Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) system, comprising a matrix of pixels, analyzes a video data stream for grayscale level jumps from extreme black moderate gray levels. Transitions in grayscale levels are restricted between adjacent pixels so as to reduce image degradation due to fringe field effects. A memory, such as a shift register, may be used to store and then grayscale levels to be written to adjacent pixels are compared and if a difference between these grayscale levels exceed a certain value then at least one of the grayscale levels is modified.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) system, comprising a matrix of pixels, analyzes a video data stream for grayscale level jumps from extreme black to moderate gray levels. Transitions in grayscale levels are restricted between adjacent pixels so as to reduce image degradation due to fringe field effects. A memory, such as a plurality of shift registers, may be used to store grayscale levels of adjacent pixels which are compared and if a ratio between these grayscale levels exceeds a desire value then at least one of the grayscale levels is modified.

Abstract: A display device consisting of a multi-color light emitting layer and method of depositing the multi-color light emitting layer over a glass substrate are provided. The display device consists of multiple light emitting materials deposited over a glass substrate in coplanar relationship to each other. The method provides depositing one light emitting polymer material over one portion of the glass substrate and depositing other light emitting polymer materials over other portions of the glass substrate, such that the multiple light emitting polymer materials are deposited in a coplanar relationship to each other. The light emitting polymer materials are deposited using flexographic mats, the relief portion of which have patterns corresponding to the respective portions of the glass substrate being covered by the light emitting polymer materials being deposited.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display comprises a transparent substrate, a reflective substrate, and liquid crystal fluid between the substrates. The LCOS display further comprises a matrix of pixels, arranged in a plurality, of rows and columns, wherein an intersection of a row and a column defines a position of a pixel in the matrix. The LCOS display has tilt angles sufficient to overcome disclinations due to fringe fields, and, at the same time, achieves high contrast. The surface azimuthal direction of the molecules of the liquid crystal fluid is either substantially parallel or perpendicular to the direction of polarization of incoming incident linearly polarized light. Light leakage is minimal because the effective birefringence as seen by the incoming incident linearly polarized light is substantially zero and does not depend on the pretilt of the molecules of the liquid crystal fluid.

Abstract: An LCD micro display for generating an image of a video signal includes a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, which are selectively energized to create the image. The rows are connected to a row select circuit for energizing each of the rows in accordance with a first predetermined sequence. The columns are coupled to a column select circuit coupling the video signal to each of the columns in accordance with the second predetermined sequence. The column select circuit includes a plurality of video switches, each of which include a high speed current mirror level shifter for shifting the control signal from a first potential to a second higher potential. A transmission gate couples the video signal to one of the columns upon receipt of the higher potential control signal.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for driving a cholesteric display system using a dynamic drive scheme. The dynamic drive scheme is used to drive the electrodes of the cholesteric display in order to provide desired pixel states. Pixel states are controlled by the voltage applied across the pixel. The present invention uses pulse width modulation (PWM) during the dynamic drive scheme in order to control the voltage applied across the pixels. PWM modulation may be used during any phase (e.g., preparation phase, selection phase, evolution phase, and/or final phase) of the dynamic drive waveform depending on the needs of the cholesteric display system.

Abstract: A matrix of liquid crystal pixels (22) is provided. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (102, 114, and 126) is coupled to the matrix and produces an output voltage that can be applied to one or more pixels in the matrix. The DAC (102, 114, and 126) receives a calibrated multi-bit digital input and generates its output voltage to correspond to the digital input. A reference voltage generator (128) generates at least two reference voltages at an output that is coupled to one input of a comparator (132). Another input of the comparator (132) is coupled to the DAC (102, 114, and 126) output. When the comparator (132) is activated, it outputs one of two signals: a first signal when one input receives a higher voltage; and a second signal when the other input receives a higher voltage. A digital calibrator (100) has at least one output and at least one input. The digital calibrator (100) is adapted to receive an uncalibrated multi-bit digital signal at the input.

Abstract: A display device operable to generate images and a border image is disclosed. The display device in one example of the invention comprises an electrode structure coupled to a spatial light modulator display layer. The electrode structure is configured to define an active display area. The display also comprises a first electrode surrounding the electrode structure and a second electrode coupled to the spatial light modulator display layer. The second electrode is located above the first electrode and a voltage difference between the second electrode and the first electrode is used to generate the border image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for altering a contrast of an as-manufactured LCD device is described. The LCD device includes a contrast-setting circuit and a printed circuit flex. During the assembly process, a shunt around a resistor in a voltage divider subcircuit of the contrast-setting circuit extends onto a portion of the printed circuit flex. Due to the shunt, the resistor is initially in a shorted state such that the resistor does not influence the contrast-setting circuit. During a stage of the assembly process, a current contrast of the liquid crystal display device is determined. If the current contrast deviates from an intended contrast, the portion of the printed circuit flex is severed from the rest of the printed circuit flex such that the resistor becomes unshorted and thereby influences the contrast-setting circuit to provide a contrast closer to the intended contrast.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) system, comprising a matrix of pixels, actuates each pixel by applying positive and negative voltage differences across a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is parallel to a transparent cover. The transparent cover is adjacent to a cover electrode. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode positioned on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from the cover electrode. The positive and negative voltage differences are asymmetric to compensate for polarity-dependent characteristics of the LCD materials. The positive and negative voltage differences are applied for durations that counterbalance the asymmetric rates of charge accumulation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal on silicon device comprises a mirror layer comprising a plurality of mirror electrodes, a passivation layer formed on the surface of the mirror layer comprising a plurality of openings to the mirror electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer being arranged on top of the alignment layer. Ions trapped in the alignment layer are discharged through the opening by means of the mirror electrodes of the mirror layer.

