US6816141B1
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Optical display system and method, active and passive dithering using birefringence, color image superpositioning and display enhancement with phase coordinated polarization switching
Assignee: Fergason Patent Properties LLC
•
Filing: 2000-10-02
•
Granted: 2004-11-09
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Expires: 2020-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A display apparatus includes a passive display, a light source, and a video signal input, in operation in response to a video signal the passive display modulates light from the light source to provide an image, and the intensity of the light source is controlled by the video signal.A method of producing a displayed image using a passive display illuminated by a light source is characterized in controlling the light source to obtain a displayed image with a desired amount of information, gray scale and/or color characteristics.A method of reducing power consumption by a display system in which a light modulating display modulates incident light from a light source to provide images is characterized in controlling power provided to the light source to reduce output thereof for relatively dark images.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Fergason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3406; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/28; G02B27/283; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3083; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/13363; G09G3/001; G09G3/002; G09G3/007; G09G3/2007; G09G3/2044; G09G3/2051; G09G3/2055; G09G3/36; H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/86; H01J29/89; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/305; H04N13/332; H04N13/344; H04N13/388; H04N13/395; H04N5/00; H04N5/66; H04N5/74; H04N5/7416; H04N5/7441; H04N5/7475; H04N5/7491; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/16; H04N9/30; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; H04N9/3155; H04N9/3167; H04N9/3173; H04N9/3179; H04N9/3188; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/0112; G02B2027/0118; G02F1/13356; G02F1/133562; G02F1/133638; G02F1/1347; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/62; G02F2413/00; G02F2413/04; G02F2413/08; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0224; G09G2310/0235; G09G2310/0237; G09G2310/06; G09G2310/061; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/02; G09G2320/0271; G09G2320/06; G09G2320/0606; G09G2320/0626; G09G2320/0646; G09G2320/066; G09G2330/00; G09G2330/02; G09G2330/021; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/04; G09G2340/0407; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/14; G09G2360/144; G09G2360/16; G09G3/3413; G09G3/3611; G09G3/3648; H01J2229/00; H01J2229/89; H01J2229/8926; H01J2329/00; H01J2329/86; H01J2329/89; H01J2329/897; H04N13/31; H04N13/324; H04N13/341; H04N13/398
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A display apparatus, comprising a passive display, a light source, and a video signal input, wherein in response to a video signal the passive display modulates light from the light source to provide an image, and characterized in that the intensity of the light source being controlled by pixel information content of the video signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A display apparatus, comprising a passive display, a light source, and a video signal input, wherein in response to a video signal the passive display modulates light from the light source to provide an image, and characterized in that the intensity of the light source being controlled by pixel information content of the video signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further characterized in that the passive display is a projection display, and said projection display includes projection optics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further characterized in that the passive display is a direct view display, and comprising optics to provide the image for viewing from the direct view display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A display apparatus in which light from a light source illuminates a display to provide an image, characterized in that the intensity of the light illuminating the display is controlled to adjust image brightness, and further characterized in that a computer control responds to the brightness information for the displayed image and controls the light source output without having to change the number of pixels used to transmit light to obtain images of respective brightness and/or color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A display apparatus in which light from a light source illuminates a display to provide an image, characterized in that the intensity of the light illuminating the display is controlled to adjust image brightness, and further characterized in that a computer control responds to the brightness information for the displayed image and controls the light source output without having to change the number of pixels used to transmit light to obtain images of respective brightness and/or color.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of improving dynamic range and/or definition of a passive display operable in response to a video signal in combination with an illuminating light source to display an image, the illuminating light source being capable of modulation, comprising sampling the video signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content; adjusting the video signal for optimum definition and contrast; and adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light source for optimum brightness all in synchronization with the display.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of improving dynamic range and/or definition of a passive display operable in response to a video signal in combination with an illuminating light source to display an image, the illuminating light source being capable of modulation, comprising sampling the video signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content; adjusting the video signal for optimum definition and contrast; and adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light source for optimum brightness all in synchronization with the display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 5 , characterized in that said adjusting the intensity comprises adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said adjusting the video signal comprises reducing the reliance on the operation of the display to alter image brightness characteristics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 , characterized in that said sampling comprises computing image brightness of at least a portion of an image represented by such video signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the display is a liquid crystal display, and further characterized in that the adjusted video signal is provided to the liquid crystal display to affect light transmission or reflection characteristics of respective picture elements (pixels) of the liquid crystal display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the passive display is a transmissive liquid crystal display, and further characterized in comprising directing input light through the passive display to display an image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A display system including a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, the illuminating source being capable of modulation, comprising means for sampling the signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content, means for modifying the signal to optimize contrast and definition in the image, and means for adjusting the illuminating source to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A display system including a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, the illuminating source being capable of