US3733435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integral memory image display or information storage system
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A memory system includes an array of memory elements, each of which is set to one of three or more memory states independently from the other elements by means of storage of one of a corresponding number of associated setting voltages. Readout of the memory-state information thus preset is accomplished by applying to the entire array a signal having a special periodic pulsed waveform with each memory state being associated exclusively with a different portion of the waveform, and each memory element responds only to that portion of the waveform associated with its particular preset state. The memory elements, each of which includes s capacitor in series with a bidirectional switch having both a high and a low impedance and characterized by a ''''breakback'''' response, ''''remember'''' their respective states throughout, until again reset to another state. A light valve or light source may be associated with and controlled by each memory element, thus affording an image display. Each memory state may be associated with an intensity or brightness level by modifying the waveform so that a different duty factor is associated with each memory state. A complete television image display incorporating a matrixed array panel of memory-display elements is described in which gray scale with storage is achieved by controlling the memory states, and thus the duty factors, of the respective elements of each row of the panel in accordance with respective samples of a line of video signal quantized to one of a fixed number of discrete intensity levels each of which is associated with a memory state.
Inventors
- 👤 G Chodil
- 👤 M Dejule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:17
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/2007; G09G3/2014; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/291; G09G3/292; G09G3/2922; G09G3/293; G09G3/294; G09G3/296; G09G3/30; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/403; G11C11/56; H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/04; H03K5/05; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/10; H04N3/14; G09G2300/00; G09G2300/08; G09G2300/088; G09G2300/0885; G09G2300/089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
A picture display system for storing and reproducing an image formed of picture elements each exhibiting a range of intensity levels and distributed over a panel in a matrix, comprising: a plurality of memory elements disposed at the respective positions of said picture elements, each of said memory elements having a multi-level voltage storage capacity and exhibiting a conductivity to applied voltage which is responsive to the level of stored voltage; means for supplying a video signal and position-selection signals; means for quantizing said video signal into a predetermined number of intensity levels and associating with each such level one of a corresponding number of different setting voltages; addressing means responsive to said picture selection signals and said quantized video signal for addressing each of said memory elements with applied voltage to store on each element the one of said setting voltages which is associated with the intensity level of said picture information at the corresponding picture element position, forming a pattern of stored setting voltages representative of said picture information; means for generating and simultaneously applying to said elements a cyclic waveform signal which causes each element to conduct a predetermined number of times per waveform period differing according to the setting voltage stored on the element and the corresponding associated intensity level, so that each element exhibits a duty factor in accordance with the quantized picture information stored upon it, and which further causes each element to preserve its respective setting voltage upon completion of one or more waveform periods until reset by said addressing means to a new setting voltage; and a plurality of light display means each associated with a respective one of said memory elements to cause light to be emitted for each such conduction to visibly reproduce said stored picture information as a pattern of light intensities over said panel upon the application of said enabling signal to said elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
A picture display system for storing and reproducing an image formed of picture elements each exhibiting a range of intensity levels and distributed over a panel in a matrix, comprising: a plurality of memory elements disposed at the respective positions of said picture elements, each of said memory elements having a multi-level voltage storage capacity and exhibiting a conductivity to applied voltage which is responsive to the level of stored voltage; means for supplying a video signal and position-selection signals; means for quantizing said video signal into a predetermined number of intensity levels and associating with each such level one of a corresponding number of different setting voltages; addressing means responsive to said picture selection signals and said quantized video signal for addressing each of said memory elements with applied voltage to store on each element the one of said setting voltages which is associated with the intensity level of said picture information at the corresponding picture element position, forming a pattern of stored setting voltages representative of said picture information; means for generating and simultaneously applying to said elements a cyclic waveform signal which causes each element to conduct a predetermined number of times per waveform period differing according to the setting voltage stored on the element and the corresponding associated intensity level, so that each element exhibits a duty factor in accordance with the quantized picture information stored upon it, and which further causes each element to preserve its respective setting voltage upon completion of one or more waveform periods until reset by said addressing means to a new setting voltage; and a plurality of light display means each associated with a respective one of said memory elements to cause light to be emitted for each such conduction to visibly reproduce said stored picture information as a pattern of light intensities over said panel upon the application of said enabling signal to said elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A picture display system as in claim 1 in which each of said plurality of light display means is integral with each of said plurality of memory display elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A picture display system as in claim 1 in which said waveform is applied to said elements in an integral number of cycles, said duty factors corresponding to each of said setting voltages are respectively proportional to said quantized video intensity levels associated respectively with said setting voltages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A picture display system as in claim 1 which further includes means for removing said setting voltages from said elements to erase said stored picture information prior to addressing said elements with other picture information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
A picture display system as in claim 1 in which: said elements are distributed in an array of rows and columns, said signal-supplying means comprises a television receiver apparatus which provides an analog video signal with each line of picture information being divided into a trace period and a retrace period, and which further provides horizontal and vertical synchronization signals constituting said position selection signals, said quantizing means quantizes each line of said video signal in a sequential line-by-line manner to provide a plurality of signal segments for each line period, with each segment quantized to the one of said predetermined intensity levels which is closest to the amplitude of said video signal during the duration of said segment and associated with the one of said setting voltages corresponding to said intensity level; said addressing means sequentially addresses each row of said array during successive retrace periods of said video signal to store upon the elements of each row respective setting voltages associated with corresponding ones of said signal segments in sequence; and said cyclic waveform signal is applied during trace periods of said video signal to said elements of said array simultaneously, the elements of each row retaining their respective memory states through repeated trace and retrace periods and displaying a respective portion of said image information during said trace period until the row is again reset by said addressing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A picture display system as defined in claim 1 wherein said cyclic waveform signal includes a plurality of pulse pairs having mutually different amplitude characteristics for establishing a unique correspondence with predetermined setting voltage levels, each pulse pair comprising two pulse constituents of opposite polarity for actuating the associated memory element, one pulse constituent for initially triggering said memory element and the other for resetting said element to its initial setting voltage, said pulse pair constituents being so ordered in said waveform and of such an amplitude that an element once triggered by its associated triggering pulse constituent is immune to triggering thereafter by any pulse constituent other than its associated reset pulse constituent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein the pulse pairs uniquely associated with certain setting voltage levels are repeated a prescribed different number of times during each cycle of said waveform so that each element is triggered a predetermined number of times during that cycle according to its initial setting voltage and in accordance with the quantized picture intensity information stored thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a picture display system for reproducing an image formed of light-affecting picture elements disposed on a picture display panel, each picture element having a multi-level voltage storage capacity and a breakback-type switching characteristic, apparatus for controlling the activation of said picture elements, comprising: means for generating setting pulses which uniquely correspond to predetermined video intensity levels; means for applying to appropriate picture elements respective setting pulses corresponding to the associated levels of picture intensity for storing thereon selected setting voltage levels related to the particular applied setting pulse; means for generating a cyclic waveform signal composed of a plurality of pulse pairs having mutually different amplitude characteristics corresponding uniquely to predetermined setting voltage levels, each pulse pair comprising two pulse constituents of opposite polarity for actuating the associated memory element, one pulse constituent for initially triggering said memory element and the other for resetting said element to its initial setting voltage, said pulse pair constituents being so ordered in said waveform and of such an amplitude that an element once triggered by its associated triggering pulse constituent is immune to triggering thereafter by any pulse constituent other than its associated reset pulse constituent; and means for applying said cyclic waveform to each picture element such that each pulse pair associated with a selected setting voltage level triggers only those elements initially set to said setting voltage level and no other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a picture display system for reproducing an image formed of light-affecting picture elements disposed on a picture display panel, each picture element having a multi-level voltage storage capacity and a breakback-type switching characteristic, apparatus for controlling the activation of said picture elements, comprising: means for generating setting pulses which uniquely correspond to predetermined video intensity levels; means for applying to appropriate picture elements respective setting pulses corresponding to the associated levels of picture intensity for storing thereon selected setting voltage levels related to the particular applied setting pulse; means for generating a cyclic waveform signal composed of a plurality of pulse pairs having mutually different amplitude characteristics corresponding uniquely to predetermined setting voltage levels, each pulse pair comprising two pulse constituents of opposite polarity for