Dolby licenses Max Planck imaging technology

Dolby Laboratories acquires usage rights to innovative imaging patent portfolio from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics.

The technology relates to High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging and increases the ability of images to show real world light intensities and colour levels, while also reducing storage requirements. The technology provides an innovative design which makes it possible to achieve high picture quality from HDR-capable displays, while also providing backward compatibility with existing low-dynamic range (LDR) displays. Dolby is now aiming to develop the technology for use with next generation displays.

HDR imaging has been used in still photography for years, and is now increasingly used in motion pictures. Pictures are captured using a wide dynamic range from very bright to very dark. The wide capture range can be used to represent real world light intensities and colour levels more precisely than prior digital imaging. Resulting higher data volumes require more advanced processing for backward compatibility with LDR systems. Hans-Peter Seidel and Karol Myszkowski, together with their research team from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, have developed this technology for processing HDR imaging data, which significantly reduces the data volume.

According to Bernd Ctortecka, Licensing Manager at Max Planck Innovation, "Dolby Laboratories is the perfect match for this invention. Dolby has the capabilities to turn the invention into a great imaging technology for the best entertainment experiences".

Provided by Max Planck Society