The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 17, 1997
Michael J. O'Callaghan, Louisville, CO (US);
Displaytech, Inc., Longmont, CO (US);
Abstract
A display system includes a spatial light modulator having an array of individually controlled pixels switchable between a first and a second state for producing modulated light having gray scale during a given period of time. The system generates a reference signal that varies in a predetermined way during the given period of time. The system also generates analog pixel image signals associated with each of the pixels for the given period of time. The analog pixel image signal representing a desired gray scale level for each associated pixel during the given period of time. Each of the pixels includes an arrangement for receiving the reference signal and an arrangement for receiving the analog pixel image signal associated with that pixel. A comparator within each pixel compares the reference signal and the analog pixel image signal associated with that pixel and outputs a signal for switching the pixel between the first and the second state when the reference signal reaches a predetermined level relative to the analog pixel image signal. In a display system that uses a light modulating medium that requires DC-field balancing, the pixel may further include an inverter arrangement for inverting the output of the comparator for purposes of DC-field balancing.