actuating the associated memory element, one pulse constituent for initially triggering said memory element and the other for resetting said element to its initial setting voltage, said pulse pair constituents being so ordered in said waveform and of such an amplitude that an element once triggered by its associated triggering pulse constituent is immune to triggering thereafter by any pulse constituent other than its associated reset pulse constituent; and means for applying said cyclic waveform to each picture element such that each pulse pair associated with a selected setting voltage level triggers only those elements initially set to said setting voltage level and no other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A cyclic waveform signal as defined in claim 8 wherein the triggering pulse constituents of the pulse pairs are arranged in each cycle in ascending order of magnitude and have a polarity opposite to that of the setting pulse and an amplitude which, when combined with the setting voltage level stored on the picture elements, is sufficient to activate only those picture elements with which a particular pulse pair is associated, and wherein the reset constituents of the pulse pairs are of a polarity identical to that of said setting pulse and of an amplitude sufficient to activate only those elements which were first activated by their associated triggering pulse constituents.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The cyclic waveform signal as defined in claim 9 wherein the pulse pairs uniquely associated with certain setting voltage levels are repeated a prescribed different number of times during each cycle of said waveform so that each element is triggered a predetermined number of times during that cycle according to its initial setting voltage and in accordance with the picture intensity information stored thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the pulse pairs uniquely associated with certain setting voltage levels are repeated a prescribed different number of times during each cycle of said waveform so that each element is triggered a predetermined number of times during that cycle according to its initial setting voltage and in accordance with the picture intensity information stored thereon.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for controlling, in a picture display system, the activation of picture elements exhibiting a multi-level voltage storage capacity and a breakback-type switching characteristic, comprising: generating setting pulses which uniquely correspond to predetermined video intensity levels; applying to appropriate picture elements respective setting pulses corresponding to the associated levels of picture intensity for storing thereon selected setting voltage levels related to the particular applied setting pulse; generating a cyclic waveform signal composed of a plurality of pulse pairs having mutually different amplitude characteristics corresponding uniquely to predetermined setting voltage levels, each pulse pair comprising two pulse constituents of opposite polarity for actuating the associated memory element, one pulse constituent for initially triggering said memory element and the other for resetting said element to its initial setting voltage, said pulse pair constituents being so ordered in said waveform and of such an amplitude that an element once triggered by its associated triggering pulse constituent is immune to triggering thereafter by any pulse constituent other than its associated reset pulse constituent; and applying said cyclic waveform to each picture element such that each pulse pair associated with a selected setting voltage level triggers only those elements initially set to said setting voltage levels and no other.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for controlling, in a picture display system, the activation of picture elements exhibiting a multi-level voltage storage capacity and a breakback-type switching characteristic, comprising: generating setting pulses which uniquely correspond to predetermined video intensity levels; applying to appropriate picture elements respective setting pulses corresponding to the associated levels of picture intensity for storing thereon selected setting voltage levels related to the particular applied setting pulse; generating a cyclic waveform signal composed of a plurality of pulse pairs having mutually different amplitude characteristics corresponding uniquely to predetermined setting voltage levels, each pulse pair comprising two pulse constituents of opposite polarity for actuating the associated memory element, one pulse constituent for initially triggering said memory element and the other for resetting said element to its initial setting voltage, said pulse pair constituents being so ordered in said waveform and of such an amplitude that an element once triggered by its associated triggering pulse constituent is immune to triggering thereafter by any pulse constituent other than its associated reset pulse constituent; and applying said cyclic waveform to each picture element such that each pulse pair associated with a selected setting voltage level triggers only those elements initially set to said setting voltage levels and no other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the triggering pulse constituents of the pulse pairs are arranged in ascending order of magnitude, having a polarity opposite to that of the initial setting pulse and an amplitude which when combined with the setting voltage stored on the picture elements is sufficient to activate only those picture elements with which a particular pulse pair is associated, and wherein the reset constituents of the pulse pairs are of a polarity identical to that of said setting pulse and of an amplitude sufficient to activate only those elements which were first activated by their associated triggering pulse constituents.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the pulse pairs uniquely associated with certain setting voltage levels are repeated a prescribed different number of times during each cycle of said waveform so that each element is triggered a predetermined number of times during that cycle according to its initial setting voltage and in accordance with the quantized picture intensity information stored thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |