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US6563479B2
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Variable resolution control system and method for a display device
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2000-12-22
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Granted: 2003-05-13
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Expires: 2020-12-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a resolution control system for a display device, which may have a lighted display and control circuitry. The lighted display may be backlit, frontlit, or emissive. The resolution control system may have two or more digital-to-analog converters, which may be provided by digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry in the control circuitry. The DACs convert data values into an output voltage for controlling an operating parameter, which may be brightness, contrast, and the like. The DACs have a cascade arrangement where the output voltage of one DAC is the input voltage of another DAC.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Fredrick Luther Weindorf
- 👤 Gregory John Milne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:34
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3406; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/06; G09G2320/0606; G09G2320/0626; G09G2320/066; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/14; G09G2360/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A display device having a resolution control system, comprising: a lighted display; and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry comprising at least a first DAC and a second DAC, the first DAC operatively connected to provide a first output voltage to the second DAC, where the first DAC divides a reference voltage into coarse voltages, where the first DAC selects one of the coarse voltages as the first output voltage in response to a first data input value, and the second DAC operatively connected to provide a second output voltage to the lighted display, the second output voltage responsive to the first output voltage where the second DAC divides the first output voltage into fine voltages, where the second DAC selects one of the fine voltages as the second output voltage in response to a second data input value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A display device having a resolution control system, comprising: a lighted display; and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry comprising at least a first DAC and a second DAC, the first DAC operatively connected to provide a first output voltage to the second DAC, where the first DAC divides a reference voltage into coarse voltages, where the first DAC selects one of the coarse voltages as the first output voltage in response to a first data input value, and the second DAC operatively connected to provide a second output voltage to the lighted display, the second output voltage responsive to the first output voltage where the second DAC divides the first output voltage into fine voltages, where the second DAC selects one of the fine voltages as the second output voltage in response to a second data input value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the lighted display further comprises: a display panel; and a backlight operatively disposed adjacent to the display panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display device according to claim 2 , where the display panel is an active matrix liquid crystal display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display device according to claim 2 , where the backlight comprises at least one of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, an electro-luminescent lamp, and a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display device according to claim 2 , where the second DAC provides the second output voltage to at least one of the display panel and the backlight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the lighted display is a backlit display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the lighted display is a frontlit display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the lighted display is an emissive display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the lighted display comprises a pixel light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display device according to claim 9 , where the pixel light source comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the first output voltage is based on a first data input value and a reference voltage, where the second output voltage is based on a second data input value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The display device according to claim 11 , where the control circuitry selects at least one of the first and second data input values from data input values having a linear progression, and where the second output voltage provides constant ratio steps.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display device according to claim 11 , where the first and second data input values provide an operating value for a parameter, and where the second output voltage corresponds to the operating value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display device according to claim 13 , where the parameter is one of brightness and contrast.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where at least one of the first DAC and the second DAC has 8 bits of resolution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the first DAC is responsive to a first plurality of data bits and the second DAC is responsive to a second plurality of data bits, where at least one of the first and second pluralities of data bits is based on a dynamic range, and where at least one of the first and second pluralities of data bits is based on a resolution of an operating parameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display device according to claim 16 , where the dynamic range accounts for operation during at least one of daytime, nighttime, dusk, and dawn, and the operating parameter is brightness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display device according to claim 11 , where the reference voltage is generated from the voltage supply of a vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a light sensor disposed to sense ambient light on the lighted display; and control circuitry connected to receive an input signal from the light sensor, where the control circuitry selects the first and second data input values in response to the input signal, the first and second data inputs corresponding to an operating parameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display device according to claim 19 , where the light sensor is a logarithmic sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a user interface control circuitry connected to receive an input signal from the user interface, where the control circuitry selects the first and second data input values in response to the input signal, the first and second data inputs corresponding to an operating parameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the DAC circuitry comprises at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the display device comprises a display of a navigation radio.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the display device comprises a display of an electronic device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display device according to claim 1 , where the electronic device is one of a communication device, a personal computer, and a personal organizer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
A resolution control system for a display device, comprising: a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprising a first voltage output, a first data input, and a reference voltage input; where the first DAC divides a reference voltage into coarse voltages, where the first DAC selects one of the coarse voltages as a first output voltage in response to a first data input value, and a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) operatively connected to the first voltage output from the first DAC, the second DAC comprising a second voltage output, a second data input, and an input for first voltage output, where the second DAC divides the first output voltage into fine voltages, where the second DAC selects one of the fine voltages as a second output voltage in response to a second data input value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
133 words
A resolution control system for a display device, comprising: a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprising a first voltage output, a first data input, and a reference voltage input; where the first DAC divides a reference voltage into coarse voltages, where the first DAC selects one of the coarse voltages as a first output voltage in response to a first data input value, and a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) operatively connected to the first voltage output from the first DAC, the second DAC comprising a second voltage output, a second data input, and an input for first voltage output, where the second DAC divides the first output voltage into fine voltages, where the second DAC selects one of the fine voltages as a second output voltage in response to a second data input value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the first DAC and second DAC have an equal number of data bits of resolution.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The resolution control system according to claim 27 , where the number of data bits is about eight.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the first DAC is responsive to a first plurality of data bits and the second DAC is responsive to a second plurality of data bits, where at least one of the pluralities of data bits is based on a dynamic range, and where at least one of the pluralities of data bits is based on a resolution of an operating parameter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the reference voltage input is less than about 5 volts.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the reference voltage input is in the range of about 2.8 volts through about 3.8 volts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the reference voltage input is about 3.3 volts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the first and second data inputs provide an operating value for a parameter, and where the second output voltage corresponds to the operating value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The resolution control system according to claim 33 , where the parameter is one of brightness and contrast.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The resolution control system according to claim 33 , where the operating value is a luminance value, and where the operating parameter is brightness.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The resolution control system according to claim 35 , where the luminance value is in the range of about 0.5 nits through about 400 nits.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where at least one of the first and second data inputs is selected from at least one sequence of data input values having a linear progression.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where the second voltage output has constant ratio steps.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The resolution control system according to claim 26 , where at least one of the first DAC and second DAC comprises at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling the resolution in a display device, comprising: dividing a reference voltage into coarse voltages; selecting one of the coarse voltages as a first output voltage in response to a first data input value; dividing the first output voltage into fine voltages; selecting one of the fine voltages as a second output voltage in response to a second data input value; and controlling an operating parameter of the display device in response to the second output voltage.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling the resolution in a display device, comprising: dividing a reference voltage into coarse voltages; selecting one of the coarse voltages as a first output voltage in response to a first data input value; dividing the first output voltage into fine voltages; selecting one of the fine voltages as a second output voltage in response to a second data input value; and controlling an operating parameter of the display device in response to the second output voltage.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 40 , where the first and second data input values are responsive to the operating parameter.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 40 , further comprising selecting the first and second data input values from data input values having a linear progression.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 40 , further comprising selecting the first and second data input values in response to an input signal from at least one of a light sensor user interface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 40 , where the second output voltage has constant ratio steps.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 40 , where the operating parameter is one of brightness and contrast.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 40 , where the operating parameter is responsive to a luminance value.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 46 , where the luminance value is in the range of about 0.5 nits through about 400 nits.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-12 | 2006-11-11 | 2007-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-12 | 2010-11-11 | 2011-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-12 | 2014-11-11 | 2015-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |