Enhanced color display system and method of using same

Claim 1

A scaling arrangement for enhancing the number of color shading levels exhibited by a display device in response to a computer generated video signal, said display device having a matrix of pixel elements arranged in groups to define a plurality of composite pixels, each individual pixel element having a group of subpixel elements with each subpixel element producing at least N shading levels of an individual color in response to said computer generated video signal, comprising: signal conversion means responsive to the computer generated video signal for converting the computer generated video signal into a plurality of groups of X digital signals, each group of X digital signals being indicative of at least M shading levels where M is substantially larger than N; means responsive to said plurality of groups of X digital signals for converting each individual group of X digital signals into a plurality of groups of Y signals where Y is substantially smaller than X; quantizing means responsive to said plurality of groups of Y signals for converting said plurality of groups of Y signals into a plurality of groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals each group of Z shading level signals being indicative of M/4 shading levels; pattern means for assigning individual ones of said groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to individual ones of sub-pixel elements in a specific quadrant on one of the composite pixels in the plurality of composite pixels; sub-pixel energizing means for converting said Z shading level signals into groups of energizing signals for driving individual ones of the sub-pixel elements so that each composite pixel can exhibit substantially M shading levels of individual ones of a plurality of individual colors; and pattern reversal means for changing every frame the quadrant assignments of individual ones of said group of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to cause individual pixel elements to be gray scaled.

Claim 16

A method for coupling a television formatted signal to a display device, the formatted signal having individual red, green, and blue color composite signal components for enabling the device to produce a large number of different color shading levels, said display device having a matrix of pixel elements arranged in groups to define a plurality of composite pixels, each individual pixel element having a group of subpixel elements with each subpixel element producing at least N shading levels of an individual color in response to said formatted signal, each composite pixel having four quadrant locations, comprising: converting the formatted signal into a plurality of groups of X digital signals, each group of X digital signals being indicative of at least M shading levels where M is substantially larger than N; converting each individual group of X digital signals into a plurality of groups of Y signals where Y is substantially smaller than X; converting said plurality of groups of Y signals into a plurality of groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals each group of Z shading level signals being indicative of M/4 shading levels; assigning individual ones of said groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to individual ones of sub-pixel elements in a specific quadrant of one of the composite pixels in the plurality of composite pixels; converting said Z shading level signals into groups of energizing signals; driving individual ones of the sub-pixel elements so that each composite pixel can exhibit substantially M shading levels for each individual red, green, and blue color composite signal component forming part of the television formatted signal; and changing the quadrant assignments of individual ones of said group of Z sub-pixel shading level signals each display frame to cause individual pixel elements to be gray scaled.

Claim 17

A method for coupling a television formatted signal to a display device, the formatted signal having individual red, green, and blue color composite signal components for enabling the device to produce a large number of different color shading levels, said display device having a matrix of pixel elements arranged in groups to define a plurality of composite pixels, each individual pixel element having a group of subpixel elements with each subpixel element producing at least N shading levels of an individual color in response to said formatted signal, each composite pixel having four quadrant locations, comprising: converting the formatted signal into a plurality of groups of X digital signals, each group of X digital signals being indicative of at least M shading levels where M is substantially larger than N; converting each individual group of X digital signals into a plurality of groups of Y signals where Y is substantially smaller than X; converting said plurality of groups of Y signals into a plurality of groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals each group of Z shading level signals being indicative of M/4 shading levels; assigning individual ones of said groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to individual ones of sub-pixel elements in a specific quadrant of one of the composite pixels in the plurality of composite pixels; converting said Z shading level signals into groups of energizing signals; driving individual ones of the sub-pixel elements so that each composite pixel can exhibit substantially M shading levels for each individual red, green, and blue color composite signal component forming part of the television formatted signal; and changing the quadrant assignments of individual ones of said group of Z sub-pixel shading level signals each display frame to cause individual pixel elements to be gray scaled.

Claim 18

A method for displaying a full color image, comprising: interfacing a video signal producing device to display means, said display means producing a full color image through a plurality of pixel elements, said plurality of pixel elements being arranged in groups of pairs of adjacent pixel elements to define a plurality of composite pixels; quantizing a device input shading level signal indicative of at least X shading levels into a pair of output shading level signals, each signal being indicative of X/2 shading levels corresponding to one of the pair of pixel elements, said output shading level signals each being quantized and assigned to a specific one of said pair of pixel elements of said composite pixels; converting said output shading level signals into groups of binary signals each display frame for driving individual ones of the pixel elements so that each composite pixel can exhibit substantially X shading levels of individual ones of a plurality of individual colors each display frame.

Claim 19

A method for displaying a full color image, comprising: interfacing a video signal producing device to display means, said display means producing a full color image through a plurality of pixel elements, said plurality of pixel elements being arranged in groups of pairs of adjacent pixel elements to define a plurality of composite pixels; quantizing a device input shading level signal indicative of at least X shading levels into a pair of output shading level signals, each signal being indicative of X/2 shading levels corresponding to one of the pair of pixel elements, said output shading level signals each being quantized and assigned to a specific one of said pair of pixel elements of said composite pixels; converting said output shading level signals into groups of binary signals each display frame for driving individual ones of the pixel elements so that each composite pixel can exhibit substantially X shading levels of individual ones of a plurality of individual colors each display frame.

Claim 20

A method for producing a full color image, comprising: using display means having a plurality of pixel elements, each individual one of said pixel elements having a group of subpixel elements, where each subpixel element produces at least N shading levels of an individual color; responding to a computer generated video signal by converting said signal into a plurality of groups of X digital signals, each group of X digital signals being indicative of at least M shading levels where M is substantially larger than N; converting said plurality of groups of X digital signals into a plurality of groups of Y signals every display frame cycle, where Y is substantially smaller than X; converting said plurality of groups of Y signals into a plurality of groups of Z subpixel shading level signals, each group of Z shading level signals being indicative of M/4 shading levels; assigning individual ones of said groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to individual ones of sub-pixel elements in a specific quadrant of a composite pixel; converting said Z shading level signals into groups of energizing signals for driving individual ones of the subpixel elements so that the composite pixel can exhibit substantially M shading levels of individual ones of a plurality of individual colors; and changing every frame cycle the quadrant assignments of individual ones of said group of Z subpixel shading level signals to cause individual pixel elements to be gray scaled.

Claim 21

A method for producing a full color image, comprising: using display means having a plurality of pixel elements, each individual one of said pixel elements having a group of subpixel elements, where each subpixel element produces at least N shading levels of an individual color; responding to a computer generated video signal by converting said signal into a plurality of groups of X digital signals, each group of X digital signals being indicative of at least M shading levels where M is substantially larger than N; converting said plurality of groups of X digital signals into a plurality of groups of Y signals every display frame cycle, where Y is substantially smaller than X; converting said plurality of groups of Y signals into a plurality of groups of Z subpixel shading level signals, each group of Z shading level signals being indicative of M/4 shading levels; assigning individual ones of said groups of Z sub-pixel shading level signals to individual ones of sub-pixel elements in a specific quadrant of a composite pixel; converting said Z shading level signals into groups of energizing signals for driving individual ones of the subpixel elements so that the composite pixel can exhibit substantially M shading levels of individual ones of a plurality of individual colors; and changing every frame cycle the quadrant assignments of individual ones of said group of Z subpixel shading level signals to cause individual pixel elements to be gray scaled.