modulation, comprising means for sampling the signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content, means for modifying the signal to optimize contrast and definition in the image, and means for adjusting the illuminating source to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display system of claim 10 , further characterized In that the optimization is carried out within the limitations of the display system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display system of claim 10 , further characterized in that said signal is a video signal including image brightness information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The display system of claim 10 , further characterized in that said means for adjusting comprises means for adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said means for modifying the signal comprises means for altering image brightness characteristics in synchronism with the displayed image to reduce the reliance on the operation of the display for displayed image brightness adjustment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of modulation, a sampling device sampling the signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content, a circuit modifying the signal to optimize contrast and definition in the image, and adjusting device operable to adjust the illuminating source to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of modulation, a sampling device sampling the signal for image brightness information based on pixel information content, a circuit modifying the signal to optimize contrast and definition in the image, and adjusting device operable to adjust the illuminating source to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating illuminating light from an illuminating source in response to an input signal having pixel information content to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of independently modulating both color and intensity, and further comprising means for changing the color and intensity of the illuminating light; and means for sampling and modifying the input signal to optimize the color, resolution and contrast of the presented image simultaneously with changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating illuminating light from an illuminating source in response to an input signal having pixel information content to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of independently modulating both color and intensity, and further comprising means for changing the color and intensity of the illuminating light; and means for sampling and modifying the input signal to optimize the color, resolution and contrast of the presented image simultaneously with changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The display system of claim 15 , further characterized in that said means for sampling and modifying is operable to modify the input signal in synchronized relation with the changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display system of claim 15 , further characterized in that the illuminating light from the illuminating source has red, green and blue components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display system of claim 15 , further characterized in that the illuminating source is operable to modulate the intensity of the red, green and blue color components of illuminating light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display system of claim 15 , further characterized in that said signal is a video signal including image brightness information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
The display system of claim 15 , further characterized in that said means for modifying comprises means for adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said means for modifying the signal comprises means for altering image brightness characteristics in synchronism with the displayed image to reduce reliance on the operation of the display for displayed image brightness adjustment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating illuminating light from an illuminating source in response to an input signal having pixel information content to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of independently modulating both color and intensity, and further comprising a control to change the color and intensity of the illuminating light; and sampling and modifying circuitry to sample and modify the input signal to optimize the color, resolution and contrast of the presented image simultaneously with changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
A display system comprising a display for modulating illuminating light from an illuminating source in response to an input signal having pixel information content to provide a displayed image, wherein the illuminating source is capable of independently modulating both color and intensity, and further comprising a control to change the color and intensity of the illuminating light; and sampling and modifying circuitry to sample and modify the input signal to optimize the color, resolution and contrast of the presented image simultaneously with changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of displaying video images to improve dynamic range of both gray scale and color, wherein a display modulates input light from a light source capable of independently controlling intensity of color components of light to provide displayed images, characterized in sensing the relative intensity of the red, green and blue components of the an input signal; optimizing the video signal for each color for contrast and/or resolution; and adjusting the light source for color and intensity based on the input signal to recover the original relative brightness of the image; said sensing, optimizing and adjusting being all in synchronization with the displayed video images.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of displaying video images to improve dynamic range of both gray scale and color, wherein a display modulates input light from a light source capable of independently controlling intensity of color components of light to provide displayed images, characterized in sensing the relative intensity of the red, green and blue components of the an input signal; optimizing the video signal for each color for contrast and/or resolution; and adjusting the light source for color and intensity based on the input signal to recover the original relative brightness of the image; said sensing, optimizing and adjusting being all in synchronization with the displayed video images.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 22 , further characterized in that said adjusting the light source is carried out independently for different respective red, green and blue colors at video rates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the light source is comprised of respective light emitting diodes, and further characterized in that said adjusting the light source comprises independently adjusting respective diodes.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of improving dynamic range and/or resolution of a passive display operable in response to a video signal in combination with an illuminating light source to display an image, the illuminating light source being capable of modulation, characterized in sampling the video signal for image brightness information; adjusting the video signal for improved resolution and contrast; and adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light source based on pixel information content for improved brightness all in synchronization with the display.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of improving dynamic range and/or resolution of a passive display operable in response to a video signal in combination with an illuminating light source to display an image, the illuminating light source being capable of modulation, characterized in sampling the video signal for image brightness information; adjusting the video signal for improved resolution and contrast; and adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light source based on pixel information content for improved brightness all in synchronization with the display.