Abstract: A structure of an active matrix liquid crystal display device for carrying out gradation display with a digital picture signal being input is simplified. In order to carry out display of multilevel gradation, for example, 64 levels of gradation, eight kinds of gradation voltage in eight periods obtained by dividing one line period are selected. Here, information with regard to the eight kinds of gradation voltage and information with regard to the eight kinds of selection timing are supplied to digital decoders. Based on the information, gradation voltage is selected according to predetermined timing. By this, 64 levels of gradation can be displayed. Since, in this structure, there are only eight levels of gradation voltage in one timing, the structure of the circuit can be simplified.

Abstract: A system and method for driving a flat panel display are provided. The system includes a register connected to a latch having outputs connected to logic circuits which correspond to the electrodes. Each logic circuit is also connected to the register, and generates control signals based on the next state and the current state of the corresponding electrode. Each logic circuit is configured such that upon an activation signal, the logic circuit control signals connect the change up driver to electrodes having a low current state and a high next state, and connect the change down driver to electrodes having a high current state and a low next state.

Abstract: A system having a display including display circuitry operating at a resonant frequency includes a tunable component, a resonant driver circuit coupled to the tunable component and to the display circuitry, for driving the display circuitry at an output frequency, a power consumption sensor coupled to the resonant driver circuit, for determining the power consumption of the resonant driver circuit, and a control logic coupled to the tunable component and to the power dissipation sensor, for monitoring the power consumption of the resonant driver circuit and for tuning the tunable component in response to the power consumption.

Abstract: A backlighting circuit for user interface in an electronic device includes at least one light emitting diode optically coupled to the user interface wherein the at least one light emitting diode provides backlighting for the user interface. A current source is electrically coupled in series with the at least one light emitting diode wherein the current source controls a current through the at least one diode. In addition, a brownout detection circuit determines a brownout condition for the user interface responsive to the current through the diode. Related communications devices and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A system and method for driving a plasma display panel are provided. The method includes scanning a current display line to selectively store charge quantities on selected pixels defined along a first row electrode at cross-points of corresponding column electrodes. A priming voltage pulse is applied between the first row electrode and a second row electrode to cause a priming discharge between the first and second row electrodes. The priming discharge is capable of priming a different display line proximate to the current display line. The system includes driver circuitry for scanning a current display line, and for applying the priming voltage pulse to cause the priming discharge to prime a different display line proximate to the current display line.

Abstract: A monitor control device for use in a CRT-type of monitor which receives video signals and synchronizing signals from a host computer and provides a visual display of information on a screen.

Abstract: In a display apparatus, a switch circuit including transistors is turned off to isolate a scanning line driving circuit and scanning lines from each other, the output of the scanning line driving circuit is inspected by the output from a terminal of an inspection circuit for the scanning line driving circuit, and the switch circuit is turned on to supply the output of the scanning line driving circuit to the scanning lines to check for a disconnection or a shorting of any of the scanning lines in accordance with the presence or absence or the magnitude of the voltage change appearing across the scanning line inspection circuit.

Abstract: An arrangement such as a consumption meter has an external power supply. The is provided with an electronic display and/or a communication interface for reading and/or writing a content of a memory. When the external supply voltage is absent at least the electronic display and/or the communication interface as well as an electronic write/read device of the memory are supplied with energy from the exterior by a contact-less power supply, for example by means of a solar cell. Thus the content of the memory can be read and/or parametrised without the presence of a mains voltage, without a battery, without troublesome connections for an external voltage source and for example in the case of electricity meters without destroying security seals.

Abstract: A method for driving an AC-driven PDP to produce gradation display by dividing a field into at least three sub-fields in time sequence, each of the sub-fields having a weighted luminance and being provided with an address period for selecting a cell to emit light for display and a sustain period for sustaining a light-emitting state. The method includes the steps of grouping the sub-fields into at least two sub-field groups, carrying out a charge forming operation, as preparation for addressing, directly before each of the sub-field groups so as to form wall charge necessary for sustaining the light-emitting state in all cells on an entire screen, and carrying out an erase addressing, in the address period of each of the sub-fields, for erasing the wall charge in a cell which need not emit light.

