IP Library Granted Patent US 9,530,344
Granted Patent B2
US 9,530,344 · App. 14/749,176 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Circuits for controlling display apparatus

Inventors: Jignesh Gandhi (Burlington, MA); Jasper Lodewyk Steyn (Campbell, CA); John J. Fijol (Shrewsbury, MA); Roger W. Barton (Grand Marais, MN); Stephen R. Lewis (Reading, MA); Abraham McAllister (Annandale, VA); Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV (Andover, MA)
Assignee: SnapTrack, Inc.
G09G3/2081G02B26/001G02B26/004G02B26/04G06F3/147G09G3/3406G09G3/348G09G3/3413G09G3/3433G09G3/2011G09G3/2014G09G3/2022G09G3/3473G09G2300/08G09G2300/0814G09G2300/0842G09G2300/0857G09G2300/0885G09G2310/0235G09G2310/0251G09G2310/0254G09G2310/0262G09G2310/063G09G2320/0646G09G2330/021G09G2360/144
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,530,344
App. No.
14/749,176
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a display including loading image data to pixels in multiple rows of pixels in an array of pixels during a data loading phase, actuating the pixels in the multiple rows during an update phase, and illuminating at least one lamp during an lamp illumination phase to illuminate the actuated pixels to form an image on the display, in which each of the loading, actuating and illuminating phases partially overlap in time.

Claims (37)

1. A display comprising:

an array of pixels, each of the pixels having a corresponding light blocking element;

one or more light sources to direct light toward the pixels to form an image on the display; and

a controller circuit capable of providing data to:

actuate the light blocking elements during a first update phase comprising a first sub-phase corresponding to a first transition of a light blocking element and a second sub-phase corresponding to a second transition of the light blocking element,

illuminate one or more of the light sources during a first lamp illumination phase, and

load image data to the array of pixels during a first data loading phase, wherein:

the first update phase overlaps at least partially in time with the first lamp illumination phase, and

the image data is loaded during at least a portion of the first sub-phase of the first update phase.

2. The display of claim 1 , wherein the first update phase corresponds to a first transition of the pixels to a reset state.

3. The display of claim 2 , wherein the first transition of the pixels to the reset state includes positioning the light blocking elements of the pixels to a reset position.

4. The display of claim 2 , wherein the controller circuit is further capable of providing data to actuate the light blocking elements during a second update phase, the second update phase occurring after the first update phase, the second update phase corresponding to transitioning one or more of the pixels to a second state from the reset state.

5. The display of claim 4 , wherein the controller circuit is further capable of providing data to illuminate one or more of the light sources during a second lamp illumination phase, wherein the second update phase overlaps at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination phase.

6. The display of claim 5 , wherein the controller circuit is further capable of providing data to load image data to the array of pixels during a second data loading phase, the second data loading phase overlapping at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination phase.

7. The display of claim 6 , wherein the controller circuit is further capable of providing data to actuate the light blocking elements during a third update phase to transition the light blocking elements of the pixels to the reset state, the third update phase overlapping at least partially in time with one or both of the second data loading phase and the second lamp illumination phase.

8. A method of operating a display, the method comprising:

loading, by a controller, image data to an array of pixels during a first data loading phase, each of the pixels having a corresponding light blocking element;

actuating, by the controller, the light blocking elements of the pixels during a first update phase comprising a first sub-phase corresponding to a first transition of a light blocking element and a second sub-phase corresponding to a second transition of the light blocking element; and

illuminating, by the controller, one or more light sources of the display to direct light towards the pixels to form an image on the display during a first lamp illumination phase, wherein:

the first update phase overlaps at least partially in time with the first lamp illumination phase, and

the image data is loaded during at least a portion of the first sub-phase of the first update phase.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first update phase corresponds to a first transition of the pixels to a reset state.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first transition of the pixels to the reset state includes positioning the light blocking elements of the pixels to a reset position.

11. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:

actuating the light blocking elements during a second update phase, the second update phase occurring after the first update phase, the second update phase corresponding to transitioning one or more of the pixels to a second state from the reset state.

12. The method of claim 11 , the method further comprising:

illuminating one or more of the light sources during a second lamp illumination phase, wherein the second update phase overlaps at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination phase.

13. The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising:

loading image data to the array of pixels during a second data loading phase, the second data loading phase overlapping at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination phase.

14. The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising:

actuating the light blocking elements during a third update phase to transition the light blocking elements of the pixels to the reset state, the third update phase overlapping at least partially in time with one or both of the second data loading phase and the second lamp illumination phase.

15. A circuit capable of actuating pixels of a display during a first update operation comprising a first sub-phase corresponding to a first transition of a light blocking element associated with a pixel and comprising a second sub-phase corresponding to a second transition of the light blocking element, illuminating one or more light sources of the display during a first lamp illumination operation, and loading image data to the pixels of the display during a first data loading operation, wherein the first update operation overlaps at least partially in time with the first lamp illumination operation, and the image data is loaded during at least a portion of the first sub-phase of the first update operation.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the first update operation corresponds to a first transition of the pixels to a reset state.

17. The circuit of claim 16 , wherein the circuit is further capable of actuating the pixels during a second update operation, the second update operation occurring after the first update operation, the second update operation corresponding to transitioning one or more of the pixels to a second state from the reset state.

18. The circuit of claim 17 , wherein the circuit is further capable of illuminating one or more of the light sources during a second lamp illumination operation, wherein the second update operation overlaps at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination operation.

19. The circuit of claim 18 , wherein the circuit is further capable of loading image data to the pixels during a second data loading operation, the second data loading operation overlapping at least partially in time with the second lamp illumination operation.

20. The circuit of claim 19 , wherein the circuit is further capable of actuating the pixels during a third update operation to transition the pixels to the reset state, the third update operation overlapping at least partially in time with one or both of the second data loading operation and the second lamp illumination operation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2016
From: PIXTRONIX, INC.
To: SNAPTRACK, INC.
Reel/Frame 039905/0188 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2015
From: GANDHI, JIGNESH; STEYN, JASPER LODEWYK; FIJOL, JOHN J.; BARTON, ROGER W.; LEWIS, STEPHEN R.; MCALLISTER, ABRAHAM; HAGOOD, NESBITT W.
To: PIXTRONIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 036440/0334 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation 13019215 · Feb 1, 2011
Continuation In Part 11326900 · Jan 6, 2006
Continuation In Part 11251035 · Oct 14, 2005
Continuation In Part 11218690 · Sep 2, 2005
Continuation In Part 11643042 · Dec 19, 2006
Continuation In Part 11361294 · Feb 23, 2006
Continuation In Part 11811842 · Jun 12, 2007
Continuation In Part 12652477 · Jan 5, 2010
Provisional Application 60655827 · Feb 23, 2005
Provisional Application 60676053 · Apr 29, 2005
Provisional Application 60751909 · Dec 19, 2005
Provisional Application 60776367 · Feb 24, 2006
Provisional Application 60881757 · Jan 19, 2007
Provisional Application 61300735 · Feb 2, 2010
Related Publication 20150294613A1 · Oct 15, 2015