United States Patent [19] [n] Patent Number: 5,216,504
Webb et al. [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 1, 1993
[54] AUTOMATIC PRECISION VIDEO MONITOR ALIGNMENT SYSTEM
[75] Inventors: James R. Webb; Ron C. Simpson;
Howard M. Pogoda, all of Boulder,
Colo.
[73] Assignee: Display Laboratories, Inc., Boulder, Colo.
[21] Appl. No.: 766,646
[22] Filed: Sep. 25,1991
[51] Int. CI.' H04N 17/04
[52] U.S. CI 358/139; 358/10
[58] Field of Search 358/10,139
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,240,100 12/1980 Gorbold et al 358/10
4,602,272 7/1986 Duschl 358/10
4,989,072 1/1991 Sato et al 358/10
5,032.769 7/1991 Kawakami 358/139 X
5,036,251 7/1991 Lee 358/10 X
Primary Examiner—Victor R. Kostak
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Duft, Graziano & Forest
[57] ABSTRACT
An automatic precision video monitor alignment and
calibration system is described which functions to precisely align all of the adjustable display characteristics of a video monitor to a high degree of precision. This alignment system can function in an automated calibration mode wherein it is independent of human input and automatically performs a series of alignment/calibration operations to precisely adjust all of the display characteristics of the video monitor in a fraction of the time required by a person to manually align the video monitor. The alignment system includes a digital control circuit located within the video monitor to precisely set and maintain each of the monitor display characteristics. The values maintained by this control circuit can be input by a person, or set automatically by a computer controlled display alignment system. The system of the present invention uses a single camera and a color analyzer to make all the measurements necessary to automatically align and calibrate a video monitor. The measurements are then used to make the adjustments, via the digital control circuit, necessary for alignment and/or calibration. A calibration computer coupled with a video coprocessor subsystem accomplish all adjustments to the monitor automatically, without the need for human intervention.
31 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
