Light-controlling Display Elements Patents (Class 345/48)
  • Patent number: 7061394
    Abstract: Drive circuit for at least one LED strand, with a switch being arranged in series with each LED strand and with each LED strand having a supply connection via which it can be connected to a supply voltage, in which case each switch can be driven so as to allow a current to flow in the associated LED strand, having a first control loop which is designed to drive the switch of the at least one LED strand such that an adjustable mean value is achieved for the current flowing through the LED strand, with the drive circuit also having: a second control loop which is designed to provide a supply voltage for the at least one LED strand as a function of the peak value of the current flowing through the at least one LED strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Alois Biebl
  • Patent number: 7049755
    Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) includes a first plurality of electrodes, a second plurality of electrodes paired with the first plurality of respective electrodes, and a third plurality of electrodes. The PDP further includes a plurality of cells at crossing portions between the first and second pluralities of electrodes and the third plurality of electrodes. In the PDP, a method comprises driving a PDP for displaying a picture on the PDP by dividing a field into a plurality of subfields, and resetting for adjusting charges in the cells in the subfields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 7038395
    Abstract: At a wire crossover portion, extension wires, which are electrically connected to scanning electrode connecting wires, extend so as to cross over the other scanning electrode circuitous wires without having contact with the other scanning electrode circuitous wires and to be electrically connected to the corresponding scanning electrode circuitous wire. Thus, it is possible to ensure routes for leading out respective scanning electrodes without having contact with other wires, and it is possible to collectively apply a voltage for an aging treatment to the respective routes. Portions, where the extension wires extend so as to cross over, are formed in the same step as a step for forming a cathode layer as the scanning electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: OPTREX Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kato
  • Patent number: 7027030
    Abstract: A magnetic display has two non-magnetic substrates, at least one of which is transparent; and a microcapsule coating layer is applied between the non-magnetic substrates. The microcapsules contain and seal light-absorptive black magnetic fine particles and light-reflective non-magnetic fine particles dispersed in an oily dispersion liquid. An array layer is buried in a capsule wall of each of the microcapsules for enclosing the oily dispersion liquid that contains the light-absorptive black magnetic fine particles and light-reflective non-magnetic fine particles. The array layer includes flake-shaped particles with a multi-layered structure for converting the black color of a character or image formed on a display surface, which is a color inherently exhibited by the light-absorptive black magnetic fine particles, into a variety of interference colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Capsular Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Kanno
  • Patent number: 7012600
    Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display has a plurality of pixels, each of which is capable of displaying at least three gray levels. The display is driven by a method comprising: storing a look-up table containing data representing the impulses necessary to convert an initial gray level to a final gray level; storing data representing at least an initial state of each pixel of the display; receiving an input signal representing a desired final state of at least one pixel of the display; and generating an output signal representing the impulse necessary to convert the initial state of said one pixel to the desired final state thereof, as determined from said look-up table. The invention also provides a method for reducing the remnant voltage of an electro-optic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna F. Au, Ara N. Knalan, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Alexi C. Arango
  • Patent number: 7009581
    Abstract: A dynamic diffractive optical transform. An electric field pattern is created across a body of material, the material being characterized in that it has an optical transmission property which varies in response to of an electric potential applied across a portion thereof. The electric field pattern is created such that the resulting profile of the transmission property is an arbitrary shape which produces a desired diffraction pattern that may not be physically realizable in conventional refractive optics or is a Fresnel lens-like construct derived from a refractive optical element. This is done by selectively applying electric potentials to transparent electrode pairs having liquid crystal material therebetween and preferably relatively small proportions in relation to the relevant wavelength of light, so as to create variations in phase delay that are aperiodic, have other than fifty percent spatial duty factor or have multiple levels of phase delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: William A. Birdwell
  • Patent number: 6989806
