Abstract: A luminescent material, such as phosphor, is radiated by energy propagated from the side of an optical fiber, causing the luminescent material to emit visible light. The luminescent material can be of a coincidentally-excited type, requiring the absorption of two wavelengths of radiation to emit visible light. In such a case, two side-emitting optical fibers can be used, with each optical fiber providing one of the needed radiation wavelengths. One embodiment of the invention involves a matrix of optical fibers forming an optical display panel made using coincidentally-excited phosphors. Side-emitting optical fibers are used to simultaneously stimulate a phosphor pixel located between the two fibers, allowing matrix addressing of each pixel individually. The optical display panel is constructed of only optical components. Another embodiment involves an optical switch with coincidentally-excited luminescent material. One radiation is provided by a side-emitting optical fiber.

Abstract: In a display device according to a first aspect of the invention, luminance is not made substantially uniform over the entire display screen but rather imparted a luminance gradient such that luminance substantially monotonously decreases from the center of the screen towards the peripheral portion using a luminance gradient forming means, whereby power consumption is reduced compared to cases in which the entire screen shows substantially uniform luminance. In a second aspect of the invention, by optimizing gray level characteristics and thereby improving a viewer's impression of brightness, luminance gradient is made even less perceivable without increasing power consumption. These configurations provide large screen, low power consumption display devices.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes, above a substrate, data lines extending in a first direction, scanning lines which extend in a second direction and which cross the data lines, pixel electrodes and thin film transistors disposed so as to correspond to regions in which the data lines and the scanning lines cross, storage capacitors electrically connected to the thin film transistors and the pixel electrodes, and a shield layer disposed between the data lines and the pixel electrodes. An upper electrode and a lower electrode between which a dielectric film forming each storage capacitor is supported including a first portion laminated along a plane parallel with one surface of the substrate and a second portion laminated along a plane orthogonal to the surface of the substrate, the sectional shape of the capacitor including a projecting shape.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing matrix electron emitter arrays, each array comprising a plurality of scanning lines formed on a glass substrate and arranged in parallel with each other, a plurality of signal lines formed in a direction to cross the scanning lines and arranged in parallel with each other, and field-emission type electron emitters formed in the pixel areas which are arranged at the intersections of the scanning lines and the signal lines, a pulse voltage with a specific polarity and another pulse voltage with the reverse polarity are applied to any two of the scanning lines and current is caused to flow through electron emitters connected in series-via a signal line, thereby subjecting the conductive thin film constituting an electron emitter to a conductive activation process for forming an electron emitting section.

Abstract: A method of and system for displaying high-density bit-mapped dot-matrix imaging data on a large-scale low-density dot-matrix display is disclosed. Bit-mapped image data from each of multiple and adjacently oriented dot image data groups is allocated to drive one dot of the aforesaid display. This is done through a process in which a data selection sequence standard is employed to alternately select and extract image data from each of the aforesaid dot image data groups continually and repetitively at high speed, and in which the extracted image data from each dot image group is applied to drive one dot on the display.

Abstract: A persistent emissive display device, includes: a light emitting element; a drive circuit connected to the light emitting element, the drive circuit including a transistor having a gate for controlling the power applied to the light emitting element; a storage capacitor connected to the gate of the drive circuit transistor; a control circuit for depositing charge to the storage capacitor; and a circuit element for reducing charge leakage from the storage capacitor, whereby attributes of the display including the persistence of the display, switching speed, and power can be optimized for a given application.

Abstract: A light emitting apparatus comprises a light emitting section for emitting light, a color of the light being changed with a value of a driving current, and a driving section for driving the light emitting section so that the light emitting section emits light having a desired color and a desired intensity, by generating the driving current based on a signal designating the desired color and a signal designating the desired intensity and by applying the driving current to the light emitting section.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided which is capable of improving display quality by expanding the light-emission area of pixels by improving the layout of pixels and common power-feed lines formed on a substrate. Pixels including a light-emission element, such as an electroluminescence element or an LED element, are arranged on both sides of common power-feed lines so that the number of common power-feed lines is reduced. Further, the polarity of a driving current flowing between the pixels and the light-emission element is inverted so that the amount of current flowing through the common power-supply lines is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for factoring large numbers which utilizes an optoelectronic device that has a wafer at one end that contains a plurality of LEDs. Each LED is associated with at least one period pj and at least one delay dj. A clock drives the plurality of LEDs responsive to clock cycles to flash for one clock cycle at times described by the processing pj•r+dl for r≧0. The light intensity flashed by the LEDs is controlled by a filter to be proportional to log2 (pj), and a photodetector positioned at the other end of the cylinder collects the light flashed by the LEDs.

