Light-emitting Diodes Patents (Class 345/46)
  • Patent number: 6950079
    Abstract: A luminance control circuit has luminance change characteristics similar to those of a conventional lamp when a light emitting diode is used as a light source. The luminance control circuit adjusts the value of a forward current flowing in the light emitting diode in accordance with a control voltage which is obtained by smoothing a light adjustment pulse signal from an illuminance control circuit. The circuit has: a pulse adjustor for adjusting a duty factor of the light adjustment pulse signal according to characteristics of the light emitting diode; holding circuit for holding the control voltage to a predetermined value or more; and a switch for interrupting the forward current flowing in the light emitting diode by using the light adjustment pulse signal or a pulse signal after the adjustment of the duty factor, wherein at least two of these three elements are used in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Inoue
  • Patent number: 6937214
    Abstract: A method for generating an uniform luminosity for displaying contents on an organic light emitting diode display device that include a plurality of pictures and a plurality of pixels has a driver circuit in the display device to light the pictures and pixels. The method includes: (A) setting a unit time which is the time of the driver chip to scan every pixel; (B) calculating the multiple of the area of every picture; (C) obtaining the multiple of the maximum area; and (D) calculating the multiple of the area of every picture according to step (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Hua Chen, Chih-Chung Chien
  • Patent number: 6932477
    Abstract: A solid state multi-spectral light source for a multi-spectral light source system includes an array of LED groups, wherein each LED group may include red, green, and blue LEDs. The LEDs produce color light bars by activating the appropriate color LEDs. The color light bars can be flashed or scrolled to integrate a color display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Douglas Stanton
  • Patent number: 6910779
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror has a mirror glass (1) which also forms a substrate for an OLED display (7). This OLED display (7) fully covers the mirror glass (1). A front cover glass (5) forms the second substrate for the OLED display (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz-Bernhard Abel, Coloman Lenart, Mathias Polz, Heinrich von Holleben, Yorek Biener, Heinrich Noll, Andreas Vollmer
  • Patent number: 6897876
    Abstract: A method for transforming three color input signals (R, G, B) corresponding to three gamut defining color primaries to four color output signals (R?, G?, B?, W) corresponding to the gamut defining color primaries and one additional color primary W for driving a display having a white point different from W includes the steps of: normalizing the color input signals (R,G,B) such that a combination of equal amounts in each signal produces a color having XYZ tristimulus values identical to those of the additional color primary to produce normalized color signals (Rn,Gn,Bn); calculating a common signal S that is a function F1 of the three normalized color signals (Rn,Gn,Bn); calculating a function F2 of the common signal S and adding it to each of the three normalized color signals (Rn,Gn,Bn) to provide three color signals (Rn?,Gn?,Bn?); normalizing the three color signals (Rn?,Gn?,Bn?) such that a combination of equal amounts in each signal produces a color having XYZ tristimulus values identical to those of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Murdoch, Michael E. Miller, Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 6894431
    Abstract: A light-emitting device having the quality of an image high in homogeneity is provided. A printed wiring board (second substrate) (107) is provided facing a substrate (first substrate) (101) that has a luminous element (102) formed thereon. A PWB side wiring (second group of wirings) (110) on the printed wiring board (107) is electrically connected to element side wirings (first group of wirings) (103, 104) by anisotropic conductive films (105a, 105b). At this point, because a low resistant copper foil is used to form the PWB side wiring (110), a voltage drop of the element side wirings (103, 104) and a delay of a signal can be reduced. Accordingly, the homogeneity of the quality of an image is improved, and the operating speed of a driver circuit portion is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6888529
    Abstract: A backlight for an LCD display comprised of an array of LEDs. The backlight may be driven and controlled by a fast pulse power converter, thus providing a response time for the backlight on the order of microseconds. The backlight may thus be used for image display, for example, in the depiction of images in a video input to the LCD and removal of image artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gert Bruning, Chin Chang
  • Patent number: 6861810
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent display device and driving method including an apparatus comprised of at least one organic-light-emitting diode (OLED), a rectification diode and a capacitor used as a memory device. A frame period of the display device is divided into sub-frames, which have address and light emission periods. Current mode data programming is used to address the display device in each sub-frame. In the light emission period, charge previously stored in selected capacitors during the address period, supplies the forward current for the OLEDs. A ramp waveform applied to the row electrode, during the light emission period, forces the capacitor to discharge through the OLED and controls the forward current level. The operation of the OLEDs are retained in their area of maximum performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignees: FPD Systems, Imaging Systems Technology
