Patents by Inventor Iain M. Hunter

Iain M. Hunter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8125414
    Abstract: An EL display device is operable in analogue and digital modes. In the analogue mode a current is supplied to the EL display elements (2) in dependence on a data signal (6) supplied to the pixel, and in the digital mode one of two voltages is provided across the EL display elements in dependence on the data signal supplied to the pixel. This enables the display to have a low power standby mode in which a digital drive scheme is implemented. This is particularly appropriate for static images and preferably for images without grey scales. The first mode is the normal current addressing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Iain M. Hunter, Mark T. Johnson, Mark J. Childs
  • Patent number: 7492377
    Abstract: A display device, for example a liquid crystal display device (1), and driving method are provided that avoid the need to provide the display device with display data (e.g. video) containing individual display settings for each pixel. The display device comprises an array of pixels (21-36, 71a-79d, 121-136) and an array of processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148), each processing element being associated with a respective pixel or group of pixels. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) perform processing of compressed input display data at pixel level. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) decompress the input data to determine individual pixel settings for their associated pixel or pixels. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) then drive the pixels (21-36, 71a-79d, 121-136) at the individual settings. A processing element may interpolate pixel settings from input data allocated to itself and one or more neighbouring processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Martin J. Edwards, Iain M. Hunter, Nigel D. Young, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7129914
    Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent display device has an array of pixels (10), each pixel having a plurality of current-driven display elements (11a–d), for example comprising organic electroluminescent material, connected in a series arrangement with one another and with drive means (12) operable to control the current through the respective series arrangement. By sub-dividing each pixel in this way, the high voltage drops, that can occur along power supply lines, are reduced thus improving the uniformity of the light outputs from the display elements across the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
    Inventors: Alan G Knapp, Iain M. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20030117348
    Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent display device has an array of pixels (10), each pixel having a plurality of current-driven display elements (11a-d), for example comprising organic electroluminescent material, connected in a series arrangement with one another and with drive means (12) operable to control the current through the respective series arrangement. By sub-dividing each pixel in this way, the high voltage drops, that can occur along power supply lines, are reduced thus improving the uniformity of the light outputs from the display elements across the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Alan G. Knapp, Iain M. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20030117347
    Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent (EL) display device comprises a matrix array of display cells (10) arranged in rows and columns, each cell comprising an EL display element (20) and driving circuitry. The cells are arranged in groups (12) which may constitute pixels. Each group of cells forms a series arrangement arranged so a data signal applied to the first cell in a series arrangement, via an associated data line (14), can be transferred to a neighbouring cell in the same group, and so on for subsequent cells in the group, upon application of a control signal applied to an associated control line (15). This device enables a digital drive scheme to be implemented. The provision of grouped display cells arranged so as to be driven in this way enables a grey scale to be implemented using fewer data lines (14) than usual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Iain M. Hunter, Mark J. Childs
  • Patent number: 6577302
    Abstract: A display device has current-addressed pixels, with the currents being supplied by driver circuitry which comprises a transistor (10) for applying a charging voltage to a switched capacitor arrangement (Ci, S1, S2) arranged to selectively charge and discharge the capacitor (Ci) at a predetermined rate to a charging voltage. A transistor control voltage (Vref) is applied to a control terminal of the transistor which is adjusted depending on the transistor threshold voltage to ensure that the capacitor (Ci) is charged to the charging voltage irrespectively of the value of the threshold voltage. This enables an accurately controllable current to be provided which is used to drive the current-addressed pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Iain M. Hunter, Neil C. Bird
  • Publication number: 20030098828
    Abstract: An EL display device is operable in analogue and digital modes. In the analogue mode a current is supplied to the EL display elements (2) in dependence on a data signal (6) supplied to the pixel, and in the digital mode one of two voltages is provided across the EL display elements in dependence on the data signal supplied to the pixel. This enables the display to have a low power standby mode in which a digital drive scheme is implemented. This is particularly appropriate for static images and preferably for images without grey scales. The first mode is the normal current addressing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Iain M. Hunter, Mark T. Johnson, Mark J. Childs
  • Publication number: 20030001833
    Abstract: In known active matrix display devices, the column address conductors are charged using DC power. When each column is discharged, the energy held by the column is dissipated. According to the present invention, an active matrix display device is provided wherein its column driving circuitry comprises an input (48) for receiving AC power, and switching circuitry (80) for selectively connecting each of the column address conductors (52) of the display to the input (48) to charge and discharge the column address conductors using AC power. This enables charge to be recovered by the AC power source (12) from the column address conductors (52), thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Iain M. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20020175882
    Abstract: A display device, for example a liquid crystal display device (1), and driving method are provided that avoid the need to provide the display device with display data (e.g. video) containing individual display settings for each pixel. The display device comprises an array of pixels (21-36, 71a-79d, 121-136) and an array of processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148), each processing element being associated with a respective pixel or group of pixels. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) perform processing of compressed input display data at pixel level. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) decompress the input data to determine individual pixel settings for their associated pixel or pixels. The processing elements (41-48, 71-79, 141-148) then drive the pixels (21-36, 71a-79d ,121-136) at the individual settings. A processing element may interpolate pixel settings from input data allocated to itself and one or more neighbouring processing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Martin J. Edwards, Iain M. Hunter, Nigel D. Young, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6441560
    Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent display device comprises an array of display pixels (10) which each include a current-driven electroluminescent display element (20) connected to a driving device (22) controlling the current flowing through the display element in a drive period according to a voltage stored on a capacitance (36) and determined by a data signal applied in a preceding address period. In order to compensate for ageing effects in the display element, electro-optic devices (45, 40) are included in the pixel for adjusting the voltage stored on the capacitance in dependence on the light output of its display element during the address period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Iain M. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6356029
    Abstract: In an active matrix electroluminescent display device the drive current through an EL display element (20) in each pixel (10) in a drive period is controlled by a driving device (22) based on a drive signal applied to the pixel in preceding address period and stored as a voltage on an associated storage capacitor (36). In order to counteract the effects of display element ageing through which the light output of an element for a given drive signal level diminishes over time, the pixel includes a feedback circuit (40, 45, 47, 48) which is responsive to the potential difference across the display element in an initial part of the drive period indicative of the extent of ageing and which is arranged to adjust the voltage stored on the storage capacitance accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Iain M. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20010026251
    Abstract: A display device has current-addressed pixels, with the currents being supplied by driver circuitry which comprises a transistor (10) for applying a charging voltage to a switched capacitor arrangement (Ci, S1, S2) arranged to selectively charge and discharge the capacitor (Ci) at a predetermined rate to a charging voltage. A transistor control voltage (Vref) is applied to a control terminal of the transistor which is adjusted depending on the transistor threshold voltage to ensure that the capacitor (Ci) is charged to the charging voltage irrespectively of the value of the threshold voltage. This enables an accurately controllable current to be provided which is used to drive the current-addressed pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Iain M. Hunter, Neil C. Bird