Abstract: A modular illumination assembly is provided such that it can be attached to a structural element. The modular illumination assembly includes an attachment member for securing the modular illumination assembly to the structural element. The modular illumination assembly also includes a first support member having a first end and a second end, such that the first end is connected to the attachment member. Further, the first support member extends from the first end in a substantially perpendicular direction to the attachment member. The modular illumination assembly also includes a second support member that is pivotably connected to the second end of the first support member, such that the second support member can rotate about the second end of the first support member. Furthermore, the modular illumination assembly includes a light source that is provided on either of a first surface or a second surface of the second support member.

Abstract: The invention provides an illumination assembly and an illumination assembly based lamp. The illumination assembly includes a substrate that has a plurality of light emitting areas, such that each of the light emitting area includes a group of two or more semiconductor dies that are directly mounted on the substrate. Further, a light emitting area is separated by a first distance from another light emitting area and each semiconductor die in a light emitting area is separated by a second distance from another semiconductor die in the same light emitting area, such that the first distance is substantially greater than the second distance. Furthermore, the illumination assembly also includes a single piece optic element disposed over the plurality of light emitting areas, such that the single piece optic element is configured to direct light emitted from all the light emitting areas in a cone of light.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) device including an illumination area having one or more primary EL emitters; a reference area having a reference EL emitter; a reference driver circuit for causing the reference EL emitter to emit light while the EL device is active; a sensor for detecting light emitted by the reference EL emitter; and a measurement unit for detecting an aging-related electrical parameter of the reference EL emitter while it is emitting light. The device further includes a controller for receiving an input signal for each primary EL emitter in the illumination area, forming a corrected input signal from each input signal using the detected light and the aging-related electrical parameter, and applying the corrected input signals to the respective primary EL emitters in the illumination area.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) subpixel having a readout transistor is driven by a current source when the drive transistor is non-conducting. This produces an emitter-voltage signal from which an aging signal representing the efficiency of the EL emitter can be computed. The aging signal is used to adjust an input signal to produce a compensated drive signal to compensate for changes in efficiency of the EL emitter.

Abstract: Inoperative or defective electroluminescent (EL) emitters in an EL display having a plurality of subpixels are detected. Current flow through a drive transistor in a subpixel is turned off, a selected test current is provided through the EL emitter in the subpixel using a current source, and the voltage at a second electrode of a readout transistor in the subpixel is measured to provide a status signal representative or characteristics of the selected EL emitter. The status signal for the subpixel is compared to the respective status signals of neighboring subpixels to determine whether the EL emitter in the subpixel is defective.

Abstract: A method of compensating image signals for driving an OLED display having a plurality of light-emitting elements having outputs that change with time or use, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a measured or estimated first value of the current used by individual light-emitting elements in response to known image signals at a first time; b) specifying multiple groups of light-emitting elements at a second time, wherein at least one of the specified groups contains at least one light-emitting element common to another specified group; c) measuring total currents used by each of the specified groups in response to known image signals at a second time; d) forming an estimated second value of the current used by individual light-emitting elements based on the measured total currents, e) calculating correction values for individual light-emitting elements based on the difference between the first and second current values, and f) employing the correction values to compensate image signals for the changes in the

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) subpixel driven by a digital-drive scheme has a readout transistor driven by a current source when the drive transistor is non-conducting. This produces an emitter-voltage signal from which an aging signal representing the efficiency of the EL emitter can be computed. The aging signal is used to determine the loss in current of the subpixel when active, and an input signal is adjusted to provide increased on-time to compensate for voltage rise and efficiency loss of the EL emitter. Variations due to temperature can also be compensated for.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an analog drive transistor control signal to the gate electrode of a drive transistor in a drive circuit that applies current to an EL device, the drive circuit including a first supply electrode of the drive transistor and the EL device connected to a second supply electrode of the drive transistor, comprising a measuring circuit for measuring the current passing through the supply electrodes at different times to provide an aging signal representing variations in the characteristics of the drive transistor and EL device caused by operation of the drive transistor and EL device over time; a compensator for changing a linear code value in response to the aging signal to compensate for the variations in the characteristics of the drive transistor and EL device; and a linear source driver for producing the analog drive transistor control signal in response to the changed linear code value.

Abstract: A method of compensating for changes in the characteristics of transistors and EL devices in an EL display, includes providing an EL display having a two-dimensional array of EL devices arranged in rows and columns, wherein each EL device is driven by a drive circuit in response to a drive signal; providing a first drive circuit for an EL device having three transistors and providing a second drive circuit for an EL device having only two transistors, and wherein a first column in the display includes at least one first drive circuit and an adjacent second column includes at least one second drive circuit; deriving a correction signal based on the characteristics of a transistor in a first drive circuit, or the EL device; and using the correction signal to adjust the drive signals applied to the first drive circuit and one or more adjacent second drive circuits.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) device including an illumination area having one or more primary EL emitters; a reference area having a reference EL emitter; a reference driver circuit for causing the reference EL emitter to emit light while the EL device is active; a sensor for detecting light emitted by the reference EL emitter; and a measurement unit for detecting an aging-related electrical parameter of the reference EL emitter while it is emitting light. The device further includes a controller for receiving an input signal for each primary EL emitter in the illumination area, forming a corrected input signal from each input signal using the detected light and the aging-related electrical parameter, and applying the corrected input signals to the respective primary EL emitters in the illumination area.

Abstract: Inoperative or defective electroluminescent (EL) emitters in an EL display having a plurality of subpixels are detected. Current flow through a drive transistor in a subpixel is turned off, a selected test current is provided through the EL emitter in the subpixel using a current source, and the voltage at a second electrode of a readout transistor in the subpixel is measured to provide a status signal representative or characteristics of the selected EL emitter. The status signal for the subpixel is compared to the respective status signals of neighboring subpixels to determine whether the EL emitter in the subpixel is defective.

Abstract: A method for controlling and compensating aging in an LED device includes measuring a performance change in light output of the LED device. The LED device is controlled with a first compensation algorithm derived from the measured performance change, during a first period, to effect a luminance change over time in the light output of the LED device. Subsequently, a second compensation algorithm, derived from the measured performance change, and different from the first compensation algorithm, during a second period, effects a second luminance change over time in the LED device's light output. The second luminance change over time in the second period is different from the first luminance change over time in the first period. Furthermore, the first and second periods together are less than the lifetime of the LED device.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) panel with 2T1C subpixels is compensated for initial nonuniformity (“mura”). The current of each subpixel is measured at a selected time to provide a status signal representing the characteristics of the subpixel. A compensator receives a linear code value and changes it according to the status signals. A linear source driver drives the panel with the changed code values.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) subpixel having a readout transistor is driven by a current source when the drive transistor is non-conducting. This produces an emitter-voltage signal from which an aging signal representing the efficiency of the EL emitter can be computed. The aging signal is used to adjust an input signal to produce a compensated drive signal to compensate for changes in efficiency of the EL emitter.

Abstract: A method for resetting drive transistors associated with subpixels in an electroluminescent display, comprising providing an electroluminescent display having a plurality of subpixels, each subpixel including an electroluminescent device and a drive circuit having a drive transistor for providing current through its associated electroluminescent device; providing a separate aging signal for each subpixel during operation of the electroluminescent display after a predetermined operating time period by responding as a function of the current passing through each of the subpixels or as a function of a voltage associated with each drive circuit; comparing each of the separate aging signals with a corresponding threshold level to produce a separate staleness signal for each subpixel representing whether or not the associated drive transistor should be reset; and resetting the associated drive transistors in response to staleness signals that indicate such drive transistors should be reset.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an analog drive transistor control signal to the gate electrode of a drive transistor in a drive circuit that applies current to an EL device, the drive circuit including a first supply electrode of the drive transistor and the EL device connected to a second supply electrode of the drive transistor, comprising a measuring circuit for measuring the current passing through the supply electrodes at different times to provide an aging signal representing variations in the characteristics of the drive transistor and EL device caused by operation of the drive transistor and EL device over time; a compensator for changing a linear code value in response to the aging signal to compensate for the variations in the characteristics of the drive transistor and EL device; and a linear source driver for producing the analog drive transistor control signal in response to the changed linear code value.

Abstract: A method of compensating for changes in the characteristics of transistors and EL devices in an EL display, includes providing an EL display having a two-dimensional array of EL devices arranged in rows and columns, wherein each EL device is driven by a drive circuit in response to a drive signal; providing a first drive circuit for an EL device having three transistors and providing a second drive circuit for an EL device having only two transistors, and wherein a first column in the display includes at least one first drive circuit and an adjacent second column includes at least one second drive circuit; deriving a correction signal based on the characteristics of a transistor in a first drive circuit, or the EL device; and using the correction signal to adjust the drive signals applied to the first drive circuit and one or more adjacent second drive circuits.

Abstract: A method for controlling and compensating aging in an LED device includes measuring a performance change in light output of the LED device. The LED device is controlled with a first compensation algorithm derived from the measured performance change, during a first period, to effect a luminance change over time in the light output of the LED device. Subsequently, a second compensation algorithm, derived from the measured performance change, and different from the first compensation algorithm, during a second period, effects a second luminance change over time in the LED device's light output. The second luminance change over time in the second period is different from the first luminance change over time in the first period. Furthermore, the first and second periods together are less than the lifetime of the LED device.

Abstract: Compensated drive circuit adjusting for changes in the threshold voltage of a drive transistor and for aging of an OLED device, comprising: a data line carrying analog data representative of the brightness level, and a select line; the drive transistor connected to a power supply and to the OLED device such that when the select line is activated and a voltage from the data line is applied to the gate electrode of such transistor and current proportional to the applied voltage will flow through the drain and source electrodes through the OLED device; circuitry for measuring first and second parameters associated with the drive circuitry and responsive to the measured first and second parameters for computing offset voltages to adjust for changes in the threshold voltage of the drive transistors and for aging of the OLED device.

Abstract: A method of compensating image signals for driving an OLED display having a plurality of light-emitting elements having outputs that change with time or use, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a measured or estimated first value of the current used by individual light-emitting elements in response to known image signals at a first time; b) specifying multiple groups of light-emitting elements at a second time, wherein at least one of the specified groups contains at least one light-emitting element common to another specified group; c) measuring total currents used by each of the specified groups in response to known image signals at a second time; d) forming an estimated second value of the current used by individual light-emitting elements based on the measured total currents, e) calculating correction values for individual light-emitting elements based on the difference between the first and second current values, and f) employing the correction values to compensate image signals for the changes in the