Abstract: A lightpipe apparatus and method includes a lightpipe body for transmitting light. The lightpipe body includes a receiving end portion for receiving the light and a display end portion. The lightpipe body further includes a first refractive surface disposed between the receiving end portion and the display end portion. An opaque substrate is applied to the first refractive surface to reflect the light toward the display end portion.

Abstract: A display device that includes video chips. Each video chip is modular and is engageable with adjacent video chips, a plurality of pins that electrically communicate with the set of pins of adjacent video chips, and pixels that electrically communicate with the plurality of pins thereof. Each pixel is engageable with adjacent pixels, a red LED for selective illumination, a green LED for selective illumination, and a blue LED for selective illumination. The video chips are placed in an array of columns and rows which are activated by vertical scanning and horizontal scanning. The rows are supplied with a positive voltage to prevent conduction. The vertical scanning activates each row by reducing back voltage to zero. The horizontal scanning activates each column at three different levels for activating at least one of the red LED, the green LED, and the blue LED.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to sources of diffuse illumination for providing substantially uniform illumination to a surface. The diffuse illumination arises from varying the diffusion angle of light generated by an LED system. To vary the diffusion angle, a translucent member is placed between the LED system and the surface. Light emitted from the LED system across the translucent member can subsequently can uniformly cover the surface.

Abstract: A high durability circular polarizer includes an unprotected K-type polarizer, such as a KE polarizer sheet, and a quarter-wavelength retarder. An optical system using the circular polarizer further includes an emissive display module such as an organic light emitting diode or a plasma display device.

Abstract: LED image display system with rigid frames positioned in at least one vertical stack forming a planar vertical display, with vertical rigid bar members mounted to each of the frames and with equal spacing, and LED pixels mounted to each bar member. The pixels are equally spaced apart forming a matrix of pixels that project colored light beams. A rod bearing weight of the frames in tension is connected to each of the frames, and the rods have top and bottom connectors. Top connector of top frame is removably secured to an overhead support while bottom frame is spaced from stage or other surface. Bottom ring connector of weight-bearing rod of each stacked frame is removably connected to top hook connector of each below stacked frame. Each weight-bearing rod includes rod portions threadably connected to a turnbuckle for tightly positioning all adjoining frames of the stack; and system includes controls receiving video signals and processing same as either still color images and/or color animated images.

Abstract: An active driving circuit for a display panel includes first to fourth transistors, a capacitor, a constant current source, and a capacitor. The first transistor is connected with a positive power source. The second transistor has a common gate terminal together with the first transistor and a mirror circuit against the first transistor. Also, the second transistor is turned on by a common gate signal applied to the common gate terminal to supply the positive power source to a display device. The third transistor sets a saturated threshold voltage for the common gate terminal by allowing the first transistor and the second transistor to constitute a mirror circuit against each other in accordance with a scan line signal. The constant current source supplies a current with a ground one side and controlled by a gray signal of a data line. The fourth transistor sets the common gate voltage corresponding to the controlled current of the constant current source by the scan line signal.

Abstract: A display arrangement for a digital wrist watch LED face or a computer cathode ray tube face provides for ornamental and coded displays. In the arrangement, the digital information is repeated in juxtaposed rows repeating the same digits in columnar fashion, the digits sharing above and below border elements to form continous vertical patterns in side by side spaced relationships.

Abstract: An organic EL display device driven by thin-film transistors is disclosed, wherein for suppressing the deterioration with time of thin-film transistors, at least one of the thin-film transistors, or a second thin-film transistor is formed of a p-channel type thin-film transistor. The p-channel type thin-film transistor has been formed in the same step of process as the thin-film transistors in built-in drive circuits.

Abstract: A display unit with an LED matrix, particularly for outdoors, with display points arranged in lines and columns, which can be triggered by a control device and which are monitored for display errors by a monitoring device. A simple design provides a dependable function because the monitoring device has a current monitoring device with a current sensor, by which a trigger current for each display point can be detected and assigned to the respective display point by the monitoring device.

Abstract: A programmable transparent display message center is formed from an array of rows and columns of light emitting diodes (LED's). A wire connects each row of LED's. Each column of LED's is connected to a conductive transparent layer. The transparent layer is electrically isolated from the rows of wires. A voltage drive is associated with each row and with each column.