Abstract: By rendering a special test image and applying flat-field correction for a device under test (DUT) non-uniformity, the E-O response of a reflective LCOS microdisplay can be quickly determined through an image processing algorithm. The measurement is made in a spatial domain instead of in a temporal domain. From the measurement, the driving voltage of maximum brightness, Vbright, can be determined. The use of Vbright enhances the visibility of pixel and sub-pixel defects to the test system. Other defect visibility enhancements are achieved through appropriate sampling rate, optical axis rotation and improved parallelism between the DUT and the CCD sensor camera. By modeling a sub-pixel defect as a local non-uniformity, a near neighborhood algorithm may be used for detection. The neighborhood algorithm does not rely on the alignment between the display pixels and the camera pixels.

Abstract: This application deals with display systems which include pixel electrodes that control an electro-optic layer. In one exemplary embodiment, a display system includes an electro-optic layer, a first electrode which has a substantially flat surface and is operatively coupled to the electro-optic layer, and a first substrate which has a plurality of pixel electrodes. For each of the pixel electrodes, a first pixel electrode surface is substantially flat and parallel to the first electrode and has a first distance relative to the first electrode and a second pixel electrode surface is substantially flat and parallel to the first electrode and has a second distance relative to the first electrode which is different than the first distance. Other display systems are described.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a time sequential color LED based display device allows the overall brightness of a display device to be adjusted without affecting the color balance. The circuit includes a boost switching converter, which provides constant power to each of a plurality of different colored LEDs associated with a pixel, independent of the forward voltage across each LED. The boost switching converter receives a pulse width modulated drive signal for activating each LED, when enabled, during a frame. The on-time of the drive signal varies during each frame according to which LED is to be activated at a particular point in time, to provide the appropriate power to the LED. The LEDs are enabled sequentially during a frame by separate enable signals. The cathode of each LED is connected to a positive power supply voltage when the LED is enabled.

Abstract: A compact virtual image electronic display system including a beamsplitting magnification optic on which a source object is projected, the beamsplitting magnification optic having a refractive surface and a partially reflective surface for magnifying and reflecting the source object as a magnified virtual image, and a reflective element positioned for receiving and reflecting the magnified virtual image back to the beamsplitting magnification optic. The beamsplitting magnification optic receives the reflected magnified virtual image and magnifies and transmits it through the beamsplitting magnification optic as a compound magnified image of the magnified virtual image to an observer.

Abstract: A controlled angle retarder and method for making same is presented. In one embodiment, the invention is a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal cell having an extraordinary axis. The liquid crystal display also includes a first retarder connected to the liquid crystal cell, the first retarder having an extraordinary axis. The extraordinary axis of the first retarder is aligned at an angle to the extraordinary axis of the liquid crystal cell. This angle is sufficient to produce a desired effective retardance of the first retarder within the display different from a specified retardance of the first retarder.

Abstract: A display device comprising a multi-color light emitting layer and method of depositing the multi-color light emitting layer over a glass substrate are provided. The display device comprises multiple light emitting materials deposited over a glass substrate in coplanar relationship to each other. The method provides depositing one light emitting polymer material over one portion of the glass substrate and depositing other light emitting polymer materials over other portions of the glass substrate, such that the multiple light emitting polymer materials are deposited in a coplanar relationship to each other. The light emitting polymer materials are deposited using flexographic mats, the relief portion of which have patterns corresponding to the respective portions of the glass substrate being covered by the light emitting polymer materials being deposited.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced viewing eyepiece for a micro-display. In one embodiment, the invention is an optical imaging system that includes a prism having a first face directed toward a display to receive light from the display and direct it through a second face, a converging optical element between the second face of the prism and the display, and a reflective converging optical element adjacent the second face of the prism to receive the display light through the second face of the prism and reflect it back into the second face of the prism, the invention further includes a diverging optical element aligned with the reflective converging optical element to receive the display light reflected back into the first prism and direct it to an exit pupil.

Abstract: An LCD micro display for generating an image of a video signal includes a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, which are selectively energized to create the image. The rows are connected to a row select circuit for energizing each of the rows in accordance with a first predetermined sequence. The columns are coupled to a column select circuit coupling the video signal to each of the columns in accordance with the second predetermined sequence. The column select circuit includes a plurality of video switches, each of which include a high speed current mirror level shifter for shifting the control signal from a first potential to a second higher potential. A transmission gate couples the video signal to one of the columns upon receipt of the higher potential control signal.

Abstract: An LCD pixel device is provided of the type deployed in a matrix of pixels selectively energized by a plurality of row lines and plurality of column lines and wherein a video voltage is stored on at least one pixel capacitor and coupled to an image-generating device. First and second source regions are formed near the surface of a semiconductor substrate. A drain region is likewise formed in the substrate between the first and second source regions forming the channels of first and second field-effect-transistors. An insulating layer is formed on the substrate, and first and second gate electrodes are provided in the insulating layer between the first source region and the drain region and the second source region and the drain region respectively. First and second mirrors are provided on the surface of the insulating layer.