Abstract: A liquid crystal display module including a liquid crystal display having a plurality of liquid crystal cells, a plurality of switches and a common connection, each liquid crystal cell being connected between a respective switch and a common connection. The common connection includes strips, each extending in a first direction and the strips being arranged side-by-side in a second direction. The liquid crystal cells are arranged in rows, each row being along and connected to a strip. The liquid crystal display has gate lines, each gate line operating a respective plurality of the switches. For dot inversion, each gate operates switches connected to respective liquid crystal cells of two adjacent rows. For each row, a first set of alternate liquid crystal cells are connected to respective switches operated by a respective gate line and a second set of interspersed liquid crystal cells are connected to respective switches operated by another respective gate line.

Abstract: An ambient light detection device for use with a liquid crystal display having an array of liquid crystal cells, each liquid cell having at least one transistor for selectively connecting that liquid crystal cell to a signal line and each transistor having a gate connected to a gate line and having a gate supply line selectively connectable to the gate line for turning off the gates. The device includes a current measuring circuit configured to measure the current flowing in the gate supply line as a result of gate leakage current in the gates to which the gate supply line is connected and a controller connected to the measuring circuit and configured to calculate, from the measured current, the level of ambient light reaching the gates.

Abstract: A composite shingle having unitary construction is presented that includes a body shell, a plurality of longitudinal ribs, and a plurality of rib stiffeners. The present composite shingle may also include transverse ribs, a depressed nailing zone, nailing zone ribs, and/or at least one alignment aid. The plurality of rib stiffeners may include a material saving profile. Further, the dimensions of the composite shingle more closely resemble true slate and shake shingles and at least a portion of the outside face of composite shingle may be textured to resemble slate or wood shake shingles. A plurality of assembled composite shingles of the present invention is also claimed as part of this invention. Finally, a method of applying multiple courses of shingles on a roof including the composite shingle of the present invention is presented.

Abstract: A composite shingle having unitary construction is presented that includes a body shell, a plurality of longitudinal ribs, and a plurality of rib stiffeners. Further, the present composite shingle may also include transverse ribs, a depressed nailing zone, nailing zone ribs, and/or at least one alignment aid. The present composite shingle may also include spacing nibs. At least a portion of the outside face of composite shingle is textured to resemble slate or wood shake shingles. The butt end wall has a height that creates depth in composite shingle to more closely resemble true slate and shake shingles. The first side wall and second side wall generally taper from a greater height at the butt end to a lesser height at the top end. The longitudinal ribs extend downward from the bottom surface of the body shell to a common plane. There is a plurality of rib stiffeners that also extend downward from the bottom surface of the body shell and each rib stiffener end is integral with a longitudinal rib.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a liquid crystal display module having an array of liquid crystal cells and signal lines, each liquid crystal cell being chargeable via one of the signal lines by any amount between two saturated values so as to provide a corresponding display intensity. The driving circuit is configured to charge selectively all the liquid crystal cells of the array during a frame period so as to cause the array of liquid crystal cells to display an image. During a normal mode of operation, all of the liquid crystal cells are recharged repeatedly at a first refreshed rate. During a low power mode of operation, all of the liquid crystal cells are recharged repeatedly at a second refresh rate, lower than said first refreshed rate. Also, during the low power mode of operation, all of the liquid crystal cells are charged only to one or other of the two saturated values.

Abstract: An ambient light detection device for use with a liquid crystal display having an array of liquid crystal cells, each liquid cell having at least one transistor for selectively connecting that liquid crystal cell to a signal line and each transistor having a gate connected to a gate line and having a gate supply line selectively connectable to the gate line for turning off the gates. The device includes a current measuring circuit configured to measure the current flowing in the gate supply line as a result of gate leakage current in the gates to which the gate supply line is connected and a controller connected to the measuring circuit and configured to calculate, from the measured current, the level of ambient light reaching the gates.

Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal display and a drive circuit for a liquid crystal display module wherein the liquid crystal display of the liquid crystal display module is controlled and the image data displayed by the liquid crystal cells is refreshed. Received frames of image data are analysed to determine if individual frames of image data have characteristics prone to showing flicker. The refresh rate is reduced if the image analysis determines that the frames received of image data do not have characteristics prone to showing flicker.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display module including a liquid crystal display having a plurality of liquid crystal cells, a plurality of switches and a common connection, each liquid crystal cell being connected between a respective switch and a common connection. The common connection includes strips, each extending in a first direction and the strips being arranged side-by-side in a second direction. The liquid crystal cells are arranged in rows, each row being along and connected to a strip. The liquid crystal display has gate lines, each gate line operating a respective plurality of the switches. For dot inversion, each gate operates switches connected to respective liquid crystal cells of two adjacent rows. For each row, a first set of alternate liquid crystal cells are connected to respective switches operated by a respective gate line and a second set of interspersed liquid crystal cells are connected to respective switches operated by another respective gate line.

Abstract: A differential oscillator circuit, including an oscillator having a first side and a second side and bias circuitry for applying a bias voltage to the first and second sides of the oscillator wherein the bias circuitry is arranged such that, upon start-up, the bias voltage is not applied to the second side of the oscillator until after the first side of the oscillator by a delay period.