Abstract: There is provided a blue-green illumination system, comprising a light emitting diode, and at least one luminescent material having at least two peak emission wavelengths, wherein the emission CIE color coordinates of the at least two peak emission wavelengths are located within an area of a pentagon on a CIE chromaticity diagram, whose corners have the following CIE color coordinates: e) x=0.0137 and y=0.4831; b) x=0.2240 and y=0.3890; c) x=0.2800 and y=0.4500; g) x=0.2879 and y=0.5196; and h) x=0.0108 and y=0.7220. The illumination system may be used as the green light of a traffic signal. The luminescent material may be a blend of (Ba1-xEux)Mg2Al6O27 (“BAM”) and (Ba1-xEux)Mg2-yMnyAl16O27 (“BAMMn”) phosphors, where 0<x≦0.2 and 0<y≦0.5.

Abstract: There is provided a light-emitting display device which is resistive to shock and vibration and a display switching method comprising: a forward transparent plate 322a having a light scattering portion for a predetermined design pattern relative to a surface direction thereof, a backward transparent plate 322b having a light scattering portion for a predetermined design pattern relative to a surface direction in which the second-mentioned design pattern is different from the first-mentioned design pattern of the light scattering portion of the forward transparent plate, a light source 324 for the forward transparent plate for supplying incidence of light into the forward transparent plate from an end surface of the forward transparent plate, and an other light source 325 for the backward transparent plate for supplying incidence of light into the backward transparent plate from an end surface of the backward transparent plate, so that switching is made from and to emitting and quenching of the backward transp

Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively controlling the illumination of two dependent visual indicators with a single control line. The apparatus includes two visual indicators, two amplifiers, and a logic circuit. The same end of the two visual indicators connect to a conductive terminal. A first amplifier connects between the line and the other end of one indicator and a second amplifier connects between the line and the other end of the other indicator. A combination of signals applied to the two inputs selectively illuminates one or both indicators with one signal from the control line. The inventive circuit designs of the present invention are compact in size, elegant in its simplicity and operation, and miserly in its power consumption. Therefore, a minimal amount of power will be used to highly illuminate one or two visual indicators being dependent on one another with the use of a single control pin of an IC.

Abstract: A contrast enhancement device for an LED display is achieved by providing rectangular wire screen of substantially the dimensions of the LED-bearing face of a module block LED array. The edges of the rectangular wire screen are ultrasonically welded to the edges of the LED-bearing face of the module block LED array.

Abstract: In a drive apparatus of a self-scanning type light emission element array, a first bit light emission thyristor is surely set into an ON state, thereby stabilizing shift of a light emitting operation from the first bit light emission thyristor. In the light emission element array drive apparatus which drives a light emission element array having plural light emission thyristors arranged in array and plural shift thyristors arranged in array (each gate of shift thyristors is connected to each gate of light emission thyristors), the apparatus comprises: a generation unit for generating a shift signal to sequentially shift ON states of the shift thyristors; and a generation unit for generating a start signal to start drive of the light emission element array, wherein a gate voltage of the first light emission thyristor is supplied according to the start signal without setting the first shift thyristor into an ON state according to the shift signal.

Abstract: A portable electronic device with virtual image display including a semiconductor array providing a real image and an optical system mounted to receive the real image and produce a virtual image at a viewing aperture. Electronics are associated with the array to produce real images in accordance with messages received by a data source such as a communication receiver. The display is sufficiently small to mount in a hand held microphone for viewing by the operator while using the microphone.

Abstract: In a portable information terminal apparatus, the contents of data to be processed for display are checked, and a number of colors to be displayed is decided in accordance with the contents of the data. For example, to display only character data, a display processing for a monochrome display is performed by driving the light emitting circuit of a monochrome. For displaying image data, a display processing for a multi-color display is performed by driving the light emitting circuit of a multi-color.

Abstract: An apparatus for administering continuous positive the airway pressure to a patient includes a housing, a switch provided on the housing, and a graphical display. The graphical display includes a matrix of surface-mounted light-emitting electrodes mounted on a printed circuit board for selective illumination in response to information generated by operation of the apparatus. A display which may include an electrical switch of the apparatus or display panel, has a light emitting display surface and a plurality of light conduits transmitting light from a respective portion of be LED matrix to a portion of the display device. The information generated by operation of the device is graphically displayed by the display device.

Abstract: CCD type charge transfer sections include vertical charge transfer sections and horizontal charge transfer sections having stages twice the number of lines of the vertical charge transfer sections. The horizontal charge transfer sections have a capacity capable of holding charges twice the number of lines of the vertical charge transfer sections. A controller controls an area image sensor to arrange charges of an object image corresponding to an irradiated state and charges of the object image corresponding to a non-irradiated state in the vertical charge transfer sections, and to transfer charges for two pixels per vertical charge transfer section to the horizontal charge transfer sections to hold the charges.

