EP0301801A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature video display system
Assignee: Reflection Technology Inc
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Filing: 1988-07-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A miniature full-page video display which mounts at least one row of light-emitting elements (18) such as LEDs, a collimating lens, and a vibrating mirror in a light-tight box (12) having an opening (14) through which the mirror (22) may be viewed. The LEDs are selectively illuminated at points in the travel of the vibrating mirror (22), resulting in rows of pixels being projected at selected points on the mirror to provide a two-dimensional image. Two or more rows of light-emitting diodes (18A, 18B), each of a different color, may be adjacently mounted and selectively illuminated in a manner such that corresponding LEDs are projected on the same spot on the mirror, resulting in a color image. The light box (12) may be a hand-held device or it may be mounted to glasses, a headband or a similar device, and the virtual image appearing at the mirror may be viewed directly through an opening (14) in the box or through a suitable optical system (12').
Inventors
- 👤 Allen E. Becker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0172; G02B30/00; G02B30/20; G02B30/34; H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A miniature display system for displaying a substantially planar, magnified image comprised of a plurality of illuminated picture elements, said display comprising: a plurality of light-emitting elements each of which can be independently illuminated, said light-emitting elements being aligned in a predetermined fashion; first imaging optics for creating an enlarged virtual image of said light-emitting elements; a mirror in which the reflection of said enlarged virtual image can be observed; means for repetitively moving the mirror through a predetermined range of movement; and means for selectively illuminating the light-emitting elements as said mirror moves, so that a substantially planar, two-dimensional, enlarged virtual image is created.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A miniature display system for displaying a substantially planar, magnified image comprised of a plurality of illuminated picture elements, said display comprising: a plurality of light-emitting elements each of which can be independently illuminated, said light-emitting elements being aligned in a predetermined fashion; first imaging optics for creating an enlarged virtual image of said light-emitting elements; a mirror in which the reflection of said enlarged virtual image can be observed; means for repetitively moving the mirror through a predetermined range of movement; and means for selectively illuminating the light-emitting elements as said mirror moves, so that a substantially planar, two-dimensional, enlarged virtual image is created.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said light emitting elements are linearly aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said light-emitting elements are aligned in a single linear row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said light-emitting elements are aligned in at least a first linear row and a second linear row and said light-emitting elements in said first linear row are staggered in position with respect to light-emitting elements in said second linear row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising second imaging optics for conveying said a two-dimensional, enlarged virtual image to an observer's eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising second imaging optics which act to enlarge the physical area in which the observer's eye may be located in order to view the entire image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A display system as claimed in either of Claims 5 or 6 wherein said imaging optics comprises means responsive to said enlarged virtual image for creating a real image and said display system further comprises means for viewing said real image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein light emitted from said light-emitting elements follows an optical path between said light-emitting elements and an observer and said display system further comprises passive optical means for folding or redirecting said optical path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said light-emitting elements are light-emitting diodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 including means for correcting for non-uniform brightness across said planar, two-dimensional, enlarged virtual image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said correcting means comprises timing means for generating electrical pulses and means for providing said electrical pulses to each of said light-emitting elements, said light-emitting elements emitting light in response to said electrical pulses and means controlled by said timing means for adjusting the length of time during which said electrical pulses are applied to said light-emitting elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said correcting means comprises timing means for generating electrical pulses and means for providing said electrical pulses to each of said light-emitting elements, said light-emitting elements emitting light in response to said electrical pulese and means controlled by said timing means for adjusting the amplitude of said electrical pulses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein some of said plurality of light-emitting elements emit a first color and some of said plurality of light-emitting elements emit a second color different from said first color; and wherein said means for selectively illuminating is operative to illuminate said light emitting elements in a manner such that different colored light emitted from said plurality of elements appears at the same point on the mirror so that a desired colored image is generated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said imaging optics includes means for substantially collimating the light generated by said light-emitting elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said imaging optics includes means for focussing the light generated by said light-emitting elements so that said virtual image is located at a focal distance which is easily accomodated by an observer's eye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A display system as claimed in either of Claims 14 or 15 wherein said imaging optics comprises at least one lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said moving means rotates said mirror about a fixed axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 17 wherein said moving means reciprocates said mirror about a fixed axis with a nonlinear motion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 18 wherein said nonlinear motion is a substantially sinusoidal motion and said display system further comprises means responsive to the motion of said mirror and operative at the ends of the travel of said mirror for inhibiting said light-emtting elements from emitting light for a predetermined time period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system as claimed in Claim 19 further comprising timing means for generating electrical pulses and means for providing said electrical pulses to each of said light-emitting elements, said light-emitting elements emitting light in response to said electrical pulses and means controlled by said timing means and responsive to the motion of said mirror for adjusting the time relative to said mirror motion at which said electrical pulses are applied to said light-emitting elements so that nonlinearity in the movement of the mirror is compensated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said mirror moves through a predetermined path and subsequently retraces said path in the opposite direction and wherein said illuminating means is responsive to the direction of mirror motion for illuminating said light-emitting elements so that the same planar, two-dimensional, enlarged virtual image is created during both directions of mirror motion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 comprising means for storing at least one image to appear at the mirror; and means for selecting the image to appear.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 20 comprising means for entering new images to be displayed in said means for storing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 comprising means for entering images to appear at said mirror; and means for utilizing the input from said entering means for controlling said illuminating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 comprising a light-tight box having a viewing opening formed therein; and means for mounting said light-emitting elements, said mirror, said moving means, and said imaging optics in said box.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 25 comprising means for mounting said light-tight box within the viewer's field of vision.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 25 comprising means for mounting said light-tight box physically adjacent one eye of the viewer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 26 comprising a second light-tight box and means for mounting each of the light-tight boxes adjacent a different eye of the user to generate a stereo display.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for applying slightly different images to the elements of each of said light-tight boxes whereby a 3-D image is projected to the viewer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said moving means comprises a resonant mirror rotating system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
81 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for applying video signals to said illuminating means and wherein said illuminating means comprises timing means for generating electrical pulses and means for providing said electrical pulses to each of said light-emitting elements, said light-emitting elements emitting light in response to said electrical pulses and means controlled by said timing means and responsive to said video signals for adjusting the time duration of said electrical pulses to generate video images.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
A display system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for applying video signals to said illuminating means and wherein said illuminating means comprises timing means for generating electrical pulses and means for providing said electrical pulses to each of said light-emitting elements, said light-emitting elements emitting light in response to said electrical pulses and means controlled by said timing means and responsive to said video signals for adjusting the amplitude of said electrical pulses to generate video images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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