Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the magnitude and edge clarity of the luminosity of an undesired image of a external object reflected from a portion of a surface of a visual display into the eye of a user includes placing a cover in the path of the reflected image. The cover has a surface portion which is not parallel to the portion of the surface of the display. As result the reflections from the cover and from the display surface portions provide multiple images of the external object to the user each having a luminosity magnitude which is less than the magnitude of the luminosity of the undesired image that would occur if the cover was parallel to the display surface portion thereby resulting in super-imposed images.

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.

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: 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 through 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 method and apparatus for reducing the magnitude and edge clarity of the luminosity of an undesired image of a external object reflected from a portion of a surface of a visual display into the eye of a user includes placing a cover in the path of the reflected image. The cover has a surface portion which is not parallel to the portion of the surface of the display. As result the reflections from the cover and from the display surface portions provide multiple images of the external object to the user each having a luminosity magnitude which is less than the magnitude of the luminosity of the undesired image that would occur if the cover was parallel to the display surface portion thereby resulting in super-imposed images.

Abstract: A display according to various aspects of the present invention comprises an LCD having a first substrate, a second substrate proximate the first substrate, a liquid crystal material located between the first and second substrates, an element for compensating for horizontal view angle limitations of the display. The LCD may further include a nonmechanical element for vertically shifting the viewing angle associated with the high-contrast viewing envelope of the LCD device.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for determining the proper mixture of substances (e.g. phosphors) or sources (e.g. of light) to obtain a required or desired property, such as color or chromaticity. Steps may include mixing the substances or sources, preparing a prototype, measuring the property (such as chromaticity) of the prototype, and calculating any required adjustment in the quantities of substances or sources. This process may be repeated until the desired property is achieved, after which the mix of substances or sources may be used to manufacture products. A computer spreadsheet is also disclosed, as an exemplary embodiment, which calculates any required adjustments in the quantities of substances or sources. The spreadsheet provided is specifically configured to calculate adjustments in phosphor quantities required for manufacturing lamps for backlighting in AMLCD avionics applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention provides a polarized display exhibiting reduced reflectances. A polarizer is disposed adjacent to a cover glass in front of the display. Light intended to be transmitted by the display is transmitted by the polarizer. Light reflected after passing through the polarizer reverses polarization, and is absorbed as it intercepts the polarizer following reflection.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp exhibits increased brightness through selective angular tuning of emitted light. A diffuse channel is formed in a substrate such that the upper portions of the channel walls taper inward toward the diffuse channel cavity to cause light to be emitted from the lamp in a more intense cone of viewable light over a narrow range of viewable angles. The interior of the channel may be at least partially covered by additional materials, such as a reflective material for enhancing brightness.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display includes a patterned mirror disposed between the backlight assembly and the black matrix to reflect light back into the backlight assembly that otherwise would impinge on the black matrix. Apertures through the patterned mirror are so shaped that parallax effects with respect to the black matrix provides desirable luminance versus viewing angle profiles.

Abstract: A multigap liquid crystal color display having RED, GREEN and BLUE pixels with TFT activating transistors and with the pixels being constructed and arranged so that the offset voltages at the RED, GREEN and BLUE pixels induced by the gate pulses applied to the TFTs are equalized. In one embodiment, the pixel storage capacitors are customized to equalize the offset voltages. In a second embodiment, the pixel areas are adjusted so as to provide the offset voltage equalization.

Abstract: In a polychromatic liquid crystal display, apparatus and method for improving the off-axis viewing characteristics are described. The angle of view can be expanded by appropriate selection of the thickness and the birefringence parameter of the liquid crystal material as a function of the color of the liquid crystal display pixel. In order to improve further the angle of view, retardation films are used to reduce the angular dependence of the radiation. The retardation films reduce the background light leakage by compensating for the change in retardation of the liquid crystal display at angles other than normal to the display. The reduction in the background light leakage results in improved contrast ratio and chromaticity.

Abstract: A fluorescent light source for backlighting a liquid crystal panel display consists of one or more u-shaped fluorescent elements in which the portion of the lamp segments containing the electrodes are bent at right angles to the principal light emitting portion. The low light emitting area in the vicinity of the electrodes is thus moved out of the light emitting area resulting in uniform light emission over the entire active area of the light source.The instant invention relates to a light source for a liquid crystal display and, more particularly, a light source utilizing fluorescent elements in which the low level emissions in the vicinity of the electrode portions of the lamp are kept out of the light emitting plane.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp structure having a light transparent jacket surrounding the lamp. The chamber between the lamp and jacket is filled with a fluid (or mixture of fluids) which transitions between the liquid and vapor phases. The fluid extracts heat when the lamp wall temperature rises above a predetermined temperature causing the fluid to vaporize. The fluid condenses to form a partial vacuum in the chamber below that temperature.

Abstract: A heated transflective liquid crystal display device has the heating element positioned behind the transflector to keep the heater out of the reflective light path. This construction significantly improves brightness of the display in the reflective mode.This invention relates to liquid crystal device, and more particularly to liquid crystal displays incorporating a heating unit.While the instant invention will be described in the context of cell of the guest-host variety, the invention is by no means limited thereto. The invention is equally applicable and useful in liquid crystal display utilizing a liquid crystal solution of the twisted nematic type and suitable polarizers.

Abstract: The contrast ratio of a transflective liquid crystal display in the transmissive mode is improved by means of a cascaded, dual cell arrangement. By using cascaded cells, the light path and light absorption in the background portions of the light path is improved in the transmissive mode so that the contrast ratio in the transmissive mode can, if desired, be made equal to or better than the contrast ratio in the reflective mode.

Abstract: A heated transflective liquid crystal display device has the heating element positioned behind the transflector to keep the heater out of the reflective light path. This construction significantly improves brightness of the display in the reflective mode.The heating element is positioned between the cell transflector and a temperature sensing thermistor. The thermal gradient of the path between the heating element and the thermistor matches that of the path between the heating element and the liquid crystal cell. As a result, the trip point of the heating element can be set much closer to the minimum cell operating temperature than hitherto possible thereby reducing the power consumption of the display.This invention relates to liquid crystal display devices, and more particularly to liquid crystal displays incorporating a heating unit.While the instant invention will be described in the context of a cell of the guest-host variety, the invention is by no means limited thereto.

Abstract: A back lighted transflective liquid crystal display with improved contrast ratio has a light mask positioned between the transflective element and the source of back lighting. The mask has light transmitting sections which are aligned with and have the same configuration as the indicia-forming electrodes in the cell. The mask has opaque or light blocking sections that are aligned with the background portion of the cell. In the transmissive mode light impinges on the cell only in the area of the indicia-forming electrodes, thereby enhancing the contrast ratio between the indicia and background portions of the cell.