Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.

Jerry Wasinger

William R Dunn

John Schuch

Harry Wayne Presley

Rick De Laet

Dan Safstrom

Dave Williams

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a method for environmental adaptation of electronic display characteristics, comprising the steps of determining the sunset and sunrise times for the day and determining whether the present time is between sunrise and sunset or between sunset and sunrise. An exemplary method would then proceed by selecting a gamma for the display based on whether the present time is between sunrise and sunset or between sunset and sunrise, and driving the display at the selected gamma. The gamma can further be selected based on Artificial Ambient Light Sensor (AAS) data, which can be calculated during sunrise and sunset transition times.

Method for environmental adaptation of display characteristics based on location

The exemplary embodiments herein provide an electronic display with a display controller in electrical connection with the electronic display and adapted to direct the electronic display to operate per nighttime instructions if the present time is between sunrise and sunset, without accepting any input from an ambient light sensor, and direct the electronic display to operate per daytime instructions if the present time is between sunset and sunrise, without accepting any input from an ambient light sensor. The nighttime instructions may include a first setting for gamma while the daytime instructions may include a second setting for gamma. Sunrise and sunset transition periods can be calculated using Artificial Ambient Sensor Data (AAS), with further settings for gamma chosen based on the AAS data.

Electronic display with environmental adaptation of display characteristics based on location

Disclosed herein is a system for controlling the interactions of light between adjacent subsections of a dynamic LED backlight. Preferred embodiments contain a dividing wall positioned between each adjacent subsection of the LED backlight. The dividing wall may be in contact with the LED backlight and extend away from the LED backlight. The dividing wall may prohibit light from a first subsection from entering an adjacent second subsection at its full luminance. The luminance for each adjacent subsection may be approximately half of the full luminance of each subsection, when measured at the location of the dividing wall.

Dynamic dimming LED backlight

A system and method for altering the characteristics of a display based on environmental data is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments provide a light sensor, an environmental processing unit which is adapted to receive electrical signals from the light sensor and generate an environmentally-reactive control signal (S), an image signal processor which accepts Sand an encoded image signal (S) and generates a pre-decoding image signal (S), and an image signal decoder which accepts Sand generates a decoded image signal for the display. The environmentally-reactive control signal (S) may contain the instantaneous value of the desired display black level S. Alternatively or additionally, the environmentally-reactive control signal (S) may contain a signal linearity modification value.

System and method for environmental adaptation of display characteristics

A modular electrical system for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) contained within a chassis. The system may include a backplane in communication with a power module and video module through connectors on the back plane and respective connectors on the modules. The system may also include a timing and control board (TCON) that is in communication with the backplane via conduction lines that are provided to carry power, video signals, etc., to the TCON. Guides may be provided to ensure proper alignment of the power module and video module with the backplane. In some embodiments, the power module and video module may include input and output connectors that facilitate connection of multiple displays in a daisy chain fashion.

Modular system for controlling a liquid crystal display

An electronic display assembly which allocates power to a plurality of displays without exceeding a maximum current level for the circuit is disclosed. An exemplary system preferably includes an AC current sensor, a power load sharing controller, ambient light sensors for each display, and a brightness controller for each display. A maximum total current draw may be selected. The ambient light contacting each display may be measured and a corresponding desired brightness calculated. Depending on the present amount of current draw, the system determines if the displays can be driven at the desired brightness without exceeding the maximum total current draw. If yes, the displays are driven at their desired brightness. If no, the desired brightness for each display may be slightly reduced to prevent exceeding the maximum total current draw. Thus, as the ambient light varies between the displays, the available power may be shared.

System and method for dynamic load sharing between electronic displays

A system and method for altering the characteristics of a display based on environmental data is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments provide a light sensor, an environmental processing unit which is adapted to receive electrical signals from the light sensor and generate an environmentally-reactive control signal (S), an image signal processor which accepts Sand an encoded image signal (S) and generates a pre-decoding image signal (S), and an image signal decoder which accepts Sp and generates a decoded image signal for the display. The environmentally-reactive control signal (S) may contain the instantaneous value of the desired display black level S. Alternatively or additionally, the environmentally-reactive control signal (S) may contain a signal linearity modification value.

A removable video module for a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) contained within a chassis and having a timing and control board (TCON) with a board edge connector and an access opening in the chassis. The module preferably having a video input connection and means for generating a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) video. The video module also preferably has a board edge connector adapted to connect with the board edge connector on the TCON, where the video module is adapted to fit through the access opening to connect with the TCON. Other embodiments may utilize a backplane where the video module and a power module are adapted to connect with the backplane and electrically communicate with the rest of the display. Outputs for either the video signal, power supply, or both may be provided so that a plurality of displays may be daisy-chained together.

A system and method for allocating power to a plurality of displays is disclosed. An exemplary system preferably includes an AC current sensor, a power load sharing controller, ambient light sensors for each display, and a brightness controller for each display. A maximum total current draw may be selected. The ambient light contacting each display may be measured and a corresponding desired brightness calculated. Depending on the present amount of current draw, the system determines if the displays can be driven at the desired brightness without exceeding the maximum total current draw. If yes, the displays are driven at their desired brightness. If no, the desired brightness for each display may be slightly reduced to prevent exceeding the maximum total current draw. Thus, as the ambient light varies between the displays, the available power may be shared.

A system and method for controlling subsections of an LED backlight for a liquid crystal display (LCD). Exemplary embodiments analyze the histograms for each subsection of the LCD which corresponds with the subsections of the LED backlight in order to produce a proper luminance for the backlight subsection. The proper luminance may be less than the maximum or typical luminance that is produced by common LED backlights. By reducing the luminance the resulting display can have less power consumption, longer lifetime, and higher contrast ratios. The original subpixel voltages for the LCD are re-scaled based on the proper luminance for the backlight subsection. Virtual backlight data may be created to simulate the luminance at each subpixel and the virtual backlight data may be used to re-scale the original subpixel voltages. The virtual backlight data may be used to blend between adjacent subsections of the LED backlight which may be producing different levels of luminance.

A system and method for displaying images or video on an electronic display. A unique identifier may be embedded within the frames of images or video and detected by a light sensor. The data from the light sensor is analyzed to determine if the proper image or video was actually shown at the display. Some embodiments analyze the data from the light sensor in real time and may stop displaying the image or video if the data is not in the format of a unique identifier. Using this embodiment, the system can prevent unintended images or video from being shown on the display.

Growing community of inventors

Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Jerry Wasinger