Apple patents display tech that balances bright and dim content on head-worn devices
Apple has patented a method for electronic devices worn on the head that display both standard and high dynamic range content simultaneously. The system adjusts the brightness difference between the two types of content based on the specific application in use to prevent bright images from washing out dimmer ones.
In the filing’s own words
An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be configured to display standard dynamic range image content and high dynamic range image content at the same time. The control circuitry may dynamically adjust an amount of headroom for the high dynamic range image content to avoid washing out the standard dynamic range image content. For example, the control circuitry may reduce the amount of headroom available for high dynamic range image content with high average pixel luminance levels and low screen coverage. The headroom may be increased as the average pixel luminance levels decrease and/or as screen coverage increases. Different high dynamic range images that are displayed at the same time may be assigned different amounts of headroom (e.g., different peak brightness levels) based on average pixel luminance values, screen coverage, whether or not the content is within an active window on the display, etc.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device configured to be worn on a user's head, the electronic device comprising: a display configured to display standard dynamic range image content and high dynamic range image content at the same time, wherein: the standard dynamic range image content has a first peak allowable brightness; and the high dynamic range image content has a second peak allowable brightness that is greater than the first peak allowable brightness, wherein a difference between the first peak allowable brightness and the second peak allowable brightness is adjusted based on which application is being used to display the standard dynamic range image content.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Displays with content-specific headroom
- Patent number
- US12770581B2
- Application number
- 19039443
- Filed
- Jan 28, 2025
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G09G 3/3413 Physics & computingG09G 3/3426 Physics & computingG09G 2320/0276 Physics & computingG09G 2320/0646 Physics & computingG09G 2320/066 Physics & computingG09G 2360/144 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.