Engineering topics

Lubin, Jeffrey

Publications and source records attributed to Lubin, Jeffrey.

4 records

NASA NTRS1998

Sarnoff JND Vision Model for Flat-Panel Design

This document describes adaptation of the basic Sarnoff JND Vision Model created in response to the NASA/ARPA need for a general-purpose model to predict the perceived image quality attained by flat-panel displays. The JND model predicts the perceptual ratings that humans will assign to a degraded color-image sequence relative to its nondegraded counterpart. Substantial flexibility is incorporated into this version of the model so it may be used to model displays at the sub-pixel and sub-frame level. To model a display (e.g., an LCD), the input-image data can be sampled at many times the pixel resolution and at many times the digital frame rate. The first stage of the model downsamples each sequence in time and in space to physiologically reasonable rates, but with minimum interpolative artifacts and aliasing. Luma and chroma parts of the model generate (through multi-resolution pyramid representation) a map of differences-between test and reference called the JND map, from which a summary rating predictor is derived. The latest model extensions have done well in calibration against psychophysical data and against image-rating data given a CRT-based front-end. THe software was delivered to NASA Ames and is being integrated with LCD display models at that facility,

Brill, Michael H.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Grayscale/resolution trade-off for text: Model predictions and psychophysical results for letter confusion and letter discrimination

In a series of papers presented in 1994, we examined the grayscale/resolution trade-off for natural images displayed on devices with discrete pixellation, such as AMLCD's. In the present paper we extend this study by examining the grayscale/resolution trade-off for text images on discrete-pixel displays. Halftoning in printing is an example of the grayscale/resolution trade-off. In printing, spatial resolution is sacrificed to produce grayscale. Another example of this trade-off is the inherent low-pass spatial filter of a CRT, caused by the point-spread function of the electron beam in the phosphor layer. On a CRT, sharp image edges are blurred by this inherent low-pass filtering, and the block noise created by spatial quantization is greatly reduced. A third example of this trade-off is text anti-aliasing, where grayscale is used to improve letter shape, size and location when rendered at a low spatial resolution. There are additional implications for display system design from the grayscale/resolution trade-off. For example, reduced grayscale can reduce system costs by requiring less complexity in the framestore, allowing the use of lower cost drivers, potentially increasing data transfer rates in the image subsystem, and simplifying the manufacturing processes that are used to construct the active matrix for AMLCD (active-matrix liquid-crystal display) or AMTFEL (active-matrix thin-film electroluminescent) devices. Therefore, the study of these trade-offs is important for display designers and manufacturing and systems engineers who wish to create the highest performance, lowest cost device possible. Our strategy for investigating this trade-off is to generate a set of simple test images, manipulate grayscale and resolution, predict discrimination performance using the ViDEOS(Sarnoff) Human Vision Model, conduct an empirical study of discrimination using psychophysical procedures, and verify the computational results using the psychophysical results.

Gille, Jennifer↗

NASA NTRS1992

Visualization and modeling of factors influencing visibility in computer-aided crewstation design

We have developed two modules for use in computer-aided design (CAD) of crewstation environments that enhance the designer's appreciation of factors influencing the pilot's vision and visual processing capacity. The Binocular Optics Module (BOM) is an interactive tool for visualizing geometric aspects of (1) how retinal imagery of the environment changes on the pilot's retinas under conditions of eye and object motion, and (2) how visual capabilities that can be modeled as regions or contours on the retinas, affect spatial perception of the environment. The Visual Performance Module (VPM) contains a signal processing model of human visual discrimination that quantitatively predicts visual discrimination performance. The outputs of the VPM are retinal contours that represent performance probabilities. These contours may be used as inputs to the BOM for visualizing those volumes of space within the crewstation that bound different levels of the pilot's of visual discrimination capability. Used together, the BOM and VPM provide the designer with the opportunity to interactively explore relationships between environmental retinal imagery and visual function, and the ability to factor the pilot's visual capabilities into the earliest phases of crewstation CAD.

Arditi, Aries↗

NASA NTRS1991

Human visual performance model for crewstation design

An account is given of a Visibility Modeling Tool (VMT) which furnishes a crew-station designer with the means to assess configurational tradeoffs, with a view to the impact of various options on the unambiguous access of information to the pilot. The interactive interface of the VMT allows the manipulation of cockpit geometry, ambient lighting, pilot ergonomics, and the displayed symbology. Performance data can be displayed in the form of 3D contours into the crewstation graphic model, thereby yielding an indication of the operator's visual capabilities.

Larimer, James↗