Abstract: A cell driving device of a field emission display according to a passive matrix addressing method having a field emission pixel cell with a cathode (10) and a gate electrode (12) for emitting electrons from the cathode. The cell driving device includes at least two current sources (18, 20) disposed to provide a current signal to the cathode; and a controlling part (22) for selectively driving at least two current sources (18, 20) according to the size of a video signal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display driver includes a shift register for shifting stored R, G and B data and outputting load signals, a first latch having a plurality of channels for holding and outputting the R, G and B data, a bit converter for converting a number of bits of each R, G and B data outputted from the first latch, a multiplexer for selectively passing voltages outputted by the bit converter upon application of the load signals outputted by the shift register, a decoder for selecting and sequentially outputting an externally supplied voltage in response to an output of the multiplexer, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing output signals of the decoder upon application of the load signals, a second latch for storing and outputting output signals of the demultiplexer,and an output buffer for transmitting output signals of the second latch to a liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: In an image displaying field where there is a tendency which will increase the data to be handled in accordance with the high integration of a display device, a CRT controller according to the present invention improves the superposed display and the responsiveness of the display and drawing operations by dividing a unit clock into a predetermined number to function with high speed and a multifunctional display. When image data are to be inputted or outputted from a refresh memory corresponding to a display frame, the memory content and the display address are assigned at a ratio of 1:n to effect the processings in parallel. As a result, the time period utilized by the display cycle of the prior art can be assigned to the drawing operation so that the processing can be speeded up while making it easier than the prior art to effect the superposed display of letters, symbols and drawings.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a foot operated device, which may be used by an operator, for inputting information into an electronic device. The foot operated device comprises a sensing pad support assembly, a sensing pad housing operably connected to the sensing pad support assembly and a sensing pad secured within the sensing pad housing for sensing a foot motion indicator, wherein the orientation of the sensing pad relative to the operator may be adjusted. The device may further comprise at least one actuator partially secured within the sensing pad housing for inputting information into the electronic device. The sensing pad may be a touch sensitive pad or a proximity sensitive pad. The sensing pad may be a capacitance-based sensing pad, a resistance-based sensing pad or an optical-based sensing pad.

Abstract: A circuit (100) for produces an LCD contrast voltage signal (VLCD) for a low power MCU-controlled application. The reference voltage (VREF) for a switched mode power supply circuit (210) is supplied by a circuit comprising: logic control circuitry (110) for receiving MCU commands, a counter (120), a digital-to-analog converter (130), and a transmission gates (140, 150) and capacitors (160, 180) for generating the SMPS reference voltage (VREF), and a comparator to set off a recharge cycle whenever the capacitors' voltage difference is more than a pre-set offset voltage. This circuit has lower quiescent power consumption since, in idle cycle, only the comparator (200) consumes quiescent current which can be less than 1 .mu.A.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a self light-emitting display unit accomplishes pseudo intermediate tone display and pseudo outline compensation while maintaining a high image quality. In executing dithering-based pseudo intermediate tone display and pseudo outline compensation data conversion on pixel data corresponding to the individual pixels of the self light-emitting display unit, dither coefficients to be added to the individual pieces of pixel data are changed field by field in this dithering process. Furthermore, the pseudo outline compensation data conversion performed is associated with each dither coefficient added in the dithering process.

Abstract: A driver of an LCD having a plurality of channels includes a counter for counting a signal having a predetermined level; a DAC for sequentially increasing or decreasing one level of a plurality of input voltage levels when the counter counts; a plurality of comparators for comparing its input data with the output of the counter, a comparator being formed for each channel; a plurality of level shifters for compensating for the level difference between the DAC and relevant comparator; and a plurality of sample/hold portions for sampling a current output from the DAC according to the output signal of the level shifter, and for holding the sampled value when the counter counts.

Abstract: A scaling circuit residing on a single silicon substrate includes a buffer for storing a plurality of partially scaled data. A multiplier is provided for multiplying a weight signal with each of a plurality of input data to produce a plurality of weighted data. An adder is coupled to (1) the multiplier and (2) the buffer for adding each of the weighted data to one of the partially scaled data to produce a plurality of scaled data. When a first one of the scaled data is produced by the adder, the first one of the scaled data can remain in the buffer until displaced by a new data to be scaled such that the scaling circuit is directly coupled to an external bus without requiring any external buffering memory coupled in between. A method for scaling a block of data and transferring the scaled data to the bus is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling an image display device having at least one element with a reflective state in which incident light undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which the total internal reflection is prevented. A member is positioned adjacent the element for deformation of the member between a first position in which a gap remains between the member and the element and a second position in which the member is in optical contact with the element. The apparatus incorporates a support structure having one or more display chambers. Each display chamber contains one of the elements and members aforesaid. A first aperture is provided in the support structure for air communication between the display chamber and a second chamber provided in the support structure.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, an X-driver circuit and a Y-driver circuit are associated with each other to thin out image to be displayed in a display area, under the control of a control circuit. A common electrode drive circuit supplies a common electrode signal to a common electrode under the control of the control circuit. In a canceled scanning period, average-correction is performed to average a polarity inversion time of the common electrode signal for driving the common electrode.

Abstract: A method for providing for an advertising screen saver is disclosed. At least one video advertisement is stored at a location in a telephone network. If there is no activity at a video telephone with an associated display, a video advertisement is sent to the video telephone. The video advertisement is then displayed on a dark background on the display, wherein the video advertisement is smaller than a display area of the display. The video advertisement is then periodically moved to different locations in the display area.