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention pertains to an electronic device such as a passive matrix display, an alpha-numeric display, a detector array, or a solar cell array. The electronic device includes multiple organic optoelectronic devices and one or more of these organic optoelectronic devices are protected from shorts. Each of the one or more organic optoelectronic devices that is protected from a short has one of its electrodes coupled to a first current limiting device and optionally has another electrode coupled to a second current limiting device. Also, one of the electrodes of that organic optoelectronic device, the first current limiting device, or the second current limiting device is patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Franky So, Homer Antoniadis, Ian Millard, Vung Vo
  • Patent number: 6967763
    Abstract: A display device comprises a plurality of light modulating elements being arranged in an array. In the display device, an image is displayed by driving the light modulating elements and each of the light modulating elements has a pair of substrates which are spaced apart from each other; a fluid which is enclosed in a sealed space formed by a gap between the substrates; and a driving section which deforms the fluid in the sealed space to control an area of the fluid in the sealed space, the area extending in a face of at least one of the substrates, thereby adjusting an amount of transmitted light or reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamichi Fujii, Akinori Harada
  • Patent number: 6950082
    Abstract: A display driving circuit. The circuit comprises a first electrode from which a data signal is output, a second electrode from which a scan signal is output, a capacitor having a first and second end with a voltage difference therebetween, a light emitting diode having an anode and cathode coupled to a first power supply providing a first voltage(Vss), a first switch having a first end coupled to the first electrode to receive the data signal and a second end coupled to the first end of the capacitor, a second switch having a first end coupled to a second power supply providing a second voltage(VDD) and a second end coupled to the anode of the light emitting diode, and a third switch having a first end coupled to a third power supply providing a third voltage(Vref) and a second end coupled to the second end of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Feng Sung, Hsin-Hung Lee
  • Patent number: 6943756
    Abstract: A device for enhancing contrast for a liquid crystal display (LCD) projection system is provided. The contrast enhancing device includes an image driver supplying an image signal, a LCD panel for converting the input image signal into an optical image signal, and a contrast control portion positioned on the same optical axis as that of the LCD panel, for controlling an amount of scanned light according to the brightness of a corresponding image. Accordingly, the projection system adopting an image display device as a liquid crystal device provides a remarkably enhanced contrast enhancement effect. In particular, as the brightness of the total image is brighter, the contrast enhancement effect becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 6927750
    Abstract: An external display device of a refrigerator which includes a microprocessor enabling a serial data transmission/reception between the external display device and a control unit included in the refrigerator. The microprocessor is coupled with a second microprocessor included in the control unit by two voltage supply lines and a minimum number of data transmission lines. Data transmission/reception between the two microprocessor is carried out in an asynchronous serial manner while using an appropriate data format so that each microprocessor recognizes the operation condition of the counter microprocessor. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the configuration of signal lines required between the external display device and control unit, irrespective of the complexity of functions required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Il Song
  • Patent number: 6924792
    Abstract: Methods and related devices for manipulating ambient light and various light sources for applications including colour displays, screen displays and colored coverings for a multitude of items is disclosed. Methods and related devices for manipulating light for decorative, signaling and other purposes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Richard V. Jessop
  • Patent number: 6924795
    Abstract: A driving method of the present invention is adapted to a plasma display panel which includes first and second electrodes formed on a substrate, third electrodes formed in a direction intersecting the first and second electrodes, and a dielectric layer covering the first and second electrodes. The driving method includes the steps of generating an address discharge between the first and the third electrode to select a predetermined cell and sustain discharges between the first and the second electrode to produce light for display, and controlling the plasma display panel such that the discharge intensity of a sustain discharge in which the second electrode serves as the anode is smaller than the discharge intensity of a sustain discharge in which the first electrode serves as the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Kawasaki, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6836259
    Abstract: An electrooptical display comprising an electrooptically active (EOA) element, a first electrode element having a pattern of separated electrodes, a second electrode element, and a picture element having a pattern of picture parts which may be transparent, translucent, re-emitting, refractive or reflective. The pattern of the separated electrodes matches the pattern of picture parts in a predetermined way; for example, they may coincide, be nested, or overlap each other. The electrode elements and the EOA element form a plurality of EOA zones. The patterned elements are changeable by detaching and attaching and thereby allow the display to show different images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Visson IP, LLC
