Field-sequential display system utilizing a backlit LCD pixel array and method for forming an image

Claim 2

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising; display panel means, including a matrix of light valves the light transmissive properties of which can be selectively controlled wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by sequentially activating successive lines of light valves in the matrix of light valves; a plurality of single color light sources which are alternately strobed to directly emit light for transmission through the matrix of light valves, wherein each of said single color light sources may be selectively activated to emit light in at least first and second distinct spatial locations corresponding to respectively different lines of said light valves; and means for activating, in synchronism, each of the single color light sources in spatial correspondence with the scanning of the lines of the light valve matrix to sequentially illuminate said first and second spatial locations with each one of said single color light sources at respectively different instants; wherein; each of the light valves in said matrix of light valves is a liquid crystal device, the light transmissive properties of which are externally controlled; each of said plurality of single color light sources includes a plurality of individual single color light sources which my be independently activated; and the individual single color light sources of each one of said plurality of single color light sources are spatially interleaved with the individual single color light sources of the other ones of said plurality of single color light sources.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said individual single color light sources includes a fluorescent lamp which has a hollow translucent form having a long dimension and a short dimension, said form being coated with a fluorescent material which emits light of said color.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said fluorescent lamps is coated with a fluorescent material except for a stripe parallel to the long dimension which is not coated.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, the color image is updated at a frame rate of not less than 50 Hz; and each of said liquid crystal devices includes a twisted nematic liquid crystal material sandwiched between first and second control electrodes which are separated by a distance of less than four micrometers.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light transmissive properties of each of the light valves is controlled by an associated thin-film transistor.

Claim 7

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising: display panel means, including a matrix of light valves the light transmissive properties of which can be individually controlled, wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by activating the light valves in the matrix of light valves in a predetermined sequence; and a plurality of single color light sources each including a plurality of separately operable light sources which directly emit light of a single color wherein the separately operable light sources of said plurality of single color light sources are interleaved; and means for sequentially and selectively strobing each of said plurality of separately operable light sources of each of said plurality of single color light sources in synchronism with the formation of each respective single-color image on said matrix of light valves to provide light for transmission through the matrix of light valves.

Claim 8

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising: display panel means, including a matrix of light valves the light transmissive properties of which can be individually controlled, wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by activating the light valves in the matrix of light valves in a predetermined sequence; and a plurality of single color light sources each including a plurality of separately operable light sources which directly emit light of a single color wherein the separately operable light sources of said plurality of single color light sources are interleaved; and means for sequentially and selectively strobing each of said plurality of separately operable light sources of each of said plurality of single color light sources in synchronism with the formation of each respective single-color image on said matrix of light valves to provide light for transmission through the matrix of light valves.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the light valves in said matrix of light valves are arranged in rows and columns and said single color images are formed by activating successive rows of light valves in said matrix; and said apparatus further comprises means for sequentially activating successive ones of said separately operable light sources of each of said plurality of single color light sources in synchronism with the activation of successive rows of light valves in said matrix.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said separately operable light sources of each of the single color light sources includes a fluorescent lamp which has a hollow translucent form having a long dimension and a short dimension, said form being coated with a fluorescent material which emits light of said single color.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said fluorescent lamps is coated with a fluorescent material except for a stripe parallel to the long dimension which is not coated.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the color image is updated at a frame rate of not less than 50 Hz; each of the light valves in said matrix of light valves is a liquid crystal device, the light transmissive properties of which are externally controlled; and each of said liquid crystal devices includes a twisted nematic liquid crystal material sandwiched between first and second control electrodes which are separated by a distance of less than four micrometers.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the light transmissive properties of each of the light valves is controlled by an associated thin-film transistor.

