FPGA-Based Real-Time Color Correction for a 3-chip Projection System

Abstract

In todays home cinema systems the struggle to deliver the projector offering the best picture quality is the impetus taking the development forward. Projectiondesign is aNorwegian manufacturer of projection systems aiming for the more high-end part of the market. Recently they started the development of a new 3-chip projection system to be able to offer even better picture quality. Due to some imperfections in the internal optics, the image is not yet satisfactorily. This paper presents a novel approach to correct the aberrations with the aid of a built in FPGA in the projector. A method for using the FPGA to correct the picture in real time by manipulating the signals to the digital picture chip producing the images has been put together. The method is based on a one-time calibration generating a per channel luminance attenuation map LAM that can be used to correct any image. Measurements for the calibration will be performed using a standard off-the-shelf digital camera. The method is not yet implemented or tested, but based on similar corrections performed on commodity hardware graphics oncomputers the results are very promising.