Aiming to present the real world in the eyes of consumers, imaging technology is attracting input and effort from scores of AV manufacturers. iST, the leading electronic verification and test lab, is debuting its "HDR (High Dynamic Range) measurement and color calibration service." As only a handful of labs are qualified to offer HDR calibration services, scores of global display, computer, and TV brands are seeking iST's assistance of this.
Thanks to fast adoption of 4K TV technology, use of wide color domain, and video streaming at speeds up to 60fps, the image display quality pursuer is now facing the challenge of "brightness dynamic range" in presenting the real world as seen by consumers, iST noted.
High Dynamic Range (HDR), the technology to meet this challenge, has become the hottest subject of imaging technology in every big consumer electronic expo around the world lately. Each AV equipment manufacturer is rushing to invest in HDR technology to raise the dynamic range of images and set up the required standards to control the quality of this advanced specification.
Eric Yu, director of iST's Signal Integrity Business Unit, said that many display and computer TV makers are seeking iST's helps in tackling screen abnormalities despite successfully calibrating according to the EOTF standard (The EOTF standard is aimed at the electro-optical conversion functions for converting telecommunications signals into visible light) when applying the HDR technology.
Most errors in HDR applications, including high brightness and contour symptoms of discontinuous low brightness found in screens (see figures below), are caused by an incorrect algorithm or poor settings in the internal IC components adopted by the display manufacturer, he elaborated.
In addition, recognizing that the HDMI wired transmission interface is the main connection port for consumer display products, most display product makers tend to get HDMI HDR (HDMI2.0a) certified as the first step in introducing HDR products.
iST is an HDMI authorized lab (ATC). With a team of members of comprehensive hands-on experience from leading IC design houses and display and TV manufacturers, it is more than qualified to provide HDMI HDR certification service as well as HDR algorithm requirements and customized calibration in the role of consultant.
Fig: (Top left) Discontinuous contour is obvious at high brightness due to incorrect algorithm.
(Top right) With iST's tone improvement, the high bright region becomes smooth and keeps the contrast.
(Bottom left) Poor contour on high bright region. (Bottom right) iST's tone improvement makes image with more steps in brightness and smother transitions.
