surface, opposite the rear surface, that is configured to provide diffuse reflection of light striking the front surface from the viewing space, whereby output light of the apparatus is a combination of the displayed content from the surface of the display screen and the diffuse reflection of light from the thematic overlay; a digital signage benchmarking tool comprising an output sensing element sensing the output light and a benchmarking module processing the sensed output light to generate output light-based data; and a feedback control module modifying an operating parameter of the display device based on the output light-based data to modify the light transmitted through the display screen of the display device, wherein the digital signage benchmarking tool further comprises a control image element displaying a reference card image with a pattern of colored objects, wherein the output sensing element comprises a sensor or camera concurrently capturing red-green-blue (RGB) response samples from the reference card image and the displayed content from the surface of the display screen, and wherein the output light-based data includes a response profile generated by the benchmarking module by comparing the RGB response samples associated with the reference card image and the displayed content.
14. A benchmarking tool for use with digital signage and in other applications, comprising: a control image element positionable in a space displaying a reference card image including a pattern of colored objects; an output-sensing element capturing a first set of red-green-blue (RGB) response samples from the reference card image and a second set of RGB response samples from a surface in the space including the control image element; and a processor executing code to provide a benchmarking module to process the first and second sets of the RGB response samples to generate a response profile, wherein the benchmarking module generates the response file by comparing values in the first and second sets of RGB responses, and wherein the surface includes a second version of the reference card image.
17. A method of controlling a display system, comprising: with a sensor or camera, first collecting monitoring data including chromaticity for a reference card displayed on a control image element positioned in a viewing space; with a sensor or camera, second collecting monitoring data including chromaticity for displayed content on a display surface of a display device; processing the monitoring data from the first and second collecting steps; and based on results of the processing, adjusting at least one of a color setting in digital content used to produce the displayed content on the display surface and a hardware or software parameter of the display device affecting the chromaticity of the displayed content, wherein the first and second collecting steps are performed concurrently, and wherein the reference card comprises a pattern of colored objects.