Claim 14

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising: an image forming region comprising a matrix of liquid crystal light valves the light transmissive properties of which can be individually controlled wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by sequentially activating successive lines of light valves in the matrix of light valves; first backlighting means including at least first and second light sources which may be sequentially and selectively activated to directly emit light of a first color to illuminate respective first and second distinct spatial locations corresponding to respectively different lines of said light valves synchronism with the sequential activation of the lines of light valves; and second backlighting means including at least first and second further light sources, interleaved with the first and second light sources, said first and second further light sources being sequentially and selectively activated to directly emit light of a second color, substantially exclusive of said first color, to illuminate respective ones of said first and second distinct spatial locations in synchronism with the sequential activation of the lines of light valves; wherein, the first light source illuminates the first spatial location at the same time that the second further light source illuminates the second spatial location.

Claim 15

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising: an image forming region comprising a matrix of liquid crystal light valves the light transmissive properties of which can be individually controlled wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by sequentially activating successive lines of light valves in the matrix of light valves; first backlighting means including at least first and second light sources which may be sequentially and selectively activated to directly emit light of a first color to illuminate respective first and second distinct spatial locations corresponding to respectively different lines of said light valves synchronism with the sequential activation of the lines of light valves; and second backlighting means including at least first and second further light sources, interleaved with the first and second light sources, said first and second further light sources being sequentially and selectively activated to directly emit light of a second color, substantially exclusive of said first color, to illuminate respective ones of said first and second distinct spatial locations in synchronism with the sequential activation of the lines of light valves; wherein, the first light source illuminates the first spatial location at the same time that the second further light source illuminates the second spatial location.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the light valves in said matrix of light valves are arranged in rows and columns and said images are formed by activating successive rows of light valves in said matrix.

Claim 17

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising; a display panel including a matrix of light valves having transmissive properties, wherein each of the light valves in said matrix of light valves is a liquid crystal device, the light transmissive properties of which are externally controlled; means for selectively controlling the light transmissive properties of the matrix of light valves in the display panel wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by sequentially activating successive lines of light valves in the matrix of light valves; a plurality of single color light sources wherein, each of said plurality of single color light sources includes a plurality of individual colored light sources which may be independently activated; and individual colored light sources of each one of said plurality of single color light sources are spatially interleaved with the individual colored light sources of the other ones of said plurality of single color light sources; means for strobing the plurality of single color light sources to directly emit light for transmission through the matrix of light valves, wherein each of said single color light sources may be selectively activated to provide light in at least first and second distinct spatial locations corresponding to respectively different lines of said light valves; and means for activating each of the individual single color light sources to emit light of the single color at said first and second distinct spatial locations at respectively different times, in spatial correspondence with the scanning of the lines of the light valve matrix.

Claim 18

Apparatus for generating a color image, comprising; a display panel including a matrix of light valves having transmissive properties, wherein each of the light valves in said matrix of light valves is a liquid crystal device, the light transmissive properties of which are externally controlled; means for selectively controlling the light transmissive properties of the matrix of light valves in the display panel wherein, single-color images representing separate components of the color image are formed by sequentially activating successive lines of light valves in the matrix of light valves; a plurality of single color light sources wherein, each of said plurality of single color light sources includes a plurality of individual colored light sources which may be independently activated; and individual colored light sources of each one of said plurality of single color light sources are spatially interleaved with the individual colored light sources of the other ones of said plurality of single color light sources; means for strobing the plurality of single color light sources to directly emit light for transmission through the matrix of light valves, wherein each of said single color light sources may be selectively activated to provide light in at least first and second distinct spatial locations corresponding to respectively different lines of said light valves; and means for activating each of the individual single color light sources to emit light of the single color at said first and second distinct spatial locations at respectively different times, in spatial correspondence with the scanning of the lines of the light valve matrix.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 wherein the plurality of colored light sources of each of the plurality of single color light sources are configured to be alternately strobed in synchronism with the formation of single-color images on said matrix of light valves.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of single color light sources includes a plurality of separately operable monochrome light sources and the separately operable monochrome light sources of said plurality of single color light sources are interleaved to provide illumination for said matrix of light valves.