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 25 , characterized in that said adjusting the intensity comprises adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said adjusting the video signal comprises reducing the reliance on the operation of the display to alter image brightness characteristics.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 25 , characterized in that said sampling comprises computing image brightness of at least a portion of an image represented by such video signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the display is a liquid crystal display, and further characterized in that the adjusted video signal is provided to the liquid crystal display to affect light transmission or reflection characteristics of respective picture elements (pixels) of the liquid crystal display.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the passive display is a transmissive liquid crystal display, and further characterized in comprising directing Input light through the passive display to display an image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the display modulates input light from the light source that is capable of dependently controlling intensity of color components of light to provide displayed images, further characterized in computing brightness information of an image or scene from the input signal pertaining to the image or scene; and adjusting the light source for color and intensity to recover the original relative brightness of the image; said computing and adjusting being all in synchronization with the displayed video images.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30 , further characterized in comprising optimizing the video signal for each color for contrast and/or resolution.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30 , further characterized in that said adjusting the light source is carried out independently for different respective red, green and blue colors at video rates.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the light source is comprised of respective light emitting diodes, and further characterized in that said adjusting the light source comprises independently adjusting respective diodes.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
82 words
A display system including a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, the illuminating source being capable of modulation, characterized in comprising means for sampling the signal for image brightness information, means for modifying the signal to improve contrast and resolution in the image, and means for adjusting the illuminating source based on pixel information content to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
82 words
A display system including a display for modulating light from an illuminating source in response to a signal to provide a displayed image, the illuminating source being capable of modulation, characterized in comprising means for sampling the signal for image brightness information, means for modifying the signal to improve contrast and resolution in the image, and means for adjusting the illuminating source based on pixel information content to set the brightness of the display in synchronization with the presentation of the image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display system of claim 34 , further characterized in that the improving is carried out within the limitations of the display system.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display system of claim 34 , further characterized in that said signal is a video signal including image brightness information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
66 words
The display system of claim 34 , further characterized in that said means for adjusting comprises means for adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said means for modifying the signal comprises means for altering image brightness characteristics in synchronism with the displayed image to reduce the reliance on the operation of the display for displayed image brightness adjustment.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
79 words
The display system of claim 34 , wherein the illuminating source is capable of independently modulating both color and intensity, characterized in that said means for adjusting comprises means for changing the color and intensity of the illuminating light; and further characterized in that said means for sampling comprises means for sampling and modifying the input signal to tend to optimize the color, resolution and contrast of the presented image simultaneously with changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The display system of claim 38 , further characterized in that said means for sampling and modifying is operable to modify the input signal in synchronized relation with the changing the light source color and intensity.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display system of claim 38 , further characterized in that the illuminating light from the illuminating source has red, green and blue components.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display system of claim 38 , further characterized in that the illuminating source is operable to modulate the intensity of the red, green and blue color components of illuminating light.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display system of claim 38 , further characterized in that said signal is a video signal including image brightness information.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
65 words
The display system of claim 38 , further characterized in that said means for adjusting comprises means for adjusting the intensity of the light source to correspond with image brightness characteristics, and said means for modifying the signal comprises means for altering image brightness characteristics in synchronism with the displayed image to reduce reliance on the operation of the display for displayed image brightness adjustment.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
75 words
A display apparatus in which light from a light source illuminates a display to provide an image, characterized in that the intensity of the light illuminating the display is controlled to adjust image brightness, and further characterized in that a computer control responds to the brightness information for the displayed image and controls the light source output without having to change the number of pixels used to transmit light to obtain images of respective brightness.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
75 words
A display apparatus in which light from a light source illuminates a display to provide an image, characterized in that the intensity of the light illuminating the display is controlled to adjust image brightness, and further characterized in that a computer control responds to the brightness information for the displayed image and controls the light source output without having to change the number of pixels used to transmit light to obtain images of respective brightness.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the computer control controls the light source output to obtain images of respective colors.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further characterized in that the passive display is a direct view display.
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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) | 2007-11-09 | 2008-05-10 | 2008-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-11-09 | 2012-05-10 | 2012-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-11-09 | 2016-05-10 | 2016-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |