Abstract: A floating wick that can be used like a candle. The floating wick includes a cup-shaped floating element with a bottom oil-interfacing portion having a through-hole with a capillary tube extending upward from the through-hole. The floating wick can be placed on a pool of flammable oil and the upper end of the capillary tube can be lit like a candle wick.

Abstract: A bolt mechanism (10), comprising: two bolts (22A, 22B), slideable along one axis (32) or along axes parallel thereto, for bolting the two bolts (22A, 22B) one towards the other; at least one handle (20A) fixed to at least one (22A) of the two bolts (22A, 22B) for bolting thereof; two cogged bars (36A, 36B), each fixed to one of the bolts (22A, 22B), for being slideable along the axis (32) or along axes parallel thereto; and a cogged wheel (38) joined to both of the cogged bars (36A, 36B), thereby the bolts (22A, 22B) are forced to slide along opposing directions, thereby the two bolts (22A, 22B) bolt and release together, each by a single manual motion.

Abstract: A LCD display comprises a backlight assembly that includes a backlight substrate, one or more first white LEDs coupled to the backlight substrate and configured to produce a first light output, and one or more second white LEDs coupled to the backlight substrate and configured to produce a second light output. A light integration unit is coupled to the backlight assembly and configured to produce a combined output from the first light output and the second light output, the combined output having a desired luminance and chrominance. A LCD assembly is coupled to the light integration unit.

Abstract: A LCD display comprises an LCD panel coupled to a backlight system. The backlight system comprises a direct view backlight comprising a first plurality of LEDs configured to emit white illumination that, at least in part, provides the required luminosity for the LCD panel. The backlight system further comprises an edge view backlight comprising a second plurality of LEDs configured to emit colored illumination that, at least in part, provides the required chromaticity for the LCD panel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for compensating a liquid crystal display for changes in brightness level. The apparatus comprises a variable brightness back-light optically coupled to a display panel whose properties depend upon back-light brightness. An electrical circuit measures back-light brightness and/or display flicker and sends this information to a controller. The controller automatically determines a display panel compensation signal based on back-light brightness and/or display flicker, and sends this compensation signal to the display panel to optimize the display panel properties for the commanded or observed back-light brightness level or flicker level so as to, for example, minimize display panel flicker and/or ghost image retention. Such automatic compensation is especially useful for head-up displays that must accommodate large variations in display brightness, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the visual artifacts exhibited by a display employing individually addressable pixels. The apparatus comprises an array of pixels, each pixel having a switchable region of alterable transparency or luminance and a non-switchable region. The switchable region of each pixel is distributed, that is, divided into at least two simultaneously switched portions at least partly separated by a significant portion of the non-switchable region. The first order spatial harmonics and visual artifacts are significantly reduced. For a color display, each color pixel is similarly subdivided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for displaying an image to a viewer with reduced visual artifacts. The apparatus comprises a display panel for forming the image using an array of pixels with distributed active regions, and a viewing arrangement optically situated between the display panel and the viewer for transferring the image formed on the display panel to the viewer with limited angular pixel subtense. The distributed active regions of the pixels are desirably divided into at least two simultaneously switched portions at least partly separated by or surrounding a significant portion of the non-switchable region. First order spatial harmonics and associated artifacts are reduced by the distributed apertures and second order and higher harmonics are reduced by limiting the pixel subtense angle seen by the viewer. A significant reduction in visual artifacts arising from the periodic structure of the display panel is obtained.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for projecting light carrying a data image. The apparatus comprises a first layer having regions of electrically alterable variable light transmittance adapted to form the data image, and a hollow cavity backlight having a light exiting surface coupled to the first layer and adapted to provide light to the first layer through the light exiting surface from one or more light emitters some of which point in a principal direction other than at right angles to the light exiting surface. In a preferred embodiment, LEDs are used as the light emitters and are preferably mounted on one or more printed circuit boards or other support tilted at non-zero angles with respect to the light exiting surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a combined image on a head-up display. A data image display provides a first part of a combined image. An optical input provides a second part of the combined image, e.g., the background scene. A combiner superimposes the first and second parts to provide the combined image to the viewer. The data image display preferentially delivers s-polarized light to the combiner, which has a selective reflectance region for preferentially reflecting s-polarized light in a wavelength region of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the data image display comprises a backlight, a liquid crystal layer and two polarizers oriented so that the data images directed toward the combiner are s-polarized with respect to the selective reflectance region. A polarization rotation element may also be used in the data image display to facilitate s-polarization orientation.

Abstract: A lamp driver system that facilitates improved reliability and performance for a display system is provided. The lamp driver system includes a fault detector and an output steering device. The fault detector determines when a failure occurs in a lamp illuminating the display system. The output steering device selectively drives the lamps to illuminate the display system. Specifically, when a failure in a first lamp is detected by the fault detector, the output steering device is used to selectively drive a second lamp to provide the needed illumination to the display system. The lamp driver system thus can provide redundancy in the display system by automatically switching to a backup lamp when a failure in the first lamp is detected. This redundancy can improve the reliability and performance of the display system.

Abstract: A flat lamp system is provided that facilitates improved reliability and performance in a display system. The flat lamp system provides improved reliability by forming multiple lamps in a single substrate. These multiple lamps provide redundancy and thus increase the reliability of system. Specifically, when one or more lamps in the system fails, the remaining lamps can be used to provide the luminance needed for the display. The multiple lamps are provided by forming multiple distinct channels in the substrate, and forming a cathode at each end of each channel. Each channel and its corresponding cathodes comprise a lamp that can be used to light the display.

Abstract: An aperture lamp system that facilitates improved reliability and performance in a display system is provided. The aperture lamp system provides improved reliability by providing a second lamp coupled to a first lamp though a coupling aperture. When the first lamp fails, the second lamp can be used to provide illumination to the display. Specifically, light from the second lamp passes through the coupling aperture to the first lamp, where it can exit the first lamp and illuminate the display. Thus, by coupling the first and second lamps together through a coupling aperture, a lamp system is provided where either the first lamp or second lamp can be used to provide illumination for the display. Thus, the first and second lamps provide redundancy, with this redundancy used to improve the reliability of the display system.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp system is provided that facilitates high-brightness in a compact size needed for liquid crystal displays. The fluorescent lamp system comprises a lamp having a plurality of interdigitated legs arranged in multiple planes. By arranging the interdigitated legs in multiple planes, the lamp system efficiently fills the available space, thus maximizing the lamp surface area in general, and the lamp surface area oriented toward the display in particular, all while maintaining relatively small overall dimensions. The lamp system is thus able to provide the high-brightness needed for displays in a compact size.