    Inventor: James C. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 6836260
    Abstract: A light emitting flat-panel display includes a plurality of light emitting diodes; a sensor for sensing the light output of at least one of the light emitting diodes to produce a light output signal; and a display controller responsive to the light output signal for producing a signal representing the remaining useful life of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronald S. Cok
  • Publication number: 20040252078
    Abstract: A bi-directional single-conductor interface is provided, comprising (1) a switching means for applying a voltage level to the interface that is outside a normal voltage operating range for the interface and for removing the applied voltage level at an end of a specified time duration; and (2) a timer initiated by detection of the applied voltage and arranged to include a timing interval following removal of the applied voltage. With the interface of the invention, data is caused to be transmitted via the interface in a first direction during the timing interval of the timer, and in an opposite direction during other times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Fischer, Walter G. Soto
  • Patent number: 6809710
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for driving an OLED in a graphics display. The circuit employs a current source operating in a switched mode. The output of the current source is connected to a terminal of the OLED. The current source is responsive to a combination of a selectively set cyclical voltage signal and a cyclical variable amplitude voltage signal. The current source, when switched on, is designed and optimized to supply the OLED with the amount of current necessary for the OLED to achieve maximum luminance. When switched off, the current source blocks the supply of current to the OLED, providing a uniform black level for an OLED display. The apparent luminance of the OLED is controlled by modulating the pulse width of the current supplied to the OLED, thus varying the length of time during which current is supplied to the OLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier F. Prache, Shashi D. Malaviya
  • Patent number: 6799850
    Abstract: An image projecting apparatus has optical switches in first optical switch unit arranged in a square matrix arrangement, and a second optical switch unit of optical switches in single file for selectively reflecting the monochromatic lights reflected from the first optical switch unit. A light source irradiates a plurality of monochromatic lights of different wavelengths and the monochromatic lights are passed through the optical switches and a square beam generator such that they are incident on a panel unit to realize a monochromatic color stripe of a predetermined size. Light utilization increases through the use of first and second optical switch units, and overlapping between monochromatic color stripes can be prevented through the use of digital micromirror device (DMD) panel or liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel of fast responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-wan Hong, Sang-whoe Dho
  • Patent number: 6774893
    Abstract: Disclosed is a intelligent light source that is capable of providing a uniform illumination image across the surface of an illuminated object analyzed by an optical detector. This is accomplished by individually controlling each light-emitting element of a linear array of light elements. Calibration of the array is accomplished by sequentially illuminating each optical element of the source and building an array of normalized detected data. The matrix is then inverted and multiplied by a linear array of ones to generate the calibration data. The calibration data are then used to program a simple logic device that allows accurate digital control of the intensity of each individual light element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Debiez, Francois Lerat
  • Patent number: 6771257
    Abstract: The pilot or crew of an aircraft is alerted to the danger presented by wires in the vicinity of the aircraft by a flight instrument which includes a plurality of wire detected display elements, advantageously arranged as bars on the face of the flight instrument, and which display elements are color coded according to the level of danger presented to the aircraft by the detected wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Krulis
  • Publication number: 20040113869
    Abstract: After measurement, light-emitting elements are temporarily numbered (1), . . . in measuring order and arranged successively on a temporary palette. In parallel with this operation, measured light intensity data are input to a computer system in association with the temporary numbers (1), . . . In the computer system, the measured light intensity data are rearranged according to predetermined algorithm to make the light intensity values of adjacent light-emitting elements substantially equal, so that the temporary numbers (1), . . . are rearranged on a memory in accordance with the rearranged data. The rearranged data are sent from the computer system to a robot, so that the light-emitting elements on the temporary palette are arranged on a taping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kato, Koichi Kaga, Kanae Matsumura
  • Patent number: 6734837
    Abstract: A variable color optical device repeatedly develops a start signal and two end signals respectively timed in relation to the start signal in accordance with the values of two sets of data. Two stable signals are developed, each from the start signal to the respective end of signal. Two control signals are applied, in accordance with the two stable signals, for respectively forwardly biasing the light emitting diodes of two primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Karel Havel
  • Patent number: 6734836
    Abstract: A current driving circuit includes a first terminal electrically connected to a voltage source, a second terminal grounded, a signal line through which a signal current runs, a first switch, a second switch electrically connected to the signal line and further electrically connected in series to the first switch, a third switch electrically connected to the first terminal, a memory stage converting the signal current into a voltage and stores the voltage therein, a driving transistor, a load electrically connected between a source of the driving transistor and the second terminal, and a selection line electrically connected to the first to third switches. The signal line is electrically connected to a gate of the driving transistor through the first and second switches. The memory stage is electrically connected between a gate of the driving transistor and the second terminal. The first switch is electrically connected between a drain and a gate of the driving transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeo Nishitoba
  • Patent number: 6726329
    Abstract: A power-saving method with integrated photodiode light source. This device has a circuit board with a plurality of red, green and blue photodiodes as the device's light source. Additionally, a light control circuit is used to control light beam from the light source illuminating a reflector and then reflecting to a reflective display panel in order to reflect the light beam and generate an image. Thus, a projection module can project the image on a viewing plate. As cited, the inventive device includes: a light control circuit, a light source module, a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), a reflective display panel and a projection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao Yi Li, Hung Lung Cheng, He Chiang Liu
  • Patent number: 6693158
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for syntheses of new electroluminescent conjugated polymers modified with high electronegative heterocyclic groups (such as 1,3,4-oxadiazole-diyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-diyl, and 1,2,4-triazole-diyl). These electroluminescent polymers (homopolymers, statistical copolymers or block coplymers) are obtained by polymerization of bis(halomethyl) arenes modified with heterocyclic groups via the Wessling precursor route, Gilch side chain route, Wittig reaction or Wittig-Hornor reaction. By a proper selection of the monomers and their ratios in the polymerization, the emissive polymers (fully conjugated or limited conjugating length) covering the full visible range even extending to the near-IR range can be prepared. The polymeric light emitting diodes (PLED) with these materials as emissive layer or electron transport layer have high external quantum efficiency and can be used as indicators and displays for cellular phones, pagers, portable computer, wristwatch, toys, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Show-An Chen, Yuh-Zheng Lee
  • Patent number: 6690343
    Abstract: A method for automatically evaluating the displayed value comprises the steps of receiving data for display, exhibiting a display indication of the data on a light emitting diode display area substantially surrounded by a variable color background area, comparing the value of the data with a limit, and controlling color of the background area in accordance with the result of the comparison. A display device for automatically evaluating the displayed value includes a light emitting diode display area substantially surrounded by a variable color background area and a device for receiving data for display and for exhibiting them on the display area. A comparator compares the value of the data with a limit and accordingly develops a comparison signal which is used to control the color of the background area to automatically indicate the significance of the displayed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Karel Havel
  • Patent number: 6690340
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode driving circuit according to an embodiment of this invention includes a light-emitting diode, a first current switch circuit connected in series with the light-emitting diode, the first current switch circuit turning on/off a current in accordance with an external input signal input from an input terminal, a pulse current generating circuit connected in parallel with the first current switch circuit, the pulse current generating circuit supplying a pulse current including a pulse width smaller than the pulse width of the external input signal and shaping a leading edge portion of an optical waveform output from the light-emitting diode into a desired optical waveform, and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with the light-emitting diode, the discharge circuit quickly discharging charge stored in the light-emitting diode when the current to the first current switch circuit is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Sakura, Katsuji Kaminishi
  • Patent number: 6680579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display configured to display images that includes multiple display elements capable of controlling light within a visible-light spectrum. The display elements are arranged over a display surface of the display. The display also includes one or more receivers arranged with the display elements over the display surface of the display. The receivers are coupled with the display elements and receive transmitted image information. The receivers activate the display elements in response to, and in correspondence with, the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William J. Allen, John M. Da Cunha, Paul H. McClelland
  • Patent number: 6674413
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes at least one output control unit, and each output control unit comprises: a tri-state buffer receiving, as a signal input, a one-bit color signal, and receiving, as a control input, a one-bit intermediate color control signal for controlling an intermediate color of the color signal, and setting its output in one of the following three states: a state of outputting a first voltage, a state of outputting a second voltage, and a high impedance state, on the basis of the color signal and the intermediate color control signal; a first resistor having an end connected to a power supply, and the other end connected to the output of the tri-state buffer; and a second resistor having an end connected to the ground, and the other end connected to the output of the tri-state buffer. Therefore, it is possible to provide a display control apparatus that is able to perform intermediate color display, with reduced manufacturing cost and reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Inoue, Keiji Kawashima, Masayuki Nakaimuki
  • Patent number: 6650060
    Abstract: During current programming, one of a drain side and a source side of a driving transistor 12 is once separated from a light emitting element 11 to be driven (switch 17), a model current is injected into the one of the drain side and the source side to be programmed and immediately after the current programming has been completed the one of the drain side and the source side is connected to the side of the light emitting element to be driven so that the light emitting element can be set in a driving mode. The driving current for the light emitting element from the driving transistor 12 is stopped and the model current is injected from the side of the one of the drain and the source so that the corresponding gate voltage is automatically generated. During the current programming operation, driving for the other lines is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Okuda
  • Patent number: 6646251
    Abstract: A tolerance-level display portion 12 is provided in a casing 11 of a head 1 of a photoelectric switch. A light reception signal output from the head 1 is transmitted through a cable 31b of a main body 2. The casing 21 of the main body 2 contains a received light amount display portion 22, a tolerance-level display portion 24, adjust switches 28 and setting switches 29. The CPU in the main body 2 calculates a ratio of a light reception signal to a threshold value to obtain a tolerance level, and applies a control signal corresponding to the obtained tolerance level to a variable power supply circuit. The variable power supply circuit applies a variable voltage, which is dependent on the control signal, through a cable 31a to the head 1. The tolerance-level display portion 12 of the head 1 displays a tolerance level on the basis of the variable voltage by turning on the tolerance-level display LEDs 12a, 12b and 12c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6646770
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) light source control method is disclosed. The light-emitting diode light source control method is used for controlling a composite and a single color LED light source. The composite color LED light source can provide two of the three original red, green and blue color lights and the single color LED light source provides the third original color. The composite and the single color LED light sources provide illuminations sequentially so that the light sources need not to be turned on continually and the data generated by the composite and the single color lights on the red, green and blue channels of image sensors can be processed sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Umax Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Ho Lee, Chin-Lin Chang, Shang-Yu Yang, Kuan-Yu Lee
  • Patent number: 6636191
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 6628252
    Abstract: An LED drive circuit includes a booster circuit having a first and second capacitors and using a n/m voltage type rectifying switching and a constant current circuit having a MOS transistor as an output transistor. The constant current circuit is connected in series with an LED as a load of the booster circuit to drive the LED with constant current. With this circuit construction, there is substantially no electromagnetic noise generated and it is possible to maintain a terminal voltage of the LED substantially constant according to the diode characteristics of the LED even when voltage ripple appears in an output of the booster circuit due to the n/m voltage boost, by setting the switching frequency at high to absorb the ripple component on the side of the constant current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Hoshino, Isao Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6628249
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamikawa, Shigetoshi Ito, Mototaka Taneya
  • Patent number: 6618029
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tokuroh Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20030164809
    Abstract: This invention provides a solid-state lighting array driving circuit in which a plurality of solid-state lighting devices such as LEDs are rearranged in a reconfigurable circuit. The circuit may be changed to incorporate the LEDs into a larger or fewer number of parallel circuits each containing less or more LEDs themselves respectively. The reconfiguration may be done as a result of variable input voltages such that the circuit may reconfigure to provide a preferred number of LEDs in each circuit for the sensed voltage in the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Wa-Hing Leung
  • Patent number: 6611244
    Abstract: A relatively small, illuminated, wearable-safety device or item that may also serve as an item of jewelry or ornamental apparel attachment item of jewelry or ornamental apparel attachment which incorporates a series of LED's packages, with each LED package being made of three individual LED's, one of blue, one of green, and one of red, whereby a continuous range of colors may be emitted by selected energizing of each individual LED of an LED package. The LED packages are capable of being flashed in various modes of operation, such as sequential, random, continuous, and the like. The LED packages are also controlled where the colors emitted by each LED package may also have various modes of operation, such as sequential, random, continuous, and the like, where the color emitted by each LED package may be altered according to a fixed or random pattern, all of which are controlled by one microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Steven P. W. Guritz
  • Patent number: 6603445
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Adi Shamir
  • Patent number: 6577286
    Abstract: A device and method of displaying images using an afterimage caused by an optical illusion is disclosed In the device, a controller processes image data output from an image processing unit, thus generating an image display control signal and a motor control signal. A drive motor unit rotates a rotary display assembly at a speed in response to the motor control signal. A plurality of display units, individually designed to emit light beams at multi-angles, are orderly mounted on the rotary display assembly. The display assembly is rotated at a speed by the drive motor unit in response to the motor control signal while displaying images on the display units at multi-angles in response to the image display control signal, thus forming desired images due to an afterimage caused by an optical illusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Ji Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 6574030
    Abstract: A display includes a light source and a filter positioned to receive light from the light source. An electronically controlled mirror can direct light through the filter in a first mode of operation and not through the filter in a second mode of operation. The display can be utilized in an avionics display system with night vision equipment. The electronically controlled mirror can be a reversible electrochemical mirror (REM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Mosier
  • Patent number: 6570548
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030085851
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high-brightness light emitting diode (LED), which primarily includes a LED epitaxial layer with a reflective layer and a Si substrate with an adhesive layer. The LED epitaxial layer is bonded with the Si substrate by attaching the reflective layer and the adhesive layer. An n-type ohmic contact electrode and a p-type ohmic contact electrode are deposed on the front side of the LED. In the present invention, the reflective layer, the adhesive layer and the ohmic contact electrodes preferably perform single function, so that the most appropriate materials can be applied. Therefore, the LED of the present invention can exhibit excellent brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Ray-Hua Horng, Tung-Hsing Wu, Shao-Hua Huang, Chih-Ru Chung, Juin-Jer Yang
  • Patent number: 6552735
    Abstract: A method of compensating for differential aging of independent emitters in a display is disclosed. According to the method, an image on the display is periodically sampled to determine how often each independent emitter is used. A history is compiled of the use of each independent emitter for a predetermined time. The amount of luminance decay that each independent emitter has experienced over the predetermined time is estimated. The maximum luminance of each independent emitter is adjusted so that the maximum luminances of all of the independent emitters is substantially the same as the maximum luminance of the independent emitter that has experienced the most decay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian P. Dehmlow
  • Patent number: 6549335
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Giorgio Trapani, Richard Pawlak, Gene R. Carlson, James N. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6549179
    Abstract: Surface mounted LEDs are arrayed in special patterns to provide a relatively high resolution dot-matrix visual display and/or multi-segment character displays. Especially abbreviated solder bonding pads are utilized to obtain a higher density packing of the surface mounted arrays in at least some embodiments. Special anti-glare coatings and structures are employed to reduce ambient light reflections for aircraft instrument applications. Multi-colored display outputs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventors: John S. Youngquist, John W. Toulmin
  • Patent number: 6547400
    Abstract: A light source device, comprising a light guide block that is provided with an inner wall capable of reflecting light and is shaped as a hollow component to form a light guide, and a point light source array that is located opposite one end face of the light guide block and is capable of emitting light into the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6538626
    Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively and independently controlling the illumination of two visual indicators with a single control line. The apparatus includes two visual indicators connected in parallel with the cathode to anode direction of one indicator being opposite the other indicator, and a logic circuit having two signal inputs and the control line. The control line couples to a first end of the two indicators. An inverter couples between the control line and a second end of the two indicators. A combination of signals applied to the two inputs selectively illuminates one of the two indicators with one signal from the control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Mathew A. Nieberger, Kristie Amanna, Terry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6509886
    Abstract: A dimensional light-emitting element array device is provided. The device comprises a light-emitting element array in which a plurality of three-terminal light-emitting thyristors are arranged in X-Y matrix of N rows×M columns; a plurality of row lines to each thereof an anode of the thyristor on a corresponding row of the matrix is connected; one clock line to which all the row lines are connected; a plurality of row address lines to each thereof a gate of the thyristor on a corresponding row and a 0th column of the matrix is connected; and a plurality of column address lines to each thereof a gate of the thyristor on a corresponding column of 1st-Mth columns of the matrix is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Ohno
  • Patent number: 6496162
    Abstract: An LED display unit disclosed. A plurality of pixels are provided on an insulation substrate. Each pixel comprises vertically arranged green, red, and blue LEDs, wherein the green LED is above the red LED, and the blue LED is below the red LED. Each pixel is positioned in a corresponding one of cavities defined in a predetermined pattern on the insulation substrate, and each cavity provides a light reflection surface on the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignees: Koha Co., Ltd., Toyoda Gose Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Kawakami, Junichi Mizutani, Hideki Mori
  • Patent number: 6489937
    Abstract: An LED matrix control system using a plurality of FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) in between a CPU and a LED matrix. One FPGA controls a first set of LED's and a second FPGA controls a second set of LED's. The first FPGA controls all of the column lines of an LED matrix, and controls a sub set of the row lines of the LED matrix. The second FPGA also controls all of the column lines and controls another sub set of the row lines. Each FPGA receives the same information from the CPU. Each FPGA also has a config line. The config line of one FPGA is connected to a logical zero, and the config line of the other FPGA is connected to a logical one. Each FPGA only enables or energizes one row at a time. The rows are energized on and off so quickly, that the human persistence of vision causes the appearance of the energized LED's to always appear lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventor: Boris Ruvinsky
  • Patent number: 6490402
    Abstract: A flexible electronic color display includes a light-emitting diode (LED) matrix formed from an interweaved weft of conductive strands and warp of light-emitting diode (LED) fiber of a conductive core coated with a p-doped semiconductor and then an n-doped semiconductor of light-emitting polymer. Each conductive strand physically and electrically couples to each LED fiber at one location to form an LED that may activated as a pixel. Alternating LED fibers of different hues may provide a color display, especially for a relatively fine weave or for displays viewed from a distance. Alternatively, conductive strands and LED fibers may be selected having sufficient transparency that layers of multiple LED matrices, each having a selected hue, may form a color flexible display. In addition, methods for fabricating the LED matrix and for detecting and eliminating flaws from the LED matrix allow for economical manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Takaaki Ota
  • Patent number: 6473062
    Abstract: Disclosed is a intelligent light source that is capable of providing a uniform illumination image across the surface of an illuminated object analyzed by an optical detector. This is accomplished by individually controlling each light-emitting element of a linear array of light elements. Calibration of the array is accomplished by sequentially illuminating each optical element of the source and building an array of normalized detected data. The matrix is then inverted and multiplied by a linear array of ones to generate the calibration data. The calibration data are then used to program a simple logic device that allows accurate digital control of the intensity of each individual light element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Debiez, Francois Lerat
  • Patent number: 6414661
    Abstract: A method and associated system that compensates for long-term variations in the light-emitting efficiency of individual organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) in an OLED display device, calculates and predicts the decay in light output efficiency of each pixel based on the accumulated drive current applied to the pixel and derives a correction coefficient that is applied to the next drive current for each pixel. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the calculation is based the accumulated current that has been passed through the device. In another exemplary embodiment, the calculation is based on a difference in voltage across the pixel at two instants. The compensation system is best used after the display device has been calibrated to provide uniform light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Zilan Shen, Dennis Lee Matthies, James H. Atherton, Roger Green Stewart
  • Patent number: 6414652
    Abstract: In a color image reading apparatus of the present invention, a first light output controller 23 controls, in full-color reading, a variable current regulating circuit 7 according to first reference data from a first storage device 25 in synchronism with a first lighting controller 21 for setting the light output of each light emitting diode to a first predetermined level. Further, a second light output controller 24 controls, in monochrome reading, the variable current regulating circuit 7 according to second reference data from a second storage device 26 for setting the light output of a green light emitting diode, which is turned on continuously by a second lighting controller 22, to a second predetermined level less than the first predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Sawada
  • Patent number: RE38184
    Abstract: A circuit receives at least two input signals and produces exactly three output signals in response to the two input signals, whereby two of the output signals shine constantly in an activated state and the third output signal shines constantly or flashes in the activated state. Each time exactly one of the three output signals is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Träger