Abstract: A portable communications transceiver having a first hollow body, a second hollow body, and a virtual image display that includes a semiconductor array providing a real image and an optical system mounted in the second body to receive the real image and produce a virtual image at a viewing aperture. Electronics are associated with the array to produce real images in accordance with messages and graphical images received by the receiver. The display is sufficiently small enough to mount in a hand held cellular or portable telephone by the operator while using the telephone.

Abstract: A driving method of a display device which includes cathodes formed by plural stripe-lines and anodes across the cathodes and formed by plural stripe-lines as well as a light-emitting layer provided between the cathodes and anodes. Firstly, illuminate a first light-emitting element connected to a first cathode, secondly, in order to illuminate a second light-emitting element connected to a second cathode, run electric current into the second element. In this case, remove part of stored charges in the second element and leave charges in at least one light-emitting element other than the second element, then run electric current into the second element. This driving method allows the display device to reduce the power consumption.

Abstract: A system for controlling the current supplied to an LED array includes an LED register which sends out individual signals to enable respective LED's. A plurality of drivers are provided, whose outputs are tied together and supply the power to the LED array. A plurality of logic blocks controls the enablement of the plurality of drivers. Each logic block is in communication with the LED register to determine a number of LED's enabled. Each logic block enables a respective driver depending on a number of the LED's enabled.

Abstract: A portable communications receiver with virtual image display including a semiconductor array providing a real image and an optical system mounted to receive the real image and produce a virtual image at a viewing aperture. Electronics are associated with the array to produce real images in accordance with messages received by the receiver. The display is sufficiently small to mount in a hand held microphone for viewing by the operator while using the microphone.

Abstract: When a large number of bar-shaped display elements are installed at a site in any of various situations, even if the distances between the bar-shaped display elements are not necessarily fixed, an image of an aspect ratio which is correct over an entire screen can be displayed without distorting the displayed image. Data distribution means includes means for storing a standard value set corresponding to a standard arrangement distance of the bar-shaped display elements Bi as an interval control variable, and means for storing a correction value set for a particular bar-shaped display element B8 arranged in a displaced condition from the standard arrangement distance, and selectively extracts image data for one column to be distributed to each of the bar-shaped display elements B1 to B10 based on the standard value and the correction value.

Abstract: An application specific field emission display includes one or more extended emitters. The emitters are patterned according to a selected image where the selected image depends upon the application. In one embodiment, an emitter is patterned in a serpentine pattern to provide a single block of illumination. In another application, emitters are grouped in threes and the emitters are driven respectively by the red, green, and blue components of an image signal to produce a multicolor display. In a display assembly according to the invention, application specific emitters are incorporated in subdisplays on a common substrate with a conventional matrix addressable array. The array provides video, graphical or textual information and the subdisplays provide textual, fixed-shaped graphical, numerical or colorized information.

Abstract: An array of OEDs is arranged in rows and columns with a plurality of row buses and a plurality of column buses. Each of the OEDs has a first terminal coupled to an associated row bus and a second terminal coupled to an associated column bus. A switching circuit is connected to a shadow canceling row bus of the plurality of row buses. The switching circuit is constructed to receive a shadow canceling signal on a terminal thereof and to connect the shadow canceling row bus to a pull down potential in response to the shadow canceling signal, whereby all of the OEDs in the array, other than those associated with the shadow canceling row bus, are coupled to the pull down potential and discharged.

Abstract: The compact document imager and display apparatus has a two-dimensional image sensor array, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and processing electronics. An illumination source can be added to illuminate the document on the sensor array and to provide backlight for the LCD. Color imaging may be achieved by providing three sequential illumination pulses of appropriate colors. A document is placed in close contact with the sensor array. The document is illuminated and an electronic image is captured and stored in the processing electronics. The captured image can be displayed on the LCD by the processing electronics. The document, such as a single sheet of paper or a transparency, can be illuminated by the room light to perform image capture. The compact document imager can be used as a facsimile machines by providing telephone connections. Documents can be scanned using the sensor array and sent to other devices. Documents can be received from other sources and displayed on the LCD.

Abstract: A serial display drive for an electronic system including control circuitry that manipulates a serial clock signal that synchronizes each of a plurality of status bits in a serial data stream. The serial display drive circuitry includes a set of indicating elements for displaying the status information and means for switching the indicating elements. The control circuitry periodically stops the serial clock signal to provide a status update interval for each of the indicating elements and to obviate the need for a register element and strobe signal to hold data for the light-emitting elements. In another embodiment, the control circuitry generates bar graph displays.

