Some time ago we commented in this article how even though the content we are playing on our OLED television is perfectly edited and calibrated, there are times when the tv darkens it to the point that you can hardly distinguish the images.
It is a problem well known by experts and users and that we can’t solve for more contrast, brightness or OLED light level that we change in the configuration menu.
However, it seems that this 2023 LG has finally gotten down to business and as the calibration specialist Vincent Teoh has commented on his YouTube channel, it seems that the problem will be solved through a firmware update of some TVs
What was the problem that darkened the screen
The problem with darkening of some scenes on OLED TVs was only on very slow scenes where there was little change in the image for several minutes at a time, such as documentaries, talk shows, debates, or just video games with various fixed markers on screen.
The cause is the automatic protection mechanism of the panel, which works as follows: when the OLED TV detects that there is a fixed image on the screen, it starts a timer and, after a certain time, it starts to progressively darken the image by lowering the OLED light. In this way it is avoided that there are markings on the panel.
This general darkening is what is known as “ASBL” or Auto Static Brightness Limiter and works with two algorithms mainly, the “TPC” or Temporal Peak Luminance Control and the “GSR” or Global Sticky Reduction. The former dims the OLED light when it detects static images, bright or not, while the latter dims when there is a very bright static logo on the screen.
They start working after a minute and a half, but they have a small problem: the algorithms are not perfect and can identify a non-static image as a static image. This is because they do not work identifying the movement on the screen, but considering what are called “APL” or Average Picture Level changeswhich can confuse the system and cause these unwanted drops in brightness.
A new firmware that fixes the problem
Until now, if we wanted to avoid these annoying solutions, the only option for LG televisions was enter the service menu and disable these parameters, as we already saw in his day. However, doing this implied that we would lose the warranty of the panel since it is not an option that in theory users should manipulate.
This is something that apparently is going to change this year, as he says vincent teoh in the video that you have on these lines, where he shows how after updating the 2023 LG OLED C3 and G3 televisions with the number of firmware 3.10.19the most modern to date, dimming in scenes that are almost static or with few variations in brightness does not occur.
If we pause the image completely Yes, dimming will occur to protect the OLED panel from possible burn-in, but not in the typical situations where there are calm scenes with a lot of dialogue or even in channels with logos and static panels.
The advantage of this LG solution is that no longer need to enter any menu secret or touch anything in the configuration, since the TV will do it itself. However, there is something that is still not clear and that is whether this change in the software of the TVs It will reach more models beyond the new ones launched this 2023something that remains to be confirmed but that would surely be welcomed by many users.
How to disable the option manually on an LG OLED TV
As we mentioned a few paragraphs earlier, if you are thinking of continuing reading to find out how to remove this protection system that darkens images on televisions that do not have the new firmware manuallykeep in mind that in case of a possible problem you will not be covered by the guarantee of the brand.
If we have an LG OLED TV from 2019 onwards, this “ASBL” option can be deactivated as long as we have access to the advanced configuration menu, for which an universal remote control with IN-START button. We can buy it in online stores like Amazon with a price of around 14 euros.
LG Remote Control, Ymiko Wireless TV Remote Control MKJ39170828 Replacement Service HD Smart TV Remote Control for LG LCD TV MKJ39170828
With the universal remote, press the IN-START key, it will ask for a PIN code, we enter the values 0413 and we are already inside the technical menu of the TV. Now we go to point 11 or 12 of the TV where it says “OLED” and look for the “TPC Enable” option, which we have to leave OFF to turn off the protection.
If we also want to deactivate the GSR system, it is possible to do so a little further down by setting this option to OFF. After this there is hit “Back” and turn off the TV being careful not to press the IN-STOP button.
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Via | HDTV Test
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