    Inventor: Rafael Topelberg
  • Patent number: 6822397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the adjustment of luminance. The present invention is a method of manufacturing image forming apparatus including a step of applying characteristic shift voltage comprising a plurality of pulses in which the amplitude of the pulse obtained from the look-up table has two or more values, to the emitter, the look-up table storing the amplitude of the pulse and the number of the pulse for shifting characteristic of emitters to a predetermined luminance target value on the basis of the measurement result of the luminance. Moreover, the present invention is a method of manufacturing image forming apparatus comprising a step of applying the second pulses of characteristic shift voltage having the amplitude which was determined in response to the measurement result of the luminance after the first characteristic shift voltage had been applied to the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Kawasaki, Shuji Aoki, Izumi Tabata, Akihiko Yamano, Hisashi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6816303
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged with a predetermined gap interposed between itself and the first substrate, and partition wall members partitioning pixels arranged between the substrates. A liquid and a plurality of charged particles are arranged at each of the pixels. The optical modulator is manufactured by forming the partition walls on the second substrate, placing the liquid and the electrically charged particles in the recesses defined by the second substrate and the partition wall members, placing the perforated member on the partition wall members to confine the charged particles in the recesses, and arranging a blind member so as to close the perforations of the perforated member. With this method charged particles are prevented from flowing out of the pixels in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobutaka Ukigaya
  • Patent number: 6791520
    Abstract: A method for measuring an image-sticking defect in a liquid crystal display device includes steps of irradiating light from a backlight to the liquid crystal display device, displaying a first full white state on a liquid crystal display screen of the liquid crystal display device to which the light is irradiated, measuring first luminance values of a plurality of designated points on the liquid crystal display screen, calculating an average luminance value of the first full white state using the first luminance values, displaying a full black state on the liquid crystal display screen, measuring second luminance values of the plurality of designated points on the liquid crystal display screen, calculating an average luminance value of the full black state using the second luminance values, forming a gray scale using the average luminance value of the first full white states and the average luminance value of the full black state, displaying a second full white state on the liquid crystal display screen, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyoung Rack Choi
  • 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: 6774871
    Abstract: A dynamic diffractive optical transform. An electric field pattern is created across a body of material, the material being characterized in that it has an optical transmission property which varies in response to of an electric potential applied across a portion thereof. The electric field pattern is created such that the resulting profile of the transmission property is an arbitrary shape which produces a desired diffraction pattern that may not be physically realizable in conventional refractive optics or is a Fresnel lens-like construct derived from a refractive optical element. This is done by selectively applying electric potentials to transparent electrode pairs having liquid crystal material therebetween and preferably relatively small proportions in relation to the relevant wavelength of light, so as to create variations in phase delay that are aperiodic, have other than fifty percent spatial duty factor or have multiple levels of phase delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Birdwell
  • Patent number: 6741228
    Abstract: There is provided behind an optical modulation panel (101) which is not provided with a color filter a planar light source which is provided with EL elements (100R, 100G and 100B) with a built-in optical resonator structure adapted to emit light in red, green and blue and which are periodically arranged on a single glass substrate (103). Lights of different colors obtained by lighting the EL elements (100R, 100G and 100B) are modulated by an optical modulation panel (101) to obtain a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Yokoyama, Tatsuya Shimoda, Satoru Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20040090396
    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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: William J. Allen, John M. Da Cunha, Paul H. McClelland
  • Patent number: 6690115
    Abstract: An electro-luminescence panel that is capable of improving picture quality. In the panel, first and second switches apply signals on data lines to capacitors in response to gate signals supplied via gate lines. The first and second switches have threshold voltages set to be different from each other. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent a kick-back phenomenon and minimize a leakage current, thereby improving picture quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., LTD
