Abstract: An electronic shelf label that includes a casing, a display arranged in the casing, a printed circuit board, enclosed by the casing, a power source, and a thermal element arranged within the casing.

Abstract: A 3D projection apparatus comprises a projector, and an angular array of illumination optics coupled to an imager in the projector to create a plurality of views for an 3D image. An array of projection optics is coupled to the imager and a light source is coupled to the angular array of projection optics.

Abstract: An ultra high-resolution volumetric three-dimensional (3D) display system comprises an image chamber, and an addressing system to direct a beam of electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength to slice through the image chamber. The beam of electromagnetic energy slices the image chamber along a first axis to provide an image slice. The addressing system comprises a line generator to shape the beam into a line extended along a second axis. An imaging system delivers the electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength to an area within the provided image slice. The line is moved along a third axis to form a three dimensional (3D) image.

Abstract: An ultra high-resolution volumetric three-dimensional (3D) display system comprises an image chamber, and an addressing system to direct a beam of electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength to slice through the image chamber. The beam of electromagnetic energy slices the image chamber along a first axis to provide an image slice. The addressing system comprises a line generator to shape the beam into a line extended along a second axis. An imaging system delivers the electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength to an area within the provided image slice. The line is moved along a third axis to form a three dimensional (3D) image.

Abstract: A 3D projection apparatus comprises a projector, and an angular array of illumination optics coupled to an imager in the projector to create a plurality of views for an 3D image. An array of projection optics is coupled to the imager and a light source is coupled to the angular array of projection optics.

Abstract: A method routes packets in a wireless network which includes a control node and a multiplicity of individual nodes. The method includes: inserting a routing logical address into each packet which is transmitted between a sending node and a destination node, wherein the routing logical address contains the full routing information required to route the packet from the sending node to the destination node along a communication path prescribed by the routing logical address; detecting any unsuccessfully transmitted packets; detecting a faulty node in the communication path prescribed by the routing logical address in response to detecting an unsuccessfully transmitted packet; and changing the routing logical address of the unsuccessfully transmitted packet to a new routing logical address which prescribes a new communication path which does not include the detected faulty node.

Abstract: A method for configuring a wireless network comprised of a control node and a multiplicity of individual nodes includes the steps of logically organizing the network into a plurality of bands Bi, wherein each of the bands Bi includes a plurality of the individual nodes and is located a number i of hops away from the control node, where i=0 through N, and N?1, and then assigning a logical address to each of the individual nodes, and storing the assigned logical addresses in the respective individual nodes. The assigned logical address for each individual node includes a first address portion which indicates the band Bi in which that individual node is located, and a second address portion that identifies that node relative to all other individual nodes located in the same band. The network is preferably a packet-hopping wireless network in which data is communicated by transferring data packets from node-to-node over a common RF channel.

Abstract: A method for configuring a wireless network comprised of a control node and a multiplicity of individual nodes includes the steps of logically organizing the network into a plurality of bands Bi, wherein each of the bands Bi includes a plurality of the individual nodes and is located a number i of hops away from the control node, where i=0 through N, and N?1, and then assigning a logical address to each of the individual nodes, and storing the assigned logical addresses in the respective individual nodes. The assigned logical address for each individual node includes a first address portion which indicates the band Bi in which that individual node is located, and a second address portion that identifies that node relative to all other individual nodes located in the same band. The network is preferably a packet-hopping wireless network in which data is communicated by transferring data packets from node-to-node over a common RF channel.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a plurality of openings patterned in the pixel metal layer in the peripheral region of the device exposing the insulating layer beneath, a plurality of light-shielding islands beneath the openings in the pixel metal layer, and a plurality of walls formed on the islands surrounding the openings and extending substantially between the islands and the pixel metal layer. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the exposed portions of the insulating layer in the peripheral region for supporting the transparent (e.g., glass) layer above and providing a space for the liquid crystal material. The structure enhances display uniformity by making the spacers formed in the peripheral area more closely match the spacers formed in the pixel area of the device.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a plurality of openings patterned in the pixel metal layer in the peripheral region of the device exposing the insulating layer beneath, a plurality of light-shielding islands beneath the openings in the pixel metal layer, and a plurality of walls formed on the islands surrounding the openings and extending substantially between the islands and the pixel metal layer. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the exposed portions of the insulating layer in the peripheral region for supporting the transparent (e.g., glass) layer above and providing a space for the liquid crystal material. The structure enhances display uniformity by making the spacers formed in the peripheral area more closely match the spacers formed in the pixel area of the device.

Abstract: The electrical asymmetry in certain electro-optic display device structures employing orientation layers, evidenced as an internal DC voltage, is reduced or eliminated by inserting a barrier layer between the orienting layers and adjacent electrode layers, thereby reducing or eliminating a DC offset which leads to flicker in a display image when such devices are driven with an AC waveform.

Abstract: A color video projection display system having an improved contrast ratio is disclosed. At least one reflective or transmissive panel, e.g., a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) panel, is arranged within the system to receive incident light of one or more designated colors via an input optical path. The reflective or transmissive panel modulates the incident light in accordance with corresponding applied signals, and the resulting modulated light is further processed via an output optical path to generate a viewable display. At least one low-retardance film is arranged within one of (i) the input optical path of the system between an input optical path polarizer and the panel, and (ii) the output optical path of the system between the panel and an output optical path polarizer, so as to increase a contrast ratio of the viewable display. The invention can be implemented in single-panel or multi-panel configurations.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a plurality of openings patterned in the pixel metal layer in the peripheral region of the device exposing the insulating layer beneath, a plurality of light-shielding islands beneath the openings in the pixel metal layer, and a plurality of walls formed on the islands surrounding the openings and extending substantially between the islands and the pixel metal layer. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the exposed portions of the insulating layer in the peripheral region for supporting the transparent (e.g., glass) layer above and providing a space for the liquid crystal material. The structure enhances display uniformity by making the spacers formed in the peripheral area more closely match the spacers formed in the pixel area of the device.

Abstract: A color video projection display system having an improved contrast ratio is disclosed. At least one reflective or transmissive panel, e.g., a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) panel, is arranged within the system to receive incident light of one or more designated colors via an input optical path. The reflective or transmissive panel modulates the incident light in accordance with corresponding applied signals, and the resulting modulated light is further processed via an output optical path to generate a viewable display. At least one low-retardance film is arranged within one of (i) the input optical path of the system between an input optical path polarizer and the panel, and (ii) the output optical path of the system between the panel and an output optical path polarizer, so as to increase a contrast ratio of the viewable display. The invention can be implemented in single-panel or multi-panel configurations.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a wall substantially extending between a peripheral portion of a first metal layer (pixel metal layer) formed in the peripheral region of the device with a light shield portion of a second metal layer formed in the pixel region of the device. The structure prevents light from reaching the substrate in the peripheral region of the device. Portions of the second metal layer formed in the peripheral region of the device may therefore be used for signal routing.

Abstract: A method in which incoming RF signals to a given node of a wireless network are detected in real-time by using a comparison circuit for comparing a signal which is indicative of the strength of an incoming RF signal with a prescribed threshold level. The output of the comparison circuit is coupled to an input of the digital signal processor (e.g., microprocessor) of the node. The microprocessor is preferably programmed to check this input prior to attempting to transmit data thus minimizing the chances of a collision occuring due to overlapping data transmitting and receiving operations. Preferably, the prescribed threshold level utilized in the comparison circuit of a given node can be selectively varied in order to thereby selectively vary the size of the cell in which the given node resides. In this connection, the neighborhood or cell sizes in which the individual nodes in the network reside are preferably adaptively varied in such a manner as to maximize the data throughput of the entire network.

Abstract: A color video projection display system having an improved contrast ratio is disclosed. At least one reflective or transmissive panel, e.g., a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) panel, is arranged within the system to receive incident light of one or more designated colors via an input optical path. The reflective or transmissive panel modulates the incident light in accordance with corresponding applied signals, and the resulting modulated light is further processed via an output optical path to generate a viewable display. At least one low-retardance film is arranged within one of (i) the input optical path of the system between an input optical path polarizer and the panel, and (ii) the output optical path of the system between the panel and an output optical path polarizer, so as to increase a contrast ratio of the viewable display. The invention can be implemented in single-panel or multi-panel configurations.

Abstract: An LCD having the liquid crystal in at least a portion of the interpixel region displaced by a spacer material. The spacer material has a low dielectric constant relative to the liquid crystal, thus further impeding the formation of a bend deformation in the liquid crystal in the interpixel region when pixels on opposite sides of the spacer material are operating in the inversion mode. This elimination of the bend deformation in the interpixel region eliminates the reverse tilt disclination.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a plurality of openings patterned in the pixel metal layer in the peripheral region of the device exposing the insulating layer beneath, a plurality of light-shielding islands beneath the openings in the pixel metal layer, and a plurality of walls formed on the islands surrounding the openings and extending substantially between the islands and the pixel metal layer. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the exposed portions of the insulating layer in the peripheral region for supporting the transparent (e.g., glass) layer above and providing a space for the liquid crystal material. The structure enhances display uniformity by making the spacers formed in the peripheral area more closely match the spacers formed in the pixel area of the device.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a wall substantially extending between a peripheral portion of a first metal layer (pixel metal layer) formed in the peripheral region of the device with a light shield portion of a second metal layer formed in the pixel region of the device. The structure prevents light from reaching the substrate in the peripheral region of the device. Portions of the second metal layer formed in the peripheral region of the device may therefore be used for signal routing.