Abstract: A small hand-held electronic apparatus with a field effect light emitting device wherein the life of an EL panel is expanded; light emitting efficiency is improved; the circuit is made compact; and the number of parts is reduced. When a control signal from a charge/discharge frequency control means becomes a low level, a first step-up selection SW is turned on and a first discharge means is turned off. At this time, a step-up device and a first step-up means are connected, and the first step-up means starts a step-up operation in response to a step-up clock signal. A reverse induction voltage generated by the step-up operation is rectified by a first rectifier means and is input to a light emitting device. The light emitting device charges and accumulates reverse induction voltage input at each clock of the step-up clock and emits light to provide an illuminating function.

Abstract: An electronic patient tracking system for use in a hospital, particularly a hospital emergency room facility. A plurality of patient tracking modules are provided, each of which includes a multi-character display for indicating patient name and patient complaint as well as an indicator of attending physician and nurse. Illuminated color coded switches are used to indicate the placement of orders for work to be done. The system provides automatic timeouts if the order is not completed, as evidenced by subsequent operation of the switch, within a predetermined period of time and changes the lamp status to an alarm condition, such as flashing with a particular cadence. The system allows local entry of data and setting of order indicators as well as the control of these elements from a host computer system of the hospital in which the device is used.

Abstract: A display apparatus operable for displaying actual three-dimensional moving images is provided. The display apparatus includes a stepper motor having an elongated rotatable shaft, a plurality of display structures spaced along the length of the rotatable shaft, each of the display structures including a light-emitting element, and a control assembly for controlling the illumination of the light-emitting elements of the respective display structures for generating three-dimensional displays of moving images thereon.

Abstract: A self-scanning light-emitting element array is disclosed. A coupled array of light-emitting elements is constituted so that a light-emitting element which is turned on influences a light-emitting element to be turned on next so that its threshold level is changed. When each element is clock-driven by a common drive pulse, the change in threshold level is shifted in the array direction, so that a turn-on operation is transferred in a clock period of the drive pulse.

Abstract: An indicating element for an elevator includes a cover plate having an opening formed therein through which a lens extends. Positioned behind the lens is a light diffuser having an area formed in the shape of a symbol to be displayed. A plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted on a front surface of a printed circuit board and the diodes extend into the diffuser. The front surface of the printed circuit board, as well as the side walls of the diffuser are white to achieve a better light reflection. The lens, the diffuser and the printed circuit board are mounted on studs extending from a rear surface of the cover plate and are retained by nuts. The light emitting diodes are connected together in separate groups with a first switch for connecting the groups in series to a higher voltage alternating current power supply and a second switch for connecting the groups in parallel to a lower voltage direct current power supply.

Abstract: A heating apparatus such as microwave ovens includes a menu display for displaying a plurality of cooking menu groups each including a plurality of cooking menus, a menu selecting dial turned in one of two directions so that one of the cooking menu groups displayed on the menu display is selected, the menu selecting dial being turned in the other direction so that one cooking menu is selected from the selected cooking menu group, a heater for heating food to be cooked, and a heating control device for controlling the heater so that heating is automatically executed in accordance with the cooking menu selected by a turn of the menu selecting dial.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for power demand load leveling of a power supply driving a plurality of LED's through the use of pulse width modulation. A first modulating signal provided from a pulse width modulator is applied to a delay means for generating second, third and fourth modulating signals each delayed from the previous modulating signal by a predetermined time. The modulating signals are used to modulate control signals corresponding to four groups of associated LED's in order to permit only one group of LED's to be turned on at any one time, although more than twenty five percent of the LED's may be active at any one time. Each of the first, second, third and fourth modulating signals are applied to a different group of four groups of activation switches along with their respective control signals to enable the switches and activate an associated group of LED's.

Abstract: Display panels are provided which enable effective document scanning, information display, and entry of information using a stylus. The panels include (in the same panel) light emitting and light detecting functions which are arranged to permit effective scanning, display, and stylus reading techniques. In one aspect there is a two-dimensional panel for scanning information at a scanning surface. The panel has a light emitting layer and a light detecting layer. The light emitting layer is configured to emit light onto the scanning surface at selected pixel locations in response to electrical signals, each electrical signal being impressed at a selected pixel location, the layer having optical apertures defining corresponding optical paths at the pixel locations for light to exit the opposite side of the layer from the scanning surface. The light detecting layer is configured to detect light exiting the layer at pixel locations.