    Inventors: Sung Ki Kim, Joon Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 6677713
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a light-emitting device, having a driving, a first and a second transistor, and a maintaining capacitor. The light-emitting device is coupled to the driving transistor in series to form a light-emitting path. The on/off state of the driving transistor determines the conductance and on/off state of the light-emitting path. The first transistor has a source region coupled to the gate of the driving transistor and a gate coupled to a first scan line. The second transistor has a source region coupled to a reference low voltage, a drain region coupled to the gate of the driving transistor, and a gate coupled to a second scan line. The pulses of the first and second scan lines have the same frequency, while there is a delay time therebetween. The maintaining capacitor is coupled to the gate of the driving transistor to maintain a voltage state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Feng Sung
  • Patent number: 6674245
    Abstract: An active matrix organic electroluminescence display device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed in the present invention. The device includes gate and data lines defining a pixel region on a substrate, a switching thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines, a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor, a power line connected to the driving thin film transistor, a transparent first capacitor electrode connected to and overlapping the power line, a second capacitor electrode connected to the driving thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode formed at the pixel region and connected to the driving thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo-Hyun Ko, Tae-Joon Ahn
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20030193448
    Abstract: A transmitter for operating a rolling code receiver is disclosed. A set of predetermined codes is captured from a rolling code transmitter that is used to actuate a corresponding rolling code receiver. The set of predetermined codes is stored in a memory of a transmitter. The transmitter, upon each actuation, transmits one or more codes of the set of predetermined codes to operate the rolling code receiver. The set of stored predetermined codes in the transmitter has fewer codes than a total number of unique codes that can be generated by the rolling code receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Philip Y.W. Tsui
  • Publication number: 20030189530
    Abstract: A fixed code transmitter for operating a rolling code receiver is disclosed. A set of fixed codes is captured from a rolling code transmitter that is used to actuate a corresponding rolling code receiver. The set of fixed codes is stored in a memory of a fixed code transmitter. The fixed code transmitter, upon each actuation, transmits one or more codes of the set of fixed codes to operate the rolling code receiver. The set of stored fixed codes in the fixed code transmitter has fewer codes than a total number of unique codes that can be generated by the rolling code receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Philip Y.W. Tsui
  • Patent number: 6618034
    Abstract: An actuated film display device comprises a first fixed electrode, a first movable film electrode, which is placed to face the first fixed electrode to form a first optical path on an opposing side to the first fixed electrode, and which has a fixed end and a movable end, the movable end being displaced toward the first fixed electrode by application of a first potential difference between the first fixed electrode and the first movable film electrode, thereby shutting off the first optical path, a second fixed electrode placed at a predetermined distance from the first fixed electrode, and a second movable film electrode, which is placed to face the second fixed electrode to form a second optical path on an opposing side to the second fixed electrode, which has a fixed end and a movable end, the movable end being displaced toward the second fixed electrode by application of a second potential difference between the second fixed electrode and the second movable film electrode, thereby shutting off the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Atsushi Sugahara, Richard Lang
  • Patent number: 6563478
    Abstract: A first sample-and-hold circuit samples and holds an input image signal so as to output an image signal to be applied to a data line causing noise. A correction circuit produces a correcting signal according to the image signal and a pre-charging voltage. An addition circuit adds up an image signal to be applied to a data line affected by the noise and the correcting signal so as to produce a corrected image signal. Consequently, when scanning lines are selected sequentially for each of blocks, into which a plurality of data lines is grouped, in order to display an image, irregular luminance occurring in portions of the displayed image coincident with the borders of the blocks is suppressed to be indiscernible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoki
  • Patent number: 6507326
