IP Library Granted Patent US 7,136,036
Granted Patent B2
US 7,136,036 · App. 10/182,484 · Granted Nov 14, 2006

Method and apparatus for uniform brightness in displays

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,136,036
App. No.
10/182,484
Granted
Nov 14, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An analog display driver comprises a matrix array of flatness correction values used to compensate for variations in liquid crystal gap dimensions and at least a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein a variable voltage transfer function is applied to the first DAC preferably using a second DAC.

Claims (12)

1. A method for obtaining uniform brightness in a display, comprising the steps of:

determining a liquid crystal (LC) gap dimension across a liquid crystal display; and

applying a variable voltage transfer function to a display driver based on the LC gap dimension by setting a variable drive voltage of a first digital-to-analog converter according to a programmable matrix of values; and

setting a white level of a second digital-to-analog converter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the transfer function is valid as long as the LC gap dimension variation is a smooth, continuous function whose spatial frequency does not exceed a Nyquist criterion for the programmable matrix of values.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of applying the programmable matrix of values from a look up table to correct any non-linearity of the transfer function to provide a corrected transfer function before applying the corrected transfer function to the second digital-to-analog converter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of inverting a driving voltage between frames to avoid DC bias on the liquid crystal.

5. A display driver for a liquid crystal display having variations in liquid crystal gap dimensions, comprising:

a first DAC and a second DAC, wherein a white level is set by the first DAC and a variable voltage transfer function is applied to the display driver by the second DAC based upon a matrix array of flatness correction values; and

at least one imager for red, green, and blue, wherein the at least one imager is driven by the display driver.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 5 , wherein the display driver comprises a first pair of DACs that sets a brightness and darkness level for the liquid crystal and a second pair of DACs that multiply an output signal from the first pair of DACs and further provides a variable driving voltage to the liquid crystal.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 5 , wherein the display driver further comprises a digital signal processor that applies the variable voltage transfer function utilizing the matrix array.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
To: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 046763/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
Reel/Frame 043302/0965 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 042303/0268 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2006
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 018377/0855 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2002
From: O'DONNELL, EUGENE MURPHY
To: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Reel/Frame 013353/0604 →