    Abstract: To suppress light loss without deteriorating resolution of a projected image, light is first polarized and separated by a polarizing beam splitter. Green light is separated from a light flux emitted by the polarizing beam splitter by a dichroic mirror having a green light reflection property. A light flux containing blue and red light, which is transmitted by the dichroic mirror, is separated into red light and blue light by a dichroic prism. Resultant color light is modulated and reflected by reflection light valves, returned to the corresponding dichroic mirror or dichroic prism, and combined by the dichroic mirror and the dichroic prism. Resultant combined color light is projected via the polarizing beam splitter and a projection lens. The dichroic prism transmits s-polarized light having wavelengths less than a wavelength substantially within a wavelength band of green light and reflects s-polarized light having larger wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Manabe, Tetsuo Hattori
  • Patent number: 6504524
    Abstract: Novel addressing schemes for controlling electronically addressable displays include the use of addressing signals with additional signals having opposite polarity and equal integrated signal strength and addressing schemes that minimize the number of state changes that a display element undergoes. In one embodiment, pre-pulses are employed to apply a pre-stress to an display element that is equal and opposite to the electrical stress applied in addressing the element. In another embodiment, the addressing signal is followed by a post-stressing pulse. Methods for minimizing the number of display elements that must change state to change the image displayed include the determination of a set of elements that must be deactivated and a set of elements that must be activated to change the image depicted by a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: E INK Corporation
    Inventors: Holly Gates, Barrett Comiskey, Peter T. Kazlas, Jonathan D. Albert, Paul S. Drzaic
  • 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: 6449081
    Abstract: An optical element has a first fluid and an electroconductive or polar, second fluid immiscible with each other, which are confined in a sealed space created between a first support and a second support. The first fluid and the second fluid have respective light transmittances different from each other. By varying a voltage applied to the second fluid, the shape of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid is altered, so as to change an amount of light passing through the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Shigeo Ogura, Eriko Kawanami
  • Patent number: 6437762
    Abstract: A dynamic diffractive optical transform. An electric field pattern is created across a body of material, the material being characterized in that it has an optical transmission property which varies in response to of an electric potential applied across a portion thereof. The electric field pattern is created such that the resulting profile of the transmission property is an arbitrary shape which produces a desired diffraction pattern that may not be physically realizable in conventional refractive optics or is a Fresnel lens-like construct derived from a refractive optical element. This is done by selectively applying electric potentials to transparent electrode pairs having liquid crystal material therebetween and preferably relatively small proportions in relation to the relevant wavelength of light, so as to create variations in phase delay that are aperiodic, have other than fifty percent spatial duty factor or have multiple levels of phase delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: William A. Birdwell
  • Patent number: 6414443
    Abstract: In an organic electroluminescence (EL) device including a display section having one or more light emitting units and a monitoring section positioned outside the display section and having one or more monitoring cells, each of the light emitting units and the monitoring cells has a cathode, an anode and at least one organic EL layer positioned between the cathode and the anode. In the organic EL device, either cathodes or anodes of the light emitting units and the monitoring cells is transparent and a current passing through an anode and a cathode of a monitoring cell is monitored to control the light emitting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tsuruoka, Yoshihisa Marushima
  • Patent number: 6380911
    Abstract: A race standings display is disclosed having a base which supports a square, vertical tower. A series of two-digit LED number displays is arranged vertically along the tower, showing first elapsed time (four digits for this display), then a lap count, and then competitor numbers in order of their position in the race. Optionally, red, green and yellow LEDs may be provided to indicate the status of the race (e.g. yellow for racing under a caution flag). The back of the standings display pylon is provided with connectors for power and a phone line, and optionally, connectors for a 10 keyboard and monitor. A computer or microcontroller in the standings display is programmed to establish a phone connection to a real-time database (preferably via the internet), and is programmed to automatically update the standings display during the progress of the race. During times when a race is not in progress, the standings display may act as a regular clock and display car numbers in order of current point standings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Robert S. Eaton
  • Patent number: 6377236
    Abstract: A method of illuminating a light valve using a light source with modulated intensity to improve light throughput and color balance while minimizing loss of color resolution. A light valve is provided that includes a light input, a light output and a spatial light modulator including an array of pixels. The spatial light modulator is illuminated through the light input with light generated by a light source having a nominal lamp power dissipation level. Image data is provided and the array of pixels is configured based on the image data during a display period so that the image data is represented in light from the light source received at the light output. During a portion of the display period, the intensity of the light generated by the light source is increased to a high level above the nominal lamp power dissipation. During another portion of the display period, the intensity of the light generated by the light source is decreased to a low level below the nominal lamp power dissipation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Akinobu Karamoto
  • Patent number: 6376828
    Abstract: An illumination system for selectively illuminating a nonemissive electronic display comprises display elements in communication with at least one light source. The system comprises an nonemissive electronic display comprising a substrate having a first and a second surface, nonemissive display media having electrically responsive optical properties disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and a light transmissive element adjacent the second surface of the substrate. Light transmitted through the light transmissive element illuminates the display media. The invention also provides a tiled display comprising a plurality of substrates which can be selectively illuminated. The display elements can be tiled to create complex, selectively illuminated, three-dimensional display structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Barrett Comiskey
  • Publication number: 20020030641
    Abstract: There is disclosed a display device using a color wheel having a color filter Cw, in addition to normal color filters corresponding to the three primary colors. The filter Cw has almost flat spectral transmission characteristics. Brightness information included in a color image signal is quantized with (n+m) bits. Information corresponding to the lower-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the filter Cw. Information corresponding to the upper-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the normal color filters. Only brightness information to which the human eye is visually sensitive is reproduced by the filter Cw having a lower transmissivity. This can eliminate a lack of the number of gray levels due to a constraint on the minimum switching speed of a light valve. Furthermore, the brightness little deteriorates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Koji Minami, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Kohei Teramoto, Hiroaki Sugiura, Shinsuke Shikama
  • Publication number: 20010048406
    Abstract: An image display apparatus is provided for enlarging and projecting a light emitted from a plurality of self-emitting elements on a screen by beam scanning means, which is an image display apparatus having little or no luminance unevenness by solving the conventional problem of causing luminance unevenness in images projected on the screen due to a variance in luminance characteristics of each self-emitting element. It is configured such that a part of the light scanned on the screen from the beam scanning means is provided to a photodetector element that converts the intensity of the light into an electric signal so as to correct a driving signal to be supplied to the self-emitting element by the intensity of the light detected by this photodetector element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Masumoto, Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hitoshi Noda, Atsushi Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Miyai
  • Patent number: 6246186
    Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively and independently controlling the illumination of two diode indicator lights with a single control line. The apparatus includes first and second diode indicator means connected in parallel with one another, with the cathode to anode direction of the first diode indicator means being opposite the second diode indicator means. A circuit means is provided which is adapted to selectively provide one of high, low and medium voltage levels on a control output line responsive to combinations of high and low DATA and ENABLE signals. One of the first and second diode indicator means being switched on when the output line voltage level is high, the other being switched on when the voltage level is low and neither indicator means being switched on when the voltage level is medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Mathew Arthur Nieberger
  • Patent number: 6239776
    Abstract: A multicolor multi-element display system includes a plurality of multicolor display elements, each having color control inputs for controlling its color and an enable input for controlling its condition. The color control signals are commonly presented to the interconnected color control inputs of all display elements. The individual display elements are independently illuminated or extinguished by enable control signals presented to their enable inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Karel Havel
  • Patent number: 6222323
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamashita, Hideaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6204831
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display driver has a system of driving a plurality of segments with 1/n duty binary voltages. In the system, one frame period has the following three sub-periods; the first sub-period, where the line sequential driving is performed, the second sub-period, where adjustment is made on the segment voltage dispersion which occurs depending on display patterns, and the third sub-period, which is at the other time span than the first and the second sub-periods in the same frame period, where the potentials of the common signals and those of the segment signals are identical. With this driving method, constant Von/Voff ratio is obtained, and the contrast dispersion and crosstalk, which occur depending on a display pattern, are mostly eliminated. Then a good display quality is obtainable, and also the effective values of the voltages applied to the liquid crystal, are adjustable irrespective to the power source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishioka, Osamu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6184627
    Abstract: An image display device has a plurality of electrodes that control a beam between a group of linear cathodes (2) and a screen (8) with a phosphor layer, and is provided with a circuit (31) for generating a beam track offset signal, which generates a signal for slightly oscillating one of the beams horizontally, a PIN photodiode (33) for detecting the emission amount of the phosphor layer for this beam, a comparator (35) for generating a beam irradiation position misalignment signal based on the detected emission amount, an integrating circuit (36) for generating a beam position control signal in correspondence with the beam irradiation position misalignment signal; and a horizontal deflection electrode driving circuit (39) for driving a horizontal deflection electrode (6) in accordance with the beam position control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hamada, Michio Ohsugi, Hironari Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 6088013
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling an image display device having at least one element with a reflective state in which incident light undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which the total internal reflection is prevented. A member is positioned adjacent the element for deformation of the member between a first position in which a gap remains between the member and the element and a second position in which the member is in optical contact with the element. The apparatus incorporates a support structure having one or more display chambers. Each display chamber contains one of the elements and members aforesaid. A first aperture is provided in the support structure for air communication between the display chamber and a second chamber provided in the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Michael James Montour, Robin John Noel Coope
  • Patent number: 6028978
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device comprising an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, and a driving section provided opposingly to the back surface of the optical waveguide plate and including a number of actuator elements arranged corresponding to a large number of picture elements, for displaying, on the optical waveguide plate, a picture image corresponding to an image signal by controlling leakage light at a predetermined portion of the optical waveguide plate by controlling displacement action of each of the actuator elements in a direction to make contact or separation with respect to the optical waveguide plate in accordance with an attribute of the image signal to be inputted; the display device further comprising a displacement-transmitting section for transmitting the displacement action of the actuator element to the optical waveguide plate, wherein a plate member of the displacement-transmitting section is constructed by a white scattering element, and a color filter is formed at a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Hisanori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6008785
    Abstract: A method of automatically generating a load/reset sequence for a display system having a spatial light modulator whose display elements that are loaded with data and reset between loads (FIG. 7). Bit-planes of data are classified according to their display times as normal, short, or reset-release (FIG. 5). Extra time of normal bit-planes is calculated (FIG. 5). The display times of normal bit-planes are adjusted by subtracting or adding extra time, such that any normal bit-plane displayed before a short or reset-release bit-plane includes sufficient extra time to allow for loading the short or reset-release bit-plane (FIG. 7). Also, reset conflicts are detected and avoided (FIGS. 7, 8, 9A and 9B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 5995071
    Abstract: A display adapted for use in head mounted display systems. The display includes an array of reflecting pixels, a first light source for illuminating the array of reflecting pixels, and a mask screen located between the light source and the array of reflecting pixels. The mask screen includes a plurality of mask elements, one mask element corresponding to each of the pixels. The mask elements have a first state in which the mask element is transparent and a second state in which the mask element is opaque. The state of the mask element is determined by a potential generated by the corresponding pixel. Each of the pixels includes a reflector for reflecting light from the first light source into a cone having an opening angle and an axis which depends on the position of the pixel in the display and on the telecentricity of the imaging optic. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the reflectors is an off-axis portion of a diffractive micro Fresnel mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Pierre H. Mertz
  • Patent number: 5995012
    Abstract: A status displaying device includes a plurality of modules each having a plurality of channels to display system status. The status displaying device comprises a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the number of the channels so as to display the system status by changing colors of the LEDs according to the module states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hoon Lee, Moon-Hyoung Lee